FIC: She's Gone (15D/?)

Faith's head twisted round at the voice, her heart rising in recognition. In an instance she'd spun round, sprung up, and charged into Xander's waiting arms. Shaking with emotion, she sobbed into his chest. "I'm so sorry," she muttered. "I didn't mean all those things I said."

"Hey it's okay," she relaxed, comforted as she always was by Xander's voice and his hands gently tousling her hair. "Nobody's going to hurt my Slayer." She tensed, self-doubt assailing her again. 'His Slayer', was that the only reason X was with her, because she was different? If she didn't have her powers would he be interested? "Faith," Xander's voice was full of concern. "What's wrong?"

"T…they," her voice choked up. What if…. Swallowing her fear, she finished what she'd been about to say. "They took my powers away."

"Hey," Xander pulled her even further into his arms. "And you're thinking something dumb aren't you? Like I'd love my sexy, brave, and funny girl-friend any less? Well that's just stupid," she felt Xander's lips on her forehead. "We're going to get your powers back. And even if we can't…"

"Still your girl?"

"Still my girl," her boyfriend confirmed.

"Please," it was her hero. "It's sunlight in a couple of hours."

"Cor," it was Gunn. "You brought the sick bags right?"

"No, but I'm beginning to wish I had."


Kalaz glanced at his companions as a bulky, loose-jowled demon with not very bright eyes and wearing a tattered coat stepped out from the shadows at the alleyway dragging a whimpering human female behind him. "Wicca, aura-reader, or soothsayer?" he growled, "which one you reckon she is?"

"Hi guys," the grey-skinned demon stopped when he was about a foot from them. "I seen the posters about the Slayer," he grabbed the girl's raven-dark hair and yanked her head back. "You're paying good money for her right?"

"The Slayer?" Curious, Kalaz took a step forward; he'd never seen a Slayer before. Realising his fellow guards hadn't come with him, he glanced back in puzzlement.

And saw their furiously writhing bodies in mid-air, held there by nooses around the neck. Mouth opening in alarm, he took a step towards his companions, his hand dropping to the sword sheathed around his waist. Feeling hands on his neck, he began to turn and then pain erupted.


Clem stared distastefully at the body as it dropped lifelessly into his arms. Swallowing his disgust, he carried the corpse to the near-by bins and flung it in. "You did well Clem."

Clem managed not to jump at the quiet voice of Faith's mentor and hero by his side. Blushing neon blue, he glanced down at his feet, unable to meet the legendary vampire's eyes. "Uh, thank you Mr. Angel."

The Irish demon chuckled before patting him on the shoulder. Clem blinked, Angel had actually touched him? He could sell this coat for dozens of kittens. No, he decided, he'd get it framed. Maybe get a certificate of authenticity off the vampire. "Just Angel Clem, just Angel." The former Scourge's tone turned serious. "You will make sure Dawn and Faith are okay?"

He glanced towards the two brunettes. "They're my top priority."

"Then," Angel smiled at him. "I've nothing to worry about."

He beamed at the vampire's praise. "You're alright Mr-, uh Angel," the vampire's smile faded at his next words. "Not at all the prancing poofter that Spike said you were." He turned at Xander and Dawn's giggles. "What?" he asked. "What did I say?"


Faith took a breath as she led her group to the front of the Bronze. She glanced at Xander who winked. "Go for it Clem," she whispered, hating herself for the tremble she heard in her voice.

"It'll be alright Faithie," Clem soothed. She nodded, although why she didn't grab X and get the fuck out of town she had no idea. Having a conscience really, really blew at times.

Clem raised his foot and sent it crashing through the thick door. In an instance, she was through the splintered doors, leading her group into the teen night-spot, hoping that their ruse worked. "I heard ya were looking for a Slayer," she drawled. Seeing Tar, she threw her friend a wink before turning her attention back to the demons, her heart racing. "Guess what? Ya found one."


General Harnes' head snapped towards the splintering door. He growled at the raven-haired girl swaggering through the entrance, flanked by a pair of powerful looking males and followed by a bulky demon and another girl. The Slayer, but empowered? How? Shrugging off his doubt, he let out a bellow. "Get them!"


