Author's Note: Night Of The Hunter - Classic film where Robert Michum
plays a psychotic preacher. Watch it. Be afraid, be very afraid.
It Had To Be Done 2
Faith stared around Buffy's bedroom and shook her head, a sad smile twisting her full lips. Five years ago she'd have been in heaven, B's room and the head of the Scooby gang. Funny how now she'd got it she wanted nothing more than to have B back and to be able to step into the background. Hell, fact was she'd give her own life without a second thought to have Joyce back; there was a woman who'd always treated her right but got nothing but shit in return. Wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, she turned to the bed; she needed some rest before the morning. "Hello Faith."
The Slayer spun round, her knees nearly buckling with shock at the figure stood by the room's window. She reached out a trembling hand only for it to pass through the body. "The First," she let out a sigh of half-relief, half-fear.
"Now Faithie," Mayor Wilkins III scolded. "Don't say you recognise your old boss."
"Get lost you old bastard. B sent your scaly ass straight to hell."
"And where do you expect to end up Faithie?" the Mayor's genial tone chilled her blood. "I mean look at you, an escaped jailbird with a gutter- mouth and a string of crimes under her belt - and you're still only twenty- one! Imagine what you can achieve with just few more years! You've failed everybody's who ever tried to help you. You got Linda killed with your impetuosity," Faith flinched at her first Watcher's name. "Buffy and Joyce welcomed you into their home, you betrayed them. Xander tried to help you, if it hadn't been for the vampire you'd have killed him. Even when you turned bad, you were more of a hindrance than a help to my operation," the Mayor sighed. Faith shook her head, but that was the past she was a good person now. "I hate to label people but you really are a worthless slut. I think it's best that you kill yourself," the Mayor glanced towards her knife lying on the bedside table. "After all it's only a matter of time before you let Angel down too. And you wouldn't want to hurt him."
Mesmerised by the voice, she stepped towards the knife. "Leave her the hell alone!" Faith's head snapped up to see an angry looking Xander stood in the room's doorway.
"Oh it's the White Knight," Faith saw Xander flinch at that. The Mayor approached the man, Faith got between the Mayor and her friend but the apparition just walked through her. "Silly girl." The Mayor glared at her friend. "Quite the gallant hero aren't you Mr. Harris, always saving the damsel in distress. But not all of them."
"Xander." The apparition changed to a pretty Latino girl.
"Save." Now the First was a girl Faith recognised as her predecessor, Kendra.
"Me." Now the First was the Wicca babe Willow used to bang.
Faith glanced across at her friend; the colour had drained from his face leaving him looking more dead than alive. "Damn it Xand," she muttered under her breath, "people die in our biz, that's the breaks. It isn't your fault."
The brunette swallowed as the First changed again. "Look at the two of you," Joyce scolded. "After all my Buffy did for both of you. Gave you a sense of self-esteem and purpose, Xander. Tried to drag you out of the gutter where you belong, Faith. And how do you re-pay her? By stabbing her in the back. I could hardly expect better of a tramp like you Faith, but Xander?" the apparition shook her head before disappearing.
"That was intense," Xander slumped against the wall, his limbs shaking. "Meeting the First is always an experience. You okay Faith?"
"Five by five," she replied in a shaky whisper. But she wouldn't have been if Xand hadn't walked in when he did. She'd have been slitting her throat from ear to ear; three times Xand had saved her life now. "You meet the First before?"
"Once, it came to me as my best bud Jesse," the Slayer wouldn't have thought it possible but Xander went even greyer.
"Jesse? Don't think I met him," Faith commented cautiously. Xander looked like he needed to talk.
"You didn't," Xander grinned, but it didn't have his usual warmth. "He'd have liked you."
Faith forced a smirk. "Guys always do. So how did he die?"
Only a Slayer's hearing could have picked up the man's answering whisper. "I killed him."
Faith's brow furrowed. "What you talking about boytoy?" she kept her tone soft, like she'd been taught to do in prison when counselling newbies.
"Two nights after Buffy arrived in Sunnydale, Darla, Angel's sire," Faith nodded, she'd heard the name, "turned him, my best bud since forever. I had to stake him to save Cordy."
Damn, no wonder Boytoy had a serious thing for Angel. "Xand, you know you didn't kill him, Darla did that when she turned him."
"I know but," Xander shook his head and started towards the door.
