Q/A: Sikanda - I'm sorry Riley like Angel and Spike are canon pairings and will be in the story. The final season 8 pairing is an Buffy/OC - Not, Riley, Spike or Angel. Reason being we know Riley gets married to Sam, Spike is dead and Angel well I'm doing a Buffy/Angel pairing for my other Charmed story and I don't want to repeat myself. Anyways season 4 and 5 pairing is Buffy/Riley. But don't you worry, Riley still leaves.
Author's Note - For those of you who had asked about Hope. I told you the big reveal on who Hope is would be tomorrow when that chapter was posted. I made a slight miscalculation it will be Sunday when that chapter is posted.
Chapter 70: Enemies
The doors to the Roxie theater open up and out pours the twenty-something crowd who've just seen a movie. One couple's kissing. The next couple's kissing and groping - clearly this was a steamy pic. The third couple of Buffy and Angel are shell-shocked. Standing a full foot apart, arms folded tightly, two walking stiffs.
"Well." Buffy says.
Angel nods, "Well."
"That was... well it was very artistic." Buffy says.
"Yeah..." Angel says.
"Not quite what I'd expected... I'd never actually seen - well from the title I thought it was about food." Buffy says.
"There was food..." Angel says.
"Right. The scene with the... food. Do you feel like getting some hot chocolate? Or some cold shower?" Buffy says.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to take you out somewhere fun. It's been awhile since I've been to the movies. They've changed." Angel says.
"Little scary." Buffy says and Angel nods. "And a little not, which is also scary." She stops, turning to him. "I'm just sorry to get you worked up like that. We can't do any of that stuff; you'd lose your soul, and besides I don't even OWN a kimono."
"Buffy, you don't have to worry about me." Angel says.
"I just don't like to rub your nose in it." Buffy says perplexed. "Suddenly wondering where that phrase comes from..."
Angel smiles, "I don't need to see movies to get worked up. Just being around you does that just fine. It doesn't mean I'm gonna lose control. Or that I'm only frustrated around you. It feels nice just to feel."
"It doesn't drive you crazy? Even when we're... close?" Buffy asks.
"Watch this." Angel says and he kisses her. "See? Safe as houses."
Buffy kisses him back.
"Check out the lust-bunnies." Faith says.
Buffy and Angel part, embarrassed, and turn to face Faith, standing between them.
"Patrol?" Buffy asks.
Faith nods.
"The council has you back on active duty?" Angel asks.
Faith nods, "Finally. They want us down by Mercer."
"Okay." Buffy says. "G'night..."
"I'll see you soon." Angel says.
Sadly, Buffy leaves Angel, starts off with Faith - but lingering, not letting go of Angel's hand.
"Don't worry, big guy. Just keeping her warm for you." Faith says as she gives Angel a big juicy wink.
Later in a cemetery Buffy and Faith patrol, unaware that they're being followed.
"Gotta tell you, B., with the willpower thing - nice job." Faith says.
"Thanks, and... huh?" Buffy says.
"The close but no cigar deal with Angel. I don't know if I could handle, you know, the way you're... not handling it?" Faith says.
Buffy sighs, "Faith, when it comes to Angel, do me a favor?" Unseen, an ominous shadowed figure rises up behind them... "Duck."
Faith ducks as Buffy punches the shadow figure full in the face. It crashes into a tomb wall and the two Slayers, stakes out, pin it to the wall. This is Skyler, a Demon in a coat and hat.
"Ow! What are you, nuts? Going around punching people." Skyler says.
"People?" Buffy asks.
"So, what, I'm a demon that makes it okay?" Skyler asks as Buffy and Faith pull stakes back to STRIKE… "Hold it! Whoa! Stake me now, you never find out what I got for you. Think about it, demon seeks Slayers, highly unusual ..." They lower the stakes, listening for now... "Plus you ruin a perfectly good suit."
"Talk fast. My partner's crazy. Don't know how long I can hold her back." Faith says.
Buffy gives Faith a look, then plays along.
"How'd you like to get your hands on the Books of Ascension?" Skyler asks.
"Never heard of 'em." Buffy says.
