Note: Remember, italics, confabs between our two little lovebirds.

Chapter Thirteen – Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

"Tell me again why this is a good idea," Faith yelled to Wesley as shots rang out for all sides of the vehicle. They had finally run into trouble, in the form of really pissed off demons. The group they had encountered on motorcycles was back.

Faith was worried until one of the soldiers produced a machine gun and started firing. The demons took off with their tails tucked beneath their hides.

"Strength in numbers? Superior firepower? Hey, works for me," Faith commented as they drove away from the carnage. No one was hurt, the demons had taken off, and they made a really big bang.

"Someone's bound to hear about this," Wesley answered.

"Not so stealthy any more, are we?" Dawn added.

"You think Lorne will actually let us in?" Faith wondered as she watched the side of the road for more trouble.

"Maybe you. I probably will have to sit in the car." So Wes was worried about his friend. He should be. Most people or demons didn't take kindly to having a gun pointed at their heads.

"Hey, let him read you. That'll make his day." Faith sort of wanted the green demon to read them so they could figure out this mess. She just hoped that Willow was making progress.

"So do I," Wesley told her.

"What? You don't like being able to read my twisted mind?"

"It's my twisted mind I'd rather keep a secret."

It had taken them all day to arrive at the compound. All seemed quiet at the moment, though one could never tell. It had been agreed upon that the lead vehicle would approach the compound first. Faith would be the one to do the talking since Lorne knew her, and actually liked her, unlike Connor and Wesley. As they pulled up to the gate, Faith squeezed his hand.

"I'll be fine. You worry too much."

"Paranoid too much is the more apt word as this point."

I can handle it. Lorne's my buddy.

I know. I …

What?

I love you and be careful.

I always am careful.

Wesley snorted. Somehow that statement does not instill confidence.

I love you too, you paranoid son of a bitch. Now let me do my job.

Yes, indeed.

Faith climbed out of the SUV, cautiously looking around. The same guns were trained on her as before with Wesley.

"I need to talk to Lorne." She just hoped the guy hadn't skipped out.

"Why?"

"I need information."

She heard a yell from the far side of the behemoth structure. That better be a call for Lorne instead of another motorcycle invasion. She didn't think they'd let them in this time.

"What's shakin', cupcake?"

Finally Lorne had appeared. Or his hand appeared.

"I need to talk to you. It's urgent." She didn't want to reveal anything here.

"Just as long as it's just you and not your psycho ex-watcher."

"Listen, Lorne. There is so much going on right now you wouldn't believe. He won't go all Tarantino on you, I promise. Please."

"And I can trust you because?"

"You can trust her Lorne."

Dammit, why didn't he ever listen to her? This was her deal, Mr. Buttinsky.

"Oh, but I can't trust you Wes. Sorry, one gun to the head this month is all I can handle."

"Have her sing."

"Right now?" Faith commented. I can't sing in front of all these people.

You can and you will.

Bossy.

You don't know the extent of that trait.

One you always had.

"Listen you two. Internal dialogues aside . . . ." Faith gasped. He heard them. How? "I'm just not sure anymore."

"Sing, Faith," Wesley urged her.

"OK, you asked for it." And Faith started belting out "Twinkle, twinkle, little star," at the top of her lungs.

Wesley grinned at his new girlfriend. Her look said it all. When this was over he was going down, hard.

"How I wonder what you are."

"Stop, stop already. My ears. And I thought Angel was bad. Maybe we should have a contest to see who's the worst."

"So, what do you say?"

"OK, OK. I see what's going on."

"Can we all come in?"

"How many?"

"50."

"People? Oh, man. Who put me in charge here?" The gate opened up and Lorne walked out. "And all I want to know is who's who?"

Faith and Wesley looked at each other.

"You two take joined at the hip to an extreme level. And I bet it wasn't the blue plate special you ate this morning."

"Any help that you can give us would be greatly appreciated." Faith could feel Wesley's calm demeanor. Maybe her guy was getting back on track.

"Bring your guys in. But the first sign of trouble, I'll have Marco kick your ass Wesley."

Faith smiled. Lorne was holding Wesley responsible for everyone. Wesley reached for her hand. Maybe not so calm as she thought.

"Come on you two."

Lorne waved them to that same building as before. It had seemed like forever since they told Lorne the truth. But it had only been a little less than two weeks. In which they had professed their feelings. Scared Faith down to her toes. Once the connection was broken, life would be different for the two.

"So what's the sitch, Lorne?"

"How's it feel to actually be the calm one here, Faith?"

"Fine, dandy. Still not all that patient though."

"And hardheaded too. Something good ole' Wes is too. Listen, you two. I don't know what's caused this to happen. I can tell you it's something not of this world. That's all I can see. I am worried though."

"How so?" Wesley's worry etched his face now. He believed the demon.

"The mind reading aside, if one of you dies, not that it's going to happen, then the other will die too. Your auras are so mixed right now, I can't see an end and a beginning in the two of you."

"I was thinkin' someone thought a super-slayer would be nice."

"Not so sure. But the link is tied so tight right now, if the string is cut, the other unravels fast."

Faith heard Riley's voice outside, yelling at someone.

"Boss?" Faith pointed to Wesley.

"Yes, dear." Wesley exited the building to find out what was going on.

"What else? I can tell you're holding back, demon."

"Faithy, sit down."

Faith eyed the demon. She could take dying. Was that what Lorne saw? What she couldn't take was Wesley dying. That better not be what he saw. She wouldn't accept it. So she sat down.

"Bad?"

"Nah. Hopefully good. Depends on you and you know who. Do you love him?"

With all her heart. "Yeah, I do. Seems strange, doesn't it. You think it's this thing we have, this connection?"

"It's all so jumbled up, I don't know. But you two share something even greater right now."

"What's that?"

Wesley walked over to where Riley was standing. "Trouble?"

"None yet. Although most of these people don't trust us. Which is not unexpected. We didn't defend them when they needed it."

Guilt washed over Wesley. He'd seen it coming. He'd been on the front lines. And hadn't stopped it. They had been so worried about the little stuff, that the big evil had escaped their notice until it was too late.

"Talked to their security guy. Guy used to be a cop. I think he'll talk shop with me."

"Good. We can use all the information we can get. Thanks."

Dawn and Connor approached along with a few of the slayers. "Your head's still attached to your body. Thought Lorne would not welcome you with open arms." Connor had his run-ins with the demon too, not trusting Lorne for quite some time.

"Faith can work wonders when . . . ." Wesley stopped short. Faith was actually trying to block him from seeing into her mind. What the bloody hell?

"You sure you're ready for this?"

"You know, just tell me. I'm a big girl. No problem."

"Congrats, cupcake."

"On what?" Man, Lorne could be cryptic when he wanted. "Because me and Wes together, that's cool, right?"

"Well, I guess you could say that. How are you feeling?"

Now why on earth would the demon ask her that? She'd been feeling a bit tired, but nothing was going to stop her from finding Buffy and fixing this big mess.

"I'm fine, Lorne. Just spill."

"It takes two to tango. And it looks like you two have been tangoing quite a bit. You think he's ready?"

"OK, ready for what? What is this, twenty questions?"

Lorne crouched down to look her in the eye. He reached a hand down to touch her stomach.

"Oh, fuck."

TBC

OK, OK, I know it may be a little obvious, but we'll see. It keeps you hanging around for more. Please, please review. I hope I didn't miss any typos, because it's 1 am. So please review!!