Paladin Project 6 - Building Bridges

"Xman, can I come in?"

"Door's always open to you Faith."

She hesitated for a moment before entering. She'd always known Xander had balls but what he'd done two hours ago seriously freaked her; it seemed totally at odds with the goofy geek she'd known back in the day. And B had only beaten him up, she'd tried to kill him. "Thanks," she took a breath, god this was hard, "and sorry."

The man nearly fell off the bed in surprise. "Did I just hear right? Faith, the baddest of the bad, apologising? Have I moved into an alternate universe?"

"Funny guy," Faith smiled, he still had the same goofy sense of humour. "Call it an insurance policy."

The man turned serious. "You have nothing to worry about Faith. You've admitted you were wrong, tried to change, that's the difference."

Faith beamed, first Angel, then Wes, Dawn, and Giles, now Xander - all forgiving her. "Still I wanna say it. Sorry for being a bitch that night we slept together and sorry for trying to kill you when were trying to help me. Thanks for saving my life with the Jhe demon, and the Council," Xander's eyes widened, "Angel told me. And thanks for the 10 K and the Presidental pardon, how the fuck did you manage it?"

Xander grinned. "Well there's this Air Force General who's base I helped liberate from aliens. Then there's the Assistant Deputy Director of the FBI who I solved a couple of X-Files for. Then there's the Vatican cardinal I rescued from demon worshippers, and the Supreme Court Judge who's grand-daughter I rescued from Russian mobsters. I called in a few favours and got them all to write letters to the President requesting your pardon."

Faith's mouth dropped open. He'd done all this for her? "But why?"

Xander shrugged. "Every couple of months I'd ring Angel, catch up on what he was doing," there was a fondness when Xander spoke of the vampire that Faith couldn't believe. "And ask how you were doing." Faith blinked, she wouldn't have thought Xander would have given that much a shit. "About six months ago he told me that he thought you were ready for release but would never got it because of your sentence. So I did what I could. Of course you've screwed it up with escaping but I should be able to smooth it over."

"Thanks Xand," Faith darted across the room and engulfed the surprised man in a hug. Remembering her image as a super-tough, kick-ass bitch she pulled away, cheeks flaming. "Um, sorry about jumping on you Xand." Xander winked at her. "I've never had any complaints about being jumped on by a hot babe."

Face still red, she sat back down. "Xand, how the fuck did you manage to beat B?"

Xander's face turned serious. "Well first off, you've got my teachers - Blade, Ryback, and Angel have taught me all they know about the Martial Arts, Bond and Crow are masters of dirty fighting, and Teal'c taught me stuff that's never been used on this planet before. Then you've got Buffy," Xander shook his head in disgust, "whatever your faults you always took your training seriously, you thought it was the only thing that made you special, you were wrong by the way. To Buffy, Slaying was something to fit in between boys, parties, and gossip, and from what G-Man's told me she's only got worse. After all she's the great Buffy Summers, the undefeatable," Faith was rocked by the bitterness in the man's voice. "Third, she was surprised, she still thought she was fighting the school geek, if it came to a re-match she'd be prepared and I'd lose. Fourth," the man hesitated. "You heard the story about me being possessed by a hyena?"

"Yeah."

"Well I met this mage Doctor Strange who gave me back 80% of the hyena's powers, I've got the strength, speed, and stamina equal to a fledging vampire and five senses to match."

"That include the sense of touch? 'Cause with the extra stamina, interesting." She winked at the now reddening man before continuing, her tone serious again. "Why only 80%?."

"Doc offered to give me the full 100% but he warned that the last 20% might cause me to lose control when injured or stressed. I couldn't take the risk of hurting my friends or innocents."

Typical Xander. "Well thanks again," Faith started to stand only to stop at the man's voice.

"Wait Faith, I want to ask you something," the man hesitated before continuing. "I'm sick of travelling the country I've done enough of that over the past few years. "I'm thinking of settling back down in Sunnydale."

"What about B and Red?"

The man replied coldly. "They'll stay out of my way if they know what's good for them." Xander's voice suddenly warmed. "The point is Giles and Wes are going to re-build the Council when this is over and they're going to need a Slayer, they're going to need you." Faith's breath caught, they were choosing her over B? "I've talked to Tony," Faith resisted the urge to shake her head, Xand casually referring to the U.S.'s second richest man as 'Tony', wicked weird. "And he's agreed to aid Giles and Wes in setting up the new Council, tracking down useful people, books, and bank-rolling Giles while he sorts out the Council accounts. He's also agreed to turn this place over to the Council and allow you to use it as your new base. Wood, if he agrees, will be your Watcher, Andrew will run the house's computer and electronics system, Dawn will help with research, and I'll be the added muscle," the man winked, "your Angel."

