The wheels of the train pounded against the rail. "I REALLY fucked up this time," Faith whispered to herself. Her thoughts pounded away at her heart. OK a heart that was broken, dirty, and even cold at times but yet amongst the ache and shattered pieces burned a love. A love that ripped at Faith.

Buffy Summers. Why did this goody goody do this to her? "Fuck I can't even bring myself to leave her. I should just vanish; it's done, she hates me. And that's the way it should be. I'm a cancer of the heart. She can love beefsteak. No shit, like she wouldn't if I stayed. Honestly I don't see what she sees in the guy. GI Joe fantasy aside, the boy's got no personality. Maybe its a sex thing. Whatever gets ya going right. ....Fuck it"

With that last thought Faith jumped off the train. And with a smile, the rogue slayer headed back into town and to the slayer that chained her soul. "Never was the type to learn my lesson. Humph," Faith laughed to herself. "Cause it's wrong"

Meanwhile back in Sunnydale:

"You slept with her" Buffy accused. "I slept with you."

Buffy moved towards the window and stared out, seeming to see nothing. Riley, wanting to fix his mistakes and to comfort Buffy, moves behind to put his arms around her.

"Don't" Buffy whispered "I need time," She states never looking him in the eyes.

"So...Buffy I'm sorry, PLEASE don't let this break us."

His words hit hard but she walks right past him and stops at door. "I'm sorry too." Then she walks out.

Left alone without a clue as to how he could fix things, Riley Finn was left with a choice. Give Buffy time and maybe she'd forgive him or eliminate the problem. With that he picked up his phone and dailed."Yeah, I have a hostile loose. Human, female brown eyes and hair, about 5'8. Name's Faith. Careful, she's stronger then she looks... No, any means necessary. Oh IF you catch her alive notify me. I want my chance with her. Finn out.

******

Buffy, on auto pilot, walked back to her dorm. Not really realizing that she had made it home, she opened the door."Empty again, Will's been gone a lot lately." She sat down on her bed slowly, the thoughts of the past few days became too much for her. She curled up, the tears fell from her eyes unknowingly. Love, she thought "I do love him. why'd he have to sleep with her. With Faith. I hate her right? No, I don't...dislike maybe. If only I had gotten through to her. For Every Generation there is one chosen. Poo, pooh, pooh, now there's two. Ahhh, focus Buffy. Riley, I mean he thought it was me. She was in my body and I was in hers, emmm hmmm."

With her thoughts wandering towards "other" subjects. Buffy drifted off to sleep. That's when the dream came. It was one of those dreams where you know you're dreaming the whole time. She was walking. She must have have been heading to or from a class 'cause she had an arm full of books. The sun was high so it was close to noon. There was a flash and she turned toward the East dorms. The day turned to night. Switching to slayer mode, she heard a scream and what could only be explained as a bone crushing sound. "Slayer dreams. I'm SO not in the mood for this." She ran towards the sounds of struggle. But her surroundings changed again, She was suddenly in the Initiative. She past by small cell-like rooms made of glass.

"What the hell kinda dream is this?" she thought.

She heard the scream louder and she recognized it this time. It was Faith. "Faith?" The screams led her to a door marked interrogation.

"Time to say hello," she said to herself as she kicked the door down.

One kick and the door was on the floor as Buffy's eyes widened at the sight in front of her.

Faith looked up at her with tears running down her face.

"B, HELP ME"

Buffy's eyes flew open as she screamed. "RILEY NO!!"

Faith, had been walking for what seemed like miles. The sign she just past claimed "Sunnydale 2 miles". What the fuck am I gonna do. Go knock on her door, be like hey B, so sorry about the murders, kidnappings, and, oh yeah, the turning evil thing. But I'm better now. Wanna catch dinner and a show? FUCK!!! Maybe if I pout like King Melodrama. Claim I was de-souled, 'cause of my love for her. That my moment of true happiness came in her smile..... She pondered that for a moment. Nahhh that's bullshit, not my style. I can't.....

