FIC: Cleveland Calling (19?)

One look at Faith's stricken face was enough. He knew who this bastard had to be. The instincts of his demon firmly in charge, Angel blurred over to the man. He smiled savagely at the man's stricken look before crashing a right into his chest.

The punch lifted the hapless demon-fighter off his feet and flung him through the kitchen door, taking the door off its hinges, and flinging it into the garden wall. "Ach laddie," he purred as he strode out, "you'd be having a death-wish coming here." The man threw a pathetically clumsy punch that Angel swayed away from. "You couldn't take my grand-childe," stepping behind the black man, he grabbed the back of his head and threw him face-first into the house wall, kicking him in the balls as he landed, "why you be thinking you had a chance against me?" The wheezing man fell to his hands and knees, Angel stamped on the man's fingers, not hard enough to break, but hard enough to hurt.

"Angel, no," he looked up to see a pale-faced Faith stood in the doorway, the others watching behind.

"Ach, I was just discussing dating etiquette with him before," grabbing a hold of the man's collar, he pulled him upright and shook him like a rag doll before dropping him at Faith's feet, "leaving him to you."


Wood groaned as he lowered himself into the kitchen seat, the others having left to at least give them a modicum of peace. Faith stared evenly at her ex. "Ya looking for sympathy, don't," she warned, "'cause I'm all tapped out."

"Faith," she allowed herself a joyful frisson when her former boyfriend winced. "I wanted to apologise for what happened. The way we left things-."

"What with me thinking you're pond life?" she replied. "Too late for that."


"We should throw him out," Andrew said. "He's a snake in the grass. A betrayer of the great Faith. A harbinger of doom-."

"Does he ever shut up?" Angel muttered as Andrew continued on his rant.

"Not so I've noticed," Xander replied before raising his voice. "Look, Andrew. I don't like the guy, frankly this was the first time I've ever cheered Angel on in a fight-."

"Thanks."

Xander ignored Angel's interruption. "But he's not evil as such, and he's Faith's ex so this is Faith's call." Even as he spoke, he recognised just how false the words sounded.


Solomon Emory beamed as the battered man stumbled into his office. "Mr. Wood, I see your meeting with the Slayer was troubled."

"This was her friends," the African-American snarled. "That damn vampire she looks up to. Just more proof that she's not worthy of her Calling."

"Quite," Emory hid his distaste behind a polite smile. He dealt with the world's scum every day of his life, but this piece of excrement was something else entirely. He might be opposed to the Slayer and her friends, but he'd read her file, and could not help but admire the young woman for what she'd managed to become. She'd dared to open her heart to the man before her, and had walked out when he'd cheated on her. And somehow it was her fault? Ah well, Solomon shook his head, there were some people who could find excuses for the most appalling behaviour, one of the weaknesses of today's society, and why organisations like his flourished. A man was only truly a man if he stood up for what he believed in. "We have the specimen you need."

"Really?" the black man's dour expression lightened as he passed a piece of paper across the desk. "We're set for a date at this restaurant tomorrow night. Can you have everything ready by then?"

"Of course," Emory nodded. "I'll have the chef bribed and a pick-up team in position. Now," he passed a thigh bone across the desk, noting the reverent look in the black man's eye. He would be so easy to manipulate. "Here's the specimen."


Andrew slammed his bedroom door behind him, breath coming in angry wheezes. He couldn't believe his sensei was so gullible as to fall for that smooth-talking ladies' man. Not when she had the heroic Xander. "Oooh," Andrew shook his head. He knew there was something up, but would anyone listen? And what could he do-.

He smiled as his eyes fell on a book he'd picked up at the comic book store just the other week, a book that he had thought would help them in tracking down missing people, but now perhaps it would have an even nobler purpose. Grabbing the book, he shoved it in his pocket before looking towards his watch. He had an hour to get ready. He stalked through the corridors, ignoring questions as to what he'd be making for dinner, slamming the front door behind him.

Faith would be safe. He was on the case. And he hadn't lost a dame yet.


"You're sure you don't mind?" Faith asked as she checked herself in the full-length mirror. Black turtleneck, black pants, black leather jacket, and no make-up. She looked like a freakin', although wicked hot, nun. If Wood didn't get the idea that only the restaurant food was on the menu, she'd have to illustrate the point further.

