AN: It's been a long while and sorry for that, but I'm hoping to continue this fic up until the end of Season 3. Again, the chapters will be warped around prompt words.

Rocket

Giles didn't want to admit it, but Wesley was starting to grow on him. Admittedly it was like mildew creeping up the corner of the wall, but the positive feelings were developing.

Wesley was beginning to loosen up and was poking fun at his employers' expense once he realized that Giles wouldn't criticize him for it. Although the younger man was a Watcher to the core, his wit and humour tended to be darker than one would expect from the proper gentleman.

"What do you think of outer space?" Giles asked, deciding to test the waters on Clark's behalf. Wesley was not aware of the teen's extraterrestrial nature, but if he were to stay with them longer, as Giles suspected he would, the younger Watcher would eventually figure something was different about Clark. He was inexperienced, not stupid.

Frowning, Wesley replied, "Although I do prefer to keep up to date with modern developments, I would have to reluctantly admit that I know very little about rockets, spaceships and the like."

Surprised at his show of humility, Giles smiled softly, "I am not that knowledgeable in that regard either. I find technology for the most part distracting and unnecessarily complex."

Trying to hide his smile, the younger Watcher coughed into his hand, "Uh, yes I have noticed your aversion to anything electronic in origin."

"Quite right. I dread the day when people no longer appreciate the value of a good book," Giles raised his cup of tea to his lips as his eyes crinkled in amusement.

"The horror!" Wesley exclaimed mockingly, then he frowned, "I am worried as to the state of the current young generation…"

Reminded of Clark, Giles placed his cup back on its saucer, "Actually, I was inquiring earlier about your views on extraterrestrial life."

"Extraterrestrial life you say?" Wesley tapped his chin in thought, "Well, we have a few documented species of demons which are believed to be extraterrestrial in nature… But ultimately records are often not detailed enough for us to differentiate between extraterrestrial and extradimensional beings."

Cocking an eyebrow at a relatively textbook answer, Giles offered him a dry smile, "I was perhaps wondering as to your personal opinion on the matter."

"Well yes, I do believe in the possibility of extraterrestrial life," the younger man began after a pause, "Considering how the Earth is constantly receiving visitors from an infinite number of demon dimensions, in the infinite confines of our universe, how are we to say life cannot exist elsewhere? Furthermore, what about the presence of demonic species on another hellmouth outside our galaxy altogether?"

Startled, Giles hummed thoughtfully, "Truth be told, I never considered the possibility of demons and Hellmouths on other planets."

Nodding enthusiastically, Wesley began, "Actually not many of our cohorts do. Imagine what we could learn by studying alien species in different environments! But our peers are far too focused on the past and are not adapting to new knowledge on the ways in which our universe works. My thesis work actually attempted at scientifically quantifying—"

Giles coughed politely into his hand, trying to prevent his colleague's undoubtedly long explanation, "Did I possibly hear you speak negatively of our peers?"

Spluttering, Wesley looked back down to his notes, scribbling furiously, "No, one of my position would not dare criticize my more experienced contemporaries," Giles noticed a slight smile on Wesley's lips. Good, he was learning.

"Giles! Wesley! We need to go to the police station now!" Clark burst into the library, clearly distraught.

Taking in the boy, Giles was once again reminded how much the teen cared. Not many felt as strongly as he did and simply by looking at him, Giles felt his own blood pressure rising. Something was indeed wrong for him to be so upset… or the issue involved Faith.

Taking immediate action, Giles stood up, "What's the matter?"

Beside him, Wesley was putting away his materials, while listening intently to their conversation. He clearly didn't approve of his Slayer's relationship with Clark, it was completely against tradition after all, but at the same time, he had no reason to put distance between the boy and Faith. With an internal sigh, Giles admitted he may have been too hopeful that Wesley would be accepting of Clark's extraterrestrial status.

"It's Faith," Clark gasped out, leaning onto a nearby table.

Frowning, Giles found himself once again worrying. As extraordinary as Clark was, emotional shock was clearly affecting his breathing, "Clark what happened?"

"They arrested her," he explained, taking in another strained breath before continuing, "Her place was a mess. They were going through everything. They said she was already down at the station when I got to her place."

"And you ran all the way here?" Wesley asked, clearly impressed. Faith's dilapidated motel was across town. It'd be a fair distance to run.

