A/N: Thanks again guys for all the feedback! You all keep feeding my addiction to the stuff, and I appreciate it!
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"You're sure, Wesley?" Angel asked from his spot at the hotel counter next to Cordelia. Gunn stood next to the settee as Faith sat, flanked by Connor and Fred. Wesley, who stood in the center of the lobby, turned to Angel and Cordelia.
"Very sure."
"But I still slay," Faith countered, looking towards Wesley for support. "It's not like I'm sitting on my ass watching Oprah all damn day. I'm still out there busting my ass for them."
"It doesn't matter, Faith," he replied with a shake of his head.
"Bullshit," she fumed, getting to her feet. "Why should I have to join them if I'm doing fine by myself?"
"Because an inactive Slayer is a dead Slayer," he sighed.
Faith crossed her arms, the anger etched across her face. "So… what? I don't do it so they put a damn hit out on me?"
"If you recall, they have done it before, Faith."
"But… but I was different then. I'm not that same person they tried to kill before."
Gunn raised a finger as he interrupted the conversation. "I know I'm new to this Council-Slayer crap, but here's my question. Faith's been out for what? A few months now? So, why are these guys showing up now? Wouldn't they have been back the day she got out?"
"It's almost like somebody tipped them off or something," Cordelia added.
Wesley instantly turned to her as her words struck a nerve. He looked at each of his friends as he replied, "I'll be back."
"Where are you going?" Faith asked as he quickly made his way to the door.
He turned to her with a soft smile. "I'll be back." The smile faded as he continued, "Promise me you'll stay here."
Faith smirked in response. "Let's see-- the Council apparently has a bounty on my head as we speak so I don't think I'm gonna be going far."
Wesley simply nodded before disappearing through the door.
**********
"Miss Morgan, your noon is here."
Lilah looked at the intercom, her brow furrowing. "My noon?" she replied and reached for her appointment book. She flipped to the day's log and ran her finger down the schedule. "Beverly, I don't have a noon appointment."
"He says it's about a certain woman you two have in common."
Lilah smirked and closed her appointment book, triumphantly. "Send him in please, Beverly."
Lilah sat back in her chair as Wesley strode into her office. He slammed the office door shut, and she simply watched him, the smirk turning to a proud smile.
"Hello, Wesley. What a lovely surprise this is."
"I'm not in the mood for your games right now, Lilah."
"Games?" She batted her eyes innocently. "I don't know what you're talking about, Wesley. Wolfram and Hart and I have both been on our very best behavior."
Wesley simply watched her as she picked up a pen and began to twirl it between her fingers.
"So, how's that new girlfriend of yours? She doing okay?"
Wesley smirked. "How's your face? I heard she did a real number on you."
"Well," Lilah shrugged, "we each bear our scars, now don't we?" She gently trailed her pen across her throat from ear to ear.
Wesley's frown returned. "Call it off, Lilah."
"I'm sorry?"
"Whatever deal you made with the Council to get rid of Faith, call it off."
"Now, now, Wesley." Lilah leaned forward, trailing the base of her pen back and forth across the polished oak of her desk. "I can't renege on this deal. That would be highly unprofessional of me."
Wesley approached the desk. He leaned against it, aggressively. "I'll show you unprofessional."
Lilah laughed gracefully. "I'll just warn you now that I've increased my security since your girl paid me a visit. Before you could lay a finger on me, you'd be a bloody heap on my carpet. And those stains are a bitch to get out."
"What do you want, Lilah? What information in my head do you want because I'll give it to you…."
Lilah sat back with a sigh, and Wesley took a step away from her desk. "This isn't about you, Wesley. For once, this is only about Faith."
"I'll only tell you once more, Lilah. Call it off."
Lilah chuckled. "You can tell me as many times as you wish, Wesley, but the deal still stands. I want the girl's blood. The Council wants the girl's blood. So guess what, Wesley? We'll get the girl's blood."
"We will fight back," he declared.
"Oh, I'm counting on it. That's what makes it so much fun." She leaned forward again, grabbing a file that rested upon her desk. She casually flipped it open as she looked back up at Wesley. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Wesley. I have some work I need to be doing."
Wesley growled at her in response and stormed out of the office.
Once he was gone, Lilah reached for her phone and dialed. "Yes, Mr. Travers, this is Lilah. There's been a change in plans. Drop the proposition charade because we're finishing this deal right now."