FIC: A Murder Of Crows (6?)

Jack Crow groaned at the knock on the door. He opened his mouth to shout for Faith to open the door, then remembered she'd gone bowling with the Scoobies and Jonathan. He didn't get why his babe of a daughter was hanging with the dork, but was kinda proud of the way she took him under her wing. Girl had loyalty. That had to be admired. Groaning, he stood and made his way to the door. Flinging it open, he found a sharp-featured woman around his own age stood on the doorstep. Damn, she was so ugly, he won't do her with someone else's equipment. "Yeah?"

"Hello." Crow noticed the woman's smile didn't reach her eyes. She stepped over the threshold of his house without invitation, which was lucky because she wouldn't have got one. Not that he thought she was a vampire, not in the middle of the day, no it was just because there was something in her eyes that nettled him, made him bristle inwardly. "I understand this is the residence of Faith Jones, now Crow?"

Crow's hand snaked behind his back to grip the .38 in the back of his belt. "Who wants to know?"

"My name is Gwendolyn Post, I'm a Watcher with the Council. I've been assigned to take custody of -."

"Like hell!" he growled.

The woman momentarily blanched at his anger before continuing, her cultured voice smooth, emotionless. "I assure Mr. Crow I have all the paperwork proving my credentials -."

"That ain't the point," he snarled. "She's my daughter."

"Huh," the Watcher sniffed. "From what I understand you haven't cared about Faith being your daughter until very recen-."

"Get out." He stepped into the woman's space. "Only the fact you're a woman is stopping me from breaking your jaw. Keep on going though…." He allowed his voice to trail off.

The Englishwoman paled but to her credit she didn't bolt. "I assure you the Council will not be thwarted-."

"The Council?" He threw his head back and laughed. Returning his eyes to the woman, he allowed all amusement to flee from them. "You know who I am?" Grabbing the woman by her elbow, he pushed her out of the door. "Stay the fuck away from my daughter!" he slammed the door behind her.

Post glared at the door. "Meddlesome man," she pursed her lips together. This was going to be more difficult than she'd anticipated.
"There's a Watcher here for me?" Faith stared at the man who claimed to be her pop. Upon her arrival home ten minutes ago, she'd been dragged into the lounge and told about the Watcher. Man, what a bummer, no way her Watcher would let her go to school, hang with JL. She didn't know why it mattered but it did. "So you're gonna give me to her right? Bet you'll be real glad to get me off your hands, uh?"

"No," Crow shook his head. "Not unless that's what you want."

She stared at her father, surprised at the disquiet she saw in his eyes. Not anxiety that she would stay, but fear she would leave. Finally she shrugged. "I'll stay. Better the devil I know I guess." She hid a grin at the pleased look that flashed across her dad's face. Maybe he really did care.

"I'm sorry Mr. Giles, this is unacceptable!" The woman pacing his library floor shook her head even as she continued her rant. "A Slayer must have had a Watcher! It's Council law and has been since our creation!"

"And how do you intend to enforce your law?" Giles asked, his soft tone belying his irritation with the arrogant woman. "Faith is a spirited girl. More to the point, Jack Crow is, well, Jack Crow, not a man not to be trifled with. Perhaps compromise would be a better avenue to explore?"

"Compromise?" his fellow Watcher sniffed. "You have a Slayer don't you? We can enforce our rule-."

"Pit Slayer against Slayer?" Giles felt his temper begin to fray. "You can wipe that stupid bloody idea from your mind right now. I'm not pitting two young women against each other for your edification, you stupid bint!"

The woman paled. "Evil powers are rising."

Giles threw his hands up in frustration. "Evil powers are always rising! And yet we always survive!"

There was a long silence before the woman spoke. "How?"

Finally, she was listening. "By working as a team," Giles leaned forward. "We are a team here. Two Slayers are a formidable force. Throw in my own abilities and Mr. Crow's and we have quite a team. Your skills are of course welcome, but you must learn to bend."

