by Vickey Brickle-Macky/Phoenixstitch
revised 07/20/2001
This part was partly written before Angel broke with his group, and then got back with them after he had his "Epiphany". Since events on both shows did not go as I had foreseen they might have, especially the season enders, I had to do some rethinking to figure out where this story was going, and how to keep it in line with "Hate and Love" since both were started in mid season of both Buffy and Angel. So this will be ending up as more of an AU story as none of the events I wanted to happen on Angel did so i am making them happen.
Part 3
Angel was just entering the lobby of the hotel from the parking garage when the group came through the front doors. He looked up angrily at them for this invasion of his territory. At first all he saw was Wesley and Cordelia followed by Gunn, then he saw Keith and Faith. Seeing her was what kept back the angrily response he was going to make to his former employees and friends for them coming back when he had told them all to get lost. His former staff members walked carefully past him as Angel stood in the middle of the lobby focused on the dark haired girl.
"Faith?" Angel questioned in a shaky voice, wanting to make sure he wasn´t seeing things.
"Yeah, it´s me, Angel. I got sprung. I´m all legal too. Been sent to help you with your problems according to my new Watcher, Keith, here," she said with a wide grin on her face, walking over to him, and ignoring everyone, but him as she gave him a hug which he returned totally amazed at seeing her.
Angel stood there awkwardly taking in her words, part of him happy to see her out and free but dismayed that she wanted in on what he considered a private battle. "New Watcher? The Council actually sprang you?" he questioned, looking up at Keith still standing by the doors watching Angel and Faith´s meeting.
"Yeah, that´s the part I don´t like myself," she said honestly, and he understood her concerns. Anything or anyone having to do with the Watcher´s Council was generally bad news and then some. "Seems that they need me after all. Something about not having time to train a new slayer and your old girlfriend going to be needing my help in something coming down."
"Buffy´s in trouble?" Angel asked instantly worried, and alert looking to Wesley and Cordelia for confirmation.
"Not right now, but she will need help later one with a problem in Sunnydale with her sister," Wesley assured him.
"Sister? What sister? Buffy doesn´t have a sister!" Angel told him angrily, wondering where that was coming from.
"She does now, I guess you hadn´t heard about Dawn?" Cordy asked him, easing past him and Faith and going to find a place to sit down.
"No, I hadn´t heard about anyone named Dawn. I haven´t talked with anyone in Sunnydale in months, and you know that, Cordy," he told her. "I thought you guys kept track of what was happening there and talked with Giles all the time."
"We just heard about her ourselves. Giles assumed we knew until it came out talking with him we didn´t know. Seems Dawn has given to Buffy for safekeeping by some monks against this goddess called Glory. It´s because of Glory that Faith was freed, and assigned a new Watcher. Giles has also been reinstated by the Council as well which means Buffy is going to have to work with the Council again too," Wesley also explained.
"I imagine she just loves that. This Glory must be something if she is willing to work with them. Especially after how they almost got her killed, and her mother, not to mention how they messed up with you, Faith. I´m surprised you´re willing to do this," the vampire questioned looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
She shrugged uncomfortably, not looking at Wesley and Cordy. "I said I´d try it, see how it works out. At least they gave me a Watcher with balls this time," she said giving a dig to Wesley, who just barely kept his temper in check.
"I see," Angel said looking first at her then up to Keith who had been just standing back watching the exchanges with interest. "And you are?" Angel asked looking at him, since the man hadn´t come forward yet to introduce himself.
"Keith, Keith Stuart. I know of you, Angel, and we´ve never met, but I do know one of your offspring rather well," he said coming down to the steps to meet the vampire.
"Ohh, and which one is that?" Angel asked cautiously, taking in the man´s powerful built frame and size that closely matched his own and Gunn´s.
"Spike. We used to have mutual friends in London in the '70´s. Drusilla wasn´t with him at the time, and he was doing the rock clubs. Very interesting chap," Keith said and saw Angel´s eyes grow big.
"You hung with Spike?" he asked incredulously, "and you´re still walking around?"
"We came to an understanding on the bloody biting. And I helped him out of a bit of trouble he was in at the time. After that we had no problems. I hear he´s in Sunnydale with the other Slayer, and can´t bite because of some micro chip in his head," Keith went on to say.
"Chip? Can´t bite? Spike?" Angel was thoroughly confused now. "What do you mean Spike can´t bite?" he asked looking to Wesley, and Cordy once again. "Why the hell doesn´t anyone ever tell me these things?"
They both shrugged, and looked a bit embarrassed. They had both assumed that he knew all about his grandchilde´s neutered status and hadn´t bothered to ask. Especially after Spike had captured and tortured Angel on his last visit to LA they thought that he wouldn´t want to hear about him unless he posed a direct danger to them or the Sunnydale group.
