Three dollars and some change

I think it's safe to say I've found a new obsession. Bear with me for a bit while I get this out of my system, K? Thanks.



Summary: Faith is beginning to think she made a mistake, going to Atlantis. But even so far away from earth, some things are like home...
Rating: PG13 for Faith's swearing.
Disclaimer: Sony and MGM own all things Stargate Atlantis. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own all things BtVS. I'm only borrowing and will return them at the end of the fic.
Setting: After Chosen for BtVS, before Michael in Stargate Atlantis. No episodic spoilers for SGA.
Word count:: 2,611

~*~

The sun on her face pulled Faith from a restless sleep. Wide awake in an instant, Faith sprang up from her bed and dashed to her window. It had been too dark the previous night to see anything from her new room, but now she could see it all.

Water, spreading all around the huge city, all under a sun that wasn't anywhere on Earth. An alien sun gleamed in the sky.

This was so many kinds of fucked-up crazy nuts. Faith loved it.

She felt like it was the first day of school, the kind they'd had on TV, not like in her real life, but she wasn't going to think of that; those memories were in another goddamned galaxy. Faith was going to enjoy Atlantis while she could.

The room in the alien city was like something in one of Andrew's science fiction shows, with the door sliding open when Faith touched the little blue panel thing. She half-expected there to be an armed guard outside, ready to take her back to the Daedalus, telling her there had been a huge mistake.

The hallway was empty, and Faith took a deep breath. It looked like they were planning on keeping her after all.

Not that they'd seemed too enthusiastic after the previous night. That Colonel Caldwell guy had marched her to Dr. Weir's office as soon as the Daedalus landed. Faith was so happy to be back on land, instead of in a freaking spaceship, that she almost missed Weir's unhappiness. The doctor hid it well, but Faith got it. She wasn't wanted here, no matter what the military back on earth had told her.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. With hundreds of Slayers running around, they didn't need Faith any more. Buffy and all of them had it under control, and besides, Robin had made it abundantly clear that he didn't need Faith in his life.

So when the military offered to wipe Faith's record clean, train her up in military weapons and send her off-world to fight the vampire-like Wraiths... there was no other choice Faith could make.

At first, Buffy tried to talk her out of it. Willow and Dawn had dug and dug until they found about the information about the Stargate, and the Goa'uld, and the Atlantis expedition and the Wraith.

After that, Buffy helped Faith pack. She'd even offered to let Faith take the Scythe. Damn, Faith wanted to say yes to that, but she couldn't. It was the Slayer's source of power, and all the Slayers on earth needed it.

Still, walking down the empty hall in Atlantis, Faith's fingers itched to hold the Scythe again, just a touch of home in this strange place.

Then she smelled coffee, and things got a little better.

~~~

The cafeteria was pretty empty, so early in the day. Faith loaded up on coffee and whatever food they had available. After prison food, she could eat anything.

She took a seat by the window, letting more of the alien sun warm her skin, watching the people as they trickled through the door. There were two kinds of folks: the army dudes, and the eggheads. Most of the scientists ignored her, ignored everything but their books and papers. They were kind of like Andrew and Xander during the middle of a Star Trek marathon, a million miles away.

Thinking about Xander and Andrew made it hard to swallow. Automatically, Faith started to play the matching game that had gotten her through those first few months of prison.

Who in Atlantis was like Andrew? There was an easy answer to that: the rambling Canadian she'd met last night, with Dr. Weir. Dr. Rodney McKay. He'd been annoying and dismissive, but even listening to him for a couple of minutes, Faith knew he was real smart, book-smart like Willow.

Dr. Weir was like Giles, minus the tweed and the British. And that Colonel Sheppard guy, he reminded her so damned much of Xander. Scruffy, yeah, but he'd protect his people, his friends, if it was the last thing he ever did.

It didn't hurt that he was freaking hot, either.

The only person who really confused Faith was the woman in Sheppard's team. Teyla Emmagen. She hadn't spoken during their meeting, and no one had explained her job.

Faith shrugged it off. She'd figure it out soon enough.

The doors to the cafeteria opened again, letting in a whole pack of army guys. Faith froze, every muscle suddenly tense with adrenaline. It was the same reaction she had on earth to a large group of vampires. No, she realized. It was the same panicked response she'd had ever since she was little, to the large groups of boys that roamed her old neighborhood, looking for a little "fun."

A few of the army guys were from the Daedalus. One of them spotted Faith, and a smirk spread across his face. He said something to one of his buddies, who turned to look at Faith with contempt on his face.

Faith uncurled her fingers from the now-mangled fork, and set it on the table. The military said her murder rap didn't matter. Yeah, right. That guy must have learned about it somehow, and he was probably intent on spreading the gossip about Atlantis's newest killer.

Faith wanted to hit someone, to drive a stake through an unbeating heart. Instead, she pushed her chair back carefully and, eyes straight ahead, walked out of the cafeteria. Just as the door shut behind her, she heard masculine laughter.

She needed to break something. She was aware she had anger management issues; most Slayers did. So she'd manage her anger, and avoid putting the army jerk in traction on her first day here.

It figured that she couldn't get away from her past, no matter how far she ran. How much farther can I go?

"Can I help you?"

Faith whirled, hands out. The speaker was a scientist with glasses and a heavy accent. Talk nice, Faith, no swearing. "Yeah, is there like a gym around here or something?"

The guy thought for a moment. "For exercise?" he asked. Faith nodded, and the guy's brightened. "Yes!"

He launched into a complicated explanation, most of which Faith missed, but she thought she got the gist of it.

"Hey, thanks," Faith said when he was done.

"You are welcome. I'm Radek Zelenka," he said.

"Cool. I mean, I'm Faith."

Zelenka nodded. "Yes, Rodney told us about you, last night."

"What'd he say?" Faith demanded. Not McKay, too. She didn't know if she could handle that.

"That you were an earth defense consultant," Zelenka said. "He was surprised by you, but he knows Teyla, so I cannot see why." He turned his head, then touched the thing in his ear. "Zelenka here." After listening for a moment, he waved at Faith and hurried away, talking in some language Faith didn't know.

"Huh." So McKay had said nice things about her. Who would have figured it?

What was that comment about Teyla all about?

