Notes: Well, I finally read Ghost Story. Things did not go the way I expected, though that's one of Jim Butcher's strengths as a writer. However chapter one doesn't really jive with the direction of Ghost Story, so I'm going to not entirely follow it. Sorry.

After the Dresden Files

Two: Astor Files

Faith Astor didn't really think of herself as a bored rich girl, but she supposed the description fit. She had grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth, provided with anything she wanted... except for real love and affection. Her parents treated her like a expensive fashion accessory, and if they got expensive things for her it was just so they could look better. It got so bad that Faith ran away from home as a little girl.

And that was when she met Harry Dresden, Chicago's resident wizard. Working with Ragged Angel Investigations he had found her on behalf of her parents, but went above and beyond the call of duty saving her. First he bluffed a troll, then made her start to realize that there were still good people in the world. He gave her a magic ring then killed the troll when it tried attacking her.

That night changed her life, really. She stopped looking to rebel and merely bided her time, even as she investigated the supernatural world Harry revealed to her. Faith looked for ways to help people like Harry helped her, as well as trying to be the sort of person he was. It took a lot of effort, but Faith thought it was worth it.

Karrin Murphy scowled as the small blonde woman said, "I won't let you do it."

Faith had to work not to be intimidated, which was surprising considering how small and cute the other woman was. Short, blonde and blue eyed she looked wholesome and cute, not one of the scariest women on the police force. Well, make that former cop, which made her irritable and probably even scarier.

"Then I'll buy up the property and do it anyway," Faith said, meeting the other woman's eyes as the three of them sat in the cafe at a outside table.

Molly Carpenter looked less than thrilled to be pulled into this, but the attractive blond said, "I don't think it's a bad idea, boss. It's certainly better than Marcone getting involved."

The mention of that name made Murphy growl, which was pretty scary all on it's own. But Faith made herself meet the other woman's eyes, trying to balance confident with non-confrontational. "I think what you're trying to do is wonderful," she said as she drank a bit of her cup of coffee, "and I want to help."

Harry Dresden's home, a slightly older apartment building, had been burnt down in a attack by the Red Court Vampires. It was a major attack on the Wizard, and ironically one of their few successful strikes. In the end Harry destroyed the Court, turning their dark magic against them in a way that Faith still didn't know about. But from Molly's hints, it was nasty.

"I think building a community center on the property is a great idea and I want to help," Faith said to her firmly.

Molly and Murphy exchanged a look, then Murphy sighed. "You need to understand that it's not just a center we're planning..." she said, gesturing with her cup.

"It's going to be a base of operations for the fight against the Fomor," Faith cut her off. As Murphy gave a accusing gaze to Molly she continued, "And no, she didn't tell me about them. I'm somewhat connected on my own."

Murphy seemed somewhat surprised, which Faith kind of found annoying. They had both been at the wake at Mac's pub she should have known that Faith had to be aware of at least some of the magical going-ons in Chicago. The smaller woman looked at her thoughtfully as she mused, "How well connected are you?"

"Well," Faith hesitated, "it's a long story."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

College was supposed to be a time of discovering who you are and what you want to do in your life. For Faith, it ended up confirming that there was magic in the world. Magic, and monsters.

Professor Martin was handsome, charming and elegant, but something had struck Faith as wrong about him. He seemed almost too good, coupled with a underlying sleazy quality. But there was nothing she could say specifically that was wrong. When one of her classmates started getting 'private tutoring' from him, she felt the need to look deeper.

Over the years, Faith had kept in touch with Harry Dresden, badgering him for summaries of his more outlandish cases. She also stayed close to Nick at Ragged Angel Investigations, where she picked up some more practical skills. Watching Nick taught her to tail someone covertly, how to blend in, and he had even demonstrated how to pick a lock. How was he to know she'd remember?

Faith trailed her classmate Tanya to her dorm, then to Mr. Martin's house on campus. Tenured he was allowed to live on campus in the coveted home, a unusual privilege considering how young he was. She reached the cottage and moved closer, then paused as she felt a warning tingle. There was a alarm there, she felt, and used a dispelling trick she had read about in a supposedly legit mystical tome. The warning tingle disappeared, and she carried on.

The windows to the neatly set up living room revealed nothing, so Faith edged around back, carrying a small disposable camera. If the creep was up to something she could try to catch it on film. If there was something unearthly going on, a old fashioned camera might work when magic would make a digital one fail.

The kitchen was a mess, from what she could see through the window. Faith saw spilled food and a red fluid, but after a initial spike of fear realized it was wine, Then she headed for the final window, peering inside and freezing.

