*****

"…He just got out of the hospital with some broken ribs and a collapsed lung…we couldn't stop him from fighting, he just wouldn't listen," Gunn is telling someone. "This guy started to come after his girl and Wes, well, he would do anything to protect her," He continues.

Wes opens his eyes and realizes that he is in the hospital. He glances over and sees Connor and Gunn talking to a police officer.

The officer nods. "Okay. Give us a call if you want to file a complaint," He says, turning and walking through the curtain.

"Sure thing." Gunn lets out a deep sigh.

"Where's Faith?" Wes asks, causing both Connor and Gunn to jump in surprise.

"Down here. Damn police," Faith curses, her head popping up from beside his bed.

Wes sits up, giving the IV in his hand an evil glance. "Are they looking for you?" He asks, concerned.

"No, but I don't want to take any chances. There's a gang on PCP running around and they were looking for beat up people to testify," Faith answers. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know, what do the doctors say?" Wes replies, quietly.

"You shouldn't be moving around more that necessary," Connor says. "Your ribs are still broken," He adds.

"Are you okay, Wes?" Faith asks, forcing him to meet her concerned gaze. "What happened?"

"I'm fine. I survived. I always do," He replies, his eyes distant.

"Something's changed…she did something to you," Connor realizes. "Look in his eyes," He says to Gunn.

"How long was I unconscious?" Wes asks, ignoring the boy's comments.

"Two hours," Faith replies, her voice clipped. "I'm going to call 'B and tell her you're awake," She says, exiting quickly.

"So what happened, Wes?" Gunn asks, his gaze steady.

"Nothing. I was unconscious…" Wes begins.

"Stop the bullshit," Gunn says. "Faith's not here. You saw something. The First showed you something."

Wes looks at him, evenly. His eyes are cold and serious. "The First showed me lots of things," He replies. "You do not want to know. She does not need to know. The subject should be dropped."

"But…" Gunn protests.

"Gunn. Drop it," Wes warns, gently pulling the IV out of his arm.

"We're leaving?" Connor questions.

"Yes. There are things we need to take care of," Wes replies, reaching for his clothes.

"Wes, how do we know that you aren't evil? I mean, you won't tell us…" Gunn starts, his words trailing off as Faith returns.

"I'm not evil. Not yet," Wes replies.

"Buffy needs a favor," Faith says, her eyes revealing the confusion about the conversation she interrupted. "There's a potential coming in tonight, a few minutes from now, at the bus station. The Bringers are probably going to be waiting for her there," She says.

"I'll get the truck," Gunn says, pulling Connor from the room.

Faith waits in silence as Wes dresses.

"Gunn thinks you're evil?" She asks, finally, breaking the quiet.

"He asked me if I was evil now. I told him not yet…" Wes says.

"What the fuck, Wes, what does that mean?" Faith exclaims, upset.

Wes stands up and takes her by the shoulders. "It means that we have to stop this before it goes any further. I was lost, Faith…" His composure loosens for a moment and she can see the pain in his eyes. "I was lost and nothing could have pulled me back…but you did. Are you listening? I don't know what we have, but I don't want to lose it without finding out what it could be," He says, releasing her.

"Where were you? Where were you lost, Wes?" Faith asks, quietly.

He turns away. "Don't ask me. Don't ask me to talk about it. I can't," He says, buttoning his shirt.

She gets in front of him and tears his hands away. She buttons his shirt for him. He has started to tremble.

"Okay. Okay, Wes. You up for this?" Faith asks, searching his face.

"Always. You still have my back?" He asks, in return. She embraces him, hurting his injured ribs with her strength.

"You never have to ask me that. We're beyond all that. You have to stop trying to die on me, I'm the one that shouldn't live past 21…" Faith says, whispering in his ear.

"You ready to make a run for it?" Connor asks. "The doctors are headed this way," He says, smirking at their tender embrace.

"You have shitty timing, kid," Faith mutters, shoving Connor playfully as she pulls Wes into the hallway. They meet Gunn in the ambulance bay.

"How does everyone keep getting my keys?" Wes asks, once they are on their way to the bus station.

