EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
“What are you saying Tara? That her blindness is my fault?” Buffy asked.
“In a way, yes, it is. You have to go to her. You have to make her understand that you trust her. She has to understand that you care about her. She feels that you don’t trust her, that she isn’t ready to be a slayer on her own, but you know that she is,” Tara stated, “The Light is the truth. The truth hurts. She was burned because you were touching her when the Light came forth. Your doubts filled her. Your doubts burned her so much that while she watched the vampires die that her eyes burned with them.”
“I am the reason that she can’t see and the burns,” Buffy stated. She fell back into the ruble near Tara. “It is all my fault.”
“Well, her not seeing is, but the burns aren’t. I told her to keep her eyes closed. I told her that the Light would burn. But, Faith will be Faith, and she had to watch,” Tara told her, reaching out for Buffy’s hands and took them in her own; “The burns will go away. They might need some medical attention, but they’ll heal. Go to her, help her.”
“I think I will,” Buffy stated, standing up.
She walked out of the ruble and back to the others.
“We have to go,” Buffy told them, “I know what to do.”
“Umm, care to explain,” Xander wondered out loud.
“On the way. We have to get back to the gym. I need to talk to Faith.”
“Giles, where is Faith?” Benny asked as Buffy, Xander and she entered the library. Giles looked up from his books and Dawn and Willow looked up at them from behind their respective laptops.
“She is still in her room, last time I checked. Why?” Giles replied.
“I need to talk to her,” Buffy stated.
“Where’s Kennedy?” Willow asked them.
“I guess she went to your room. Haven’t really seen her since you all left earlier,” Xander answered. “I thought she was sleeping or something.”
Willow left the library and ran down the hall to their room. She found it empty. She looked around the room, quickly. Willow noticed that Kennedy’s jacket and keys were missing from the table where they were normally located. Willow ran back down the hall to Faith’s room. Willow found that Faith was gone as well. Willow walked slowly back to the library with her head hung low.
“What is it, Will?” Dawn asked when Willow walked in.
“Kennedy is gone and so is Faith,” Willow answered.
“No doubt they are together,” Benny stated.
“Why? Where would they have gone?” Willow asked.
“Who knows with Faith, but we need to find them before some thing happens to them. The sun is about to go down. I don’t was anyone out that doesn’t have to be right now,” Buffy replied, “Besides we need to stick together now that the First has shown itself to us and in our own homes. I, also, need to talk to Faith, alone. I think that you need to speak to Kennedy, Will, she needs to know about Tara and where she stands.”
“I know. I wanted to talk to her while you were talking to Faith,” Will answered.
“Well, I suggest that we figure out what is going on with Faith,” Giles said.
“I already know how to fix that,” Buffy added.
Faith and Kennedy walked into an Applebee’s. They sat at the bar. The barkeep crossed over to their side and asked what they wanted to drink.
“I’ll go for a Banaberry Split, and you Kennedy?” Faith asked.
“I guess, I’ll get one too,” Kennedy stated.
“Coming right up, ladies,” the barkeep said.
“So, what if we can’t fix your sight, Faith?” Kennedy questioned.
“I dunno. I guess I want to the help generation out, because I never got that help. I want to be a slayer and be part of Buffy’s new creation of the Watcher and Slayer U. My eyesight is a big part of my life but to live without, I don’t know how I would function. I wouldn’t really be able to teach anyone anything,” Faith answered.
“Here you go,” the barkeep said putting down the drinks in front of them.
“Thanks,” Kennedy stated and handed the barkeep some money.
“Kennedy, put it near my hand please,” Faith pleaded, “I can’t see it.”
“I know. Here,” Kennedy stated, putting Faith’s hands around the glass.
“Thanks,” Faith replied, taking a sip or the drink, “Mmm, fruity.”
“Faith, aren’t you worried about what other’s think about you? Don’t you care?”
“I do, Kennedy. I do. But, then again, I don’t. I grew up fending for myself. I only care about what I can’t control, which is like everything. I can’t deal with the hatred that I get from other people. I can’t deal with the way that Buffy can’t trust me,” Faith said, taking another sip of the drink.
“Faith, Buffy trusts you. You just have to believe it. She is a slayer and has been one longer than any of us have been. She just sees things differently,” Kennedy replied.