Her thoughts were so loud, she didn't hear the commandos behind her. Faith heard someone shoot into her back. Then the shot came and everything faded to black. The dark slayer had fallen.

Buffy pushed her hair out of her face as she sat up. The sweat poured off of her. "Wow, that's about a 10 on my freaky dream meter."

It was morning now she noticed. She also noticed the absence of her roommate whose bed was made. Either Willow had left already and made her bed before she left or she never came home. Being that it was just after six am, the latter of the two was the most likely. Buffy laid back in her bed processing her dream. Well, trying at least.

"Giles. Giles will know how to handle this."

So She hopped up, got dressed and headed for the G-man's.

Riley typed in his security code into the panel. The computer chimed and the doors slid open. He entered the simple room It was all white and empty for the most part. He turned to the doctor-like figure who stood next to the only objects in the room; a few monitors, an IV, and hospital bed. Which at the moment held a very restrained and very unconscience Faith. She shifted in her sleep, whispering incoherently.

"Her status?" he barked

"Well, the voltage she took did alot of damage. We'll find out how much when she's awake. Of course we are keeping her asleep as you ordered Agent Finn. Also we are giving her the drugs you wished for. She will be weakened, how much so will be unclear. Factoring in her slayer powers are not an easy thing to do."

"She will be weakened though?"

"Yes, as far as we can tell, yes."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes, she's been having nightmares of sorts. She screams in her sleep one minute, the next she's begging for forgiveness. As far as we can tell she's reliving some painful issues. We can give her a drug that may help the dreams to stop. I thought I should clear it with you first."

"No, let her dream. If the drugs don't break her, whatever's going on in that head of her's might."

"Very well." The doctor turned and walked out the door

Riley moved closer to Faith, watching closely. "Buffy needs closure from you. I'm sorry it has to be this way. I won't let you come between us." He turned, punched in his code and exited the room.

Buffy sat on Gile's couch trying to explain her dream. The more she thought about it, the more it got to her. She kept thinking about the fear and pain in Faith's eye's, something the other slayer had never shown. Even looking death in the eye, Faith wasn't scared. But in the dream, she was. Buffy could see it, feel it in every bone of her body. Her thoughts were interrupted by Gile's voice.

"So you see her and she calls out, then you awaken. Correct?

"Emmmm yeah, she was so scared. Giles she looked beaten. Riley was standing next her with a needle or something. Does it mean anything, should I start a search for Faith?"

"You said Riley ummm... slept with Faith whilst in your body, yes? Could this be a dream reflecting on that? Tell me, were your thoughts on the two of them before you fell asleep?"

"Yes, but Giles why would I dream about Faith being beaten, scared, and why would I dream that Riley was the cause of this. It doesn't add up Giles. I'm going to look for Riley."

So she packed up and was out the door before Giles could voice his say on any of it. " Glad I could be of some help" He said as the door slammed shut.

Buffy busted into her dorm. Willow and Tara where sitting on Willow's bed. Buffy felt like the cop that broke up the party. She shyly smiled. "Sorry Will, didn't know you weren't alone. Ummm, I just have to grab some things and go."

Willow just stared at her friend. She knew Buffy would be able to read her. That Buffy probably already knew about her feelings toward Tara which was amazing 'cause Willow was just coming to terms with it herself. She felt tingly all over when the shy blond was around. But was that the magic? Simply a wicca thing? "Who knows maybe its like the slayer thing that Buffy and Faith used to have," she thought.

"Buffy, where you are going? You look all a fluster."

"I had a dream. I think maybe Riley has Faith."

"Riley what would he want with Faith?" Willow's face twisted when she said Faith's name.

"I don't know but the dream was too real. I can't find Riley either. The pain in her eyes, Will. I need find her and Riley."

"Ok, I'll see if I can't find a spell that will help. Just, you know, be careful. I mean this could all be just a dream."