"You keep falling down. Don't pout, we haven't dented it yet," Faith jokes.

"I was thinking that we should teach Connor to drive," Gunn suggests.

"This would be a better place to learn than LA, less traffic," Faith shrugs.

Connor looks at them, surprised. "You want me to learn to drive? The metal monsters?"

"Cars. Trucks. Pimp rides so you can pick you up a little demon-hunter girlfriend one day. A man's gotta have wheels," Faith says.

"Wow…thank you…" Connor is moved.

"It comes with being a teenager in this place. Girls, cars, drinking…" Faith starts.

"Faith. Not drinking," Gunn smiles.

"Sorry. I had a rough childhood, what can I say?" Faith shrugs.

"The Bringers. Up ahead," Wes points out as Gunn slows the truck down.

"They're blind," Connor notices.

"But deadly. Don't let your guard down. We're here for the girl…" Faith says, opening her door before they come to a complete stop.

There are at least 10 Bringers closing in on a young blonde girl who is cowering in a corner.

"You guys must have got off the wrong bus but that's okay," Faith says, running up. "'Cause this is definitely where you get off…" She says, launching into an attack on the brute closest to the girl.

"Come with me. Everything will be okay," Wes says, pulling the terrified girl toward the S.U.V.

Connor and Gunn are battling back to back, holding off the Bringers.

"Forget them!" Wes yells, as Faith is hurled into the wall. Connor and Gunn arrive at the truck but Wes has run to Faith's aid.

Wes pulls the Bringer that is attacking Faith away by his neck, pulling out a knife and slashing the minion's throat. He drops the body to the ground. He pulls Faith to her feet. "You okay?"

"I was, but our backup is waiting by the car," Faith pants, favoring one of her ankles.

Connor and Gunn motion for the potential to stay put as they resume the battle with the persistent Bringers.

Several minutes later, Spike, Buffy, Kennedy and Robin arrive in Xander's car, screeching to a halt behind Wes' car.

"Wow…they are good," Kennedy remarks, watching the battle.

Connor is demolishing the Bringer that has just knocked Gunn to the ground. He has him pinned against the wall and effectively snaps his neck before being stabbed shallowly by the minion's knife. Connor offers Gunn a hand as they face the last Bringer on their side. Faith and Wes are fluid in their fighting skills. They trade off, always seeming to know where their partner is positioned. Faith uses her strength to hurt the Bringers while Wes holds a saber in his hand, slicing them skillfully at every opportunity.

"They do work well together," Buffy acknowledges, breaking into a run as a Bringer knocks Faith to the ground.

Before Buffy can reach the fray, Gunn kills the Bringer he and Connor were fighting. They turn to assist Faith, but Wesley has already tackled the attacker and drives his knife into the demon, killing him instantly.

"Where's the girl?" Buffy asks, as Wes hauls Faith to her feet. Wes nods to his S.U.V. where the girl is watching the events, pale.

"Good show," Spike says, as they gather together.

"Bastard broke my ankle," Faith grumbles, putting an arm around Wes to support herself.

"He cut me," Connor says, stunned as Robin pulls up his shirt to examine the wound.

"Just a scratch for you, kid," Gunn says, examining it.

"You guys are old hands at this, aren't you?" Kennedy asks.

"We've had a little experience," Wes replies. He helps Faith to the truck and everyone follows.

"Are you alright?" Buffy asks, as the girl unlocks the door to Wes' S.U.V.

"Those things…they were going to kill me…" She is crying.

"You're Beth? I'm sorry, we got the call too late to meet you," Buffy says, passing the girl a Kleenex.

"They saved me…" Beth cries, pointing to Wes and his friends.

"Soon, you won't need saving," Buffy smiles at the trembling girl.

"You're Buffy?" Beth asks. "The Slayer or whatever that I'm supposed to meet?"

"That's me. Come on and I'll take you to the homestead," Buffy says, helping the girl from the S.U.V. and leading her to Buffy's car.

"I thought you were hurt," Robin questions Wesley as he helps Faith into the truck.

"He is. But he's too stubborn to let it slow him down," Gunn answers, ignoring Wes' annoyed glance.

