Jack listened with a sinking heart to his two team-mates’ report, the details they filled in only adding to his pain and guilt. After a few seconds he grew vaguely aware of General Hammond berating Daniel for revealing the existence of the Stargate and Daniel defending himself. "How do you feel?"

He looked up at Sam’s soft voice, smiling weakly at the concern he saw in her expressive eyes. "Like the biggest piece of scum in the world," he replied. "Which is funny considering I am."

"You can’t blame yourself for what happened-."

"Did you hear the reports?" he hissed, angry, more angry than he could ever remember being. "Faith was physically, sexually, and emotionally abused from an early age. She was forced to watch as her adoptive mother was murdered. She accidentally killed a man and murdered another. The only reason she’s still around is because of an ensoulled vampire for god’s sake!" he looked down at the desk. "She blames me. And I blame me." Feeling a bone-chilling wind whistle around the underground chamber, he looked up. "What the-?"

* * *

"What do ya think of all this stuff they said?" Faith demanded. "Aliens? Gotta be bullshit, right?"

After a second he shook his head. "No." Faith’s mouth opened. "Hold on. Remember Thor, he looked like a Roswell alien didn’t he?"

"Well shit," Faith leapt to her feet, leaving an empty space between his arms where he’d been holding her. "Fuck me!"

"What again?" he winked at his girl-friend. "That’ll make it five times in the past three hours. I’m sort of running on empty right about now."

"Asshole," Faith grinned the whole-hearted smile she seemed to reserve for him alone, the one that reminded him of the sweet, good-hearted girl that his love hid beneath her leather armour.

Swallowing slightly he asked the question that had been bugging for the past hour. "Faith, about your dad?"

The smile disappeared instantly. "Ain’t my dad, just some sperm donor is all."

"Faith," Xander tried again. He was reasonably sure Faith wouldn’t kill him. "He’s made mistakes, but he’s your father, the only famil-."

"You’re the only family I’ve ever wanted or needed," his girlfriend dropped on the bed beside him. "Just drop it -," suddenly Faith smiled again, but this was the shit-eating one that always preceded trouble. "Oh, oh, Daddy’s gonna get a spanking."

* * *

"Got it!"

Giles looked up at Willow’s shout. Leaping to his feet, he hurried to the red-head’s side. "You’ve cracked the code?"

Willow shot him an amused look. "The term Giles is hacked." The computer expert turned back to the computer, her eyes hardening. "He’s an Air Force General in command of Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. See you later Giles."

"What?" His eyes widened as he realised what the silly bloody girl was going to do. "No! I," he lunged to grab her shoulder only for her to disappear in front of him, "forbid it. Oh bugger!" Sighing slightly, some days they didn’t give him even the illusion of control, he reached for the phone. "Hello Kennedy? How many Slayers do we have in America? Twenty? And at the Hellmouth? Six? Get your passport, you and I are taking a flight to America. Yes, this is about Xander and Faith." He sighed at the Slayer’s next question. "Yes I suppose if Faith is involved, she will have to come. Willow?" he glared at the empty chair. "She’s chosen to take another method."

* * *

Jack’s mouth dropped open as the red-head walked through the conference room wall, her eyes glowing black. He’d never seen the young woman before and yet she was more than a little familiar. He looked down at the papers scattered across the desk. Ah, there she was, Harris’ childhood friend. "Uh -."

Suddenly he and the SG-1 were flung into the walls, leaving a suddenly very besieged-looking General Hammond standing on his own. The SGC commanding officer lunged for the alert button. The Witch laughed when the Texan pressed down on it. "Oops, disconnected." O’Neill tried to move but found himself frozen in place. The Wicca turned to him. He gulped, Darth Rosenberg was in the house. "You hurt her didn’t you?" The Witch pointed at Hammond, freezing his commanding Officer even as he lunged at her, which probably wasn’t the soundest tactical decision General Hammond had ever made. The red-head’s snapped towards him, her eyes somehow growing darker. "You bastard, you’re her father." His eyes widened, how did she know that? The Witch turned back to Hammond. "Take me to them," she commanded before grabbing Hammond’s hand. "And they better be alright." Suddenly the two disappeared.

"Was that magic O’Neill?"

Jack glared at Teal’c, sometimes his friend asked the dumbest questions. "What do you think?" he snapped as he struggled to his feet. This was turning into a very bad day. He’d had more fun being Apophis’ prisoner. "Shall we?"

"All those stairs," Daniel complained. "Why couldn’t we take the same route General Hammond did?"

"Shut up Daniel."

* * *

"Hey red-haired girl!" Xander jumped off the bed when Willow appeared, dragging a bewildered looking Hammond behind her. He glanced at his smirking girl-friend. "You knew?" he accused.

"It’s that Slayer – Slayer activating Wicca thing X," Faith explained. "Sensed her coming near."

"Cool," he embraced his best friend. "Good to see you Will."

His childhood friend hugged him back. "And you-."

"What is going on -."

The officer fell silent when Willow’s head snapped round to him. "Yes," the Wicca stepped towards the Texan. "That’s what I’d like to know-."

The cell door crashed open. "What’s -."

"SILENTIUM!" Willow’s voice crashed out. Instantly Jack and the other SG-1 members were pinned to the wall, their mouths moving but no sound coming out.

Hammond stared for a few seconds at his team before shaking his head. "I don’t suppose you could teach me that, only sometimes Colonel -," the General coughed nervously at Willow’s glare. "Never mind," after a second the SGC commanding officer stuck out a hand. "Miss Rosenberg I believe?"

Willow glanced at Faith and him. He shrugged. "He seems to be on the level."

"Yeah," Faith added. "Just don’t be making nice with pops."

