DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. A snippet.

Faith Restored
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Buffy slowly walked over to Giles' house. Giles had called a meeting, but he didn't say what it was about. In fact, he seemed to be intentionally avoiding to answer the question. Buffy wondered if he finally had some news about Faith and was reluctant to share it over the phone. Faith had been kidnapped and taken to England by Wesley and his friends from the Watchers' Council and they hadn't heard from her since. As far as Giles knew, there was no new Slayer, which meant that Faith was still alive. At least that's what Buffy hoped.

She didn't have much time to think about Faith after she had been taken away, but when Angel left, she found herself thinking more and more about Faith. She missed the dark Slayer, their bond. Sure, Faith had killed a man, but it was an accident. Hell, she was there, she was an accessory to murder. She was scared out of her mind and she knew Faith must've been scared too, probably much more, even though she didn't show it and claimed that she didn't care. Angel had told her that he could see Faith start to open up before Wesley arrived. Buffy hoped she never saw the young Watcher again, because she wasn't sure what she'd do to him if she did. He should've let her and Angel take care of Faith, not drag her over to England where the Council did god knows what to her. And she knew that whatever the Council did to Faith, it was bad, she could feel it.

When she arrived to the house, she entered without knocking. She saw that Willow and Xander were already there. She smiled at them, but her smile vanished when she saw Wesley.

"What are you…" She trailed off as her body registered a familiar presence and she noticed Faith. "Faith," she said and stared at the fellow Slayer. "Oh my god, you're back!" she said and approached her, but she slowed down when she saw Faith's indifferent demeanor. "Faith?"

"It's me," Faith said.

Buffy blinked a few times and then noticed that Faith's body language was… different, restrained. She also noticed that Faith's wardrobe was more conservative.

"What did you do to her?" she demanded form Wesley, glaring.

"I-I didn't do anything," Wesley quickly said, glancing nervously at Giles. "I wasn't allowed to participate in her rehabilitation."

"Rehabilitation?! She looks like a zombie." She looked at Giles. "Giles…"

"I don't know, Buffy," Giles said. "I talked to the Council, but they only told me that she has been… rehabilitated."

"Is she staying?"

"Yes."

"And he's her Watcher?" Buffy asked, glancing at Wesley.

"Em, yes."

Buffy thought for a moment and then looked at Faith.

"Where are you staying?"

"With my Watcher," Faith said.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised. "You're kidding, right?"

"No."

"Giles?" Buffy asked her Watcher.

"That was the Council's decision," Giles said helplessly.

Buffy glared at Wesley, who flinched. Then she looked at Faith.

"Are you ready to spar?"

Faith looked at Wesley.

"We, ah, still need to settle in," Wesley said.

"She can speak for herself, Wes," Buffy said, annoyed.

"Eh, yes, of course," Wesley said.

Buffy looked back at Faith.

"So?"

"We still need to settle in," Faith said.

Buffy frowned and glanced at Wesley.

"Fine. When can we spar then?"

"Ah, we'll come over at six," Wesley said, nervous.

"Will she go on patrol with me?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good."

Wesley realized he wasn't welcome and he looked at Faith.

"Come, Faith," he said.

Faith got up and quietly followed him.

"I don't believe this," Buffy said, upset, when they were gone. She looked at Giles. "Giles?"

"I don't know, Buffy," Giles said. "I suggest you talk to her when you go out on patrol."

"I will." She thought about Faith. "She looked so… cold."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "She makes Kendra look like the life of the party." He thought for a moment. "I liked the old Faith better."

"Yeah, me too," Willow agreed. "It's like they lobotomized her or something."

"And did you see her clothes? The old Faith would never have worn that."

"And she didn't have any makeup on."

"Yeah. She looked so…"

"Young," Buffy finished, remembering.

"Yeah."

Buffy looked at Giles.

"Giles, do you think we can break their… programming somehow?"