The slayer gave her worried friend a reassuring look before stepping closer to her. " I know Will and I will be. I just need to know for sure."

With that Buffy skipped off to find Riley. She found her way through the quad. She was headed towards Riley's dorm. Her mind kept pulling back to the dream, She never saw Faith look that full of fear before. And the fact that Faith was in pain. But the thing that got her even more was that it was Riley that was the cause of it. This need to help Faith was getting to her too. "Why should I? She's tried to murder my friends, murdered others and just plain tried to ruin my life. But I can't stop it, I miss her."

Before Buffy realized what she had just thought she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, deep in thought?"

Buffy turned to face Riley. She was disturbed to find that her gut reaction was to knock him to the ground and beat the truth out of him. But she just looked up with soulful eyes and answered with a nod.

"Riley, we need to talk. I need for you to bare with me through something that's gonna sound kinda crazy." Buffy stated looking at her hands, her shoes anywhere but at his face that for reasons unknown, she wanted to punch very badly.

"OK, what's up?"

"See, part of me being a slayer.... See sometimes I have these dreams. Dreams that really end up happening. Of course others are just dreams. But well, Riley you'd tell me if you and the commandos had info on Faith riight?"

Riley's face changed as his eyes darkened at the way Buffy said Faith's name. The fact that Buffy even asked about it made unnerved him. But he put up that all-American smile and lied through his teeth.

"Of course I would, Buffy. Come on, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know Riley. Look me in the eye and tell me you know nothing about where she is."

He looked her straight in the eye like he had done a million times before. Like they trained him to. To lie on command, to cover up at all costs. He smiled his gentle smile. Cupped Buffy's face.

"I don't know where Faith is, OK? Where's this coming from? I thought you didn't care where she went."

"No, I said we need to worry about Adam first. But my dream...she needs me Riley. She's in pain, I can feel it. Its kinda a slayer thing, so I'm gonna find her. I'll talk to you later OK? I have things to do."

"Buffy wait. Look if there's anything I can do, let me know. I'm here if you need me, waiting. Just don't go getting hurt looking for this girl. She doesn't sound she's worth it."

Buffy listened to Riley before she nodded, turned, and walked away.

Buffy headed for Giles' again. She needed weapons, lots of weapons. She was in shock when her spidey senses went off big time when Riley looked her in the eye. " He was lying, he knows something. That comment about Faith not being worth it. He's hiding something. I'm gonna find out what it is."

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

"Mamma NO! I'm sorry. I'll make it go away! I'm sorry please don't"

Faith reached for the gun but it was too late as the chamber emptied into her mother's chest. Her mom stared at first. She looked like she was OK. Faith ran up to her and held her tight trying to stop the bleeding.

"Mamma, its OK I'll fix you."

"Evil, devil's in you girl. Let me die in peace." She whispered then her eyes widened. A single tear rolled down her face and she was gone.

"Mamma, no don't go. Please."

The dream shifted. It was a dark and damp room. A little girl lies curled up in a corner. Beer cans, old pizza boxes, trash, even used condoms lie on the floor surrounding her. The door opens. A tall man appears from behind the door. "Hey grunt, hiding in the corner again, hmmm. That's my Faith, daddy's girl. Crying's for the weak." He moved closer to her with every word. She shivered at every inch he drew closer.

"Please Daddy, NO." She whispered and begged. It made no difference. He was still headed for her pulling off his belt.

He grabbed her by her hair, moving his sweaty drunken face closer to hers, "I told you grunt. Your crying, don't help anything. You take what you want in this world and go. Never stick around to cry about it. You cry they get the best of you. I won't have you grow up weak like your mother. Hear me!"

She screamed as the belt whipped around her body. The belt buckle, slamming into her chest then her mouth, her ribs. The more she screamed, the harder he'd hit her. When the last blow knocked her out, he threw her back to her corner.

"See, weak like your mother. One day, they'll lock you up right along next to her."

