Ok so I've worked on these Chapter all morning. If there is a beta out there wants to help let me know. Some things might have been added or changed helping the story line. Thank you "Twin who likes to travel" for giving me a swift kick in the ass to actually pay attention to what I'm writing. Hope you enjoy the changes and I hope its easier to read thank you.
- Love less
Five years later 2006
Faith stood behind the counter of the miny bar in her office and pressed a hidden button jus under the top of it. Gears turned and the top of the counter flipped to the under side revealing a hidden heavily armed weapons rack. Lit With a white light glass backing and shelter to various assault rifles, pistols, stakes, crosses and C4 along with all its various plus components. Tightening the strap on her holsters she picked out a nine mil and a modified M16 setting them aside for later use. Pressing the button again the compartment closed while she moved to a cabinet behind her. Then her phone started to ring.
"LT... We found out the PERP's background: Four felonies. Been off probation for two years though. He was doing pretty good." the chief of the team briefed her as she reached and grabbed for ammo jus above the holy water. Faith doubled as a private contractor for the city.
They didn't know she was a slayer, but they offered her a job after the night she was arrested and injured several cops in the process. Instead of going to jail she was given the ultimatum to work for the city and put her talents to use. If you ask her she'll say because she was bored with jus patrolling. Not being on a Hellmouth has made nights pickings slim to meet up with a even a small nest of Vamps. If she did see one, he or she would have been some kind of nomad.
Faith's team works for the city's taking on jobs and cases to out of hand for SWAT. Sometimes her teams hand can be delicate; other times... well it's Faith, ok. The last big gig her team ran up hefty bill on the city to stop a bank robbery. Her team ended up on the news for the event. Most other times she is able to be kept under wraps and no one in the public or media is the wiser.
"Get me one of his closest family members, mother, wife, sister, bother anyone close to this guy. We gotta stop him before he gets to hostile. Hold the negotiating, jus get his demands." Faith ordered then hung up the phone. There was a familiar presence in her building that had her a little on edge. Pushing it to the side she continued to prepare; Faith moved through her apartment armed and double checking to make sure she didn't forget anything. Finally getting to the front door Faith grabbed the keys to her new Charger the Jacksonville Police Department issued her a few months ago. After Jotting down a quick note for her roommate Lexie who was still at work, she opened the door only to stop in her tracks at the person standing on the other side.
"Knew I felt a familia' pang." Faith mumbled as she stepped out into the hallway. Buffy took a step backward giving her room leaning against the wall behind her. As she did she couldn't help but follow the lines of her body. "Saw you on the news." Buffy claimed and Faith turned to lock her front door not surprised by the statement. Unfortunately for the team the story went national and Faith has been getting annoying calls all week for more details and high paying contracts. Faith herself has only considered a few, but doesn't want to the annoyance of the media following her around all the time. She's not in it for the fame, she jus likes not having any consequences. "One of the only times I talk to the press and here I get a special visit." Faith stated as the lock clicked and she turned around face the original slayer. "I gotta run, jus got a call to come in, walk wit me B." Faith offered as she motioned for her to follow.
Both young women turned and headed down the hallway toward the elevators. The walk was silent between them so Faith jingled the keys in her hand to her pace. Arriving in the elevator lobby Buffy clutched onto her purse nervously as Faith hit the down button. "So what brings ya south besides me." Faith asked pointing out the obvious. Buffy rocked back on her heals, "Ran into a new big bad, and we can't quite narrow down details of the specific demons yet...that and the guy is making moves. Its just whenever we get to the current scene, we're always steps behind." Buffy explained as Faith pursed her brow.
"Can't track him huh?" Faith mumbled, as she stepped onto the elevator car. "Yes, but there's a need for a second in command. We need help. I'm getting the Scooby gang back together." she announced which got Faiths attention. Faith didn't keep up with anyone but the few casual encounters with Wood when he was in town. So seeing everyone and fighting a new big bad would be a wicked rush as Faith would say; But Faith had obligations.
"I'm a arms specialist, I work for the city on contract." Faith exclaimed as she glanced at Buffy who gaped at Faith hoping for a response she wanted to hear. "so uh that's..." the door opened distracting Faith for a moment. When she came too she stood upright. Her once slightly softened posture stiffened and tensed as she stood. "I gotta think about it." Faith asserted as she stepped off the elevator quickly heading right for the front door.
Buffy followed behind keeping up with Faiths quick pace becoming agitated. Over the last five years she never asked for anything even though she needed it. She saw Faith as wanting to run from not just from Buffy but her responsibilities as a slayer again. "I didn't even want to come here, the girls think we need help... Faith." Buffy shouted out after her, Faith's pace didn't slow as she got to the all glass front doors and stepped outside. Faith brought her arm up to her face. Even though downtown JAX has sky scrapers the sun still managed to hit the front doors and stung Faiths eyes. Buffy stepped out next to her shaded by Cali valley girl name brand shades that covered half her face. "Do it for the girls, it's the least you can do." Buffy scoffed then Faith peered jus over her shoulder towards Her.
"I'll have to clear it... Got a ride?" Faith asked kindly, Buffy nodded no an pointed across the street to a four door Nissan. Seeing the convo ending Faith made her way to the edge of the side walk and watched for the traffic to slow. "Leave your number with guy at the front desk inside... I'll call ya, k" Faith directed as she made her way across the now empty street to the garage on the other side.