~~~

The gym was right where Zelenka said it would be. There was no gym equipment, but there were mats and staffs and sticks. Faith's anger dulled as she breathed in the faint scent of sweat and the mats and the wood. That was a familiar smell she'd missed.

Faith pulled off her shoes and socks and left them by the wall. The sticks were smooth and worn, speaking of long use. They were well balanced, an obvious pair. Faith was used to fighting with only one stake, but if the Wraith were as scary as everyone said, maybe she could use two.

She gave the sticks an experimental swing. They felt weird in her hands, so she set them down, and launched into a series of kicks, just to loosen her muscles. Her anger at the army jerk faded as she kicked and punched the air, imagining the impact of foot and fist against a vampire or a demon. Idly, as she jumped high in the air, she wondered if there were vampires out this far in the universe.

The air changed. Faith spun in the air as she fell back to the ground, her feet under her, ready to spring, as she registered the threat.

It was that woman, Teyla, standing in the open doorway. She was dressed in a leather bra thing and a flowing skirt. She looked like a million bucks, and Faith felt a little scruffy in her black jeans and t-shirt.

"Am I interrupting?" Teyla asked, her voice precise and just the tiniest bit alien. Funny, Faith thought aliens would have sounded British. Too much time around Andrew.

"Nah, I'm just..." Faith gestured with one hand. "You know."

Teyla looked at Faith for a long moment, then the corner of her mouth twitched up. "I do." She crossed the floor to the discarded sticks, and picked them up, twirling them absently. "I am meeting Colonel Sheppard for sparring practice, but I am early."

Suddenly, Teyla's snazzy outfit made sense, like how Buffy used to dress to the nines while patrolling, just in case Angel was around. "I can go--"

"No." Teyla spun the sticks in her hand, offering them to Faith. "I always welcome a new sparring partner."

Faith took the sticks without hesitation. "I'm not sure I know I how to use these things," she said. No one here knew about her Slayer powers, except Weir. Would it be cheating to fight Teyla without telling her about the Slayer stuff?

And when the hell did Faith start to worry about cheating?

Teyla smiled. "I will show you how, if you wish."

"Sure."

Teyla crossed the floor in a whirl of skirts to get another pair of sticks. She returned quickly, holding the sticks in front of her. Faith copied her stance, watching how the other woman stood, where her center of balance was, how her arms flowed into the movements. She held her torso tightly, like a coiled spring, and Faith couldn't predict which way she'd move.

This was going to be interesting.

Faith made an experimental hit with the stick in her right hand, noting in the back of her head how Teyla parried the blow, then twirled the sticks. Faith almost fell for the distraction, almost missed how Teyla darted in for a blow. As it was, only her Slayer speed saved her a knock on the head.

