Second chapter re-written (finally) I will get to the end one day I swear.

Jess neither knew nor cared what was being said about her; it was the things being said about someone else that annoyed her. She wandered through one of Cleveland's many cemeteries revelling in her slaying abilities. She was in top form tonight; anger gave her the strength to rule the graveyard. Every vamp that was unfortunate enough to choose that night to rise was welcomed to their second life with a sharp stake through their unbeating heart. The undead were active tonight, giving Jess plenty of time to enjoy herself beating them to a pulp before dusting. Faith's blood was running through her veins and with it the love of the hunt, the ability to get wrapped up in the fight and lose the clarity to go straight for the kill. Jess didn't realise this problem; she was confident in the power of her blood, and her adrenaline so she continued to pound the demonic creatures.

"You have to be careful." Jess mimicked as she threw a punch at a new vampire.. "Jess the power can go to your head. You have to be more controlled."

"Who are you talking to?" The vampire asked in confusion but Jess didn't answer. Instead she slammed her fist into his face wishing heartily it was Buffy's face she was pounding, or any of the scoobies for that matter. It didn't quite stop her ranting though, as she marched down the rows of graves.

"She crossed a line Jess, you could go the same way. We care about you Jess…we don't want to see you hurt." 'Bull' Jess thought. 'You're just scared of what I could do. You just think you're getting older and I'm stronger…like she was.' As if to prove this too herself Jess swung around and let loose with the hardest front kick she could muster, hitting the vampire's face squarely.

"Hey watch it!" a familiar British accent rang out. "You nearly smashed me teeth in." It was Spike, slick blonde hair gleaming in the moonlight. Jess crossed her arms and stood aggressively facing Spike.

"What the hell do you want? I don't have time right now." Spike grabbed Jess's arm as she made to turn away from him.

"You'd better make time kid 'cause otherwise you're headed for a fall.

"Spare the lecture Spike I've heard it all. I'm a screw up, I'm headed down a path of darkness, I'm following my mother. Well great. I'll be damned proud if I follow her because she knew how to handle herself." Jess was defiant; she was sick and tired of cryptic warnings which basically said the same thing: follow Buffy's example.

"You need to listen to this Jess, you've got to start taking advice from someone other than your own bloody self."

"Look just 'cause you're on the Buffy bandwagon don't expect me to be. My mum taught me everything I need to know and now I'm done learning. I can fight just as good as Buffy, if not better. I don't want to hear her slagging off my mother and I definitely don't want to hear it from you. I don't know why no-one dusted you years ago."

"Now this is exactly the sort of thing we need to talk about." Spike began but Jess interrupted , her blood beginning to pump harder, causing her face to grow hot.

"What, threatening a vamp, staking the undead, not really seeing a problem there Spike."

"No you wouldn't cos that's not the problem genius. Its threatening a vamp who's trying to help you and trying to kick his face in."

"Get over it Spike this isn't about you, you know that."

"No you're right Jess it's not but it's not about you either. It's about people who are going to get hurt if you don't stop being so bloody pig-headed and get rid of this picture you've got of Faith as some kind of saint." Spike snorted at the image of Faith as a saint but stopped laughing as Jess pressed the tip of her stake hard under his chin.

"Don't you ever talk about her again, ever. You just have no idea." Despite his situation Spike laughed throatily.

"No idea? Kid I have met the woman and I know you. You think she's the bee's bleeding knees and you can't stand to hear anything else. You think it would honour her to follow in her footsteps and you refuse to believe that that's the worst thing you could possibly do." Spike's speech was cut off as Jess pressed harder against his throat.

"Shut up. Just shut up."

"Yeah maybe I should; there's other people better than me at talking 'bout Slayer issues."

"Too right Spike you're just not getting through but I doubt anything Saint Buffy has to say is gonna hit the spot."

"Look miss Attitude I don't really care what happens I'm just the messenger so get you're arrogant, slaying arse home now."

"Whatever Spike I've got things to do." Jess raised her arm…

"Jess don't even try it…" Before Spike could say anything else Jess's stake made contact with his head and he slumped unconscious on the ground.

"Night Night Spike" Jess muttered turning on her heel and striding into the night.