Present Day

The meal was decent at least, nothing to write home about but then not that she actually had a home to write to. It was the silence that got her. These two guys and her. One Brit, one vamp and her stuck in the middle. All eating a nice friendly meal well the vampire was drinking some pig's blood with a straw but who cares. She wasn't entirely sure what to think. This was just completely beyond her. Sitting politely having a nice dinner with two strange men was really her scene. She was used to do other stuff.

This was stupid. Why had she agreed to it?

Because the vampire Alexander seemed to know what he was talking about. Or because she was sick of running. Maybe that was closer to the truth. But did she want to really stay here and join their little dynamic duo and make it a threesome? Did she really want to change?

It is something she struggled with for a long time. She rarely has been happy with who she was and certainly was aware that there were few people who were happy with she was. Her alcoholic mother and absent father being two on that list. She was too wild, too full of energy when she was growing up. She hated the popular girls yet longed for the limelight. Yeah, she had issues. Then she became a slayer and for a while it was good. A Slayer in her element. The chosen one to save them all. For a while she drawn into it, into being the Slayer. She wanted to fight them all, kill them all. But then she realised nothing had changed not really. Nobody still cared for her. She was expendable, quickly ordered about, her feelings ignored and unwanted. It wasn't the greatest place to be in.

So, she left. Grabbed a bus, caught a train, hitchhiked, stowed away, all over the country. She became the great wanderer for a time until they caught her. Brought her to the worse place on earth and told her to fight and win. She knew it was a suicide mission. As powerful as she was, she knew she'd never accomplish it. She would be long dead before even got to the famous Master. Faith didn't like those kind of odds. It's not like she had any great plans for the future. No college interests or career dreams but she certainly didn't want to end up as worm food by the time she was twenty. But yet despite those kind of odds these two guys fought and battled every day and every night. Why? Because they both believed they could win? Then why did they both look so defeated Faith considered no because they both were too stubborn to give up and die. Well at least they had something in common.

So maybe for now they would give them a shot. That's all one shot to work with them. She's been pushed over and over again, she's about ready to try anything she can think of. If all things went to hell she would bug out and survive some place else. She survived on the streets before so she could survive some more. On the streets, on her own she could just be Faith. Destiny be damned.

Later Alexander and Faith headed out to tooled around some of the cemeteries, staked a few sharp-toothed, breathing-challenged uglies. Giles went to the library to study and check in with the council. The boarded-up windows, the trash blowing down the street, abandoned cars in the middle of what passed for downtown in this one Starbucks town painted an ugly picture. Sunnydale really had gone to hell. The place reeked of vamps.

She looked nervous Alexander thought her eyes seemed to dance around taking everything in. Every little shadow and every little back alley. All the good spots for a quick meal. Dark, troubled eyes seemed to look anywhere getting an idea of this new place and gentle creases of worry and pain gave an otherwise youthful visage the look of hardened age. Clearly, she must have heard some of the stories about this place. She kept a hand near her stake which didn't surprise him as he was after the vampire, and she was the slayer. Just because they had talked while she was chained to the bathtub didn't mean they had become best buddies. They walked in silence then an uneasy alliance forged by need. They needed her and it would seem she needed them though good luck getting her to admit that on record. They didn't have long to wait before a couple of suckers took the bait. Two vamps, male, swaggering out of the alley, clearly, they'd never heard that if it seemed too good to be true, it probably was…

"Hey cutie," Faith sighed, if this was the level of quip she might as well give up. Alexander stood back letting her take the lead.

"Hey ugly." They rushed her. They fought. Normally fighting did a great job of clearing the cobwebs out of her head. While the white-hot adrenaline rush burned through her brain everything was simple and clear and right. The world was a small and wonderfully easy place, free of ambiguity, fear, and loss. No worrying about what a watcher would do when he caught up with her. Nothing but strike and block, attack and retreat, kill or be killed.

And then it was over. There were two piles of dust drifting on the breeze. Faith slipped her stake back into place and walked on, looking for more. Alexander then stepped up and looked slightly impressed. "Hey," she said, strolling over to him with her most sexy walk. "How'd I do?" Slaying always got her in the mood no harm on showing this guy the goods even if he was the undead.

He nodded, walking toward her. "Not too bad, but you're still a little sloppy. You left some holes in your defences. Just because these vamps was stupid, doesn't mean that the others you face will be."

Feeling a little insulted Faith stepped forward. "What holes?" she asked, all business.

