A light drizzle was falling as Faith walked quickly along the street, trying to find the address on the business card that Buffy had given her. She looked up at the overcast sky, 'Looks like even the weather's depressed at the moment,' she thought absentmindedly. 'Almost like it's echoing my mood.'

She considered that for a moment. 'Wouldn't that be cool if I could control the weather with my moods, I wonder what it would be like during sex, probably a lot of thunder and lightening.'

As always seemed to happen recently thoughts about sex led to thoughts about Dawn and this caused her to sigh. Faith was sure she'd hurt the girl's feelings when she'd ran out on her back there but Faith was equally sure that if she'd stayed she would have jumped Dawn or done something else incredibly stupid that would have resulted in her being killed or worse at Buffy's hand. It was this damn spell Faith was sure of that.

Completely sure.

So that was what she was going to deal with now, she would see this warlock guy he would de-lust her or de-love her or whatever the hell it was and then she could be around Dawn without thoughts of grabbing her, pushing her up against a wall and…

Faith quickly stopped that thought and looked around. She was certain this was the right street, she had got directions from a helpful local who had understood English, at least he had understood enough to direct her to this Salcaccio guy's place anyway, now all she needed was to find the right house.

Let's see 65, 67, 69…Faith frowned and looked down at the card then up again at the house number, that was just a little too much of a coincidence for her liking.

The house itself looked old, two stories high and made of brick most of which seemed to be crumbling, whoever owned the house clearly didn't believe in maintenance.

One set of rusted, iron stairs led up to the second story another set led down; she peered down the stairs at the front door of the lower story, 69a, which meant the warlock guy probably lived in the upper story.

She climbed up the stairs and looked around for a doorbell, not seeing one she reached for the doorknocker that was in the shape of a goat's head, well this was either a warlock's house or the house of someone who had a really bad taste in doorknockers.

Faith let the doorknocker fall against the heavy, wooden door making a deep, booming sound. The door swung open silently by itself. 'OK that could be magical or just really, really freaky,' thought Faith. 'Or both, not really much difference between them.'

"Hello?" Faith called out, getting no reply she shrugged and walked through the door into a darkened hallway, the door swung closed behind her with a slam causing her to jump.

"Now ain't that a hell of a thing," muttered Faith to herself as she withdrew a stake from a pocket.

She reached out a hand until it rested up against one of the walls and guided herself along the hall. Suddenly she heard a door opening in front of her. "Hey, who's there?" she called, raising the stake in readiness for trouble.

"FOOLISH MORTAL GIRL YOU DARE THREATEN THE GREAT SALCACCIO WITH A STICK?" a deep, bass voice boomed out, echoing around the room.

'Well at least he speaks English,' Faith lowered the stake slowly. "You do know this would be easier if I could see you right?"

"THE GREAT SALCACCIO DOES WHAT HE WISHES."

"Of course he does," Faith mumbled to herself. "Just to let you know Great Salcaccio I'm a slayer, trying to scare the crap out of me with the special effects, not really working," she shouted in the direction she thought the voice was coming from.

There was a pause. "A SLAYER? DID MS. SUMMERS SEND YOU?" the voice asked warily.

What was it with the whole Ms. Summers thing it made Buffy sound like a schoolteacher. "Yeah Buffy sent me, well she gave me your card anyway."

There was another, longer pause. "OH. NO-ONE TOLD ME," the voice said a little grumpily. "CAN I AT LEAST KEEP THE VOICE?"

"Actually it's kind of giving me a headache so if you don't mind?"

The light slowly came up allowing Faith's eyes to adjust; she tucked her stake back into her pocket and scanned the room at the end of the corridor. The room was small and seemed to be completely full of books, with a set of shelves along two of the walls full to overflowing with old, musty books all of which looked pretty much the same to Faith. The two chairs in the room were also full of books that spilled over onto the floor, the chairs faced a small desk, surprisingly also covered in books. Sitting at the desk was a small middle-aged man; balding with thick glasses through which he peered at her, Salcaccio Faith presumed, without the magical special effects he certainly didn't look so great.

"May I see the card?" he asked his voice mild and soft. Faith could see why he preferred the other voice; his natural voice was not intimidating in the slightest.

"Sure," Faith reached into her pocket and passed it over.

Salcaccio took it from her and looked it over thoroughly before looking up and scrutinizing her just as closely.

Faith grew a little self-conscious under his gaze, what was he doing checking her out or something?

