Xander pulled up at the parking lot closest to Stephenson Hall. Willow and Tara were waiting for him, and he handed Willow a cup of coffee.

"Nothing for Tara?" Willow asked.

"Sorry," he said, embarrassed. "It uh. . . didn't occur to me."

"Th-that's okay," Tara said. "I'm. . . not much for coffee, anyway."

Xander nodded, but his face was still red. "Where's the nearest chem. lab?"

"Left out of here, then right at the stop sign," Willow said, groggily, sipping her coffee. "What is this we're doing, now? I didn't really get all of what Buffy said."

Xander explained to the two young women the situation, finishing just as they pulled up outside the chem lab.

"Okay," Willow said. "Well, I'll take a look at it. Giles didn't happen to note the cell structure of the real serum, did he?"

"Not to me he didn't," Xander said.

"Great," said Willow as she led Xander and Tara into the building. "Well, I don't know how much I can do with the equipment we have here. We might want to consider having Riley's people take a look."

"Just do what you can, Will," Xander said, smiling supportively at his friend.

"Okay," Willow said, setting up a work station. "This could take a little while, though."

"I don't think Faith's going anywhere," Xander said, taking a sip of his own coffee.

"We sh-should probably check to see if there are any magical effects on the serum," Tara said.

Xander smiled genuinely at the young Wicca. "Good thought," he said. "You guys can do that, right?"

"Yes," Tara said. "It shouldn't be too hard."

"I don't know," Willow said. "That demon location spell did a whole big nothing."

"I'm sure you guys will do better this time," Xander said.

* * * * *

"Do you have it?" Giles asked when Willow and Tara entered his apartment a couple of hours later.

"Well, our lab. . . and, well, me. . . aren't advanced enough to break this down to its components," Willow said. "But I've got the basic cellular structure, so if you have notes on the serum you used on Buffy, we might be able to compare."

"A-also," Tara said, "there were traces of magic. We're not sure, but we think it was a protection spell of some sort. . . it was a little odd."

"Of course," Giles said. "A modified protection, or non-interference spell might be what kept Xander's healing abilities at bay. And I have an entire volume on what I was forced to administer to Buffy, let me just get that."

"Where's Xander?" Buffy asked the two Wiccas.

"He was late for work," Willow said. She walked over to the couch, and smiled lightly when she saw Riley asleep on the floor, holding Faith's hand. "She doesn't look. . . sick, or anything."

"No," Buffy said. "Seems perfectly peaceful. But, she just won't wake up."

"We'll fix it," Willow said.

"Here we go," Giles said, handing a book to Willow. "This is everything I have on the serum."

Willow did a quick scan through the index of the book, made note of a few entries, and sat down to start reading. "This could be a little while," she said.

Buffy leaned back into the couch, intent on sleeping.

"Mr. Giles?" came Amy's voice from the hallway.

"Yes? Is there something you need, Amy?"

"Um. . . is there anywhere I could find a computer? I was kind of hoping to find my dad," Amy said.

"I've got my laptop here, if you want," Willow offered.

"Oh, thanks," Amy said. "And, um. . . thanks for making me not a rat anymore. That. . . really wasn't too well thought out by me."

"That's okay," Willow said. "I was happy to."

Amy smiled as Willow quickly set up her laptop and got back to reading, as Tara sat, uncomfortable with nothing to do.

"Tara?" Giles asked, having collected a few volumes. "Would you mind looking through these for anything that might resemble the serum? It will cut down on our research time if it turns out not to be similar to the council's serum."

"Of course," Tara said, happily accepting the books. Giles smiled softly at the young woman, who quickly delved into the books, then headed back upstairs and went back to sleep.

* * * * *

"Oh!" Amy exclaimed an hour and a half later. "This is it!"

"You found him?" Willow asked.

"I did," Amy said. "Unless you think there are any other doctors in L.A. with my father's name who have a previous address the same as mine listed with the DMV."

"No, probably not," Willow said. "Write down the address, I'm sure someone can take you there tonight, if you want."

"Oh, I don't want to be a bother. . . " Amy started.

"Don't be silly," Willow said.

"But it's a long drive and-"

"And we have friends in Los Angeles who can put any of us up for the night if it's that late," Willow said.

"Are you sure?"

"Amy, write the address down. Call him if you want, you will see your father tonight, okay?"

"Okay," Amy said, suddenly excited. "I'm gonna go. . . no, I don't have anything to pack. Um. . . do you guys need any help?"

"I don't think so," Willow said. "I'm almost done here. Tara?"

"I've j-just got this one book left," Tara said. "I don't think-"

"No more lemons!"

