Tru looked around frantically, out of breath as she ran through the empty streets, back towards her apartment. If only she had a few moments where she could shift safely, but she didn't dare waste any more time.
"Tr-uuuu," George called out in a sing-song voice. "You know, you can't be true. You're too good to be Tru."
"Get the hell away from me," Tru warned, backing up.
George chuckled. "I'm sorry, Tru, I'd love to leave, I really would. But I'm afraid I'm going to have to hear you say those magic words."
"F-- off," she spat.
"Oooh," her grandfather grinned. "Sorry, those weren't the magic words we were looking for. But, my God, your mother really taught you some things about the English language, didn't she?"
The petite brunette was backed up against the wire fence, and she held her hands out in front of her, defensively.
"How long has Jack been trying to get in my way?" she asked.
George simply smiled. "From the first day you repeated. You know, I'm almost sorry it was you. I think you would've gotten along well with my boys. I almost wish it had been your mother."
"What do you mean?"
"Your little talent," he shrugged. "Your... true calling. It's a gift you inherited from your grandmother. Of course, she couldn't handle it. Terribly unbalanced. Drove her to the bottle. And that, well... that drove her to abuse your own mother in ways you can't even imagine. Funny... you turned out fine. Guess you get that from your father."
"Shut up!" Tru made a move to push him, when he produced a knife. "Leave me alone."
"Come on, Tru," George grinned. "I just want to hear you say it one time... help me."
"Would you settle for bite me?"
The look on his face changed and he moved before she could act. The blade sliced through her skin, sinking deep into her stomach and her mouth opened in surprise. He brought the knife out a little, and sliced clean across her lower belly, a long line of red following where the knife lead.
She dropped to her knees, staring up at him, dazed and confused, while he knelt slightly, and shoved the knife through her skin again.
"Night Tru."
~*~*~*~
Faith grinned down at Sam, straddling his waist. She reached up to turn off the bedside lamp, before letting out a little cry.
Blood dripped from her stomach, soaking through the shirt she was wearing, though there was no wound to speak of.
Sam
Sam blanched as he felt warm liquid on his face and neck, and he immediately sat up pushing her back a little.
"Faith?!" his voice shook earnestly, as he wiped his face and saw blood.
He looked down to see it coming from her stomach and his face drained of colour.
Faith
Faith moved her hands down to her stomach carefully, peeling the bloodsoaked shirt away from her skin.
Her mouth opened slightly, and her eyes widened.
"Tru."
Sam
Sam grabbed her shrt and pulled it up, his hand going to her stomach.
"There's no wound," his eyes darted, not having registered what she'd said at all.
"How can there be no wound? Faith, are you ok?! What...?!"
Faith
Faith got off the bed and headed straight for her phone. Her hands shook as she dialled the number, pacing back and forth the room.
"Answer dammit!"
Sam
Sam just stared after her, his face still pale.
With his mind racing, he did the only thing he could think of. Call Dean.
Faith
After not being able to get through to anyone, Faith threw her phone against the wall. Hard. It smashed into a few pieces and she sat back down on the bed.
Dean & Sam
On my way Sammy," Dean assured, before hanging up and spinning the car across the double lane highway.
Sam was trying to breathe calmly, Faith obviously not about to keel over, but he got up and went to his bag and started salting the windows anyway.
Tru and Faith
As Tru's final breath left her lungs, Faith fell to her knees on the floor, her chest tightening.
She keened quietly, and blood soaked through her shirt onto her hands.
Sam & Dean
Sam looked up just as the impala careered into the parking lot. Dean left it across three parking bays and bolted into the room.
"What i it? he demanded, before seeing Faith on the floor and rushing to her side.
"I don't know," Sam's voice was shaky.
"She just started bleeding from nowhere and she's not talking and-"
"You alright?" Dean ignored his brother a moment as he pushed Faith back up so she was sitting.
Faith
Faith grabbed onto Dean's arm, hard enough to almost break bone.
"Dean," she whispered. "Tru's gone."
Sam & Dean
Sam froze, hands on his head.
"Tru?" Dean frowned.
"How? What do you mean?"
Faith
"That's why this has happened," Faith said, indicating the blood on her hands.
"And she's not answering her phone, and I can't... I just know. The same way I knew with Lia. Oh God, I know."
Dean & Sam
"Sam? SAM?!"
Sam finally snapped out of it long enough to look Dean in the eyes.
"Call Angel," Dean ordered.
"Right," Sam nodded, going to grab his phone and do just that.
"Can you tell us anything more?" Dean kept his hand on Faith's shoulder, half supporting her.
Faith and Angel
"No," Faith shook her head, then lifted her shirt slightly to reveal a thin red line across her stomach, almost as if it were a healed scar.
"She's gone. She's just gone."
~*~*~*~
Angel answered his phone on the second ring.
"Sam?"
Sam & Dean
Sam looked across at Dean, still in panic.
"What do I say?"
Dean looked up to see what he was talking about, then indicated for him to throw the phone. He caught it easily and put it to his ear.
"Angel," Dean began in business tone, looking over Faith's stomach.
"We've got a situation. Tru's dead. We don't know where, but we've got a good guess as to how."