Faith still restrained in dreamland. Lied in a restless sleep, that was taking its toll on her. The doctor's knew if the brain activity stayed at the levels it was at. It would only be a matter of time before she'd be in a comma. There was one nurse that seemed less cold then the doctors and guards. She felt for the girl, the dreams were killing her and slowly at that.

"Let her go, no you can't NOOOOO B!!"

The nurse gently rub the sweat from Faiths brow. The outbursts were more frequent. She made a choice when she say the tears freely falling doing the bound girls face. She was going to get her out of here.

"Giles look I'm going alone no questions asked. This is my fight, it's pretty simple. I'm going in getting her out and getting gone. There's only one thing that has me worried."

"Aside from the god knows how many armed guards you going against. Alone."

"Nevermind I'll deal."

"Thanks for the weapons"

And she was gone again, out the door and running down the street. She came to the area in the woods that she knew had a door to the underground prison below. " I know its here, Riley told me about when we had to run from that thingy. oh there its"

She pushed aside the shrubs, the two very steal and very strong doors stood strong. She remember Riley's over ride codes and opened the door. The doors swished open and she entered slowly into the compound. " OK I'm here now what knock on each door asking for if anyone's seen a beautiful burenett about 5'8 and has a hell of a right hook." Buffy thought to herself

Her thoughts quickly shifted back to slayer girl when she heard someone coming down the hall.

"I don't understand his fiscation is on the girl, she's been locked up in med. ward for three day's now. You ask my Riley's up to something, his been all hush about that little hottie being here."

"I don't know its strange, she human right? We here to control the demon element. Sense when are we taking in human prisoners. I'm mean I walked by there last night I could hear her screaming from outside. Something's not right."

The guards walked right past the closet Buffy had slipped into. If it wasn't for slayer hearing she would haven't have heard them coming nor that Faith was indeed there. And she was in someplace called the Med. Ward. Her emotions running wild now she ran down the halls. Before she knew what was happening she was face to face with another guard. She smiled "Umm is this the rangers station or something. I got lost in the woods and I found these doors. Ummm can I use your bathroom."

He must have recognized her cause her went to grab her by the arm. With one had and went for his radio in the other. " I don't think so" Buffy said as she knocked the radio out of his hand with a bone crunching blow to the low arm. With the strength only the slayer had she knock him in to the wall head first knocking him out. "So much for going on notched." She contuied down the hall with her search.

Riley entered the white room that held Faith. Again the doctor was attending to her. The nurse also sat by her bedside fixing her IV. She quickly pulled out a small needle and slipped into Faith's IV.

"Her Status?"

"If she stay's in this state much longer it will kill her. She will be brain dead. That and she's loosing the will to live. The dreams are increasing, her blood pressure is well needless to say through the rough. She is as you said broken sir."

"Good, have her up in hour I'll be back then. Is there anything else doctor?"

"No, she will be ready by then I assure you."

At that point the drug the nurse had slipped her had taken affect. Faith was waking up. She heard every word. She also noticed her restrains were loss. She could easily ripe them off. Even with her strength as it was," well time to for sleeping beauty to wake and kick the prince's fucking ass."She thought as she pulled the restrains and was free.

"Or we can just do this now and get over with"Faith said as she pushed the doctor to the wall and jumped down off the bed. But she was still out of it, everything was blury and the room was spinning. She saw something moving toward her and she didn't have time to move out of the way.

Riley's right hook left her spinning even more."Fuck, I thought you were supposed to be a good guy or something."

Riley kicked her to her knee's and kneed her the face braking her nose. The blood flooded down her face. She tried to get up but was back handed to the floor. Faith Screamed out in pain. Riley was kicking her in the ribs. He stopped as she lied there gasping for air. The nurse was long gone at the point. The second things turned for the bad she had docked out. He pick Faith up and through back on the bed. He reached into his pocket to pull out a needle. He on capped the top and flicked at it to free the small bubbles of air.