"Robin, why don't you ride with us back to Buffy's? I have something I want to talk to you about," Wes says, handing his keys to Gunn.

Robin tells Kennedy that he will meet them at the Summers' house and climbs into the backseat with Wes and Faith.

"Connor, are you okay?" Faith asks, seeing the stricken expression on the teenager's face.

"Yes…it's been a while since I was injured fighting…I don't like it," He replies, after a pause.

"Robin, if I'm not mistaken, your mother was a Slayer?" Wes questions.

Robin is surprised. "How did you…"

"I'm a watcher. I tried to locate you a few years ago, I heard about your hunt for your mother's killer," Wes replies. "The Council denied your existence, they said that Slayers couldn't have children…"

"The Council is full of shit…" Robin replies.

"Amen," Faith grins, listening.

"Do you know who killed your mother?" Wes asks, his voice low.

Robin doesn't respond. "Do you?"

"Yes," Wes replies, his face unreadable.

"I didn't know until a few weeks ago," Robin admits.

"The First told you?" Wes questions.

Robin nods.

"Damn…It's trying to use you…what are you going to do about it?" Wes asks, ignoring Faith's curious expression.

"I haven't decided yet," Robin replies, honestly. "He killed my mother. Soul or no soul."

"Whoa…" Faith gasps, realizing who they are talking about.

"I can't give you any advice but you do realize that the First is only manipulating your pain," Wes says, glancing at Faith.

"I know. So it's true?" Robin asks.

"You know the answer to that," Wes replies, with a tired sigh.

"Did you know my mother?" Robin asks.

"I met her. I was a child, but she would always bring me chocolates when she would visit the Council's headquarters. She was an admirable woman. A good Slayer," Wes nods.

"A good mother, too," Robin adds.

"We're here," Gunn says, breaking the solemn mood.

They climb out of the S.U.V, Faith's ankle is swelling and she waits patiently in the truck for Wes to support her.

"Connor," Wes calls, as he helps Faith to the porch. Connor stops and waits for him

"What is it?" Connor asks.

"I wanted to tell you about Spike…" Wes begins.

"I know he's a vampire. With a soul. Like my father," Connor replies, blankly.

"He knew your mother. And he knows Angel," Wes says, quietly.

Connor doesn't react immediately. "He just knows them?"

"Angel sired Spike. He made him," Faith answers for Wes.

Connor slowly shakes his head. "Not Angel…Angelus, right?"

"Sorry, yes. Angelus. I'm sorry," Faith apologizes.

Connor looks down. "Okay. I've met Angelus. I know what he can do. I know that he's not the same person as Angel. Souls…that's what makes them different, right?"

"Yes, Connor," Wes nods.

"You don't look so good," Connor notes, tilting his head as he looks at Wesley.

"Let's get inside," Faith says, limping instead of putting all her weight on Wesley.

"You guys okay? Connor, you're bleeding," Dawn gasps. "I'll get the first aid kit," She says. Connor joins Gunn in the living room, sitting down heavily on the couch.

"Wesley, are you okay? When did they let you out of the hospital?" Willow asks, coming into the room with a concerned look on her face.

"He escaped," Connor smiles slightly.

Willow gives Wes a disapproving look.

"I have things to take care of," Wes states. He kneels in front of Faith, gingerly unlacing her boot so he can examine her ankle.

"You have to take care of yourself, too," Willow says. She shakes her head, incredulous.
"You can talk all you want, Willow, he's…" Faith starts, stopping mid-sentence, seeing Wes' grimace.

"What?"

"Excuse me a moment," Wes says, going onto the porch.

Willow follows him, curious. She finds him hunched over beside his S.U.V. vomiting violently.

"Wesley?" She calls.

"I'm okay, just a little sick…" Wes replies.

Willow looks at him, concerned and then realization dawns on her face. "Oh god, you…you still had the First inside you when you passed out…what…what did you see?"

Wes turns away, taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry…"

"You said it took you over once, didn't you Willow?" Wes asks, his back still to her.

"Yes. It was horrible…worse than…it was bad," She replies.

