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. This story is set right after the Buffy episode Normal Again.

Real Life
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Doctor Shaw," a nurse came running to Buffy's room, where Joyce was crying on Hank's shoulder after Buffy went catatonic for good.

Shaw looked at her, annoyed.

"What is it?"

"The Spencer girl, she just went wild again."

Shaw sighed.

"Excuse me," he said and followed the nurse outside. "What happened?" he asked as they walked down the hall.

"I don't know, she just started screaming again and trying to break out."

"We'll have to increase her does then," Shaw declared.

"Are you sure that's wise, Sir?" the nurse asked.

"Don't tell me how to do my job, Nurse," Shaw snapped.

"Sorry, Sir," the nurse said and stuck out her tongue at him when he was in front of her.

They quickly reached the white room in which Faith was tied up in a straightjacket. Three orderlies were already waiting.

"Take her down," he ordered.

"Yes, Sir," one of the orderlies said and opened the door.

The orderlies entered and Faith immediately attacked them, trying to break free. Doctor Shaw calmly took a bottle of something from his coat pocket and filled up a syringe with it.

"Hold her very still," he said when the orderlies subdued Faith.

As he approached, Faith stared at him with a look full of hate, trying to break free, not wanting to get drugged again. But the orderlies were strong and she wasn't and so Shaw quickly injected her with a drug. The orderlies held her until she passed out. Then they released her and quickly backed off, in case she was faking it. She wasn't, so they left and locked up.

"Doctor Carter," the nurse said as another doctor came by.

"Hello, Shelly," Carter said. She glanced at the door. "What happened?"

"She started screaming again and wanted to break out," Shaw said.

"Doctor Shaw drugged her," Shelly added.

Carter raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure that's wise? She's been mostly drugged."

Shaw threw an annoyed looked at Shelly.

"She's a hopeless case, like that Summers girl. I won't be wasting my time with them when I can help others."

"You might take Faith to Buffy," Shelly suggested and Shaw glared at her.

"Why?" Carter asked.

"A while ago, when Faith saw Buffy, she calmed down, but when the orderlies took her away again, she freaked out again."

"Really?" Carter asked and looked at Shaw. "Maybe you should try it. It's not like you have anything to lose."

"Faith is not stable, who knows what she'll do to Buffy if we put them together."

"She's in straightjacket and you have the orderlies. If she tries anything, they can restrain her," Carter pointed out.

"Is that an order?" Shaw asked.

Carter frowned, puzzled.

"Should it be?"

"No, of course not," Shaw said. "I'll try it when she wakes up."

"Good," Carter said and left.

Shaw looked at Shelly.

"You should learn to keep your mouth shut," he said and stormed away.

"Moron," Shelly murmured and left.

When Faith woke up, she was disorientated and it took her hours to remember what had happened.

"Buffy," she whispered in a moment of clarity, but then the drugs in her system overwhelmed her again and she forgot all about it.

It wasn't until the next day that Shelly was finally allowed inside to feed Faith. For some reason Faith couldn't stand Doctor Shaw, but she didn't mind Shelly. So when she wasn't in the white room raging, Shelly secretly kept her company.

When Shelly was done, Shaw had two orderlies grab Faith while the third stood ready with the shocking stick.

"Hey, it's okay," Shelly said when Faith started struggling. "They're taking you to Buffy. You remember that special girl?"

Faith looked at her and stopped struggling, trying to focus.

"That's it, you remember her, a pretty blonde."

"Take her," Shaw said and the orderlies moved.

"I'm going with you," Shelly told Faith and led the way.

Faith obediently went with the orderlies.

When they arrived to Buffy's room, Doctor Carter was there, curious to see what would happen.

"What are you doing here?" Shaw asked, annoyed.

"I'm curious," Carter said.

Shaw bit his teeth, annoyed, but didn't comment.

"Let her inside," he told the orderlies.

Shelly opened the door and when Faith saw Buffy, she shook off the orderlies and ran to her. The orderlies quickly followed her, but she glared at them, growling.

"Grab her, this isn't working," Shaw said, hoping to end this experiment as quickly as possible.

"No, wait," Carter said and the orderlies looked at her questioningly. "Back off."

The orderlies backed off and Faith relaxed.

"What are you doing?" Shaw asked, annoyed.

"Watch," Carter said and nodded at Faith.

As soon as the orderlies were away, Faith approached Buffy's bed and checked her out to see if she was alright. When she was pretty sure that Buffy was reasonably alright, she looked around. She located a chair and used her feet to bring it closer to the bed. Then she sat on it and stared at Buffy.

"See, I don't think she'll hurt her," Carter said.

"While we're here," Shaw said, annoyed.

"Faith," Shelly called and Faith looked at her. "Do you want to hurt Buffy?"

Faith frowned and then shook her head.

Shaw glared at Shelly.

"I would appreciate it if you stopped interfering with my work," he told her. Then he looked at Carter. "You don't really believe her, do you?"

Carter thought about it.

"I don't know." She thought for a moment. "Let's see what happens if she thinks we're gone."

Shaw bit his teeth, angry because Carter was interfering with his job.

"Close the door," he told the orderlies.

One of the orderlies did so and then they backed off.

"Let's wait, say, ten seconds," Carter said and glanced at her watch.

Shaw crossed his arms. He didn't want Carter to interfere with his job, but she was his boss and he didn't want to piss her off or make her suspicious. He glanced at his watch.

"Now?" he asked.

Carter glanced at her watch and nodded.

"Yes."

They went to the door and looked though the small window. Carter smiled when she saw that Faith had lain her head on the bed and was resting.

"See?" she said. "I think she's just being protective. I think you should leave her in, but keep an eye on her."

Shaw bit his teeth and made fists, furious.

"I will." He looked at the orderlies. "If she tries anything, throw her back in the white room."

"Yes, Sir," one of the orderlies said and they left.

Shaw stormed off and Carter stared after her with a frown.

"He doesn't like Buffy and Faith," Shelly said.

Carter looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

Shelly shrugged.

"I don't know. It's just a feeling, you know? I mean, when others freak out, he just puts them in a straightjacket, maybe throws them in the white room if they're real bad, but he always drugs Buffy and Faith."

"And?" Carter asked when she saw that Shelly was hesitating.

"Well," Shelly said, "I don't mean, I mean, I know I'm no doctor, but Buffy recovered while Doctor Shaw was sick. And Faith started to get better too. But when Doctor Shaw came back, they immediately had a remission. Buffy went catatonic and Faith freaked out again."

Carter thought for a moment.

"Keep your eyes open and don't talk to anyone about this," she then said.

"Yes, Ma'am," Shelly said and left.

Carter went back to the door and looked inside, where Faith was still resting. She stared at the two girls for a few moments, then she took a deep breath and finally left.

A week later, Buffy's parents came around to visit Buffy, deep down still hoping that somehow Buffy would recover.

"Hello, Doctor Carter," Hank said and they shook hands.

"Hello. I'm afraid Buffy's condition is still the same," Carter said.

Joyce sighed.

"We know. We just want to spend some time with her."

Carter nodded.

"Of course. But I have to warn you, we're running an experiment."

"What experiment?" Hank asked, worried.

"No, no, nothing to worry about, I assure you. But there is another inmate and Buffy's presence seems to have a calming effect on her. She's in straightjacket at the moment, but we're hoping to be able to take it off soon."

"Is she dangerous?" Joyce asked.

"Faith?" Carter thought for a moment. "We're not sure. She was constantly raging before, but ever since we put her in Buffy's room, she's completely calm. Though for some reason she can't stand Doctor Shaw."

"Oh."