"I don't know, Buffy. We don't even know what they did to her."

Buffy sighed.

"I hope I'll find out something tonight."

"So do I." He thought for a moment. "Oh, one more thing," he remembered. "Faith got her GED and is going to UC Sunnydale this fall."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yes."

"Wow." She thought for a moment. "But she'll still be staying with Wes?"

"Yes, I believe so."

"It's like she has no will of her own," Willow said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed.

During the sparring session in the evening, Buffy tried taunting Faith, but Faith was ice cold. She didn't respond and it was as though she didn't feel any pain. She was merciless and she didn't appear to be tired at all. On one hand, Buffy envied her the stamina, and on the other, she was angry at the Council for what they did to Faith. She had liked Faith's liveliness and now Faith was even more conservative than Kendra. Hell, she was more of a zombie than a person. She hoped that she would be able to help her.

"So, Faith," Buffy said as she and Faith went out on patrol, "what'd they do to you?"

Faith glanced at her.

"They have… rehabilitated me," she said and Buffy noticed the hesitation in her voice.

"How?"

"I am not allowed to talk about it."

"Faith, we're alone. I want to help you."

"There is nothing you can help me with."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"You do remember what you were like before, don't you?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And what?" Faith asked.

"Don't you miss those times?"

"No."

"No?" Buffy said, surprised.

"No."

Buffy thought for a few moments.

"Wanna go to the Bronze when we're done?"

"No."

Buffy frowned.

"Why not?"

"I am to report to my Watcher."

"But don't you wanna go? I mean, the report can wait, it's not like we'll uncover an apocalypse or something."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I am not allowed to socialize unless my duty demands it," she said.

"Huh?" Buffy said. "That's a load of crap. And besides, you know vamps also go to the Bronze."

Faith was quiet for a few moments.

"I need to consult my Watcher," she then said.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised. "Let me guess, if we discovered there was an apocalypse in progress, you would first go to Wes to report. And by then the world might go to Hell," she said, upset. "Literally."

Faith didn't respond and Buffy sighed. Sure, the old Faith might have been a little too daring for her taste, but she was way better than this brainwashed Faith. She hoped she could find a way to help her.

Almost a month passed and Buffy decided she really hated the new Faith. It was like she had no personality, no will of her own, and talking to her was like talking to a retarded robot or something. And they had found no way to help her. At least Faith had performed well, although not as well as she had before, there was something missing from her movements.

The whole gang, including Faith, was on their way to a large vamp nest. Faith walked like she was invincible. Or perhaps she just didn't care whether she lived or died, Buffy thought.

They finally reached the nest and Buffy and Faith took point.

"Everyone ready?" Buffy asked and looked at her friends.

"Let's kick some vamp butt," Xander said, gripping his crossbow more tightly.

"Okay. Be careful." She looked at Faith. "Ready?"

"Yes," Faith said.

"Okay."

Buffy kicked down the door and charged. Faith was right behind her. As soon as they were inside, the Scoobs entered and blocked the exit. They fired at the vampires that were endangering the Slayers or were trying to escape. But they were soon forced to discard the crossbows and use their stakes instead.

Suddenly Xander noticed that one of the vampires had taken one of the bows they had discarded and had reloaded it.

"Buffy!" he called a warning when he saw where the vamp was aiming.

Everyone, including Faith, looked. Buffy was just engaged in a fight with two vamps. She looked, saw the archer and wanted to jump to safety, but another vamp blocked her path and they collided. She staked him, but a moment later, she was hit by an arrow.

"Buffy!" Faith screamed, freezing.

Time seemed to slow down for her as she watched Buffy fall to the ground. When Buffy finally hit the ground, something snapped inside of Faith. She screamed and attacked with fury. She first went after the vamps who were endangering Buffy. She staked them mercilessly and then stood over Buffy, protecting her.

