Thanks for the encouraging feedback

Thanks for the encouraging feedback…. this one is a doozy since it hints at a crossover with something else later on.

Chapter 3: "Can you say "Armageddon"? – HAH, too late!" (imagine Mister Rogers on a very bad day)

"Would you believe another apocalypse?" The figure by the door said as the two men whirled around to confront him. The balance demon had to grin at the look of astonishment passing between the two. Spike, he knew well enough – but the one beside him, he only heard about in passing. So this is the so-called "Cosmic Protector", he eyed the young man and felt boundless waves of pure undiluted power emanating from him. He was even more surprised when the man was suddenly in front of him without even him blinking and lifted him up with just one hand, eyes glowing with white lightning.

"Who are you?" Todd asked; voice laced with a tinge of his own brand of apocalyptic fury.

"Spike…." The demon screeched, his surprise turning to fear at what the powerful young humanoid would do if he gave him the wrong answer.

"Well," Spike began, "This little fashion reject goes by the name of Whistler. He's what they call a balance demon, charged by the Powers That Be in keeping this sorry little world in one piece by playing as the worst dressed bearer of good and bad news. How are ya doin' mate?"

"Really." Richard said, setting the demon down and releasing his chokehold on him. "I'm not impressed. So what brings you here?"

"I came to offer Spike a chance to fight for the good guys." Whistler said, and then his gaze fell towards the prone form of the Slayer. "What the hell is she doing here? Ain't she supposed to be dead four months ago?"

Upon closer inspection, Whistler got another shock – the girl was breathing!! He looked back at the man beside Spike and stared. "How?" Was all he ever got out, voice lost in mute wonder and fear of the man.

"Technically, she WAS dead." Richard explained, moving towards Buffy and checked her pulse again to see if the mixture he gave already started working. "The way she closed the gate made sure she was. But instead, all the energy she absorbed that fried her mind and body also placed her in a higher state of suspended animation and prevented her from being completely "DEAD"."

Realization crept into the balance demon's face, "So to revive her, you had to remove the energy that fried her into stasis and heal her."

"Yes."

"Then this changes the whole picture. We might have a good chance at this then." Whistler said, his mood lightening up since his arrival. "Now listen carefully, this involves everybody from here to Timbuktu – now with you healing her, we may have a better chance of coming out of this alive with the most minimal of fatalities……"

The night wore on as Whistler outlined the dire events that would happen to the best of his knowledge, and how to stop it. Spike wanted out, but was surprised when Whistler said it involved him, too. It was nearly dawn when the demon left, and each went their separate ways, scared enough of the Protector so as not to telling the world their greatest Slayer was once again alive.

……………….

A few days later, Faith decided to return to Sunnydale after helping Angel track down one of those disgusting demons. Not even letting anybody know she was back, she continued her patrol every night. She was outright bored out of her skull as this night proved to be the exception, not a single vamp in sight. Ever since B died, the entire vamp population would boom. They were getting sneakier, smarter. With a sigh of not finding enough action for the night, she decided to head home for a nightcap – cutting through the park. Unfortunately, this was also the night when seventy vamps decided to ambush her en masse.

The brunette Slayer's eyes widened, throttling down her fear – being one with more action than words, said two words that she knew might be her last: "Let's dance!"

She gave as good as she got, a frantic swirling dervish of destruction turning into a graceful dance for the reaper. Faith fought at her best this night, despite the odds, she had done in more than half of them, but she was slowing – tiring. Each thrust of the stake getting slower, seeming heavier. She wouldn't dare cry. Screw the whole fucking world - she wouldn't DARE fall now. This is it, she felt it – and wonder of wonders, a laugh bubbled up her throat – she found out that she could still pray. Falling and staggering up, she prepared herself to die.

Then the world went white and a sound like a sonic boom filled the air, the vamps were halved again as some exploded into dust after the noise. Faith and the remaining vampires turned towards the rise and saw a figure holding a hellish-looking sawed-off shotgun on his right hand and a glowing golden sword in the other.

"Am I missing the party?" The figure asked, wading in. The vampires left Faith to collapse and charged at the newcomer. She watched as the stranger moved faster than humanly possible and made short work of the remaining vamps. Not one to accept help more than necessary, she got up and joined the fray – catching her second wind. When the dust settled, the two were eyeing each other as if each thought the other a new piece of odd amoeba.

"Name's Faith." She said.

"Max Quaylen." The stranger replied.

"Nice meeting you Q, not to be rude but I got to go…." Faith took a step away and fainted.

Max Quaylen sighed, he was certain the gutsy brunette didn't faint from seeing his handsome face.

"Sheesh!! Have I got a vain dude for a master!!" His sword said as he checked the unconscious Slayer, knowing what was in Max's thoughts. The sword was rewarded with a growl from Quaylen as he willed the sword back to the heavenly armory where it rightfully belonged. That ought to shut you up, Max thought, hearing a faint gagging retort from it as he banished his sword for safekeeping.

Noting that nothing was too much amiss from the Slayer, though battered and bruised – he knew this one, like the former Slayer, would survive. He gently scooped her up and headed to his hotel room suite a block away. Since he didn't know where else to bring her, he was glad he got a place with two rooms. He didn't want a stake up his ass if she ever woke up with him lying asleep beside her. He glanced down at the unconscious form and smiled, her name running off his mouth like silk and laughed at the irony of it all. Time to call Giles and let him know he has their wayward Slayer.

He glanced heavenward and said, "Ah, Faith…."

…………

To Be Continued…..

Looks like things are gonna be complicated from here on, what do you think?