Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.

Summary: Post AtS and BtVS, Faith and Xander are approached by a secret government agency. Surprises all around.

Rating: PG-13

Chapter 2: Vengeance

Faith eyed Connor speculatively, glancing to Xander, who grabbed two chairs and dragged them opposite Connor's chair, sitting in one of them. She reluctantly sat in the other, splaying her legs wide and leaning over her knees, resting her elbows on them.

Riley backed away. "I'd better go, um, make sure there's no problems with Harmony." He left quickly.

"So, a mission," said Xander. "And you want us to be part of your pretty lights and pony show?"

Connor smiled. "Well, we don't really need more firepower—Spike's just running scared. And we could really use a real Watcher instead of you—no offense."

"None taken," said Xander. "To do what?"

"Break us into hell," said Connor calmly. "A hell dimension, to be specific. One of the bad ones. The worst, according to most." A smile played over his mouth. "But, anyway, you probably don't want to hear all the boring details. You want to know about the vampires."

"Yeah, that might help," said Xander, a little nervously.

"First was Drusilla," said Connor. "We needed her. Bad. I mean, with Cordelia dead, we had no connection to the Powers. No visions, no seers, no prophecies, nothing. This was back in the brainstorming part of this crazy plan, when it was just Spike and I. Before we came here."

"You and Spike?" asked Faith.

"Yeah," said Connor. "We're friends from way back. Or not so way back. Anyway, we needed her visions really bad. And the two of us couldn't hold her. That's when Spike made a phone call, brought Riley into the mix. That wasn't pretty."

"Wait, wait," said Faith, holding up a hand. "I don't mean to nitpick, but just where did you learn to hit like that? And how did Spike come back to life?"

Connor shrugged. "Long story. And longer story. Anyway, Drusilla's dangerous, sure, but nothing I can't handle. Harmony...well, let's just say she owes us one."

Xander stared at the kid. "Okay, you've lost me in a major way here. You have a mission, you keep saying."

"That," said Connor, sighing. "There's this organization, Wolfram and Hart." His face turned suddenly into a very dangerous scowl. "And they screwed around with me and mine once too often."

Faith frowned. "The lawyers that wanted Angel killed?"

Connor smiled. "Those are the ones." His smiled faded. "The ones who killed him."

"They finished Dead-boy off?" asked Xander. "Wow."

Connor glanced at Xander. "You knew Angel?" he asked, surprised. "Wow."

"Yeah, back in the day," shrugged Xander. "So you want to destroy some evil lawyers. That's it?"

"Well, we get the occasional rain of fire, army of demons, and legions of killers in to stop us," replied Connor. "Not to mention Spike's gone almost totally bonkers, almost as bad as the doll-lady downstairs. But it's, you know, our mission."

"Not the army's mission?" asked Faith skeptically, wondering by now just whose idea it was to break into hell. Wasn't that more of a bad-guy plan, anyway?

"We made it theirs," said Connor. "Came to them and demanded their help, really. Of course, it helps that Spike knows them, and that we have so much to offer. We help out with lots of their little problems, they help us out with our one big problem."

Faith blinked. "Okay, I get that. You and crazy-boy, along with a bunch of vampires and soldier-boy, want to kill lawyers."

"Not the lawyers," replied Connor. "The Senior Partners. The ones who live in this hell dimension. We need some major magic to get in."

Faith sighed, standing up. "Great. We have some major magic-users back in Italy."

"No," said Spike, standing in the doorway. Faith sighed.

"That sneaking thing? Stop while you're still undead," she advised.

Spike glowered at them. "If you want to bring in your Scooby gang, then you can just walk, right now. They aren't part of this, and they aren't going to be part of this."

Faith frowned. "Because they already turned you down, didn't they?"

"What?" asked Xander, a step behind her.

"It's obvious, isn't it?" asked Faith. "You already asked Buffy for help, and she turned you down. I wonder why that would be?"

Spike scowled. Connor stood up, standing between Faith and Spike. "Well, that's it, then," said Connor. "You're right, of course. Your friends in Italy turned us down, that's fine. You want to be part of this or not?"

"Help crazed vampires break into hell?" asked Xander. "I'm thinking that really wouldn't be the best plan in the world."

Spike chuckled. "Actually, it is the best plan in the world," he said. "Right, D-boy?"

Connor grimaced. "What Spike means is that there is an organization out there that is so evil it must be destroyed. They've been bringing the Apocalypse closer, making earth hell, every day since they started. Wolfram and Hart must be destroyed, and that's all there is to it."

"Count us out," growled Xander.

"You said you were Angel's friend," said Connor to Faith. She looked at him in surprise, still not remembering him at all. The sudden reference to events she couldn't remember sparked a feeling of déjà vu. "He made it his life's work to destroy these people."

