Title:  Three Slayers

Rating:  R (For Language later)

Story:  Action\Adventure

Feedback:  In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.

E-Mail:  KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk

Disclaimer:  I don’t own the characters just worship at their altar

Summary:  An answer to Kendra didn’t die and got together with Xander challenge on XanderZone.

Three Slayers - Prologue

Xander let out a relieved gasp as his beloved spluttered back into the life.  He’d done it, he’d saved her.  The blonde looked past him to the figure in the shadows.  “Angel,” she whispered and his heart broke for the second time in a day.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Wow,” Xander muttered at his first sight of the athletic, mocha-skinned beauty stood in the library, her raven-dark wiry hair cascading down her muscular shoulders.  His heart hadn’t fluttered like was doing right now since, since his first sight of Buffy on the school steps.  Pushing aside the feelings of hurt that always arose at the thought of the blonde he walked over to the girl and offered his best smile.  “Hi, I’m Xander and you are?”

The girl’s coal-black eyes, man he could lose himself in them, widened in terror like a deer’s caught in a car’s headlights.  “Kendra, sir,” the girl looked down at the floor.

“Hey,” he cast a quizzical look over his shoulder, “I thought there was a teacher behind me for a second there,” smiling at the girl’s nervous giggle he offered her his hand.  “Are you an exchange student?” he was surprised by the tingle that ran through him when she tentatively took his hand.

“No,” Xander’s head snapped round.  For perhaps the first time ever he hadn’t noticed Buffy’s presence in the room.  “She’s a Slayer; somebody’s been messing with the Slayer line, making extras.”

“I could have left you dead,” Xander retorted.

“You’re the one,” Kendra’s eyes widened again.  “The one who started the second line?”

“I have that -.”

Buffy interrupted.  “Oh he helped Angel,” she said nonchalantly.  Usually Buffy’s dismissal would have hurt but right now he was too busy staring into the new Slayer’s eyes.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Kendra!”  Xander sprang to his feet and hurried over to the newcomer, a beaming smile firmly in place, she was even more beautiful than he remembered.  Months had passed since the other Slayer’s fleeting appearance but he’d never even looked at another woman.  Now it was Kendra and not Buffy that filled his dreams.

“Xander!” a smile brightening her already gorgeous looks, the young girl started forward.

“Kendra!  Stay!”

Xander turned his attention to the tall black man stood beside his friend.  “Who the hell are you?” he demanded angrily, she wasn’t a damn dog.

The man looked at him haughtily.  “I am Mr. Zabuto, Kendra’s Watcher-.”

His suspicion confirmed Xander slammed his forehead into the man’s mouth while at the same bringing his knee up into the man’s groin.  As the man doubled up, Xander grabbed him around the collar and threw him head-first into a near-by bookcase, sending it and the man crashing to the floor.  As he made his way over to the sprawled man, Buffy blocked his way, her eyes dancing furiously.  “Xander, what are you doing?  Have you gone mad?”

“Gee, I don’t know Buffy?  No computer teachers on my score cards,” he was sadistically satisfied when the blonde flinched at his barb, he was sick of them all pandering to her spoilt whims.  “No, this bastard is the same shit who used Ken as nothing more than a slave.  When he comes round tell him to stay out of my way if he wants to keep walking.”  Still angry, he turned and stormed out of the library.

“Xander!  The spe-.”

“I’ll be back later!” he shook his head in disgust, soul restoration spells, and he thought a Slayer’s job was to kill vampires not cure them.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander groaned as he pushed the bookcase off him.  “I wonder what the insurance premiums are like for demon hunters.”  Using years of parental abuse he forced aside the pain in his arm, it was probably broken, to stand and look down onto the ground floor of the library.

The first thing he noticed was Zabuto, his neck twisted at an impossible angle.  No loss.  His heart missed a beat when he saw an unconscious Willow then stopped when he saw the blood pouring out of the brown-skinned Slayer’s neck.  “Kendra!”

Ignoring his own pain he hurried down the first floor steps and knelt beside the Slayer’s body.  After taking a couple of deep breaths in an effort to calm himself, he pulled off his shirt and pressed it against the wound in an attempt to stem the blood loss.  “Xander what happened?”

He looked up angrily to see a shocked-looking Buffy.  “Your boyfriend’s childe that’s what happened!  Now call an ambulance!”  The dazed blonde didn’t move.  “Now Buffy!”  If Kendra didn’t make it, he didn’t know what he’d do to Buffy.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“The young lady died on the way to hospital,” Xander felt his legs grow shaky.  “But don’t worry we were able to revive her.  Quite remarkable really, she’s healing already.”

Xander turned away; there was something he needed to do before he saw Kendra and Willow.  As he neared the hospital entrance the full import of the nurse’s words hit him.  “There’s a third Slayer.”  He’d have to tell G-Man once they’d rescued him. 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“No Ted please don’t make me,” Faith whimpered as unshed tears burnt her eyes.  “You said I was your girl, that you’d take good care of me.”

The big man grabbed her by her hair and propelled her into the alley wall.  “Listen you little bitch,” the twenty year old leaned against her, his weight crushing her and his alcohol-filled breath forcing her to pull her head away and her nose to wrinkle in disgust.  “Frankie’s promised me a couple of rocks and a C-Note for a night with your fine ass.  So you’ll do whatever he wants.  Otherwise.”  She screamed as the man grabbed her right breast and roughly twisted it.  “Understand?”

It wasn’t fair, when she’d first met Ted she’d thought he was so cool, that she’d finally found a guy to look after her.  But he was a bastard, just like all of them.  Well she wouldn’t do it, she wasn’t a whore.  Suddenly a wave of energy hit her making her entire body itch and her stomach flip flop almost as if she was going to vomit.  Then the feeling passed and she felt stronger, more confident than ever before.  “No I won’t do it.”

“That right?” Ted shrugged and smiled.  “Well in that case.”  The man released his grip and stepped back before swinging an open-handed palm at her face.  “You’ll have to be taught who’s the boss.”

“I am.”  She caught the man’s hand inches from her face.  She smiled crookedly at the man’s surprised expression before slamming her heel into the man’s right instep shattering the bone.  The man’s mouth opened but she cut off his scream or curse with an uppercut to the jaw that lifted the man off his feet and sent him crashing into the far wall before sliding into the alley’s garbage.  Faith grinned in amazement; nobody was going to push her around again – from now on she’d be doing the pushing.  “Wicked cool.”

Three Slayers 2- Trust

“I’ve got to go," Xander glanced at his watch before standing.  “I’m meeting Ken at the G-Man’s.”

“But we’ve hardly hung out since I got back.”

Once the pout that accompanied Buffy’s words would have melted his heart and snapped his resolve but now it bounced off him like a bullet off Superman’s skin.  “Yeah but sometimes people grow apart.  Particularly when people run away from their friends and responsibilities,” Xander turned away from the stunned Slayer and to the others.  “Will, Oz, Cordy, see you at school tomorrow.”

Turning he hurried out of the Bronze, still fuming at his exchange with Buffy.  The others might fall at Princess Buffy’s feet when she saunters back into town after running away for months but not him.  He’d seen the hurt on Mrs. Summers’ and Giles’ faces, remembered how worried they’d all been.  If the Council hadn’t decided to let Kendra stay they’d have been in real trouble, targets of any vengeful demon wishing to pick them off one by one.

Just the thought of Kendra was enough to make his anger ebb away.  They’d bonded during her week long hospital stay, he’d visited her and Willow every day.  Then on the day she was to be replaced from hospital, Kendra had kissed him fervently, clumsily, inexpertly, but very passionately.  He laughed to himself as he remembered his confusion and the suddenly blushing Slayer explaining that ‘Mr. Giles’ had told her that it was who had saved her life.  Then she’d asked if it was alright if she kissed him again.  And they’d been dating ever since.

“Hiya boytoy,” a slight yet curvy figure stepped out of the shadows and into the alley light.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith looked at the teen stood in the alley and smirked.  She’d only arrived in Sunnydale three days ago and already she was pissed off.  She’d come here looking for help from the legendary Buffy Summers and found instead a sneering snob and a gang of sheep.  Except for the Xander guy, he was kinda cute in a geeky way, lousy dress sense though, but stealing a rocket launcher from an army base.  That was definite potential.  “Wanna go party, bang bodies maybe?” she began to swing her slender hips rhythmically and lent slightly forward to give the youth a tempting view of her ample cleavage.

The teen coloured.  “As tempting as the offer is I’ve got a girlfriend.”

“So?” she stalked closer to the youth.  “She doesn’t have to know, does she?”

“Look me and Ken are going to the pictures.  Do you want to come along?”

Faith stepped back, her brow furrowed in confusion.  She hadn’t been rejected by a guy in years; hell she knew she had the goods to turn a gay man straight.  And this geek was going to turn her down?  On the other hand, she didn’t want to go back to the ‘roach-pit she was crashing at and be hassled by the manager about how if she couldn’t find the rent there were other ways a pretty girl like her could pay her way – the guy was fifty at least, even she had standards.  And she wanted to meet the other Slayer too; she couldn’t be as bad as the other bitch.  Finally she nodded.  “Five by five,” the Slayer’s lips pursed up in disdain as she remembered something, damn she’d have to stop at her crib after all.  “I’ve got to stop off somewhere first.”

“No hurry, I’ve got nearly an hour before I have to meet Ken.  I just couldn’t stand the air in there anymore.”

Faith grinned.  “You too uh?”

“You’re staying here?”

Faith glared at the guy by her side, the trip to the hotel had been fun, her new-found companion was a witty dude with a ton of entertaining stories about Slaying but that didn’t give him the right to criticise.  “Look it’s all I can afford okay?” she snarled defensively.

The youth raised his hands.  “Calm down Faith,” the teen said gently.  “It wasn’t a dig, it’s just I saw at least two drug deals going down outside and one hooker propositioning a john.  This is no place for -,” Xander smiled.  “Grab your stuff; I know where you can stay.”

Ah here it came, Faith felt her stomach clench.  She thought he was a stand-up guy, really just wanted to be her bud.  She should have known better.  He was the same as all the rest though, only wanted her for one thing, wanted her to move in with him so she’d be ‘grateful enough’ to do whatever kinky shit he and his friends were into.  “With you?” she was careful to keep her tone neutral.

She was surprised when the youth shook his head.  “God no, I wouldn’t inflict my family on a friend.  I figured you could stay with Giles and Ken, he’s your Watcher after all.”  The boy raised an eyebrow.  “So are you packing then?”

A friend?  Faith hid a grin as she started to pick up the clothing scattered across the floor and the bed.  Maybe he was on the level after all.  “You helping or what?”

“Help a woman pick up her underwear?” Xander shuddered theatrically.  “Don’t think so.”

Faith winked at the teen.  “Would it help if I told you I didn’t wear any?” 

Xander coloured.  “Not really no.”

Her laugh died when the hotel room door swung open to reveal the pot-bellied bastard who managed the place, his habitual leer firmly in place.  Fuck, she’d forgot to lock the door.  “Hello Faithie,” the man whined at her, “Have you thought about my offer?”  The manager’s muddy grey eyes narrowed as he noticed her new friend.  “Who the hell are you?”

“A friend of Faith’s,” Xander’s eyes didn’t move from the manager.  “Got your stuff Faith?”

“Yeah.”

Her friend nodded.  “Let’s go.”

Xander started towards the door only for the manager to block the way.  “She’s not going anywhere until she’s paid off her debt one way or another.”