"Oh," Xander gulped when Willow’s eyes turned black for a second. "I won’t."

* * *

"So you’re telling me that the ancient legends of the Norse and the Egyptians are based on aliens?" Willow blinked. This was all too amazing. She stared around the conference room, her, Xander, Faith, General Hammond, and SG-1 had retired to. On the way there, Major Carter had explained the science of Stargates. Fascinating, simply fascinating.

"You wanna meet Thor Red," Faith enthused. "Wicked cool!"

"The honour is all mine," Willow jumped as an alien teleported into the seat next to her and offered her his withered hand even as he stared intently at her, his eyes filled with what could only be interest. "Put it there." Giggling slightly, she shook the alien’s hand.

"I told you not to lend him DVDs Jack," she heard Daniel mutter.

"Well he asked," Jack replied. "It’s not like Teal’c ever paid any attention to our efforts to immerse him in pop culture."

"Yeah, but did you have to lend him ‘The John Wayne Collection’?"

"American history, you above all people should recognise the importance of history," the Colonel replied, his tone smug.

* * *

"K!" Faith’s head was hurting from listening to Sam, Red, and Thor talk about if magic was just another science. "Time out!" she glared at the trio. "My brain’s about to explode with all this crap-."

"Would that not hurt Miss O’N-," she growled warningly. "Doolan?" Thor enquired.

"It’s a saying Commander," General Hammond interjected. "And one that I would have to agree with."

"Thanks Shiny," she smiled at the SGC chief who sighed.

"Faith," Xander muttered.

"What?" Faith turned to her boyfriend, her eyes wide. "I’m being friendly, charming. You always say I’m charming."

"Never mind," Xander slumped back in his chair.

General Hammond looked from her to Xander before shaking his head. "Your Mr. Giles has my profound sympathy, I’ve only got to put up with -," the Texan glanced at O’Neill. "Anyway, can we get on with deciphering the prophecy?"

"Ah," Faith nodded sagely. "I can see why you’re the leader. Obviously a master tactician." Xander groaned. "What’s up honey?"

Hammond sighed. "And you have my profound sympathy too Mr. Harris. Dr. Jackson?"

"The first part refers to Faith and Xander," Daniel nodded at them. "The second part read ‘Three Warriors Who Together Strive For Redemption. One who is soulled who should not be. One who was born who could not be. One who has power but not -."

"Oh crap," Xander groaned. "Redemption Inc. Deadboy, Liveboy, and Electro."

"Wicked cool!" Faith’s enthused reaction was the opposite of Xander’s. Fang was her hero, Connor’s crush was wicked funny, especially when she teased Fang about taking him for a spin, and Gwen was like her soul-sister. "We know ‘em. Who’s next Joe 90?"

Daniel blinked at the nickname. "Okay, the black knife who was born of mortal and yet a vampire."

"Blade," Xander commented, Faith glanced at her boyfriend confused. "His mom was a mortal but he’s a vampire because of Frost. Throw in his name and his colour."

"K," she kissed her boyfriend on the cheeks. "Brains as well as looks hon," she glanced at Daniel. "So get on with it Lara." Her father snorted. "You find something funny pops?"

"The one who defends God but is not a man of," Daniel intoned.

"Jack Crow," seeing the Military personnel’s confused faces she explained. "The Vatican’s number one hunter, he ain’t what you’d call a believer but he’s damn good."

"One with evil in his heart, but fights a greater evil."

"I know this one," Willow put in. Faith glanced at Xander’s best friend, surprised at the disdain in her voice. "He’s a prospective Watcher we rejected, an escaped bank robber who now hunts vampires in Mexico. He’s good at what he does, but not a nice man, we wouldn’t trust him with a girl."

"One with wisdom to lead. Fifteen with the power to follow. And one wounded inside but stronger than all."

Faith exchanged puzzled looks with Xander and Willow. "Sorry, that doesn’t ring a bell," Willow answered for all of them.

"And finally," Daniel swallowed. "One of science, one of strength, one of knowledge, and one of experience. Which would be us."

Faith’s heart dropped. "No fucking way. You are not coming! I’ve never needed that mother-fucker," she pointed a furious finger at her father, "my entire life! I’m not trusting my life to that prick!" She began to stand, ready to launch herself at the bastard.

"STAND DOWN DOOLAN!"

She jumped at Hammond’s shout. Before she knew it she was sat down, staring disbelievingly at the commanding officer. Man, that bellow was inhuman. "Got banshee blood in ya Shiny?" she joked weakly.

She gulped at General Hammond’s glare. Okay, so maybe the old guy was more scary than she thought. "We’ll work out who the mystery line refers to later, tonight I want you three," the man’s gaze took in her, Xand, and Red, "to take SG-1 out and introduce them to a vampire." She opened her mouth to protest. "Not. A. Word." She closed her mouth again.

"Hooray!" Willow exulted. "Patrol party!"

Faith stared with disgust at the Wicca. "Red, you get you’re like the world’s most powerful person right?"

Willow pouted. "What? I can’t have fun?"

"Your father is a mighty-."

"Listen dick-head!" Faith growled at the alien marching by her side as they made their way through the hushed graveyard. "I’m known for a hell of a lot of shit – sparkling wit, hot looks, fierceness in battle, bedroom skills, to name a few. But one thing I’ve never been accused of is patience. So how about you shut the hell up and in return, I won’t introduce my boot to your ass? How’s that for a deal-breaker?"

She was relieved when the alien raised an eyebrow but fell silent. She was getting sick of this crap. Everyone telling her how great a guy her ‘pa’ was. So fucking great that he left her to be brought up by a drunken junkie, abused by a succession of her ma’s boyfriends. Oh yeah, she’d got the brass ring of dads, that was damn sure.