"Why would I mind that my girl-friend's going out with her muscular ex?" Xander said mournfully from his position sat on her bed.

"Hey," Faith pressed her lips to Xander's for a brief second before whispering in his ear. "Why would I want to switch to bacon when I come home to steak every night?"

Xander reddened and smiled weakly. "I appreciate the euphemism."

"Damn," Faith winked at her man, "being a Watcher's just a licence to learn new big words ain't it?"


Andrew waited until the rental had moved off from outside Wood's apartment. "It was a blustery night," he intoned as he hurried across to the hired apartment, newly bought trenchcoat flapping in the wind. "Everything about the guy smelt wrong. He was up to something. But no one would listen, no one believed in his instincts. But he knew the dame with the forever legs was in trouble, so it was up to him to prove it." After a few anxious minutes jimmying the lock, it looked easier in the movies, the door swung open. Taking a breath, he stalked inside to find a small but functional apartment. "A crook like this would be too clued to leave anything incriminating just lying about, his bloodhound nose would have to be primed to find anything. This lowlife could be the Moriarty to his Holmes." Walking into the toilet, he removed the lid, and replaced it. "Nothing there." Walking out back into the bedroom, he stepped on the chair beside the wardrobe, and looked on top, but it was only covered with dust. Next he tried under the bed, nothing there too.

Finally he looked towards the desk. Sighing slightly, he sat down and pulled open one of the drawers. He cringed as the drawer flew out, crashing to the floor. Thanks to all the workouts he was finally a man of power. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the drawer had hit the ground bottom up, revealing the notebook stuck to it. "Ha, ha!" he cheered as he leaned down and tore the notebook loose. "He had a clue, the first step in proving that the guy was more phoney than a three dollar bill." His eyes widened as he read the notebook, blood chilling at its contents. "This wasn't good, he'd have to call in his sidekicks." He paled as he realised what that meant. "Oh boy, Xander's going to kill me."


Xander's eye bulged as he stared at the contrite nerd sat on the bed. "Andrew!" Xander groaned. "I gave Faith this big speech about trusting her, about not having a problem with her going with Wood even though I did-."

"You did?" Breena interrupted.

"I have big hairy issues," Xander replied, gaze still fixed on Andrew. "And you break in."

"I have evidence he's up to something," the youth held up a notebook. Xander crossed the floor in three strides, snatching the proffered journal. "I'm not sure what. It refers to the writings of a vampire called Klug who theorised -."

"Who?" In an instant Angel went from lounging by the door to standing beside him, an intent look on his face. "Did you say Klug?" Andrew paled and nodded at the demon's growl.

"What is it, Angel?" Xander kept his eyes on Andrew.

"In the 12th century Klug was a vampire, reputedly a genius scientist and mage before he was turned," Angel began, "he theorised that a vampire being demonic himself should be able to take on a Slayer's powers, add them to his own. He killed three Slayers before giving up on the idea."

"Why?" Xander croaked.

"He came to the conclusion that only another Slayer could take them, and as there used to be only one Slayer at any one time…." Angel's voice trailed off.

"He must have got his hands on his mother's skeleton, he's going to try and use Faith's life essence to resurrect her," Breena whispered.

"Talk about a mommy complex," Connor muttered. "And I thought I had problems." The hybrid reddened as he realised that everyone was looking at him. "Sorry, did I say that aloud?"


Xander gripped the dashboard as Angel sent their car roaring through Cleveland, paying no heed to niceties such as traffic lights, the others following in scarcely slower vehicles. He realised the demon was talking to him. "Sorry," he turned to face the vampire, "I missed that."

"I said we're," the car screeched around a bend, "nothing's going to happen to Faith." The vampire briefly took his eyes off the road to look at him. "We won't let it."

Xander nodded, a brief moment of understanding passing between them. He appreciated the sentiment, he only hoped Angel was right.


Wood smiled as they rose from the table. "As I said," the African-American continued. "Once you'd left me, I realised just what a mistake I'd made. If you gave me just one more chance I know we could make it work."

"Ya know," Faith drawled as they left the warm restaurant for the cold, almost deserted parking lot, "I've heard some crap in my time. But that just about beats all," she smiled briefly at the irritated look on the former Watcher's face. "You had your chance, you blew it. I've got friends around me, a man, a real man who's crazy about me-."

"Harris-."