“That right?”  Faith blinked as Xander’s right fist flicked up and smashed into the man’s throat.  The manager’s face turned purple before he slumped gasping to the floor.  “You should pay people to live here not charge.  Coming Faith?”

 

“Yeah Xand, nice punch by the way,” she complimented as she stepped over the manager’s gasping frame.  “Soldier boy?”

“Yep.”

                                                *                                  *                                  *

“How come you got a key to the Watcher’s house Xand?”

Her new friend shrugged.  “Giles gave me a key for when things get too heavy at home.”

Too heavy?  Sensing her friend’s discomfort she changed the subject.  “So what’s Watcher Guy like?”

“Pretty cool, don’t tell him I said that though.  I like to keep the G-Man on his toes,” the door swung open and the youth leaned into the house.  “Ken!  G-Man!  It’s only me,”  Xander turned to her.  “After you Faith.”

The Slayer blinked.  Polite too, shame he was taken, a smile flickered across her lips, still that shouldn’t be a problem; she’d took guys off other girls before.  She’d barely stepped into the hall-way when a man appeared in the lounge door-way.  Faith gave him the once-over, cute in an older, intelligent kinda way.  Maybe doable.

The man smiled politely at her before turning to her friend.  “Hello Xander, and who is your friend?”

Xander opened his mouth only to be cut off when a coffee-coloured whirlwind raced downstairs and engulfed the youth in a bear-hug.  Ignoring the wave of jealousy that hit her, Faith turned to the older man.  “I’m Faith, the new Slayer on the block.“

“Really?” the Englishman took off his glasses and began polishing at them with a ferocity that threatened to wear the lenses away.  “This is most surprising.  And where is your Watcher?”

Faith glanced down at her feet.  It still hurt to think about Lorraine, the first person to ever really care about her.  She’d planned to lie but now she’d started to trust Xander and if he said the Watcher was five by five.  “She’s dead.”

“Oh dear,” the Englishman sounded sympathetic.  “And where might you be staying?”

“Here.”

The Englishman looked towards her new bud in surprise.  “I beg your pardon?”

Xander sighed.  “G-Man, she was living in a fleapit of a motel with hookers, winos, junkies, and dealers.  Is that any place for a young girl?”

“True, but surely -.”

“There’s somewhere else?  Buffy’s?  Well she and Buffy haven’t exactly hit it off -.”

“There’s a fucking understatement,” Faith muttered, spoilt bitch.

“My place?” the young man continued with a harsh laugh.  “The Swiss Family Harris?  Well yeah, my dad would love a chance to have a perv.  And I can just see Willow or Cordy’s folks taking her in.  Besides,” the teen paused, “you’re a Watcher she’s your responsibility.”

The Englishman let out a groan.  “Not one, not two, but three Slayers and a Xander?  Surely I wasn’t that bad in the seventies.”  Faith scowled, what the fuck was that supposed to mean?  The Englishman turned to her.  “Would you have any objection to sharing a room with Kendra?”

Suddenly hesitant, Faith glanced towards her counterpart.  She found herself replying to the girl’s infectious smile with one of her own.  There was just something about the girl she instinctively liked, maybe she wouldn’t try and steal Xand from her after all.  She nodded and affected a casual tone.  “Nah, that’s five by five.  Just as long as I’ve got a floor to lie on and a few sheets to keep me warm.”  She’d slept on far worse.

“A floor?” the Englishman sounded mortally offended.  “I think we can do rather better than that.  Kendra, can you and Faith go into the attic and get out the camp bed please.  Xander, could you join me in the lounge?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles stared at the youth sat opposite.  The rift that had grown between Xander, Kendra, and the others saddened him.  He was supposed it was inevitable after Buffy’s behaviour, as always Willow had followed Buffy’s lead but Xander had been forthright in his criticism and if there was one thing Buffy didn’t take well it was criticism.  He’d found it difficult to forgive Buffy too, but he had a job to do and Kendra’s welfare to consider.  And this Faith too apparently.  “How sure are you that Faith’s a Slayer?”

“I don’t know G-Man,” Xander’s eyes danced with merriment.  “Super-hot teen babe with Jackie Chan’s moves and Arnie’s strength who I happened to see staking a vampire as casual as you or I would clean our teeth. You do the math.”  The youth’s face grew serious.  “What worries me is what she’s running from.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Look at the facts G-Man.”  The young man leaned forward, his eyes intent.  “What’s a sixteen year old east coast girl doing on the west coast specifically looking for Buffy while staying at the worse fleapit in town?  Desperate much?”

Giles nodded; as usual Xander showed himself to be rather more perceptive than one would expect given his image.  “Do you have any idea what she’s running from?”

He was disappointed when the youth shook his head.  “I don’t know but I’m planning to take her and Ken out tonight, maybe get her to open up a little.”

“In that case,” Giles dug out his wallet and pulled out a trio of twenty dollar bills.  “Take this.”

Xander shook his head.  “I’ve got money thanks.”

“Xander,” Giles kept his tone soft but firm, “I’ve got plenty of money, my salary as a Watcher and librarian, as well as my family money.  Moreover, making Faith feel part of the team is in effect Council business.”

That last piece of logic did it.  Smiling slightly Xander took the money.  “Thanks G-Man.”

                                                *                                  *                      *

“So what’s” Faith effortlessly hefted her end of the camp bed, “G’s kink?”  Kendra looked at her in confusion, Faith attempted to explain.  “What’s his thing?  Does he like to touch or be touched?  Or does he just watch?”  In her experience guys weren’t nice unless they were getting something out of it – well maybe not Xander, maybe.  She might as well know the ground rules before she decided if she could stay here.

Kendra looked shocked.  “Mr. Giles is a perfect gentleman.  He would never do anything unseemly!”

Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow.  “My mistake.”  She supposed it was possible – two nice guys in one city, unlikely though.  “What’s Xand’s story?  What’s he like when you get pelvic?”

Kendra’s face crinkled up in puzzlement.  “Get pelvic?”

“In the sack?” Kendra’s confused expression didn’t clear.  “Between the sheets?” she tried again.  “You know fucking?” dear god, did her sister Slayer even know the facts of life?

“Ah,” Kendra coloured.  “We haven’t done anything like that, we’re taking things slow.  Xander wouldn’t rush me he’s too sweet to do that -.”

This was one weird set-up.  “So how come,” she took the sheets Kendra offered her, “G lets all of the others help?”

“Xander and Willow didn’t give Mr. Giles much choice.  And Xander is the one who started the second line by giving Buffy CPR after she was drowned by the Master.  And the third line by stopping the bleeding in my throat after Drusilla cut my throat.”

“No way!” she was definitely sticking close to Xand, if nothing else it would improve her chances of staying alive.  “So what’s his family like, he’s said stuff.”

Kendra’s face saddened.  “I don’t know much, I’ve only been to his house once.  His dad was drunk and said I wasn’t bad looking for a nigger so we left.  I think he hits Xander.”

Faith felt a surge of fury.  Who the hell did the bastard think he was?  “What about you and your family?  What do they think about you living with G?”

Her counterpart glanced down at the floor.  “Mr. Zabuto took me from my family when I was young, I don’t remember them.  Mr. Giles and Xander are the nearest I’ve ever had to family.”

Faith’s mouth dropped open.  No wonder she kinda felt a bond with Kendra and Xand, they all shared the same lousy families.  But maybe, she glanced hopefully around the room she now shared with Kendra - she’d never been in such a clean and tidy place, maybe she had a chance at a home now.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith beamed as she walked out of the cinema with her two new friends.  She’d had the best night, seen a great movie, had food and drink bought for her, and without having to put out either.  And her companions were pretty cool.  Xander was wicked funny but real polite too while Kendra had a sort of engaging sweetness that meant she couldn’t help but like her.  Her with two friends, who’d have thought it?  “What next?” they could go to a club or something; she didn’t want tonight to end.

Xander glanced at his watch.  “It’s nearly eleven.  You better walk me home and then go home yourselves.”

“Walk you home Xman?” Faith pushed aside her disappointment to grin at the teen.  “Shouldn’t you walk us home and then go home yourself?”

“Not if you’re the Slayers and we’re living in Sunnydale,” Xander replied dryly.

“Five by five,” Faith nodded, “but the night’s too young to go home yet guys.  Can’t we hit a club for a few hours,” she wheedled.

“Faith!” Kendra sounded scandalised.  “Mr. Giles has a strict curfew for us.  The nights we don’t patrol we have to be in for half past eleven for school.”

School?  She so didn’t like the sound of that; she hadn’t been to school since junior high.  “School?  I don’t do -.”

“Oh Faith, you don’t have to worry about school.”

The Slayer’s blood chilled as she stared at the hulking figure who’d stepped out of the shadows.  Kaktosis, the master vampire who’d killed Lorraine and with a whole bunch of other vamps backing him up.  “Run!” grabbing Xander by his arm she yelled to her counterpart.  “Down the alley Ken!”

She soon realised they couldn’t out-run their pursuers, not with an already heavily-sweating Xander slowing them down.  She considered the option of the dumping the male then discarded it, Ken would never go for it, and he’d treated her nice.  He deserved better.  “Ken in here!” a single kick sent a near-by warehouse door flying.  They’d have to make a stand.

“Well Faith,” the giant vampire followed them into the warehouse a few seconds later.  “You’ve led up a merry dance.  But now it ends,” Kaktosis smiled.

Kendra and Xander charged into the fight but Faith was frozen.  All she could see was Lorraine’s agonised face, all she could hear was her Watcher’s screams, and smell was the Englishwoman’s flesh burning had tortured her.  “Faith, I’m disappointed in you,” Kaktosis taunted as he approached her, “I expected more of a fight from you, you seemed so spirited.”

“Fight this!” Faith watched in disbelief as Xander, a normal, leapt fearlessly at the master vampire only for the vampire to contemptuously back-hand the youth into a stack of wooden crates, splintering them and spilling fruit out on the floor.

“Xander!” the sight of her friend’s crumpled body was enough to galvanise the Slayer into action.  She wasn’t about to allow the bastard to get away with hurting her bud.  Spinning round she pulled away one of the roof’s wooden supports and threw it splintered end first at the vampire.  She grinned as her makeshift stake hit Kaktosis and her nemesis exploded into dust before running over to her dazed friend.  “Xman, you five by five?” she asked, a note of unaccustomed softness in her voice.

Her friend nodded then winced.  “Help Kendra,” Xander gasped his voice weak.

Faith glanced up and cursed.  Her fellow Slayer was being out-gunned by a quartet of vampires.  After taking a second for another glance at Xander she raced over to Kendra.  One of the vampires, seeing her approach, turned and retreated from the warehouse leaving only three.

The brunette leapt into a flying drop-kick to slam into the nearest vampire’s chest.  She hit the ground on top of the vampire and grinned down at the demon as she slammed a stake into its heart.  “Sucks to be you.”

Looking up she saw Kendra stake one of the two remaining vampire, and the other turn to run only for her companion to throw her stake through the vampire’s back.  “Nice shot,” she praised weakly.  Faith managed not to flinch when Kendra turned her angry eyes on her.  She’d fucked up again. Found two good friends and pissed them off by hiding the truth, her ma was right, she was a worthless slut.  “Yeah, I guess I’ve got some stuff to tell ya.”

Ten minutes later and she’d finished telling them about Kaktosis.  Her head dropped as she turned away from Xander and Kendra, determined not to cry.  It wasn’t fair, she hadn’t meant for anyone to get hurt.  “Faith, I’ve got something to say.”