"She seems to be very protective towards Buffy."

"Really?"

"Yes. We're not sure what to make of it."

"Oh."

"And I'm not sure how she will react to you."

"Can we see Buffy now?" Hank asked.

"Yes, of course."

"That's Faith," Carter said when they got to Buffy's room.

Hank and Joyce looked through the small window and saw Faith resting her head on Buffy's bed.

"How long has she been here?" Joyce asked.

"Faith? Two years," Carter said and opened the door.

They entered and Faith was immediately on her feet, ready to protect Buffy.

"It's alright, Faith," Carter said and stopped. "These are Buffy's parents."

Faith looked at Hank and Joyce and frowned. There was something familiar about them, but her mind was too full of drugs to remember. Still, she felt that Doctor Carter was not her enemy. She slowly sat back in her chair and stared at Buffy's parents.

"I think she's accepted you," Carter said.

"Can we go closer?" Joyce asked.

"Yes, of course."

Joyce and Hank went closer, Faith still staring at them.

"There are orderlies outside. If anything is wrong, just call," Carter said.

"We will," Hank said and Carter left, locking the door behind her.

Joyce and Hank started to feel a bit uncomfortable under Faith's stare.

"Em, hello," Joyce said, but Faith didn't respond.

"I think we should just ignore her," Hank said.

"I suppose," Joyce said.

Hank got them a couple of chairs and they sat on the other side of the bed and quietly talked to one another.

Faith stared at them for a while and then lay her head back on the bed. Joyce and Hank looked at her, startled, but then they continued their conversation.

"Joyce," Faith suddenly said.

"What?" Joyce said, startled, but Faith didn't respond. "Did she just say my name?" Joyce asked Hank, confused.

"I'm not sure."

They stared at her for a few moments, wondering what Faith had said. They were just about to resume their conversation when Faith spoke again.

"Joyce," she said.

"See? She said my name," Joyce said.

"Joyce," Faith said again. "Buffy's mom… Joyce."

"How does she know my name?" Joyce asked Hank.

"I don't know, I guess she must've heard me say it."

Joyce thought for a moment and then shook her head.

"No, you didn't say it."

"Joyce. Hank and Joyce," Faith said again, her head still resting on the bed, eyes closed. "Hank. Ice rink. Gallery."

"How does she know that?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Buffy must've told her."

"About you taking Buffy to the ice rink? And besides, they only put them together after Buffy went catatonic."

Hank frowned, confused.

"I don't…"

He trailed off when Faith suddenly sat up, her eyes wide with fear.

"Don't tell. Don't tell," she said.

"What?" Hank said, startled.

"Don't tell."

"Tell what?"

"Don't tell."

"I think she means the fact that she knows us," Joyce said.

Faith nodded a bit.

"Don't tell. Don't tell."

"Okay, we won't tell," Joyce said and Faith calmed down.

"Don't tell," Faith said quietly and looked at Buffy. "Don't tell," she whispered.

Then she frowned as her sanity took a vacation again, and she laid her head back on the bed, closing her eyes again.

Joyce and Hank stared at her for a few moments and then looked at one another, confused.

"That was strange," Hank said.

"Yes," Joyce said.

They stared at Faith for few moments and then resumed their conversation.

When they were leaving an hour later, Shelly came in. Faith was immediately on her feet, but she sat again when she saw who it was.

"Oh, hello," Shelly said.

"Hello," Joyce said.

"Time for the medicine," Shelly said.

"You administer them?" Hank asked.

Shelly nodded.

"Yes. Doctor Shaw administered them before, but now that Faith is here, I'm administering them. For some reason Faith can't stand him."

"Oh," Joyce said.

"Has Faith behaved?"

"Yes, she has."

Shelly smiled.

"That's good. Hopefully they'll take the straightjacket off soon."

"You don't think she's dangerous?" Joyce asked.

Shelly shrugged.

"I'm no expert, but no, I don't think so. I mean, sure, she can be, but she's been calm since she's here with Buffy. She's very protective towards her."

"Yes, Doctor Carter said so."

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Goodbye then."

"Goodbye," Joyce said. She looked at Faith. "Goodbye, Faith."

Faith looked at her, startled, but said nothing.

Joyce and Hank left, and Shelly came closer.

"Time for medicine, Faith," she said, and Faith looked at her.

A week later, something unbelievable happened, at least as far as Faith was concerned. For some reason, Doctor Carter convinced Doctor Shaw to take off her straightjacket. They sent Shelly in to do it, knowing that Faith tolerated her. Shelly took off the straightjacket and Faith stretched her arms. Then she sat back in the chair and watched Buffy again, trying to focus.

Shelly hesitated for a moment and then left the room, glad that Faith didn't freak out.

"See, she's better," she said as Doctor Shaw locked the door.

"We'll see," Shaw said, not at all happy with the way things were going.

The next day, Joyce and Hank came again.

"Hello, Faith," Joyce greeted her. "You're out of straightjacket."

Faith looked at herself and then back at Buffy.

Joyce and Hank glanced at one another and then sat down on the other side of bed.

It took Faith another week to focus enough to start convincing Shelly to stop giving them drugs. Shelly was reluctant at first, but she finally did as Faith asked her. There were two reasons for that. The first was that she didn't trust Doctor Shaw when it came to Faith and Buffy and the other was that Faith didn't try to force her to stop giving them drugs.

Slowly, Faith's mind cleared and she felt herself becoming strong again.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy said, annoyed, when she found Faith in her dreams one night.

"I could ask you the same thing," Faith said, puzzled.

"Do you mind, I'm trying to sleep."

"No, you can't."

Buffy frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean."

Faith frowned as well.

"I'm not sure. For some reason you need to wake up."

"What, some new evil coming to town?"

"I don't know, Buffy."

"You need to have your head examined, Faith."

"That's it!" Faith said. "I'm not Faith."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You are crazy."

"No, I'm not and neither are you."

Buffy frowned.

"Of course I'm not."

"Then wake up."

"Again with the riddles."

The scene flashed around them and they could see Faith lying in coma.

"No, that's not right," Faith said. She frowned and a few minutes Faith turned into Buffy. "Yes, that's it."

Buffy crossed her arms.

"I'm not in coma, Faith."

"I know, but you're still not waking up."

"Get real, Faith."

"Real. Yes, that's it, I'm real."

"You're crazy."

"No, I'm not and neither are you. Listen, Buffy, something is not right. My mind's all fuzzy, but I know that something is seriously wrong with us."

"I repeat, you're crazy."

"Damn it, Buffy," Faith said, exasperated, "I'm not your Faith, I'm the real one."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Faith sighed, trying to concentrate.

"Your Faith, the psycho, she's not real. I mean, she's part me and part your imagination."

"You should be committed to a loony bin," Buffy said.

"That's it! I was. You were too. Yes, that's it, we've been committed," Faith said excitedly. "Everybody thinks we're crazy, but we're not." She scratched her head. "Damn, I wish I could concentrate." She sighed. "Look, Buffy, I wanna get out of this nightmare."

"That's just fine by me," Buffy said.

"Damn it, Buffy, focus. You managed to get out of here a while ago. Come back."

"I did, Faith. I'm not crazy anymore."

"I know, you never were. And neither am I." She sighed. "My mind's all fuzzy."

"It was never that straight to begin with."

Faith glared at Buffy.

"Very funny." She took a deep breath. "Look, Buffy, trust me, you need to wake up. This life of yours, it's just a dream."

"Shut up, Faith," Buffy said, upset.

"Buffy…"

"Shut up or I'll kick the shit out of you."

"Damn it, Buffy, why do you have to be so stubborn," Faith said, exasperated.