"Sorry, Boss. That was another thing Giles just let us know about recently. Seems there was some sort of paramilitary group there in Sunnydale called the Initiative that were going around capturing and taking demons to study. They got a hold of Spike last year after he returned from LA after the ring bit, and put a microchip in his brain which makes it so he can´t harm another living being. He can´t bite humans anymore without having severe pain. He´s been forced to work with Buffy, and her friends since they were the only ones he could go to for help. He can fight other demons, vampires, and kill them, but humans no, which doesn´t make him popular with his own kind. He´s been on animal, and bottled blood since then," Wesley explained.
"Whoa, this is too much. Spike´s harmless? God, he´s really got to be hating that. Gee, I really don´t feel sorry for him. Make fun of me with a soul, will he? At least I can still bite if I want to. This thing doesn´t give him feelings of guilt does it? That´d really be the topper," he grinned siting down on one of the lobby couches.
"Not that Giles is aware of. Outside of not being able to bite, or hurt a human, he´s pretty much the same. Obnoxious as usual as Giles put it. But he´s now doing patrols with Buffy and the others," the dark haired Watcher informed him.
"He´s helping Buffy?" Angel frowned not liking that idea of his childe being that close to his former lover. "Her boyfriend is probably real thrilled over that."
"I don´t know, Giles didn´t say," Wesley said quickly, leaving off that Giles had told him about Riley and Buffy breaking up and her getting together with Spike now. He knew Angel would go ballistic and go tearing down to Sunnydale over that. Wesley gave Cordy a look to tell her to keep her mouth shut about it too. Right now they needed Angel here, and dealing with Darla and Drusilla. Spike was the least of the problems.
"So now that all the catch up is finished?" the vampire asked looking around at the people focused on him to see if anyone else had any more to add. "Why are all of you here?"
"I´m here to offer you help in dealing with Darla and Drusilla. Him," Faith said pointing to her Watcher who was leaning on the check in desk observing everyone. "He´s here to keep me out of trouble, and keep an eye on me for the Council. The WC, I don´t know about, but something is up, and like they want to help you out. And from what I understand you need help. Those bitches are bad, and not your usual vamps, plus there´s the problem of for you it´s personal. They´re your family so to speak. Then I heard about your trip to the dark side with locking those lawyers in from Wolfram and Hart, and letting your girls party down. I probably would have done the same with the bastards—they owe me too, but I´m supposed to be a good girl and not think that way any more. Still it pretty clear you do need help, if nothing else to keep you on the up and up and I think I´m just the girl that can do it. You helped me when I was sinking, I´m just returning the favor," Faith told him, standing before him with her arms folded waiting for a response from him.
Angel´s dark eyes just looked up at her, "I appreciate the offer, but the word is still—no," he told her.
"Wrong answer, tall, dark, and broody. You are stuck with my sorry ass, unless you can convince me otherwise to leave you the fuck alone, and I really don´t think you want to take me on. I´d much rather save our energies for fighting the bad guys, or doing more fun things," she said meaningfully.
"Doesn´t your Watcher have anything to say about this?" Angel asked archly, seeing that Keith hadn´t voiced any opinions.
"I´ll be honest with you, Angel, part of why I am here right now is Council´s orders to determine whether you are a threat, or menace, and if are whether you need to be put down. The only reason you haven´t been dusted after that stunt with Wolfram and Hart is because the Council, like Wolfram and Hart needs you alive. Something about you, your fellow vamps, and the two Slayers being needed for some apocalypse prophecy coming up involving this Glory. My job is to get Faith back in condition, and back on track to do her job. I´ve read the reports on how you worked with the other slayer, and with Faith in the past. It´s clear Faith isn´t going to walk away from you, and I think we all can be mutually beneficial to one another, that is if you will work with us," Keith told him bluntly straightening up to his full six-four height.
"You´re making this sound like I really don´t have a choice in the matter," Angel said accessing the situation and the new watcher´s words.
"Basically, no, you don´t have a bloody choice. You work with us, or else. Unlike my colleagues, I don´t necessarily play by the rules. I make my own if I need to," Keith told him pointedly, with just the barest hint of menace to his calm even voice. "Your two ex-girlfriends need to be neutralized, and their reign of terror halted before the public becomes too aware that things such as vampires do really exist, and more panic occurs. Faith needs to get her slayer skills back up, and be able to function again as part of a team as it will require team work from both us, and the Sunnydale people to defeat Glory. On this I am going against my orders as I was to retrain Faith in isolation until she was needed. I don´t think that is a viable or useful option. In fact this place is more suitable for her needs than my own setup would be," he said thoughtfully looking around at the vast unused space. "I understand you have already set up a gym, and workout room here?" Keith asked facing the not amused vampire.
