After an hour of patrolling at the cemetary, Buffy decided to head to Faith's and see if she wanted to hang out at the Bronze. Buffy was walking thru an alleyway heading towards Faith's hotel room. The slayer turned her head a little as she exited the dark and smelly alleyway. The night was dark and quiet, a little to quiet, Buffy thought to herself. The weather was dry and cold, it got even more colder as the wind blew harder. Buffy zipped up her coat tighter as she reached the brunettes door. Before she could knock, the door quickly opened. Buffy took a few steps back as a large, slightly husky man exited the room. The man started looking up and down Buffy's figure.

"Well what's a pretty girl like you doing in this neck of the woods?".

"Looking for a friend", Buffy stepped back.

"Hey...honey I'll be your friend anytime you want", rubbing his chest.

"No thank's...w-w-what happend to the girl that was living here?", Buffy asked confused.

"I kicked her cute little butt out of here.", shutting the door.

"W-why?...Where did she go?", the slayer wanted answers.

"She was late on payments for the room, I got tired of her skipping out of the rent, so I kicked her out. I saw her head down the path that leads towards the docks.", he locked the door.

The man turned around, "You probably won't find he-....her. Where did she go?", scratching his head.

Buffy was fighting thru the tree branches to get to Faith. She thought maybe Faith would leave if she was heading for the docks, but she didn't want to think about that now. All Buffy could think about was finding Faith and helping her anyway she could.

Buffy had finally cleared some trees, the docks were right in front of her. She walked along the railing that was connected on the edge of the docks. Buffy searched all the boats, but had no luck finding Faith. As she frowned at the dark horizon that was lying ahead of her she heard someone coughing in the background. Buffy turned around and walked towards the crates. As she turned the corner she spotted Faith sitting between some large crates. Faith was curled up in a blanket she must of stolen from the hotel room.

"Faith?", Buffy spoke softly.

The brunette quickly looked up. As Faith saw the person that called out her name, she promptly rose from where she was sitting.

"Hey B! W-What are you doing here?", looking down at her bag.

"I could ask you the same thing.", looking concerned.

Faith walked to the edge of the docks looking down at the water, Buffy stood behind her by the crates.

"Oh, I'm ok. I just thought I would get in a few slayings before I hit the sheets."

"Are you sure your ok. You didn't seem to be in slaying mode when I saw you."

"Yeah B, why wouldn't I be?", Faith said as she put her hand over her mouth to cough.

"Well I went by your room, and the manager said he kicked you out.",

Buffy placed the back of her hand on Faith's forehead. Faith turned and started crying on Buffy's shoulder. This was the first time she'd ever seen Faith cry, let alone show any sort of feelings at all. Buffy quickly embraced the crying brunette in her arms.

"Ssshh..it's ok, it's ok, I'm here Faith, I'm here for you. Let's get you some place warm, It'll help that cold of yours.", she said as she rubbed up and down the other slayers back.

Faith pushed her head away from Buffy's shoulder and turned away from her.

"That's ok B, I-I don't want to be a bother to you."

Buffy held the other girls hand."Don't say that Faith, you're not a bother to me."

"I-I'm not?" Buffy wiped the tears away from the other girls face.

"No..your not, how could you think that."

"I ju--.". Faith was interrupted.

"Come on grab your stuff.", Buffy stood up.

"Where are we going?", Faith said.

Buffy held her hand out towards Faith and walked her over to her stuff. "First we're gonna take care of that cold of yours, and then your gonna have a good nights sleep."

Faith headed towards her belongings. "Yeah and where am I gonna sleep huh?". she asked managing to smile.

"You can sleep in my room."

"What!?"

"You heard me...you don't snore do you?"

"Are you sure Ms. S wouldn't mind?"

"Nah, she'll be fine with it. She has said on numerous occasions that she really liked you.", she said smiling.

Faith returned the smile, then she playfully hit Buffy on the shoulder. "Cool...scored a few points with someones mother. That's a first for me.", Faith picked up the rest of her belongings.Buffy walked towards Faith.

"You got everything?"

"Yep, we're five by five.", she said lifting up her bags.

"Alright let's get going."

The weather seemed to be getting colder.

Buffy looked over at Faith and saw that she was shivering, the jacket Faith wore didn't seem to be helping much. Buffy quickly took off her jacket.

"Here...put this on." she said handing her jacket to the other girl.

"That's ok B..I'm...", Faith coughed repeatedly. "I-I'm fine."

"Faith!"

Buffy took the bags and put the jacket over Faith.

"Here..I'll carry your belongings, you just keep warm we're almost home."

Buffy and Faith had finally reached the house. Buffy looked over at Faith as she slowly walked up the steps.

"Could you open the door?", Buffy asked politely.

"Sure B."

Faith stood in front of the door and turned the knob.

"Thanks!", Buffy said.

Faith moved out of the doorway."No problem."

Buffy quietly led Faith up to her room."Sshh!", putting a finger over her lip. Buffy opened her bedroom door."I don't want to wake my mom." Buffy placed the bags in front of the window while Faith stood near the bed still covered in the jackets.

"Faith you stay right here, I'm going to draw a warm bath for you." Buffy started walking towards the bathroom door.

"You don't ha--."

"Faith! You should've read Chapter 2, Paragraph 3 of the Buffy Summers Manual, it clearly states that I care to much for my friends." Buffy stuck her head in the room. "Besides I want to." she smiled at Faith.

Buffy exited the bathroom.

"Ok, when you're finished...the towels will be on top of the counter."

Faith looked around the bathroom."Gotcha B."

As Faith was about to close the door, Buffy quickly interviened.

"Oh Faith one more thing, left or right?""What?"

"The bed, do you want to sleep on the left side or the right?"

"Oh...um...uh..I guess I'll take the left."

Faith walked across the bedroom quietly looking at the now fast asleep slayer. As she arrived at the bed she swiftly got under the covers.

"It's about time you got to bed.", Buffy said facing Faith.

Faith jumped up franticly.

"Jesus B, you scared me." she said scratching her forehead.

Buffy replied with a large smile on her face."I'm sorry Faith I couldn't sleep."

Faith quickly got back under the covers. "Well that's gonna make two of us."

Some time had gone by, Buffy and Faith were both in bed staring at the ceiling.

Faith turned her face towards Buffy and spoke."Why?"

"Why what?", not understanding the one word question.

Faith turned to her side leaning on her elbow.

"Why do you go out of your way to help me? I don't think of myself as a very special person.", she asked wondering.

At that moment Buffy leaned closer to the other girl and kissed her on the forehead. She moved her lips from Faith, while cupping her cheek.

"Like I said, I care about you.", she said softly.

"Oh."

"Oh? All you can say is, Oh?"

"Sorry I'm just not used to this." Faith looked down at the covers

"That's ok. How are you feeling?" Buffy asked looking directly at the other slayer.

"I'm fine, but I don't think I'll be able to get to sleep. Maybe if you tell me more about that Buffy Manual it might knock me right out." Faith giggled to herself.

Buffy smiled. "Ouch."

The End