Part One
Faith knocked on the bathroom. "Can I come in?"
"Sure sweetheart." Dean unlocked the door for her.
He looked at her in her warm, winter red pj's and thought anew how cute she looked. Her whole persona had changed slightly in the six months since he had met her. She was less overtly sexual, more natural and relaxed.
Faith sat on the edge of the bath and watched him finish shaving. "You're up early."
'That's because I want to finish in time to pick you up at five." Dean thought how domestic it was, having a girl watch him shave.
"Happy birthday Faith, do you want twenty four spanks to help ya grow? My Dad used to do that when I was small, a spank for every year."
"I knew you had to have some kind of kink lurking." Faith smiled softly.
"Me? Nah I'm pretty basic babe." Dean told her. "You have a low opinion of guys don't you?"
"I…I guess not that many nice guys have come my way. Riley's seems straight but he's been to the dark side and back." Faith reflected. "My friends who died this year they were good guys but major kink with them. Not with me and them. I never screwed either of them, guess it's why they could be my friends."
"How did they die? Car accident?" Dean packed up his shaving gear.
"You know that freak gas leak explosion outside that L.A. law firm in May this year? They died in that." Faith explained.
"I thought you hated lawyers." Dean said.
"They weren't lawyers, they just worked there."
"You don't think you can have sex with a friend?" Dean queried. "That's kinda sad, I thought we were pals?"
"Yeah we are, but we slept together first." Faith explained. "I don't know why we get along so good."
Dean pulled her off the bath and kissed her. She tasted of her morning coffee. "Chemistry, a whole freakin science lab full," he explained. "Do you want your present now or later?"
"Now!" Faith bit her lip in pleasure. "You didn't need to get me a present."
"I knew you wouldn't be into delayed gratification." Dean reached into his overnight bag and pulled out a small gift wrapped box.
"What is it?" Faith asked intrigued.
"A surprise," Dean put it back in his bag. "You're getting your presents tonight." He took her into his arms again, "Now how about a kiss good bye huh?"
Part two
"Do not disturb" the sign on his fathers door read. Dean hoped his old man didn't have a hangover. It was nine o'clock, time to rise and shine.
Dean strolled into the motel room and was surprised as hell to see his father banging some blonde in her thirties, doggie style on the bed.
"Bad time Sir?" Dean shot out dangerously. He stepped backwards and closed the door.
Dean leaned on the wall outside and grinned to himself. Maybe the old man would be a bit more cheerful today, seeing he had gotten some.
John Winchester came outside six minutes later.
"Was that my new Mommy Sir?" Dean cocked a disrespectful eyebrow. He and John had been getting on each others nerves more and more, the past two months.
"Don't push it Dean." John snapped. "Can't you read 'do not disturb signs'?"
"As well as you can I guess." Dean shot back. The two men glared at each other, it was hard to conduct a sex life, when they often shared rooms and were on the move the whole time. "Who was that chick, a local?"
"Nah she's a private detective here tracing down a missing person." John explained, for that was what Kate had told him. "She's a nice lady. I don't want to talk about her."
"Right, well I'll wait in the car. I've got everything arranged with one of the forest rangers here."
John went back into his motel unit. Kate fully dressed, was fixing her make up in the bathroom.
"I'm sorry but I have to go Kate. You in town this evening?" John kissed the base of her throat.
"Hopefully not, but if I am I'll look you up." Kate promised. It had been good last night, she didn't normally do that kind of thing.
They walked out together and John kissed her goodbye awkwardly, knowing Dean was waiting impatiently in the Impala.
Dean and John picked up the forest ranger and drove to where the Wendigo was meant to be located.
Dean got his flashlight and strode into a cave. There were human bones scattered around, it was obviously the right place.
Dean checked his watch ten thirty am.
"Okay you son of a bitch!" Dean yelled urgently. He was not going to miss the chance of having some private time with Faith later that evening. "Here I am, chow time come and get it!"
John and the Ranger clutched their flare guns, amazed at Dean's recklessness.
Something blurred faster than was visible to the naked eye and launched itself on Dean.
"Dean!" John shouted in anguish.
Dean didn't have time to set his flare gun off. He wrestled with the evil creature, receiving nasty scratches on the face and arms.
His father and the ranger set fire to the Wendigo with their flare guns. With a roar of outraged pain, the creature got off Dean and turned on the other two men.
