***One of my shorter chapters but I wanted to get at least some of it out. I may split it up into 3 parts.

CHAPTER 22

The silence that descended throughout the room was tangible. It pressed down upon the shoulders of the four occupants with a dogged ferocity. It was almost as if it were a living, breathing entity, intent on sucking the very words from the lips of those who tried to speak. Buffy had been the first casualty, her lips forming words that did not materialize. Her hands rested limply at her sides and her shoulders wilted noticeably. It was by sheer will alone that she remained standing as her legs shook, threatening to betray her at any moment. All the while, her hazel eyes locked on the blue/green embers of her daughter.

The women on the couch were just as shell-shocked as Buffy. Although Willow had been upset that Faith had kept hidden who her true father was from them all, she surmised that the young slayer had a reason for it. The redhead was intent on discovering said reasons when Buffy made her presence known. Faith was the first to speak. "Please don't tell him," she whimpered, her hands gripping the cotton of her sweats. Emerald had told her not to tell them the truth about Spike, for reasons she didn't have time to ask. The woman had stressed it as imperative that if all else failed and she were to tell someone, that it not be Spike. Again, Faith wasn't sure of the reasoning, just that she'd follow it.

A light wind swept through the room and the three women on the couch whirled their heads around to the kitchen. Spike raced in, game face at the ready, as he surveyed the room with a snarl.

"Where's Dawn?" He growled at the three women on the couch before his vision caught the stunned form of his slayer. He was by her side in the blink of an eye, his human visage now firmly in place as he grabbed Buffy by the shoulders.

"Slayer," he said, concern filling his voice, "what's wrong? You're not gonna go all wonky on us again, are you?" He forced a semblance of levity in his tone that he was sorely lacking.

Buffy managed to tear her gaze from Faith and fixed it on the blond standing in front of her. It took her a moment to focus in on his face and even when she did, everything still maintained the surrealism only living in Sunnydale could produce. Her gaze was drawn to the blue orbs that were, for all intents and purposes, the soul of this soulless monster-no, man-in front of her. Her glazed vision registered the wan smile formed by his bloodless lips. Buffy traced a thumb across his lower lip, amazed at the softness. She saw his eyes shutter closed for a second before he opened them. She vaguely recognized the feel of his lips moving beneath her fingertip. He was trying to say something…'damn?' 'Dawn?' And then it hit her.

"Dawn," she gasped, her chest constricting at the thought of her little sister taken from her again.

"Sh-she was kidnapped," Tara stammered, rising out of her seat along with the other two women. She cautiously made her way over to the two blondes who stared at her, waiting for her to elaborate.

"Seth took her," it was Faith this time. She risked a furtive glance at Buffy, pleading for her silence. The blond narrowed her eyes before giving Faith an imperceptible nod. The future slayer had to resist the overwhelming urge to expel her relief in a sigh but it was a fleeting impulse. She stood by them, her back to the kitchen as she regained her razor focus.

"Seth. He's Gabriel's lieutenant. He was the one I was…running from," she finished the latter with all the conviction of a three year old. No matter her focus, Faith knew that she would never be strong when it came to talking about Seth. Well, at least not by herself. Maybe if these people could lend her strength, maybe, just maybe, she would finally deal.

"He's the reason for her scars," Willow burst in, her voice filled with fire. She had glared poignantly at Spike when she spoke, her eyes trying to convey the information she wanted to tell him.

Spike dropped his hands from Buffy's shoulders after Willow had spoken. A far too inhuman growl resonated from his gut and his head whipped around to Faith. He raised a tentative hand to her face, tracing the jagged scar marring her otherwise immaculate features. He couldn't stop his hand from shaking as his fingertips traced the horrible imperfection from her forehead to just above her chin. The demon within him screamed for vengeance. Why it cared for this girl, he did not question. His only concern was to control the beast within until he could unleash it on the creature that dared lay its hands on his surrogate-daughter.

