A/N: I know, I know. Finally! Sorry for the long wait but here is more. Enjoy =)

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The thunderous raindrops pounding against the windows echoed in the large room accompanied by the sound of heavy breathing exhaled by the occupant inside. Faith fluidly guided the katana she held in her hand expertly through the air. Fighting against imaginary foes, she had conjured up in her mind. She struck down at them, slicing her enemies in half, and thrusting the gleaming blade into their non-existent bodies.

She continues to train letting her body once again become accustom with the movements. It had been awhile since she had been involved in a dance of death. Confronting the clone, earlier that day had been hard. Too hard in fact. At the rate they had been fighting, she was surprise she still had her head attached to her body. Nonetheless, she had managed to step away from the fight with just a few scratches and some bruises. Yet, she had her doubts if she would be so lucky the next time around. The clone had proven to be a very formidable opponent.

Remembering the fight in the alley made Faith push herself harder. Rigorously training her body pass the point of pain and exhaustion. In hopes that the next time she and the clone fought, she would be victorious in the end. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck started to rise. Something was off she thought as the air around her changed. Apparently, one of her imaginary foes decided to come to life.

Faith continues to train, not letting on that she sensed another presence in the room. She tightens her grip on the handle of the katana and swiftly twirls around, intending to strike down the intruder with a deadly blow to the head. Surprised azure eyes stared back into passive dark ones. The edge of the blade dangerously hovered a hair's breath away from Lazar's neck.

"Good evening to you too my child," the older man smiled, not the least bit fazed that Faith had been that close in severing his head from his body.

Faith stared at Lazar, baffled by the man's calm behavior. She carefully lowered the katana and began to yell, "Damn it, Lazar! Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"

Lazar shook his shaggy head nonchalantly, and shrugged his shoulders, "No," he answered coolly.

At loss for words, Faith could only stare at Lazar. Then a disbelieving snort escaped her lips, "No he says," she replies in a mocking manner. Shaking her head, she turns to replace the katana back on the stand. "Do you realize just how close…."

Lazar raised his hand cutting Faith off, "There is need for you to yell at me, Faith."

She lets out a frustrated huff, rolls her eyes, and throws her arms into the air, "Oh, I'm sorry Lazar. Forgive me for yelling and getting so worked up about almost… killing you!" she sarcastically retorted.

Lazar grinned, amused by her behavior. "I apologize for sneaking up on you, my child."

Faith narrowed her eyes on him, "Yeah well, don't ever do that again unless you want to lose your head."

"Duly noted," he said with a grin.

"So," she started still shaking her head, "What did I do to deserve yet another visit from you? Which, by the way, I'm not even going to try and figure out how you got in here in the first place."

Lazar cleared his throat, covering up the smug smirk that had appeared across his lips.

"I've come to express my concerns."

Faith's brows furrowed in confusion, "Concerns over what?"

"Why are you trying so hard in keeping Sara and Ian apart."

"I am not keeping them apart, Lazar!" Faith declared.

"Perhaps, but you have yet to disclose information to either them about the other's whereabouts. Why?"

Faith let out a lengthy sigh, "I am not trying to keep them apart its just that before I tell them anything I would like to know the wielder's version on what had happened between her and Ian."

"Why? What do you hope to gain?"

"Knowledge, that's what." She replied a bit harshly, "I want to know what happened between them Lazar. What was said and done to have pushed Ian to…" she paused and sighed.

"Ian is safe now because of you. Why dwell on the past, Faith?"

"So the same mistakes will not be repeated in the future! What if she does or says something to push him over the edge again. Then what?"

"Then that is something they must deal with."

"But…"

Lazar started shaking his head, putting a stop to Faith's protest. "I know you are only trying to protect Ian but you are not giving them much credit. Least of all the wielder."

Faith rolled her eyes and snorted incredulously, "Oh please, why should I give her the benefit of the doubt especially after what she has done to him and don't get me started on Ian."

