Faith got out of the car and looked at the number on the house before shrugging.
"Pretty sure this is it," she said to the boys.
She walked up the front steps and raised her hand to ring the bell, stepping back to wait.
The door opened seconds later, and the redheaded Wiccan's face appeared. A smile spread across her cheeks.
"Hey Wills," Faith greeted.
"My favourite Slayer," Willow replied, opening the door completely and hugging Faith.
The two women stayed in the embrace for a moment, pulling back slowly and smiling almost flirtatiously at each other.
"So, these are the boys?" Willow asked.
"Sam and Dean, in the flesh," Faith replied, glancing back at them.
Dean & Sam
"But you know, not naked because it's illegal," Dean coughed.
"Hi," Sam nodded simply.
Willow and Faith
"Ah," Willow said, looking at Dean with amused eyes. "You must be Dean. I was warned... anyway, come in."
"So, you and Giles are consulting at Wolfram and Hart?" Faith asked, following Willow into the house.
Willow's fingers trailed across Faith's arm casually. "Yeah, we've just started. Their resources are amazing."
Dean & Sam
Dean led the way in, his eyes on Willow's body language. Sam followed, closing the door behind him, his eyes on the house itself and how it was decorated.
Faith and Willow
"Love the place, Red," Faith commented, looking around as they reached the living room.
"Little more homely than the last time you were here, right?" Willow smiled. "Can I get anyone anything?"
"Tea?" Faith suggested. "With - "
"I remember," Willow said, silencing the Slayer with an unreadable look. "Boys?"
Dean & Sam
"Beer," Dean said, at the same time Sam chimed in with "we're fine, thanks."
Sam gave his brother a look.
Willow and Faith
"Sure," Willow said, smiling at Dean. "Sit."
Faith hesitated. "I can help - "
Willow turned to her with a twinkle in her eyes. "When have I ever made you work in this house?"
"Well, there was - "
"Aside from that!" Willow blushed as she left the room.
Dean & Sam
"Please tell me she's talking about girl on girl action," Dean almost pleaded as he and Sam sat down together.
"She's got a dungeon, right?"
"Dean," Sam rolled his eyes.
Faith and Willow
"We used to play - " Faith started.
"On second thoughts, some help, Faith!" Willow called, overhearing.
Faith snickered and went into the kitchen, knowing her way around the house easily.
Seconds later, giggles were heard.
Dean & Sam
"Sam..." Dean began, leaning into his brother.
He hesitated at the look that Sam gave him, and sat back almost sulkily.
"Nevermind."
Willow and Faith
The two girls appeared seconds later, a beer for Dean, and a pot of tea on a tray.
Willow set it down on the coffee table, before handing the beer to Dean.
"So," Willow said, glancing at Sam. "While it's always a pleasure..."
"Mine or yours?" Faith teased, watching the witch pour the tea and fix it exactly the way she liked it.
Willow blushed. "What can I do for you?"
Sam & Dean
Sam looked between them as Dean gulped down part of his beer.
"I like Faith might be able to explain better," he suggested.
"She hasn't really explained in detail what you can do for us..."
Faith and Willow
"In need of some mystical expertise," Faith said, leaning back in the chair, nursing the tea cup.
"Ok," Willow said, fixing her own cup of tea. She glanced at Sam, almost annoyed, but her tone was sweet. "Sam? Tea?"
"He doesn't drink tea," Faith told her. "Coffee junkie."
"Tea is soothing, I wish to be tense," Willow commented, and the two women shared a smile at the private joke.
"You know all about the properties in my blood," Faith went on. "Considering B and I were your labrats years ago. I need you to take another look. But... magically, as well."
Sam & Dean
"We're just worried that something might have changed, recently," Sam amended.
Dean watched on seriously.
Willow and Faith
"Are you ok?" Willow asked, turning to Faith.
"In a manner of speaking," Faith replied. "I'm alive and kicking. Well, not so much kicking these days, but that's soon to change, hopefully."
Willow set her teacup down and lifted her hand, hovering it over Faith's forehead.