Finally he smiled at her and nodded. "So what can I do for you miss…"

"Faith."

"Ah Miss Faith-"

"No just Faith nothing else," interrupted Faith sick of the Miss Faith thing. "And I need a spell dispelled."

"What sort of spell?" he leaned back in his chair.

"A lust spell if that's an actual thing."

"Yes they certainly exist," Salcaccio smiled slightly. "Some old lover trying to win you back?"

"Something like that," Faith nodded.

"Well I'll SEE WHAT I CAN…" Salcaccio stopped, looking embarrassed. "SOR…sorry sometimes that voice thing can come back on unexpectedly."

"That's OK," Faith fought the urge to laugh. "So do you have the mojo to undo this thing?"

"I believe so, lust spells are generally short-lived and easy to dispel, though they can cause a lot of trouble in the meantime."

"Trust me I'm aware of that," said Faith to herself.

Salcaccio got up and walked over to a pile of books, allowing Faith to get a good look at him. He was short, only slightly taller then her and his clothes had a faded elegance to them, as if they used to be expensive but had been worn so often you could only get about a buck fifty for them now.

The pile of books looked exactly like the three next to it but obviously Salcaccio could tell the difference as he found the book he was looking for quickly, thumbing through it until he found the page he wanted. "Stand in a clear space while I get some ingredients together," he waved a hand at her vaguely.

Faith looked around, she was standing in the only clear space in the entire room. "Um I kind of already am."

Salcaccio looked up from the book. "Ah. Yes I see," he scratched at his head for a second before clearing some more space by grabbing armfuls of books and dumping them wherever. "That should be enough, stand there," he gestured at Faith to stay put before moving to his desk, removing things in jars and packets full of mysterious substances from his desk.

Faith craned her neck to see what they were but couldn't really recognise any, there were some leaves of some variety or another and what she swore were small eyeballs floating in some liquid she really did not want to know about.

"Rats eyes…rats eyes…" Salcaccio murmured to himself before giving a small cry of triumph and lifting up what seemed to Faith to be an identical jar of eyeballs floating in liquid as the one on the desk, but then again she wasn't a witch and having seen that she was glad she wasn't.

Salcaccio walked over to her carrying a jar of green coloured sand pouring a circle of it around her before handing her a small incense burner full of something very pungent.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" asked Faith.

"Keep holding it and when I light the herbs breathe in the smoke," Salcaccio moved back to his desk and began combining things in a bowl of some kind, including those eyeballs, till it formed some kind of vile-coloured paste.

'God I hope I don't have to drink that,' thought Faith.

Salcaccio added one last ingredient, mixing it together before walking back towards Faith.

"Whoa what are you doing?" Faith swayed backwards.

"I have to draw a magical symbol on your forehead, its part of the spell," Salcaccio stated impatiently.

Faith looked dubious. "Does it wash off?" she asked.

"Yes, and it won't stain your skin either," Salcaccio sighed clearly having heard these questions many times before.

Faith reluctantly leaned forward allowing Salcaccio to draw some kind of symbol on her forehead, the paste was cool on Faith's skin and instantly began to itch, she reached up to scratch it with her empty hand but before she could the warlock slapped her hand away. "Do you want this spell to work?" he asked her.

"Of course."

"Then no scratching," he waggled a finger in front of Faith's face, she sighed and let her hand fall.

"Will this take long?" she asked.

"Not at all," he promised her. "Now close your eyes."

Faith looked at him suspiciously before doing as he said, the warlock muttered some words in a weird language Faith had never heard before, then she heard the sound of a match being struck, smelled smoke and then the herbs burning.

"Now Faith," said Salcaccio. "Breathe in deeply."

Faith did as she was told breathing in deeply a couple of times and then waited…and waited, she finally got impatient opening one eye and peering around then opening the other. Salcaccio was standing in front of her biting his lip and looking puzzled. "So did it work?" she didn't feel any different.

"Not really," he frowned.

"Not really," Faith repeated annoyed. "What do you mean not really?"

"I mean you weren't under the influence of a lust spell of any kind."

"What!" Faith exclaimed. "Dude you're so wrong, there has to be some kind of spell."

Salcaccio shrugged. "There was no lust spell, you can go get a second or third opinion but they'll tell you the same thing," he walked over to his desk and began writing on a piece of paper.

"Well can't you give me something to get rid of these feelings or control them or something?" asked Faith desperate for anything.

She walked over to his desk and slammed the incense burner down in front of him.

