EPILOGUE

TWO DAYS LATER....

"Hey B, I know it’s cute but you know you can't keep it forever right?" Faith smirked at Buffy while she leaned against the kitchen counter watching the Chosen One making breakfast for the wounded hunter who was currently watching episodes of Doctor Sexy, MD on her sofa.

"Oh you're funny," Buffy made a face at the brunette slayer as she put the finishing touches on the meal she'd prepared for Dean. While it wasn't quite as gross as getting fresh blood for Angel, Buffy wasn't sure that cooking bacon and eggs, with toast and all the trimmings was any better. Her arteries hardened just looking at the stuff but according to Dean, monster hunting was great for burning calories.

Faith smirked, seeing the slight blush that nevertheless crept into Buffy's cheeks as she carried the tray of food to Dean who was currently convalescing at Casa Summers. After all these years, it appeared Queen B hadn't changed when it came to her relationships with men. When she fell, she fell hard. However for once, Faith approved of her choice. Dean Winchester was a cross between Angel and Spike, with just a dash of human Riley thrown in for good measure. While the guy was alpha male in every sense of the word, he'd been prepared to die for her and apparently got a stack whenever he saw Buffy kick ass.

That could not be a bad thing.

Not to say that Faith didn't have her own warm sentiments towards Sam Winchester. Buffy had told her about the trials Sam had undertaken, the one that would toss all demons back to hell. Faith understood that these demons were nothing like Lorne and Clem. They were seriously bad ass and were the same demons that were referenced in the Bible, thanks to the merging of their two worlds. It was a task that no ordinary human should have to undertake and seeing its toll on him, strengthened Faith's affection for the younger Winchester.

It was just the same stupid, selfless kind of thing that Angel would have done and had at the very end.

"What's happened?" Buffy asked Dean as she set the tray down on the coffee table and sat down next to him.

"I think Dr. Piccolo is pregnant," Dean said quickly, sitting up a little to make room for her even though his eyes were still glued to the set.

"Get out," Buffy exclaimed as she got comfortable and watched the dramatics of Mercy Hospital on the set, "how do you know?"

"She keeps holding her stomach and going to the bathroom," he explained with such seriousness he could have been explaining the details of a job.

"Could be cramps," Faith quipped, having no interest in soap operas of any kind but was rather amused by the two on the sofa. She liked wrestling and monster truck rallies herself.

"Nice," Dean made a face at Faith who was a very different kind of a slayer. Clad in leather, riding a sweet motor bike, she had bad girl written all over her and while Dean might have found her exceedingly hot when he was younger, right now, he was enjoying Sam tripping over himself around her.

Faith rolled her eyes and turned away, going to grab some juice out of Buffy's fridge. They'd gotten back from Razor Realm two days ago and the first thing they'd done upon their return was to take Dean to the hospital. Unlike Sam's injuries, Dean's were too severe to wait for Caridad to reach him and so they'd admitted him under the guise of an animal attack. Dean had remained there long enough to get patched up and receive a few pints of blood to replace what he'd lost fighting the grimslaws before making a discreet departure from the hospital. They'd snuck him out and brought him back to Buffy's place where he'd recuperating since.

Sam had dropped Scheckly's cube in the Razor Realm on purpose, aware that once the portal had opened up and they'd crossed into their own world again, they'd have no further the need of the object. Besides, leaving it in its home dimension was the safest way to dispose of the artefact. At least in the Razor Realm, there would be no unsuspecting victims in danger of coming into contact with it and bringing to life their worst nightmares. Better it remained where it was, trapped in that nihilistic world with the rest of its monstrous residents.

Sam came through the front door and stopped short to see Dean and Buffy on the sofa. He raised his gaze at Faith who caught his bemused expression and winked at him as she raised her cup of coffee at him in greeting. Giving her a little smile, Sam turned back to take in the sight of his brother and his girlfriend in this very domestic situation. Since Dean had come here from the hospital, Buffy had insisted on playing nurse to Dean and Sam was certain that Dean was loving every moment of it. Sam had no problem with that because he could live without Dean's bitching when presented with healthy food. Still...bacon and eggs?

"Really?" Sam asked, staring critically at the tray's contents, "No pancakes or pie? I mean shall we get you some ribs or maybe some buffalo wings?"

