Note: OK, preachy chapter up next. Those rascally teenagers. Enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-Four – The Talking To

"Bloody hell. I'll kill the boy." Wesley was not happy.

Faith pulled on her pants and donned her top as both ran out of the bathroom. They heard breaking glass and another shriek from Dawn. It sounded as if there was a fight happening in a room down the hall.

When Wesley opened the door to the room, Faith saw what the commotion was about. Connor was rolling on the floor, vampire currently underneath him. Dawn had found a stake and was getting ready to help Connor out. He rolled, and then Dawn took her chance and dusted the vampire.

"Thanks, Dawnie," Connor called out, still lying on the floor.

"Might be others," Faith added.

"Dammit. I'd forgotten about my spell." Faith didn't want to be the cause of Wesley forgetting. But she was.

"No time like the present." Dawn sat on the bed, shirt half unbuttoned and pulled out of her jeans. Faith didn't want to think the worst until she realized that Connor had no shirt on at all. But Wesley had been quicker than she was. He glared at the younger man.

"Connor, come with me."

Oh, the shit hit the fan now. There was no gun in sight. Thank goodness she had seen him take it off before dinner.

"I'll just stay here with Dawn just in case, you know."

Faith didn't know what to say. Connor had been warned.

"Oh, and hon?" Faith asked Wesley. "Where's your shotgun?" Connor blanched.

"Faith." Wesley shook his head and led Connor out of the room.

Dawn had semi-repaired her shirt before Faith could turn around. She really couldn't blame the kid. Hell, she'd been doing the same thing just a few minutes before. But they were kids, probably without much experience.

"Dawn, I don't want to pry but . . . . "

"So don't."

"Listen, I'm not your Mom or Buffy. But I do know a few things about guys. Connor, he's a good guy. But he's a little confused at times, and he's lost a lot and he's vulnerable. I just don't want you to get hurt."

"You should talk. Look at you and Wes. You two are practically joined at the hip. Didn't you torture him? So don't talk to me about weird."

That one hurt. "Sorry. I just thought I could help," Faith said as she walked out the door.

"Wait, Faith. I'm sorry. I like him. He's a great guy."

"But do you love him? I've been there, done that with so many guys. Just be sure that it's right, because you can't go back and fix it."

"I know. Sorry about the comment about Wesley. I don't know the whole story. But I like Connor. And if you hurt Wes . . . . "

"I know. I know. Don't worry. Not going to happen if I have any say so over it." A little overdramatic, but it had an effect on Dawn.

Dawn got up from the bed. "There really is something serious between you two."

"I don't know. We'll see." And that scared Faith more than anything. She didn't know what would happen next.

"Connor, what on earth do you think you're doing?" Wesley asked as they checked out the rest of the house. He performed the spell quickly, and then turned to the boy again. He had put his shirt back on, looking contrite in the candlelight.

"I don't know how that vampire got in, I swear."

"If you had been paying attention instead of lord knows what with Dawn."

"Hey, keep her out of this."

Wesley moved closer. The boy could take him, he knew. But he'd wanted to make a point, not get punched.

"Connor, she's just a girl."

"She's not that much younger than I am. We have a lot in common. I can talk to her."

Something Connor hadn't been able to do with anyone else, save Cordy. And look how that had turned out.

"I just don't want your feelings of stress to be translated over . . . ."

"Wait, wait. In English please. And for your information, I respect her way too much to ever hurt her."

"It may happen whether you like it or not. Sometimes you think you're doing the right thing, then the situation falls apart."

Connor sat down on the couch, Wesley perched right beside him.

"Experience?" Connor added.

"Way too much. Dawn has had a trying time so far. Just make sure you don't hurt her."

"Not what I intend. I really like her."

"I know you do. I just don't want to be you when her sister finds out."

"I can take her."

"Can you take Faith?"

"Well, no."

"Then don't even try it."

The two shared a chuckle. Faith had already made her presence known to Connor several times in the past.

"Well, we know that Faith can take you," Connor pointed out to the older man.

"I'm not so sure about that."

"You didn't?"

"And we are not having this conversation any more."

Connor smiled that guy smile toward Wesley. "She's hot, you know."

"That better be about something else or you're sleeping on the floor," Dawn called as she entered the room.

"Really good hearing, Connor. And thanks for the compliment. Keep your eyes focused elsewhere."

The two women glared at him from the doorway leading to the bedrooms.

"I, we, Dawn." Connor went after Dawn as she stalked away.

"Oh, man is he toast," Faith pointed out.

"A woman scorned."

"Let me check the outside. See if we have any more guests."

Wesley threw his sweater at her. "It's cold outside."

"I'll be OK, but thanks."

Faith headed off to patrol while Wesley set up a schedule with the teenagers for a watch. They'd have to keep up their vigilance that night.

TBC