Staggering upright Dean shot his flare gun into the base of the Wendigo's neck. The creature howled, staggered and died.
"Great." Declared Dean satisfied, lowering his flare gun. Shit, his arms hurt.
"You stupid idiot!" Jesus Christ, John had thought Dean was going to be killed. His frightened father began to berate him in front of the discomforted ranger.
"I know why you did something so fucking risky! It's that to get into that girls pants!"
"Relax Dad." Dean pacified. "I knew you'd watch out for me. You can kill Wendigos with your arm tied behind your back"
"Thank you both of you." The ranger interrupted. "I don't know what this community would have done without you. It was starting to pick us off one by one. I tried every agency even the National Guard, but no one would believe or help us."
Part Three.
Faith and her friends gathered round the two dead naked bodies of the F.B.I. agents, they'd found up a clump of trees. Their car had been rolled down a gully and set fire to.
Sam looked at the corpses closely. "Well their blood has totally been drained. I'd say four vampires fed but there are only meant to be two. There are only two types of teeth marks. A female and a male vampire. Wouldn't you say Andrew?"
Andrew nodded in agreement and put away his measuring devices. "Only two types of teeth marks so two very hungry vampires. Hungry no more."
Rona took out her axe and chopped off the two F.B.I. agents heads, just in case they'd be turned. It was doubtful but better safe than sorry.
"So they'll be full and sleepy." Vi reasoned. "If it's only two vamps we should split up into two groups. You and Miller go find the vampires Faith. The rest of us will tackle this Wendigo the National Guard told us about."
"It's eleven hundred by me." Miller said. "We'll call in with each other in an hour huh?"
Faith and Miller started to explore the near by caves, and look in the ground for hastily dug graves. Some vampires living rough, burrowed in the soil for protection from the sun.
Faith and Miller had discovered they worked very well together in Ecuador a few months back. For the past two months Riley and Sam had been following the three slayers and Andrew round Central America dispatching demons. Miller had been coming in and out of their team since May.
In 2005 they were going down to Bolivia and Peru to hunt down demons for a year. The South American countries governments had just granted permission. Miller was going to join their team permanently, along with four other soldiers who specialised in the paranormal.
Faith pulled some snowy branches back from a hidden cave. Miller might have all the technical, electronic detecting shit in the world. Faith had her gut instinct as a slayer to work with.
Faith walked into the cave more cautiously than she would have six years ago at eighteen.
Her slayer instincts were starting to scream danger. Miller beckoned his head down the cave. She could tell he was wary of this set up as well. That's why she liked working with him, he followed his gut instinct in combat situations.
Miller had a crossbow with him. He hated fighting vampires, they were strong, and modern weapons didn't work on them.
Faith looked up to the ceiling. Four skinny, hungry looking, wide awake vampires dropped on them. Two pairs of identical twins. That was why the bite marks were the same.
The two male vampires went for Miller, the two female vampires Faith. Faith felt their fangs on her body immediately as she was knocked to the ground, one at her neck the other her wrist. They were obviously starving.
It was disgusting and painful having her blood sucked. Faith plunged her stake into the back of the one at her throat. That vamp was the most life immediately life threatening to Faith and Faith exploded her into dust.
Miller had fired his crossbow at the nearest descending undead but missed the heart. Nearer the entrance than Faith, Miller had flung himself backwards out of the cave, into the sunlight.
Miller lay on his back in the snow and sprang up. He went back to the cave entrance, remaining standing in the protective sunlight, Miller aimed his crossbow at the male vampire nearest to him.
The vampire exploded into dust. The last two vampires were fighting with Faith, who was losing a lot of blood due to her neck and wrist wounds.
Faith managed to stake the remaining female one. She was starting to feel woozy with blood loss from her wrist. The smell of her blood inflamed the remaining male vampire, making him lose his reason. The vamp went to sink his teeth in her neck once more and exploded into dust as Miller shot him in the back.
Faith let Miller lead her out into the sun. He quickly tourniquet-ed and bandaged her wounds with the mini field kit he carried.
Faith glanced up at him wide eyed. "Shit am I losing my skills? I've never been bitten before by a vampire before. Well not by accident."
Miller raised his eyebrows.
"Long story," Faith dismissed her last comment. "Slayers don't normally live past twenty–five maybe this is my last year in the field? Do ya think I'll make that slayer heaven, Buffy made that time?"
