A/N – Sorry it took sooo long. I am putting stuff from every show leading up to Masquerade and some stuff from that as well. I might add bits and pieces from every new show that comes on too.
Chapter 3-
Faith took a long ragged breath and panted. Her training had started two days after she had agreed to the mission. They had told her the dangers of the mission, but also that the information she would get was vital to the agency. Now, a week later from all the explanations, she was out of breath, sweating… and humming.
Tyler, her trainer, held up his hands, the sign to say stop. "Are you… are you humming?" There was a laugh in his voice that made Faith smiled.
"Yes, I am humming. Got a problem with that?" She asked standing up straight and picking up her water bottle.
"No, it's just I never heard anyone hum while fighting before." Tyler smiled. "You have a nice voice."
Faith watched him blush as she said. "Thank you. I love to sing... besides fighting, I do it best. Anyway, less talking, more fighting."
An hour later Faith was lying on her back.
"When I expand you contract." Her trainer Tyler breathed.
"Like I've never heard that before." Faith muttered.
Tyler smiled. "At least you'll have your attitude and your humming to protect you. Which, by the way, are both very annoying now."
"Shut up." Faith slapped him playfully. He just laughed and picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder. "Let me go!" She yelled/laughed and pounded his back. "For a nineteen year old you sure are strong... and sweaty." She could feel the heat at her stomach where it connected with his shoulder.
"Be nice..." Tyler teased.
"Never!" She kicked.
"You're supposed to be training." Robson walked up to them.
Tyler quickly put Faith down, and picked up his water bottle, turning away.
"We needed a break." She shot back, taking a sip of her own water.
"You don't have time for breaks." Robson said seriously. "You leave for Rome in two days. You need training."
"Like I don't know that." Faith snapped. "I've got you, mom, dad, my grandmother and a whole bunch of other people explaining that I need all of this." She gestured to the punching bags and other various things. "And this is what I want you to know." She walked over to Robson and told him. "I am working my ass off for you. And I know, I may sound like my mother right now, but I. Need. A. Break." She pronounced each word as if she was talking to a baby. "No break - no mission."
"Fine." Robson spat then left.
"Wow." Tyler smiled. Faith just looked at him the sat on one of the benches. "I don't have the guts to stand up to people like that. I'm glad you do."
"Yeah." Faith sighed. "I have to talk to my mom about that."
Tyler laughed. "Don't loose that. It will help you out." He saw that Faith had a far away look in her eyes and sensed something. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about my brother." Faith laughed. "How many sixteen year olds will admit to thinking about their seven year old brother?"
Tyler nodded, smiling. "Not many. Anyway, we better get back to work before he comes back."
Faith nodded and started kicking his ass.
"So... how was training yesterday?" Steph asked Faith as she collapsed on Steph's left on the park bench.
"It was cool. Tyler is sweet, but Robson can be such an ass sometimes." Faith told her. "He came in the other day and Tyler seems modest, but always speaking his mind around me, yet when Robson is there... he's just... a chicken." She waved her hands.
Steph sighed. "Come on. Like you care about the guy, all you care about is getting to kick some major ass next week." She laughed and so did Faith.
"Hey you two!" Terri bounded up to them and sat on Faith's left. "What's up?"
"Hey Terri." Steph smiled and bit her lip. He flashed her one of his smiles and turned to Faith.
"We were just discussing me kicking some ass next week." Faith smiled and looked at her watch. "You guys wanna come with me to pick up Max?"
"Sure." Terri stood up. "Steph you coming too?"
"Um... Y-yeah." Steph stuttered.
"Kay." Faith grabbed her hand and stood up. "Let's go."
Mrs. Quinn smiled as Faith walked into the classroom, followed by Stephanie and Terri.
"Hey." Faith smiled at the teacher and looked around for Max. He was talking to Greg. "Max… come on!"
"Hello Faith." Greg's mother tapped her on the shoulder. "Who are your friends?"
"Hey Tina. This is Stephanie Armand and Terri Weiss." Each shook her hand and then backed away.
"How's Max doing? He never comes over to see Greg anymore."
Faith shrugged. "Don't know. Maybe they see enough of each other at school." Just then she felt Max pull her shirt. "What?"
"Can we go?" Max looked up at her, pleading.
"Yeah, I'll see you later Tina." Faith waved and then followed her brother out to the parking lot, all the while talking with Steph and Terri.
"It's May 21st." Steph said as she collapsed on the couch at Faith's house. Terri sat next to her, much to Steph's delight.
Faith sat back rolling her arms back and forth. "So?'
"You are not going to be here for your birthday." Terri reminded her. Steph smiled at the way he finished her thought, the girl is crazy.
"Oh God. I completely forgot." Faith frowned then smiled. "Doesn't matter. I'm turning 17, it's not that special."
Steph threw a pillow at Faith. "It is too."
"Fine." She threw it back to Steph, but missed and hit Terri. Faith giggled. "I better not be throwing anything while I'm there."
They all laughed, unaware of Max listening to them… writing.
An hour later Sydney and Vaughn walked into the house, laughing.
"Hey Steph, Terri." Sydney smiled at the group that was still in the living room.
"Hey Sydney." They both laughed.
"Hey honey." Vaughn sat on the arm of Faith's chair, leaning to kiss her on the cheek. "Are…"
"Yeah, I'm ready and I'm not backing out… I don't think I can since I'm leaving tomorrow." She cut him off and smiled up to him.
"Fine. Where's your brother?" He asked her looking around then to the door to Max's room.
"In there." She gestured with her hand and head to the door. "He's been in there for a while…"
Vaughn got up and walked over to the door. Turning the door knob he entered the room. "Hey Max."
Sydney looked at Faith and smiled. "Your birthday is in two days. You're not gonna be here for it."
"We were talking about that with her Sydney, but she wouldn't listen." Terri told her. Max and Vaughn walked back into the room just then.
"How about we do something when you get back?" Faith nodded towards her parents and her friends.
Max looked at all of them and muttered so that they wouldn't hear, there was a definite hint of fear in his voice for anyone listening. "If she gets back."