TITRE : Fairy, Lullaby and Switch (suite de Il Maestro)
AUTEUR : Vincent Fretin
FEEDBACK : vincef@yahoo.fr
RATING : PG-13
DISCLAIMER : Faith, Buffy et tous les autres personnages appartiennent à Joss Whedon, WB, etc.
RESUME : Après avoir échappé une première fois aux griffes d'Il Maestro, les deux tueuses se rapprochent de plus en plus et Buffy doit sauver Faith des démons de son passé, éveillés par le diabolique Il Maestro.

PARTS 1-4   PARTS 5-8   PARTS 9-13

PART 1

A bright light had suddenly woken her up. She was definitely not a morning person. She opened her right eye, then the left and saw an angel in the center of the light. OK, not an angel, only Buffy but it was the same to her.

"Hey, B. What’s up?"

"Time to move, Faith. You’ve been laying there for five days."

"I don’t feel so well, B. My back still hurts like hell."

Buffy smiled and looked at the other slayer:

"Don’t try to fool me. I received the same package as yours... Slayer healing, remember? Didn’t think you’d stay in bed that long. Becoming lazy?"

"Nah... I just like when Nurse Buffy takes care of me..."

Then, locking her eyes on Buffy’s, she added:

"She’s wicked sexy you know... Never thought wearing one of these white uniforms?"

"Faith."

"What, you know what I feel for you. Why should I keep it hidden?"

Buffy sighed.

"OK... No, not OK... er... Take a shower, come downstairs. I am going to make breakfast."

And she left the room.

Faith smiled. She liked teasing Buffy. It was so easy. But they have to talk. Her injuries have prevented this moment for too long. Today would be the big day. Part of Faith wanted it and part of her feared it...

Buffy was in the kitchen, speaking to Willow who was cooking pancakes when she came back from her room. Now that Faith was healed, her friend would stop sleeping on the sofa.

"How is she?"

"A LOT better!"

"She teased you, didn't she?"

"Said I was wicked sexy in Nurse Buffy."

Willow could not hide her smile.

"As you said, a LOT better..."

Willow's reaction had first amazed Buffy. She had never liked Faith but for the last week, they seemed to get along very well. At least the whole beast thing had brought something positive.

"We'll do it now, Will. I need to talk to her now."

"About the past or about her feelings for you?"

"Both!"

"As you don't even know what your feelings are... I don't think it'd be wise to discuss about it..."

"I have to, Will. She'll understand, she has to."

A heavy silence followed this statement. During a long minute, no words were pronounced. Then, a hand took the plate Buffy was busy with.

"Thanks, B. Hey, Red!"

Buffy smiled at Faith who went to the living room, she had her usual outfit, black leather, etc. Even her underwears were in leather. Buffy had noticed it when she brought her in her room. Wait a minute, Buffy thought. She left Faith ten minutes earlier, it was not possible that she had already taken her shower. And Faith, her Faith, did not call Willow Red anymore. Bad memories according to her... So, that could only mean...

Buffy ran to Faith, grabbed her by the neck and pushed her against the wall before throwing her in the middle of the living room.

"Fuck, B, not the nose, you almost broke it again, girlfriend."

"Oh, I won't only break your nose. What are you doing here?"

"Sis is here. Wanna check if she's OK."

"Yes she is and NO you're not going to see her. You'll get out of here before I kick your ass."

"Watch your language, B. It didn't match with the pastels. Is that how you show your gratitude? I helped to save your (licking her lips) assssssss."

"You what? You were the one who put us all in this shit. How dare you? You're disgusting."

"Oh, I am disgusting... Come on, B, tell me, why do I disgust you? Is it because I make you wet?"

"In your dreams."

Then, with a soft and sensual voice:

"Is it because I was the one who woke your primal instincts up?"

Buffy hissed her next sentence:

"Stop or you'll regret it."

"How? I'm scared. Is it me you're threatening like this?"

"You know it's you."

"Oh, yes, you said I was a disgusting pathetic whore. Was it because I changed you? Made you a victim? Poisoned Angel? Almost killed your friends?"

"Yes, because each time I see you, I want to vomit! Happy with the answer?"

A cruel smile crossed Faith's mouth:

"Oh, yes, girlfriend because I only changed you. She (pointing with her finger) did the rest."

