*****
The phone's ringing echoed through the apartment. One ring. Giles stumbled out of his room. Two rings. He thumps into the wall as he staggers slightly, blinking his eyes in an attempt to wake up faster. Three rings. He grabs the receiver and blearily greets the caller.
He listens for a few seconds, a look of shock ranging across his face.
The receiver drops to the ground as his hand goes nerveless with shock.
"Faith." He whispers to no one.
*****
In another place the same phone call was made, but an entirely different reaction was forthcoming.
"Send a Team to Sunnydale."
*****
Faith left Buffy tied up in the old warehouse and headed out to enjoy her new body. For about a quarter of a second she actually looked back toward the campus before snorting. School wasn't her style, she headed downtown. It was still early but she figured that she could easily scare up some fun.
She was walking along main street when a red Mustang Convertible pulled along side her amd matched her pace, a strange man grinning at her.
Perv. She thought to herself and turned to give him a piece of her mind.
"Hello, Buffy." The man grinned, forcing her to check the tirade she was about to unleash. "I thought you had a class today?"
Who is this guy? Faith wondered as she tried to formulate an answer. Blondy's new boytoy? Nah... He's not allergic to sunlight for one thing... Dresses the part though.
"Nope." She said, trying to imitate Buffy's cheerfulness. "Have the morning off."
"Ah." The man said, "You need a lift somewhere?"
"No, I'm good."
"Ok. If you see Xander today could you let him know I'm going out of town for a while? One of my 'projects'." The man said, somewhat apologetically. "I'd have told him myself but he was up and gone for his morning run at dawn."
Faith managed to nod and say that she would indeed let Xander know about his 'project'. What the hell does *that* mean? She thought as the car sped up and drove off. And since when does Xander get up and go *running*?
*****
She was looking at a black leather jacket when she felt someone stop close behind her. Faith spun on her heel, her fists coming up.
"Whoa! Whoa! Learn to relax Slayer! Fuck, I was just stopping to say hello."
Faith shook her head and looked at the guy. He looked older then his posture and reactions seemed to show. She guessed that he was maybe forty but looked fifty or more easily. He's had a rough life, she guessed. Who the hell is this?
"Sorry," She ground out, dropping down from her alert stance.
"Yeah, yeah. My bad, Slayer." The guy backed of a bit anyway, "I'll remember not to sneak up on you... Like I need another fucking concussion. Hey, tell Xander that I'm setting up the hunting party I told him about, guys'll be in town by tonight. Damned if I can find that kid anywhere when I need to."
Faith watched in confusion as the white haired man walked away, still shaking his head and cursing under his breath. Her slayer's hearing picked up some mumbling about how 'dress like one and then get ticked when someone calls her on it'. Faith shook her head in irritation and marked the store mentally for a return visit... after hours.
Why the fuck is everyone leaving messages for *Xander*? She thought disdainfully as she moved on.
*****
The black van crossed into Sunnydale limits less then an hour after they got the call. They kept a team on Standby in L.A. in case of emergencies of this nature, and for the occasional hit and grab run on the local demon community.
In the back of the large black van the team was going over their gear one last time. Walther P99 9mm's, Silenced G3 SBS submachine guns, flash bang grenades, and various tranq guns were being checked and packed away into holsters and duffle bags.
"Remember the order's." The Team Leader turned to his group. "Minimal interaction with Giles' group. The target is to be taken out quickly, quietly, and with as low a profile as possible."
The team nodded in response, remaining focused on their weapons and gear.
*****
"Willow!"
Willow turned around to see a, panting, Giles running up to her. "What's up, Giles?"
"Where is Buffy?"
"I don't know... she hasn't been around today..." Willow looked mildly concerned, "Why?"
"Faith woke up." He replied curtly, "She left her room last night, no one has seen her since."
"Faith?" Willow paled, her memories of the dark Slayer were far from fuzzy.
"Precisely," Giles answered, "I must find Buffy and warn her."
"I don't know where she is, Giles."
"Very well." Giles said as he turned to leave, "If you see her, please ask her to contact me at once."
"I will." Willow watched, color slowly returning to her face as the British man walked away.
"Faith..." Willow whispered, fear in her voice, then turned and ran for her room.
*****
"Buffy!"
