Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Angel except the first season DVD collection. You can't just buy these things at Best Buy like the DVD's, that would be in a perfect world.

Set after the end of Buffy and the finale of Angel ("Home").

Pairings: In this section: Robin/Faith, mention of Cordy/Angel, mention of Wes/Lilah. After this section: I haven't decided.

Author's note: This is just another stream of consciousness fic that I'm starting that seems to be taking on a life of it's own. I have unfinished fic's all over this site but I PROMISE to finish this one. It will all make sense in the end, if anyone's interested. Review if you want, I'll finish it either way, I'll just be happy if you read it. J All the lyrics are from Jack Johnson's latest album "On and On".

"…there were so many fewer questions

when stars were still just the holes to heaven…"

"Baby, will you just look at me? Open those big blue eyes and look at me…please…don't do this to me right now…Please, Wes…" Her panicked voice penetrates the darkness that is thickening around him.

"Faith! We have to get out of here!" Another voice yells in the distance.

"I knew this was a bad idea," Faith mutters. He loses her voice then, the fog muffles everything and it is quiet. And very dark.

A month earlier

"Mr. Wyndham-Pryce? We've been trying to contact you for three days…" A timid voice shatters his drunken peace.

"Excuse me, do I know you?" Wesley turns, not recognizing the voice.

"I work for Wolfram and Hart. I work for you," The petite woman in a business suit responds, quickly.

"Okay," Wes shrugs, turning back to the bar and resuming his drinking.

"Mr. Angel…" The lady begins.

"Mr. Angel can get in touch with me if he needs me," Wesley replies coldly.

"Mr. Wyndham-Pryce, it's very urgent…"

Wes glares at the woman. "It always is. Can't you see I'm in the middle of a drunken binge?"

"Can anybody join that party?" A familiar voice raises Wes' eyebrows.

"Faith," Wes smiles slightly.

"Piss off, lady. I need to talk to my…acquaintance over here," Faith grins, nudging the lawyer lady aside and perching on the barstool beside Wes.

"I think we're a little more than acquaintances at this point. I don't know if there's a word for what we are," Wes says, his face of stone returning.

"Mr. Wyndham-Pryce, please listen to me…" The lawyer says, holding a cell phone to her ear as she speaks.

"Listen. I will call Angel in the morning. If it's urgent, he'll find me. Now, please heed Faith's advice and piss off."

"What's her deal?" Faith asks as the lady walks away in a huff.

"It's a long story. What are you doing here, Faith?" Wes asks, motioning for the bartender for another drink. Faith orders a whiskey.

"You heard about Sunnydale?" Faith asks.

"Quite. Rupert actually called to invite me to join the Council he's rebuilding. He said they were creating teams to spread across the U.S. He explained about the activation of all the Slayers in the world. I turned him down, of course. I'm currently involved in something…different. Again I ask. What are you doing here?" His voice is flat.

"I got L.A. Buffy and Dawn are taking Cleveland. Giles and Xander are taking Miami while Willow and Kennedy are partying down in Louisiana. Robin and I got L.A." Faith says.

"Robin. Robin Wood?" Wes questions, recognizing the name.

"Yeah. But he's a little under the weather, still recovering from the battle. He's had a few complications, but he's coming along," Faith replies.

"So the reason for this visit?" Wes asks.

"I need a temporary partner. Just until Robin is back up to speed. Angel's…" Faith's voice falters.

"Have you tried to reach him since you came into town?" Wes asks.

"No. I thought of you first," Faith says, quietly.

Wes is silent, thinking. "Robin's human. You need to learn to work with someone that can't kick your ass," He says after a pause.

"Wes…" Faith looks apologetic.

"No, it's a smart decision. Working with Angel, you'd expect your partner to be able to take as much as you can but Robin and I can't the same as you." Wes says, his blue eyes sincere. "You have changed. I can tell by the way you look. Is it Robin?"

Faith blushes and Wes finds himself smiling for the first time in days. "I didn't think you could blush."

"It's not all Robin. I mean, he's great, he cares about me and he's amazing in the sack…"

"Faith, please," Wes mutters, turning his face away.

"Wes. Are you okay?" Faith asks, suddenly.

"Not really. Is it a requirement for the offer?" Wes responds, seriously.

"Nah. As long as you're still on top of your game," Faith shrugs.

"Well, let's go hunting. Afterwards, maybe you can introduce me to Robin. I don't want him to think I'm replacing him before he even gets a chance to be the Slayer's sidekick," Wes remarks.

"Wes, you're drunk, are you sure you're…" Faith starts, standing up.

"I'm not drunk, Faith. Two more hours of this and I'd be drunk. Nothing like adrenaline to sober up," Wes replies, turning suddenly and pinning the vampire that is standing behind him in the shadows. The stake in his wrist holster snaps out and the vampire turns to dust. "You were going to let him bite me?"

