And these mistakes you've made...you'll just make them again

[wickedslayer]

As soon as I heard the door click shut, I propped myself up on my elbows and coughed hard. Was this the real mccoy or were they faking me out again? Seemed like all they wanted to do was play games, and I was sick of bein' their little toy. I'm not anyone's little bit, and this game of kick the Faith? Definitely done playin' that

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[xandman]

I couldn't take it anymore

[wickedslayer]

I shrank back into the shadows automatically when I heard someone call my name. It was just habit, and anyone who would know my name was probably someone I didn't want catching me like this. But as my eyes adjusted I saw that the figure running towards me was Xander. I guessed if it had to be anyone...he was okay.

"I thought you staying with Cordelia and Fred." I immediately said, sort of embarressed at him catching me in the condition I was in. Didn't want anyone to see me this way. At least it wasn't Wesley or Cordelia.

Clenching my jaw I stepped out of the shadows and looked him over.

"Nothing." Looking up at him I realized he was so not buyin' that one. "Got into a fight."

[xandman]

"Cordelia and Fred are safe," I snapped, instantly reminded of the fact that she thought I couldn't help at all. "I had to get out."

Now that I was standing closer it was obvious she was in a world of pain.

"No shit," I said, reaching out to steady her. "A fight with what exactly?"

Stupid, stupid, stupid question.

"Or, I guess the question should be with who?"

I put a hand under her elbow and led, okay maybe forced, her into a door stoop. "You know, finding you like this is getting kind of old."

[wickedslayer]

I glared at him as he pushed me into a door stoop, his hand heavy and warm on my elbow. Ripping it out of his grasp I just glared at him. Sick of being shoved around and told what to do. All these people, tellin' me I wasn't good enough, couldn't hack it. I was so much fucking stronger than any of them would ever know. And they were scared.

I wanted to lash out at him and tell him that I was sure he was sick of finding me like this. Except the only time he'd ever bailed me out we ended up screwin' in my motel room. Maybe he was hopin' for a repeat performance. Didn't he learn anything when I wrapped my hands around his throat?

"Who do you think?" I shot back angrily. Why was I gettin' pissed at him anyway? At least now I had a ride home....hopefully. "Your girl did this to me. Her and her new boytoy."

[xandman]

She yanked her arm out of my grasp and I raised my hands infront of me in the international sign of "I mean you no harm". Either that or "Take my wallet", I'm not sure.

She reminded me of a wounded animal. You know the stubborn kind that would rather die on the street rather than let you help them. Dangerous and untrusting, that was the old Faith to a T.

MaybeI was wrong to think she'd changed, with her road to redemption shitck.

"Both of them?" I said, realizing that there was no way I was going to say the right thing so there was no point in even trying. "Well you survived," I said my mouth suddenly dry at the thought of what they'd done to her. "That's the good news. The bad news is I've got to get you some help and fast and I'm not against hitting a wounded Slayer if it's for her own good."

[prodigal_slayer]

How pathetic was it when the joe normal boy wonder was threatening to do me damage? I wanted to lash out at him and tell him that I wasn't against strangling boys either. Somehow I didn't think he was gonna feel wicked threatened by that at the very moment. Vaguely I wondered if that was cause I looked so damn pathetic or because he had really changed. Tryin' to play the tough guy now? Was that the new act?

Why did he wanna help? that was the part I really wasn't gettin'. You'd think he'd be psyched that the all-mighty Buffy put the smack down on the chick that tried to kill him. Maybe the pesky scoobs had grabbed a clue since B decided to give into the dark side.

"Xander." I said suddenly, once I realized the whole defensive thing wasn't gonna work on him. "No hospitals. No help. I just...I just need to shower and get some sleep. I'll be fi...." I started to say five by five but quickly corrected myself. "Fine. I'll be fine."

I looked up at him, hopin' he'd just give in. Even bleeding I still had that look down. "Okay?"

