Sunnydale Villa, Room 1434, 1015 hours.
It was nearly five minutes since Giles and Tara left the room, and Faith and Major Carter were left alone inside. They were making sure that every belongings they had were back in their bags when the Major's phone rang. Walking to her purse to pick it up, she reached in and took out the phone before activating it. Faith was checking her bag when the Major answered, and the dark haired Slayer turned around when she heard the Major talk to Colonel O'Neill.
"Yes, sir" said the Major as she looked at Faith, "yes, we're done here. But… well, Miss Maclay will be handing us something in an hour.. yes, sir… it could be important if any magic 's involved. I told her that we could meet at this place called the Espresso Pump in an hour."
Faith watched as her mother started to nod her head before telling the Colonel that she'll have the guards outside drop her, and Faith, off at the Espresso Pump before having them go on their way back to the Sunnydale Army base and the Colonel can meet them at ten coffee shop in the rental car.
"I'm ready" said Faith as she swung the bag over her shoulder. The both of them then walked out of the room, while being escorted by the two guards outside their door. The Major told them that they were to drop them off at the coffee shop, and then they could leave for the Sunnydale Army base.
'Understood, ma'am" said one of the guards as they led the two of them through the elevator, and then down to the hotel lobby where the Major checked herself and Faith out of their room. They then headed out of the lobby and into the black SUV that was parked nearby.
"Huh" said Faith sarcastically as she closed the door once she got into the SUV before looking at the Major, "I wonder what nice things they had to say about me."
"Does it matter?" asked the Major as she looked at the younger, shorter haired girl.
"Guess not" said Faith as she sat back on the soft car seat and looked out the window, and then looked over at the Major, "I guess… I mean, I guess I just wanna know what they feel since I just found out I have a mother in my life… you know. I know it sounds selfish, and… I guess I just want to throw it in their face. That makes me sound like a bitc…. I mean, you know, but I can't help thinking like that sometimes."
"Weren't you the one who told me not to confront Mrs. Summers about why she never took you in?" asked the Major as Faith smiled and looked out the window as the SUV started to move, before she looked at her mother, "well?"
"Yea" said the Slayer as she rubbed the back of her head as Major Carter moved closer to her and put her arm around Faith's shoulder, "it's hypocritical of me, but it's just something in my mind you know?"
"We'll finish what we need to finish" said the Major, "and then we set off for D.C. Dad, and Teal'c should already be there by now."
Faith just nodded her head before she sighed and placed her head on the Major's shoulder. It was a few minutes after leaving the hotel parking lot, and making a few turns from one street to another, that one of the guards looked back and told the Major that they were being followed. Suddenly alert, Faith sat up and looked over the backseat through the rear window at a blue sedan that was a few cars away. The Major looked through the tinted rear window as well before asking the guards if they were absolutely sure.
"Yes, ma'am" said one of the guards, "what would you like us to do, ma'am?"
"I'm betting that it's the new Watcher" said Faith as she looked back at the car again, before looking at Major Carter, "probably paid off the front desk guy to let him know if I showed up in town."
"Keep on going to the Espresso Pump" said the Major as she reached onto her purse and called the Colonel. After he answered the call, the Major told him where she was, and that her SUV was being followed by someone… possibly the Watcher of the new Slayer, "I'd suggest just meeting at the coffee shop as planned, sir. If he wants to talk… then we could talk."
"You sure about this, Carter?" asked the Colonel who was driving down streets to the Espresso Pump, "we could meet you in a few minutes, then we'll ask him what he thinks he's doing."
"We can do that when we arrive, sir" said the Colonel.
"I'd really like to have a chat with him too" said Faith as she looked at the car following them.
"Yes, sir" said the Major as she talked to the Colonel while nodding at Faith, "even Ellie would like a word with him."
Espresso Pump, Sunnydale, ten minutes later.
The two guards had just dropped off the Major and Faith at the entrance to the Espresso pump before driving off. Taking their bags with them, the two women walked up the stairs and sat at the table next to a wall that looked out into the street. The Major saw on a side that looked out at the car that was following them as it parked, and then she looked at the shadow inside the car sitting on the driver's side.
"Here he comes" said the Major as Faith turned around after she sat down to see a man in a full sleeved shirt, brown trousers, and a brown tie getting out of the car…and then running across the street to the coffee shop.
"Hey guy" said Faith as she leaned back on her chair and looked up at the man, "find following us around fun?"
"Sorry about that" said the man as he pointed at a seat, "may I join you?"
"No" said the Major, "who are you?"
"Richard Atwood" he replied as he brought his hand forward so that the Major could shake it, however all she did was look at his hand, and then up at his face. Atwood then frowned and pulled his hand back and put both of them into his pockets, "I am the Watcher of the new official Sunnydale Slayer."
"Official?" asked the Major.