He forced his trembling limb to his side. One objective at a time, he chided. He ran his hands through his tangled locks, his feet carrying him from the crowd of females to a corner of the room.

"Seth? Did he follow you? How did he know you were here? What happened?" Buffy demanded.

"I don't know," Faith conceded. How did he know how to get to her? There was only one answer to that particular question; an answer Faith didn't want to acknowledge. "But don't worry, he won't harm her. He wants me and only me," Faith assured.

"Well, he ain't gonna get you, pet," Spike growled, his back facing the women.

"Spike is right," Buffy replied, her voice was still shaky yet fused with control. "We're not gonna let him just take you without a fight." Despite the bravado, Buffy felt sick to her stomach at the thought of what this Seth could be doing to her sister. If she hadn't have been messing around with Spike…

"He also wants the locket," Faith added, wrenching Buffy from her guilt-laced conscience.

"Oh, I have it," Buffy announced. She dug her small hand into her pocket and engulfed the tiny metal in her right palm where she found it was warm. "Wow," she whistled, handing it to Faith. "It wasn't this warm when we found it."

Faith dangled the locket in front of her face, studying it. She closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply before exhaling, refocusing her eyes on the silver piece in front of her. "It's been used," she stated. "Did either one of you get hurt?" she asked, looping the chain around her neck. The duality of the cool chain versus the warmth of the locket nestled just above her breasts calmed Faith immensely. Much of the tension was drained from her as she waited for one of the two blondes to answer.

"Spike…" Buffy said, unable to keep the slight crack from her voice, "he almost got staked. They just missed his heart, but still…"

"What?" Willow asked.

"When we were…when I saw it, it was almost healed, as if nothing had really happened. I know vampires heal quickly but…"

"It was the locket," Faith interjected. "It has healing properties that kick in automatically in the presence of," me or my parents, she thought to herself but said, "those whose purpose is pure." She almost made a face, the incredulity of the reasoning shaky even to her.

"Nuthin's pure 'bout me, luv," Spike smirked, finally turning toward the women.

Faith couldn't help but smirk back. "We all know that, Mr. Big Bad. But your purpose tonight with Buffy was pure. You were out there looking for this for me because you wanted to, not because you wanted to impress anyone." She held his gaze until he looked away, muttering 'whatever' under his breath. Guess you're gonna hold onto that Big Bad persona kicking and screaming, Faith thought amusedly. She also hid her relief that no one seemed like there were going to pursue the matter further.

"Do you know who attacked you?" Willow directed to Buffy.

"Five vamps and some sort of shadow thingy is all I can tell you. Even Spike had trouble keeping up with the shadow puppet."

"So they must have split up," Faith thought pensively. When she caught Buffy's perplexed look, she explained. "A little after you guys left, I had a run-in with three Flanzen'da demons out back," she said, one hand firmly on her hip as the other fidgeted with her strawberry blond locks.

"Flamingo huh?" Buffy scowled in confusion.

"Flanzen'da demons, luv," Spike corrected from his position in the corner. "Nasty buggers. Covered with a thick hide and right wicked bone protrusions from their…well, from pretty much everywhere. Though I don't know why they'd fancy this place. Don't like to much fraternizing with other denizens of the demonic persuasion." He fished a cigarette from the inside pocket of his duster and shoved it between his lips. He pulled his silver Zippo out, igniting it and nervously brought it to his lips when he felt the weight of four pair of eyes burrow into him.

"What?" he asked flabbergasted and stared into the eyes of his love, her gaze nullifying any retort. "Fine, then," he snapped the lighter shut. The fag hung loosely from his lips and he stood defiantly, his hands thrust deep into his duster.

Buffy rolled her eyes and returned her attention back to Faith. If it weren't for the current situation, she would definitely take advantage to tease Spike for his obvious sulking. "But when we got to the front, I felt something like a vampire…only not," Buffy conceded.