"Oh, bub," she whispered soothingly, before turning and giving Sam a slightly dirty look.
Sam & Dean
Sam and Dean mirrored a frown, both catching the look.
Faith and Willow
"So can you help?" Faith asked.
Willow nodded, dropping her hand back down to her lap. "I can do some tests, and a mystical MRI of sorts."
"Sometimes, Wills, I think you just like seeing me naked," Faith teased, before taking a sip of tea.
Willow grinned.
Sam & Dean
Sam looked uncomfortable as Dean grinned with a nod.
"How long will it take?" Sam asked, worried.
Willow and Faith
Willow thought for a moment, glancing at Sam. "An hour maybe."
"Once you finish eyeing me off, right?" Faith grinned.
"Photographic memory," Willow teased. "Do you have time tonight?"
Faith looked at Sam. "Yeah?"
Sam & Dean
Sam looked to Dean.
"The sooner the better," the elder brother nodded, "now would be great."
Faith and Willow
Faith was already standing up when Willow started talking.
"Down the hall - "
"I remember," Faith said, already off in the direction of the bathroom.
"There's a robe - "
"I know!"
Willow smiled to herself faintly, then stood, turning to take the extra cushions off the couch, so Faith could lay flat.
"Um," she said, glancing at the boys. "Sam? Did you want to watch?"
Dean & Sam
"He probably shouldn't, but I gladly will," Dean nodded with a grin.
"Dean," Sam scorned, "we can go check out the Wilson thing. That should only take an hour or so."
"Dude, that's boring!" Dean complained.
"And this is going to be Jay Leno?" Sam's eyebrows rose.
"Oprah Sam, Oprah. Jerry Springer if I'm lucky," he added the last part under his breath.
Willow and Faith
Willow looked up as Faith re-entered, wearing a silky pale yellow robe.
"You ready?" Willow asked.
Faith nodded, then went over to Sam and kissed his cheek. "You'll be back?"
Sam & Dean
"Of course I will," Sam smiled, kissing her back.
"Give me a call if you're done early, ok?"
Dean grunted, before skulling the rest of his beer.
Faith and Willow
"Well, I could," Faith teased. "Or I could hang around naked here for a bit."
She brushed her lips against his.
"Alright. I'll call when we're done."
Willow watched the two for a second, before opening a cupboard and pulling out some candles.
Dean & Sam
Dean almost choked, but held himself together long enough to finish the beer.
He put the empty bottle on the coffee table and gave Willow a thumbs up.
"Thanks for the beer..." he paused trying to remember her name, "...Red."
He shrugged to Sam, who kissed Faith one more time before heading for the door.
"See you soon," he smiled between them, before leading Dean out the door.
Willow and Faith
Once the boys were gone, Willow swept her hands across the top of the candles, and they lit up.
"Turn the lights off?" she said, glancing up.
Faith nodded and flicked the switch, then moved over and lay down on the couch.
Sam & Dean
The boys were knee deep in research when Sam got the call from Faith, telling him they were done.
"Thank God," Dean grunted as he slammed the heavy book shut, before taking a moment to look to the ceiling.
"Tell me you didnt just lose that page?" Sam's eyebrows rose.
Dean jingled the tassle holding the bookmark position before sitting back and pulling the pen from his mouth.
"Dude we know what we're dealing with anyway, I don't see the point in going over all of it again. It's Hoodoo, man. Unbreakable."
Sam sighed, writing down a few more notes.
Between their arguments on the subject, it took them another twenty minutes or so to get back to the house. Dean had taken his jacket off, leaving him in his red shirt and jeans. Still chewing on the pen from the library he led the way up to the door and pulled the bell.
Sam locked up the car and followed.
Willow and Faith
"Dean's nice to look at," Willow was saying as she went to answer the door.
"Seriously, Red?" Faith raised an eyebrow, putting the cushions back on the couch.
"Oh come on," Willow threw back, before opening the door. "Hey, come in."
