"Good night hon?"

"Yeah," Faith looked up at Xander, loving the comfort she gained from his arm around her shoulders, the warmth she felt from his body nestling against hers as they walked through Sunnydale’s darkened streets after finishing their patrol. Not that, she grinned inwardly, they’d done much patrolling. No, these days their non-Giles patrols consisted of finding a secluded spot and spending a couple of hours making out. The last few weeks had been heaven. "Damn." Hushing her boyfriend to silence, she drew her stake and stepped towards a near-by tree. Suddenly a thick-set vampire leapt out from behind the tree. Surprised, she barely had time to duck its clubbing right hook. Quickly rallying, she feinted with a left jab. The moment the beast moved to parry her attack, she plunged her stake home.

The moment the vampire burst into dust, she turned to Xander. "What ya looking so worried for stud?" she queried. "Vamp went boom, not even a challenge."

"How long is it since we saw one?"

Faith crunched her face up in thought. There’d been a hell of a lot of activity immediately following the Master’s death, but after a frantic few days, nada. "Shit, must be nearly a month," her eyes widened in realisation, "ah hell, best go and see G."

* * *

"Yo G! I hope you and JC aren’t going hot and heavy at it on the sofa!"

"Faith," Giles sighed long-sufferingly. Him and Miss. Calendar hadn’t spoken a word since the end of the school year. And yet the couple of dances they’d shared were enough to have Faith they were convinced they were ‘an item’. He’d accuse Faith of being a romantic, except he feared such a suggestion would leave him an amputee. "Please don’t judge me by yours and Xander’s standards."

"Nah, we’re young G, we don’t use sofas, we generally just do it on the ground."

That was enough to get him glaring at the youth who followed his daughter into the living room. "Chill G," Faith laughed. "We don’t do it on the ground. Not when we’ve got a nice comfy be-." His Slayer gulped when he turned his glare on her. "Jeez, just having a little fun G, just trying to lighten the mood."

"We ran into a vampire," Xander put in.

His ire was instantly replaced by concern. "Both of you sit down," he instructed. As the teens obeyed, he cast a worried eye over both of them. "But you’re both alright?"

"Didn’t lay a finger on either of us G," Faith reassured him. "But he’s the-."

"First vampire in five weeks and four days," he finished heavily. It appeared the breathing-space that the Master’s death had gained them was over. "When the Master died, it created a power vacuum here. At first there was general bedlam when those of the Master’s minions," although not Darla, no she hadn’t shown her face, "who survived attempted to take over. However when the last of them either fled or was slain, other vampires became interested in taking over the Hellmouth." He glanced at his intently listening daughter, and killing you. "For now they’ve been content to bide their time, wait until one of their number made a move. But now.."

A long silence followed his words. "What we gonna do?" Faith asked.

"More training," he ignored Faith’s groan to continue. "And you will no longer patrol alone. I will accompany you," he glanced at Xander, "there is no obli-."

"I’ll do it."

He nodded gratefully. "I’ll also ask Jesse and Cordelia to accompany us on special occasions." All three students had progressed nicely over the past few months. Jonathan and Willow were a disappointment, but academically they were a considerable assistance. And Willow and Amy were hugely promising mages. All in all, they were a good team and it made him wonder why the bloody hell the Council had insisted on the Slayer working alone in the past. "Xander, given that it’s late and the streets are active again would you like to stay over," he didn’t need to look at his Slayer to know she’s readying herself for a smart comment. "Xander will be on the couch Faith."

"You’re no fun."

"I’m your guardian, I’m not meant to be fun."

* * *

"This is the area?"

Darla nodded at Colin’s question. "This is the grave," she confirmed as she stared at the small path of grass in front of them, a quartet of crosses marking out its corners.

Colin stared at their six companions. "Dig." In seconds, the three shovel carrying vampires were hurriedly digging, but the others were just standing around. "Don't just stand there. Dig! We have to hurry."

Immediately the other three dropped to their knees and began to dig, soon smoke is coming up from the ground. One of the vampires let out a shriek. "It is consecrated! It burns!"

Colin looked up at her. Shaking her head, Darla stepped forward and slammed her stake into the complaining vampire’s back. "Dig." Within a few minutes the diggers unearthed a skull. "Soon," Darla whispered. "Soon the Master will return."

* * *

"Hello Faith."

"Hi G," Faith smiled at her Watcher as he entered her bedroom.

He smiled at her before sitting on her bed. "You look worried dear."

"Me worried?" she shrugged nonchalantly. "Don’t do worried."

Giles chuckled. "Oh I’d worry. I've killed you once, it shouldn't be too difficult to do it again."

Faith’s eyes widened. "Wha-." A backfist slammed into her mouth, knocking her to the ground. Heart pounding, she tried to rise, her hands pushing at his face. Her terror deepened when her guardian’s face slid away to reveal the Master beneath. "I killed you!"

"Do you seriously think death would keep me from you?" the Master taunted, his hands clasped around her neck, choking the air out of her. "That boy of yours won’t save you twice." The vampire laughed. "I’ve promised him to Darla."

"Faith-."

"Noo!" she flicked out a fist, smashing her hand into her attacker’s ribs.

"Bloody hell!"

Faith blinked, eyes widening as she noticed a stunned looking Giles looking up at her from the floor. Shit, it had just been a nightmare. "Sorry G," she leapt to the floor and pulled her Watcher up. "Bad dream, ya know?"

"Quite," Giles winced. "But you’re alright?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "sorry for ya know."

"Don’t worry about it dear. Bruised ribs heal," her Watcher grimaced. "Eventually."

* * *

Faith glanced at her friends seated around their usual Bronze table, her heart tightening. Finally she came to a decision. Standing, she forced a smile. "Guys, gotta go patrol." Her heart sank when Xander and Jesse started to rise. "Sorry, me and G are flying solo."

"But-."

"Listen X," she forced her tone to harden. "You mean well, but face it you’re pretty much amateur hour," she hated herself for the pain she saw in her friends’ eyes. "I’m were it’s at. You guys, well you’re just light relief, help for research and shit, but when I’m out there, I’ve gotta concentrate on the fight ya know, can’t carry passengers." Not giving Xander or the others a chance to answer, she strode from the club, forcing herself not to cry. She’d died once, she couldn’t risk her friends. The dream of last night had taught her that, this wasn’t a game. Shoving the door open, she walked out into the cold night air.

"YOU BITCH!"

* * *

The Bostonian groaned before turning to face her. "C, not the time."

"Make the time!" Cordelia was good and pissed. "Xander’s a dweeb but he’s crazy about you! And how do you treat him? Like he’s dirt!" She was relieved by the guilt that flickered in her friend’s eyes. "And then you attack us all! What are you trying to do, push us away?"

"YES!" her friend screamed back at her making her step back before continuing, her voice softer and her eyes fixed on the ground. "Best case scenario, I die and you guys survive and grieve. Worst case scenario, I take some of you with me. Either way I hurt you! You’re better off without me."

Her best friend’s words hit her like a hammer. Her anger was instantly replaced with shocked sympathy. God, how alone Faith must feel. "Faith, we can help you-."

"Not interested," Faith spun away and raced into the darkness.

Cordelia muttered a word that her mother would have been shocked to hear her immaculately reared daughter use. She opened her mouth to shout after her friend only for a pain explode in her head and her knees buckle beneath her.

* * *

"His skeleton is gone."

Giles winced at the terror in his daughter’s eyes. Tearing his eyes from the violated grave he turned to her, grimacing at the paleness of her face. He reached out to put a hand in her shoulder. "Fai-."

"Don’t!" the look Faith shot him was venomous to say the least. "They're gonna bring him back. They're gonna bring the Master back to life, and I seem to recall you telling me he was history."

Giles attempted to defend himself. "I-I-I've never heard of a-a revivification ritual being successful."

"But you've heard of them? Thanks for the warning." Faith spun away from him.

"We’ll need to research -."

"It can wait!"

* * *

Cordelia grunted as two vampires shoved her down some steps. "Oh," she groaned as she hit the ground.

"Are you alright?"

She looked up to see two women stepping out of the shadows. Her eyes widened in surprised recognition. "Amy? Ms. Calendar?"

* * *

Giles attempted to ignore the pantherish figure of his Slayer pacing the library floor as he studied. "Alright, I've got something. It's Latin, so bear with me. Uh, to revive the vampire they need his bones, which they have, and the presence, this is very unclear, of the closest person... uh, someone connected to the vampire."

Faith stopped and turned to him, her face pale but resolute. "Probably their first kill to firm up the resurrection right? That'd be me."

"Perhaps."

"We were close. We killed each other. It really promotes togetherness."

Suddenly Xander, Jesse, Willow, and Jonathan crashed through the library doors. "Faith!" Xander exclaimed, the poor boy looked heartbroken. "Is there anything on when the ceremony might take..." They all hit the floor when a brick came crashing through the window. "Whoa!"

Giles looked up to see his Slayer had caught the rock in her hands and was reading the attached note and brandishing a bracelet. Jesse let out a shocked yell. "That’s Cordelia's."

Faith glanced at Jesse. "I did wonder, for a classy chick like Cor, this jewellery did suck. 'Come to the Bronze before it opens, or we make her a meal.’" Giles watched as his Slayer grabbed her weapons.

"What do we do?" asked Willow.

"We don’t do anything," Faith exhaled. "I go to the Bronze and save the day. As usual."

"I don't like this," Xander commented.

"Nor I!" Giles agreed.

Faith shrugged. "Yeah? Well, you guys don’t get a vote."

"What do you mean?"

"I can't do it anymore." Finally Faith turned to them. "I can't carry any more passengers."

"Well, what about the rest of the note?" challenged Willow.

"What rest of the note?" Faith queried, her face puzzled.

"The part that says, 'P.S. This is a trap'?" exclaimed the red-head.

"You'll be playing straight into their hands." Giles agreed.

"I can handle this." Faith shook her head.

"Stop saying that! God, what's wrong with you?" Willow exploded with a ferocity that made him blink. "Cordelia’s our friend too!"

"This is my fight," Faith exclaimed. Before any of them had a chance to speak the Slayer was out of the library.

* * *

Faith’s heart was racing as she sneaked into the darkened Bronze. What if they’d already resurrected the Master and he was waiting for her? Seeing a girl crying in a corner, she crept towards her, keeping to the shadows, only to stop, heart freezing, as the girl laughed and turned towards her, revealing her demonic face. "Cordelia couldn't make it."

"Where is she?" Faith demanded, she noted the whiteness of her knuckles as she clung to her stake.

The Vampire giggled, she was nuts. "I'm not supposed to tell." Suddenly the demon lunged at her. Faith sidestepped the attack, grabbed a handful of the vampire’s hair and flung her down onto her back, pinning her there with a foot across her throat. Faith looked around, confused. Where were the other vampires?

* * *

"Cordelia’s my girl-friend!" Jesse raged as he paced the floor. "We should have gone with her!"

"When she’s in this sort of mood, it’s best to leave her alone," Xander didn’t look convinced by his own argument.

"Xander!" Willow exclaimed. "You know it's a trap!"

Giles attempted to cut out the youths’ arguing as he and Jonathan researched. Suddenly the diminutive youth let out a cry. "The Latin is poorly translated from Sumerian. Closest to the Master actually translates as 'nearest'. Physically. The person or persons who were with him... when he died."

Giles felt the blood drain from his face. "It is a trap." He looked up to see several vampires appear on the mezzanine above. "It just isn't for her."

* * *

"Tell me what’s going on!" Faith ordered as she forced her crucifix into the screaming vampire’s mouth for the third time, holding it there as steam billowed out of her captive’s mouth. Ignoring her queasiness, she pulled the cross out. And shoved the end of it into the demon’s right eye. "Tell me!" Her heart chilled as the vampire babbled on for the next couple of minutes. "Son of a bitch." Gathering her composure, she slammed the stake into the vampire’s heart. "Thanks." Turning, she raced out of the Bronze. She had to make it, she had to .

* * *

Faith flew through the library doors, stopping dead at the terrible sight that greeted her. Tables and chairs flung all over the place, books scattered on the floor. Seeing Xander and Jesse helping a dazed looking Jonathan to his feet, all three boys looking dishevelled, she hurried over. "X!" she reached to put his hand on his shoulder but he pulled away. Ignoring her hurt, she spoke. "What happened?"

"Vampires." Xander turned to glare at her. "The ones you could handle yourself."

"Where are the others?"

"I don't know." Xander’s glare intensified. "I don't know what your problem is, what

your issues are. But as of now, I officially don't care. If you'd worked with us for five seconds, you coulda stopped this."

Her guilt overwhelming her she turned away. Suddenly Xander pulled her around, his eyes gleaming dangerously. "If they hurt Willow because of your arrogance, you won’t have to say another word. You and me are through!"

"X, please, I’m sor-."

"Save it!" Suddenly it was Jesse who was in her face, barely held back by a pale-faced Jonathan. "You stupid bitch! We tried to help you, but you were too damn good for us!"

Faith ignored the tears brimming in her eyes. God what had she done, pushed away those who cared about her the most, made them hate her. "I know what’s going on. They needed people who were close to the Master. Physically close. When he died."

"Ms. Calendar and Amy never turned up today," Jonathan put in.

"Odds are they've got a complete set by now," Xander commented.

"And we’re going to stop them," Faith said, her eyes determined. Nothing was happening to G.

* * *

Darla watched hungrily as Colin carried a black case past the Master's skeleton laid out on a table. Soon, her sire would return, and unfettered by his prison, he’d take his revenge on the Slayer. And she’d sit by his side as he ruled his dark kingdom. The black preacher vampire by the name of Absalom took the case from the Anointed one and nodded. "Begin."

Another of her childes started pulling on a chain. Darla chuckled to herself as she watched the Slayer’s upside-down companions be pulled along an overhead conveyor to hang unconscious above the Master's bones. How fitting that they be the ones her Master fed on upon his return. "Behold, these five mortals," Darla smiled as she settled down to listen to the preacher. These ceremonies tended to be long-winded, but this one was most certainly worth it.

