Title: Actions & Consequences
Rating: R (For Language later)
Relationships: X\F
Story: Action\Adventure
Feedback: In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.
E-Mail: KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk
Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters just worship at their altar.
Credits: Koos, this is your fault.
Summary: Every action has a consequence.
Actions & Consequences
1700 BC. Mesopotamia
Mallac hurried across the compound, the sweltering heat from the sun blazing down on him not warming his chilling blood. Finally he reached his destination, the compound’s largest tent, pushing aside the opening he entered then dropped to his hands and knees, pressing his nose to the sand and his eyes looking firmly downwards. “It has happened, Belar has died?”
His master’s voice usually so confident and assured trembled with the emotion of the moment, a moment that would shape the world. “The prophet has died,” he confirmed, his own tone hushed with respect.
“And he spoke?”
Mallac risked looking up at his master, a manoeuvre that when executed without permission would usually see him punished for his impudence. He saw a tall, gaunt-featured man with dusky skin, a wiry iron-grey beard that hung down to his waist, and strong, intimidating brown eyes. “He spoke,” he confirmed.
His lord pursed his lips before irritably slapping at one of the many flies flying around his head. It was rumoured his lord never bathed for fear that the water might wash away his holiness. Mallac didn’t know if it was true but when his sister had marked her rite of womanhood by the first bleeding and been given to their lord for her first night as was the law she’d stunk so much afterwards that he hadn’t cared to be with her for almost a week afterwards. And she was a rare beauty. After a few seconds the camp leader spoke. “And his words, they were written down?”
“In the prescribed manner sir,” Mallac nodded. “On a young girl’s skin with her virgin blood.”
“Then let me see them.” He wordlessly passed the parchment over. His master read the writings, muttering under his breath as he did so. Finally he looked up, his usual piercing gaze replaced by a look of confusion. “This doesn’t make any sense,” his leader commented. “’From a Slayer’s womb?’ There can only be one Slayer, shouldn’t it read the Slayer? And Slayers are virgin warriors, champions, unsullied by the touch of man. And what is the mention of a good vampire, what foolishness is this?”
“What do you wish us to do mi’ lord?” Mallac once again lowered his head to the ground in readiness to receive his chief’s instructions. ”Command and we will obey.”
His lord nodded. “Then this is what I Abu Kali order. On this day, the Order of Kali, the Kalians is formed, from this day we will watch the Slayer line and when they come we will be ready. And when they do they, and the world, will be ours!”
1999 AD. Sunnydale, California.
Xander’s heart pounded as the sultry Slayer approached him, her gypsy-brown eyes filled with invitation. She
couldn’t mean it could she? She actually wanted him? He never thought in his wildest dreams that his first time
would be with somebody like her. He moaned slightly as the brunette smiled and ran her hand down his body to
his crotch. “I'm suddenly *very* up. It's just, um,” he grinned sheepishly. “I've never been up with people
before.” God, this was embarrassing.
Suddenly Faith grabbed his jaw and kissed him full on the lips, her tongue plunging into his mouth with expertness
that neither Cordy nor Will could have matched. “Just relax... And take your pants off.”
She started to drag his shirt and jacket off, her eyes hungry with desire. God, she actually wanted him.
“Those two concepts are antithetical,” he babbled. How could something he wanted so much at the same time
be so terrifying?
Faith laughed before throwing his clothes onto the grubby hotel floor. What was she doing living in a place like
this anyhow? This was wrong, did the G-Man know? She should be-.
His thoughts were interrupted when the raven-haired beauty pulled him into a passionate embrace, kissed him
savagely, and threw him down onto the bed. After giggling the Bostonian Slayer jumped up onto the bed and
straddled him. His eyes widened as Faith dragged off her own shirt, oh lordy he’d hit the jackpot. “Don't
worry. I'll steer you around the curves.”
1999 AD. Sunnydale California
Xander shook his head, that wasn’t he meant. “No. N-n-n-n-no, that's not it.”
Faith smirked. “*I* know what this is all about.” The brunette crowded him, forcing him backwards. “You
just came by here,” she ran her fingers down his face. God, even as scared he was right now her touch was
intoxicating, like heroin to an addict. “'Cause you want another taste, don't you?”
Xander shook his head. “No! I mean, it was nice. It was great. It was kind of a blur. But, okay, some day, sure,
yay, but not now. Not like this.”
Faith grabbed his hand forcing it onto her body, although truth be told he didn’t resist much. “More like how
then? Lights on or off? Kinks or vanilla?”
Finally he found the strength of will to pull away. “Faith, come on. I came here to help you.” He looked her in the
eye so she could see his sincerity. “I thought we had a connection.”
Faith laughed, not the reaction he’d been looking for. Suddenly she was lifting him by his shirt and throwing him
onto the bed before jumping on him, a maniac, terrifying, smile on her face. “You wanna feel a connection? It's
just skin.” The buttons on his shirt flew off as she tore it open. “I see... I want... I take.” The brunette slammed
her lips onto his with a frightening ferocity. “I forget.” Even as she spoke her hands rubbed his chest and shoulders.
Xander managed a nervous denial. “No. No, wait. It was more than that.” It was wasn’t it?
Faith didn’t seem to have heard his words; instead her eyes gleamed with a lust he’d only previously seen on
blood-thirsty vampires. “I could do anything to you right now, and you want me to. I can make you scream.”
The brunette began to slide her tongue over and around his face before returning her attention back to his lips,
kissing him forcefully, seizing his lower lip between her teeth and pulling at it, gnawing down on it. Suddenly she
pulled away, her eyes alight with excitement. “I could make you die.”
She kissed him again. Then suddenly her hand was around his throat, squeezing, her lips never moving from his.
Xander reached up with one hand to try to push her away while attempting to pry her hand from his neck with
his other, but it was futile, like pushing against stone. He vaguely felt Faith’s other hand join the other around his
neck and then he lost consciousness.
FIC: Actions & Consequences (2/?)
Mar ’99 Sunnydale
“Boss, I’ve got a problem.”
Wilkins looked up, his customary smile slipping at the troubled look on his darling daughter’s pale face. She didn’t look well at all. “What’s wrong Faithie?” he asked. “Has something happened with those gosh darn Scoobies?”
“Nah. It’s nothing like that,” the brunette looked down at the floor.
“Come now dear,” he walked around the desk and put an arm around her slender shoulders, oh lordy she was just too thin, so tiny. “Has some boy with a fast mouth insulted you?” He smiled to himself as the beauty’s chocolate eyes rolled back and a slight smirk tugged at her full lips. He knew he overdid the folksy act, but if it brought a smile to his girl’s face it was worth it.
“Nah,” the girl swallowed.
“Come on,” he encouraged, squeezing her shoulders. “You can tell me anything.”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Oh really,” he beamed. “That’s splendid news!”
Faith looked surprised and then relieved. “Really?”
“Yes, why we’ll have to build a nursery, hire some help for you.” Already his mind was whirling with plans. Just a few weeks ago, he didn’t have a daughter, now he was going to have a grandchild!
“No, I can’t keep it,” Faith whispered.
His head snapped towards the Slayer. “What?”
“I..I come from bad stock. I’ll be a lousy ma, like mine.”
“Faith, that’s utter nonsense,” he hastened to reassure the young girl. “You’ll make a splendid mother.”
“No I won’t,” the Slayer shook her head, her expression defiant. “This is a bad idea.”
“Faith,” he decided on a firmer tone. “I’m afraid I’ll have to put my foot down, I won’t allow you to have an abortion-.”
The brunette looked horrified. “Kill my baby?” she shook her head. “I’d never kill my baby. I want you to organise an adoption for it. A real good family, someone who’s got nothing to do with this shit and who’ll raise my baby proper.”
“Faith,” Wilkins decided to pull his horns in. “If that’s what you want.” At least that would give him time to work on Faith, get her to change her mind. “How far are you gone?”
“Six weeks.”
He nodded. “And the father, does he know? Will he be a problem?” If the young man decided to make trouble, then he’d just have to disappear.
The Slayer smiled slightly, it was a bitter twisted thing that didn’t belong on his daughter’s sweet face. “Doubt it, seeing as we’re trying to kill him and his running buddies.”
“Oh good gracious,” his mouth dropped open. “You’re not telling me-.”
“Last guy I slept with without protection was Xan,” Faith nodded. “Last man I slept with period.”