Nodding, Clark turned back to Giles, "She's in jail Giles! You know how well Faith and authority go together."

Wearing a grim look, the librarian nodded his understanding, "If she wasn't in trouble already, let's hope she hasn't made more." Putting on his coat, he made to grab his car keys.

Before he could reach them however, Wesley intercepted him. Shooting him a tentatively look, the younger Watcher explained, "You have a tendency to drive… rather slowly. Perhaps someone else should drive."

Reluctantly accepting the statement as truth, Giles nodded. There were more important things to worry about than who was driving: Faith for example.

As they left the library, Giles was pleasantly surprised when the Wesley turned back to Clark, "Are you coming?"

The drive to the police station was silent and strained. Giles found himself unwillingly enjoying the terseness between Wesley and Clark. As situations in Sunnydale go, it could be worse. And as far as Wesley's attitude on Clark went…

At least the young Watcher hadn't expressed the desire to dissect aliens.

.

Brother

"Faith are you ok?" Clark demanded worriedly. By the time they got to the station, she'd already been released, but despite their best efforts they'd been unable to locate her.

Standing against an alley wall, she took a long drag of a cigarette. She normally avoided those, because she knew Clark's opinion on smoking. "What's got you all twisted up?" she asked nonchalantly. "You look like you're gonna blow any second now."

"What's got me all twisted up?" Clark asked surprised, "You were taken the police station yesterday! I heard you'd been arrested."

Faith shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, "It was no big. Nothin' happened. They brought me in, we talked, they let me go." Avoiding Clark's eyes she stated, "No big deal."

"That's all that happened?" demanded Clark, he needed answers and Faith was sharing even less than normal.

Taking another drag, Faith's voice was level, "Yeah, nothing happened."

"You're lying," Clark had been around her enough to know when she was.

Raising an eyebrow, she lightly countered, "Oh? And the naïve boyscout would know that how?"

Normally when she used nicknames for him they were terms of endearment. This time, she was being condescending and it hurt.

"Faith, I don't know why you're acting like this, but you don't need to pretend on my account," Clark knew she was trying to put distance between them. He'd have to fight her on it, again. "I'm just worried about you."

Watching her face finally soften, Clark knew he'd managed to reach her. But she suddenly turned away, her eyes starting to water.

"Faith?" Clark asked worriedly. He knew something had happened last night.

"When I was in holding, I had a lot of time to think," Faith began, her voice wavering slightly. She turned back to face him.

Not expecting that reply, Clark was puzzled, "Thinking about what?"

"Thinking about us," Faith replied, her voice soft.

A feeling of unease began to smother his sense of worry. "What about?" Clark asked quietly.

"Look, I know how you feel about me…" she began, but stopped, clearly trying to put together the words.

"Faith, I love you," Clark interjected. Although his voice was quiet, the words had been spoken with conviction.

"I know that," she replied, her gaze unwavering. Taking a deep breath she stared and Clark watched her eyes glimmer as the tears formed, "I love you too…"

Clark didn't see the issue.

"… like a brother."

Clark's mind froze. I'm sorry but what?

"Bullshit," Clark swore, upset that she'd even joke about it, "You don't do what we do with a brother."

She never looked away during his accusation, "I'm sorry Clark," her voice broke and she raised a slow hand to his face, "But I tried to tell myself, that you're such a good guy. And it was about time I deserved something good in my life, but… I don't love you. Not like that."

"Bull," Clark's mind still wasn't really working and if Faith kept on insisting on this absurdity he was going to blow.

"I…" Faith looked down ashamedly. Clark felt the despair set in. If what she was about to say was worse than what she'd already said, he wouldn't be able to handle it.

"… met someone, yesterday," she explained softly. Her words were so soft, Clark had to strain to hear.

Horrified, Clark tried to make sense of what she's saying, "You're lying." He tried again.

"You know I'm not. You're the one with the super-nose and all."

Hesitantly, he took in and analyzed her scent. There was the leather, smoke, and musk which were clearly Faith. But the smell of fabric softener, detergent, and other domestic products were not. And they were all over her.

Turning around, Clark's ears pounded in time with his heart. He needed to go now.

"Clark…" his name was spoken so softly and it sounded so broken, he almost turned around.

Instead he just walked away.

AN: This had been sitting for a while on my PC and I decided it was about time to get this going again. Sorry again for the long gap between updates.