"Books of Ascension. Very powerful works, and I am not talking about the prose." Skyler says. "They deal with some dark stuff, and the Mayor would hate it if someone got ahold of them before he... you know."
On hearing "Mayor," Buffy's interested. Faith's edgy.
"No, I don't know. Before the Mayor what?" Buffy says.
"Hey, read 'em and weep. That's all I got to say. Tomorrow I get the books. Meet me here. If the price is right, I give the Books to you." Skyler says.
"I'm not looking to trade with a demon." Buffy says.
"And if this were still a barter economy, that would be a problem. I want cash, princess. Five large, for the whole set." Skyler says.
"So you can buy... and I'm guessing here, skin care products?" Faith asks.
"Plane ticket out of the Hellmouth before it's adios, Slayer Loco. So. Five Gs. What do you say?" Skyler says.
Faith shakes her head, "I think "Die, fiend" kind of sums it up. Wouldn't you say?"
Skyler bolts. Faith is ready to give chase, but Buffy stops her.
"Let him walk. I don't think he falls in the 'deadly threat to humanity' category." Buffy says.
"Demon's a demon." Faith says.
"I wouldn't mind knowing about this Ascension thing. Anything that can pin the Mayor down would be cool." Buffy says.
Faith nods, "Yeah. It'd be cool."
Buffy is looking where Skyler went. So she doesn't see the dead expression in Faith's eyes.
Next day in the library Wesley, looking more than a little puzzled, paces before Buffy. She sits with Phoebe, Willow and Xander. Giles stands by his office door, leafing through a thick old book.
"And you say this demon wanted cash? That's very unusual." Wesley says.
Giles nods, "Demons after money. Whatever happened to the still-beating heart of a virgin? No one has standards anymore..."
"He said the books were worth the price." Buffy says.
"So what's this Ascension mean?" Xander asks.
Giles shrugs, "I'm not sure..."
Wesley nods, "Not really a common term in demonology..."
Phoebe nods, "We looked for it in the Book of Shadows. There was no mention of it there."
"Ooh! Ooh! The Merenshtadt Text! I think the section on genocide has something about ascension." Willow says.
"Wow. We have a winner." Buffy says.
"And more importantly, two losers." Xander says.
"Where did you find that volume?" Giles asks.
"In the top of your book cabinet, with the stuff you try to keep hidden." Willow says.
Giles scowls, but goes to retrieve the book.
"Hidden? Any engravings I should know about? Frolicking nymphs of some kind?" Xander says.
Phoebe rolls her eyes.
"No, just magic secrets Giles doesn't think I'm ready for." Willow says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Willow we're teaching you. You don't need to be going through Giles books learning things before your ready."
Giles returns with the book.
"Anything?" Buffy asks.
"Yes, quite. There's reference here to the journal of Desmond Kane, pastor of a town called Sharpsville. "May 26th, 1723. Tomorrow is the ascension. God help us all." That was last anyone heard." Giles says.
"Of Kane?" Wesley asks.
Giles shakes his head, "Of Sharpsville. The town more or less disappeared, it seems."
"So, ascension possibly not a love-in." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "I think you'll want to meet with this demon, Buffy."
"Yeah. Anybody got five thousand dollars?" Buffy says.
Cordelia enters, moving towards Wesley. "Can I ask something important?"
"Cordelia? Important? Let's starts calculating those odds, people." Xander says.
"What are you doing Friday night?" Cordelia asks.
"As always, my sacred duty as Watcher prevents me from... why?" Wesley says.
"I have to write a paper. For English. And you're English, so I thought..." Cordelia says. The group just watches, slack-jawed. "What? Is it so wrong to be getting an insider's perspective? I study best in a good restaurant. Around eight-ish. Think it over." She leaves.
Wesley tries hiding his joy from the group's collective stare.
"And on the day the words "flimsy excuse," were redefined, we stood in awe, and watched." Xander says.
Wesley snaps out of it. "Right. Books of Ascension. Mayor. Slaughter. Bad. Tell you what: Why don't we try to find this demon sooner rather than later. Perhaps persuade him to lend us his books free of charge."
"I think Faith might be useful in the persuading part." Buffy says.
Wesley nods, "I imagine so. Where is Faith, anyway?"