Well, she might after work with him for this prophecy bs, but afterwards… Well the bastard better stay away from her. "Shit," she muttered. When she was little, she’d wanted someone, a daddy, a big bro, an uncle, anything to take her away from the hell that was her home. And now that she had a parent, all she wanted to do was revert to her homicidal self and rip him apart. Hell, if it wasn’t for Xman and Fang being disappointed she’d have probably done it already.

Her eyes narrowed as she sensed something. "Yo X!" she hollered. "Hostiles!"

* * *

Jack glanced out of the corner of his eye to the one-eyed youth walking beside him. He’d given up trying to talk to the kid after the first ten minutes. It was clear that although the younger man didn’t share his newly-discovered daughter’s murderous impulses he did share her dislike of him.

Not that he blamed the boy. He didn’t like himself much at the moment. "Yo X!" he looked up at his daughter’s husky shout. "Hostiles!"

"If any get past us," his companion ordered, "Willow will handle them, stay out of our way."

Even as he opened his mouth to protest, the kid hurried away. "Does no-one listen to me anymore?"

* * *

"Pa telling you what a great guy he is?" Faith queried as she and her companion hurried towards the five vampires.

"He’s more interested in learning about you."

"You didn’t?"

"You said not to," Xander replied. "This one’s your call Faith, your decision."

Faith smirked at her boyfriend, touched as always by his loyalty. "Thanks hon." She turned her attention back to the vampires. "I’ll take the three on the right, you the two to the left. Five by five?"

"Cool," Xander nodded.

The moment they reached the vampires, Faith allowed all thoughts of her newly discovered father, prophecies, and SGC to fall from her to concentrate on her two priorities – Slaying and protecting Xander. The lead demon’s eyes widened as she approached. "Slayer!" he snarled.

Faith pouted at the six foot plus vampire. "Well sir," she purred and fluttered her eyelashes. "It’s always nice to be recognised." The vampire threw a right, she blocked it on her forearm, grabbed it by the wrist and flung it into a near-by gravestone. Another demon lunged at her, she ducked beneath her rival’s attack and staked it. "Makes a girl feel all," another vampire grabbed her from behind, its brawny arm encircling her neck. Reacting instantly, she drove her heel into its shin. The demon howled in pain and loosened its grip. "Special." Taking advantage of her attacker’s distress, she grabbed the demon’s forearm with both hands, and leaned forward at the waist, flinging the demon to the ground. Before it had a chance to recover, she’d knelt, and plunged her stake into its chest.

"Bitch."

She looked up at the voice and caught a foot to the mouth that sent her flying into the cold night air. Gathering her senses, she reached out behind her. The moment her hands touched the ground, she flipped up into a handspring. Seeing the demon was charging her, she bent her arms and sprang into the air. Tucking herself into a ball, she flew over the advancing vampire to land in a crouch behind him. The demon swung around, his wild haymaker flying over her head. Straightening, she saw a chance to plunge her stake home but passed it up to get rid of some much-needed tension.

"You know!" Growling ferally, she snapped a heel into her rival’s knee. Smiling viciously at its resulting yelp and stumble, she followed the retreating vampire. The demon threw a right hook that she caught in her hand. After winking at the vampire, she twisted her opponent’s fist, shattering its wrist before yanking the demon’s arm out of its socket. "I’m really!" The vampire’s mouth opened in a scream, but she filled it with her fist before the demon could utter a sound, knocking out teeth. "Pissed off!" After a knee to the groin, she slammed her stake home and peered anxiously through the dust to check on her Xander.

* * *

Xander glanced at the two female vampires stalking him in a flanking movement. "What is it with me and female demons?" Xander ruminated. "Ahn, Praying Mantis, Inca Mummy girl, the First’s Disciple, and Dru. Maybe I should change my deodorant?"

The vampire to his right lunged at him. Instead of jumping out of its way and into the path of its companion, Xander decided to take a chance and leapt to meet it, the stake he’d pulled out of his jacket thrusting at its chest. He saw the vampire’s mouth open in surprise as its stake slammed through its heart. A half-second later it exploded into dust.

Turning, he saw the second demon charging at him through the falling dust. Before he had time to leap out of its way, the monster hit him. Grunting with the jarring impact, he twisted away from the creature, using its momentum to send the monster crashing to the ground. Still slightly off-balance from throwing the demon, Xander stumbled towards his opponent, his stake plunging downwards. "Not so fast blood-bag!"

He cursed when the demon caught his stake hand in its left hand. He tried to pull loose but it was like trying to pull loose from concrete. Thinking quickly, he slammed a left into the vampire’s sneering face, snapping its head to the side. Instantly, the creature’s grip on his hand loosened. Taking advantage of the distraction offered, he pulled loose. "Nothing personal," he muttered before slamming his stake home.

"You five by five X?"

He smiled at his girl-friend’s voice, her concern filling him with a familiar warm glow. Turning, he nodded and smiled. "Fine, you?"

Faith flashed him her dimples and winked. "Cool." His girl-friend’s face turned back to stone. "Back to pa and his gang?"

* * *

"You got it all on tape Teal’c?" Jack asked the alien.

The former First Prime nodded. "Your daughter is most impressive."

Impressive wasn’t even close to it. Some of the manoeuvres reminded him of those Matrix films, especially her leap over the vampire’s head. And her savagery was blood-curdling. Made him wonder how in the hell he was still alive. "Her boyfriend was pretty good too."

He glanced towards Daniel. "Was he?" Throughout the fight his eyes hadn’t budged from his daughter’s lithe form, mesmerised by her breath-taking skill and lethal grace. "I’ll have to check him out on the tape."

