DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should read no further. This story is a sequel to Love Is In the Air.

Am I Or Am I Not
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Good morning, everybody," Mr Hammond said when he came to class. "I have some good news. It would seem that our petition worked since Mrs Fuller has decided not to fire Ms Delfino and Ms O'Brien."

"Yes," Faith said and the students cheered.

"Good. Now, about the test."

The cheers turned into groans.

"Oh, before I forget. Faith, Mrs Fuller wants you to report to her office."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Now?"

"Yes. I will tell you what we decide after the class."

"Okay," Faith said and left the class.

She didn't know what the Principal wanted and she wasn't really looking forward to meeting her, since she was probably still pissed about the petition.

When she got to her office, she knocked.

"Come."

"Hey," Cordelia said when she and Faith met in their dreams.

"I've been kidnapped," Faith said.

"What?" Cordelia said, confused.

"I've been kidnapped," Faith repeated.

"But why didn't Mom call me?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"What happened?"

"Well, the last thing I remember is going to Mrs Fuller's office."

"What did she want?"

"I don't know. She gave me some strange device and I passed out. When I woke up, I was somewhere in the sewers, chained to the wall, and I was wearing some rags."

"Rags?" Cordelia said, confused.

"Don't ask me."

"Don't worry, we'll get you out and if I have to beat the shit out of that bitch."

Faith grinned.

"Save some for me."

Cordelia laughed.

"I will. Now, show me, I want to see."

Faith nodded and they melded.

Faith was having a terrible night. It was dreamless. Well, not completely dreamless, she kept having some weird nightmares. The nightmares didn't bother her much, but the fact that she couldn't contact Cordelia terrified her. When she woke up in the morning, all sweaty, she immediately ran to Mrs Chase's room.

"Mom! Mom, wake up."

Mrs Chase looked at her.

"What is it, honey?"

"Cordelia. Something happened to her."

Mrs Chase was immediately wide awake.

"What?"

"I don't know, we didn't share dreams tonight. I couldn't even feel her."

"Get dressed."

"I'll call Angel first."

"Okay."

Faith ran to the phone, quickly dialed the number and nervously waited for Angel to pick up.

"Angel? It's me, Faith."

"Faith?" Angel said, surprised. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm okay." She frowned. "Why?"

"Cordelia said you've been kidnapped."

"What? When?"

"When she woke up. She called me and said she was going to Sunnydale."

"When did she leave?"

"About an hour ago."

"Oh," Faith said, confused. "Thanks. I guess I'll wait for her then. Bye."

She hung up and slowly went upstairs. She knocked on the bathroom door.

"Yes?"

"Mom, I just talked to Angel. He said that Cordelia is coming home."

There was a moment of pause and then the door opened.

"She's coming home?" Mrs Chase asked, surprised.

"That's what he said."

"And?" Mrs Chase prompted, noticing that Faith was holding something back.

"He… He said that Cordelia said I've been kidnapped."

Mrs Chase frowned.

"I don't understand."

"Me neither."

"I guess we'll wait for her then. When did she leave?"

"About an hour ago."

While they were waiting, Mrs Chase made them breakfast and also excused Faith from school and called her boss that she would stay at home. She also prepared some food for Cordelia.

When Cordelia finally arrived, Faith ran out.

"You're okay!" she said, relieved and happy, as she hugged her.

"You too!" Cordelia said and hugged her back.

Then she frowned, feeling that something was wrong. She pulled back and took a good look at Faith.

"Cordelia?" Faith asked, confused.

"Who are you?" Cordelia asked her.

Faith looked at her, confused.

"What do you mean?"

"You're not Faith. Who are you? What are you?"

Faith stared at her, completely confused.

"Cordelia?" Mrs Chase asked, equally confused.

"She isn't Faith," Cordelia insisted.

"How do you know?"

"I can't feel her. I mean, I feel Faith, but she is not her," Cordelia said and pointed at Faith.

Faith stared at her girlfriend and tears started to well up.

"What… What happened to you?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Cordelia asked, startled.

"We didn't share dreams tonight."

"No, we didn't. But Faith and I did."

Faith frowned, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"I shared dreams with Faith tonight and she told me she had been kidnapped. Which means that you are not Faith."

Faith was speechless.

"Then who am I?" she finally asked.

"You tell me."

"I don't know. I believe I'm Faith."

"But can you feel me?"

"Feel…" Faith trailed off as she concentrated. The look on her face was one of pure horror as she realized that Cordelia might be right. "No," she admitted and tears started to flow down her cheek.

Cordelia felt strange. She knew the girl in front of her was not Faith, but she still felt like she needed to comfort her. Mrs Chase beat her to it and she put her arm around Faith, who tried to pull away at first, but then hugged Mrs Chase.

"We better take her to Giles," Cordelia said.

Faith snapped out of it and nodded.