* * *

Faith eased the warehouse side door open. Her heart leapt as she heard the vampire intoning, they weren’t too late. She turned to her companions. "You three get them," she pointed at the swinging bodies of her guardian and friends, "out of here."

"We’ll need a distraction," Xander hissed. "What are you gonna do?"

"I'm gonna kill them all." Faith smiled. "That oughta distract them."

"For the old one. For his pain. For the dark," the black demon intoned.

"For the dark!" the demons chorused.

"Hey!" Faith fired her crossbow, the bolt slamming into the black demon’s heart. "Is this like a private party?" Discarding the crossbow, she stepped into the circle of demons and thrust her stake rapidly right and left, staking a pair of vampires. "Or can any hot babe join?"

* * *

Xander cast his girl-friend, she’d been a bitch recently but he kinda hoped they were still dating, a worried look as he led Jesse and Jonathan up the steps to where the conveyer belt and its controlling pulley originated. There were so many vampires.

At the last second the vampire standing watching the fight became aware of their presence and began to turn towards them. Too late to prevent his stake from plunging home. "You guys get them out from over there. I’ll keep guard," he ordered. He turned back towards the fight and forced himself not to run to help his girl.

* * *

For a second after her entrance there was a shocked silence. And then violence erupted another vampire launched herself at her. She leapt into a spinning roundhouse kick that smashed into her adversary’s face, knocking her to the dirty warehouse floor. Before the demon had chance to recover, she’d thrust her stake home.

A beefy arm grabbed her round the neck. "Bitch!" a gravely voice growled in her ear.

"Kiss your mother with," Faith bent forward, throwing her attacker over her shoulder and to the ground. "With that mouth?" The moment she’d slammed her stake home, she looked up and smirked. The chain was moving, her friends would soon be safe. Sensing a demonic presence to her right she shot out a side thrust kick.

* * *

Darla snarled at the Slayer’s entry and Absalom’s subsequent demise. "That little slut," she snarled under her breath. She glanced around and growled again as she noticed Colin fleeing through the back door. "Coward."

Despite her words she had half a mind to join the pipsqueak. Then she noticed the bodies moving towards the landing and the boy nervously guarding the entrance. The Slayer’s boy. Darla smiled. She might not be able to kill the Slayer, but she could break her heart.

* * *

"We’ve got them!"

Xander glanced over his shoulder at Jesse’s shout. He was relieved to see his friends loading G-Man and the others onto the landing platform. "Now sugah," his blood froze at the poisonous purr. He forced himself to turn to the southern belle striding towards him. "You should be paying attention, a girl likes to make an entrance don’t ya know?"

"Well," he lifted his shaking stake, sweat beading down his face. "You’re technically not a girl."

Darla pouted and waggled her finger reprovingly. "Did your mother not teach you any manners young man?" the blonde vamped out. "I guess I’ll have to teach you some." Before he had time to blink, the vampire had leapt the five steps separating him, knocked his stake aside, and grabbed him by the throat. "Feeding time."

"Find another meal bitch."

* * *

Faith grinned as she thrust her stake through the last of her attackers. Her grin faded as she noted Darla grabbing her man. Her lips dry with fear, she raced over to the bottom of the steps. "Find another meal bitch."

* * *

Darla glanced over her shoulder and snarled defiantly. She had time. Baring her fangs, she turned back to the struggling boy intending to rip his throat out. And caught a foot in the face. She looked up into the pale-faced short one, his heart pounding loud enough to rupture her eardrums. "You heard her." As she watched, the youth was joined by the Watcher and the other boy. In an instance, she was over the stair railing and racing towards the door. There’d be other chances.

* * *

"Hey baby," Faith leapt up the steps and grabbed Xan in her arms. "You five by five?" Xander nodded dazedly. She glanced up at G. Too ashamed to meet his eyes, she looked away. And towards the skeleton. Spying a sledge-hammer resting against the far wall, she stood. "Look after him for me," she instructed.

At Giles’ nod, she strode over to the sledge-hammer, grabbing and walked over to the skeleton lying on the table. Taking a rattling breath, she lifted the hammer over her head and brought it down on the vampire’s skull. The skull splintered under her attack, but she was far from satisfied. Lifting the hammer again she proceeded to smash the skeleton into bits.

"It’s alright dear."

Hearing Giles’ voice behind her and feeling his hands on her shoulders, she turned and slumped into his arms. Fat tears rolled down her face as she pressed her head to his chest. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry."

* * *

"Faith," Giles entered his Slayer’s bedroom. "Aren’t you ready for school?"

"School?" Faith looked terrified as she shook her head. "I can’t go to school, not after what I did."

"Punishing yourself is pointless," Giles reproved. "I understand your guilt but -."

"My guilt!" the Bostonian exclaimed. "I nearly got you all killed!"

"Yes, I’m quite aware you made mistakes. But believe me, that was hardly the, the worst mistake you'll ever make." Faith raised an eyebrow. "Uh, that wasn't quite as comforting as it was meant to be."

"Yeah, well thanks for the uplifting pep talk but I ain’t going," Faith crossed her arms, a look of defiance on her beautiful face.

"Not to get all ‘Watchery’ on you, but you are!"

"Fine!" His Slayer leapt to her feet, eyes gleaming. "But don’t say I didn’t warn you!"

* * *

Faith trudged down the busy school corridor, her heart heavy and her eyes downcast. She’d had friends for the first time in her life, decent friends who’d treated her like she was worth something. And what she had done? She’d hurt them. "I’m such a screw-up," she muttered.

"Yep," a cheerful voice agreed, "but," she felt a hand on her neck. "I guess you’re our screw-up."

She looked up at Xander and saw the others were with him. "I’m sor-."

"Hush," Xander put a finger. "Friends don’t need to apologise."

"Well I for one would like to hear it," Cor broke in. "Faith apologise? A sure sign of the apocalypse!" The grin that accompanied her friend’s words robbed them of their malice.

Xander groaned. "Cordelia, I was trying for classy."

"Classy," Cordelia let out an unladylike snort. "You wouldn’t know classy if it showed up at your local 7 – 11!"

Faith laughed at Xander’s comically distraught face. "Oh baby," she cooed, "let me kiss it better."

* * *

The Mayor hid his nervousness as he stared at the figure seated opposite him in his lamp-lit office. He was a powerful mage, but not even he took a four hundred year old vampire lightly. And if she ever found out his castings were responsible for the quake that had trapped her sire a century ago, there would be literally hell to pay. Quelling such distressing thoughts, he smiled at the blonde. "Miss Darla, I’d be honoured to hire you as head of my security." After all this was the nineties, equal opportunities and all that.

A\N: Thanks to Mike for help with the dating dialogue.

"Um," Xander muttered as he pulled away, from what must have been of their hundredth kiss of their make-out session in the stacks. "You taste so good."

"You think that tastes good you want to try my-," her voice trailed off as she heard Giles enter the library. Alarmed that the Englishman might find them making-out in his precious library, she hushed Xander to silence. Her anxiety turned to amusement as she overheard what Giles was muttering to himself.

"W-w-what I'm proposing is, um... and I don't mean to appear indecorous, is, is, a-a-a social engagement, a, a-a date, if you're amenable." There was a pause. "You idiot!"

Faith exchanged amused looks with Xan. "Let’s go," she whispered. They crept to the edge of the stacks where they watched G prowl the floor for a few seconds. Finally Faith spoke. "Real smooth G, you’re a regular George Clooney." Her Watcher leapt into the air at her voice. After a second, he groaned and turned to her. "Or was that Rosemary?"

"I-I-I was just working on," Giles stuttered.

"Pickup lines?" she grinned.

"Um, in a manner of speaking, yes."

"Then if you wouldn't mind a little advice, you might wanna leave off the 'idiot' part. Being called an idiot tends to take people out of the dating mood."

"Hmm, it actually kinda turns me on," Xander commented.

Faith glanced at her boyfriend. "You’re easier to turn on that a light." Turning her attention back to the librarian, she vaulted over the landing rail to the floor. "You also might wanna avoid words like 'amenable' and 'indecorous', y'know. Speak English, not whatever they speak in, um..."

G raised an eyebrow. "England?"

"You want my help or not?" she demanded.

"Not especially," her Watcher muttered.

She decided to try being a lady and ignore that especially hurtful remark. "Say something like I got an itch, you wanna scratch it for me?"

G glared at Xander. "I trust you said nothing of the sort to Faith?"

Xander gulped and shook his head. "Leave him alone G, I handle the dirty talk in our relationship," Faith defended.

"Oh I feel so much better now," Giles groaned.

"K, you want romantic," Faith ignored that. Jeez, some people when you try and help them. "Ask her out for a burger... no, that's a bit too Happy Days for people in your age group..."

"My age group?" G sniffed.

Faith continued. "Some meal... offer to pay, you’ll be sure to get in her pants that way."

"Well, thank you. That is most helpful," Giles sounded less than sincere.

"I don't wanna be the bearer of bad news..." Xander smiled at the Watcher. "But as

someone who used to previously be a renowned dating failure, you haven't actually asked her on this thing you're planning yet... the part where they agree to go with you is where I found most of the trouble in getting dates."

"Well that’s so reassuring Xander," Giles groaned.

"I'd still go with the itch comment," Faith continued. "Well, if I was you... if I was me, I'd simply show a bit of skin... or possibly go with the crotch-grab... let's 'em know exactly what you want.. don't think they'd go down well for you though."

"Me in leathers and a midriff top?" Giles sniffed. "I hardly think so."

Faith ignored the disturbing images her Watcher’s words had placed in her head. "You gotta be strong about this... be confident... aggressive even... be the man... and not the librarian."

"We are talking Ms. Calendar, right?" Xander asked.

G’s expression grew guarded. "Why would you say that?"

"Oh it totally is," Faith exclaimed. "Sometimes he has these dreams. And he’s moaning her name -."

"I do not!" Giles exclaimed before turning to her. "Do I?" Faith winked. "Bloody girl."

"Which is another plus point... she already knows about that... and she knows about the reason as to why you're living with a teenaged girl who is in no way genetically related to you, which might make a few women call the cops," Xander commented.

"Yes," Giles sniffed. "Very amusing."

"Now, is it time to have a talk about the facts of life?" Xander asked. Faith laughed.

Giles huffed. "You know, I'm suddenly deciding this is none of your business." her Watcher started up the stairs.

"That whole stork thing is a smoke screen!" When X got on a roll he was remorseless.

"Come on X," Faith grabbed her boyfriend’s arm and pulled him from the library. "Helping G like that felt good. Maybe I should get an advice column?"

* * *

"Hello Faith," he glanced up at his daughter walked through the front door. "And how did patrol go?"

"Five by five, we got the newly risen vampire. Xan fell into another open grave though."

"Another risen vampire?" he stood, concerned. He couldn’t see how he’d missed the report in the paper, he was most thorough.

"No, this one was dug up and the body was taken out."

"Grave robbing? That's new. Interesting."

"See," Faith pointed at him. "That’s why you can’t get a date. You need some new hobbies. Why does someone want to dig up graves?"

He ignored that remark. All bloody day they’d gone on. It was times like this he missed surly, suspicious Faith. "Well, I'll, uh, collect some theories. It would help if we knew who the body belonged to."

"She died recently. She was our age. But I don’t remember her."

"Ah," Giles nodded. "Perhaps a job for Willow then."

"See, that’s why the Council employs you. For your brains." Faith grinned. "Couldn’t be for your sex appeal."

* * *

Willow beamed as she hurried into the hall. It was her favourite day of the year – Sign-Up for the Science Fair. She grinned at Jonathan by her side. They were working together this year – two geeks sharing a science project. How perfect was that?

"Smile!" Suddenly a flashing camera was in her face.

"Hey!" Even as she opened her mouth to continue her protest, the snapper, Eric, she recognised him now, had rushed off to take another photo.

"Eric, will you knock it off?" a voice exclaimed from behind. Eric glared at the voice’s owner.

"Hey Chris!" Willow hid a smile at Jonathan’s bristling beside her. It was cute how Jonathan got so possessive of her. Not that he had anything to worry about, her and Chris were just fellow nerds. Chris smiled at her before picking the sign-up sheet. She peered over his shoulder. He glanced at her. Willow blushed. "Oh, I, I was just wondering what you were gonna do this year.’Cause every year you win and I place second, so I just thought I'd see what I'm up against."

This time Chris’ smile prompted a protective growl from Jonathan. "You know what the key is? If Dr. Clark doesn't understand your experiment he gives you higher marks so it looks like he does."

"Okay," Willow and Jonathan exchanged amused glances as Cordelia walked in. "I'm doing this under protest. It is not fair that they're making participation in this year's science fair mandatory. I don't think anyone should have to do anything educational in school if they don't want to."

Jonathan snorted as he peered at the cheerleader’s sign-up sheet. "'The Tomato: Fruit or Vegetable'?"

Cordelia glared at Jonathan. "I wanted to do something I could finish in a weekend, alright?" Suddenly Eric was taking a photo of Cordelia. "Stop it!" the cheerleader screamed. "We’re under florescent light, for God's sake!"

"The camera loves you!" Eric crowed.

"Well duh," Cordelia glared at the photographer. "I didn't think yearbook nerds came out of hibernation till spring?"

Eric leered. "This is for my private collection."

"Eric! Will you quit it?" Chris shouted.

"Comin' through." Faith glared at Eric as he flashed the camera at her. "You take another photograph of me and I’ll shove the camera up your ass." Faith glanced to her. "We need your skills."

Willow nodded. "Okay, sure. See you later, Chris. Thanks for the tip."

"Why you hanging with that Chris and Eric?" Faith asked. "They’re major creepy."

"Chris is okay," Willow defended her friend. "It’s just his brother Darryl was a major football star before he fell and died while rock-climbing. It hit him really hard."

* * *

"This shouldn't take long." Willow loaded up the internet. "I'm probably the only girl in school who has the coroner's office bookmarked as a favourite place."