"Oh, time to go."

"No, Buffy, wait!"

"I thought you wanted me to wake up," Buffy said and was gone.

"Damn," Faith said and then she too woke up.

"Damn," Faith murmured when she woke up.

She was confused, she still had problems separating reality from the world Buffy had created and which she could sometimes visit. She looked at Buffy and sighed.

"Wake up," she said quietly.

It took Faith a couple of days to get into Buffy's dreams again.

"Now what do you want?" Buffy said, annoyed.

"I know now what's going on," Faith said.

"What?"

"We're in the loony bin."

"Great, there you go again."

"No, I'm serious. This world of yours, it's real, you are a Slayer and so am I, but it's not just your world, it's mine too."

Buffy frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"This world, it's made of your memories, mine and Kendra's and also from our fears and hopes and our imagination."

"What do you mean?"

Faith thought for a moment, glad that Buffy was listening.

"Your friends, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, they're my friends."

"Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. You disappeared soon after you were called."

"Then when was Kendra called?"

"Not long before you disappeared. I think you died for a few moments when you fought that vamp at your high school."

"Lothos."

"Yeah, whatever. Anyway, Kendra was killed a couple of months later and then I was called."

"So you're telling me I didn't die for Dawn?"

Faith shook her head.

"No, but you would have. And the nerds? I took care of them a while ago, they're in jail now."

"And you? You didn't kill Finch?"

Faith shook her head.

"No, and I never worked for the Mayor either. That was just you being jealous of me."

Buffy frowned.

"Me jealous of you?"

"Yeah, you didn't like the competition."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, studying her.

"How do I know you're not lying?"

Faith sighed.

"I don't know, Buffy. I mean, if there was anything I could do to convince you, I would do it." She hesitated for a moment. "I guess you'll have to trust me."

Buffy snorted.

"Right."

"Look, I'm not the Faith from your world, I'm the real thing. I mean, your Faith, she's full of my fears and if what happened in your world was real, I would've probably acted the same way." She sighed. "Listen, I think I know who's responsible for us being here."

"The Council?"

"Yeah, but I mean here, at the loony bin. It's Doctor Shaw. He's a real bastard. But I got a nurse to help me and we're both off drugs now. I'm getting better and I'm hoping you'll get better too."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments, thinking.

"Is Mom still alive?" she then asked.

"Yeah. She and your dad come over every week. They've been here a couple of days ago."

Buffy gulped and then took a deep breath.

"This is so confusing."

"I know. When I'm awake I sometimes don't know what's real and what's not. It's getting better now."

Buffy sighed.

"If your world is real, I don't have any friends, but if my world is real, Mom is dead and Dad is… away."

"They could be your friends too," Faith said.

Buffy took a deep breath.

"I don't know. I wish there was some way for me to be sure what's real and what's not."

"You're off drugs now, so, hopefully, you'll remember."

"And how can I be sure that you're not putting me under drugs?"

Faith smiled sadly.

"You can't." She sighed. "Bye."

"What?" Buffy said, startled.

"I'm waking up."

"Wait!"

When Joyce and Hank came to visit Buffy again a few days later, Doctor Shaw escorted them in. Faith was immediately on her feet, glaring at him.

"If she doesn't behave, call the orderlies," he said, giving Faith a stern look.

"She's alright," Joyce said and looked at Faith.

"You never know," Shaw said and left.

"Hello, Faith," Joyce said.

Faith looked at her and blinked a couple of times.

"Mrs Summers."

Joyce smiled.

"Yes."

Faith frowned.

"I'm having trouble concentrating," she said.

"You're talking," Joyce said, surprised.

"Yeah. But don't tell Shaw, he'll put me in a straightjacket again and drug me."

Joyce frowned.

"Why would he do that?"

"I don't know." She concentrated. "I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

"I don't know, I can't remember."

Faith sighed and sat down. Joyce and Hank stared at her for a few moments and then sat down as well.

"How do you feel?" Hank asked.

Faith looked at him, startled.

"I'm confused."

"About what?"

"About what's real and what's her imagination," Faith said and nodded at Buffy.

Hank frowned, confused.

"What do you mean?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Sometimes, when I sleep, I can see what's going on inside her head. Some of it is real and some of it is her imagination. It's confusing, because she's using my memories too and sometimes I don't know what happened to her and what happened to me."

Hank looked at Joyce, thinking that Faith really was crazy.

"Was Celia my cousin?" Faith asked.

"What?" Joyce said, startled.

"Celia, was she my cousin?"

"No, she was Buffy's."

Faith though for a moment.

"She died when she was eight."

"Yes," Joyce said, surprised. "How do you know that?"

"I told you, I can see what's going on inside her head. She thinks it's real." She thought for a moment. "Yes, I've been trying to get her to wake up, but she doesn't trust me." She hesitated for a moment. "She thinks you're dead." She gasped as she remembered something. "Now I remember," she said and reached under Buffy's mattress. "Here," she said and offered Joyce a piece of paper, some pills and a couple of syringes.

"What is that?"

"That's what Shaw's been giving us. I want you to have it analyzed."

"Why?" Joyce asked, confused.

"Because I don't think these drugs are what he claims they are. Here's a list of what each of us is getting. Please. If I'm right, Buffy and I aren't crazy."

"And if you're wrong?" Hank asked.

Faith shrugged.

"Then we're both crazy, but at least I'll know Shaw's not my enemy."

Joyce and Hank looked at one another.

"Please," Faith continued, "I'm trying to convince Buffy to wake up, but if Shaw drugs us again, god knows when I'll be able to focus enough again."

Joyce hesitated for a moment, staring straight into Faith's eyes, and then took the drugs.

"Honey?" Hank asked.

"She has a point," Joyce said. "And if there's even a remote chance that Buffy might wake up again, I want to take it," she said and put away the drugs.

"Don't tell Shaw," Faith said, worried.

Joyce nodded.

"We won't."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Buffy.

"Come on, Buffy," she said quietly as she took her hand.

In the afternoon, Carter called Shelly to her office.

"You wanted to see me, Doctor?"

"Yes. Close the door."

Shelly did so and then came closer.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, worried.

"I think so, yes. I need you to bring me the drugs Doctor Shaw wants you to administer to Buffy Summers and Faith Spencer. And a list of what he says those drugs are."

"You suspect he's responsible for their condition?" Shelly asked, wondering whether she should tell Carter that Faith had suspected the same thing.

"I don't know," Carter said and took a deep breath. "Go."

"Yes, Ma'am," Shelly said and left.

"What the hell's going on?" Buffy demanded when Faith showed up in her dreams again.

"We're dreaming," Faith said.

"I know we're dreaming. I mean, what's going on, why is everything falling apart?"

"What do you mean?" Faith asked, confused.

"I'm starting to forget some things and remember others. It doesn't make sense."

"That's probably because your system is getting rid of the drugs. I gave your mom the drugs so she could analyze them. And Shelly told me that Doctor Carter, she's the boss around here, she said that Doctor Carter also suspects Shaw. I hope we'll get out of here soon."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments.

"This is all so confusing. I mean, I remember dying twice, but I only died once. I remember jumping off that tower, but I know I didn't," she said.

"I know."

Buffy sighed.

"I hope you're not playing with me, Faith."

"I'm not, Buffy, I swear."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments again and then nodded.

"Now what?"

Faith shrugged.

"Don't know, it's pretty much up to you."

"Great," Buffy said. "If this lasts any longer, I'm gonna wake up crazy."

Faith grinned.

"Who knows, that might be an improvement."

Buffy glared at her.

"That was not funny."

Faith winked at her.