"Yeah," Angel answered cautiously, burning a little at the arrogance of the guy and the Council.
"Good, we´ll be needing to use the facilities to work out in, and it looks like you have rooms to spare, so there shouldn´t be any problem with Faith, and I staying here." Keith told him, and saw Angel glare.
"Just hold on a sec! Who said you could move in?" Angel protested, and started to get up but Faith put a hand to his shoulder, and held him in place, she was beginning to like her new Watcher. 'Yeah, she wanted to see how much balls this guy did have. Ohh, Angel was pissed, but he´d get over it,´ she grinned down at him, and he quit his struggling against her, giving in to hear the man out.
Keith went on with no interruption. "Second, you are rehiring your staff, with retroactive pay and salary increases," he told the unhappy vampire while Cordy beamed, and did a happy dance on the slick lobby floor. Then Keith continued, "This will still be Angel Investigations, helping the helpless, etc., etc., but it´s also going to be expanded into Council business too in regards to the prophecies coming up. I will be contributing my books, knowledge, and skills to this operation. If you doubt my qualifications feel free to talk to Rupert, he knows me quite well as does Spike. They may even give you a few warnings about me. But the bottom line is you screwed up, I´m here to make sure it doesn´t happen again, and that goes for you too, Faith, as you aren´t off the hook either," he finished looking at both the vampire and the dark haired slayer.
"Pushy bastard, aren´t you?" Angel commented, not liking being given orders by anyone.
Keith shrugged. "Yeah, when I need to be. Do we have a deal?"
"Yeah, I guess," Angel reluctantly agreed, and Keith came over and held out his hand.
"Shake on it?"
"Sure," Angel said, looking up at him, and taking his hand with the idea of crushing a few bones to show he was still boss. The vampire about lost it when Keith met his crushing grip with one of his own. Angel´s eyes got marginally bigger as he looked up shocked to meet Keith´s grin. "What are you?" Angel asked between gritted teeth.
"Nothing special, just a man," Keith replied, "but the right man for this job." The red haired man added meaningfully releasing Angel´s hand that the vampire had jerked back to cup, and massage while he started looking worriedly at the new Watcher.
"Right," Angel said thoughtfully watching as Keith moved back looking around the large lobby area not playing anymore attention to him. He was real interested in what the hell this Watcher was now because outside of a slayer, humans did not have that kind of super strength. Until he could get answers he turned his attention back to Faith who was standing there with a big grin, highly amused at the exchange. He figured the dark haired slayer had also found out she couldn´t use her strength against this guy. Since he was stuck with roommates so he might as well get them settled. "Faith, you, and your Watcher have your pick of rooms. Though I recommend the ones on the third floor as they are in better shape, and there´s some kitchenettes on that level. Then it´s also a straight shot from those stairs over there without having to hassle with the elevator. Most of everything above the fifth floor is still under renovation."
"Cool, you care if I check it out, Keith?" Faith asked, itching to do something besides just standing around jawing.
"Yeah, I guess," he answered, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
"Do I need keys or anything?" Faith asked Angel, before she took off.
"Nope, they´re all
open, knock yourself out," he told her, and she grinned back before she
raced across the lobby, and bounded up the wide side stairs two at a time.
He had to remind himself that Faith was only a year younger than Cordelia.
They acted so completely different. While Cordy was mature, bitchy, and
reserved, Faith was wild, and uninhibited, and could, and would act like
a kid, whereas Cordy wouldn´t
dare let go.
"A bundle of energy isn´t she?" Keith commented after the girl left.
"Yeah, and a damned good fighter. So you think you can handle her, and not break her?" Angel asked him honestly. Wesley, Cordy and Gunn had wandered off to their old offices staying out of the way to let the two talk.
"I hope so. She was supposed to be mine from the start, but due to some the idiots at the Council she got mishandled from the first. I had to pull major strings to get her out of jail, but I got it done. She never should have ended up there to begin with. There´s a lot I have not forgiven Wesley for especially his part in messing her up," Keith said with a bitter edge to his voice.
"You weren´t there, you don´t know what happened. I watched it all. I tried to stop her, turn her around, and then when she killed a guy, and went over to the Mayor´s side, and tried to kill Buffy, me, and everyone else, we all kind of gave up on talking."
"Yeah, I´m very aware of how Buffy tried to kill her, then put her in a coma. It was really kind of understandable when she woke up she went after everyone there, and here. I know, I read the reports. That girl had a lot of rage, and that´s going to be the hardest thing to deal with for everyone. I also know you´ve been the only one to stand by her, and try to help her. She trusts you, but even that has limits. She doesn´t trust anyone period, and I don´t blame the girl. Me, she´s not sure what to do with me yet. And neither are you. It boils down to this, Angel, we can work together, and turn this girl around into what she was supposed to be, or fight, and let her go down into the dark alone. I think she is salvageable otherwise I wouldn´t be here, and you think so too otherwise you never would have tried to help her either in Sunnydale, or here." Keith told him, and raised an eyebrow in question to ask if that assessment wasn´t so.
