Author's Note:
This is the shortest chapter I've written in awhile... and it's in Sunnydale, and it's supposed to be humorous and/or realistic. And sort of real timish, too.
Part II of the Wednesday Update. Onward!
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Chapter 24
You're Only As Strong (As Your Dim-Witted Watcher)
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"I think we both know why we're here."
"You tell me."
"You're not daft, Faith."
"You could have fooled me."
"I'm telling you, now."
"Gee, this is good. Why don't you tell me my fortune while you're at it."
"Faith..."
"Sorry, Wesley. Did you have something to say to me?"
"I just wanted to give you new orders from the Council."
Faith sighed. "Do you really have to tell me how to do my job? I will gladly turn it over to one of--"
"Damn it, Faith!" Wesley shouted, pounding his fist on the small wooden table. An empty scotch glass overturned and the bottled wiggled threateningly. "They're threatening to remove me from my position if you don't exercise more control over your actions. They'll remove you from Sunnydale and these innocents on the Hellmouth will have no chance!"
"My actions, Wes, are the ones that save lives. If you want to stand around here being a pathetic drunk, be my guest. My last decision wasn't which brand of brandy to--"
"You don't understand what's going on here, do you?"
Faith set down the nail file she'd been doing her nails with. She shrugged, not looking at her Watcher and not really caring what he thought. "Let's see... your boss just packed up my good friend and deported her across the world. I think her name was Buffy, the vampire Slayer. And since Giles apparently is like a father to her, he was fired. Now you're sitting here bossing me around thinking you know what's best for me. Let me surprise you. It's not." She slammed the file down upon the table. "I do what I have to, Wes. That's the way it works. Your orders mean nothing to me. Neither do the orders of men and women five thousand miles on the other half of this frickin' planet."
Wesley stared at her angrily for a moment before reaching for the bottle. But Faith was faster. She was on her feet in an instant, the scotch in her hand. "This isn't going to solve anything!" she shouted at him, holding the bottle as far away from him as she could in his stupid, tiny apartment.
"Give me the bottle, Faith."
"Make me," she growled, dodging to the other side of the room as he followed her.
"Faith, this isn't the way to work things out."
"And here I thought this was just an elaborate plot of yours to get me to like you. Gee, guess it backfired."
When he reached for his bottle again, she threw it, using some of her Slayer-inherited strength. It shattered against the front door, leaving shards of black glass and a scent that nearly made her swoon. "I watched my mother get drunk every single night when I lived in Boston. Don't you dare tell me this is the only way to go, Wesley, because I know better. My mother died because she drank too much one night. I don't like you, but I don't like you dead, either. I refuse to have that on my guilty conscience, too."
Wesley stared at her, confusion darkening his eyes. "I didn't know you felt so strongly about this, Faith."
"You're a moron," Faith snorted. "I don't like you because you're nothing more than a bumbling idiot. However, I was assigned to you, sir, so what you say goes. What are my new orders?"
Wesley and Faith stared at each other from across the small living room.
"What are my new orders?" Faith prodded again.
"The Council wishes for you to stop your contact with the Initiative," Wesley finally said.
Faith couldn't help herself. She started laughing. "Are you trying to take away the only fun I've had since Buffy quit the Council? Are you asking me to do something stupid, Wes? Because I'm not going to bite. The Council wants to control me, I get that. They'd have a far better chance if Giles was my Watcher instead of a hapless moron like you."
"We can trade insults until we're blue in the face, Faith," Wesley said quietly. "It changes nothing."
"I am not going to let that fricking Council ruin my life, too," Faith said, anger blazing in her dark eyes. "I am certainly not about to let some dim-witted Watcher of mine determine my destiny for me, too. You destroyed one girl's life. I'll be damned if you do it again. And then I'd kill you anyway."
"Faith, you are the chosen one," Wesley said, trying to reason with her.
"Wrong," she snapped. "I'm part two of the chosen duo. You can't forget for a second, Wes, that there's still a mightily pissed off Slayer out there. She's probably plotting right now on how she can come back here and snap your neck and not to mention blow up the rest of those idiots. God only knows what she's plotting to do with Quentin, that bastard..."