"Yes Faith’s very good," he turned to the diminutive red-head stood beside him. "She’s the third most dangerous person on the planet. But I’m the first." His blood chilled when the girl’s eyes flashed black. "You might want to bear that in mind if you try to hurt my brother or his girl-friend. Because that would be a very bad idea."

Jack swallowed. For once he’d like a weak, incompetent enemy.

Well there was Kinsey.

* * *

"Have you made any progress with your daughter?" General Hammond asked his XO.

He was disappointed when Jack shook his head. "Not unless you count me being able to be in the same room as her without being beaten up. As long as I don’t speak to her. Or look at her."

"Colonel," his heart went out to O’Neill at the pain in his second-in-command’s eyes. On the one hand he could certainly sympathise with Miss Doolan’s anger and hurt, especially given what she’d been through. But on the other, he knew O’Neill and knew his officer would never knowingly desert a child, he’d shown his loyalty enough times for him to have the measure of his Colonel. "Just give her time."

O’Neill smiled crookedly, but there was no real amusement in the facial expression. "Want to give me an idea how long? A ball-park figure maybe?"

He decided to change the subject. "Any news on who the mystery people might be in the prophecy?"

"No, they’ve no ideas and Daniel hasn’t been able to find anything in his research, even with Miss. Rosenberg’s help."

"Yes," General Hammond grimaced. If, Miss. Doolan’s powers were unnerving, the Witch, magic was real – his mind still reeled with that thought, was just plain terrifying. "I trust the others are waiting in the briefing room?" O’Neill nodded. "Let’s go," he stood.

"Yes sir," his second-in-command stood. "Sir." He glanced towards his second-in-command. "Thanks for caring."

* * *

Shiny and the prick had barely walked into the briefing room when the intercom by the General’s seat buzzed into life. "Sir, we have a Mr. Giles and sixteen girls demanding to see Mr. Harris and his companions. They’re being rather insistent," the soldier gulped. "Sir they’ve sort of taken over our position."

"Oh no," Hammond groaned and put his head in his hands. "Very well, SG-1 will be with you in a minute."

"And that would be our ‘One with wisdom to lead. Fifteen with the power to follow. And one wounded inside but stronger than all.’" Willow commented.

"Good call," Faith pushed her chair back. "Let’s go."

"I’m afraid -."

"Hey Shiny," for once Faith wasn’t going to back down from the SGC commander in the interests of diplomacy. "That’s our crew," she tilted her head towards her father. "Unlike some people I don’t desert mine. And I’m sure as hell not gonna trust the military with my sisters," she glanced at a determined looking Xand and resolute Red, "let’s go."

Sgt. Leighton’s eyes narrowed as a battered SUV spluttered to a halt in front of Cheyenne Mountain and a middle-aged but hardy looking man and his beautiful brunette daughter leapt out. He glanced at his subordinate. "Stay here," he ordered before stepping out of the guard post seeing the NCO in the opposite guard box had also climbed out to flank the vehicle. "Excuse me sir," he approached the middle-aged man. "But you’ve got to move on. You’re on restricted property."

* * *

"This is never going to bloody work," Giles muttered as he pulled the car to a halt. "They’re bloody soldiers. Admittedly only American but still."

"Luckily for you I’m going to ignore the insult," Kennedy retorted. "We’ve got to get in there and find out what they’ve done to Willow and the others."

"If nothing else, Willow is more than capable of looking after herself," Giles retorted. He groaned inwardly as he flung the door open. Another child less than half his age giving him orders. Oh joy. Lucky him. "I knew I should have been a bloody grocer."

The moment his feet hit the ground, he started towards the advancing soldier, a bemused smile firmly in place. "Oh really?" he replied, putting on his best befuddled Englishman, the one he used when Xander and Andrew began talking science fiction. "I apologise but my niece and I took the wrong turn. Perhaps you could re-direct us?" he chuckled before whispering conspiratorially. "Women can’t read maps."

The moment the soldier glanced down at the map in his hand, he moved, slamming his head into the younger man’s face, breaking his nose and thrusting a knee into his groin. The soldier grunted but to his credit attempted to raise his gun. And then collapsed when one of the junior Slayers stepped out of the desert shrubs and felled him with a punch to the back of neck. Giles smiled and nodded at the beautiful Asian. "Thank you Tracy." He glanced over his shoulder to see Kennedy hurrying towards him, the other soldier similarly subdued. "Both guard posts taken?" the brunette nodded silently. "Good, now get the girls back into the bush in case of tricks. I’ll persuade this gentleman," he glanced down at the crumpled soldier, "to contact his superiors."

"I’m staying with you." He opened his mouth to argue only for Kennedy to shake her head and glare at him. "She’s my girl-friend!"

Giles opened his mouth to tell her that Willow was the least of his worries. Then, realising the ultra-touchy Slayer would only take such remarks the wrong way, he nodded. "Very well," he grunted.

* * *

Faith grinned as they stepped out of the base to see her sister Slayers and G. "All this for us," she winked as Dana charged into her arms. "I’m touched."

"Missed you," the younger Slayer muttered into her chest.

"Hey," she stroked the younger brunette’s hair. "I told you, we’re family, I wouldn’t leave you little sis."

"What is going on here?" the Colonel growled.

Dana’s head snapped towards her newly-discovered father. Faith opened her mouth to ask her fellow Slayer what was up. Suddenly the formerly insane Slayer growled and leapt into the air. "Daddy dearest!" the Colonel began to turn towards the girl.