“No, that isn’t it. She doesn’t trust me and I know why. I can’t say that I blame her, though. I did try to kill her and Angel, and a few others. I wasn’t always Miss Happy Slayer and a friend of the Scoobies. I was a mortal enemy. But, I am sure that you have heard that story before,” Faith responded.
“Yeah, I think so, but what does that matter now, Faith? It doesn’t. We are all together in this. We are fighting for the same cause. She has to understand that. Buffy can’t hate you forever,” Kennedy stated.
“That girl can hold a grudge, like no one I have ever seen, besides me,” Faith said, “I can feel it, though. I caused it. I had one against her as well. I wanted her dead and in a bad way. I don’t know if I honestly trust her thoroughly as well.”
“Faith, you don’t know if you trust her? How can you not?” Kennedy questioned.
“I think our mutual hatred for each other makes it hard for us to agree on things. I am not the natural leader that she is. I mean, we fight differently and for inherently different reasons. We seem to like not meeting eye to eye. It is kinda our thing.”
“Then, you two must learn to trust each other. You two are the generals of our slayer army and you may not agree on everything, but you must trust each other. If you don’t, then what’s the point? What’s the point in even trying? If we can’t make you two meet in the middle, then we are all doomed. The First has already won,” Kennedy said.
“What do you mean?” Faith asked, as she pushed the drink away.
“The First would have already won. It will split us apart. We are already at a breaking point,” Kennedy replied.
“Then what do you want me to do about it?” Faith asked.
“Just talk to her. Listen to her. Figure it out,” Kennedy stated.
“Then, you need to talk to Willow,” Faith said knowingly.
Kennedy and Faith came strolling in around a quarter to twelve. They weren’t really caring about anything as they came up the stairs. Faith was drunk and Kennedy wasn’t too far behind her, either. Buffy and Willow stepped out of the library and watched them walk up the stairs. Faith almost stumbled and Kennedy tried to catch her, but fumbled the recovery, only to have Willow and Buffy catch them both.
“Oh, don’t start, B. I can’t feel it from here. I am going to bed,” Faith stated. She managed to walk past Buffy and Willow, down the hall, and to her room.
Buffy and Willow just stood there staring at Kennedy. Kennedy made no excuse for her actions or her obvious buzz. She simply walked past them both to the room that she and Willow shared. She staggered down the hall. Buffy and Willow just stared at each other.
“I need to talk to her. But, I can’t do it now. I don’t know if what she might do if I tried to talk to her while she is drunk,” Will stated.
“I know. I need to talk to Faith, but how can I do that when she doesn’t even want to talk to me? She did this on purpose you know,” Buffy stated.
“But, Kennedy didn’t have to go with her. She did that on her on volition and you and I both know it. But, I don’t know why Kennedy went with her,” Willow wondered.
“She went because she had to drive. Kennedy was her eyes, but it is more than that. I think that Kennedy is upset with you. She just used Faith as a reason to go. Kennedy is hurting as well,” Buffy answered.
“What do you mean?” Will asked.
“Kennedy is upset with you. You have been more concerned about Tara and what she has had to say to Faith than you have been about your own girlfriend. How do you think that makes her feel? She is hurt. She would never tell you that she was hurting because she loves you too much. Willow, step back and look at the situation. How would you feel?” Buffy questioned.
“Damn it. I never think,” Willow stated turning around, “I can’t see things sometimes even when they are right in front of my face. Buffy, how did things get so screwed up? Why can’t I ever stop and think about things first?”
“Faith?” Buffy asked stepping into her room.
“What can I do you for you?” Faith asked.
“I understand that you are uncomfortable being here now. I just want you to know that I am here for you. I will get you anything you need,” Buffy stated.
“Tell me what you found out today. Tell me what Tara told you,” Faith demanded Buffy.
“That’s fair. I think I owe you that much. But, first tell me, how are you doing? Are you doing okay?” Buffy asked.
“Five by five. How do you think I am doing? I can’t see a damn thing,” she answered.
“I know that. We are going to fix that. Tara told me that doubt was the reason that you went blind. I don’t know how to make understand that doubt is normal. But, what I am about to tell you is hard for me, it wasn’t your doubt that caused your blindness…”
Benny came in the room and cutting Buffy off.