"Just joking."

"Right."

Faith smiled.

"Come on, let's sort out what's yours and what's mine," Faith said and sat on the bed.

Buffy snorted.

"It's not gonna help much. When I wake up I mostly don't remember what we talked about."

"Yeah, I know," Faith said. "Still, I remember some things. And lately I remember more and more."

Buffy thought about it.

"Why not?" she said and joined Faith on the bed.

When Carter received the results the next day, she hoped that she was wrong in her suspicions. But when she read them through, she saw that she was not.

"Son of a bitch," she swore.

Faith sat beside Buffy, holding her hand as usually, when Buffy suddenly opened her eyes.

"Buffy?" she said, excited.

Buffy looked at her and gasped, surprised. She immediately backed off and she fell of the bed.

"It's okay, Buffy," Faith said and rushed around the bed. "This is reality."

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked, trying to focus.

"I'm an inmate here, like you, remember? That bastard was keeping us drugged."

Buffy frowned as she tried to remember.

"Mom. She was here. And Dad."

"Yes," Faith said with a nod and offered her her hand. "Come, get up."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and then accepted her hand and got up.

"Now what?" she asked and looked at the IV tubes.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know, I guess we fake it until Shelly comes."

Buffy frowned as she got back into bed.

"Who's She… Nurse. She's a nurse."

"Yeah," Faith confirmed and went to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair.

"I am the Slayer, right?"

"A Slayer. I'm a Slayer too."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a few moments. "Did Mom and Dad say when they'll be back?" she then asked.

"No, but I think they should come today or tomorrow, depends on when the tests are done."

"Tests… Oh, right." She took a deep breath. "My mind's a real mess."

Faith smiled.

"Mine too."

"I need to think."

Buffy closed her eyes and tried to clear up her mind. Faith quietly observed her, thinking as well.

A few minutes later, Shaw came with three orderlies.

"Pretend you're still out," Faith told Buffy as she got on her feet.

Buffy nodded and closed her eyes again.

"Get them, quickly," Shaw said when he opened the door. "We need to be out of here in five minutes."

Faith realized that for some reason Shaw wanted to move them. She quickly made a plan.

As the orderlies approached her, she pretended she was still drugged and she didn't resist much. The third orderly stunned her with the shocking stick and she convulsed in pain, but she didn't attack. Then Shaw came closer with a syringe. Faith waited until he was close enough. Then she kicked him in the face, knocking him aside. The third orderly tried to stun her again, but she kicked him as well. Then she shook off the two orderlies that were holding her, and knocked them aside.

"Buffy," she called.

Buffy quickly got up and pulled out the IV tubes.

"What the hell?" Shaw said, surprised, when he saw Buffy get up.

"Quickly, don't let them escape," Faith said and Buffy moved to help her knock out the orderlies.

Together, the two girls quickly subdued the orderlies. Then they approached Shaw, who was scared now.

"Why are we here?" Faith asked him.

"Because you're ill. You…"

Faith slapped him.

"Don't lie to us, Doc, we're not crazy. We the Slayers and we know it." She grabbed his throat. "Why did the Council put us here?"

"I-I don't know," Shaw croaked. "I was told to keep you here."

The Slayers stared at him for a few moments.

"Let's get out of here," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Faith agreed.

She searched Shaw for keys and then they left the room. Faith locked it and broke the key.

"You know the way out?" Buffy asked.

"No."

"Oh."

Faith looked both ways.

"This way," she decided and they started walking.

Buffy was a bit weak, so Faith supported her. She felt a bit strange at first, still under the influence of the fake world she had created, but she quickly adjusted.

They didn't get very far.

"Shit," Faith said when she saw Doctor Carter, who was accompanied by seven orderlies and guards.

"Trouble?" Buffy asked, worried.

"I don't know. That's Doctor Carter, she's the boss here."

"Oh."

"Miss Summers! You're back?" Carter said, surprised.

"Eh, yeah?" Buffy said.

"That's good."

"What's going on?" Faith asked, eyeing the orderlies and the guards.

"I tested the drugs Doctor Shaw was administering you. It turned out that they were not what he claimed them to be. He was responsible for your conditions."

"Yeah, we know that. He's in our room with three orderlies."

"Really?" Carter said, surprised.

"Yeah. He tried to kidnap us or something, he was in a hurry."

Carter went to the door and looked inside.

"I broke the key in the lock," Faith said.

Carter looked at the lock and then at the guards.

"Get this door opened and then detain them," she ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am," the lead guard said.

"Doctor Carter! Doctor Carter!" a nurse came running.

"Yes?"

"Somebody hit Shelly on the head."

"Where is she?"

"In the apothecary. She's unconscious and she's bleeding. Mary's with her."

"Let's go."

Carter and the nurse went to the apothecary, the Slayers slowly trailing after them.

When Buffy and Faith got to the apothecary, Shelly was already waking up.

"Shelly?" Carter asked.

"Doctor," Shelly said. "Oh! Doctor Shaw! He… He took some drugs. I don't know which. But I heard him talking about taking Faith and Buffy away."

"We're okay," Faith said and Shelly looked at her.

"She's awake?" she said, surprised, when she saw Buffy.

"Yeah. She woke up a while ago."

Shelly smiled.

"So it worked."

"Yeah."

"What worked?" Carter asked.

"Uh…" Shelly said, suddenly nervous.

"Shelly helped me out," Faith said. "I stopped taking drugs and I didn't give them to Buffy either. That's why we're better."

"Oh." Carter looked back at Shelly. "Let me see your head."

Shelly leaned closer and Carter took a look.

"Just a scratch," she declared. She looked at Mary. "Get me an antiseptic, some gauze and some bandages."

"Yes, Doctor," Mary said and left.

"Em, Doc," Faith said.

"Yes?" Carter said, glancing at her.

"Could we get a room and a couple of pizzas? Each?"

Carter frowned and looked at her.

"You each want to eat two pizzas?"

Faith shrugged.

"Yeah. I mean, we've been on hospital food and drugs for way too long."

Carter nodded and looked at the nurse who found Shelly.

"Mara, go order four pizzas. And something to drink."

"Yes, Doctor," Mara said and left.

Mary returned and Carter then took care of Shelly's head.

"There," she said when she was done.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Take a break for an hour."

"Yes, Doctor. Oh, eh, I gave… I mean, Faith gave Mrs Summers samples of the drugs Doctor Shaw was using on them," Shelly said, glancing at Faith.

"Why?"

"So she would have them analyzed."

"I wasn't sure if I could trust you," Faith explained.

"I see. I will call them right away." Carter thought for a moment. "Anyone you would like notified?"

Faith shrugged.

"Everyone I know thinks I'm dead. I'll call them myself once I get out of here."

"Okay."

"Can we get a room?" Buffy asked. "I don't feel like standing right now."

Carter smiled.

"Yes, of course. Come."

Carter took them to an empty room and then went to her office.

Buffy's stomach growled and they laughed.

"Man, I'm starving," Faith said.

"At least you had solid food to eat, I only had IV drip," Buffy said.

Faith grinned.

"Which was probably better."

Buffy thought about it.

"Now that you mention it," she said and climbed on the bed.

"Move over," Faith said and joined her.

Buffy sighed.

"My friends are actually your friends, right?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"And Angel and Riley…"

"My ex-boyfriends."

Buffy took a deep breath.

"I guess I'm gonna miss Dawn the most."

Faith tensed as she suddenly remembered.

"Dawnie. Brunette, long hair, tall, very pretty?"

"Yes," Buffy said with a frown.

"Oh my god," Faith said and ran off.

Buffy followed her, puzzled.