Faith winced as Dana’s knees caught the Colonel in the chest. "That has gotta hurt," she muttered as the soldier hit the ground with the Slayer on top of him, her hands wrapped around his throat.

"Aren’t you gonna do something?"

Faith glanced at Xander. "Give me a reason Jiminy Cricket?" she challenged her conscience. "I’m kinda enjoying the show."

"You want Dana become a murderer?"

Faith flinched at the brutality of Xander’s words. "Fine," she snapped before stepping forward and placing her hands on the other Slayer’s shoulders. "Hey little sis," she whispered in the younger girl’s ear. "You don’t wanna do this kiddo, let him go."

Dana looked up at her, her eyes wild, and shook her head. "He hurt you."

"Yeah he did," Faith crouched down beside the other Slayer. "And you’re hurting me now, making me watch you like this. Now," she put a hard note in her tone. "Let him go." After a second Dana nodded and released her grip, leaving her father spluttering in the dust. "Good girl," she praised as she hugged the teen. "You want we go and get some ice-cream?"

Dana glanced up at her. "With Xander?" she asked shyly.

"Hey," she ruffled the younger girl’s hair. "Nothing’s gonna keep Xan from spending with two of his fav girls. Now ya coming?" her protégé nodded. "Wicked."

Dana giggled. "Five by five."

* * *

"Hello Colonel."

O’Neill winced at the Englishman’s voice. "Oh crap," he muttered in anticipation of another beating, he was getting to the age where he couldn’t shake off beatings as easily as he once had. And they’d never exactly been fun. Racking the weight, he sat up on the bench press bench. "Mr. Giles."

The Englishman shook his head. "No please, call me Giles, that’s what those infernal bloody brats call me, well except Xander and Faith, they have other nicknames," he sniffed.

Jack hid a grin. Despite his harsh words, there was a world of affection in the Council head’s tones. "Giles," he gestured towards the bench opposite. "Would you like a seat?"

"Thank you," Giles sat down. After a long second the Englishman spoke. "Might I enquire to Faith’s parentage?"

"What do you mean?" he asked warily. Was this a precursor to an attack?

Instead the bespectacled man took his glasses off and rubbed at the lenses. "Are you aware that in days past, a Slayer was called from the ranks of potentials, normal girls from throughout the world with a spark within them, something indefinable?" After a second, he nodded. Miss. Rosenberg had lectured them on after her arrival, and wariness of offending the awesomely powerful witch and fascination with what his daughter actually was had for once compelled him to listen. "Might I ask if you used contraception?"

O’Neill shrugged. "I usually did, but I can’t remember specifically."

His counterpart nodded. "After twenty-four years, understandable. According to what Willow dug up you’ve been involved in saving the world a number of times?" After a second he nodded. If they were to be allies, he might as well share. Giles sighed and shook his head. "Those bastards!"

He blinked at the Englishman’s vehemence. "Sorry?"

His companion looked at him. "It is my theory, just a supposition you understand, that the Powers That Be," he opened his mouth to ask what they were then remembered from Miss. Rosenberg’s lecture, he’d been frightened she’d test afterwards, "knew your potential and that Miss. Doolan," Giles’ curled lip told him exactly what the Englishman thought of his daughter’s mother. "Would never be called. As uncalled potentials are the mothers of the next generation of potentials, they engineered a meeting to produce your off-spring, a progeny that would become one of the most powerful Slayers in several centuries. Once," the Englishman scowled, "she’d been properly tempered."

"Oh right," O’Neill shook his head to clear it, unable to believe what he was being told. "You’re saying the Powers That Be decided that Faith had to go through abuse, murdering, and prison to be moulded into what they wanted? How can they do that?"

"I’ve come to believe that humans are little more than chess pieces in their bloody game." The Englishman’s growl reminded him of the man’s hidden steel that was hinted at in the documents they’d been able to uncover about him.

"Yeah." He couldn’t help but wonder if the Powers That Be recruited from the NID. "And Dana? She seems rather attached to Faith." And more than a little psychotic, he silently added.

"Ah Dana," Giles smiled proudly. "In many ways, she is Faith’s greatest achievement. In November of last year, an associate of mine found and retrieved Dana. Unfortunately," the head Watcher’s face grew haggard, "if anything Dana had suffered even more in her early life than Faith. Her first ten years, she grew up in a healthy family environment. Then, her home was broken into, her parents murdered, and she was abducted. A year later she was found wandering the streets on downtown LA. She’d been tortured and abused to the point she’d been driven insane. Seven years later she was called, and her mind was overwhelmed with memories of past Slayers, causing her to snap further."

"Oh hell."

The Englishman appeared not to have heard his whisper. "Upon Faith’s return to England for the Battle Of Sunnydale Memorial Ball, she heard of Dana’s condition, was guilt-stricken and immediately resolved to do whatever she could to help her." The Head Watcher smiled. "To that point, Dana had been uncontrollable, her insanity meaning the demon was stronger in her than other Chosen. In one of her rages it would take three Slayers to subdue her. But Faith," Giles shook his head, "perhaps it was because Dana could remember her from her visions or perhaps it was because a Slayer grows stronger the longer they have their powers, but the moment Faith entered her cell, Dana curled up into a ball and began to whimper. According to Xander who’d gone with her, not that one could separate the two of them, Faith picked Dana up and said ‘what’s the sitch, little sis?’. She worked tirelessly with Dana for three months, talking to her, playing and training with her. From a girl who would attack anyone, especially a man, Dana is now free to roam the Council corridors unaccompanied, eats her meals with the others, has a few friends, and is even allowed to patrol under supervision of a senior Slayer."

"Faith did that?"

