Finding Faith Part 3

B and I sat for hours, just basking in the quiet. Kate came over, looking at Buffy.

"Your time was up two hours ago."

We just looked at each other. I watched her get up to go. She turned around and gave me a half smile.

"I'll be back tomorrow; hopefully with some answers."

"B!" I called out. "Don't go to any trouble, you know I'm fucked up, that's probably all it is."

She looked really troubled. A thought rushed over me. I wonder if she's having dreams too. Maybe that's why she's here in the first place.

The day was long and boring. I was beginning to depend on Kate, well, her company. I was being patient, waiting, I knew she'd come and she was on her way now.

Smiling, I pretty much jumped up to greet her. "What did you do today?"

She smiled, "so now you want to be a cop?"

"Who me? Nah! I want to be....." I stopped and thought. "A cops not bad, being like you is not bad either...." I stopped again. "I don't really know, I never had a choice. I guess I'd just like to be someone people cared about."

Kate pulled up a chair. "Don't start getting all sad on me. Here comes your dinner, sit down and we'll eat together; besides I want to hear more about these dreams.

It was getting late. Kate had left to finish up the days work. She started to leave and saw me staring at her, she put her things down and came back over to say bye.

"Kate"

"Yeah," she replied.

"I'd feel better if you started carrying something for protection."

Oh hell. I saw the look in her eyes. I felt it coming. She didn't like anyone questioning her skills. What a smart ass she could be, but I liked it.

"And what do you call my gun?" she spat.

Oh my God. What an attitude! So, I thought I'd give a little of what I got.

"I call it suicide. It's great, I mean you can blow your head off so you don't have to see the demons pull the flesh off your bones. It'll come in real handy!"

Oh, I had her now. She just smiled.

"You can be a real bitch."

On second thought, maybe it was her who had me, but I couldn't resist. I couldn't let her have the last say.

"Yeah, well you set the example so I learned from the very best!"

We both laughed. God, it felt so good.

"See you tomorrow," Kate said.

I looked at her seriously. "You know what I mean by protection don't you?"

"Yeah, I know, it's taken care of, thanks."

She made her way to her desk to pick up the last of her belongings. Some co-workers walked over to her, it seemed like we were the only ones here. I could feel the air grow thick, feel the tension, almost hear the draws of breaths.

I got as close to the bars as I could. There stood Kate in the middle of three cops. I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I strained my hearing, trying to catch what was going on. I focused, feeling fear rush over me.

Then it happened! The cops changed! Kate started fighting!

Shit!!!

I cocked my leg back and kicked the bars so hard that they gave instantly; well maybe it was my knee that gave instantly, I definitely heard it scream!

I pushed my way through the new opening and made my way to Kate. I must've had a flashback of the WWF, cause I picked up a vamp, flipped him and flung him across the room. I knocked the others off of Kate, giving her an opening to produce a cross and some holy water.

I glanced around the room. I needed a weapon. Across the room was a wooden coat rack; that would have to do. I jumped over a desk, feeling my knee give as I landed.

"Fuck!"

One of the vamps was on me instantly. I needed a stake and damn it, I guess he was going with me to get it. I finally got to the damn rack, picked it up and shattered it on the floor.

I felt teeth rip the upper part of my back. I drew back my elbow and racked his brain; turning around, I plunged in a shard of wood. Dust formed a cloud around me.

I looked and saw Kate being held down. The vampires were toying with her. One had her shoulders pinned to a desk, the other was straddling her, running his filthy hands over her stomach and breasts.

It raised back, showing its teeth and just as it was about to make contact with her; I made contact with it!

I dove head first into it, taking it and me over the side of the desk. I bounced to my feet, making one huge mistake. I forgot about the other vampire.

I turned around just in time to see a chair coming at my face.

I heard Kate scream, "Faith!"

I thought I was dead, but it turned out I was pissed. He busted my goddamned head, nose and mouth.

"You son of a bitch!!!!"

I grabbed his head and tried to twist it off. I felt it break, but he was still alive, well sort of. I threw him to the side, picked up a piece of the broken chair and took out the vamp that was groping Kate.

I felt myself get dizzy. I stumbled and fell.

That vamp with the crook in his neck was coming at me. If I had been one hundred percent, Hell, fifty percent, I would have laughed at his afflicted ass.

I can't believe it. I'm gonna get took out by a bent up neck biter.

Kate must've took care of it with that holy water she'd been hogging, cause when I looked up he was sizzling.

Kate ran over to me. "Faith, come on we gotta get outta here!"

She helped me up. Arm in arm we headed for the door. We didn't get far; two more vamps were on their way in. Kate changed directions so fast that I stumbled and fell.

Oh, I was sick!

"Come on Faith, get up!" she yelled.

It was too late. One of the vamps had me and lifted me up off the floor.

And then it came.

My sickness, that is, spewing all over him. Never thought I could make a demon sick, but hey, he let me go. Even started gagging himself.

The other vamp backed off some. I managed a "man I'm sick", and staggered towards him. I was sick but I wanted to get to the exit more. Kate followed my lead and stayed behind me.

But damn, I was really, really sick! I couldn't help it. I cleared us a path all the way to the stair exit.

Once inside, Kate bolted the door and practically drug me down the stairs and out the exit.

Fate was a bitch! Outside we found a few more vamped out cops. One stepped forward.