A flash of comprehension hit Buffy, slowly, she turned herself to watch the other Faith quickly running upstairs.

"Oh, shit, Faith, wait!"

And she ran after Faith.

Faith sat on the sofa when she noticed that Willow had her resolved face and was very pissed off.

"What's up, Red? Wanna do the magic mumbo jumbo? You know you can't 'cause it's fucking baaaaaaaaad!"

"I think I will make an exception."

"And I don't think so. There is a kid in the room, you don't want her to see it, do you?"

Willow had not noticed Dawn till now, she was right, she could not do it while she was in the room. Finishing her plate, Faith stood up.

"I gotta go. I have a vampire to hunt, see ya."

"Faith, Wait!"

"What? Hurry up, Red. I don't want to waste another minute here now that the show is over."

"Why are you doing this?"

A sad smile crossed her face:

"Because if I can't have her, she won't either."

And she left.

PART 2

"Faith, open the door, please, we need to talk."

It's your room, B, can't prevent you to come in."

Buffy had a bad feeling. That was not the answer she had expected. Faith suddenly opened the door, facing Buffy.

"So, you want to go in, go in. I am going out."

"No, you don't."

Faith locked her eyes in Buffy's and hissed:

"Didn't know I was your prisoner, girlfriend, didn't know you wanted a pathetic whore in your house."

"Faith, this is not what you think it is."

And Faith answered, her voice still carrying venom:

"Oh, sorry, B. I think you made it fucking clear. I thought we could be pals again. I thought that if I opened my feelings to you, I would have a chance. I even thought that it worked. Guess I was wrong."

Contrary to Faith, Buffy's voice remained soft but her tone was resolute:

"No, you weren't."

"Oh, come on, B. You said to my double that you hated her for the things I DID. ME. So, it is pretty obvious that you think the same about me. I already knew I was a piece of trash. Thanks for the reminder."

As Faith tried to move to the stairs, Buffy blocked the way and it was her turn to lock her eyes on Faith's.

"I meant every word I said to your double, Faith, but..."

Faith was hit by the sincerity in Buffy's voice. Even if she had heard the words, part of her still hoped she was wrong. She remained speechless, completely still.

"Don't you see that it's an amazing chance for us?"

"What? What chance? There is no chance, B."

"Yes, Faith. There is a chance. You see, when you were in jail, I often thought about how things would be when we'd meet again. If I'd be able to forgive you, trust you again, if my anger would finally disappear, if my mind would accept the fact that you could be good again, because, I knew you could make it. And this other Faith is a gift for me, in my eyes, she represents all I want to forget about us, she represents the evil you managed to beat. And when I look at you, the only person I see is my friend, the one who makes me laugh, the one who embarrasses me so easily, the one who saved my life more than once, the one I care about, the one I need in my life..."

Faith was on the verge of crying. The old Faith would have fought the tears, but she did not want to do it now. Buffy's voice was still full of sincerity, these tears were from joy.

"So... so there is still a chance?"

"Yes, Faith. I've forgiven you and I know I need you in my life as a friend and maybe more. It is just... I'm very confused right now. You see, I've been shut to feelings for months because of the beast in me and now, I'm in overload. I need time to deal with it... I -"

Then, Buffy felt Faith's finger on her mouth.

"I'll wait, B. I'll wait."

A long silence followed, then, coming from downstairs, Dawn's voice broke the moment:

"So, as you've finished now, can we eat? I am starving."

Both slayers smiled and Faith answered:

"Sure, Double M, we are coming."

"Double M?"

"She didn't like Miss Muffet anymore. So, I updated it to Double M, besides, it reminds us a cartoon we used to watch together. So, downstairs? I am hungry."

Then, as Buffy began walking to the stairs, she whispered:

"I'll wait for the horny part too."

Then went to the kitchen leaving a blushing Buffy behind her.

Il Maestro was laying in the sofa of his hotel room pretending he was asleep. It was still early in the afternoon but he did not want to close his eyes, not with these guys in the room.

The man, Leo, was sitting in a chair, reading a book. He was on average height, dark brown eyes, a tanned skin and he always wore the most expensive outfits. This man was a cerebral, intelligent, he was an expert manipulator. Il Maestro had played three chess games against him and lost all of them. As he was not used to lose at this game, that had only confirmed his deductions.