"That was Seth," Faith said flatly. "And yes, he is a vampire."

Buffy furrowed her brow and craned her neck to the side in the general direction of the front door and back again. "So, the Flanzen'da demons busted the door…"

"No…that w-was th-the vampire," Tara said, wincing at the slow ache creeping back up into her arm.

Buffy noticed for the first time the haggard expressions on the two Wiccas faces. "Did he get in here?" They nodded. "But how?"

"Seth's not your typical vampire," Faith said. She spent the next ten minutes bringing the vampire and slayer up to speed on the night's events.

"And you guys are okay?" She cast concerned glances towards the two Wiccas.

"Well," Willow quipped, "as okay as can be having your arm, you know, ripped from the nestle-y part of the shoulder can get."

"Yeah, and t-the concussion," Tara added, waving her hand, "was not a problem, either. Other than leaving you with the nausea and ringing sensation in your ears…" Tara blushed at the look of surprise etched across Buffy's face.

"So, he doesn't have to be invited in, is what you're saying," Buffy asked, shaking off Tara's sardonic remarks. She sat in the recliner, staring over at the three women who had retaken their seats on the couch. Though he was no longer in the corner, Spike stood behind Buffy like a sentinel, daring anyone or anything to try to take her.

"That's about it. Other than the natural afflictions to the sun and holy items, standard methods of killing, such as stakes and immolation…out the window," Faith informed. "And what with the prophecy and all, I'm not even sure that the sun would be of use."

"So the Nibblet will be alright?" an unusually anxious Spike asked.

"Yeah," Faith assured. She really didn't want to get into the reasons why she knew this, but knew she had to assuage their concerns. "As long as he has me…in his sights," she took a deep breath, "he won't bother her."

"He won't hurt you again, Faith," Tara affirmed. Everyone was taken aback at the vehemence behind her statement.

"So he wants us at the Bronze at twelve? Why?" Buffy inquired.

"Don't know," Faith answered, absently nibbling at her thumbnail, lost in thought. It was weird. After she had calmed from her hysterics, Faith had asked herself that same question. She was right there, for the taking, yet he took Dawn instead. Something was definitely out of order but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Something else is going on," Buffy said, intimating her daughter's thoughts. "What do you think, Spike," she turned around only to be greeted by empty space. "Spike? Where did he go?" She asked the three women.

"I don't know," Willow conceded, "I didn't see him leave."

Buffy stood up, to look for the vampire when a hand grabbed her by the arm.

"I'll get him," Tara said, her smile slackening the mounting tension creeping back into the Buffy's muscles.

"Thanks, Tara." Buffy tenderly squeezed the Wicca's hand. The blond slipped through the hall and into the kitchen without another word.

"Well, I'm gonna give Xander a call, let him know you're back and see how he's doing," Willow said standing. She nervously brushed imaginary lint from her shirt before heading towards the stairs.

"Willow," Buffy called and her best friend turned around, "tell Xander I hope he's feeling better. And that we'll be at the Magic Box tomorrow to research this prophecy." Willow nodded and disappeared up the steps.

Buffy dropped her eyes to her boots, studying the scuffs in them intently. "So, are you sure Dawn will be okay, Faith?" She asked.

"Trust me, he won't harm her. He wouldn't. Not when he has me to look forward to. He'll just use her as leverage. He won't snack on her or…anything else." Buffy let out a breath she didn't know she was holding at Faith's assurance. Though Buffy wasn't one to go on reassurance, part of her knew that Dawn would be fine, just like always.

"Good," she said, turning to Faith. She strode over to her daughter, taking a seat on the couch next to her. Her gaze was hard yet unreadable. "Because we need to talk."

***Though not much happened in the way of action in this chapter, its very pivotal as far as carrying the rest of the story.

***Part 2 will have Spike and Tara have a little talk. Buffy and Faith will have their chat in Part 3.

***Gimme some reviews…