"Multiply that times infinity. I've never seen anything…the screams…it was hell, but worse…" He turns back to her. "We have to stop it."

"We're trying, Wesley…"

"We have to try harder. I have an idea," Wes says. "I don't want to explain it yet…I think the First is all around us. I think it knows what we talk about. It hears all," He adds.

Willow nods. "Are you okay? After all the stuff with the First?"

Wes looks away. "I want to hurt it. I want to destroy it. I don't think I'll ever be the same." He takes a few steps and vomits again. When he looks at her again, his face is blank.

"You and Faith…" Willow starts. "You care for each other?"

"Desperately. It's still very fresh. Painful," Wes says as they walk back toward the house. "We're terrified of hurting each other."

"You probably should be. She hurt you before, didn't she? Angel said…he says you still have the scars," Willow says, quietly.

"I hurt her in much worse ways back then, Willow," Wes replies, his gaze drifting to the door.

"So, you're okay with that. You're sure she's not…" Willow continues.

"Unquestionably. I trust her," Wes says.

"What is it? Why the quick exit?" Faith asks, leaning on the door.

Willow winks at Wes and hops back into the house.

"Just got a little nauseous. Nothing dramatic, for once," Wes says to Faith, fluidly wrapping his arms around her. He feels the need to touch her. He can't stand to be in the same space as her and not to have his skin against hers.

"You okay?"

"Are you? The First was pretty brutal in there," Wes responds, closing his eyes as she starts to kiss his face.

"It's not like I don't see his face everywhere I go…the man I killed…it's not like I don't see him in my dreams," She replies, as he kisses her face in turn. "But seeing him…solid…it was…"

"I know…" Wes says, kissing away the gentle tears. "I'm sorry you had to see that…"

"It'll make me stronger. You make me stronger," Faith replies.

"Bloody hell, you blokes can't keep your hands off each other, is it something in the water around here?" Spike says, coming onto the porch.

"Spike," Wes says, as Faith pulls away, flushed.

"I've been meaning to talk to you, English," Spike says, lighting a cigarette and perching on the porch.

"You've been talking to Gunn, too, haven't you?" Faith smiles at the nickname.

"Who's the kid's mother? I mean, something is not right about that kid…" Spike says.

"Darla," Wes says, his arm around Faith's waist and her arm around his.

Spike gasps. "Darla? She's been dust…bloody hell…"

"Wolfram and Hart, they resurrected her…as a human. Drusilla…" Wes pauses, watching his reaction. "She made an appearance. Darla was turned again and…she was pregnant by Angel. She staked herself to save her child," Wes finishes.

"Damn. That's seriously heavy. Must have tore Angel up something harsh," Spike sighs.

"You've been hanging around Dawn too much," Faith smiles at his lingo.

"Connor is powerful, stronger than Faith or Angel. He's a force to be reckoned with but he is not evil," Wes explains.

"Darla and Angelus…" Spike whistles in awe. "Their offspring would definitely have to be a force to be reckoned with," He says. He tosses his cigarette into the grass. "I'll leave you to your business."

"You know, Slayer/watcher relationships are frowned upon," Faith whispers, nibbling his neck as she turns into him.

"I don't think anyone here will mind," Wes replies, losing himself in her scent.

A giggle freezes them both. They turn to the window and see several peeking faces in the window. The potentials rush from the window once they are spotted.

"I'm sure we'll get a lot of that come tomorrow night. A houseful of potential slayers…should be entertaining," Faith grins.

"I'm thinking we should go get the house ready. I'll get Gunn and Connor. We can crash there tonight, I've got some sleeping bags in the car," Wes suggests, not pulling away from Faith's embrace.

"Let's stay out here a few minutes," Faith urges, her mouth meeting his.

Inside the house, Buffy has forced the potentials to go to bed. She turns to Connor and Gunn, who are sitting on the couch with Xander, Willow and Dawn.

"How long have Faith and Wesley been making with the mad smoochies?" Buffy asks Gunn.

"Really?" Gunn asks, surprised, turning to peek out the window. "Go, Wes."