In the other room, Il Maestro could hear Nara, Leo's wife, training. If Leo was the brain, Nara was the muscle, Il Maestro had no doubt about it. And she had to be deadly efficient. She was gorgeous but in every move, you can feel the predator in her. The sunglasses she always wore added an aura of mystery to the girl.

Asleep in the bed, their daughter, Laura, 10 years-old. She had her mom's beauty but her father's eyes. It was strange to see how devoted Nara and Leo were when they were with her. Anyway, even if they seemed a lovely active couple, Il Maestro knew that if the slayers were not erased tomorrow night, he'd be ashes the next morning. If Leo was who he pretended to be, there would be no mercy.

PART 3

The Bronze, 11.30 pm.

On the dance floor, Buffy was delighted. After a quick patrol, she had convinced Faith to join the gang to the Bronze. Willow and Xander seemed to have forgiven Faith either. There had been some awkward moments but, in general, everything was fine, finally. And now, Faith and her were dancing as if they were the only living beings on earth without reserve and they enjoyed it. But the thirst was there. Buffy had to drink something. Looking at Faith, she made a quick gesture toward the bar. Faith nodded, she had understood and both slayers left the dance floor and walked to the bar. Suddenly, Buffy felt a hand on her left buttock. Looking at her fellow slayer, she asked:

"Faith, what's this?"

"Sorry B, but you have my money and I saw you put it in this pocket so as I didn't want to bother you..."

"Sure!"

Buffy took the money from her pocket and gave it to Faith.

"Next time, keep your hands away from me, OK?"

Then, she walked to the bar but heard something, something that she could only heard thanks to her slayer hearing.

"I said I'd wait, B. I didn't said I'd behave."

OK, the old Faith was definitely back, the innuendos were there too. Buffy turned her head and walked to the bar, a wicked smile on her lips that Faith could not see. Everything was as it had to be.

Spike left the Bronze. He had just seen the interaction between the slayers and felt sick. Buffy had told him she needed time to clear her head and he had believed her. And presently, he had just seen her and Faith enjoying themselves and groping each other.

"Bitches! Why do I have to fall only for bitches?"

After five minutes, a stop to buy a bottle of alcool, he entered his crypt and knew something was wrong. Someone was here.

"Who's here, show yourself!"

"Bad day, Chip Boy?" saying it, Faith made a step out of the shadows.

"Oh! Great! Is it a slayer sport, torment the poor Spike? What is the price, a golden stake?"

"Nah, it's just for the fun. So, you seem upset, am I right?"

"That's not your business, crazy cow."

"I think I know. Is there a link with two slayers, a sexy blonde and a pervert brunette?"

Spike did not answer. Faith walked to Spike who had just sat on his chair. She stopped in front of him and looked at him before saying:

"Poor Chip Boy! It's difficult to accept it, isn't it? Losing your love for-"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear your mad ramblings."

"No, you're right. Buffy is a good girl, a saint... She'd never do that, no fucking doubt about it but what about my sis? Do you think she will be a good girl too? She is sleeping in her room you know?"

"Bloody hell, could you shut up a second?"

"Do you think you can mix leather with pastels?"

Spike stood up, grabbed Faith by the collar and led her against the wall.

"I think the headache will be worth it."

"Mmm, nasty boy. I've always liked bad boys, bad girls too, might be a slayer thing. So, Chip Boy, how close were they tonight? That close?"

And, even if Spike still maintained her neck against the wall, she pressed her body on his.

"Or that close?"

She quickly took Spike's arm and managed to give him a quick kiss on the mouth. Spike made a step back, confused.

"Wh... What are you doing?"

"Kissing you. Sorry, could have been better. Didn't have the time to put the tongue."

Then she grabbed him by the collar and pinned him on the wall thanks to a knife she had inside her jacket. The blade entered just above his right shoulder, between the flesh and the shirt.

"Now, listen to me, Chip Boy. You don't want to see my sis having B. Neither do I."

"And what are you suggesting, a partnership? Beware slayers, here is the legion of the neglected lovers. Please, I'm over it."

"Oh, excuse me. I thought I was speaking with the Big Bad. But, you're right, here is Spike, the white knight, the faithful protector of the Scooby Gang."

"If I hadn't this chip, I would..."

Faith took the knife out or the wall and put it under Spike's chin.