When Faith came to Carter's office, Carter was on the phone.

"I need to use your phone," Faith said.

"One moment," Carter said.

Faith nodded and started pacing, worried.

Buffy arrived a few moments later.

"Faith?" she asked and leaned on her, a bit out of breath.

"Dawn's my sister," Faith explained.

"Oh."

Carter then hung up.

"Buffy, your parents are on the way," she said.

"Thanks," Buffy said.

"I need to use your phone," Faith said.

"Sure," Carter said and left the office.

Faith let go of Buffy and picked up the receiver. Then she frowned when she couldn't remember the number.

"Who are you calling?" Buffy asked.

"Dawn."

"Did you live on Revello Drive?"

"Yeah."

Buffy quickly dialed the number.

"Thanks," Faith said and nervously waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?"

"Tara?"

"Yes."

"It's me, Faith."

"Faith? Oh my god, Faith! Willow, it's Faith! Where are you? Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am. How's Dawnie? Tara?" Faith asked when Tara didn't immediately respond.

"She, eh, she's gone."

Faith paled.

"What do you mean, gone?"

Tara hesitated for a moment.

"She's been kidnapped."

"What? When?"

"Two days after you disappeared."

"And you haven't found her yet?"

"We can't locate her."

Faith took a deep breath to calm down. She thought for a few moments.

"Come to Angel, I'll be there in a couple of hours."

"Okay."

"Bye."

Faith hung up and then made fists.

"What happened?" Buffy asked, worried.

"She's been kidnapped."

"The Council."

"Yeah. And I know just who to talk to."

"Quentin," Buffy said, as furious as Faith.

"Yeah." Faith took a deep breath. "Let's go back to our room and talk to the cops."

"What are we gonna tell them?"

Faith shrugged.

"The truth. I've been going home when someone drugged me. Then I woke up here."

"Oh. Okay."

They left the office.

"Everything okay?" Carter asked.

"No," Faith said.

"But it will be," Buffy said.

"Can we get our clothes and stuff?"

"Yes, of course," Carter said. "Oh, the police would like to talk to you."

"We know. Can they come as soon as possible, I need to go home."

"Yes, of course."

"We'll be in our room."

"Okay."

"You okay?" Buffy asked after they sat on the bed.

Faith sighed.

"I'm worried."

"She's the Key, right?"

"Yeah."

"You think she's still alive?"

Faith swallowed hard.

"I don't know."

Buffy took her hand and squeezed it gently. Faith looked at her and smiled, grateful.

A nurse soon brought them their clothes and they got dressed. The police came soon after and they gave them their statements. Then the pizzas came and they devoured them voraciously. Another half an hour later, Buffy's parents finally came.

"Buffy!" Joyce said, excited, when she saw her.

Buffy smiled and ran to her.

"Mom," she said and hugged her tightly.

Hank hugged them both and Faith sighed, envying Buffy.

"Dad," Buffy said after she let go of Joyce, and hugged Hank.

"Hello, Faith," Joyce said and smiled at Faith.

"Hey," Faith said.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "Thanks for believing me."

Joyce smiled.

"You're welcome."

"Has the police been here?" Hank asked after he and Buffy stopped hugging.

"Yes," Buffy said. "We can go now."

"Good. Come."

"Eh, Dad, we need to go see someone first. Dawn's been kidnapped."

Hank frowned and glanced at Joyce, worried.

"Dawn?"

"Yes, Faith's sister."

"Oh. Let's go then."

"An interesting building," Hank observed when they walked into Hyperion.

"It was a hotel," Buffy said offhandedly, nervous about meeting the people she knew well, but none of which knew her.

"Hey, guys," Faith said.

"Faith!" Angel said.

"Faith!" Willow said, running toward Faith.

"Willow," Buffy said, excited, but then she remembered that Willow was actually Faith's friend, not hers.

Faith and Willow hugged.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked, worried. "Where've you been?"

"Loony bin."

Willow frowned, puzzled.

"What?"

"I was ambushed by some demons and then somebody shot me with something. I woke up in a straightjacket."

"How did you get out?"

"The doctor who was taking care of me was a real son of a bitch, but I finally figured it out. I'll tell you all about it later."

"Okay."

"Anyway, this is Buffy, she's…"

"Buffy Summers?" Wesley asked, surprised. "The Slayer?"

"Yeah."

"I thought she had died."

"No, she was in the bin."

"Oh."

Faith looked at Buffy's parents.

"What Buffy told you, about monsters and stuff, it's all true. And the fake world she was telling you about, it's also true, more or less."

"Monsters?" Hank asked skeptically.

Faith looked at Angel.

"Angel."

Angel morphed into his vamp face and Joyce gasped, shocked.

"What… What are you?"

"A vampire," Angel said and morphed back into his human face.

"A vampire? You mean, like… like Dracula?"

"Something like that."

"So you drink people's blood?"

"I used to," Angel said, feeling uncomfortable. "But now I have my soul back and I don't."

"Oh," Joyce said, trying to make sense of it.

"Can we go save Dawn now?" Buffy asked and everyone looked at her.

"Yeah," Faith said and looked around. "Where's Giles?"

"In England."

"Oh." Faith sighed. "Okay, take us there, we need to have a little chat with Quentin."

"Are we gonna kick his ass?" Xander asked.

Faith grinned.

"Maybe. Anyway, the only ones going are Willow, Tara, Buffy and me. And we'll get Giles."

"Oh," Xander said, disappointed.

"How are you going to convince Quentin to tell you where Dawn is?" Wesley asked.

Faith gave him a look.

"What do you think?"

It took Wesley a moment to figure it out.

"Oh."

Faith smiled and looked at Willow.

"Let's go."

Willow nodded and opened a portal to ghost roads.

"What's that?" Hank asked, amazed.

"A portal to ghost roads," Buffy said.

"Right," Faith said. "We're going to England to rescue Dawn. Wesley will fill you in on the whole monster business."

"Yes, of course," Wesley said, going into lecture mode.

"Buffy?"

"Let's go," Buffy said and then looked at her parents. "We'll back soon, I hope."

"Be careful, honey," Joyce said.

Buffy smiled.

"I will," she said and followed Faith through the portal, which closed after a few moments.

Joyce and Hank looked around, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Hello," Wesley said and came closer. "I am Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, I was Faith's Watcher for a while."

"Hank Summers. This is my wife Joyce."

"Pleased to meet you," Wesley said and shook their hands. "Why don't we all sit down and I will tell you about demons and Slayers."

"That's Giles' house," Willow said when she saw the address.

Faith took a deep breath and led the way. When she got to the door, she hesitated for a moment and then knocked.

"This is weird," Buffy said quietly.

Faith smiled at her.

"Yeah, I guess."

Giles opened the door and nearly dropped his jaw. Faith gulped.

"Hey, G-Man."

"Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged him. Giles hugged her back, trying to hold back the tears.

"What… How… I mean…" Giles started after a few moments when he let go of Faith.

"I was ambushed and taken to the loony bin. This is Buffy, by the way, she's a Slayer too."

Giles looked at Buffy.

"Buffy Summers?"

"Yes."

"I thought you were…"

"Dead, I know," Buffy said.

"Ah, yes."

"Listen, Giles, we'll chat later. Right now we need to find Quentin Travers," Faith said.

Giles looked at her with a frown.

"Quentin?"

"The son of a bitch kidnapped Dawn."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Giles took a deep breath and thought for a moment.

"How did you get here?"

"Ghost roads."

"Oh. Of course. Do you have weapons?"

"No."

"Then come on in."

Everyone entered and Giles led them to a chest with weapons.