* * *
Sept ’99, Sunnydale
Dr. Allen stared with wonder at the two new-borns. It was a miracle, a true marvel, those babies should be dead, as should their mother. He glanced down at the comatose teen, it was amazing that she still lived. He remembered the night she was brought in, the surgeons in attendance had been stunned she was still alive and sure she wouldn’t last the night.
Her injuries had rendered her a complete vegetable, a cripple with multiple fractures, a perforated kidney, a collapsed lung, and suffering considerable blood loss. And yet, not only had she survived, she was somehow healing, each day inching her way to consciousness. It was almost enough to make one believe in a higher power.
Except…. “What’s going to happen to you little ones?” he muttered sadly. Their mother in a coma, and even if she awoke, their mother’s adoptive father was dead and their own father nowhere in sight. “I only wish I could answer that.”
“Well I can.”
Dr. Allen turned to see a middle-aged man with slicked back grey hair and a striped suit stood in the doorway. “Who are you?” he glanced at the slumbering girl. He couldn’t be the babies’ father, he had to be three times her age.
“Mr. Jose Luis,” the man stuck out a hand. “Attorney at law.”
He looked with distaste at the man’s hand. A lawyer, he might have guessed. If he said a word about being the children’s father he’d be on the phone to hospital security so fast. “And what is your business here?” he demanded frostily.
The lawyer’s oily smile didn’t slip an inch as he reached into a briefcase and pulled out a sheaf of papers. “We were lawyers of record for Mayor Wilkins,” after the obligatory pause of respect for the revered public servant, the officer of the court continued. “Before his unfortunate demise he organised an adoption for those babies upon their birth.”
After passing the babies over to a nurse Dr. Allen gave the papers a cursory look. They seemed alright but he was hardly a legal-eagle. “The hospital legal department and social services will have to look them over before any hand over can take place.”
The lawyer nodded. “Take all the time you need. Wolfram & Hart can wait.”
* * *
May ’03 Sunnydale
Faith sauntered into the kitchen, her casual display of confidence hiding her nervousness. She’d sort of wanted this to be unobtrusive, just help out and then work out what she was doing, - going back to prison, fighting the good fight, or just running but that geeky asshole Andrew had screwed it up for her. Now every single one of the wannabes was staring at her with a combination of fear, loathing, and respect. She didn’t mind her cellmates looking at her like that, it meant they would leave her the fuck alone. But here, she’d wanted if not friendship, then at least acceptance.
Well thanks to the nerd that was fucked. If she ever decided to kill someone again, he was top of the list. Suddenly she heard the sound of a buzzsaw outside. “What’s that?” she allowed her hand to move towards the kitchen knives in case of trouble.
And got slapped across her knuckles for her effort. “I’ve just cleaned them,” Andrew scolded. She glared at the youth but he continued to speak, blithely unaware how close he was to getting a broken nose. “That’s Xander,” the sci-fi nerd’s eyes took on a dreamy look. “He’s so good with his hands. Great with an ax, amazing with a hammer.”
“Um, uh,” Faith gave the youth a look of thinly veiled amusement. Guess who had a major crush. Her good humour dissipated as she stood, she sure as shit didn’t want to do this but she had to. “That coffee just brewed?” Andrew nodded. “How does Xan take his?”
“Strong black,” the geek started to stand, a look of eagerness on his face. “You think I should take him one?”
“Sit down,” Faith instructed as she poured the steaming coffee. Damn, she hoped he did like it strong, ‘cause this stuff was thicker than oil. “I’ll take it.” Swallowing slightly she walked through the back door and stopped. “Down girl,” she muttered as she licked her lips. Damn, it had been a long time since she got some tail if she thought Xman looked tempting.
But he did look good, all stripped to the waist. He’d bulked up some, showing muscles that didn’t have the definition of a bodybuilder but were more rugged, functional. He hadn’t had those the night she’d boned him, or the night she-, forcing the thought away she stepped forward. “Hey Xman.”
After a second, the man looked up, his face anything but friendly. “Faith.”
Not a good start, she offered the cup. “Brought coffee.”
“Too busy to drink,” the man turned his attention back to whatever he was trying to make.
“Oh, okay,” Faith put the cup down on the windowsill. “Maybe you’ll be thirsty later.”
“Whatever.”
Shit, she’d got less hostility off a vampire pack than she was getting off Xan. “What you making?”
“Bookends for Giles,” the man didn’t look up.
Fuck, this was like talking to Angel in one of his broods, a comparison that neither of them would probably appreciate. “Xman, I just wanna-.”
“I’m busy here Faith,” Xander looked up. “And we’ve really got nothing to say.”
Defeated by the carpenter’s disdain she turned away, damn it, he was Mr. Second Chance, why wouldn’t he just let her try? What made her so different, so unworthy of another chance. “Five by five.” He probably didn’t care enough about her – not like Red and B.
* * *
Buffy was fuming, she’d been heading inside with the groceries she’d looted from the mall - and the new shoes but they were a necessity, and had seen Xander being so unxanderlike towards Faith. “Girls, take the groceries in through the front door.”
“But it’s quicker throu-.”
Rona’s mouth snapped shut at her glare. “I know it is, but I’ve some stuff to talk through with Xander.” She waited until the others had started towards the front before hurrying round the back of the house. “Alexander Lavelle Harris!” she exclaimed angrily. “That was so out of line!”
Xander looked up. The look in her friend’s eyes was cold enough to make her take a back-step. He’d looked at her like that twice before –when the Master’s disciples had kidnapped Willow and the others because of her, and when they’d found out about Angel’s return. It was moments like these that reminded her how truly dangerous Xander could be. “It’s none of your business Buffy.”
The man made to return to his work but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back upright. “It is so my business,” she corrected angrily. “You’re both living in my house and we’ve got enough problems without you acting like an ass towards her. And she’s come here to help us, she deserves a second chance.”
“Yeah, Buffy you’re real good at forgiving murderers aren’t you?” Xander snapped at her, she flinched. Xander’s face fell. “I’m sorry, that was out of line,” he took a breath. “I’ll be civil to her. But I’m not going to pretend like we’re friends okay?” Without waiting for her reply, the male Scooby returned his attention to the wood he was working on.
“Xander, you’ve got to -.”
Her friend’s face snapped up, his eyes blazing with a fury she’d never seen before, not even on the night Spike had slept with Anya or when the vampire tried to rape her. “You’ve no idea what she took from me so just leave it Buffy, okay?”
* * *
May ’03 LA
Daniel Wolfe drummed his fingers on the desk, his eyes flaring with impatience at the length of time the business meeting was taking. Finally he decided to cut to the chase. “And Ms. Morgan?”
“She’s been returned to the ninth dimension,” the speaker, a short mousy-looking woman in her late twenties.
Wolfe nodded in satisfaction. The ninth dimension was hell’s premier torture zone where the most evil human souls and the most notorious demons congregated to torture those foolish or incompetent enough to incur the wrath of hell’s overlords. Morgan had to pay for her failure to bring Angelus over to their side. “How long is she to be interned there?”
“A decade.”
Wolfe shook his head. “That’s far too lenient. Make it a century.” A ripple of horrified conversation ran through the conference room. “People,” at his voice the room fell instantly quiet. Gratified at the fear he generated he continued. “The last administration was far too lenient, and as a result Angel and his motley band of do-gooders gave this law firm the run-around. This stops now. Our first priority is no longer to turn Angel to our side but to wipe him from the face of the earth!”
* * *
May ’03, Sunnydale
Faith took a breath, the smell of disinfectant clinging to the back of her throat and just the sight of the hospital entrance sign causing her blood to chill. This was the place where she’d spent eight months in a coma, where they’d taken her -. Forcing the thought away before she ended up in her inevitable flood of tears, she started towards the hospital doors; her u seal grace deserting her replaced a nervous stagger.
She sure as hell didn’t want to be here but she had to be. She deserved to be punished but it was more than that, she had to make sure he was five by five. B was kinda distracted so getting reassurance from her was difficult but Dawn, and herself if she was totally honest, had to make sure he was gonna be okay.
