Faith
He was swimming... still alive, swimming below, but unable to reach the surface, because at the top, the dark haired killer was waiting to push him down again, into the depths below... she could see him, see his pain, see him struggle. And she could see herself, laughing.
Faith awoke with a start, sweating and crying. Alan Finch's face was still clear in her memory. She opened her door and went downstairs to get something to eat.
Buffy finished her coffee with a gulp and grabbed her keys off the table.
"I'm working today, but Willow should be home. She can fill you in on the details, I guess."
"Thanks... and B?"
"Yeah?" Buffy turned at the door.
"I'm sor - "
"I know. See ya." Buffy walked out the back door, leaving it open.
Faith hopped off her seat and closed it, before padding over to the fridge and pulling out the orange juice.
A creak on the hallway put Faith on guard. She put the juice back and closed the fridge quietly, before heading to the doorway.
"Willow?" she called carefully.
Willow
"Hey Faith," Willow said. "I heard you earlier, were you having a nightmare?" Willow was pretty sure that she knew what Faith was dreaming about. She could hear the other girl crying out in her sleep. Willow had dreamt of Tara, and of Warren nearly every night since. . . . since that day. All this time and Faith still dreamt of him? That was 4 years ago. If it didn't get any better after 4 years, would it ever get any easier?
Faith
Faith gave a sigh of relief. "Yeah, that was me. I didn't wake you or anything, did I? I was kinda having a bad night... I haven't had a real chance to sleep properly lately..."
She went back to the fridge and retrieved the juice before heading to the cupboard and pulling out two glasses.
"Angel filled me in on most of what's been happening in LA. What's happening here? From the sounds of everything, it's like an apocalypse trend, everyone seems to be facing one."
Willow
"Faith? before we get into that, has anybody told you what's happened here since you last left? Particularly with me?" Willow was a little nervous. Warren's skinless body haunted her mind and she shuddered. Would she ever be able to forgive herself?
Faith
Faith put her glass down, noticing Willow's shudder and remembering what Angel had told her.
"Angel did tell me a little bit. Nothing too specific. At the time, I was sorta impressed that you did it... not the right reaction, I know, but I was still sorta dealing with everything else. I am sorry about Tara though. That might not seem much, you know, coming from me, I know I'm not exactly going to win 'Person of the Year', but I am sorry."
Faith moved to the sink and rinsed her glass out, staring at the window, and taking a deep breath, feeling the tears well up in her eyes.
"I won't lie to you... it still hurts and haunts me. But not as much as it used to... see, it won't get harder, I promise that... it'll get easier."