Wesley was stunned to see the fury radiating from the Slayer. She had completely tamed herself when she was around her Watcher, mainly because he was in such close contact with the Watcher's Council. She hadn't wanted him suspicious over her actions. Or her plans.
There was no suspicion in his eyes now. There was only concern.
The phone between them rang.
It rang again.
Faith stared down at it, anger ebbing from her eyes.
It kept ringing until it finally stopped.
"That was probably your boss," she sneered.
"Does it matter anymore?" Wesley asked, regarding the telephone sadly.
"It matters to me," Faith said quietly. Wesley looked up at her in surprise.
He stared at her from across the small room. "Why?" he asked.
"I have the weight of the world issues, Wes," Faith said, realizing the situation was far too tense for her liking. "Something about being one half of the chosen duo elected to fight this mad, mad war of yours." She sighed, staring at the telephone, as though daring it to ring again. "I hope when they do call back, you tell them to go screw themselves."
"I'll be sure to pass that message along," Wesley said lightly. "It's after sunset. You should go and patrol."
"All right," she said, crossing the room and passing close to her Watcher. "Wes... will you be all right?"
"Your concern for me is unnecessary," he said briskly, not looking at her.
"Just don't go all Dark Side on me, okay?" Faith asked, touching his arm as she passed him. "The last thing I need is another dim Watcher."
He still wasn't looking at her as she left. As the door closed behind her, he finally looked up, his eyes full of suspicion.
"What is she playing at?" he muttered softly.
Faith walked down the street, almost relieved how quiet it was. She half-wished Sunnydale wasn't the dead town it was. On the other hand, less tourists presented fewer targets to the demons and vampires that seemed to thrive in Sunnydale.
After a quick hour of walking around the graveyards and other familiar haunts, Faith decided to pack it in. Instead of walking back towards Buffy's old house, she decided to stop by and see if Giles and Willow were back. They'd already been gone for nearly a week.
Before she could even cross the street, she heard footsteps running behind her. Using her inherited reflexes, she managed to spin just as a shadow fell across the pavement and she easily kicked out, knocking one of her two assailants down.
There was a sharp male cry and Faith found herself staring down at a redheaded girl pushing herself up from the ground painfully. "Geez, Faith... that's one powerful kick you got there."
Faith was so startled to see Willow that she didn't even notice the Oz had his hands on her arms, apparently trying to restrain her.
"Red?" Faith gasped, quickly pulling herself from Oz's grasp and offering the other girl a hand. Willow took and Faith helped the smaller girl to her feet. "You okay? I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'm great," Willow gasped, a hand on her ribs. "You just scared me is all."
Before Willow could react, Faith let out a small cry and threw her arms around willow, hugging her tightly. "You're back!" Faith said, pulling back. "When did you get back?"
"Just a few hours ago," Willow replied as Oz took her hand softly. "You should have been there, Faith. Wow. Buffy just looked so..."
"Different?" Faith finished up for her.
"She looked complete," Willow said, surprising Faith with her answer. "We got to meet her brother, too. You could just look in their eyes and... wow. You knew they were brother and sister. And their faces... oh, I wish Joyce could have seen..."
"Did you tell her?" Faith asked suddenly, turning to Oz, who shook his head.
"Did he tell me what?" Willow asked.
"Joyce," Faith replied shortly. "She's taken a slight turn for the better since you guys left. She was convinced you were going to kidnap her daughter and bring her home."
"I wonder who would have given her that crazy idea," Oz said sardonically, rolling his eyes.
"Cordy really needs to learn when she has to keep her mouth closed," Willow agreed with a sad smile. "Actually, there really was no way we could tear her from that place. There were people watching her back and... she just looked different. I mean, she looks exactly the same with the blonde hair and greenish eyes and all, but..." her voice trailed off. "I think we should talk to Giles. He was much more eloquent in his description."
"Right," Faith said, opening her arms and gesturing them onward. "Lead the way."
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Bang!
There was a sharp knock on the door.
Wesley glanced up, slightly alarmed. He'd just finished cleaning the glass from the broken bottle on the floor. "Come in!" he called out, turning back to wrap his bloody hand in the towel, cursing himself for nicking his fingers on the glass in the first place.