Faith turned around, but didn't stop walking, at the familiar voice, forcing a smile to her face as she did. "Xander, hi."
Xander stopped a little short at the curt greeting, but managed to keep his own smile plastered across his face. "Hey, I though you had a class this morning?"
"I'm playing hooky." She grinned at him, her every expression challenging him to question her.
Xander wasn't biting. "Cool." He grinned and matched his pace to hers.
"You're not going to lecture me on responsibility?" She eyed him curiously.
Xander looked at her as if she were nuts. "This is *me* we're talking about, Buff. Mr. Irresponsible. Hell, I'm supposed to attend a party with Crow sometime this week... and you know what he's like."
Crow? Faith shook it off and just nodded. "I guess I misjudged you."
Xander laughed, adjusting his sunglasses as they headed a little further along main street. She looked at him a little closer, suddenly noticing some off differences in him. He was wearing a black leather jacket for one, black jeans for another. In fact his entire wardrobe seemed to consist of dark colors, except for the white shirt she could glimpse when his jacket swung open.
"Nice clothes." She said simply.
Xander reddened slightly, "Yeah... well, like I said before, the colorful stuff doesn't fit my mood since this summer... and Phoebe likes this stuff."
"Phoebe... right." Who the hell is Phoebe?
Xander looked at her oddly, "I thought you liked Phoebe?"
Like her? I don't know her... Faith shrugged, "I do..."
"Oh..." Xander grinned again, "Good. I don't want my best friend fighting with my girlfriend. Besides, I wouldn't want you two to get in a fight... I really don't need to be visiting the two of you in the hospital."
"Two of us?" Faith said scornfully, "Please, I'm the Slayer."
Xander chuckled, taking it as a joke. "Yeah... and if she didn't turn you into a toad, her sister would put you through a wall... or ten."
Toad!? Wall or TEN!? WTF is going on in Sunnydale? Faith smiled weakly, "Sure... wall..."
Xander chuckled as they walked, enjoying the joke.
*****
Sidney answered the front door of the building, looking surprised to find a very frazzled Rupert Giles waiting outside. "Mr. Giles, didn't Alexander give you the access code?"
"Ummm... yes. I'm afraid I forgot it. Is Xander here?"
Sidney shook his head, "I'm afraid that he's not back from his morning run yet. You could probably reach him on his cell..."
Giles stared at him blankly for a moment, "Cell? Yes... Of course! I'm terribly sorry, do you remember his number?"
Sidney stepped aside as Giles entered the building and headed straight for the phone. "I think it's written by the phone."
"Yes... here it is." Giles dialed immediately.
*****
Outside Willy's Bar
Three men stepped out of the bar, cleaning their hands off as they stepped up to the van.
"Anything?"
The leader nodded, "She's using an abandoned building as a base for the moment. A couple of the 'locals' saw her go in last night. I've got the address."
"Excellent."
The men crowded into the van and it pulled away from the run down bar, heading from the bad side of town to the worse side.
*****
Xander was chatting continuously as they walked, trying not to notice that Buffy seemed particularly quiet. He hoped it wasn't something he had done... He really didn't want the Slayer dislocating his shoulder again. He stopped talking as his cell phone began ringing.
"Hello... Giles? Slow down... She's what!? Ok... No... No. Buffy is right here.... Yes, she's fine... Ok, coming in. We'll be at my place in a few."
Faith looked at Xander as he slid the phone shut with a concerned look on his face. "What is it?"
"It's Faith. She woke up."
*****
Abandoned Building
The Watchers Council Strike Team stared in shock at the sight before them. They had expected a pretty simple mission, after all one slayer really couldn't be much of a challenge on her own, but this was ridiculous.
Splayed out on a ragged old bed, bound solidly with chains and gagged with duct tape was their quarry.
"Bloody hell." One of them whispered as he stared at the wild eyed Slayer. "What's going on here?"
The Team Leader looked around, shaking his head. "Don't have a clue. Maybe Giles' group has more on the ball then we were led to believe?"
"Not bloody likely." The first guy said again, taking a half step toward the dark slayer, his eyes flitting around for any sign of a trap. "If Giles' people got here first, we wouldn't have found a damned thing. I know him, Michael. He wouldn't leave her to us, not now."
Michael shook his head, clearing it, "Don't matter. Steph, grab her. Everyone else cover him."