"Listen, pal, I don't ask you to hurt Buffy, Sis or Dawn or anyone else in the Scooby Gang, I don't want to hurt them physically. All I want from you is information. Tell me anything you'd hear about my sis and her acts. I don't need anything else and when the time would come, we will make our move to separate them. How? I don't have a fucking idea but I'm sure we'll find something. Deal?"

For the first time since he had entered his crypt, Spike smiled.

"Deal."

"Perfect. Mind if I sleep here?"

"What?"

"I don't want to go back to my motel, I'm kinda tired."

"But..."

"I take the bed. Wanna join?"

"Excuse me." with a disgusted face.

"Oh, yeah, sorry, Buffy's faithful toy boy... Never mind ."

Then with a cruel grin she added:

"Sure you don't wanna join me?"

Il Maestro looked at his watch. 2.00 am... Plan B had just begun.

At the same time, in Spike's crypt.

"Bloody hell!"

PART 4

Buffy could not sleep. She was laying on her sofa, thinking once again of the events of the last few days. Thinking also about the way Faith behaved with her, the same way she had behaved three years ago. But she was also different, she had opened herself to her. She had said she loved her, loved her... Could she be in love with Faith? And what about the other Faith, the evil one? Buffy knew her Faith wanted to support her, lead her in the path of Redemption. But did the evil Faith want it? What if she was forced to fight her, maybe kill her? How would her Faith react? Would she hate her? Just thinking of a Faith who would hate her, Buffy felt sick. Once again, the same question crossed her mind. She needed Faith, but did she love her?

She suddenly heard a noise then someone knocked on the door of the Summers House.

BAM BAM BAM

Carefully, she walked to the door, expecting anything.

"Slayer, open the door and quick!"

Spike? What was he doing here? The sun would rise in a few minutes. It had to be very important. She opened the door and saw Spike enter the living room with someone in his arms, a young boy, around 15, with dark hair, wearing what looked like one of Spike's shirts. He seemed completely lost. Buffy closed the door and followed the vampire in the living room.

"Who is he?"

"Hey, Buffy, glad to see you."

"Spike!"

"OK, OK, HE is Faith..."

Buffy looked at him as if he was insane.

"Duh?"

"Not the Faith who sleeps in your bed."

He almost spat in saying that.

"The other one, the evil one."

"So, you are saying that Faith changed into this boy?"

She quickly glanced at him. He was sitting on the sofa now, as confused as he was a few seconds ago but he seemed scared too. What the fuck was going on?

"Yes, in the crypt, I saw it."

"And what was she doing in your crypt?"

"Tormenting me, what else could she do? Can we focus on the situation, please? She was asleep and... well she became this boy."

Asleep? In your crypt?", Buffy hissed.

"Oh, please, don't tell me you're jealous?"

"I am not jealous, I thought I could trust you but you let an enemy sleep in your crypt and..."

"What's wrong, B?"

Buffy turned her head and saw Faith entering the living room. The boy also saw her, a smile crossed his face.

"Fairy?"

Buffy saw Faith's face becoming as pale as death; then she almost slipped to the ground. The boy suddenly ran to her, jumping with joy.

"Fairy!"

When he reached Faith, she violently pushed him away, right on the sofa.

"Don't approach me! You're not HIM, you can't be HIM!"

The last part of the sentence was screamed to the boy's face. The boy seemed so lost at this moment, tears were runnings on his cheeks.

"Fairy?"

And Buffy felt Faith's mind broke, saw her sister slayer drop to her knees with empty eyes.

"He is not him, he can't be him, no, he can't."

Buffy rushed to Faith.

"FAITH, oh my god, no, not now, not now. Faith ,answer me, please, say something. Faith, do you hear me? Faith! FAITH, come back, I need you, baby! Faith!"

Buffy cried now, she did not even notice that Willow and Dawn were downstairs now.

"Buffy, what happened?"

As her best friend did not answer, she asked the same question to Spike.

"The evil Faith changed into this boy. I brought him here, the other Faith saw him and seemed to have lost her mind the same way Buffy did last year. Don't know anything else, Will."

Willow then looked at the terrified boy when Buffy stood up and said:

"This is his fault, he is a demon, I'm gonna-"

Willow stopped her:

"It's not true and you know it. I don't know what happened but don't you remember what Anya told us about the Devrash demons? They become who they think they are..."

