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 Seven - The Crossness that is Charles Gunn
"Gunn, can I see you in my office for a moment, please." Both Faith and Gunn swung round in surprise as Wesley and Angel walked through the main doors, Angel toting a large battle axe and Wesley looking somewhat the worse for wear, though his gaze was steady, levelled on the younger man. Gunn shot a quick glance at the slayer, then nodded to Angel, and followed Wesley into the office behind the front desk. Angel crossed to the desk, and dropped the axe onto it before taking off the ubiquitous leather coat.
"Didya kill the demon?" came an excited voice, and Faith looked in surprise at the girl with brown hair.
"Yeah, Fred, we killed it," Angel answered with a grin.
"Well, not to get all picky, Angelcakes, but couldn't you have killed it before it sang "Some Enchanted Evening"? I swear, that thing nearly emptied the place!"
"Come on, Lorne, it wasn't that bad." A snort could be heard from halfway up the stairs.
"Yeah, like you'd know!"
"Cordelia!"
"Yep, and before you all ask, I'm fine. Demon dead, Cordelia OK." She walked down the stairs, her slightly pale face the only testimony to the excruciating headache caused by her latest vision. "Say, where'd Wes go? Don't tell me he needed another trip to the ER?"
"He's talkin' to Charles. In the office," Fred added portentously. "Charles was gettin' kinda cross." Cordelia's eyebrows once again began the climb to her hairline, and she looked at Faith.
"Kinda cross, huh? Gee, I wonder what brought that on?"
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The crossness that was Charles Gunn was, as they spoke, looking at his boss in disbelief.
"Okay, so you're telling me that, after all that bitch did, you're just going to let her stay here. Because she needs - what? To keep her "get out of jail free" card? Wes, she should be back in prison. And, you know, whatever Wolfram & Hart want to do with her, fine by me."
"Gunn - please. Faith's at a difficult stage, and you threatening to kick her ass - and not to insult your masculinity, but I rather think you'd find it was the other way around - could send her running. And, after all, she's never done anything to you."
"Wesley, Cordelia told me what she did to you. And you think I'm going to welcome her with open arms?"
"Bare civility would do." Gunn looked at Wesley, genuinely not getting him. "Are you bucking for sainthood or something here, Wes? 'Cause I'm really not understanding why you're going out of your way to help her."
"I'm hardly a saint, Gunn. But I failed Faith before, and I'll be damned if I let it happen again. She needs our help, and that includes you."