"Trying to control emotions via magic is exceptionally dangerous Faith," Salcaccio checked the burner for damage before looking up at her. "Especially an emotion like lust, any effect would be temporary and after it wore off the feelings would come back stronger then ever. I'm sorry but you'll just have to deal with this the natural way."

Faith was having trouble controlling herself around Dawn as it was, if her feelings became stronger…definitely not good. "So what's the natural way?" she asked.

"Time," he handed her the piece of paper he had been writing on.

"Great, thanks for nothing," Faith became even more annoyed; she looked at the piece of paper in her hand. "What's this?"

"My bill."

"You expect me to pay you for a spell which didn't work?" Faith's annoyance flared into outright anger.

"I'm sure the Slayers Council will pay it for you Faith, they usually pay for services rendered to slayers."

Faith's anger diminished slightly. "Right. Of course. So there's nothing you can do for me?"

"I'm afraid not, no."

"Fine," Faith folded the paper and put it in a pocket. "I'll go find someone who can," she stalked angrily out of the room.

"Good luck," Salcaccio called out, making sure he magically opened and closed the front door for Faith, he knew what a slayer could do and didn't want that happening to his front door, it would cost more then Faith's bill to repair the damage.

He waited a few minutes in case she decided to return then he walked over to the circle, replacing some sand where Faith's boots had erased it. He then recited another short phrase in the same language as before. He hadn't told the slayer the whole truth before, the herbs had been part of a spell to see whether Faith was under the influence of some sort of spell but the symbol on her forehead had been part of another spell designed to recognise who had performed the spell on her, Salcaccio was interested to see who would be stupid enough to cast any sort of spell on a slayer. But as she wasn't under the influence of a lust spell it could show him who exactly the slayer was having these feelings for and maybe why she thought it was some kind of spell, Salcaccio couldn't help but be curious about it and it might provide the reason behind the spell he had detected affecting the slayer.

The circle lit up from the inside as a face appeared floating in mid-air and Salcaccio could understand why the slayer was in some sort of denial, the face was of a young woman, mid to late-teens he thought and very beautiful. 'Maybe the first girl Faith's been attracted to?' Salcaccio guessed. 'Well she could do a lot worse.'

He waved his hand and the face disappeared. The spell he had detected was a subtle, powerful spell that Salcaccio thought was designed to intensify feelings rather then create them from nothing, he would bet anything that other girl had had a similar spell placed on her. He wasn't quite sure about the spell's effect, as he had never come across one quite like it, that fact alone frightened him.

Someone apparently wanted Faith and this girl to be together and was giving Faith a nudge along, someone exceptionally powerful, someone whom Salcaccio did not want to meet and someone who also didn't seem to know the slayer very well for as far as he was concerned the nudge Faith had been given was larger then required.

Salcaccio had been able to tell that Faith was very…physical when he had examined her earlier to see if she truly was a slayer, it seemed to be a fundamental part of her personality, add that spell to the mix and she must be close to jumping whoever that girl was. No wonder Faith had come to him.

Salcaccio however did not want to touch that spell with a ten-foot pole as whoever had done it was powerful enough to crush him like a bug and he had only survived this long by avoiding people that powerful like the plague, he knew his limitations and they were a long way below whoever had done that spell.

He only required a few seconds to think about it before coming to a conclusion. It might be a good idea to get as far away from Faith as humanly and/or magically possible, she and that other girl were clearly at the centre of something, something big and therefore something he did not want to get involved in.

'I wonder what the weather's like in Rio this time of year,' mused Salcaccio.

The light drizzle had turned into pouring rain that Faith watched as she sat on a bench under the cover of a roof of some kind, she was absolutely soaked after walking around in it trying to find someone else who could help her deal with her problem.

She had actually found a couple who had tried, a witch and another warlock, but both had said the same thing as Salcaccio, no lust spell, controlling feelings via magic was dangerous and they could do nothing to help.

Faith couldn't believe it; she was trying so hard to be one of the good guys. She had gone to jail for her crimes, she hadn't killed an innocent in years and she had even helped both Angel and Buffy in their time of need and then this happened, something Faith truly could not understand. She hadn't been sexually attracted to another girl in her entire life, well maybe Buffy slightly when she'd first turned up in Sunnydale, but that had been something to do with them both being slayers Faith was sure and she had gotten over that ages ago. Now she was attracted to Buffy's little sister in a far, far bigger way and she somehow doubted seducing high school girls was part of being one of the good guys, especially a high school girl with a certain slayer for an older sister.