The Slayer took a breath and turned to face Xander, wincing slightly at the egg sized bruise on his forehead and his grazed right cheek, here it came the yelling and cursing, well she deserved it.  “Are all your exes like him?  Because if we’re going to be friends I’m definitely vetting your boyfriends.”

Faith’s mouth dropped open as the import of Xander’s words hit her.  Covering the dusty floor in a blur she picked up the surprised youth in a hug.  “Thanks Xand,” tears streamed down her face.

“That’s alright Faith.  Now can you put me down please?  Jealous girlfriend, oxygen depravation issues, and ribs cracking.”

“Um, sorry,” remembering her image she lowered the youth.  “We five by five too Ken?”  After a second the other Slayer nodded.  “Wicked!”

                                    *                                  *                      *

“I don’t know where Xander gets off talking to me like that!”  Buffy muttered as she walked through one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries.  That traitor, first he takes up with Kendra, and now she’d seen him walking off with that low-class bitch Faith! 

The blonde stopped her mutterings as she heard a growling in the undergrowth ahead of her.  Drawing her stake she started forward only to stop when she recognised the naked figure on the ground.  Her stake fell from nerveless fingers.  “Angel.”

Three Slayers 3 – Slayerfest ‘98

“Three Slayers, that is most worrying.  I can’t have a trio of feisty young ladies ruining my plans.”  Mayor Wilkins beamed at his new assistant, an African-American vampire by the name of Mr. Trick.  Smart fellow, he’d come to work for him after the newest Slayer had slain his sire.  He did so like employing from minorities – made him feel socially responsible.  After all, weren’t vampires people like everybody else, live and let undead he always said.  “I assume you have a solution to this problem?”

The vampire nodded at him.  “As a matter of fact I do.  I call it Slayerfest ’98.”

“Oh do tell?”  The Mayor beamed, he was sure this was going to be fun – at least for him.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Xander, can I talk to you?”

Xander slid the demonology book he’d been reading under his science textbook before looking up.  “Shoot Johnno.”

 

The short youth shuffled from foot to foot.  “You’re friends with Faith right?” Xander bit back a groan as he nodded, he knew what was coming.  “You know if anybody’s asked her to Homecoming?”

Yep, there it was.  Just like Kendra two weeks before her and Buffy two years ago, Faith’s arrival at Sunnydale High had hit the school’s male population like an atom bomb.  Although strangely enough she hadn’t had many offers – although that might have had something to do with him repeatedly introducing Percy West’s face to a locker door when he’d overheard the jock boasting about how he was going to be the first to screw the new hot brunette.  Strange how things like that influenced people.

Still John was a good guy, shy but well-mannered enough.  After all the abusers in her past Faith could do with a nice guy her own age.  Xander came to a decision.  “No, I don’t think anyone has asked her.”

“Oh,” Jonathan stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking again.  “Do you think I’d have a chance?”

Xander thought for a second.  “I don’t know Johnno, you can but ask.”  The youth nodded and turned to leave.  “John wait.”  The teen turned back to him, his face questioning at his serious tone.  “You know if Faith says yes and you hurt or humiliate her in any way she can snap you like a twig?” Jonathan swallowed and nodded, the girls’ powers were pretty much an open secret by now.  “And that if you hurt Faith, Kendra will do the same?” Xander lowered his voice.  “But what you don’t know is I’ve read a ton of military history books and I’m not even close to as strong as Kendra or Faith, but I’m way more inventive.”

“O..okay,” the youth bolted out of the library.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“XANDER!  You’re dead meat!”

“Oh crap,” Xander muttered, standing he put his desk between him and the raging brunette who’d just stormed through the library doors, knowing full well the desk would offer scant protection.  He looked towards the office for assistance only to see that Giles had discreetly closed the door.  Coward.  “What’s up?”

“What’s up!” Faith screamed.  “You got Jonathan to ask me out!”

He looked at his girlfriend behind Faith only to see her giggling hysterically.  No help from her either.  “Uh, I didn’t actually,” he corrected weakly.  “He just asked me if you were dating anybody.”

“Why didn’t you lie?” the girl demanded hotly.

Xander shrugged.  “Well John’s a good guy -.”

“You were setting me up!”  Xander swallowed at the girl’s anger.  “He’s shorter than me and a geek!”

“So you said no?” Xander kept his tone neutral but he was disappointed.  Sure Johnno was no Brad Pitt, but he was the sort to treat a girl decently and from what he’d managed to piece together that hadn’t happened to his new friend too often if ever in the past.

The brunette dropped down into the chair opposite him, a frustrated look on her beautiful face.  “How could I?  The dumbass asked me in the middle of the corridor; if I’d have said no he’d have been humiliated.”  Faith glared at him.  “You’re so going to pay for this.”

Xander considered asking what he’d done wrong but decided that keeping his mouth shut was probably the best option. 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“You hoped Jonathan would ask Faith out didn’t you?”

Xander grinned down at his girlfriend.  “Is this conversation strictly confidential?”

“I don’t know,” Kendra fluttered her long eyelashes, “will you buy my silence with kisses?”

“Ah my favourite currency,” moving his arm from around his girlfriend’s shoulders to her tiny waist, he kissed her lightly on the lips before pulling away.  “I know Johnno’s too quiet for Faith,” he admitted, “but even if it only lasts for one date it’ll help boost Johnno’s status.  More importantly it’ll give Faith an idea of how she really deserves to be treated, that she’s worth more than being an easy lay.”

Kendra giggled.  “If only we could clone you.”

“Ah,” Xander sighed dramatically.  “So little Xander, so many women.”

“Only one woman.”

He grunted as Kendra elbowed him in the ribs.  “My mistake.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“G, can I ask you something?”

“You can if you call me by my bloody given name,” Giles muttered under his breath before looking up from his book with a smile.  His smile waved wavered as he noticed the pensive look on Faith’s face.  “Faith, why don’t you sit down?”

“Thanks G.”

As he waited for the young woman to begin the librarian mentally reviewed the events of the past two weeks since the third Slayer’s arrival.  At first the teen had been not exactly scared but wary of him, he guessed she’d been abused quite badly in her pre-Slayer days leading her to distrust men, but gradually begun to relax, let him in.  In turn her presence had caused Kendra to relax, making the translating Haitian more assured.

However Faith’s appearance had its drawbacks.  While idolising Xander and becoming firm friends with Kendra, Faith was less than friendly with the others.  She’d been openly scornful of Buffy, sneering at the blonde for sleeping with a vampire, ‘B, here’s a tip for ya, you’re meant to stake him, not him you’, and for allowing Angelus’ resulting murder spree.  That had sent off a shouting match between Xander and Willow when Willow had attempted to defend Buffy.  As a result things were now fractured to such an extent that Xander, Kendra, and Faith patrolled separately from him, Buffy, and the others except when there was a major crisis.  Realising that the Slayer wasn’t about to break her silence he spoke.  “Faith, I believe you wished to ask me something?”

“Yeah, there’s going to be formal dancing at this Homecoming thing right?” he nodded.  “You know how to dance that way, right?”  Again he nodded.  “Can you teach me?”

The Watcher smiled.  “Faith, it would be an honour.”

“Really?”

“Really, after all it’s not often an old stick such as I gets an opportunity to dance with a beautiful young woman.”

Faith blushed.  “You’re not that old G.”

“Well thank you Faith, will you help me move the sofa?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Mayor Wilkins looked down at the files Mr. Trick had just dropped on his desk.  “And what are these?”

“The entrants for Slayerfest ’98.”

“Well shucks this is just like Christmas Day.  I don’t know which file to open first.  I know, why don’t you summarise?”

“Sure sir, contestant number one is Marza, a Shawda demon.”  Wilkins nodded approvingly, Shawdas were notoriously persistent predators, feared even amongst their fellow demons.  “Contestant number two is Ole Thor, a former U.S. Marine who’s been working as a big game hunter for the past ten years.  Contestant number three are a trio of Ninjas.  And finally we have Vegas’ vampire king Lucky Jim and his two young ladies Isabella and Tiffany.”

The Mayor beamed.  He’d heard of Lucky Jim, he was a 1950s accomplice of the gangster Bugsy Siegel and Jim had been turned in ’58.  Only forty years old but he had already gained quite a reputation for brutality and cunning.  “Well golly gosh, that’s quite a collection Mr. Trick.  And have there been any problems with organising the prey?”  The vampire hesitated.  “Come Mr. Trick, I’m sure we can overcome any difficulties together.  After all two heads are better than one.”

The vampire nodded.  “The three Slayers are rarely together all at once unless on patrol.  While Kendra and Faith are close to one another and Xander Harris, they tend to ignore Summers.  Getting all three of them into a situation where they would be unprepared and unharmed would be difficult.”

“Um.”  The Mayor thought for a minute.  That was a blow.  While Miss. Summers was the more experienced of the three she was also unfocussed after the death of her demon lover and therefore less of a threat.  “I think we’ll eliminate Kendra and Faith first.  If Miss. Summers continues to be a pest then we’ll have to take steps against her too.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I’m scared Xander.”

Xander’s eyes rolled; he’d already guessed that from his companion’s continual shaking and ashen-grey complexion.  “About what John?”

“Me, on a date with Faith.  I mean I was so happy and amazed when she said yes but now…  I can’t cope with the pressure, maybe I should cancel.”

“Not attached to your kneecaps then?”  Xander raised an eyebrow.

“Well what should I do?  You’re the expert.”

“Me?” Xander blinked; him the dating expert?

“You’re with one of the hottest babes in school.”

“True.  Okay, here’s the advice.  First, polite and respectful, in that case not only is it the right thing to do but it’ll help you keep breathing too.  Two, just relax, whatever happens happens, three, don’t talk scfi, listen to what she has to say, and finally, don’t forget to compliment her.”

“That’s it?” Jonathan’s eyes had grown to the size of soccer balls.  “That’s the great advice?”

Xander shrugged.  “Don’t put on an act.  Be yourself.  And remember, she said yes, she must like something about you.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander wolf-whistled as the two girls hurried down the drive.  “Whatever happened to Kendra and Faith?” he called out.  “Who switched them for these two supermodels?” he turned to Jonathan.  “Remember compliments.”

The shorter youth nodded nervously.  As Faith neared Jonathan spoke.  “I’m the luckiest guy in the world; an angel has just fallen out of heaven to land at my feet.”

Xander rolled his eyes.  “For god’s sake, don’t get your chat-up lines from the internet,” he muttered before stepping forward and kissing Kendra on the cheek, beside him he could hear Faith snarling at Jonathan not to try and follow suit.  “Your hair, your earrings, your dress – you look like you just came off a catwalk.”

Kendra beamed at him before turning serious.  “You’re late.”

“Traffic was busy,” Xander lied.  It wouldn’t help for Faith to find out that he’d had to practically carry her terrified date into the car.  “Ladies, your carriage awaits.”

“Nice wheels,” Faith commented approvingly.

“It should be,” Xander muttered.  Giles had got him a job as a part-time library assistant.  It looked good on his resume, gave him an excuse to study the Slayer Diaries and not to go home, and most importantly earned him some much needed money.  With what he got and Jonathan’s contribution they’d managed to hire a limo from the town’s classiest limo service. 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“This car journey is taking too long!” Faith snapped impatiently.  The first dance she hadn’t been paid to attend and she was stuck with Jonathan Levinson.  She supposed he was nice enough but hardly dream date material.  She’d been hoping one of the football team would ask her out but they seemed almost scared of her for some reason.

“Have you heard patience is a virtue?”