The three young witches slowly turned their heads to the seating area, where Riley sat up suddenly, sweating profusely and panting. He wiped his face, unaware he was being watched, and looked to the still unconscious Faith, brushed some hair out her face and stood.

"Riley?" Willow asked, startling the young soldier.

"Willow. Tara. Amy, right? Hi," Riley said, wiping his clothes down.

"No more lemons?" Willow asked.

"Oh. Um. . . I uh. When I was younger there was. . . a lemonade stand and. . . a clown. It was. . . it was bad."

"Uh huh," Willow said. She pointed to Giles' kitchen. "There's hot water if you want some tea or coffee."

"Thanks," Riley said. "Any luck yet?"

"Well, I haven't found an exact description, but I've been able to make some inferences from various notes and passages and statements on how this stuff works, and I think that it seems similar but I'm still not really what we're looking for. Tara?"

"I've found s-some serums that do similar things, a couple of which are th- the right color and consistency. . . b-but nothing solid. Sorry."

"Should I have my guys take a look at it?" Riley asked. "Maybe they can come up with an antidote or something."

"We must be cautious about that," Giles said, coming down the stairs. "For the moment, at least."

"But it could help Faith to get better," Riley said.

"Yes, it very well could," replied Giles. "However, there is more to it than just that. If the serum is that which the council uses, and the Initiative were to acquire the formula, they would then have the ability to render any Slayer all but useless, for whatever purposes.

"I know," Giles continued, cutting off Riley's protest, "I know that you yourself would never do such a thing, but Riley I do not trust your superiors. I am well aware of how worried you are for Faith, and if it does come to that, we will enlist their services, I assure you. But I would prefer to exhaust all other options before we explore that avenue."

Riley nodded at the older man, and sat down to drink his coffee.

Giles looked over the notes Tara had made. "Mmm. Yes, excellent work, Tara," he said, eliciting a smile from the young Wicca. "Although, it is unlikely to be the saliva of a Morash demon, as they are now extinct. I don't even know why they were mentioned, which volume was that in?"

Tara handed Giles a book, which he looked at, rolled his eyes and set down again. "I really need to get up-to-date editions of these," he said. "Willow? Anything?"

"Well," Willow said, "sort of. Not really. I don't think this is what we're dealing with, Giles. The effects are just too dissimilar. If this were in a concentrated form, I think it would just kind of shut her body down, not her mind. Faith's fine, physically, she just won't wake up. Even in a concentrated form, this stuff wouldn't do that, I don't think."

"All right," Giles said, picking up the list Tara had made again, and copying it down onto another piece of paper. "Riley, want to do something useful?"

"You know it," Riley said, out of his chair in an instant.

"Take this list to Willy, and if that doesn't work, Spike. See if they're aware of any of these types of demons in town, or have heard of anybody making inquiries about these substances." Giles grabbed his coat and started putting it on.

"What are you doing?" Willow asked.

Giles sighed and put the list in his pocket. "I'm going to make sure nobody ordered any of this through my shop."

* * * * *

The door slammed open.

"Watch the sunlight, you wanker!" Spike yelled, rolling off his mattress and behind a stone coffin.

"Yeah," Riley said sarcastically. "It's my fault you're not intelligent enough to sleep where that won't happen."

"Go to hell," Spike said.

"I'll save you a seat. Need some help."

"Of course you do. All you bloody Scoobies always need help."

"Spike. . . " Riley warned.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I don't help you, I turn to dust and float away. What is it?"

Riley handed him the list. "Seen or heard about any of that in town?"

Spike took the list and read it over. "Nope, don't know a thing," he said. "Ask Willy."

"I tried," Riley said. "Couldn't find him. He actually wasn't at his bar for once."

"You really can't do anything, can you? First you lose your girl, then you can't wake her up, now you can't even find someone to help. You really are a sad excuse for a Prince Charming."

In lieu of responding, Riley looked around. "Where's your better half?"

"Out getting me a few pints. I'm runnin' low."

"Doesn't the blood go bad?"

"Yeah, if you leave it lyin' around like a jackass," Spike snarked.

"You have a fridge in here?"

"All the amenities of home, and no rent. TV with cable is downstairs," Spike said, pointing to a ladder leading down a hole in the floor, "as well as a stereo, and a couple Lay-z-boys."

"You guys moved all that in?"

"Yup."

"And you carried it all on the back of Pike's Harley? Which, come to think of it, where does he store that?"

"Over there," Spike said, pointing to a corner. "We've got the plywood by the stairs for a ramp, and this is also why we chose a crypt close as we could to the li'l road running through here."

"And the chairs?"

"Borrowed a truck for a night."