Faith stared at the man in disbelief. Three weeks ago she'd been a jail- bird, now she was getting all this offered to her? The Slayer forced down tears of gratitude, reminding herself she didn't do crying. "Why aren't you doing the Watcher gig Xand?"

Xander shrugged. "I don't have the languages, besides Wood's already trained. There's conditions to this through."

"Conditions?" Faith looked warily at the man, mentally cursing herself for being drawn in by his offer, nobody would offer her something for free.

"First off," judging from his expression Xander either hadn't noticed to chose to ignore her tone, "we're going to keep two or three of the best potentials here on a rotating business to get a feel for the job, it'll be part of your duties to mentor them. Second, you'll be getting a salary of $60,000 pa. Third," Xander coloured, "your private life if your own. Two rules only, whoever you involve yourself with doesn't know about all this, and second, no missing patrols for dancing or parties. Four, the salary is conditional on you getting your high school diploma."

For a long time Faith stared at Xander in disbelief, a place to live and money too? Then the fourth condition registered. "Fuck Xand, I'm nearly twenty-one. There's no way I'm going back to school to be perved at by a bunch of high school jocks!"

Xander chuckled. "Don't think you can handle them?" even as Faith opened her mouth to retort, Xander hurried on. "Don't worry, I was thinking more on the lines of correspondence or doing it part-time college."

"I don't know Xand," Faith felt a stab of self-doubt. "I'm not smart. Besides it's not like I'll ever need it."

"Faith," Xander swallowed, the young man looked suddenly nervous. After a second he continued. "When I'd got myself a reputation in demon-hunting business, managed to get some money together, and got a few contacts I did investigation into your background. I know all about your dad being a small-time crook, your mum being a drunk, your stays in juvenile hall, and how you never even started high school." Faith shuffled uncomfortably, fuck this was embrassing. She started as she felt the man wrap his arm around her shoulders. "The only people who know this are me and Angel, and we're not going to tell anybody or judge you okay?" She nodded gratefully, the man continued.. "Faith, you did amazing to drag yourself up from that, to pull yourself back from where you were heading. Don't you think getting your high school diploma would prove all those people who said you'd be worthless wrong? I've talked to you enough to know you're quick-witted and street-smart. I know you did some literacy and first aid classes in jail so you're willing to learn. Wood's a teacher, Andrew's a computer whiz, and Dawn will be re-doing her last year at school so there's plenty of people who'll help you."

Faith took a second before nodding. "I could give it try," she replied before standing. "You don't have to worry about me screwing around. I've learnt I'm better than that and I've kinda got an eye on a guy."

Xander's eyes widened. "Ah Woodie's a lucky guy."

Faith smiled before walking out of the room. After she shut the door behind her she shook her head in disbelief. "God Xand you're a stupid bastard," she whispered. Her smile broadened, well she'd just have to be more obvious.

* * *

Faith smiled as she stared at the ceiling of her room. A fresh start, just a few weeks ago she was looking at the next two decades at least in prison, her youth gone. She'd still have the nightmares but now she had a chance to make a difference. To do some good.

She started at a knock on the door. "Faith," it was G, "may I come in?"

Faith sat up and swallowed, G always made her nervous - seeing him reminded her what a screw-up she'd made of being a Slayer last time she was in SunnyD. "Sure G," she was grateful her voice didn't tremble.

"Thank you," the door swung open and the Englishman walked in, smiled uncertainly and sat at the desk by the window. "Faith, I'd like to apologise."

"Apologise?"

"For the way I treated you last time you were in Sunnydale. I know I favoured Buffy over you and I'm sorry," the Englishman looked down at the floor. "While you were in your coma, I went to the motel where you'd been staying and I was disgusted at what I saw -."

"Hey!" Faith snarled, this was so unfair. "How the fuck was I meant to afford any more?"

"No," the Watcher shook his head, "you misunderstand. I was disgusted that I'd allowed an under-age girl to live in that dump when I had room at my apartment."

"Why G," Faith fluttered her eyelashes playfully, "I never knew you felt that way."

"Bloody hell," the Englishman shook his head and sighed. "I should have known better than have a serious conversation with you," G winked at her. "Why do I bother? I can't make up for the mistakes of the past, but if you ever need someone to talk to I hope you'll think of me."

"Thanks G."

* * *

"Xander, have you got a minute?"

He forced out two more reps before racking the 440 lb weight and sitting up on the bench. "Dawn, I'm sorry -."