"Don't fight it Faith, You were meant to lead us. Accept it."

"Fuck You!" I yelled.

Kate pulled me back. We were weaponless, hurt and sick; we were quite a pair. Just when the darkness descended and we were without hope. Angel, Wesley and Buffy appeared, driving over anything that got in their path and taking out what didn't with crossbows.

God, I was relieved. Kate threw me into the car and jumped in behind me.

I was grateful.

Grateful that Angel didn't throw my ass out when I puked in his prized convertible. I must've been contagious; Everyone was gagging.

I laughed to myself as I faded into dark.

I felt myself coming to. I couldn't see or hear very well, all I could make out was just some patches of light, shadowy figures and distorted voices. I was drenched, hot and extremely thirsty. I tried to move but it was if I was bolted down.

Someone came near and touched my face. I felt the bed give where they sat down. It had to be B. I could smell her perfume; it surrounded me.

"Buffy," I whispered.

"I'm here," she said.

"Am I turning?"

She leaned down and brushed my cheek with her lips.

"I don't know," she whispered into my ear.

Her breath was like a warm breeze invading my body; swirling me in her essence. I floated for what seemed like forever.

"You'll have to kill me."

She brushed against my lips.

"Not yet," echoed through my mind.

I found myself floating in warmth, being held in secure, loving arms. I relaxed into the embrace. I felt my body pulsing with energy. Wind blew against me, through me, cooling every part of my body.

Every part of me was caressed, aroused, I felt myself giving into the ecstasy of touch.

I could feel the presence of people around me, I opened my eyes slightly, shadows were standing by the bed; I was too far gone to care. Shutting my eyes, I sunk back into the warmth, the passion.

Voices echoed.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I think she's being seduced."

The arms pulled me under, smothered me, surrounded me and the calm came.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah," I replied.

Then I saw a series of moving pictures. St. Patrick's Church. Grave marker of Rynn Larkin. Name plaque of Father Davis. Large wooden crosses sharpened at all four points. A young woman wearing chainmail with a red cross blazing it. The crosses being used like a pair of blackjacks, blocking, defending, using all four points to penetrate the hearts of demons. She was kneeling, Bathed in holiness. Drinking the offering. Eating the body of righteousness. She glowed: Shined for all the dark to fear. I was raised up into the light.

"Remember," the voice said.

I woke up, still dizzy. I heard Kate call out, "She's awake."

I was weak.

"I need."

" What? " Kate replied.

"Water, lots and the body of Christ."

"What?"

Angel broke in; " it's those tablets the catholics use."

Kate stood up. "I'll get it."

Angel called out, "get as much as you can and make sure it's blessed!"

I was still sick and my upper back was on fire. Must have been a new breed of vampire; just biting you gave you an essence of the demon.

Buffy sat down by me. "Will you help me sit up?" I asked. "Yeah," she replied.

She put her arms around me and lifted me upwards; then pulled my legs over the side of the bed. When she let go of me, I lost my balance. She immediately pulled me back into her arms. I leaned into her embrace.

"Is there any holy water here?" I asked.

Angel brought a box over and opened it. B took out a small bottle of fluid.

"Do you want me to pour it on your wound?"

"No, I want to drink it." I replied.

Buffy just sat there. "Please," I said.

She took the top off and held it to my lips, I thought it would burn but it felt electrical. When I finished the bottle, I looked in B's eyes.

"I need more."

She held my gaze and nodded. She removed all the water from the box and helped me to drink it. Finally, she said "that's the last of it, but more is on the way."

"Where's Angel," I asked.

"I'm here, Faith."

He stepped out from behind a shadowed area.

"Angel, I need to find St. Patrick's church."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, can you find out anything about someone named Rynn Larkin?"

"I'll see." And he left.

Kate finally made it back. She went a little overboard. She must've bought fifty gallons of water and had about four boxes of wafers.

I smiled up at her. She sat down on the opposite side of me.

Damn; Buffy on one side, Kate on the other and me in between. I repressed the thoughts as soon as I felt them.

Hell, even sick and weak, I still think I've got it going on!

Still wrapped in B's arms, I reach over and touch Kate's hand.

"Thanks, I wouldn't have made it without you." Kate smiled and squeezed my hand.

"What do you want us to do?" Kate asked.

I thought and replied. "Break the tablets into the water and let it disolve."

Kate pushed the hair back from my eyes. "Do you need anything?"

My first thought involved a southern rush, but what came out was: " some tablets and water."

B, propped up some pillows and laid me back against them, handing me my water and wafers. I broke a tablet into the bottle I was fixing to drink and popped a tab in my mouth. I drank and ate while B and Kate put tablets into the water jugs, making sure they disolved.

When they had completed about twenty gallons, they turned.

"What else?" B asked.

"I need a bath," I said.

"I'll help," they replied in unison.

Now that caught my attention. I looked up to see them looking at each other.

Buffy said, "I'll help her, you continue with the water."

"We have enough water, you rest, I'll help her," Kate replied.

Buffy got louder, "She's my....". Kate cut her off.

"She's your what? She's your nothing! She's in my custody and I'm going to watch over her. You might try and kill her again!"

Ouch!

"Damn it," I said. "Just run the fucking water and I'll do it myself!"

"Who do you want to help?" B asked.

Well shit; things are fixing to get interesting!