"Very well," Post nodded. This situation would take some handling, but she was nothing if not resourceful. "There is some information I feel I must share."
"So this Glove is a big deal?" Faith glanced suspiciously at the Watcher. The English woman smiled at her, she replied with a snarl that caused the woman's smile to disappear.

"Yes it is," Giles stepped between her and Post. "A demon by the name of Lagos seeks the Glove of Myhnegon. No record of this glove's full power exists, but we do know it is highly dangerous and must not fall into the hands of a demon. Lagos must be stopped. It's been decided that it would be best," the librarian glanced at his fellow Watcher, "if the two of you work together to find Lagos."

"Cool," agreed B. "Where will Lagos be?"

"I suspect," Faith scowled her at Post's voice. Just hearing her snooty voice made her want to muzzle the bitch. "I suspect that the Glove is hidden in a tomb in the town's cemetery."

"Cemeteries," she corrected with a smirk.

"I beg your pardon?" Post peered at her.

"Place has got more cemeteries than Florida," she declared. "How many B?"

"Twelve," her fellow Slayer supplied.

She was pleased by the look of bewilderment on Post's face. "Ah, well," the English chick looked towards Giles.

"We'll work out a schedule, one at a time," Giles came to Post's aid. Which in Faith's opinion was right chivalrous of the librarian, considering Post's utter bitchiness. "Now if you two girls get off to your lessons, be here for training after class."

Faith and B nodded and stood. "No," Post interrupted. "Faith, come with me. I have to judge your effectiveness -."

"Bite me," she interrupted.

"I beg your pardon young lady?" Post's voice held more than a hint of steel, but she'd faced tougher before she hit ten.

She noticed G attempting to hide a smile. "Here's how it works for the learning retarded amongst us. Namely you," she smirked, G snorted. "You fuck with me, my pa comes looking for you bitch. You stay the hell out of my way and never give me orders. You dig?" Turning on her heel, she sauntered out of the library, leaving a stunned Post in her wake.

Patrol had been going on for about an hour before Buffy spoke, "Don't you think you were a little hard on Mrs. Post?"

Faith stopped, turned, and looked at her, an eyebrow arched. "You wanna swap Watchers?"

"No!" she exclaimed. "Of course not."

Faith smirked. "Guess that's your answer then." The brunette's face hardened. "I'm no-one's tool B. Post thinks she can use me like a fucking weapon, point me and fire," her fellow Slayer sighed. "You've read the same Watchers' Diaries I have, what SOBs most of them are. We've both been real lucky with the Watchers we got. I don't wanna break the run with that bitch."

Buffy nodded. "I see your point." She dropped in beside the taller girl and continued their night patrol through the cemetery. The other girl halted. "What's up?"

Her fellow Slayer pointed into the distance. "See that big-ass demon over there," Buffy's eyes widened when she saw the axe wielding giant demon in the distance. "Figure that's Lagos?"

"Figure it could be," she replied.

"Yeah, that's what I figured too," Faith retorted before setting off at a charge towards the demon. "Yo! Big And Ugly, didn't we date once?" Shaking her head, Buffy started off after the Bostonian. The demon half-turned at Faith's shout, right in time to catch a picture-perfect dropkick to the face. The demon staggered backwards but still caught Faith in mid-air and flung her into the air. "Oh shit!"

"You heard of planning?" Buffy asked as she ducked beneath the demon's right hook and retaliated with a body shot that made the demon grunt. And received a back-handed slap that drew blood. "OWW!" Wincing at the pain, she drove a foot into the monster's knee, knocking it down onto one knee. Grinning slightly, she drew her sword to decapitate the monster.

And instead watched when Faith bounded up to the knelt demon and beheaded it with her sword. "Wicked teamwork B!" Faith high-fived her.

"Yeah wicked." Resisting the urge to shake her head, she continued. "Well tonight's a bust. If he had some ancient glove he'd have used it. Might as well call tonight off."

Faith grinned at her. "Works for me."

Once the other Slayer had hurried away, Buffy made her way towards the Crawford mansion, her heart torn between desire for her love and pain that they could never again consummate their passion. "Hey," she pushed the creaking door open. "It's me."