"Okay, you got me. Yes, I think Faith is worth saving. I always have, even when no one else did. But I will warn you Watcher, hurt her, mess her up worse than she is already, and you will answer to me. Now, do we understand one another?" Angel shot back, deadly serious, the vampire´s dark eyes search the man´s face for any sign of deception or falsehood. He saw none.
"Perfectly. We have a deal. Now do you want to help me get the young lady´s things in. The sooner we get her settled the sooner we can start working out a training program, and get this girl focused on life again," Keith asked him.
"Sure, let´s do it." Angel told him standing up, and following him outside to Keith´s car. "Nice wheels. Why don´t you just go ahead, and pull it into the garage. It´ll be easier to unload from there."
"Gotcha," Keith agreed, and did what he suggested.
Five minutes later they were dragging the first batch of Faith´s bags out of the trunk. "This all hers?" Angel asked amazed.
"Yeah, though she could use some new things. So I´m spoiling her. This is a kid that´s never had much of anything in her life—not family, not friends, not a home, nothing except herself, and her wits in this world for the most part. She knows she´s living on borrowed time, stuck doing a job that no young girl in her right mind would willing want to do, and does it because she has to. I can´t give her Buffy´s set up, and life, so I am going to try to make her life as it is as pleasant as I can when she´s not slaying. I don´t agree with the idea of all a slayer should do is slay. It doesn´t make them a better fighter or focus on their job. My studies have shown me they need friends, a bit of normalcy in their lives like Buffy has so they can care about the larger world," he explained.
"On that I agree with you one hundred percent. I knew the other slayer, Kendra. She was like a robot—emotionless, uncaring, and so full of WC propaganda it was scary. Faith was at least more human, but she was so jealous of Buffy, and her life outside of slaying that it began eating her up inside. More than any of us really realized. Everyone tried to be her friend and include her, but she didn´t know how to fit in so the problems got worse instead of better," Angel explained, pausing outside the door so they could talk honestly about Faith.
"That´s what I heard too. Unfortunately, both Rupert´s, and Wesley´s diaries are not that helpful. They tended to both be very cold, and clinical about Faith. They only saw the slayer, not the troubled young woman she was, nor were either trained to deal with such a girl. Buffy gave them both problems, but Faith was beyond either of their meager abilities to cope with, I´m afraid," Keith told him truthfully before they went back into the hotel.
"So are you trained to handle a girl like Faith?" Angel asked bluntly.
"I have a degree in psychology and have worked with troubled teens. An a slayer is a very troubled teen. What they are puts them completely outside of everything, and everyone, except for the monsters they have to fight, and those select few that are in the know about the world they have to deal with to keep our world safe. We are also having to deal with a new breed of slayer as well that has been born and raised in the modern world around people, and not isolated as slayers have been in the past. This is what those fools at the Council don´t grasp. That is why being a slayer has been difficult for both Buffy and Faith because they were never found and trained before they were chosen. They have always been fully immersed in modern American society. Those idiots expect them to blindly follow orders, drop everything that they know, and the people in their lives, and do nothing, but slay and be happy about it. That is not only unrealistic, but dangerous for these young women. Luckily, Giles, had more common sense, and compassion for Buffy than most watchers do. He let the girl be herself, let her have friends, go to regular school, keep her family, and as a result she has managed to survive longer than most slayers do with great results."
"So how is this going to help Faith? She doesn´t have a family does she?" Angel asked.
"She does, but it was a very bad situation. Her father died when she was three, and her mother got into one abusive situation after another with different men, along with drinking and drugs in the home to add to mess. She was put in foster care when she was seven, and bounced back and forth between homes and her mom´s for years. She was raped when she was twelve by one of her mother´s boyfriends. She was not found by the Council until she was almost fourteen because they had lost track of her because of all the bouncing back and forth that had happened to her. By then it was like she was being placed into another home, except this time she was encouraged to fight and work out her aggressions. My predecessors had no idea how to deal with the mess Faith had becomes because of her upbringing, or lack of it. I am hoping I can undo some of the damage that has been done, but it is not going to be easy, or quick," he told the vampire truthfully.
"She has been getting some counseling while she was in prison, but I know that´s just a drop in the bucket for what she really needs," Angel added, really beginning to like this guy.
"It is a start. But we´ll talk more about this after we can really sit down and talk after we get her settled in. Now, we better get back in there before everyone thinks something is up," Keith suggested, opening the door so they could carry all the bags in.
End part 3
TBC
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