(12/20/2017) I realized the other day that I've actually been working on this consistently for over a year. Go me?

For Epiphany the guest: I never claimed I was going to change things up completely; rather I'm aiming for parallel storylines with different, hopefully interesting, roads to the outcomes. I mean, I honestly don't think you'd have the same characters with the same quirks if they didn't go through the same (or at least similar) trials. Some stuff will change, sure, but the overall arcs won't. Hope that makes sense. If it's not what you were looking for, then I dunno 0_o You read all 53 chapters for funzies?

Thank you Timelord2162, Sage of Wind Dragons, RHatch89, Maverick500, demon19027, thedarkpokemaster, philly cheese dude, and PukwudgiePuff for the reviews! And all you favoriters and followers get kittens!


Dean was debating whether or not Angel would mind eating the whimpering Wesley when Sam, Buffy, and Faith came pelting out of the alleyway. He registered how the vampire suddenly stiffened, for what reason he couldn't fathom, but was more concerned about the strange look in the pair of Slayers' eyes. Without another word, Buffy's eldest brother turned and sprinted for the Impala where it was parked, thankfully, in an area still unlit by flashing red and blue lights. He unlocked it quickly and the six of them stuffed themselves inside, Dean, Wesley, and Angel in the front with the two Slayers sandwiching Sam in the back.

"We should—" Wesley started to squeak. The Watcher was cut off by several pairs of hands slapping over varying parts of his face.

For a few breathless minutes they waited, hoping against everything that they would go unnoticed by the authorities. Buffy even dared to send a silent prayer to Castiel. When it became certain that the focus of the police was far enough away, Dean turned the engine over and slowly drove off.

An odd, muffled sound was coming from somewhere in the vehicle. Sam, Buffy, Angel and Faith then realized that they still had their hands over Wesley's mouth, eyes, ears, and nose. They slowly drew away and the Watcher gratefully inhaled a large quantity of oxygen. "Thank you."

"I want out," Faith said suddenly, her hand on the back passenger door.

"Faith," Sam murmured sympathetically.

"Now!" she screamed.

Puzzled, Dean pulled over. The moment the vehicle stopped, the dark-haired Slayer was out, feet flying, before anyone could say another word.

"Maybe I should go talk to her," Buffy offered.

"Give her time," her younger brother said.

"Okay," Dean interjected as Buffy pulled the door closed, "what the hell happened to you guys?"

"I smell blood," Angel said, concerned. "Are either of you…?"

"It's not ours," Sam replied. Before he could elaborate, however, Buffy suddenly reopened her door, leaned out, and vomited onto the sidewalk.

When her brother put a hand on her back, the teenager shook her head. "I'll be fine."

"We'll figure it out," Sam told her.

"Figure what out?" asked Dean.

His brother closed his eyes and sighed. "Faith killed someone. A human someone."


After Buffy washed her mouth out with a beer (other than holy water it was the only consumable liquid Dean had in the car) and proclaimed that the drink was nearly as disgusting as what her stomach had regurgitated, they resumed driving. As they moved, the Slayer dug into her pocket for a small box of mints and proceeded to eat them one after the other.

They drove to Angel's mansion in silence, but as soon as they entered the foyer there was a considerable debate regarding what to do next. "We must go to the authorities," Wesley insisted. "The quicker we get them involved, the more likely it is that Faith's side will be heard."

"Her side of what exactly?" Dean scoffed. "She killed someone. Trust me, when cops get involved it all goes to shit."

The Watcher sighed. "I realize that you and your brother's frequent encounters with law enforcement have been… vexing at best. But see it from an outsider's perspective: Faith is a child. And not only that, I truly doubt she purposely committed murder."

"No," Buffy agreed, "it was an accident."

"Therefore the authorities should be understanding. Unless any of you feel she might repeat the act."

Sam shook his head. "What is she going to say? 'I had no idea that the man was no longer a demon when I stuck a knife into his heart'? What is she supposed to say about the other dead bodies? You know, those meatsuits that got killed with the exact same weapon? She's going to get pinned for all of it!"

"If you have no trust for the American legal system then I wonder greatly at your former ambition to become a lawyer."

The Watcher's jab effectively infuriated Sam into silence. "If you are truly insistent that the courts will be ineffective then I shall bring her to the Watcher's Council," Wesley continued. "There she will be given a fair hearing and trial."

"Are you kidding me?" Buffy asked incredulously just as Dean exclaimed, "No fucking way!"

"You mean the Council headed by Travers, the single-minded, stuffy-headed jerk that almost got me killed?" Buffy snarled.