"And they destroyed him," said Spike. "Sure you don't want to dole out a little payback on these folks?" His gaze was hot and angry, and Faith felt a flush permeate her body as the challenge rolled over her.

It was a cheap shot he'd thrown at her, the kind that she reveled in. And she never had got to give him a proper beating...or anything. She glared back, letting her own gaze gain a little heat to match his anger.

"You want to say something, Angel wannabe?" she asked. "Nice soul, there, by the by. Just like your Sire's."

To her surprise Spike laughed, letting the insult roll of his back. "D-boy, you want to get her out of here?"

Connor sighed. "All right, why don't we give you the full tour before we leave, okay?"

"Full tour?" asked Faith suspiciously.

Connor shrugged, putting a hand on Spike's arm. Faith watched his arm, noting supernaturally strong muscles flexing, the grip on Spike's arm tightening in what had to be a very, very painful way.

"Spike?" asked Connor calmly.

"I'll go talk to Dru," said Spike, his voice just as calm.

Faith shook her head. "The kid can touch you, but Captain America can't?"

Spike growled under his breath. "It's different," he said. He walked away, leaving Connor standing there. Connor took a deep breath.

"I know this is all just a bit more wacky than anything else, but listen, this is a major thing. In fact...HARTNEY?!" He screamed the last word, clutching his ear and tearing out a tiny earpiece. "Agh! God, Hartney!" He threw the earpiece down angrily, shaking his head. It shattered on the floor, pieces dashing everywhere.

Xander had thrown himself backwards when Connor screamed, and now fell to the floor, feeling heavier than he had in a long time. "Oof," he said quietly.

"What was that?" asked Faith.

Connor shook his head. "Idiots gave me another comlink set to normal volumes," he said, rubbing his ear. "Hold on, I need to go ask what that was all about."

Riley came running down the corridor. "Connor, did you hear the report?"

"Some idiot gave me another normal comlink!" whined Connor.

"Did you smash it?" asked Riley quickly, as if he'd asked before.

"Well, yeah," said Connor. "It hurt like he—it hurt."

Xander frowned. "Why did it hurt?" he asked, surprised.

"Connor's hearing," said Riley. "Since it's so much more sensitive than human hearing—closer to vampire hearing, really—the comms don't work so well for him."

"Vampire hearing?" asked Faith, surprised and suspicious.

Connor shrugged. "Miraculous, isn't it?" he asked. "What's the sitch?" He directed the question at Riley, who took a deep breath.

"We found the guy," he said. "Just like Spike said, he was hiding out in the warehouses."

"What guy?" asked Faith.

"Old friend," said Connor tightly. "All right, this is the way it goes down. I'm going to take point. Is Spike...?"

"Lost in lala land," said Riley rightly.

"Then I take point," said Connor. He glanced to Faith. "I don't suppose you have any objections to our little plan?"

"Who exactly are we talking about?" she asked.

Connor smiled. "He's a demon, if that's what you're asking," he replied. "Possibly you've heard of him. Goes by the name of D'Hoffryn."

"D'Hoffryn—what?" said Xander, confused.

"Never heard of him," dismissed Faith.

"The Vengeance Demon? You're in way over your head!" said Xander, freaking out.

Connor moved to the wall and punched a small button. "No, we're not," he said tightly. "Can I borrow your comlink, Riley?"

Riley grimaced, taking out his earpiece and handing it to Connor. Connor held it in front of his face. "All right, Spike, I know you're listening. Get the magic team ready, and pin him down."

"Pin him down?" asked Faith.

--

The helicopters were circling the lone warehouse, with spotlights shining down cold white light in the darkness, pinpointing it. There was hardly a shadow within the well-lit zone.

Connor stood nearby, donning a black bulletproof vest with a number of medieval weapons hanging off it. He selected a broadsword, picking it up carefully and swinging it around experimentally.

"My personal favorite," said the teenager with a dark grin.

"Do you have any idea what kind of powers a vengeance demon has?" asked Xander, still freaking. Faith stood in front of him, wondering the same thing. "Even Buffy, on her best day, couldn't handle Anya!"

"Anya?" asked Connor. "Never mind. This dude and I, we need to talk. I intend to make my points," here he jabbed the broadsword forward, "and listen hard to whatever he says."

Connor marched forward, towards the warehouse.

"Well, the kid does have cojones," Faith said. "Give him his due."

"He's also freaking dead!" snapped Xander. "I've seen these guys in action, Faith, and you don't come out alive."

There was a rustle beside Xander, and he whirled to see Spike. "Gah!" he said. "I thought you didn't come out?"