Faith danced back on the balls of her feet, heart pounding. She hadn't almost missed a blow like that since she'd last sparred with Buffy.

Fuck, this was fun.

"You are very fast," Teyla said, arching an eyebrow. She went back into stance. "Dr. Weir said you were a trained fighter."

"I'm a fighter," Faith corrected. "Not trained or nothing." Teyla attacked again, and this time Faith deflected the blow in Teyla's style. "Just point me at the Wraith and I'll kick their asses."

Teyla let loose a rapid series of blows. One made it past Faith's defenses, slamming hard against her thigh. Annoyed, Faith jumped and twisted and managed to hit Teyla in the arm.

"How do you expect to fight the Wraith if you are not trained?" Teyla demanded.

"Isn't that what this is?" Faith shot back. "What's your deal? You're like a Wraith slayer? So show me how to kill them, and we're in business."

Teyla circled Faith warily. "Dr. Weir will not tell us why she is so unhappy with your presence," the woman said. "Something bothers her about you."

Faith shrugged. "Could be anything, really. I've got a problem with authority."

Teyla whirled a stick as she sidestepped. "Why are you here?"

"Needed a new gig, this seemed like it would fit the bill."

"The truth."

Faith narrowed her eyes. "I will if you will."

Teyla looked faintly surprised. "What do you wish to know?"

"Are these people worth killing for?"

Teyla slowed. She deliberately put her arms to her sides. "These are people worth dying for."

And now Faith had her answer.

"Why are you here?" Teyla asked softly.

Faith switched the grip on the stick in her right hand, holding it like a stake. "Maybe I'm looking for something worth dying for." The moment the words were out of her mouth, Faith wished she had kept her mouth shut. She wasn't looking to die, she was looking to kill. She was a Slayer, not the Slayee.

She didn't take the words back.

Teyla nodded. "Stop holding back."

"Hey, I already told you--"

"I mean in the fight. You are holding back."

"Weir'll get mad at me if I hurt you."

Teyla grinned suddenly, looking about eighteen. "You won't hurt me."

Faith grinned back. "I'll hate to say I told you so." She threw her left stick to the side of the room, and launched herself at Teyla.

Faith wasn't the only one who had been holding back. Faith wondered if Teyla was part Slayer, limbs moving in a complicated dance of barely contained violence. Faith was stronger, but Teyla was more disciplined, with lightening fast reflexes and determination.

They fought for what felt like a very long time, neither gaining the upper hand. Each landed some lovely hits. Then, Teyla struck Faith in the side of the face a little too hard. Faith staggered back, alert enough to see Teyla wince at what she had just done. Teyla hesitated, for only a fraction of a second, but it was enough.

Faith yanked a stick out of Teyla's hand and threw it down, tangling up Teyla's feet. Faith went down a moment after Teyla, covering Teyla's body with her own, angling her stick against over Teyla's heart. As Teyla's back hit the mat, Faith felt something pushing at her throat. It was the tip of Teyla's remaining stick, pressed hard against her artery.

It was a draw.

Looking down into Teyla's eyes, Faith knew the other woman felt it too. They'd fought each other to an impasse. If it had been a real fight, both of them would have died. They had let down their guard, trusting the other not to kill them if things went wrong.

Faith hadn't fought like this in ages. It hurt and it stung and it felt like heaven.

Somewhere close by, a man cleared his throat. Faith and Teyla both dropped their sticks as they looked toward the door.

Colonel Sheppard and Ronon Dex stood in the doorway, looking all kinds of stunned. "Teyla, you okay?"

"I am fine, John," Teyla said, still lying beneath Faith.

Faith smirked as she pushed herself to her knees, then to her feet, offering Teyla a hand, helping her stand.

"That was..." Sheppard opened and closed his mouth a few times.

"Fun." Ronon crossed his arms over his chest, eying Faith intently.

"Not fun!" Sheppard exclaimed.

Faith let go of Teyla's hand. "I think I'm supposed to go see that Scotch doctor today," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead, and coming away with a smear of blood. "But we should do this again."

"Indeed," Teyla said, ignoring Sheppard and Ronon. She gave Faith a small bow. "You will need to teach me in your fighting style."

"You're on." Faith picked up her shoes and gave Sheppard and Ronon a wink as she headed out of the gym. Behind her, she could hear Sheppard's voice rising in agitation, and Teyla soothing him.

This place wasn't like home, but there was just enough of the familiar that Faith didn't see herself getting homesick.

Being on Atlantis might not suck so much after all.