Buffy's POV
Kill her? She wants me to kill her?
"Faith, what the hell are you talking about? I'm not gonna kill you."
"But... but Buffy it's the only way."
"Only way?"
"It's the only way to stop me from hurting anyone else."
Why does she think she's hurt someone?
"Faith you haven't hurt anyone."
"I tried to kill you."
"Yeah but look..."
I pat myself down like I'm checking for all my body parts.
"I'm fine... and besides you trying to kill me is nothing new. You've tried to kill me before and I told you how that turned out. Remember our little coma talk?"
Okay why do I feel like I'm over compensating with the humor?
"I know you're okay now, but, how long is it gonna last? How long will it be till I can't stop myself from killing you in your sleep? How long will it be until someone gets caught in the crossfire? I'd never be able to live with myself if I hurt someone you cared about and I don't think you'd ever forgive me and I know I couldn't live with THAT."
She cares about me? I knew it wasn't one sided I just... hey, stay focused.
"Faith... the truth is I'm not sure how I'd react if you hurt my friends because I'd know it wasn't your fault, not entirely. Anything you've done, anything you might do is because of that damn vampire cult. It's their fault, not yours."
"I know but..."
I take a step towards her and put my hand on her shoulder.
"And besides, you'll have me by your side to stop you if something goes wrong."
She looks down in shame.
"But what if..."
I put my hand under her chin and lift it up till we're eye to eye.
"You'll deal, I know you will."
"How? How can you know when I don't?"
It's like she's giving up. I can't let her do that. It's not going to make things better.
"I know because I know you. You always find a way to deal with stuff."
"Maybe I could've if I was the old Faith but I'm not. I don't know how or why the old Faith might've been able to deal with being a threat to everyone around her but I can't... I won't. That's why you have to help me."
She reaches out and hugs me. I can feel her start to cry.
This isn't working. I'm trying to be there for her but she's got herself convinced that there's only one way to stop her, which isn't true. I'm not getting through to her. The caring approach isn't working if this is how she's started thinking. I may have to give her a little tough love.
"How?"
I pull her off me.
"How would killing you help you, hmm?"
She takes a few steps back and tries to wipe the tears from her eyes.
"What?"
This might be a bad idea but I have to try and get through to her before she becomes some suicidal loser like Spike.
I shove her.
"Didn't you hear me? How is your death gonna help anyone? How is it gonna solve anything?"
I take a step forward and she steps back. She looks afraid all of the sudden.
I really don't want to do this, but it might be the only way.
"I-I don't know, I'm just... I'm just trying to..."
"Give up? Yeah I noticed. It's kinda pathetic. You're a slayer Faith, slayers don't give up."
"But I'm not a slayer."
"Yes you are Faith. Whether you believe it or not, you are a slayer. We both are and it's time you started acting like one."
"I just... I don't wanna hurt anyone."
You might be hurting her now but it'll be better for her in the long run.
I shove her again and start walking towards her, it's almost like I'm stalking her.
"Wake the fuck up. You put people's lives in danger everyday. It's part of being a slayer Faith. You can't just give up because you might hurt someone. Xander and Willow are in danger all the time, but if I spent all my time worrying about whether they were gonna get hurt we'd all end up dead."
"I-I-B-but... I-I..."
You can do it... I know you wanna say you're sorry and hold her close but you're almost getting through to her.
"God could you BE any more pathetic?"
I'm starting to sound like Faith, the old Faith. I'm not sure how far I can push this. It doesn't feel very good to do this to her.
"W-Why are you saying these things?"
"The truth hurts babe..."
"B-B-but... b-b-but..."
"You sound pathetic... I almost wish you were the old Faith, at least then we'd be able to fight out our problems like we used to."
I see a flash of anger in her but she tries to keep it hidden.
Just a little more Buffy, then everything will be okay.
"I-I-I'm s-sorry I..."
"God Faith now you're sorry? You're even too pathetic to kick your ass."
Ow!
She hits me with a right cross and knocks me on my ass.
"Shut up!"
There we go.
I get up slowly. She starts to panic.
"Oh B-Buffy I... I'm sorry..."
I readjust my jaw.
This could actually hurt me just as much as it does her.
"Aw come on Faith..."
I hit her in the face and she's on the floor in seconds.
"Is that all you got? You're supposed to be a slayer."
She gets up.
"I-I don't want to hurt you."
"Come on Faith, you're supposed to be a slayer. You and me remember, The Chosen Two?"
She tries to punch me but I dodge it and shove her, sending her stumbling a couple steps but she keeps her balance.
She's remembering, whether she knows it or not she's remembering.
"I was gonna train you Faith, help you remember how to be a slayer."
"I'm not a slayer."
She takes a swing at me but she misses and I take a step back.
"I noticed that. I was gonna help, but if you're just gonna GIVE up..."
I take a swing at her but she grabs my arm and bends it until I'm literally bending over backwards. She's holding me up by my arm and we're standing inches from each other. Suddenly my adrenaline starts pumping and I start breathing heavy.
Don't... I know you want to but you can't. That's not what you need right now, you don't want to complicate things this way.
"See... Faith?"
She's staring at me, almost like she's staring into me. Then she blinks and it's like she snaps back to reality. She lets go and I drop to the floor, flat on my back.
I think she feels something. She wouldn't have looked at me the way she did if she didn't feel something. Okay, stop it... focus.
"You are a slayer, whether you want to admit it or not you're a slayer..."
She takes a few moments to think, running her fingers through her hair as I get up.
She knows I'm right.
"I'm trying to help you Faith, but I can't help you if all you want is to give up."
She turns to face me.
"I know... I'm sorry I... I shouldn't give up, you're right. I'm just... I'm not sure how to deal with being a threat."
I take a few steps toward her and put my hands on her shoulders.
"I told you... you'll deal with it, and I'll be there to help you."
I pull her to me and she puts her arms around me. I put my arms around her and hold her close.
"T-Thank you Buffy, you don't know how much this means to me."
We stand there together, her head on my shoulder.
"I know... I know..."
The two guards on the floor start to wake up. I let go of Faith.
"But right now, we have to get out of here before those guys wake up."
We break our hug and she takes a step back.
"Why?"
"I'll explain it later. Right now, we have to go."
She looks down at the guards and then back at me.
"O-Okay, let's go."
She takes my hand and I lead her out, down the hall.