This left her with a rather large problem, if she stayed the chances of her doing something to Dawn and Buffy reacting in a violent way were rather large, but if she left…well she literally had nowhere else to go, nothing else to do. She was a slayer this was where she belonged, it had only taken her this long to come to Rome because she had to swallow some pride about the whole her and Buffy thing, but she had gotten over that and so here she was.

So what was worse staying or leaving?

Faith had been thinking about this ever since she had left Salcaccio's place and she was finally coming to a conclusion, she would stay but avoid Dawn as much as was physically possible to minimise the chances of anything happening. Of course there was always a chance of something happening anyway and that had led Faith to another thought, if something did happen would Dawn be interested?

Somehow she didn't think so, Dawn seemed pretty boy-crazy and she had never heard about Dawn having been with another girl, but if she was interested…Faith shook her head if Dawn was Buffy would probably skin Faith alive rather then let her touch Dawn in an inappropriate way or appropriate way for that matter, Faith would always be tainted in Buffy's eyes, she knew that, and Dawn was B's good little sis, so no chance Buffy would be OK with anything happening and that pretty much put an end to that.

Faith brushed wet hair out of her face and looked out at the rain that if anything looked like it was getting harder. She wiped her hands on the wet leather of her pants; they were going to be ruined after this and that left her with yet another problem. She didn't exactly have a huge wardrobe, only enough to fill a small suitcase; she probably needed to go shopping some time. Hadn't Dawn mentioned something about going shopping together…'No Faith bad idea, we're keeping away from D remember?'

God this was going to be hard, especially if Dawn was going to be around the Council's offices at the same time as her, trying to avoid Dawn and not making it look suspicious was going to be even harder…maybe she should just leave.

There was that night out she had planned with Buffy, maybe she would get lucky and find some guy to get her mind off Dawn. 'Not some girl,' a small part of her mind noted. 'Seems like Dawn is the only girl I'm into. That's strange,' she filed that thought away in the back of her mind.

She should get back to her motel, if she was going to be working for Buffy she should probably get used to waking up early and that meant going to sleep far earlier then she was used to.

Faith looked out at the rain, it didn't look like it was going to be stopping anytime soon. 'No point in waiting around here then,' Faith thought getting up and preparing to make a mad dash for the nearest cover, she was so going to need some new pants after this.

Dawn sat at the table in her and Buffy's apartment finishing off some homework. Between her Watcher training and her schoolwork she seemed to have little time for anything else and that meant she hadn't gone out in ages. 'I'm doing homework on a Friday night,' Dawn sighed. 'I have no life.'

Buffy walked out of her room all dressed up and smelling of something expensive.

"Either you're really overdressed for a microwave dinner in front of the TV, or…" Dawn grinned. "You've got a date."

"Its not a date, I'm just going out with Faith."

"Wow on a date with Faith," Dawn grinned even wider, teasing her older sister. "You know I am you're only family Buffy, you think you would've told me if you'd started dating girls, your own flesh and blood and all-'
"It's not a date," interrupted Buffy smiling slightly. "Trust me Faith tried to make that very clear and if you weren't my own flesh and blood you'd be dead by now for suggesting it."

"So is she coming here?"

"No I'm meeting her at her motel, the address is over there on the notepad beside the phone, you know just in case."

"In case of what, you getting really drunk and crashing at her place?"

"When have I ever got really drunk?" asked Buffy indignantly.

"I seem to recall a certain cave-Buffy incident."

"That beer was magically tampered with and you know it."

"I know but its always fun to see your eyes change colour like that," said Dawn still grinning.

Buffy shook her head exasperated. "Why do I put up this?" she said talking to herself, "You know I'm starting to wish the monks had given you to Faith as a little sister so she would have to deal with you," Buffy pointed a finger at Dawn.

Dawn giggled. "Can you imagine what I'd be like if Faith was my big sister?"

"Yes, not annoying me all the time."

Dawn threw a pencil at her. "When are you going?"

"Actually I was thinking of staying around here and annoying you all night."

"Both of us staying in on a Friday night? That would be really sad."

"You could come with, I'm sure Faith wouldn't mind."

Dawn sighed. "No I should finish this," she turned back to her homework. "But speaking of Faith, is it just me or is she acting strange?"

"This is Faith we're talking about, acting strange is almost normal for her."

"I meant stranger then normal," Dawn frowned. "If that makes any sense."

Buffy thought about it. "I guess," she said slowly. "But then again compared to old Faith she's acting like little Miss Sanity."

