Disclaimer: It's my idea, however since I don't have the motivation to make my own characters, I'm borrowing someone else's. Also, I have included some dialogue that is directly from the transcripts for the episodes 'Welcome to the Hellmouth' and 'When she was Bad'. Don't sue me.

Chapter Three

The first thing Spike noticed as he opened his eyes, was the blinding pain radiating from his chest. He groaned and opened his eyes, looking down at his chest to identify the source of the pain. The stake was gone, which meant Faith had removed it. The pain was still there though, as was the realization that he had just come very close to becoming a member of the ever growing population of dust. He squinted as he tried to remember the circumstances of this current pain. He was fighting with Buffy and then….just where had she gotten that stake? He didn't remember seeing it. He shrugged and filed that particular thought away for later evaluation. He sat up fully then, shaking his head to clear the last of the cobwebs from his brain. He scowled at the memory still eluding him. Like a fragment of a dream that is at the fringes of your mind, yet is still persistently elusive. She beat him, that was obvious, what wasn't nearly as apparent was why. He rubbed his temples as he thought back over the events. He and Buffy fighting, Buffy pulling a stake out of…somewhere. Buffy throwing the stake…and then… His eyes widened to almost comical proportions as he remembered what exactly had happened to make him loose his concentration for the mere seconds it had taken her to come dangerously near to changing him into the biggest, baddest pile of dust Sunnydale had ever seen. His mind spun as he contemplated his options. It was becoming increasingly obvious that he was going to have to speak with Buffy's watcher very soon. But more immediately, he had to find a way to restrain her, since obviously the ropes weren't working. He absolutely was not going to let her do something she would regret later… That is, if I'm right…which I think I am…and where the hell is Faith? The realization that he hadn't seen the brunette slayer since he came to, snapped him from his internal monologue and had him on his feet in seconds. Praying that he was wrong, and Faith had just stepped outside for a bit, Spike stalked over to the blonde form crumpled on the floor. He grabbed her by the shoulder and roughly turned her over so he could see her face. He cursed as the dull, lifeless features stared back at him. Features that were quite certainly not Buffy's.

As Faith slowly returned to consciousness, the first thought on her mind was that she had made a mistake. A rather large one in fact. Yup…Should've tied Buffy up first. Also should have made sure she was really out. She felt amazingly calm considering that she was chained to a wall…somewhere, with all of her weapons missing and with a slayer-turned-vampire getting ready to do things that would most definitely consist of torture. Seems kind of appropriate she thought to herself rouge slayer, the one who just never tries hard enough, killed by the girl she was supposed to be more like. Very…poetic. She sighed and opened her eyes. Looking around the room, she was happy to note that they were still in Sunnydale. Albeit miles away from any shops or houses. Still, it would make escape easier. That is if I can get these chains off. She pulled experimentally at them, not at all surprised at how strong they were. Still…maybe if I had enough time. She began diligently yanking on the chains, putting all of her strength into it. Of course Buffy chose that moment to walk into the room. "Not trying to escape were you Faith?" She asked sweetly. "Cause I really wouldn't recommend it…even if you did manage to pull down magically reinforced chains, I would catch you before you got very far." She laughed at the glare the brunette sent her. "Ya' know Faith, I would've thought you would have had the intelligent to tie me up before looking after precious Spikey. Not that the ropes would have done much good. Getting a little slow in your old age? I know I did…Caring." Faith blinked at the rapid subject change. Buffy, completely oblivious to her confusion continued "That was my weakness. Affection, compassion, love, you name it. If I hadn't loved Angel I could have killed him you know. But you always knew that didn't you? Remember, the bad one? The rebel?" She smirked "I know everything you've ever done. I know you Faith."

Faith swallowed the lump in her throat. "You don't know me. Besides, I've changed now. I'm different, I don't do things like that anymore."

"Sure you don't. You just keep telling yourself that. Just give in Faith, It's so much easier. No worries, nothing. Look at me! I feel great!"

"Yeah well ya don't look so good to me." Faith's head snapped back with the force of Buffy's punch.

"I'm being nice Faith, but I can be very, very mean. Remember who's in charge here."