"Yes," she agreed.

"Get in the car," Cordelia said.

"Wait, let me get you some food," Mrs Chase said. "You can eat it at Mr Giles'."

"Okay," Cordelia said and waited as Mrs Chase ran into the house to fetch the food.

During the ride, Faith was quiet, contemplating her existence. If she was not Faith then who was she? What was she? Why did she look like Faith? Why did she have all her memories? Why did she have all her feelings?

"Faith? Cordelia? What are you doing here in the middle of the week?" Giles asked when he saw the two girls on his doorstep. "Is that new hairdo?" he asked as Cordelia dragged Faith inside.

"This is not Faith," Cordelia said after Giles closed the door.

Giles gave her a puzzled look. He looked at Faith and then back at Cordelia.

"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.

"This is not Faith," Cordelia repeated.

"Then who is she?"

"I don't know! That's what I'm trying to find out. I talked to Faith tonight and she said she had been kidnapped. From what I could see, it was the Principal, Mrs Fuller. She gave Faith some strange device and then Faith passed out."

"I don't remember any device," Faith said and flinched when Cordelia looked at her.

"What do you remember?" Giles asked.

Faith thought.

"Well, she called me in and gave me some bullshit about being a pain in the ass. I can repeated it word for word, if you want. Well, almost. There was nothing unusual about it." She frowned. "Except that she even bothered to give me the speech."

Giles looked at Cordelia.

"Can you describe the device?"

Cordelia thought.

"It reminded me of a doll. An ugly one. It reminded Faith of a cross."

"I see. I will look into it."

"Do you know where they took her?" Faith asked, finding it strange to talk about herself in the third person.

Cordelia looked at her and Faith gulped. She knew Cordelia was angry at her for not being the Faith she loved. And she felt guilty, though she didn't exactly know what for.

"No," Cordelia said.

"How… How can I help?"

"I think we should tie her up," Cordelia told Giles. "We don't know what she is."

Faith gulped, feeling dirty and cheap.

"Em, Faith, I'm afraid I have to agree," Giles said reluctantly.

"She's not Faith," Cordelia said coldly.

"I know, em… We have to call her something. I'll get the rope," he added when Cordelia glared at him.

Faith sat on the couch and observed Cordelia, trying to hold back the tears.

"Stop staring at me," Cordelia said.

"Sorry," Faith murmured and looked down, a tear slipping down her cheek.

Cordelia looked away and Faith wished that she didn't have Faith's memories and her feelings, it hurt so damn much.

Giles soon returned and tied Faith to a chair with Cordelia's help. Faith didn't try to stop them, she knew that as long as they didn't know what she was, she was a threat. She didn't want to be a threat, nor did she want risking her friends' lives. Faith's friends' lives, she corrected herself.

Cordelia and Giles then started to search the books for clues.

After school, everyone went to Faith's house to check up on her, since she didn't come to school. They were quite surprised when Mrs Chase explained to them what had happened. They went to Giles. When they saw Faith's double, they all stared at her, surprised. Faith gave them a glance and then looked down, ashamed of being just a cheap substitute.

"I thought you were different," Lara said.

Everyone looked at her.

"What do you mean?" Monique asked.

"She felt different and I think Hope noticed it too."

"Why didn't you say something?" Renee asked.

"Because she acted just like Faith and Hope didn't perceive her as dangerous."

"Oh."

"How about you help us looking through the books," Cordelia said.

"Sure," Renee said. "What are we looking for?"

"An ugly doll that can make copies of people."

"Yes," Giles agreed, "that would be an accurate description."

Faith listened to their conversation, feeling like she didn't belong. She wanted to help, she wanted to save Faith just as much because it would mean that Cordelia would be happy again. And she wouldn't be. She looked around. The only one who seemed to be nice to her was Hope and nobody was paying any attention to her, since they were all busy browsing through the books.

"Wow, freaky much," Buffy said when she arrived to Giles, followed by Willow and Tara.

"Scary," Willow said.

"Yes," Tara agreed.

"Never mind her," Cordelia said coldly. "Come here and help us search."

"New hair?" Buffy asked.

Cordelia looked at her, startled.

"Yes."

"Looks good."

Cordelia smiled a little.

"Thanks. How's your Mom?"

Buffy sighed,

"She's got a brain tumor."

"Oh," Cordelia said.

"What are we looking for?" Willow asked, changing the subject so Buffy wouldn't think about her mother.

"An ugly…"

Cordelia trailed off, moaning.

"What is it?"

"I think those bastards are torturing her," Cordelia said.

"Who?"

"Whoever's got her." She too a deep breath. "I'll have to get used to it."

"Oh. So, you were saying?"

"What? Oh. We're looking for an ugly doll that can make copies of people."

"A doll?" Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes."

Buffy sighed.

