It wasn't easy to work as a cop, and Buffy was very grateful that her collegues were all very nice to her, helping her out when she couldn't face something alone. She became good friends with her collegue Liam, whom they called Angel because he really knew how to handle talking and helping hurt victims, especially women, who mostly developed a crush on him because he was gorgeous, tall, and understanding. Most of them could never trust a man and he was a nice surprise to them all. Angel had a soft spot for Buffy ever since she showed up at his office. There was something about that girl, she was so young, but somehow she seemed strong, responsible and really determined to do a good job. She was really good looking, her green eyes always looked so bright, she often smiled and sounded completely adorable when she talked because she tended to add the y in the end of words. She seemed to be completely oblivious when it came about his feelings, it seemed like the girl just thought about her job and had no time for relationships.
Angel was a bit jealous of Xander, Buffy's best friend from Highschool who happened to work as a prison guard. Xander was dating a little bit odd blonde girl named Anya, and Angel was aware of it, but he couldn't help being jealous because Buffy was really close with Xander. They shared everything and often talked about good old, careless Hischool Days, what made Angel feel a bit excluded.
Willow worked in the Chemistry Lab a few blocks away and Tara worked in kindergarden, she loved kids and kids loved her even more. Anya, Xander's girlfriend, worked in a book store that was owned by Rupert Giles, who had previously worked in the school library. He was a sweet guy and Anya really enjoyed working with him, especially if he let her take care of the money.
"Willow, have you seen my blue work shirt, I can't find it anywhere and I'll be late for work!?"-Buffy yelled, cursing herself for sleeping in. She had no time even for quick coffee so she just downed a glass of orange juice.
Willow got out of her bedroom, wearing just a red dressing gown, and holding a perfectly ironed police shirt in her hand. She yawned and said: "Morning, Buff. You're lucky I take care of your clothes, otherwise you'd have to go to work naked."
Buffy smiled, feeling a little embarrassed and said: "Thanks, you're a star... Buying lunch later!"
She ran to brush her teeth and get dressed, and ran to Xander's, thanking god he was her ride for work. She didn't like the way her day started and just hoped it wouldn't stay as hectic as the morning.
"What's up, Buffster? Did ya sleep well?"-Xander asked and handed her a cup of coffee to go.
"I don't know what I'd do without you and Wills, I've been so wrapped up in my recent cases I don't know where my head is anymore. Thanks, Xand."
"Anything for my Buffster. How are things with Angel?"
Buffy didn't understand the question, she didn't think there was anything worth mentioning, they just worked together and shared lunch every now and then, so she asked: "What do you mean? There's nothing going on between me and Angel, we're just friends."
"God, Buffy, you're usually such a bright girl, but when it comes to guys and their feeling towards you, you're completely blind... It's obvious he likes you a lot, everyone noticed but you. I even heard a few prisoners talk about you 2, they call you 'The Blondie and her love puppy.' "
Buffy had to laugh when she heard it. She was completely unaware of it all and she thought she'd have to start reading people a bit better if she wanted to keep her job. She had to admit Angel was a hottie, he had those dark piercing eyes and a gorgeous smile, but she always thought he was a bit weird.
"Love puppy, ha?"-Buffy smiled and thought she'd start paying more attention to Angel's behaviour.
"What's going on here?"-Xander wondered when he saw police cars driving with sirens and lights on.
Buffy ran out of the car like a rocket and asked the first person she bumped into what had happened.
"There was a fight between two lovers and a woman stabbed her man. Nothing for you to worry about, go finish paperwork, please, Angel had to go."
Of course, paperwork. Buffy thought she deserved more interesting things than paperwork and she wasn't happy. She put specs on and started reading through endless rows of numbers that made her head buzz. Papers were so numbing, and boring, but usually made her forget the rest of the world because she just had to focus. Nobody talked to her and she sipped her coffee while writing down the numbers, when she heard someone yell:
"Angel, stop being an ass and listen to me!"
Buffy lifted her head up and saw Angel pulling a brunette and forcing her to sit on the chair, her hands cuffed.
"No, YOU listen to ME! I'm getting tired of cleaning out your messes, Faith, and this time you're staying in jail! You stabbed Kenny! I know he's an ass, and so do you, but for some reason you keep going back to him! End this shit and start acting like an adult you are! You're 22 now, not 15 and you should start learning how to live with the consequences of your own actions!"
Buffy was really surprised to hear Angel yell at the girl, and when she heard her name she realized he'd talked about his sister Faith before and Buffy wasn't sure if she should interfere in their family drama, but when Faith yelled: "You have no fuckin' right to prech to me, Liam, you're no angel either, no matter what they call you nowadays! Remember your ex Darla and your fights and shit?! You're not perfect either so shut the fuck up!"
