A/N: See chapter one for disclaimer, rating, and notes. I've included both sides of the phone conversations, mostly for my own sanity.

Title: 'Between Angels and Insects' is a Papa Roach song. Don't own it, either.

*****

Michael glanced over at the slayer every few minutes, unable to stop himself. She wasn't the 'bad girl' he was expecting after the stories and reports he had heard, and she was much more attractive than the other slayer, that Summers woman. Summers looked small, fragile, and annoyingly angelic. Faith seemed… tougher, more suited to the world she found herself in.

He had seen Summers during the Acathala incident. He wasn't impressed, at all. She was to self-centered, worried too much about herself. Her childishness almost ended the world.

Then again, Faith wasn't without her own mistakes. The whole Ascension deal, and her wrong doings…

He sighed as he pulled into the back parking lot of the hotel he had a room at. His money, and his 'friends', gave him a top floor suite, and no questions. Tonight, he was definitely grateful for the latter.

Waking Faith with a light tap on the shoulder, he escorted her quietly to the elevator and slid his room key down the panel. The elevator began it's gently ascent while Faith was still slightly gaping at her surroundings.

"Nice," she said, the awe in her voice easily recognizable. "I thought we were going to a motel, or a Holiday Inn at best."

"There are benefits to getting paid for this work," he said with a slight laugh. "I'm still surprised that the Council doesn't take care of its people better."

"Remind me to write them a letter."

* * * * *

Faith was pleasantly surprised by the suite, and nearly shouted for joy when she saw the large bathroom and bedroom. Closing the door to the bathroom, she filled the tub with hot water, stripped, and slowly lowered herself into the relaxing water. Letting herself relax for the first time in what seemed like forever, she was drifting close to sleep when she heard the phone ring, and Michael answer it.

"Mike."

Pause. You find what they were after?

"One of the slayers, apparently. Wasn't able to find out why."

Pause. Why not?

"Hard to ask piles of dust anything."

Longer pause. Where are the slayers right now? I know the Summers girl is still in Sunnydale, and her watcher should be made aware of the threat. The other one….

"Faith."

Pause. She's in prison near you right now.

"Not anymore."

Brief pause. What?

"She's with me right now. The goons were going after her tonight, so I had to act."

Long pause. We'll send someone to pick her up in the morning. She's dangerous, but we should be able to keep her safe and still hold her. Then you can go keep an eye on the other slayer…

"Not happening. Send Brian to Sunnydale, if it's necessary. The goons thought Summers was too hard of a target.

Pause. You can't keep Faith with you.

"I'm not going to let you lock her up again."

Pause. You don't know what she's capable of.

"I know what she'll do if you try and take her again. She's free right now, and will most likely want to stay that way."

Pause. Suggestions?

"I'll keep her with me, and go from there. The first sign that she's unstable, or still… wrong, I'll send for back up. Isn't Angelus, sorry, Angel in LA still?"

Pause. True. I think that having a slayer with you could only help matters. Are you sure she won't hurt you?

"No."

Pause. Keep your head, Michael. This Necromancer you're chasing is a nasty piece of work… and so was, or maybe is, Faith.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Pause. Don't get yourself killed. Your mother would skin everyone involved alive if you don't make it home in one piece.

"She knows the risk of what I do as much as I do."

Pause. I'll call in a few days. Cell phone or room phone?

"Try the room, and wait a day if I don't answer that before you try the cell."

Pause. Good hunting.

"As always."

The click of the phone being set down wasn't lost on Faith. She felt as if a burden was lifted from her shoulders, only to have another set down upon her.

Some time later, when the water began to turn cold, Faith rose and began to dry herself off. Pulling the terrycloth robe around her, she opened the door and walked into the living room.

Michael rose and stretched as she sat down on the loveseat across from him. Yawning slightly he turned to leave.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Shower," he said over his shoulder. "You weren't the only one who needed to clean up after tonight."

"Hey!" she shouted in mock indignation as he shut the door to the bathroom. Seconds later, she could hear the shower running.

* * * * *

Despite the shower, Michael could hear her talking on the phone. He stuck his head out of the spray of water to hear whom she was talking to.

"Hey, Angel. It's Faith."

Pause. What's wrong?

"Bit of a problem down at the prison. Vampires."