The vamps quickly realized that Faith was very dangerous and they decided to concentrate on the Scoobs or simply run away. When Buffy was out of danger, Faith went after the vamp who shot Buffy. She had tried to shoot her as well, but she had missed and Faith had used the arrow to stake another vamp. The vamp quickly realized she was a target and she tried to run, but Faith was on her in a second and she ripped the head from her body.

But the moment the vamp turned to dust, she felt danger. She turned around and managed to catch the arrow, but it was too late, it had already hit her. She bit her teeth and quickly threw her stake at the vamp who had shot her. Then she picked up the crossbow from the vamp who had shot Buffy and used it as a stake instead.

By then only three vampires were left and when they saw that Faith was still moving, in spite of the arrow in her shoulder, they decided to get out of there. When they were gone, Faith stopped.

"Faith?" Willow asked.

Faith didn't respond. She slowly turned and looked at Buffy, who was lying on the floor, motionless. She started walking toward her, but then her body finally gave out. She dropped the crossbow and collapsed.

When Faith woke up, the first thing she noticed was pain. There was a whole lot of it and she felt like she was on fire or something. She briefly remembered Buffy getting shot with an arrow and her heart started to beat faster. Then she remembered the fear, for Buffy. And something snapping inside her, then getting shot herself. And then the memories came back, and the pain. Only this time the pain wasn't physical, it was emotional. She remembered Flinch. It was bad, the regret and the guilt eating up at her, but far worse was the abuse she had suffered at the hands of the Council. They called it rehabilitation, but it was nothing but cruel brainwashing. She felt like screaming.

Her eyes slowly opened and she flinched at the light.

"Buffy!" she remembered and tried to sit up, her concern for Buffy momentarily outweighing her pain and her anger. However, the physical pain quickly reminded her that she was in no position to move so fast. "Damn," she moaned.

"Faith?"

Faith jerked, recognizing the voice. She looked and saw Giles slowly walking toward her. She looked around and saw that he was alone. She thought for a moment and then decided that she didn't distrust him, or hate him.

"Buffy?"

"She's fine," Giles said, glancing over at Buffy. "She hasn't woken up yet."

Faith turned her head and saw that Buffy was lying in a bed next to hers. She also noticed that her lifesigns were stable. She breathed a sigh of relief and then looked at Giles, her anger resurfacing.

"Giles," she said, trying to control her emotions.

"Yes?"

"Tell Wes and the Council that if I ever see one of them again, I will kill them," she said in a cold voice. "Slowly."

"Faith?" Giles said, surprised.

"Tell Wes that if he's not out of country by the time I get out of here, I will hunt him down. Got it?"

"Faith, I, em…"

"Got it?!" Faith screamed, her eyes glowing with fury.

"Eh, yes, of course," Giles said, nervous and scared.

"Good," Faith said through her teeth.

"Eh, I'll… I'll go tell the Council then," Giles said, backing off.

"You do that," Faith said and took a deep breath. "Giles," she said quietly just before he left.

"Yes?" Giles said.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"I… I'm not gonna hurt you."

Giles stared at her for a few moments and then nodded.

When he was gone, Faith looked at Buffy again, remembering the feelings that broke her brainwashing. A few tears escaped her eyes as she also remembered how she had lost control again. Sure, the victims were vamps, but that didn't matter, she had lost control. A part of her wanted to get the hell out of Sunnydale, but another part convinced her to stay. She remembered how Buffy had tried to help her and she knew she was safe here. Relatively speaking, of course. She sighed, closing her eyes, and decided to rest.

An hour later, Buffy woke up.

"Buffy?" Faith said when she heard her moan.

Buffy opened her eyes and blinked a few times.

"Faith?" she said and looked at her.

"How do you feel?" Faith asked, anxious.

"Like shit," Buffy said and smiled, but her smile faded when she noticed that Faith was in a similar condition. "What happened to you?"

Faith shrugged.

"Got careless."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments.

"Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you… you know, normal?"