"Which is disturbing in ways I can’t even comprehend," Jesse muttered.

"Hey Willow," Cordelia followed them into the library. "I need to ask if you'll help me with my science fair project."

"It's a fruit," Willow replied. "I found it! Meredith Todd died in a car accident last week."

"So natural," Faith mused. "How was her neck?"

"Fine, except for being broken," she replied. "It says that Meredith and two other girls in the car were killed instantly. They were all on the Fondren High Pep Squad, on the

way to a game."

"You know what this means?" Faith bit her bottom lip. "She wasn't killed by vampires. Somebody did dig up her corpse."

Cordelia crunched her nose. "Eww! Why is it that every conversation we have the word 'corpse' in it?"

"Okay, so we got a body snatcher." Jesse put in. "What does that mean?"

"Here's what I've come up with." Willow glanced up at the Watcher. "Demons who eat the flesh of the dead to absorb their souls. Or, it could obviously be a voodoo practitioner."

"Again?" Xander groaned. "’Cause last time was just so much fun."

"We should see if the other girls from the accident are AWOL, too. Maybe we can figure out what this creep has in mind if we know whether or not he's dealing in volume," Faith commented.

"So, we dig up some graves tonight?" Xander grinned at her. "Gee, you take me the most romantic places."

* * *

Xander paced the library floor. Tonight’s digathon had not been fun, he, Jonathan, and G-Man had been forced to do the spadework. Apparently the super-strong amongst them, he glared at his girl-friend sat smugly talking to the two apprentice witches, were too lady-like to do digging. And more importantly, they’d found both girls who’d died with Meredith were gone. "That makes three girls signed up for the army of zombies."

"Is it an army if you just have three?" Jonathan commented.

"An interesting point," right on cue Giles rubbed thoughtfully at his glasses. "The question is how do we find out if there are more?"

Xander raised an eyebrow. "There’s no way I’m digging up every grave in Sunnydale!" he exclaimed.

Giles opened his mouth to comment only to be interrupted by the library door behind them crashing open. Xander glanced over his shoulder to see a pale-faced Jesse and Cordelia in her cheerleader outfit, which was always an uplifting sight, hurrying in. "We found some of the missing girls!" Jesse exclaimed.

"You mean, like, two of the three?" Faith rose.

"I mean, like, some of them. Like parts." Jesse commented.

"How did you find them?" Giles asked, his eyes intent.

Jesse and Cordelia exchanged embarrassed glances. "Uh, we were making out-."

"Ask a stupid bloody question," he heard Giles mutter.

"And I looked over my shoulder," Cordelia continued.

"Oh not paying full attention C?" Faith put in. "Always a bad sign Jess, I’d watch yourself."

"And saw this arm hanging out of a trash can!"

"That would mean not zombies?" Willow asked.

"Not zombies," Giles nodded. "The question is just what?"

"I don't get it." Faith commented. "Why go to all the trouble to dig up three girls

only to chop them up and throw them away? It doesn't make any sense."

"Well, what I saw didn't add up to three whole girls. I think they kept some parts," Jesse added.

Faith grimaced. "Could this get any grosser?"

"They probably kept the other parts to eat." Everyone turned to Willow. "Just saying."

"Why dispose of the remains five miles from the cemetery at a school, of all places?" Giles put in.

"Maybe because whoever did it had some business in the neighbourhood. Like, say, classes?" Xander suggested.

"Oh. Ah," Giles nodded approvingly. "Good point."

"Uh, I hate to say this, but it wasn’t a hatchet job, they looked clean," Jesse commented.

G-Man raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Really? What student here is going be that

well versed in physiology?"

"Well, I can think of five or six guys in the science club." Willow paused. "And me."

"So, Red, come clean. Promise to never do it again, and we'll call it a night." Faith smirked before turning serious. "Red, why don't you get these guys' locker numbers so we can do some checking?"

* * *

"You understand, in my capacity as school official, this search is completely unauthorized, and I cannot condone it."

Faith grinned at her Watcher as the group strode down the corridor. "Fine, your butt's covered. Wanna grab a locker?"

Giles sighed. "Very well."

Faith approached and unlocked a locker. "Okay, Eric. Let's see what's on your

creepy little mind."

"Guys!" Faith watched as the others hurried over to Xander. "Chris Epps' locker."

Red pulled some books out of the locker. "'Grey's Anatomy', 'Mortician's Desk

Reference', 'Robicheaux's Guide to Muscles and Tendons'."

G shook his head. "I think it's fair to say Chris is involved."

"He's into corpses alright," Jonathan commented. "But we still don't know why."

Faith swallowed as she looked into Eric’s locker. "Yes, we do." She opened Eric’s locker door and shows the others a collage of a woman made from parts of various pictures.

"Now that’s," Xander gulped. "Disturbing."

* * *

"Any sign of our suspects?"

Faith glanced at Xan as he dropped onto the school step beside her and Willow. "Not yet. I don't get it. Why would anybody wanna make a girl?"

"You mean when there's so many pre-made ones just laying around?" Xander chuckled. "The things we do for love."

Faith glared at Xander. "You’re so fucking stupid ain’t ya?" she demanded. "Even I know love has nothing to do with this."

Xander blinked. "Faith I didn’t mean –."

She waved him to silence, hating the way she sometimes allowed her past to get the better of her. She turned to Willow. "Red, Eric's sick enough to do something like this, but what about Chris? He seems more human."

"I dunno." Red shrugged. "That thing with his brother was really hard on him.

And he talked about death a lot. Maybe he just wanted to get one-up on it."

"But it's not doable. I mean, making someone from scraps, actually making them live," Faith commented.

"If it is, our project's definitely coming in second this year." Jonathan commented.

"Hey guys!" Faith joined the others in glancing up an excited-looking Cordelia at the end of the corridor gesturing them towards her. "You’re going to want to see this!"

* * *

"Come on Giles old man," he muttered, his heart pounding as he watched the computer teacher talk to one of the students across the corridor. "You can do this. You’ve battled witches, master vampires, and demons. What’s asking out a beautiful woman next to all that?" After a second he answered his own question. "Far more bloody terrifying."

"Good morning, Rupert."

He jumped slightly when he realised the woman in question had walked up to him. "Ms. Calendar?"

Jenny shook her head. "Oh, no, please call me Jenny."

"Jenny then." He took a breath. "Would it a-appear indecorous..." He winced, indecorous, Faith had specifically said don’t use the word indecorous. "Uh, no, not in-in-indecorous, um..."

"Yeah...?" A glimmer of impatience entered the techno-pagan’s eyes.

"Well, um... Wha... Ah, ah, um..." Oh this was going so well.

Jenny sighed. "Rupert, look, I've gotta get inside and set up the lab."

"What, what I'm proposing is..." He cursed under his breath as he was interrupted by the sound of the bell ringing. Bloody classes.

"Ah! I gotta go! Sorry!" Jenny hurried past him and into the computer room.

"You idiot!"

Jenny stuck her head out of the class. "Hey! Listen, if it's important, why don't you just tell me at the game?"

Giles blinked. "Game? Oh, uh, you're going to the football game?"

"Yeah, you seem surprised."

"No, I-I-I just assumed that you, you spent your evenings downloading incantations and, and, and casting bones." He winced inwardly, oh yes, stereotyping, way to go old man.

"On game night? Are you nuts? You're going, too, right?"

"Oh yes," he lied. "School spirit is very important."

"So, we should just go together! Look, you could pick me up after school, and we'll grab a bite to eat on the way if you like. How do you feel about Mexican?" He nodded. "Good! Okay! And whatever it is you wanna tell me, you can just tell me then. Okay?

"Okay! Tonight, then." Jenny smiled before heading into her classroom. "That went well. I think."

His smile disappeared at the sound of Faith’s laughter behind him. His despair grew when he turned and found his Slayer was far from alone – Xander, Willow, Cordy, Jesse, Amy, and Jonathan were all stood with her. "Damn!" the Slayer exclaimed. "That was smooth."

"Very James Bond," Xander commented.

"More Austin Powers," Jesse put in.

"I mean pitying her into asking you out," Faith shook her head in a wholly unconvincing display of admiration. "So cool! I really will have to listen to you when you lecture on strategy next time."

Jonathan nodded. "All hail the master."

Giles glared at the youths. Did he have any dignity left? "Haven’t you got classes?" he sniffed.

"We’re having one now," Xander declared. "Lessons in love."

* * *

Giles strode into the library and spoke. "I spoke to a police spokesperson this morning about the remains-."

"Between getting smooth with JC?"

He ignored that comment. "The police have finished sorting through them, and apparently they found three heads in the dumpster."

"They only had three girls," Faith grimaced. "They gotta be looking for another."

"Why they don't have the whole package?

"Heads must be no good." Xander said. "I found 'em attractive enough." Faith glared at her boyfriend. "Well, obviously I'm not as sick as Chris and Eric."

"Oh yeah," Faith continued to glare at her boyfriend. "Just what I was thinking."

"Based on what the police have put together, I would say they're one step short of completing their masterpiece."

* * *

"We're running out of time. If we wait too long, the onset of atrophy in the limbs will be irreversible," Eric said.

Chris shook his head as he glanced around his family basement. "We can turn up the current. That'll buy us a day, at least."

"We will lose the entire body if we don't attach a head soon," Eric pressed.

"We have time," he insisted.

"We don't! The crash with the girls was lucky. But we can't just keep waiting around for another lucky accident to drop a head in our laps. You know what we have to do. Hell, it's just one lousy girl."

Chris rebelled at his best friend’s cold-bloodedness. "I won't do it. I... I can't... kill anyone." He turned to the shadows. "Please! Understand. I... I can't do that! Please don't make me."

Darryl stepped into the light, his scarred face hideous. "But you gave me your word. You promised me, little brother. That I wouldn't be alone."

"The body is perfect. And if we harvest a head tonight, she'll be ready by sunrise," Eric put in.

"When you brought me back you promised you'd take care of me. I need this, Chris. I need someone."

"Please don't ask me to do this. Don't ask me to take a life," Chris pleaded. "Maybe you could... you could go out..."

"No!" Darryl roared. " They can't see me. Chris, you've always been smarter than me. You were always the brains. You're the only one who can help me now. Help me, brother." After a second Chris nodded in defeat. This was his responsibility. "Thank you." His re-animated brother turned to Eric. "Show me!"

Eric flipped open his photograph folder. "There’s sweet, shy Willow. Sultry, sexy Faith. Or Cordelia, queen of all she surveys." Darryl pointed at Cordelia. "A man of taste." Eric immediately began cutting around the cheerleader’s photograph.

* * *

"I checked the obituaries," Giles reported as he walked back into the main library. "Nothing that would make for a likely candidate."

"And nothing at the M.E’s either," Willow reported.

"They seem kinda picky for guys who had three heads to begin with," Xander commented.

"Formaldehyde!" Jonathan exclaimed.

"Say what?" asked Jesse

"Formaldehyde," Giles nodded to Jonathan. "Yes, yes, yes, yes, of course, it accelerates neural decay in the brain cells."

"Well that explains Jesse dating Cordelia," Xander put in. "He’s been drinking it."

"After a couple days they're useless. They're gonna need something really fresh," Willow paled. "You don't think that they would..."

"Anybody who cuts dead girls into pieces does not get the benefit of any doubt." Faith interrupted. "I wanna end this thing now."

"I second that," he agreed.

"Okay, fine," Faith turned to Willow, Xander, and Jesse. "You guys go to Eric's, we can go to Chris', and meet up."

"Oh!" Giles exclaimed as he remembered something. "I'm supposed to be at the big game, I-I believe it's called."

"Ah," Faith tilted her head to one side and fluttered her eyelashes. "Ah my Watcher’s all grown up and dating. Makes a Slayer so proud." He glared at the Bostonian. She grinned back at him. "We’ll meet you there." He nodded.

* * *

Faith grimaced as she noted Chris’ mom sat in the lounge of her home. Deciding that the sneaky approach was best, she crept over to the basement window and clambered through. "Okay," her skin crawled as she looked around the makeshift lab. "So this is where you Frankenstein." Seeing a folder on a near-by desk, she picked it up and began to idly flick through it, expecting to find some science stuff that she wouldn’t have a clue about.

Her blood chilled as she realised what she had was far more disturbing – photos of Sunnydale High girls. "Prospective victims," she muttered. A shiver ran down her spine when she saw photos of herself and Red. And then a photo of Cordelia with the head missing. "C!" Hear racing, she leapt up to the window and clambered out. She had to get to the game and fast.

* * *

"Joy! Lisa! Where's Cordelia?" Faith charged down the stadium steps.

"Cordelia has a game to think about. She doesn't need losers like you." Joy tried to step past her.

Faith grabbed the other girl around the shoulders and lifted her off the ground. "I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that. Now, where is she?"

* * *

Cordelia whimpered as he pawed at her, tying her hands down. "Calm down Cordelia," Eric grinned. Once he proved the re-animation would work, he thoroughly intended to get himself a girl-friend. He’d already decided the lucky girl would be that Faith hottie. "Soon be over."

"Yes it will."

"Oh cra-," Faith’s foot caught him in the ribs, doubling him up. As he dropped off the table and to the floor, Faith began to untie the cheerleader. Muttering curses to himself, he staggered away.

* * *

"Are you okay?" Faith asked her best friend.

"Oh my God!" C exclaimed back.

Faith looked up. "Don't worry, he's gone."

"I was on my way down to the field when Chris came in, and all of a sudden someone jumped me," C babbled.

"Relax. Take it easy." Faith patted her friend on the shoulder, uncomfortable at playing comforter.

Suddenly C sat up. "That's the fight song. Oh my God, it's time for the cheerleader pyramid at mid-field. I've gotta go."

"Are you dense?" Faith exclaimed.

"You don't understand, I *have* to go. I'm the apex!" Cordelia ran off.