All Faith could do was feel the pain, her hole body hurt. She could move, she was coughing up blood. Everything was still blurry, kind of in a fog. Her mind was spinning. When she heard the door hit the floor she didn't have to see to know who it was.

"B, HELP ME!!!" Was all the dark slayer good get out before she passed out.

Riley looked over to see Buffy standing at the door she had just smashed in. He had that deer in the headlights look. He looked at Buffy, then at Faith and closed his eyes. Looking back at Buffy he took a breath and tried to justify the dark slayer's present condition.

"Buffy, I can explain she--"

Buffy didn't listen, she couldn't, not now. Nothing he could say could make her understand this. He crossed a line, and she didn't have time to listen to him puppy dog face his way out of it. She pushed past him, noticing the needle Riley still held in his hand. " What's in it?"

"Just a.."

Again she didn't let him finish his explanation. She grabbed the needle and moved closer to Faith. Buffy looked at her in pain. The girl was badly beaten. The worn look on Faith's face almost brought Buffy to tears. She closed her eyes as she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Riley, touching me wouldn't be a good thing right now"

"I can't let you take her Buffy. It's for the best"

"I don't remember asking, nor do I plan on it. I'm taking her out of here. Then you can plan on me coming back." Buffy threw his hand off of her shoulder and went to lift Faith off the bed. Riley tried to push her out of the way but found himself smashed up hard against the wall. He tried to sweep the slayer's legs from under her, yet again finding himself slammed to the wall. This time harder then the last. Buffy was losing her cool fast. Riley's face grew dark as he turned to look at Buffy.

"I'm not letting you take that slut out of here"

"Again Riley, not your choice, I would recommend not coming after me again unless you'd like to meet Mr. Wall again."

Now it was Riley's turn to lose his cool. He couldn't believe this was happening. The Rage was snow balling on him. He had lost Buffy, he knew that. He wasn't about to let the reason why go on living. He grabbed another needle from the cart next to Faith's bed. He raised it high as if to stab it into Faith. Buffy grabbed his arm. twisting it back in one movement and throwing him against the ground with another. As he fell to the ground, the needle slipped into his back and the clear fluid was released into his blood stream. He blinked, looked up at Buffy and whispered.

"I did it for you" Then his eyes fell shut and he was gone.

Faith's head shot up to look Buffy in the eye's. "What" she croaked out.

Buffy held up the med supplies with a smile. "Cuts, bruises, things of these sort need to be cleaned and wrapped. And don't play the slayer card. Well, for the lack of a better term, been there, done that." Buffy smiled with a giggle

Faith went to object but was shot down by Buffy's finger on her lips. "Faith, I'm gonna clean you up. And you're gonna get a good night's sleep. It's either this or the hospital and you know they'll call the cops. You make the call F."

Faith made a nod of agreement. She was tired, beaten, and had a soft spot when it came to Buffy's requests. Buffy came closer to her again with a wet rag. She started softly cleaning the cut that laid above Faith's left eye. It'd be gone in the morning most likely but it still looked bad now. Buffy looked into Faith's eyes as she cleaned the blood away. Even beaten, bruised and bleeding she was beautiful, she thought to herself. Buffy looked down Faith's neck finding a large bruise where her neck met her right shoulder. Buffy softly traced the small bruise with a feathery touch. A single tear ran down Buffy's face.

Faith had closed her eyes at Buffy's touch but sensed the sadness in the other slayer and opened her eyes."B?"

Buffy looked away gathering other supplies."Nothing, don't worry about it OK? Take off your shirt? I'm gonna wrap your ribs."

Faith smiled devilishly. "That's a new one B. Really, if you want to see the twins, all you gotta do is ask."

Buffy turned red and smiled. "God, half dead and drugged and your still got sex on the brain. You know Nimphomania is a treatable condition."