“We checked on today and found out that it was a mispronouncation. Tara was wrong. We were wrong. We have been going about this wrong way from the beginning. I need you to come with me,” Benny stated.
“Wait, you’re leaving me alone,” Faith said, “Great, I’ll just sit here and deal.”
“No, Faith, you won’t. I am taking you out. I have something to give you,” Benny answered, “Buffy, go find Willow. Meet me at my place in about an hour.”
“Alright,” Buffy stated. She didn’t question Benny. She did give her a questioning look as Buffy walked out the room. She knew that Benny had a reason for making Buffy not tell Faith what Tara had told them that afternoon.
“What? What is it?” Faith demanded.
“Tara said some things. We found out some things. But, I did some checking out more about the spell. Tara’s interpretation might be a little off because I believe that you mispronounced the last word in the spell. I need you to tell me what you said again and say it very slowly, so that I make sure. But, first, I am taking you to a place I think that you will like a lot better than here,” Benny explained.
“Will you just tell me what she said? I think that I have a right to know,” Faith stated. She stood up and walked toward Benny.
“You do have a right to know. And, we will tell you. But, for now, I think that a change of locality would better suit your mood and mental stated. We are going to research what Tara told us before we tell you it as truth. I want to be sure of everything. I don’t want to hurt anyone, especially if I don’t have to. There are too many hearts invested in this venture. I am worried about everyone,” Benny stated.
“Yeah and why is that? Why can’t anyone just tell me what is going on?”
“It is because Tara. There are too many people that have feelings for her. I can’t rule on anything and make a positive decision on what we know. I have to worry about Willow and Buffy. I am worried about you because you were the one that she came to first. I can’t just let everything that she has told us be real until I can’t prove it otherwise. I have found the spell with some help of some old friends. It seems that you may have mispronounced the last word of it. This may or may not have caused your blindness. I want to be sure first,” Benny answered her.
“So, I have to wait. I get it. I have to wait until you are sure that this is my entire fault. Don’t you think that I know that it is my fault that I am blind,” Faith yelled at her, crossing the room towards Benny, “I get it. I am the cripple so I have to wait for permission to do anything. I get it. Get outta my way. I am getting outta here. I know when I am not wanted. I understand that my being a slayer and blind will get someone hurt if I go out with you all. I’ll leave then.”
“Faith, that isn’t it. I want to you to come live near me. I have an apartment in my building that just opened. I want you to have it. You can have anything that you want with you there. I understand that you don’t want to be here. You feel useless. But, I am not going to let you go out there alone. You are a slayer. You are a sister to all slayers. If you are injured, then we will care for you. I am not going to let you just walk away from us all. I won’t let you kill yourself by putting your life on the line,” Benny answered, “I will not let anyone, and I mean anyone, destroy them selves over this.”
“Who says that I am going to do anything?” Faith questioned.
“No one, I just don’t want you to do anything either. I don’t want you to feel all heroic one night and decide to go out on your own,” Benny replied.
“You know me to well. So, where is this place you want to give me? No, wait, lemme guess, right next yours. I guess I can’t complain,” Faith replied.
“Come on,” Benny stated, hugging her, “I’ll help you move in.”
“How can I repay you? You have done nothing but show us kindness. I…could never repay you for this. You have given me a car, which now I cannot drive; a job, which I cannot perform to standards anymore, and now you give an apartment. I can’t ever repay you. How could I repay all of your kindness?” Faith examined.
“I only ask one thing. Let Hope see you tomorrow. Let me bring her to you, to look at your eyes, to see if there is something that she can do for you,” Benny stated.
“I have no choice, now do I,” Faith said sarcastically.
“Nope, I guess not.”
“Where are we now?” a voice, with a slight British accent stated from the back of the truck as it went barreling down the interstate.
“Don’t worry, the sun is almost down. We are coming into Cleveland. I still don’t know why we are coming here. I still don’t understand why that witch sent me to LA to find you. What in the world could I need Captain Peroxide for anyway?” the driver of the truck answered in his own accent.
“Careful, sonny, or I might just bite you and take the truck,” the voice stated.
“Calm down, Spike. I will tell you when to come out,” the driver replied.
“Justin, don’t toy with me. I don’t understand why Tara would send you to LA to find me. I don’t understand why she sent you…you of all people,” Spike stated and then questioned Justin further, as he poked his head out from under the covers that he had been hiding under while Justin was driving, “What makes you so special?”