At the mansion Angel is alone. Preparing for bed. He turns to see Faith standing in the doorway before him. "Faith."
"Angel." Faith says. "I got nowhere else to go." Angel hesitates for just a second. Faith looks like she's about to lose it. "Look, I hate asking for help. But I'm asking. 'Cause I... I'm in trouble. Like the real kind."
"It's okay." Angel says.
"Nah, it's... a couple of county lines over from okay, believe me." Faith says.
"I believe you." Angel says and lets her in. She sits on the bed, eyes staring forward, in her own world of fear. "Just talk. Start at the beginning."
"Mind if I skip past the "Mom never loved me" part and get right to it? I'm scaring myself." Faith says.
"I know the feeling." Angel says.
"That's why I came to you. I don't want to get all twelve-steppy, but remember, you told me that killing people'd make me feel like some kind of God?" Faith says as Angel nods. Faith shows him her hands. Blood. "Think I just came down to Earth." Angel examines her hands, concerned. "It's not human, if that's what you're thinking. Not that that makes me feel any better. Or this guy any less dead."
"Faith. You need help. And you can't do it alone." Angel says.
"I know. For real now, I'm scared. Scared of what I am, what I'm turning into. Cold blooded, straight-up killer. Like you." Faith says.
"No. You're not like me. I didn't have the choice." Angel says and he looks in her eyes, driving the point home. "But you do. You can stop this."
Faith nods. He's getting through to her. "Hey, believe me. I don't want to end up the way everybody said I would – dead or alone or a loser."
"You don't have to." Angel says.
"But, I don't know, maybe it's too late for me." Faith says.
Angel shakes his head, "It's not."
"Angel I'm so scared..." Faith says as she clings to him, near tears. He puts his arms around her. Pats her, consoling.
Faith buries her face in his neck. He holds her. After a moment her face is against his cheek and she is gazing into his eyes. Swept up, she brings her lips to his. It takes him a tiny split-second to figure it out.
"Whoa. Faith, no. I can be here for you..." Angel says as he takes her hands in his. "But not like that. I'm with Buffy."
"Buffy. Yeah. I didn't mean it like that. Maybe I did, but I wouldn't press it. I got my flaws, I'm aware, but... that ain't one of them." Faith says as she isn't going in for more kissing, but she isn't pulling that far away, either. And she won't break eye contact. "You love her, don't you."
Angel nods, "I love her."
"Good for you. She's my friend too, you know. Might not have guessed it just now, but it's true. The two of you – you're lucky. We friends?" Faith says and she gives him a hug. He returns it.
"We're friends." Angel says.
"Then I'm lucky, too. I better go." Faith says.
"Where?" Angel asks.
"I need to cool down, spend some time alone. Don't worry about me. You've been a big help. Just knowing someone cares..." Faith says as she lingers a moment, looking at him with real affection. Then stands to go. Angel sees her out. "You know, maybe I shouldn't be asking this, but do you think, if things were different, that things with you and me'd be different, too?"
"We'll never know." Angel says.
"Right. How could we?" Faith asks.
"Take care of yourself." Angel says.
Faith nods, "Lifetime of practice." She gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Out in the garden Buffy stands watching Angel and Faith talk. From where she's standing, they could be saying anything. Anything intimate.
Buffy turns and leaves, her face showing confusion and heartbreak.
The next day at the library Giles and Wesley are in research mode. Giles comes from his office, somewhat beleaguered.
"Find anything?" Wesley asks.
Giles shakes his head, "A six course banquet of nothing. With a scoop of sod all as a palette cleanser."
"I've had no better luck. There must be something about this Ascension somewhere." Wesley says.
"Perhaps I should contact the Council, run a search through the main branch –" Giles says.
Wesley shakes his head, "No, I don't - It should be I that... The council knows you work with the Charmed Ones. But they don't know I'm letting you work with me."
Giles nods, "I'm not about to burst into glorious song about it myself. But why don't you give them a call."
"I think the most expedient plan –" Wesley says as Buffy walks in through the doors. "—is to get the Books of Ascension themselves. Buffy, you and Faith must find that demon. And soon."
"I'll go back to the scene, see if I can track him." Buffy says.