"I know," Angel smiled. "Your scent."

"I was being polite 18th Century boy," she teased.

"Ach," she giggled when Angel theatrically bowed. "My apologies lassie." Her boyfriend's face turned serious. "And how was your day?"

"Hellish," she replied before pressing her head to her vampire's broad chest. "This bitch of a new Watcher turned up, trying to take control of Faith. Which her father was not happy about. And then there's the Glove of Myhnegon."

Angel pulled away, a severe expression on his face. "The Glove of Myhnegon?"

Xander sighed as he walked dispiritedly through Sunnydale's darkened streets, having given training a miss for once, crying off with a non-existent injury. Truth was, he couldn't bear being around Faith. He was crazy about Cordy, had deeper feelings for her than any other woman bar Willow, which was a whole different bag.

But then there was Faith. Somehow he felt closer to her than he'd ever felt to anyone. Whenever she got that cocky smile that said 'hey I'm hurting inside, but no-one's finding out', he wanted to grab her and make her talk, tell her he could help. "Trying that could get a guy dismembered."

His chuckle died when he saw an all too familiar figure crossing the shadowy road ahead. "Oh you have got to be kidding me?" His heart shrivelling, he ducked behind a near-by car and watched as Angel stalked away. Quelling the sensible part of his brain that was telling him to run for the hills, he followed the vampire through the winding streets and to the Crawford Mansion. "Guy's not even original." Swallowing his fear, he sneaked up to the lounge window and peeked in.

"Tell me you're bloody joking!" Angel back, Giles couldn't believe it. "And Buffy knows?" Xander nodded. Giles took a calming breath. It didn't work. "Get the others here, we'll have to have a meeting." Xander nodded again. Giles grimaced. "We best not let Faith and Crow find out about this."

"But -."

"Xander," he interrupted, his tone firm but soft. "This situation needs careful handing. You know how gung-ho the Crows can be." After a second Xander nodded reluctantly. "Thank you."

Post stopped at the entrance to Giles' inner office. Smiling slightly at the voices, she heard there, she listened with interest as the young man described seeing the vampire Angelus with Buffy. "I can use this," she muttered before hurrying away.
"They were meeting without me?" Faith demanded.

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Post hid her smile as she looked at the stormy looks on the Crows' face. Soon these stupid bloody colonials would be under her influence, a wedge driven between the two Slayers. "I don't know about what," she smoothly lied. "I wasn't privy to the details."

Faith stared at the pool table before grinning at Jonathan. "You a shark JL?" she bumped her best friend with her hip, enjoying his blush at the contact. He was so shy it was kinda cute. She couldn't remember being that shy. Like ever.

"Uh," her friend glanced down at the floor. "Beginner's luck."

"Oh yeah," Faith arched an eyebrow. "I think I'm being hustled. You're a regular Fast Eddie-."

"Faith, can I have a word?"

Smile disappearing, Faith turned to see Harris stood behind her, a worried look on his face. "Fuck," she put a surprised look on her face. "Alexander Harris wants to talk to me? Wow, I'm so honoured, 'cept," she glanced at JL hovering beside her. "I'm kinda with my bud now." She paused for a second. "Like you all were last night."

"What? Oh right." Xander glanced from her to JL. "Oh, I found out that Buffy's ex was back. Stalker guy."

"Stalker-," Faith grimaced, oh fuck, had to be that vamp B had been bumping uglies with last year. "JL," she smiled at her friend. "Me and X have kinda got some business to attend to."

Her friend's face fell. "But your homewo-."

"Hey, you can help me at lunchtime right?" she grinned at the short youth. "It's not like we were gonna hang with anyone else uh?"

"Sure."

"Cool," she winked at her best friend before following Harris out of the Bronze. "G's to get some arms and go vampire hunting?"

"Sounds like a plan," Xander turned to her. "So you and Jonathan uh?"

"Get this Harris," Faith snapped. "We work together, but we're not friends. You made sure of that, holding your 'secret' meetings."