“All I will tell you is that I am older than I look, Spike,” Justin replied.
Willow walked into her room, the room that she shared with Kennedy.
“Can we talk?” Willow asked.
“Why? You’ve made it clear who you want more,” Kennedy answered.
“That’s not fair. You know that I love you, Kennedy.”
“Do I? How would I know that? You have spent more time researching the existence of Tara and Faith’s adventures with the knowledge that Tara gave her.”
“That may be true. I have been neglecting you and I am sorry about that. I want to talk to you because I love you. I have chosen to be with you. I am not out there right now looking for a ghost. I saw her today. I’ll admit that. When I looked at her, I felt my love for her, but I knew that she was beyond my reach. I will never be able to be with Tara again, no matter how much I could wish for it. She is dead,” Willow stated.
“What are you saying?” Kennedy asked.
“I am saying that I love you. I loved Tara, yes that is true. I will always love Tara. I will not deny that. I loved her so much Kennedy. You know that.”
“I do. I remember what happened to you while we were at Buffy’s house in Sunny-D. I am not saying that you don’t love me. I am saying that you always choose Tara over me. How am I supposed to compete with that? How am I supposed to compete with Tara?” Kennedy asked on the verge of tears.
Willow stared at her in awe. Her eyes were filling up with tears. Willow crossed the room. She grabbed Kennedy and pulled her off their bed. She hugged Kennedy with a furiousness and passion that frightened Kennedy.
“I love you,” Willow stated holding Kennedy’s face in her hands.
“I love you,” Kennedy replied.
Willow kissed Kennedy. She held her softly. She knew that there was no one else for her now. She had to find away to convince Kennedy that she loved her.
“Kennedy, what do I have to do to prove to you that I love you? That I have chosen you?”
Kennedy stood back from her. She did not know how to answer Willow’s question.
“I love you, Kennedy. You have to believe me when I say that. I know that I may not have been acting like it lately, but I do love you. Do you believe me?” Willow asked.
Kennedy grabbed Willow around the waist and pulled Willow towards her.
“Yes, I believe you. Just tell me that you love me once and awhile. It does a slayer’s ego good, okay,” Kennedy replied.
“Okay,” Willow stated, “But, you know what makes a witch happy…loving.”
Willow spun them around and pushed Kennedy down on the bed. Willow was on top of Kennedy, who didn’t have time to respond or even care, kissing her.
“This is it. It seems someone has moved into the place next to you. My people tell me that they are from outta town. I don’t know how they like things. But, I am right next door. If you need anything, anything at all, beat on the wall, or call me, my number is number one on speed dial, the gym is two, and as soon as I get cell phones number, I’ll put them in there for you.”
“Thanks for everything,” Faith stated.
“Hey, can I use the bathroom really quick?” Benny asked.
“Sure, you know where it is. Then you can show me around this place so I can figure out where everything is,” Faith replied.
“No problem. Sit there on the couch, I’ll be right back in a few,” Benny stated, walking out of the living room and to the bathroom. She shut the door behind herself not wanting to be disturbed in her endeavor.
She pulled out some candles and her lighter. She laid the candles out into the bathtub in a star. She lit the candles. She had already blessed the apartment earlier in the day, but Benny knew the healing power of water. She had done the research and studied all the religious material that she could get her hands on. Benny got into the tub as quietly as possible. She didn’t want to alert Faith to what she was doing in the bathroom. She scratched a pentacle into the enamel of the tub in the corner near the drain and where the water spout. Benny thought that is she blessed the tub with some sort of reoccurring blessing or talisman that it might help Faith’s condition somehow because of the healing nature of water. Benny was prepared to do whatever it took to make Faith well, again.
“Did you fall in or something?” Faith questioned from the other room.
“Yeah,” Benny answered, flushing the toilet to make it sound like she had gone to the bathroom.
“Justin, I am not kiddin’ I need some blood,” Spike told him.
“I understand, but I can’t go out like this. I am going to have to change. You still have to tell me more about the gang. I can’t just show up and tell them that you lead me to them with you preternatural sense of smell. I need to know about them so I can help the one that has lost her way. Now, let’s recap. Tara is the one that sent me and she is dead, right?” Justin inquired.
