The Quickening

Notes: Everything is now back up and running. Thanks for the reviews.

Previously:

"Well, I must say, Mr. Giles, I'm impressed. Good show," Gwendolyn said, allowing Giles a moment of pride. However, the fool had just handed her the location of the Glove on a silver platter.

Chapter Twenty-Four:

"Giles won't be home," Faith said, sliding her key into the lock on the front door of the apartment she shared with Buffy's Watcher. "He called Gwendolyn Post to the library, had some big news on the research front that he wanted to tell her. By the time we're done at Angel's and return everything, he won't even know that we took anything."

Xander stepped inside the apartment behind Faith. He remembered coming there many times before Faith moved in with Giles. It had always looked perfect and pristine. Nothing was ever out of place. It resembled Giles himself in many ways the first year or so that Xander had known him. For a long time, Xander could only see the projection that Giles displayed for the world – the uptight Watcher who liked to drink tea and research apocalyptic events. However, as Xander got to know him better, he found that Giles was far rougher around the edges than he had imagined. His apartment was starting to look the same. Xander could see some of Faith's belongings littering the tabletops. One of her worn, leather jackets was thrown across the back of the couch. The items gave the place a lived in feel, made it seem more like a home instead of just an apartment.

"The weapons are over there," Faith said, motioning to a wooden chest in the corner. "Should be enough to go around."

"Excellent," Xander said, moving over to the chest and throwing the lid open. He pulled out several stakes and shoved them in the waistband of his jeans. Faith walked over. "Remember, we're not going there to kill him necessarily."

"Unless, of course, he's using the Glove," Faith added.

"Yeah, then by all means, dust the bastard," Xander said. "Got everything?"

Faith nodded as Xander closed the chest. "Lead the way," she said. Xander walked briskly out of the apartment. His evening spent as a soldier the Halloween before had taught him how to focus on the eve of battle. He knew that Faith's presence would disturb Angel and more likely than not, some blows would be exchanged before Angel willingly handed over the Glove. However, he was prepared to do whatever it took to back up Faith and ensure that Angel didn't remain in possession of such a dangerous, magical weapon. He could only imagine what Angelus would have done with it and he didn't want to have a chance to find out personally.

Leading Faith out of the apartment, they began walking toward Mansion Row at a rather fast pace. "I hope he's alone," Xander said, breaking the silence that had fallen between them as they walked. "If Buffy's there, she's not gonna be too happy about us showing armed and ready to storm the place."

"She'll have to deal," Faith replied. "I'm not going to bow down to her like the rest of you do. Angel has the Glove – a dangerous weapon that could wreak havoc on this town if it fell into the wrongs hands. How do we know that Angel isn't really Angelus, just playing the part to try to weasel his way back into Buffy's trust only to betray her again?" Faith stated. Xander looked thoughtful.

"I hadn't thought of that," he admitted, fearful scenarios of a repeat performance by Angelus running through his mind. He involuntarily shivered. Faith caught his reaction out of the corner of her eye.

"He really scares you, doesn't he?" She asked softly. Xander grinned reproachfully.

"I know what you're thinking. I'm such a coward, right?" Xander said with a hint of self-loathing in his voice.

"That's not what I was thinking at all," Faith replied. "You hate Angelus. You're terrified of him. But we could be headed right for him and you're going anyway. That's not cowardly, Xander. That's pretty damn brave."

"Thanks," Xander said, blushing a little and looking down at his feet. "It's kinda selfish though really."

"Why's that?" Faith asked, looking over at him. The mansion loomed ahead of them as they entered Mansion Row. The lights were off inside the house and they quietly snuck around to the back.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt," Xander replied. Faith looked over at him. The sun was setting and they were crouching beneath a window.

"With you around, I'm pretty sure I won't," Faith responded. Xander gave her a pointed glare.

"No need to mock," he said.