"I know I'm not perfect, but I've just been trying to help you, Faith, and you keep doing shit and getting in trouble! I've had enough! I'm taking you to your cell until your lawyer comes! And, so you know, I am not bailing you out this time!"
After fighting with herself for a while and wishing she could just concentrate on paperwork insted of the family drama she's been witnessing, Buffy headed to Angel and Faith and said: "Guys, calm down. Fighting won't solve anything. Angel, do you want me to take her to the cell? You should cool down."
"Who's the blondie?"-Faith asked, openly checking out Buffy and smiling. Buffy didn't know what to think of that, she got a bit uncomfortable being stared at like that, but she managed to say: "Buffy Summers, nice to meet you."
She was gonna shake hands with Angel's sister, but then she just crossed her arms on her chest and Faith said: "I'd love to shake your hand, B., but my idiot brother won't remove these damn handcuffs."-then she glared at Angel and he rolled his eyes, which made Buffy smile because it was such a girly thing to do.
"Buffy, I'd appreciate it if you took her to the cell. I really need 10 minutes to have coffee and calm down."
"No big, Angel."
"Wait...Buffy? Is that the girl you've been talking about? Well, big bro, not bad at all..."-Faith commented and Buffy felt blush creeping into her neck and cheeks. Angel looked at her like he was saying sorry and just left, leaving 2 girls alone in uncomfortable silence.
"We should go."-Buffy said eventually and caught Faith's upper arm to lead her to her cell.
"Oh, you already can't keep ya hands off of me, blondie, Angel's gonna be jealous... Too bad my hands are cuffed, I'd be more than happy to give you a squeeze."-Faith grinned and Buffy wondered if that girl flirted so openly with everyone. She didn't know what to say and just walked faster. When they reached the cell, Buffy unlocked the door and entered after Faith so she could remove the handcuffs.
"Much better. Now just have to shake my hands a bit to get the blood to flow again and I'll be five by five. Would be wicked if you let me feel you up a little to get my hands to work, blondie."-Faith said and winked.
Buffy wondered what five by five meant, she figured it was something good, and she just couldn't believe what the brunette girl, who was by the way, her mentor's sister, and her mentor obviously liked her, kept saying to her.
"Stop calling me blondie, and please stop flirting with me, I'm not playing for your team."
"I've got no team, B, just like to keep my options open hehe. And having you open would be pretty fuckin' wicked."
Buffy blushed again which made Faith say: "Aww, you're a bit shy, huh? Sweet."
"Your comments have been really inappropriate and I wish you'd stop saying things like that."
"Getting you worked up, huh, blondie?"-Faith smirked and Buffy noticed the cute dimples that appeared on her face. Of course, she said to herself that noticing something cute on a girl was completely normal and nothing to worry about, and she thought if she ever got attracted to another girl she would be sweet like Tara, not a sex maniac like this girl here.
"Do shut up. I'll see you later"-Buffy said and headed towards the door, and Faith ran after her and pressed her against the bars and whispered in her ear: "Can't wait."
Buffy pushed her off, got out of the cell and locked the door behind her, her heart beating loudly in her ears. Faith's whisper sent shivers down her spine and she just nodded to Faith, thinking her voice would probably crack if she tried to speak. Faith winked and sat on the small bed, amused by Buffy's good girl attitude. Now she understood why Angel couldn't stop talking about that girl and had a bet with herself that she'd manage to get Buffy in bed before her brother, who was obviously too shy and stupid to make a move. How good was he at self control if he manged to keep his hands off of that sexy little body? Weirdo.
"Hey, Buffy, thanks. I can't believe that girl, she never thinks about anything she does. Now she'll be happy if they condemn her to months or even years in jail."-Angel said and leaned his head on his hand.
"Don't worry, Angel, this is not your fault. She has to make mistakes to learn... Who's Darla?"
Angel didn't understand why Faith had to bring up Darla. She wasn't someone he liked to talk about. Still, when he looked into Buffy's green eyes that looked kind of worried, he answered:
"Darla and I had dated before I joined the police. We'd done loads of bad things I'm not proud of. She's dead. She died in the shooting, that's why I stopped acting like an ass and decided to be a cop to do some good instead of going on old bad path. I've been trying to teach Faith not to follow my footsteps, but she seems to enjoy it way more than I did, which scares me so much. I don't want her to get hurt, Buffy, and she thinks I'm trying to rule her life. She gets everything wrong and likes to piss me off, I guess it gives her the kicks."
Buffy could totally understand him. Her sister Dawn was a teenager and often thought she could get away with bad things. She had a klepto phase Buffy managed to see through and help her, but now she was in Highschool and Buffy couldn't hang there all day to check what her little sister was up to. Her work shifts were pretty long and she couldn't remember the last time she hung out with her sister or parents. Seeing Angel and Faith fight about her being arrested made her decide to go see her parents and sister the first thing after work.
They talked a bit more and then had to get on with work to finish at 5.