Faith glared at her counterpart.  It had taken her a while to get used to Kendra’s occasional, and therefore unexpected, outbursts of dry humour.  “Whoever said that hadn’t been on this damn journey!”  Even as she spoke the car grinded to a halt.  “About fucking time!”  Shoving the door open she stepped out of the car.  And stopped dead at the sprawling wood that surrounded them.  “What the fuck?”

“Well school’s really changed.”

“You think?”  Faith glanced at Xander, her eyes narrowing as she noticed a TV and video just past her friend.  “What the hell’s that doing here?”

Xander followed her gaze.  “Only one way to find out.”  The group walked over to the TV.  After shrugging his shoulders, Xander pressed the video play button and turned the TV on.

Faith’s heart dropped as she recognised the vampire.  “Mr. Trick,” she muttered.

“Hi Faith, good to see you again, I wish I could I be there with you.  Miss Kendra, I wish I could have met you.”  Mr Trick turned serious.  “Unfortunately that’s not possible.  You two young ladies are a threat to my new employers and as such as designated as the prey in SlayerFest ’98.  Bye now.”

Faith hit the ground as the TV exploded, dragging Jonathan down with her.  “Aw crap!” she cursed as she climbed back to her feet and noticed the $300 sleeveless crimson cocktail dress that G had bought her was torn and dirty. 

“What’s going on?”  Jonathan asked as she pulled him to his feet.

“Xand!  Explain!”

After nodding Xander grabbed her date and started talking.  Satisfied that the others were preoccupied she grabbed Kendra and dragged her away from the two men.  “We’re in a hell of a spot Ken,” she hissed urgently.  “Unknown hostiles and terrain, practically no weaponry, and two civilians, one who’s useless.  What the hell are we going to do?”

Kendra was silent for a second before smiling slightly.  “Xander.”

Faith nodded in understanding.  “Soldier boy.”

                        *                                              *                                  *

“Okay, so what have we got?” Xander asked in a whisper.  A few seconds later he sighed – no mobile phone and just three stakes.  “Just great,” he turned to Jonathan.  “Anything in the car Jonno?”

“Just this,” the youth held up a tire-iron.  “There’s no battery in the car phone.”

“Right,” Xander took a second to think.  “There’s a cabin about ¾ of a mile up there.  Let’s head there, maybe there’s something we can use.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Ole Thor glided through the woods with the practiced moves of a jungle veteran, his eyes flickering from side to side.  A grin spread across his coarse-featured face as he saw the coffee-skinned girl he recognised as the Haitian Slayer lying on the ground.  His traps had brought at least one of the Slayers down.  Her companion had obviously fled or got separated from her, leaving her helpless.  The former marine lifted his gun.  “Easiest two mil I’ve ever earned.”

“Hey asshole.”  He started to turn towards the male voice, his rifle swinging towards the youth before his gun was snatched off him from behind and he was grabbed around his neck, his air supply instantly cut off.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“That went well Xand,” Faith praised.

Xander nodded in relief.  The bear-traps would have been well-hidden for anyone who didn’t have the memories of an army veteran who’d served in both Korea and Nam.  Once he’d seen them he’d decided that it was time for the hunted to become the hunters and had used the ‘goat in the snare’ ploy to lure the hunter.  He glanced towards his girlfriend.  “You okay Ken?” his girlfriend nodded, Johnno’s engineering knowledge had enabled him to fix the trap so although it looked like the trap had caught a victim while in fact doing no damage whatsoever.

He turned back to Faith.  “Go through his clothing and see if he’s got anything useful.”

“Been a while since I’ve been through a guy’s clothes.”  Faith winked at him.

Xander rolled his eyes at the comment.  “Just get on with it.”

After a few seconds the Slayer had finished.  “Some rope, ammo, a lighter, car keys, and a walkie talkie.”

“That it?” the Slayer nodded.  “Damn it.”  Xander thought for a second.  “Use the rope to tie him up.  Give the stuff to Jonathan, we all need our hands free to fight with.  Wake him,” Xander nodded towards the hunter, “up.  We need to find out what he knows.”

Ten minutes later they’d finished their interrogation and knocked the hunter back out.  “What now Xander?” Kendra asked.

“There might be a phone at the cabin, we’ll head there.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“The damn thing doesn’t work!”

“Can I have a look?” Jonathan asked timidly.  All this talk of Slayers, demons, and vampires gave him palpitations but engineering and telecommunications he knew.  He wilted under Faith’s laser-gun glare; he couldn’t believe how scary she was.  “I…I might be able to fix it.”

“Fine!” the beautiful brunette snapped before shoving the phone into his hand.  “What do you want me to do Xand?”

“Help us search the place for anything we can use.”

As his three companions rummaged through the cabin Jonathan opened up the phone and began examining it.  After five minutes he triumphantly beamed.  “I’ve -.”

His pronouncement was interrupted by the sound of the cabin door being ripped off its hinges and flung into Kendra, flattening the slight girl beneath it.  The intruder was eight feet tall, his huge warty bulk and thick shoulders filling the torn open doorway.  The creature’s hideous visage was dominated by its single staring blood-red eye and gaping mouth filled with glinting yellow teeth.

Upon the creature’s entrance Xander began to swing his rifle towards the beast only for his weapon to be snatched from him and for the youth to be back-handed across the cabin and into the wall.  Next into the attack was Faith, who’s attempted leaping drop-kick allowed her to be plucked out of the air and flung to the ground beside Xander.

Jonathan swallowed.  Seeing the creature begin to advance on a still dazed Kendra, he lunged for an aerosol can lying on the floor between the girl and the demon.  Reaching up he sprayed the can’s contents at the beast’s face, using the hunter’s lighter to turn the spray into a jet of flame that hit its target, filling the cabin with the demon’s anguished screams and the stench of its burning flesh.  Kendra flung the door from on top of her to hit the screeching demon in the face.  As the demon staggered backwards, Faith leapt to her feet and clipped the beast’s legs from beneath it.  As soon as the demon hit the floor, the two Slayers were on it, ripping it to pieces with a terrifying ferocity.  In less than a couple of minutes the demon was dead.  Faith leapt up and grinned at him.  “That was pretty smart Johnny, ballsy too.”

 

Jonathan blushed and stared down at the floor.  Faith thought he was brave, suddenly he remembered the phone.  Cheeks still flaming, he looked up.  “I’ve fixed the phone.”

His date’s grin broadened.  “Wicked!  You hear that Xand!”

“Faith don’t shout.  We haven’t all got Slayer healing.  My head’s still aching,” Xander groaned as he pulled himself upright.

“Huh, it’s got nothing to do with being a Slayer, it’s do with you being a wuss.”

“Faith!” Kendra sounded unhappy.  “Xander could be seriously hurt.”  The girl hurried over to her boyfriend.

His date rolled her eyes.  “Ignore them Johnny, they’re in lurve,” the girl turned serious.  “Who should I ring Xand?”

“Try yours’ first, and then the library.  Warn them we’re on the way and they might have trouble coming at them.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander stopped as Kendra grabbed his arm, they’d been unable to get through to Giles or anyone so they’d decided to head for where the hunter had said his jeep was hidden and head back to town.  “What’s up Ken?” he whispered.

“Those ninjas, they’re in the woods ahead of us.”

Xande stared casually forward.  He couldn’t see anything but then again he didn’t have Slayer eyes.  “Will they be able to see us yet?”  After a second his girlfriend shook her head.  “Good, in that case, this is what we’ll do.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Kendra stole through the shadowy forest, years of training allowing her to silently move through the woods without disturbing the local wildlife or alerting her prey to her presence.  She knew that she had only a limited time before the ninjas realised that she and Faith had left the boys and worked out what was happening.  A predatory smile crept across her beautiful face as she neared the black cat-suited figure to her right.  She loved her new life but this; this was what she was born to do.

Grabbing a rock from the ground she threw it at a tree behind and to the left of the Ninja.  As soon as her enemy turned instinctively she burst out of the undergrowth, her movements a blur.  As the Ninja began to turn back towards her she leapt into the air.  Seeing the man’s right hand swing up with a knife, she snapped out a left-footed kick, the heel smashing into the man’s wrist, knocking the blade to the ground even as the toe of her other foot crashed into the man’s jaw shattering it and knocking him to the ground.

Upon landing beside the body Kendra felt for a pulse letting out a relieved gasp when she found one.  She’d killed humans before, a Voodoo priestess back home who’d been trying to enslave the whole island.  She didn’t like doing it but if a human decided to serve evil then it was her duty to stop them.  Her lips parted in a scowl as she remembered Buffy’s moralising about not killing humans – fine words from somebody who’d stood by and allowed a vampire to mass-murder.

The thought of Buffy brought to the fore thoughts of her true sister Slayer.  Worry flickered across her face.  She hoped Faith was alright.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith was pissed.  Her first real dance and fancy dress ruined by these bastards.  Still, she smiled softly, her date had turned out better than expected – most of the so-called tough guys she’d used to hang with would have turned and run at the sight of that ugly bastard back at the cabin.  Not Johnny though, if he hadn’t come up with that wicked trick with the aerosol Ken could have been seriously hurt.  And when he blushed he was so damn sweet.

The brunette pushed aside thoughts of her date when she spied two ninjas knelt behind a boulder ahead of her.  Grinning slightly, she crawled through the undergrowth until she was behind the two men.  Rising from the ground she put two fingers into her mouth and whistled. 

As the pair began to turn she charged them only to catch her foot in an upraised root and stumble awkwardly to the ground.  Cheeks flaming with embarrassment, Faith pulled herself back to her feet, favouring her right side slightly.  Seeing a shuriken flying towards her the Slayer swayed backwards, allowing it to flying harmlessly over her left shoulder.  The other ninja came in fast, a whirlwind of exploding fists and feet, that Faith struggled to evade while keeping half an eye on the other assassin.

Finally she snatched hold of the assassin’s right arm and pulled him into a knifehand to the throat that sent him plummeting to the ground.  She spun round to face the other killer only for her ankle to give way beneath her.  Hitting the ground in a heap, she glared up impotently at the sword-wielding man above her.  Dying like this after all the Master Vampires she’d offed – how fucking humiliating.

Suddenly a rock sailed out of the night air to crash into the man’s skull knocking her assailant out.  Kendra hurried over to her side.  “Faith, are you alright?”

Faith grinned up gratefully at her worried-looking counterpart.  “Except for a near-terminal case of embarrassment and a sprained ankle I’m five by five.  Let’s get back to the others.”

                                    *                                              *                                  *

“Are you really okay Faith?”

Faith nodded, secretly touched by Jonathan’s concern.  “Yeah,” she said nonchalantly as the two of them made their way to the library, the others having gone to the hall in case the others hadn’t got the message she’d left on the library’s answering machine.  “Slayers heal quicker.”  The teen nodded and fell silent.  “Johnny I’m sorry things didn’t work out.  Maybe we’ll have time for one dance before the end of the night?”  Might as well throw the guy a bone - he hadn’t done bad at all.

The youth’s answering smile lasted until they reached the library.  “What happened here?”

“Don’t know.”  Faith glanced warily around the wrecked library, the desk had been broken in two, Red’s computer flung to the floor and books and scattered notes lay strewn across the floor.  “Johnny go into the office and get the weapons chest.  It’s beneath G’s desk.”

Once the youth had disappeared the brunette made her way into the back of the library, her senses tingling.  Her breath caught as she saw a pair of feet in a pair of shoes she recognised.  “G!”

Her heart pounding she started forward, and twisted away from the female vampire who lunged out of the shadows at her, allowing her adversary to run onto her stake.  Even as the vampire exploded into dust, another charged out of the darkness.  Faith slid beneath its attack and slammed a stake into the demon’s heart, taking a punch to the jaw in the process.