"Faith, I wanted you the-."

"Talk to the hand, Harris."

"So you're saying Summers actually knew her pet demon was back but didn't say shit?" Faith shook her head as Harris' nod. Man, back in Boston, she'd have died to have a great mom like Joyce, a nice home, some decent friends, and a wicked Watcher like G. But Miss Uppity-Britches wasn't happy with all that. No she had to have her demon honey too. Selfish bitch.

"So," Harris hurried over to the back of the library. "Good old Sunnydale library. Fully equipped with reference books, file cards," opened the cabinet doors, "and weapons."

"Beauty," Faith snatched out a sword.

"I call crossbow," Xander reached in and pulled out a bow and six bolts before closing the doors and turning to her. "All right, ready to go?"

"That I am," Faith nodded.

They started to head out only for Xander to turn towards G's office. "Wait," he ordered. Ignoring her protestations, Xander hurried into the office. A second later he shouted. "Oh, my God. It's Giles! Giles, can you hear me? What the hell happened?"

Faith hurried in. "Gee, let me guess." Despite her casual tone, Faith was struggling to keep her temper under control. G was a decent guy, way too hung up on B in her opinion, but she'd never caught him trying to look down her top, which either meant he was on the level or a real smooth operator.

Xander shook his head. "Stop. Hold it. Just think a minute."

"Yeah, I'm thinking. Thinking Buffy's ex-meat did this."

"Where's the blood?" Xander grabbed the phone. "It's not Deadboy's style."

"Screw this waiting crap," Faith shook her head and headed for the door.

"Faith, if we leave, Giles could die!"

Faith shook her head. "Yeah, and he's gonna have a whole lot of company, unless I do something permanent."

"Wait!"

"For what? You to grow a pair? You handle the baby-sit, and I'm gonna kill Angel." Faith strode out.

"Damn it!" Xander knelt on the floor, cradling the nearest thing he had to a father's head in his hands, helpless to stop the headstrong Slayer from rushing out. Her against Deadboy and Buffy, he had no doubt which one Buffy would side with soul or no soul, she didn't stand a chance.

"Son," he looked down at Giles' battered face, relieved to see the Watcher's eyes were slowly opening. "It was Post. Not Angel." With a groan, Giles turned his head to the desk. "Get to Faith before she does something foolish. Take my car."

"But…"

"GO!"

Grabbing the car keys, he rushed through the door, head swirling with conflicting thoughts. How was he supposed to stop a Slayer? He smiled as he got an idea. He only hoped he had the time.

Crow hurried across the hallway, if whoever was banging on the door didn't stop they'd break the damn thing open, and flung the portal open to reveal a distraught-looking Xander stood there. "Kid?" he growled at his student's upset face. "What's up?"

"Faith in trouble," the youth replied between heaving gasps. "Need help."

Crow's heart dropped. He grabbed his weapons. "Explain on the way boy!"

Angel smiled as he reached the end of the spell. Sensing a heartbeat he turned to find himself regarded by a middle-aged woman. "You're doing it wrong," the woman informed him.

"I beg your pardon?" he replied, slightly nonplussed to find the woman there.

"Buffy sent me, my name's Ms. Post," the woman explained. He nodded. Buffy had mentioned the new Watcher. "I'm the resident expert on the Glove." He turned back to the Glove. "What you're doing wrong is -." Sensing something whistling through the air behind him, he turned and caught the shovel swinging at his face full on the nose. Roaring angrily, he lunged forward and shoved the woman to the ground. "Who are you?" he growled.

"Your death."

Her foot caught the vampire on the back of the head, knocking him to the ground. To his credit, he rolled up instantly. Faith raised an eyebrow. She had to admit, the vampire was a hottie, perhaps the best looking guy she'd ever seen. She'd totally do him. If he was alive. "You're Faith right?" the vampire backed away from her, a wary but not scared look on his face, she'd have to change that. "There's been a mistake."

