The Quickening

Previously:

"Okay. Will, Oz, Xander…go to the library and do some research," Buffy commanded.

"What're we doing, B?" Faith asked.

"We're gonna find out what's going on."

Chapter Twenty:

The jeep screeched to a halt outside of the Milkbar factory. Buffy grabbed Snyder by the collar of his shirt and hauled him out of the car while Faith trailed behind. A crowd was gathered in front of the factory's loading dock, waiting for candy bars that were being distributed by the factory's workers. Faith scanned the crowd, looking for any familiar faces. "Hey," she said, grabbing Buffy's arm before she slipped away into the crowd.

"What?" Buffy asked, releasing her hold on Snyder. He hesitated a moment before disappearing into the crowd.

"Your mom and Giles are over there," Faith said, pointing to them. They were standing in the back of the crowd. Giles was peering over top of the people in front of him, trying to find a way to get closer.

"Mom! Giles!" Buffy said, walking over to them. Giles looked over at her in annoyance.

"Go away, we're busy," he said, turning his attention back to the crowd.

"What're you doing here?" Faith asked, walking up beside him.

"We're waiting for more candy," Joyce replied.

"I think you've had enough," Buffy said in a rather motherly tone.

"It's cool, B. Let them have more if they want," Faith said, looking pointedly over at her. "In fact, how about we get a little closer; see if we can't score some ourselves. Sound good?" She asked, looking over at Giles. He was smiling over at her.

"Excellent. I see someone has her priorities straight," he responded, glaring back at Buffy.

"Fine, whatever," Buffy said, exasperated. "Let's get a closer look." The group wormed their way through the crowd until they were standing at the base of the loading dock. On a platform above them, workers were throwing candy bars out into the crowd while other workers loaded trucks with unopened boxes of chocolate.

"I think we can get in through there," Faith said, pointing to a door just behind the loading dock. No one appeared to be guarding it.

"Stay here," Buffy commanded, turning back to her mother and Giles.

"Like bloody hell we will," Giles replied indignantly.

"We don't have time for this," Faith said, turning to them. "Follow us inside, but don't wander off, got it?" She asked Giles and Joyce. They both looked at each other before nodding. "Good," Faith said.

Buffy walked ahead and kicked open the door, advancing into the factory. The others followed closely behind her. Faith brought up the rear, watching Giles and Joyce carefully. She was curious about Giles' past. After she got to know him, she had been certain that he was more like her than she initially would have thought. Her first impression of him had left much to be desired. Now, however, she wasn't so sure she really knew who he was and she desperately wanted to know more.

Buffy stopped walking suddenly. "What's up?" Faith asked, catching up to her. Buffy pointed to a man standing a few feet in front of them, talking on the telephone. "Who is he?" Faith asked, lowering her voice.

"Ethan Rayne," Buffy said sternly. Ethan turned and stared at her wide-eyed, nearly dropping the receiver.

"I'll have to call you back," he said, hanging the phone up. "What a surprise. You should have called ahead, I could have scheduled a tour for you," Ethan quipped. Giles, recognizing his old friend turned enemy, stepped forward menacingly.

"Ethan," Giles growled out. Faith turned to look at him, surprised in the change of his tone.

"Ripper," Ethan said, laughing nervously before darting away into the bowels of the factory.

"Wait here," Faith turned to yell back to Joyce as she, Buffy, and Giles sprinted after Ethan. Joyce nodded and plopped down on a packing crate, idly chewing her gum.

"Hey," Snyder said, coming up behind her. He had followed them into the factory, unbeknownst to them, looking for more chocolate. Joyce smiled over at him. "So, are you two…uh, going steady?" Snyder asked. Joyce simply rolled her eyes.

Ethan ran as fast as he could through the factory, dodging machines and packing crates. He looked back, seeing his pursuers lagging behind. He smiled to himself and slowed to a stop, looking for a place to hide. Old Ripper and the others would think that he had continued running. Ripping open a large, standing packing crate, he quickly stepped inside and replaced the cover. A few seconds later, Buffy, Faith, and Giles appeared. "Bloody hell," Giles said, doubled over and panting. "Where did he go?"

"That's what smoking will do to you," Buffy commented dryly.

"Let up on the old man, will ya," Faith said, looking around. "He kept up with us this far and we're slayers. I say he's in damn good shape," Faith commented, slapping Giles on the back. Giles smiled smugly over at Buffy.

"Someone appreciates me," he said. Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Shouldn't we keep going?" Faith asked.

"No, I don't think that will be necessary," Buffy replied. Walking over to a packing crate, she slammed her fist through the top. Rummaging around for a moment, she pulled her arm out of the crate, along with Ethan.

"Damn," Ethan muttered as Buffy yanked him out of the packing crate.

"Feel like having a conversation, Ethan?" Buffy asked sweetly.