Buffy still full of anger asked:

"Then who is he?"

Willow walked to the boy, kneed in front of him and said:

"Shhh, don't worry, everything will be fine."

Still crying, the boy replied:

"What happened to Fairy? Is she hurt?"

"I don't know. You care about her, don't you?"

"Yes, she has always taken care of me."

"Do you have a name?"

The boy nodded:

"I'm Andy, Faith's twin brother."

"Schizophrenia can be considered as the key of my plan."

Il Maestro gave a quick glance to the others. The three of them were sitting on the room's bed, listening to him. He liked it, lectures, showing them that he still was in complete control of the situation.

"Six months ago, when I met my Faith, she was confined in a cell, in a psychiatric institute. The doctor in charge of her was one of my informants. So, when he saw the first change, he called me."

Leo cut him:

"Change?"

"You see, my Faith is a Devrash demon. As you know they copy the body and mind of the first human being they meet and forgive what they truly are: DEMONS. But, if the Devrash demon suffers from schizophrenia, it is as if he had two minds in him. So, when it literally changes its mind -"

"The body changes too."

"Exactly. So, when I received the shrink's call, I went there and directly remembered who his patient was or who I thought she was in this period. Remember when you hired me three years ago?"

Leo nodded and Il Maestro continued:

"As you had just contacted me regarding the current contract, I decided to use this Devrash demon to achieve my mission. So, I took her out of the institute, killed all witnesses and began a therapy based on hypnotism. I managed to control Faith's second personality." This time it was Nara who interrupted him:

"Why control it? Why didn't you erase it? You needed the slayer personality to fulfil your plan."

Il Maestro smiled, oh yes, he liked to be the teacher.

"Because, erasing Buffy Summers was the first part of my contract. I needed the other personality for the second part. But, I'll explain it later. So, I managed to impose Faith's personality, convinced her that I was her only friend, that I would never betray her and used the night she killed Finch to focus her mind. I increased her hatred for Buffy and her love for her at the same time, convinced her that if she couldn't have her, she would have to change her, etc, etc... I had become her mentor."

"She must be pretty upset now, she has realized you betrayed her."

"Yes, Nara, she was pretty upset the last time I saw her."

"You saw her?"

"The day after the factory incident. Fortunately for me, I put in her mind a kind of code that allows me to control her. Xérès, the name of a Mediterranean alcohol. So, I activated the change because I needed the other personality for plan B. I suggested her to 'bother' the slayers and said she had to be with a Scooby when the change would occur."

"Who was this personality?"

"Her own brother's personality, Leo. A sad story... I wanted to use him to erase Faith when she would have been free, but he will give me the opportunity to erase both slayers at the same time tonight... Tonight, I will become the first vampire to kill two slayers in a single night..."

The whole Scooby Gang was in the Summers' House. Faith was sitting, on the ground, she had not moved since this morning. It was 11.15 am and Willow was worried both for Faith and Buffy. The events of the morning had hurt the slayer very much. They had to find a solution and quickly or Buffy would collapse too. Willow then looked at Andy who was sitting with Dawn, watching some cartoon on TV. The boy was not lost anymore but was also worried for Faith. Buffy had not talked to him, had not looked at him. For her, he was the cause of Faith's state.

"Will? Will?"

"Oh, sorry, Buffy... You were saying?"

"Do you think Tara will be able to send me in Faith's head like you did in mine? I know it isn't an easy spell and another witch would be a plus but, Eona is still in Frisco and won't be here before tomorrow."

"Yes, Tara can make it but, we need some information first. I could do that because I knew you, Buffy. We... we don't know Faith that much.. and we have to learn a bit more about Andy's and Faith's pasts."

Willow noticed Andy moving. He was not in front of the TV now. He was playing with some soldier that Xander had brought with him. While playing, he began to sing:

"Andy and Fairy... on the way to a party... found thousands of candy... a comic and a Barbie..."

On the opposite side of the room, Faith's voice echoed Andy's. Only the lips moved, Faith's eyes were still empty.

"Andy and Fairy... on the way to a party... found thousands of candy... a comic and a Barbie..."

Then came Xander's comment:

"Do you think it can go weirder?"

"Andy and Fairy... on the way to a party... found thousands of candy... a comic and a Barbie..."

Suite PARTS 5-8