She and Alexander went through a re-enactment of the fight, him showing her where she'd gone wrong or forgotten some defensive strategy. Faith listened to all the advice from one more experienced than she, but when he wanted to go through it a second time, she balked. "I know that the rules are important," Faith said, her tone mildly irritated "But what about instinct? What about that spur-of-the-moment knowledge that springs from your gut?"

He shrugged. "There's something to be said for instinct and gut feelings, definitely. I'd be telling a lie if I said that relying on my instincts hadn't saved my life on more than one occasion during the past year. But there's more to being a fighter than just instinct. You have to get the basics down first and once you have that, then instinct can come into play. I know I sound like a Giles-clone," he frowned deciding that maybe he had been living with the Englishman for too long before focusing back on Faith. "But in order to be an effective Slayer you need to follow an orderly training process... which means basics first."

Faith frowned at his lecture but then smiled at his suggestion they train together. She looked forward to showing this guy what she could really do with regards to fighting. They then had a real conversation. It was about fighting techniques and moves which naturally led to the swapping of a few war stories, but it was still a conversation. And it was a wicked strange feeling to Faith to know that a guy was interested in her mind instead of her tits… Although she caught him checking the puppies out more than a couple times. Lots of vamps in this town. But out of the even dozen she dusted on that night's patrol only one gave her any kind of a decent fight. She realized that the leeches had gotten sloppy having it all their own way for so long.

Well, those days were over. There was a new sheriff in town whether she liked it or not.

XXXXX

Back at the library Giles put down the spell book and frowned. The library was lit only by the dim light of the ceremonial candles as he attempted once again to conjure a spirt. A spirt who had so far not resisted his attempts. His attempts to steal from him. To drain him of his essence, his power to feed on. He felt like a fraud. Like he had been lying to himself for years when he swore, he would never be so rebellious or careless with magic than he was in his younger. That younger man or Ripper as he was known preferred a life of excitement and would deliberate avoid a stable situation to keep things from being 'boring'. He once again felt the self loathing feeling cover him like a well-worn blanket. Not for the first time he wondered if it was all worth it and if he shouldn't simply walk away from his cursed town or simply walk up to the nearest vampire and let them feed on him.

Shaking off such feelings and putting them carefully into a box in his mind where he stored Jenny's death, his failure at destroying this reality and many other bad deeds. He would deal with them later at some point for now he carefully poured the salt into a circle. The candles were lit, and the proper diagrams in place. He breathed in and out to centre himself and began chanting the ancient words. The candles flickered as he closed his eyes, intoning without emotion over and over again. The room grew dark and melted away. There was a flash of light, a whirl of colours, and then an image streaked into existence.

The image of a mage or warlock on some far away land. Giles opened his eyes and saw him. The wizard stared back on him, his face old and grey. He was older in appearance than almost anyone Giles knew or had seen. Summoning his strength and courage Giles held out his hand and red mist seemed come from the image. It hoovered and entered Giles who could feel it charge him and empower him.

The warlock never said anything to him, nor did Giles say anything back to him. It was always this way between them ever since the first time Giles had done this. The warlock had not even put up a fight, not once rebuffed any of Giles's efforts and Giles strongly suspected that the warlock was more than capable of it as he knew the warlock was powerful enough to do so. The warlock seem to get even older in front of Giles as he stole more of the warlock's life force. Just a little bit each time. It was like Giles was slowly nibbling away at the sorcerer robbing him of years upon his life.

But the man never said anything merely looked back at Giles with his one good eye. There was almost a look of admiration there like he was impressed at Giles's actions. Impressed at Giles being able to perform such a spell or impressed that Giles had the guts or stomach to perform it. Who knows? Giles couldn't tell and the man never spoke.

Feeling the dark magic course inside him Giles lowered his hand and the bond was broken. Another small piece of life he had robbed of the man. He did not feel guilt over his actions as he knew this warlock had robbed many of same and had done worse. He was no more than a mystical equivalent of a drug dealer. How many young children had this man reduced to mere junkies desperate for a fix of magic robbing them of their future? No, he felt no guilt of stealing from this man only guilt that came from knowing he was no better than a common thief. He had tried to convince himself that it was for the best. The dark magic he wielded was used for good, to fight the forces of darkness. The dark magic this man summoned was used to destroy and seduce weak minds. It was for the best but even Giles knew that what he was doing was dangerous and crossing a line that he vowed he would never do not again.

But in this desperate time what else could he do… besides no one would know but him and the warlock he stole him. Just him and Rack. Their little secret Giles told himself as he watched the image of the man disappear.