As okay as someone who’d just had his eye gouged by a psycho fuck. Faith stopped, tears blurring her vision, seeing a toilet door she shoved it open and stumbled inside. “Damn it!” her side kick took the tampon machine off the wall even as she lurched inside the nearest cubicle to slump down on the seat, tears rolling down her cheeks. Why did it have to be him? Her, B, Red, hell even G had blood on their hands, but Xman all he ever tried to do was help people. She smiled painfully, she just hoped her babies got their Ma’s looks and the dad’s good heart. Fuck knows where their brains would come from though. Her composure returning, she used the cubicle’s paper towels to wipe her eyes before leaving. She could do this.
* * *
“’Cuse me,” Sister Thomas looked up to see a beautiful brunette in her later teens, early twenties, stood at the reception counter. “This is the ward Xan’s on?” At her puzzled look, the girl smiled in embarrassment. “Sorry, Alexander Harris.”
Oh yes, she’d seen him. Brought in with all those terribly wounded girls last night. Quite the incident even allowing for Sunnydale’s strangeness. “I’m afraid Alexander isn’t up to seeing visitors unless family. Are you family?”
“Uh, no. But I’m here for his little
sis,” the girl babbled. “Her big sis won’t let her out to see him, ‘cause of
you know..”
Sister Thomas stared at the girl, noting her slightly red eyes and puffy cheeks. Obviously this young man meant a great deal to her, perhaps she was a girl friend or something. After a second she nodded. “Very well . This is strictly against hospital policy mind, Mr. Harris is in room 301.”
The brunette treated her to a dazzling smile. “Thanks ma’am.”
* * *
“Red, Xman, how ya doing?”
Xander stiffened at the Slayer’s nervous voice coming from the doorway. He didn’t roll over to face her. “Fuck off Faith.”
Willow’s face paled. “Xander!”
“It’s five by five Red, don’t sweat it,” the Bostonian sounded hurt, that was good, make her feel some of the pain she’d caused him. “I just came in to say all the girls are missing him. See ya around.”
“Xander!” Willow stood and glanced towards the door. “That was so out of line.”
Xander chuckled bitterly. “You really have joined the sisterhood haven’t you? Taking Faith’s side.”
“It’s not about sides, it’s about doing the right th-, oh I’ll be back in a minute,” Willow hurried out of the room.
* * *
Willow hurried out of the room, her mind awhirl with a dozen conflicting emotions. Xander never behaved like this, she’d think it was his meds or the shock but from what Buffy said he’d already had one go at Faith and even Buffy when she'd tried to go to Faith's defence. Not at all like Xander. “Faith, wait!” the Slayer continued to walk away. “Oh balderdash!” knowing she couldn’t hope to catch up to the Bostonian through normal means, she muttered a quick spell. Instantly Faith slowed down.
The Slayer turned to face her, even at a distance, Willow could see the brunette’s chocolate-brown eyes were glistening with unshed tears. “Damn it,” she growled. “I’m not going to put up with your gloating, just let me go!”
“I’m not going to gloat.” Willow covered the last few yards in a rush. “I’m sorry about what Xander said. He was out of line.”
The brunette looked surprised then nodded. “Thanks Red.”
Encouraged by the other woman’s look of relief she continued. “He’ll come round Faith.”
“Why should he?” Faith replied bitterly. “I fucking tried to kill him remember?”
“So did I.”
“Yeah, but you’re his Willow, he’d
forgive you sleeping with Anya and not videoing it.”
Willow giggled. “I doubt he’d forgive that,” she commented before hesitating. “Do you want him back?”
“What, me and Xan?” For the first time since she’d fled from the hospital room, the ghost of a smile played on the raven-haired Slayer’s lips. “Fuck no, Red. You know me, I don’t back-track.”
“Maybe you should.” The sultry Bostonian glanced at her, her eyes filling with surprise. Willow grinned. “Maybe I was against you last time, but in a choice between you and Anya.”
Faith cocked her head back and laughed.
“Thanks Red,” Faith grinned. “I needed that.” The brunette’s smirk dissipated
like the early morning mist. “No, I just remember how nice he was to me, always
seemed to give a shit about me. Back in the day, I thought it was just his
angle to get laid,” the brunette shrugged her shoulders. “Now I realised he’s
just another endangered species.”
“Uh?”
“A nice guy,” Faith looked down at the ground. “I thought there might
be a chance I could get that back, have a bud, but that ain’t gonna happen is
it?”
”Hey,” Willow squeezed the Slayer’s forearm. “Give it time.”
“Somehow I don’t think the son of a preacher man is gonna give us much,” the east coast native commented darkly.
* * *
May ’03, LA
Wolfe glared helplessly at the piles of folders littering the floor of his office. He’d been working for days now, going over the records of clients Angel had crossed, but nothing – either the victims were not powerful enough or simply too scared to face off against the souled vampire again, As a long-shot he’d turned his attention to the records of those he’d crossed before coming to LA, but again nothing. And now he was on the last file, that of Mayor Richard Wilkins. Suddenly his eyes widened. He had it, leverage.
Actions & Consequences (3/?)
Jun ’03, Greenwich Connecticut
Charles Ashford stared proudly at his children as they played in the games room, their entire attention focused on the adventures of their stuffed toys. He wiped at a proud tear as his Hope leapt up and engulfed her brother in a hug. “Get off Hoppy!” Alex screamed, a look of mortification on his face.
Yes, they were a couple of prizes there was no doubt about. Every day he thanked his old friend Richard Wilkins, a business man he’d run security for on his east coast businesses, for getting in touch four years ago with news of a young girl who worked in his office who’d got in trouble with a boy from the wrong side of the streets. Unable to have children of their own, he and his wife had jumped at the chance to adopt the twins.
And whatever their biological parents’ problems, they’d certainly passed on good genes to their children. Both the three year olds were adorable with the darkest eyes, most brilliant smiles, and more energy than a caffeine freak. Just a sharp as knives too, very intelligent. They could be anything they wanted – movie stars, athletes, scientists, the world was their oyster, he and his millions would make sure of that.
Suddenly Alex looked up at him, his dark eyes shining. “Daddy, you wanna play?”
Charles smiled at his son. “I’d love to Alex, just -,” his head turned at a slight sound in the front room. “Stay in here,” he ordered, his hand dropping to the .32 he carried under his jacket. As head of the nationwide Ashford Executive Security and a former Secret Service agent, he was licensed to carry a firearm and if someone was breaking into his house, threatening his children, then they were going to get a very unpleasant surprise. “And be quiet until daddy comes back.”
He moved quickly into the corridor, his movements smooth and controlled, three decades of training and experience coming to the fore. Reaching the lounge door, he kicked it open and strode in, a confident expression on his face as he drew his automatic. “Drop to the gr-.”
His voice stuck in his throat and his gun dropped through nerveless fingers as he registered the impossible sight before him. There stood a grey scaled nine foot tall biped with no eyes but a huge curved horn sticking out of its forehead, feasting on his wife’s lifeless body. Suddenly the monster was on him, its huge hand around his throat, squeezing inexorably. His last thought before his larynx collapsed was that he’d failed in a parent’s most important duty – to protect his children.
* * *
Hauser spoke into his radio as he exited the house. “Romulus and Remus are secured,” he muttered even as he watched the two sedated children being flung into the back of the van. “Be careful with the cargo!” he bawled.
His plan had worked perfectly. Aware of Ashford’s reputation in the world of security he’d realised that the only certain way not to suffer any causalities would be to use something even Ashford would be unprepared for - a demon. He looked back at the three storey mansion. “Are the children secured?” he asked into his mouthpiece.
His earpiece crackled with static for a second. “Both in place.”
He nodded in satisfaction. It had taken a couple of days but they’d managed to find and snatch a pair of children the same age and size as their targets. The orphanage they snatched them from would report a pair of runaways, but the amount of effort the police would put into tracking down two children with no family would be practically non-existent. “Get out then, time to blow the house.” Four bodies burnt to a frazzle, all the hallmarks of a tragic accident, a gas leak. Nobody would suspect a thing.
* * *
Ten days after ‘Chosen’, San Diego
Faith stared at the lonely figure stood on the hotel veranda, his back bent as if carrying the weight of the world. She supposed it was a good sign, him being out of his hotel room, he hadn’t left it since they’d booked themselves in. But he looked so wrecked. Summoning up her courage, she strode over. “Hi,” she whispered.