"Indeed she did." O’Neill smiled proudly as his guest stood. "Colonel," he looked up to see the middle-aged man’s eyes had chilled. "Given my conduct during the period that followed Faith’s initial arrival in Sunnydale, I am hardly one to throw stones regarding your daughter. However rest assured that should you hurt her in any way, the whole SGC, the military, and the president himself will not stop me and my Council from ensuring you regret hurting her for a very short time."

"Uh, uh," Giles nodded vaguely as Major Carter explained how the Stargate worked. There was no doubt she was a striking and intelligent young lady, but listening to her talk science must be roughly to similar what it had been like for Xander when he’d lectured the youth on mythology. "And how do you intend to get the other people mentioned in the prophecy here?"

"That will be my duty."

"Gah!" Giles jumped into the air at the unexpected voice by his side.

"I love it when Thor does that."

He ignored Xander’s mutter to turn to the alien. Faith’s description of the alien as ‘a shrivelled, bug-eyed dwarf’ was unkind and politically incorrect, but ultimately accurate. "Thor, of the Asgard High Command I assume?" he offered the alien his hand.

The Asgard nodded and took his hand. "That is correct Mr. Rupert Giles," the alien appeared to smile. "It is a great honour to meet the head of the Watchers’ Council." After releasing his hand, the alien was engulfed by a shimmering white light.

"Good lord."

"Told you G would say that." He ignored the sight of Faith taking a twenty dollar bill from Xander.

* * *

"So let me get this right?" Angel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. "You’re the son of two vampires, our business partner is a woman who can generate enough electricity to power a city block-."

"And that’s just with a smile."

Angel ignored Gwen in favour of continuing his rant. "And we run a supernatural detective agency. And what do you want to do on our night off? Go to a comic-book convention!"

His son did a typically teen-age shrug from the desk he was sat behind. "When Xander was here last -."

"XANDER!" Angel roared. "It’s bad enough Faith hangs off his every word, don’t you start!"

"If it helps I’m reasonably sure I’m not going to sleep with him."

Angel shuddered at the images that shot through him at Connor’s mutterings. Taking a moment to shoot an unamused glance at a giggling Gwen, he continued in a calmer tone. "Connor if you want to go to the convention, we’ll go," he grimaced at the thought of all those teenagers. Gwen definitely wasn’t coming, it would be humiliating to be the first vampire killed in a hormonal stampede.

"I’m afraid your social engagement will have to wait."

* * *

Faith grinned at the bemused look on Fang’s face when Thor teleported his team into the crowded briefing room. "Vampire!"

"Oh crap!" her eyes widened as Dana launched herself out of the seat beside her and onto the desk, charging towards Angel. Leaping forward, she grabbed hold of her sister Slayer’s ankle and pulled her feet from beneath her. The younger girl fell but almost immediately began climbing to her feet. Muttering curses under her breath, Faith leapt onto the desk and grabbed her fellow Slayer’s shoulders. "Listen to me little sis," she urged. "Angel is different-."

"Got that right."

Faith ignored Xander’s comment as distinctly unhelpful, concentrating instead on restraining her protégé, something that was almost impossible given the younger Slayer’s greater power. "Vampire," she snarled. "Kill vampire!"

"Listen to me little sis!" she implored. "You trust me?" After a second Dana nodded. "Good girl, now look into my memories, you can see Angel helping me right?" Again Dana nodded. "Now you gonna sit down?"

"Five by five."

"There’s a good girl," she pulled the now unresisting Slayer off the table and back into her seat. "You okay now?" she smiled as Xander placed a hand on Dana’s shoulder and whispered something into her sister’s ear making her giggle.

"You’re Dana?" Angel asked, an intent look on his face. "You look a lot better than the last time-."

Dana growled. "Dana," Faith warned. "Behave. If Angel hadn’t helped us find you… Be polite."

Dana moved closer to her, her eyes confused as she looked at Angel. "Dana," she confirmed with a nod. "Faith’s sister." Faith grinned when the younger girl ruffled her hair. "She calls you Fang."

"Amongst other things." Angel blinked as he looked around. "Just where are we anyway?"

After a second, General Hammond stepped forward and offered Angel a hand. Faith raised an eyebrow, Shiny had balls no doubt about it. "Hello Angel," the portly Texan began. "You’re in a top-secret military installation-."

* * *

As the soldier before him talked, Angel cast the Slayer beside Faith a nervous glance. There’d never been a Slayer quite like Dana, he’d known that when they’d first captured her. Buffy and Faith were both powerful, far more powerful than the Slayers that had been called at the Battle Of Sunnydale, and as well as other Slayers he’d run into as Angelus. But Dana was far, far more formidable than either of them, like the Master was far stronger than him. Perhaps the stresses life had put her under gave the demon inside her a greater hold over her.

Angel resisted the temptation to swear curse and howl when he saw the look on his son’s face when he looked at Dana. "Of course he likes her," he muttered, "she’s tried to kill me. Practically a pre-requisite for a romantic interest." His son’s lips quirked up in a smile, having obviously heard his mutterings.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Just thinking aloud," he evaded to the soldier before him. "So you want us to battle alien vampires? Do we have to import them?" Xander chuckled. Great, now Harris thought he was funny. Next they’d be friends. Or maybe not, that was about as likely as him putting on a Morris Dancer’s costume and dancing a jig.

"Our scout ship estimates that they’ll have the Stargate ready for operation in less than three months."

Angel glanced down at the Asgard. So the Norse gods weren’t real, another shock. Although not as surprising as being teleported half-way across the country, that had been almost enough to re-start his heart. "And how do know that they’ll come here? Or even be able to find the code to operate the gate to get here?"

"Actually," Xander blinked, "I can’t believe I’m saying that but Deadboy’s got a good point, how would they. I mean, the number of codes is pretty random."