"Wait for Faith." Wesley says.
Buffy shakes her head, "That could be hours. The girl makes Godot look punctual. I'll just –"
"Buffy, this is a job that requires the both of you. This demon could be anywhere, and if these books are as important as he says he has good reason to hide. Finding him is going to be extremely difficult."
Xander enters. "Found your demon."
Wesley stares.
"Fashion tip, Wes? The mouth looks better closed." Buffy says.
Xander hands Buffy a piece of paper. "Got the address. Beat it out of Willy the Snitch personally."
"You beat up Willy?" Buffy asks.
"Sure. Well, actually, let's just say I applied some pressure. Or, more accurately, that I asked politely. And then, okay, I bribed him." Xander says.
"How much?" Buffy asks.
"Twenty-eight bucks." Xander says. "Does the Council reimburse for that stuff?"
"Did you get a receipt?" Giles asks.
"Damn." Xander says.
"I know this. It's down by the bus station. Not the nicest part of town." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Again, you see? No standards. Any self-respecting demon should be living in a pit of filth or a nice crypt."
Buffy rises to go. "I'll be sure to mention that."
"Mention what?" Faith asks. Buffy turns to see Faith has entered, looking saucy. Faith slips her arm through Buffy's. All chummy. "Where are we going, girlfriend?"
Buffy slips her arm out, "Think I can handle this one solo."
"Why should you get all the fun? Share share, that's fair." Faith says.
Buffy nods, "Right. We found our demon."
"Oh. Well, let's go look him up." Faith says.
Buffy walks out the library. Faith shrugs to the group, follows Buffy out.
Later at an apartment, the apartment door creaks open as Buffy and Faith enter. It's dark. Buffy's on guard, slow and cautious. Faith leads the way, not caring.
"Faith. Careful." Buffy says.
"Right." Faith says and catches herself, acts careful.
"Missed you last night." Buffy says.
"Yeah, well, I was uh, patrolling. No shortage of scum you gotta watch in San Francisco, right?
"So I've heard. Hold up." Buffy says as she stops Faith. There, in the darkness, is a silhouette of something. Could be a body. Could be alive.
Faith, without looking, reaches behind the refrigerator and flips on the light switch. Buffy does a double-take. The switch can't be seen from their angle.
But Buffy's attention quickly turns back to what they see before them: Skyler's dead body. "Somebody got here first."
"Bettin' they got the Books, too. Some hit." Faith says.
"This wasn't just a hit. This was someone's idea of a party." Buffy says.
"Maybe the guy put up a fight." Faith says.
Buffy nods, "Could be..."
"We gotta get gone. Come on. Nothing we can do here now." Faith says and turns to go. "You coming?"
Buffy comes along. Faith closes the door behind them.
The next day Buffy sits with Willow, trying to concentrate on a book. Clearly distracted.
"Are you okay?" Willow asks.
"Huh?" Buffy says. "Yeah. I can't stop thinking about that demon."
Willow nods, "'Cause of him being chopped up into little bits and all?"
"Yeah, Will, let's keeping bringing up visuals." Buffy says.
"Are you sure that's all?" Willow asks.
"It really was plenty..." Buffy says.
Willow sighs, "Yeah, but you seem a little on edge lately. Is anything..."
"It's nothing." Buffy says as Willow looks at her. "It's nothing." Willow looks at her. "All right, all right, stop with the third degree! It's Faith."
"What about her?" Willow asks.
"It's just... I went to Angel's last night and Faith was there. They seemed kind of... intimate." Buffy says.
"No way. I know what you're thinking and no way." Willow says.
"You're right. Faith wouldn't do that." Buffy says.
"Faith would totally do that! Faith was built to do that! She's the do that girl!" Willow says.
"Uh, comfort, remember to comfort..." Buffy says, almost hyperventilating.
"Please! Does Angel come up to Faith's standards for a guy? Let's see... is he breathing?" Willow says.
"Actually, no." Buffy says.
"Wow, she doesn't even have that standard. But Buffy: Angel. There's no way he'd do that. You're the only thing in the world to him." Willow says.
Buffy sighs, "Sometimes I wonder... I guess he and Faith have a lot in common. There's so much he doesn't tell me."
