I know I havn't updated like forever (at least not this story), but I've been really busy lately ... however, here's chapter 6! The title is promising, but don't get your smut-hopes up - it's way to early for that! Just a heart-to heart between our favourite Slayers; I hop you like it. Please review!

Chapter 6: Being in Bed With B

Faith was so tense that she actually flinched when B addressed her. "Faith …" Her voice was hesitant, unsure. "Are you all right?"

No! "Course I'm, B", she lied. "Why'd ya ask? I'm not the one who almost died!" Dammit! Why did I fuckin say that? Now she'll know …

For some second there was silence, and she started to hope that B hadn't noticed anything after all. But no such luck: "Faith, it's okay, I'm okay … or will be, in a few days time."

"I know that!" Faith snapped, still not looking at Buffy. She didn't mean to sound so rude, but couldn't help it.

"Then why are you so … I don't know … so tense? Everything's fine, nothing happened …"

"NOTHING HAPPENED?" Suddenly Faith almost yelled. She sat and turned abruptly, staring at B in disbelieve, who had jumped at her sudden outburst. "Nothing … I was there, remember? I saw what fuckin HAPPENED! How that fuckin … monster almost killed you! I was there when they drove you to the hospital, bleedin like hell, bleedin to death for all we knew! I was there when the doc said she'd do what she could, and everybody knew it meant that she didn't think you'd make it! I was there …" She turned away again. "So don't you freakin tell me nothing happened!"

Buffy was shocked. Such an outburst wasn't like Faith at all. "I'm sorry", she stammered, "I didn't mean to …I just wanted to say that … that I've not been killed and … but you know that … and there's no permanent harm done, and … we both came out alive, so …"

"Yeah, but only because the cavalry arrived on cue", Faith said, more to herself.

Of course B's slayer-hearing picked it up nonetheless. "Yes, we were lucky", she agreed, now sitting up herself. "So what? We have been lucky before – you have to be lucky sometimes!"

Now Faith turned to look at her again, almost despite herself. "Maybe we won't be so damn lucky next time! We can't just trust to luck, B!"

"But we don't." Buffy was confused, she had no idea why Faith reacted like this, or what she was aiming at. "They almost got us this time, because they … he tricked us, outmaneuvered us, because we didn't expect a trap like that, a complex scheme! But he won't next time, we'll be prepared now …"

She grinned slightly and gave her sister-slayer a knuckle-tap to the shoulder. "There are two Slayers in town again, just like old times! I watch you back, you watch mine …"

Normally, she would have expected Faith to jump for an opportunity like this, she never missed a chance for sexual allusion … but the dark-haired girl just dropped her gaze. "Yeah, because did such a great job before …"

Then it dawned to Buffy. "Is that what this is about? You feel bad because …" She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. " … because I had to help you against the demon?"

"What the hell are ya talkin 'bout, B? I got no fuckin problem with you helpin me!"

"Then what is the problem?" Buffy's patience was wearing thin.

"The problem?" Faith couldn't believe her ears. "You ask what's the fuckin problem? Are you playin dumb or what? You have almost been killed because I couldn't handle that fuckin demon by myself!" Saying it loud made Fait feel even worse. She hung her head, trying to hide her shame and guilt.

She jumped again when she felt B's hand on her shoulder, a light, comforting touch. "Faith", she said, her voice quiet, but determined, "listen to me: It is not your fault."

The dark-haired slayer snorted. "Yeah, right."

"I mean it. Don't blame yourself. Nobody could have taken on that demon on his own."

"You did."

A dry chuckle. "Yes, and I've been so successful." When she spoke again, however, her voice was serious again. "This beast was too much for one of us to handle, too much for anyone to fight it on her own. It was too powerful, too quick, and far too dangerous … I only managed like ten seconds against it before it got me. You are the one who fought it much longer, and you almost managed to kill it!"

"But I didn't! Instead I got myself knocked out, and you had to save my ass!"

"I don't mind … saving your ass …" Faith could hear the grin in B's voice, but again didn't take the bait – she wasn't in the mood for that. "And you just said you don't either."

"That aint the point!" Faith started to get frustrated. How can she take it that lightly? It's like she doesn't care I fucked up! "Listen, B …"

"No, you listen to me." Buffy interrupted. "Do stop blaming yourself, cause I don't. Yes, I was injured, and I surely don't like it (it hurts, you know!), but things like that happen when you are a Slayer – one of the Chosen Two." Faith's heart skipped a beat. "I'm just glad that you've … come back, that you were with me, cause if you hadn't, I'd be dead now!"

Faith was – thrown. Hardly able to think straight, she struggled to swallow a big lump that was clogging her throat and to blink away tears of joy and relief. Glad that … She actually said … the Chosen Two …

"Funny thing", she said, desperately hoping that the trembling of her voice would go unnoticed by B, "that's what fangboy said."

"Well, maybe you should believe it, then. After all, he is more than two hundred years old, and he's a vampire … he would know."

The dark-haired girl drew a deep and slightly unsteady breath an relaxed a little. "Maybe I should …"

B's hand was still on her shoulder, giving a light squeeze. "Feeling better now?"

Faith hesitated. She hated it to show weakness – but to her own surprise she realized that it was different with B, that she didn't really mind. Sure, it would've been much cooler to appear tough, especially in front of B, but somehow it didn't bother her as much as she'd expected it to do. "Yeah", she confirmed and lay down again, feeling B copying her, "a little …" So close …

For some minutes, neither of them spoke. Faith was staring to the ceiling, wondering how the hell she was supposed to sleep next to B, when suddenly the other girl spoke. "So … Angel came to visit me?"

"Yeah. Had to leave early, though – didn't want to ruin his delicate complexion."

She was rewarded with a chuckle. "Seems reasonable to me." There was silence again. "Did he … did he say anything to you?" Buffy's voice was hesitant.

Inwardly, Faith squirmed. She knew she couldn't tell B what Angel had said, yet she didn't want to lie to her, neither. So she tried to dodge the question. "Whadda ya mean, anythin'?"

"I don't know … I've got a feeling that there's something he isn't telling me … he has shut himself off lately, is almost distant, and when I ask him, he plays it off … he avoids talking to me …" She fell silent.

"Sounds like his usual cheery self to me … ow!" She had received a sharp poke into the ribs, but she could hear B chuckle again. "Maybe you're right, Faith …" she said, thoughtful again. "Maybe I'm just seeing things …" And, after a while, she added: "But somehow I don't think so, you know? Something has changed or is changing … between the two of us …"

Faith didn't know what so say. She couldn't help but feel elated, maybe with Angel gone … and at the same time she felt bad: For getting her hopes up – and because of B … She will be really down when she learns … "Maybe …" She had to say something, something comforting. "Maybe he's just worried … big battle laying ahead an all …"

"Maybe you're right …" B said, sighing. "Sleep well, Faith."

"Night, B."

This time it was Faith who broke the silence. "Buffy?"

"Mhm?"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome …" The smile in B's voice was unmistakable. "… Faithy."