The Quickening

Notes: Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming.

Previously:

Xander stood outside of the motel for a little while, wondering how she could stand to live there. When he started walking back home, he was determined to find her a better place to call home.

Chapter Five:

"Well? Do you have anything interesting to report?" Kakistos asked, turning to face Mr. Trick.

"Absolutely," Trick said smugly. "I got two pieces of information I think you'll find useful."

"Do tell," Kakistos said, motioning for Trick to sit. Trick nodded and sat in front of Kakistos, crossing his legs and folding his hands in his lap.

"Firstly, I've located our girl. Oh, the wonders of modern technology. I tell ya, man, we live in fascinating times. Caught a glimpse of her on a traffic light security camera. She's stayin' at the Sunnydale Motor Lodge, room seventeen. Just ripe for the plucking," Trick said, smiling widely, his white teeth flashing.

"What else?" Kakistos asked.

"She's been hangin' around this kid – a boy. Alexander Harris. Goes to the local high school. If I didn't know better, I'd say Faith was getting attached," Trick said.

"Unlikely," Kakistos disagreed, though the thought intrigued him.

"So we move in on Faith then?" Trick asked, preparing to stand. Kakistos smiled and Trick had to fight the urge to shudder in disgust.

"No," Kakistos said, much to Trick's surprise. "We don't. I have another plan. I want Faith to suffer as much as she's caused me to suffer. Find the boy. Bring him back here. I want to do to him what I did to her Watcher. I want him to scream for death while she watches. If she's attached, it'll be all the more entertaining."

Trick nodded and rose to his feet. "As you wish," he said and then turned, walking out of the room. His gang of vampires was waiting for him.

"What's the plan, boss?" One of them asked.

"We grab the boy. Bring him back here – tonight. And we make this quick," Trick said. "I got better things to do tonight."

………………………….

Xander was walking home, absently fingering the stake he always kept in the waistband of his jeans when he went out at night. He imagined in some places, people didn't have to carry concealed weapons with them to ensure their survival. But in Sunnydale, it was absolutely necessary. He was almost home. He could see the lights of his street just a few yards a head – fifth house down on the left and he would be there. Xander was running plans over in his mind, different places where Faith could stay. He knew Giles would take her in, at least until her Watcher returned.

If Faith didn't like that plan, Xander imagined that Buffy's mom would gladly take her in as well. From the way Buffy had described the dinner she and her mom had with Faith, Joyce seemed to like the younger slayer very much. Xander knew that Faith wouldn't take to any plan easily; she would see any help offered to her as an act of pity. Xander knew that because the same thought always crept into his mind whenever someone did something nice for him.

He had gotten used to his friends doing things for him because he knew they did things because they cared about him, not because they pitied him. However, Faith, hadn't been around the Scooby Gang long enough to know the difference. She would assume that everyone pitied her because she didn't have what they had and therefore, she would reject their aid. Xander knew he had to approach the situation differently, but he wasn't sure how. He would have to approach her very cautiously, so as not to drive her away, that much he knew.

These thoughts were racing through his mind as he walked down the street. He didn't notice the limousine that pulled up along side of him until it had been slowly following him down the street for several minutes. Xander looked over at it warily and stopped walking. The limousine stopped as well. The window rolled down, but Xander could not see inside. "Can I help you?" Xander asked nervously.

"Yes, I think you can," Trick said from inside the limousine. "Alexander Harris?"

"Why?" Xander asked, backing away. The limousine doors opened and several men stepped out.

"I need you to come with us," Trick said as the vampires grabbed Xander and pulled him toward the limousine. "If you don't mind of course."

"Of course not," Xander mumbled as they shoved him into the limousine. He knew there were too many of them to take on by himself. He could barely fight one scrawny vampire alone; much less, several vampires nearly double his size. However, he also knew that since the vampires didn't kill him right away, they had other plans for him. Whatever they might be, he trusted that Buffy and his friends would come through for him before the end. He just hoped they figured out he was gone before the end came.

……………………….

Faith groaned and rolled out of bed, slamming her fist down on the alarm clock. She was supposed to meet Giles in the library at eight o'clock that morning for training. Giles also wanted to familiarize her with the way they did research. Rubbing her eyes, she got up and stretched, yawning widely. She made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. The water took a while to heat up and when it did, the heat only lasted so long. Faith used to enjoy taking long showers, but she knew she would have to grow accustomed to shorter ones.

Faith let the hot water roll over her body. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and rested the palms of her hands on the wall. The water splashed over her face, burning slightly, but she ignored the discomfort. Then it began to cool. Sighing in frustration, Faith turned off the shower and stepped out into the bathroom. Within minutes, she was dressed and ready to go. Grabbing her keys from the dresser, she pulled open the door. Looking over at it, she noticed an envelope taped to the front of it.

Faith ripped it off and tore it open. "Shit," she muttered. Inside was a single Polaroid picture of Xander chained to a wall. Blood was running down the side of his face and his eyes were closed. Faith turned the picture over and saw a black K burned onto the back. "Kakistos," she said, fear coursing through her body. The urge to run back into the motel room, back her belongings, and skip town came over her strongly.

She might have done it too, if she hadn't flipped the picture back over and looked at Xander one more time. Despite herself, she had formed a connection in Sunnydale. She had a reason to stay. Firming her resolve, she slipped the picture into her pocket and locked her motel room door. Then she took off down the street, heading for the Sunnydale High School. She had never relied on anyone before; she knew that she couldn't fight Kakistos alone. She would need help. Though she was loathe to ask it of anyone, she had a feeling that she could swallow her pride just once, if it meant she could save Xander.