Faith chuckled, but she quickly stopped as it caused her pain.

"Yeah, you could say that."

Buffy smiled.

"Good. I missed the old you."

Faith's face became serious.

"I didn't," she said quietly.

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Faith sighed and looked away.

"Nothing," she said.

"Faith…"

"Rest, B. Giles was here a while ago. I'm guessing he'll be back soon."

"Oh."

Buffy wanted to continue the conversation, but Faith closed her eyes, so she didn't.

Not long after Buffy woke up, Giles returned, this time with Willow and Xander.

"Eh, Faith?"

Faith opened her eyes.

"Yes?"

"I, em, told Wesley. He's already on the plane."

"Good."

"Told what?" Buffy asked.

"Buffy! You're awake!" Willow said, happy, and ran to her.

"Hey," Buffy said with a smile.

"How do you feel?"

"My shoulder hurts like hell. I want out of here."

"I'll, eh, talk to the doctor," Giles said and left.

"Told what?"

"Huh?" Willow said, puzzled.

"What did Giles tell Wesley?"

Willow glanced at Faith nervously.

"He, eh, well…"

"He told him to get lost," Xander helped.

"Yeah, that's it."

"But isn't he Faith's Watcher?" Buffy asked.

"Not anymore."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Faith?"

"I don't need a Watcher, B," Faith said.

"Hey, she really is back to normal," Xander said and grinned.

"How do you feel?" Willow asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"Like I've been to Hell and back," she said, her face serious.

Faith kicked angrily at her bed. Giles had gotten them released and then they all went to the house where she and Wesley lived. Only now it was deserted. All of Wesley's things were gone and she hated the things that the Council got for her.

"Faith?" Buffy said, worried.

"Now I got nothing, not even my own stuff."

"You have this," Buffy said and waved her hand around.

Faith snorted.

"Please. They'll probably sell it. Bastards even took my old clothes away." She thought for a moment and then looked at Giles. "Is there a pawn shop around?"

"Ah, yes, I believe it is."

"Good, 'cause I got some things to get rid of." She looked at Buffy, Willow and Xander. "Pick up whatever you can carry."

After pawning some of the things from the house, Faith had enough money to go shopping. She bought a bag, some clothes she liked and some makeup.

"Where are you going to stay?" Buffy asked when they were done.

Faith shrugged.

"In a motel, where else?"

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"You can stay with my mom," she then offered. "We have a spare room."

Faith looked at her and thought about the offer. A part of her wanted to say no, because she remembered how she felt about Buffy and also because, illogical as it was, she blamed Buffy for what had happened to her. But another part wanted to say yes, because then she would have the safety of Buffy's home and she also wouldn't have to worry about rent and food.

"Okay," she agreed.

Buffy smiled, surprised but glad, and Faith got a strange feeling in her stomach.

"Oh, em, you're not dropping out of college, are you?"

Faith thought about it and then took a deep breath when she reached a conclusion.

"No. I mean, I hate school, but I've gotten this far, so."

Buffy smiled.

"That's the spirit."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"But I'm probably gonna need some help with studying and all."

"No problem. If you need help, you know where to find me. Or Willow."

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"Let's go home now."

A weak later, both Slayers went out on a mission to eradicate another nest of vamps. During the mission, however, Faith's pent up emotions resurfaced. They were outnumbered and Buffy wanted to retreat, but Faith ignored her. She wreaked havoc on the vamps, screaming, and Buffy was forced to stay back, wondering, worried, what was wrong with Faith.

Then, miraculously, they were the last two standing. Faith stood still and stared at the ashes, shocked.

Buffy slowly approached her and touched her on the shoulder.

"Faith…" she started, but was interrupted by Faith's fist in the face. She staggered back, surprised. "What…" she started, but she didn't have the time to finish the question as she found herself under Faith's attack.