Lazar stepped closer to her, placing his hands on her shoulder, "My child, have you not stopped to realize that you and the wielder have much in common?"

"Excuse me?" She said, raising a disagreeing brow, "Oh, please do enlighten me, Lazar."

"Think about it. All these years you've kept the young Mr. Bowman at arms length. Not letting yourself get too close because you were afraid. Why?"

"That is different, Lazar. I was trying to…."

"You were protecting him," Lazar finished for her. "The same way the wielder has been protecting Ian, from herself. I admit the methods are…different but the means are the same. Don't you agree?" Faith remained silent, not liking the idea that maybe Lazar might be right.

"I also feel that there is more to this thirst for answers. That you have another reason why you are keeping them apart?"

Crossing her arms she asks, "What are you talking about?"

"You know what they say 'To name is to know. To know is to control.' Is it answers or control that you truly seek, Faith?"

"What are you implying, Lazar?"

He sighed, shaking his head, "Your actions mirrors so much like someone I know." Her eyes narrowing upon him. Lazar did not have to elaborate on whom he was referring. She knew all to well who he was talking about. "Don't you dare compare me to him!" Faith tore away from Lazar and made her way towards the window, absently watching as rain pelted against the glass. Her eyes shifted to stare at her reflection. She looked closely at herself, comparing her facial features with those of her father's.

Lazar walked behind her, and rested his hands on her shoulders. Eerily, Faith watched as his reflection in the window transformed into that of Kenneth Irons. She studied both reflections and noted the strong similarities. So much of him was in her. Tears began to stream down her face as she shut her eyes against the image, she whispered, "I am not my father!" However, as much as she protests she cannot deny the fact that his blood courses through her veins, and that she will forever be an Irons.

"I never implied that you were my child. You are far better then he is, never forget that." Faith slowly opened her eyes and the reflection of Kenneth Irons was gone. Lazar continued to speak, "Yet, what you are doing is precisely what he has been doing all these years. I know that your reasons are different from his, and you are only doing what you think is right but listen to me. Do not become selfish like your father. Do not let your personal issues keep them apart."

"I don't mean to, Lazar. Its just, I was so close in losing Ian. He is the only family I have left. I can't lose him."

"I understand, Faith. Yet, you continue to deceive him, and keep them apart you will lose him anyway. Do what you feel is right, my child. And when the time comes, there is only one question you need to ask the wielder."

"Which is?"

Lazar shrugged his scrawny shoulders, "You will know."

He gave a small smile and a reassuring squeeze on her shoulders. He started to walk away, "Also, do give Sara a chance. Remember what I said, you two have more in common then you think." Before she even realized it, he was gone.

Faith stood near the window, blankly staring out into the dark stormy night. Her mind occupied with the conversation she had with Lazar. That was until the sound of the door opening pulled her out of her thoughts. She watched on the windowpane as Sara made her way closer to her. Faith had yet to indicate that she was aware of Sara's presence. Instead, Faith continued to stay rooted near the window, silent as ever.

After clearing her throat twice, Sara finally decided to speak up. "Gabe told me…"

"I'll tell you everything you want to know, Sara." Faith spoke over her shoulder, cutting Sara off, "On one condition."

Sara's eyebrow raised in uncertainty, "Yeah, what's that?"

"Be honest and tell me the truth," Faith turned around to face Sara, arms crossed. "What are your feelings towards Ian Nottingham?"

The simple question took Sara off guard. Her mouth began to move yet nothing was said, her eyes wondered around the room, and her brows began to furrow. After some time Sara finally spoke, "Look I really don't think that is any of your…."

Faith held up her hands and grinned, "I know, I know. It's none of my business, but I would really like to know, please."

Sara stared at Faith, "Why does it matter so much to you?" she wondered.

"Because Sara," Faith walked away from the window to stand in front of her. "His happiness means the world to me and that I …."

"Love him," Sara finished for her.

Faith smiled and nodded her head, "Yes."