"Xand, wait." Faith bit her lip as the man turned towards her, his eyes expectant. She'd never cared what any man, aside from Angel, thought of her before but she had to know. "Do you think the First was right about me being a worthless slut?"
The man sat on the bed beside her, his eyes serious. "Faith, you should know by now that evil twists the truth for its own end. We've all done stuff we regret. G-Man used to be a murdering dark mage and a thug, Anaya's a 1,100 year old former vengeance demon who could give you lessons on torture, you know about what Will did, Buff's ran away from being a Slayer twice and got G-Man's love killed with her refusal to kill Angelus and me," the man hesitated. "I've murdered more people than you."
"Xand, I told you vamps aren't people."
Xander shook his head. "No not vamps, people. Two years ago it was getting close to my wedding to Ahn and I started getting scared about ending up like my dad, a drunk abuser -."
Faith snorted. "Never happen."
"Thanks Faith," the man smiled vaguely. "So I summonsed a singing demon to make sure everybody was happy. Only trouble was there was a problem, if the demon made you dance too long you combusted, half a dozen people burnt to death because of something I'd done." The man laughed bitterly. "Funny thing is, it comes to the wedding and what do I do? Jilt Anya at the altar, causing her to become a vengeance demon again. What a screw-up."
"Oh Xand, I'm-."
The man seemed not to hear her interruption. "What you've got to remember is you have a choice, you can wallow in the darkness, let it become you. Or you can do what you've done, climb out and fight it. Redemption's a great goal, but it's the journey that's important." Faith let out a laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing, it's just that your hated rival said something very similar to me after we restored his soul."
"Never thought I'd agree with Deadboy but he's right," Xander shook his head before continuing. "As for being a slut," the man hesitated. "I'm "no psychologist but I'm guessing a guy treated you pretty badly in the past -."
"More like a whole bunch," she muttered bitterly, remembering her first boyfriend who'd thought that it would be profitable to make her 'share the goods' with his two best friends and wasn't backwards about hitting her to make sure she did. If she ever saw him again.
"To make you act the way you do. But you've fought your way back from what you were, I'm sure you can change the way you act with guys if you want." Xander half-smiled. "There's plenty of decent guys who'd give anything for a chance to treat a beautiful woman like you the way you deserve. I could even vet them for you." Xander chuckled at her scowl. "Just a thought. That guy Wood for starters."
Faith snorted. She'd liked what Xander had said 'til that point. "The principal? He's got too much starch on his collar for my tastes."
"Maybe your tastes need changing Faith. Maybe you should trade up."
"Trade up?" Faith grinned. "But you were one of my boytoys I don't think it's possible to trade up from you."
Xander flushed before laughing uncomfortably. "Funny Faith. Get some sleep, breakfast's at seven."
Faith stared thoughtfully at the closing door. "Who says I was joking Xand?"
* * *
"So you guys ready for this?" Faith whispered. It was just past ten in the morning and she was outside the vineyard with Xand, G, and the principal. "Xand, you wanna get out your toys?"
The one-eyed man nodded grimly and lowered the canvas bag he'd carried from the car to the ground. After unzipping the bag he passed out a trio of rifles. "The M-16, the assault rifle of choice of the U.S. military and most Western armies. Together with a few alterations of mine and Andrew's design."
"Bloody hell Xander," Giles hissed. "Where did you get those from?"
"Will's hobby is hacking, my chosen federal offence is stealing from army stores," Xander grinned at the open-mouthed Watcher.
"Say Principal," Faith winked at Wood. "Aren't you glad you weren't Principal when the Scoobies were there?"
Wood shook his head. "No wonder they had to re-build the place."
"Wanna run through the spec for G and Wood, X-Man," Faith encouraged. She'd enjoyed the air of purpose her friend had got when he'd explained the guns to her.
"Sure Faith," Xander nodded, his face suddenly serious. "Thirty rounds in the cartridge," Xander quickly showed the other two men how to load the gun. "It's single shot, semi, and fully automatic. But here's the clever bit, Andrew's designed a silencer that work with the M-16, giving completely silent fire, making the perfect stealth weapon. Also the ammo is a design of mine, an armour-piercing shell with a magnesium flare and a drop of holy water inside. Works on a normal vamp, don't know about ubers though -."
"Wait," Faith noticed Giles' eyes had hardened. Yep, the Watcher was definitely a scary bastard. "How do you know it works on vamps?"