Faith grimaced at the pain in her jaw "Yeah, you always did want to play grown up B. To bad you had to become a vampire before you got any authority. That's just…sad." Buffy clenched her fists. "I could kill you now…"

"Why aren't you? You're the big bad vampire right? So kill me."

"Oh come one Faith, stop being so noble. Wouldn't it be better to just give up? I know the fight that wars in your head every day. You never were a goody two shoes. Don't you ever wonder what it's like on the other side? I mean, why do we kill demons? Why is it that they're the bad ones and humans are good? Two slayers Faith. Think of what we could accomplish! Together we could rule the world."

Faith snorted. "Okay a) your starting to sound a just a little lame. And b) you want me to join you? How pathetic is that?"

Buffy growled as she slipped to her demon visage. "Fine Faith, you wanna play the hard way? We can play the hard way. You had your chance…just remember that, cause' by the end of the day your going to begging me to let you join me. In fact you'll be agreeing to pretty much anything I want. And believe me, you won't get this offer again."

"Wouldn't have it any other way B." Faith bit off cockily, voice masking the hysteria that was welling up in her chest.

Spike raced through town, taking every shortcut imaginable. Little bitch slashed my tires he thought angrily as he paused to climb over a chain link fence. He glanced around the alley and practically screamed when he realized this wasn't right. He was growing increasingly frustrated as he searched for Buffy's watchers house. What was his name? Rupert something. Giles! That was what Buffy always called him. He had been there only once. And even then he hadn't gone inside. He almost smiled as he remembered the day of his first meeting with Buffy. He had been following the slayer almost all night, confident that she hadn't noticed him. Which is why he had been surprised when, upon reaching the apartment, she had swung from her perch on a nearby tree, knocking him to the ground. As she stood over him he had sensed the power radiating off of her in palpable waves, and realized that this was a slayer like no other. He had also been shocked by just how stunningly beautiful she looked up close.

Buffy positioned herself on a tree branch that conveniently hung directly above the sidewalk in from of Giles's apartment. She didn't know who this person was who had been following her all day, but she intended to find out. As her stalker appeared below her she got a glimpse of black duster and peroxide blonde hair before she swung down and hit him squarely in the back. As he turned over he found a boot on his chest, pinning him down. "Is there a problem ma'am?" Spike asked innocently. Buffy just stared at him, moved more than she would admit by the ice blue of his eyes. "Yeah there's a problem." She said angrily "Why are you following me?" He smirked up at her. "I know what your thinking, but don't worry I don't bite." She looked confused for a moment before backing up and letting him stand. He rubbed the back of his neck where he hit the pavement. "Truth is, I thought you'd be taller, or bigger muscles and all that. You're pretty spry, though." Buffy stared at him, confusion marring her brow "What do you want." she asked after a moment.

"I just wanted to meet the legendary slayer."

She gasped, eyes widening at the casual use of her title. "How the hell do you know who I am?" He just smiled and tossed her a box. She reached out and caught it without taking her eyes off of him. "Who are you?" She asked, irritated with herself for not questioning him further.

"Lets just say…I'm a friend." He said before turning to walk away from her.

"Yeah, well, maybe I don't want a friend!" She yelled after him.

He turned his head to look back at her, smirking. "I didn't say I was yours." And then he disappeared into the shadows, leaving her to mull over what had just happened. She shook her head and opened the pretty blue box. Her eyes widened as she spied the silver cross laying inside. She looked around the street for the peroxide blonde, before shrugging and reaching in to fasten it around her neck. She didn't even notice the blue eyes staring after her from the shadows.

Buffy was growing increasingly irritated with the way Faith refused to show the terror that she just knew was lurking below the surface. Buffy had to admit- if only to herself- that the girl had spunk. But it was starting to get tiring. "You know what Faith?" She asked as she picked up a picture frame from a nearby table. "This is starting to get old…games are fun, but I think it's time we got down to business. What do you think?"

"Sounds great to me." Faith snarled.

"Ah Faith. So stupid…you never did change. Now, we can do this the hard way or…actually there's just the hard way." She threw the frame on the floor, and, grinning like a child with a new toy, moved towards the chained slayer.