Faith: The Series S1 Ep6 (6/???)

The beautiful brunette looked around as the five bikers surrounded her.  “Woah!  We got ourselves a real hottie here!” crowed one of the thugs.

“No you haven’t!”  Suddenly Xander rappelled down the wall of the building, grabbed the lithe beauty around her tiny waist and, after kicking away the nearest biker, flew back up the wall to the top of the building.  The girl looked at him, wonder in her soft eyes.  “Are you alright miss?”

“I’m five by five,” she grinned at him.  “Thanks to you hero.”  He opened his mouth to say it was nothing when the girl suddenly plunged her tongue into his mouth and pressed her lips to his……

“XANDER!  Get out of bed!”

Xander jumped at his mother’s screech.  He looked stupidly around, his senses slowly returning.  It had all been a dream.  “Of course it was,” he muttered bitterly.  Faith had made it clear he was nothing more than a friend to her.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Miss Giles?” Faith stopped dead at the biology teacher’s call.  “Could I have a word please?”

“Sure Doc.”  Faith nodded reluctantly.  “Tell G I’ll be at the library in a few,” she whispered to C before turning back to the tutor.  “Yo Doc, what’s the sitch?”

The teacher stared at her, the intensity in his eyes almost enough to make her squirm.  Finally the bespectacled scientist spoke.  “I’ve read your profile, it’s common consensus you’re quite the trouble-maker.”

“Oh yeah?” Faith hid her anger at being written off again behind a nonchalant look.

“Yes,” the doctor grinned.  “Of course I’ve always been one to buck the system. You have a first-rate mind and you can think on your feet. Imagine what you could accomplish if you actually did...”

“Homework?”

“Homework,” the doctor confirmed.  “Now I think you have it in you to make the new principal eat that permanent record.  What do you think?”

“Yes sir,” Faith grinned at the thought of force-feeding the record to their new dictator. 

“Good, now chapters 6 – 8 tonight?”

“Yes sir, thank you sir,” Faith hurried out of the class.

                        *                      *                      *

Dr. Gregory chuckled as the young woman rushed out of the classroom.  He loved teaching, but what he especially treasured were the potentially troublesome students like Miss. Giles, pupils who might not have had the best start in life but had a spark within them that meant all they needed was someone to believe in them to help turn themselves around.  That was even better than watching a genius child reach their potential.

Turning back to his projector he began to pack up.  Hearing the sound of the door opening behind him he turned to speak to the newcomer.  And screamed as a monster loomed up over him, its claws ripping through his neck.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

The Master smiled as one of his childes strode into his cavern.  “Colin,” he turned to the boy by his side.  “Say hello to Stavros.”

“Hello Stavros.”

The one-handed vampire nodded respectfully to the youngster before dropping to one knee.  “You summonsed me Master.”

The Master beamed at his three hundred year old child.  “Stavros, we have a Slayer in town.”  The demon looked up.  “I’ve killed six in my time, but this one is different.  Darla,” he glanced at the fuming blonde.  She hadn’t liked him sending for Stavros.  “Darla was defeated in battle by her, and Luke slain.  But you,” he glanced meaningfully at the fork, taken in penance for the last time the younger vampire had failed him, “won’t fail me again will you?”

”No sire,” Stavros shook his head.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith whistled cheerfully as she made her way towards class.  For the first time ever she was looking to class.  She’d done her homework and was anticipating showing Doc how much she’d learnt.  She stopped as she entered the classroom, noting the teacher’s broken glasses on the ground.  Crouching, she carefully picked the glasses up and placed them on the teacher’s desk.  Weird, she was pretty sure the scientist was a blind as a bat without them.  “Guess what I heard!” she turned to see a beaming Xander stood behind her.  “No Dr. Gregory today. Ergo, those of us who blew off our science homework aren't as dumb as we look.”

“Why’s he not coming in?” she was beaten to the question by a concerned-looking Willow.

”Who cares?” Xander shrugged, his grin widening.  “No homework!”

“But-,” her voice trailed off when she realised that for once Xander wasn’t listening to her.  Rather, he, and every other male in the class including Jesse, were staring at the exotic beauty standing at the front of the desk.  Slightly miffed at being usurped as centre of Xander’s world, Faith sat back in her chair.

“Hello class, I’m Natalie French, and I will be substituting for Dr. Gregory.”

“Yo, where’s the Doc at?” Faith demanded, ignoring Xander’s muttered comment of ‘who cares’.

The replacement teacher glanced down at her class list before looking up at her.  “I don’t know, Faith is it?” she nodded.  “I just go where they want me.”

“I know where I want you,” Jesse muttered only to get a slap to the back of the head from Cordelia.

Miss French appeared not to have heard Jesse’s comment.  “Now, instead of doing what Dr. Gregory had planned,” Faith’s heart sank, the one time she does her homework and what happens?  It’s cancelled.  Fucking marvellous.  “Today,” the new science teacher reached into her bad and pulled out a plastic box, “we’re going to study the praying mantis.  This insect lives alone.  Does anyone know why?”

 

“Cause it’s so butt-ugly not even a Boston biker would touch it?”

“Hardly,” Faith was surprised by the rage in the teacher’s eyes.  She took the subject waaay too seriously.  “There is nothing ugly about these unique creatures. The reason

they live alone is because they're cannibals!”  The tutor continued to talk but Faith closed her ears off, already bored.

                                    *                      *                      * 

“I wonder what she sees in me? It's probably the quiet good looks coupled with a certain smoky magnetism.”  Xander smiled indulgently at her and Willow.  “You two are probably a little young to understand what an older woman would see in a younger man.”

Faith rolled her eyes, for the last half-hour Xander had been going on about French wanting him to do an out-of-school assignment with her, making it out to be the love affair of the century.  Deciding it was long past time to puncture her companion’s ego, she spoke.  “No I get it.  Younger guy, too desperate and blind to notice the older woman’s surgical improvements.”

“S..surgical improvements?”

”Ah,” Faith winked at Willow.  “So young and innocent.”

“I don’t find it funny,” Faith groaned at Cordy’s snap.  Oh shit, she’d forgotten about Jesse also going with Xander tonight.  “If that man-eater thinks she can tempt my Jesse away from me, well I’ll scratch her eyes out!”

“Excuse me!” their conversation was interrupted by Harmony Kendall barging through their group with her usual disregard for others and making her way towards the back of the canteen.  “I have to check this place for hygiene, otherwise daddy dearest will never let me eat here!” 

“Watching Harmony in full flow, always a joy,” Faith muttered.

The blonde opened  a refrigerator and screamed.  “ARGGH!”  In an instance, Faith had vaulted over the counter, the others hurrying after her.  “His head?”  Where’s his head?” 

Faith stared in disbelief at the decapitated body in the fridge, her eyes drawn to the name tag.  “Dr. Gregory.”

                        *                      *                      *

“Who would want to hurt Dr. Gregory?” Willow demanded, her voice shaking.

“Someone who didn’t like his clothes?” Cordelia guessed.

Faith looked at her Watcher for guidance, Giles looked wicked pissed, it was times like this the veneer of civility slipped giving her hint to the true bad ass G could be.  “He didn't have any enemies on the staff that I'm aware of. He was a civilized man. I liked him.”

“So did I.  He said I had potential,” she glared at the Englishman, daring him to question her.  “We're gonna find out who did this. We'll find them and we'll stop them.”

“Doubtless.”  Her Watcher squeezed her shoulder.  “What do we know?”

“Not a lot, um...” Collecting herself she continued.  “He was killed here on campus. I'm guessing yesterday.”

“How do you work that out?” Giles queried.

“He didn't change his clothing,” Faith replied.

Xander raised a hand.  “This is a question that no one particularly wants to hear, but... where did they put his head?”

“Ugh gross,” Cordelia wrinkled her nose.  “Trust you to bring that up.”

“W..was it a vampire?” queried Willow.

Giles shrugged.  “Some vampires take trophies,” Faith shuddered.  “But Dr. Gregory's blood wasn't drained, which leads me to believe it was something else entirely.”

“Oh, this is fun, we're on Monster Island,” Xander commented.

“Well, unpleasant things do gravitate here, it's true, but, we don't know anything concrete,” her Watcher turned to her, his gaze stern.  “I know you're upset, but, uh, this is no time to go hunting, not until we know more. Please promise me you won't do anything rash?”

“Cross my heart,” Faith replied.

“Anyway,” Jesse glanced at Xander and grinned.  “We’ve got to go, extra lessons.”

Giles glanced at her as the two youths hurried out.  “Xander and Jesse eager about extra lessons?  Is this a portent of the apocalypse?”

”They’re with Miss. French,” she explained.

”Ah,” she groaned when her Watcher smirked, him too?  “That explains it.”

                                    *                      *                      *

“Hi! Come in!”  Xander stared at his teacher’s cleavage as he and Jesse walked into Ms. French’s house.  They’d both been unable to believe it when she’d said she wanted to study somewhere ‘quieter’ – her place.  “Should I change? Is this too much?”

“No, no, it's, the most beautiful chest... dress I've ever seen,” Xander replied dazedly.

The teacher smiled and went into the living room.  “Smooth, Xander, real smooth,” Jesse whispered in a snigger.

“Shut up,” he muttered as they followed the woman through. 

“There you go boys,” Natalie smiled as she passed them both a drink with a sexy laugh.  “I just need to relax a little, I'm nervous around you two big strong boys. You're probably cool as a cucumbers!”

“That’s me,” Jesse chirped up.  “He’s as limp as lettuce, I’m as cool as a cucumber.”

“Oh, handsome and funny!”   Natalie beamed as they sat down.  “Now drink up.”  Once they’d obeyed, the science teacher dropped onto the couch between them, her hands resting on their knees.  “Can I ask you boys a personal question?”

Xander and Jesse exchanged glances. “ Sure.”

“Have either of you boys ever been with a woman before?”

“Ah,” Xander crimsoned.  “What do you mean?”

“Only,” he was shocked when the beauty’s hand began to travel up his thigh.  “I’m an experienced woman and I like to teach young men about the pleasures of the flesh.”

 

“We’re virgins!” they both shouted in unison.  Man, this woman got him so hot he was turning feverish.

“I know.”   Natalie smiled at them both in turn.  “I can tell.”

“You can?” Jesse put in.

“Oh, I like it.  You might say, I... *need* it.”

“R..really,” Xander hiccupped.  The drink was making him woozy. He leant back on the couch, his vision blurring as he slumped into unconsciousness.. 

                                    *                      *                      *                     

“Hey little lady, it’s dangerous out here!”

Faith stared with distaste at the bum, the stench of alcohol rolling off his well-proportioned frame.  Dangerous?  The biggest danger was from this jackass’ breath.  “Yeah thanks for the tip, I’ll be going home now.”

“Good,” the down-and-out burped, “girl.”

Once the drunk had stumbled away, she continued on her way, casting cautious glances left and right as she swaggered through the moonlit park.  She had to admit she loved the peace, how quiet things were in the breezy California night, a million miles away from the drizzly hell she’d left behind in Boston. 

Suddenly a vampire leapt out of the bushes and swung a fist at her head.  Faith ducked under the blow.  “Shit!” her eyes widened when she realised it wasn’t a hand but a three-pronged claw.  “Now they come with attachments?” 

Gathering herself she drove her head into the vampire’s belly knocking him back a step.  Eager to take advantage of her rival’s distress, Faith stepped behind her rival and drove an elbow between his shoulder blades.  She spun to face the vampire only to get a backhand to the mouth from his remaining hand.  Shaking her pain away, she dropkicked the demon in the chest knocking him head over heel across the road.  In an instant the one-handed monster was on his feet and running away.  “Hey come back,” Faith shouted.  “I wanna play!”  She hated it when they ran.

She followed the vampire through several streets until the beast leapt over a fence.  Faith’s eyes widened as she saw the vampire charge towards a figure.  “Miss French,” she whispered.

Somehow the teacher sensed the vampire. Faith’s mouth dropped open as the teacher’s head rotated 180 degrees round to face her would-be attacker.  The demon hissed and ran away. Natalie watched the demon fled to a near-by manhole, pulled the cover off, and jumped down, while Faith slumped to her knees, hiding behind the fence. Just what was Ms.  French?

                        *                      *                      *

“Listen G,” Faith pressed, pushing G like she had been doing all day.  “There is something seriously icky about Frenchie.  How many things is an undead monster with a fetish for shaving with his hand afraid of?”

“Not many. And not substitute teachers, as a rule.”

“And then there’s her whole Exorcist deal-.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Her head rotates all the way round.”

Her Watcher stared at her.  “You didn’t mention that before,” the Englishman accused.

“So I forgot,” she shrugged.  “Sue me.”

“Faith,” her guardian gave her his firmest look, “a Watcher must be appraised of every detail of his Slayer’s patrols.”

”Focus, G.”

“Yes,” after a final hard stare at her, her Watcher pinched his nose for a second.  “The Praying-Mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees, but that is ridiculous, Miss French is rather too woman sized and shaped to be a bug.”

“G, don’t start drooling again,” Faith sighed.  “You’ve just said yourself that only a praying mantis can rotate its head like that.  And a vampire freaked at her.”

Giles thought for a second before nodding.  “If you're right, then she'd have to be a shape shifter or a perception distorter. On a helpful note, I had a chum at Oxford,

Carlyle, advanced degrees in entomology mythology.”

“Say what?”

Giles sighed.  “Bugs and fairy tales.”

“Ah,” Faith nodded sagely.  “I knew that.”

“If I recall correctly, poor old Carlyle, just before he went mad, claimed there was some beast...”

“Before he went mad?” Faith raised an eyebrow.  “High-quality witness G?”

The school librarian bristled.  “Carlyle-.”

“Guys!” Both Faith and her Watcher turned to see a pale-faced Cordelia and Willow rushing into the library.  “Jesse and Xander are both missing!”

                        *                      *                      *

“Oh my head,” Xander groaned as he pulled himself upright.  He looked around his darkened, cramped cell, his head thumping.  His heart stopped as he saw a giant mantis sat on a nest.  “Miss French?” he gasped

“Please,” he could have sworn the giant insect smiled.  “Call me Natalie.”

“Sure,” he muttered as he stumbled backwards, falling over Jesse’s slumbering body.  “Whatever you want.”

                                    *                      *                      *

It took them a good half-hour to calm the two girls down.  Once they were, Faith turned to Willow.  “Red, can you hack into the coroner’s office?”

“What for?” 

Faith winced.  This wasn’t going to pretty.  “Autopsy for Dr. Gregory. I've been trying to figures out these marks that I saw on his corpse... I'm thinking they were teeth.”

“Y..you mean Xander and Jesse.”

”Just type Red, we won’t be able to do nothing ‘til we know more,” Faith glanced at her Watcher.  “And you were saying something about a beast?”

“Yes,” after a last worried glance at Cordelia, Giles hurried into his office.  “I just need to make one transatlantic telephone call.”

“Got it!” Willow exclaimed.  “Coroner's report, complete with... Yuk! ...colour pictures.”

“They *are* teeth marks.”  Faith winced.  “Which match perfectly the one insect that nips off its prey's head.”

“Okay, I-I,” Willow stuttered, “I don't like this.”

“Huh!” Faith pointed out, she liked this, she had smarts.  “It's the way they feed, head first. It's also the way they mate. The female bites off the male's head while they're...”

“No, no, no!”  Willow shook her head.  “Not Xander and Jesse.”

“Hey Red,” Faith winced.  Fuck, when was she going to learn to keep her mouth shut?  “I ain’t gonna let nothing happen to them.”

                        *                      *                      *

“I understand, Carlyle. Yes I'll take every precaution.”  Giles swallowed, this was very bad.  “Uh, absolutely, it sounds exactly like the creature you described.

You were right all along about everything. Well, no, you weren't right about your mother coming back as a Pekinese, but... uh... Try to rest, old man. Bye now!”

Hanging up the phone he hurried out of the office.  After a quick glance at a pale faced Cordelia he hurried over to Faith who was busy calming a newly-hysterical Willow.  “Dr. Ferris Carlyle spent years transcribing a lost pre-Germanic language. What he discovered he kept to himself until several teenage boys were murdered in the Cotswolds. Then he went hunting for it.”

“What was it Giles?”