"True," Dawn nodded. "So are you going or what?"

"Can't wait to get rid of me huh?"

"It does mean I can watch the porn on pay-per-view," Dawn grinned again.

Buffy's eyes widened. "You what…" she realised her sister was teasing again. "I'm starting to think that they did make you Faith's sister," Dawn stuck her tongue out at her.

Buffy turned to leave, opening the door. "Be safe. And no pornography."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "I promise, about the being safe thing not the pornography."

Buffy sighed, shaking her head and left.

Faith was sliding into a pair of leathers when she heard the knock at her door. "Come in," she shouted doing them up.

Buffy entered, staring wide-eyed at Faith's motel room. "You actually live here?" she asked.

Faith looked around. "Sure. Why?"

"Faith this makes the place you were staying at in Sunnydale look like a five-star resort."

"It's not too bad," Faith said a bit defensively.

Buffy turned to look at her. "The rats around here live in better holes then this, I've seen vampire nests cleaner then this, there are-"

"I get the idea B, thanks," interrupted Faith frowning. "So what do you want me to do about it? I don't have the money for anywhere better."

"No, but I do," decided Buffy. "We're going to find somewhere better for you to live, so you don't catch the plague or something, and pass it on amongst the other slayers."

"Really B I'm fine, there's no need to go to any trouble," argued Faith.

"No arguments Faith, tomorrow we'll find you somewhere better, although the gutter outside is probably better than this."

"That's decent of you Buffy, thanks," said Faith uncomfortably.

"All part of the service," as Buffy finished speaking she heard the sound of a woman crying out in pleasure. "And speaking of servicing…" Buffy's eyes widened.

"That's Rosa, she lives next door," Faith spoke louder over the sounds coming from next door.

"She's very…loud."

"She generally is," Faith nodded.

Both women became increasingly uncomfortable as the sounds from next door indicated the woman was escalating towards orgasm, before finally reaching it with a loud cry. They waited for a few seconds but all seemed quiet next door. "So you want to go now," said Faith quickly.

"Oh yes," answered Buffy just as quickly, moving towards the door.

"Funny, isn't that what Rosa was just saying?"

Buffy gave her a look. "Can you stop it with the sexual innuendo for once?"

"Sorry B, that's a part of the whole Faith experience," Faith grinned.

"Oh tonight's going to be fun," Buffy said to herself.

As they walked past Rosa's door it opened and two women came out. One passed the other money and then turned to see the two slayers, she looked at them in embarrassment ducking her head, before walking away quickly.

The other leaned languidly against the doorway smiling. "Hello Faith," she said in heavily accented English.

"Rosa," Faith nodded at her.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Rosa looked Buffy up and down clearly checking her out.

"Rosa this is Buffy, Buffy Rosa," Faith made the introductions quickly, hoping to leave just as fast.

"Hi," said Buffy awkwardly, after all she had just heard this woman…be very happy very recently and Rosa's look was incredibly suggestive.

Rosa seemed to be about their age, good looking, quite tall and slim with long brown hair, and was wearing as little as was decently possible. 'Or as was indecently possible,' Buffy was glad she hadn't brought Dawnie along.

"You sounded like you were enjoying yourself," Buffy broke the silence. 'God I hope I didn't just say that out loud.'

Rosa gave a wicked grin. "You have to take pleasure in your work and she gave really good head," she glanced idly between the two slayers. "If you two girls have 100 Euro between you I could get your night off to a good start?"

Buffy stared at her shocked. "We really should be going," said Faith quickly, grabbing Buffy by her arm and dragging her away.

Rosa watched them go checking out both women's butts appreciatively. The blonde had a cute little ass but Faith's was just the right size for getting a good hold of while you were down between her thighs, honestly she would have foregone the money if either or both had been interested. 'Especially if both,' Rosa grinned, before going back inside and closing the door.

Buffy and Faith walked in silence for a few minutes before Buffy finally spoke. "OK was she like a prostitute, you know for…"

Faith looked at her. "Well she gets paid money for sex, so I'd say that's a yes."

"Wow I didn't even know that they existed for…you know."

"I guess even lesbians have needs, B."

"Hmmh," Buffy nodded. 'I'm so glad I didn't bring Dawnie along.'

Both slayers were stumbling slightly as they walked down the deserted side street.

They were both in that middle stage between mellow drunk and fall-down drunk, although both seemed to attempt the latter as they barely managed to negotiate the curb, neither noticed the figures slipping through the shadows on either side of the street.