"What's the plan?" Tara asked.

Faith shrugged.

"We find Quentin, convince him to tell us where Dawn is and then go and rescue her."

"Sounds good to me," Buffy agreed.

"Do you know where he is?" Willow asked Giles.

"I think so, yes."

"Then let's go," Buffy said, eager to rescue Dawn even if she wasn't her sister.

Willow opened the portal to ghost roads and they left.

"This is his house," Giles said when they arrived.

"Is he alone?" Faith asked.

"I don't know."

"Is he in?" Buffy asked.

"Eh, I don't know."

"Then let's go and see," Faith said and headed for the house.

The others quickly followed her.

When she got to the door, Faith checked to see if it was open. It wasn't, so she broke the lock and entered, Buffy right behind her.

"Is he married?" Willow asked.

"No," Giles said.

"Good."

"What…" Travers started and trailed off when he saw who came.

"Hey, Quentin, long time no see," Faith said and was on him in a moment. She pinned him to the wall. "Where's Dawn?"

"What?" Travers croaked.

"Wrong answer," Faith said and quickly broke one of his fingers, making him scream. "Where's Dawn?"

"I don't…"

He trailed off screaming when Buffy broke another finger.

Faith grinned at her.

"You're getting the hang of it."

Buffy smiled.

"I got some serious anger issues to deal with and nothing helps quite like breaking people's fingers." She frowned. "Except slaying."

Faith's grin widened.

"Of course." She looked back at Travers, her face deadly serious. "Now, where is Dawn?"

"Giles…" Travers pleaded and Buffy quickly broke another finger.

"Seven to go," she said sweetly.

"Don't look at me, Quentin," Giles said, "you had them locked up in an asylum."

"Payback's a bitch," Faith said as Giles, Willow and Tara went to another room.

"Where is Dawn?" Buffy demanded.

"I won't tell…"

He trailed off with a scream when Faith broke another finger.

"Wrong answer."

"I won't tell you," Travers said and screamed when Buffy broke another finger. "You don't understand!" Travers screamed.

"I understand perfectly, you asshole," Faith said. "Dawn is my sister and you kidnapped her." She moved her face close to Travers'. "Your body has over two hundred bones and I'm gonna break them all to find Dawn. I'll break them several times over, if I have to, but you will tell me where Dawn is."

"She's not human," Travers protested and screamed when Buffy broke another finger.

"She may not have been born as a human, but she is one now," Buffy said, glaring at Travers. "And you better pray that she is well or I'm gonna introduce you to some serious pain, and I'm not talking mere bone breaking," she said and broke another finger. "Three to go."

"Leave some for me," Faith said, breaking the tension, and Buffy smiled at her.

"Anger issues are a real bitch," Buffy said and Faith grinned.

"I know." Faith looked at Travers. "Where is Dawn?"

"I won't…"

Travers trailed off again when Faith broke the remaining three fingers.

"You ran out of fingers," Buffy said.

"There are still toes," Faith said.

Buffy looked at Travers' feet.

"Want me to take off his shoes?"

"No, there's no need." Faith stomped her foot down on Travers' toes and he screamed. "See?"

"Oh," Buffy said and looked at Travers. "Where is Dawn?"

When Travers didn't respond, Buffy stomped her foot down on the other foot and Travers screamed again.

"What are we gonna break next?" Faith asked.

"Arms? He needs his legs to stand. At least for now."

Faith thought about it.

"Okay."

"Li… Liverpool," Travers croaked, scared of what they wanted to do to him.

"What?" Faith asked.

"Liverpool. There… There's a house outside Liverpool."

"Giles!" Buffy called.

"Yes?" Giles said when he, Willow and Tara returned.

"You know about a house outside Liverpool?"

Giles thought for a moment.

"Yes."

"He says Dawn is there."

"Could be," Giles said.

"How is the house protected?" Willow asked. "I couldn't locate Dawn."

"Just a concealing spell," Travers said.

"How many people?" Faith asked.

"Three."

"How many people know about Dawn being the Key?" Buffy asked.

"Just… Just me, the guards and a couple of… Watchers."

"Let's go," Faith said and knocked Travers unconscious.

"I wanted to do that," Buffy pouted.

"Sorry," Faith said with a smile, "I got anger issues myself."

"Oh. Okay then."

Faith threw Travers over her shoulder.

"Let's go," she told Willow.

"That's the house," Giles said when they arrived.

Faith dropped Travers like a piece of trash.

"Willow?"

Willow concentrated.

"It's magic protected," she declared.

"Bingo," Buffy said.

"Yeah," Faith said and looked around. "Tara, you and Buffy go around the house. Willow, you're with me. Giles, you make sure Travers doesn't wake up."

"And if he does?"

Faith smiled.

"I'm sure you'll think of something."

"Eh, yes, of course," Giles said and fixed his glasses.

Faith grinned and looked at Tara and Buffy.

"Go."

Buffy nodded and then she and Tara quickly left.

"Do the invisibility spell!" Willow called after Tara, who nodded.

"You can do that?" Faith asked, surprised.

Willow smiled.

"I've been practicing."

"Alright! Do it then."

Willow concentrated and chanted quietly for a few moments.

"Okay," she then said.

Faith looked at herself.

"I don't feel any different."

"I can't see you," Giles said and Faith looked at him.

"Yeah? Good." She looked at Willow. "Let's go."

They ran to the house carefully, not taking any chances in spite of the invisibility spell.

"I can see one," Faith said as she looked through the window.

"In quilt?" Willow asked.

"Yeah."

"Okay, here's another." Willow looked at Faith. "How do we get inside?"

"We knock. Watch them and I'll knock. Let me know if they're both coming."

"Okay."

"Then follow me and find Dawn."

"Okay."

Faith went to the door and knocked.

"The guy in quilt is coming," Willow reported.

"Okay."

Faith tapped her foot for a few moments until the guard in quilt opened the door and looked around, puzzled. Faith quickly knocked him out and entered. Willow ran after her.

"Who is it, Dave?!" the other man called.

"Me," Faith said and knocked him out.

Suddenly shots were heard form the upstairs and Faith tensed. She immediately ran upstairs, worried.

"It's alright," Buffy said when Faith came upstairs.

"Where's Dawn?" Faith asked, glancing at the third guard.

"In that room, I guess," Buffy said and nodded at a door.

Faith walked to it.

"Wait," Willow said when Faith was about to break it down.

"What?" Faith asked, impatient.

"Invisibility spell."

"Oh."

Willow concentrated and chanted for a few moments.

"Okay, we're visible again," she then said and looked at Buffy. "All of us."

"Okay," Faith said.

She checked the door, but it was locked, so she kicked it open.

"Dawnie?" she asked as she entered.

Dawn looked from behind the bed.

"Faith?"

"Dawn!"

"Faith!"

The sisters ran to one another and hugged, both crying.

Buffy and the witches quietly observed them and Buffy felt a bit left out. She knew Dawn was not her sister, but she felt like she was.

"Are you okay?" Faith asked after a few moments and looked at Dawn.

Dawn nodded.

"Where were you?" she asked.

"Loony bin."

Dawn frowned.

"Why?"

"The Council put me there, but I got out," Faith said and caressed Dawn. "They didn't hurt you?"

Dawn shook her head.

"No."

Faith smiled.

"How about we go home now?"

Dawn smiled as well and wiped her tears.

"Okay." She looked at Willow and Tara. "Hi, Willow, hi, Tara."

"Hi, Dawnie," Willow and Tara said.

Dawn then looked at Buffy.

"Em, hi."

Buffy smiled sadly.

"Hi."