Xander flinched at her voice. She in turn cringed, fuck he wasn’t still frightened of her after all these years was he? She’d made mistakes in the past but she’d never hurt any of them again, him least of all. “Just leave me alone,” he ordered, his voice husky with pain and sorrow. “I haven’t the energy to deal with you right now.”
Instead, Faith started to talk. “I’m sorry about your loss, Xman. If sometime you wanna cut loose, tell stories about Anya to someone who didn’t know her, maybe you’d keep me in mind.” When her words didn’t get a reaction, she tried again, putting a jauntier note into her voice. “Now that the First’s toast, and there’s a ton of Slayers, what ya gonna do? ‘Cause if you’re leaving, I was hoping we could hang for a while firs-.”
Xander turned to face her. “Hang with you?” the look that her one-eyed companion was contemptuous to say the least. “Hang with the cold-hearted bitch tried to kill me and everybody that tried to help her? That chose a black mage over us? No thanks, I’ve picked up enough scars recently, I don’t need another one in my back to match the one you put there last time.”
Oh fuck this, Faith’s temper snapped. She had Angel, Wes had forgiven her, she’d been accepted by Red, Ken, and Pip, all the junior Slayers respected her, Wood maybe loved her, and her and B were at least talking again. She didn’t have to put up with Xander’s crap. “You know when me and Red were on the way to Sunnyd, I was crapping myself with thoughts of what sort of reception I’d get from B, G, and Pip. One person I didn’t worry about though was you. You know why? ‘Cause I remembered this sweet guy who always tried to help a stupid little bitch who was too suspicious for her own good. I knew that Xander wouldn’t hold a grudge, it wasn’t in him. Trouble is I get back to Sunnyd and that Xander isn’t there, in his place there’s this grade A asshole. Well you can go to hell, I really looked forward to seeing you again, hooking up, maybe taking you up on that friendship you were always offering. Well I don’t fucking need or want to be buds with the new improved Xander. The other one comes back, give me a call.”
Faith turned to leave, only for Xander to grab her by the shoulder and spin her round to face him, his single eye glaring coldly at her. “You finished?” Xander asked. Without waiting for an answer he continued. “Then go fuck yourself. Better yet have Woodie do the job, poor bastard.” The man released his grip. “If I want to talk to someone about Anya, I’ll go to Giles, Will, or another member of my family. And that doesn’t include you. And it never will. Turn on them again and I’ll kill you, Angel, Wood, and anybody who takes your side.”
* * *
“Faith are you-.”
Her glare caused Andrew’s words to die in his throat, as she stormed through the hotel corridor. God, if she hadn’t walked away from him, she’d have done something to him, something real bad. She didn’t know what it was about Xan that got to her, some of the guards inside had been far cruder towards her but she’d never once reacted until they tried to get physical.
Maybe it was because despite everything that had happened, she respected him for getting involved in the demon-fighting biz by choice, not being forced into it like her or B. What Red had told her about Xan saving the world from her when B couldn’t had shaken her, she didn’t think anybody could succeed at something that B couldn’t, but Xman had managed it.
Tears of humiliation blurring her vision, she reached her hotel room. Unable to find her key she let out a frustrated snarl and kicked the door open. Striding in she looked around. “Woodie?” God she needed to feel his arms around her, to hear him tell her she wasn’t a worthless slut. Her shoulders slumped when she didn’t receive an answer. “Damn it Woodie, where are you?” she muttered. Deciding she’d have to make do with a morale-boosting call to Angel she moved over to the phone by the bed.
And stopped at the sight of an envelope on the bed. She lifted the manila envelope. “No postmark,” she muttered. Noting it was addressed only with a ‘F’ she deduced it must be for her and eagerly tore it open, a piece of paper falling out of the envelope and onto the bed. Her earlier hurt replaced by curiosity, she began to read, stumbling occasionally over the double meaning contained within.
Dear Miss Faith,
It has come to the attention of Wolfram & Hart, that in ’00, you entered into an agreement with us to undertake a certain job for us. You then broke our contract, an action that caused our law firm considerable inconvenience and loss of face within the community.
“Glad I could be of help,” Faith muttered as she continued to read.
For a considerable amount of time the subject you were contracted to deal with has remained a thorn in our side. However given your newfound status our firm has decided to give you another chance to fulfil the work you were paid to do and enter into new employment with us. A fresh start if you will, working as our top contractor.
“You can fuck off,” she growled. No way was she hurting Angel for anyone!
This post will include considerable side-benefits including but not limited to a hefty financial package, a sports car of your choice, an executive apartment, a healthcare package that is out of this world, and private schooling for your children. All paid for by W&H.
“What?” blood drained from Faith’s face as the meaning of the words dawned on her. Her body trembling she continued to read.
If on the other hand you refuse this generous offer that would secure both your and your children’s future, Wolfram and Hart cannot be held responsible to what could happen to them. This is, as you are most painfully aware, a cruel world for two children without a proper parent’s protection. It behoves you as their mother to protect them. Make the right decision, be in LA in 24 hours’ time. Your children are missing you.
Yours Sincerely
Mr. Daniel Wolfe
Faith’s blood ran cold at the threat implicit in the letter’s last paragraph. Her babies, the little twins who’s ultra-sound she kept under the pillow of her prison bunk, kidnapped by Wolfram & Hart. It had to be a bluff. Except….
She looked down to the bed and picked up the paper that had dropped out of the letter. Her heart caught as she realised it was the photograph of two three year olds.
“Oh god,” once again Faith felt tears burn her eyes. She thought she’d been scared before but now… She recognised the girl in the photograph. When she was three, before her mother’s drinking had gotten real bad, they’d been out one day on a picnic and had a photograph taken of them together. She’d kept that photographs for years, until she’d met Jan her Watcher, to remind herself that her ma had once cared for her. And the baby girl in the photograph, her baby, god she looked so much like her at that age she had to be her daughter, she had to be. And the boy, Faith smiled tremulously, she recognised that goofy grin, could remember the days when the boy’s father would direct it at her.
Her smile withered as she realised what she had to do. “I’m sorry Angel.” Grabbing her duffle bag, she shoved some clothes into the bad and hurried out. Given the choice between her hero and her babies there wasn’t a choice at all.
Actions & Consequences (4/?)
To Faith’s relief she didn’t pass any of her companions on the way out, meaning she didn’t have to think of an excuse for the duffle bag she was carrying over her shoulder or the glazed expression on her face. Her luck held when she reached the front of the hotel, Xander had disappeared somewhere, probably to cry on someone’s shoulder about Anya. Anybody but her.
Shoving aside her hurt and bitterness as unimportant now, Faith stalked forward, hurrying towards the car Woodie had hired so they could see some of the sights. She’d send him the deposit money and an explanation once she’d saved her babies. Thank god he’d left his keys on the bedside table. Her usually sure hand missed the car door lock three times before finally sliding the key in. “Where you going Faith?”
* * *
Xander’s single eye narrowed as he noticed Faith arguing with Wood by the former principal’s car. “Oedipus much?” his lip curled up in disdain. Not that he cared who Faith was fucking and he barely knew Wood, but he thought it was pretty sick for the new teacher to go after Faith as a mother figure. He knew what a great mom Faith wouldn’t make. Not that Faith didn’t have comforting attributes….
He glanced down at his shopping, a six-pack of beer. After growing up with his drunken asshole of a father he swore he’d never drink, but now with the loss of his eye, his home, and most importantly, his Anya, he couldn’t muster the effort to give a shit anymore. Deciding he didn’t want to put up with anymore of the bitch’s fake concern or the principal’s condescension, he began to sneak around them, sticking to the shadows, only to stop when he heard the conversation. His face tightening with rage, he started towards the duo.
* * *
“Fuck,” Faith muttered. “Busted.” Forcing a smile, she turned to face her boyfriend, her mind racing. “Hi Woodie, I just figured I’d take a drive, blow some cobwebs away you know,” she tried for a casual tone.
“You haven’t got a licence,” Wood pointed out. “And what do you need the bag for?”
Faith’s eyes narrowed when her boyfriend pulled a silenced automatic out of his jacket and pointed at her. “Wood, what the fuck are you doing?”
Her lover’s face twisted into a sneer. “God, I’ve hated the last couple of weeks, having to sleep with a slut like you.”
Faith felt like she’d punched in the gut. “W…what?”