"Hey, you saved my life once already, remember? The way I see it, you're my good luck charm," Faith replied, looking in through the window. She could see a fire roaring in the fireplace. The Glove was sitting on a coffee table just in front of the fire. It was lying on top of a pile of dusty rags. Suddenly Angel paced into view. "There he is," Faith said before Xander had a chance to respond. "Let's go say hi."

………………………..

Buffy and Willow walked into the library of the Sunnydale High School expecting to see Giles seated in his usual place at one of the heavy, oak tables. Instead, silence greeted them. "Anybody here?" Buffy asked as they walked further into the room. "Giles?"

"I don't see him anywhere," Willow stated. She and Buffy had just been at the cemetery. Buffy defeated Lagos and they wanted to report back to the library to tell Giles the good news. Even though the Glove was a dangerous instrument, they didn't have to worry about it falling into Lagos's hands anymore.

"He said he was going to be here. In fact, he said that Gwendolyn Post would be here too," Buffy said.

"Maybe they went out for dinner or something," Willow suggested. Buffy laughed a little and looked over at her. Willow shrugged. "It was just a thought."

"Oh well, I guess we'll just have to check in tomorrow morning," Buffy said as she and Willow turned to leave. Suddenly they heard a low, painful moan coming from Giles's office. Buffy quickly looked over at Willow before moving to the office door.

"Will, he's in here," she said hurriedly, kneeling down beside Giles, who was still unconscious on the floor from the blow Gwendolyn Post had inflicted upon his head.

"I'm gonna call 911," Willow said once she saw Giles. Rushing over to the phone, she picked up the receiver and dialed. Giles's eyes fluttered open and Buffy grabbed his hand.

"You're gonna be okay," she said soothingly.

"Buffy…" Giles muttered weakly. "You must…destroy the Glove. Gwendolyn Post…not who she says she is," he rasped out.

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked, fear suddenly striking her heart.

"She wants the Glove," Giles replied with more strength. "Need to destroy it with…Living Flame," he replied before his eyes rolled back in his head and he lost consciousness again.

"Will," Buffy said, moving over to her friend. "Stay with him. I need to get the Glove."

…………………………

Faith and Xander were about to charge into the mansion when they saw Gwendolyn Post walking through Angel's living room towards the souled vampire. "What is she doing here?" Xander asked, looking in through the window.

"Giles probably sent her to get the Glove," Faith replied. They couldn't hear anything that was going on inside the mansion from where they were. However, they could see everything. The fire had roared up suddenly just before Gwendolyn walked in, turning a deep shade of red that was nearly impossible to look at for more than a second at a time.

"Well, here's our chance to see which side Angel is really on," Xander muttered.

"What do you mean?" Faith asked.

"If he gives her the Glove, he's not Angelus. However, Angelus wouldn't part with it…not even to prove his trustworthiness to Buffy," Xander replied logically. Faith nodded. They watched as Gwendolyn stepped closer to Angel. Angel's eyes shifted over to the Glove. Suddenly, his face morphed into that of his inner demon. Faith and Xander both leapt to their feet as Gwendolyn grabbed a nearby shovel for what they presumed was an effort at self-defense.

Busting in through the back door, Faith and Xander ran into the living room just as Angel grabbed Gwendolyn by the back of the neck and threw her against the opposite wall. She slumped down to the floor and remained there. "You're gonna wish you hadn't done that," Faith growled, rushing forward with a flurry of blows that hit Angel squarely on the chest and knocked him backwards. Faith felt a familiar burn rise up in her heart as she glanced over at Gwendolyn. She hadn't known her new Watcher as long as she had known Kate, but she had started to become attached to Gwendolyn and her way of doing things. The situation reminded her all too well of the night Kakistos tortured and murdered Kate. Faith had promised to herself that she would never let the same thing happen again.

"You don't understand," Angel began, backing away from her.

"Oh, I think I do. What should I be calling you, by the way, Angel or Angelus?" Faith spat angrily.