"I hope Glory didn't have anything to do with it."

"Glory?"

"Yes, that goddess from Hell."

"Oh. Her name's Glory?"

"Yes."

"Oh. I don't think so."

The fake Faith sighed, trying not to sob, hurt by the way Cordelia was treating her. She knew she hated her and she didn't blame her. Hell, she hated herself for not being Faith.

Hours passed and they still haven't found anything. Willow even tried hacking into school computer to find out more about Mrs Fuller, but there was nothing that could help them. Then, suddenly, Cordelia grabbed her head, screaming, and collapsed.

"Cordelia!" Faith screamed, worried.

She gathered all her strength and managed to break the chair to which she was tied. She shed the ties, pushed aside Buffy, who was trying to stop her, and ran to Cordelia. She cradled her in her lap, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Cordelia?" she asked, caressing her.

Everyone stared at her, surprised, but she ignored them.

"Faith?" Cordelia asked, worried, when they met in their dreams.

"Cordelia!"

They hugged and Cordelia could feel that Faith was exhausted.

"What are they doing to you?" Cordelia asked and wiped her tears.

"Well, they were mostly beating me, but now some sort of expert arrived and they're trying to brainwash me."

"Then we better get you out of there."

"How?"

Cordelia frowned.

"I don't know." She thought. "Maybe we could meld and then you could move into my body."

Faith thought about that.

"Let's give it a try," she agreed.

They stepped into one another and became one.

"Okay, let's see," Faith/Cordelia said and closed her eyes.

Nothing happened for a few moments and then she shimmered for a moment.

"Wow," she said and opened her eyes.

Faith and Cordelia stepped apart.

"I think I'm in your body now," Faith said.

"Yeah, me too. Let's wake up and see."

"Cordelia?" Faith asked when Cordelia opened her eyes.

Cordelia's eyes blinked and then focused on Faith.

"Wow, weird."

"What?" Faith asked, confused.

"You. Or should I say me?"

"Cordelia?"

"She's here."

"Faith?"

"Yes. Help me up."

Cordelia got up and Faith as well.

"Faith?" Giles asked.

"Yes."

"How… I mean…"

"They were trying to brainwash me, so I left my body. I'll stay with Cordelia until we find it."

"Do you have any idea where they took you?"

"Somewhere in the sewers."

"Can you do a location spell?" Buffy asked Willow.

Willow shook her head.

"No, it's too late. Faith is already here," she explained when Buffy gave her a confused look and pointed at Cordelia.

"Oh."

"I'll let Cordelia speak. After all, it is her body."

"Giles, do you still have the sewer plans?" Willow asked.

"Ah? Oh, yes, sure," Giles said and left.

"When I get my hands on that Principal, she's gonna wish she was never born," Cordelia said.

"Cordelia?" Buffy asked.

"What?"

"It's her."

"Of course it's me."

"Okay, calm down. We need to find out where they took Faith."

"Oh. Okay."

Cordelia looked at the fake Faith and the fake Faith looked away.

Giles returned with the plans and spread them across the table.

"Cordelia?" he said.

"What? Oh." She looked at the map. "Well, the school's here." She pursed her lips. "The closest entrance to the sewers is here. She was in some sort of dead-end chamber, pretty big. And there was a generator of some sort there."

"Here," Lara said and pointed at the map.

"How do you know?" Monique asked.

Lara shrugged.

"She's good at this," Buffy said.

"Oh."

"Okay, here's what we're gonna do. Faith and I…" She frowned and glanced at Faith. "I mean, she and I will go ahead. Lara and Cordelia will follow. When we get to the chamber, Lara will make sure that, in case they fire at us, they can't hit us. Clear?"

Everyone nodded.

"Good. We better go in here," she said and pointed at another entrance to the sewers. "They might have that entrance guarded. We'll take Giles' and Cordelia's cars. Questions? Let's go."

"We better take Hope home," Renee said.

"We'll drop by your house."

"It's gonna be crowded," Raelee said.

As everyone got up, Faith approached Cordelia.

"Cordelia," she said and took off her ring. "I believe this belongs to you. I mean, her."

Cordelia stared at her for a few moments and then took the ring and put it next to hers. Then she moved out without looking at Faith again. Faith shuddered, holding back the sobs. She bit her teeth and followed Cordelia.

They dropped Hope off at home and then continued to the sewers. Faith decided to ride with Giles as she didn't want to agitate Cordelia. When they got to the sewers, they proceeded according to Buffy's plan. Buffy and Faith took point and Lara and Cordelia followed them. Everyone else followed several steps behind.

On the way, they only encountered two sentries and Buffy and Faith knocked them out. Others tied them up and Lara floated them along.

"Okay, I can hear the generator," Buffy finally announced. "Careful now."

Everyone nodded and they carefully proceeded.