"That's Buffy," Faith said. "She's a Slayer, like me."

"Really?"

"Yeah. She was in the bin too."

"Oh."

Faith looked around.

"You got anything to pack?"

Dawn shrugged.

"Some clothes they got me."

"Let's take them."

"Okay," Dawn said and quickly started to collect the clothes.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"Feel like another anger control therapy?"

Buffy smiled.

"What should I do?"

"Break their arms and legs."

Buffy grinned predatorily.

"Okay," she said and left.

"Are you sure?" Willow asked, worried.

"I just spend two years in a loony bin, Buffy spent six and Dawn was their prisoner for two years," Faith said. "They're lucky they're still alive."

"Oh."

"That's it," Dawn said, holding a pile of clothes.

Faith looked around.

"Put them on the blanket and tie it into a bundle, we'll take it too," she said.

Dawn did so and then picked up the bundle.

"Can we go now?"

Faith smiled.

"Yeah. Come."

She took the bundle from Dawn and gave her her hand. Then they went downstairs.

"Everything's alright," Buffy said when she got to Giles.

"I heard gunfire."

"One of the guards had an itchy finger."

"Oh. Ah, here they come."

Buffy turned and saw Faith, Dawn, Willow and Tara.

"Is Dawn alright?" Giles asked.

"Yes, just scared."

"Giles!" Dawn said, excited.

She ran to him and hugged him.

"Dawn," Giles said and fought hard to keep back the tears.

Faith and the witches quickly caught up with her. Faith looked at the still unconscious Travers and stepped hard on his left arm, which broke. Then she went around and stepped on the right arm, breaking as well. Then she went to the legs and stomped on them as well, breaking them.

Giles and Dawn looked at her, surprised. Faith shrugged.

"Anger issues." She looked at Willow. "Let's go home."

"Home or to Angel?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"Angel."

"Dawnie!" Xander said, excited, when Dawn stepped out of the portal first.

"Xander!" Dawn said with a smile and they hugged.

"How are you? Did they hurt you?"

Dawn shook her head.

"No."

"Hello, Rupert," Wesley said.

"Wesley," Giles said with a nod.

"Everything went well, I see."

"Not for the Council," Giles said.

"I see." He pointed at Joyce and Hank, who were a bit shocked to see them come out of nowhere. "These are Mr and Mrs Summers, Buffy's parents."

"Hello," Giles said.

"Did you tell them?" Faith asked Wesley.

"Yes."

"Tell what?" Giles asked.

"About demons and Slayers."

"Oh."

"Are you going to tell us what happened?" Xander asked.

"Yeah, sure," Faith said and looked at Dawn. "Are you hungry, do you need anything?"

Dawn shook her head.

"No, I'm fine."

Faith smiled, relieved.

"Okay, let's sit then."

Everybody found themselves a place to sit and then Faith started.

"I was on patrol when I was ambushed by some demons. I killed them, but then someone shot me with something. I woke up at the loony bin." She looked at Buffy. "How did you end up there?"

Buffy looked at her parents, hesitating.

"When I told Mom and Dad about vamps, they thought I was crazy and they sent me there," she said and everyone looked at Joyce and Hank, shocked. "They were about to let me go when Doctor Shaw became my doctor. He completely drugged me."

"What about the, em, the world you created?" Joyce asked. "You mentioned all the people that are here. I mean, how did you know about them, you've never met them?"

Buffy looked at Faith.

"For some reason she tapped into my and Kendra's memories," Faith said. "And she added some of her own and some imagination to explain the discrepancies."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I quickly figured out that Shaw was the bad guy, but it took me two years to pull myself together. I got some help from a nurse who didn't like Shaw. I stopped taking drugs and I convinced Shelly, that's the nurse, I convinced her to from giving drugs to Buffy. It took me a while to figure everything out, to separate her memories from mine and from our imagination, and, of course, to convince her that what I was telling her was real. After she woke up, Shaw tried to kidnap us, but we locked him up. Doctor Carter figured it out as well and she called the cops. That's pretty much it." She looked at Dawn. "What happened to you?"

Dawn shrugged.

"They took me to that house. I mean, they treated me well, but I couldn't leave."

"They didn't hurt you?"

Dawn shook her head.

"No."

"Good," Faith said and hugged her.

"Faith," Willow then said.

"Yeah?"

"Tara and I will go to the Council Headquarters and set up a monitoring system, so we'll know what they're up to."

"Okay."

"I'll go with you," Giles said. "I need to pack."

"Are you moving back?" Faith asked hopefully.

"Eh, yes."

Faith smiled.

"Great! You can move in with us."

"Eh, thank you," Giles said and took off his glasses to clean them.

"Are you going home yet?" Tara asked.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"I was hoping you'd go with me and my parents to see Lorne."

Faith smiled.

"Yeah, I guess." She looked at Dawn. "Wanna go see Lorne?"

Dawn frowned.

"That's the green guy, right."

"Yeah."

"Okay."

Faith looked at Willow.

"We'll go to Lorne's and then we'll wait here for you." She looked at Xander and Anya. "You can go back to Sunnydale, if you want."

"Okay," Xander said. "We'll see you later."

"Okay."

"Everyone ready?" Willow asked.

Tara, Giles, Xander and Anya lined up and Willow opened a portal to ghost roads. A few moments later they were all gone.

"So, Mom, Dad, are you ready to meet another demon?" Buffy then asked.

"Another?" Hank asked with a frown.

"You've already met Angel."

"Oh," Hank said, glancing at Angel.

"Is he dangerous?" Joyce asked.

Buffy smiled.

"No, he's okay."

"Okay then."

Faith looked at Angel.

"We're going to Lorne. We'll be back later."

"Okay," Angel said and smiled a bit. "Good to have you back."

Faith smiled back.

"Good to be back." She looked at Dawn. "Dawn?"

"Ready," Dawn said and took her hand.

"Then let's go," Buffy said.

When they got to Lorne's bar, Buffy went right in.

"Excuse me," Lorne said as she came to intercept them, "we're not…" He trailed off when he saw Buffy. "Buffy? Is it really you?"

Buffy smiled.

"Hey, Lorne, I'm back."

"Oh my god!" Lorne said, excited, and hugged her. "I don't believe it, we all thought you were dead, especially since we heard a new Slayer had been called."

"Well, yeah, I did die for a few moments."

"Oh." Lorne looked at Buffy's entourage and frowned when he saw Faith. "You?"

"Me?" Faith asked, startled.

"You're Buffy's successor?"

"Oh. No, there was another before me."

Lorne thought for a moment.

"Faith, right?"

"Yeah," Faith said, surprised.

"Angel told me about you."

"Oh."

Lorne looked from one Slayer to the other.

"And you're both Slayers?"

"Yes," Buffy said.

"Interesting." He looked at Dawn and frowned. "And what are you?"

"She's my sister," Faith said and raised his eyebrow at him

Lorne quickly caught on.

"Yes, of course, I can see the family resemblance."

"And these are my parents," Buffy introduced them. "Mom, Dad, this is Lorne."

"A pleasure to meet you," Lorne said and offered them a hand.

Joyce automatically took it, staring at him.

"Hello," she said.

"Why don't you sit down," Lorne then said. "Anything to drink?"

"Coffee," Buffy said. "Lots of coffee. Black, no sugar."

"Me too," Faith said.

Lorne looked at Dawn and at Buffy's parents.

"Anything?"

"Coke?" Dawn said.

"You two?"

"Scotch on the rocks," Hank said.

"Same," Joyce said.

"Mom?" Buffy said, surprised.

Joyce smiled at her apologetically.

"I need a drink."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay."