“Thousands of years ago it was prophesised to the Order of Kali that one day, a Slayer would give birth to children, children that would be pivotal to the world’s future. The Order of Kali placed me here to deliver those children to the Order.” Wood smiled. “And the Order’s waiting, ever since we worked out ‘City Of Angels’ didn’t mean the Vatican or Mecca, we’ve been based in LA.”
Her kids were in a prophecy? “B..but your mom’s a Slayer,” Faith tried to get her legs to work, to charge her opponent but she seemed to be frozen in place. “I..it must be you.”
Wood shook his head. “No she wasn’t,” he corrected. “I was born 3rd Jan 1970, my Ma wasn’t called until just after her 19th birthday in Jun 1974. So she was a potential when she had me. My mother’s Watcher,” a note of reverence entered the double agent’s voice. “Is a double-agent for the Order watching the Slayer line for the children and after my mother’s death raised me in the Order to prepare me for the time when I would be needed. My assignment was to get close to the Slayer, be there to grab the kids,” the principal barked out a laugh. “God I wish they’d been Buffy’s kids. I mean the nights were great,” Faith winced at the disdain in the man’s voice, the pain cutting deeper than any physical wound. She’d been falling for him, allowing her defences down. “But having to put up with you during the days.” The principal shook his head. “And Harris? What were you thinking?”
“I-I loved you,” Faith forced back the tears. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
Wood’s smirk widened. “More fool you,” the tutor pointed towards the car. “Get in, the Order are going to help you get the kids back and then we’re going to take them.”
Suddenly a cold, hard voice drifted out of the shadows. “You forgot about daddy dearest.”
* * *
The fury that had been building in Xander since he’d stumbled onto the conversation exploded. Even as Wood began to turn towards him, Xander swung his arm and under-arm threw his six-pack of beer at the Kalian agent. Before the older man had time to react, the six-pack smashed into his face, exploding on impact, staggering the man.
Seeing that the Slayer was too dazed to be of any help and that his opponent, although stunned, was still upright and dangerous, he lunged forward, one hand grabbing the wrist of his adversary’s gun-arm, while driving a knee into the rocked man’s groin. Instantly his rival’s eyes glazed over in shock and his bloodied face greyed as he doubled up. Before the man had chance to straighten, Xander drove a downward chop into the back of his neck, hastening the man’s downward descent. As soon as the man hit the ground, he leaned down, scooped up the gun, and turned to Faith, pointing the gun at the Slayer. “You want to tell me,” he kicked the principal in the head, best to make sure his adversary wasn’t getting up again. “What the hell is going on here?”
* * *
Faith stared in disbelief at Wood’s crumpled body. “What the fuck?” she muttered. She figured maybe Gunn or Wes could beat her ex in a fight, but Xander? And with a six-pack of buds against a gun? Gathering her thoughts, she looked up. “Lover’s tiff,” she tried for a bluff. “The asshole’s real possessive, I wanted to go clubbing, he told me no, pulled a -.”
“Bullshit,” Xander said flatly. “I overheard the conversation, didn’t make much sense mind, but enough to know that my kids are in trouble. Wanna explain?”
Faith took a breath. She didn’t think Xander would shoot her but after what she’d seen she couldn’t be sure, and that left her with only two choices, take him down hard or risk confiding in him. And she didn’t want to have to hurt him, it was bad enough she was going to have to kill Angel, hurting Xander too. “Five by five,” she swallowed. “I got a letter from Wolfram & Hart, saying they’ve kidnapped our-,” Faith’s mouth dropped open as realisation hit. “Wait! How do you know?”
Xander shook his head. “Uh, uh. You do the explaining.”
After a second she nodded reluctantly. “Five by five. I get this letter telling me they’ve kidnapped the kids and taken them to LA. If I sign a contract to work for them, I get our babies back unharmed. Otherwise….”
“Right,” Xander had paled. “How do you know it isn’t a bluff?”
“T..they sent me a photograph of the twins.”
Now Xman looked like she was carrying the Holy Grail. “You got the phot-,” her companion shook his head. “Later, get in the car. We’re leaving.”
“You’re coming with me?”
Xander stared her dead in the eye. “You think I’m going to let my babies be slaves of an evil corporation? Get in the car.”
Faith glanced down at the crumpled body between them. “What about Wood?”
“What about him?”
“Five by five,” Faith shrugged. The bastard had been lying to her and threatened her kids.
Faith turned towards the car. “No you don’t,” she turned back to the man. “First lose your weapons, I’m not risking getting stabbed.”
”Xman, I wouldn’t hur-.”
“That’s not how I remember it,” Xander waved at her with the gun. “I’m tempted to shoot you now and deal with W&H myself except for the messy questions. Do it.”
“Five by five,” she pulled her hunting knife out and dropped it on the road. “The rest of my weapons are in the bag.”
“Right,” Xander nodded. “Throw it on the back seat,” Xander nodded towards her before walking round the back of the car. “Get in.”
She obeyed. “Xman,” her voice shook as she turned the car ignition on. “Please, you don’t need the gun.” She could take it off him if she had do, at this distance he wouldn’t even see her coming, but she didn’t want to hurt him. After a second the man nodded and put the gun into his jacket pocket. “Thanks,” she nodded her appreciation. “How do you know about our babies?”
Xander’s eyes filled with bitterness.
“How do I know?”
* * *
Sept ’99, Sunnydale
Xander strode down the hospital corridor, his heart thundering with a nervous mixture of anticipation, excitement, and fear. He’d been away for four months, working various jobs including a highly memorable, however much he tried to forget, night spent as a stripper. But now he was back in Sunnydale, and after catching up with the others last night he had one person left to see.
Finally he reached the room. After taking a breath and uttering a silent prayer that she wasn’t waiting behind the door to garrotte with a coat hanger or strangle him with an iv line he pushed the door open. “Hi Faith,” he whispered, his heart breaking at how tiny and helpless she looked.
The others, Will especially, would freak if they knew he was here, but it was the right thing to do. Faith had done plenty of wrong stuff, but if they were just expected to accept Angel back after what he’d done, they could give a second chance to a scared kid who’d been manipulated into doing most of what she’d done. No matter what, she deserved a second chance, and he’d stand by her. Even if it meant turning his back on Buffy and the others. “I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you before but I’ve been away,” he was about to say ‘too scared’, but changed it in case the doctors were right about a comatose patient being able to hear. “I brought some flowers,” he looked around the room, his heart tightening with pain at what he saw.
It was so bare, no get-well cards or flowers to brighten the room, or to say anyone cared about the room’s patient. Right there and then he decided that no matter what else was going on in his life, he’d pop in every day to see her, she had to know that at least one person cared. After putting the flowers in the vase, he opened the get-well card he’d bought and put it beside the vase before smiling down at the girl. “There you go,” he brushed a stray hair off the pale-faced beauty’s face. “Looks a little better now, and,” his smile widened. “I know what will make it even better.” Turning he hurried out of the room.
Twenty minutes later he returned carrying half a dozen helium balloons and the biggest cuddly toy they’d had in the gift shop, a black bear with a red ribbon tied around its neck. Moving over to the bed, he placed the cuddly toy on the bed, hooking Faith’s arm around it. “There you go Faith, when you wake up, even if I’m not here you’ll have a friend with you.”
* * *
“Y..you bought the bear?” Faith stared at Xander’s tight face. When she’d awoken, she’d found the bear in one of her lockers but had always thought it had been a present from the boss before he died. She remembered the tears that had welled up at it, proof that the boss had really cared, but now…
Xander glared at her, there was none of the warmth in his remaining eye that she saw when he looked at Red, Pip, and the others. The only person she could ever remember him looking at like that was Fang. The look made her want to shrivel up and die. “You want to hear this?”
“Yeah,” Faith nodded, she didn’t especially want to hear it but she needed to, to know how much she’d hurt him.
* * *
Sept ’99, Sunnydale Hospital
After ensuring the bear was secure, Xander turned his attention to the balloons and started tying them to the bottom of the bed. “’Course me coming here has an ulterior motive,” he admitted cheerfully even as he tied a knot. “If I didn’t come here and tell you about my road-trip I’d only bore the others stupid. You, you,” Xander’s voice trailed off. He was about to say ‘don’t have a choice’. “You need someone to hang with,” he finished lamely before striding to the other side of the bed.