"Not particularly," Ethan replied sarcastically.

"Hit him," Giles said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, B. I'm with G-man on this one," Faith snorted.

"I'd just like to point out that this wasn't my idea," Ethan replied quickly, as Buffy turned back to him.

"Whose idea was it then?" Buffy asked.

"Trick. I'm just working for him, you know. He's collecting this tribute to some demon," Ethan replied nervously. He knew that if Trick found out he had betrayed him, he'd be dead before sunrise. However, he also knew that Buffy wasn't above using violence to get information and, despite the fact that he and Giles were advancing in age, he was still afraid of his former friend. He was afraid of what Giles might do to him if he didn't give up what he knew, especially considering that Giles had reverted to his former self – the Ripper.

"He's lying," Giles said confidently. "Hit him."

"I don't think he is," Faith said, stepping forward. "Although I do think it would be fun to see him squirm a little," she said, cracking her knuckles. Ethan smiled nervously, backing away.

"Keep her away from me," he pleaded, looking over at Buffy.

"Oh, you're afraid of her, but you're not afraid of me?" Buffy asked indignantly.

"Of course not. It's just…you haven't given me that look yet," Ethan replied.

"What look?" Buffy asked, glancing over at Faith, who had a rather menacing and wild look in her eyes. "Oh, that one," she commented. "You wanna see my version?" She asked, looking back over at Ethan.

"Lurconis," Ethan stated. "That's the name of the demon. He's collecting a tribute. It's so big that they needed something to distract everyone. People wouldn't let him take it if they knew what was going on. That's all I know, I swear," Ethan said, throwing his hands up in a defensive gesture.

"Where's Trick?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know," Ethan responded.

"Can I hit him now?" Faith asked, looking over at Buffy. Buffy stepped back and motioned for Faith to go ahead. Smiling, she whipped around and punched Ethan directly in the nose. The sickening crunch of his nose breaking resounded through the factory and he double over, clutching his face as blood poured down his chin.

"So, where's Trick again?" Faith asked, leaning over to look him in the eye.

"That was a bit much don't you think?" Buffy asked, looking away in disgust.

"I think it was bloody perfect," Giles said, laughing to himself.

"One more question," Buffy said, ignoring her Watcher. "What's the tribute?"

……………………………

Four vampires clad in flowing, black cloaks stepped into the maternity ward of Sunnydale General. As they advanced, they could see a nurse watching television at the nurses' station. The phones were ringing off the hook, but the nurse wasn't paying attention. In fact, when the vampires strolled passed, she didn't even look up. Turning down another hall, the vampires entered a room full of cribs, where the newborn babies the hospital had delivered were kept. Carefully, each vampire lifted a baby from its crib. Then, they walked out.

……………………………

"I don't know anymore about it, that's all I could get him to say," Buffy said into phone. She was talking to Willow, waiting to see if Willow could find out anything about the demon. Faith leaned back against one of the packing crates, tired of waiting. Her muscles were wound up tight and she wanted nothing more than to go out and kick a little demon ass. Ethan was standing beside her, his arms folded across his chest. His nose had stopped bleeding, but he looked rather angry. Faith smiled a little to herself and closed her eyes. Ethan looked over at her discreetly. A crowbar was lying on one of the crates only a few feet away from him.

He knew he would have to act quickly. Any movement on his part and Faith would be ready. At the moment, however, she wasn't paying attention. He darted forward and grabbed the crowbar. Faith, sensing his movement, opened her eyes, only to see the crowbar flying at her head. She knew she didn't have enough time to duck, so she steeled herself, waiting for the blow. The crow bar connected solidly with the side of her head and she saw stars explode in front of her eyes. Then she was falling toward the ground. The side of her head felt warm and reaching up, she felt her fingers become sticky with blood.

"Son of a bitch," Giles growled. Advancing, he reached back and pulled the gun he had stolen from the police officer, who he had beaten earlier, out of the back of his pants. He had stuck it there, letting his shirt cover it, as he and Joyce had done the deed on the top of the officer's squad car. Clicking the hammer back, he pointed the gun at the back of Ethan's head. Buffy, seeing the commotion out of the corner of her eye, dropped the phone and lashed her leg out, sweeping Ethan's feet out from under him. Ethan landed on his knees on the concrete floor and Giles stepped behind him, pressing the barrel of the gun against his head. Joyce, bored with the scene in front of her, picked up the phone and began talking to Willow.

"You really shouldn't have done that," Giles said angrily.

"Giles," Buffy said, stepping forward, sensing a catastrophe in the making. "Give me the gun." Giles simply glared at her, refusing. "Giles…," Buffy said, moving forward with her hand out.

"No," Giles replied.

"Now," Buffy said sternly.

"Uh, Buffy? It's Willow. She wants you real bad," Joyce said, holding the phone out to Buffy.