"Stole," Riley said.

"Hey, we returned it."

"How'd you pay for the chairs?"

"Didn't," Spike said, grinning. "They were in the truck."

Riley rolled his eyes. "All right," he said. "You hear about any of this, let someone know."

"Yes, sir, Captain, sir," Spike said with a mock salute as Riley left the crypt. "Wanker."

* * * * *

"Nothing," Giles said. "We have nothing."

"I couldn't find Willy," Riley said. "And I don't know where he lives."

"Nobody knows where he lives," said a now awake Buffy.

"So?" Willow asked, worry creasing her face.

"So. . . Riley, I think it's time for you to take this to your scientists. Willow believes it's not the council's serum, and we have, at this point, no other alternatives."

Riley nodded once. "Okay," he said. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Riley grabbed the vial, slipped it in his pocket and left.

"Do you think letting the Initiative have that is the right thing?" Willow asked.

Giles sighed. "I don't know. But, it's what we must do. . . for Faith."

* * * * *

"Riley, man, long time no see," said Forrest, Riley's tall, African- American second-in-command, as Riley walked into the Initiative.

"Hey," Riley said. "Can't talk right now, gotta hit up some smart guys."

"Hold on, there, chief," Forrest said. "You've missed a few staff meetings. Walsh is lookin' for ya, and she's pissed."

"I really don't give a shit how Walsh is feeling right now."

Forrest shook his head. "Man, that girl is seriously messin' with your head."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've changed, Ri. You used to be all about this stuff. Working for the cause. Now it's all about Faith."

"It's not all about Faith. It so happens I fight every night. I do more work with them than we ever do," Riley said. "However right now, it does happen to be about Faith, so if you'll excuse me. . . "

"Actually, I can't," Forrest said. "Walsh told us we're not to let you out of our sight until you talked to her."

"Well, then, you're welcome to follow me," Riley said. And with that, he headed off towards the labs.

Riley took the sample to the labs and ordered them to make it a priority, then sought out Walsh.

"You wanted to see me, ma'am?"

"Riley," she said, quickly tapping a few buttons on her console. "Forrest, that'll be all, thank you."

"Ma'am?" Riley asked.

Walsh stood up, walked around her desk and sat on its edge. "I have a feeling that you don't really want to be here, so I'll get straight to the point. I'm very disappointed in you, and your behavior, Captain Finn. You have been shirking your duties. You've been spending far too much time with these. . . civilians."

"With all due respect, ma'am, we've had this conversation," Riley said.

"Then we'll have it again!" Walsh snapped. "It obviously didn't sink in the first time. This is your job, Riley. Something you signed on for. You have responsibilities, you have duties, and anything and everything else come after that. Your actions recently have been intolerable. Is this understood?"

"Yes ma'am," Riley said.

"As of now, I'm relieving you of your command duties. Forrest will take over general command of the troops, you will be second in command under him. If your performance and attitude improve, we'll see about putting you back in a position of responsibility. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Riley said.

"Now. I understand you've submitted something for analysis, is this correct?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Walsh waited patiently for him to explain.

"Is that all?"

"I answered your question ma'am," Riley said, his face emotionless.

"I see. If that's how you want it to be, then that's how it'll be. What, exactly, did you submit for analysis?"

"I don't know, ma'am. A serum of some sort."

"Where did you acquire this serum?"

"It was taken off of a vampire, ma'am," Riley said.

"And what do you know about this. . . serum?"

Riley paused, thinking of the best response. "It is not a serum that the Watcher's Council uses to remove powers from their Slayers, ma'am. And it is not the saliva of a Morash demon. I can't tell you much more than that," he said.

Walsh stared at him intensely. "All right. Why are you so interested in this serum?"

"It was injected into Faith," he said. "We're trying to ascertain what effects it might have, so we know best how to deal with them." It was close enough to the truth.

"I see," Walsh said. It did not escape her notice that he now identified himself as part of 'them'. "Riley, I understand you care for the girl, but it really might be better if you didn't-"

"I won't abandon her," Riley said, subtly shifting his stance, with fire in his voice as well as his eyes. "Ever."

Walsh took a moment to take in his posture, his intonation the look he was giving her.

"You love her," Walsh said. It was not a question.

"With everything I have."

Walsh paused and nodded. "I'll not keep you from her anymore, then. You're dismissed."

"Yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am." Riley turned on his heel and walked out of her office.

Walsh went back behind her desk, tapped a button, and all but collapsed in her chair.

"I've lost him," she said.

"Yes."

"Move up the time table," she said. "I want to be ready by the end of the week."

"It will be done."

* * * * *

"Riley, good, you've returned," Giles said later that afternoon. "Have you any news?"