The door opened and four figures swept inside, led by Quentin Travers.
"Mister Travers," Wesley said softly. "To what do I owe this honor?"
"We believe we have a serious matter to discuss," the older man said quickly, taking the seat Faith had long abandoned. "And if you wouldn't mind, a double scotch."
"It would be possible," Wesley said with a frown, "but I just lost my bottle a little over an hour ago."
"So we've heard," the woman behind Quentin said, a bemused expression on her face. "I never thought I'd see the day when a Slayer would actually give a damn about her Watcher."
"You were spying on us?" Wesley asked, his voice barely above a deadly whisper.
"Your place has been tapped," Quentin replied cheerfully, accepting a large flask from one of the other Council members. "Now, Wesley, we need to get down to business. We believe that the situation has gotten out of control."
"There is no situation to be in control of," Wesley replied calmly. "You know perfectly well that the Slayer is within your control."
"That may be," said one of the men standing beside the woman. "But we are beginning to doubt your abilities, Mister Windham-Pryce."
"We have all concurred that your services should no longer be needed by the Watcher's Council," Quentin said in a bored tone of voice. "Your contract has been terminated. You're fired."
Wesley didn't say anything for a moment. He just stared at his folded hands. Finally, he glanced up. Instead of seeing a strange look of fear in the younger man's eyes, Quentin saw rage.
"You will act as you see fit," Wesley replied in a calm voice, but Quentin could detect an undertone of rage. "And I... I shall act as I see fit."
"You are to have no further contact with the Slayer," Quentin continued, ignoring the other man completely. "If I hear that you have had any contact with her, I will be forced to act in accordance to what I best... how did you put it... the best way I see fit."
"Please, Wesley," the woman said in a soft voice, "don't do anything rash."
"Rash?" Wesley asked, calmly standing up and looking into her cold eyes. "Rash?" In one fluid moment, he overturned the small table, broken pieces of wood littering the floor where just a few moments ago he'd been picking up glass. "You sons of... how dare you--"
"I believe we are done here," Quentin said coldly, turning to the woman. "I believe you know Caroline here, Wesley. You will turn all of your materials over to her. She will be designated as Faith's Watcher from now on. These two will be relocated from Sunnydale within a month."
"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into," Wesley said with a cool smile. "She's going to rip you apart when she discovers what you have done."
"There has to be no contact between the two Slayers," the woman named Caroline said scornfully. "I fully intend on making that happen since you seemed... incapable, Wesley."
Wesley bent down and picked up the cracked leg of the table and held it in his hands as though it were a stake. "You stuck me in this position nine months ago to take of a situation that had gotten radically out of control. If you try to push her buttons now, she will turn against you. She will betray you."
"We have an... initiative for her so that will allow us to keep full control over our Slayer," Caroline said coldly, eyeing the wood in Wesley's hands. "As for you and your pitiful excuse for a well-trained Watcher, well... you certainly have proven yourself to be a disgrace, Wesley."
"Damn it!" Wesley shouted, losing all pretense of coolness and calmness immediately. He threw the wood at her and she winced, ducking out of the way. "Do you not understand what will happen here? You've already lost one Slayer! You may as well just be handing the other one--"
"The diaries, Wesley," Quentin said coldly, standing up. One of the other Watchers had stepped next to him, a glittering object in his hand. A pistol. Wesley glanced down at it and sat back down on his chair, cursing bitterly.
"In the chest," he finally said, his eyes never leaving Quentins'. "This is the biggest mistake the Council has ever made."
"I believe the larger error here was asking you to replace Rupert," Quentin sneered. "Oh, dear... I see that look well. You have come to care for this Slayer."
"She's not exactly sunshine and poppies," Wesley snapped in return. "Just get your things and get the hell out of my house."
"This... house... as you call it, it belongs to the Watcher's Council," the man replied, finally sheathing his weapon. "You will be evicted, of course... unless you have something to say for yourself."
Wesley's eyes, which had once held nothing more than petty daftness, were cold as steel and ice. "Go to hell," he muttered.