"Hey!" Xander said, capturing Faith's attention as he tossed her a stake.

"Xander," Angel warned, looking over at him.

"Don't even start with me, man," Xander replied. "I still remember how much it hurt when I heard the bones in my arm snap."

Faith shot forward again while Angel was distracted and pummeled him in the side of the head with a rapid set of punches. Angel fell to the floor, but recovered quickly enough to sweep Faith's feet out from under her. Faith fell to the ground hard, hitting her head against the stone floor. Xander restrained himself from rushing forward when he saw Faith rise to her feet. Angel lifted himself off the ground and turned to face her. "You're both with her?" Angel asked, motioning back toward Gwendolyn.

"She's my Watcher," Faith replied.

"Then there's no way in hell you're getting that Glove," Angel snarled.

"We'll see about that," Faith replied. Angel rushed forward. Faith, anticipating his attack, sidestepped him and slung her arms around his neck, dragging him to the ground. She delivered several punches to the side of his head before he kicked out of her hold. However, he didn't recover in time to prevent her from lifting him up and throwing him across the room. He landed against the wall and remained there, stunned. Faith advanced toward him with the stake in her hand. She was about to drive it through his heart when an arm shot out of nowhere and restrained her. Faith looked up in confusion, only to see Buffy standing next to her.

"What're you doing here?" Faith asked. Buffy replied with a swift uppercut that knocked Faith off her feet. The stake flew out of her hand, rolling towards the fire.

"Buffy, what're you doing?" Xander asked, stepping forward.

"What does it look like?" Buffy asked, ducking as Faith wildly swung at her. Buffy jabbed her in the ribs several times. She thought she heard something crack and Faith exhaled in a sharp hiss. Grabbing her from behind, Buffy threw her several feet away. Faith landed near the coffee table and rolled over, pain flooding her senses. Buffy quickly knelt down beside Angel. "I need you to destroy the Glove with the Living Flame," she explained.

"I was in the process of doing that when they showed up," Angel replied. Buffy turned back to Faith. Xander had moved over to her.

"Get away from her," Buffy said.

"Why, so you can punish her for trying to kill that monster?" Xander replied. "No way."

"Xander…I said move," Buffy commanded forcefully. Xander hesitated for a moment; recalling how earlier Faith had insinuated that everyone always bowed to Buffy's demands. Smiling, he stood his ground as Faith struggled to her feet beside him.

"No," he replied.

"Your choice," Buffy replied, moving over to him and striking him once in the face. Xander went down hard, losing consciousness as his head hit the floor. Faith glared up at Buffy.

"Oh, it's on now," she snarled. Buffy rushed forward, trying to kick one of Faith's knees out. The blow landed, but Faith fell forward on top of Buffy, instead of backwards like Buffy had anticipated. Faith held the advantage as she sat upright on top of Buffy. Buffy tried unsuccessfully to buck her off as Faith landed several strategically placed punches that she knew Buffy would be feeling the next day.

"Faith!" Buffy yelled, knocking the dark haired slayer off. "You don't understand what's going on here."

"I think I understand pretty well," Faith replied, rising to her feet, and nursing her broken ribs. "Angel…deadly vampire Angel….has the Glove. He attacked my Watcher. Something tells me he isn't playing for our side anymore."

"You're wrong," Buffy replied.

"Faith…" Gwendolyn weakly moaned, waking up. "Don't listen to her, she's blinded by love. You have to stop her."

Faiths looked over at Gwendolyn, down at Xander, who was still unconscious on the floor, and then back up at Buffy. Buffy could see the wheels of thought spinning in Faith's mind. "Don't do this," Buffy pleaded with her.