He decided to put the impatience in the cheerleader’s snap down to stress.  “He called her a She-Mantis. This type of creature, the Kleptes-Virgo, or, or virgin-thief, appears in, in many cultures. The Greek sirens, the Celtic sea maidens, who, who tore the living flesh from the bones of, um...”

“Giles,” Cordelia snapped.  “Before I die of old age.”

Giles swallowed, this was tad delicate for female ears.  “Well, basically the, uh, the She-Mantis assumes the form of a beautiful woman and then lures innocent virgins back to her nest.”

“Virgins?” Faith snorted.  “They can’t-. ”

“They’re so screwed!” Cordelia stood when they all turned to her.  “Do you think I’d let Jesse touch me?”

 “Okay, okay,” Faith interrupted, “so this thing is breeding and we need to find and snuff it. Any tips on the snuffing part?”

Giles nodded.  “Uh, Carlyle recommends cleaving all body parts with a sharp

blade.”

“Ah, the classics,” Faith nodded.  “Slice and Dice.”

“But you had better be quick,” he added.  “This beast is extremely dangerous.”

“Hello Slayer?  I feed on danger and dine on death,” at her Watcher’s look, Faith shrugged.  “So I like the Road Warriors, big deal.  Your buddy Carlyle faced it, and he's still around.”

“Yes, in a straitjacket, howling his innards out day and night.”

“Well that’s inspiring.”

“Sorry,” Giles replied.

“What are we going to do about my boyfriend?” Cordelia demanded in a voice so shrill that he wasn’t entirely sure he’d hear properly for quite some time.

Collecting himself, he began to bark out orders.  “Willow, see if you can get Miss French’s address off the substitute rolls.  Faith, and you need to record bat sonar, and fast!”

“Eh?”

“Bats eat praying Mantises,” he explained as he led the Slayer to the stairs.  “The sound of a bat sends their nervous system haywire.  I’ll get your short sword ready.”

                        *                      *                                  *

“This is the address right?”

Giles nodded at her question.  “What now, exactly? We can't just kick the door down.”

“Yeah,” Faith raised an eyebrow, he really didn’t know her at all, “that *would* be wrong.”  She brought her leg up to kick the door open only for it to swing open to reveal a white-haired and wizened old lady. 

“Hello, dear! I thought I heard...” the woman smiled.  “Are you selling something? Because I'd like to help you out, but... You see, I'm on a fixed income.”

Faith exchanged confused glances with her Watcher.  “We’re looking for Miss French.”

“I'm Miss French,” the old lady beamed at them.

“Natalie French, the substitute biology teacher?” Giles put in.

“Goodness, that's me! I taught for over thirty years. I retired in 1972.”  The teacher peered at G.  “Did I teach you sonny?”

“That some make-up you use lady, can I-.”

Faith pushed Cordy back.  “I can't believe this! She used Miss French's records

to get into the school. She could be anywhere!”

“No, dear!” the retired educator beamed.  “I'm right here!”

Faith scowled.  “G, I got an idea.”

                                    *                      *                      *

“Jesse!”  Xander kept his eyes on the terrifyingly huge insect sat on the nest.  “Wake up!”

“W…where are we?” finally his friend’s eyes opened.

“Oh,” Xander swallowed.  “Not where we want to be.”

                                    *                      *                      *

“You got your cuffs on you G?”

“Wait!” Cordelia grabbed the Watcher’s elbows.  “You carry cuffs on you?”

“Oh yeah,” Faith drawled.  Even in a crisis she couldn’t resist a chance for a little fun at her Watcher’s expense.  “Sometimes when I’m a naughty Slayer, Giles cuffs and spanks me.”  She glanced at a dazed looking Jonathan and whispered conspiratorially.  “That’s the bit I like best about being a Slayer.”

The response was all she’d dreamed off, Red and Cor were glaring at a rapidly reddening G, while a mouth-agape Jonathan was clearly in a world of his own.  “Faith!” her Watcher stumbled over an explanation.  “Sometimes it’s necessary to interrogate a vampire before staking them, as a result I carry cuffs on me.”

”Sure that’s the reason,” Faith winked at a still stunned Jonathan.  Guy wouldn’t sleep tonight thinking about it.   “Give me the cuffs G.”

“What do you intend to do?” Giles glared at her as he passed the requested restraints over. 

“I saw Frenchie walking past this park with her grocery bags. She lives in this neighbourhood.  And,” she pointed towards the manhole cover, “that’s where Claw Dude disappeared.  I’m gonna hunt him out.”

“Be careful Faith,” Giles warned.

“Why?” she smirked at her Watcher.  “If I’m not will you discipline me?” 

                                    *                      *                      *

“Here nice little bloodsucker!” Faith cooed as she made her way through the sewers, thanking god she hadn’t worn her $100 leather boots tonight because thanks to the crap swilling around her knees, her jeans and trainers were ruined.  “Come taste the lovely Slayer bl-.”

“Arghh!” Faith ducked a half-second before the vampire screamed, having sensed him just before, causing the claw to screech against the wall, sending sparks flying.  Spinning round, she grabbed the out-stretched arm and leveraged the monster face-first into the wall.  The demon grunted and began to turn to face her, but she drove a knee into the small of her adversary’s back, the impact of her attack driving the demon’s head back against the wall.  Dazed, the vampire was helpless to prevent her cuffing him. 

                                    *                      *                      *

“Pooh!” Cordelia’s nose wrinkled up. “You stink!”

“I’ve been in a sewer C, what do you expect Chanel?”  Faith demanded before turning to her captive.  “Come on! Come on, where is she? Which house is it? I know you're afraid of her, I saw you!”  Suddenly the demon reared back, his eyes filled with terror.  “What is it? This is her, isn't it, this is her house? Better than radar!  Thanks!”  She drove her stake into the vampire’s chest, exploding him into dust.  “’Ppreciate the help.”

                                    *                      *                      *

Faith kicked the window open with one foot.  Jumping through to the house, she saw the insect advancing on the cell holding Xander and Jesse.  “Shit no wonder she has to wear a disguise to get a date,” Faith shuddered at the hideousness of the massive insect.  “Hey bitch!” The insect turned towards her.  Faith pulled out two insect repellent cans and began spraying.  The monster reared back and wailed.  “Hey!” Faith taunted.  “I’ve always wanted to do that to a teacher, but then I’ve got authority issues.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jonathan, Cordelia, and Willow getting the boys out of their prison.  “Take this you cad!” Giles was by her side, putting on the tape that she’d taped for him.  “’It is important to have order in all of one’s life’,” Giles gulped.  “Oops, I appear to have caught the fast forward button!”

“You think?” She cursed when French knocked her Watcher across the room.  “Oh just great!”  She caught a mandible across the face, ripping open a cut.  “Shit!” she stumbled backwards, blood dripping down her face.  Fortunately she wouldn’t scar but it hurt like a bitch. 

Forcing herself to focus she pulled out her machete and leapt towards the monster only to be knocked down onto her side.  Winded, she could only watch helplessly as the creature loomed over her.  

Suddenly the screech of bat sonar filled the air causing the creature to flail helplessly.  “Hurts like a bitch uh?” Faith crowed as she leapt to her feet.  “Well so does this!”  In an instant she was gleefully ripping through the monster until it was just a pile of dismembered parts on the ground.

 “Are you okay Faith?”

“Five by five X,” she turned at Xander’s voice and grinned.  “So a virgin uh?” she tilted her head at the boy’s reddening.  “Although maybe I shouldn’t be surprised!”

Chuckling to herself, she turned away only to be pulled around by an angry looking Xander.  “Go to hell Faith!”  A second later Xander stormed past her, leaving her stunned and hurt.

“Yo X!” she yelled.  “It was just a fucking joke!”

                                    *                      *                      *

Faith’s heart thumped as she waited for her phone call to be answered.  Finally the phone was picked up, and she heard a man’s voice.  “Yeah Xander it’s-.”  She blinked in disbelief as the phone at the other end was hung up. 

                                    *                      *                      *

After knocking on Faith’s bedroom door, Giles walked into Faith’s bedroom to find his charge sat on the side of her bed.  “Are you alright Faith?”

Faith nodded at his gentle question.  “Scar will be gone in a couple of days.”

 

“That’s not what I meant Faith, I was talking about Xander.”

Faith shrugged.  “Asshole doesn’t want to be friends fuck him.”  He stared at the girl, she sighed.  “I didn’t mean nothing by it.  Just my way right?”

“Right,” he sat down beside his young charge.  “But you insulted Xander in the area where a young man is most sensitive.  And you know how he feels about you.  And, with those feelings, and the situation, and then you make a comment that, in that situation, he couldn't help but take it as a hurtful, remark...”

“Yeah but,” Faith rubbed at her forehead.  “If a guy was pissed off with what I’d said in the past, he’d crack me in the mouth and that would be it,” Giles hid a wince at the matter-of-fact way Faith described her abuse.  “But Xan and the guys are different.  I like hanging with them.”  Faith’s eyes filled with hurt.  “I didn’t mean it.”

“I know Faith,” he squeezed his Slayer’s slender shoulders.  “But give it time, Xander was scared and fraught, emotions were bound to be running high.  Once he’s calmed down....”

Hope filled his girl’s eyes.  “You promise?”

“I promise.”

 Faith: The Series S1 Ep 7

“Oh! You better watch out,
You better not cry,
You better not pout,
I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town!”

Faith struggled to hide a smirk as she hurried through the busy mall, her excited eyes flickering from side to side as she soaked in the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas.  All around her there were garishly coloured streamers, every store was highlighted with decorations – spray-on snow, Merry Christmas signs and the like, and every half-a-dozen shops or so there was an illuminated artificial Christmas tree.  Christmas pop songs and carols blasted out of the crowded mall’s sound system and  delicious festive smells wafted our from a number of the shopping centre’s restaurants.  And the kids, with all their grinning faces.

Faith’s own smile slipped as she remembered her own childhood, the beatings from one of her mom’s boyfriends for having her TV on too loud, trying to cook the Christmas dinner, listening to some of the other kids talk about what they were getting and wondering why she was so bad that she didn’t get anything.  And standing outside the decorated houses and wondering why nobody loved her. 

But this year, Faith forced her memories down deep, this year was gonna be different.  Last year had been pretty good, G was a wicked cook, and he’d decorated, bought her presents, made a real effort.  But she’d been too much of a suspicious bitch to enjoy it, wondering when she’d have to show G her ‘appreciation’.

This time though, she was going to show G how much she lov-, cared about him.  She had a ton of presents planned, paid for out of her Council stipend that she split 50/50 with G – she wouldn’t take a free ride, for G and for her friends.  G was getting a signed Derek and the Dominoes first edition lp, a new guitar case, and a Sex Pistols’ T-shirt, Faith smirked, her Watcher had wicked cool music taste for such a stuffy guy.  She’d got Cordy a purse, Willow was getting this PC game she’d been raving about, and Jonathan and Jesse were getting Playstation games.  But Xander, Faith’s smile wavered, she had to get Xan something real special to make up to him.

She hadn’t meant shit by what she’d said to him, but it had really hurt him, embarrassed him.  She kinda knew he had feelings for her but he wasn’t her type, but she’d never been much good at letting people down gently.  But he was a good guy, and she kinda missed him joking with her.  They still hung in the same gang and everything, but he never spoke to her anymore and that hurt.   When she came into the room, he usually either shut up or moved away from her.   And the shine in his eyes and his smile, they weren't there anymore when she occasionally managed to catch his eyes...  All of that, it hurt... Hurt far more than it should have...  hurt more than she thought it would.

Shaking off her melancholy, Faith stopped in the centre of the shopping mall’s third floor.  Her smile returned as she watched the queue of kids waiting to meet Santa.  She’d never done it herself, Ma didn’t have time to waste on her, but just watching the look of excited innocence on all those little kids’ faces reminded her why she fought.  She watched avidly as the elf led the kid at the front of the queue to Santa who lifted the little boy onto his knee and the elf took the previous kid to pet the reindeer.

“HO! HO! HO! HO!”

Her eyes widened.  “Oh shit,”  she muttered as she saw a red-skinned, white-faced horned demon suddenly appear by the grotto, grab Santa Claus and fling him to the ground.  Thinking quickly, she hurdled over the landing vault.  “Supergirl to the rescue!” Maybe the kids would think it was part of the show and not get scared.

Leaping into the air, she drop kicked the seven foot tall demon in its face, knocking the thickly-muscled gargantuan back a step.  Landing on her feet, she screamed as the monster raked her across her right arm, her leather jacket only slightly protecting her from its claws.  “Oh sh-,” spying the near-by children she amended what she was about to say.  “Supergirl to the rescue!” Leaping forward, she ducked under the beast’s claws and planted a palm-strike into the monster’s distended stomach.  The monster grunted again and stumbled backwards, she followed after it but caught a right to her jaw, lifting her off her feet and dumping her into a near-by Christmas tree, knocking her and the tree to the ground.

Instantly she was back on her feet and chasing the monster as he ran away, rotating her jaw gingerly as she pursued it – shit, he could punch.  The demon reached the floor railing just feet in front of her and leapt over. 

Faith’s eyes widened as the monster barged into a frightened child stood by the railing and knocked him into the air.  Faith picked up some extra speed, fear pushing her to even great efforts.  Diving into the air, she grabbed the small boy just as he cleared the railing.  “Gotcha!” she winked as she hit the ground and rolled to her feet.  “Hey,” she was alarmed when the frightened kid burst into tears.  “It’s okay, you’re gonna be cool.”

Slightly panicked by the child’s tears, she looked at the child’s older brother and grinned.  “Guess who jumped to the front of the queue,” she whispered.  “Follow me.”  Pushing through the crowd, she hurried over to the Santa.  “Father Christmas,” she said, “this is your next kid.”

The store employee snorted.  “Screw that girlie, I’m going home.”

Faith stepped into the man’s space.  “No you’re not,” she snarled.  “You’re not disappointing the kids,” she warned.  “If I have to break your kneecaps to make you stay I will.”  The man gulped and sat down.  She nodded approvingly.  “Good choice, now I think you’re gonna give all these kids,” she glanced over her shoulder to all the now crying children, “extra presents today.  You dig?” the store employee nodded.  “Smart man.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles watched with a professional eye as his students sparred.  To his surprise, the best of his trainees was Cordelia, her dancer’s agility, stamina, flexibility, and co-ordination putting her just ahead of Xander whose capacity to take punishment awed him as well as worrying him as to how he’d developed such a talent.  Jesse was third, the boy’s lack of focus preventing him from seriously challenging Xander for second place. 

Willow and Jonathan, Giles winced, the two picked up the techniques well enough, but when it came to sparring, a combination of queasiness and a lack of confidence meant they were awful.  Still, they were first class minds, and were more than helpful with research, while the others rivalled Faith for their incapacity for academia. 

“Yo G!”

Giles glanced over his shoulder, surprised that his daughter was here.  He’d called the others in for extra training at her request as cover for her Christmas shopping.  His surprise turned to worry when he noticed the blood leaking from the Bostonian’s upper right arm.  “What happened!” he started forward, followed closely by Xander only for the youth to stop and the others to overtake the boy who stepped to one side, an uncomfortable and confused expression on his face.

Pushing aside his worries about the duo’s continuing estrangement, he quickly examined his charge’s wound.  To his relief, Slayer healing was already kicking in, still…  “Willow, could you get me the-,” he smiled as the red-head passed him the first aid box, “thank you.”

“G, don’t fuss.”  Faith looked embarrassed, but then his girl always had to be tough, especially in front of a crowd.  “Slayer healing.”

”And Slayers generally need two arms to be fully effective,” he pointed out as he dabbed some antiseptic into the girl’s wound.  “So let’s make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

Faith groaned.  “Yes G.”

“And don’t pout, young ladies don’t pout.”  He sensed rather than saw Faith’s theatrical roll of the eyes.  “What happened?”

”Yeah Faith,” Cordelia broke in.  “Isn’t it rather light for vampires?”

 

“Oh there’s a couple working on their tans C,” Faith chuckled before shaking her head.  “No – shit G!” the Bostonian unleashed a barrage of swear words.  “That hurt goddamn it!”

“Don’t be such a baby,” Cordelia scolded.

“Tell you what C, have Lectar here operate on you.”  Faith shot back. 

“You two please be quiet,” he snapped “I’m trying to clean this wound; Dr. Finlay never had to operate under these conditions.”

“Who?” asked a confused sounding Jonathan.