"Ah," Xander swallowed nervously. "I've been patrolling on my own ever since Buffy died the second time."
Faith watched with interest as the Englishman's face changed half a dozen colours in just as many seconds. She'd always thought that only she had that effect on the middle-aged Englishman. "Why didn't you tell Buffy about these guns?" the Watcher hissed.
Xander's face tightened. "When Will brought her back from the death I did, she wasn't interested."
Giles' eyes bulged. "Let's get this straight. You're telling me, you've been stealing from the U.S. military and making your ammo? You've been patrolling on your own? And Buffy's told you she's not interested in these guns - despite what happened with the Judge?" Xander nodded. "I really don't know which of you two is the most bone-headed!"
"There, there G." Faith patted the man consolingly on his shoulder. "I bet you'd never thought the day would come where I was a goody-two shoes next to the X-Man." The brunette chuckled softly at the incredulous look on the Watcher's face before turning serious. "Both of you know guns right?" both the Watcher and the teacher nodded. "Then here's the plan. You three sweep the vineyard for Bringers. You see Caleb, get the hell out. I'm going straight into the belly of the place, see if there's anything hid there. Any questions? No, then let's go."
* * *
Faith dropped through the cellar door and onto the ramp beneath. She forced a smile when she saw Caleb stood in the centre of the darkened cellar. "Why Rev, want another go with Faith?"
The priest's eyes hardened. "What are you doing here harlot? Shouldn't you be out tempting some unsuspecting man with your wanton body?"
"You've got a right purty mouth on you there," Faith drawled in reply before chuckling and making her way down the ramp. Behind the preacher she could see a trapdoor. "Wonder where that leads," she muttered before raising her voice. "You got me pegged rev," she admitted cheerfully, her hips swinging provocatively in rhythm with her voice. "Girl's good at two things. Screwing and what? Oh yeah, fighting."
The brunette leapt into the air, meaning to drop-kick the preacher but Caleb side-stepped her and slammed a fist into her chest knocking her to the ground. She hit the hard, dusty ground with a thud before quickly rolling to her feet. Damn, the guy hit harder than Kakitois, Angelus, or Buffy. This was going to be a bitch of a fight to win - if she could. The Slayer moved back into the attack, only to stop in trembling fear when Kakitois appeared before her. "Hello Faith." Distracted by her nemesis' sudden appearance, she never saw the fist that slammed into her head, propelling her into the far wall.
Shaking her head to clear it, the Slayer struggled to her feet again, all too conscious of the preacher advancing on her. Pushing off the wall, she advanced on her adversary again, only to falter when the Mayor appeared beside her, his hands held up in a classic boxing stance. "What's your strategy Faith, rope-a-dope?" Again she hesitated and again Caleb caught her, this time grabbing her by the throat and flinging her into the air.
The Slayer landed with a crash. Her entire body aching now, she struggled to her feet, her heart thundering in terror. She couldn't compete with this - the combination of Caleb's brute power and the First's mind games. She was surprised to realise that although her life had been pretty shitty to this point she didn't want it to end. Suddenly Linda Fletcher appeared, her first Watcher, a look of disapproval on her regally upper-class face. "Now Faith, I taught you better than that," she scolded.
"Big mistake asshole." Faith grinned, the fear she'd felt at the first two images was suddenly replaced by a blood-boiling rage. Leaping into the air, she caught the on-rushing man with a spin kick to the cheek that staggered him. Landing with feet spread, the Slayer moved smoothly into a leg-sweep, sending the man crashing to the ground. "On your back rev? And you a man of the cloth, I'm so disappointed." Faith winked seductively before dropping into a forward roll, stopping by the trapdoor, tearing it off its hinges and plummeting into the hole beneath. Scrambling to her feet, she found herself in a small room, shadowy room lit only by the light shining from a scythe stuck in a rock
"So you've found it," Caleb had followed her into the alcove beneath the cellar, his customary smirk still in place. Only question is can you take it," looking over her shoulder at the priest, the Slayer grabbed the weapon's hilt and effortlessly pulled it out of the rock. The man's smirk disappeared. "Darn."
She'd just known it was meant for her. "You know I'm feeling all King Arthury here." Faith grinned, both at the power she could feel radiating from the scythe and the look of fear on the preacher's face. "Ready for round 2, rev?"