Surprisingly, for Buffy at least, the night had been fun. They had spent time in a couple of clubs and as always whenever her and Faith danced together they had attracted the attention of half the male population and the ire of most of the female population in the club, Buffy had managed to get a couple of numbers from cute guys and had given hers out, Faith for some reason hadn't seemed particularly interested.

Faith began to sing a raucous and rather explicit song about a wizard's staff having a knob on its end.

Buffy attempted to give her a look, but couldn't tell which of the three Faiths she was supposed to direct it at. "Faith where on earth did you learn that song?"

"I don't know, read it somewhere," Faith shrugged.

"Well it's disgusting and I really don't think you should be singing it in public."

"Oh lighten up a bit B," Faith attempted to hit Buffy lightly on the arm but missing completely. "It's just a song."

"A Z-rated song," Buffy frowned drunkenly. "Or is that X-rated? Whatever its bad, you're training the younger slayers you should set a good example."

"When have I ever set a good example?" asked Faith half-jokingly. "And anyway you're supposed to be their leader, you call this setting a good example?" she waved her hand vaguely in Buffy's direction.

"I have a way of dealing with it, I hide in my office all morning until I get over the hangover," Buffy grinned stupidly. "Hey I made a rhyme over, hangover."

Faith laughed. "I don't think that's really counts as a rhyme B," she stopped and turned a full circle in the middle of the street. "Where are we going?"

"You're walking me home like a good date remember?"

"Do I get a goodnight kiss after?" Faith grinned.

Buffy shook her head. "God do you ever stop?" she stopped at the next intersection and looked down one of the streets. "I think it's that way," she then turned to see the other three identical streets. "Or maybe it's that way, or that way, actually I think we're lost."

"Great," Faith sighed. "Maybe we should just ask that guy."

"Which guy?" Buffy looked around the empty street.

"That guy skulking in the shadows, with the robes on…" Faith's voice trailed off as the guy in the robes came out of the shadows, with about a dozen other similar guys.

The two slayers slowly backed up until they had their backs to each other in the middle of the street, the robed men quickly surrounded them.

"I don't think we're going to have to worry about setting a good example for the other girls B, suddenly I'm completely sober."

"Yeah or we're going to be completely dead."

"Come on it's only odds of six against one B, we can take them."

The robed men each pulled out a curved knife and began to advance towards them.

"On the count of three Faith, one…" Buffy only reached one as both women leapt towards their nearest opponent.

Faith managed to wrest the knife from her guy and used it to stab the guy next to him, the one she had disarmed hit her hard in the face, throwing her backwards as another moved in slashing her across her cheek. "Bastard," Faith hissed before ducking under a wild swing and stabbing him deeply in the chest. "Just for that I'm not saying sorry," she grabbed the knife from his limp hand.

As she stood up another knife cut through her leathers and into her hip. "Damn it," she gasped in pain, before neatly severing the responsible guy's neck. She heard someone behind her and somersaulted over him, stumbling as she landed the pain flaring from her hip.

Faith risked a glance at Buffy who seemed okay, she was fighting two opponents at once and had a few crumpled bodies around her, Faith turned her attention to the three guys facing her two of which moved to either side of her while one advanced straight towards her.

She hefted the two knives in her hands. "So who wants to be the first to die?" she said, none of them answered as the two on the sides attacked at the same time.

Faith fended both off before kicking one in the groin, as he was bent over examining his interesting injury she parried a swipe from the second guy, twisting the knife out of his hand and stabbing him in the chest and then speared the still bent over guy in the back of the neck.

Faith looked around for the last one but he seemed to have run off, she then looked for Buffy who was bent over with her hands on her knees, breathing heavily.

"You OK B?" asked Faith concerned.

"I'm fine, remind me not to fight after a big night out ever again," Buffy unbent herself. "These guys seem awful familiar," she walked over to a body and lifting the hood up to reveal a face with no eyes, where the eyes should have been were symbols drawn in blood.

"Bringers," said Faith angrily as she came up beside Buffy. "I thought we got rid of these guys."

"Obviously the First's got some more from wherever," Buffy turned to Faith, noticing the blood flowing down her cheek. "Faith you're bleeding."

"It's nothing," Faith absently wiped the blood from her face; more instantly replaced it.

"No it's something, I recognise where we are now and my place is close by, we'll go there and Dawn can patch you up."