"What she said," Dean added vindictively.

Irritably, Wesley asked, "Then what do you propose?"

"Let me talk to her," Angel said quietly.

The vampire had been silent since they'd arrived. His proposition confused his audience. "Why?" Buffy wondered gently.

"Have any of you intentionally taken a life? And I don't mean a demon or a monster. I mean a human life." At the others' denials, Angel said simply, "I have."

Silence met his proclamation. In the ensuing space, the vampire explained, "None of you understand what that's like. No one you've fought or killed didn't deserve what they got. To have the blood of an innocent on your hands… it's different. Far different."

The disgust radiating off Wesley and Sam, and the contrasting pity from Buffy and Dean, did nothing to alter Angel's grim assertion. Finally, the young Watcher cleared his throat. "I suggest we take the night to think things over. Perhaps by the morning, Faith herself will be more amenable to discussion."

This proposal appeared amicable to the rest of them. Dean, however, recalled what had spurred their exit from The Bronze (and, unintentionally, had led to the night's harrowing events). "Didn't you say Balthazar is up?"

"Ah, yes. Shall we go question the angel?"

"Might as well," Sam said with a sigh. He turned to his sister and her vampiric boyfriend. "Coming?"

"I gotta get home," Buffy complained. "It's not far. I'll walk." Angel merely shook his head.

The couple watched the Winchesters and their unwelcome companion leave. Dean practically threw Wesley into the back seat when the Watcher made to sit in the front passenger's side while Sam rolled his eyes. Once the Impala had roared off, Buffy turned towards Angel. "I'm going to go try now. We've been close the past couple of days. Maybe I'll at least get her to start talking."

"All right." The vampire gave her a lingering kiss. "Be careful."

"Aren't I always?"

"No."

"Thanks a lot."


The one saving grace of the entire terrible evening (which began with a brother ogling his sister and ended with a homicide) was an exhausted Wesley asking to be dropped off at his flat rather than accompany them to talk to Balthazar. As soon as the Impala's door closed Dean screeched off, ignoring the Watcher's attempt at expressing his gratitude for the transportation.

When they got to Giles' home, Sam and Dean discovered that someone had preceded them. The brothers ducked under the librarian's open window to listen. They were both relieved to see that Giles was safely standing at his kitchen counter with a mug of tea, his face evidencing an intense fascination with the exchange occurring in his living room.

"What exactly is it that you want me to say, Castiel?" Balthazar was demanding.

"I would like a better explanation for your presence than… than whatever it was that you said!"

"I believe he was referring to the human experience," Giles supplied. "Although I'm fairly certain all he's alluding to is rampant hedonism."

"And what's wrong with that?" Balthazar asked, offended. "I figure thousands of years of watch duty entitles me to some vacation time."

"That is not the point!" Castiel snarled.

"Then what is the point, my old friend?"

"You abandoned your post."

"Apparently I'm not the only one." Balthazar let out a derisive chuckle. "Oh, take the stick out of your ass, Castiel. It's getting rather tiresome. Besides, I do believe we have an audience."

At the ensuing silence, Sam and Dean grimaced at one another. They stood and discovered two angels and an amused Watcher staring at the window. Dean sheepishly flashed a hand in greeting before the pair headed for the front door.

"So who is he?" Sam asked Castiel.

Balthazar gave an indignant huff. "You couldask me directly."

"Okay. Who are you?"

"Cassie and I, here, were in the same garrison together. Things happened and, well, here we are."

Castiel began to growl, "That's not enough—"

"Suffice to say I came to see what all this Hellmouth business is about," Balthazar cut in.

Varying degrees of disbelief met his statement of intent. "And this?" asked Giles as he pulled the Ring of Nebuchadnezzar out of his pocket.

"Always handy to have an extra weapon or three on the Hellmouth, don't you think?"

"How did you get it past Virgil?" Castiel asked harshly.

"You'd be amazed at how many of our brothers and sisters are dumbfounded when presented with multiple examples of finely shaped naked human forms."

"Oh dear Lord," Giles muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"Yes," Balthazar said with a smirk, "we shouldbe thanking Father for such blessings."

"Can't disagree there," Dean mumbled quietly to himself. To the remainder of the group he said, "What now?"

"I should take you back to Heaven to answer for your thievery," Castiel snarled at Balthazar.

The angel (who had been prone this entire time) sat up and cocked an eyebrow at his one-time superior. "You could have done that at any time, Cassie. So the question is: why haven't you?"

