Faith Comes Back
A/N. In the Season 3 episode "Consequences" Faith was captured by the Watcher's Council to be taken back to England for killing Deputy Mayor Finch, but she escaped. Yet in the very next episode, "Dopplegangland" she was back with Giles, Wesley and the Scooby Gang and things seemed to be fine. So, what happened? How were things smoothed over? Here is what I think could have happened.
Prologue
In a dark alley, after dusting several vamps, Buffy and Faith were running toward Balthazar's warehouse hideout when Deputy Mayor Finch stepped out of the darkness. Thinking he was another vampire, Buffy threw him against a wall, and before she realized he was human, Faith staked him in the heart, killing him. They both ran off and were separated. Faith went back, got the body and dumped it into the harbor. But it was found by fishermen and the death was reported on the news.
Buffy tried to convince Faith to tell Giles what happened, but she refused. After telling Willow about it, Buffy went to Giles. But Faith beat her to it and told Giles it was Buffy who killed Finch. After Faith left, Giles told Buffy he knew Faith did the deed but not to let anyone know. Wesley overheard them and called the Watchers' Council. They captured Faith to take her back to England, but she escaped.
Buffy went to the docks looking for Faith, and found her. While they were talking, Mr. Trick and other vamps attacked. Mr. Trick almost killed Buffy but Faith staked him, saving Buffy's life. Faith then went to see the Mayor.
Chapter One
The Mayor
Mayor Wilkins was leaving for the day. With a final touch, he straightened one of the two pens in a holder on his desk, picked up his briefcase, went to his office door and opened it. Faith was standing there.
"You sent your boy to kill me," she said matter-of-factly.
"That's right. I did," he replied.
"He's dust."
"I thought he might be. What with you standing here and all."
"Guess that means you have a job opening," Faith said with a little smile.
Mayor Wilkins stood aside to let Faith enter the room. He went back to his desk and set his briefcase down. "So you want to work for me. What about Buffy and all your friends?"
"Got no friends. Not after Buffy killed your buddy and they blamed me for it. Then they tried to get me locked me up."
"So it was Buffy that killed Finch? For some reason I thought it might have been you."
"Nope. Buffy all the way -- threw him against the wall, then staked him right through the heart, pretty as you please."
"I see. And just what is it you think you can do for me? You know, Mr. Trick had quite a few, well, tricks up his sleeve. He was a valued employee."
"Yeah, well, he's gone and I m here now. So whatever you need me to do, I m your girl."
The Mayor wasn't entirely convinced. Faith could have been sent to spy on him. But, on the other hand, if she was sincere, he knew just how she could help.
"Well, there isn't much around the office here for someone with your talents. But I do know where you can do the most good."
"Whatever it takes, wherever you need me."
"I need you to go back to your friends. I need a set of eyes and ears to keep tabs on them, and then report back to me anything that might prove helpful."
Faith didn't really like the sound of that. "I just told you, they're trying to have me put away. How am I supposed to make nice with them?"
"You strike me as smart girl. Use your imagination. I'm sure one of them would be sympathetic enough to side with you."
"Well, Buffy did say, over and over, she wants to help me be a goody two shoes like she is."
"Well, there you go!" the Mayor said with a big grin. "Put on your most pitiful face, come up with your saddest story, and make her your own."
"I could do that. Yeah! Not a bad plan BOSS. I'll make you proud. You'll see."
"That's what I wanted to hear." Wilkins picked up his briefcase again and walked Faith to the door. "Give it a week or so before you report back to me. Make sure they trust you again first. Don't want them following you back here, now do we?"
"Okay, a week it is."
And with that, Faith left the office heading toward the elevator. As Wilkins watched her leave, he still wasn't sure if she could be trusted. And if she couldn't, he'd rather she was with Buffy and company rather than snooping around his office and into his business.
TBC