“Right,” Spike answered, “Bloody hell. Justin, you know it all.”
“What do you want me to do, Spike? Just walk up to ‘Red’ as you call her and tell her that her dead girlfriend sent me. What do think she’ll do? I mean if she is as powerful as you say she is, she could make me very mortal, very quickly. I am kinda not ready for that now,” Justin replied.
“Well, then, you poof, what are you going to tell them?” Spike examined, “Oh, I know. How about: ‘ello, names Justin. I'm ‘ere to ‘elp?”
“I do not sound like that. Anyway, so I need to be worried about Buffy, who is The Slayer, Willow who is a goddess now, and Kennedy who became a slayer. Right…this is going to be fun. So, I need to find a way in with the Harris kid or the kid sister, that was like some sort of mystical thingy. Great, just once can’t I get called into action without having to do any magic,” Justin stated.
“What are you complaining about? At least you aren’t bloody dependent on blood to survive and not maul the masses,” Spike replied.
“A choice you made, centuries ago, doesn’t make it my fault now,” Justin said.
“Just remember that you aren’t a vampire, yet,” Spike hissed.
“Just remember that you aren’t embers, yet,” Justin retorted.
“Bloody hell!” Spike responded, “Will you just go already? Then maybe, I can have some peace in this place.”
“Just remember, stay away from the windows and don’t do anything that would let anyone know that you are here. You realize that they all think that you are dead,” Justin stated as he was walking out the door, “Imagine what they’ll do when they find out that you came back to reek havoc again. Besides, there are witches here in this complex. I don’t want to clue them in on us being here. That is all I need is to have some new age witch wanna be up my butt while I am trying to help a goddess on Earth. Just don’t do anything until I get back. I‘ll bring you something to suck on.”
“Could you get some spices too?” Spike asked, all serious like.
“For what?” Justin inquired.
“To give it a little flavor,” Spike added.
Justin just shook his head and shut the door.
Xander was working the desk at the gym. Dawn and Giles were upstairs in the library. Buffy was working out in the dojo. Willow and Kennedy were still in their room making up. Xander didn’t mind it working the desk too much. He liked the eye candy that came in the door. He didn’t mind that Benny and Faith had left him alone to run the place on his own.
Xander was reading some comic books behind the bar top of the gym’s counter. He had heard the door open and close. He looked up to see how cute the possible new female client was, only to find a guy walking up to the desk. Xander’s expression gave him away before the male client got to the desk.
“It’s okay, mate. I understand. I really do,” the client stated.
“Sorry,” Xander said, “What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I am looking for a girl,” the guy stated with a thick Irish accent.
Xander looked over at Buffy, who had become interested in the client.
“Yeah, well, I don’t know how I can help you with that,” Xander replied.
The bright red haired guy just stared back over the counter at Xander.
“I am looking for a specific girl though. I was told that I could find her here.”
Buffy eaves dropping turned into just plain snooping as she walked up to the counter to see what was really going on.
“What’s up, Xander? New client?” Buffy asked.
“Not sure, yet. This gentleman was telling me that he is looking for a girl, Buffy, but that is about as far as I got,” Xander answered.
“Is that so?” Buffy inquired. “So, which girl you looking for?”
“She is a friend that I met in the U. K. I was told that she was working here,” Justin answered, “Her name is Dawn Summers.”
“Dawn? Funny she never mentioned you,” Buffy answered.
“Look, it is a long story. She called me a few days ago. I have some information for her. I need to give it to her. If she’s here, can I speak to her?” Justin asked.
“Yeah, I guess. I’ll go get her,” Buffy said walking away, upstairs.
“So, you met the Dawnster in England, huh?” Xander asked.
“Yeah, we met a bar one night. We talked, I had a few, and she listened, nothing much really to tell. I just know some people that know some stuff, she asked me to do some research. I did. I got the information for her. That is the only reason I am here,” Justin stated, “I can tell you are protective of her. Don’t worry.”
“I am not worried about Dawn. Buffy will take of you if she deems it necessary,” Xander stated, “Buffy is Dawn’s older sister.”
Dawn came out the stairwell door and looked at Justin. She knew that she hadn’t met anyone while she was with Giles in England, but this guy said that they had. Dawn had to admit that she was curious about a guy that was looking for her.