Normally such a punch would have been easy to shrug off but with her injured leg it sent her stumbling backwards and into a bookcase knocking her to the ground, pinning her arms beneath and the bookcase on top of her. 

She let out a fearful gasp when a third vampire, a short chubby man who’d been turned in his mid forties stepped out of the shadows, a sneering expression on his face.  “Well Lucky Jim’s good fortune strikes again.  Tonight I get to make my bones.”  Faith struggled desperately.  Given time she’d get free but time was the one thing she didn’t have.

“I don’t think so,” her eyes snapped towards the office doorway.  What was Jonathan doing?  He should be hiding, not holding a sword.

“Oh yeah,” Lucky Jim sneered.  “And who are you?”

 

“So you’ve heard of the Slayers?  Have you heard of the Protectors?  The male warriors with the powers of the Slayers who occur only once a century?  Well guess who got really unlucky?”

Faith’s eyes blurred with tears.  It was just like Lorraine, somebody else was going to die for trying to help her.  She didn’t want people to die for her, she wasn’t worth it.  Her mouth dropped open as the vampire sped out of the library.  He’d done it.

The youth hurried over her, smiled uncertainly and bent over to lift the bookcase off her.  Acting on impulse she leaned up and planted a kiss on the boy’s cheek.  “Thank you,” she whispered.

The boy coloured but completed lifting the bookcase off her before speaking.  “Are you okay?”

“Twisted my damn ankle again but I’ll be five by five tomorrow.”  She walked over to her Watcher and untied his restraints.  After checking the librarian was alright she turned back to Jonathan and winked.  “This date’s been so much fun I can hardly wait to see where you take me next.”  Chuckling slightly she walked past the teen and out of the library.

                                    *                                  *                      *

Giles hid a smile at the youth’s glazed eyes.  “D..did Faith just say she wanted another date?  With me?”

“I believe she did son, I believe she did,” the boy’s grin faded at his next words.  “Mr. Levinson, I happened to over-hear Xander’s conversation with you regarding Faith and your behaviour towards her.  And, if you hurt her in any way, I too will be most displeased.”  The youth paled.  “Well boy, what are you waiting for?  Your date’s waiting for you.”

Giles shook his head as the boy raced out of the library.  He began to wearily clear up the mess made by the trio of vampires, chuckling to himself as he worked.  In his day he wouldn’t have needed instruction to chase after a girl, especially one as attractive as Faith.  “Bloody kids today, they’ve no sodding idea.”

Three Slayers 4 – Band Candy

Jonathan smiled contentedly as he took his files out of his locker.  Two weeks had passed since his world had tilted on its axis, changing beyond recognition.  For the first time in his life he had friends – Xander, Kendra, and Mr. Giles, although the Englishman scared him a little, and even better he had a girlfriend – Faith.

His smile faded as he turned away from his locker to find he was surrounded by four of the school’s most notorious bullies.  “She put out yet?”

Jonathan forced himself to look up into Percy West’s eyes.  “Excuse me?” he failed to control the tremble in his voice.

“I said that girl of yours to put out yet geek?”  West sneered at him.  “I mean two weeks with a cheap slut like that even you should be getting laid by now.”

“That’s none of your business!”  Jonathan tried to step away from the group surrounding him only for West to grab him by the shoulders and slam him back against the lockers.

“Listen Levinson,” all pretence at jocularity had left the gang leader’s voice.  “It’s my business if I say it is.  After all,” the footballer grinned at his friends, “when you dump her tonight like I’m telling you to she’s going to need comforting, so me and the boys are going to make her guest of honour at one of our parties.” 

“Not going to happen.”  Jonathan’s heart leapt at Xander’s familiar voice.  His friend grabbed hold of West’s shoulders from behind, spun him round, drove a head butt into the bully’s nose, shattering it, even as his accompanying right fist collided with the footballer’s jaw, knocking him to the floor.  “Second and last warning, what you do with those bimbos who want to hang with you is between you and the STD clinic but Kendra and Faith are off-limits.”

“Get him!” the sprawled footballer screamed.

Even as his three companions stepped towards his friend another person stepped into the fray.  “Joe, Ian, Tom.”  The three jocks stopped after hearing the voice of the school football captain.  “Not a good idea boys, I’m with Harris on this.”  After a second the trio sloped off.

Xander nodded.  “Thanks Larry.”

The footballer nodded.  “Not a problem Xander,” Larry glanced at the rising footballer, “take that as a warning West, next time it could be an angry father with a baseball bat.”  Larry turned back to them.  “See you around guys.”

“Thanks for the help, where did you learn to fight like that?  Special Forces guy right?” Jonathan asked in awe, he’d been amazed to hear about Xander being possessed by a 20 year veteran of the Green Berets.

“No, barroom brawling 101,” seeing his confused expression Xander explained.  “Giles taught it me from his days fighting in the pubs in England, it’s what he calls a Glasgow kiss.  Hospitable people the Scottish apparently.”

“Mr Harris, did you just assault one of our football stars!”  Jonathan swallowed, oh boy, Mr. Snyder, trouble.

To his surprise his companion seemed unperturbed.  “No sir, his face just fell onto my head and fist.  These things happen.”

“Always the clown Harris.  Well laugh this off!  You've got a week’s lunchtime detentions!” the principal snarled before storming off.

“Always a pleasure sir!” Xander called out after the teacher.

Jonathan looked up at Xander in disbelief.  “How can you talk to teachers like that?”

“Trust me on this Jonno, maturity’s over-rated.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Ethan Rayne shuffled nervously from foot to foot as he stood before the African-American vampire before him.  He loathed  working for vampires, they were so unpredictable, but when you were offered the amount of money he was you didn’t say no.  And it did give him an opportunity for some much needed revenge on that uptight prig Ripper.  At least this vampire dressed well; maybe he was more intelligent than the average blood-sucker.  Finally the vampire spoke.  “Is the product ready?”

He nodded dutifully before pointing to the crates behind him.  “We’re starting shipping tonight; they’ll be at the distribution centres by the morning.” 

The vampire beamed.  “Excellent, oh and Mr. Rayne?”

“Yes?”

“If there are any problems I will come looking for you to discuss the penalty clauses in your contract.”

He swallowed; maybe coming back to Sunnydale hadn’t been such a good idea after all.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith screamed angrily.  “Get off me you prick!” She slammed a fist into her assailant’s jaw.  Fury powering her left hook, the subject of her attack was lifted off his feet and thrown over the sofa to land at the other side of the room.  Still snarling the brunette started forward, intent on further hurting her attacker, “teach you to put a hand on me.”

Suddenly the lounge door crashed open.  She spun round to see Ken, Xand, and Johnny all stood in the doorway.  “Faith!” Kendra yelled excitedly.  “There’s some sort of spell on all the adults in town.  You should have seen them in The Bronze they were all acting like teenagers, “ the ebony-skinned Slayer’s eyes widened and she pointed towards the groaning body on the floor.  “What happened to him?”

“Ah, he stuck his tongue down my ear and felt my ass.  So I gave him a smack,” Faith muttered in embarrassment.  Maybe she shouldn’t have hit G quite that hard.  

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“She’s bloody barking I tell you.  You put a few moves on a girl and she smacks you in the gob!”

Xander rolled his eyes.  He’d seen Ripper the night Jenny Calendar had been murdered, at the time he’d been scared of the raging homicidal but this incarnation was just irritating.  Fighting back the urge to hit the man he spoke calmly.  “You touched her up, what did you expect?”

“I was just warming ‘er up,” the Englishman protested weakly, pressing the ice compress Xander had passed him against his jaw.  “Way she dresses you know she’s got to be up for it. If she doesn’t want the attention then maybe she shouldn’t  -.”

“I’m going to hit him!”

“Come on your pint-sized wanker!” Giles sneered at Jonathan.  “You haven’t got the soddin’ stones!”

“Jonathan!” Xander let out a frustrated bellow.  “Go and sit with the girls in the lounge.  No, don’t argue.”

Once the youth had disappeared Xander turned to the Watcher.  “Listen, you’re under some sort of spell, all the adults in town are acting Xanderlike so we’re going to need your help to solve this.”

“Why would I want to do anything?  I feel bloody great!”

“Because if you don’t co-operate Faith will have to persuade you.”  The Englishman paled and nodded.  “Good, now let’s get this show on the road.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Kendra stared at the pages of the book searching for any mention of age regression, keeping half an eye on Faith and Mr. Giles to make sure her Watcher didn’t get himself in trouble again.  She couldn’t believe that Mr. Giles had been so unseemly in his youth, he’d always acted like the perfect English gentleman.  Realising she wasn’t able to concentrate she put her book down and turned to Xander, he’d know what to do he always did.

Her eyes caught the over-flowing bin.  “Xander, weren’t all those adults in the Bronze eating band candy?”

Her boyfriend didn’t look up from his reading.  “Yeah, so?”

“So what’s an entire empty packet of bars doing in the bin?”

Xander looked up at her and smiled slowly.  “Giles, how many of those bars have you eaten?”

“Whole bloody packet, they’re sodding marvellous, really loosen a guy up.  Hey luv,” the Watcher turned to Faith, “maybe you should try a couple.  Get you in the mood.”

The brunette Slayer snarled.  “No Faith,” at Xander’s voice, the Slayer relaxed slightly, after a second Xander continued.   “We better head for the candy factory.”

“The candy factory, isn’t that a bit weak Xman?”

Kendra spoke up.  “Maybe Faith, but it’s the only lead we’ve got.”

After a second her counterpart nodded before glaring at the Watcher.  “Five by five but he’s sitting up front with you.  There’s no way I’m getting in the back seat of a car with Wandering Palms.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“We want candy!  We want candy!”

Kendra stared in disbelief at the chanting mob outside of the factory.  “I think that’s pretty conclusive.”

“Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back Ken,” her counterpart said dryly.  “If you’re the brains of the outfit how the fuck are we going to get in with rent a mob outside?”  Suddenly Faith chuckled.  “Hey I just thought of something, thank fuck Buff’s gone off to the city with Mrs S.  I mean Mrs S. is five by five but can you imagine what she was like in her teens?  God, it would be like having two Buffys running around.  Talk about -.”

“Faith, not helping,” Xander cut in wearily.  “I’ll take the car round the back, maybe there’s a loose plank in the wall one of you can snap off.”

“I’m the bloody Watcher I should be the one giving the -.”

“SHUT UP!”  The Watcher fell silent at their chorus of disapproval.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander slid through the hole that Kendra and Faith had made in the walls, grimacing at the effort – he’d have to cut down on the junk food although Kendra did like him cuddly.  Standing he stared around the inside of the factory and whistled.  The place was a maze of boxes.  If they were full of candy… “The crates, empty or full?”

Faith looked up, her face grim.  “We’ve opened eight, all full.”  Even as Xander opened his mouth to suggest they look for the office to search for records, Faith dropped one of the crates and started running.  “Ken!  There’s someone here, go left!”

Xander glanced at his companions.  “Jonno, go with Faith.  Ripper, with me!”

Seconds later, he raced around a corner in time to see Faith drive a foot deep into Ethan Rayne’s groin.  Xander winced, man Ripper had really pissed her off.  The Chaos Mage’s eyes crossed, he let out a groan, and slumped to the ground in a foetal ball whimpering.  A glint of anger in her eyes, Faith raised her foot.  “No Faith!”

“Bloody hit him again I’m your soddin’ Watcher!”