As he did so, his knee caught on the clipboard hanging off the end of the bed, knocking it to the floor and scattering the notes contained on it. “Damn it!” he swore before kneeling and starting to pick up the papers. Suddenly his world turned on his axis as he idly read one of the sheets.
“9/14/99 Babies delivered successfully,” Xander looked up from the paper to the childlike figure lying on the bed. His shell-shocked mind fumbled through the maths to come to one undeniable conclusion. “You bitch,” he grated. The papers dropped from his shaking hands as he stood and made his way over to the head of the bed. Grabbing a pillow, he positioned it over the helpless Slayer’s face before shaking his head. “No, no. I’m not going to kill you,” he muttered. “You know why? I don’t want our kids to have two murderers for parents.” He dropped the pillow on the floor as his eyes blurred with tears. “But, but you can go straight to hell.”
* * *
Shocked, Faith risked a side-glance at Xander. Fuck, he’d nearly killed her? Not that she blamed him, after what she’d done… “X, I’m sorry.”
“I tried to track them down,” it seemed that her companion hadn’t heard her whispered apology. “But I didn’t know where to start. Maybe Will could have helped but she already thought I was an idiot for wasting my time trying to help you. What would she think if she found I’d have been dumb enough to get you pregnant. Besides, I was living in the basement of my drunken parents’ house, what sort of life could I have given them? But you took that choice away from me,” Xander’s eye burnt into her. “If you’d have come to me, I’d have stood by you, we could have managed. Why did you do it?”
Faith let out a rattling gasp, she hated talking about this stuff but he deserved to know why. “When I was a kid, my ma ignored me, never gave a shit about me. No birthdays or Christmases for this girl, ma was always too busy with the booze, drugs, and johns to worry about her kid. When I got to thirteen I saw how some of her guys were starting to look at me, so I ran away,” she shook her head, forcing the memories away. “My kids weren’t going to have that. I figured I’d be like her, treat them like crap too. I know better now, I’m gonna get my babies back and be a great -.”
Xander snorted. “You, you think I’m going to let my kids be raised by you?”
“I’m their fucking mother,” Faith growled, some of her usual spirit returning. She’d lost her babies once before, no way was she going to let them be taken again.
“What court would be dumb enough to give you custody?” Xander asked, his tone scathing. “Escaped murderess who’s only character witness is a homicidal vampire vs. a man with a pile of money, a trade, no criminal record, and a ton of references. Even you can do that math.”
Faith felt the onset of panic. “Please X,” she pleaded. “Don’t take my babies away from me. You want custody? You got it,” she bargained desperately. “I just gotta be part of their lives. I’ll do anything you want, name your terms.”
Xander sighed wearily. “You got that photo?” She passed the photograph over, her hand shaking as she did so. Xander smiled, the smile she’d always secretly liked seeing on her first run through Sunnydale, before speaking. “She looks a lot like you, what did you call them?”
“She’s Hope,” Faith hesitated. “He’s Alexander.”
Xander looked up from the photograph. “You named him after me?”
“You were a good guy, no-one I'd ever been with had ever been so respectful towards me, I wanted him to be good like his dad, have something that was part of you. I made it a condition of the adoption.”
The man’s face softened. “Faith -,” the male Scooby shook his head. “Let’s just concentrate on kicking the shit out of W&H and getting the kids back. Then we’ll work something out.”
Her heart filling with newborn hope, Faith nodded. “Five by five.”
* * *
Kennedy hurried back towards the hotel, taking the occasional glance at her watch. “Damn it Willow’s going to turn me into a frog, late again,” she muttered. Suddenly she stopped as she noticed a crumpled body in the parking lot. Her eyes widened as she recognised the figure. “Wood?”
Actions & Consequences (5/?)
“I came out of the hotel to find,” Wood winced as pain shot from his groin. When he got the slut’s brats he was taking a weekend in the torture chamber with Harris as payment. “Faith and Xander arguing,” he hid a smile at Buffy’s angry expression, fooling her would be easy. “Faith was demanding that he forgive her, Xander was just trying to get away from her, but she wouldn’t let him go. I tried to calm her down but she snapped,” he shook his head. “I never thought she’d attack me.”
There was a stunned silence then Buffy stepped forward, her face pale but determined. “Will, do a locater spell,” she instructed. “Girls, pack. As soon as Willow’s got a result we’re heading off.”
“Buffy,” Wood grimaced at the troubled look on Dawn’s face. He’d have to watch her; in many ways the younger Summers was the smartest of the lot. “Shouldn’t we-.”
“No time Dawn,” the older Slayer interrupted. “Xander’s in trouble.”
Wood struggled to his feet. “I’ll go pack.”
“Are you sure?” Giles asked. “If you’re that injured…”
”No,” Wood winced as he shook his head. “I’ve got to be there, I failed Xander.”
“Utter nonsense,” Giles took him by the elbow and led him out. “Any man would be helpless against a Slayer. But if you’re sure…”
“I’m sure.”
* * *
Kennedy pursed her lips together. This didn’t smell right, she knew with her abilities if she’d beaten up Wood in a rage he wouldn’t be standing, hell he’d probably be dead. And she’d spent a lot of time with Faith, her fellow brunette Slayer being nearest her own age of all the other Slayers, perhaps a little attracted to her and bound together by their mutual guilt at the pain they’d caused Xander. She sensed that Faith’s attitude was mostly just that, attitude, that she wanted nothing more than to make a fresh start. But talking to Willow or Buffy about it wasn’t going to work.
She glanced across at a worried looking
Dawn. Buffy’s sister had doubts too. Coming to a decision she hurried across
the hotel hallway and grabbed Dawn’s elbow just as the younger teen headed
towards her sister. “Wait Dawn,” she said loudly. “Let me help you pack.”
”But-,” the former Key’s mouth clamped shut at her headshake. “Fine.”
Once they were in the corridor, Kennedy clamped a hand over the younger girl’s protesting mouth and quickly forced the lock on a closet door, opened it, and pushed Dawn inside. “What are you doing?” the Key demanded. “I don’t know what you’re play-.”
“Shut up,” she instructed quickly. “You think Wood is lying don’t you?”
The outrage left the younger Summers’
face, her expression growing thoughtful. “Well not lying exactly, but his story
doesn’t make sense.”
Kennedy shook her head; she’d never been one for fudging. “He’s lying,” she declared flatly. “If Faith had gone psycho and attacked him, he’d be dead.”
“And,” Dawn added slowly. “Why would Faith take Xander with her? It would make sense that she killed them both rather than kidnap Xander.”
“Well,” Kennedy shrugged. “She could have a fascination about him; she’s kinda obsessed about showing him how she’s changed.”
Dawn looked surprised. “She is?”
“She talks about him all the time.”
“Oh right,” Dawn’s brow furrowed. “In that case she could have taken him hostage to force him to admit in some warped way that she’d changed.”
“Do you believe that?”
After a second Dawn shook her head. “No, in the old days the only person who was important to Faith was Faith, and maybe Buffy. In the past month we’ve spent a ton more time together than we did in six months, and she’s more peaceful too. We have to tell Buffy.”
“No,” Kennedy shook her head. “That’s the last thing we can do. Your sister thinks she’s doing the right thing, but you know how she never listens to anyone else. And when Buffy speaks,” a note of bitterness entered her voice. “Willow follows. The only person who either will listen to is Xander.”
“And he’s not here,” Dawn winced. “So what do we do?”
”I haven’t worked that out,” Kennedy admitted. “We’ve got to stick with the
others because of Willow’s spell, besides we need to keep an eye on Wood, and
when we catch up we’re going to have to try and keep Buffy and Willow under
control.”
”Good luck with that.”
The younger woman turned to leave but Kennedy reached out and turned her round to face her. “Dawn, thanks for helping me with this.”
Dawn smiled grimly. “No way am I going to let anything happen to Xander or Faith.”
She nodded in agreement, she owed Xander for him losing his eye. Whatever Wood was playing at he’d pay. “I’ve just got one question?”
“What’s that Dawn?”
“How do we get out of this closet without anyone seeing us and thinking we’re having a passionate affair?”
“Ah,” Kennedy grimaced. “Good point.”
* * *
Lord Pain brought his bullwhip down hard across the back of his manacled slave, glorying in her tortured screams. He stepped back and admired the blood seeping down the blonde’s back, luxuriating in the ravaged skin that just days had been flawlessly smooth. One of his minions had seen the blonde in a Scandinavian pop video, and knowing his love taking beautiful things and breaking them, had brought her to his attention.
