Dawn cringed when she saw the flashing red and blue lights mounted on top of a Sunnydale Police patrol car in her rearview mirror. Faith wasn't going to like this. Even though she had her driver's license, it had taken a great deal of convincing for Faith to let her simply drive herself and Kennedy to school. Now she was coming up with ways to talk the Slayer into loaning her money to pay for the ticket.
"Faith is going to kill you," Kennedy echoed Dawn's thoughts from the passenger's seat. "I mean seriously, she might not kill you but by the time you get ungrounded, you might as well be dead."
"Would you shut up!" Dawn, in a panic, dug through her purse attempting to locate her driver's license after she brought the vehicle to a complete stop on the side of the road. "Besides, he might not give me a ticket, it's not like I was going all that fast."
"You were doing fifty in a twenty-five mile per hour school zone."
"Okay, we've talked about you using technicalities against me," Dawn scolded her by waving and pointing a finger when she finally recovered her driver's license from the bottom of her purse. As the police officer approached, she ran through a list of possible excuses in her head, thinking that if she used her cutest voice and sounded really sorry and gave her cutest little smile that he would feel bad and not give her a ticket, thus saving her life. With the few seconds she had remaining, Dawn flicked her hair behind her ears and quickly checked her makeup in the visor mirror.
"You really think you're going to charm your way out of this?" Kennedy didn't have much faith in Dawn's plan.
"What, you don't think I'm cute enough?" Dawn asked innocently, trying to slip into the part she would have to play to get out of a much feared speeding ticket.
"Plenty cute, I just don't think the cop is going to take cute as an excuse for reckless driving."
"I don't know," both girls recognized Robert Bloodworth as he poked his head into Dawn's window, looking over his sunglasses at the two girls. "Probably wouldn't get away with it if it was just one but I think I can make an exception for two cute girls." Both Dawn and Kennedy smirked at the remarks, Dawn having to refrain from breathing a sigh of relief.
"Hey Robert," Kennedy greeted him with a reserved wave.
"Kennedy," Robert pulled his sunglasses off. "You know I thought potential Slayers were supposed to be responsible?" Kennedy raised her eyebrows, asking for a quick explanation to his comment. "What are you doing letting her drive like that?"
"Tried to stop her but her charms overwhelmed me," Kennedy's reply very deliberately made fun of Dawn's earlier plan for talking and using her charm to get out of a ticket.
"So you're really not going to give me a ticket?" Dawn still used a little bit of her cute voice and smile when asking the question she hoped she already knew the answer to.
"She's kind of worried about Slayer wrath if she gets one and has to go begging for money to pay for it," Kennedy added to Dawn's case.
"Yeah, I can understand that," Robert knew a little bit about the temper Faith could have from time to time. The tone in his voice suddenly changed from jocular to stern and serious. "How is Faith doing anyways? She all right?"
"She's fine," Dawn was quick to answer, still hoping to earn points towards not receiving a ticket. "Doing the whole patrol, sacred calling, demon killing thing a lot lately. We're actually all supposed to have some big meeting this afternoon. Faith wouldn't say what it was about but you should show."
"Yeah well, I always hated being the guy that showed up to the party uninvited." If Faith wanted him there, she could invite him herself and he doubted he would be receiving that invitation anytime soon. The Slayer didn't seem to be taking his arrival in Sunnydale as well as he had hoped she would. After a moment where Robert didn't say anything and Dawn and Kennedy didn't know what to say, he finally backed away from the car. "Just slow it down and be careful Dawn, don't want to see anything happen to the two of you."
"Thanks Robert," Dawn relaxed for the first time since she had seen the flashing lights in her mirror. "I'll tell Faith you said hi," Dawn gathered from the expression on his face that that may not have been the best way to end the conversation. Robert seemed rather touchy when speaking on the subject of Faith.
"Yeah, thanks, you two take care and drive safely," Robert walked back to his car and Dawn drove away. When he stepped back into his patrol unit and put the vehicle in drive to resume his duties, his thoughts lingered on Faith. "Get a hold of yourself Robert," he tried to drive the thoughts of her from his mind. Just then, his pager went off. He pulled it off his duty belt and checked the number, one he recognized as Faith's cellular phone.
***
It had been a long, rough and tiring night and morning for Spike and Harmony. The two vampires rested now. Harmony nuzzled against Spike's cheek, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, arm draped across his bare chest, just above his red sheets. "Wow," Harmony was so spent that she was barely able to form the words. It hadn't even been that good when Spike was imagining her as Buffy years before.