After another second's hesitation the man let out an inarticulate snarl and charged her. The Slayer leapt into the air and somersaulted over her assailant, slamming her feet into his back as she passed over him. Landing beneath the hole, she bent her legs and jumped upwards, landing back in the cellar. Faith started up the ramp, conscious of the sound of Caleb in hot pursuit only to groan when she saw the reception committee waiting for her at the top of the ramp. Five bringers, on their own not a problem, but they'd slow her down enough for 'Night Of The Hunter' wannabe behind her. Suddenly the cellar door flew open. "Faith! Hit the floor!"
"What is it with guys always wanting me to hit the floor?" the Slayer muttered as she dropped to the ramp's hard surface. Glancing upwards she watched in awe as Xander tore the five bringers in half with his assault rifle, their blood and entrails decorating the ramp and nearest wall, before firing the rest of his magazine into the advancing preacher, knocking him to the bottom of the ramp. Bounding back to her feet, she raced up to her friend, grabbed him, glanced over her shoulder and paled at the sight of the preacher staggering back to his feet unharmed. What did it take to put that bastard down? "Thanks X-Man," she forced a smile as she pushed him through the open doorway, "you know this means you're in credit for two rolls."
Xander flushed. "I'll bear that in mind. Now let's get out of here."
* * *
"So you don't feel anything when you touch it?"
"No."
"Damn," Faith gazed thoughtfully at the scythe on the kitchen table between them, she'd been so sure.
"Maybe that's a good thing though," Xander hurried on at her confused expression. "Maybe the only reason you can feel something is because you're the Slayer. And you did say Caleb seemed a little scared of it." The man shrugged. "Anyway, if there's anything to find out about it, Will will find it."
"Yeah Red's wicked at the research gig," the brunette agreed with a nod. "Sometimes I wonder what she's best at the Witching or the brainiac stuff."
"Definitely the witching."
The Slayer saw a shadow flicker across her friend's face. "Things got pretty hairy with Red for a while, uh?" she took a sip of her beer.
"Oh yeah."
"Wanna talk about it?" After a second, the man nodded and started talking. Twenty minutes later, he'd finished. Faith didn't fail to notice Xander had down-played his role in it. "Red, tells it a little different. Says she nearly killed you."
Xander flushed red. "She was in a bad place."
The brunette took another thoughtful sip of her drink, one thing didn't tally. "You've forgiven me and Red but not B. What gives man?" Xander hesitated before speaking. "The difference with Will, me, and you is we're mature enough to admit we were wrong," Faith snorted, mature wasn't a word often used to describe her. "And have tried to make amends, in Buffy's eyes she's never done anything wrong, it's always somebody else's fault." The man laughed bitterly. "The night I discovered Angel was back from hell I was trying to find Buff for G-Man. I knew Buff was patrolling so I was trawling through the cemeteries looking for her when I saw Angel coming out of a mausoleum carrying that glove thingie Post wanted," Faith winced at the mention of the fake Watcher who'd fooled her. "So I followed him to see where he was going."
"Took balls Xand."
The man shrugged. "I wasn't figuring on tackling him, I'm heroic," Xander grinned at her chuckle, "not suicidal. I just thought if I could find out where he was staying and tell Buffy. Turns out she already knew, I look through the Crawford Mansion window and what do I see? Buff making out with Deadboy. So I tell G-Man and we have a meeting the next day to confront her about it. You know what she says?"
"Go on," Faith encouraged, she remembered Post mentioning this meeting and using it to push a wedge between her and the others - never heard much in the way of details though. Man, Xander was getting seriously pissed. She thought he'd been angry the other night when he'd confronted Spike but this was a whole different level.
"'You were spying on me'." Xander shook his head. "Unbelievable."
Faith decided to change the subject before Xander lost it completely. "I'm thinking we need more help, sure we got the Scythe but Caleb's still out there. And god knows what other shit the First's got planned."
"Already taken care of."
"Oh yeah?"
"Sent for Oz, he can control and summon the change whenever he wants now. An in-control werewolf should come in handy."
The brunette forced a smile. "That's wicked Xand but I was thinking -."
She was cut off by a huge yawn. The man smiled in embarrassment. "Looks like I need to hit the sack. See you in the morning Faith." The man rose and walked out of the kitchen.
The Slayer stared at the closing door for a few seconds before turning towards the kitchen phone. "Damn, I'm sorry Xand." Sighing, she reached for it and began dialling.