"Buffy Summers technically doesn't work for us anymore" said Atwood while a car stopped at the side of the road. Interrupted, Atwood looked at the newly arrived car as the men walked out, waved at Faith and the Major before walking up the stairs. Atwood watched as the newly arrived men took position behind Faith while the Major stood up and crossed her hands over her chest. Undeterred, Atwood looked at the Major again, "even though she quit the Council, the agreement with your government remains. And, as for Miss Lehane…"
"She's not part of your Council" said the Major as she stepped forward while the Colonel walked over to her, as Daniel stood next to Faith. The archaeologist looked around and noticed that there weren't a lot of people, but he still hoped that there wasn't going to be any destruction of property.
"That's the issue" said Atwood looking at the Major while nodding towards Faith's direction, "as long as she's a Slayer, she is part of the Council. I've had a talk with Mr. Travers this morning after I discovered that Miss Lehane and yourself arrived in Sunnydale. And he would like to make an offer."
"What offer?" asked Faith.
"You" said Atwood as he looked at Faith, "you get to stay with your mother in Colorado Springs, but you must continue your duty. A Watcher will be assigned to you, he or she will train you.. and in the meantime you get to live your life. We will overlook your past transgressions as well. It'll be just like Miss Summers is apparently living her life while performing her duties. And just like my Slayer, Kennedy, will eventually come down to a pattern and live her life while slaying. It's the best offer you'll get."
"Or?" asked the Colonel O'Neill, "and may I remind you, that if you have anything to say that will harm this young woman… then your organization will be paying big time."
"I'm afraid not" said Atwood shaking his head, "if Miss Lehane doesn't agree to those terms, the Watchers Council has the resources needed to have her arrested for high crimes against Great Britain. We will seek extradition, and we will win."
"Excuse me?" asked Daniel as Faith got up and had her hands rolled into fists.
"The newspaper headlines will read Miss Ellie Carter, daughter of noted Astrophysicist and Air Force officer, Major Samantha Carter, plotted terrorist attacks on several targets in London… from the Houses of Parliament, to the London Eye, to… take your pick" said Atwood with a smile as the Major looked at Colonel O'Neill whose face was already getting red, as was Daniel, before she looked at Faith who had her jaw locked in anger and looked as if she was about to throttle the man as he continued, "Ellie Carter, also known as Faith Lehane travelled to London last week to meet with a terrorist cell before heading back to the U.S. However, she is currently missing.. her mother does not know where she is, but she is armed and dangerous."
Atwood looked at the Major, and then at the others before sighing.
"All I'm trying to say is that the Council has vast resources at its disposal" said Atwood, "we can have travel documents, phone records… anything we need created in a matter of days; and an operation like Deep Space Telemetry doesn't have the resources to fight us. The sooner you people realize that, the better it will be for Faith… or is it Ellie?"
"You" hissed Faith as she took a few steps towards Atwood when Daniel gently pulled her back, "you do not get to call me Ellie, you… or Buffy, the Scoobies… or anyone else; none of you get to call be by that name. The only ones who get to call me that is my mother… my mother… the woman your Council stole me from; my mother and these guys… to them I'm Ellie… don't you dare use that name."
"Whether Ellie decides to continue this job is up to her" said the Major, "it's her choice ultimately, but…."
"No" said Faith, "I'm not gonna be following the Council's marching orders. I'm making a choice that I'm happy with… a choice that won't make me wish I puke the next morning… I'm not one of the Council's soldiers… not their weapons, and not their tools. I'm gonna be with my mother.. yea, the same one you people took me away from… I'm gonna be with her, I'm gonna finish school, I'm gonna do everything a normal girl gets to do… I wanna be someone like my mom. SO you… and your Council can honestly go and shove it."
"And" said the Colonel as he approached Atwood while the Major smiled at Faith before she walked around the table and put her arm around Faith's shoulder while Daniel stepped back, "never, ever threaten any of my people… or their family. If the Council does anything, and I mean anything to Miss Carter.. and I mean the both of them, then there's nothing on this Earth that will keep you, or your organization, hidden from us. You have resources, fine… so do we. If Travers does anything… if he even sends Miss Carter a postcard, we will drop a hammer on the Council. We will crush it."
The Colonel then leaned forward and put a hand on the Watchers shoulder before whispering into his ear with a voice as cold as ice.
"I dare you" he said, "make a move."
The Colonel then looked at Atwood before stepping back with his hands in his pockets.
"Well" said Atwood as he sighed, unfazed by the cold look he saw in the Colonel's eyes before looking at Faith, "I do hope you reconsider."
"Leave" said Faith as her arm trembled.
"Goodbye" said Atwood with a smile as he walked back down the stairs while Major Carter and Faith looked on. The blonde then held on tight to Faith's shoulder before whispering that there's nothing the Council will be able to do once they've talked to the President, and then the Prime Minister.