Steph walked forward cautiously, picking the bound Slayer up bodily and flipping her over his shoulder. The group ignored her muffled screams and useless attempts to escape as they quickly shuffled out of the abandoned building and back to their van.
*****
Giles' Apartment
The phone rang. And rang. And rang.
Finally the answering machine picked up.
"Giles? Giles! Pick up the damned phone.... Damn it, man! Ok... listen closely..."
*****
Willow's Dorm
Willow searched through her room, pulling out her small collection of spell books and parchments. She scattered them around the desk and floor as she searched for the one she had in mind. Finally she held up the old parchment and breathed a sigh of relief.
She left the mess behind her as she rushed out the door.
*****
J&X's Building
"Who is this 'Faith'?" Sidney asked as Giles settled down to wait for Xander and Buffy.
Giles took a sip of his tea, feeling somewhat chagrined as he spoke. "Faith was... IS a Slayer."
"Pardon me?" Sidney looked confused, "I thought that one Slayer had to die before another was called?"
Giles nodded. "And she did. Die that is. Buffy drowned in a subterranean pool after being drained by a master vampire. Xander and Angel pulled her out... brought her back. We found out shortly after that another Slayer was called, her name was Kendra. She died shortly after being called."
"And Faith?"
"Was called next." Giles nodded. "She had a hard life, even before the pressure of her calling was applied. She needed more support then we gave her... I... I treated her like I treated Buffy. Gave her too much free rein, and too little of my time."
"What happened?"
"She slipped. She killed a man in the heat of a battle. He wasn't a vampire but she didn't know it until it was too late."
Sidney looked at Giles intently, "Accidents happen in war."
Giles nodded. "Yes. But she didn't know that. She... she was too young to know that. She tried to cover it up at first, then tried to shift the blame. She set Buffy up for it, but no one believed her."
"And then?"
"Then the Council got involved. And any chance we had to redeem her was thrown straight down the Hellmouth."
"She snapped?"
"Quite." Giles said dryly. "She switched sides. Went to work for the Mayor, who was preparing to ascend to demonic form in a ritual that would have likely destroyed the Town. At least."
"My God." Sidney let a touch of his emotions slip past his professional veneer.
Giles nodded sadly and took another sip of his tea. "Yes."
"What will you do now?"
"I don't know. I'd like to think she can be saved... but some things... some things you don't come back from."
Sidney leaned back and pondered the man's words.
*****
"Willow!"
Willow turned, slightly surprised to see Tara running up to her. She smiled hesitantly. "Tara, hi!"
"W... what are you doing now?"
"Something's come up..." Willow shifted nervously.
"S... scooby stuff?" Tara's eyes drifted downward as she asked the question, as if she was ashamed for prying.
"Big time." Willow answered, "I need to find Xander and Buffy fast."
"Can I come?"
Willow hesitated, "It'll be dangerous..."
"Th... that's all right."
"Ok." Willow beamed at her, "Come on."
"Where?"
"Xander's"
*****
"Make certain that she's secure." The leader barked as he watched the road.
"On it."
The man checked the dark slayer's bonds, and shook his head. "We'll have to redo her. This duct tape isn't going to hold a Slayer forever."
"Well use the cuffs we brought along. Those will hold a bloomin Elephant is they 'ave too."
The man nodded and grabbed Buffy's hands, lifting them above her head to the stainless steel cuffs bolted to the van wall above her. He leered at her as the motion caused her shirt to stretch tight over her breasts, his motions slowing slightly as he stopped watching her hands and feet.
Buffy's eyes twinkled back at him. Not from lust or seduction, but simple humor. She had already worked one leg free and he had just given her the opportunity to make use of it.
Her foot snapped up, catching him in the side of the head and throwing his two hundred and twenty pound frame into the black wall of the van. He slumped against the wall, crumpling to the floor of the moving vehicle, unconscious.
The interior of the van became a flurry of motion as the Council team grabbed for their tranq guns and tried to shoot the, liberated, Slayer.
Buffy, for her part, broke loose of the rest of her bonds as soon as she managed to move enough to gain the slightest leverage. She Dove under the sweeping arc of one of the pistols now tracking her and elbowed it away from her as she drove her fist into the man's sternum. As he crumpled over she grabbed his arm and pointed the gun toward the next armed man.