"I can see the chamber," Buffy finally reported, "but there are two guards outside." She looked at Lara. "Do you think you can take care of them?"

Lara peeked around the corner and then nodded. She put the two unconscious sentries down and rested for a few moments.

"Okay. As soon as she throws them aside, we run for the door," Buffy said. "Lara, make sure you're right behind us."

Lara nodded and took a deep breath to calm down. Then she stepped around the corner and concentrated.

"Now," Buffy said and started running.

Faith was right behind her and Lara followed them.

The people in the chamber heard the noise and two of them came out to investigate. But before they could get their weapons to bear, Buffy and Faith were all over them, knocking them out cold.

"Kill them!" Mrs Fuller ordered.

The guards started to shoot, but nobody got harmed. Lara ended the confrontation by pulling the weapons out of their hands.

"Faith!" Cordelia screamed when she saw Faith, the real one, tied to a surgical bed, dressed only in rags. She looked at Mrs Fuller. "You bitch," she said. "You're gonna pay for this."

Mrs Fuller looked at the fake Faith.

"Faith, nomen est omen. Kill them all."

The fake Faith stopped, confused. She blinked and turned toward Cordelia, who was the closest. She put her hands around her neck and tried to strangle her. The other guards used the confusion and attacked.

"Faith," Cordelia said, trying to break free. "Faith, look at me. It's me, Cordelia. I am you, remember? We are one."

Faith started to hesitate, fighting Mrs Fuller's command. Cordelia hesitated for a moment and then kissed her. She felt Faith's grip slacken and her body begin to tremble as Faith fought the command. Finally Faith let go of her neck and kissed her back.

Faith was the first to break the kiss when she realized what was going on. She backed away from Cordelia, a look of horror in her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. I-I'm so sorry."

Cordelia smiled.

"It's okay. It's not your fault." She turned to Mrs Fuller. "It's her fault."

"No, that's impossible," Mrs Fuller said, astonished.

"You underestimated our love, bitch," Cordelia said and started to beat her up.

"Cordelia, that's enough!" Giles called when all guards were down. "Cordelia!"

Cordelia ignored him.

"You know what pisses me off?" she went on, hitting and kicking Mrs Fuller. "That you hurt Faith. And you're not even a demon!" Her eyes went glassy for a moment. "Not now, Faith, I'm seriously pissed." Her eyes returned to normal and she resumed beating up Mrs Fuller. "I violently dislike it when someone is trying to hurt Faith, it makes me very protective and angry. Because, you see, by hurting Faith, you're hurting me as well and I don't like that." She gave her another vicious kick. "And on top of it, you made her!" she said and pointed at the fake Faith. "I know she's not real, but she's a part of Faith and she's also hurt. And that makes me want to seriously hurt you!"

The fake Faith hugged Cordelia tightly from behind, stopping her.

"Hey, it's okay," she said softly.

Cordelia took a deep breath to calm down and then the fake Faith let go of her. She looked at the fake Faith and then at the real Faith's body. Then she looked back at Mrs Fuller.

"Who the hell are you?" she asked, furious, but Mrs Fuller refused to answer, still recovering from the beating.

"Watchers," Giles said as he spotted a familiar face among the guards.

"What?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"I recognize him. Thompson, I think. I've… worked with him before."

"You're from the Watchers' Council?" Cordelia asked Mrs Fuller. "You bitch," she said, slapping her. "This means war. Oh, did I mention the Council's just been fired?" She hit her again. "There's a new Council making the rules now. The old one is becoming a threat to the world and we'll make sure it goes down."

"You can't harm us," Mrs Fuller sneered, wiping the blood off her face. "You don't even know what we're capable of."

"And you don't know what we're capable of."

"You'll never find us."

"But I can," Lara said quietly.

"Lara?" Raelee asked, surprised, as Lara approached Mrs Fuller.

"I can enter her mind and find out all she knows," Lara said. "Faith, knock her out."

The fake Faith came closer and kicked Mrs Fuller in the head, knocking her out. Lara then stopped.

"What are you going to do?" Giles asked.

Lara shrugged.

"Nothing. I can't enter her mind. And even if I could, it would be unethical. But she doesn't know that." She thought for a moment. "I can make it more realistic though," she said and kneeled beside Mrs Fuller.

"What are you doing?" Cordelia asked.

"I'll leave marks on her temples. It will look as though I've really been accessing her mind."

Buffy grinned.

"You sure do have a mean streak in you."

Lara smiled shyly and pressed her palms to Mrs Fuller's temples. Cordelia wrinkled her nose when she smelled the burned flesh. When Lara got up, there were two identical burn marks on Mrs Fuller's temples.

"Okay, now what?" Monique asked.

"Now I take Faith home," Cordelia said and went to the real Faith's body.

"Cordelia," Buffy said.

Cordelia glanced at her.

"What?"