"Oh, but it's so clear. The way he feels... Buffy, I too know the love of a taciturn man. You gotta look at their actions." Willow says.
"I was." Buffy says.
"Well, what did he say?" Willow asks.
"Say? You mean when I straightforwardly asked him what was going on?" Buffy says, sheepishly.
"So ya bailed?" Willow asks.
Buffy nods, "I just couldn't deal... not right there, what if..."
"Enough. Stop with the crazy, go talk to Angel." Willow says.
"But I –" Buffy says.
"Go! I give you leave to go." Willow says as Buffy tries to speak. Willow, not even looking in her direction, imperiously points.
Buffy stands. "Thanks." She goes.
Willow smiles, a tad pleased with herself.
Later Buffy, Giles, Wesley, Cordelia, Oz, Xander and Willow are at the library.
"Our enemy has us at a disadvantage. We seem consistently to be one step behind him. Now he has the Books of Ascension. We need to take definitive action." Wesley says.
"You have the greatest voice. Have you ever though about doing books on tape?" Cordelia says.
"Way to focus, CC." Xander says.
"Yes, let's, let's stay on track. We'll need everyone working together here. Where are your cousins?"
Buffy nods, "I'll call them."
"Where is Angel?" Wesley says.
"I don't know. I went to the Mansion, he wasn't there." Buffy says.
"And Faith?" Wesley asks.
"She's missing too." Buffy says.
"Which means nothing. Two unconnected events." Willow says.
Buffy looks to Giles. "What do we do?"
"Buffy, I think you should try to retrieve the Books of Ascension. Try the Mayor's office, but be damned careful. Don't confront the Mayor; we don't know a thing about him." Giles says.
Buffy nods, "I'll go home and stock up on weapons. Slip into something break-and-enterish."
"Excuse me, I believe Wesley is running this meeting." Cordelia says.
"That's quite all right. Willow?" Wesley says.
"It's all bad news. By the time I got through the encryptions the files were empty. He musta seen me coming." Willow says.
"What about the Hall of Records? Go to the source." Oz says.
Wesley nods, "Good idea. There must be information on the Mayor there."
"Wesley, why don't you take the group there and start looking." Giles says.
"Right." Wesley says.
"I'm in Wesley's group!" Cordelia says.
"There's just the one group." Giles says.
"Yes, and I'm in it." Cordelia says.
The group starts to disband.
"Anyone mind if I skip the trip? I'd rather cruise town, keep my ear to the ground. And I think five's a crowd." Xander says.
"It really is." Cordelia says.
"Anyone finds out anything, they check in with me." Giles says. "Buffy can you send Prue, Piper or Phoebe here to help me with research?"
Buffy nods, "Sure, Giles."
"I'll drive." Oz says.
"They all liked your plan." Oz says.
Wes, Cordy, Oz and Willow exit. Xander does as well, a bit behind.
Buffy and Giles share a look.
"Be careful." Giles says.
Buffy flames out.
At the Manor the doorbell rings. Phoebe answers the door. Sees Angel and Faith stand there. "Faith. Angel."
"Hi Phoebe. Nice to see you. Buffy home?" Angel says.
Phoebe nods, "Upstairs. Vampire?"
"Only vampire here's me, Phoebe. Say. You... change your hair?" Angel says.
Phoebe nods, "Stupid spell a bit back decided get rid of the dye for me."
"It looks nice though." Angel says and he gives her a winning smile as he follows Faith up the stairs to Buffy's room.
Buffy's packing stakes into her weapons pack, slings her crossbow over her back when Angel and Faith enter.
"Knock knock." Faith says.
"Where've you guys been?" Buffy asks.
"Looking for you. Good thing we found you before you left." Angel says and gives Buffy a kiss on the forehead - while keeping eye contact with Faith.
"We got the Books." Faith says.
Angel nods, "They're at the Mansion."
"We'd take 'em to Giles ourselves, but I think strength in numbers is the way to go. Come on." Faith says and she leaves.
Buffy slings her weapons over her shoulder.
"I can take those for you." Angel says, smiling and he takes Buffy's weapons away from her.