Spike had a lighter in his right hand, and he twirled it nervously. His face had a soft, almost innocent look to it. "I've seen them in action too, Harris. You think we'd start this lightly? I wish it could be different, you know. I wish we could do this the safe way." His face hardened. "But they brought this war to us, and we will not stop. Not now, not ever." He snapped his fingers, the lighter disappearing. "Oh, we're ready for this guy."

"Ready? How, ready?" asked Xander. Faith nodded, moving between Spike and Xander.

"Yes, some details might be in order," she said tightly.

There was a loud crack, and the front of the building exploded, a dark figure clad in long robes slamming through the wall and falling to the ground.

"Details?" asked Spike. "Ask D-boy there for details."

"You keep calling him that. What does it mean?" asked Faith tightly. She didn't trust any of the government boys, she didn't trust Connor, and she really didn't trust Spike.

"The Destroyer," said Spike with a smirk. "Ask around, it's his name." He moved forward. "All right, D'Hoffryn. Good run, very nicely fought."

The figure in robes struggled to his feet. "This betrayal will not be tolerated!" he snarled. "I will have my revenge."

"Sure," said Spike in a soothing voice. "D-Boy?"

Connor leapt forward, smashing into D'Hoffryn, knocking him onto the ground and pinning him, putting his knee on the demon's throat. "You've been to Quor'toth, haven't you?" Connor asked.

"Silly boy," hissed D'Hoffryn. "I was there when that grand new dimension was opened; I was there when you arrived."

"Then you know how to get back in," said Spike, moving closer. "You can tear at the fabric of reality—you can make that jump." He leaned down over the demon. "We could give you back your powers, you know. Give back everything we tore from you. What about it, eh?"

"I'd sooner be sent to Quor'toth for all eternity than band with you, mongrel!" spat D'Hoffryn. "This darkness you spread, this cancer you have become, you think it scares me?"

"It should," said Spike roughly. "I'm kind of glad it doesn't, though. Come on, Hoffy. Tell us what we need to know." He leaned closer, his voice dropping. "I could have the Destroyer let you go. I could fix all this. You know I can."

"Halfrek—my agents—?" coughed D'Hoffryn.

"That would be your problem," said Spike coldly. "Come on, make it easy on yourself. Just give us the keys to the kingdom."

D'Hoffryn smiled, a grotesque grin. "William...you are no more than a gnat, a flea. They will crush you, William."

Spike's face twisted into an absurd mask of rage and hatred. "Bollocks!" he hissed. "You know as well as I do that what you want is forever out of your reach! I will destroy you utterly, consume you utterly!" He reached down, his hand grabbing D'Hoffryn's face like a claw, untrimmed fingernails digging into the demon's face. "Vengeance may be your calling, but it is my gift!" He growled the last words, then stood up, breathing slowly.

Connor tightened his grip. "He's not going to crack," he said finally.

"No, he's not," sighed Spike. "He's too tough, too old. Too determined." He turned away angrily. "Let him go."

D'Hoffryn stared at them as the teenager let him up. "You're insane!" he said, turning and grabbing the sword Connor was holding, charging at Spike with it.

Spike whirled, kicking the sword out of the vengeance demon's hand with a lightning quick kick. D'Hoffryn punched Spike, knocking him off his feet and onto the ground, and moved to kick down at his head.

Spike rolled, and then Connor attacked D'Hoffryn from behind, using an axe he'd grabbed off his back. With a few blows he'd knocked the demon away from Spike and was driving him back.

"You think you're all that, kid?" asked D'Hoffryn desperately.

Connor grunted, blocking a blow from the demon. "You know what? If you're not going to help us—then you're just dead weight." He slammed the axe into the demon, burying the head in D'Hoffryn's chest.

D'Hoffryn threw his head back and laughed. "You think something like that will end this?" he asked, angrily. He tore the axe out of his chest, moving towards Connor, swinging it.

Spike moved in behind him, grabbing him by the shoulders, and Connor batted the axe away, reaching into D'Hoffryn's shirt.

"Do you know," said Spike softly, "I do believe Anya would approve of this."

"What?" said D'Hoffryn desperately.

"Well, never go for the kill—when you can go for the pain," hissed Spike.

Connor smashed a fist into D'Hoffryn's chest, and there was a flash of light. D'Hoffryn gasped, and Spike pushed him away, knocking him to the ground. "Little girls, Hoffy," said Spike. "You preyed on them, turning them into monsters and then killing them when you were done with them."

Faith was watching carefully. "Are you following this?" she asked.

"D'Hoffryn betrayed Anya," said Xander tightly. "Turned her human and killed her best friend." The tightness in his voice was not directed at Spike for once, noted Faith. It was directed at the demon he was staring down at. Faith turned back uncertainly.