"Really Buffy it's fine, I'm five by five," Faith swayed slightly, whether from the alcohol or loss of blood Buffy wasn't sure.

"You're not five by five whatever that means," Buffy hooked one of Faith's arms across her shoulders. "And anyway this will give Dawn a chance to practise her first aid skills."

"Great so now I'm a First Aid dummy," sighed Faith leaning against Buffy and walking slowly in the direction that Buffy led her.

"Well you're a dummy of some kind," Buffy answered.

"Funny," Faith scowled.

"I'm a funny girl," Buffy smiled faintly.

Buffy somehow managed to support Faith and open the door to the apartment at the same time, pushing it open she flicked on the light switch beside the door.

"Dawn," she called out loudly as she helped Faith into a chair.

"What's going on?" mumbled Dawn sleepily as she wandered out of her room dressed in her pyjamas. "This better be important I just got to sleep," she added grumpily.

"Faith needs some patching up, she had a couple of close encounters of the sharp and pointy kind."

Dawn woke up instantly as she saw her sister and Faith, Buffy had a few scrapes and bruises but Faith had a nasty cut on her right cheek and seemed to be nursing her left hip. "I'll get the First Aid kit," Dawn hurried towards the bathroom.

Buffy moved towards the door. "I'll leave you in Dawn's capable hands."

"Where are you going?" asked Faith a little worried about being left alone with Dawn.

"I have to check on everyone else, see if we were the only one's attacked. I'll be at the Council offices if you need me," Buffy left quickly.

Dawn came out of the bathroom carrying the first aid box. "So what happened to you two, you didn't start fighting each other did you?"

"No we got jumped by a bunch of Bringers," said Faith as she watched Dawn kneel down beside her and open up the box.

Dawn looked up at her sharply. "Bringers, they're back?" she removed a couple of bandages and antiseptic from the kit.

"Apparently so," Faith watched Dawn closely as she pulled down her leathers to reveal a small gash on her hip.

"It doesn't look so bad, I think the leather took most of the damage," Dawn applied some antiseptic to the wound.

Faith hissed through her teeth as the antiseptic stung the wound. "Don't be such a baby," Dawn inspected the wound.

"Well it stings," Faith grumbled, trying to get her mind off the feeling of Dawn's soft fingers and her warm breath brushing across her skin. She glanced down at her torn leathers. 'Another pair ruined,' thought Faith, her diminishing wardrobe was starting to become a real problem.

Dawn stood up and leaned close, inspecting the wound on Faith's cheek. "This should be stitched it's pretty deep," she began to clean the wound.

"I'm a slayer, I'm sure it'll heal OK," Faith started to get aroused by Dawn's body being this close to her own.

"Mmmm," Dawn frowned clearly unconvinced. She knelt down beside the first aid kit and got a bandage out, standing up again she carefully stuck it over the wound on Faith's cheek and then pulled back slightly admiring her handiwork. "There all better, or as better as I can make it," Dawn smiled.

"Thanks D," Faith whispered and then before she realised what she was doing Faith leaned forward and gently kissed Dawn's lips. Faith wasn't sure why she did it, whether it was the dancing, the alcohol, the fighting, the loss of blood or a combination of all of them but she began to press harder with her lips, letting her mouth part and her tongue slide across Dawn's lips.

Dawn stood unmoving, shocked at what was happening. Dawn's reaction and the taste of the lip gloss on Dawn's lips brought Faith back to reality, causing her to sit back hard in the chair.

"Dawn…I…I…I…I'm sorry, I should…" Faith stuttered in apology before standing up and bolting through the door, slamming it shut leaving Dawn stunned, staring after her in bewilderment.

Faith had kissed her.

Faith had kissed her.

Faith had kissed her.

Faith had kissed her.

No matter how Dawn phrased it in her mind, it still made no sense to her. Why had Faith kissed her? Was Faith interested in her? Was she interested in Faith? These questions kept running around inside head and she really had no answers.

The phone's ringing interrupted the storm of thoughts raging through her mind, and Dawn stiffened.

Maybe it was Faith ringing? Dawn wasn't sure whether she wanted it to be Faith or not, she took a deep breath and slowly picked up the phone.

"Hello?" she asked weakly.

"Dawn its Buffy, I rang to tell you I'm staying at the Council offices tonight so there's no need for you to wait up or anything."

"Oh, OK."

"Is Faith there?"

"No she…um…left."

"Oh, was she all right?"

"Yeah the wounds weren't that serious and she's a slayer right you guys heal fast," said Dawn. 'She's also a pretty good kisser.'

