If Buffy had taken the time to consider it she would've realized it was impossible for her to be where she was. But then again, there she was.
So at no point did she question the fact that she was beating the crap out of an old training dummy in the now structurally challenged Sunnydale High library. This was usually the way with dreams. However, being the an astute slayer, she noticed certain irregularities.
The light poured through the windows in a way that cast an odd glow over every object in the room. Her kicks and punches seemed to leave slight trails and were moving slower than normal. But neither of these bothered her too much. That is, until she felt that presence behind her, and at the same time all aroundher.
"Always did like the way you moved B,"
She turned to see her sitting on the stairs that led to fiction and foreign language. Faith had one of her trademark smirks but her eyes had their usual dark and steely quality about them. Course that wasn’t quite as disturbing as the blood stains that were visible on Faith’s white tank top. She was wearing the same clothes she had on the night before graduation. The night Buffy almost killed her.
"Faith," The greeting lacked both warmth and hatred as Buffy was unsure of what to expect. The other Slayer cackled and shook her head.
"Quite a grasp of the obvious ya got there. But you miss a lot that stares you in the face." She startedwalking toward Buffy.
Buffy had started to get her bearings and realized there wasn’t a whole lot of reality involved in hercurrent situation.
"What’m I doing here?" Buffy stood still as Faith moved a bit closer and took a seat on top of one ofthe reading tables.
"You came to visit me remember? We’re still in the hospital listen close and you can hear the beeps of all the doodads that say I’m alive." She gave another soft chuckle, it was both bitter and sardonic.. "But not in a way anybody would really notice." The brunette was all smiles considering the morbid nature of the topic. Buffy on the other hand was being consumed by the apprehension that came from being in a situation she had no control over. She shifted her weight, getting ready to jump into a fighting stance if necessary.
"I meant what do you want? Why are we talking like this?" The blonde folded her arms defensively. Faith wagged her finger from side to side and made a slight clicking sound with her tongue.
"Now that doesn’t sound like the girl who said she wanted me back not so long ago." Buffy stilled for a moment then relaxed and sat down next to Faith on the table. They weren’t enemies anymore. Buffy’d as much as said so and Faith had heard, she wouldn’t make abackslide now.
"I meant what I said." Buffy looked at Faith still unsure what to make of the situation. Faith nodded and scratched her head in a mock thoughtful gesture.
"Yeah well that’s what got me all confused. See a knife in the gut’s about as close as you can get to that Hallmark card saying ‘Rot in hell.’ Get mymeaning?" Buffy frowned.
"That isn’t fair. There were circumstances…" Faithcut Buffy off.
"Oh yeah you had to save someone who was already dead and left you anyway. Not to mention the fact that you got the bite in the end. So I gotta wonder what the point was B." The words sliced into Buffy as swiftly as the knife did Faith, the blonde slayer’s voice took on a decidedly unfriendly tone.
"That and you were working for an evil would-be demon." Faith kept her smile but her eyes looked right into Buffy in a way that made the blonde slayer tremble. Just as Buffy thought Faith was about to lash into her the brunette sighed and shook her head.
"Damn, I didn’t want to get started on this. The two of us we just fall into a pattern don’t we?" She looked at Buffy with a little more compassion. "Look what you said before…you haven’t really told me why you want me back." Faith’s eyes had lost their piercing quality and her voice testified to her sincerity. Buffy’s features softened considerably.
"I told you, we’re a team." Buffy’s voice lacked conviction. Faith just chuckled.
"I didn’t think it would be that easy. But I thought if I put together a little dream like this you might tell me what’s really going on with you." Faith’s look turned to one of concern. "Why you want me back so bad you’d hurt yourself to do it. It goes beyond a slayer thing and we both know it." She tapped her finger on Buffy’s forehead. "There’s something going on in that noggin of yours B and there may only be on way to findout what."
Just then the whole impossible world they were in swirled and disappeared into darkness.
She awoke in the chair next to Faith’s bed. The other slayer remained motionless on the bed. Buffy watched her for a long time, looking to see if Faith would wake up and finish their conversation. Finally deciding the dark slayer would do no such thing she turned and stated to leave the room. She wondered whether or not Faith had actually spoken to her, and decided she’d probably concocted it herself. When she reached the door she heard a familiar sound, she couldn’t place the source but she recognized it as Faith’s distinctive chuckle instantly. Whipping around she saw the other girl was still motionless on the bed Buffy shook her head as she head out the door and back to her room.
"Take it easy Buffy. It’s all in your head."
Buffy had no idea how right she was.