Angel and Faith
"Where are you?" Angel asked immediately. "I can send someone for Faith, and I'll send someone else to find Tru."
Faith looked up and gestured to Dean to give her the phone.
Dean
Dean quickly gave Angel their co-ordinates before telling him Faith wanted the phone, and handed it to her.
Angel and Faith
"Faith?" Angel asked, sounding worried. "What's happened?"
"I'm not sure," Faith told him. "But this is what happened with Lia, and I just know it's... someone's coming for me, right?"
"They'll be there in about a minute," he replied. "I'm sending Spike along with another teleporter to find Tru, and someone is bringing Liam in. Are you ok?"
"No," she said. "But I'll see you soon."
She hung up and handed the phone back to Sam.
Dean & Sam
Dean took the phone off her as Sam couldn't move.
"What's happening?" he barely breathed.
"Pack the crap, we're going to LA," Dean ordered, glaring at him, "he's sending someone for you two and someone after Tru."
"I want to go for Tru," Sam insisted.
Dean stood, still glaring at him.
"Pack your s---, now," he ordered, "I'm not telling you again."
Faith
Faith had just zipped her duffel up when there was a knock on the door. Seeing as she was the closest, she went over and answered it, finding the teleporter who regularly came for her.
"Hi," he said quietly. "You and Sam?"
Faith nodded, and took his offered arm.
Dean & Sam
"Stay safe," Dean patted his brother on the shoulder, "I'll be there tomorrow.
Sam just nodded as he slung his bag over his shoulder and stepped over to the teleporter as well.
Dean watched them leave, then got back to packing.
Faith and Angel
Faith let go of the teleporter as soon as they were in Angel's office, and she immediately turned to the vampire.
"Where is she?" she demanded.
Angel hesitated. "Are you sure you want to see her?"
Sam
"Yes," Sam insisted, dropping his bag and ready to go.
Angel and Faith
"Hospital wing," Angel said to Faith.
He touched her cheek for a second, to lift her eyes to his, and she shook her head, before heading in that direction.
"Sam?" Angel looked at the other man. "Give her a few minutes."
Sam
Sam had made to leave the room after her, but stopped himself at the sound of Angel's voice.
Grudgingly he slid his hands in his pockets and forced himself to stay behind.
Faith, Spike and Angel
Faith felt her legs give out as she stood by the side of Tru's bed.
Tru lay peacefully on the mattress, her brown hair fanned out around her head. Her face was pale, and Faith touched her cheek, flinching at the coolness of her skin.
~*~*~*~
Moments later, Spike rushed into Angel's office.
"Sam? I think you should go to her."
Sam
Sam didn't wait for why, he just bolted for the door.
Faith
Faith sat on the edge of Tru's bed, running her fingers through Tru's hair. Her hands shook slightly, but her face was blank, completely devoid of emotion.
Sam
Sam suddenly appeared in the doorway, flustered from running the whole way.
He froze at the sight and gulped, inching his way into the room as he fought to hold tears at bay.
He slowly made it to the side of the bed and looked down on her, one hand going to his mouth to hide his emotion as his other rested on the bedsheets.
Faith
Faith barely glanced up as Sam entered the room, she just kept up her motions.
"Tee," she murmured to herself.
Sam
Sam didn't even feel the strength to look up at Faith.
He knelt slowly at the side of the bed, pulling one of Tru's hands into his, letting tears start to stream down his face.
Faith
Faith ran her fingers down Tru's face gently.
"My baby."
Sam
Sam closed his eyes tightly, trying to stop what he knew was coming.
The room started shaking, almost like an earthquake, and then things started to break. The glass in the door, the porcelain vases, the plaques, the actual window, and anything made of brittle plastic or glass that just happened to be in the room at the time. The room only stopped moving once no more damage could be done around the bed, and Sam finally broke down into choked sobs.
Faith
Faith turned in shock, more at Sam crying than the explosion of glass. She stood and walked over to him, and slid her arms around his neck.
She kissed the back of his neck gently.
"It's ok, Sam."
Sam
"I'm sorry," Sam choked out, keeping his eyes closed.
Faith
Faith rubbed his shoulders soothingly.
"It's ok, Sam, it's ok," she whispered.
Sam
"I should get someone to clean this mess up," Sam nodded, pulling himself to his feet.
He rubbed his eyes and headed for the door.
Faith
Faith resumed her seat on the edge of Tru's bed.
"I'm sorry, baby," she whispered.
Sam
Sam made his way back to Angel's office, stopping to rub his face before he opened the door.
"Little help?" he asked.
Angel
Angel stood from his desk.
"What's happened? Is Faith ok?"
Sam
"She's fine. Considering," Sam assured.
"But we need a clean up. In the room."
Angel
"Oh, ok," Angel pressed a button on his phone.
"Yes, boss?" Harmony chirped.
"Could you send a clean up team to Tru's room, please?" Angel asked, sounding weary.
"Ohh... ok."
Angel took his finger off the button, and looked up at Sam.
"Are you ok?"
Sam
Sam hesitated, but nodded.
"I'll get back to you on that," he replied honestly, before turning to go back to the room.
Angel
Angel nodded, and watched him go.