It had taken him several weeks to ‘acquire’ her by faking a car accident, but she was worth it. At first she’d blustered and threatened, but a few nights without food and water in a rat-infested cell had stopped that. Then she’d attempted to bargain, telling him of the millions her record company would pay for her unharmed return. Then after a weekend as the toy of his right-hand man she’d begged and pleaded for her release. But now, after a week of his personal attention, she was so broken that she couldn’t even formulate sentences.
Smiling proudly he moved to the front of his creation and lifted her limp head. His smile broadened as he inspected the blonde’s face, she’d been awake when he’d burnt it off with a blowtorch, at the start anyway. Next time he’d take a male, a model or a bodybuilder perhaps.
He heard the door of the cell open behind him and sensed the presence of his one of his oldest childes. “Yes Klaus?”
“Sir, the Promised Two have been sighted!”
Pain snapped around to face his right-hand man, excitement pulsing through his veins. The Promised Two, the fated children of the second Slayer. Ever since the Summers Slayer had died and a second Slayer called, the Blood Brotherhood had watched the Slayer line for a sign of the children that were fated to make his organisation the dominant demon group in the world. Somehow they’d missed the birth of the children, how his spies had paid for that mistake – crucified and doused in holy water, but now… “Where?” he demanded.
“LA, shall I organise your jet?”
“Yes.” He nodded before turning back to his victim and running a long finger across her taut stomach. “My dear,” he leaned in to where her right ear should have been. “It’s been a pleasure,” he muttered before plunging his fangs deep into her throat. Ah, the blood of a broken spirit, nothing tasted better.
* * *
“Sir, we have a report in from America!”
Lord Archibald Trent looked up at his lackey. “Yes, Ms. Stevens?” he smiled at his personal assistant and bodyguard, a tall, leanly-muscled beauty of African descent with a handful of black belts and a hard-earned reputation in countless martial arts tournaments. “And what might that news be?”
“The Twins are in the hands of W&H.”
Lord Archibald Trent pursed his lips in thought. “Damn.” Throughout England, he was known as a playboy lord of the realm, friend of pop stars and footballers, and lover of models and actresses, the heir to a three hundred million dollar fortune. Much less well known was his past as a former Watcher thrown out of the organisation for dabbling black magics.
When he’d been expelled he’d stolen a number of black arts texts, including several books of prophecies, one of which included the Kalian prophecy detailing the twins of a Slayer whose power could influence the entire world. Such power needed to be controlled by the right hands, his hands. After a second he nodded, he needed to call in the members of the occult organisation he had founded, The Apocalypse Foundation. With the fall of the Watchers’ Council there was a power vacuum and if he had hold of the children, he could move into the hole. He smiled slightly. “Get the executives on the blower luv, set up on the video conferencing.”
“Certainly sir,” Stevens turned away from him and then turned back. “And the jet?”
“Have it readied,” he paused in thought for a second. “Organise our special ops team, I want those children, their mother too if possible. But the children are our priority.”
* * *
“We’re here,” Faith let out a weary sigh. Nothing had taken as much out of her as the several hour drive to Los Angeles, her mind filled with worried thoughts of her babies, her heart breaking repeatedly at the memory of Wood’s betrayal, and the car filled with tension.
Xander’s brow furrowed in confusion as he stared at the building she’d parked outside of. “The evil law firm’s base is a run-down hotel?”
“Oh no,” Faith swallowed. This was going to be fun. “This is Angel’s den.”
The expected explosion wasn’t long in coming. “WHAT! Did you bang your head on the way here? Kill your one functioning brain cell? Are you fucking craz-.”
“X,” she interrupted softly. One of them had to remain the calm one, obviously she was nominated, boy were her kids screwed. “We weren’t thinking straight when we left San Diego, we can’t take Wolfram & Hart on our own, we should have asked B and the others for help. But Fang, he’s been going toe to toe with W&H for years, and he’s ahead on points.”
Xander glared at her for a long second, his single eye bringing with it all the ferocity of a laser, before finally nodding, a look of grudging acceptance on his face. “Fine,” he growled. “Asking DB for help, just wonderful.”
* * *
Daniel Wolfe looked up as his office door crashed open.. “Mr Wolfe, our mages indicate the Slayer has arrived.”
“Excellent,” Daniel beamed. “Now all we have do to is wait for her to contact us.”
“Uh,” the flunky looked nervous. “It appears she’s contacted Angelus.”
His smile broadened. “Better and better. I shall await her phone call with interest.”
* * *
Angel looked up from fixing the reception area, maybe he should have taken W&H’s offer then at least he wouldn’t be doing house-cleaning, with a smile, a familiar scent in his nostrils. They’d won. His smile died when he considered why she must be here. Faith had changed, she didn’t deserve to spend the next two decades in prison, it wasn’t like her mother had ever been punished for the abuse that had made the way she was. The foyer door swung open. “Fait-,” his greeting died when he spied the young man following behind his protégée. “Harris,” he hoped his tone adequately conveyed his complete lack of welcome. “And what are you doing here?” His mouth dropped open as he noticed something. “What happened to your eye?”
He heard the door to the inner office behind him open and smelt Wesley’s scent. “Angel,” the former Watcher’s voice grew delighted. “Oh Faith, it’s good to see you again.”
“Wes,” Faith nodded towards the Watcher. Angel growled as he noticed the redness of the curvy brunette’s eyes and the puffiness of her cheeks. His eyes narrowed as he turned towards a scowling Xander, if that horse’s ass had hurt her… “My babies have been kidnapped by Wolfram & Hart.”
“WHAT!”
The roar came from three mouths, his, a shocked-sounding Wes, and highly pissed-off looking Xander who grabbed the Slayer by the crook of her arm and spun her round to face him. “You’re telling me?” the youth said each word slowly, as if struggling to contain his temper. “That you told that bastard about my kids but me, nothing?” the man laughed, it was a harsh, bitter sound, with nothing Xanderlike in it. “’Course you murderers have to have something to bond over. Why not send him them as mini-meals?”
”Xander,” Faith’s voice was soft, pleading. “Please, let go you’re hurting me.”
Angel wasn’t at all sure his friend was talking about the vice-like grip on her arm. Stepping forward, he pulled Xander away from the Slayer. “Calm down Xander,” he kept his own voice calm, letting none of his anger at the man’s rough treatment of his friend spill over into his tone. “We all know that Faith was in a bad place back then-.”
“A bad place?” Xander broke in with a sharp laugh and a contemptuous shake of the head. “Try every bad place between Boston and Sunnydale, every back alley, fleapit motel, biker’s bar, and lowlife titty bar. I don’t know why I’m here, they’re probably Rosco the biker’s kids, not mine.”
“You’ve seen the photo,” Faith’s pain-filled voice trembled. “Y..you know they’re yours Xander.”
Hearing the hurt in Faith’s voice, Angel was about three seconds from introducing Xander’s face to the wall. Forcing his demon under control, he continued to speak as if Xander hadn’t interrupted him. “What we need is cool heads. We need to sit down.”
He saw Xander’s fist coming towards his head but didn’t bother to block it, figuring it was better the young man took his frustrations out on him rather than hurl abuse at Faith. The punch crashed against his jaw, staggering him with its impact, he didn’t think a mortal had ever hit him that hard, there was a lot of emotion in the blow. “You don’t order me about, vampire!” Xander got in his face. “We’re not in Sunnydale anymore, I don’t have to put up with your bullshit!” Spinning around the young man stormed off, a single glare from him stopping Faith in her tracks.
“Gunn,” Angel turned to his open-mouthed comrade in arms hurrying down the steps. “Follow him, but don’t get in his way unless he needs you.”
“On it.”
* * *
“Willow, what’s taking so long?” Buffy continued to pace the floor.
”I don’t know,” the red-headed Wicca replied, her lips pursed. “I can’t get a
lock, it’s almost as if something’s blocking me.”
Something probably was, Wood realised as he watched their two leaders. He read Faith’s letter, and re-sealed it before she came in. He guessed the demonic law firm had placed some sort of spell on it making magical tracking difficult. He bit down on his bottom lip in frustration. He knew where they were going but he couldn’t just say, if he did, he glanced up at their blonde leader, even she’d work out that something was up. He’d have to wait for the chance to slip away.