"You’re fucking nut-," hearing a noise, she looked around. "Yo! Who’s there? Look whoever it is, I know about the bodies from the cemetery. But you haven't hurt anyone yet." Chris stepped out in the open. "What you're doing is wrong."

"I have to do this for him. He needs someone."

"Who, Eric?" Faith raised an eyebrow. "Look there’s a blind school near-by; maybe he can get himself a date from there."

"No, no," Chris shook his head. "He always looked out for me. Stood up for me. He's all alone. Everybody loved him. And now he's all alone."

"Who are you talking..." Faith’s mouth dropped open. "Oh fuck! We’re gonna stop ‘em, get it?"

* * *

"You promised me! You promised I wouldn't have to be alone!"

Eric swallowed nervously, helpless to stop the football star from trashing Chris’ basement. "It's not too late." Suddenly Darryl had hold of him, lifting off the ground. "Nothing's changed! We can still do this! You and me. Your brother's not the only one who can create life. Whadaya say?" After a second Darryl grunted and set him down. "Let's go scare you up a date."

* * *

Faith led Chris down into his basement. "Shit!" she swore as she realised Darryl was no-where to be seen. "He's not here. Where else could he be?"

"But he would never go out." Chris said. "U-unless..."

"He's gonna pick up where you left off."

* * *

"I don't know what it is about football that does it for me." Jenny commented as she led him up the bleachers. "I mean, it lacks the grace of basketball, the, uh, poetry of baseball. At its best it's unadorned aggression. It's such a rugged contest."

"Rugged. American football." Giles couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him.

"And that's funny because?" Miss. Calendar arched an eyebrow.

"No!" Giles laughed. "I just think it's rather odd that a nation that prides itself on its virility feels compelled to strap on forty pounds of protection in order to play rugby."

"Is this your normal strategy for a first date? Dissing my country's national pastime?"

Giles blinked. "Did you just say 'date'?"

Jenny grinned. "You noticed that, huh?"

"Hi, Ms. Calendar! Hi, Giles." Willow called as she, Amy, Jonathan, and Xander ran up.

"Hey, guys. What's up?"

Willow shrugged. "Eric's was a bust. Nothing there. Did Faith get back yet?"

"No, uh, no." Giles struggled desperately for something to distract the kids. "Uh, perhaps you should, uh, circulate nearer the field, see what you can find."

"Nah, Jesse’s down with the cheerleaders." Amy commented before joining the others in slipping under the railing and sitting in front of Giles and Jenny. Giles glared when Xander reached back and took his popcorn.

"He’s in heaven," Jonathan put in.

"I’m sure," Giles muttered. Xander reached into his pocket and passed him a dozen small cards. Giles squinted as he read the top one. "Contraception?" Giles looked up "What are these?"

Xander beamed at him. "Faith thought as it had been a while since you’d dated, it might be an idea to give some tip-cards on how to act."

"I’ll bloody kill her," he muttered.

"Not if I get my hands on her first," his ‘date’ added.

* * *

Faith’s heart dropped when she saw a groaning Jesse lying on the ground behind the bleachers. "Jesse!" Faith helped her best friend’s honey to his feet. "What happened?"

"We were talking when Cordelia screamed, then something smashed into my head."

* * *

Eric drooled as he looked at Cordelia tied to a gurney, all helpless. "Please, what's going on? Just take off the blindfold. I promise I won't scream! Please?"

"Cordelia?" Darryl walked over to the head cheerleader and pulled her blindfold off. Instantly the cheerleader began to scream.

Eric shook his head. "You can scream all you want. We're in an abandoned building." His words only encouraged the brunette to screech even louder. He grabbed a pan and held it over her head. "Okay, that's enough."

"Cordelia, you’re so beautiful," the girl sobbed when the reanimated footballer wiped a tear away.

"We're ready." Eric pronounced.

Cordelia looked around. "Ready? Ready for what?"

"You're gonna feel a little pinch, maybe some discomfort around the neck area. But don't worry. When you wake up, you'll have the body of a seventeen-year-old. In fact, you'll have the body of several." Eric grinned. "Isn’t that what every American teen wants?"

* * *

Faith spun to face Chris. "Where would he take her?"

"To the rest of the body. To the lab."

"Where is that?" Jesse demanded.

Chris shook his head. "I promised him that I..."

Suddenly Jesse had the boy by his shirt, pushed against the stadium wall. "Listen stupid," her friend screamed. "This isn’t a game, this is somebody’s life!"

Chris’ words were a mutter. "He's in the old science lab. Everything's set up there."

Faith nodded. "Find Xander and Willow and tell them what's going on." She turned to Jesse. "With me!"

* * *

The heavy lab door crashed open at her third kick. Even as she entered the room, Eric turned and flung a knife at her. She snapped the knife out of air and shook her head. "Naughty, naughty."

"Help me!"

Faith rolled her eyes at her friend’s shriek. "Go get her stud," she ordered Jesse.

Even as Eric charged and ran into her casually delivered right cross, Jesse hurried into the room. And was grabbed and flung headfirst into the wall by the hulking figure that leapt out of the shadows. Faith gulped. "Man," she joked. "You’re a big one ain’t you?"

"He’s crazy!"

Faith didn’t shift her gaze from Darryl. "Got that C. Don’t worry, I'm gonna get you outta here."

"I'm not done with her yet!" She groaned as the footballers grabbed a cleaver. "She’s mine!"

Faith shook her head, with lame lines like that he was definitely a jock. Her eyes narrowed when the footballer raised the cleaver over the screaming cheerleader. "Not gonna happen!" she growled before leaping into the air and dropkicking the footballer off his feet and into the wall. She turned to her friend and started unfastening her.

"I won't live alone!" Faith screamed when the footballer grabbed her hair from behind and flung her into the wall, knocking a gasoline can over in the process. Even as she stood, Darryl charged her. She shot out a kick to the knee, knocking him to the ground and followed up with a pair of lightning kicks to the gut and the face.

The footballer staggered to his feet and swung a haymaker that she slid beneath before headbutting him in the chest, knocking him into the table behind him. The table tipped over, knocking a lit Bunsen burner to the floor, igniting the gasoline. "Shit!" she swore.

"Faith!"

"Get C!" she shouted to her boyfriend. "Jon, you grab Jesse!" Even as she spoke, Darryl football tackled her to the ground. As she stood, the footballer grabbed a tray of medical instruments and flung it at her, forcing her to duck. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flickering flames around Xander and a still screaming Cordelia grow higher. As she looked at her friends, Darryl grabbed her around the neck, choking her. As she watched, she saw Xander push Cordy’s gurney and jump on it as it began to roll through the flames. Relieved that her friends appeared to be safe, Faith turned her attention back to her struggle. The footballer croaked as she slammed her knee into his groin and released his grip on her neck. Grinning slightly, she tried for a kick to her rival’s ribs only to have her foot grabbed and be flung to the ground. Stunned, she was helpless to prevent Darryl from raising a desk over his head, obviously meaning to pound her to oblivion.

"Darryl!" Darryl looked behind him to see his brother there. "Don't!" Darryl glanced at her before throwing the desk against the wall and hurrying over to the headless corpse.

"She's mine!"

"Darryl!"

Seeing Chris start towards his brother, Faith leapt to her feet and rushed over to the youth dragging him, the gridiron star’s screams ringing in her ears. "No. We'll be together always. No! Mine!" She looked over her shoulder to see the flames engulf Darryl and his bride-to-be.

* * *

Jenny smiled softly as she closed the door behind Rupert. What a gentleman, walking her to her front door and chastely kissing her on the right cheek before leaving. She reached for the light. "You gonna go out with him again?"

She jumped at Faith’s voice from the shadows. Calming herself, she turned the light on before turning to the Slayer leant against the far wall. "I don’t think it’s any business of yours. And how did you get in here anyway?""

"A bit of B&E is easy if you’re a Slayer," the Bostonian nodded before straightening. "But just bear this in mind. I’ve got G’s back. You hurt him and you’ll find out I don’t give detentions as punishment." The Slayer smiled before heading out of the door. "See ya!"

Jenny collapsed against the wall once the younger woman had left. When they found out why she was really here, there’d be hell to pay. And the irony was, she wiped at her eyes, she really liked Rupert.

FIC: Faith The Series Season 2 Ep 3 (14/?)

"Oh good lord."

Faith hid a groan; a `good lord' this early in the day usually meant the day was fucked before it had begun. "What's the sitch G?"

"I've received a telegram this morning -."

"JC still not taught you about emails yet?"

Giles glared at her. "Surely not fair Faith," Xander proclaimed. "They're still at the making-out stage, they'll only
talk shop when things get boring. Knowing our fascinating librarian that will take at least another two dates."

"I'd have thought they'd reached that stage already," commented Jesse. "I mean Giles is English."

"When you've all quite finished," G huffed. "I have received a telegram from the Council informing us The Glove of Truth is in Sunnydale!"

There was a long silence. "Say what?" queried Cordelia.

The Watcher stared around the library, his brow furrowed in obvious exasperation. "Do any of you bloody teenagers do anything other than snog?" the Englishman shook his head and sighed. "A silly question I know. The Glove Of Truth was created in the middle ages by a French noble. Tricky people the Frogs," G added in a mutter that she guessed only her ears were sensitive enough to pick up before continuing. "This unnamed noble had the Glove enchanted so that when he wore it, anyone he questioned was compelled to answer his questions with nothing but the unvarnished truth."

"Pretty powerful mojo," Faith commented.

"Indeed," her Watcher nodded his agreement before continuing. "In the late 15th century the Glove's owner was murdered and his castle ransacked, the Glove disappeared."

"But now it's in Sunnydale?"

The Watcher nodded at Willow's comment. "In the museum to be exact. And the Council wish us to steal it -."

"Wicked cool!" Faith's eyes lit up. "I've never knocked over a museum before."

"Yes, cool. Just the word I was looking for," Giles commented, his tone dry and his eyes showing the disapproval he obviously felt. "But what the Council wants," the Englishman's eyes shadowed. "The Council gets."

Faith squinted, concerned about the darkness in her guardian's eyes. She wasn't the most sensitive of people, but even she could tell something was bothering G. Even as she opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, Willow let out a shout. "We'll need a plan; I'll get the plans off the city hall computer." The red-haired
hacker hurried over to the computer.

"We'll totally Thomas Crown it," Xander commented as he hurried over to join Willow by the computer.

"Got them!" Willow shrieked excitedly after just a couple of minutes.

"Print them out Willow," Giles instructed. "Together with any security specifications you can find. We'll have to plan now, unfortunately I have a prior engagement and will be unable to accompany you."

"Taking Miss Calendar to the monster trucks Giles?"

Giles sent Jesse an irritated look. "Dear boy, isn't your village missing you?"

Jesse looked puzzled. "My village?"

"Yes," the Englishman peered down his nose at the youth. "It's a terrible shame to deprive a village of its idiot."

* *
*

"This glove sounds powerful," Darla commented, her tone careful.

"Indeed it is," the Mayor nodded enthusiastically. "It has taken me several decades to first find and then secure the Glove."

"Then why not have it shipped straight here?"

"Fear of discovery my dear," the Mayor explained. "A number of powerful occult groups, the Watcher's Council, Wolfram & Hart, the Knights of Dark Orders, and the Crusade Resurrectionists amongst
others, are tracking it. I felt it prudent to have the artefact brought here and then be mysteriously `stolen' rather than leave a paper trail that led directly to me."

"I guess that makes sense," Darla nodded even as she thought of another problem. "The museum is a privately owned building."

The politician's smile widened. "My dear, I am on the board of trustees and a consistent benefactor. Consider yourself invited."

"Well thank you kind sir," Darla purred.

* *
*

Willow tapped on the lap-top for five minutes before nodding at her. "Cameras and alarms off."

"Thanks Red," Faith smiled at the Jewish hacker before glancing out of the window and to the museum some eighty yards away. "We ready?" Xan, C, and Jess nodded. "Cool," she looked back at Red. "Any sign of trouble," she nodded when Willow raised her mobile, "yeah. Ring. Let's go."

Faith's eyes narrowed as she led her friends towards the darkening building. "Where's the security?"

Xander peered through the guard hut window. "Nothing there."

Faith's brow furrowed. "No security at all?" Xander shrugged.

"Coffee break?" Cordelia whispered. "I mean you know these unions.
Always squeezing the entrepreneur."

"Ah," Xander grinned at Jesse. "Daddy's little capitalist."

Faith ignored the banter. "No, even so they'd normally leave a guard behind." In her runaway days she'd occasionally broke into and slept in a warehouse, but no matter what, they'd always left at least one guard behind. Her skin prickled. Something was definitely up. She shook her head, forcing her trepidation
down. "Let's get this done."

* *
*

"They'll be fine Rupert."

"Pardon?" Giles looked up from his inspection of his mobile to his glamorously attired date. He forced a smile. "I'm terribly sorry Jenny," he apologised. "I must be terrible company."

The beautiful computer teacher dazzled him with a smile. "Not at all," she replied. "I'd be worried if you didn't care about Faith so much. But she's a resourceful girl, and she has good and loyal friends."

This time his own smile was rather more genuine. "Yes she has," he admitted.

"She'll be fine Rupert," Jenny repeated her earlier reassurance.

* *
*

"The guards have been sent to the wrong building. An administrative over-sight."

"We could have dealt with them," Darla growled.

"Yes dear," Wilkins fought back a sigh. Bloody vampires, so incapable of long-term planning. "I'm sure you could. However, while I control the Sunnydale press, I'm sure reports of a massacre would circulate throughout the occult world, making certain powers that I would rather avoid curious about what precisely is occurring
here."

"I guess."

"There's a girl," he patted the blonde on top of her head. "My dear you have the most perfect gold hair."

"Thank you."

"Gosh missy, don't thank me dear. Thank you for gracing my drab offices with your beauty." He hid a smile at the vampire's nonplussed expression. His tactic of switching between his jovial and businesslike personas to keep his guest off-balance was as usual working a treat. "Now," he turned solemn. "How many vampires are
you taking with you?"