"You were great love," Spike kissed her forehead, gently pulling her slightly closer to him in the process. "Don't know what I was ever thinking, leaving you, thinking I fell in love with a Slayer. Makes me sick to my stomach to think I hurt you and wasted so much time pursuing her."
Even though Harmony knew it was just the effects of the medallion Spike talking, she didn't care. He was hers again and now nothing could take him away from her. "That's so sweet Spikey." She softly put her hand on his cheek and guided his face to look at hers. "And you came around in just enough time to help me with my plan."
"Oh yeah, all ears babe. So what is this ultimate evil scheme you've got brewing inside that pretty little head of yours?" Spike delicately ran his fingers through her golden hair, staring into her eyes the entire time.
"Well," Harmony began excitedly explaining the scheme she had concocted. "First I use the medallion to mind control the entire town, then I send them after the Slayer. Once she dies, no more Slayer, vampires and demons move in and I become their queen."
"Great plan babe," Spike's tone bordered on sarcasm, leading Harmony to think she was going to have to give him another dose of the medallion. "But you really think the Slayer is just going to let you walk around the town mind controlling people? I mean, granted she's not the sharpest tack but I think after the first couple dozen people come after her, saying they worship you, she might start to get the idea and put a stake through your heart before you can use your little flashy thingy anymore."
"Don't worry Spikey, I've already figured out how to get the whole town at once!" Harmony's voice literally squeaked with excitement. "Well, most of the whole town at least." Spike's eyes begged for her to continue even though his hand wandering underneath the sheets and blankets indicated he was more interested in something else. "You see, this Friday is the high school's first football game. All I have to do is get onto the field, use the medallion and I have every high school football fan under my control."
"Well, well, well, aren't you the little evil genius?" Spike was genuinely impressed with her plan and the degree of thought she seemed to have put into it. "But you're forgetting something love. You've got a couple days until Friday night and word might reach the Slayer about your little plans before then. Maybe you need someone to distract her while you take care of the whole brainwashing deal."
Harmony caught what Spike was implying. His mind worked so well when it was completely under her control. She rolled slightly away from Spike, prompting him to tighten his grip as she grabbed the medallion off the nightstand and held it over Spike's head. "I want you to take care of the Slayer for me Spikey."
The other vampire grinned. "I thought you'd never ask love." He kissed her deeply, his passion flaring at the thought of finally being able to take on another Slayer. He had gone too long without the taste of Slayer in his mouth. "She won't even see it coming, that's the advantage of being on good terms with her, leaves her vulnerable."
"But don't kill her," Harmony reminded him. "I have to be the one to kill her."
"Not a problem Harm," Spike resumed petting her hair and gazing into her eyes. "I'll just keep her occupied and out of your hair long enough for you to do your thing. Get her good and ready for you and your little army to make the final blow. Then she'll be gone and you can rule this town."
"We can rule this town Spikey," Harmony believed that every good evil leader needed a right hand and her newly brainwashed version of Spike would fit that job quite perfectly. "You and I will rule this town and we'll unleash hell on earth."
"Sounds great love. You and I are going to have a lot of fun, make up for all the time we lost," Spike sounded perfectly sincere, saying exactly what Harmony wanted to hear.
"You're okay with me taking over the world Spikey? Even with the whole soul thing, it doesn't bother you?" It was as much a legitimate question as it was a test to be sure the effects of her medallion were still firmly in place over Spike.
"Of course not Harm, I'd do anything for you." Again, Harmony didn't care that it was just the effects of the medallion talking. "Besides, it's not like people with souls can't be evil too you know. Some of the most evil people in history have all had souls. The soul doesn't keep me from being evil. Thanks to you love, doesn't even make me feel bad about it."
"So I'm like your savior!" Harmony hadn't considered that by mind controlling Spike she was, in effect, saving him from what he had become since falling in love with the Slayer.
"Yeah something like that," Spike wasn't quite sure how to describe what she had done for him as he was not quite sure he understood what she had done.
"Yay me!" Harmony squealed congratulation to herself.
"So," Spike began to twirl some of her hair on his finger. "Daytime out right now, we've got some time to kill before I go start keeping the Slayer occupied for you." Harmony got the message.