Sara's brows furrowed, "Does he, um, feel the same way?" There was no disguising the hint of pain and sadness in Sara's voice. Without hesitation Faith replied, "Yes he does."

"I…I see," Sara hung her head, remorseful and hurt.

Both women stood silently in front of each other. Faith tried to study Sara's reaction but she was having trouble gauging what the other must be thinking. Sara avoided making any type of eye contact, not wanting Faith to see the tears that were blurring her vision.

"Sara?" Faith called to her.

Sara shook her head, and her voice started to crack, "I, uh, I think its great."

"Sara?" she said again, trying to gain the woman's attention.

Sara didn't here Faith and continued to speak, "I'm sure you two will be happy together."

"Sara?" She sighed. "Look," Faith continued wanting to set things straight before things got out of hand, "I think you might have misunderstood what I meant when I said I love him."

Sara's head snapped up, here eyes blurry from tears, "What is there to misunderstand? You're in love with Ian and like you said he feels the same way, right?" Thinking about Ian in love with someone else was hard to accept and to say it aloud was painful.

'Why am I hurting so much?' Sara thought.

"Because you're in love with him, Sara." There was no denying whom the ethereal voice belonged too. She glanced down at the bracelet. A chuckle escaped Faith's lips, catching Sara's attention. "What?"

Faith nodded her head towards the blade, "What is she telling you?"

Sara just shook her head, unwilling to answer, unwilling to admit to both woman and sentient jewelry about her true feelings.

She narrowed her eyes on Faith, "What's so funny?"

Faith shook her head, "The old man was right."

"Who?"

"Lazar," Faith waved her hand, "Don't worry you'll meet him sooner or later."

"Okay," Sara's brows furrowed in confusion, "What was he right about?"

 "Everything obviously," Faith snickered, "He was telling me how you and I have much in common."

It was Sara's turn to snicker, "I don't see it."

"Believe me neither did I up until now." She let out a long sigh, "Though now I see what he means." Faith moved closer and stared into Sara's eyes. "Don't be afraid to love, Sara. Don't let that fear stand in the way."

"What are you…." Sara began to say but quickly stopped. She let out a heavy sigh. Why should she continue to kid herself? Finally, she decided it was time to be honest not only to Faith but especially with herself. Vehemently she shook her head, "He's in love with you, not me. He probably hates me and I cannot blame him. Especially, what happened that last night."

Here was an opportunity to find out what happened but seeing how vulnerable Sara was at that moment Faith did not pursue in her original intent. Instead, she softly spoke, "I never said he was in love with me or I to him." That caught Sara's attention. Faith continued, "The love between us is the kind of love a brother and a sister would share."

Faith smiled as Sara's brows shot up in surprise. "You and Ian are…"

"Siblings? Sort of."

"What do you mean?"

"Ian is not of my blood. He came into my…family when he was only five years old. We grew up together."

"I never knew Ian had any family," Sara snorted, "Then again I don't know anything about him."

"Unfortunately, Ian doesn't know much about his past, let alone where he came from. My… father," Faith spat out the word, "Kept that information to himself amongst other things."

As she carefully listened, Sara started to put the pieces together. Sara keenly stared at Faith, only now noticing the resemblance. Faith watched as the realization settled in Sara's eyes. "You…you're Kenneth Irons' daughter." Sara stated rather then questioned.

Faith, already predicting this was going to happen, sighed and confirmed by saying, "Yes."

"I just can't believe it. I…."

Faith raised her hands to stop Sara from saying any more. "Look before you run me through with the Witchblade and condemn me for being Irons' daughter just remember. I stand before you unarmed. I've brought you here in the sanction of my home, and risked my life to save yours. I am a person you can trust. And if you think I hold any love for may father, you're wrong. I have as much hatred for that man as you do."

Sara pursed her lips together and nodded her head. "Are you done?" Tentatively Faith nodded her head. "As I was going to say, I had figured out as much. I just wasn't too sure up until now."

Surprised, Faith responded, "What?"

"Hey don't look so surprised. I am a detective you know."