"Tell her to wait," Buffy replied. "Give me the gun, before I have to take it from you," Buffy said, turning back to Giles. Ethan looked like he was about to pass out from fear.

Faith grabbed onto one of the packing crates and pulled herself to her feet. She didn't have to look into a mirror to know that she had blood pouring down the side of her face. Ethan had hit her much harder than she anticipated. She felt a little dizzy. Turning, she saw Giles holding a gun to the back of Ethan's head. He looked as if he was about to pull the trigger. "Giles," Faith said her voice weaker than she had hoped. Giles looked back at her.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," Faith said, moving forward on wobbly legs. "Can I see that?" She asked, pointing to the gun. Giles looked down at it, hesitating a moment, before releasing the hammer, and handing it to her. Buffy sighed in relief and grabbed the phone from her mother.

"Shooting him wouldn't have been a good idea," Faith said as Giles steadied her.

"Why not?" Giles asked. "He deserves it."

"Yeah, he does," Faith agreed. "But if you would have killed him, what would you have deserved?" Faith asked. Giles smiled a little and nodded. Faith shoved the gun into the back of her pants and waited for Buffy to finish her conversation with Willow. Ethan looked up at her gratefully and Faith simply glared down at him.

"We have to go," Buffy said, suddenly hanging up the phone.

"What about him?" Faith asked, motioning to Ethan.

"We'll have to tie him up. Anyone see any rope?" Buffy asked, looking around.

"Um, would these help?" Joyce asked, holding up a pair of handcuffs. Faith chuckled to herself.

"Way to go, G," she said, instantly knowing what Giles and Joyce had been up to. Buffy looked at her mother, absolutely mortified.

"Never tell me," Buffy stated, grabbing the handcuffs and cuffing Ethan to a pipe. "Let's go," she said once she had finished. She led them out of the factory, walking with a purpose.

…………………………

"We can find Lurconis in the sewers," Buffy stated as they walked out of the factory. "Willow said that his tribute is babies."

"He wants to eat babies?" Joyce asked, horrified.

"Yeah," Buffy replied.

"You know, you guys should just go ahead and do that thing with the demon," Snyder replied, stopping in his tracks. "I'll just wait here in case anything happens."

"You filthy, little ponce," Giles said, turning toward him. "You're afraid, aren't you?"

"Okay," Buffy said, stepping between them. "We're not gonna do this right now. Tomorrow, when everything is back to normal, if you want to see who's the bigger man, go ahead. But right now, we've got a bunch of babies to save. Snyder, go home. Giles, focus," Buffy said. Giles looked down at his shoes and nodded. Snyder, seeing that Giles wasn't paying attention to him anymore, ran off into the night.

Buffy and Faith stalked off to the nearest manhole cover with Joyce and Giles trailing behind. Ripping the cover off, Buffy dropped down into the sewers with Faith following closely after her. "Look what I found," Buffy said as she landed in the midst of the ritual. The vampires had exchanged their black cloaks for red ones and were standing around the babies, chanting in Latin. Trick stood in one corner and Mayor Wilkins stood in the other. Giles and Joyce dropped down into the sewer just as the vampires advanced on Buffy and Faith. The Mayor, sensing that his plans were completely destroyed, quickly left, disappearing into the sewer tunnels.

While Faith and Buffy were fending off the vampires, Giles and Joyce ran over to the table where the babies were laid out and quickly pushed it away from the fight. With two vampires down and three remaining, Faith and Buffy were feeling pretty good about their chances, until the ground started to shake. "What's going on?" Giles asked.

"The demon, I'd say," Buffy replied, shoving her stake into a third vampire. It exploded into dust and Trick stepped forward.

"I usually let other people do my fighting for me, but I just have to see what you got," Trick said.

"Just tell me when it hurts," Buffy said, turning to face him. Giles, however, had other plans. Rushing forward, he slammed his fist into Trick's face, only to find that the vampire was entirely unfazed. Grabbing Giles by the shirt, he threw the Watcher into a pool of water. The ground rumbled and Buffy nearly lost her balance. Faith staked her vampire and quickly rushed over to Giles, pulling him out of the water. Buffy pushed Trick back, looking for some way to kill the demon that was about to rise. She spotted an exposed gas pipe just above her head.

A giant snake demon rose up out of the water, hissing. Buffy leapt up and grabbed the gas pipe, ripping it down. Gas began to pour out of the pipe and Buffy wielded it around, angling it toward a torch that had been lighted for the ceremony. Flames burst forth and the snake demon roared back in pain, until it was entirely engulfed. The demon retreated down one of the tunnels as it burned. Trick watched her with an amused expression on his face.

"You and me girl," he said, pointing at her. "There's gonna be hard times ahead," he said, before taking off down another tunnel.

"Can we go home now?" Joyce asked, stepping forward from her hiding spot out of the way of the action.