"You didn't know?" Willow asks, curious.

"Wes and I are just recently on speaking terms. We're working it out. Faith was really protective of him back in LA, possessive almost, but I didn't know they were horizontal…" Gunn replies.

"He loves her," Connor says, quietly. "Like Angel loves Cordelia. From a distance. It's like he's afraid to get close to her." He adds.

"Angel and Cordelia? That's a surprise," Xander says, turning to gauge Buffy's reaction.

"Cordelia's changed a lot in LA," Willow says, quietly.

"Cordelia and Angel have never even made their love known. It's unspoken and unfulfilled. But Wes and Faith…" Gunn snickers, peeking out the window again. "They don't seem to need words."

"The best relationships are without words," Buffy sighs. "No complications, no communication issues…"

"But just sex always seems to end up complicated in the end," Xander adds.

"I thought all relationships were complicated and not worth the drama," Connor states, flatly. He shrugs after seeing their curious glances. "That's what Angel told me," He shrugs.

"That's because he doesn't want you to date. That's the same line Buffy always feeds me when I get a date," Dawn smiles, knowingly.

"Is not," Buffy pouts.

There is a thump and a crash from the porch. It is followed by Faith's laugh.

"Looks like they got a little carried away," Xander smiles, peeking through the window.

"What's the play by play?" Willow asks, joining Xander by the window. Buffy nudges Dawn out of the way and looks, curious.

"She pushed him against the wall but tripped, and they're both laying down now…" Xander explains.

"You people have no shame…" Gunn shakes his head.

The window-watchers all tilt their head. "Is that some kind of Slayer trick?" Willow asks.

"I can't do that…" Buffy gasps.

"What are you looking at?" Spike asks, causing everyone to jump.

"Nothing," Willow denies, blushing.

On the porch, Faith rolls off Wesley, breathless.

"Better now," She says, finally.

"Me, too. You're good for me," He whispers, nipping at her ear.

"Really? The way you shut down when I ask you something makes me think differently," Faith replies.

"Faith…"

"What do we have if you can't talk to me? I don't want just sex this time, Wes. I want more from you," She says.

"I want to give you more. This isn't about sex, Faith, it never has been…" Wes replies, sitting up. He pulls her close, into his lap, their legs tangled.

"Why won't you tell me what happened to you today?" She asks.

"Because I don't want to talk about it. It's over now. It's done. I don't want to ever have to think about it again…" He replies, his eyes hardening, suddenly.

"But you will think about it again, you're going to have to face the First again and it's going to get to you…" Faith says, forcing him to meet her gaze.

"I know. I'll be ready," Wes replies. "I just…I can't describe it. It makes me sick, Faith, and talking about it only brings it closer to the surface. It's not you. It has nothing to do with you…"

"It has everything to do with me," Faith replies, quietly.

"Will it make you feel better to know the things I saw? The things I felt? Watching you die, watching them all die, feeling the life drain from my body from a thousand wounds? I held you in my arms, Faith…I felt you die…" Wes' eyes glaze as he speaks. "Your blood on my hands…the tears on your face from all the pain…"

"Wes…" Faith gasps.

"I saw everyone…felt all their pain…I saw children slaughtered, forced to suffer torture that I've never seen…the earth is red with blood…"

"Stop it, Wes, I'm sorry I asked…" Faith says, concerned now.

His breathing is shallower as he sinks further into his memory. "There is nothing we could do…I lost sight of you for a second and…"

Faith slaps him, hard across the face.

"Wes?"

"Thank you. I think we need to find a better way for you to get my attention, though. I'm going to start losing teeth…" He says.

"How about this?" Faith asks, kissing him, deeply.

"Better…" Wes breathes. He lies down on top of her, holding himself on his hands so he doesn't crush her.

There is the sound of someone clearing their throat and Wes raises his head.

"You have an audience," Connor says, standing in the doorway.

"Oh. Well. Yes," Wesley says, sitting up.

"Tell Gunn to meet us out here. We're going to spend the night down the street and meet back here in the morning," Faith says, straightening her clothes. There is a round of applause from inside the house and a few whistles.