"Too late," Faith replied, rushing forward. She kicked Buffy in the side, effectively knocking the wind out of her. She tried to deliver another set of blows, only to have Buffy block them all. However, she was able to block Buffy's attacks as well. After fighting exhaustively for several minutes, both slayers could see that they were getting nowhere. However, while their attention was turned to each other, and while Angel was reciting the necessary passages in Latin to produce the Living Flame, Gwendolyn had snuck over to the coffee table where the Glove rested.

Xander rolled over, moving out of the way of the still fighting slayers, as he regained consciousness. "Damn," he muttered, touching his tender head. "That hurt." He couldn't believe that Buffy had hit him. Looking up, he watched as Buffy threw a brick at Faith, hitting her in the side of the head. Faith lost her balance and fell backwards into the wall as blood seeped out of a cut just above her eye.

"Finally," Gwendolyn muttered, reaching out and grabbing the Glove. Her words caught Xander's attention and he watched in horror as she put the Glove on her hand. It latched onto her arm and she screamed in pain. Buffy and Faith both stopped fighting and looked over at her. Faith instantly knew that she had been played. Her Watcher had betrayed her for the Glove. She thought she had been fighting for the right side. Now, however, she knew that she had been wrong.

Stretching her arm out and smiling wickedly, Gwendolyn muttered something unintelligible. "Shit," Faith murmured, as lightening lit up the sky and bolted down, piercing the Glove. "What's going on?"

Gwendolyn looked over at her. "Ah, Faith. Naive, stupid Faith. Did you really think I came here for you? Please. You're pathetic. A slayer? No, Faith, you're nothing. You're not even the dirt that I walk on. You're not fit to be called a slayer," Gwendolyn said maliciously. Faith looked down to keep her from seeing the look of pain that shot through her eyes. Gwendolyn's words reminded her very much of similar things that her mother had said to her. "Now…it's time I show you what power really is," she said, aiming the Glove at Buffy and Faith. A bolt of energy shot out of the Glove and the slayers scrambled out of the way.

"Take cover!" Faith shouted over at Xander, noticing that he was awake. Xander nodded and ducked behind the doorway.

"Can you draw her fire?" Buffy asked, looking over at Faith. Instead of a look of triumphant pride on Buffy's face, like Faith had expected to see, she saw one of remorse and sorrow. Faith nodded.

"Yeah," she replied, moving forward. Faith ran from one end of the room to the other, drawing fire from Gwendolyn as she went. Buffy snuck over to a pile of broken glass – part of a window that had been damaged in her fight with Faith – and retrieved a large, pointy shard. Moving behind Gwendolyn as she shot at Faith again, Buffy lifted the shard.

"I have the Glove," Gwendolyn. "With the Glove comes the power."

"I'm getting that," Buffy replied. Gwendolyn turned to look at her in surprise. Before she could move, Buffy threw the glass shard at her. It pierced her upper arm, slicing through skin and bone to sever it from her body. The Glove landed on the floor and began to randomly shoot lightening out from the fingers. Faith ducked behind the doorway with Xander and Buffy scrambled behind some furniture. The lightening bolts repeatedly pierced Gwendolyn through the chest and she screamed in agony. Suddenly, the screaming stopped, as did the lightening. When everyone looked up, Gwendolyn was gone and the Glove lay still on the floor.

While Buffy and Xander helped Angel prepare the Glove for removal back to the library, Faith snuck away. She slowly walked back to town, her ribs burning every time she took a breath. Lifting her hand, she wiped some blood away from her eye. Despite these wounds, she felt nothing from them as she walked. But a searing pain lingered in her heart and she felt like she couldn't breath. She had trusted Gwendolyn, only to be betrayed. Though she had believed everything that Gwendolyn told her, she knew now that Gwendolyn was only preying on her weaknesses and desires to get Faith to trust her. Gwendolyn didn't believe that Faith could ever be anything more than a junkie's daughter from the shitty end of South Boston. In fact, Gwendolyn thought that was exactly what Faith was – hopeless. Faith could feel her dreams dying one by one with every step that she took. But she didn't care anymore. She felt nothing.