“Faith, no,” he said calmly.  After a second the Slayer nodded reluctantly and stepped back.  Nodding his approval, Xander strode forward and crouched in front of the wheezing Slayer.  “Hiya Ethan.”

After a few minutes the Mage managed to gasp out a question.  “That other Slayer, Betty die?”

“No, there’s three Slayers now.  Buffy, Kendra,” he pointed towards his girl-friend, “and Faith who you’ve already met.”

The Englishman’s eyes widened.  “Three, bloody marvellous.  I knew I shouldn’t have come back here.”

“Not arguing,” Xander dryly replied.  “Now the question is why did you come back?”

A sly look entered the mage’s eyes.  “I can’t tell you that,” he replied.  “One has one’s reputation to consider.”

“One’s got one’s looks to consider if he doesn’t start talking.”

The mage caved in at Faith’s growl.  “I don’t know much, the bloke who hired me wanted me to divert all the adults’ attention while his boss paid a tribute to a demon called Lurconis.”

“Lurconis!” Giles\Ripper let out a roar.  “You bloody wanker!”

Hearing the Watcher behind him start forward, Xander left out a yell.  “Stop him!”

Turning his head at the sound of a scuffle, he looked round to see a grinning Faith sat on top of the Watcher.  “Well he said he wanted to spend some time with me on top of him.”  Jonathan and Kendra sniggered.  Xander fought back the urge to groan.  Great; who’s  bright idea was it to leave him in charge of four kids?

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Damn!  Damn!”  Xander kicked the hospital nursery door.  As soon as Giles had told them about the demon feeding on babies they’d hurried over to the hospital only to find they were too late.  Four babies had already been taken.

“X..Xander what do we do?”

Xander glanced at his girlfriend’s petrified face, guessing she was reliving her own rough childhood he squeezed her shoulder and smiled reassuringly.  “Don’t worry we’ll work something out.”

“Damn straight,” Faith’s face had paled but she still looked determined.  Suddenly the Slayer moved, grabbing hold of Ethan by his collar she smashed his head through a near-by window, sending glass flying and blood seeping out of half a dozen cuts.  “Talk you bastard!  Where is he?”

“Ripper, get her off!”

“Not bloody likely you sodding nancy.  Faith, hit him again.”

“Don’t need to be told twice,” the Slayer grabbed hold of the Mage’s suede jacket lapels and flung him over the near-by reception desk and onto the floor at the other side.  Eyes cold, Faith hurdled over the desk to stand over the weeping mage.  “Talk you bastard.”

“I’m telling you!” the mage screamed piteously, “I don’t know anything.”

“In that case it really sucks to be you.”  The Slayer lifted the Mage up by his hair before driving his face into the desk.  “Got any words of wisdom for us Eth?”

Jonathan glanced at him, his face ashen-grey.  “Aren’t you going to stop her?”

Xander felt slightly queasy himself but shrugged.  “There’s children’s lives at stake, I’m not inclined to be merciful.  Ethan wants to play in the big leagues that’s his problem.”

“See Eth,” Faith slammed the tip of her combat boot into the Englishman’s ribs, eliciting the sound of a cracking rib, “I had a really lousy childhood so I’m not going to let anybody hurt kids, not on my watch.  And if the price of their lives is me beating the shit out of a low-life like you then that’s five by five by me.”

”The sewers, they’re in the sewers.”

“See,” Faith stood, “that didn’t hurt.  Us.  Still at least you’re in the hospital, the ER’s that way.  Once you’re fixed up leave town, next time I see you I might not be gentle.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Finding the vampires in the sewers was easy; the two Slayers simply followed their noses and listened for the sound of crying babies.  Within a few minutes they’d found their prey, the five vampires who’d stolen the babies and the infants themselves.  After a few seconds sizing up the situation, Kendra began whispering orders.  “Faith, you come with me.  Xander, when they’re distracted you take Giles and Jonathan and grab the babies.  Okay?”   As soon as she received a round of nods Kendra stepped out of from behind the disused oil drums they’d been hiding behind, drew her sword and leapt at the vampires, Faith in close pursuit.

The first vampire practically wet himself at the sight of a Slayer in full furious flow and was little competition.  After parrying his desperate slash at her head, Kendra drove her fist into the vampire’s side staggering him.  Before he had chance to regain his footing, Kendra sent a side-kick into his chest, bundling him into the pool at the far end of the cavern.  Immediately a roar erupted from the opening beside the pool and a huge, grey-skinned snake appeared, swallowing the vampire whole before disappearing back into the tunnel.

Distracted by the terrifying monster, Kendra only just managed to avoid a thrust at her chest from another vampire.  Ducking under a follow-up thrust at her head she stepped into the vampire’s guard and drove her forehead into her adversary’s face.  Even as the vampire screamed in pain she thrust her sword deep into the vamp’s leg.  The vampire fell to the ground, helpless to avoid her decapitating follow-up.  Kendra’s smug grin faded when she saw Mr. Trick grab Mr. Giles and throw him into the pool before charging through the cavern’s exit.  Kendra watched, frozen in horror, as Lurconis shot out of the hole to hover menacingly above her watcher.

Suddenly Xander darted forward, grabbing the Watcher and dragging him out of the pool and away from the demon’s hungrily awaiting mouth.  “Faith, throw your axe through that fuel line above Ken!  Ken, grab the line and point it at ugly!”  Out of the corner of her eye Kendra saw Faith’s double-bladed axe sail through the air, just above her head, and through the cable over-hanging her, sending it falling into her grasp.  At the same time Xander dived for the flickering rush torches hanging from the sewer walls, lightening the gloomy cave, snatched it from the wall and thrust it into the fuel line’s torn end.  Her boyfriend’s actions turned the fuel leaking from the line into a giant blowtorch.  The flame that erupted from the line hit the demon full in its gaping mouth, evaporating the salvia falling from its dripping fangs and filling the dank sewer with the stench of roasted flesh.  The demon’s head reared up and its mouth issued a ground-shaking screech before pulling back into the hole.  “Let’s get out of here before he comes back,” Xander said shakily.

Kendra glanced round, Jonathan and Giles had already left, and nodded.  “Very good idea.”

“Well we could stay and kick his ass,” Faith replied nervously, “but we’ve saved the babies so let’s give him a pass.”

“Sure Faith,” Xander shuddered at the pained roars coming from the opening that the huge reptile had disappeared back into, “that’s what we’re doing.  Giving him a pass.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Faith, may I come in?”

“Door’s open G,” the Slayer glanced up nervously at the Englishman, wincing slightly at the fist-sized bruise on his jaw.  This was it, this was where she got thrown out for hitting him.

The Englishman smiled uncertainly.  “Faith, I can only apologise for my inexcusable behaviour last night and my indecorous advances.”

Faith took a second to translate what the Watcher had said, why he couldn’t speak English like the rest of the country she’d never know, before smiling in disbelief.  “You’re not going to throw me out?”

“No Faith,” the Englishman said, “I am responsible for my actions and nobody else.”  The Watcher’s face turned serious.  “But you might want to consider your own actions, fighting to stop any man from forcing his attentions on you is perfectly acceptable, to be applauded even.  But I was aware of you approaching me to continue your attack, when would you have stopped Faith, when I was dead?  You should remember that with great power comes great responsibility.”

The Slayer nodded, G was right, with all the strength she had she couldn’t afford to lose her temper, then blinked.  “Wait you’re quoting Spiderman at me?”  G read Marvel comics?

Giles groaned.  “To quote you, busted.  How’s your homework going?”

“I’m having a problem with Othello.”

“Ah, the Bard.  Let me see if I can help,” Faith smiled as the Watcher gazed down at her scribblings.  She still had a home.

Three Slayers 5 – Revelations

“Bloody yank kids,” Giles muttered as he sorted through the books left scattered around his library.  Why the little brats couldn’t leave him alone in his library in peace or at least tidy up after themselves was beyond him.

“Mr. Giles?”

He looked up at the cultured voice that could only belong to somebody from his home country, or at the very least someone educated in one of the great universities of his homeland.  His gaze was met by a suited and severe-looking woman in her early forties.  “Yes, I’m Mr. Giles and who are you?” he asked politely even as his stomach clenched in fear.

“I’m Gwendolyn Post,” the woman introduced herself, “I’ve been sent by the Watcher’s Council to take over the training of Kendra and Faith.”

Giles nodded numbly, his face showing none of the pain he felt.  They were going to take his girls away from him.  “Very well, I’ll have them brought from class.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“She’s lying,” Kendra stated.

The woman’s eyes widened and she began advancing on her.   “Have a little more respect for your Watcher young lady!”

Kendra swallowed and shook her head, god she hoped she was right.  “You’re not employed by the Council not anymore,” she looked towards a suddenly worried looking Mr. Giles, “Mr Zabuto had me read everything the Council sent him as part of my training she,” she pointed a shaking finger at the angry woman walking towards her, “was expelled from the Council eighteen months ago for experimenting with black magics.”

“You stupid child-!” whatever else the former Watcher was going to say was lost when a heavy leather-bound book flew through the air to collide with the woman’s head, causing the woman’s eyes to glaze and her to fall to the ground.

Giles stared at Faith.  “Faith, what have I told you about misusing my books?” her Watcher’s tone was disapproving but Kendra noticed the Englishman’s lips tugging up in a smile. 

Her sister Slayer winked at their Watcher.  “Wouldn’t know G,” Faith grinned, “I never listen you know that.”

“Why me?” Giles muttered before turning serious.  “I’ll have to ring to the Council to pick her up,” the Watcher glanced down at the crumpled body, “however she did mention something about a demon called Lagos coming to town to find an ancient weapon called the Glove of Myhnegon.  That’s most worrying -.”

“She was probably lying G.”

 

“Possibly,” Giles nodded, “however we can’t take that risk.  Maybe she was after the weapon for her own ends.”

“Shall we go and look now?” Kendra asked eagerly.

Her Watcher chuckled, “ah yes, double chemistry this afternoon isn’t it?” Kendra glared at her Watcher, rumbled.  “I’m afraid this can wait until this afternoon, now move her,” Giles nudged the body on the ground with his feet, “into the inner office, tie and gag her. Then get back to class”

Kendra sighed, it wasn’t fair.  “Yes Mr. Giles.”

 

Faith grinned.  “Wicked, I’ve got this new top I want to wear for gym this afternoon!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“So anyway, this Ms. Post turns up to take over Kendra and Faith’s training,” his love’s voice was heavy with disdain.  “Only she’s an ex Watcher thrown out for experimenting with dark magics,” Buffy sighed.  “If only she’d been a real Watcher I could have had Giles back to myself.”

Angel forced back the urge to shake his head.  He knew Buffy missed being the apple of Giles’ eye but from what Buffy had said about both Kendra and Faith’s backgrounds; neither girl had a caring parental figure in their life before Giles.  To want to take that away from them wasn’t selfish, he was sure Buffy hadn’t even thought of that, just inconsiderate.  Still it damaged his golden image of her he’d built up over the time before Angelus had returned.  “You said Giles thinks Ms.  Post came to Sunnydale after a piece of occult weaponry?”

 

“Oh yeah,” Buffy nodded.  “Something called the Glove of Myhnegon.”

Angel swallowed; this was bad very bad.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Oh bloody hell!”

Jonathan jumped as the Englishman let out a frustrated roar, Xander just chuckled, he was used to the Watcher’s explosions of temper.  “What’s up G-Man?”