“No Dr. Finlay, Dr. Who was a time lord,” Giles joked.

“You were into Dr. Who?” Jesse asked incredulously.

”I was young once,” he sniffed.

“Can I have written proof?” Faith shot back.

”Very amusing, now,” he looked into his charge’s face.  “What happened?”  In a few terse sentences, Faith explained.  Giles nodded.  “I think it’s time we researched.”

”Oh joy.”

He chose to ignore Faith’s mutterings.  “Now let’s get a search started.  Xander, you and -,” he was about to say Faith but decided that forcing the two together was not wise.  “Willow and Jesse investigate clawed demons.  The others help me look for red demons.”

“Miss Giles, my office now!”

                                    *                                  *                      *

Snyder glared at the scowling girl sat opposite him.  Just half-a-hour ago he’d been home with his feet up.  And then he’d got a phone call from the Mayor informing him of Faith’s behaviour.  “So Miss. Giles,” he sniffed, what an educated man like Giles was doing associating himself with such a low-life as her he really had no idea.  “I knew you were a troublemaker from your permanent record.  Well let me tell you missy, Mr. Flutie might have let you run riot, but I,” he jabbed his thumb at his head, “I am a completely different matter.”

The troublesome teen bristled.  “I haven’t done nothing.”

“Except wreck a shopping mall, the damage to the school’s reputation is incalculable!” 

“Hey!  There was a lunatic with a knife, I was helping!”

He snorted.  “Don’t lie to me young lady.  What about you threatening to assault a mall employee?”

He smugly noted the girl’s squirming.  Guilt, he could smell it a mile away.  “He was going to leave the kids waiting to see Father Christmas,” the delinquent muttered.

Now if that wasn’t the most pathetic excuse he’d ever heard.  “Christmas,” he snorted.  “If it was up to me, you little brats wouldn’t get a Christmas!”

“HEY!” the girl was on her feet in an instant.  “You’re a miserable -.”

“Faith,” his office door crashed open to reveal his librarian stood in the doorway, a forbidding expression on his face.  “Go to the library.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

By the time Snyder had recovered from his shock, the Boston transplant had disappeared.  Recovering, he bristled indignantly and pulled himself up to his less than considerable height.  “Now see here -.”

“Let me make myself clear,” the Englishman’s cold tone silenced him instantly.  “If I get the slightest hint that you are singling my child out or unfairly disparaging her.”  The librarian chuckled.  “Well let’s just say you’ll regret it.”

Gathering his courage, Snyder sniffed.  “Sorry. I'm not convinced.”  

He attempted to push past the taller man only to be grabbed by his lapel and pushed back against his desk.  His blood chilled at the man’s vicious grin.  “Would you like me to convince you?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles blood was boiling as he stormed out of Snyder’s office.  That little pillock, he’d been so tempted to introduce Snyder to some of the best London pub-fighting techniques.  Faith tried so hard to be good and to have people like Snyder sneering at her. 

”Thanks G.”

Surprised by the soft voice, he turned to see Faith leant by the wall.  “Quite alright my girl,” he smiled.  “We’re a team aren’t we?”

 

“Yeah, like Batman and Robin,” Faith stepped in beside him.

“I rather thought Holmes and Watson.”

“Who?”

Giles shook his head, sometimes this girl.  “I thought I told you to go back to the library?”

 

“And research,” Faith shuddered theatrically.  “No thanks!”

“It wouldn’t kill you to pick up a book more often,” he scolded.

Faith winked at him.  “This girl’s taking no chances.”  He chuckled, Faith’s face turned serious.  “You think Xan will ever forgive me?”

Giles squeezed his girl’s shoulders.  “Mr. Harris is a fine young man, but being hurt by someone you care about like you hurt him is the deepest hurt of all.  But just give him time, you can’t force these things.”

“But I miss him being my bud,” Faith looked down at the floor.  “I mean Jess and Jonathan are cool but Xan,” she shrugged, “I ain’t never had guy friends before and I don’t want to lose one.”

 

“Faith,” Giles struggled for the words to comfort his Slayer.  “The very fact that Xander continues to train with us shows he feels loyalty to our cause at the least.”

“I guess,” Faith nodded slightly as they reached the library doors.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“We’ve found it!” Willow beamed as she held up a book.

“Correction,” Cordelia said loftily as she looked up with concern at her best friend’s drawn face.  “I found it.”  Getting up, she hurried over to her friend and dragged her away from the others. “What’s wrong Faith?  Has Snyder said something, my dad’s on the governor’s-.”

”Nah, it’s nothing,” Faith shrugged.

”No it isn’t,” she insisted.  “I know something’s wrong, now talk!”

Faith’s eyes flashed.  “Man you’ve got nerve C,” Faith chuckled.  “It’s X, it kinda hurts way he is.”

“Does it now!” Cordelia’s eyes flashed.  “Well if Jesse thinks he’s getting the use of my lips until he talks to him-.”

“No!” Faith’s eyes widened in panic.  “You can’t, it’s my mess, I’ve got to sort it.”

A light bulb came on in her head.  “Do you like Xander?” Cordelia asked.  This was ridiculous Faith liking the geek.  On the other hand, she was dating Jesse.  “Because if you want I could set you up with him, we could double-date?”

“No way, me and X,” Faith shook her head.  “Xan is so not my type.”

“But-.”

“When you two have finished gossiping?”

After a glare at Giles and an even more ferocious one at Xander, Cordelia sniffed as she and Faith moved back to the table.  “We were discussing battle strategies.”  Well dating was a type of war.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Now,” Giles read the notes from the books.  “At one time in early history there was a Scandinavian demon that in the winter would attack groups of children at parties,” Faith raised an eyebrow, this sounded like a fairy tale.  In a minute G would be handing out cookies and milk.  “A mighty mage rose and banished it from this plane of dimension.  That mage was Nicholas, who over a period of decades became known as St. Nicholas, and the demon was Satan Claws,” Faith squinted at Giles’ look at her, this was obviously meant to mean something but she didn’t have a clue.  “Over time folklore built up over the demon, perhaps by people anxious to banish the memories, parents telling children that if they were good Santa Claus would leave them presents.”

 

Then it hit her.  “Wait a minute!  You’re telling me Santa Claus was a demon?”

“Indeed he was,” Giles nodded, “the only question is why and how he’s back?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

He chuckled as he locked his hotel room and hurried towards his car.  He was glad to get out of this bloody desolate outpost.  “Merry Christmas Ripper,” he chuckled.  “I hope you and your bloody chit of a Slayer enjoy your present.”  Nobody, but nobody turned on him.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Sir,” he looked up at his deputy.  “Another attack at a carol service.”

Wilkins scowled.  “That’s the sixth in the past week?” Finch nodded.  “This is just unacceptable, the sort of thing that will be remembered come election day.  Increase patrols!”

”Yes sir,” the deputy Mayor hesitated.  “Sir, Dr. Walsh is here for her job interview.”

“Oh really?” Wilkins raised an eyebrow.  His agents had told him that the woman represented a government agency dedicated to researching demonology.  His first instinct was to put up every obstacle to her getting tenure at the college, but on the other hand, there was the maxim of keeping one’s enemies closer.  If her agency was based in Sunnydale, he could kill them as soon as he ascended, before they had chance to formulate a plan to counter him.  “Please, invite her in.”  He was most eager to meet his soon to be victim.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Come on G!” Faith cursed, “there’s too many damn parties and stuff going on, its Christmas, I can’t be everywhere!”

”Yes Faith,” Giles sighed.  “I’m well aware of that.  However I have come up with a plan.”

“Really?” Faith beamed.  “Spill.” the Slayer’s face fell and she glanced at her companions before looking back at him after his explanation.  “Tell me you are joking!”

“Faith,” Giles groaned at the children’s expressions.  “Do you seriously think I want to do this?”

“Well I want to go on record, there’s no way I’m sitting on your knee!”  Faith snapped.

“And neither’s Cordy!” Jesse added, a protective arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder.

”Thank goodness for that,” Giles muttered.  What had he done to deserve being the surrogate parent to this rabble?  Ripper hadn’t been that evil.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith laughed as Giles walked out of his office.  “If that ain’t the scrawniest Father Christmas I’ve ever seen!”

Giles glared at the teen for a second before smirking.  “Well, Faith you and Cordelia look quite delightful in your elf costumes.”  He chuckled when the Bostonian flipped him the bird.  “Well really, should one of Santa’s elves be making such a rude gesture?”  He looked up to see the others entering, Willow and Jonathan dressed as snowmen, and Jesse and Xander the most sheepish-looking reindeers he’d ever seen.

“G,” Faith whined.  “Do we have to, I feel ridiculous.”

“Don’t worry Faith,” Jesse broke in cheerfully.  “You still look really hot.”

Faith broke off from her moaning to glare at Jesse.  “C, muzzle your boy-toy,” the Slayer turned back to him.  “This isn’t fair.”

“Faith, you know I concur.”  Giles replied through gritted teeth.  “However it is only logical that Satan Claws will strike at the children’s orphanage.  All those children getting their presents, decorations, happiness.  Like a magnet to Satan Claws.”

“Yeah, but why do we have to go undercover?” Faith whined.

“Because it’s the only way to get in, I volunteered our group to help out as fancy dress atmosphere.”

“Couldn’t you have said something else?”

“I was hardly going to offer you as chef was I?”

“Hey!” Faith sounded offended.  “I dial a great pizza!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Come on this way to see Santa Claus!” Faith beckoned the next beaming child to the grotto, ruffling the five year old’s sandy-brown hair as he tottered past her, a beaming grin on his cherubic face.  Faith had to admit she was enjoying herself, looking after the kids, making them smile, kinda made her feel good inside.  Course if anyone called her on it, well she’d kick their asses from here to Bosto-.

 

“HO! HO! HO! HO!”

Faith tensed instantly at the chilling laugh.  Turning, she saw Satan Claws lumber out from behind one of the Christmas trees, a casual backhand swipe sending the eight foot pine tree crashing to the ground.  “Showtime,” she muttered before  glancing towards her Watcher.  “G! My sword!”

“Here my dear.” 

Faith plucked the thrown sword out of mid-air.  “Thanks!”

She started towards the demon, bustling kids out of her way.  Her eyes widened when one of the kids bundled into the path of the advancing demon.  At this distance, she’d never get there in time.

Suddenly Xander hurtled into the kid, his leap carrying both Xan and the kid out of the demon’s way.  Ballsy, Faith nodded approvingly, real ballsy.  She stopped in front of the demon.  “Hey asshole,” she cocked her head to one side.  “Ready for round two?”

“HO! HO! HO! HO!”

Faith dodged out of the monster’s flashing claws, twisting her body left and right to avoid its attack.  “You  could,” she grunted as a fist caught her in the mouth, drawing blood, “have just said yes.”

She kicked out, the point of her foot connecting with the monster’s distended belly, staggering it.  “HO! HO! HO!”

“You know,” she directed a heel kick at the beast’s knee only to wince when its claws caught her bare lower leg, ripping a trio of bloody furrows across it.  “That HO, HO HO crap, kinda getting boring.” Stepping into the monster’s space, she feinted with a left elbow to the face, while bringing her sword up on its other side, and ripping it through its neck.  The moment the monster hit the floor it exploded into dust.

“And that,” Faith glanced behind her to a wildly-smiling Cordelia trying to calm the crying kids.  “Is the end of the show!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Carl Balbo resisted the urge to pick up the small girl by her collar and fling her out of the door.  When the doe-eyed beauty had walked into the comic shop where he’d worked, he’d fallen over himself to be the one who got to serve her.  But that was almost a hour ago, and every suggestion of a comic for her friend had been met by a shake of the head and the words, ‘nah not X’, or ‘not special enough for Xan’, or the classic, ‘you’re jerking my chain right, how much for a comic?’.  Finally he decided a new tact.  “Okay what’s your friend into?”

The girl stared at him as if he was stupid.  “I’m in a comic store, what do ya think?”

He sighed.  “Other than comics.”

“I don’t know,” the young woman’s face brightened.  “Sci Fi and vampires.”

Carl grinned.  “Vampires, I’ve got just the thing.  Wait there.”  He hurried off to return with a comic.

The brunette stared doubtfully at the cling-filmed item.  “What’s so special about this?” the leather-clad teen’s beaming smile as he explained the comic’s significance made all his trouble worthwhile.  “That’s wicked, thanks man!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith took a breath as she watched Xander’s house, his bedroom light having gone out some twenty minutes ago.  She’d told herself that the only reason she hadn’t knocked on the front door yet was because she didn’t want Xander’s pa leering at her when she opened the door, but that was bullshit, she’d gotten used to guys leering at her years ago.  No, the fear was X would just slam the door in her face.  But if she broke in, left his present behind, then at least he’d know she gave a shit about him.

Leaping up she grabbed hold of a branch of the tree just opposite X’s bedroom window.  With cat-like agility she climbed onto the branch.  Leaning forward, she used a combination of her Slayer strength and house-breaking skills to force the window lock.  Grinning triumphantly, she eased the window open and slid inside.  Placing the comic on Xander’s cluttered desk, she moved to the window.  “Faith?”

She froze at Xander’s voice and the sound of a bedside light going on.  Forcing a casual expression, she turned to face the bleary-eyed youth.  “Hey X,” Faith passed the comic over.  “’Tomb of Dracula #10’, guy in the shop said it’s the first appearance of Blade.  So Merry Christmas from one vamp-hunter to another.  Anyway,” she shrugged before turning back to the window.  “Be seeing ya.”

“Oh thanks,” the Californian looked up from the comic to her and swallowed nervously.  “Faith, do you want to stay, talk for a while?”

Faith grinned.  She reached into her pocket, pulled out her mobile, and dialled home.  “Yeah G, it’s me.  No, I’m five by five, I’ll be home late though, I’m hanging with my bud Xander.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hello,” the bearded man spoke into the phone.  “She’s arrived on the Hellmouth.  The time of our prophesied revenge is at hand.”  He paused as the voice at the other end spoke for a couple of minutes.  “I’m sure, I’ve seen her in action myself, she could almost be of the blood herself.  It’s time to send Janna.”  He listened to some instructions before hanging up, he walked out of the phone box and back to his hotel room.  Soon, the Scourge would pay the price for their crimes against the clans.

FIC: Faith: The Series S1 Ep 8 (8/???)

“HEY GUYS!  I just saw two zebras doing it in their enclosure!  It was like watching animal porn!”

Xander glanced at his companions before regarding the excitedly jumping Slayer with a combination of amusement and desire.  “Calm down Faith,” he grinned.  “I mean it’s a day off school but still, no big.  Anyone would think you’d never been to the zoo before.”

The Bostonian shrugged.  “Haven’t, Boston inner city schools aren’t big on zoo trips.  But this is way cool!”

“Oh,” Xander winced.  Put his foot in it again.  He opened his mouth to apologise only to notice the brunette was looking past them, her eyes hardening.  Turning, he saw a bunch of kids hassling one of the school geeks.  “Kyle,” he muttered.

“That asshole!” Faith spat.  “He needs teaching a lesson!”

The supernatural warrior strode forward, but he grabbed her arm as she passed him.  “Hold up Faith,” he muttered in his friend’s ear.  “He’s not exactly demony is he?”

“You got a blood test that proves otherwise?” the Slayer snarled.

Xander ignored that. ”Let us handle him, Slaying him probably won’t go down too well will it?” he glanced at Jesse and Jonathan.  “Come on guys!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hey Lance!” Kyle dragged the wimp to the edge of the enclosure, loving both the sound of his gang egging him on and the geek’s begging.  “You think hyenas like raw wuss?”

“I don’t know Kyle.”  He stopped at the voice behind him.  “Maybe we should throw you in and find out?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I think maybe we should help them out?” Faith muttered as she watched her three buds disappeared into the hyena house.  She had to admit her motivation in following her friends wasn’t wholly about protecting them.  In her first week in Sunnydale, Kyle had overheard the loud comment ‘who do we thank for letting hookers into the school and how much do they charge?’.  She’d pinned the asshole to the wall and warned him to stay out of her face but him and his gang often sniggered or made muttered comments when she walked by.  If the prick gave her a reason….

“Oh my Jesse can look after himself,” soothed Cordelia.

“They’re doomed,” was the rather more realistic comment from Willow.