The girl shook her head. "You know I visited you every day you were in your coma?"

Xander blinked. "No I didn't. Why didn't you visit me when I was awake?"

"I was afraid."

"Dawn, you know I'd never hurt -."

"No," Dawn shook her head, her brown locks cascading down her shoulders. Dressed in an outfit of tight-fitting black Lycra shorts and cotton crop- top Xander was left in little doubt that the young girl he'd used to give piggy-backs to was turning into a beautiful young woman. "I was scared you'd hate me for what Buffy had done."

"Oh that's crazy-," Xander stopped for a second. Maybe it wasn't, he remembered how angry he'd been. The opportunity to lash out at a member of Buffy's family might have been over-whelming at the time. "I'm sorry about how things went yesterday. If you don't want to be around me anymore that's fine. Once this mess is over I'll set you up any state in the country -."

"Ever since that day," the girl interrupted him again, "I've been afraid of Buffy, afraid that if I got too smart with her she'd beat me up too."

"She'd never do that," even hating Buffy as he did he felt compelled to defend her. "You're her sister."

"And you were her best friend, the person who'd saved her life a bunch of times." Xander had no answer to that. "Besides that's not what I wanted to talk to you about," the brunette shuffled from foot to foot. "I was wondering if you'd train me. In self-defence I mean. Buffy always said she would but," the teen shrugged. "She's been too wrapped up in Spike to bother."

Xander forced back his anger at the dejected look on Dawn's face. He opened his mouth to agree when he thought of a better idea. "Faith, come over here!"

The brunette stopped instructing the potentials, turned at his shout, and nodded before hurrying over. "What's the sitch boss?"

Xander bit back a groan. Ever since she'd realised how irritating he found it Faith had started calling him 'boss'. "Dawn wants to be trained," seeing the glint in the Slayer's eyes he hurried on, "to fight Faith, nothing more."

"Tips on boys would be handy."

Xander sighed, this was going to be a mistake. "Would it be okay if she joined the potentials?"

Dawn spoke before Faith had a chance. "Xander," she whined, "I wanted you to do it."

"Dawnie, you see Syd and Lara who are helping Faith? They've been kicking the asses of guys twice their size for years. You'll learn more stuff that's useful to you from them than me."

Dawn pouted for a second before nodding. "Fine I guess."

Faith winked at him before sliding an arm around the younger girl's shoulder. "Hey Dawn it'll be fun. Dirty Fighting 101!" The girls turned away.

"Wait!" the two brunettes turned back to him, their expression quizzical. "You both left all your stuff at Buffy's right?" both girls nodded. Xander reached into his pocket, pulled out his wallet, and fished out his credit cards. "I assume the other potentials are in the same boat so go and get yourself equipped this afternoon. Clothes, make-up, whatever you need." Tony was going to shit when he saw the cosmetics bill, he'd probably think he'd had gender reassignment surgery.

"Wicked cool" Faith had snatched the cards out of his hand before he'd finished speaking. "Straight after training sound good to you Dawn?" the younger girl nodded. "Five by five. Thanks Xman."

Xander hid a smile as the two young women hurried away. Dawn needed someone to replace her sister, and she and Faith had always got on in the old days, while having someone to guide would do wonders for Faith's self- esteem. Faith as a role-model, Xander shuddered, what a terrifying idea.

* * *

Xander rubbed his forehead. The notes Lara had given him together with the information Giles had supplied was a mixture of rumour and speculation, all sadly lacking. Suddenly his attention was diverted by a knock at the library door. Xander looked up from the books and leaves of paper. "Hello?"

"Can I come in?"

"Give me a second Angel." Xander quickly closed the blinds. "It's safe."

His friend nodded after entering before sitting opposite him, his expression troubled. "We need to talk about last night."

"We're not going to fall out over Buffy are we?"

"No," the vampire shook his head. "I don't approve of the way you handled things but after what Buffy did to you I don't blame you."

"So what's the problem?"

Angel took a moment before starting to speak. "Judging from what you said last night you still have some issues with me."

Xander shook his head. "No Angel. Like I said to Buffy last night I've learnt to tell the difference between Angel and Angelus."

Angel relaxed slightly. "Still, if you've got something to say."

"Fine," Xander gathered his thoughts. "Thank you," seeing Angel's look of surprise he hurried on, "thanks for saving my life. Thanks for helping me back to health when I'd done nothing but treat you like shit. Thanks you for training me and giving me the confidence to strike out on my own."

The vampire sat for a few seconds before rising and walking to the door. "Xander," he turned to see the vampire staring at him. "Thanks for proving me right."