“Don’t call me that,” the Englishman muttered half-heartedly, “I’ve just found out the bloody Glove’s been under our noses the entire sodding time.  It’s in the Von Hauptman Crypt in Restview Cemetery. “

“Oh right,” Xander stood, “I’ll go and check out the crypt.”  And maybe he would bump into Kendra on patrol.

“I’ll come with you.”

Xander bit back a groan at Jonathan’s eager proclamation, he could handle himself in Sunnydale at night and Jonathan was trying but he had poor strength and stamina, and lousy co-ordination, research was definitely his forte.  Thankfully Giles saved him.  “No Jonathan I need you to research the Glove’s properties and how to destroy it.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I’m going home,” Buffy said, “it’s not like there’s any major action.”

“Five by five,” Faith didn’t bother to look towards the blonde while Kendra nodded her agreement, she preferred it when it was just the two of them anyway.  Buffy was okay in a fight but her and Willow weren’t her sisters – not like Faith.  After a couple of minutes Faith let out a snort.  “Well thank fuck for that, Princess has gone,” she winked at her.  “Patrol for another half an hour and then hit the Bronze?”

Kendra started to nod her agreement only to stop when she noticed a huge figure in the distance.  “Who’s that?”

 

Faith grinned at her.  “We’re in Sunnydale girl, the question should be what’s that?” her friend’s face turned serious, she hefted her axe.  “Let’s find out.”

“Hey yo!”  Kendra rolled her eyes at her companion’s shout, Faith didn’t have a clue about subtlety, no wonder Jonathan spent the half of the time he wasn’t delirious with happiness looking terrified.  “You Largos?”  Without waiting for an answer Faith started to run.  “’Course you are!”  Shaking her head Kendra followed.

Faith launched herself into the air, landing feet-first in the chest of the demon.  To Kendra’s amazement the kick only staggered the demon.  “Fuck!” exploded Faith as she rolled to her feet.  “He’s a strong one!”

Kendra didn’t bother to voice her agreement, choosing instead to drop into a forward roll that took her underneath Largos’ axe-swing and inside his defences.  Drawing her sword, she thrust at the demon’s heart only for the giant monster to swing his axe backwards to block her attack and follow up with a back-hand fist that knocked her to the floor.  Cursing, she rolled out of the way of Largos’ axe-swing that threatened to take her head off.  Rolling to her feet, she leapt into a spin kick that snapped her adversary’s head backwards at the same instant that Faith slid in with a dropkick to the knees that took the demon’s legs from underneath him and sent him crashing to the ground.  Before the demon had chance to regain his feet, they both snatched up their weapons and set about decapitating and dismembering him.  “Hey,” Faith picked up Largos’ axe, “that is one wicked weapon.  I think it’ll come in very handy.”

“Faith!” Kendra scolded.  “Running in like that was reckless in the extreme!  We should have formulated a plan.  And another thing!”

“Yeah what?”

“As senior Slayer,” Kendra snatched the axe out of her surprised counterpart’s hands, “I get first choice of the booty.”  Laughing she started running, her sister’s furious cries echoing in her ears.

                                    *                                  *                                  *                                 

Xander whistled tunelessly as he walked through Restview Cemetery.  He kept a careful eye on his surroundings but didn’t expect any trouble, not with three Slayers patrolling Sunnydale and his own burgeoning reputation.  He stopped for a second, finding his bearings, then continued on.  If he remembered right the crypt was just around the -.  His heart stopped as he recognised the figure climbing out of the crypt carrying a bundle in his hands that could only be the Glove.

 “Oh shit,” Xander felt his heart begin to pound uncontrollably.  Angel?  But how did he get back to hell?  Did Buffy even send him to hell or had Willow returned his soul and the two had run off together?  If he had been to hell, did Buffy know he was back?  Was he Angel or Angelus?  His mouth dry with fear, Xander followed the oblivious vampire through Sunnydale’s darkened streets, ignoring every instinct that told him to run.  Eventually the vampire entered the Crawford Mansion; Xander shook his head in disgust, “doesn’t even have the sense to change his base.”  His stomach clenched painfully as he watched Buffy run up to Angel and start kissing him, and after all he’d done, thank god they now had two Slayers who’d do what was needed. 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“G-Man!  We’ve got a big problem!”  Xander slowed as he registered the presence of the two Slayers and Jonathan in the library with the Watcher, well at least Willow wasn’t here, she’d probably go running off to Buffy and warn her they’d found out about Deadboy.  If she didn’t already know, anything to keep Buffy happy, god she reminded him so much of one of Cordelia’s Cordettes the way she slavishly followed Buffy around. 

The Watcher rose, his eyes anxious.  “Yes Xander what’s happened?  Is it the Glove?”

“Kind of,” Xander paused; suddenly he wished he’d taken the time to compose something to say.  “Angel’s back and Buffy knows, she was with him.”

“WHAT!”

The Watcher’s face turned ashen-grey and he slumped down on his chair.  Instantly, the two Slayers were at the Englishman’s side.  Faith turned a pair of blazing eyes on him making him take a step backwards.  “Fuck Xand!  I thought I was the tactless one!” the Slayer’s voice and face softened as she turned to Giles.  “You five by five G?” the Watcher smiled and nodded weakly.  “What we gonna do about this Watcher guy?”

The answering fire in the Watcher’s eyes made Faith’s of only a few seconds ago seem cold by comparison.  “I’ll tell you exactly what we’ll do.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Buffy hummed merrily as she made herself into the library, Giles had been off with her this morning when they’d trained, but all would change when she told them she’d discovered the whereabouts of the Glove.  And when she told the others that Angel was the one who’d found it they’d have to accept him back.  Her pace slowed and her humming stopped as she noticed the set expressions on the gang’s faces.  “Hi guys,” she said brightly.  “I’ve found the Glove, well a contact has.”

“By contact I assume you mean Angel.”

Buffy felt her legs go weak at Giles’ words.  “It’s not what you think.”

“Hope not,” Xander snapped, “because I think you're harbouring a vicious killer.”

“This isn't about attacking Buffy.” Willow broke in.  “Remember, 'I' statements only. 'I feel angry.' 'I feel worried.”

“Oh shut up you sheep Willow,” Cordelia snorted.  “Fine. Here's one: I feel worried... about me! Last time around, Angel barely laid a hand on Buffy. He was *way* more interested in killing her friends.”

“But he's better now,” she defended weakly.

“Better for how long, Buffy?” Xander broke in.  “I mean, did you even think about that?  Do you even care?”

“What is this, Demons Anonymous?” she snapped “I don't need an intervention here.”

Giles rose.  “Oh, don't you? You must've known it was wrong seeing Angel or you wouldn't have hidden it from all of us.”

“I was going to tell you, I was. I-it was just that I... I didn't know why he came back. I just wanted to wait.”

Faith snorted, “wait to go pelvic?”

“I don’t need lessons on morals from you,” she sneered at her brunette counterpart, “I'm not going to... We're not together like that.”

“But you were kissing him,” Xander accused.

“You were following me!”

“Do me a favour!” Xander let out a laugh quite unlike his usual warm guffaw, this one was harsh, bitter.  “If I was going to stalk someone, you’re so low down the list it’s not funny.  No I was at the crypt when your honey-bunny turned up.”

Kendra stepped in front of Xander, her posture defensive.  “What gives you the right to be with your demon lover again?  Last time I nearly died because of his childe.”

“It was an accident,” this wasn’t going the way she planned.

“What, you just tripped and fell on his lips?” Cordelia broke in.

“It was wrong, okay?” she began to babble desperately.  “I know that, and I know that it can't happen again. But you guys have to believe me. I would never put you in any danger. If I thought for a second that Angel was going to hurt anyone...”

Xander raised an eyebrow.  “You would stop him? Like you did last time with Ms.

Calendar?”

Buffy felt herself pale, that was so unfair, he was Angel they should forgive him.  “But he's better now. I swear. Look, you guys, he's the one that found the Glove of Myhnegon. H-he's keeping it safe for us in the mansion.”

Xander spread his hands.  “Right! Great plan. Leave tons of firepower with the scary guy and leave us to clean up the mess.” 

Xander made to leave the library. Buffy reached out and grabbed  him by the arm spinning him around to face her.  “You would just love an excuse to hurt him, wouldn't you?”

Buffy recoiled at the look of hatred on her former friend’s face.  “I don't need an excuse. I think lots of dead people actually constitutes a reason.”

“Right,” she sneered.  “And this is all nobility. This has nothing to do with jealousy.”

Xander shook his head, “get over yourself Summers, I got over you the night Ms. Calendar died, that night I realised what a selfish bitch you really are.” Her friend looked down haughtily at her, “I see you and you know what I see?  Someone with more blood on their hands than half the people on California’s Death Row combined.  If Kendra had died at Drusilla’s hands I’d had killed you that night.  If you get in my way over this I’ll kill you now.”

“Think you could?” Buffy raised her hand to punch Xander only to stop at the sound of chairs being thrown to the floor.  Turning she saw Kendra and Faith advancing on her, their faces set.

“Ready  for a little two on one action B?” Faith asked coldly.

“You think you can beat us both Buffy?” Kendra asked, “because if you think either of us will let you hurt Xander to protect a demon.”

“You can’t attack Buffy!”

“Shut it Red,” growled Faith, her eyes not moving from her, “we’re not the ones abusing our powers.”

“That's enough!” everyone turned at the authority in Giles’ voice.  “Everybody. Now, Buffy knows our concerns, and her actions, however ill-advised, can be understood.  Our... priority right now is to retrieve the Glove of Myhnegon and try to destroy it. Now, all of you, back to classes.”

One after another they all got up, gathered their things and left. Giles walked into his office, his hands firmly stuffed into his pockets. Once there he took off his jacket and hung it around the back of his chair. She followed him and stopped by the office door. “Thanks for that Giles,” her voice trailed off when Giles turned his cold eyes on her.

“Listen very carefully to this, Miss. Summers, you have shown you have so little regard to what that vampire did to me both by torturing me and more importantly by killing Jenny,” the Watcher put his hands on the desk separating them and glared at her.  “If not for the fact that the Council would probably remove from Kendra’s and Faith’s supervision I would have no hesitation as resigning as your Watcher.  As it is I will supervise your training and aid in research, but from now on my parental responsibility will be split  between Kendra and Faith.  I have no wish to see you outside Slaying matters.  Now get out.”

“B..but.”  This was so unfair he was her Watcher, why couldn’t he understand that her and Angel were fated?

The Watcher slammed his fist on the desk.  “Out now!”  Tears streaming down her face she ran from the office.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“So where are my two favourite girls heading this fine morning?”

Kendra felt a warm glow as her boyfriend looped an arm around her shoulders while doing the same thing to Faith.  “What’s with the arm Xman?” asked her sister.

“Can you imagine the kudos I’m getting having not one but two babes hanging off me?”

Their elbows simultaneously caught Xander in the stomach, doubling him up.   “So where are you heading,” Xander wheezed.

“The library to see if Giles’ has decided what to do about Angelus.”

All traces of the class clown left her boyfriend’s face.  “Let’s go then.”

Kendra’s heart missed a beat as she pushed the door open and saw the crumpled body lying on the floor, she vaguely heard her sister slayer let out a fearful scream.  “G!”

A half-second later they were knelt over the body, Faith cradling the man’s bloody head in her hands, tears streaking down her face, her holding the man’s limp hand, it felt so cold and lifeless, and Xander dialling an ambulance.  “Angel did this,” she growled.

“I don’t know Ken,” Xander said doubtfully, “where are the bite-marks.  What do you think Faith?” her fellow Slayer didn’t answer, her eyes glazed over, she seemed in a world of her own.

