Title: Seeking Warmth

Author: Kristen

Rating: Pg-13ish (for a bit of coarse language)

Ship: Faith/Wes

Spoilers: Up to (and maybe a bit after) Salvage

Summary: Faith and Wesley grow a bit closer after the events in Salvage.

Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue! I'm a poor struggling college student, so you wouldn't get much anyway!

Feedback: Constructive please, no bashing!

Distribution: You want it it's yours, just let me know where you're putting it! :)

A/N: This is my first Faith/Wes fic. I'm a huge fan of the ship, but never tried my hand at writing for them, so be kind. This fic was in my brain ever since Salvage ended and wouldn't quiet down, so i had to get it out! I do so hope you enjoy! :)

Faith groaned as she tried to stand up only to be slammed back down to the ground by her own weight. She was so weak, she couldn't remember the last time she felt this weak. The room started to spin and grow darker even though it was now bathed in a warm glow of sunlight. She could feel herself slip into the depths of unconciousness; the darkness growing more prevalent. Thats when she saw him running towards her, calling her name and in an instant he was by her side. She saw the worried scowl etched on his face and wished she could move her hand to brush it away. He was here, she wasn't alone.

"Wes..." was all she could get out before she slipped into the darkness that had been threatening to take hold.

He looked at her still form, fighting back the wetness his eyes were starting to form. He couldn't lose her, not now. He needed her, he knew this as certain as he knew he needed oxygen. He hadn't a clue why the girl that so brutally tortured him those 2 or so years ago was the one who tortured his very soul ever since. Thoughts of her haunted his dreams, whether he was awake or sleeping. He couldn't get over how much he had failed her and he had let her down once again. He should've been quicker, he shouldn't have let her go in the building alone to begin with, he should've stopped her. It was too late now for the should'ves, but that didn't stop him from thinking of them as he looked at the fallen slayer all beaten and bloody. He gathered up all the strength he had and lifted her gently in his arms carrying her out of the building and setting her gently in the passanger seat of his car. He looked over at her limp figure.

"You are going to be just fine, Faith, you have to be."

He thought momentarily where he would go with her. He contemplated the hospital, but no they would ask too many questions. There was always the hotel, but he wasn't sure how long the protection spell would last and Angelus was sure to go there first looking for her. No, he needed someplace safe, someplace where he could look after her. His mind was made up, he'd take her back to his place.

Wesley carried her to his door and had to do some quick menovering to open the door and still keep his hold of the unconcious girl in his arms. He took her to his bedroom and placed her delicately on the bed. He went into his medicine cabinet and got out some supplies to clean and bandage her with. The cool cloth ran over her skin, but she made no response. He felt so helpless as he looked at her and tried his best to bandage all her wounds. When he was done he ran a finger over her face tracing around one of her cuts, he couldn't believe it had come to this. He wanted to protect her, to not let her down for once, but he had. He shook his head sadly. He laid down next to her on the bed laying his head on her chest, needing to hear her heart beating to make sure she was still alive. It was faint, but still there. He vowed he wouldn't lose her, he couldn't. He had lost so many people he had cared about due to his failures and he'd be damned if he'd lose another. A tear fell on her as he couldn't hold it back anymore. The tears flowed freely, soaking her shirt. Then he felt a comforting hand running through his hand, soothing him. He jerked his head up and saw the dark pools of her eyes staring back at him.

"Didn't think you'd get rid of me that easily did ya?" Her voice no louder then a dull whisper, but he had heard her. He let out a sigh of relief and let a smile cross over his features.

"You're awake."

"Takes more than a hunk of rock to keep me down. Didn't think i'd check out on you, yet?" His hand caressed the side of her face making sure she was real and really awake. "So, Wes, where am I?"

"My apartment." She looked up at him in confusion, why did he bring her hear. "I felt you'd be safer here. The hospital is out of the question and the Hotel is the first place Angelus would go, protection spell or not. I needed a place where you could recover in peace, so I brought you here. I hope you don't mind." She closed her eyes and inhaled the scent of the pillow beneath her, it smelled just like him and she let it wash over her senses.