"Six."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

* *
*

"Damn," Faith pressed on the electronic controller Jonathan had built. There was a click and the front doors swung soundlessly open. "Jonno knows his shit." She strode through the doors into the shadowy corridor.

"Oh look!" Faith head snapped towards C, expecting to see the anticipated threat. Instead, she saw her friend leafing through the museum leaflets by torchlight, her expression excited. "They have a history of fashion exhibit! We'll have to have a look!"

"Unbelievable," Faith shook her head in half-amusement, half-anger. She looked towards Jesse, and then gestured with her head at the cheerleader.

"On the way out Cor," Jesse took her friend by the elbows.

"But, I wanna look at pretty clothes!" Cordelia wailed.

* *
*

Willow squeaked. "What's up?" Amy asked.

The red-head pointed a shaking finger towards the museum's gates. "V…vampires! Five of them!"

"Oh no." Amy breathed. Collecting herself, she pulled out her mobile and phoned Faith. After six rings, the Slayer picked up. "We've got company. Five vampires."

* *
*

"Damn!" Faith dropped her phone into her pocket. Looking up, she saw the quintet of vampires heading through the doors leading to the main exhibit and towards them. Her heart skipped a beat when she
recognised the blonde central vampire. "Boys, cross-."

Even as she spoke, Jesse and Xander raised their crossbows and fired. Two of the bolts hit their targets, but the other vampires continued their charge. "Look after C!" she ordered as she leapt into battle. Even though C was a better technical fighter than either of the two boys, her slight edge wasn't enough to counter-balance the male teens' strength or make her more effective against the demons.

The nearest vampire, a fat pony-tailed guy in his early-forties, shot out a wild haymaker that she slid effortlessly beneath before slamming her stake home. Sensing a vampire to her right, she shot out a kick, smashing the vampire's knee. The demon stumbled onto her stake. She looked up.

And caught a clubbing right to the face.

* *
*

"There's two more!" Jonathan croaked. "They're heading towards the museum!"

"Then!" he shrieked in a most unmanly manner as Willow slammed the accelerator down sending the van they'd borrowed for the night hurtling towards the vampires. "We best stop them!" The front of the van slammed into the two vampires, propelling them into the air.

The moment the van screeched to a halt, he leapt out and hurried to the nearest vampire. As the demon staggered to his feet, he thrust his stake home, turning it to dust. His triumph disintegrated when he was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and lifted into the air, his stake snatched from him and flung to the ground. He looked up to see a tall hawk-featured woman holding him in the air, her true vampire face showing. "Why do I get the snacks?"

Great, now even vampires thought he was stunted. "I'm a banquet!" he shouted before shutting up. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut?

His captor chuckled. "Is that right? We'll see-."

Suddenly the vampire exploded in flames and he was dropped to the ground. Wincing at the impact, he looked up to see his girl-friend staring with awe at a smirking Amy. "A fireball!" Willow started to jump up and down. "That is so cool!"

Jonathan pouted as he struggled to his feet. Willow was so entranced with learning all she could about magic sometimes he wondered if she remembered she had a boyfriend.

* *
*

Darla watched with delight as the Slayer was lifted off her feet by the force of her attack and flung into a plinth, knocking a Ming vase to the ground, shattering it. She swayed her way over to the girl. Hearing a crossbow bolt flying around her, she spun around and plucked it out of the air. "Naughty, naughty," she scolded
before smiling. "Two pretty boys, yummy," she licked her lips, "I'll have to punish you – ugh!"

She grunted when the Slayer caught her with a foot to the midsection. Grabbing the little bitch's foot, she flipped the supernatural warrior into the air only to catch a thundering foot to the jaw. She stumbled backwards as the brunette landed in a crouch and tilted her head to the side. "Punish?" the girl raised a mascaraed eyebrow. "What a good idea, time you got a spanking."

The Slayer lunged at her. She made to sidestep only for the brunette to armsweep her legs from beneath her. Hitting the ground on her shoulder, she rolled up and shot out a kick at the Slayer, smashing her heel into the raven-haired beauty's stomach, doubling her up. Teeth bared she stepped towards the Slayer, meaning to rip
through her exposed neck. Hearing the sound of the Slayer's friends approaching she let out a frustrated snarl and charged out of the door. "There'll be other days girl!"

* *
*

Faith's eyes widened as she saw Xander making to chase after the retreating blonde. "X, come back!" Faith called after her boyfriend. Her boyfriend turned back to her, the torchlight illuminating his angry eyes. "Darla's four hundred years old. You can't face her." After a second Xander nodded before hurrying back to her and the others stood around the plinth containing The Glove Of Truth. Faith smiled dazedly at her boyfriend before returning to her inspection of the black silken glove. "Don't worry, we'll catch her later. No prob." She began putting the glove on.

"Don't Faith!"

Before Xander could grab her wrist she had the glove on. Turning, she looked at Xander. "Me and you," she affected a casual tone.

"Faith no!"

She ignored C's shout. "You're a great guy, but it's really about the conquest, right?" her voice trembled. "Get me on my back and then we're done?"

"No Faith," she was surprised when Xander shook his head, his eyes suddenly unfocused as if he was drugged. "You're amazing, beautiful, brave, funny. All I can think of is holding you in my arms for forever."

"Yeah?" Tears of happiness misting her eyes, Faith stepped into her boyfriend's space, grabbed him by the back of his head and pressed her lips to his, easing her tongue into his mouth. After a while she pulled away. "I feel the same."

"Wow," exclaimed Jesse. "That thing's real powerful."

"Yeah," Faith glanced down at the glove, her smile slipping. "It is." Too powerful.

* * *

"Liar." Faith looked up from the ground in shock, having just got home and finished telling G the cover-story she'd concocted to explain away the destruction of The Glove Of Truth. Her Watcher stared impassively back at her. "You have many talents Faith. However lying is not one of them. Now why don't you tell me what
really happened?"

"I kinda used the Glove to see how X felt about me."

"Oh bloody hell," Giles groaned.

"And he really cares about me, ain't just about getting me in bed." Faith's smile disappeared. "But then I got to thinking, the Glove's got wicked power. And you, you're great, but I've read some of the Diaries," she shrugged self-consciously at G's raised eyebrow, "just some. And some of the Watchers I've read about are real bastards. I figured the Council might abuse it, so I set it on fire."

She was surprised when Giles smiled. "Well done."

"Uh?" Now she was really confused.

"I think you made a wise decision. And I trust your judgment." She grinned at the praise. "Of course my report to the Council will detail a terrible and unavoidable accident resulting in the destruction of the Glove. What a shame."

"Yeah, bummer."

"Only," she shrivelled inside at G's suddenly stern gaze. "In the future I hope I can trust you to tell me the unvarnished truth?"

"Sure G."

Her Watcher nodded. "Good girl." The Englishman stood and walked towards the lounge door.

"G?" The Sunnydale High librarian turned back towards her, a quizzical look on his face. "So Jen not staying over?" the Englishman's eyes narrowed. "I'm starting to worry about ya, five dates and you still haven't got her in bed. At your age it ain't like you've got time to spare."

"My age!" G looked outraged. "Get to bed now!"

"Hey G," Faith leapt to her feet. "You're well preserved and anything, but I'm not Jenny!" She swallowed at G's thunderous look. "See ya in the morning!" she yelped before rushing out of the door.

* *
*

"I'm sorry sir," Darla opened the darkened office's door and strode in to stand by the chair opposite the Mayor. She didn't know what it was, but there was something about the human she now served that made her nervous. "The Slayer-."

"Yes," she was relieved when the Mayor gestured she could sit down in the empty chair. She eagerly complied. "She is a troublesome little girl. Most industrious though, one has to admire that. Too many slackers these days."

"Yes sir," she nodded in agreement before sitting. It kept her off-balance, the way he'd swing between his evil dark arts mage persona to genial host.

The Mayor smiled. "Like yourself." The last thing she heard was a click and the sound of a blade whizzing through the air.

* *
*

Wilkins smiled as the blade shot out of the back of Darla's chair, slicing through her neck. A half-second later, the blonde vampire exploded into dust. "Excellent craftsmanship," he exclaimed. He'd had the blade fitted to the chair once he'd hired the Master's favoured childe, one couldn't have too many precautions when dealing
with a vampire of her power.

His smile turned to a scowl. First the voodoo police officers and now this. "Faith is a most troublesome girl," he muttered. Her diligence and ingenuity would be admired if it didn't directly conflict with his aims. "Something will have to be done about that young lady." He smiled as he considered his options. Perhaps Snyder could be useful for dealing with the said young lady in a circuitous manner.

* *
*

"Go on William!" His raven-haired goddess jumped up and down on the seat beside her, clapping her hands together. "Your mummy and Miss Edith want to see you hit the sign!"

Spike twisted his head to grin at his sire. "Right you are luv." Leaning across the car, he pressed his lips to the insane vampiress even as he pressed down on the DeSoto's accelerator, gunning yet more revs from the engine as the sleek muscle car flew into the `Welcome To Sunnydale' sign. The sign's supports splintered under the crashing impact of the car, flinging the sign into the cold night air.

The moment his car had screeched to a halt, Spike jumped out of thecar. Long coat flapping in the wind, he hurried to the front of the car and gazed down on the small town. "The bloody Hellmouth princess!"

Drusilla giggled into his ear, her hands freely roaming his body, pulling at his clothes. "Is my William going to kill himself a Slayer? For me?"

"Bloody right luv," he growled. "Just like Hurst in '66, I'm getting myself a hat-trick. That chit is going to die."

A/N: Thanks to all those commented that there should be some fall-out over the Glove Of Truth, a point I hadn’t considered.

Petrograd, Russia – March 1917

All around women and children died as men fought, their blood staining the once white snow, the sound of gunfire and angry shouting filling the air. And from far-off a bearded man watched, a cruel smile parting his lips. "Excellent, oh excellent."

"Is it going as you wished sir?"

"Yes it does Nicholas," he was pleased when his master nodded even as he continued to laugh and stroke his beard. "You need to do just one thing for me now."

"Oh yes sir?" he pulled his fur coat closer, desperate for any relief from the biting Russian winter. "What is that?"

"You can die."

* * *

He chuckled when he dropped Nicholas’ corpse onto the snow. Just one body to add to all those dying today, but sometimes he liked the personal touch. "Time to move on," he muttered. "Where next?" he chuckled to himself. "Ah yes, the New World, such potential."

* * *

Sunnydale Oct ’98.

He smiled as he breathed in the night air, felt the Hellmouth pull at him. "All those souls," he chuckled. "Oh the pain, I can hardly wait." He looked around, a small smile tugging at his lips as he noted a car parked just up the lamp-lit lane. "Teenagers making-out." He shook his head. "They could be using their time far more valuably."

* * *

"You promise if I do this for you, you’ll dedicate a song to me at the show?"

"Harmony," it was an effort but Devon managed to keep himself calm as he looked into the beautiful blonde’s cornflower blue eyes. Beautiful yes, but dim and irritating… If his position as lead singer of the Dingoes didn’t require a hot-looking chick on his arm at all times, he’d gladly go without for a couple of weeks just to get rid of her. "I promise."

"Okay," Harmony reached down and began unfastening his jeans. The cheerleader looked up, a sly look in her eyes. "This is the first time I’ve ever done this, maybe it’s worth two songs."

Devon felt his temper snap. "The first time?" he laughed, a harsh bitter sound. "I doubt," he grabbed the girl’s small chin in his hand and squeezed. "You can remember the first time."

He was pleased to see tears well up in Harmony’s eyes. "Devon baby, you’re hurting me," she whined.

"Not yet I am," he replied before punching her square in the face. "But now," he slammed another punch home, "I am." Soon the car was filled with the blonde’s screams.

Harmony had been right, this was his most fun date ever.

* * *

"Hi G-Man," Xander shuffled from foot to foot as the Englishman opened the door. "Is Faith in?"

"Yes, she’s upstairs doing her French homework," the school librarian chuckled. "A sure sign of the apocalypse. You’re here to distract her I assume?"

"Uh, yeah."

He managed a weak smile before stepping into the hallway. He looked up when the Watcher took hold of him by his elbow. "What’s wrong son? You haven’t been around as often over the last fortnight."

He opened his mouth to make one of his customary jokes, then seeing the concern in the librarian’s eyes – so unlike his father’s uncaring expression, he shrugged. "She used the Glove of Truth on me Giles," he looked away, unable to meet the Englishman’s gaze. "She doesn’t trust me."

"Ah," the Watcher sounded sorrowful. "Of course I should have realised. Come with me," the librarian guided him into the lounge. "Sit down." Once he’d obeyed, the Watcher sat in the seat opposite. "Xander, it’s not you it’s her. When I adopted her, Faith," the Englishman’s eyes flickered with pain. "Faith slept with a switchblade under her pillow and her chair against the door to prevent me from entering and abusing her. Only when she became empowered did she become confident enough to stop that. And not because she trusted me, but because she knew she was stronger. The trust came later. Son, because of her past Faith has a great difficulty trusting any male. You and Faith have a good thing if I am any judge. You have a choice to make, you can allow Faith’s mistake to drive a wedge between you, or you can continue your relationship. Son," Giles paused for a second. "She cares very deeply for you. Her only problem is believing that anyone could feel the same way. How about you prove her wrong?"

After a second he nodded. "I can do that."

* * *

"Hey did you hear about Devon getting arrested for beating up Harmony?"

Faith pulled away from kissing Xander to look over her shoulder. "Heard she’d been taken into hospital."

"Yeah," Xander nodded. "Word is Oz is close to almost sweating at the thought of being the Dingos’ front man."

"Apparently Devon beat her up on their date," Jesse grinned. "Would have thought beating up Harmony would get you a medal, not arrested."

"You know," Faith scowled as she pulled away from Xander. "Guys who beat up women, not cool."

Jesse backed off, his hands held up placatingly. "It was a joke."

Faith glared at the boy. "For the record, not funny."