Being faced with four pairs of curious eyes appeared to fluster the trench-coated angel. "I—"

"For that matter, you could have snapped those girls' necks in seconds." Balthazar stood, a knowing smirk set on his lips. He faced his friend, his hands in his pockets. "If I didn't know any better, I would think you're starting to like these hairless apes. I can't imagine why."

Castiel's fists clenched. Sam, Dean, and Giles all backed away, unwilling and unable to interfere if the pair of celestial beings decided to brawl in the ex-Watcher's living room. After a few moments, however, one angel pressed close to the other and growled, "I don't answer to you," before disappearing in a swirl of air.

"Ah, well," Balthazar said with a shrug. "I don't suppose you'd like to hand that over, hm?"

Giles regarded the angel's outstretched palm with disgust. "I think not."

Balthazar let out a derisive snort. "I could just take it."

A harsh click sounded. "Go on," Dean urged. "Try it."

"Silly ape. You know that won't kill me."

"No, but I bet it'd be a while before you could rebuild that ugly face of yours."

Balthazar sighed. "Very well. Suppose I'll take in the sights for now. I hear the local college has a prime meat market." A rush of wings later and the angel was gone.

"Trust that guy about as far as I can throw him," Dean stated.

"I agree," said Giles. He held up the ring. "In the meantime, I think I'll put this somewhere a little more secure."


Buffy's attempt to persuade Faith to come forward with the accidental murder failed miserably. The dark-haired Slayer acted nonchalant when presented with the possible consequences of her actions. "Faith," Buffy said pleadingly, "you don't get it. You killed a man."

"No, you don't get it," Faith retorted, a smirk set on her lips. "I don't care."

After that fruitless endeavor, a heavy-hearted Buffy headed home and to bed. Morning arrived, and breakfast ended up only amping up her anxiety as the newscast her mother was watching revealed the identity of their mystery man.

"Several bodies were discovered late last night by local police," said the pretty woman on the screen. "Most have been identified as local members of the homeless community around Sunnydale, however one high-profile victim was identified as Deputy Mayor Allan Finch. Still reeling from the news, Mayor Wilkins had this to say."

The view blipped from the desk to a field reporter and a microphone pointed at the grim looking mayor. "Mr. Finch was not only my longtime aide and associate," Wilkins stated, "he was a close personal friend. I promise you I will not rest until whoever did this is found and brought to justice. Thank you very much."

Buffy's mother expressed her horror at what appeared to be simply human violence and left her daughter speechless. After a minute, Buffy found the voice to agree before she grabbed her backpack and rushed off to school.

Once there her guilt found no reprieve as she was met by a shamefaced Faith and a stern Giles. "It's okay, Buffy," the dark-haired Slayer said. "I told him."

"You told him? " Buffy asked disbelievingly.

"I had to. He had to know what you did."

"What I —" Comprehension dawned. "Giles," she pleaded, "that's not what—"

"I don't want to hear it, Buffy," her former Watcher snapped.

Hanging around her eldest brother was beginning to have its consequences. In an explosion that would have made Dean proud (and Sam appalled), Buffy promptly began a vitriolic, obscenity laden tirade directed squarely at Faith. "What the fucking hell, you bitc—"

"Buffy!" barked Giles. "My office. Now."

As Buffy flounced into the other room, Faith gave a less than heartfelt apology for the subterfuge before walking from the library. Once Giles strode through the doorway, Faith's blonde counterpart immediately tried to refute her claim. "Giles, I didn't do this. I swear. I should have told you right away, but the murder, i-it… it was—"

"Faith," the librarian inserted. "I know." At Buffy's shocked expression, he added, "Your brothers already told me what happened. I'm sorry. I needed her to think that I was on her side."

Buffy sighed in relief. She then related Wesley's arguments from the night before. "I can't help thinking that bringing in the law will just make her rabbit on out of here. Is there really a Council court thing?"

"Well, it's not the first time something like this has happened." Buffy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "The Slayer is on the front line of a nightly war. Now, it's tragic, but accidents have happened, and punishment was meted out when it was merited. But I believe you're correct; Faith is unstable. Until she's willing to face what she's done we can't help her."

"What about Watcher Junior?

"I'll try to reason with him. Despite saying that he would wait, I fear that Mr. Wyndham-Pryce's first instincts are to follow the rules."


A plethora of calls and voicemails failed to produce a response from Wesley, a result that Giles found deeply troublesome. As a precaution, the former Watcher asked Buffy's brothers to check in on his replacement. With far too much enthusiasm Sam picked the lock on Wesley's door. They found a prim, empty abode with no real clues as to where the man might be. Dean swiped Wesley's bottle of Glengoolie Blue as consolation.