XXXX

Two weeks passed and the three settled into something of a routine. Faith usually ate breakfast with Giles in the mornings, where she would relate to him her experiences of patrol the night before. A patrol with the vampire Alexander. She might never admit this, but she found herself enjoying herself. The watcher who she had pegged as a reject from a corrupt organisation was actually quite cool. He had a quite a good sense music taste for an old man, knew quite a few tricks when it came to training and wasn't bossing her around like loyal troops.

Patrol with Alexander was always interesting, she had been a little rusty at first, still recovering from having been on the run, but she got back into the swing of things fairly quickly. Soon she was slaughtering demons and vampires indiscriminately. She had to admit that Alexander was impressive. Having a soul hadn't made him hold back or avoid fighting dirty forget anything, he was snapping necks or tearing things apart with his bare hands. Nothing sophisticated about his technique, but it got the job done. Alexander himself felt that the Slayer was a dab hand at destruction. He reckoned she had a wild streak. She was bloody fast and brutally practical. He knew that if they ever got the chance to dance it would be quick and deadly.

It was a lull period. Only fledglings and random demons out on the streets. The Master must be aware of Faith's arrival and any vampire would not be pleased of a slayer's arrival in their territory let alone the Master. Giles was worried and Alexander agreed he had a point. "The Master isn't one to sit around and do nothing," Alexander told Giles. It was just the two of them in Giles's apartment during the day as Faith was downtown. "If he's laying low, he's planning a surprise. An unpleasant one."

Giles nodded. "We need information." As always, they were on the back foot. They captured a few fledglings and questioned them before dusting them, but none of them knew anything useful.

"You need to work on your security," a voice came from Giles's front door. Both men leapt to their feet and saw several men standing there holding several guns. One of them had light brown hair, 6.2, grey eyes and a grim look on his face.

"I thought you said that cast spells to ward off demons and vampires," Alexander muttered to Giles eyeing the men.

"I did," Giles replied back to the vampire. "Which means- "

"Means we are human which is more than I can say for you vampire," the brown hair man said spitting out the last word as if it was venom. Clearly, he was the leader of this group.

"But you are not with the Watcher's Council," Giles stated eyeing the man with care.

"No… United States Armed Forces," the man replied before stepping forward. "I am agent Finn."

"Finn? That a first name or a last name?" Alexander asked.

Finn just glared at him. "Just Finn to you bloodsucker," before looking around unimpressed. "So, this your base of operations? Cramped and pathetic. I kept hearing things about you two being pretty big things in these parts… I expected better."

"So, what United States Armed Forces came all the way down here to say they don't like his digs?" Alexander fired back nodding towards Giles.

"Are you asking me to order these men to drag your pale ass out into sun outside?" Riley growled stepping forward gripping his side arm and the men behind him looked like they would be more than happy to obey that request.

"Enough!" Giles said stepping forward in between the two men. "Why are in my home?"

"Here to help, here to lead, here to do the thing you can't do… take down the Master," agent Finn remarked pulling a chair at the dining table and signalling his men to back off. Giles took this as an invitation to sit down so he did. The mood hadn't improved in the room. "I am part a covert unit that tracks and kills vampires and everything else. We had our eye on Sunnydale for some time, so they sent me and my team in to take care of the problem."

"How?" Giles asked.

"By finding the Master and killing him," Finn replied as a matter of fact.

Alexander snorted from where he still stood, and Riley just glared at him. "Now why didn't we think of that?" The vampire said out loud.

"Well why haven't you done it?!" Finn barked at the vampire.

"It's not that simple Finn," Giles replied getting the military man to turn his attention back to him. "Several have tried," he spoke with regret recalling the last person to stand against the Master. Buffy Summers, cool and deadly almost a walking weapon. She had come to Sunnydale on Giles's urging and had paid the price when she faced off against the Master.

"Well, we are going to have to try again," Finn replied. "A full-scale assault right in the heart of his operations." Sensing he was about to get another sarcastic comment coming from the creature in the corner Riley continued. "Let me clear… I'm the last hope you have," Riley said with little enthusiasm. "There is another option, dropping a bomb on this town on the table with the General. Believe me there are few of them who feel that is the preferred option. We don't go on the attack then there won't be anything to defend."

Christ, they wanted to simply wipe Sunnydale of the face of the earth rather than help?! Bastards though in truth Giles couldn't be that shocked at the notion. "The Master has many followers," Giles replied choosing his words carefully. "Many of whom would be willing to die at his command. One can't just expect to get a clear shot at him so easily."