* * *

Freddy Iverson looked up from his scribblings of the school newspaper to see a tall, fat man with a busy beard stood in the office doorway. Even as he opened his mouth to ask what the stranger wanted, the man turned away and disappeared.

Shaking his head, he rose and walked over to where his assistant was working. His junior looked up at him before taking a sip of the coffee he’d just made for both of them. "Hi Freddy."

"Norm," he nodded at the junior reporter before getting down to business. "How’s the story going?"

"Struggling a little," Norm admitted with a grimace. "I mean, Devon arrested for beating up a cheerleader. The lead singer of Sunnydale’s biggest pop group, it’s huge. I’ve got to get the copy just right, and it’s taking time."

"And yet," his cold voice cut through the man’s ramblings. "You have time to stop to make coffee?"

Norm’s eyes widened. "You asked me t-."

"Do your work!" Freddy grabbed the scalding coffee and poured it in his junior’s lap. The trainee journalist screamed and fell to the ground, holding himself around the groin. Freddy looked down at the sobbing reporter. "Perhaps in the future you won’t just ignore your duties."

* * *

Willow stuck her hand up, eager to answer another question. "It’s like dating a sexy Stephen Hawking," Jonathan whispered in her ear. She giggled in reply.

Mr Sanderson’s gaze snapped towards her, the look in the science tutor’s eyes making her shudder. "You find something amusing Miss. Rosenberg?"

"N..no sir," out of the corner of her eye, she saw a bearded man walk past the classroom outside window.

"Oh, I rather think you do," she was alarmed when the balding teacher started towards her. "Just because you’re intelligent, doesn’t mean you can ignore me."

Beside her, Jonathan stood, his face pale. "It wasn’t Willow-."

"Was I talking to you Levinson?" the tutor thundered. She blinked when the teacher threw a right at Jonathan. Her boyfriend leapt out of the way, the teacher stumbled forward. Her eyes widened when Cordy stuck out a foot, tripping the tutor up and sending him crashing head-first into the wall. After a groan, the teacher slid down the wall to crumple in a heap on the floor.

For a second there was stunned silence. Then Cordy spoke. "Just what is his malfunction?" The cheerleader was silent for a second before beaming. "Hey, you see that? I helped you in science class, yay me!"

* * *

"Today was weird uh?" Xander commented as they patrolled the hushed graveyard. "Freddy Iverson and Devon both going off the deep end. And Mr. Sanderson too."

"Uh, uh," Faith’s tone was non-committal as she peered into the graveyard. Freddy was a little strange, she’d figured the bookish geek wouldn’t say boo to a goose, but Devon? She’d known plenty of musos who seemed wicked cool when they were getting what they wanted, but they’d think nothing of getting heavy if a girl turned reluctant. Public images didn’t mean shit. But Sanderson too, that was major strange. She tensed as she sensed something. "X," her boyfriend glanced at her. "Six vampires coming at us."

"Oh crap," Xander drew his stake. "Where?"

"All around us." Faith looked around. She’d have to stay close to Xander, cut out the aerial manoeuvres. Suddenly the vampires charged them.

* * *

He chuckled as the lesser demons attacked. This would be interesting. The beautiful brunette shot out a right thrust kick at the face of the closest vampire, snapping its head back. Off-balance, the demon was helpless to resist being staked.

Meanwhile the male blocked a right on his shoulder, stepped into the attacking vampire’s space and drove a knee into the female demon’s groin, staking it as she doubled up. Even as the vampire turned to dust, a second leapt into its space, slamming a fist into his jaw, knocking him to the ground. A grin on his face, the vampire bared his fangs and leaned over the stunned man.

The raven-haired beauty suddenly backwards somersaulted over the demon’s head and upon landing plunged her stake into the surprised vampire’s back. A third vampire stepped towards the girl. Before she could attack, the girl moved into a sweeping roundhouse kick that took the female’s legs from beneath her at the ankles. Even as the vampire hit the ground, the brunette crouched over her, slamming a stake into her heart.

Another vampire leapt at the crouched female. The girl looked up and shot out a foot while still in the crouched position. Despite her disadvantageous position, the brunette’s attack was smoothly executed, catching the demon in the gut and throwing him to the ground. Springing up, the girl strode over to the vampire and slammed a stake into its chest. Then she spoke to the two remaining vampires, her husky voice nonchalant yet filled with danger. "Come on boys, I’m not even warmed up yet."

The vampires turned and ran away from the swaggering girl, a Slayer she had to be – it was just a shame his powers didn’t work on women, the fun he could have with her. Swallowing his disappointment, he stepped out of the shadows and spoke. "Now then boys," he said, waggling his finger reprovingly. "You have a Slayer to kill. The sweetest of prey."

* * *

Faith’s mouth opened to shout a warning to the portly bearded man who stepped out of the darkness just ahead of the vampire. Her eyes widened when, instead of attacking the easy target, the vampires spun round and charged her. "What the fuck!"

Shoving aside her shock, Faith charged into battle. Ducking one vampire’s haymaker, she caught him with a right to the throat. The vampire gasped and dropped onto his back. Before she could stake him, the second one charged her. Sliding out of the way, she allowed the on-rushing demon to charge onto her stake. Spinning round, she moved to stake the final vampire only to see her boyfriend kill it. "Well done," she praised before turning serious. "X, did you see the old guy?"

"Faith," Xander grinned. "After that vamp hit me, the only thing I was seeing was stars."

Faith scowled. She’d have to see G about this.

* * *

"Damn it," Giles strode around his cluttered office. "I need those reports. How long does it take for a package to come anyhow?"

Jenny grinned at her boyfriend’s impatience, knowing it was fuelled by concern for his Slayer. "They could be here if you’d embrace the wonders of computers and email. But no," she gently teased. "You have to be a luddite. What do the Council use these days anyhow? Carrier pigeons?"

"Excuse me," her blood chilled at the suddenly dangerous light in the normally reserved librarian’s eyes. "Who the bloody hell do you think you’re talking to you, you bloody bint? Seems someone," her mouth dried when the Watcher began to unfasten his belt, "needs a lesson in respect. To learn her place."

"Rupert," she staggered backwards, stumbling against the open door. "It was a joke."

"Yo G, where are you? You and JC getting jiggy?" she heard Faith’s jauntily cheerful voice in the hallway.

"FAITH!" she screamed even as she ducked her boyfriend’s first belt-swing, the leather belt slapping against the open wooden door as she backed out onto the landing. "UPSTAIRS! HELP!"

Even as the librarian raised the belt for a second strike, Faith appeared, pushing her to the ground, catching Giles’ belt in her hand and kicking the man in the stomach. As the Englishman doubled up, Faith grabbed his hair and drove his head into the banister rail. The Watcher groaned and slumped to the ground, unconscious. Jenny gulped as Faith spun to face her, the Bostonian’s eyes dangerous. "What the fuck is going on?"

* * *

Xander finished tying the stunned Watcher to the lounge chair, his skin crawling as he did so. He’d only run in on the end of Faith subduing her guardian but he’d seen enough to be reminded of his own father. And Faith wondered why he never invited her round. She didn’t need to see that, more to the point, he didn’t need her to see that.

"We were just joking about computers," Jenny dabbed at her eyes. Xander felt really bad for the computer teacher, she looked a mess, a million miles from her usual composed self. "Things I’d said a hundred times before and then suddenly he’s swearing at me, telling me I need teaching a lesson and he’s taking his belt off to beat me. If you hadn’t turned up," suddenly the computer teacher began crying again. After an uncomfortable glance at him, Faith clumsily hugged the tutor.

"JC," Faith muttered. "G’s under a spell or some shit, we’ll work it out."

Hearing his girl-friend’s words, Xander scowled. Taking her by the elbow, he guided her into the furtherest corner of the room. "Are you sure that he’s under a spell?"

"What?" He gulped at the fury in his girl-friend’s eyes. "G would never hit a woman! I lived with him for over a year before I got my powers and I was a real pain in the ass-."

"No really?"

His mumble only caused an increase in the intensity of the Bostonian’s glower. "And he never laid a damn hand on me!"

"Maybe he was afraid that if you were Chosen you’d kick his ass?" Xander suggested.

"Just ‘cause your pop’s a prick doesn’t mean mine is!" Xander winced, Faith’s face fell. "Fuck X, I didn’t mean that," the brunette glanced down. "Look, all the violent shit that have happened over the last couple of days? And all the times we messed with him, he never got violent with any of us did he?" He opened his mouth but Faith hurried on. "And when we were fighting those vamps and then those two ran off and they suddenly turned back?" He nodded. "Well as they ran away I saw this fat guy talking to them. Maybe he’s some sort of demon." Xander blinked, it all sounded really far-fetched to him, but on the other hand all the acts of unexplained violence…. Finally he nodded. "Thanks X!" His girl-friend threw her arms around him and hugged him. "I’m sorry about before," she whispered in his ear.

* * *

Faith cast G a nervous look even as she leafed through the books. It had been thirty minutes since she’d knocked out her Watcher and guardian out, he wouldn’t be out for much longer. And then they’d have to deal with him going psycho. She swallowed, that was gonna be a barrel of laughs. She realised that the bleary-eyed teacher was talking to her. "Sorry?"

"I was saying I wished Rupert," Jenny shuddered, "had let me write a computer cross-reference." The tutor glanced towards the unconscious Englishman. "If it is a demon."

"It’s a demon," Faith said firmly. She couldn’t help but feel bad for the computer teacher. It was a real kick in the gut the first time a guy turned on ya, ‘course with her Ma she was used to people who should care about her betraying her, but still. "G ain’t like -," she grinned as her eyes caught a small picture in the top right-hand corner of the book she was skimming. "Got it!"

"Got what?"

Faith hid a wince when she looked into her boyfriend’s eyes. She’d been way out of line with what she’d said about his parents. So what if his dad was a prick? X was a great guy. Giving herself a mental shake, she began to read aloud. "He’s called Oidium, which is Latin for hatred. He casts spells on males to make them attack other people," she shook her head. Figured with all that testosterone buzzing around their bodies. "Records claim he caused," her eyes widened, fuck the guy was psycho, "the first Crusade in 1095, the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, the Forty-Five uprising in 1745," she shrugged, whatever that was, "the Boxer rebellion in 1900, the Russian Revolution in 1917, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in ’62."

"Oh boy," Xander croaked. "This is major mojo, does it say how to break the spell?"

"It’s already broken," Faith glanced up to see Giles staring groggily at them. "Oidium’s spells can be broken in a number of ways – through an act of violence being enacted on the person on the enchanted, by the enchanted completing the act he was enspelled to commit," her Watcher glanced at his girl-friend before turning his gaze back to the floor. "Or by the death of Oidium himself."

"And we should just believe you?" Faith glanced at Jenny. Man, JC looked pissed.

"No," Giles shook his head. "Of course not. If you look in my study, there’s a text called ‘Emotion Demons’. He’s featured on page 73 – 78."

"I’ll get it!" In an instant Faith was on her feet, racing towards the door, anxious for the proof that would prove her Watcher’s innocence.

* * *

Faith watched as Jenny walked Xander out. Now she’d have to face the consequences of punching G out. "Faith."

Faith turned slowly, hesitant to meet her Watcher’s gaze. "Um sorry-."

"Sorry for what?" Giles smiled at her before giving her a hug. "Sorry for stopping me hurting one of the two people dearest to me in the world?"

"I’m the other one right?"

"But of course my girl, of course."

She looked up at her Watcher and grinned. "We’re gonna get him right?"

G’s face hardened. "Oh I think we can guarantee it."

* * *

Faith grinned as she worked in Auto Shop. It was wicked being a grease monkey, if she ever lived long enough, she’d love to be a mechanic, work on bikes and shit, maybe even race them. Man, that would be the -.

"Faith."

She looked up, it was the teacher, John Tucker, a local mechanic. "Yo John."

"Mr. Giles," the mechanic gave her a smile that was even more oily than his hands, "sent a note, you’re needed in the library."

"Wicked cool," she nodded. Maybe G had found a way to battle Oidium. "Thanks John."

* * *

Faith slowed as she entered the library, her senses tingling as she noticed the blinds were closed, draping the library in shadows. "Oh shit," she muttered. Something was up.

Hearing something to her right, she spun around and caught a crossbow bolt as it flew out of the darkness. "Well hell," she swaggered. "You’ll have to do better than that."

She paled as Xander stepped out of the shadows carrying a crossbow. "Bitch!"

"X-." She was interrupted by the sound of the door opening and Oidium leading Jesse and Jonathan in behind her, the two boys carrying swords. The inner library door opened, she looked up to see Giles come out, carrying his favourite rapier in his hand. Her heart dropped. "Guys, you’re under a sp-."

"My dear," her eyes blazed as she glanced at a chuckling Oidium, "reason is not your friend. I normally don’t stay to watch the bedlam I create. But the death of a Slayer," he chuckled. "A rare pleasure."

"You’re the one who’s dead asshole!" She blustered even as she struggled to think. She could take out all four guys no problem, problem was could she do it without seriously hurting them?

Even as she thought she sensed X darting at her. Shooting out her foot, she kicked his dagger out of his hand and stepped towards her boyfriend to knock him out.

"SHIT!" She darted back when Jesse thrust his sword at her, the point of the blade narrowly missing her eye. Spinning round, she kicked the boy square in the groin, wincing as she did so. Cor probably wouldn’t thank her for that. The boy croaked, his face greying as he fell down to his knees.

Feeling an arm around her neck, she reached up, gabbed hold and bent forward, sending Xander hurtling over her shoulder, crashing into an on-rushing Jonathan. "You bloody bint!"

Ignoring Giles’ snarl, she stepped back, driving her elbow into her guardian’s jaw even as she grabbed the Watcher’s wrist and twisting. G let out an anguished cry before dropping the rapier. Snatching the dropping weapon, she hefted her arm and threw it just over a rising Jesse’s shoulder. "You lose," Faith proclaimed as the demon fell on his back, the rapier jutting out of his eye.