"Colorful young man," Caroline said, shaking her head. "It is quite the shame, Wesley. We believed you to be the most useful to get close to your Slayer. Evidently you are useless. If your father were still employed within the Council, he would be most disappointed in you."
Wesley glared at them all again. The other two Watchers collected the chest of materials and began clearing out his closet of weapons into a large black bag Caroline had brought in with her.
But Wesley still had one weapon left. He had Faith. Her anger was his power. He had but one chance to use her against those bastards.
He watched them leave. And suddenly something occurred to him. Faith knew something. She was up to something.
And he needed to find out what she was up to. If she messed with Quentin or Caroline, she may have well just signed her own death warrant.
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Giles had just set out plates for dinner when the door opened. He turned to see Willow, Oz and Faith walk inside. "Faith! It's wonderful to see you!" he said, smiling slightly at her.
"Right back atcha," she said, looking around. Xander and Cordelia were sitting at the table, passing around platters of food. "It smells delicious in here."
"You are more than welcome to join us," Giles said, offering her his chair. "We decided that since these lovely co-eds decided they needed some time off, I would barbeque."
"He's just like a daddy," Cordelia said proudly as she eyed the chicken with great interest.
"Giles," Faith said, realizing she really wanted to talk about the other Slayer. Giles seemed to sense this and sighed. "We'll go out and talk," he said, as she rose and they both walked to the front terrace.
"What is on your mind, Faith?" Giles asked.
"Buffy, what else?" Faith said, sitting down. "You saw her a few days ago, right?"
"I did," Giles said slowly. "She was with a large group of people. They knew who she was. She then spotted both Willow and I. I was truly amazed we saw her there since we had just gotten off the train at platform ten... she must have been passing through with her company."
"Willow said you met her brother," Faith said with great interest. "What is he like?"
"He's got darker hair and is a good head taller than our Buffy," Giles said with a smile. "But if you look at their faces, they're definitely related. Especially in the eyes. His are definitely green and hers have that green in them. And you could just tell how much they cared about each other."
Faith felt a hot stab of jealousy. She'd never had a sister or a brother, or any close friends really. Not until she'd come to Sunnydale. Although she'd only known Buffy a short time, the two were linked by destiny. Knowing that she had to share her chosen opposite with a boy... well...
"Giles," she said softly. He suddenly looked wary.
"I know what you're thinking, Faith. And the answer is, you can't risk it."
"I have to go for her, Giles. I have to go after her. She's needed here, too."
"The Council will undoubtedly kill her," Giles said with a sigh. "And besides, she's got a different life over there. What right do we have to tell her how to live her life?"
"She's chosen! She's... she's a hero!" Faith sputtered. "She's doesn't belong where she isn't needed!"
"Faith," Giles said in a voice of dangerous calm. "Buffy knows where she's needed. Her birth parents were murdered fifteen years ago. How do you think she feels about that? She's met her one surviving relative and from what we've been able to gather, his life has been a living hell. You could at least show some support for her instead of rebuking her."
"I want to support her," Faith said with a sharp laugh. "That's why I've made my decision."
"What decision is this?" Giles asked sharply.
"I'm going to England," Faith said, crossing her arms. "You cannot stop me since you have no authority over my power. I have to do this for the both of us."
"You're also deciding this for other reasons I suppose?" Giles asked softly. "For example, your own parentage?"
"My Father could be buried in England somewhere and he may still be alive," Faith said in a hushed voice. "I have to find him, Giles. I have to do this for myself. And in doing this, I'm bringing a piece of all of us back to her. She doesn't want to be with us anymore, fine. But I have this damned prophecy I dream about night after night... please, Giles. Understand that I'm trying to do. You've always been supportive of the first Slayer. Just this once, I want you to support me, too."
"I wish I could," Giles finally said, turning his back on her. "I have never given her anything more than my everlasting support. Willow and I journeyed to England just to prove that we will support her through any decision she would ever make. If you feel that you could support her five thousand miles away, I am not going to stop you."
"And neither will I," a second voice said. Faith gasped in horror as Wesley stepped out from behind one of the columns.
"Oh, my God," Faith gasped, her blood turning to ice.