"No, I don't mind." She tried to lift her head, but it felt so heavy and started to make her nautious. She quickly layed it back down again.

"Just rest, don't try to do anything. You are going to be just fine." He wasn't sure if the last part was to reassure her or himself. He sat up and stepped off the bed. Faith winced a bit at the loss of his weight next to her and the warmth that it had promised.

"Why are you being so nice to me? I did things, things I can't take back no matter how much I want to. I hurt..."

"Faith, don't. It's water under the bridge, we have much bigger things ahead than what happened in the past. You're different now, I know that."

"How, how do you know, because I'm not even sure of it myself." She looked into his blue eyes for some sort of reassurance, something to tell her that she really was a good person. She found all that and more reflected back at her.

"You almost died tonight fighting the good fight, that's how I know." He gave her a small smile that seemed to warm her at her very core before turning to the door.

"Wes?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think you could stick around for a bit, You know in case I go back into dreamland for another 8 months." He nodded and curled up in a chair near the bed. She felt disappointment at his choice of sleeping arrangements. She wanted him close to her, she needed the warmth that only he could provide. She watched as he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. She closed her eyes trying to remember the feel of his weight on her chest, so gentle and careful not to hurt her. Remembering how it felt to have her hand in his hair, so natural. She wanted so much to just be able to reach out for him and let him know that his place was next to her, but how do you tell a pretentious ex-watcher what to do.

"Wes, what do you think you are doing?"

"Getting some rest, you really should be doing the same."

"I mean, in the chair, that so can't be comfortable."

"I'm fine."

"Well, don't come crying to me when you wake up with a stiff back and have to fight Angelus like the hunchback of fucking Notre Dame."

"I'll be fine really."

"Just saying, you'd be much more comfortable on the bed."

"Faith..." he shot her a confused glance, not sure of where she was going.

"Shit, Wes, get your mind out of the gutter, sleep that's all. Not like I'm up for much more, considering The Beast just fucking beat the crap out of me. Not sure I could perform, ya know, but I mean if you want to give it a go, I probably wouldn't turn ya down."

"You almost died tonight, does that not register?"

"It goes with the territory, I almost died a lot of times, heck B did die, twice. Being a slayer is a hazordus occupation, we really should think about hitting the watchers council up for workers comp or hazard pay or something ya know? Well, if they weren't all intent on wanting me dead and all. Anyway, what do you say, Wes, care to join me." She patted the space next to her ever so slightly, as it was still hurting to move more than a few milimeters at a time.

"Will it shut you up and get you to actually rest?"

"It might."

"Fine." Wes got up and sat down on the bed, Faith smiled triumphently. "Now, sleep." He turned over facing away from Faith. He was mere inches away and somehow still to far for Faith's liking. She slowly moved closer, it paining her with every move, but it hurt her more being so close yet so far away from the one thing she wanted in this world. She layed a hand on his side and pushed there bodies closer together so she could feel him pressed against her, the warmth eveloping her. This is what she needed. She closed her eyes, feeling oddly content. Wes turned over in her arms watching the girl fall asleep. He was both confused and delighted by her actions. He let his hand cup her face slightly, loving the way her skin felt to his touch.

He thought about how he almost lost her that night and that scared him to no end. He only had her back in his life a few hours and already he couldn't imagine his life without her. The bond they had went beyond that of Watcher and slayer, torturer and tortured, went beyond anything either of them had ever felt before. He let his hand trace her cheek, then her jaw and finally the outline of her lips. The same lips that appeared in every dream he had had for the past few years, the same lips that made him ache with need. He wanted so much to be able to know the feel of her lips on his, to know what she tasted like. To explore every inch of her mouth with his tongue. The curiousity getting the better of him he leaned over and kissed them ever so gently, not wanting to wake her. It surprised him when he felt her respond, for a moment he thought that it was just her in a sleep induced state responding, that she didn't know what she was doing, but then a hand came around his neck and nestled itself in his hair as it pulled him deeper into her mouth. When the need to breathe was too much for them they pulled apart, both panting heavily.

"'Bout time you showed some initiative, Wes. What took you so long."

"Do you really want to be talking?"

"Good point." She grabbed his head and forcefully brought it back down on her mouth.