Buffy stood and watched as Faith walked up to a door and disappeared inside the plain cement building. Buffy turned and walked back inside Faiths modern lobby of the building she resided. A security guard sat behind a desk off to the side. Buffy could barely see the top of his hat till she approached the desk because it was pretty tall. "hi uh... Faith Lehanne told me to leave my number with you." Buffy explained as the security guard smiled and set a small sticky note in front of himself, A pen clicked and Buffy approached the desk to leave her cell phone number silently hoping she would get this message and call her.
"Tell her were leaving probably tomorrow and that we still live in the same house up north." Buffy explained and uneasily smiled. The guard smiled confidently, hoping to re-assure her, "she's almost always going out on calls but she'll take the number. It's when she pulls out her phone to pretend to take the number is when the dame should worry." the guard explained evidently knowing Faiths habits and social ways. "Thanks anyways." Buffy said as she turned and walked outside. Buffy watched as she saw Faith pull out of the garage and peal off down the street. Her cars engine roared and echoed off the buildings tall walls around them. Buffy was impressed by the model because she hadn't seen one like it yet. Tire tracks stained the cement an seemed to steam from the marks she left in her wake.
Buffy peered across the street as one of the teenage slayers stuck her head out the window of the rental car. She shook her head amused as she strutted across the street. Getting to the car she choose to sit shotgun. The girls in the car gawked at Buffy for a detailed explanation of what happened in the building as Buffy made herself comfortable. The oldest Violet who was driving; pulled the key out of the ignition and turned to face Buffy. "I really don't want to talk about it let's jus go." Buffy ordered passing a stern look. Not wanting to argue and knowing their past Vi backed down, the girl shrugged and turned on the car without further protest. "Told you so." Buffy's little sister dawn taunted from the center back seat.
"She hasn't said yes or no yet?" Buffy argued, "I can't believe you talked me into coming with you. She didn't even stick around to catch up." Dawn complained, the rest of the girls looked on not interrupting and avoiding to feel the wrath of either women. Violet attempted to calm the storm by turning up the radio. Buffy quickly turned the radio off and turned in her seat to face the girls in the back. Mainly to see dawn, "I told you things weren't going to be easy and you could have waited then flew to Cleveland when I got home. You should have thought about it before you came on the road trip." Buffy half shouted, Dawn was out numbered an only knew Violet from before she moved out to go to school.
"Whatever... She won't show, I know it." Dawn muttered, "The game is still early... She could take a week to show an we'd probably still be in the same mess were in now." Buffy explained defending Faith while getting final word as she faced forward. Violet pulled off into the street joining the light evening traffic of downtown Jax.
"I still think you should wait a day." one of the girls chimed in. "I'll think about it." Buffy muttered crossing her arms jus under her chest.
Mean while at scene of the hold up...
Faith and her team arrived taking over the hostile situation. There was a man inside holing two women and a little boy hostage. One of the women is pregnant but no where near close to term knowing this fact Faith herself invested more emotion into the situation then needed. Like always this was delicate and dangerous with the man being so erratic.
With the help of the rest of JSO an SWAT teams they were hoping the already have the situation dissolved but Negotiating didn't work because there isn't much the guy wanted. Mainly he jus felt wronged by the two women. Faith saw the opportunity to talk to the him and completely disarmed herself before going inside against everyone's wishes while several men tried to talk her out of it. "This is against protocol." "Faith it's a bad idea ...don't." Only you can't stop a slayer when there's something on the other side of the door that she wants.
Men on the line of police cars shouted at Faith as she made her way into the four story building. Faith was normally reckless but she almost always got the job done safely. She would still never run into a hostage negating situation unarmed. Even for Faith this was out of character and it freaked most of the guys out. The little visit had more of an effect then she had thought. "FAITH." someone shouted as she entered the building. Today was definitely a different story.
A crowd built outside along with media channels all over the grass recording all they saw but was held at a distance out of safety. The apartment building was only four stories tall and the neighborhood itself was nice so Faith saw that was more to the story then jus an angry man holding a gun. She climbed the stair well then got onto the balcony three stories up. There was glass everywhere on the porch; catching first sight of the PERP inside she moved towards him.
"Ok man...hey now… Take it easy." Faith tried to calm him, "Who the hell are you lady?" he asked angrily as she took steps inside the apartment. He turned to faith then back to the two women unsure of what to do surprised and angry. Faith attempted to show him she was unarmed.
Faith slowly took a step forward, "D-Don't come any c-closer." he warned as he pointed the colt he was holding toward the two tied up women sitting on the couch. "No; No point that at me..." Faith demanded as she took another cautious step forward putting herself between the PERP an the women. Circling a little, as he returned his aim and attention to Faith. Successfully shielded them at least which gave her time to think.
"At least step away from the window further your still in their shooting range." Faith explained calmly pointing over his shoulder to the cops outside; she was genuinely concerned because they did trade places putting the man in range. The man nervously looked over his shoulder. Faith took the opportunity of his distraction and charged before the shot could be taken. Being a slayer she's faster then the norm but not fast enough to dodge a bullet. Her shoulder swayed back exploding into pain as she took another stride forward crying out in frustration of the fact. Faith shoulder felt as if it went up in flames; at this point she would have rather been stabbed. The bullet didn't stop her as she pushed forward. It's a good thing he has bad aim because he only hit her with the first bullet. Slamming into the still shooting PERP she dropped her shoulder as if she was playing football with the guys putting him onto balcony. With her forward momentum not being able to stop themselves as they continued stubble over the railing. There wasn't anything for her on to grab as she flailed over the railing to the unforgiving cement below... Lights out.