"Yep," she feinted with a right heel kick to his knee before launching herself into the air and catching him with a left spin kick to the face, knocking him over the sofa. "You came back from hell." She cracked her neck. "Really should have stayed there."

"I don't wanna fight you," Angel backed away from her.

"I bet," she winked and pouted. "Heard about your Slayer kink. And seeing as I actually look like a woman and not a Barbie doll, you'd be totally hard for me." She tilted her head to one side. "Shame I'm not into that necro shit."

"To hell with this," the vampire growled before throwing a right at her. She blocked the blow on her shoulder, wincing slightly at the pain before grabbing hold of the demon's shirt, silk real quality, and flinging him into the coffee table. The table shattered with the impact, sending the dazed vampire plummeting to the ground. The demon sprang up and caught her with a right that snapped her head to the side. Ignoring the pain, she kicked him square between the legs, the force of the blow picking her rival up and flinging him across the room, to hit and slide down the wall. Faith walked over to the vampire. "Fuck B, really wasn't trying when you were in town murdering all those people and shit." She pulled her stake out. "Bye bye Fang."

"Don't." Buffy grabbed Faith's hand at the wrist. "You're making a mistake. Angel would never hurt anyone. He's far too noble." It was just lucky she'd been passing by for some illicit smooches and tell him how jealous Xander had ruined everything, otherwise the psycho might have hurt her Angel-bear.

"A mistake?" Faith nodded before slamming an elbow into her nose, knocking her backwards. "Only mistake bitch was you not," she groaned when the other girl slammed a foot into her ribs, "killing your pet vampire last year when he was out having his fill at the all you can eat Sunnydale buffet." Grabbing the Bostonian's foot she flung her to the ground but was dismayed when the brunette hit the floor on her shoulder and rolled up, her smirk still firmly in place. "Ah come on B," the east coast Slayer winked at her. "You're not even trying."

Enraged, Buffy charged forward, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks at a blindingly fast rate that she was pleased to see the brunette wasn't completely able to block. "That better F?" she taunted.

And got a mouthful of spat blood in her eye, momentarily blinding her. "Oh yeah," she heard the other Slayer mock. "You're really getting me not." She grunted when an uppercut hit her in the jaw, lifting her off her feet. "So tell me B, weren't you worried about you know getting something?" She rolled to her feet, her blurred vision clearing in time to allow her to sway away from a right cross. "I mean 250 years old babe? A honey like that, gotta have picked up some shit."

"You'd be the expert there." She ducked a roundhouse to her jaw, grabbing her rival's wrist, pulling on it hard enough to draw a cry and bringing her foot up into her adversary's stomach doubling her up.

"It appears you're doing my job for me."

She looked up to see Post looking at them both. With the hideous steel gauntlet on her hand. "Oh cra-."

A shot boomed out. A half-second later and Post's head disappeared in a spray of blood, bone, and flesh. Swallowing the bile that rose in her throat, Buffy turned to see Crow stood there, a cold, unreadable expression on his weathered face, and a pale-faced Xander stood behind her. In an instant the demon hunter was by the corpse. After a look to check that the Watcher was in fact dead, the Vatican's hired gun turned towards Angel.

And fired two shots into her lover's body. "Hey!" Nostrils flared, she stepped forward.

And stopped when the hunter turned the muzzle of his gun on her, his eyes telling her he was itching to pull the trigger. "Jack-."

"Shut up Harris," the killer interrupted. "That rat bastard demon laid his hands on my girl. He'll heal but he does it again and I'll kill the both of you, you get me?" She nodded, too afraid to speak. "Now, your demon claims to have a soul. I couldn't give a crap. I've killed plenty of humans who worked with vampires, dark mages, whatever. A demon with a soul would be just grist to the mill. I'm begging you to give me a reason." The demon hunter pulled Faith to her feet. "You okay kid?"

After a second Faith beamed at the loathsome bigot. "Yeah pop."

The middle-aged man smiled. "Cool. Thanks for the help Harris." Crow's face hardened as he turned towards her. "He loses that soul again and you'll be the first person I come looking for Summers. You might wanna bear that in mind."