"One word and you'll be eating your meals through a-." Faith's head snapped towards the parking lot's entrance as a black, tinted-window van screeched through it. "What the fuck?" Some sense warned her that Wood was planning to attack, she shot out a back-heel kick only to gasp when her companion easily caught and held her foot. Turning, she shot a shocked look over her shoulder even as the van emptied four armed men out onto the parking lot in front of her. "How?"

"Cruicatmen drugs, bitch!" Wood snarled, his fist crashing into her head.


Wood laughed as the Slayer slumped into his arms. Bribing a chef so that the drugs would be secreted in whatever dish Faith chose to eat had been W&H's job, one they had apparently carried out superbly And without her powers, Faith was back to being the low-class streetwalker she should have always been. Not Called, not worthy of being a Slayer, not like his mother.

Looking to his companions, he threw his keys to one of the men. "Follow in my car," he instructed before glancing down at the limp body in his arms and smirking. Soon his mother would be back.


Upon entering the car lot, Angel slammed on the brakes. A man stood by what he recognised from the previous evening as Wood's car turned at their entrance, face paling as he recognised them. Dropping the car keys, the W&H employee turned to run.

And instead collapsed on the ground when Connor smashed a left into his jaw.

"Good save," Angel complimented as he snatched up the bleeding man, dragged him to his feet, and shoved him into the side of Wood's rental. Behind him he could hear the sound of the other cars arriving. Grabbing the man by his throat, he lifted the W&H hireling into the air. "Now, why don't you tell me about where you've taken Faith, and I might just forget to kill you."

The man, a swarthy, Pancho Villa moustached Latino shook his head. "I ain't telling you -, ahhhhh!" Angel's ears roared to the sound of gunfire, he looked in disbelief first at the man's ruined foot, blood seeping from what remained, and then at the smoking snub-nosed automatic in Andrew's hand.

"Maybe now you'll talk," the pale-faced nerd said. "I'd have gone for your nuts but I'm not a sharpshooter."

"Oh boy," Angel snatched the gun from the youth before turning back to the whimpering man. "Guns, nice but lacking in invention as a tool of torture." He forced a chuckle. "The modern age is such a wonder, chainsaws, blow-torches, cars, just imagine the damage a motivated demon could do with them. And," he flashed his eyes yellow, "guess who gave me motivation." He smiled as the man's mouth opened.


"Ah. You're awake." Faith peered around the darkened room before settling her gaze on her smirking ex stood over her.

"Bastard!" She tried to rise only to find she was restrained, three chains fastened across her at chest, waist, and knee level, holding her to the table, nothing but a cloth covering her. "I am going to rip your fucking nuts off!"

If anything Wood's smirk widened. "No," the African-American shook his head, "you'll do nothing." She tried to bite at the man when he stroked her hair. "So pretty. It's just a shame you're lacking in any real quality."

"I've got your quality right here!" Faith snarled. As a comeback it sucked, but there really wasn't much choice. "So your new squeeze dump you? And the only way your limp-dick can get near a piece of ass is by kidnapping and chaining them down is that it you dickhead?"

She gasped as the former Watcher covered her mouth with one hand and pinched her nose with the other. "I was speaking," the Watcher said, his tone emotionless. "Your mother might not have taught you manners, but mine did. Don't interrupt." As she wheezed for breath the Slayer's son continued. "Years ago, I discovered a spell, an enchantment that would allow my mother to live again. I needed a Slayer and a bone from my mother. Once I had them both I could transfer her essence into the Slayer's body and have her back with me. Once I learnt Summers was in Sunnydale, I went there. After discovering she had died, I turned my attention to you. As the active Slayer, you were my only chance. Once I'd got you all I had to do was find a bone of my mother's and then I could do the spell, but then you deserted me! You treacherous bitch!" The black man pulled away, Faith gulped in air, chest heaving as the man stepped back until he was beside a table with a thigh bone lying on it. "All I have to do is wait a few minutes until the Cruicatmen drugs has worn off and then your Slayer spirit will be at full-power and ready. Then I'll have my mother back and W&H will have their Slayer, and I'll have what I came to Sunnydale for."

"Never going to happen," Faith's heart soared as the door flew open, allowing light to spill in, and Xander walked into the doorway. "Your boys are getting their asses kicked upstairs. And I'm here to deal with you."

Wood laughed. "You think you can take me Harris?"