Faith then looked at the Major as Atwood drove away, nodded her head and then they sat down. The Colonel went to get some coffee and cake from everyone, and after he got back.. they started to share notes.
At least until Tara, and Giles, stopped by the coffee shop an hour and a half later.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill, Dr. Daniel Jackson" said the Major as she made the introductions, "this is Tara Maclay and…."
"Dr. Rupert Giles" said Daniel as he held his hand out, "former curator of the British museum, with a PhD in History from Oxford University."
"Doctor?" asked Tara as she looked at Giles with an eyebrow raised.
"Tell no one" whispered Giles before looking at Daniel and taking his hand in his.
"Dr. Daniel Jackson?" asked Giles as he shook Daniel's hand, "the academic world thought you died, I mean physically… as well as professionally."
"Huh?" asked Tara confused.
"I wrote a book" said Daniel as he scratched his head nervously, "a really bad move that I thought was the right thing to do at the time, but the world wasn't ready for my crazy ideas."
"Anyway" said Colonel O'Neill who was aware of the fact that Tara could tell if they're lying… so he didn't want to go into the idea that the pyramids were not a landing pad for alien ships in case Tara saw through that lie, and then Tara would suspect something.. maybe even figure out that aliens really did exist, "we really should get going, do you have the…."
"Oh" said Tara as she reached into her bag and took out six grey pouches, and handed them to Major Carter, as well as a piece of paper that had words written in Latin, "just… just keep those close to you and it'll prevent any… ummm… any memory altering spells from taking hold."
"Thank you" said Major Carter as she put those back into her purse.
"Have you met the other Watcher?" asked Giles, "I'm sure he would have paid off the hotel managers to inform him once you've checked in, or out."
"Yea" said Faith as Tara and Giles looked at her, "you just missed him, had a nice chat."
"Before we continue…." Said Giles as he looked at Faith and sighed, "what would you like us to call you?"
"Faith, G-man" she said as Giles nodded his head.
"He did come by" said Daniel, "made some threats against Ellie, said that the Council can have her arrested and extradited on false charges."
"But he said that the Council's open to ignoring what happened" said the Major, "and that she can live with me in Colorado Springs, as long as she's assigned a Watcher.. and continues her previous job."
"I see" said Giles nodding his head.
Tara looked at Giles, and then at Faith who had pure determination on her face as she told Giles that she told them to stick it; that there was no way she was getting back under their thumb.
"The Council's resources are nearly inexhaustible" said Giles as he took off his glasses, "you would need a miracle to stave them off Faith."
"We can handle it" said the Colonel. The man had many things he wanted to tell Giles, but he figured it would be best for another day since they had to get to D.C. While Major Carter and the others talked to Giles one last time, Tara approached Faith who was now leaning against the short wall that separated the coffee shop from the pavement. She stood next to the short haired Slayer who was looking at her mother, along with Colonel O'Neill, and Daniel, talking to Giles. Sighing, Faith turned her head towards Tara who was looking at the ground.
"I'm really sorry, for that stuff… you know.."
"It.. it's really alright" said Tara as she glanced at the younger woman, "you.. you're leaving soon."
"Yeah" she replied, "hopefully I won't be back here for a very, very long time."
"I… I see" said Tara as Faith looked at her, "would.. would it be alright if I called you… I mean to see if you're doing fine.. or…."
"Won't that bother Princess Buffy?" asked Faith as she looked back at her mother.
"I… I don't… you know… have to.. to ask permission" said Tara gently as Faith looked back at her, "I really… really mean it when I say that… you know… I'd like to call and… umm… check up on you."
"Mom has your number?" said Faith as Tara nodded her head, "I'll call you once I have a phone number. I guess for now, calling NORAD's the best thing to do."
"I… I… guess" said Tara as the Major called out to Faith to tell her that they needed to be heading for the airport, "good… good luck."
"You too" said Faith as she walked towards Major Carter while Tara stood at the short wall after passing by Giles, and thanking him for saving her life.
"Take care of yourself, Faith" said the Watcher, "you've got something that many of us never have, a second chance at a life. I've already told your mother that I'll talk to my contacts in the Council, and I'll try and convince them that it's better not to anger the American military."
"Yeah" said Faith as Giles squeezed her upper arm gently, "thanks, G-man. Watch out for Tara will ya, she's a nice person.. hell, she forgave me for what I did to her.. something I never expected."
"We will" said Giles as Faith nodded before walking off towards the Major. He, and Tara, watched as the group walked down the stairs, and then entered their rental car before driving off down the street. Even though he wasn't Faith's Watcher, the older man still felt a pain in his chest as he watched the car drive off, and wondered about what could have been had Faith's experience with the Scoobies been different. Shaking his head, he then turned to Tara and told her that it was time they left for Buffy's house… he wanted to know the one questions he hadn't managed to ask, 'why did they want to know about Marcie Ross?'
TBC.