"Hey I'm hurt," Dean retorted completely unrepentant as he picked up a piece of bacon and took a bite, a culinary 'screw you' to his brother. "I need decent food to heal up,” he said chewing.

Sam rolled his eyes and looked at Buffy, "he shouldn't be eating this stuff," he pointed out.

"But you heard him," Buffy said dropping her head against Dean's shoulder, sending a girlish pout Sam's way, "he's hurt and I can't say no to my guy." She capped the comment with a smile of mischief.

Dean's shit eating grin made Sam give up.

"You two deserve each other," he snorted but the truth was, Sam was happy for his brother. He still felt guilty for messing things up for Dean when he'd built a life with Lisa during that whole year when he was without a soul. With Buffy, Sam had never seen Dean happier and after the last few years, Dean deserved a little bit of comfort. "The Impala's packed and gassed up so I'm going to head out before it gets too late. I'll be back to pick you up in a couple of days."

"You sure you don't mind?" Dean asked, trying not to feel guilty for wanting to hang around here for a bit. He liked the idea of being fussed over by Buffy for the next few days while he recovered from his wounds. If he returned to the bunker Dean was certain that Sam would try to feed him 'healthy' food like tofu and sprouts, or something way worse.

Sam's determination to observe the five food groups was scarier than a demon.

"No I don't mind," Sam said honestly. "It will be kind of cool to go see this Watcher Council branch in Cleveland."

"Yeah G-Man's all excited to get the lowdown on what went down in Stull Cemetery three years ago," Faith said slipping on her leather coat as she came up alongside Sam.

Buffy had gotten in touch with Giles after they'd returned from the Razor Realm and revealed Sam's theory about what had happened during Glory's attempt to bring down the dimensional walls. Somehow, the barrier between their two dimensions had weakened enough to merge and the result was a world of hunters and slayers, walking the same Earth completely unaware of each other or the change that had taken place. Giles seemed to agree, especially when Sam and Dean were in possession of the true nature of what had taken place in the Stull Cemetery three years ago.

There was still so much missing, so much knowledge that was either absent from the Watcher Council records or the Men of Letters archives. In light of that, Giles had invited Sam to visit the nearest chapter of the Watcher Council located in Cleveland, Ohio. That suited Dean fine since as much as he cared for Buffy, he was not ready to trust this Watcher Council with the location of the bunker at Lebanon. Furthermore, Dean was hoping that Sam could find out if this Watcher Council had some information about the demon tablets.

“Well try not to geek out too much on them,” Dean advised, still mindful of Sam’s condition even if he was the one injured at present. “Remember to rest your coconut before you get info overload.”

“Don’t sweat it Deano,” Faith replied automatically. “I’ll make sure Sammy here gets his rest.” She winked at Sam with an utterly sinful smirk on her full lips and was delighted when she saw his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down nervously. Too cute.

“Faith,” Buffy returned sarcastically, “remember it looks cute but you don’t want to break it.”

Still, despite Faith’s obvious attentions towards Sam, Buffy had a feeling that he knew how to hold off any of Faith’s forward passes if he really wanted to. Besides, she got the sense that Faith’s innuendo was only talk. There was something in the way Faith regarded Sam, when she wasn’t flirting shamelessly, that showed Buffy something deeper was at work here. Of course Buffy could never come out and ask Faith about it. Even with their odd friendship, it was never wise to quiz Faith about her unspoken emotions. The girl just didn’t do sharing.

“And she gives as well as she gets,” Faith replied good-naturedly, taking no offense at the comment because this was how her relationship with B function best. After the turbulent years between them where they had tried to kill each other, this was the best they could ever hope to be to each other and it was enough. They were too warriors on the battlefield who understood each other better than either would like to admit and that was something worth nurturing.

“Don’t worry B,” Faith assured her with typical mischief, “Anything I break I can put back together with crazy glue.”

“Well this doesn’t feel awkward at all,” Sam retorted, uncertain how he felt being objectified like this. Of course, it was also kind of flattering from a girl who could break him in half if she got in her mind to get surly.

Dean laughed, enjoying the shade of red that Sam was turning, especially after all the shit that his baby brother had given him about Buffy earlier on. As he eased back into the sofa, his girl at his side, bacon within easy reach and Dr. Sexy on the TV, he took in the sight of his brother’s attempt to deal with the sexually charged slayer and allowed himself one satisfied thought.

Revenge was awesome.

THE END

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