Dean & Sam
"With pleasure," Dean grinned, "I hope we're interrupting anything."
Sam rolled his eyes, following his brother back into the living room.
Willow and Faith
"Sorry," Willow said, with a perfectly straight face. "But Faith and I finished each other off a few minutes ago."
Faith snickered, going over to kiss Sam hello.
Dean & Sam
Dean snapped his fingers dramatically.
"Hey," Sam smiled, kissing her back.
He took a deep breath, then asked...
"How did it go?"
Faith and Willow
"Good question," Faith said, glancing at Willow. "She wanted to wait until you were here as well. But, on a brighter note, didn't hurt."
Willow indicated for the group to sit back down, and Faith took a seat next to Sam this time.
Dean & Sam
Dean sprawled out on the single sofa, stretching his neck before sitting in fight or flight.
Sam glanced at Faith and took her hand before looking to Willow.
Faith and Willow
"All ears, Will," Faith drawled, squeezing Sam's hand.
"Ok, well..." Willow paced in front of them, hands wringing. "She's not possessed. Her blood is exactly the same as it was a few years back. Nothing has changed there."
"I sense a but."
"But... and this bit is confusing," Willow continued. "Considering what I've been told. Faith, you're... you're still pregnant."
Dean & Sam
"What?!" Dean and Sam both exclaimed at the same time.
Dean stood from the sofa, restraining the urge to plunge Ruby's knife through Faith's abdomen.
Faith and Willow
"How is that possible?" Faith asked, looking straight at Willow. "I went, I almost died. You can't be seriously saying..."
"Something is messing with you," Willow said, expression serious. "There's... you're marked. Magically, if you will."
"What do you mean?"
"Your aura," Willow explained. "It's almost like there's a mark through it, if you will. I can't pinpoint who it is."
Dean & Sam
"This is what Castiel was trying to warn us about," Dean said pointedly to Sam.
Sam glance dup at him, barely registering the words.
"Can you reverse it?" he asked Willow.
Willow and Faith
"I can," Willow said, giving Faith a sidelong glance.
"I don't think I like that look," Faith commented.
"It'll involve going into your mind," Willow explained. "But I'll need someone to hold me here on this plane. Be my anchor, if you will."
"There has to be another way," Faith protested, getting agitated. "You can't - "
"Faith, it's the only way I know," the Witch said gently.
Sam & Dean
"Do whatever it takes," Sam insisted.
"We might need to get rid of this magic before we can get rid of the thing," Dean said gruffly.
Willow and Faith
"From what I can sense, this is your third month in," Willow told her. "And uh... the damage done... you may not come out of it."
"Slayer healing," Faith shrugged. "I will be fine. Now, who's anchoring?"
"It's nothing difficult," Willow told the boys. "You just have to hold my hand. It's very literally, keeping me in the plane."
Dean & Sam
"I'll do it," Dean stepped forward, itching to kill something just to vent frustration.
He knelt by Willow's chair.
"You ok?" Sam's eyebrows rose at Faith.
Faith and Willow
"No," Faith said. "But I'll soldier through it."
"Sam, you may want to hold her," Willow told him. "It's not a pleasant experience, and she may get agitated. She'll need someone to calm her down."
"Oh boy, you're really talking this up," Faith commented.
Sam & Dean
Sam looked worried, but put his arm around Faith's shoulders and pulled her into him.
Dean held his hand out expctantly.
Faith and Willow
Faith rested against Sam's chest, biting her lip worriedly.
"Ok," Willow said, putting a pillow on the floor that would line up with where her head would fall. She sat down across from Dean and took his hand.
She brushed her hand over the carpet lightly, in the same pattern, as she chanted some Latin words under her breath.
Golden lights surrounded both Faith and Willow, and Faith's body went limp in Sam's arms, while Willow fell back in a laying down position.
Dean & Sam
"Man. If I wasn't so worried about the outcome of this experiment? I'd suggest naughty picture taking time," Dean sighed.
"Dean, don't distract her," Sam frowned.