It Had To Be Done 2
Faith stared around Buffy's bedroom and shook her head, a sad smile twisting her full lips. Five years ago she'd have been in heaven, B's room and the head of the Scooby gang. Funny how now she'd got it she wanted nothing more than to have B back and to be able to step into the background. Hell, fact was she'd give her own life without a second thought to have Joyce back; there was a woman who'd always treated her right but got nothing but shit in return. Wiping away the tears forming in her eyes, she turned to the bed; she needed some rest before the morning. "Hello Faith."
The Slayer spun round, her knees nearly buckling with shock at the figure stood by the room's window. She reached out a trembling hand only for it to pass through the body. "The First," she let out a sigh of half-relief, half-fear.
"Now Faithie," Mayor Wilkins III scolded. "Don't say you recognise your old boss."
"Get lost you old bastard. B sent your scaly ass straight to hell."
"And where do you expect to end up Faithie?" the Mayor's genial tone chilled her blood. "I mean look at you, an escaped jailbird with a gutter- mouth and a string of crimes under her belt - and you're still only twenty- one! Imagine what you can achieve with just few more years! You've failed everybody's who ever tried to help you. You got Linda killed with your impetuosity," Faith flinched at her first Watcher's name. "Buffy and Joyce welcomed you into their home, you betrayed them. Xander tried to help you, if it hadn't been for the vampire you'd have killed him. Even when you turned bad, you were more of a hindrance than a help to my operation," the Mayor sighed. Faith shook her head, but that was the past she was a good person now. "I hate to label people but you really are a worthless slut. I think it's best that you kill yourself," the Mayor glanced towards her knife lying on the bedside table. "After all it's only a matter of time before you let Angel down too. And you wouldn't want to hurt him."
Mesmerised by the voice, she stepped towards the knife. "Leave her the hell alone!" Faith's head snapped up to see an angry looking Xander stood in the room's doorway.
"Oh it's the White Knight," Faith saw Xander flinch at that. The Mayor approached the man, Faith got between the Mayor and her friend but the apparition just walked through her. "Silly girl." The Mayor glared at her friend. "Quite the gallant hero aren't you Mr. Harris, always saving the damsel in distress. But not all of them."
"Xander." The apparition changed to a pretty Latino girl.
"Save." Now the First was a girl Faith recognised as her predecessor, Kendra.
"Me." Now the First was the Wicca babe Willow used to bang.
Faith glanced across at her friend; the colour had drained from his face leaving him looking more dead than alive. "Damn it Xand," she muttered under her breath, "people die in our biz, that's the breaks. It isn't your fault."
The brunette swallowed as the First changed again. "Look at the two of you," Joyce scolded. "After all my Buffy did for both of you. Gave you a sense of self-esteem and purpose, Xander. Tried to drag you out of the gutter where you belong, Faith. And how do you re-pay her? By stabbing her in the back. I could hardly expect better of a tramp like you Faith, but Xander?" the apparition shook her head before disappearing.
"That was intense," Xander slumped against the wall, his limbs shaking. "Meeting the First is always an experience. You okay Faith?"
"Five by five," she replied in a shaky whisper. But she wouldn't have been if Xand hadn't walked in when he did. She'd have been slitting her throat from ear to ear; three times Xand had saved her life now. "You meet the First before?"
"Once, it came to me as my best bud Jesse," the Slayer wouldn't have thought it possible but Xander went even greyer.
"Jesse? Don't think I met him," Faith commented cautiously. Xander looked like he needed to talk.
"You didn't," Xander grinned, but it didn't have his usual warmth. "He'd have liked you."
Faith forced a smirk. "Guys always do. So how did he die?"
Only a Slayer's hearing could have picked up the man's answering whisper. "I killed him."
Faith's brow furrowed. "What you talking about boytoy?" she kept her tone soft, like she'd been taught to do in prison when counselling newbies.
"Two nights after Buffy arrived in Sunnydale, Darla, Angel's sire," Faith nodded, she'd heard the name, "turned him, my best bud since forever. I had to stake him to save Cordy."
Damn, no wonder Boytoy had a serious thing for Angel. "Xand, you know you didn't kill him, Darla did that when she turned him."
"I know but," Xander shook his head and started towards the door.