”Got it!” his head snapped towards an excited-looking Willow. “She’s in LA.”
“LA?” Buffy’s eyes hardened. “That bitch! She’s going after Angel! Troops load up!”
* * *
Kennedy nodded towards Dawn. The younger Summers nodded before hurrying up to the Watcher. With her Slayer hearing, Kennedy heard the conversation. “Giles,” Dawn exclaimed. “Let me help you down with your bags.”
“Dawn,” the de facto Council head’s tone was affronted. “I’m more than capable of carrying a few bags; I’m not quite in my dotage!”
“Only just not though,” Kennedy smirked at the look on the Englishman’s face at Dawn’s reply. “Come on Giles, the sooner we get on the road, the sooner we catch up with Xander.”
The Englishman nodded. “Very well.”
Satisfied that part one of their plan was working well, Kennedy turned to Willow. “Will, I’ve got to get something from my room, my lucky axe.”
Her girlfriend looked up from collecting up her spell components. “You’ve got a lucky axe?”
Kennedy forced a grin. “It’s lucky for me; I haven’t lost my gorgeous head while using it.”
“Okay,” Willow nodded. “But hurry.”
“Will do.” Once outside of the conference room, she hurried into Giles’ room without knocking.
“Kennedy!” the Englishman looked out-raged. “Don’t you bloody yanks know how to lock? I could have been naked!”
“With Dawn in the room?” she raised an eyebrow. “Does Buffy know?”
Dawn fought back giggles while the former librarian reddened. Anxious to stave off a possible heart attack or verbal explosion, Kennedy quickly put things back on track. “We think Wood’s lying.”
“Or really?” Instantly the Englishman’s face took on a look of intense concentration. “About what and why?” After a quick glance at Dawn, she outlined her reasons. The Watcher nodded thoughtfully. “You might have a point; we’ll have to alert Buff-.”
“No!” Dawn let out a panicked cry. “You can’t do that Giles. You know what she gets like when she gets an idea, she’ll only go straight to Wood and demand the truth!”
”If she even listens,” Kennedy added.
“Very well,” the Englishman didn’t look happy. “What do you suggest?” Kennedy babbled out her plan. The middle-aged man looked less than impressed. “It’s hardly up there with the Normandy landings, but it’ll do. I’ll stick to Wood like glue; you two have your posts. And Kennedy?”
“Yes?”
“See if you can think of any other Slayers who’d listen to us. Just in case.”
“Giles-.”
”Dawn,” the Englishman’s tone was unyielding, giving a hint to the true man
concealed beneath his proper exterior. “The Watchers’ Council has failed Faith
once before. If you are correct and she is innocent of any wrong-doing, we
won’t fail her again.”
* * *
Faith stared at the door Xander had left through. After she’d told him about the names of the kids, he’d relaxed a little, not exactly Xander but not as edgy anymore. But when he’d found out she’d told Fang but not him, he’d gone super-nova. Damn, he had no idea the number of times she’d started a letter to tell him about the kids, but what could she say? ‘Sorry for trying to kill ya, Xand. Nice roll in the hay. BTW, we have two kids that I had adopted. Have a nice life.’ Suddenly she started to shake, fuck the damage she done. Suddenly she felt Angel’s arms around her, comforting her. “It’ll be alright Faith,” Angel consoled her. “Just give Xander time to calm down.”
“Angel.”
“Not now Wes!” a hard note entered the Master Vampire’s voice.
“Yes now!” the Watcher snapped back, damn Wes had grown a set since back in the day. “Lorne and Fred can look after Faith.”
“I’m five by five Fang,” she muttered, besides it wasn’t Angel she wanted not really. It was her babies, her babies, and Xander, Xander telling her that he forgave her, that they could be buds.
“Fine!”
* * *
Angel glared at the Watcher stood before him in the inner office. It was largely because of Wesley he hadn’t given into the temptation to rip Xander in half. After all, without Wesley he wouldn’t know the pain of losing his children, having them forced from you. “Well?”
To his credit the Watcher didn’t blink at his anger. “I do wish you’d told me about Faith’s children.”
“As I recall,” he arched an eyebrow. “You weren’t exactly interested in Faith’s welfare.”
After a second the Englishman nodded. “True enough. However,” he swallowed.
“Those children, the first ever to be born to a Slayer are the subject or a very
important prophecy.”
Angel groaned. “Why can’t anything be simple?”
“You call rescuing two three year olds from a demonic law firm simple? My, why do have an ego don’t we?”
He decided to ignore Wesley’s sarcastic mutterings. “What’s the prophecy?”
“I’ll have to search it out.”
”Get right it on it,” Angel nodded, looking through the glass to the nervously
pacing Slayer. “I’ll concentrate on getting the kids back. And Wesley,” he
hesitated. “If Faith mentions this prophecy..”
“Deny all knowledge?”
He nodded. “For the moment.”
* * *
Gunn tailed the man who’d turned up with the Slayer and punched out his boss. “I do meet interesting characters, don’t I?” His eyes widened when the one-eyed man was attacked. “I suppose I better rescue him.” His eyes widened further. “If he needs it.”
* * *
Xander was shaking with anger, his demeanour and the fury in his solitary eye more than enough to deter any of the local lowlife from approaching him. “Fucking bitch,” he muttered. She hated him, thought he was worthless, he got that, but to hide the fact she’d had his babies but tell a master vampire with a fetish for killing children. “If it’s not Buffy screwing me over for a vamp, the psycho is! How much does my life suck?” he stopped as he thought of something, he hadn’t seen his ex back at the motel, where was Cordy? He growled, if Deadboy had let something happen to her, he was going after Angel, and Buffy, Faith, and the Powers That Be had better not get in his way.
Suddenly he tensed as four robe-wearing vampires with gold pentagram medallions stepped out from the shadows of the alleyway he was in. “Not today boys,” he grunted. “I’m having a real bad day, do us all a favour and find somebody else to annoy.”
”You’re the sire,” proclaimed one of the vampires, a short, fat woman with the
sort of face a horse would have been proud of. The vampire who’d turned her
needed to take more blood with his drink. He’d heard of beer goggles but this
was ridiculous.
Xander’s eyes narrowed. “Sorry, no body’s sire,” he bluffed. “Living breathing human, bad blood though. Anaemia.”
“You’re the brats’ sire,” the woman interrupted.
“Excuse me?” his hand slid into his pocket and pulled out his stake. Four to one, not good odds. On the plus side, he had a lot of frustration to work off. And that remark, somebody was going to pay for that.
Suddenly the vampires surged forward. “Don’t kill him, Lord Pain will want him alive!”
Lord Pain, not a social worker then, but if he wanted him alive, that gave him an advantage, Xander realised as he ducked under a left hook, replying with a right elbow to the jaw that staggered its recipient. He had no such qualms about Slaying vampires. Hell, it was practically all had left.
The female leapt at him, attempting a wrestling takedown that he sidestepped, leaving his stake for the vampire to land on. Even as the vampire exploded into dust, another leapt at him with a clothesline that he ducked under. “Shit the WWE’s in town!” he cracked before straightening into a forearm to the forehead.
The force of the blow lifted him off his feet and sent him to the ground, the stuffed garbage bags there fortunately cushioning the landing. His assailant charged up to him but he took its legs out with a kick to the knees, knocking it to the ground, its companions tripping up over its body.
Taking advantage of the respite offered, Xander rolled his feet just as one of the vampires bounded upright and charged him. Grabbing hold of the vampire’s outstretched hands at the wrists, he dropped onto his back, bringing his feet up into the vampire’s stomach, sending him catapulting into the air. Leaping to his feet, he found the two remaining vampires, brothers from the similarity, advancing on him from opposite sides.
Thinking quickly, he dropped into a forward roll, coming to his feet behind his two would-be attackers. Spinning round, he slammed his stake into the left vampire’s back. Even as it exploded, its partner caught him with a punch that drove the air from his lungs, Winded, he stumbled away, ducking left and right to avoid the vampire’s wild punches, blocking those he couldn’t avoid on his soon aching arms and shoulders. Finally, he saw an opening and plunged his stake home.
His entire body a giant bruise, he straightened painfully, his head throbbing. “Well that was easy,” he blustered, suddenly he heard a footfall behind him. “Shi-.” His world exploded.