Faith nodded.  “Let’s go.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Harris,” Kyle shoved Lance away from him.  The geek ran for the doorway.  “You think you and Nerds United can take us on?”

Harris smiled at him.  There was something unnerving about the changes in Harris and his gang.  Before this year they’d been so anonymous his gang had never bothered to hassle it, but now, they had a confidence that meant they needed reminding of their place in the food chain.  “Look Harris,” he went to poke the geek in the chest only to scream in pain when the nerd grabbed his wrist and twisted it back.

“I’ve got sick of you and your gang.  It’s time you started to behave like a proper human being,” Xander warned.  “I see you picking on anyone again and there’ll be trouble, now get out.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Faith turned from the shadowy entrance of the hyena house to the skinny, balding man behind them.  Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the tell-tale smell coming off the guy.  Had to be a zoo-keeper.  “See the hyenas,” she explained with a casual thumb over her shoulder and a flick of her hair.

“Tsk,” the zoo-keeper shook his head even as he shooed them away from the hyena house.  “Hyenas are dangerous beasts.  The Masai tribesmen told me that hyenas are capable of understanding human speech. They follow humans around by day, learning 

their names. At night, when the campfire dies, they call out to a person. Once they separate him, the pack devours them.  Far too dangerous for three little ladies like you, at least until they passed quarantine.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander hid a grin as Kyle and his cronies ran out, he’d enjoyed that.  People like Kyle were pretty much scum in his eyes and the way they picked on people and got away with it because their parents had money made his blood boil.  Hearing the sound of the hyenas growling, he turned towards the enclosure, saw a pair of glowing eyes and grinned as something hit him, engulfing him in a wave of power.  He turned to his friends and grinned.  “We’re going to have fun.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Sire,” the Master looked up at his oldest childe’s entry.  “The Three are here!”

“Excellent,” the Master smiled. The Three were a trio of four hundred year vampires, brothers, who unlike most demons their age had no interest in the accumulation of power but merely in the thrill of the kill.  The more challenging the better.  “Gentlemen,” he smiled at the three mail-shirted vampires.  “I have an especially troublesome Slayer.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith looked around the bustling, dimly-lit Bronze.  Finally she saw the people she was looking for.  After a quick sweep to check the place was vamp-free, she bought a coke and croissant, hurried over to her two friends, and dropped into the booth beside them.  “Hiya gang.”

“Hi,” Cordelia mimed a staking action.  At least she hoped it was, otherwise Cordy and Jess were way too intimate.  “All done?”

“Patrolling done,” Faith glanced around.  “Say, where are the guys?”

“They haven’t arrived yet-,” Cordy grinned.  “Here they are!”

Faith glanced towards the entrance.  She raised her hand to wave the trio over only for them to head straight for them.  “Sorry we’re late, we just forgot that we were gonna be here.”   Faith’s eyes widened when Xander tore a piece off her croissant and ate it.  “What is this?”

“Well,” Faith didn’t bother to hide her disdain.  “It *was* my buttery croissant.”

“Man,” Xander shook his head in disgust.  “I need some food! Birds live on this!  Let’s go guys.”

Seconds later, and Xander and the other two boys returned, each carrying a plate filled with cholesterol heavy bacon sandwiches.  “What’s the sitch Xand?”

Xander shook his head.  “Nothing up with me babe.”

“Babe?” Faith bristled.  Nobody called her babe and kept their teeth.  “X, what’s wrong with you?”  

“Jonathan!” cried an outraged Willow.  “Stop smelling my hair!”

Xander grinned at her.  “Nothing,” Xander looked around.  “This place is dead.  Let’s go boys.”

“Jesse! We made arrangements!” C squawked.

“Later honey,” Jesse replied before turning and following Xander and Jonathan out of the Bronze.  Faith shook her head.  This was wicked strange.  If Cordy said jump, Jesse was normally checking how high.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Xander grinned as he led his pack through the graveyard, its bleak darkness no obstacle to his newly improved vision.  They’d eaten, marked their territory, the only thing that remained was a fight.  He stopped as he heard a metallic clink and turned to his partners and grinned.  “How many?”

“Three vampires,” Jonathan intoned. 

Xander nodded.  “Flank me.”  Instruction given he set off to face the vampires, blood racing.  The only way to prove his worthiness to a warrior woman like Faith was the quality of his kills.  Realising that thanks to their armour staking wouldn’t work, he glanced at his companions.  “Decapitation.”  His two friends nodded and drew the hunting knives they’d stolen from the town’s sporting goods shop on the way to the Bronze.

The vampires stopped, a look of shared confusion on their faces.  “What are you?” the centre one demanded. 

Xander smiled.  “Your death.”  Covering the twelve feet separating him from his target in a single leap, his feet crashed into the demon’s stomach, knocking him to the ground, Xander on top.  The demon threw a gauntleted fist that he blocked on his forearm even as he thrust his knife down into his rival’s left eye.  The vampire screamed and writhed in pain, Xander pulled out his bloody blade and swiftly decapitated the demon.  He brayed triumphantly as the vampire exploded into dust and glanced to his left and right to see his friends similarly victorious.  They’d proved their worth, their chosen mates would be theirs.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Damn it!” Faith scowled at her watch.  She’d been so into training, she hadn’t realised she was late for class.  She turned a corner to see a small pig running at her, several students in hot pursuit.  Reacting instantly, she dived down and caught it.  

“And that children is Herbert, our new mascot for the Sunnydale High Razorbacks!” Snyder glared at her as if suspecting her of allowing the animal to escape, despite her having gone in  the opposite direction.  ”And somebody,” the principal glared at her suspiciously.  “Thought it would be funny to release Herbert from his cage.”

“Well,” she glared back at the midget dictator.  “It wasn’t me!”

“Uh, uh,” the principal snatched the mascot off her and strode off without so much of a thank you.  Faith shook her head before heading to class.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hey Harris,” Xander looked up to see it was just him, Kyle and his two buddies in the locker room.  “You got lucky yesterday.  I think you need a lesson in respect.”

Xander growled deeply in his throat as he dropped his bag and stepped away from his locker.  “I don’t think so.  Why don’t you just leave?”

“You see,” Kyle continued to approach.  “I think hanging with some hotties like Faith and the others has given you some idea that you’re somebody, well it’s time you learnt about your place.”

Bored, Xander slammed a palm strike into Kyle’s chest, dropping the bully to his knees.  Before Kyle’s companions had chance to react, Xander was at them, grabbing one of the boys by the scruff of his neck, he flung him over the top of the lockers.  A grin on his face, he spun around to face the third youth.

And caught a clumsy right in his left hand.  Still grinning, he squeezed his attacker’s knuckles until they cracked, while backhanding him repeatedly across the face.  Dropping the screaming youth, he swaggered over to a now-standing Kyle and swept his legs from beneath him, his adversary’s head snapping against the locker on the way down.  “Now, tell me,” he put his foot on the school bully’s chest.  “My place.”

“Please,” the boy sobbed.

Xander smiled, his nose picking up the scent of his fear, and ears picking up the pounding of his rival’s heart.  Crouching down, he moved his foot off Kyle’s neck.  The moment the kid got up to his hands and knees, Xander swept his hands from beneath him.  “This is fun!”

“Xander,” he looked up to see a grinning Jesse and Jonathan stood in the locker room doorway.  “Fresh meat.”

Xander crouched down over Kyle.  “Come at me again,” he whispered.  “And I’ll kill you.”  Standing he smiled at his pack-mates.  “Lead the way.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Yo G!” Faith hollered as she entered the library, Cordelia and Willow in hot pursuit.

“I believe the usual greeting is, hello Giles, how are you?” the librarian walked out of the inner office.  “Do you want to try again?”

“Haven’t got that time for that G!” Faith exclaimed.  “Have you heard about Herbert?”

“Yes, I have.  And this concerns you how?”

Faith hesitated, what Red had suggested was dumb.  “X, Jess, and Jonathan have been acting weird, bullying people, and acting like assholes.  We think they’ve been possessed.”

Giles snorted.  “And on what do you base that?”

“Listen Tweedy!” Cordelia began jabbing the Englishman in the chest.  “I know my boyfriend, and I know when there’s something up with him!”

“Do you think there will be anything left of Giles when Cordelia’s finished with him?” Willow muttered.

“Yeah,” Faith nodded.  “I better step in, save things from getting messy.  Yo C,” Faith pulled the cheerleader back before turning to the Watcher.  “We think Xander and the others have been possessed by hyenas, they’ve been acting whack ever since they left the hyena house.”

“Uh,” Giles stared at the high school queen for a second before turning to her.  “It’s unlikely, but,” the Englishman’s face brightened, “at the very least we can research.”

Faith groaned.  “Oh joy.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Wow!” Faith’s eyes widened.  “Says here Noah rejected the hyenas from the Ark because he thought they were an evil impure mixture of dogs and cats.”

“Hyenas aren't well liked,” Willow commented.

“Understatement much?” Cordelia commented.  “They’re the louses of the animal kingdom.”

“Why couldn't they be possessed by a puppy or some ducks?” Willow whined.

“That's assuming 'possession' is the right word,” Cordelia put in.

Giles strode over from the cage.  “Oh, I'll say it is. The Masai of the Serengeti have spoken of animal possession for, for generations. I should have remembered that.”

“Yeah you should,” Faith nodded wisely.  She grinned briefly at Giles’ glare before turning serious.  “How does it work?”

Giles rubbed at his glasses lens, a sure sign he was perplexed.  “Apparently there's a sect of animal worshipers known as Primals. They believe that humanity is 

a perversion, a dilution of spirit. To them the animal state is holy. They are able, through trans-possession, to draw the spirit of certain animals into themselves.

“Like hyenas?” Cordy queried.

Giles shrugged.  “Only the most predatory of animals are of interest to the Primals so that would fit, yes.”

Faith scowled, this was not of the good.  “Get to the point G,” she urged.  “What happens to the person once the spirit's in them?”

“If it goes unchecked...” Giles showed them a picture of a man with blood dripping from his mouth, mutilated and savaged bodies surrounding him.

Faith swallowed. “I best go and find Xan and the others,” she turned to Will and Cordy, “you two best head home and don’t answer the door to any of them.  G,” she turned to the librarian.  “Any ideas how to get X and the others back?”

“I’ll have to -.”

“Research,” Faith winked.  “I get the easy part.”

“Faith, be careful.”

 

“Relax G.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith winced as she inspected Herbert's mangled cage. “Shit,” she muttered.  “They‘re wicked strong.”   Swallowing slightly, she stepped towards the cage only for something to crunch underfoot.  She looked down and winced.  It was a rib.  Standing, she heard the door behind open.  Spinning around, she saw Xander.  “X,” Faith tried for a steady tone, but her senses were screaming danger.  “You need to come with me to see Giles.”

Her fellow teen tilted his head to one side and grinned.  “Nah, I don’t think so.”  Xander winked.  “Giles wouldn’t approve of what we’re gonna do.”

“Oh yeah,” Faith felt her skin crawl at the way Xander was leering at her.  It wasn’t right, Xander looking at her like that, not like her bud at all.  “What’s that X?”

“This,” a fist from nowhere slammed into her jaw knocking her to the ground.  In an instant Xander was on top of her, grinning down at her. “ You want danger, don't cha? You like your men dangerous.  Like Luis Cruz. Well, guess who just got mean.”

Faith managed to keep her breathing under control and her voice steady.  “This ain’t you X. You’re infected with some hyena thing, it's like a demonic possession!”

Xander ignored Faith’s comment.  “Do you know how long?” Xander began lapping at her neck like a dog, making her whimper.  “I've waited until you'd stop 

pretending that we aren't attracted.”

Panic engulfing her, Faith slammed her palms into the possessed youth’s shoulders, knocking him off.  In an instant she regained her feet, quickly followed by Xan who started to stalk her.  “Look, Xan,” Faith swallowed.  “I don't wanna hurt you...”

Suddenly, Xander had her by her shoulders and shoved her against the vending machine, his much heavier body pressing against her.  “Now do you wanna hurt me?” he sneered.  “Come on, Slayer. I like it when you're scared.” She struggled but was unable to break free.  “The more frightened you are,” the teen sniffed her neck, “the better you smell.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Y..you think Giles will be able to help them?”

Cordelia sighed at the other girl’s question as they reached the car.  Her life had gotten so much more complicated since meeting Faith, there were pluses of course, getting her first real friends, and the first decent boy-friend she’d had.  But definitely more complicated.  “I don’t know Willow,” she replied as she opened her purse to get her car keys out.  “But Giles is smart.”

“You can help us just fine.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Willow let out a frightened squeak at Jesse’s snarl behind them.  Legs shaking, she turned to face her friend.  Her stomach did a flip-flop when she saw Jesse and Jonathan eyeing her and Cordy.  “Where’s Xander?”

Willow was surprised at the evenness in Cordelia’s tone.  Jesse giggled.  “He’s claiming his mate,” Jesse tilted his head to one side and grinned.  “Just like us.”

Willow was surprised when Cordelia’s shoulders slumped.  “Okay,” the cheerleader whispered.  “Just don’t hurt me.”

Jesse grinned and glanced at Jonathan who was leering at her.  “Can’t guarantee that, but it’ll go easier if you co-operate.”  The possessed youths stepped towards them, suddenly Jesse screamed and stepped backwards.  “My eyes!”

Distracted, Jonathan glanced across at his friend.  Willow took her chance and slammed her purse into his head and a knee into his groin.  The short teen croaked and fell to his knees.  “Run!” Cordelia grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the car.

“What did you -.”

”I maced him!” Cordy glanced over her shoulder, her face paling.  “They’re up already!”

Suddenly a car screeched to a halt in front of them and a door swung open.  “Get in!” Amy shouted.

The two stopped looked at one another and dived in.  “Thanks!” Cordelia shouted.  “Now drive!”

“What happened?” Amy’s voice shook as she drove away.  “Are Jesse and Jonathan vampires?”

“No, possessed,” Willow cast Cordelia a worried look.  “W..who d…do you think Xander went after?”

“Faith.”  Cordelia’s eyes widened.  “Amy, get us to the school now!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“X,” Faith hated herself for the tremble she heard in her voice.  “Please, you don’t know what you’re doing.”

 

“Oh don’t beg Faith,” Xander’s breath was hot against her neck.  “I picked you ‘cause of your strength, you’re a worthy mate.  Show me your strength.”

A half-second later, she was pushed to the floor, Xander on top of her.  Panic fuelled her power, giving her added strength.  Bringing her knee up into her assailant’s stomach she knocked him off her, stood, grabbed the steel cage, and brought it down on Xander’s head.  The possessed youth yelped before attempting to rise, she brought the cage down on his head again.  This time he slumped motionless to the ground.  Faith raised the cage again for a final killing blow then stopped.  Hands shaking, she threw the box across the room and into the wall, the force of its impact shattering the cage.  “N…not his fault,” she gasped.  After wiping quickly at her burning eyes, she lifted the youth’s limp body onto her shoulder.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Good lord!” Giles’ mouth dropped open as Faith walked into the library, Xander slumped over her shoulder, and a slightly wide-eyed look on her face.  “What happened?”

“X decided to get caveman fresh,” Faith explained with a nonchalant shrug that didn’t fool him at all.  “Didn’t get anywhere.”  His Slayer opened the books return cage and dumped the body inside before quickly locking it.

“Are you alright?”

The Slayer tensed for a half-second at his touch.  She nodded.  “I know he didn’t mean it and he didn’t get anywhere, but,” the Bostonian looked down at the ground.  “Bad memories, you know?”

”Oh Faith,” he went to take his girl in his arms only to be interrupted by the library doors swinging open.

“Faith! Giles!” he turned to see a distraught Cordelia leading in an equally harassed looking Willow and Amy.  “Be careful, Xander’s going to try to mate with you!”

“I know C,” he noticed his charge’s poker face was back in place.  The east coast native turned to him.  “Any idea what we do next?”

Giles grimaced.  “I-I'm afraid I still don't have all the pieces. The accounts of the Primals and their methods are thin on the ground. There is some talk of a predatory act.  The Malleus Maleficarum deals in particulars of demonic possession, which may apply.  One should be able to transfer the spirits to another human.”

Faith scowled.  “That’s a great help.  Any volunteers?”

“Oh,” Giles winced.  “Good point.”

“What we need,” Cordelia commented, “is to do is put the hyena back in the hyena.”