Faith grinned, "My apologies for assuming…detective." Sara nodded in acceptance. And, before their eyes, as they stood there a form of camaraderie fell before them.

After a few comfortable moments, it was Faith who spoke first, "You know, you still haven't answered my question, Sara and I'm sure I've already answered some of your questions."

Sara sighed, turned away from Faith, and walked towards the window. "It's hard to explain and you wouldn't understand any way."

Faith sadly smiled, "Oh but I would, Sara. You'd be surprise."

"Would you believe me when I say that all the spiteful words, the attitude, and anger I felt towards Ian was just a way of protecting not only me but him too?" Sara didn't wait for an answer and continued, "It's just not safe to be around me."

"How so, Sara?"

…People around you keep dying. Why is that?…

Sara closed her eyes, Orlinsky's remark echoed in her mind. "Everyone I've cared about are gone, dead."

"And you think by keeping Ian at a distance, you're keeping him safe? Keeping him from that morbid fate?" Sara nodded her head.

"He would be better off without me, Faith."

Faith grinned and started shaking her head.

"That's not true, Sara."

She whirled around on Faith, tears running down her face. "Yes it is! He would be safer without me. At least Irons won't…"

"Won't what, Sara?"

"Do you know what this thing showed me?" Sara raised her arm, flashing the blade at Faith, "It showed me visions of Ian being abused by Irons."

"And you believe that Ian's punishments were all you're fault?" Sara lowered her head. "Sara you cannot blame yourself over things you have no control over."

"If Ian had left me alone, stayed away from me then Irons wouldn't have," Sara paused, remembering the beatings Ian endured, "To have punished Ian the way he did."

Faith rolled her eyes and snorted, "You never strike as the type to be so…self-centered, Sara."

"Excuse me?" Sara snapped.

"What? Just because you're the wielder of the Witchblade you think everything is your fault, that you're the one to blame." Faith hesitantly turned around, and lifted her shirt, exposing her scarred back. "Then I suppose I should blame you for these too."

"Oh my God," Sara covered her mouth in shock. She reached forward but quickly pulled her hand back, "What…how…" Sara was having difficulty finding the words. Faith lowered her shirt and turned back to Sara. "I refused him once, and paid dearly for it."

"How…how could you let him do that to you?"

"It was never a question of letting him do this to me or Ian, it was his right."

"Right? He had no right! What that bastard did to you and Ian was wrong."

Faith shook her head, "You need to understand our upbringing was different compared to yours, Sara. We were raised differently, taught differently, and lead to believe differently. If we failed in our master's eyes, it was only fitting to punish us for it. Punishments we wholeheartedly accepted."

Sara shook her head, unable to accept what Faith was telling her. "Why are you telling me this?"

Faith shrugged her shoulders, "So you have a better understanding and that you don't continue to think Ian is some mindless, submissive slave you believe him to be. He's not, at least not any more that is. This was just our way. But that's all changed especially since he has met you, Sara. Instead of thinking that you're responsible for those punishments, start believing that you're the reason why he's rebelling against it. You gave him the strength, the will to live."

Sara vehemently disagreed, "The only thing I've ever given him was animosity, hatred," she turned away from Faith, hiding the tears streaming down her face, "And pain." She clutched his ring in her hand, recalling how he had left it behind after she had cast him away.

"Stop making excuses, Sara. Don't be afraid to love him back." Faith pleaded.

"How could he even possibly want me after everything I've done?"

"Because he loves you and will always love you." Sara gasped as she heard his voice. Both women turned to see Ian standing near the door, Gabriel just behind him. Ian started making his way towards them. First stopping in front of Faith and quietly whispered, "We'll discuss this later." Faith nodded her head in reply and started for the door where Gabe stood waiting.

"Faith I'm sorry. I tried but he…"

"It's okay, Angel."

"You know he's really pissed at you."

Faith looked over her shoulder and smiled,  "I know, Angel. Come on let's give them some much deserved privacy."