"Don't be freaking morbid." Miller told her uncomfortably. "I'm still alive, I'm twenty-eight and I don't have your strength. Those olden day slayers they fought alone right?"
"Yeah always me, myself and I types." Faith agreed weakly.
"Well I've got your back and so has everyone else in the Freaking "Rodent Control Unit". Miller teased her, helping her to her feet. "I'd say you'll be around being a pain in my ass for a long time to come. Twenty-four is just the start of everything for ya Faith, not the end, darlin'."
"Did you know Dean got me a present?" Faith mentioned excitedly.
Miller helped her back to their SUV parked on the side of the road. God she had it bad for this guy she knew nothing about it and the girl didn't even realise it.
Faith went on. "The last boyfriend who got me a birthday present got me edible chocolate underwear and for Christmas a tube of pimple cream."
Miller laughed in spite of himself. "So is that what Winchester is, your boyfriend?"
Miller got out the advanced first aid kit and began tending to Faith's wounds properly.
"No…." Faith confessed. "But he's nice to me."
"Hell Faith, there's a whole world of guys who'd be nice to you if you just gave us, them a chance." Miller chided.
Faith remembered Robin Woods had said something very similar to her before he had died. Also about surprises. Dean was getting her a surprise.
Miller was rougher than he intended with the combination antiseptic and holy water lotion, he was cleaning her neck wounds with. Faith winced.
"Don't pin your hopes on Winchester. He's hiding something okay? I just don't want you to get hurt." Miller slowed down and made sure he was as gentle as possible with her wounds. After all Miller would never deliberately hurt Faith.
"Don't worry about me Miller. I'm the love them and leave them type. I don't get hurt." Faith reminded the soldier.
"Sure ya do." Miller gently corrected her. Thinking back over the times this year he had seen Faith looking down over a one night stand with some guy or another, who never gave her a second thought.
One Ecuadorian stud had snubbed her in the street the next day. Miller could have throttled the bastard.
"The more you change, the more casual sex is hurting you Faith. You're not the same person you were at eighteen so why do the same dumb things?" He finished treating her wounds. "Here endeth the lesson."
His cell phone rang. "Uhuh. Uhuhuh. Ya kidding? Yeah we're okay, Faith got chewed but she'll live. They're dust. See ya back at the cabin Riley."
"Others find the Wendigo?" Faith checked her neck in the car vanity mirror. God how was she going to explain that to Dean?
Miller starting cleaning the blood splashes off her skin. "Bizarre. Someone had killed it already apparently. It's hell bound corpse was smouldering in its lair."
Part Four.
Kate sat in the hairdressers furiously. She was having her roots done. Why? Because the cabin rental place she needed to find Faiths address from, was frickin closed. Due to a funeral and wouldn't reopen till the next day. Apparently the owners had been eaten by a bear or some such crap.
Part Five
Dean knocked on the cabin door and entered the living room. He was wondering how he was going to explain his face and arm wounds.
Faith was sitting quietly on the couch playing checkers with Rona.
"What the hell happened to you?" Faith and Dean both uttered simultaneously, shocked at the others appearance.
"Raccoon," Faith explained. "We went for a walk in the freakin woods. This little fucker jumped out of a tree and just went for me. It was rabid. Sam's a doctor. She gave me a rabies shot."
"Sweetheart that's no good," Dean said concerned. "It looks nasty." Crap, Dean was going to say a rabid raccoon. That was his damn cover story
"What happened to you then? It looks like you were attacked by a wild animal." Faith returned. "You might scar."
Dean knew he wouldn't scar. His father had washed his wounds with holy water. "Maybe, I heal well. Uh I got caught up with a hibernating black mother bear defending her cubs."
Rona was distraught." Oh you didn't kill them did you?"
"No, no they're alive. I don't wanna to talk about it." Dean cut her off. "You ready to go?"
Faith put her coat on. "I'll see you back at seven Rona."
Faith and Dean walked to the car in the moody silence they did so well. They both knew the other was lying about how they got their injuries.
This meant everything else they'd thought odd about the other was mostly likely lies too. Dean almost preferred the times when he'd thought Faith was a lunatic.