"A new Watchers' Council?"

"Yes, us," Cordelia said like it was obvious.

"Oh. I like it."

The fake Faith slowly followed her and observed how Cordelia gently untied Faith. She wished she was the real Faith and not just some cheap fake. Cordelia noticed her distress. She was aware she acted like a bitch and she was sorry, after all, it wasn't Faith's fault, the fake Faith's fault.

"I'm sorry," she said.

The fake Faith looked at her, confused.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. For acting like a bitch. I know it's not your fault."

The fake Faith stared at her for a few moments and then nodded.

"I know." She glanced at the real Faith. "Get her home."

Cordelia nodded and picked up Faith.

"I'll come by later," Lara said.

Cordelia nodded and left.

"And the rest of us?" Monique asked.

"Search her house," Raelee suggested. "Perhaps she keeps that strange doll there."

"A good idea," Giles agreed. "Willow, Lara and I will break in, the rest of you keep watch and make sure no one approaches the house."

"Why Willow and Lara?" Buffy asked.

"Because Willow knows magic and Lara can find things. And besides, Lara can open doors and move things without touching. I don't want us leaving fingerprints all over the place."

"Oh. And them?" she asked and pointed at the Watchers.

"We'll lock them up in here. Get the rest in here and disable their weapons. We'll call the police when we're done."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Lara, can you melt the lock?"

Lara shrugged.

"I don't know. I can try."

"Good."

Everyone moved and brought the sentries inside. Then Buffy and Faith disabled their weapons. After that Lara concentrated and tried to melt the lock. It took her a minute to figure out how to do it, but she eventually succeeded.

"They're not getting out of there," Buffy said after she tried the door.

"Then let's go," Faith said.

"Cordelia! Faith!" Mrs Chase said when she saw the two girls. "How is she?" she asked, touching Faith's forehead.

"I don't know, Mom. I'll take her upstairs and get her back to her body."

"What?" Mrs Chase asked, confused.

"She's in my body right now," Cordelia explained. "They were trying to brainwash her and she came to me."

"Oh," Mrs Chase said, not quite sure she understood.

Cordelia took Faith upstairs and lay her on the bed. She took off the rags and put on an oversized shirt. Then she took off Faith's ring and put it back on Faith's finger.

"Okay, Mom. I'm going to sleep now. Don't disturb us."

Mrs Chase nodded.

"Okay. Good night."

Cordelia smiled.

"Night, Mom."

Mrs Chase left and Cordelia lay beside Faith.

"Do you think she has a safe?" Willow asked when they broke into Mrs Fuller's house.

"Probably," Giles said.

"But where?" She looked around. "Upstairs maybe?"

"I don't know. I suggest we look."

They were halfway up the stairs when they noticed that Lara wasn't following them.

"Lara?" Willow asked and went back downstairs.

"What is it?" Giles asked.

"Here," Lara said and pointed at the door that led to the basement.

"What?"

Lara shrugged.

"I don't know, but I feel that this was important to her," she said and opened the door.

She switched on the light and entered. Willow and Giles followed her into the basement.

"A laptop," Willow said when she saw the laptop on the desk. "Let's see what secrets it holds."

She sat down and turned on the computer.

"There," Lara said and pointed beneath the chair on which Willow was sitting.

"What?" Giles asked.

"A safe. I think. Willow, could you move the chair?"

"Ah? Oh, sure," Willow said and moved the chair aside.

Lara concentrated and a few moments later a safe rose from the ground.

"Wow, cool," Willow said. "Oh look, another laptop. And the doll."

"Don't touch it," Giles said.

Lara took care of the problem by levitating it out of the safe.

"Handy, those powers of yours," Willow said with a grin and took the laptop. "What about the money?" she asked, looking at the money at the bottom.

"I know someone who can use it," Lara said and levitated it out.

"Fine with me," Willow said. "Giles?"

"I have no objections."

"Okay. Now, let's see about this laptop," she said and turned it on. "Em, Lara, could you close the safe?"

"Sure," Lara said and the safe closed. She concentrated for a moment. "I've jammed it."

"Good. It will take them some time to realize that we've taken the doll." She turned back to the laptop. "Wow, this is some heavy encryption," she declared. "Giles, take Buffy to the campus to get my laptop. I'll see what I can do about the first one. It's probably just a decoy, but you never know."

"Okay," Giles said and left.

Lara put the money and the doll on the desk.

"I'll go watch the door," she said.

"Okay," Willow said without looking at her.

Willow soon discovered that the first laptop really was just a decoy and she tried to break into the second laptop. She failed. But then Giles returned with her laptop and she connected the two computers.

"This is gonna take a minute," she said as she issued commands to her laptop. "Okay, I'm in," she declared a minute or so later. "I'll copy her files to my computer, just in case. Okay. Now, let's see… Hey, she's got a T3 line! Giles, see if there's a cable lying somewhere."

