YELLOW BRICK ROAD

By: Lisette (lisette@chaletian.co.uk)

Rating: PG-13 so far - might change later on.

Distribution: Want, take, have. Just e-mail me first.

Summary: Faith is released from prison - but there's a catch.

Feedback: God, please.

Angel, Buffy, the whole lot, belong to JW, Mutant Enemy, and anyone else who officially owns them. I don't. Big surprise.

Okay, a few notes. Firstly, I haven't seen any of season 3 yet, though I know vaguely what happens. So, definitely after "Billy", and Fred and Gunn are getting with the happy, but "WITW" never happened.

Please, please review - I need to know what people think! I have a fragile ego and it needs bolstering!

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Chapter Six - Demon Central

Faith's "stuff" didn't exactly take up a lot of space. In fact, less than an hour after leaving the Hyperion Hotel, she was packed up and ready to go. Her life in a bag over her shoulder. Keeping a weather eye out for anyone following her, she made her way back to the hotel, hesitating for an instant outside before walking in, not sure which was worse - having to talk to Wesley, or having Cordelia unload on her. However, it seemed that neither was imminent - the foyer was bereft of Angel, Cordelia and Wesley; instead a tall black man and a dainty looking girl with long brown hair were standing by the desk, deep in conversation. Suddenly the girl broke off, turning towards Faith.

"Hi. You lookin' for help? 'Cause, we do that." The girl smiled, and Faith found herself responding.

"Kinda. Angel around?"

"Went out. Business. Can I help? Uh, you know, we…" This time it was the man who answered, floundering slightly when his words didn't work.

"I already said we help, Charles," the girl added, rolling her eyes for Faith's benefit. "Hopeless people and helpless people and homeless people. There sure are a lot of "H" people. I looked 'em up once. But…I was supposed to be looking up herbs." She shrugged, and smiled again. "Anyway, you need…?"

"What the fuck is that?"

"My, cupcake, I'm feeling some hostile vibes here. Feisty little one, aren't you?" Faith stared at the green demon, complete with red horns and a fetching white three piece number, coming down the stairs, baby in tow. "Fred, be a doll and take the little sweetums, will you. He's been trying to upchuck all over the suit for about twenty minutes now, and this is so hard to have cleaned."

"I'm in fucking demon central!"

"Cupcake, you have got to watch the language in front of the baby! God knows he's going to have enough traumas in his life with Angel brooding over him without language like that. Now, are you here to be helped, or looking to critique the suit?"

"Nice suit."

"I have to say, you're lacking sincerity there. But points for trying."

"Whatever. I'm just looking for Angel. Or Cordelia?"

"Brown Eyes had a vision from the Powers, and Angel and Wes have gone off to be heroes. Slaying the big bad - you know how it is." Faith stood irresolute for a moment, then sighed.

"Look, just tell Angel…tell him Faith came by. I'll come back later." She turned and walked back to the door, only to find her way blocked, by the big man - Charles. Gone was the grin, and instead he glared down at her, looking - if she was the intimidated type - intimidating.

"You're Faith." She shifted slightly, threw him a challenging look.

"What, you deaf or something?"

"Oh, I heard all about you, girl. You know, I don't like people who try and hurt my friends. Gets me all mad. So how 'bout you walk out of here and don't bother coming back, okay?"

"Charles -"

"Stay out of this, Fred. You don't know what this bitch did."