"Around the stargate there are markings that give the code for this planet," the Asgard replied. "Once they understand how to operate the gate, the Tau’ri will be their first target."

"Great," Angel muttered. "Marvellous. Just wonderful. Champions of the Universe."

"Say!" Xander exclaimed, an enthusiastic look on his face. "One of my favourite programs – He-Man and the Mas-."

Faith groaned. "Shut up Xander, I feel my cool dying just by being associated with ya."

"I did warn you," Angel said lightly before turning to the SGC’s commanding officer. "How do we get to the planet in question, through the Stargate?"

"No," General Hammond shook his bald head. "Thor has offered transport through his ship The Daniel Jackson."

"Ah, our little girl’s all grown-up. Makes me all tear-eyed."

Faith glanced from watching Connor and Dana down the corridor to her boyfriend. "She’ll be okay?"

Xander smiled at her. "Don’t worry, Connor’s a good kid. Besides," her boyfriend’s smile widened. "Who’s going to mess with Dana when she’s got you watching out for her?"

Faith grinned. "Yeah."

"You know how proud of you I am right?" Faith glanced up at her boyfriend, noting the unusually intense look on his face. "When you first hit Sunnydale all you cared about was you." Faith flinched, losing her first Watcher, the first person to ever care for her had shaken her to the extent she’d closed herself off from people, determined never to be hurt again. "Hey, not criticising," Xander kissed her forehead. "I understand why that was. But the way you put me back together after Ahn, and how you helped Dana is amazing, shows what a great heart you’ve got."

Faith grinned up at X through teary eyes, god she loved him so much. Leaning up, she pressed her body against Xander’s muscular frame and whispered in his ear. "Our room now." She might not be able to say the words, but by the time she’d finished with him he’d have no doubt that she loved him.

"The major question is how have vampires evolved differently on this other planet. And," the head Watcher glanced at Willow, Faith, and the other Slayers. "How will everyone’s powers differ in this other world?"

"That is an interesting question," Daniel commented.

"Oh god," Xander moaned. "Their mutual appreciation society continues." While him and Faith had been busy getting busy, Willow had been occupied with Sam running tests to see if there was any way to scientifically measure magic, and Giles and Daniel had spent the night talking mythologies. He grinned to himself; he knew who’s night he preferred.

Faith nudged him in the ribs. "Leave the geeks alone lover," she muttered with a grin. "You know they bite if you poke ‘em."

"The influence of the beings you know as the Powers That Be stretch through-out the galaxy," Thor replied from his position stood by the head of the desk.

"So somebody powered by them will have the same power wherever they are?" Faith queried. Thor nodded. Faith smirked. "Shit, we really are champions of the universe."

Xander groaned at his girl-friend’s comment. "And the vampires?"

"Again, because the enemies of the Powers That Be have the same influence, vampires have evolved along similar lines?"

"How sure are you of this?" Captain HairGel queried.

Thor turned to the Irish vampire. "Our scout shop has surveyed them sufficiently to be sure."

"Okay," Faith tapped her fingers on the desk. "Why not blow the fuck out of them with your ships?"

"There is a high probability of civilian casualties." Xander stared at the alien, if he didn’t know better, he’d guess the alien was hiding something.

"General?" Jack stared at his CO, his gaze unreadable yet significant.

"I concur," the bald Texan glanced down at the alien. "Thor."

"Very well General Hammond," Thor nodded unwillingly. "Our forces are stretched throughout the galaxy and we are fighting a war in our home system. Even if we decided the casualties were acceptable, we could not afford the ships for such an attack."

"Damn, and there’s close to one hundred thousand vampires right?"

"That is correct Miss Doolan," Thor nodded.

"Well shit," Faith swore. "And the oldest?"

"Is perhaps 10,000 years old." Xander winced, Faith gulped. "There are also perhaps a dozen vampires over 1,000 years old."

"Fucking hell!" Jack Crow swore. "This is one bitching mess and no mistake." The Vatican’s killer stared around the crowded room. "’Case any one’s wondering we’re out-numbered."

"Well shit," Faith whispered in his ear. "Who’d have thought it! Crow can count."

"I’ve made provisions for a number of extra Slayers be flown here to aid us."

Faith glanced at Giles. "How many we talking G?"

"Another twenty-four, eight Watchers, and four special ops teams."

"G-Man!" Xander scowled at the Englishman. "Even with the girls here, that’s only just over a tenth of the Slayers world-wide!"

"I’m aware of that Xander," as usual Head Watcher-Guy’s gaze didn’t falter at all. "But we have to take care of our own world first."

"Damn it G! Ain’t ya been paying attention?" Faith exploded. "If we don’t kick demon ass and pronto, we won’t have our world."

"Yes Faith," Giles sighed wearily, "I am aware of the predicament we find ourselves in. Unfortunately, we cannot leave the world unprotected. Furthermore, many of the Council’s Ruling Body-."

"Don’t," Xander groaned. "I’m already getting the headache to end all headaches." The Ruling Body was largely made up of Council traditionalists who’d fought tooth and nail to keep the old ways going, Cruciatmen and all. They’d been defeated thanks to a show of strength by Willow, but still they held on. An even more troubling thought struck him. "Will the Council still be under our control when we return?"

Willow’s eyes flashed. "They will if they know what’s good for them."

Giles turned to General Hammond. "Arrangements have made with the US. Government," the Texan said.

"Fair nuff," he nodded. The next hour was filled with general questions relating to the world’s level of civilisation, the organisation of the world’s vampires, the potential allies. All very important. But very, very boring.

And then things got a lot more interesting.