Giles looked beneath the desk.

"I think there's one behind the desk," he said and looked. "Yes."

He reached behind the desk and pulled the cable up.

"Okay," Willow said and plugged it into Mrs Fuller's laptop. "Now, let's see." She logged on and her eyes went wide. "Giles, look! I'm in the Watchers' Council Network!"

"What?"

"What do you want me to download?"

Giles thought.

"Personnel list, books, manuscripts, lists, locations, plans, directories."

"You got it," Willow said and furiously typed. "Okay, got the personnel list, as much as she had access to. I'm downloading directories… Got it. Wow, they've got a huge database. And they've got a whole bunch of manuscripts. Which ones do you want?"

"Start with those that need the highest level of security clearance."

"Okay… They're downloading. I'll check for lists, locations, plans and stuff now."

"Good, good," Giles said, excited, and observed the names of manuscripts that were being downloaded.

"Uh-oh."

"What?" Giles asked, alarmed.

"Someone is trying to talk to me. I mean Mrs Fuller."

"Talk back."

"I'll try," Willow said and started answering. "Damn, they're getting suspicious," she said a few minutes later. "Uh-oh, they're trying to throw me out." She grinned. "Let's see how good they are," she said and started to type furiously.

Giles watched, amazed, as Willow's fingers flew across the two keyboards. He could barely handle a typewriter and Willow was handling two computers at the same time. He frowned as he realized he'd have to learn the basics if he was going to read through all the manuscripts since, he supposed, they would need a whole lot of paper if they wanted to print them.

"Yes! I mean, no," Willow finally said.

"What is it?"

"They either cut the power to their computers or they pulled out the cables that connected them to the Internet." She grinned. "They're good, but I'm better."

"Can you connect again later?"

"No, I don't think so. They'll probably disable Mrs Fuller's codes and update their firewall before they put their computers on-line again. I'll try."

"Oh."

"But don't worry, I got a whole lot of information. Take me to your place so I can copy the data to my laptop and to this decoy laptop."

"Backup?" Giles asked.

"Yes. You'll keep one computer, I'll keep the other and we'll hide the third."

"Where?"

"Hope," Lara said.

"What?" Giles asked.

"In Hope's carriage."

"Yes, a good idea," Willow agreed. "Nobody's gonna look there. Lara, tell, Renee to bring Hope to Giles' tomorrow."

Lara nodded.

"I will."

"Okay, let's go then," Willow said and turned off the three laptops.

Lara levitated the money and the doll.

"Em, I brought two bags," Giles said.

Lara looked and then directed the money and the doll toward Giles. Giles quickly opened one bag and Lara put the doll in it. Then he opened the other and Lara put the money in.

"Raelee and I will go see Faith now. We'll deliver the money on the way," Lara said.

"Okay," Giles said and gave her the money.

"We'll also call the police."

"Oh, I completely forgot. Good."

Outside, Willow and Giles went to Giles' car and left and Lara waited for everyone to come to her.

"Any luck?" Buffy asked.

"Yes," Lara said. "Willow managed to break into the Watchers' Council Network and she downloaded a lot of information."

"Cool. Where did they go? They looked in a hurry."

"They went to Giles' place. Willow took Mrs Fuller's two laptops and she will make backups."

"Oh."

"Did you find the doll?" Renee asked.

"Yes. Giles took it. He wants you to bring Hope to his house tomorrow so he can hide one of the laptops in Hope's carriage."

"What?" Renee said, surprised. "Why?"

"Because nobody's gonna look there," Monique said with a grin.

"Yes," Lara said.

"Oh. Okay," Renee agreed.

"What's in the bag?" Raelee asked.

"Money."

"Money?"

"Yes."

"How much?"

"A lot. We'll take it to Billy."

"Why?" Buffy asked.

"Because his family could use it."

"Oh."

"And besides, it's almost Christmas."

"Can we go home now?" Monique asked.

"Yes," Lara said.

"Renee?"

"Coming. Bye, guys."

Renee and Monique left.

"I'll be going too," Buffy said. "I'll go make another round around the campus."

"I'll go to Giles," Tara said.

"Okay. See you tomorrow," Raelee said.

Buffy and Tara left.

"Faith, we're going to see Faith, the other Faith, but we dropping the money at Billy's house," Lara said. "Do you want to come with us or are you going straight home?"

Faith frowned.

"Home? What home? I'm not Faith, remember? I don't even know what I am. Hell, this is worse than The 6th Day. At least Schwarzenegger knew what he was."

"You are a part of Faith."

"But I'm not her. I'm an imposter, a freaking killing machine."

"No, you're not. You're Faith in every aspect, except the bond with Cordelia, the fact that you're only two days old and that killing command."

"Still, I'm not her and I don't want to be a burden to Mrs Chase."