"Xand, wait." Faith bit her lip as the man turned towards her, his eyes expectant. She'd never cared what any man, aside from Angel, thought of her before but she had to know. "Do you think the First was right about me being a worthless slut?"
The man sat on the bed beside her, his eyes serious. "Faith, you should know by now that evil twists the truth for its own end. We've all done stuff we regret. G-Man used to be a murdering dark mage and a thug, Anaya's a 1,100 year old former vengeance demon who could give you lessons on torture, you know about what Will did, Buff's ran away from being a Slayer twice and got G-Man's love killed with her refusal to kill Angelus and me," the man hesitated. "I've murdered more people than you."
"Xand, I told you vamps aren't people."
Xander shook his head. "No not vamps, people. Two years ago it was getting close to my wedding to Ahn and I started getting scared about ending up like my dad, a drunk abuser -."
Faith snorted. "Never happen."
"Thanks Faith," the man smiled vaguely. "So I summonsed a singing demon to make sure everybody was happy. Only trouble was there was a problem, if the demon made you dance too long you combusted, half a dozen people burnt to death because of something I'd done." The man laughed bitterly. "Funny thing is, it comes to the wedding and what do I do? Jilt Anya at the altar, causing her to become a vengeance demon again. What a screw-up."
"Oh Xand, I'm-."
The man seemed not to hear her interruption. "What you've got to remember is you have a choice, you can wallow in the darkness, let it become you. Or you can do what you've done, climb out and fight it. Redemption's a great goal, but it's the journey that's important." Faith let out a laugh. "What's so funny?"
"Oh nothing, it's just that your hated rival said something very similar to me after we restored his soul."
"Never thought I'd agree with Deadboy but he's right," Xander shook his head before continuing. "As for being a slut," the man hesitated. "I'm "no psychologist but I'm guessing a guy treated you pretty badly in the past -."
"More like a whole bunch," she muttered bitterly, remembering her first boyfriend who'd thought that it would be profitable to make her 'share the goods' with his two best friends and wasn't backwards about hitting her to make sure she did. If she ever saw him again.
"To make you act the way you do. But you've fought your way back from what you were, I'm sure you can change the way you act with guys if you want." Xander half-smiled. "There's plenty of decent guys who'd give anything for a chance to treat a beautiful woman like you the way you deserve. I could even vet them for you." Xander chuckled at her scowl. "Just a thought. That guy Wood for starters."
Faith snorted. She'd liked what Xander had said 'til that point. "The principal? He's got too much starch on his collar for my tastes."
"Maybe your tastes need changing Faith. Maybe you should trade up."
"Trade up?" Faith grinned. "But you were one of my boytoys I don't think it's possible to trade up from you."
Xander flushed before laughing uncomfortably. "Funny Faith. Get some sleep, breakfast's at seven."
Faith stared thoughtfully at the closing door. "Who says I was joking Xand?"
* * *
"So you guys ready for this?" Faith whispered. It was just past ten in the morning and she was outside the vineyard with Xand, G, and the principal. "Xand, you wanna get out your toys?"
The one-eyed man nodded grimly and lowered the canvas bag he'd carried from the car to the ground. After unzipping the bag he passed out a trio of rifles. "The M-16, the assault rifle of choice of the U.S. military and most Western armies. Together with a few alterations of mine and Andrew's design."
"Bloody hell Xander," Giles hissed. "Where did you get those from?"
"Will's hobby is hacking, my chosen federal offence is stealing from army stores," Xander grinned at the open-mouthed Watcher.
"Say Principal," Faith winked at Wood. "Aren't you glad you weren't Principal when the Scoobies were there?"
Wood shook his head. "No wonder they had to re-build the place."
"Wanna run through the spec for G and Wood, X-Man," Faith encouraged. She'd enjoyed the air of purpose her friend had got when he'd explained the guns to her.
"Sure Faith," Xander nodded, his face suddenly serious. "Thirty rounds in the cartridge," Xander quickly showed the other two men how to load the gun. "It's single shot, semi, and fully automatic. But here's the clever bit, Andrew's designed a silencer that work with the M-16, giving completely silent fire, making the perfect stealth weapon. Also the ammo is a design of mine, an armour-piercing shell with a magnesium flare and a drop of holy water inside. Works on a normal vamp, don't know about ubers though -."
"Wait," Faith noticed Giles' eyes had hardened. Yep, the Watcher was definitely a scary bastard. "How do you know it works on vamps?"