Faith kept screaming as she fought Buffy. She was furious and she blamed Buffy for what had happened to her on the hands of the Council. She wanted her to pay. Hell, she wanted someone, anyone, to pay, Buffy was just there.

Buffy barely managed to defend herself. She was seriously worried about Faith and for a while she wondered if Faith had completely flipped out, but then she noticed a tear slide down Faith's cheek and she understood that Faith was just releasing her emotions. She just hoped they would both be standing when Faith was done.

Faith quickly noticed when Buffy went on the defensive and it infuriated her even more. She attacked with a renewed vigor and Buffy barely managed to keep up.

The fight went on for several minutes and Buffy was starting to wonder if Faith would break at all, when Faith suddenly tripped and went down to her knees. But instead of getting up again, Faith buried her head in her hands and started to cry.

Buffy hesitated for a few moments, wondering if it was a trick. She decided that it wasn't and she kneeled beside Faith. She slowly put her arm around Faith's shoulder and Faith leaned on her, ending up with her head in Buffy's lap. Buffy quietly held her and caressed her, tears running down her cheeks as well.

When Faith finally calmed down a few minutes later, she slowly got on her knees again and started wiping her tears. She didn't look at Buffy and Buffy wiped her own tears first before trying to talk to Faith.

When Faith was done with wiping her tears, she got up again. Buffy got up as well.

"Faith," she said when Faith started to walk away without looking at her. "Faith, wait," she said and moved to block her way. "Look at me," she said when Faith didn't look at her.

Faith slowly lifted her head, forcing herself to look at Buffy. Buffy hesitated for a moment and then reached up with her hand to caress Faith.

"It's okay, Faith," she said.

"I'm sorry," Faith whispered and nearly started to cry again.

"No need," Buffy said softly.

She hesitated for a moment and then stepped closer. Faith tensed for a moment, but when Buffy spread her arms, she calmed. When Faith didn't back off, Buffy stepped up to her and slowly hugged her. Faith hesitated for a few moments and then hugged her back. She sobbed for a while and Buffy quietly held her, occasionally caressing her.

When Faith finally calmed down again, she let go of Buffy.

"Feeling better?" Buffy asked.

Faith nodded, avoiding Buffy's eyes.

"Yeah," she said, her voice coarse. She took a deep breath. "Thanks."

Buffy smiled a little.

"You're welcome." She hesitated for a moment. "Wanna talk about it?"

Faith thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No."

She hesitated for a moment and then looked at Buffy. She stared at her for a few moments, thinking. She suddenly felt the urge to tell Buffy that she loved her, but she was scared. But then she realized that the worst thing that could happen was that Buffy wouldn't love her back and that would be less bad than if she never got to tell Buffy that she loved her. Because if there was anything she had learned from being brainwashed was not to hold her emotions in. Sure, she might get hurt, but she could deal with that.

"Everything okay?" Buffy asked.

Faith took a deep breath, nervous.

"I love you," she said.

Buffy gasped, startled.

"What?"

Faith gulped.

"I love you," she repeated and looked at her boots. "I wanted so much to talk to you when I was brainwashed, but I couldn't." She shrugged. "I just want you to know."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments. The last thing she expected to hear from Faith was that she loved her. She had never thought about how she felt about Faith, but now that she did, she realized that maybe she did love Faith. She had never thought about being with a girl before, but that didn't bother her much, especially since Faith was beautiful. She smiled.

"I think I maybe love you too," she said.

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"What?"

"I think I maybe love you too," Buffy repeated, blushing.

Faith frowned.

"You do?"

"Maybe. I'm not quite sure. I need to think about it first."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

Buffy smiled.

"Let's go home," she said and offered Faith her hand.

Faith stared at it for a few moments and then took it. She didn't want to hope that Buffy actually loved her, in spite of what Buffy had said, but she couldn't help herself. But at least she and Buffy would still be friends and maybe she would fall in love with someone else some day. All in all it was not a hopeless situation.

The End