"Relax, Faith," Wesley said, his eyes on the younger Slayer. "I realize that this is what you've been planning for awhile now. I just have to say that it'll be tough luck on ever getting out of this country."
"Why is that?" Faith asked in confusion.
"Because I have just been relieved from my duty as Watcher," Wesley said bitterly. He turned to Giles. "I think you remember Caroline Mann, that British priss. She'll be taking over duties as your official Watcher, Faith."
Giles sighed. "Caroline Mann is ruthless and cunning... she will turn you over to Travers and the rest of his bloody squad if you dare deceive her. I assume Faith will be moved out of Sunnydale?"
Wesley nodded. "Indeed."
"That's why I have to do this now," Faith said, turning to Wesley. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"I would never have let you go," Wesley replied. "I just don't know where to go from here."
"See? You're not as dim as you thought you were," Faith said with an encouraging smile. "I think we both learned a lot tonight."
"I'm not going to tell Caroline or Quentin where you're going," Wesley promised her. "I don't think it'd be the right thing to do. I did warn them they would lose your loyalties if they attempted to pull a fast one on you. I daresay I was right. It would serve them right if you were to run now. Useless wankers."
"Wes, I know that you and I never really got along," Faith said slowly, "but I think I know of the perfect place for you to relocate. See, Angel, that's Buffy's ex, just started up his own agency in Los Angeles. He's been asking if anyone would have the intelligence to help him out. Cordy's been going back and forth since she started seeing Xander again, but she doesn't want to leave Joyce in such a fragile state. I think it would be best for both of us if you went down to him."
"How long have you been planning this?" Wesley asked suspiciously.
"About a month," Faith said seriously, before her face broke out into a large smile. "Think about it?"
"I will," Wesley promised her. "And... Faith... I know it isn't any of my business, but do you know where to look for her?"
"That's the one thing I hadn't figured out yet," Faith replied. "I wish I knew where she was."
"I do," Wesley said quietly. "It's the one thing I had against the Council. My Father has been moved to some school away from London. It just so happens a certain Slayer is in a class of his." He turned to Faith apologetically. "I really apologize for all the trouble and anger I've caused you. My father was the one making the threatening calls. He believed that the two Slayers should be together. And, until now, I never agreed. But I will hold my oath to my Father fulfilled and hopefully he'll show me more respect."
"You know where B is?" Faith asked excitedly. Wesley nodded.
"Hey, guys! The food's getting cold in here!" Willow called out. Her voice was smothered in laughter as Xander tossed something at her.
Wesley glanced at Giles, who nodded towards the door. "Help yourself. I hope you don't mind a good, old-fashioned American charred meat."
"Not at all," Wesley said, disappearing inside.
"So he's one of us now, is he?" Faith asked softly.
"He has to be," Giles said. "He has nowhere else to go."
"And about England..."
"Just tell me when you're leaving and I'll figure out a way to cover your tracks, Faith. You're a skilled girl. I'm sure you could hide yourself well."
"How am I going to find Buffy?"
"You're a Slayer, Faith. Wesley just gave you a key. It's up to you to take it. You'll find a way."
- - - - -
Chapter 25... Buffy faces off with Cho
Chapter 26... Quidditch lessons; Buffy confides in someone...
To the Readers / Reviewers:
As I said, this chapter was short but held a lot of information. I think I redeemed Wesley in the eyes of all Wesley fans. I didn't really get a chance to see him on Angel, so this'll have to do. Faith is going to England! She won't leave the state till Chapter 27 though. That's the next Sunnydale update.
More spoilers? Let's see... Faith arrives around Chapter 30. Harry finds out about Buffy's prophecy AND her death; Buffy finds out about Harry's prophecy accidentally; Hogsmeade brings two couples together; Lupin spends time with the Potter siblings.
That'll hold till about Chapter 31. Which is always good.
Anyway, a few answered questions...
Stahchild -- Buffy will not be paired with Snape (can I say ewwww?). I'm sticking by my original choice (a certain former Gryffindor house Quidditch captain, to be so exact).
I'm currently working on Chapter 28 and doing some rewrites for Chapter 26. Just so you know where I'm standing.
Enjoy reading. And if you'd like to review, I won't twist your arm, but I'll love you forever.