"Ah," Xander swallowed nervously. "I've been patrolling on my own ever since Buffy died the second time."
Faith watched with interest as the Englishman's face changed half a dozen colours in just as many seconds. She'd always thought that only she had that effect on the middle-aged Englishman. "Why didn't you tell Buffy about these guns?" the Watcher hissed.
Xander's face tightened. "When Will brought her back from the death I did, she wasn't interested."
Giles' eyes bulged. "Let's get this straight. You're telling me, you've been stealing from the U.S. military and making your ammo? You've been patrolling on your own? And Buffy's told you she's not interested in these guns - despite what happened with the Judge?" Xander nodded. "I really don't know which of you two is the most bone-headed!"
"There, there G." Faith patted the man consolingly on his shoulder. "I bet you'd never thought the day would come where I was a goody-two shoes next to the X-Man." The brunette chuckled softly at the incredulous look on the Watcher's face before turning serious. "Both of you know guns right?" both the Watcher and the teacher nodded. "Then here's the plan. You three sweep the vineyard for Bringers. You see Caleb, get the hell out. I'm going straight into the belly of the place, see if there's anything hid there. Any questions? No, then let's go."
* * *
Faith dropped through the cellar door and onto the ramp beneath. She forced a smile when she saw Caleb stood in the centre of the darkened cellar. "Why Rev, want another go with Faith?"
The priest's eyes hardened. "What are you doing here harlot? Shouldn't you be out tempting some unsuspecting man with your wanton body?"
"You've got a right purty mouth on you there," Faith drawled in reply before chuckling and making her way down the ramp. Behind the preacher she could see a trapdoor. "Wonder where that leads," she muttered before raising her voice. "You got me pegged rev," she admitted cheerfully, her hips swinging provocatively in rhythm with her voice. "Girl's good at two things. Screwing and what? Oh yeah, fighting."
The brunette leapt into the air, meaning to drop-kick the preacher but Caleb side-stepped her and slammed a fist into her chest knocking her to the ground. She hit the hard, dusty ground with a thud before quickly rolling to her feet. Damn, the guy hit harder than Kakitois, Angelus, or Buffy. This was going to be a bitch of a fight to win - if she could. The Slayer moved back into the attack, only to stop in trembling fear when Kakitois appeared before her. "Hello Faith." Distracted by her nemesis' sudden appearance, she never saw the fist that slammed into her head, propelling her into the far wall.
Shaking her head to clear it, the Slayer struggled to her feet again, all too conscious of the preacher advancing on her. Pushing off the wall, she advanced on her adversary again, only to falter when the Mayor appeared beside her, his hands held up in a classic boxing stance. "What's your strategy Faith, rope-a-dope?" Again she hesitated and again Caleb caught her, this time grabbing her by the throat and flinging her into the air.
The Slayer landed with a crash. Her entire body aching now, she struggled to her feet, her heart thundering in terror. She couldn't compete with this - the combination of Caleb's brute power and the First's mind games. She was surprised to realise that although her life had been pretty shitty to this point she didn't want it to end. Suddenly Linda Fletcher appeared, her first Watcher, a look of disapproval on her regally upper-class face. "Now Faith, I taught you better than that," she scolded.
"Big mistake asshole." Faith grinned, the fear she'd felt at the first two images was suddenly replaced by a blood-boiling rage. Leaping into the air, she caught the on-rushing man with a spin kick to the cheek that staggered him. Landing with feet spread, the Slayer moved smoothly into a leg-sweep, sending the man crashing to the ground. "On your back rev? And you a man of the cloth, I'm so disappointed." Faith winked seductively before dropping into a forward roll, stopping by the trapdoor, tearing it off its hinges and plummeting into the hole beneath. Scrambling to her feet, she found herself in a small room, shadowy room lit only by the light shining from a scythe stuck in a rock
"So you've found it," Caleb had followed her into the alcove beneath the cellar, his customary smirk still in place. Only question is can you take it," looking over her shoulder at the priest, the Slayer grabbed the weapon's hilt and effortlessly pulled it out of the rock. The man's smirk disappeared. "Darn."
She'd just known it was meant for her. "You know I'm feeling all King Arthury here." Faith grinned, both at the power she could feel radiating from the scythe and the look of fear on the preacher's face. "Ready for round 2, rev?"