***
As he pulled his patrol car into Faith's driveway, noting the presence of both her own car and Xander's, Robert still wasn't sure why Faith had asked him to come to this little get together. He figured, based on what Dawn had told him, that there was some new evil threatening the town that she might want his help in dealing with. That had to be the explanation as he could think of no other reason why Faith would want to see him, without being too hopeful of course.
He had completed his duty shift a few minutes before and didn't want to risk being late by taking the time to go to his apartment and change out of his uniform before going to Faith's for the meeting. Instead, he simply advised dispatch that he was off duty and proceeded to her place.
He slowly walked up to the door, putting out of his mind how easy it would be to simply turn around and walk away. He rang the doorbell, put his arms behind his back and waited. Mere seconds later, the door slowly opened with Faith standing on the other side. Her eyes were tired, a sign she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before thanks to having something on her mind. She was still beautiful however; her blue button up shirt hanging out of her light brown pants perfectly accented her features.
"Faith, hi," Robert surprised himself with his ability to form the words.
"Hey," Faith's voice was soft and troubled. The Slayer suddenly felt strange with him being here after doing her best to avoid and not think about him for the better part of a week. After a moment of silent looks being exchanged between them, Faith recovered. "Umm … everyone else is here already, why don't you come in on. We can get this party started," from the sound of her voice, Robert could tell she saw this meeting as anything but a party, more like a funeral.
Robert followed her into the living room where Xander, Dawn and Kennedy were all seated with someone he didn't recognize, a clean cut man in a dark blue suit, standing next to the dark wooden coffee table in the middle of the room. Robert eyed him suspiciously as he slowly walked in, hand falling inconspicuously over the thumb break to his holster. There was something about this mysterious stranger that didn't sit well with him. He considered that it was perhaps a friend or associate of Faith's he didn't know but, seeing the way she and the others looked at him, he doubted it.
Dawn gestured to an empty place on the couch next to her by patting it several times when she saw Robert enter. He slowly sat down, leaving Faith standing next to the man, keeping a cautious eye on him.
"Where's Andrew?" Faith raised an eyebrow towards Xander, wondering if the nerd was coming or if Xander had purposefully lost his roommate.
"Eight day long Star Trek convention in LA," no one wanted any more of an explanation from Xander. "Yep, eight days where every nerd in California will be gathered into a single, confined space and yet, demons still think there's better things to go after in Sunnydale."
"All right, Andrew at a Star Trek convention, Wood at a principal's conference," she slowly turned and looked at Preston. "Guess everyone is here then." The watcher remained silent, still waiting for Faith to make another move. "Not much on introductions," the Slayer continued with a shrug. "Everyone, this is Preston. Preston, this is Kennedy, Xander, Dawn and Robert," she went around the room, pointing at each one of her friends who still had no idea what they were all doing here or who this Preston was.
"What about the vampire?" Preston did not even acknowledge their presence before asking Faith that question. "The one with the soul, Spike I believe he likes to call himself. All the reports I read indicated that he was an integral part in of the Slayer's efforts in Sunnydale, as odd as that seems."
"Spike's out of the picture," Faith answered coldly.
"He was killed?" Preston removed a small notepad and pen from his jacket pocket to make a note to amend their information if that was in fact the case.
"No," Dawn beat Faith to the answer, also sounding rather detached on the subject of Spike. "He just took himself out of the picture. Tired of the whole being hated by every other member of his race thing I guess."
"Curious," Preston made a small notation on his notepad before turning his head towards Faith. "Do you believe it is possible that he could be a threat? Given his change in attitude, I think it possible that he could be reverting to his old ways."
"Look," Faith said gravely. Seeing the way she stepped towards Preston and the manner in which he acted, Robert slowly stood up and walked toward them, planning to intervene if there was any sort of a problem. "Spike might be a lot of things and he might be a little confused right now but he isn't a killer again." Her voice indicated that she wanted that particular line of thought to end.
"I was merely suggesting –" Faith did not allow him to continue.
"Then stop suggesting," the Slayer demanded.
Preston leaned closer to Faith, wanting his next comment to be out of the other's earshot, though Robert could still hear them. "Faith, I do not believe you should be questioning my authority in front of the others. It will not do well for moral or for maintaining my image."
Faith gave a frustrated sigh but also kept her voice low enough not to be heard by any but Preston and Robert who was eavesdropping nearby them. "Look pal, no offense, I just don't do well with authority figures."