Pause. Are you all right?

"A little hurt, but nothing a night's sleep won't fix."

Pause. You're out again.

"Yes."

Pause. Where are you?

"Can't tell you. I've got some business to handle."

Pause. Faith…

"Angel, we both knew I wouldn't be able to hid forever. Someone saved my life tonight, and I intend to help him."

Pause. Why's that Faith?

"'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'"

Smiling to himself, Michael stuck his head under the water again and finished his shower, not needing to eavesdrop any longer.

* * * * *

Faith's conversation lasted a little longer.

"You think you can trust this guy?"

"Actually, I do. He seems to be a nice guy."

"Be careful Faith. You haven't been around many people lately."

"I still remember that most people don't run around swinging a sword, killing vampires, or charging into a prison that more resembled a slaughterhouse. I'll bring him by to see you."

"Promise?"

"Yes. I'll bring him by tomorrow night."

"Might be a little easier if I came to you. Cordielia most likely won't be happy to see you, not to mention my other friends."

"I understand. I'll call you tomorrow."

Faith laid the phone down and turned to face Michael as he walked into the room, wearing only gym shorts and drying his hair with a towel. She smiled softly as he moved within arm's reach.

"What did you tell him?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Who?" she asked, her voice matching his for volume.

"Angel."

"Just what happened," she replied without hesitation. "I said we'd meet him tomorrow and talk. He's trying to look out for me."

"Alright," Michael said after a moment. "We should get some rest, and we'll discuss the situation tomorrow over some food."

Michael paused for a moment, looking at her. His eyes, as dark as hers, were searching for something, perhaps within. Finally, he turned, and gestured towards the only bed.

"Go ahead, I'll take the couch." He said, his voice rising closer to a normal tone.

Faith paused for a moment before walking into the bedroom, where she paused again by the door.

"Michael?"

"Yes?" he said, raising himself on his elbows to look at her over the back of the couch.

"We can share the bed," She said softly. "I don't feel like sleeping alone tonight."

"Faith…" he began before she raised her hand.

"Just… hold me tonight. Please?"

Michael was on his feet before conscience thought could form. He turned off the lights while Faith climbed into the bed, and carefully did the same in the almost perfect dark. He could feel her curl up next to him, her head resting on his chest and her leg thrown over both of his. Within moments, she was sleeping soundly.

As Michael drifted of into sleep as well, he realized that she was naked next to him, but dismissed that thought quickly. She just wanted to be held.

* * * * *

Faith woke first, as the gentle light of the midmorning sun peeked around the heavy curtains in the room. Pulling away from Michael carefully, she rose from the bed and put the bathrobe back on. She had been surprised last night when he didn't try to touch her. Faith wasn't used to men who could ignore their instincts, but was glad for it last night.

Sitting on the couch, she turned on the TV and began scanning the news channels. She was never really one to sit and watch the boring headlines or stock markets, but since she had been in prison, she had heard very little about the world outside, mainly by choice.

Michael padded out of the bedroom half an hour later, his hair in as much disarray as her own, and his eyes barely focused.

"Morning," Faith said cheerfully, to which Michael answered with a snort.

"I take it you're not a morning person?" she asked sweetly.

"Something you slayers tend to take for granted," Michael muttered, "is that most people need more than an hour or two of sleep."

"Another vaunted slayer power that has been ignored over the ages," she said with a smirk.

Michael huffed again as he shuffled over to the bathroom. "Call room service, and have them bring some food up. They already have my order, get what you want."

Still smiling, she picked the phone up as he closed the door to the bathroom. Room service did have his order, and she added a few things that she hadn't enjoyed since she lived with Buffy.

Michael came out of the bathroom moments before the food arrived. Looking much more awake with a clean shave and cloths, he answered the door and rolled the tray before the couch.

They ate in companionable silence, Faith because she was enjoying the food and Michael because he was thinking about her. They finished twenty minutes later, and Michael rolled the tray to the hall, where one of the employees would take care of it.

"What do we do today?" she asked, when he sat beside her.

"There's a shirt of mine hanging behind the bathroom door, and a pair of sweats. Wear your sneakers, so we can at least go get you some better things to wear."

"I don't have any money," Faith said, even though she already suspected his answer.

"Don't worry about it," he said, failing to disappoint her.