Giles blinked, sometimes the cheerleading snob came up with moments of inspiration.  “But until we know more...”

“Betcha that zookeeper could tell us.”  Faith commented.  “Maybe he quarantined those hyenas because he knew there was something off about them.”

Giles nodded.  “We should talk to him.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Faith grimaced.  “Somebody's gotta watch Xander.”

“We’ll do it,” Cordelia commented.

After exchanging a quick glance with Faith, Giles dropped the cage keys into Cordelia’s palm.  “Be careful.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

The zookeeper stared from her to G.  “The students have been possessed by the hyenas?”

“Yes,” G replied.  On the way here they’d decided that G would do the talking.

“Are you sure?” the zoologist pressed, a look of calm contemplation on his face.

“You don't seem enormously surprised by this,” the Englishman commented.

The zoo employee shrugged.  “The zoo imported those hyenas from Africa. There was something strange about them from day one. I did some homework... That 

particular breed is very rare. Historically they were worshipped by these guys...”

“Primals,” G commented.  Faith resisted the urge to roll her eyes at her Watcher’s animation

“Yeah!”  the animal carer nodded.  “They had rituals for taking the hyena spirits, but I don't see how that could have happened to your kids.”  

G shrugged.  “We don't know exactly how the ritual works. We know that it involves a predatory act and some kind of symbol.”

“Fascinating,” the zookeeper looked thoughtful.  “I think we may have enough information so that together we could pull off a reverse trans-possession.”

“Wicked,” Faith interruption, her impatience taking over.  “What do we do?”

“We've gotta get those possessed students over to the hyena cage right away. I'll meet you there. We can begin the rituals.”

Faith scowled.  “We can guarantee one of them, but there are two more, and we have no idea where they are.”

“I wouldn't worry about that,” the zookeeper replied.  “The hyenas will track the missing member of their pack until they find him. They should come right to you.”

Faith’s eyes widened.  “Oh fuck! G, set it up!” she ran out of the office and started back to the school.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

After a worried glance to his receding daughter, Giles ducked under the tape and hurried into the hyena house.  He cursed under his breath when he realised the zookeeper had disappeared.  “Hello sir?”  Hearing a door close he turns to see the zookeeper dressed in tribal wear.  “Oh, of course, the Masai ceremonial garb. Yes... Very good. Are you, uh, otherwise prepared for the trans-possession?”

“Almost.”

Giles’ eyes widened as he noticed some markings on the floor before the hyena enclosure.  Curious, he crouched down..  “Oh, right! The sacred circle. Yes, you'd need that to... This would be here when... when the children first came. Why would you...” Oh bollocks, swallowing slightly he looked up.  “How terribly frustrating for you, that a bunch of school children could accomplish what you could not.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“It bothered me.”  He glared down at the Englishman before slamming his staff into Giles’ head.  “But the power will be mine.”    Tossing the staff aside, he grabbed the Englishman’s wrists and dragged him into the shadows.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Amy screamed as the back window shattered and Jesse and Jonathan climbed in.  Cordelia glanced at a wide-eyed Willow.  “Run!” her and the red-head grabbed the witch by the elbows and dragged her out of the library and into the darkened corridor. 

Suddenly a door at the far end of the shadowy passageway crashed open.  Cordelia’s heart stopped.  ”This way!”

Cordelia’s heart started beating again.  Turning, the three of them raced towards Faith, the sound of the hyenas racing after them pounding in her ears.  “Catch!” Faith flung her car keys to her.  “I’ll meet you outside.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

The moment Cordelia and the others were past her, Faith tore the fire extinguisher off the wall and waited.  God, her heart was pounding, but she couldn’t run, if she didn’t face Xander now, she’d never be able to. 

The moment the hyenas were in range, she fired the extinguisher, filling the corridor with spray.  Instantly she back-flipped out of range, waited until the blinded hyenas  stumbled towards her and pulled the trophy cabinet down on top of them, sending the hyenas crashing to the floor.  Instantly she turned and ran out to the car.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Willow led Cordy and a sobbing Amy into the eating area.  “They're almost here! Giles! Giles!” she slowed to a stop at the sight of the hyena expert.  “Where are the hyenas for the trans-possession?”

The zookeeper nodded behind him.  “Come with me.  They're right here in the feeding area.”

“Where's Giles?” demanded Cordelia.

The zookeeper looked nervous.  “He's... laying in wait.”

“They're almost here.” Amy cried.  “Shouldn't you bring the hyenas out?”

“I need you three inside, sort of bait,” the zookeeper explained.  The three of them gulped.  “Hurry!”

Suddenly Faith crashed through the entrance.  “They're right behind me!”

The decision made for them, Willow and the others turned and rushed into the enclosure, following the man.  Suddenly the zookeeper grabbed her and drew a knife.  “What are you doing?” demanded Faith.

“The power should have been mine!” the zookeeper snarled.  “But your friends had to get in my way.  Well this time!”  Willow’s mouth leapt into her heart as the hyenas charged in and bundled Faith to the ground, their combined power too much for her friend.  The zookeeper began to chant.  “YU BA YA SA NA!”

The pack looked up at the keeper. Willow’s heart froze at the keeper’s sudden growls. Suddenly the knife flew out of his hand and into his thigh.  The keeper screamed, released his grip on her, and fell over the railing, into the hyena pit.  Seconds later Willow heard the sound of snarling, screaming, and teeth tearing into flesh.  Closing her ears to the sound.  “H…how?”

“I..I did a spell,” a pale-faced Amy explained.  “Took the knife out of his hand and stabbed him with it, I had to wait until he’d finished the ritual for them,” Willow glanced at Xander and the others.  “He wasn’t meant to fall in the pit though,” suddenly the Wicca bent over and began to throw up.  Willow stared at the Wicca, there was power, she’d have to learn that.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Hearing a knock at the door and knowing that G was out getting the groceries, Faith hurried down the spiral stairwell and flung the front door open.  And then her heart stopped.

“Faith, I’m -.”

 

“X,” it was an effort but she managed to keep her voice and gaze steady.  “You don’t need to say it, I know it wasn’t your fault or anything.”  Seeing the man’s worried face settling into one of relief, she hurried on.  “But I can’t be around you right now, you remind me of stuff.  Please,” she looked down.  Realising her hands were tightly clenched, she forced herself to relax.  Just go.”

Xander’s face crumpled.  “Faith please.”

“JUST GO!”  Faith slammed the door shut before running back upstairs, tears streaming down her face.  Why couldn’t she leave the past behind?

FIC: Faith: The Series S1 Ep 9 (9/?)

“G-M-, Mr. Giles,” Giles looked up to see Xander closing the inner office door behind him, an unusually worried look on the normally clownish boy’s face. “Can we talk?”

Giles glanced towards the room’s other chair. “By all means,” he replied, hiding his own nervousness. “Sit.”

“Um thanks.” The boy sat down. Long seconds passed by before the young man spoke. “I’ve tried to speak to Faith about what happened but she won’t talk to me. I was wondering if you’d have a word?”

“I think you should give Faith all the space she needs.”

“But I was possessed -.”

“Let me make this very clear to you Mr. Harris,” Giles interrupted, his tone hard. “The very fact you were possessed is the only reason I haven’t added you to Sunnydale’s Missing Person’s List!” The teen paled. “Xander,” he softened his tone. “I know it’s hard for you, but if you truly care about Faith you’ll give her time to recover, understand?”

Xander nodded. “Yes sir.”

“Good boy,” he nodded approvingly. “I know you have a good heart and wouldn’t normally hurt Faith, but given her past it’ll take her time to recover from her ordeal. But she’s a resilient soul and soon, soon you’ll be best of friends again. Now,” he swallowed. “Shall we go see what that bloody Miss. Calendar’s doing to my library?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith tensed as Xander and G exited the inner office. With her hearing she’d been able to pick up every word that the duo had exchanged. She knew it wasn’t X’s fault what had happened between them, but every time she saw him, her stomach would clench and she’d imagine the flicker of the hyena in his eyes. “Oh wicked!” she shouted, probably way too loud for a library, “Helping in the library, my absolute favourite thing in the whole world!”

She had to resist the temptation to shake her head as she carried some books down to where Red, Jonathan, and some of the other computer science students were scanning books into the library’s computer system. It was practically a geek’s paradise. But at least, she hid a grin as she glanced at her Watcher’s fuming face, the idea of having his castle invaded by technology was pissing her Watcher off. Which was always fun.

And, this time she couldn’t resist a slight giggle, she’d seen the way he looked at JC, his eyes filled half with frustration and half with lust. Maybe her favourite librarian needed some dating tips. Reaching the table, she passed the books over to Willow. “There you go Red.” Engrossed in her work, the red-head just grunted. “You’re welcome.”

“Uh, uh,” the Englishman seemed even more bewildered than normal. “Just how long is this skimming going to take?”

Jenny smirked, Faith had to admit the brunette was a hottie. Maybe she’d be good for her guardian, loosen him up a bit. But maybe, she hid a worried scowl, the computer teacher would want her out of the way. “Scanning, Rupert not skimming.”

“Which of course makes all the difference,” the librarian shot back.

“I know our ways are strange to you,” the computer teacher replied. “But soon you

will join us in the 20th century. With three whole years to spare!”

Giles glared at her and Cordy’s chortles before turning back to the computer teacher with a superior look on his face that Faith was sure was unique to Limeys. “Ms. Calendar, I'm sure your computer science class is fascinating, but I happen to believe that one can survive in modern society without being a slave to the idiot box.”

“The idiot box is TV,” Faith hid a grin at the teacher’s bristling, way to get a date G, piss her off. “This is the good box!”

G looked taken aback by the tech’s fervour. “I still prefer a good book.”

“The printed page is obsolete.” Suddenly one of the students stood up. “Information isn't bound up anymore. It's an entity. The only reality is virtual. If you're not jacked in, you're not alive.” The boy grabbed his books and stormed out.

“Zero on the social skills,” Faith muttered to Cordy. “You think he dates much?”

“Or at all?” her best friend whispered back.

Ms. Calendar shook her head. “Thank you Fritz for making us all sound like crazy people. Fritz comes on a little strong, but he does have a point. You know, for the last two years more e-mail was sent than regular mail. More digitized information went across phone lines than conversation.”

Giles sniffed. “Those are facts that I regard with genuine horror.”

“She so wants him,” Cordy commented.

“I'll bet it is.” The computer teacher smirked at the librarian before turning to the working geeks. “Alright, guys, let's wrap it up for today.”

“I've just got a few more.” Willow volunteered. “I'll hang for a bit.”

Ms. C. beamed. “Cool! Thanks.”

Once JC and her army of geeks had left, Giles shook his head and started up the steps. “I'm, just going to stay and clean up a little.”

“Cor!” Faith glanced up to see her best friend’s boyfriend enter. “We off?”

“Sure,” Cordelia grinned at her. “Cya later.”

“Bye,” Faith glanced at a book on the table and winced at the horned demon on the front. “Man,” she commented. “He’s one ugly fucker.” Seeing Xander heading towards her, she hurriedly dropped the book on top of Will’s to-be-scanned pile before rushing off in search of G in the stacks.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“G,” Faith swallowed as she glanced left and right as they strode through the hushed graveyard. She hated talking about relationship stuff. She knew full well no guy would ever want one with her, she was the sort of girl you screwed but never told your ma about, boasted to your pa about maybe, but that was as far as things went.

“Ms. C. is pretty hot, uh?”

“Ms C.?” After a second Giles’ confused expression cleared to be replaced by a smirk. “Ah, Ms. Calender, yes I suppose that irritating woman is.”

“You gonna ask her out?”

“What?” her Watcher turned to look at her, his expression bewildered. And walked straight on into a tree, knocking him flat onto his English ass.

“G!” Faith pulled her Watcher to his feet. “You five by five?”

“Yes Faith, I’ve yet again survived being your Watcher. This time,” the Englishman added in a mutter as he straightened his glasses. “Why would you think such a thing?”

Faith shrugged. This conversation was a really bad idea, but she had started it. “You’re a guy, she hasn’t quite reached the wrinkly stage,” her Watcher chuckled. “I figured you might want a little action,” G reddened and looked down at his feet. “You ain’t got laid since I met you! Two years!”

“Please,” Giles shuddered. “Let’s not go any deeper into this conversation. My social life is none of your concern.”

“But what if,” Faith swallowed. “What if you start dating someone and they don’t want me around?” If she’d been lucky her Ma’s boyfriends had just told her to fuck off, some had emphasised the point with a backhander to the face or a kick to the ribs.

“Oh Faith,” the Watcher placed his hands on her shoulders. “Look at me.” Her guardian lifted her chin up. “I sincerely doubt that Miss. Calendar would consider an old fuddy-duddy like me serious dating material. And if she or any woman did, I wouldn’t countenance a relationship with anyone who didn’t realise and appreciate what an amazing young woman you are. Understand?”

Faith took a second to translate that into American. “I understand G,” after smiling at her Watcher, they continued walking in silence for a while. “Say G, if you like Miss. C., all you need to do is walk up, grab her around the waist and plant one right on her -.”

“Yes, well thank you for that advice Faith. Unfortunately I am not Tarzan and Miss. Calendar is not Jane.”

”No arguments there G!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Willow, hey, wait up!” Jonathan called as he saw his hoped-for-love across the school corridor.

Realising his fellow geek hadn’t heard him he rushed over and put his hand on her shoulder. The red-head shrieked and jumped in the air before spinning around to face him. “Oh Jonathan. I didn't even see you.”

“Or hear me,” he reproved. “What was up last night? I tried your line, like, a million times.”

“Oh, I was talking.”

“Talking to...?” Jonathan did not like the dreamy look in his crush’s eyes as she opened her locker. “We were meant to talk about the science project.”

“Well, I sort of met someone.”

Jonathan’s heart dropped. “Who? When?”

“Last week after we did the scanning project in the library,“ Willow closed her locker.

“Oh yeah?” Jonathan scowled. “What's he called?”

“Malcolm.”

“Does he go to school here?” Jonathan demanded. If he did, he’d beat him up! Scratch that, he’d tell Faith this Malcolm had said something about her, and get her to beat him up.

“No,” Willow replied. “But last night, oh! We talked all night, it was amazing. He's so smart and we agree about everything!”

“Great,” Jonathan said through gritted teeth. “What's he look like?”

“I don't know!”

“You’ve been struck blind?” he suggested as they walked into computer lab. Maybe that was it, why she didn’t realise how he felt.

“No silly,” Willow giggled as she sat down. “We met on-line.”

“So you don’t know what he looks like?”

“He’s 18, and lives eighty miles from here.”

*                                              *                                  *

“But guys,” Jonathan whined. “One of you has to talk to Faith about this. This guy could be an ax murderer or something. You need to talk to her.”

“Well I’m not doing it,” Xander shook his head. “G-Man made it quite clear if I went anywhere near Faith he’d turn me into an organ donor.”

“Well I think it’s dumb,” Jesse shook his head. “Count me out.”

Jonathan gulped. “You mean I have to do it?” But every time Faith looked at him he felt an over-whelming urge to run and hide. He straightened. “I’ll do it.” He could do this to protect Willow.

“Faith! Can we talk?”

Faith glanced over her shoulder, surprised to see Jonathan hurrying towards her. The geek rarely spoke to her, and never on an one-and-one sitch. “Sure Jon,” she nodded to the space across from her. “Pull up a seat.”

“Thanks,” the half-pint dropped into the seat and stared at her.

Finally she grew tired of the inspection. “Look Jon, I know I’m hot and all,” she rasped. “But you mind not staring a hole in me?”

“Uh, sorry.” Jonathan reddened and looked down. “It’s Willow.”

“Oh,” Faith nodded sagely. You’d have to be blind not to know that the male geek had a bad case of the Romeos for Willow. “Look you wanna her, go up to her. Say something like, shit I don’t know,” the lines that worked on her would probably freak Red out. She grinned as she had an idea. “Say I think you’re wicked smart, but instead of doing our assignment in the library, why don’t we mix business with pleasure and go to the Bronze?”

”Uh thanks,” Jonathan looked bemused. “But-.”

“’Course just for reference,” she interrupted with a sweet smile. “You hurt Red and they’ll be finding your body parts all around town.”

The boy sat opposite paled and began to shake. “It wasn’t that I came about. Will’s got a boyfriend.”