Lorne quickly left to give the bartender the orders.

"What is this place?" Hank asked.

"It's a demon karaoke bar," Buffy said.

Hank blinked, surprised.

"A what?"

"A demon karaoke bar. I mean, okay, it's not only a demon bar, Humans come here too."

"And they sing? The demons, I mean."

"Sure. I mean, some are simply awful, but some are okay. Lorne has a great voice."

Joyce thought for a moment.

"But you're a Slayer. Shouldn't you be killing the demons?"

Buffy smiled.

"I do, but this place is a sanctuary of sorts. Here, Humans are safe from demons and demons are safe from me. I mean, okay, there is an occasional fight, but I don't think anyone's been killed here. And besides, not all demons are bad."

"Oh."

"Your orders will be right up," Lorne said as he returned.

Buffy nodded at the demon bartender.

"I see you got a new bartender."

"Yes. He's got a great nose and he can mix drinks like no one I've ever met, but sometimes he likes to experiment too much. One time he blew a hole in the bar. But some of his experiments turned out really great and I put them on the menu."

"Cool."

"So, where've you been?"

"In an asylum."

Lorne frowned.

"What were you doing there?"

Buffy glanced at her parents.

"The Council held me there. Faith was there too."

"Really?" Lorne frowned. "But everything is alright now?"

"Oh yeah, we took care of the guy who was responsible."

"Good. So you're back in business?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes."

"Excellent." He looked at Faith. "Have you ever heard Angel sing?"

Faith frowned.

"Sing?" she asked, trying to figure out how Angel and singing could possibly be mentioned into the same sentence.

"I'm taking that as a no. You're lucky, you know."

"He sang?" Faith asked, interested.

"Oh yes."

"What did he sing?"

"Mandy."

Faith frowned.

"Barry Manilow?"

"Yes," Lorne said with a nod and Faith laughed.

"Oh boy. I wish I could've been here."

Lorne shook his head.

"Believe me, honey, you don't."

"Was it that bad?"

"Oh yes. B flat sounds more exciting."

Faith chuckled.

"Poor Angel. He must've had some serious problems if he came to sing to you," Buffy said.

"Yes, but he took care of it," Lorne said.

Then the bartender came with the drinks.

"Thank you, Scalar," Lorne said.

Faith tasted her coffee and immediately stopped.

"Shit, man, this coffee could wake the dead."

Buffy tasted it as well.

"Wow," she said. She looked at Lorne. "This stuff could power a starship."

Lorne smiled.

"Yes, I told him to make it strong."

"That's an understatement of the century," Faith said and carefully sipped her coffee.

Hank carefully tried his scotch and found it satisfactory.

"I'm glad you like it." Lorne glanced at his watch. "Excuse me, I have to open."

"Okay," Buffy said and Lorne left.

"He's an interesting… man," Joyce said.

Buffy smiled.

"He's okay."

"Listen," Faith said hesitantly, "do you think you could move to Sunnydale?"

"Sunnydale?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah. I mean, Angel has things under control here, but Sunnydale's under siege. I could use all the help I can get."

Buffy looked at her parents.

"Mom? Dad?"

Joyce and Hank looked at one another.

"We need to think about it, honey," Joyce said.

"Okay," Buffy said, glad they didn't reject her out of hand.

Lorne then returned and sat down.

"I hope you don't mind them singing," Lorne said and nodded at a couple of demons who entered. "They're lousy, but they seem to enjoy it."

The two demons came by and stopped when they noticed Buffy. One of them asked Lorne something.

"Yes, she is."

The demon immediately launched into a tirade.

"Ah, Lorne?" Buffy asked when he was done.

"He's complaining about a nest of vampires. He says they're harassing their young."

"Oh." She sighed. "Give Lorne your address and someone will come and take care of them."

The male demon said something.

"He says thank you," Lorne said and got up. "This way."

"They asked you for help?" Hank asked, confused, when the demons had left with Lorne.

"Yes," Buffy said.

Hank frowned.

"But they're demons," Hank said.

"I know, but not all demons are bad, remember? In fact, those two are not violent at all. I mean, they have some gruesome habits, but they're not violent and they mind their own business. If they were violent, they would make a pile of dust from those vamps."

"Oh."

Lorne returned with a piece of paper.

"Here," he said and gave it to Buffy, who glanced at it.

"You gonna take care of it?" Faith asked her.

Buffy shrugged.

"I'll go see how many there are. If there are too many, I'll ask Angel for help."

Faith nodded.

"Be careful."

Buffy smiled.

"I will." She looked at Lorne. "Listen, we kinda have to go now, I'd like to spend some time with my parents and I'm sure Faith would like to spend some time with her friends."

"Yes, of course," Lorne said, understanding. "But do come to visit soon."

Buffy smiled.

"I will."

"Eh, how much is…" Hank started, reaching for his wallet.

"It's on the house," Lorne said. "Consider it a welcome back… well, party."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks, Lorne."

Lorne glanced at the two demons.

"You might want to hurry up, they're about to start singing," Lorne said, glancing at the two demons.

"Okay. I'll see you around."

Everyone then left.

"That was… interesting," Hank said outside and Buffy smiled. "Ready to go home?"

"Yes," Buffy said.

"Okay." He looked at Faith and Dawn. "You're going back to the Hyperion, right?"

"Right," Faith said.

"Then let's go."

When they got to the Hyperion, Faith and Dawn got out.

"Thanks for the ride," Faith said.

"Faith, tell Angel I may need his help tonight," Buffy said.

Faith nodded.

"I will."

"Okay." Buffy smiled. "I'll see you around."

Faith smiled back.

"Definitely."

Buffy then looked at Dawn. She knew she wasn't her sister, but she still felt close to her.

"Bye, Dawn."

"Bye, Buffy," Dawn said.

Hank then drove off and Faith and Dawn waved after the car.

Faith then put her arm around Dawn.

"Come on, let's go inside."

Dawn smiled at her.

"You like her."

"What?" Faith said, startled.

"You like her," Dawn repeated. "A lot."

Faith blushed.

"So?"

Dawn's smile widened.

"Nothing. What are you gonna do about it?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Faith!" Buffy said with a smile when Faith appeared in her dreams.

Faith smiled back.

"Hey." She looked around. "Is this my dream or yours?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Does it matter?"

Faith grinned at her.

"No."

They sat on the bed.

"What is it?" Buffy asked, noticing that Faith was thinking about something.

Faith sighed.

"Nothing."

Buffy took her hand and Faith looked at her, startled.

"Faith, I don't want us to become fake friends like we did in my coma world."

Faith gulped and looked away, thinking. Then she took a deep breath.

"You're right," she said. She hesitated for a moment and then looked at Buffy. "Remember the Faith from the coma world?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

"You know what was one of the reasons she acted the way she did?"

"What?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"She wanted to be loved." She paused for a moment. "By you."

"What?" Buffy said, surprised.

"She was in love with you." She hesitated for a moment. "And so am I."

She quickly looked away, nervous.

Buffy stared at her, surprised.

"You are?" she said and her face slowly turned into one big smile. She hesitated for a moment and then hugged Faith. "Me too."

"Huh?" Faith said, surprised.

Buffy let go of her and looked at her, blushing.

"I mean, with you. I'm in love with you."

Faith blinked.

"You… are?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "It's just…"

"What?" Faith asked, worried.

"How can I know whether this is real or just my imagination?"

Faith smiled.

"Call me in the morning," she said and Buffy smiled.

"Okay. Oh, and Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you call me B?"

Faith grinned.

"You bet. B."

Buffy smiled again.

"So, what did Willow, Tara and Giles do in England?"

The End