Willow and Faith
"What is this place?" Willow asked, taking a step.
Faith opened the door, ignoring the yells from the other room, and she ran up the stairs, slamming her bedroom door.
~*~*~*~
Faith made a scared noise, and she twisted in Sam's arms.
Dean & Sam
Dean looked up as Faith moved, but Sam shot him a warning glance.
Willow and Faith
"The question is, Slayer, can you get to her before I rip her in two?" Kakistos chuckled.
Willow turned to the younger Faith and shook her shoulder. "Faith! Listen to me!"
~*~*~*~
"Don't like your chances," Faith mumbled.
Dean & Sam
"Maybe it would just be easier if we gave her a home made abortion?" Dean suggested, having done well to hold it in that long.
"Last resort," Sam insisted, gulping slightly.
Willow and Faith
"Sorry, Faith," Willow mumbled.
Faith screamed suddenly, thrashing in Sam's arms as Willow worked inside her subconscious to get rid of the mark.
Sam & Dean
Sam wrapped one arm around Faith's waist, the other holding her head steadfast.
Dean debated for a moment whether or not to leave Willow and help with Faith, but decided against it.
Willow and Faith
Willow sat up, a few minutes later, rubbing her head as if she had a headache.
"Ow."
"Yeah," Faith's voice groaned. "That's an understatement."
Dean & Sam
Dean let go of Willow's hand and knelt up again.
"So? Did it work?" Sam demanded.
Faith and Willow
"God, even if it didn't, don't bother. Just kill me," Faith moaned, rubbing her temples.
Willow brushed her hair from her eyes. "No need. It worked. Stubborn though."
Dean
"So now what, back to abnormally pregnant Faith?" Dean frowned.
Willow and Faith
"Well, I can't help with that," Willow said, shrugging.
"Cool," Faith replied. "Well, let's go back to the motel. Get me some alcohol and then... stab me."
Dean & Sam
"Sounds good," Dean stood up.
"Wait, wait," Sam insisted, "there's got to be another way. What if she tries the pill?"
"It's a bit late for that, she's three months along," Dean scorned, "no. The only way we know for sure is to get it with Ruby's knife."
Willow and Faith
"But you can't - " Willow started.
Faith held her hand up. "Getting a conscience about stabbing me now, Wills?"
Willow fell silent, taken aback by the biting tone Faith used.
Sam & Dean
"Let me call Bobby, maybe he knows something about-"
"Demon spawn?" Dean raised an eyebrow, "no I'm pretty sure that's gonna be a new one for him too."
"You don't know for sure," Sam frowned.
Willow and Faith
"You'll die," Willow said to Faith. "That's a possibility."
"One life, versus the lives of millions. Billions. Do the math, Red," Faith said, shrugging.
Dean
"She's right," Dean gulped a little.
"We don't know what she's carrying. It could be another seal to bring the apocalypse."
Willow and Faith
"This isn't just a decision you can make easily," Willow protested. "You're talking about a life. Your own life, Faith."
Faith shrugged. "I'm a Slayer. Always knew I'd go young. And can we be a little less dire here? There's every chance that I'll survive. So I might end up in a coma for eight months, but you know..."
Dean
"And not to mention, I happen to be a good shot. I won't hit any vital organs. Purely reproductive and the muscle surrounding," Dean promised.
Willow and Faith
Willow reached her hand out to Faith, and the Slayer took it, squeezing lightly.
"Honestly, what's with the tragedy masks? I'll be ok," Faith said.
"Go then," Willow replied. "Because I might cry, so go."
Dean & Sam
"Like she said, she'll be ok," Dean assured Willow, indicating for Sam to follow him outside.
"Thanks a lot for the help," Sam nodded to Willow with a smile, before leaving the two women alone.
Willow and Faith
"You better not die," Willow said, still holding onto Faith's hand.
"Hey, when has that ever stopped a Slayer?" Faith joked.
The two women stood in silence for a long moment, before hugging.
"Thanks Will." Faith turned, letting go of the Witch's hand and heading outside.