After another second's hesitation the man let out an inarticulate snarl and charged her. The Slayer leapt into the air and somersaulted over her assailant, slamming her feet into his back as she passed over him. Landing beneath the hole, she bent her legs and jumped upwards, landing back in the cellar. Faith started up the ramp, conscious of the sound of Caleb in hot pursuit only to groan when she saw the reception committee waiting for her at the top of the ramp. Five bringers, on their own not a problem, but they'd slow her down enough for 'Night Of The Hunter' wannabe behind her. Suddenly the cellar door flew open. "Faith! Hit the floor!"
"What is it with guys always wanting me to hit the floor?" the Slayer muttered as she dropped to the ramp's hard surface. Glancing upwards she watched in awe as Xander tore the five bringers in half with his assault rifle, their blood and entrails decorating the ramp and nearest wall, before firing the rest of his magazine into the advancing preacher, knocking him to the bottom of the ramp. Bounding back to her feet, she raced up to her friend, grabbed him, glanced over her shoulder and paled at the sight of the preacher staggering back to his feet unharmed. What did it take to put that bastard down? "Thanks X-Man," she forced a smile as she pushed him through the open doorway, "you know this means you're in credit for two rolls."
Xander flushed. "I'll bear that in mind. Now let's get out of here."
* * *
"So you don't feel anything when you touch it?"
"No."
"Damn," Faith gazed thoughtfully at the scythe on the kitchen table between them, she'd been so sure.
"Maybe that's a good thing though," Xander hurried on at her confused expression. "Maybe the only reason you can feel something is because you're the Slayer. And you did say Caleb seemed a little scared of it." The man shrugged. "Anyway, if there's anything to find out about it, Will will find it."
"Yeah Red's wicked at the research gig," the brunette agreed with a nod. "Sometimes I wonder what she's best at the Witching or the brainiac stuff."
"Definitely the witching."
The Slayer saw a shadow flicker across her friend's face. "Things got pretty hairy with Red for a while, uh?" she took a sip of her beer.
"Oh yeah."
"Wanna talk about it?" After a second, the man nodded and started talking. Twenty minutes later, he'd finished. Faith didn't fail to notice Xander had down-played his role in it. "Red, tells it a little different. Says she nearly killed you."
Xander flushed red. "She was in a bad place."
The brunette took another thoughtful sip of her drink, one thing didn't tally. "You've forgiven me and Red but not B. What gives man?" Xander hesitated before speaking. "The difference with Will, me, and you is we're mature enough to admit we were wrong," Faith snorted, mature wasn't a word often used to describe her. "And have tried to make amends, in Buffy's eyes she's never done anything wrong, it's always somebody else's fault." The man laughed bitterly. "The night I discovered Angel was back from hell I was trying to find Buff for G-Man. I knew Buff was patrolling so I was trawling through the cemeteries looking for her when I saw Angel coming out of a mausoleum carrying that glove thingie Post wanted," Faith winced at the mention of the fake Watcher who'd fooled her. "So I followed him to see where he was going."
"Took balls Xand."
The man shrugged. "I wasn't figuring on tackling him, I'm heroic," Xander grinned at her chuckle, "not suicidal. I just thought if I could find out where he was staying and tell Buffy. Turns out she already knew, I look through the Crawford Mansion window and what do I see? Buff making out with Deadboy. So I tell G-Man and we have a meeting the next day to confront her about it. You know what she says?"
"Go on," Faith encouraged, she remembered Post mentioning this meeting and using it to push a wedge between her and the others - never heard much in the way of details though. Man, Xander was getting seriously pissed. She thought he'd been angry the other night when he'd confronted Spike but this was a whole different level.
"'You were spying on me'." Xander shook his head. "Unbelievable."
Faith decided to change the subject before Xander lost it completely. "I'm thinking we need more help, sure we got the Scythe but Caleb's still out there. And god knows what other shit the First's got planned."
"Already taken care of."
"Oh yeah?"
"Sent for Oz, he can control and summon the change whenever he wants now. An in-control werewolf should come in handy."
The brunette forced a smile. "That's wicked Xand but I was thinking -."
She was cut off by a huge yawn. The man smiled in embarrassment. "Looks like I need to hit the sack. See you in the morning Faith." The man rose and walked out of the kitchen.
The Slayer stared at the closing door for a few seconds before turning towards the kitchen phone. "Damn, I'm sorry Xand." Sighing, she reached for it and began dialling.