[xandman]

I let out a long breath as I looked her over. Considering she had Slayer healing she was probably right. Most of it would heal on it's own. She just needed some help right now. And it looked like she'd finally gained some sense and saw that I wanted to help her, not make things harder.

Either that or she was just tired of fighting.

"Alright, no hospitals," I said grudingly, "Just stop fighting me and let me help you, alright?"

[wickedslayer]

Clenching my jaw I wanted to lash back out at him again. He was really pissing me off, just standin' there and makin' demands like we were old pals or something. Didn't anyone send him the memo that his perfect slayer decided to grow a new set of fangs? He could get the hell out of dodge now. No one expected him to stay. Hell, I didn't know why any of them were stickin' around. Well, except maybe Wesley...I got why he was around. Probably the same fucked up reasons I was.

Nodding at Xander I slowly stepped around him, not wantin' to freak him out. His ride had to be around here somewhere. Stopping for a minute I waited for him to take up the lead. I followed him to his car and silently opened the door and sank into the passenger seat before closing the door again. Slumping down in the seat I just stared straight ahead as Xander started the car.

[xandman]

She said nothing as I walked her back to my car. I didn't really know if this was a good sign or a bad. I decided to chalk it up to the fact that she was tired and probably feeling the hurt from two psychotic vampires wtih the faces of people she used to trust.

Or as much as Faith trusted anyone.

I drove her back to the house in silence. Most of the time silence makes me feel like I have to break it just to stay sane. This wasn't the case in this situation. In fact, I think if I was to break the silence between us it'd just be to say the wrong thing.

Eventually I had no choice.

"So, I'm guessing you're not really looking forward from a lecture from Wes and Cordy, right? Just want to take a bottle of asprin and call it a day?" I shrugged as she stared at me. "I've had a few experiences in this myself. The only thing that's more painful than getting your ass handed to you on a platter is the lecture that follows afterwards by people who always singing the tune "I told you so."

[prodigal_slayer]

I looked at him seriously for a minute as we sat in the car in the Summers' driveway. Was he used to the scoobies all sayin' I told you so? See, I was sorta used to that from them, but Xander was one of them.

Then again, I guessed the scoobies disbanned when Willow went evil and Buffy got turned. Now Willow was with Giles in England, and Xander was alone. I frowned, suddenly feeling sort of bad for him. He really was alone. Like me.

"Can you sneak me in through the back?" I asked hopefully. "I don't...." With a heavy sigh I finally looked back up at Xander. "I traded myself for Wes, and I just don't want him to see it. Ya know?" I already knew Wesley was in there, could see him and Cordelia through the window.

[xandman]

I followed her gaze towards the house where I could see the outlines of Wesley and Cordelia moving through the window. This must be what we looked like to Angel and Buffy, toys in a cage to be taken out and messed with whenever they felt like it.

I sighed and turned back towards Faith. "Okay, I can buy you some time, but you're going to have to talk to them eventually. Go in through the back and I'll go in through the front and think of something. Distraction is what I'm best at."

I reached out and paused before putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you're going to be okay? I have some experience with First Aid and Slayers."

[wickedslayer]

I looked up at him when I felt his hand heavy and warm on my shoulder. Course he would choose the bad shoulder. Thanks alot Angelus, be sure to pay you back for that one. I Pushed that out of my mind and looked into Xander's face. He was really gonna bail me out. Was he so used to being whipped by Buffy that he was just jumpin' at the chance to be someone's bitch again? I didn't get it. Maybe he was just lonely and couldn't stand Wesley and Cordelia either.

"Thanks." I said quietly. Moving my eyes to look ahead again.

Before either one of us could say anything else I opened the door and slipped out of it. Thrashing or not? I was still a slayer. Scratch that. The slayer. Still wicked stealthy. Can't beat that.

Slipping around to the back of the house I waited til I heard the front door open before quietly sneaking in through the backdoor and heading upstairs to Dawn's bedroom.