"Just seeing if you were still on your game, Wes. Let's go," Faith grins.

After patrolling and taking out a few vampires and assorted uglies, Faith hops off Wes' bike outside the ratty apartment building she has rented for herself and Robin.

"Who's backing you, Faith? Do you and Robin have any money?" Wes asks, outside the door to Faith's apartment.

"We have a small fund. 200 dollars a month from some life insurance policies Buffy and the others are beneficiaries for. I was going to get a job…"

"Angel and I can help with that. Remember Wolfram and Hart?" Wes asks.

"Yeah, evil law firm…" Faith nods, struggling with her keys, distracted.

"Angel runs it now. Not evil, or so they keep telling us. Gunn, Fred, Lorne and I are all employed by them. I'm sure we can offer the two of you some income," Wes says.

"Really?" Faith asks, swinging open the door to the apartment.

"I really hate rats," Robin says, stretched out on the couch in the center of the room. Wesley glances around. He notes Robin's crutches and the corner of luggage. There are several dead rats, nailed to the floor with knives that Robin has been throwing.

"Happy hunting?" Faith asks, kissing him gently as she perches on the couch's arm.

"Damned rats. Is this Wesley?" Robin asks.

Wesley shakes his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Wood. I've actually heard a lot about you. Your mother was an amazing woman. I had a huge crush on her as a child," He says.

"You knew my mother?"

"When I was very young, six or seven. She was around the council a lot and she always went out of her way to be nice to me. I'm sure she was a great mother," Wesley replies.

"She was. So Faith hasn't told me much about you, except that she trusts you enough to let you watch her back," Robin replies.

Wes raises an eyebrow towards Faith. "That's a surprise. Faith and I have a rather…complicated history. But it is history." He glances around the shabby apartment again. "Have you unpacked?"

"We just got here yesterday," Faith replies.

"Get your things together. You cannot possibly stay in this place another night," Wes sighs.

"Wes…" Faith starts.

"No arguments. I own a house down the street. Not in this part of town, but secluded. It has a large training area that you can practice in, help Robin get back on his feet."

"You want us to move in with you?" Robin questions.

"I don't live there. I just own it. I live across town in an apartment. It's furnished and…"

"Why don't you live there, Wes?" Faith interrupts.

Wes allows himself a small smile. "I couldn't deal with all the space. It made me nervous. I like my apartment but it's always nice to have several bases of operations. Get your things," He says.

"Robin? You down?" Faith asks, smiling.

"I really hate rats, Faith. Let's go."

Faith helps Robin down the stairs while Wes carries their sparse luggage. He calls a taxi and the three soon arrive at Wes' house.

"It's fucking huge," Faith gasps

"No rats," Wes states, flatly. He unlocks the door and hands the keys to Faith. "Don't burn it down the first night. I'll stop by sometime tomorrow to discuss employment opportunities," Wes says, turning to leave.

"Wes?" Faith follows him outside. Robin starts to limp around the house, turning on the lights.

"Faith, we'll talk tomorrow," Wes says. "You should be safe here. I keep some weapons in the kitchen pantry…"

"Why are you doing this for me?" Faith asks.

Wes looks at her with cold blue eyes. "Because you've done what I could not. You've fought your way out of the darkness inside. You give me hope for myself. Don't stress about this, Faith. You're doing good. Think of this as your reward. It's the least I can do. Now go be with Robin."

Faith watches him climb into the waiting cab and drive off in the direction of his bike. Finally, she steps inside.

"What's up?" Robin asks, twirling a sword he found in the kitchen.

"Wes. He was different when he busted me out of jail, but I thought…I thought something would have changed by now. He's still cold and…it's like he's not even there. I'm worried about him and it doesn't seem like anybody else is worrying about him," She replies.

Wes arrives back at his apartment just after sunrise. He unlocks the door and steps inside, pouring himself a scotch as soon as the door is closed behind him.

"Where've you been, lover?" A voice calls from the bedroom.

"Lilah. Are we really going to make this a habit again?" Wes responds, quietly, closing his eyes.

"Come on, Wes, just because I'm dead doesn't mean I'm not still ferocious in bed," She grins, walking up behind him in her skimpy nightgown. "I missed you."

"Lilah. No. Not tonight," Wes sighs, trying to ignore her breath on his neck and her wandering hands. He doesn't know why she isn't cold to the touch, why she can breathe. She never answers his questions. Her touch makes him forget his questions.

"That's what you say every night," Lilah replies, licking the back of his neck,

His hands start to shake so he swiftly downs the liquor that he knows will steady his hands.

"I only have a few more days, Wes. Please…don't make me be alone…" She whispers in his ear, turning him around and stifling his protests with a deep kiss. "Okay, Wesley?"

He doesn't respond but lets her pull him into the bedroom.