"Aren't you going to see Faith before you go home?"-Buffy asked and got surprised when Angel said: "No. She'll ask me to bail her out and I'll give in when she pouts. And I told her lawyer not to come till tomorrow. She has to learn her lesson this time. Hey, Buffy... would you like to go for a beer after work?"
"I'd love to, but I have things to do today. We can have a beer tomorrow.."-Buffy answered and realized she was actually looking forward to it.
"Ok then. I'm going home now, aren't you?"
"I gotta wait for Xander, he's my ride home today. Won't be long, half an hour max. See ya tomorrow, Angel."
"Bye, Buffy."
Buffy cleaned up her desk and decided to go see Faith. She figured she'd run into Xander on her way to Faith's cell anyway. She wondered why exactly she wanted to see Faith anyway so she told herself it was cause she knew what it was to have a little sister you wanted to protect, but a part of her wondered if Faith would flirt with her again. It confused her when she admitted to herself that it was flattering. Even tough her best friends were lesbians she'd never been in a gay bar before and never considered seriously flirting with a girl or having something more. Back in highschool she knew a girl whose name was Cordelia Chase and they flirted on daily basis but it was just friendly and none of them even thought about doing anything more than flirting. After Highschool Cordelia started going to auditions, she desperately wanted to become an actress and Buffy couldn't remember the last time she saw her and made a mental note to e-mail her as soon as she grabbed a moment to get online.
"Oh, hey, blondie, started thinking you AND my lawyer both bailed on me. Has my big bro gone home without saying bye? How rude."-Faith asked while Buffy was trying to find the right key.
"Faith, we need to talk.."-Buffy said and sat down on the small bed, next to Faith.
"Damn, B, we haven't even started going out yet and you already smother me with that line... Come on, lighten up, blondie, let's just hang out, tell me more about you cause you seem way more interesting than me. By the way, I've always wanted to have a sexy cop..."
Buffy rolled her eyes and changed the subject as fast as she could: "I know you think Angel is a pain in the ass, but he loves you and he worries about you. I know what he's going through because I have a younger sister who's been...a challenge and it's so hard not being able to help..."
"I don't need help, I'm five by five. He forgot how to have fun when Darla got shot, and now he thinks he can lecture me. I don't need to be lectured, I just wish he'd leave me alone. He thinks I want him to bail me out, and I don't. As long as you come see me everyday I'll be glad to stay here..."-Faith just couldn't stop flirting. She was always flirty, but she thought it was so much easier with Buffy, cause everything she said to her was true. There was something about the blonde that she liked, she could have bet her own ass that underneath the whole good girl mask was a girl who loved sex and loved it rough and fast and hard, just like Faith wanted to give it to her.
"Faith, he's your brother and it's normal he worries. You know, in the end of the day, when you break up with someone or have a fall out with your friends, your brother will be the only one who'll care enough to pick up you and help you walk on. I'd do anything to protect my little sister and she also thinks I'm a pain in the ass who never gets off her back. It hurts, you know. Just wanted to tell you that. I gotta go, Xander is probably waiting for me already."
Buffy stood up, trying to blink the tears away. She really missed Dawn, she missed the days when her little sister was a kid, looking up to her big sister and tried to copy everything she did. Now it seemed like her sister wanted to be the exact opposite of a good girl Buffy had always been. Stealing, drinking beer in the Bronze with her best friends Kit and Carlos and skipping classes whenever she could. Buffy wondered if she'd already had sex even though she was just 16, and then she decided it was one of the things she never wanted to know about.
"Yo, B... Look I'm not an emotional chick, never had a normal relationship with anyone really, but I see you care about your sis and I'm sorry you feel bad. I'll try to talk to Angel when he gets back, ok? Now, smile, cause when I think about you late at night I wanna remember a smile not a sad, worried frown."
"Why will you think about me at night? God, Faith, I am not into girls and as a matter of fact I have a date with Angel tomorrow."-Buffy lied, not knowing why exactly.
"Man, my bro must have felt threatened when he FINALLY asked you out just when I got here and started flirting with his Golden Girl."-Faith smiled and added: "And to answer your question, I'll think about you cause you're the prettiest thing I've seen all day."
"You're unbelieavable. Such a sweet talker."-Buffy just had to smile cause this girl was obviously one stubborn thing. And it looked like she was used to having things her way.
"I am not a sweet talker, B. Just realistic. I'll tell you if I think you're hot, if I wanna fuck you or if I hate your guts, and for now I just think the first 2 things."-she winked and Buffy shook her head and said: "Bye, Faith."
"Bye, sexy."
Faith's compliments, no matter how crude they were, made her feel good about herself. She couldn't remember the last time she even had time to think about how she looked or how someone else looked. She was so wrapped into her job she didn't even see Angel who was in front of her nose the whole time. Buffy started thinking it was time to have some fun.