"I'm sure you won't be a burden, Faith."

"I'm not Faith. And I'm not going there."

"Then where will you go?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"To Giles. I hope he'll let me stay for the night."

"And tomorrow?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know." She sighed. "Bye."

Lara and Raelee stared after her.

"We better tell Mrs Chase," Raelee said.

"Yes," Lara agreed.

"We're going to Billy first?"

"Yes. And then we'll call the police."

"Then let's go."

"Hello, girls," Mrs Chase greeted them when she opened the door. "Faith and Cordelia are both sleeping."

"We know," Lara said. "I just came by to remove the chemicals from Faith's body, she doesn't have to be awake."

"Chemicals?" Mrs Chase asked, confused.

"The Watchers tried to brainwash her and they used chemicals. I'm going to remove them."

"Oh." She frowned. "The Watchers kidnapped her?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"We don't know."

"Oh. Well, come in."

The girls entered.

"Oh, Mrs Chase, Faith went to Mr Giles," Raelee said. "The other Faith, I mean."

"Oh. Did she say when she'll come home?"

Raelee and Lara glanced at each other.

"Actually, she wants to stay there over night. She feels that since she's not Faith, she doesn't belong here." She hesitated for a moment. "You really should talk to her. She's having a… an existential crisis."

Mrs Chase nodded.

"I'll go right away. You two can go upstairs, but be quiet, Alice is sleeping in the next room."

"We will," Lara said with a nod and Mrs Chase left.

Lara went upstairs and Raelee followed her. They went to Cordelia's and Faith's room and Lara kneeled beside Faith. She put her hands on her head and her chest and concentrated. She hesitated for a moment and then looked at Raelee.

"Do you want to help me?"

Raelee's eyes brightened and she nodded. She kneeled beside Lara and Lara took her hand.

"Put the other hand on her belly," Lara said and Raelee did so.

Lara then closed her eyes and Raelee did the same. She could feel Lara's powers surge through her. It was only a small amount, but she didn't mind and she wasn't even sure she could handle more of it. She could also feel when Lara tapped into her personal strength. It was as though she was shrinking and at the same time wasn't, because Lara returned the strength by sharing her power with her. She also felt a strange echo, like two more persons were there and she realized she felt Faith's and Cordelia's bond. She tried to think only on the well-being of Faith and Lara, not wanting to distract Lara.

"Do you feel it?" Faith suddenly asked.

"Yes," Cordelia said. "Must be Lara."

Faith nodded.

"I think I'm gonna have a major headache in the morning."

Cordelia grinned.

"I hope that's all you'll have."

"Yeah, me too." She grinned. "It will give me a good excuse to cuddle."

Cordelia laughed.

"Naughty, naughty, Faith."

Faith blinked her eyes innocently.

"You mind?"

"Of course not. You don't need an excuse to cuddle," Cordelia cooed her. "In fact, we can cuddle right now."

"Yes!" Faith said and cuddled up to Cordelia.

"Mom! I mean, Mrs Chase," the fake Faith said, surprised, when Giles opened the door and she saw Mrs Chase enter.

She bit her teeth, not really looking forward to talking to her.

"Faith…"

"I'm not Faith," the fake Faith interrupted her.

"What do you want to be called then?"

The fake Faith looked at Mrs Chase, surprised, and thought.

"I always liked Jasmine," she said uncertainly.

"Okay, we'll call you Jasmine," Mrs Chase said. She looked at Giles. "Mr Giles, could you leave us alone for a few minutes?"

"Eh, of course," Giles said and looked at Willow, who was still busy with the laptops. "Willow, Tara."

Willow looked at him, then at Mrs Chase and Jasmine. It took her a moment to realize that Giles wanted her to come with him. She and Tara got up and then they and Giles left.

Mrs Chase looked back at Jasmine.

"How did you find me?" Jasmine asked.

"Lara told me."

"Oh."

"Why don't you come home?"

Jasmine snorted.

"What home? I'm a freak, I shouldn't even exist. I have all of Faith's memories and emotions, but I'm still not her."

"But you are a part of her, if I understand correctly. Which makes you a part of the family."

"Family? You already have three daughters."

"Yes," Mrs Chase nodded. "At first, I took Faith in because she was Cordelia's girlfriend and Alice because I couldn't let her stay with Mrs Spencer, but now they're like daughters to me. And even though we're a little short on money right now, I still want to take you in as well. You need a home, you have to find your own identity. And you know what might happen if you start running away again."

Jasmine nodded and looked away.

Mrs Chase stepped closer and put her arm around Jasmine. Jasmine jerked at that, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"Come, let's go home," Mrs Chase said.

Jasmine sighed and nodded.

"Giles!" she called.

"Yes?" Giles asked when he came back.

"I'm going… home. Thanks."

"Any time," Giles said.