* * *

"Faith," she turned to see Giles standing there, a nervous expression on the librarian’s face. "I can only apologise-."

"It’s copasetic G," Faith shrugged. "You were under a spell, I got that with Xan when it was the hyena and everything, but he hit a sore spot. How ya feelin’?"

"I now have matching bruises on both sides of my face," her Watcher grinned ruefully. "When Oidium came here, Xander was telling me how vociferously you were standing up for me last night. Thank you."

Faith grinned. "Hey, I got your back, G."

* * *

"The Master is dead. Someone has to take his place."

"As long as the Slayer's alive, whoever takes his place will be sharing his grave."

"Then let the soul who kills her wear his mantle."

"Can you do it?" asked the small boy.

"Yes. This weekend, the night of St. Vigeous, our power shall be at its peak. When I kill her, it'll be the greatest event since the crucifixion. And I should know. I was there."

"You were there?" Spike stepped out of the shadows and laughed. "Oh, please!

If every vampire who said he was at the crucifixion was actually there, it would have been like Woodstock."

The vampire turned to him. "I oughta rip your throat out."

Spike shook his head and stepped past the vampire. "I was actually at Woodstock. That was a weird gig. I fed off a flower person, and I spent the next six hours watchin' my hand move." Hearing the vampire rush at him, he swung his fist up without even looking, hitting his attacker in the face and knocking him down and out. "You’re the big cheese right?" he swaggered over to the small boy. "That Anointed One?"

The boy stood. "I’m the boss."

Spike smiled. "Wrong." Before the others could react, he had the Anointed One around the neck and threw him into the air. Turning, he watched as Drusilla joined him in stepping out of the shadows. Catching the protesting youth in mid-air, she patted the boy on his forehead before slamming her stake home. Spike turned to the shocked minions. "Looks like I’m the boss now lads."

"A lot of educators tell students, 'Think of your principal as your pal." Faith looked at Snyder through lidded eyes. The guy was turning into a serious pain; she was half-wondering if G would put up that much of a fuss if the asshole disappeared. "But I say, 'Think of me as your judge, jury, and executioner.' Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school?" The principal looked from her to her companion. "Well, it is quite a match between you two. On the one hand, Faith hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel."

"I didn't stab anyone with a trowel. They were pruning shears." Faith raised an eyebrow at her fellow student’s defence. She really needed Johnny Cochrane’s expertise.

"On the other hand, Sheila has never burned down a school building."

Faith shrugged. "But on the plus side, I now heed the Surgeon-General’s warnings."

Snyder glared at her. "The two of you seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-

starting events. You really are neck and neck here. It's quite exciting."

"Yeah," Faith stared back at the teacher. "I’m getting all tingly. What does the winner get?"

"Expelled."

Faith blinked. "And second prize?"

Snyder ignored her. "Thursday is Parent-Teacher night. Your guardians will meet your teachers. I've decided to put the two of you in charge of this event." Faith groaned, Snyder grinned. "You have three days to prepare the refreshments, make the banners and transform the school lounge into a habitable place for adults. This will incur my good will. And may affect what I tell your guardians when I meet them. Are we clear?"

"I'm clear." Faith turned to Sheila. "Don't you feel clear?" Sheila just looked back. "We're very clear."

"Good. Because you mess up this time, and your parents will be coming to clean out your lockers."

Faith and Sheila rose and walked out of the school. "Well, it shouldn't be that hard. We can work on the banners at lunch tomorrow and figure out refreshments then?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Sheila nodded. "Hey, meatpie!" The other girl walked off.

"Snyder's got you guys making party favours, huh?"

"His two worst students." Faith didn’t look at her boy-friend choosing instead to glare at Sheila, watching as Sheila kissed an older boy with long, blonde hair. Stupid bitch, Faith shook her head, remembering when she’d been Sheila. Didn’t she realise what she was doing to herself?

"Well, Sheila's definitely intense," Xander continued, blithely unaware of her distress. "That guy with her? That's the guy she *can* bring home to mother."

"She was already smoking in fifth grade," Willow cut in. "Once I was lookout for her."

"You're bad to the bone."

"I'm a rebel."

Faith chuckled at her buds’ exchange. "It's not fair. I'm the Slayer. That requires a certain amount of cutting and fighting. What's Sheila's excuse?"

"Always with the excuses," Cordelia interrupted. "I’m the Slayer. Everyone’s got responsibilities. What?" her friend sniffed when she turned to glare at her. "You think looking this good is easy?"

"I was thinking plastic surgeon," Xander muttered. "Liposuction, tanning-beds, tummy-tucks…"

"Jackass," Cordelia sniffed before turning to her. "Sheila’s problem is homework. She won't do it. And most teachers respect that now. Oh, you might wanna keep away any sharp implements when you're working with her."

Faith shook her head. "She tries anything with me, she’ll be eating through a straw."

"It's no biggie." Xander comforted. "You'll smooth things over with the troll. As long as nothing really bad happens between now and then, you'll be fine."

"Are you crazy?" Cordy slapped Xander across the back of his head, beating her to it by mere seconds. "What did you say that for? Now something bad is gonna happen!"

"Whadaya mean?" Xander rubbed his head. "Nothing's gonna happen."

"Not until some dummy says, 'as long as nothing bad happens.'" Willow punched Xander in the arm. "What were you thinking? Or were you even thinking at all?"

* * *

"It’s not like I have anything to worry about is it?" Giles soothed his fretting charge. His eyes narrowed at he noted his daughter’s guilty expression. "Is it?" His Slayer looked at the ground. "Faith?"

The Bostonian gulped at his tone. "I kinda skipped classes," Faith muttered, the words almost inaudible.

"Faith," Giles sighed. "I don’t care, I understand that Slaying -."

"Weren’t to Slay, just ‘cause they were boring."

"Faith," he shook his head. "And your grades?"

"My French kinda blows, Domestic Science sucks," no surprise there, Faith could burn water, "Science makes my head hurt. And-."

"Wait," Giles found his own head begin to hurt. How could such an otherwise intelligent girl be so awful at school? "Are you good at anything?"

Faith’s downcast face brightened. "Auto Shop!"

"Delightful." It appeared the next Giles was going to be a mechanic. Not that, he glowered, she had a future at all. Seeing Faith’s downcast expression, he forced a smile. "Faith, you are good-hearted, loyal, and brave. That means more to me than any grade."

Faith smiled. "Thanks G."

* * *

"Sheila's a no-show?" Willow babbled. "She goes to this really rank bar. The Fish

Tank? Sometimes they have raids and other stuff that can make you tardy."

"Sounds familiar," Faith muttered before turning to the red-head. "D'you think you can help me cram some French tonight? I don't want Mr. DeJean telling G I'm an imbecile."

"I thought we were going to the Bronze tonight?" Willow asked.

"We're going to the Bronze. I can study and party and do Parent-Teacher night no prob," she said with a confidence she didn’t feel. She looked to see her Watcher and his squeeze walk in. "Oh crap, I just jinxed us."

"There is nothing in the chronicles about a-an extraneous lunar cycle," Giles said to Jenny. Faith’s brow furrowed. Fuck, English G.

"The Order never accurately calculated the Mesopotamian Calendar. Rupert, you have *got* to read something that was published after 1066," Jenny retorted.

"What's up?" Jesse asked.

Giles looked towards them. "Ms. Calendar has been surfing on her computer, and she's... Well, according to her calculations, this Saturday is the night of St. Vigeous."

"And?" Faith arched an eyebrow.

"He led a crusade of vampires. They swept through Edessa, Harran, and points east," Giles explained.

"And they didn't leave much behind," Jenny added.

"Well, if I survive Parent-Teacher night tomorrow, I'll see what I can do about Saturday."

"You're being a tad flip, don't you think? This is serious." Giles scowled. "This Saturday's going to need a great deal of preparation."

"Well, we'll help," Willow put in.

"Yeah, I'll whittle stakes," Jesse put in.

"A-and I can research stuff," Jonathan added.

"And while I'm whittling, I plan to whistle a jaunty uplifting tune," Xander added.

Giles stared at her boyfriend. "Yes, your help will be greatly appreciated, but when it comes to battle, Faith must fight alone. She is, after all, the Slay...slay-ve. Slaves. You're, you're all slaves to the, uh, television." G turned to Jenny. "Young people nowadays. Shall we go?" Within seconds the two adults disappeared.

What was G’s problem, Faith wondered. She groaned when she heard Snyder behind her. "I hope you’re not helping Faith in Sheila's place, would you?"

Xander laughed nervously. "Of course not sir, that would mean work. And you know I’m allergic to that!"

"She ditched." Snyder took a deep breath. "I feel an expulsion coming on."

Faith resisted the temptation to leave Sheila to sink in her shit. "No. No, actually, Sheila's been helping us for hours. Um, she just went to get some more paint." Hearing the door behind her open behind her, she turned to see a sunglass-wearing and definitely hung-over Sheila. "Oh! Oh, is there no more teal in the art room?" she grabbed Sheila. "I know you wanted everything to be perfect, but let's just go with what we have."

"Just make sure everything is perfect on Thursday." Snyder walked out.

"Thanks for covering. Guy's a serious rodent."

Faith nodded before grabbing Sheila by her shirt and slamming her into the wall. "Listen you stupid bitch, this is serious," she growled. "This is your future you’re fucking with-."

"Whoa," Xander pulled her away from the suddenly shaken looking Sheila. "Calm down Faith." She glared as the other student stormed out. "She’s not worth it."

"What if G had said that about me X?" Faith demanded. "What if he hadn’t believed I was worth it!"

* * *

Spike grinned as he watched the seven kids dancing in the middle of the club’s floor. They were all, bar the half-pint, prime specimens, but the Slayer, he could smell her power, power that would soon be his. He glanced over to his companion. "Get yourself a snack mate." He waited until he saw his companion lead a victim outside befor striding over to beside the dancers. "Where's the phone? I need to call the police. There's some big guy out there trying to bite somebody." He hid a grin as the Slayer hurried past him outside, following after a second.

"Hey asshole," the brunette grabbed the vampire by his shoulder, spun him round and slammed a fist into his jaw, knocking him to the floor.

The minion rolled up instantly, wiping at his bloodied lip. "Slayer!"

"Slayee!"

The supernatural warrior thrust kicked the minion in the face, snapping his head to the side. The demon responded by lunging at her, but she easily dodged his attack, throwing a right that he grabbed at the wrist and used the leverage fling her into a metal roll-up door. Spike chuckled as the Slayer hit the door and bounced off it to plummet to the ground only to bounce right back up. "Tough chit," he muttered.

His minion shot out a right that the brunette slid beneath, causing the fist to slam into the door. Spike’s eyes widened as the Slayer’s friends hurried out, they actually knew about her Slaying. "Get her out of here!"

The other girls dragged the victim out of the way. "Hey asshole," he blinked as the tallest of the three boys staked his minion from behind. "Hitting my girl, not cool."

Spike strode out of the shadows as the vampire crumbled to ash. The Slayer glanced at him, the boys turning with her. "Nice work, love. Name’s Spike by the way."

"Who are you?" the husky-voiced brunette demanded.

Spike grinned. "You'll find out on Saturday."

"What happens on Saturday?" the Slayer asked.

Spike’s grin widened. "I kill you. You’ll be my third."

* * *

"Alright. Which one's Dwayne and which one's Dell?" Sheila looked at the two guys she’d picked up at the Fish Tank and giggled. She’d been shaken up by that Faith bitch, man you’d think she’d know how to cut loose, but no. She was uptight as the others. "Don't tell me. Dell's the one with the tats. You guys weren't lyin' about

havin' a Cadillac, were you? 'Cause I'm crazy about a Cad. Just the feel of the leather makes me wanna..." She stopped as she realised the two men had disappeared. "Where ya go?" She started to walk back slowly. "Where are you guys? Not funny!"

Hearing a noise, she turned around to see a scrawny brunette chick. "Where the fuck did you come from?"

The woman giggled. "Pretty girl with foulness in her mouth and pain in her heart. Would you like," Sheila flinched when the brunette ran a hand down her face. God, she was freezing. "Mummy to take your pain away?"

She stepped back. "I don’t do chicks."

The woman giggled, a terrifying gleam in her eyes. "I do."

* * *

"Spike," Faith so did not like the way her Watcher looked. "This is not good."

"You’re not filling me with warm fuzzies G."

G fixed her with a fearsome glare. "Spike is one of the most feared vampires in existence. In his one hundred and twenty years-."

"Shit," Faith snorted. "Lothos was a thousand, the Master eight hundred. Hell, even Luke was -."

"He was barely a decade old when he killed his first Slayer, the only know vampire to kill a Slayer in one to one battle before reaching their half-century," she gulped. "In 1977 he killed a second, Nicci Wood, a Slayer who’d survived for almost six years, one of the longest-lived Slayers of all time. His original name was William the Bloody, but he gained his name Spike because of his penchant for torturing his victims with railroad-."

"THAT’S ENOUGH!"

She jumped at Xander’s shout. Her Watcher turned to her boyfriend. "She needs to know this," her Watcher’s tone was low but dangerous.

"I know," Xander nodded, his face pale but his voice steady. "But not now-."

"G’s right." Faith broke in. Xander turned to her. She smiled, she appreciated him trying to protect her, but this was her deal. It was a tough one, but without it she would never have achieved anything with her life, never helped anyone, never met G or the others. She nodded at the librarian. "Go on."

"The story begins with Darla. In 1747 she turned a vampire by the name of Liam in an Irish village. When he rose, she named him Angelus-."

"Say what?" Jesse interrupted.

"It’s Latin for the one with an angelic face," Jenny explained.

"Sounds like the vampire version of Austin Powers to me," Jesse sniggered.

"BELT UP!" G slammed his hands into the desk making them all step back. "If you are not going to take this seriously, then I suggest you bugger off!"

"Rupert," Jenny placed a hand on her guardian’s shoulder. "Jesse was just trying lighten the mood, calm down."

