So Am I

Title: "So Am I."

Author: A.M. Glass

REVISED: May 4th, 2002

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: The characters from "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer", well, they don't belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon, et al. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. This a non-profit piece of fan fiction, the story is the sole property of the author.

SPOILERS: For "Who Are You?"

Distribution: Feel Free.

Author's Note: This story takes place during "Who Are You?" This was just my way of handling that episode. Please don't forget... Oz is still around, also Buffy and Tara met when Willow brought Tara over one day after their Wicca group meeting.

SECONDARY AUTHOR'S NOTE: This isn't the best sequel I've ever written, but I do have another story which I believe will make up for this one. Also as I was getting this ready to post, I changed a few things here and there. Nothing major, however, I do believe it will improve; however slightly, the flow of the story.

"Hey."

"Hi Oz... Willow," Tara said as she entered Willow and Buffy's dorm room. "Umm... Willow, could I talk to you? Unless it's a bad time?" she asked, looking over to Oz, then back to her again.

"That's okay, I was leaving anyway. I'll see you tomorrow at practice?" he asked Willow as he walked to the door.

"With bells on," Willow replied.

"Cool, see ya Tara," Oz said before kissing Willow on the cheek and leaving the room.

"Okay... what's up?" Willow asked, as she closed the door and faced the other girl.

"It's Buffy," Tara began.

"What about her? Is she okay?"

"I... I'm not sure," Tara replied.

"Tara, why don't you sit down," Willow suggested, "Then you can tell me all about it."

"Buffy... I... I think she's acting a little... odd," Tara said, shrugging her shoulders as she sat on Buffy's bed.

"'Odd'? How so? You have to remember, Faith was terrorizing her mom."

"I... I know. But, she... she didn't seem to remember about... us. And when we went to the Bronze, you mentioned something about how Xander reacted when you told him... you know."

"Yeah..." Willow answered, wondering where it was going.

"Well, when you left, to get something to drink... she mumbled something about, 'not driving stick anymore' and later on..." Tara hesitated, biting her lower lip, her eyes bright with unshed tears.

"What is it?" Willow asked, instantly concerned when she saw the obivious distress on the Tara's face .

"It's not her... she... umm... she was rough, when she kissed me goodnight," Tara replied. "And her aura seemed all wrong. I... I don't think Buffy's 'Buffy'."

"Hmm... you know there is a way to find out," Willow said as she went to her desk, looking at the books she had piled ontop of each other, "It's not like anything we've done before. I'd have to be your anchor here..."

"I trust you," Tara replied.

"But..."

"Willow, you're Buffy's best friend... and I'd like to think we're friends as well," Tara answered.

"We are."

"So, if I can't trust you, who can I trust? What do we have to do?"

*****

Willow and Tara burst into Giles' apartment to see Faith in his livingroom.

"Buffy..." Tara said, stopping short of the dark-haired teenager.

"Tara... you know its me?" 'Buffy' asked, wanting to take the other girl in her arms and never let go.

"What's going on?" Giles asked, thankful that he no longer alone with the rogue slayer. He listened carefully to what Tara and Willow were both saying. He couldn't believe it, Faith had managed to switch bodies with Buffy. "I see... yes. Now... how do we find Faith?" Giles asked after he heard everything.

Xander's phone call interrupted them before they had a chance to continue. After seeing the news report, they decided they would have to take care of this pressing matter, then they would deal with Faith.

The entire time during the trip to the church, 'Buffy' held Tara's hand, slowly rubbing her thumb over Tara's.

She wanted to do more, but it wasn't time. She could hardly contain the anger she directed towards Faith, after Willow had told her what had apparently happened at the Bronze and afterwards. She would have to find a way to make it up to Tara.

Arriving at the church, 'Buffy'tentitively gave Tara a hug and headed towards the front door.

"I'm sorry miss, but you can't go in there."

"Riley... how many are there?"

"We think there's three and... do I know you?" he asked the dark-haired young woman.

"I can do three," she muttered out loud and was about to enter the church when Riley stopped her.

"You can't go in there, you don't know what your trying to do," he said holding on to her arm.

Knowing that Riley had been injured earlier, jabbed at his injury. "You can't help me," she told him as she swiftly entered the church leaving a stunned Riley behind.

Entering the church, she saw Faith...

Or rather she saw Faith in her body, shaking off the odd sensation she felt; seeing her body from someone else's eyes, she went after the rogue slayer.

She wanted her body back...

Now.

Buffy wasn't sure how long they fought, each trading and blocking blows, until Faith had gotten the upper hand and had her prone on the floor while continuously punching her in the face.

Seeing the opening she needed while blocking a punch, Buffy clasped Faith's hand in hers and hoped the katra would work.

Feeling a surge of power, Buffy was suddenly aware of being in her body, before she knew it, Faith had fled the scene leaving her disoriented.

Buffy wasn't aware how long she sat in the church before she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning her head, she saw Tara.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked.

Buffy moved slightly and watched as Tara sat down next to her. She looked down to her hand when she felt the warmth of Tara's hand in hers.

"I'm sorry, about what Faith did," Buffy whispered.

"So am I," Tara replied.

"Any news on her yet?" Buffy asked, still focusing on her hand.

"No. I don't think she'd going to stick around. Everyone's waiting for you," Tara softly said, squeezing Buffy's hand.

"Yeah... I'll be out in a minute, okay?"

"Take as long as you want," Tara reassured.

"Thanks."

"I... I'm glad you're back."

"So am I," Buffy replied, lifting Tara's hand to her lips and kissing the back. "So am I."

The End.