Oh great she thinks I'm a Nimpho. Just the type of impression I was looking to make this time. Faith thought to herself as she lifted her shirt up. She groaned in pain."Shit he really did a job on me huh?"

The look on Buffy's face said it all as she stared at Faith's sides. The girl was red and black and blue. They beat the hell out her. "My god" Buffy whispered and grabbed a clean towel to start cleaning.

"Its not as bad as it looks B really. I just FUCK! Faith screamed as Buffy touch the bruised skin with a cool towel.

"Stay still and lie back, it'll hurt less." Buffy whispered as she helped Faith lie back on her bed.

She wrapped Faith's ribs tight and clean. Bandaged the countless other wounds that she seemed to find everywhere. Faith had passed out and was dead asleep which was good. The wound on Faith's back was the worse of the bunch. Two small round and not to mention deep cuts the taser made was cleaned and wrapped like the others. Buffy sat back and stared at Faith. The girl was sleeping. He really had done a number on her. She sat there and watched Faith sleep. For hours. Amazed by every movement, every sound the dark slayer made in her not so sound sleep.

Faith tossed and turned in her sleep. She was also talking in her sleep "B, no I'm sorry please no. you don't understand." Faith whimpered in her sleep.

Buffy sat there somewhere in the middle of being asleep and being awake. She heard Faith. She's dreaming about me. Why? What wouldn't I understand?

The blond slayer was tired. She turned curled up on the bed next to Faith and drifted off to sleep.

"Forget it? How do you forget a declaration of love?" Buffy's inner battle was written all over her face. "I'm not saying that what goes on in that mind of yours is always cut and dry or even reality based all the time, but don't dismiss something so quickly."

"Whatever, look thanks for fixing me up, but really, I should be bailing." Faith turned her eyes at this point. She couldn't look Buffy in eye, in fear of getting lost there. She'd had to turn away from those magnetic eyes countless times before. In all reality, its one of the things that made the slayer so cranky all the time.

Buffy moved closer to Faith, Twisting herself so Faith had to look her in the eyes. They stood, their eyes locked; the words that they both were looking for and avoiding were felt in that stare. "Stay," Buffy whispered, "please."

Faith snapped back to reality, still reeling from the intensity of the last couple moments. "Why? Do you really want me around? I mean, are you ready for what comes with it?" Her face grew sadder and the tone in her voice cracked with emotion. "It hurts to much."

Between confusion, denial, frustration, anger, arousal, and above anything else, the need to take the younger slayer in her arms and soothe the pain that she felt in other girl's perfect brown eyes, Buffy was on emotional overload. She moved closer to Faith, wrapping her arms around her. Pulling her close, she thought to herself, "this feels right, too right."

They stood there, locked in each other's arms, the tears running freely as the anger and hate that had put them at odds was lifted. The bond they had was proving to be everlasting. When they finally broke free, their tear stained faces inches away from each other breathless; their eyes locked for the second time that morning.

This time Faith couldn't turn away; she didn't have the strength or the will. She whispered "B...I..." Her words were cut short by Buffy's finger on her lips.

"Sssssh, I know."

She traced the outline of Faiths full lips, and soon found herself fascinated by the softness she found there. Her mind was spinning. All the doubts she had been having melted away at the sight of the dark beauty in front of her.

Faith was in heaven. There, wrapped up in Buffy's arms, was her salvation. The bond between them was pulling them closer. There was no turning back. They were a breath apart. Faith moved in and kissed Buffy so softly it she surprised even herself, still afraid the blonde would be scared off by the contact. Her fears were soon put to rest when she heard the soft moan from the back of Buffy's throat. Their lips moved together softly. Buffy sucked softly on Faith's lower lip. It was Buffy, to Faith's surprise that made the kiss more passionate, by running her tongue across Faith's bottom lip.

With each passing second the kiss grew more love-filled and the need was so great they had to pull back for air. Their eyes still closed, their arms still closely wrapped around each other, gasping of air. "Jesus B., that was... mmmm."