Part 3:

#

"How come that Khan guy has two names anyway?" Faith asked as they walked back towards the school.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean all the big vamps seem to have but one name, you know? Angelus. Kakistos. Dracula. That pseudo-goth couple you told me about, Spike and Godzilla."

"Drusilla," Buffy corrected with a chuckle.

"Most vampires don't really need more than a first name," Angel said. "The only families that matter to them are their bloodlines."

"Angelus of Aurelius," Buffy pronounced. "Sounds more impressive than Liam O'Connor, doesn't it?"

"Liam O'Connor?" Faith asked, looking at Angel. "That your real name?"

"It was a long time ago," Angel said, a dark tone to his voice that made Faith decide drop the topic. She was actually starting to develop something like tact around these people. Funny that it had never taken with Cordelia.

"Maybe Khan isn't into that whole blood line business," Buffy figured, also looking to change the topic.

"I hope Giles can find out more about him. The vampire rumor mill isn't exactly the most reliable source of information in the world."

They approached the school and Buffy motioned for Faith to go on ahead, wanting a moment alone with Angel. Easily moving into the comforting circle of his arms she tipped back her head to look into his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought up your past like that."

"No apologies necessary," he said, brushing his cheek across her golden hair. "I ... I haven't exactly learned to live with everything I have done, but ... it has gotten easier."

It went unspoken that it was because of Buffy that things had gotten easier. Because of the closeness they had shared for so many years. To Angel it often appeared that those long centuries before he had met Buffy were getting less and less real. As if his entire existence up to that point had only had the one purpose of leading him to Los Angeles in order to see this beautiful girl descend the steps of Hemery High School.

"Just stop me the next time I start blabbing like that," Buffy ordered him. She knew that sharing his entire past with her like he had done over the years was not something that had come easy to him and she did not want to betray his confidence, even to a friend like Faith.

They shared a soft kiss, more of a promise of things to come once they got home tonight, then followed Faith inside. They were about to enter the library when they heard the other Slayer's loud voice ring out to them.

"Another Watcher?" Faith all but yelled. "Wow, that's ... wicked cool. Another Watcher."

Buffy and Angel shared a look, getting the hint.

#

Faith breathed a silent sigh of relief when she heard the barely-there footsteps of Buffy and Angel moving away from the door. The Watchers Council did not know that Buffy and Angel had returned from Hell and everyone thought it better to leave them in the dark on this.

The woman standing next to Mr. Giles, introduced to her as Gwendolyn Post, gave her a puzzled look as to her rather loud announcement.

"Sorry," Faith said. "Didn't expect another British guy to turn up here. Or girl. Surprised me."

"I am pleased to meet you, Faith," Post just said, though her face looked anything but. "As I was telling Mr. Giles, we have a lot to talk about."

"We do?" Faith asked, looking at Giles for help.

"The Council has received Mr. Giles reports on everything that has happened to you, Faith," Post continued.

"They sure took their time," Faith muttered under her breath.

"We like to do things thoroughly."

"Mrs. Post is here to ... evaluate the situation," Giles said, looking rather uncomfortable.

"The situation?"

"You," Post said candidly. "There has been a lot of discussion over the issues of having Mr. Giles as your new Watcher and legal guardian. I have all the necessary paperwork with me, but before we finish that process we want to make sure that ... Mr. Giles is qualified."

#

"The nerve of these people," Buffy whispered to Angel. They had sneaked into the library through the stacks, close enough to observe everything going on without being seen themselves.

"I can't honestly say I'm surprised," Angel whispered back. "From their point of view Giles has made quite a few mistakes when it came to your handling."

"Such as?" she challenged.

"Allowing you to have friends. Any outside contact at all, actually. Not preventing your falling in love with a vampire. I have met a few Slayers over the centuries, Buffy, I know how the Council likes to treat them. You were lucky to get someone like Giles but as far as the Watchers are concerned he violated quite a lot of rules."

"Just great," Buffy muttered. She knew the Council held rigid rules on a lot of things, which was one of the reasons she had decided not to let them know about her return and the way she had changed. Now it looked like they were looking to make Giles responsible for all the bad stuff that had gone down.

#

"G-man ... I mean Mr. Giles is great," Faith protested. "I would still be on the run if not for him. If Kakistos hadn't captured and killed me by now, that is."

"As I said, we've read Mr. Giles' report," Post just repeated, unmoved by her statement. "We want a more detailed account before we make a decision, though. I will hold interviews with both you and Mr. Giles. If I am satisfied the Council will bring the process of making him your legal guardian to conclusion. If not a new Watcher will be selected to guide you."

"I don't want a new Watcher."

"Fortunately that is not up to you to decide."

Faith was a hair's breath away from exploding, but forced herself to remain calm. Beating up this arrogant bitch would not make things better. It would make her feel good, though, very good even. Maybe that was worth the trouble it would no doubt bring.

"You have our full cooperation, of course," Giles said, seeing Faith's rage and looking to defuse the situation quickly.

"Good. I fear there is another matter we have to deal with, though. The Council has learned that a demon called Lagos is on his way to Sunnydale. He is looking for the Glove of Mhynegon. Mr. Giles?"

Giles needed a moment to realize she wanted him to explain about the glove.

"The glove, yes. Not much is known about it except that it is a powerful magical artifact. I need to do some research on it, but it is safe to say we do not want a demon getting its hands on it."

"Speaking of demons," Faith remembered the reason why they had come to the library in the first place, "you might want to add something else to your research list. We ... I mean ... I overheard some vampires talking about a new player in town, vampire by the name of Sebastian Khan."

"Sebastian Khan," Giles mumbled. "I have heard that name before somewhere."

"It is certainly not as pressing as finding the glove," Post decided. "Lagos is the clear and present danger. I propose we work quickly to find and stop him."

#

"I really don't like this lady."

"I know where the glove is," Angel told Buffy.

"You know?"

"Yes. I remember Spike and Dru making a list of all the magical artifacts to be found in or near Sunnydale. They only came up with a small number of items by the time Akathler was discovered, but I know where to find the glove."

Buffy nodded, looking at the Watcher lady again. Something about that woman was giving her the creeps in a major way.

"You should go get it," she finally said. "I'll keep an eye on our brand-spanking new Watcher here. Something's rotten about her."

"I'll bring it to the apartment. Meet you there."

They shared a goodbye kiss, then Angel vanished.

TO BE CONTINUED