“Hey there,” Dawn said as she hugged Justin.
“Hello, Dawn. I found that information you were looking for,” Justin stated, “I’ll show you everything, if you’ll come with me.”
“Yeah, sure,” Dawn stated, taking Justin’s hand, and they walked out the door.
“Look,” Dawn started when they were alone in a park, walking, “I know that you don’t know me. But, you said something about information. What do you know?”
“I know how to fix your friend, Xander. I can restore his eye sight,” Justin said.
“What do you mean?” Dawn asked.
“Let me show you something first,” Justin stated. He took a step back and shook his head. His hair turned from bright red to jet black. His Irish green eyes changed to beautiful blue eyes. “This is what I really look like most of the time. I don’t mean to scare you, Dawn, but I most show you the truth so you will understand.”
“I see. What truth can you give me?” Dawn questioned defensively.
“As you can tell, I know magicks. I am here to help your cause. You asked for help and an old friend heard your plea. It just took me a while to find you,” Justin said.
“What plea?”
“The one where you asked for your sister to be given a champion to fight for her, a new love for your magical friend and a better life for your other friend, that is plea I am talking about. You see I am the answer to your plea. A champion was sent and died, a love was given, but your friend’s life was made worse for defending your family,” Justin stated, “Xander is that friend. I am here to help him. I know that it is hard to believe, but it is the truth.”
“And you have proof of this? You want me to believe you? How can I?” Dawn questioned, “Can you prove what you are saying?”
“I can, but I am not sure that you are ready,” Justin stated.
“Who makes you the judge of that?” Dawn demanded.
“No one really, but I have to be sure. I have someone for you to see, but we will have to wait for that. If you want me to be sure that you are ready for all I have to show you, I need you to convince Xander to come with you tonight. Meet me here at the park. I will heal him. I will make him better,” Justin told her.
“All I have to do, is bring him to you, tonight?” Dawn inquired.
“Yes, and then I will give you all the information that you ask for. Anything you want to know that I can tell. I have to go. I have things to do. Just be here, tonight.”
“I’ll see you tonight, then,” Dawn answered and Justin left.
“Are you sure that she’ll come?” Spike asked.
“Yeah, she wants to make everything better for them all. It was easy to convince her that I could help them. She has to be on my side so that I can help Faith,” Justin said.
“Justin, where are you?” Dawn shouted.
“Stay back,” Justin stated, “Over here.”
“Hello, again,” Xander stated.
“Hello,” Justin said, with red hair and green eyes again, “I know that it won’t be easy, but let me see your eye.”
“Dawn, what does this guy want from you?” Xander asked.
“I don’t want anything. I am here to help you. Please, let me see it,” Justin said.
Xander sat down at the picnic table. He lifted his eye patch.
“I know that this is hard for you. I know that you haven’t let many people see your eye like this. I am going help you. I was sent to help you. Some upstairs, if you know what I mean, is really looking out for you. They must really want you and your entire gang to live and continue to fight the forces of evil and darkness,” Justin said.
Justin sat down across from him. Dawn sat with them on the other side. Justin reached out and touched Xander’s face. Dawn saw a light come from Justin’s hands as he placed on hand over the empty socket and the other on Xander’s face. Xander winced a little in pain but didn’t scream out. Justin removed him hands from Xander’s face after a few minutes. Justin and Dawn just looked at Xander. Where the socket was, there was a blue eye, staring back at them both.
“I can change the color if you want me to,” Justin said.
“Change the color? You gave me an eye and you are worried about color,” Xander stated, “I don’t care about the color of it.”
|
|
|
|
Rave
Barbie Girl (Becca)
biscuit07
Filmtheory (Jim)
Malice (Jess)
MebbtheScribe (MichaelB)
Reset (Allie)
Shay (Marrisa)
somnambulist29 (Shea)
Stephanie Loss
Wendyness (Wendy)
Questions?Contact Us
|
|
All stories on this site have been archived with the authors' consent. Do not copy these stories for your own uses without the express consent of the author themselves. Buffy the Vampire Slayer TM and Angel TM are © UPN, WB, Fox and its related entities. All photos on the site are © UPN, Fox, Warner Bros, and/or their respective owners. No profits are being made by use of these images.
Powered with the assitance of eFiction.
|
|
|