"There was no black bear." Faith burst out crossly, as soon as she was inside Dean's SUV. "Rona was reading wildlife brochures in the general store here, and insisted on sharing. They hibernate in December, if you were dogfish fishing or whatever, how did you come across freakin bears?"
"I said I didn't want to talk about it. And what the hell is Sam a freakin vet? She can diagnose Rabies by sight? Let's just leave it okay. No explanations we don't want to give." Dean suggested. "My dad was in the Marines, he said there are no Rodent Control Units."
"Well it's not like we owe each other anything." Faith muttered.
"Exactly," Dean agreed, trying hard to be reasonable. "What would you like to do for two hours?"
"I would have said make out, but my necks sore and I still feel kinda mad at you."
"Do you wanna shoot some pool at the bar?"
Faith and Dean walked into the town's one bar. Dean spotted his father drinking with his blonde. John's hand on her knee.
Dean turned to Faith to suggest they joined them. Faith was standing transfixed with horror staring at Kate. Faith pulled on Dean's arm. "We need to leave."
"What the hell?" Dean walked out on the street with her.
Faith walked back to his SUV. "Let's drive to the next town. It's only fifteen minutes."
Dean unlocked the doors and got in. He didn't start the engine. "Okay how do you know that blonde my Dad's with?"
"She's a stalker. She knew one of my friends who died. She was his girlfriend. Complete nutcase and she stalks me. She's insane." Faith invented wildly.
"She told Dad she was a private detective trying to track down a missing person."
"That's a good story."
Dean started the engine. "So is yours sweetheart."
"Are we going to ruin tonight being mad at each other? I'm going to have to leave tomorrow morning now, because of that damn bitch." Faith spat, frustrated.
"No!" Dean felt very disappointed. "Faith I could have spent the next two days with you!"
"Fuck, why do I even bother trying to go straight?" Faith groaned, banging her head on the dashboard in misery.
"What?" Dean said alarmed. "Don't do that Faith you might reopen your 'Raccoon bite'.
"Straight I used to be gay." Faith floundered, sitting upright again.
"Christ, enough!" Dean slammed on the brakes and pulled over onto the side of the highway.
"One night left for us Faith, don't bother to lie to me anymore." Dean demanded of her angrily. "Shit I like you so much. I've hated lying to you about what I do this week and I'm beginning to think you have to."
"I have, but I can't tell you what I do Dean it's classified."
"Well the last girl I cared about couldn't handle the truth about me." Dean retorted. "So we're even."
"I could handle the truth." Faith protested near tears. He cared about her?
"Shit Faith… sweetheart." Dean kissed her carefully, mindful of her neck. He broke away and brushed away the salty wetness on her cheeks. "Don't cry baby."
Faith kissed him back hungrily not caring about the pain. She needed to be close to him. How could she bear to say good-bye to Dean tomorrow?
Part Six.
"Happy birthday dear Faith." everyone chorused.
Faith blew out her candles a wax 2 and 4 and jumped back alarmed as they re-lit them selves.
Rona and Vi giggled, they had got relighting candles at a joke shop in Bangor.
"Did you make a wish honey?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, win the state lottery." Faith said, pleased with her wish choice.
"It won't come true, now you've told Faith." Riley was appalled at her ignorance of day to day things sometimes.
"For real?" Faith was disbelieving. "Darn."
Dean kissed her forehead to cheer her up and gave her a reassuring hug. She was so god damn sweet. Faith cuddled into him.
A bout of oral satisfaction for her and manual relief for Dean in the SUV had eased all tension between them. The couple (they acknowledged that's what they were, for tonight at least) were determined to enjoy their last night together.
"There's still your presents Faith." Sam said lifting a box onto the table.
"Oh wow!" Faith was overwhelmed. She put her hand in and drew out a small parcel.
Faith unwrapped it. "A book on South American witchcraft! Hey thanks Andrew that's real useful." She kissed him on the cheek.
Dean decided to let that remark float over his head.
Faith put her hand in again and got another package. "Sam and Riley you got me a card!" Faith read it first. She smiled. "Thanks youse guys that's wicked fine." The gift was a manicure set.
"You have to give us a dime so our ties of friendship aren't cut." Riley explained to Faith. "Because of the nail scissors."
"Finn how superstitious are you down in Iowa man?" Miller scoffed at his best bud.
Faith went and got a dime and passed it to Sam. Hugging the Finns.