Moments later Buffy walks off, away from home, into the night with Angel and Faith.
"Sure you don't need a sweater?" Prue calls after them.
"Prue." Buffy says.
"Don't worry, Prue. We'll have her back before you know it." Angel says.
Prue waves from the porch, sipping tea. As Buffy, Angel and Faith walk out of sight she smiles. She turns to Phoebe, "Think Faith bought it?"
Later Buffy, Angel and Faith enter the Mansion together. Angel sits on the table, idly starts playing with the heavy chains coiled upon it, swinging them lazily. Faith circles around and stands behind Buffy.
"Okay. Let's get the books somewhere safe. Where you keeping them?" Buffy says.
"Actually, there's been a slight change in plan, Buff." Angel says.
"Buff? Did you just call me... Angel, what's the matter with you?" Buffy says.
"Nothing. Matter of fact..." Angel says as he looks up at Buffy, suddenly in full vampface. "I haven't felt this good in a long time."
"Angel?!" Buffy says.
"You know, I never properly thanked you. For sending me to Hell." Angel says.
Buffy registers shock, shakes her head slowly, taking it in... "No..." She backs away.
Angel springs at Buffy, grabs her. She's too freaked to fight yet. She's holding back tears, holding herself together... "Yeah. And I'm just wondering. Where do I start? A card? Fruit basket? Evisceration?"
"Angel..." Buffy says.
"I know what you're thinking. Maybe there's still some good, deep down inside of me, that still remembers, and loves you, if only you could reach me. Then again... we have reality." Angel says.
Buffy breaks away. "I'll kill you before I let you touch me." Never taking her eyes off Angel, Buffy backs away, grabbing a stake. "Faith, we gotta get out of here. Now."
"Speak for yourself, B. Me? I like it here." Faith says.
Buffy can't believe what she just heard. She turns to face the smiling Faith. A look of questioning on her face.
And the second she turns, Angel clocks her in the back of the head. Buffy goes down, unconscious. "One thing I learned about Buffy..." He puts his arm around Faith. "She looks so cute when she's sleeping." He lifts the chain and bends down to Buffy with it.
At the Hall of Records batches of books lie open. Willow and Oz flip pages. Wesley reads. Cordelia's leaning all over him.
"Hey! I know a way to make investigating the Mayor even more boring." Cordelia says. They all look at her. "Oh second thought, no. I don't."
Oz spots something in his book, shows it to Willow. "Hey."
"Whoa. Big hey whoa. Guys. Check this out." Willow says as they gather around the book Willow spreads open. "Wow. Like father like son." She's got one book with a sepia-toned PHOTOGRAPH of Richard Wilkins I, circa 1907. "Says Richard Wilkins founded Acme Brewing Company in 1907. Sold it to Leopold Schmidt in 1935."
(A/N Acme Brewing Company was or is a real company in San Francisco founded in reality by Leopold Schmidt in 1907.)
Oz slides a color photo, early fifties, next to it. In this one is Richard Wilkins II, it's obviously the same guy. Same face. Different clothes. "How about "like exact same guy like exact same guy"?"
"Mayor Wilkins is over one hundred years old. He's not human." Wesley says.
"I hate to spoil the mood..." They all look up to see Xander. Standing, if wobbly, at the hallway entrance. The left side of his face is one big welt. "...But it is so much worse than you think."
"Xander! What happened to you?" Willow asks as she rushes to him.
Xander waves her off. "You know how some people hate to say "I told you so?" Not me. I told you so. Angel is back. In the really bad sense. And I told you so."
"Angelus has turned? Xander this is terribly serious. Are you sure?" Wesley says.
"Gee, let me think. Kinda hard to tell, the last thing I saw was his fist." Xander says.
"We must contact Giles immediately." Wesley says.
"Good thinking! Let's waste time with a lively debate, leave Buffy alone and see how dead she gets!" Xander says.
"Slow down, Xander. This isn't Wesley's fault." Cordelia says.
"Actually, it is." Xander says. "Faith was your responsibility. And guess who's Angel's new playmate."
"Faith and Angel - together?" Willow asks.
Xander nods, "Imagine the possibilities."