Finally she stood.  “I’m going to kill him.”

“Kendra we don’t know,” Xander said weakly, “not for sure.”

“Look after Giles and Faith,” turning she ran out of the library.  Angelus would pay and then, then she’d deal with the bitch who hadn’t staked him like she should have done.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hello, I’m Mr. Johnson, from the Watcher’s Council.  That is the Glove I believe?”

Angel looked up at the stern looking Englishman and nodded.  “I’m just setting up the living flame to destroy the Glove.”

The Englishman’s face blanched.  “Oh no, that isn’t good, no not at all,” the Watcher glanced worriedly at his preparations.  “If the spell’s done incorrectly it can ignite the Glove.”

 

“Oh right,” Angel started to turn towards his  materials only for his head to explode in pain when the Watcher hit him over the head with a shovel, knocking him to the floor.  Growling ferally, Angel leapt to his feet, morphed into his demonic face and started towards the man, grabbing him around the neck and flinging him into the wall.

Suddenly the door crashed open.  “Another victim Angelus, just like Giles?”

Angel turned to the angry Slayer.  Giles was dead?  “Kendra-.”

His words were cut off by a kick to the jaw that staggered him.  “You’re not going to hurt anybody again vampire,” her eyes burning, the Slayer rocked him backwards with a combination of blow that had him back-pedalling.  Several times he saw openings that the Slayer had left in her fury but refused to use them, hoping she’d realise he wasn’t fighting back and give him a chance to explain.  Finally the Slayer leapt into the air, the toe of her foot catching him under his jaw, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing to the floor.  Stunned, he could only watch helplessly as the Slayer landed next to him, her stake raised.  “Time to die vampire.”

“Nooo!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Buffy wiped her eyes as she hurried to Crawford Mansion.  She’d been so upset by what Giles and Xander had said, it was so unfair, only Willow had even bothered to try to understand, she’d never gone to see Angel last night.  Angel was wonderful, if Xander wasn’t so petty and jealous.  She picked up her pace as she neared the house, noticing the shattered door.  Running in she saw the stunned man lying on the floor, Kendra must have attacked him to get to Angel, typical, and the Slayer crouched over her love.  “Nooo!”

Rushing over she grabbed hold of Kendra’s arm, stopping her from murdering Angel, and received a nose-breaking headbutt in reply.  She staggered backwards, tears of pain blurring her eyes she didn’t see the other Slayer’s leg sweep the ground, taking her legs from underneath her.   “Vampire lover!”

“Kendra!” she rolled out of the way of the Slayer’s stomp and sprang.  “Angel wouldn’t do anything, calm down!”

Kendra shook her head even as she threw a right cross that she barely slid beneath.  “You’re meant to be a Slayer,” her counterpart pointed at Angel.  “Vampire - kill.”

“There's a lot that you don't understand,” Buffy blocked a left hook on her forearm, wincing at the pain that exploded in her arm, only Lothos and the Master had been stronger than her sister Slayer.

“I understand you let a vampire murder because of your lust!”  Kendra executed a full spinning hook kick to her face, knocking her to her knees. The other Slayer followed up with two kicks to her stomach while she was still on the floor. Rolling to her feet she did an uppercut punch to Kendra’s right arm, knocking the stake from her hand before backhanding Kendra across the face, and punching her in the chest. Her rival stumbled backwards, eager to take advantage she leapt into the air and attempted a  double roundhouse kick that Kendra blocked before stepping backwards,  She followed up with a backhand punch that was also blocked but whirled around and punched her foe in the face with her other hand. Kendra retaliated with a blow to the stomach that she managed to block and hit Kendra with a double-punch combo in the gut and then in the face, bloodying her nose.

Rocked by her attack, Kendra dropped to the ground, but quickly retaliated with a sweep kick at her legs that she just barely managed to jump over.  Her adversary scrambled back up, and launched a pair of roundhouse kicks that she just blocked before attempting a high crescent kick, that Kendra slid smoothly under before coming back up with a spinning back kick that hit her squarely in the back, sending her to her knees. In an instant her rival had her in a choke hold around her neck. Grabbing her rival’s arm she flipped her off, both of them landing in a heap.

Kendra rolled into a near-by wall, hitting her head.  Seeing a chance, Buffy scrambled to her feet and ran at her rival only to be caught by a snap kick to the leg that tripped her, making her fall again. Rolling into a crouch, she saw Kendra attempt an axe kick. Grabbing her rival’s ankle she threw her off balance and to the floor but Kendra sprang straight up to her feet. Buffy rushed at Faith grabbing her around the waist. The other Slayer tried to throw her off and the force of their struggles caused them both to go crashing through the French doors out into the grounds.

Both girls immediately leapt to their feet, Kendra glared at her before spinning around and backhand punching her in the face.  Her opponent tried a follow-up punch but this time she was ready and blocked her only to catch another in the gut and another backhand punch to her face, forcing her to her hands and knees. The other Slayer advanced on her, but she executed a crouching back kick to her stomach, making her rival stagger backward into a metal garden chair.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning shot out of the mansion, narrowly missing Kendra.  They both turned to see the man who’d been lying on the floor.  “Time to die Slayers.”

“Don’t think so,” suddenly a shotgun exploded, its boom filling their ears as the man was torn in half, the two Slayers turned in amazement to see a cold-eyed Xander standing there.  “Giles came round, told us about Johnson hitting him.  He thinks that asshole must be in league with Post.  You okay Kendra?” her counterpart nodded.  “Let’s get out here then.”

“See?” Buffy pronounced triumphantly.  “I was right.”  Now they had to apologise.

Xander shook his head as he helped Kendra to her feet.  “No you weren’t Buffy, you were lucky.  Let’s go Ken,” Xander glared at her boyfriend, “what you and her get up to is your business Deadboy but stay the hell away from the rest of us.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles winced at the loud knocking, his head was still hurting from the statue Johnson had hit him with.  Getting tricked twice in a week, he was losing his marbles.  “Coming,” he roared as he hurried to the front door, he wondered idly which of his girls had forgotten their keys this time.  After picking up his crossbow, checking it was loaded, and sliding it behind his back, he opened the door his blood at the sight that greeted him.  “Angelus,” he grated, forcing himself not to give in the Ripper within him screaming for him to kill the bastard, “what are you doing here?”

“Can I come in?”

“Last time you were in my house you left the love of my life on my bed so no,” Giles shook his head, He pointed his crossbow at the vampire.  “What do you want?”

“I’m here to discuss Buffy,” the vampire hesitated, “she’s heartbroken over what happened.  I understand your anger with her but -.”

“You understand?”  Giles raised an eyebrow, “that’s very charitable of you Angel.  Let me point out a few facts for you.  I blame three people for what happened last year.  Myself, for not researching your curse and for not insisting that Buffy keep her relationship on a strictly professional basis, you for doing what you did, although that is a little akin to blaming a rabid dog for attacking.  But most of all I blame Buffy, for not doing her job, for running away after she finally did as she should, leaving her friends to tend to her duties, if not for Kendra we would have probably all died.”

Angel sighed.  “Giles I’m sorry-.”

The vampire’s voice trailed off as he fired the crossbow bolt into the door frame.  “I don’t want to hear it Angel, if I have to see you it will be on patrol or at the library.  You’re not welcome here, come here again and I will endeavour to kill you.  Now piss off!”

Once he’d closed the door he slumped against the wall, the tears he’d been holding back streaking down his face.  “Oh Jenny, I’m sorry I couldn’t kill him.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith bit back a curse as she glanced over her shoulder and saw the figure stalking away from her home, the light of a lamp catching the man’s face allowing her to recognise the man as Angelus.  “Fucking bastard,” she muttered before forcing a weak smile and glancing towards her oblivious companions.  “I don’t feel too good,” she lied, “I’m going home.”

Kendra glanced at her.  “What’s wrong Faith?”

Faith smiled, more genuinely than before.  Her friends’ concern always gave her a warm feeling, nobody had ever given a shit about her before Sunnydale.  “Woman’s stuff, just a stomach cramp.”

“Say no more,” Xander shuddered theatrically before winking.  “You want us to tell Jonathan you’ll see him tomorrow?”  Faith nodded.  “See you then.”

Once her friends had disappeared Faith glanced towards the departing man.  “Class is in session asshole.”  Running, she cut through the town to get in front of the vampire before coming out in front of him, some four streets away for G’s crib.  Putting a frightened look on her face, she hurried towards the vampire, her hand dipping into her pocket grabbing her garlic spray.  “Hey pal!” she shrieked, forcing a tremble into her voice.  “There’s two weird guys with yellow eyes following me.”

The man’s posture changed, damn he was good-looking, shame he was a member of the living dead.  “Don’t worry miss,” sexy voice too.  “I’ll, arggh!”

The vampire let out a scream as she prayed the garlic into his eyes.  Before he had chance to recover she slammed a foot into his gut, doubling him up and grabbing him around the throat and before throwing him into the near-by wall.  The vampire staggered towards her only to be caught by her kick to the balls.  After grabbing the vampire by his collar she threw him face-first to the cobblestoned ground before flipping him onto his back, kneeling across her throat and holding his stake over the vampire’s throat.  “Name’s Faith I’m the third Slayer, pleased to meet you,” the vampire started to move, “naughty, naughty,” she pressed the stake down slightly piercing the flesh.  “You stay exactly where you are otherwise.”

”I’m on your side!”

“Guess what?  I don’t care!” She leaned down until she was just inches from the vampire’s still streaming eyes.  “G means more to me than any man I’ve ever met, he’s like the pa I’ve always wanted,” her voice grew hoarse with emotion, “and you killed the only woman he’s ever loved.  And you think you can just turn up at his house?  You stay away from G, if you ever go near him me and Ken will be with there watching his back.  Go near his home again, even to ask for a cup of tea and we’ll do what your B never could and slay your undead ass, understand?” the vampire nodded.  “Good,” after standing she slammed her foot into his jaw.  “Bye now.”  Now was the hard part.

“Hi G.”

The Watcher looked up, Faith grimaced.  The man’s eyes were reddened, he’d been crying because of that bastard, maybe she should just find the fucker and stake his undead ass.  “Hello Faith, weren’t you meant to be patrolling tonight?”

“Nah,” she dropped down on the couch beside the Watcher and grinned.  “You got a nasty bang on the head, so we figured you’d need a nursemaid,” she winked, “so you wanna me to slip into my nurse’s uniform G?”

The Watcher chuckled.  “Don’t ever change Faith.”

 

“Don’t intend to G,” not if you like me the way I am, she added silently.  “I listened to those CDs you lent me – you know, Traffic and Cream?”

“Oh really?” the Watcher looked interested, “and what did you think?”

“Not bad,” they were actually five by five but she couldn’t let G know that, “they’re no Pearl Jam or Nirvana though.”

“A fact we can all be grateful for,” the Watcher retorted, “you yanks have no appreciation of good music.”

“Hey we created rock ‘n’ roll remember!”

“Pearl Jam are hardly Buddy Holly or Eddie Cochran.”

“Damn straight!  Wait,” Faith paused in thought, “who the fuck are Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran anyway?”

The Watcher shook his head.  “You bloody philistine, pass me my record collection and I’ll educate you.”

”Sure G,” Faith jumped up eagerly and lifted up the Watcher’s record box.  She lived for times like this, when it was just her and G shooting the breeze, she loved the old guy and wasn’t going let anyone hurt him.  If that meant B and her pet vampire had to die to protect him that was five by five with her.

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