She could hardly aim the weapon, but at the point blank range of the Van it didn't really matter. She jerked the man's hand, compressing the trigger, and grinned at the shock on the other's face when he looked down to see the red plumed dart sticking out of his chest.
"Bloody hell." he mumbled as he collapsed to the ground.
"Get her!"
Buffy shoved the man she was holding with all the diminished strength of Faith's body and dove for the rear door of the vehicle.
*****
"Yo, G-Man!" Xander yelled as he led Buffy into the building. "Got a Sit-rep for me?"
Giles came out of the living room, "Pardon me?"
"Situation report, G-man." Xander grinned as he tossed his leather jacket onto a coat hook.
"Ah... Well, No... actually."
"Figures." Xander headed toward the phone. "How did you find out about our wayward Slayer?"
"The Hospital phoned me..."
"Anyone else on their contact list?" Xander checked for messages, frowning when there were none.
Giles considered that, "The Mayor, certainly... perhaps..."
Xander turned to look at Giles, "What?"
"The Council." Giles said, "I should check my own messages. I have a friend in the council who might be able to help."
"Do it." Xander said. "They'd send one of their wet work teams right?"
"With certainty."
Xander nodded, "I'll be downstairs." And he headed for the armory, with a very puzzled Faith following behind.
Downstairs Xander started opening the armored cabinets and pulling weapons off the shelves.
Faith, shifting a little nervously watched as Xander slipped into a leather holster with two pistols snapped tight. What the hell? "Umm... Xander? Do you really need all this for Faith? I'm mean, Slayer Gal right here."
"These aren't for Faith." He said simply, "These are for the Council's team."
"Uh... Why? She's evil girl right? Let them have her..."
Xander shook his head. "You know, a few months ago I might have agreed... not anymore. Faith is our responsibility. We failed her, Buff. As much as she failed us. Now, if she has to be taken down then I'll do it. If she doesn't... well, that's another matter. Either way I'll be damned back to... I'm not letting them take her."
His voice carried a tone of finality as he snapped the last piece of equipment, an empty canvas sheath, to his leg. Xander reached out his hand and silently summoned Elanthielle to him, his fingers tightening around the cool metal surface as she shimmered into his hand. He was putting the ancient weapon into the hip sheath when Buffy cried out in surprise.
"What the fuck was that!?"
Xander jumped at her outburst, looking at her strangely. He finally realized that she was stairing at Elan. "It's Elan, Buff. You've seen me use her before."
"Right..." Faith covered quickly. "It just takes some getting used too... ya know?"
"Sure." Xander replied nervously, his eyes going slightly vacant as if he were listening to someone's voice. "Let's get back upstairs."
*****
"The council sent a team." Giles said, sounding worried. "They're probably already in town."
Xander nodded. "Ok. Take this." He tossed a small object to Giles.
Giles caught it in a fumbling move, "What is it?"
"A San'Quai." Xander said, noting the recognition on Giles' face. "I liberated it from the Initiative."
"Good lord." Giles said, looking at the small device. "It's operational?"
Xander nodded, "Yep. It should be able to track Faith by the slayer essence?"
Giles nodded slowly. "Yes... Her signal should be much the same as Buffy's..." Giles focused on the magical device and activated it, comparing the lights he could make out to what he knew of the room. "What is the silver light? Could that be Buffy?"
Xander looked over Giles' shoulder, "Nope. She's the purplish dot. The Silver is my staff."
Giles examined the faint purple dot and compared it to the reading for the bright silver one. He looked at Xander with an odd expression, but he decided to let it pass. "Very well... We should get started."
"Call Crow." Xander said, "He wasn't to have a word with the Council anyway. Go ahead without us for now though... I need to speak with Buffy alone."
Giles looked confused but nodded as Xander led Buffy up the stairs.
*****
They stepped into the Dojo and Faith looked around. X-Man has come up in the world. Wonder what happened? Out loud she said, "What's up Xander?"
Xander turned to look at her, his eyes flat. He held up a remote control and triggered something. Faith jumped and spun around as every door and window slammed shut, steel shutters covering even the skylights above them.
She turned to look back at Xander who hadn't moved. He just looked at her for a moment before speaking. "Hello Faith."
*****