* * *

Faith looked up at the sudden klaxons. "What the fuck!"

"Off-World Activation."

"Who is it?" General Hammond leaned down into the intercom.

"The Tok’ra sir."

"The who?" Her query was echoed by several of the SGC’s guests.

"The Tok’ra are Goa’uld who live in true harmony and partnership with their smyboites. They are amongst our most powerful allies," Teal’c explained.

"Right," it was Fang. "So they’re here to help?"

"No," General Hammond shook his head. "We weren’t expecting them."

"So, I’m guessing this isn’t good?" she queried.

"They don’t generally make social calls." She ignored her biological father’s comment but winced. More trouble, even for a thrill-seeker like herself, things were definitely getting out of hand.

* * *

"Jacob," Faith watched as General Hammond beamed at a bald guy in his early sixties but with more than a little hint of steel about him.

"George," the man nodded at the air force general before hugging Major Carter.

"Hey dad!" Carter exclaimed. Faith exchanged shocked glances with Xander and Angel. Sam’s dad was an alien? Wicked weird.

"We have need of SG-1," announced Jacob’s companion, a hot blonde number, in a metallic voice that sent shivers down her spine. "They need to go -."

General Hammond turned to the blonde. "I’m afraid that’s impossible Anise," the Texan replied, his tone polite but carrying a hint of steel. "We’re having a crisis of our own-."

The blonde sniffed. "The needs of the Tok’ra out-weigh whatever insignificant problem you face. Send another team."

"And she’s off," Faith heard Jack mutter. "Predictable as always."

"An army of vampires is not insignificant madam," it was G at his most pompous.

"Vampires," the alien sniffed. "A myth to scare the young and the stupid."

"Is that right?" Angel vamped out. "That’s a vampire."

The alien named Jacob didn’t back away, Anise did. But still she continued to talk. "The needs of the Tok’ra out-weigh your mission. You will do as commanded."

Faith felt an anger begin to grow. This arrogant bitch reminded her of the cheerleading set that had always looked down on her. "Can it ET.," she growled. Jack groaned. "This is our mudpile, you don’t get to give us orders here."

"Who do you think you’re talking to little girl?" the alien sneered.

Faith slammed a fist into the blonde’s nose, lifting her off her feet and flinging into the far wall. Before the alien had chance to move, Faith was on her, a foot on her throat pinning her to the ground. "I think I’m talking to a grade A bitch," she raised a challenging eyebrow. "Wanna disagree?" In the background she heard simultaneous groans from Hammond and Giles.

A second later, she felt Xander’s hand on her shoulder. "I think your entry into the diplomatic corps is guaranteed."

"Perhaps," she looked over her shoulder to see Hammond talking to an ashen-faced Jacob, "we could send two other teams?"

* * *

"Connor’s so funny."

Faith rolled her eyes at Xander’s amused expression as Dana informed them of Connor’s many qualities. For the twentieth time. "Dana’s in love," Xander sang. Dana’s face reddened and her mouth opened to shout a denial.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Hello," it was Giles. "Could I come in?"

"Door’s open Tweed!" Faith called.

A second later the door swung open and the Council head walked in, a nervous look on his face. "Hello. Xander, Dana, would it be possible for me to have a word with Faith on her own?"

Xander glanced at her. She forced a weak smile and nodded, maybe this was where she got a bawling out for involving everyone in this mess. Xander stood. "Maybe we can find Connor?"

"You think Xander?" Dana’s eyes lit up.

"Sure Dana," Xander paused. "But only if you promise not to suck face with him."

"XANDER!"

G chuckled as Xander led the brunette Slayer out of the room and closed the door behind him. "He’s very good with her isn’t he?" the Englishman commented serious.

"Yeah," she nodded before beginning a stumbling apology. "Look I didn’t mean to get Xan and the rest of you-."

"No, no. It’s our duty," Giles shook his head. Faith let out a relieved breath. "That’s not why I’m here." Her relief turned to rage at the Council head’s next words. "I know this situation with your father -."

"Ain’t my pop," Faith declared, her eyes hardening. "Don’t have, want, or need one."

The Council head sighed. "Faith, don’t you think you should at least try-."

"This ain’t none of your business!" she snapped, her anger growing.

"Perhaps not, but I care about-."

"You care about me?" Faith laughed bitterly. "My record with father-figures ain’t so good. First there were all the men who wanted to call me daddy when they did me," she relished G’s involuntary twitch. It must kill him that his precious son ended up with a slut like her. "Then there was this legendary Watcher who broke all the rules to actually give a shit about his Slayer. His Slayer, second-best just got fucking ignored-."

The Englishman’s face blanched. "Faith I-."

She overrode the Watcher’s protestations. "But at least I got a Watcher of my own, a real prize, Wussley Whyndham-Pryce. I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead but why lie, he treated me about as good as you did. Then there was Wilkins," she felt her heart catch like it always did when she thought of the boss. "He treated me good, real good. As long as I did as I was told, killed who he wanted." She tilted her head to one side. "I got Xan, Fang, and Dana. They’re my family," she stepped into the Watcher’s space, "they’re all I need and anyone who hurts them will pay. Now get out."

"I realise I made-."

"Get. Out."

The Council head’s shoulders slumped in defeat. "Fine," he whispered.

* * *

Silent tears rolled down Giles’ face as he stepped into the corridor and closed the door behind him. The ferocity of Faith’s verbal attacks had shaken him, wounds he’d thought healed with time were obviously still raw.

The irony was he really cared about the brave, caring woman she’d become. But thanks to his own mistakes she’d never believe that, never respect and care for him the way he’d grown to admire her.

And that was a gaping wound he thought would never heal.

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