“Fuck,” Faith groaned. “Do I look like Doctor Ruth? Look J, there’s plenty of girls out there for you,” she took a second to examine her companion. “Okay, maybe not plenty,” she amended. “Some. Anyhow point is-.”

“An internet one.”

“Uh?” Faith stared at the nerd in confusion. “How the fuck does that work? I’ll slip my disc into your floppy drive?”

Jonathan turned crimson. “No, thing is she’s been talking to this guy for the last week, skipping training and classes, she’s seriously obsessed. He says he’s 18, but with the internet he could be anybody, a child-killer, axe murderer.”

“Whoa,” Faith chuckled uneasily. There was a little of the green eyed monster there but she knew first-hand how many sickos there were out there. “You can just lie over the internet like that?” Jonathan nodded. Faith bit her bottom lip for a few seconds. This last week, Red had been skipping training and research which was wicked weird for her. “I’ll go see her, make sure she thinks about this k?”

*                                  *                                  *

“Yo Red,” Faith strode into the computer lab.

”Faith, this is a classroom!”

“Oh sorry JC,” seeing the teacher’s raised eyebrow, she amended what she’d been about to say. “Ms. Calender, G was looking some books on the internet, he kinda wondered if you’d go help him search?” she lied smoothly.

”Really?” Jenny beamed.

Faith hid a smirk. Oh yeah, the teacher had it bad. She waited until the teach had gone before sauntering over to the typing red-head. Sitting down, she put her boots up on the desk. “Jon’s been telling me about this Malcolm,” her eyes narrowed as the video camera followed her. “What’s the juice?”

“He’s the best,” Willow looked so dreamy it sickened her. Hadn’t the girl heard of ‘get some, get gone?’ “So smart, and sweet. We agree about everything!”

“Uh, uh.” Definite weirdo material. “But how much do you know about him?”

The red-head’s eyes flashed. “You’re just like Jonathan! Jealous I have someone,” Faith opened her mouth to protest. “Well tough, me and Malcolm were meant to be!”

“Red,” Faith was taken aback by the hacker’s rage, she’d never seen her friend so uptight. “I wasn’t-.”

”Miss Giles!” she looked and groaned to see a thunderous looking JC in the doorway. “What do you think you were playing at?”

“Me Miss?” she tried for an innocent expression.

*                                  *                                  *

Faith glanced through the computer lab window. Relieved that JC appeared to have left, she hurried in. “Hey there Dave.”

The boy jumped when she put a hand on his shoulder before spinning to face her. “Oh, what do you want?”

“I wanted to ask you something if you have a minute.” Faith put on her most seductive smile, the one that had had guys eating out of her hand since she was 12.

Dave just looked impatient. “What is it?”

Slightly nonplussed by the failure of her secret weapon, it took Faith a couple of seconds to get back on track. “You’re a computer genius, and I sort of have

a technical problem. If I wanted to find out something about someone, if someone e-mailed me, could I trace it?”

“Well, you could pull up somebody's profile based on their user name.”

“Yeah but they write the profile themselves, right? And so they could say anything they wanted.” Leastways that’s what Johnno had said.

“True.” Dave nodded.

“Well, is there a way to find out exactly where an email came from? I mean, the actual location of the computer?” she pressed.

Dave pursed his lips. “That's a challenge.”

“Not for a smart guy like you,” she fluttered her eyelashes, this time the nerd drooled slightly. Grinning slightly, she moved in for the kill. “'Cause, you see, Willow's got this boyfriend, Malcolm, and to tell you the truth, I think...”

“Leave Willow alone.”

Faith blinked at the geek’s snarl. “What do you mean?”

“That's none of your business.”

Ah, Faith got it. “Dave, are you Malcolm?”

“Of course not.”

Faith gaped as the guy turned away from her and began typing. A dude ignoring her? It was against all known laws of nature. “Dave, what's going on?”

“Look, I'll talk to you later, okay? I've got work to do.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“No, no, no,” Mayor Wilkins shook his head in dismay as he tapped furiously at his keyboard. “Mr. Finch! Get in here now!”

After a few seconds his deputy hurried in, looking more flustered than normal. “Yes sir?”

“I can’t get the town accounts up!” he glared at the computer.

”I know sir,” his deputy swallowed. “The entire system’s down!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I'm telling you,” Faith insisted as she pursued him through the stacks. “Something is going on. It's not just Willow. Dave, Fritz, they're all wicked jumpy.”

Sighing with the realisation that his charge wasn’t going to let it drop, Giles turned to face the Slayer. “Those boys aren't exactly poster boys for normality as it is.”

“True,” Faith nodded. “But something icky’s going on, I can smell it, trust me.”

“I do! I really don't know how to advise you. Things involved with a computer fill me with a childlike terror. Now, if it were a nice ogre or some such I'd be more in my element. Well, I suppose you could tail Dave, see if he's up to something.”

“Do I look like Colombo?” Faith demanded before holding up a hand. “No, don’t answer that.”

*                                  *                                  *

Fritz looked up as his screen filled up with a picture of Faith lurking outside their base of operations. “She’s getting too close, what do I do?”

“Kill her,” the computer speakers intoned.

Fritz smiled. His first murder.

                        *                                  *                                  *

“Whatever Dave is into, it's large,” Faith finished her report to the others, minus Red, in the library.

“And what was the name of this place?” Giles enquired.

“It said CRD. But, I couldn't get close enough to see what it was.”

“Calax Research and Development.” Cordelia interrupted. “It's a computer research lab. Sunnydale’s third largest employer till it closed down last year.” Her friend bristled at the others’ looks. “What, I can't have information sometimes?”

“Not normally,” Xander muttered.

“Well,” her bud glared at Xander, “my father had a 10% stake in the place.”

“But it closed?” Faith pressed. Cordelia nodded. “Looked pretty busy to me. I don't have a clue what they were doing. And what do they need Dave for?”

“It’s obvious,” Jesse looked around. “Something about computers, right? I mean, he is off-the-chart smart.”

“We still don't know an enormous amount. Whatever is going on there may be legitimate,” Giles threw in his customary note of caution.

Cordelia shook her head. “No, if CRD opened, my dad would have been involved.”

“Yes, well, ahem, I think we're still at a stand still.” Giles shook his head. “Short of breaking into the place, I don't see...”

“A break-in,” Faith beamed. “I haven’t done one in years!” She glanced at Jonathan, Jesse and Cordelia before reluctantly including Xander. “Wanna come with?”

“Now hold on!” God, she loved it when G got that panicked look in his eyes. “I do not suggest that you illegally enter the,” Giles’ eyes widened still further, “data into the file so the book will be listed by title as well as by author.”

Faith squinted. “What the hell are you-.”

“I just came by to check your new data base, make sure your cross reference table isn't glitching. 'Cause I'm guessing you haven't gone anywhere near it.”

Faith glanced up to see the computer teacher had entered behind them. “I'm still sorting through the chaos you left behind you,” the Englishman retorted.

Ms. Calendar looked at them. “You're here again? Kids really dig the library, don't cha?”

“It’s the librarian,” Faith glanced at her suddenly paling guardian. “He’s a real hottie, kinda magnetic. Us girls can’t stay away, and these guys just tag along.”

”Oh good lord,” she heard Giles mutter. “I’m ruined. Disgrace and jail beckon.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“You're a snob!”

Giles stared at the beautiful teacher patrolling his library as if it was her own. “I am no such thing.”

Ms. Calendar snorted. “Oh, you are so. You think that knowledge should be kept in these carefully guarded repositories where only a handful of white guys can get at it.”

Giles scowled at the woman. If only she was a vampire, what was Faith thinking, the two of them together? Absurd! “Nonsense! I simply don't adhere to a knee-jerk assumption that because something is new, it's better.”

“This isn't a fad, Rupert! We are creating a new society here.”

“A society in which human interaction is all but obsolete?” Giles shook his head. “In which people can be completely manipulated by technology, no thank you.”

The infernal woman sniffed. ”Well, I think you'll be very happy here with your musty, old books.”

“These musty old books have a great deal more to say than in any of your... fabulous web pages.”

“Hmm.” The computer teacher began to leaf through one of his books. “This one doesn't have a whole lot to say. Anything at all, it’s empty.”

Giles stared at the book. “How odd,” his breath caught as he saw the horned demon on the cover. Oh no. Standing, he took the book off the puzzled teacher. “Well, it's been so nice talking to you, goodbye.” He hurried to the inner office. “Bugger, bugger, bugger!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Faith! Faith!”

She glanced behind her to see Dave running up to her. “How're you doing?”

“Okay. Uh, look, I'm sorry about yesterday.”

Faith shrugged. “Five by five. Don't sweat it.”

“Willow was looking for you. Her and Malclom had a fight.”

Faith hid a grin, wicked that made things easier. “Do you know where she is?”

Dave nodded nervously. “She said she'd be in the girls' locker room.”

“Wicked,” Faith started to run towards the changing rooms. “Thanks!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith looked left and right, the dressing room appeared empty. Her eyes narrowed at a flickering shadow just around the corner. Too big to be her friend, probably one of the Gunther sisters, the two girls voted most likely to pee standing up. Which was unkind although true. “Yo, who’s there?” Getting no answer, she hurried around the corner of the lockers. Still nothing. “Red?” She turned at the sound of the shower, she hadn’t heard that before. “Yo Red?” Something was up. Taking a breath, she stepped into the shower, no one there. Shaking her head, she stepped towards the dripping tap.

“Faith! Get out!”

Faith turned at the voice, irritated, lucky for Dave she wasn’t naked. “Yo Dave -, oh crap!” Her eyes widened as she noticed the sparking wires. “Fuck!” She leapt to the other side of the shower, just out of the water as the area electrifies.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Faith, you’re sure you’re alright?”

Faith smirked at her Watcher, embarrassed yet at the same time comforted by his concern. “I’m cool G. I just... I don't understand what would make Dave do a thing like that.”

“I think perhaps I do.” Faith watched curiously as her Watcher lifted up a book. “Do you recognise this?”

“G, is this going to be a lecture on me and studying?” Faith shook her head. “’Cause really not the time!”

Giles shook his head. “No, although your grades could use work.” Faith pouted, he had to get a dig in. “In the dark ages the souls of demons were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. They remained locked within the book, harmless, unless the pages were read aloud. Unless I'm mistaken, this is Moloch, the Corrupter. A very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, and knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds.”

“Like Dave's,” Jesse commented, a worried look on his face. “Xander’s gone to look for him.”

“He’s dead,” an ashen-faced Xander walked through the door at that moment.

“You fucking killed him?” Faith’s eyes blazed as she leapt off the desk she’d been sat on, this guy took doglike devotion to scary levels. Forgetting her own nervousness around Xander she strode up to him. “Are you crazy?”

“I didn’t do it, he hung himself!” Xander backed off from her. “They were cutting him down from the computer lab ceiling when I got there!”

“I rather think,” Faith glanced at her Watcher. “Either Moloch compelled him to hang himself or one of other Moloch’s minions did it for him.”

“Oh crap,” Faith swore. “And Moloch’s inside that book?”

“Not anymore.” Giles opened the book to reveal the empty pages.

“You released Moloch?” Cordy screeched in a pitch that was only reachable by her. “I thought you were meant to keep us safe from them, not unlock their cell doors!”

“Way to go!” Faith scowled.

Giles raised his hands. “I didn't read it! That dreadful Calendar woman found it and it was already blank.”

“Okay, so a powerful demon with horns is walking around Sunnydale, and nobody's noticed? Even for Sunnydale…” Xander’s voice trailed off as he looked at the computer. “He’s been scanned into the computer hasn’t he?”

“Oh crap,” Faith squeaked. Realising that everyone was looking at her, she did something extremely rare for her and blushed. “I sort of put him in the to-be-scanned pile.”

“Oh that’s great!” commented Cordelia. “We’re dealing with the Abbot & Costello of demon-hunting!”

Faith chose to ignore her friend. “What are we gonna do?”

“I’ll try and delete him,” Jonathan stepped forward, his expression nervous. The nerd sat in front of the computer and began typing. After a second, Faith and the others moved to stand over him. Jonathan dragged the file icon to the trash bin. There was a collective gasp when Moloch's demonic face appeared on the monitor.

“Stay away from Willow!” the demon snarled. “It is none of your business!”

After a second, Faith gulped. “Willow sure goes for the homely ones uh? Maybe you got a chance after all Jonathan.”

Giles groaned. “This is very bad.”

“Are we overreacting? He's in a computer! What can he do?” Xander questioned.

“Gee Xand, I don't know. How about mess up all the medical equipment in the world?” Faith asked.

“Randomize traffic signals,” Giles added.

“Access launch codes for our nuclear missiles,” Jesse added.

“Cause the stock markets to crash,” Jonathan threw in.

“Mess up the appointments at ‘Golden Scissors’,” everyone turned to look at Cordy. “What? You think looking this good comes easily?”

“Worrying about it keeps me up at nights.” Faith sniggered at her Watcher’s mutter.

“Okay, he's a threat, I'm on board with that now. But what can we do about it?” Xander asked.

“I think the first thing we do is find Willow.” Giles decided. “She's probably talking to him right now.”

Faith looked around. “Okay, I'm gonna check the computer lab, and you guys call her home.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“She’s not there,” Faith hurried back into the library. “Jonathan, have you thought of anyway to get Moloch out of the net, one of those virus things maybe?”

Giles interrupted. “I have records of the ceremonies, but, but that's for a creature of the flesh. Th-this could be something completely different.”

“What about Ms. Calendar?” Cordelia put in. “Maybe she can help you.”

Giles stared at the cheerleader. “Well, even if she could, how am I going to convince her that there's a demon on the Internet?”

“Sounds like a pretty wicked idea to me,” Faith glanced across at Xander and Jesse.

Her skin crawled at the thought of what she was about to say. “You two, with me. I figure Red’s at whatever’s going down at CRD.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hi. I got your message. What's so urgent?”

“Um, thank you for coming.” Giles looked up at the computer teacher stood in the doorway of his office. “Uh, I need your help.” He laughed nervously. “But before that, um, I need you to believe something that, um, you may not want to. Uh, there's, something's got into the i-i-inside... There's a demon in the Internet.”

“I know.”

Giles blinked at the teacher’s coolness. His expression casual, he eased his desk drawer open and placed his hand on the cosh inside. “You already know? How exactly is that?”

“Come on, there've been portents for days. I mean, power surges, online shutdowns... You should see the bones I've been casting. I knew this would happen sooner or later. I mean, it's probably a, a mischief demon like Kelkor, or...”

“It's Moloch.” Giles interrupted.

“The Corrupter? Oh, boy.” Miss Calendar paled. “I should have remembered, I just don't...”

“You don't seem exactly surprised by...“ Giles commented. “Who are you? Are you a witch?”

“I have some power but not that much. Techno pagan' is the term.”

Giles released his grip on the cosh and closed the drawer. “Well, you can definitely help me. Jonathan has been trying but the poor boy doesn’t have the necessary occult experience or contacts.” He led the teacher out into the main area. “I have the binding rituals at hand, but I'm completely out of my league.”

“I can help! I think... I hope, I mean, well,” the teacher smiled at Jonathan as he hurried out of the way before sitting down at the PC. “this is my first real... Do you know how he got in?”

Giles grimaced. “He was scanned in.”

“And you want him back in the book?” Jenny queried.

”That would be preferable to the current chaos yes.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Willow’s eyes shot open, for a second she stared around her shadowy surroundings, trying to remember what had happened. The last thing she could remember was Fritz drugging her with something. Her heart missed a beat when she looked over to see Fritz and a technician standing by an array of space-age equipment. “Welcome my love. I can't tell you how good it is to see you...” Willow gasped and her blood drained from her face as she looked up at the robot standing over her. “With my own two eyes.”

“Malcolm,” Willow croaked. Fritz and the technician grabbed her by her arms, she tried to pull loose but was helpless to resist them pulling her close to the resurrected demon.

“This world is so new, so exciting,” the demon turned machine intoned. “I can see all of it. Everything flows through me. I know the secrets of your kings. But nothing compares to having form again. To be able to walk,” suddenly the demon grabbed Fritz and casually broke his neck before dropping the corpse to the ground. “To kill.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Jenny lit her last candle before nodding her approval at Jonathan as he lit the last of his. She turned to the nervously watching Englishman. “The first thing we have to do is form the circle of Kayless. Right?”