At the Mansion Buffy opens her eyes. Sees Angel there before her, a look of pure love on his face. "Angel?"
"Morning, sleepyhead. You know what I just can't believe? All our time together, and we never tried chains." Angel says as he is chaining Buffy to the wall. Faith watches. "But you can't dwell on the past. Especially with the future we have ahead." He yanks the chain, tightening it.
Buffy lets out a small cry of pain, but doesn't lose it.
"Bondage looks good on you, B. The outfit's all wrong, but hey." Faith says.
"Faith, you don't know what you're doing." Buffy says.
"Really? Weird. 'Cause something about all this just feels so right. Maybe it's one of those unhappy childhood things." Faith says and she goes to the table, unwraps a black silk cloth. "See, when I was a kid, I used to beg my mom for a dog. Didn't matter what kind, I just wanted, you know, something to love. Especially after I found out the reason my mom got drunk was because she was trying to forget about my sister being kidnapped."
Faith strokes her hand down Angel's chest with her free hand. Gives him a great big kiss in the manner of French people, which he hungrily reciprocates. "A dog's all I wanted after that. Well, that and toys." She finishes unwrapping the cloth. Inside lie a row of glistening metal surgical tools. Torture devices. "But Mom was so busy, you know, enjoying the drinking and passing out parts of life, that I never really got what I wanted."
Faith holds up a set of twisted, not-for-humans scalpel in one hand, keeps caressing Angel with the other. "Until today."
"Faith, listen very closely. Angel is a killer. When he's done with me, he'll turn on you." Buffy says.
Faith looks at Angel.
Angel shrugs, admits it. "She's right, I probably will."
"Yeah? Huh. Guess we'll just have to keep you around awhile, then." Faith says as she approaches Buffy, instrument in hand, runs it lightly over Buffy's jawline, down her neck... "Before we get started, I just want you to know: if you're a screamer? Feel free."
"Why, Faith? What's in it for you?" Buffy says.
"What isn't? You know, I come to San Francisco, I'm a Slayer, I do my job kicking ass better than anyone, and what do I hear about, everywhere I go?" Faith says and she leans in close. "Buffy. So I slay, and behave, and do the good-little-girl routine, and who does everyone thank? Buffy."
"That's not my fault." Buffy says.
"Everybody asks, "why can't you be more like Buffy," but did anyone ever ask if you could be more like me?" Faith says.
"I know I didn't." Angel says.
Faith nods, "You get the Watcher, you get the family, you get your little Scooby Gang, what do I get? Jack squat! This was supposed to be my town!"
"Faith. Listen to me..." Buffy says.
"Why? So you can impart some special Buffy wisdom? That it? You think you're better than me? Do you? Say it! You think you're better than me!" Faith says.
"I am." Buffy says. Whoa. Everything stops. Faith slowly turns to face Buffy. Buffy's face remains clam. Cool, direct eye contact. "Always have been."
"Uh... maybe you didn't notice - Angel's with me." Faith says.
"And how'd you get him, Faith? Magic? You cast some kind of spell, because in the real world, Angel would never touch you, and you know it." Buffy says.
Faith hits Buffy. Buffy's head turns, but she comes right back. The calm in her voice remains.
"You have to tie me up. It's the only way you could ever beat me. There's a word for people like you, Faith. It's "loser."" Buffy says.
That does it. Faith rushes Buffy and stabs the scalpel an inch from Buffy's face - stops. "Uh-uh - you're just trying to make me mad so I'll kill you - but I'm too smart for that. Stick around." She puts her arms around Angel.
"For what? You and your boss's lame "Ascension?" Like I couldn't stop it." Buffy says.
"You can't." Faith says.
"I will." Buffy says.
Faith shakes her head, "Keep dreaming. No one can stop the Ascension! Mayor's got it wired, B. Come Graduation day, he's getting paid. I'll be sitting at his right hand - assuming he has hands after the transformation, I'm not too clear on that - and all your lame ass friends'll be kibbles and bits. Think about that while your boyfriend's cutting into you."
"I never knew you had so much rage in you." Buffy says.
"What can I say? I'm the world's best actor." Faith says and she turns to Angel and smiles.
Angel smiles back at her. "Second best."