After a second her Watcher broke from glaring at Jess to nod. "Upon his rising, Angelus and Darla massacred his home village, murdering everyone in it. The duo were soon the most feared vampires in Europe becoming known as the Scourge of Europe. In 1820, a young seer Drusilla attracted the attention of Angelus. She was chaste, he massacred her family, drove her insane, and into a nunnery. Then, the day before she was due to take holy orders, he broke into the nunnery, massacred everyone, raped, and turned her, creating an insane vampiress."

"Holy crap," Cordelia muttered.

"Then in the 1880s, the Scourge came across William Beldose, a mummy’s boy who Drusilla took a fancy to. Angelus allowed her to turn him. He became William the Bloody-."

"Why was Darla in Sunnydale and not with the Scourge?"

Giles smiled. "Good question Xander, glad to see you thinking for once." The librarian turned serious. "The truth is the Council doesn’t know why Darla split from the others. It’s theorised there was a power struggle and Darla fled to the Master rather than being staked. With the Master dead, there is now a power vacuum."

"So three psycho master vamps," Faith groaned.

"No," she was relieved when her Watcher shook his head. "It’s believed that Angelus was killed by an angry mob in Prague at the start of the decade."

"Well that’s something," Jenny put in.

Xander looked around. "So, this night of St. Vigeous deal. If they're gonna attack in force, aren't we thinkin' vacation?"

"We can't run, that would be wrong. Could we hide? I mean, if that Spike guy is leading the attack," Willow shuddered, "yeeehehehe."

"Look guys," Faith looked around. "It’s great of you to offer but -."

"Don’t you dare!" she flinched when Cor shouted. "You’re our friend! We don’t run out on our friends do we?"

The others shook their heads, Jonathan gulped. "Maybe we could just send Cordelia to negotiate with them," the youth shrunk in on himself when the cheerleader glared at him. "Ah, probably a silly idea."

* * *

Faith looked around the library even as she chopped cucumber slices, fuck she was turning into Martha Stewart. Jonathan was checking out the crossbow, apart from her and G, he was their best shot. Jenny was carrying wood over to Jesse and Xander who were busy whittling stakes. Cor and Red were making dip, Amy was making sandwiches. And G was lecturing. "For three nights the unholy ones scourge themselves into a fury culminating in a savage attack on the night of St. Vigeous."

"Does anybody remember when Saturday night meant date night?" Xander queried.

"You sure don't," Cor shot back.

Faith shook her head. Cor and Xan were wicked funny, but she had to focus. "I’m just gonna get the punch, cya."

* * *

"What kinda punch did you make?"

Faith looked up at her question. "Hi Red. Uh, lemonade." The Slayer poured a cup. "I made it fresh and everything."

"How much sugar did you use?" Willow asked before taking a sip.

Faith blinked. "Sugar?"

Willow grimaced at the incredibly sour taste. "It’s very good," she looked over the Slayer’s shoulder. "Say is that Snyder?" The moment the Bostonian turned away, she quickly threw the rest of the drink into a near-by plant. She smiled innocently as the east coast Slayer turned back to her. "It’s very nice."

The supernatural warrior beamed at her. "Thanks Red."

* * *

Faith sighed as Snyder started to turn the lights off at the end of the evening, just a few stragglers remaining. "Finally it’s all -."

Suddenly the window exploded, Faith’s head snapped towards the door to see vampires swarming through. "Oh fuck," she breathed.

Spike smirked. "What can I say? I couldn't wait."

Collecting herself, she let out a yell. "Everyone out now!" Grabbing Red, she dragged her to the door. "Now damnit!"

Even as she pushed the others out of the room, Spike lunged at her. Grabbing a chair, Faith flung it at the vampire, tripping him. Taking the chance, Faith followed the others into the now darkened corridor. "This way!" she led the others to the right only to find the way already blocked.

"Nobody gets out! Especially the girl!"

Ignoring Spike’s shout, Faith turned down another corridor. "Everybody, this way! C'mon! C'mon!"

Snyder and several others ran past her as she shoved a cleaning cart into the path of two vampires chasing them. Cor let out a scream as a demon lunged out of the darkness and grabbed her. Even as she stepped towards her friend, Red grabbed a bust off a display pedestal and wielded it back for a swing. "Hey!" The vampire looked up and Willow swung the bust into his face, knocking him off Cordelia. Willow grabbed the cheerleader and dragged her towards the others.

"In here! Now!" Faith ordered, leading the group into a classroom and closing the door just behind the following vampires. Snyder and another man manoeuvred a storage cabinet in front of the door. Faith ran over to the other door, closed and locked it. The power went out.

* * *

Giles glanced towards Jenny, Amy, and the boys, worried by the noise. Standing, he hurried towards the library doors, the others following behind. "What the hell...?!"

Suddenly the door flew open. He leaned back to prevent a long-nailed hand from ripping into his throat. "Miss Edith wants to play with Wordy-Man."

* * *

Spike glanced around the lounge, snarling at his failure to hold onto the Slayer. One of his minions ran up. "We cut the power. Nobody got out."

"And the Slayer?" he growled.

The minion shrugged. "She either went left or right."

"You don't know?!" Spike exploded, kicking a chair across the room. "FIND HER!"

* * *

"Who are those people, and what do they want?" demanded one of the guests.

"It's a gang on PCP!" Snyder exclaimed. "We've gotta get out of here." The principal grabbed a desk, set it in front of a window, and started climbing.

Faith grabbed the teacher and pulled him down. "You can't go outside! They'll kill you!"

Snyder glared at her. "You don't tell me! I tell you!"

"They will kill everybody in this room. Nobody goes out, nobody comes in until *I* say so. Do you hear me?" Faith retorted.

Snyder sniffed. "Who do you think you are?"

"I'm the one that knows how to stop them." She looked up and walked across the room, trying to find a way into the ceiling. Willow grabbed her.

"Faith, are you crazy?" her friend demanded. "We’re seriously out-numbered. You can't go out there."

Faith nodded. "I know. That's why I'm going up there." She grabbed a stool, set it on a lab table, climbed up and pushed a ceiling panel aside. She lifted herself up into the ceiling. "Good luck to me," she muttered.

* * *

Spike strode the halls. He wanted that bloody Slayer, wanted to feed on her blood, hear her whimper as she breathed her last, see the terror in her eyes as she realised she was doomed. "Slaaayer! I find one of your friends first, I'm gonna suck 'em dry. And use their bones to bash your soddin’ head in." He kicked a door open. Nothing.

"Spike!" One of his minions called out. "Listen..."

Spike grinned as he looked up. "Someone's in the ceeeeeiling!"

* * *

Drusilla giggled as the Watcher-Man scrambled backwards, a fearful look on his face. Her smile widened as she recognised the pretty brunette with him. "Of the clans!" she laughed. Her amusement died when the three boys, such pretty boys, raised their crossbows and fired arrows at the companions dear William had insisted she bring with her, killing all three.

The Watcher lunged at her with a stake, but she countered with a straight right that sent him flying across the library floor. The smallest of the boy, so cute with his little half-man’s body, reloaded and shot a bolt at her, but she swatted it away. The biggest of the youths thrust at her with a stake, she blocked his downward thrust, grabbed his wrist, and smashed a fist into his stomach, the boy’s eyes rolled back as his knees buckled under him. Drusilla started towards him only to scream when holy water hit her in the face. Her head snapped towards the Clanswoman. "I’ll feast on your bones!" she screamed before rushing out of the library.

* * *

Cordelia shook her head at Snyder’s pacing. He’d been doing that since Faith disappeared. "Why don't you sit down?"

Snyder looked at her. "This is my school. What I say goes, and I say this is *not*

happening."

Cordelia snorted. "I guess we can go home then!"

"I'm not waiting for them to open the doors. I'm gettin' out!" one of the men exclaimed as he climbed up to the window and lifted the sash.

"Don’t be an idiot!" Cordelia exclaimed.

"No! Look, you heard what Faith said!" Willow added.

Snyder sniffed. "She's a student. What does she know?" The principal took off his jacket and went to help the man. The two of them began bending back the metal slats blocking the window. After a couple of minutes, Snyder grunted. "I did."

The man started to pull himself through the opening. Snyder helped, but let go when the man began to kick and scream while struggling with something outside. Snyder stepped down, his face pale. Shaking their heads, Cordelia and Willow quickly climbed up, bent the slats back and closed the sash.

* * *

"That was," Giles found himself struggling for words as his girl-friend helped him to his feet. He cast her a grateful glance.

"Intense?" suggested Jesse.

Deciding that was as good as word as any, he nodded and grabbed his stake. His Slayer needed him. He turned to the others. "Shall we?" He allowed himself a brief smile at the nods. "Then let’s."

* * *

Spike shook his head as he watched a vampire throw himself against the science classroom door. "Bollocks." He stepped forward. ""Use your head." Grabbing the demon by the shoulder, he shoved his head into a near-by fire emergency case and pulled out the ax inside. "Use this," he snarled before thrusting it into the vampire's hands and continued down the hall. He stopped as he heard the Slayer in the ceiling above. Grinning slightly, he grabbed a metal pole lent against the wall and started thrusting it through the ceiling. His grin slipped at the sight of his sire running towards him, a burn blistering her cheek. "Bloody hell luv," he snarled. "What happened?"

"Watcher-Man’s secret keeping woman burnt me when I tried for a meal," Dru wailed.

"They’ll die my pet, we’ll feast on their innards," he promised, taking his girl into his arms. "Every last one of the buggers."

* * *

The moment the pole started flying through the ceiling, Faith backed up a safe distance and dropped out on the floor. Sensing a presence behind her, she spun around, eyes widening at what she saw. "Sheila! Where've you been?"

"Sorry I'm late. There's some really weird guys outside."

"Shh! Yeah, I know. They're trying to kill us."

Sheila smiled. "This should be fun."

"Yeah, whatever." Faith turned and started to creep to the other hall. "Stay quiet and behind me."

"FAITH!"

Hearing her Watcher’s cry, she spun around, kicking the meat cleaver Sheila has pulled from somewhere out of her hand. The demon swayed away from her attempted staking and ran off. Turning, Faith hurried into the classroom. "Everyone out now! Go with G!"

"Faith," Giles bellowed. "Come with us."

"Can’t G," she shook her head before hurrying in the opposite direction. "Got a vamp to kill."

* * *

"Fe, fi, fo fum. I smell the blood of a nice ripe," Spike turned to face the Slayer. Bloody hell, she was a stunner. It was a shame that turning didn’t work well on Slayers. "Girl. The last Slayer I killed... she begged for her life." The Slayer strode towards him, confidence and danger in every lithe move. She was a hunter this one. Just like him. ""You don't strike me as the begging kind."

"You shouldn't come here."

Spike smirked. "No. I've messed up your doilies and stuff. But I just got so bored. I'll tell you what. As a personal favour from me to you I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit."

The Slayer laughed. "Oh, it’s gonna hurt like a bitch."

* * *

"Come on, is that everyone?" Giles nodded at Xander. The youth swallowed. "You going or staying?"

"What do you bloody think?" he growled.

"Thought so." The young man slammed and locked the window behind the others’ protests. "Let’s get our girl."

* * *

Faith ducked a punch, landing a trio of lightning fast jabs and a clubbing right hook to the vampire’s face in retaliation. Growling ferally, her peroxide blonde opponent grabbed her arm and shoved her face-first into the wall. Sensing the vampire’s rapid approach, she ducked. The vampire punched the wall where her head had been. In a second she was behind the vampire, kicking him in the neck. "Now that hurt." The vampire smashed an elbow in her mouth, knocking her to the ground. She watched dazedly as he ripped a fire extinguisher off the wall and lifted it over her head. She kicked out wildly, the blow smashing into the vampire’s knee, knocking him over an over-turned sofa. "Bitch!" In a second, the vampire was up on his feet. Suddenly the vampire turned, plucking a crossbow bolt out of mid-air.

"And I thought only the cool vampires could do that."

Faith grinned at Xander’s voice. Spike turned to her. "This isn’t over tart!" he growled before rushing down the opposite corridor.

* * *

Snyder shook his head as he saw the police cars outside of the school It was the fault of that Faith and her gang, he was sure of this. "Principal."

He turned to see the police chief by his shoulder. "Hello Bob."

The Chief nodded. "It's over. They all got away. I got a body inside, and I got

another one on the south lawn. And it looks like he was pulled right through the window."

"I told him not to go through that window," Snyder lied.

The chief nodded. "I need to say something to the media people."

"So?" he demanded.

"So? You want the usual story? Gang-related? PCP?" the chief pressed.

After a second he shrugged. "Works for me."

* * *

"Yes," Jenny spoke into her mobile, her tone hushed. "This is Janna. I’ve got new information, the Council believe Angelus was killed by a mob in Prague at the start of the decade." She paused as her uncle replied. "The seers believe he’s still alive? Can I tell the Slayer?" She scowled at the reply. "Yes uncle, I understand." Sighing she hung up, when they found out there’d be hell to pay.

* * *

"THAT BITCH!" His sire and fellow childe stayed out of the way at the back of the warehouse as he annihilated the warehouse’s furniture, throwing chairs into the walls, splintering them. "A Slayer with friends, who’d have bloody thought it!"

"Calm down laddie."

Spike’s blood froze as he looked over his shoulder to see his grand-sire stalking out of the shadows. "You’re dead," he accused, more than a small ball of fear forming in his stomach. His sire he could handle, her insanity giving him a way to control her, but Angelus…

His grand-sire laughed. "That mob, they were nothing. And who’s the lassie?" Angelus turned to Sheila.

"Sheila, Dru turned her the other night," Spike explained.

"Oh yeah?" In a second, Angelus had his arm around Sheila’s waist, dragging her towards him. "Hello luv," his grand-sire winked at the goth before pressing his lips to hers.

Spike looked over his shoulder at the sound of Drusilla clapping. "The family’s back together!"

After a second he grinned and lit a cigarette. "Looks like it don’t it?" he agreed. The Slayer was doomed, the town was theirs.

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