“Form a circle?” the librarian wrinkled his nose. “We’re rather more of a triangle.”

She shook her head and laughed. “You're not getting it, Rupert. We have to form the circle inside.” She sat back down at the computer. “I'm putting out a flash. I just hope enough of my group responds.”

“Won't Moloch just shut you down?” Jonathan queried.

“I'm hoping he won't figure out what we're doing until it's too late.”

“Hoping and betting, that's what we've got!” exclaimed Giles.

“You wanna throw in praying? Be my guest.” She looked down to where Jonathan had dropped to his knees and sighed. “That was sarcasm Jonathan, get up.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I don't understand. What do you want from me?” Willow managed to squeak.

“I want to give you the world,” the metal demon smiled.

“Why?”

“You created me. I brought these humans together to build me a body. But you gave me life. Took me out of the book that held me. I want to repay you.”

“By lying to me?” Suddenly Ira Rosenberg’s little girl was good and pissed. “By pretending to be a person? Pretending you loved me?”

“I do!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Hi handsome,” John looked up at the husky voice. His mouth dropped open at the sultry brunette swaying her way across the office towards his workstation. “Can you help a lost girl?”

“Sure,” John stuttered. Standing, he began to walk across the office to meet her.

Suddenly his head exploded in pain and he fell to the ground.

Faith nodded approvingly. Damn, Xander could punch hard, the guy hadn’t even had time to grunt before he hit the floor. “Good work, now-.”

”Guys!” Faith glanced towards Jesse staring at the security guard’s monitor. “I’ve found Will!”

They hurried over. “Who’s that with her?” Xander asked.

“Shit Xand,” Faith snorted. “Twinkies really aren’t brain food are they? Gotta be Moloch, they’ve built him a body!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Willow watched as the machinedemon hybrid strode the floor before her. “Don't you see? I can give you everything! I can control the world!”

“I don’t want anything from you!” Willow cried. “Let me leave?”

“But I love you!” the demon protested.

“Don't say that! That's a joke! You don't love anything!”

“You are mine!” the beast thundered.

“I'm not yours! I'm never gonna be yours! Never!” she screamed.

Moloch shook his head. “Pity.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Almost there.” Jenny smiled nervously at her companions before focussing on the Englishman. “We're up. You read, I type. Ready?”

Giles nodded. By the power of the divine, by the essence of the word, I command you. By the power of the circle of Kayless, I command you..”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I can’t get in!” Faith screamed as she kicked at the door. “This fucker’s solid steel!”

“He’s closing on Willow!” Jesse reported from his position by the monitor. “I think he’s gonna kill her!”

“No!” Faith leapt into the air, her sixth side kick finally sending the door crashing open. Even as she entered Moloch threw his arms up and screamed. Seeing an opportunity, she leapt into another side kick, this one crashing into the demon’s metal chest, just staggering the demon. “Ow! Freakin’ Robbie the Robot!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Jenny jumped backwards as the screen sparked. “He's out of the 'Net. He's bound.”

Giles picked up the book and sighed. “He’s not in the book.”

Jenny looked up. “He's not in the book. Well, where is he?”

“Wherever the others are?” suggested Jonathan.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Let’s get the fuck out of Dodge!” Faith screamed. Screw killing this bastard, she’ll come back with a nuke later.

”Sounds like a pl-, oww!”

Faith glanced back over her shoulder. Moloch had burst through the wall behind her and backhanded Xander to the floor. “Oh fuck!” Rushing back, she jumped between the demon and her unconscious companion. The demon threw a punch, she blocked it on her arm, but the force was still enough to throw her into the wall. Her head ringing, she stared up at the raging demon.

“I was omnipotent. I was everything! Now I'm trapped in this shell!” The demon grabbed her by her hair.

“Malcolm!” Moloch turned to face Willow. Who promptly hit him with a fire extinguisher. Faith blinked, somehow she thought the red-head had seen ‘Fatal Attraction’ waaaaaaaay too many times. “Remember me, your girlfriend?!” The red head continued to hit the demon with her makeshift weapon. Red tried a shot to the face only to be shoved to the ground.

“This body's all I have left. But it's enough to crush you!”

“Oh yeah!” Faith grinned as she pulled herself to the feet. “Take your best shot asshole.” After a second the huge demon turned to face her and threw a punch. She instantly swayed to the right. The demon’s fist thudded past her and into the junction box she’d been concealing. “Run!” she screamed as the demon was enveloped by electricity.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Hearing her office door open, Jenny looked up to see Willow and Amy standing there, nervous expressions on their face. “Hello girls,” she smiled. “I wouldn’t expect you two to be needing any extra help?”

“N..no,” Willow stuttered. “I..it’s not about school work.” The red-head’s voice trailed off. Jenny raised an eyebrow. Willow turned to Amy. “You ask her!”

Amy sighed. “Faith told Willow that you’re a practitioner of the arts, both Willow and I would like to learn.”

Jenny paused in thought. On the one hand it would cut into her time for her assignment. On the other, it would give her a reason to be nearer the Slayer and her group. And both girls had considerable potential… Finally she beamed. “I’d love to.”

Faith: The Series S1 Ep 10 (10/???)

“Finally!” Giles beamed as Faith hurried off to her first class of the day, leaving in peace.  Peace to study.  His smile faltered as he entered the inner office and glanced down at the leather-bound volume sat accusingly in the middle of his desk, the Pergamum Codex, the most important of all the books relating to Slayers.  It had cost him several thousand pounds and months of searches to acquire it, but if it gave the edge to keep his daughter alive for extra time, then it was more than worth it.  Sitting down, he began to leaf through the pages, reverently turning them.

“Ah there you are.”

“Oh god and bollocks,” Giles muttered before looking up at the tiny figure of the school principal stood sneering in the doorway.  “Good day Mr. Snyder.”

“It’s come to my attention Mr. Giles that you have little contact with the vermin we call students,” Giles blinked at the principal’s venom, he rather thought the new school head would be rather better suited for a career in corrections than education.  Although, he stared doubtfully at the bald man, he’d probably have failed the medical. “That you spend your entire day in here, with your stuffy books and away from the students.  That won’t do at all.“

“I took this job precisely for the reasons you have just outlined,” Giles said desperately.  “I have no real wish to interact with the students.”

“Nonsense,” the evil bastard smiled at him.  He really would have to have Willow and Jonathan check Snyder’s ancestry for any troll blood.  With any luck they’d find proof and then Faith could gleefully slay him.  “I’m afraid you must pitch in more to school life.  To that end,” Snyder’s smile grew shark-like.  “I’ve decided you’ll be director of this year’s talent show.”  Giles paled, oh the bloody bugger, he had to be part demon, he just had to be.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Had to see this to believe it,” Giles groaned as Faith dropped in the seat behind him as he watched the end of Cordelia murdering ‘The Greatest Love Of All’, thank god she hadn’t decided on a sixties classic.  “You the great director. ‘Course the way you boss me about…”

“If you had any shred of decency, you would have participated, or at least helped.”

“Nah! I think I'll take on your traditional role... and watch!” Faith laughed.  “And mock!  And laugh!”

“You’re a great bloody help,” Giles groused.

”I try, anyway see ya at home, Lucas!” 

“So.   We think school events are stupid, and we think authority figures are to be made fun of.”  Giles chuckled at Snyder’s voice, for once grateful that the prat had made an appearance.  He looked over his shoulder to watch the show.

“No! No, I don't.”  He watched the brunette squirm with sadistic pleasure.

“And you think your afternoon classes are optional. You left campus yesterday.”

“There’s a good reason.”

”And?”

“I’m still thinking of it.”

Snyder shook his head.  “Real anti-social. You need to integrate into this school, I think the talent show would be an excellent start.”

“Oh come -.”

“I've been watching you,” Snyder continued.  “Always getting into one scrape or

another.”

“Oh come on, this is,” Giles chuckled at Faith’s begging.  “You can't make me...”

“My predecessor, Mr. Flutie, may have gone in for all that touchy-feely relating nonsense, but he was eaten. You're in *my* world now. And Sunnydale has touched and felt for the last time.  Have fun, come up with an act that the entire school can  mock. And laugh at.”  The principal pushed past his Slayer and strode to the stage.

Ten seconds later, Faith was slumped on the seat next to him.  “Faith, can I offer some advice?”  When the sulking Slayer didn’t answer he continued.  “Pouting causes wrinkles.”  The Slayer glared at him.  “Just trying to be helpful.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“What do you think of my performance?”

Desperate for a change of subject that didn’t involve him telling the truth, Jesse decided to broach a sensitive subject.  “Cor, I was wondering,” Jesse licked his lips nervously, his anxiety caused his voice to trail off. 

“You were wondering what?” Cordelia shrugged his arm off, her eyes suspicious as she spun to face him, glaring at him.  “I told you Jesse McNally, second base is all-.”

 

“NOT THAT!” Jesse turned beetroot-red at his girl-friend’s accusatory screech.  God, he was crazy about Cordelia, but embarrassing wasn’t in it. 

“What then?” the brunette cheerleader demanded.

“Xander’s real bummed out about Faith, I was wonder-.”

“Oh no way buster!” If anything his girl-friend’s voice grew even higher.  “You know what he tried to do.”

“You’ve forgiven me,” Jesse commented weakly.

“That’s so different and you know it!” Cordelia jabbed an angry finger into his chest.  “You’ve got a choice to make over this – me or Xander!  Wait forget it,” Cordelia waved an angry hand in his face, “I know you’ll stick up for him, you always do!  Well you tell your friend to stay out of my friend’s face or I’ll have my dad slap him with a restraining order so fast it’ll scare his dad sober!  Got me?”

”Yes ma’am.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith dropped into the library seat opposite him, their training for the day completed.  “I can’t believe that asshole-.”

“Please Faith, respect for your teachers.”

His chuckle died when Xander entered the library and he saw Faith’s slight tensing.  His heart bled for both children, with Faith’s past she was helpless to do anything but react poorly to Xander’s actions during the hyena possession.  On an intellectual level he was sure his charge didn’t blame Xander, but it would take Faith time to get used to being around the young man again.  And Xander, he glanced at the nervously hovering young man, Xander as well as having a crush on his beautiful daughter, hero-worshipped her to boot.  What a bloody mess.  “Hey Faith,” the young man shuffled from side to side, his face anxious.  “Heard about you being press-ganged into the talent show.  Bummer.  Anyhow, if you need any help, someone to bounce ideas off, rehearse with or something.”

“Thanks X,” Faith’s eyes fluttered everywhere but at the poor boy, “but I kinda got an idea.”

Giles looked with interest at his charge, she hadn’t mentioned an act.  Even as he opened his mouth to ask what the Bostonian had picked, the library doors crashed open.  “Guys!” he looked to see a pale-faced Willow hurrying in.  “A body’s been found in the changing rooms.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles ducked from under the evidence tape before making his way over to the Scoobies.  “It was Emily.”

“Dancer Emily?” Willow queried.  He nodded.

“It must have happened just after rehearsals,” he continued.  “There was a cross-country meet at Melville. She never showed up for it.”

“Vampire?”

He glanced at his Slayer, hating what he was about to say.  “I think not.”

“What happened?” Faith’s eyes burned intensely.  “Spill G!”

“Her heart was removed.”

“Yikes!” Willow squeaked.  Faith and Xander just looked sick.

“Does that mean anything to you?” Faith demanded after a second. 

Giles winced.  “There are various demons which, which feed off human hearts but a knife was used.”

“A human,” Willow shook her head, her eyes disbelieving.  “No, I don’t believe it.”

“Red,” there was a world of experience in Faith’s sigh that made Giles seethe at the hard life his girl had had.  “World’s a bitch, plenty of bad people around.  Although,” his daughter glanced at him.  “Remember the Hellmouth? We gotta check this out.  Maybe a human acting under a spell or possessed?”

“Faith,” Giles sighed.  “I'd like to think you're right. A demon is a creature of evil,  pure and very simple. A person driven to kill is, is, um, it's more complex.”

“It could be anyone!” Willow exclaimed.  “It could be me!”

Giles stared at the girl.  “Anything you wish to share Miss. Rosenberg?”

“Uh,” the red-head looked down at her feet.  “No.”

Shaking his head, he turned back to Faith.  “Uh, demon or no, we have some investigating to do. I suggest we start with your... your talent show compatriots. One of them may have been the last to see her alive.  I would suggest splitting up and doing some investigating.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith strode through the curtain and onto the stage, she stopped in surprise when she saw Sid sat on a stool. She jumped when the puppet spoke. “Right now you and me gotta be on the lookout. Figure out who's gonna be next.”

 “How are we supposed to...” Morgan walked onto stage.  “Oh hi Faith.”

“How ya doing Morg?”

“I was just working on throwing my voice,” Morgan explained.

“Yeah and you seemed pretty good,” Faith nodded.  “Did you notice anything weird going on around here yesterday?”

“Weird?” Morgan put the puppet back in his case.  “What do you mean?”

“With Emily. Did she say anything to you, was she arguing with anyone?”

Morgan shrugged.  “Sorry I was rehearsing.”

Faith pursed her lips together. “You didn't notice anything odd at –.”  Suddenly Morgan fell to his knees, his hands going to his head.  “Shit!”  she hurried over to the kid.  “Morg, you cool?”

“Look honey!” her head snapped towards the cased puppet.  “He answered your question. Now leave him alone!”

Faith glared at the now recovered Morgan.  “Okay, Morg, how 'bout talking to me yourself now?”

“He said all he's gonna say sweetcheeks,” Sid warned.

“Can it firewood!” she snapped at the puppet before turning back to the puppeteer. 

The male rose and picked up the case.  “We're done.”

“Look,” Faith shook her head.  “I didn't mean to make you mad.”

“No! I'm...” Morgan shook his head.  “It's him!” the puppeteer nodded towards the dummy.  “He's... We have to go.”

“Damn,” she raised an eyebrow as the duo hurried off.  “They’re a regular Sonny & Cher.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“The majority view would have the main suspect is Morgan…”

”Eh?” Faith looked confused by his use of English.

Cordelia shook her head.  “No 1. suspect is Morgan.”

“Oh right,” Faith shook her head.  “G, English.”

“I was speaking English,” he sniffed.  “Just not the pidgin version you insist on.  However, there is still a chance it is a demon.  I'm looking into that possibility but my investigation is somewhat hampered by our exciting new vaudeville careers.”

”Say what?”  Now not only Faith looked confused.

“The talent show,” he explained with a sigh.

“Uh, priority check, G?” The Bostonian weighed the two with her hands. “Talent show, murder.”

“Principal Snyder is watching us very closely. Now if he chooses, he can make all our lives extremely difficult. A Slayer cannot afford that! We will find this murderer, but in the meantime... the show must go on.”

“This blows,” Faith pouted.

“Yes well, you watch Morgan. Check his locker, see if there's anything there.”  Giles glanced at his watch.  Oh bugger, this meeting had run late.  “Now if you don’t mind I have some-.”

“Hello Rupert,” he almost groaned when Miss. Calendar opened the inner office door.  “I’ve brought you that software to help with the show programs-.”  The computer teacher stopped, suddenly aware of the students.  “Kids, are you here to get some books?”

“Nah, we’re all studied out Miss. C.”  He could have cheerfully murdered Faith for the smirk the Bostonian shot him on her way out.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Did you find anything in Morgan’s locker?”

Faith looked up as Giles entered her room.  “Nah,” she shook her head to emphasise the point before grinning.  “Ya find anything in Miss. C’s pants?”

“No,” her Watcher glared at her.

“Didn’t let you do an inspection uh?” Faith nodded sagely.  “Well, I suppose it was a first date.  Some girls are kinda slow.”

She watched in fascination as the Englishman did his silent count to ten thing before speaking.  That was so cool, she wanted to see what happened when G really blew.  “It wasn’t a date,” he growled through gritted teeth.  “Just a meeting between two work colleagues about a project.”

“Oh yeah?”  Faith raised a sceptical eyebrow.  G was so cute when he squirmed.  She could almost pinch his cheek.  “That case you’ll have to make a move fast, heard one of the football coaches has his eye on her.”

She giggled when G’s mouth momentarily dropped open.  “Yes Faith,” he huffed.  “Very amusing.  I’ll have you know, mine and Miss Calendar’s relationship’s is strictly professional.”