Martin was elegant and handsome as ever, but somehow different in the silken robes he wore. A silvery circlet held back his long brown hair, and his lips were pulled back in a cruel smile. Her friend Tanya was in chains against the wall, struggling violently as he said something to her mockingly.

'Fae,' Faith realized, which put a whole other spin on the problem. Despite hitting a weak magical shield she had expected this to be a human problem. She quickly tried to remember everything Harry had said about Summer and Winter Fae, even as she tried to devise a plan.

In the end Faith came up with a plan that was quite Harry Dresden-like: Go in through the front door and wing it. If Tanya was really in trouble there was no time to get help, and really, wh could she call? The campus rent-a-cops? Please.

Going around to the front door Faith prepared to use the skills Nick taught her about lock picking, only to realize the door was unlock. Putting the pins away she stalked inside, making her way back into the house. Through the living room and the kitchen she went, even as she began to hear what was happening in the back room.

"I have you now, my pretty," Mr. Martin purred threateningly.

"Oh no! Don't!" Tanya gasped.

'Well, that was pretty cliché,' Faith noted as she grabbed a knife from the kitchen. It wasn't much, but it'd have to do. She silently walked into the back bedroom, where Tanya dramatically pulled at the chains while Martin menaced her.

"Mu-wa ha ha ha!| Martin declared.

"That's it, elf-boy, hold it right there," Faith ordered as she slipped up behind him.

With a startling turn of speed he dropped, whirling away from her even as Tanya screamed in embarrassment. "What the...?" he started, then realized his flimsy robes had swung open. "Eep!" he yelped, covering himself.

"Wait!" Tanya squealed, then simply pulled the chains right out of the wall.

"What the hell?" Faith blinked, then with a sinking feeling realized the chains were props. "Oh you have got to be kidding me," she sighed as the fiercely blushing Tanya grabbed for a sheet to cover herself up.

A few minutes later a blushing and stammering Tanya explained that she and Mr. Martin were 'playing' and she was entirely there willingly. Mr. Martin escorted Faith to the door, the older man looking distinctly uncomfortable.

"So," Faith said flatly, "are you Summer or Winter?"

Martin looked like he wanted to claim innocence, but Faith fixed him with a glare she picked up from her asshole parents. He visibly wilted as he conceded, "Winter."

"I don't know if you're compelling Tanya or not," Faith said to him seriously, "but you're a teacher messing around with a student. I would strongly suggest you stop it, before there are... consequences."

Martin stiffened, "Are you threatening me?"

"A warning," Faith met his eyes calmly, then looked away just in case, "I may not be magical, but my family has influence."

Despite the lame threat Mr. Martin did, indeed leave, just ahead of several young ladies complaining about his grabby hands. While the conclusion wasn't as explosive as one of Harry's cases, Faith did feel some satisfaction at driving the bad guy away.

Especially after Faith put the word around other colleges to make sure he never got a teaching job again. Tanya wasn't too happy to see her older man disappear, but she got over it with a little help from Faith. But that's a story for another time...

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Uh huh," Molly looked like she was fighting back a giggle, while Murphy's lips twitched with amusement. "You really walked in on them when...?" she asked.

"Yeah," Faith agreed, deciding not to make her first adventure sound any better than it was.

"And you do this often?" Murphy asked dryly.

"I've helped Nick over at Ragged Angels and I'm applying for a regular PI license," Faith admitted, "I'm no wizard, but I know the basics for a tracking spell, protction spell and a few others. Not powerful, but they get the job done."

Even Molly looked startled at that revelation. "But you have no magical talent," she said.

"You don't need magical talent, technically," Faith said to her honestly, "it just requires strong visualization and lots and lots of practice. I'm no where near as powerful as a actual wizard, but it can come in handy."

Murphy hesitated, then she conceded, "Harry told me that it was possible to do that." She studied the young woman then said, "This is immensely dangerous, young lady. I had the help of several werewolves fighting the Fomor, and they nearly killed me."

"I won't say I'm not frightened, because if I did I'd be lying," Faith said, "but Harry Dresden set a example, even if most of the time he was playing out of his league. Can we do any less?"

"Damn right," Molly nodded firmly.

Murphy half smiled and nodded. "Well, I've made dumber calls, and with me out of the police force we're going to need funds too," she admitted.

"I have some ideas about that too," Faith admitted. She sipped her coffee and noted it was stone cold, "Refills, anyone?"

"Please," Molly agreed.

To be continued...

Added Notes: I'll probably set up a version of the crew in Ghost Story, more or less, including Faith. The tone is probably going to be lighter than typical Dresden Files books, and I may or may not toss in some femslash bits. We'll see.