"I'd take Godzilla for her." Suddenly Xander was charging across the room. Her boyfriend dropped a shoulder and ducked a right from Wood before crashing two rights into the black's side.

Wood grunted before stumbling backwards. Xander came on, right into a kick to his outer knee that had him falling onto one knee. Faith winced when before her man could react Wood caught him with a knee to the face, blood fountaining out of Xander's mouth. Dazed, her man fell onto his back.

"Once a loser, always a loser." A sneer on his face, Wood pulled his foot back to kick Xander. "Ahhhhh!" The African-American screamed and stumbled sideways when Xander kicked at his grounded ankle. Faith's heart thumped when her man rolled to his knees, blocked an attempted knee on his arm before slamming his other fist into Wood's nuts.

Was she wrong in thinking watching her man fight for her was so damn hot?

"Ugh," Wood greyed and doubled-up at the nuts shot. Xander launched himself off his knees and at the African-American, attempting a waist tackle. Wood recovered to grab Xander by his shoulders, twist at the waist, and fling him into the wall. "You bastard!" the former Watcher limped over to Xander, his fist catching the former Sunnydaler square in the forehead as he reached his feet.

Xander grunted, head snapping back to collide with the wall behind. Wood chuckled before stepping forward. Xander's hands suddenly lunged forward, grabbing two handfuls of the African-American's shirt and yanking him towards him even as his own head snapped forward. Faith half-winced at the sound of Xander's head smashing into Wood's nose, the darkened room echoing to the sound of cracking bone.

The black grunted before connecting with a karate chop to Xander's neck and a knee to his stomach. Faith's heart sank as the Californian dropped wheezing to his knees. "You little bastard," Wood grated. "I might not get to finish my spell, but I'll finish you -."

"Not going to happen." Faith grinned as a familiar figure glided into the room beside the Watcher, Dana following behind and rushing over to yank her chains off. Before Wood had chance to react Angel had him by his collar, lifted up, and flung across the room. The vampire looked down at Xander before easing him to his feet, the others rushing in.

"Hey," Faith sat up, "hero."

Xander's eyes widened as she jumped off the table, discarding her sheet and revealing her nudity. "F…Faith," her blood-stained boytoy stuttered. "You're naked. Cover up!"

"Yeah, 'cause I've got so much to be ashamed of!" She grabbed her man and hugged him, squeezing for all her worth. Seeing Connor's stare, she winked. "Put those eyes back in, son." Her grin widened as she noticed Angel. "And you too, Pops."

"He has to pay." Everyone turned from Wood to see Andrew pointing a snub-nosed grey automatic at Wood.

Xander glared at Angel. "Deadboy, what's he doing with a gun? I thought you took it off him."

"You don't think I gave it him back do you?" Angel snapped.

Faith stared at the short geek. "Andy, where did ya get that gun from?"

"Every shamus carries a back-up," the nerd replied

"You idiot," Xander shook his head as he looked at Angel.

"You two, quiet." Faith ordered as Angel's mouth opened. "Andy, give me the gun."

"He hurt you," Andrew pulled back the hammer. "He has to pay."

Faith stepped towards the geek. "You've killed before, you know it feels. How the guilt threatens to drown you. He's not worth going through all that for, just give me the gun, Andy," she held out her palm. "Please." She smiled as the youth dropped his gun into her hand. "Right decision, Andy."

"Faith-."

Feeling her strength returning, she stepped into her ex, elbow flying up to slam into his jaw. The big man's eyes rolled back as he slumped to the ground. Faith looked towards Xander. "Xan-."

Xander nodded. "There's a Council prison where they keep all Watchers who dabble in the dark arts, I'll organise his immediate transport there."

Faith managed a nod even as she withheld a shudder at the mention of the prison that if events had turned out differently she'd have probably spent the last few months of her short life in. "Thanks for coming to the rescue everyone," Faith smiled at her family even as she slipped on Angel's proffered coat.

"It was Andrew," Dana piped up, hand pointing at the nerd. "Everyone's oh let's trust the weasel faced Watcher, but not Andy."

Andy blushed. "I…it was nothing," he shrugged in a rare display of modesty

Faith smiled. "Let's go home. Andy." The nerd turned to her. Acting on impulse, she grabbed the youth and hugged him. "Thanks," she muttered before stepping back. The nerd looked at her before fainting. "Oh crap!"

"I think you just broke him." Xander snorted.