"You can sleep in my room tonight," Mrs Chase said when they got home.

Jasmine wanted to give a snappy remark, but she bit her teeth and nodded instead.

"How's Faith?" she asked, worried.

"I don't know. We'll have to wait until they wake up. I'll go see if Lara and Raelee are still here."

Jasmine nodded.

In the middle of the night, Mrs Chase was awoken by noise. She was confused for a moment, but then she realized that Jasmine was having a nightmare.

"Jasmine," she said and gently shook the girl.

Jasmine woke with a start.

"Cordelia!" she blinked, confused. "Oh," she said when she realized where and who she was.

"Everything okay?" Mrs Chase asked, worried.

Jasmine didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"No. I couldn't share dreams with Cordelia and I was worried that she might have been hurt."

"I see," Mrs Chase said and caressed Jasmine, who flinched, surprised.

Mrs Chase then put an arm around Jasmine, who, after a few moments of hesitation, cuddled up to her and tried not to cry.

In the morning, Jasmine woke up when Mrs Chase got up.

"Are you staying home today?" she asked.

Mrs Chase looked at her.

"Yes. I want to make sure Faith is okay."

Jasmine nodded and stifled a sob.

"How do you feel?" Mrs Chase then asked her.

"Like a part of me is missing."

Mrs Chase sat on the bed and caressed her.

"I'm sure everything will turn out all right," she said.

"I hope so," Jasmine said. "I don't know how long I can take this."

Mrs Chase smiled encouragingly and got up.

"Hello, Faith," Maria said when Jasmine got to the kitchen.

"Actually, I'm Jasmine," she corrected her.

Maria gave her a confused look.

"She's Faith's twin," Mrs Chase explained. "She arrived yesterday."

"Oh," Maria said and took a closer look. "You look just like Faith."

"Twins usually look like," Jasmine said and Maria smiled.

"Yes. So, are you hungry?"

"Starving. I don't think I've eaten anything but breakfast yesterday."

"Don't worry, I'll make you a huge breakfast."

"Thanks."

Jasmine and Mrs Chase were in the middle of breakfast when Faith and Cordelia came downstairs.

"Good morning, girls," Mrs Chase greeted them.

"Morning," they said in unison, both staring at Jasmine, who looked away.

"Is everything all right, Faith?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I have a minor headache, but it'll pass."

"Good. Come, join us. Oh, by the way, I've excused you from school for today."

"Thanks," Faith said as she and Cordelia sat down.

"You all right?" Cordelia asked Jasmine.

Jasmine nodded without looking at her.

"Yeah, fine."

Cordelia hesitated for a moment.

"I'm sorry for acting like a bitch. I know it wasn't your fault."

"I understand," Jasmine said. "Faith and I would probably act the same if this happened to you."

Cordelia smiled.

"We'll…"

"Cordy!" Alice interrupted her.

She started to run toward her but stopped when she saw two Faiths. She looked from Faith to Jasmine and back, confused.

"This is Jasmine," Mrs Chase introduced her. "She is Faith's twin sister."

"Jasmine?" Faith asked, confused.

"You always liked that name," Cordelia said.

"Yeah, I know."

Alice came closer, staring at Jasmine.

"You look just like Faith," she marveled.

Jasmine smiled.

"Twins usually look alike."

Alice smiled back and then looked at Faith.

"Faith, are you all right? Mommy said bad people took you."

Faith smiled and caressed her.

"Yes, I'm fine. Cordelia and… Jasmine saved me and the bad people got arrested."

"Good," Alice said and continued to Cordelia, who took her into her lap.

"Hey, little lady," Cordelia said and Alice giggled. "You got dressed all by yourself?"

Alice nodded and Cordelia caressed her.

"Good girl. Are you hungry?"

Alice nodded.

"Yes."

"Then why don't you take your seat and Maria will get you something to eat."

Alice nodded and Cordelia put her down. Alice then walked to a free seat next to Jasmine and climbed up, with a little help from her new sister.

"Are you going to stay here?" she asked Jasmine.

Jasmine looked at her.

"Yes, I think so," she said, hesitating.

Alice smiled.

"So I have now one, two, three sisters," she counted on her fingers.

Everyone smiled.

"Yes," Jasmine said.

"Wow. Does Daddy know?" she asked Mrs Chase.

"No, not yet."

"Can I tell him?"

"Yes, of course," Mrs Chase said with a smile.

"He will be surprised."

"I bet," Faith said with a grin. "Seems like the longer he's in jail, the more kids he has."

Cordelia laughed at that, Mrs Chase and Maria smiled and even Jasmine grinned.

"Girls," Mrs Chase said, looking at Faith and Cordelia, "before you go to Mr Giles today, you will help Jasmine clear up the room next to mine so she can move in."

"Okay, Mom," Cordelia said.

The End