“Shame,” Faith sighed.  “I got a twenty riding on you and Miss C going steady by Christmas.”  She collapsed into giggles as the speechless librarian stormed out, the door slamming shut behind him.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith blinked, uncertain as to why she’d awoken.  Then she heard it.  Moving with a supernatural speed, she sprang to her feet, her hand lunging for her stake on her bedside cabinet.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a pair of small feet diving out of the window.  “G!”

In an instance, she heard Giles’ concerned voice at the other side of the door.  “Are you decent?”

“Uh,” realising she was in the raw, she grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it on, the clothing stopping at the mid-thigh area.  “Yeah!”

“Faith,” her guardian coloured and turned to face the opposite wall.  “Faith!” he accused.  “You said you were decent!”

“I was naked before,” she shrugged.  She didn’t see what the big deal was, she knew she could trust G not to try anything and no way was she ashamed of her body. 

After a second Giles shook his head.  But stayed facing the wall.  “What seemed to be the trouble?”

“Uh, Sid was here,” god she felt like an idiot.

”Faith,” G sounded exasperated.  “What have I told you about having boys in your room?”

She rolled her eyes, god for a guy with a million degrees he could sure be dumb at times.  “Sid the Dummy.”

Now G did turn towards her, his eyes wide with shock.  “With Morgan?”

“No. He was alone. And alive.”

“You saw him?”

“Well, I saw something. It dived out of the window.”  She saw the look on Giles’ face.  “Hello, support here.  “I’m not some crazy person, I am the Slayer.”

“Yes,” it was Giles’ turn to raise an eyebrow.  “Let mannequins the world over quake in terror.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I may have found a possible demon culprit.”  Giles glanced over to his Slayer busy demolishing the practice dummy while Cordelia and Jesse sparred, or tickled depending on your interpretation.  As he began to talk the trio of students stopped.  “There's a reference in here to a brotherhood of seven demons who take the form of young humans. Every seven years these demons need human organs, a brain

and a heart, to maintain their humanity. Otherwise they, they revert back to their original form.  There’s only one problem about your theory with Morgan.  It's said that these demons are preternaturally strong and Morgan appears to be getting weaker every day.”

“Maybe, maybe it gets weaker the longer it had to wait for the ceremony to be completed,” Faith suggested.

Giles smiled.  “A plausible possibility.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith sat in her customary back of the class place, her eyes intent on Morgan even as Sid peered over the kid’s shoulder to her.  “Morgan? Morgan?” Mrs. Jackson spoke up.

“What?” Morgan demanded.  Then Sid spoke.  “Morgan has other things on his mind.”  Faith couldn’t help but join the others in laughing.

A scowl on her face, Mrs. Jackson approached Morgan.  “Give me your puppet.”

“I'll put him away,” Morgan pleaded.

Mrs. Jackson shook her head and took Sid. “You'll get it back after school.”  Faith watched as the teacher opened a cupboard, put the puppet in it, and closed the door.   The tutor turned back to them.  “Now-.”

“I'm still watchin' you,” Sid’s muffled voice came from the cupboard.  Faith stared at the makeshift prison, a slight smile tugging at her lips.  She had an idea.

“Morgan!” Mrs. Jackson snapped.  “That is enough!”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Good lord!” Giles blinked as Faith walked into his library carrying Sid.  “And what are you doing with that infernal thing?”

“I figured you could examine it, see if it’s possessed or something,” Faith replied.  “Mrs. Jackson confiscated it, but I broke into her locker and stole it.”

“Broke into?” he shook his head.  “Never mind, I suppose it was a good idea.  You and I will research,” he ignored Faith’s pout.  “Leave Sid with Xander, he can watch the dummy.”

Faith raised an eyebrow.  “Who Sid?”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“Huh guys?” Giles looked up from his studying to see a nervous-looking Xander stood in the inner office doorway.  “Sid’s gone.  I went to get a book, and when -.”

 

“You idiot!” the youth’s explanation was interrupted by an angry scream from Faith.  Obviously the brunette had forgotten her trepidation around Xander as she jabbed him in the chest.  “I give you one fucking simple job to do, but noooo.  Too much like hard work, well I’m sick of carrying your sorry ass!  Stay the fuck out of my way!”  Pushing aside the stunned and hurt-looking boy, his Slayer rushed out.  “I’ll find the dummy and take his head.”

“Faith-,” Xander’s voice trailed off as he turned towards him.  Any recriminatory words Giles might have uttered died unspoken at the devastated look on the founding Scooby’s face.  Nothing he could say could make the boy feel half as guilty as he did right now.  “I didn’t mean to Giles,” the boy’s gaze dropped.  “I’d do anything for her.”

“I know son,” he soothed.  “Just give her time to calm down.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith was really fuming by the time she reached the theatre.  That asshole, he treated her Calling as a joke, but it wasn’t him that had to risk his life.  Her eyes narrowed at a thud behind the stage.  Swallowing her nerves and drawing her knife from her ankle sheath, she made her way behind the curtain and into the changing rooms.  “Shit!” her heart dropped when she saw a body, bile rising in her throat as she recognised Morgan’s body and noted the top of his head was missing.  “Demon's got himself a brain.”  Forcing away the increasing urge to vomit, she turned away, eager to get the hell out of here and back to G.  “Why couldn’t I get a fun job?  Something full of joy, a morgue attendant maybe?” she muttered as she moved back onto the stage.

Her head snapped up at a sound above her.  Her eyes widen as she saw an iron chandelier plummeting towards her.  “Shit!” she dived to the right, narrowly evading the falling object but at the same time cracking the back of her head against the concrete wall.

Her head thumping from the impact of her collision, Faith just laid there for a few seconds.  As the roaring in her head died down, she became aware of the sound of tiny footsteps on the catwalk above her.  Forcing herself to focus, she looked up to see Sid launch himself off the catwalk and plunge down at her.  Grunting slightly with the effort, she rolled away from the puppet and grabbed her dropped knife. 

The puppet landed just in front of her.  Thinking quickly, she snaked a lightning fast hand around the demon’s foot and yanked, knocking the demon down on its ass.  In a half-second, she was on top of it, her knife held ready for the decapitating slash.  “You win,” Sid sighed.  “Now you can take your heart and your brain and move on.”

“I'm sure they would have made great trophies for your case,” Faith shot back.

“That woulda been justice,” Sid retorted.

“Yeah, except for one thing: you lost, and now you'll never be human.”

“Yeah, well, neither will you,” Sid sneered back at her.

“Say what?” Faith squinted at the dummy.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“This is what I do.”  Faith listened in fascination as Sid talked, her having brought him into the library to meet with G and the gang.  Which were currently in the grasp of open-mouthed bemusement.   “I hunt demons. I ran into a really mean demon cursed me and next thing I know I’m sitting on some guy's knee, with his hand up my shirt.”

“Ouch!” Jesse and Xander exclaimed in shock.

“And ever since then you've been a living dummy?” Willow queried.

“Morgan was right all along. I shoulda picked you to team up with. But I didn't because...”

“Because you thought *I* was the demon,” Faith put in.

Sid turned to her.  “Who can blame me Look at you! You're strong, athletic, limber, nubile,” she slapped the back of the puppet’s head.  No way she was letting a dummy get wood thinking about her.  “Now that this demon's got the heart and brain, he gets to keep the human form he's in for another seven years.  There were seven of these guys. I've killed six. If I can get the last one, the curse will be lifted and I'll be free. I'm sure it's someone in that stupid talent show.”

“Yeah, but now that demon has what he wants, he'll be moving on,” Faith commented.

“So, once we know who's missing from the show,” Sid continued.

“We'll know who our demon is!” Faith exclaimed.

“Oh bugger!” Giles slapped his forehead.  “The show!  It’s about to start!”

Faith turned to Red.  “Okay, start pulling everyone's addresses in the talent show. If they're not there, maybe we can catch them at home.”

“And you,” Faith saw Sid was talking to G, “get 'em all on stage, form the power circle. Then we can see who's a no-show.”

“The what?” exclaimed her Watcher.

Sid sighed.  “The power circle. You get everyone together and get them revved up.”

G stared at the dummy.  “Yes, quite.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith and Sid peered down from the catwalk as they waited for Giles to lead the circle out.  “So, what's your deal, kid? I don't figure you for a demon hunter.”

Faith glanced at her companion.  “I'm a Vampire Slayer.”

Sid’s eyes widened.  “You?! You're the Slayer?”  Faith nodded.  “I knew a

Slayer in the 30's. Korean chick. Very hot. We're talking *muscle* tone.  Man, we had some times.”  Faith stared at the puppet.  ”Hey, that was pre-dummy, alright?”

“Moving along,” Faith shuddered.  Those were images she’d never be able to wipe from her mind.  “You kill the demon and the curse is lifted, right?”

“That's the drill,” Sid nodded.

“I’m guessing there isn’t a happy ending?”

The puppet shrugged.  “Don't get sniffly on me, sis. I've lived a lot longer than most

demon hunters. Or Slayers, for that matter.”  Faith glanced down, unwilling to confront the shortness of her life.  She felt a hand on her knee.  “Of course, if you want to snuggle up and comfort me...”

Faith firmly removed the hand.  “Keep your hands to yourself firewood.”  Looking down, she saw the circle has been formed, but no one appeared to be missing.  “Wait here,” she ordered before dropping down onto the stage once the circle has dispersed to the backstage area.  “There’s no one missing?”

“It appears not,” her Watcher commented.  “Which would suggest our demon is not in the show.  Go tell the others. Look, it's nearly curtain. I must get the show rolling.”

“Five by five,” Faith nodded her agreement before glancing up to tell Sid to jump down.  Her eyes narrowed when she realised the catwalk was empty.  “Sid?”  Confused, she moved to the back of the stage, stopping by a workbench when something drips on her shoulder.  She looked  and reached up to a shelf to see what was dripping.  “SHIT!” she screamed in shock as a brain fell into her hands, immediately she dropped it to the floor. 

                                    *                                  *                                  *

“I'm never gonna stop washing my hands,” Faith shuddered.

“This dummy tells us that he's a demon hunter. And we're, like, fine. He takes off, and now there's a brain. Does anybody else feel like they've been Keyser Soze'd?”

Faith shook her head at Xman’s question.  “Sid's on the level, I'm sure of it. But why would the demon have rejected the brain? I thought Morgan was the smartest kid in school.”

“He was,” Willow pointed at the computer screen, “look at his grades: all A's. He was even taking college classes.”  The red-head blinked.  “Wait, all these sick days.  I’m gonna check the nurse’s file.”  The hacker tapped at her keyboard. “In case of emergency, contact Dr. Dale Leggett, California Institute of Neurosurgery, Cancer Ward.”

“Brain cancer?” Jesse queried.

“That's why he had all the headaches,” Willow commented.  “This means that whatever's out there still needs a healthy, intelligent brain.”

Jesse grinned at Xander.  “We’re saved!”

“And it's gonna be looking for the smartest person around,” Faith glanced from Jonathan to Willow.  “Any guesses which of you it is?”

Both paled.  Faith shook her head.  “Don’t worry about it.  You’re safe here, it has to be someone at the talent show.”  It was Faith’s turn to pale.  “And, and Giles doesn't

know! He's with them all right now!”

Xander shook his head.  “Oh don’t worry about it,  Giles can handle himself. I mean, he *is* really... “  Xander’s voice trailed off.  “SMART!”

“G!” Heart pounding, Faith charged through the library double doors.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles stared around doubtfully as the show’s magician strapped him down to the guillotine bench.  “Shouldn't it be aimed at my neck?”

“No,” the would-be wizard shook his head, “this way your scalp gets sliced off and your brains just come pouring out.”  The sorcerer slid the head restraint onto his forehead before locking it down with a padlock.

“What exactly is the trick?” Giles asked, anxious to take his mind off what was happening.  Oh good lord, what had he got himself into?

“What trick?”  the wizard smirked at him before going  over to the block where the rope holding the guillotine blade is tied down. The wanna-be wizard picked up a hatchet and began to slice through the rope.  Giles felt his blood chill as he watched helplessly, he realised too late that this must be the demon they’d assumed had departed.  He watched as the sneering youth sent another swing through the rope, almost cutting through it, causing the blade slip a bit.   Another strike and the blade will be slicing his head in two.

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Faith’s eyes widened as she saw Marc with the hatchet.  Lunging forward, she tackled the youth to the ground catching an elbow in the side of the head in the process.  Groaning slightly at the force of the blow, she swept the youth’s legs from under him. 

Even as he hit the floor, Marc changed to a scaly biped.  Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Faith leapt back to her feet at more or less the same time as the monster.  Ducking beneath a wild overhand right, she slammed a back heel kick to the demon’s hamstring, knocking it to the floor.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the rope snap.  Her heart dropped in tandem with the falling blade.  “Giles,” she croaked.

Suddenly Xander had hold of the rope, grabbing it inches from her Watcher’s throat.  Even as she opened her mouth to yell a thanks, a pain exploded in the back of her neck.  Instantly she shot out an elbow to the monster’s face, knocking it back a step.  Spinning round, she ducked a backhand slap and smashed a right forearm to the beast’s chest.  The snarling creature charged her, she grabbed its out-stretched arms at the wrists and dropped backwards, flinging it over her. 

Instantly she flipped to her  feet and turned to face her rival in a front stance only to be grabbed around the throat and flung into the wall.  Suddenly Sid dropped off the catwalk onto the demon.  “Need some help toots?”

”’ppreciate it.”

After a chuckle, the puppet began stabbing the beast until it hit the ground, a second later, Sid looked up at her and winked.  “Shame girlie, we could have had fun.”  The puppet slumped down on the demon. 

After a final sad glance at the deceased puppet, Faith looked towards the guillotine, heart racing.  She grinned as she saw Jesse and Xander helping her dishevelled but unharmed Watcher to his feet.  “He’s five by five.”  Lifting Sid off the demon, she walked towards G and the others.  “Let’s get out of here.”

                                    *                                  *                                  *

Giles waited expectantly, his emotions a combination of dread and anticipation as he awaited the start of Faith’s act.  She’d staunchly refused to rehearse, saying something about not needing to and not being able to spare the time.  As a result he hadn’t a clue what she was going to do, none of them did – well except Willow who had apparently helped her in some way, but for once the red-head was staying staunchly silent.  Comforting himself with the thought that if Miss. Rosenberg was involved, it was unlikely to be too risqué, he turned his attention to the opening curtain.  “She’ll do fine Rupert,” Miss Calendar, his escort for the evening not date he reminded himself, muttered in his ear.

“Yes I’m sure,” he swallowed, his lips drying in fear.

Finally his daughter was revealed sat on a stool, her elfin features obscured by the tresses hanging over it.  He blinked as his Slayer threw her hair back and a music backing track began, he recognised that music, wasn’t it…

“Ma, take this badge off of me.
I can't use it any more.
It's getting dark, too dark to see.
Feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.”

“Good lord,” he breathed.  Faith’s voice wasn’t sweet or classically beautiful, and yet it had an earthy power that only the very best blues singers had.  He smiled stupidly, feeling a tightness in his chest.  “That’s my girl.”  The moment the music finished to an almost standing ovation he was moving.  “I’m sorry Jenny,” he knew he was grinning like an idiot, but right now he didn’t care.  “But I have to-.”

Jenny smiled and nodded.  “Just go Rupert.”

“Faith!” he rushed up to his daughter as she stepped off stage and, forgetting his own very British resolve and his Slayer’s own ‘cool’ factor, picked her up in a hug.  “That was simply splendid,” he enthused.  “You never told me you could sing!”

The brunette blushed even as she wriggled free of his embrace.  “My ma always said my pa was a roadie with the British groups of the sixties and seventies – Kinks, Stones, and the Animals, that sort of thing.  When I was a kid, before things got bad, I remember the best times were Ma sitting me on her knee, teaching me the songs of the groups.”  The Slayer looked down.  “Guess I never felt happy enough to sing ‘til now.”

“Faith, I-,” Giles forced the lump in his throat down and changed what he was about to say, unwilling to embarrass her further.  “My dear, they have open mike night at a local coffee shop I frequent, I’d be honoured if you’d allow me to accompany your singing on my guitar?”

”Yeah G,” Faith smiled and nodded at him.  “I’d like that a lot.”

 Return To Faith Season 1