"Yeah, I have the SATS tomorrow," Buffy replied, slinging her arm around her mom's shoulders.

………………………….

"Just tell me if it hurts," Giles said as he wiped Faith's wound with antiseptic. Faith winced a little but shook her head slightly.

"It's fine," she said.

"We should get this stitched up," Giles replied.

"Isn't necessary," Faith said, shrugging. "By the time the sun comes up, it'll just be a scratch." Giles nodded and continued to clean the wound. "So would you have really shot that guy?" Faith asked.

Giles stopped and looked down. "Yes," he replied as he reached for a bandage. He knew that in his Ripper days, he would have easily killed someone, and not in order to protect anyone he cared about. In those days, he would have killed someone just for the fun of it. However, now his priorities were a bit different. He could easily see himself killing someone to protect Buffy, Willow, Xander, or Oz. He didn't think that he had formed such a bond with Faith yet, however, he seemed to be wrong. He knew it wasn't just that he had reverted to his former self that his desire to protect Faith was so strong. It had developed over the time she had been living with him, though that time had been short. Just like he viewed Buffy as the daughter he never had, he was starting to view Faith the same way.

"So, the Ripper, huh?" Faith asked as Giles applied the bandage. Giles smiled a little.

"That was my old nickname, back in England," Giles replied.

"Seems like you were pretty different back then," Faith stated.

"Yes, one could say that," Giles responded. "My father worked for the Watcher's Council, as did his father before that. You could say that it's a bit of a family tradition. When I was younger, I didn't want to have any part of it. The entire system, it seemed corrupt to me, just like any kind of government – all about suppressing and controlling."

"Well, isn't it?" Faith asked.

"Perhaps," Giles commented. "I grew up learning about the supernatural. As a boy, I took to magics incredibly well. My skills only grew as I did. Eventually, I knew more than my teachers did. They warned me about fooling around with black magics, but I didn't listen. Black magic, it gave me the control over life and death. It allowed me to take the control back, if you understand me. Ethan and I, along with several others, formed a gang of sorts. We were all powerful in our own right. We lived for anarchy, we lived for chaos," Giles explained.

"But as I got older, I realized that there was more to the world than chaos. I realized that sometimes, governments, things like the Watcher's Council, are needed to protect society. If everyone just did what they wanted, there would be nothing to life for," Giles said. "I went crawling back to the Watcher's Council and begged for a chance to prove myself to them again. After a while, they agreed. Now, here I am," Giles said, smiling. "I hurt a lot of people before I got here though. I can't forget any of them. It's not an easy thing to live with the pain you've caused others."

Faith nodded. "I get that," she replied, looking up at him.

"I'm sorry," Giles said slowly, "if I did anything to you today."

Faith smiled a little and sat back in her chair. They were sitting in the kitchen, with an assortment of first aid supplies stacked around them. "It's cool," Faith said. "Just don't let me catch you smoking the ol' Mary Jane anymore, huh?"

Giles reddened and laughed. "Of course," he said. "That is one of the things from my past that I intend to keep there."

"Good," Faith said, looking away. His promise reminded her of the many times her mother would get high, and somewhat sentimental, and promise never to hurt her anymore. However, Faith could see through her mother's promises. After so many, she knew she that was lying. Looking into Giles' eyes, Faith knew that he meant his promise, unlike her mother. "My mother…she used to do a lot of drugs. I guess it was just a way to deal. We were broke, my father was in jail, and we had nothing. Now that I look back on it, I get that she just wanted a way to escape from everything. I'm still surprised that she didn't just leave one day. I guess some part of her felt obligated to stick around, for my sake, even though I probably would have been better off without her," Faith said, looking down at the table. She was almost afraid to look up at Giles.

"She overdosed, just before Kate came for me. I was sitting in the morgue when Kate walked in and laid the whole slayer deal on me. It was a lot to take in at first. I thought she was crazy, but she offered to put a roof over my head, so who was I to say no? I mean, it's not like I had shit anymore. So that's how I became a slayer," Faith said, laughing mirthlessly. "Not too glamorous huh?"

Giles reached across the table and took her hand in his. "It doesn't matter how you came into it. Just that you do it," he said. Faith looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Giles smiled a little and gave her hand a squeeze. "Would you like some tea?"

Faith smirked at that. "If you're makin' it," she replied. Giles stood and walked over to the stove to put the tea on. Faith watched him busy himself in the kitchen. It felt good to open up to him. Closing her eyes, Faith leaned back in her chair. She imagined that from the outside, she and Giles would look like a happy family. She didn't have any family left and from what she could gather, Giles didn't either. Smiling, she thought that maybe it wasn't such a stretch to imagine that Giles could be her family.

"Cream or sugar?" Giles asked, turning back to her.

Faith shook her head and replied, "Plain is fine."