"Why?" gasped D'Hoffryn.

Spike began twirling the lighter in his hand again. "It's a mission," he replied. "I doubt you'd understand it." He glared at the demon, and for a second Faith thought he would just kill him.

"You can't do this to me!" yelled D'Hoffryn.

"What, strip you of your powers and leave you to run away from all your former friends and current enemies?" asked Connor. "Well, if you ever just want to surrender to us and cooperate, I'm sure we'd be okay with that."

The vengeance demon stood up shakily, and stalked away. Connor watched him go, a grin on his face. "And superman strikes again," he said.

"Don't get cocky, junior," said Spike, flipping the lighter opened. "That's my job." He turned back to Spike and Xander, who were staring at him. "Can't believe Finn brought them back," he sighed, snapping the lighter closed. "What a moron."

"Complete dipstick," agreed Connor. "What next?"

Spike sighed. "We'll need to find another conduit. This one's just gone." He examined Xander and Faith closely. "I'll take them back to their car. You keep the soldiers occupied."

Connor nodded, taking off the black vest he'd worn over his orange shirt. "They're gonna call Italy," he said with a worried tone of voice. Spike snorted.

"Then they'll call us the bad guys. Big deal." He walked towards Xander and Faith. "Come on, gotta get you back to your cemetery and out of my hair."

Xander glared at him. "Yeah, right," he said. Spike started moving away, and the Slayer and Watcher fell in behind him, both a little nervously.

"What exactly is going on?" asked Xander.

Spike shrugged. "I told you," he growled impatiently. "Mission, hell, Senior Partners. Do you even listen to me at all?"

Faith sighed. "He did fight with us in Sunnydale," she noted. "Burned up for us. And how exactly did you come back from that?"

"Thanks to a little weasel named Lindsey, actually," said Spike. "Kind of strange, really. He gave me a new lease on life just to burn Angel." He chuckled, running his hands through his hair. "Ironic, inn't it?"

"How did Angel die?" asked Faith softly, remembering the friend that she had been willing to let bite her to save.

Spike snorted. "Don't ask stupid questions," he said, his voice harsh and angry. "What do you care, anyway? You don't want to fight the lawyers, you just want your safe little fight."

"Why wouldn't Buffy help you?" asked Xander, a little sarcasm in his voice.

"Because I was on Angel's side for once in my life!" snarled Spike. "Because Angel was evil and everybody knows it, apparently! Because I...and Angel...and Blue, and Charley, and even Head Boy...we all did some things, right there at the end, that nobody else could possibly understand."

"Angel? Evil?" asked Faith. "Did he lose his soul again?"

"No, not even remotely," sighed Spike. "Wouldn't that have made the whole thing so much simpler?" His pace was nearly breakneck, but Faith saw a street sign that she recognized.

"You know Boston pretty well now, huh?" she asked.

"Four months ago Connor and I showed up here, looking for Finn," said Spike. He stopped. "Know your way from here?"

"You know," said Xander thoughtfully. "You're a vampire, and she's the Slayer. We could just take you along with us, make you answer a few questions."

Spike snorted in disgust. "First, you couldn't if you tried. Second, ..." he trailed off, a disconsolate look on his face. "Well, that's a little beyond me at the moment. Do you suppose that maybe you could ask that question again in a few weeks?"

"You mean you plan to break into hell soon?" asked Faith.

"Time passes so quickly in hell," said Spike. "Every minute I stand still another month, another year slips by. We don't have a whole bloody load of time left! We barely have a minute left. And no conduit." He looked away from them, his expression almost one of brooding. "You know, I don't much fancy the role I've been asked to play, but I'll not shirk it." He turned and slipped off into the night.

--

Faith sat patiently on the hotel bed while Xander dialed the number. "What if he really is fighting some kind of noble fight?" she asked.

"Then he won't mind Buffy's help, will he?" asked Xander. "Besides, he had Drusilla down there—it doesn't really help my peace of mind! Hello?"

"Hello?" said a faint and staticy voice.

"Giles? This is Xander."

"Oh, Xander! Is everything going well with you and Faith?"

"We found Spike, and he's got a secret government organization on his side, and they're going to break into hell very soon."

For a long moment there was silence on the line. Then Giles spoke again. "I'll call Buffy immediately. We should arrive, um, tomorrow. At some point, depending what tickets we can get. Thank you."

There was a click, and the line went dead. Faith swallowed. "He didn't take a whole lot of convincing, did he?" she asked.

Xander thought about it for a moment. "This is turning a little bit scary. It's as if they were already looking for Spike."

Faith shook her head. "I can believe he went bad, but Angel?"

Xander grimaced. "Giles and Buffy can fill us in."