"That's true," Robert muttered with raised eyebrows, hoping to break the tense air between them. As it became obvious that Faith and Preston weren't going to come to blows, he sat back down next to Dawn.
"Just what kind of authority figure are you exactly?" Kennedy drew awkward expressions from both Preston and Faith when they realized she too had overheard there conversation. She gave an innocent shrug in response. Slayer and watcher realized they needed to get on with the reason Preston had called this meeting.
"My apologies," Preston turned away from Faith to address the group. "I have been assigned here by the Watcher's Council of Great Britain to oversee Faith and her operations in Sunnydale."
"Ah, so you just wanted to meet and greet everybody," Xander was the only one who had a comment on the revelation from Preston. He walked towards the watcher and extended his hand. Seeing the way Faith acted towards him, Xander thought it best that he do what he could to make Preston seem more welcome. "Well, let me be the first to say welcome to the gang."
Preston did not take the offer of friendship from Xander. The watcher had wanted to late until later in the meeting to bring this up but since the issue of the 'gang' was now in front of him; he thought it best to get it over with. "About that Mr. Harris," Xander immediately thought that Preston was being far too formal for this to be anything good. "Upon reviewing reports regarding Sunnydale, I have determined that it is too dangerous for civilians to actively participate in the Slayer's duties."
Xander was too stunned at those words to stop holding his hand out once it became clear Preston was not going to take it. "Excuse me?" Xander spoke for the expressions on the faces of the rest of those gathered at the Summers house.
Preston's expression remained hard and cold. He knew this was a necessary step, one the Slayer would be resistant too at first but would eventually adapt to. "All of you have put yourself at far too great of risk far too many times while helping the Slayer in her duties. As I am now responsible for Faith, I cannot risk your lives as well. You are now forbidden from directly aiding Faith in her duties, with the exception of Kennedy whose training I shall personally oversee."
"Hey listen," Faith spoke up where no one else would. "Maybe this wasn't in your reports but if it weren't for some," she looked into the faces of each of them, Robert, Dawn, Kennedy and Xander. "All of these people, Buffy and I probably would have been dead a long time ago."
"The council recognizes their contributions," Preston did not seem willing to waver on this point. "But I cannot and will not be responsible for the lives of civilians who are fighting a battle they have no place fighting against creatures far superior to them. I will not relent on this position."
Faith clenched a fist, her nails digging into her flesh as she pored her anger into it. "If you won't relent on it then you can," Xander, approaching silently from behind placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, stopping her before she said something she probably wouldn't regret.
"It's okay Faith, we're okay with it. If this is how he wants it, then we can play along," she wondered what he was getting at and realized it wasn't anything when Xander said nothing else.
"Yeah well," Robert was already on his way to the door. Preston couldn't stop him from doing what he thought was right and he now suddenly felt this meeting was pointless. "I think I've heard about all I need to hear." The only acknowledgement he gave Faith on his way to the door was a stern glare.
"Robert wait," Dawn was the one springing off the couch and running to the door to follow him, leaving the rest of them to sit and stand quietly in the living room. The teenage girl caught up to him as he was unlocking the door to his patrol car.
"What is it Dawn?" He turned the key and pulled it out of the lock. Robert did not want to talk, not to her, not to anyone at the moment. Though he could understand the watcher's reasoning, he only saw it as being pushed further from Faith's life and further from what he thought he needed to do with his.
"Hey, you're not the only one who isn't too thrilled about this new watcher but I think Faith wants us to play ball for now. Maybe give him a little bit of time to adjust to everything here before she tries to bring everyone back into it. I mean, not every Slayer has a little support group, got to be kind of a hard thing for Preston to accept."
Robert allowed himself a slight smile. After everything the young girl had probably been through, he could still here an uncanny innocence in her voice. He turned around slowly, leaning against the hood of his vehicle. "I know Dawn, I know, just something about Preston doesn't sit real well with me."
"It's the stiff upper-lip," Dawn joked, taking a few steps closer to him. "Seems odd at first but you get used to it," she achieved her goal in drawing another slight smile out of Robert. "I know what you mean though, something about this whole situation just doesn't seem right."
Robert could not deny that. "I'm going to do some checking, see what I can find out about this Preston guy. You and Xander should try to get a hold of Giles, if anyone can explain the actions of the council it'll probably be him." He opened the door to his car and sat down in the driver's seat but did not yet close the door behind him.