"Yeah," Riley said. "It's definitely some sort of goo. More than that. . . no idea. Initiative scientists are just as in the dark as we are. It matches no synthetic compounds currently known, and no demonic residue in the databases."

"Damn," Giles said. "Were you able to keep any of the sample?"

"Nope. Used up the whole damn thing. Where is everyone?"

"Oh, um, Willow, Tara and Buffy all had class, and Amy, I believe, went. . . back to sleep. Buffy moved Faith upstairs to my room. Thought she might be more comfortable."

"Do you mind if I. . . "

"No, no, go ahead. I'll just be here. . . not being of any use."

"Giles," Riley said, "don't. This isn't your fault. We've done everything we know to do, and most of that we wouldn't have known to do without you."

"Bloody lot of good it did," Giles muttered.

"Hey," Riley said. "You did your best. That's the best anyone can do. For now, I guess we just. . . have to hope." Riley clasped Giles' shoulder for a moment, before heading upstairs. He sat on the bed next to Faith, who, by all appearances, was sleeping peacefully.

"Hey, babe," he said, taking her hand in his. "I don't know if you can hear me or anything. I just um. . . I need you to wake up, okay? We're not having any luck out here, and I don't know. . . I miss you. I'm scared, Faith. This Adam guy has taken all of us down, and he really doesn't seem to be having any problems doing it. I just. . . I need you here, to tell me it'll be okay. So, if you could wake up, that'd be great. I need. . . " Riley shook his head. "I love you, Faith."

Riley shook his head. 'Some Prince Charming,' he thought sarcastically. 'Ah, what the hell.' Riley leaned down and gently kissed Faith on the lips then waited for some sort of reaction. Nothing happened. Riley brushed some hair back off her forehead, before standing, squeezing her hand one more time, leaving the room and heading back downstairs.

"No change, I assume?" Giles asked.

"None," Riley said, plopping down on the chair across the table from Giles.

"Hey," Xander said as he opened the door and entered the apartment.

"Xander," Giles said with some surprise. "You're earlier than I expected."

"Yeah, well, I was highest up on the chain at the site today, so I told John I was feeling crappy and left him in charge."

Giles nodded at him and indicated he should take a seat.

"How you holding up?" Xander asked of Riley.

Riley shook his head. "I feel useless," he said.

"We've all been there," Xander said. "You just gotta keep chugging."

"I know," Riley said. "I just -"

"What's a girl gotta do to get a glass of water around here?" asked a rough, gravelly voice from the direction of the stairs.

Three heads immediately whipped in the direction of the query.

"Faith," Riley whispered.

Faith smirked a little, before Riley rocketed out of his chair and swept the young woman into his arms and kissed her forcefully on the lips.

"What's going on?" Faith asked, when Riley finally put her down. "Why was I in Giles' bed?"

"You've been, well, basically asleep, as far as we can tell, since at least 5 a.m.," Giles said.

"You're shittin' me," Faith said.

"I assure you, I am not," Giles said.

"We couldn't wake you," Riley said, his arms wrapped around Faith's waist from behind. "I was so worried."

Faith turned in his arms, looked into his eyes, then reached up and cupped his face with her hand. "Hey," she said, smirking. "It's okay, I woke up. It'll all be all right."

"Yes, abo-" Giles' voice was cut off by Xander's hand placing itself over his mouth. Xander stood, dragging Giles with him towards the door.

"What he meant to say was we'll be. . . somewhere. Close. But not too close. Outside close," Xander said, a little awkwardly. He then dragged Giles forcefully out the door and across the small square outside of Giles' apartment.

"That was a little rude," Giles said when Xander had shut the door and removed his hand from Giles' mouth.

"Yeah, sorry," Xander said. "I just thought, you know, moment of privacy."

"Yes, but in my flat?" Giles asked. "I mean, what. . . you don't think. . . there's only one free bed and that's mine, and I certainly don't think-" The door to his apartment opened, and Faith and Riley walked out together.

"We're just going to um. . . " Riley started, pointing towards where his car was parked.

"Screw each others brains out," Faith finished with a smile, causing Giles to remove his glasses and pinch the bridge of his nose.

"Well, I was more going for 'make love'," Riley said, as he and Faith walked away from the apartment.

"You better believe it," said Faith. "But that wouldn't have made Jeeves uncomfortable, would it?"

Riley smiled at her. "Have I told you I love you recently?"

"Once or twice," she said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "But I can always do with hearin' it again. And I love you, too, babe."

Riley nodded. At that point, the legions of Hell itself couldn't have wiped the grin from his face.

----------

End Chapter 18