Angel looked down through the skylight as the majority of the demons surged towards Faith and the others before glancing at his companions, the only two who could also take the impact of the fall, an ascended Cordelia and Groo. "You two ready?" he queried.

"Indeed we are mighty warrior," Groo replied.

Angel resisted the urge to shake his head. And he'd thought Wes was pompous. "Let's go!" he leapt through the skylight, sending glass flying to the ground.


Heart racing, Faith looked at the on-rushing demons. She'd noticed the whirling machine behind the bar. Maybe that had something to do with her loss of powers. The only question was how to get to it?

Suddenly the skylight exploded, causing the demons charging her and her companions to stop and half-turn. Seizing her opportunity, she fired her crossbow at the nearest demon, catching him in the eye. Flinging her crossbow to the ground, she drew her two hatchets, hating the way her hands sweated with tension. Mouth drying, she looked up at the monster charging her. "Faith! Hit the ground!"

She instantly dived to the ground at Clem's shout. Looking up, she watched as the demon's baseball swung through the air to crash into her would-be attacker's head, exploding it like an over-ripe tomato. "Thanks Clem!" she shouted. Rising, she darted between two demons only to be grabbed around her shirt collar by the demon leader and flung into the optics behind the bar and onto the ground.


Angel shook his head at Faith's dart through the monsters. Powers or not, she was still the same reckless, fool-hardy…. "Damn fool girl," he growled. Not bothering to hide his true face, he parried a clumsy sword thrust before driving his forehead into his assailant's face. A knee to the stomach later and he quickly deposited the doubled-up Scourge member with a downwards decapitating slash. A glance to his side reassured him that Groo and Cordy were holding their own.


"Oh crap," Faith moaned as she looked up from her position on the floor behind the counter. Her head was thumping and her entire body aching from her landing. "Note to self, you do not fly as well when human as you do as a Slayer. Although," she grinned as she realised she was laid by the table on which the grinding generator sat, "being a crash test dummy has its benefits." Grabbing the table and gritting her teeth with the effort, god she hoped she was right, she pushed the table over, sending the machine crashing to the ground.

Her eyes widened with delight as power surged through her body, the pain of a half-second ago dissipating to be replaced by a high that no drug could equal. "Baby I'm back!" she grinned at the demon charging around the bar opening. She flipped up to her feet. "And boy are you fucked!"


Xander grinned as he heard his girl-friend's elated whoop over the din of the battle. "My girl's back," he muttered. Turning his attention back to the see-saw melee, he deflected a sword-slash with the flat of his double-bladed axe before chopping his rival's head off.


"Listen Strawberry-."

Rack flew through the air, slamming into the wall and sliding down to land in a heap. "I think," Angel strode over to the crumpled mage, the battle having ended a few minutes earlier, "you're the one who needs to listen." He grabbed the mage around the neck and lifted him to arm's length. "You stay away from Willow, otherwise," he smiled, displaying his fangs. "I'm going to be a very unhappy vampire."

"More than usual?"

He ignored Xander's comment as he looked the squirming mage in the eye. "Willow's seen through you. If I was you, I'd give serious consideration to leaving town," he flung the wizard to the ground. He was disappointed when the mage's companion ran to his side. It seemed that although losing her powers was enough to give Willow a reality check, the same could not be said to the other witch. He turned to the others. "Let's go."


"Hey Pip," Dawn watched as the now completely back to her usual cocksure self Slayer strode into the hallway of her home. "G out at the shop?"

"Yes," she nodded.

"Good," she gulped at the feral look in the Bostonian's eyes as she began to advance on her. "Because we've got to discuss you cracking me a good one across the mouth. And I really don't want any witnesses for what I'm gonna do. What ya got to say for yourself?"

"Well, ah, you see," her voice trailed off as she backed into the wall.

"Nothing to say uh?" Faith arched an eyebrow. "Well I've got plenty." Suddenly the Slayer was on her, tickling her ribs before picking her up in a hug. "Like, thanks little sis," the east coast native muttered in her ear before planting her back on the floor. "Gotcha going then eh?"

"Did not!" Dawn protested over the pounding of her heart.

"Did too!" Faith winked at her. "Thanks kid."