"I'll tell Faith about what we're doing, she might be interested."
That was something Robert didn't agree with Dawn on. "Let's keep it quiet for now," he suggested. "Given her history with watchers, Faith probably has enough on her mind with this new guy as it is right now. She doesn't need us going and putting all these doubts in her head, not until we have something more than a gut instinct.
"Yeah," Dawn reluctantly concurred.
"I'll call you if I find out anything."
"Same here."
***
"I must admit I am rather excited by this," Preston took a deep breath of the warm evening air, smelling the freshly cut and watered grass that permeated it. He was in a legitimately good mood, evidenced by the slight but noticeable grin on his face and by his demeanor as a whole. "To be on patrol, even a routine one, with the Slayer is something every watcher wants to experience. This is indeed a rare privilege."
"Oh yeah, this is a barrel of fun," Faith tried to remain as detached from his as she could.
"You don't understand Faith," the two continued walking side by side amongst the rows of tombstones, seeing no fresh graves to stop at. "Very few watchers ever get the opportunity to have a Slayer. This is a unique opportunity for me, a true honor."
"You buttering me up there Pres?" Faith could almost laugh at how Preston was acting. This wasn't anything to her. The life or death struggle of good vs. evil was something she did everyday, it was her life and she didn't see what Preston apparently saw in it.
"Just attempting to share with you Faith how privileged I feel to be a part of your life and to be doing my duty by aiding you in yours." The Slayer shook her head at the comment.
"I get it Preston; you got the great job from Giles. I'm happy for you," Preston picked up on the rather clear amount of sarcasm from the Slayer.
"Speaking of Mr. Giles," Preston saw an opening now. "What do you think of him?"
Although she was keeping regular contact with him, Faith actually hadn't thought much about Giles lately. "Giles? I don't know, good man, nice enough guy I guess."
"You were under him for a time were you not?" Preston suddenly seemed rather interested in Giles.
"Depends how you define under him," Faith quipped, wanting to avoid a long and drawn out conversation along the line Preston was progressing. The look on Preston's face indicated that he was not amused. "Yeah," Faith said to cool the air. "He was both mine and Buffy's watcher for a while, before Wesley showed up and before I –" That was another topic she would rather not discuss.
"What was your opinion of the manner in which he handled things while you were his charge?" Preston continued to press for more information making Faith a slight bit suspicious.
"Why are you so curious?" Faith decided it was her turn to start asking questions.
"Vampire," Preston gestured to two figures several feet away from them. A burly man in a dated outfit had a young blonde bent over a tombstone and Faith guessed that this wasn't just a late-night high school make out session. With her watcher following, Faith slowly and nonchalantly approached the vampire, drawing a stake from her back pocket.
The blonde underneath the vampire struggled, squirming to keep her neck away from his fangs and pounding her fists against his chest. "Oh help me!" She shouted. "Oh would someone please save me from this horrible, horrible, hellish, creature thing!" Preston backed off slightly, not entirely convinced by the young woman's performance but he couldn't stop Faith in time.
By the time he had developed his suspicion, Faith was standing behind the vampire, driving the stake through its back and into its heart. The dust settled on top of the young woman's stylish outfit. Faith extended a hand and helped her to her feet. "Just a tip, graveyards aren't the vacation spots they used to be, too many natives prowling about nowadays." Faith turned and began to walk away but came to an abrupt halt when she saw Spike standing a few feet in front of her.
"Hello Slayer," Spike said coolly, a wry grin on his face.
"What are you doing here?" Faith was already annoyed; this was the last thing she needed. There was something different about Spike though that she picked up on after a moment of watching him in silence. Something was different about the way he walked, carried himself, his expression and his eyes.
"Actually Slayer, I've got good news for you," Spike started walking closer, locking eyes with Faith. "You see and old friend of mine came to see me, did something wonderful for me."
"Permanently dyed the hair?"
"No," Spike shook his head a single time. "Turned me back into my old self." The meaning of the statement hit Faith like a wrecking ball as she tightly gripped the stake in her hand. "And now," Spike's face shifted to its demon form. "I'm hungry."
"Get out of here," Faith said, not bothering to look over her shoulder at the blonde behind her.
"You don't want to go anywhere do you Harm?" Spike crossed his arms and looked past Faith. The Slayer spun around, seeing the vampiric face of the young girl she thought she had just rescued. It had all been an act; this was a trap.
"No, I'm happy right here."