"Obviously as medieval as in Massachusetts," Miller commented to Dean dryly.
"Don't be freakin' mean." Faith pulled out her next present. It was from Miller. It had a little note attached. She read it and blushed. Dean wondered what the note said. The present was a Mexican turquoise bracelet.
"That's good luck. Turquoise is your birth stone." Riley informed Faith as she pecked Miller chastely on the cheek.
"No more reading my Cosmopolitans honey." Sam instructed her husband.
Dean's present was next. Faith unwrapped a bottle of Chanel no 5. She was flabbergasted. This was light years from edible underwear. "How did you know?"
"I asked Sam what perfume to get you and she said you'd been given a sample in a store once and liked it." Dean admitted, accepting her kiss of thanks.
Faith lifted the last present out of the box. It was the heaviest and from Vi and Rona. It was the crossbow she had admired in Wichita. "Oh this is a thing of beauty."
Part Seven
"Okay that's shoots and ladders." Sam said as they finished the drinking game. "What next? Coffee?"
"One more drinking game." Vi begged. "How about 'I never'?"
"How about never playing it?" Miller suggested.
"Come on no matter who drinks, we don't comment ,and we don't mention it the next day." Rona wheedled eagerly.
"Well you've just gone eighteen. What have you got to hide?" Miller pointed out.
"Not as much as you soldier boy." Rona teased.
Glasses were poured and everyone sat cross legged on the floor.
"I've never been to Disneyland." East Coast Rona said. Faith, Dean and Riley drank.
"I've never had a threesome." Vi contributed chuckling.
"Any freakin day now, if you keep up your drinking Vi." Faith remarked, drinking along with Dean, Sam and Andrew.
Riley pursed his lips in disapproval at Sam.
"I've never waxed my legs." Dean volunteered.
All the girls and Andrew drank.
"I've never been married." Andrew said cheerfully.
The Finns clinked glasses and everyone else stared at Faith and Dean downing their shots.
"I've never been divorced." Sam said instantly.
No one drank.
"My god did you two go get married this evening?" Vi squealed excitedly to Faith and Dean.
"No." Faith said. "We're not married to each other period and if you comment again Vi on anything, I'm not playing this dumb game anymore."
"Sorry."
"I've never been shot." Sam volunteered.
Dean, Riley, Miller, and Rona drank.
"I've never told any one I loved them when having sex." Faith offered.
Everyone but Andrew drank. Dean felt bad for Faith.
"I've never been to Europe." Riley stated.
Everyone but Sam and Andrew drank.
"Christ you're not going to get very drunk Andrew." Faith laughed. "I've never stolen a car."
Dean drank alone.
Dean felt he had to get it in perspective. "Hey I've never murdered anyone."
Faith and Andrew raised their glasses to each other in a macabre toast.
Faith tried to be casual, "Mark of Cain, Andrew lover." But her voice caught.
What right did Faith have to be enjoying herself tonight? She had killed two men the first one was a genuine mistake, but the vulcanologist she had deliberately murdered and got off on it.
Andrew looked sick as if remembering terrible things.
Who the fuck were these people? Dean wondered completely shocked. He hadn't said 'killed', he'd thought Finn or Miller could have killed an enemy soldier. He'd chosen the word 'murder' deliberately because it seemed so unlikely.
"Let's put on coffee Sam." Riley said distressed. They had all forgiven Faith and Andrew but he knew the pair had yet to truly forgive themselves.
"You got any of those cigars left Miller?" Faith requested. "Those mini ones like cigarettes?"
"On the bench," Miller told her, glaring at Dean for ruining the evening. Miller knew it wasn't Dean's fault exactly, but he was still angry at Winchester.
Faith went outside and lit up. Ugh, so strong not like a cigarette at all. It was freezing out here too.
"Faith I'm sorry..." Dean came out and tried to put his arm round her. She shrugged him off irritated.
"Don't be, you never murdered anyone I did." Faith tried to inhale the cigar smoke like a cigarette, and coughed. "Fucking thing!" she threw it away pissed off.
"That's why your Dad's lady friend wants me you see. Lockley thinks she's some kind of bounty hunter without the bounty. I never went to college I was in prison for two years." Faith faced him, twisting her mouth ironically.
"Still think I'm one of the nicest girls you've ever met? Still really like me Dean?"
AN: Last chapter next chapter I promise.