"We can't afford to wait on this," Riley said firmly. "I am here to take down that vampire and any other that gets in my way," he said shooting a look at Alexander's direction who look unimpressed at the pointed remark. "As much as I don't like it, I need your help." He looked uncomfortable for a moment before shifting back into his business-like tone. Benefits of the military. You could shut off your emotions like a light switch . "You have tactical knowledge and information on the Master both of which I need." Finn explained making a point not to look nor address Alexander.

Giles and Alexander exchanged a look and the British man spoke up. "Then you will need both of us," Giles said raising what he knew was would be the elephant in the room given the man and his attitude that he presented. It was clear that due to his involvement with the military, Finn also carried a black-and-white outlook when it came to demons and humans.

Riley's jaw tighten, "tell him I'll give him a five second head start before I dust him. I don't work with vampires." Turning towards Alexander who saw nothing but old hard hatred in his eyes directed toward the vampire.

"Then you don't collaborate with me," Giles said firmly. "He is useful and highly motivated to fight on our side. He knows them, he knows how they think, he has proven a valuable asset in my fight, and I believe that he would be a valuable asset on your mission. To not work with him would be a grave mistake on your part."

"To work with a vampire! You must be out of your mind!" Riley replied.

"This is a dirty job Mr Finn and if there is one thing, I have learnt is that one must get their hands dirty to win this war," Giles spoke to him honestly. "I am not asking you to be friends or brothers but simply maintain a truce."

Finn and Alexander looked at each other sizing each other up before Finn stood up and walked forward not even looking at Alexander but staring forward. "You comprise my men or this mission and you won't even get a funeral," the taller man warned the vampire.

Alexander didn't react as he had been expecting this. "Fair enough," he replied staring forward as well. "Your men try anything vampire's won't have to suck their blood they will be licking it off the ground."

XXXXXX

She walked up deserted parking lot of Sunnydale High. It looked a lot like her old high school, had that sort of fake Mission deal going on. She'd be a senior if she were still going to school. Still, she longed for it. A chance of a normal life. A chance to experience what they might experience. To hang out with friends, to have fun, to be carefree and loose. Some part of her told her to be careful, to not buy into Giles and his promises so quickly. He was just looking for another tool to fight against vampires. No one would care if she died.

She wandered along the school halls. It was awful quiet; she checked her watch – 9 a.m., there should be someone around. Today wasn't a holiday, was it? Then she saw the neatly lettered sign taped to the main doors: "Classes Cancelled for Monthly Memorial". The doors were unlocked, and no-one challenged them as they walked down the deserted hallways she clocked the signs on the wall, 'Daytime Dates are Fun!' 'Get Your Tickets for Winter brunch' 'Don't be a Fool – Respect Curfew!' and so on. She shook her head; you knew things were bad when the civilians gave up on denial. Obviously, everyone knew about the bloodsuckers, but they kept the school open, and tried to adapt instead of either fighting back or packing up their cars and leaving town as fast as they could.

People were so fucking stupid. That was why she always had to keep saving their asses. She hated those kind of people. Wait no they weren't stupid they were just in denial. They all knew about vampires even if they wouldn't admit it to anyone. These kids were just like her, they had no innocence like her. It had been robbed like hers. They had to be on guard and on edge. While they didn't go out and fight every night like her the still had to be careful.

She considered this as she wandered if anyone would care if she died. These people wouldn't know or care if she died. Maybe there was one who would Alexander. Her regular patrol partner was a vampire and yet had her back at all times. A slayer and a vampire working together it was crazy. Part of her the slayer part of her warn her that she should be on her guard at all times but yet the other part that was starving for someone she could trust, was rapidly succumbing to the idea that Giles or Alexander was that someone. They had both shown her more care than anyone she'd met in years, and she was grabbing onto that caring like a life preserver.

XXXXXX

Faith opened the door to Giles's and is started to see some men standing who see had never seen before along with Alexander and Giles. She stops and critically looks them particularly Riley up and down as he had stepped toward her. ""This is perhaps Faith?"," he said. "I'm agent Finn, heard some stories about slayers never thought they were true."

Faith looked at him unimpressed turning to look at where Alexander and Giles were standing. "New recruits?" she asked them ignoring Riley.

Both men nodded and confirmed together, "new recruits," at the same time.

"Screw that," Faith snickered, and she turned right around and walked back out. Riley couldn't help but feel put out not used to getting attitude from some girl.

Alexander turned to Giles who was holding back a smile. "Now, why didn't *I* just say that?"