After school, having spent the past few days feeling as if she'd been pushed out of Buffy's life, Willow confronted her friend. To her great surprise the normally steadfast, strong-willed girl burst into tears. The pressure of the last night's events as well as lack of sleep culminated in Buffy woefully relating all that had happened as well as apologizing profusely for her attitude.

Willow texted Xander (being Friday, Oz had a gig up north), and after classes the three friends met in the library to further consult with Giles. Dean joined them as well.

"Where's Sam?" asked Willow.

"He went to go take a crack at Faith," Dean replied. "I'm sure he's gonna give her his big ol' puppy eyes and she'll cave."

"Maybe I should go, too," Xander inserted.

"What for?"

A lengthy back and forth exchange followed during which Xander, as obliquely as possible, explained his one night stand with Faith and, therefore, a possible connection with the girl. The revelation made Willow's jaw stiffen.

Comprehension also dawned on Dean. "Dude, that's what that call was about?"

"Yes?" Xander peeped out.

"Well, congrats on losing the v-card." Buffy, her eyes on Willow, dug an elbow into her brother's side. "Ow!"

In a valiant attempt to both ignore the growing tension and to veer the conversation towards a useful subject, Giles ordered, "I think we need to find out why the demons picked the mayor's aide of all people. The news stated that the other demonic vessels were vagrants. Why, then, choose someone so easily identifiable?"

"Ego?" Buffy offered.

"Perhaps. Willow?" When the girl didn't respond, Giles repeated worriedly, "Willow?"

The girl jerked out of her unhappy reverie. "Huh? What? Yes?"

"Will you borrow Sam's laptop and see if you can get into the mayor's files? Perhaps Mr. Finch's employer will have more information."

"Yeah. Sure. I-I'll do it now." Dean produced the desired computer from his backpack and handed it over. With undue haste, Willow gathered up her things and hustled from the room.

Xander looked forlornly after his childhood friend, but stood his ground when he saw the censorious look on Buffy's face. Oblivious to the teenage drama, Dean offered, "Could go do some recon."

"If you think it might help," Giles said.

"What about Faith?" Buffy asked.

The librarian sighed. "I-I don't know. I need time. Perhaps Sam will succeed where the rest of us could not."


"Faith?" Sam called as he knocked on her motel room door. "Faith? It's Sam. Can we talk?"

The door opened and, wary over the welcome he'd gotten the last time he came calling, Sam took a step back. Faith, however, seemed to be more irritated than pleased. "What?"

"Five minutes, okay?"

Sighing lugubriously, the girl allowed the man into the room. "Five exactly. Not a second more."

Sam gave her his best, sympathetic look. "I just wanted to see if you were okay."

"Sick of people wondering that for one thing." She shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, okay, but we both know what happened last night and how that's not something you just walk away from."

For a moment, Sam thought he might have at least cracked the girl's shell of affected unconcern; her eyes flicked over to a shirt lying in her sink, the ends of the long sleeves seeped in blood. Then she smirked. "But I did. And I bet little sis already told you what I said: I don't care."

The hunter got closer and used every inch of his superior height to loom threateningly. "I know that's not true. You took a life, Faith. You think I don't know what that feels like? Every time we gank a demon there's some innocent person inside that gets killed along with it! So talk to me. Say something. Because I know from experience that this is eating you up."

The impact to Sam's chest drove the breath from his lungs. He realized that the Slayer had struck him with her palm at the same time his body registered the feel of sheets and bedsprings. Disoriented, the hunter was unable to prevent the girl from straddling his waist. She swiftly grabbed his wrists and pinned them near his head. A moment later he was being forcibly kissed. "I've wanted to eat you up since the moment I saw you," Faith purred.

"Get off —"

"I could do anything I wanted to you right now," she whispered, riding over Sam's protests. Her hips swiveled over his own. "I can feel you want it. I can make you scream." Faith slid her hands down the man's arms. She leaned in as her fingers wrapped around his throat.

"I could make you die."


Acknowledgement : Some lines of dialogue are taken directly from the episodes "Bad Girls" (BtVS 3.14) and "Consequences"(BtVS 3.15).

Author's Note : I debated whether or not to put a trigger warning at the beginning of the chapter. In the end, I figured if you're reading this then you know what happens to Xander in "Consequences." If you feel I'm in error for not including the caution signs let me know.