"Yes we do," There was a pause. "Are you OK?" Buffy sounded worried.

"I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"You just sound a little…distant, as if you've seen a ghost or something."

"No I'm fine," Dawn insisted more strongly. "Just the First being back and the Bringers and everything."

"I know, brings back some bad memories. But we knew it would happen one day and we're far stronger now then we were back in Sunnydale, we'll be fine," Buffy tried to reassure her little sister.

"Of course we will," Dawn tried to sound reassured. "When will you be home?"

"I'll probably just stay here the night, me and Giles and the rest of the Council have a lot to talk about, you should try and get some sleep."

"I will," Dawn promised. "So see you tomorrow?"

"Sure, 'Night Dawnie," said Buffy.

"Goodnight," Dawn hung up the phone and then sat thinking.

Faith was obviously interested in her, why else would she kiss her? 'Maybe she was trying to brush crumbs of my face or something?' Dawn tried to rationalise. 'Yeah with her tongue,' she added sarcastically.

There was really only one rational conclusion, Faith had attempted to hit on her, although the fact Faith had run off suggested she was just as surprised as Dawn at what happened.

So what was she going to do?

She finally reached a decision and ran to the notepad beside the phone tearing off the page with Faith's address on it and running out the door. A few seconds later she came running back in as she realised she was only in her pyjamas. "Probably not a smart idea to go running out in the middle of the night dressed only in these," she muttered to herself as she quickly got a pair of jeans and a jacket to cover them and ran out again pulling on her shoes.

The sound of knocking on her door woke Faith out of her reverie. 'Has Buffy come to kick my ass already?' she thought staying put on her bed.

The knock came again followed by Dawn's voice. "Faith are you in there? We need to talk."

'Dawn's here?' Faith was surprised. Dawn was the last person she expected after what had happened at Buffy's apartment, but she was quick to get off the bed and open the door. Dawn was standing there looking so cute and vulnerable. "Hey D," she tried to keep her feelings under control.

"Faith," Dawn nodded at her. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," Faith waved her in.

Dawn walked in with her arms crossed over her chest. "We should talk."

"About what?" asked Faith as if it wasn't obvious.

"About…the kiss, it was a kiss right?" Dawn checked.

Faith looked a little uncomfortable. "Yeah it was a kiss D."

"So do you like me, I mean like like me?" asked Dawn hesitantly.

Faith nodded. "I guess I do, I wouldn't have kissed you otherwise right?" Faith looked directly at Dawn. "Do you like me back, like like me?"

Dawn bit her lip. "I don't…I'm not sure…" her voice trailed off as she looked at Faith, then moving swiftly she pressed her lips softly against Faith's. Faith was taken by surprise, but only for a moment, she quickly wrapped her arms around Dawn's waist bringing her closer and pressing the kiss deeper, parting Dawn's lips with her tongue and pushing it deeply inside. Dawn slid her arms around Faith's shoulders and pushed her own tongue into Faith's mouth, exploring it thoroughly. Faith tasted…nice, sweet and not at all weird or strange.

Faith pushed Dawn up against the wall, feeling a flare of pain from her hip but she didn't care she was enjoying the taste, the feel of Dawn against her. She pulled Dawn as close as possible, hearing Dawn moan slightly as she let her hands slide lower to grab the girl's butt forcing Dawn's hips closer.

Finally Dawn pulled away, breathing heavily. "Wow," she whispered.

"There was definite wow factor there," agreed Faith also breathing heavily.

Dawn nuzzled close. "Can I stay here tonight?"

Faith looked surprised. "You trying to get me into bed already D?" she grinned.

"I didn't mean it in a sexual way," said Dawn firmly. "Buffy's staying at the Council tonight and I'm kinda worried about Bringers, so I was wondering…" Dawn used her doe-eyed look that always worked on anyone who wasn't Buffy.

"I guess, but I don't have anything for you to wear," thoughts of Dawn wearing nothing entered Faith's mind.

"That's OK," Dawn untangled herself from Faith and undid her jacket to reveal her pyjama top. "I came prepared."

"Knew I would say yes huh?" Faith smiled; she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

"I'm impossible to resist," Dawn grinned.

"Not going to argue with that."

"So you going to take me to bed?" asked Dawn still grinning, slipping her hand into Faith's.

"Sure," Faith grinned back, tugging Dawn towards the bed.

Faith couldn't remember ever feeling happier.

To be continued…