After a moment Faith's smile falters. She looks from Buffy to Angel, horror growing on her face.
"Graduation day. Think she left anything out?" Buffy asks.
"I think we know everything she knows." Angel says.
"Can I say one thing?" Buffy says and she drops her chains, "Psyche."
"You played me? You played me?!" Faith says.
Just then, CRASH! Wesley, Cordelia, Xander, Willow and Oz enter the Mansion through the front door.
"Buffy - Faith's bad!" Xander says.
"Yeah, and you're annoying." Faith says and she grabs Angel and throws him into Xander.
Xander topples over, scrambles to his feet, pulls out a cross, and repels Angel with it.
Faith grabs the scalpel and hurls it with deadly accuracy at Buffy. Buffy does not flinch. She catches the scalpel, and in the same motion, hurls it back at Faith, landing it deep in Faith's shoulder. Faith pulls it out, enraged, and rushes Buffy. Buffy grabs a knife from the set of tools.
Faith slashes at Buffy. Buffy ducks, comes up with her free hand and punches Faith square in the face.
Faith kicks Buffy's legs out from under her. Buffy rolls, springs to her feet, kicks Faith backward.
Both Slayers roll toward each other, landing, each with a knife held under the other's chin, each holding the other's wrist. Locked together.
The gang, looking on, dares not get in the way.
"What are you going to do, B? Kill me - you become me. You're not ready for that..." Faith says and she surprises Buffy by jerking her head forward - not to head-butt her, but to give her a quick kiss on the lips. Faith pulls back. "Yet."
Faith bolts for the door. Buffy does not move as Faith bounds up the stairs.
"Are you all right?" Willow asks.
Buffy looks to Angel.
The next day in the library. The lights are low casting eerie shadows. Giles faces the Shaman.
"The task is finished." The Shaman says.
Giles nods, "Yes. Thank you for coming to me. And for that rather effective light show you put on."
"This restores the balance between us, Rupert Giles. My debt to you is repaid now in full. Do not call upon me again." The Shaman says.
"I shan't. Peace with you." Giles says.
"And with you." The Shaman says and he fades into the dark.
Giles turns to the group, who have been watching curiously.
"His debt to you is repaid? What did you do?" Willow asks in awe.
"I introduced him to his wife." Giles says.
"Well I for one protest. You pitted Slayer against Slayer in a dangerous charade that could have gotten both killed. Without informing me. I'm telling the Council." Wesley says.
Giles nods, "Yes, I think you should. We have a rogue slayer on our hands. I can't think of anything more dangerous."
"At least now we know..." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "And we know a little more about the Ascension."
"Graduation Day... That's a big scary un-fun, but at least Angel's not bad. And that's good, right?" Willow says.
Xander shakes his head, "Yes, I feel so much better knowing he broke my face in the "good" way. It's a "good" bruise!"
"He was only acting, Xander." Buffy says. She looks to Giles, "There is something else. Possibly a way of redeeming Faith if we can do it that is."
"What?" Giles asks.
"She mentioned she had a sister that was kidnapped." Buffy says. "We find that sister…"
Giles nods, "Maybe she can reach Faith in a way none of us could ever do."
In Faith's apartment, the Mayor is talking to Faith. "Well, you win some, you lose some. From where I'm sitting, it's batting average that counts. So, you lost some friends."
"Wouldn't exactly call them friends." Faith says.
"So then what are you worried about? Chin up. You don't see me looking disappointed, do you? Heck no. Know why?" The Mayor says as Faith just looks at him. "Because I know you'll always have me, Faith. I'm the best and most important friend you'll ever have." Faith's still downcast. "Besides, once the Ascension starts, that "in crowd" you're so concerned about? Hoo! They'll be lucky if there's enough of 'em left to fill a pothole. Promise."
Faith still looks sad.
The Mayor thinks hard, then has a thought. "Still unhappy? Okey-doke. I've got two words that are going to take all the pain away." He leans in close to her, barely containing his glee, and whispers, "Miniature. Golf." He wiggles his eyes brows, "You like?"
Faith shakes her head, "You know what would make me happy?"
The Mayor sighs and nods, "I'm looking Faith. I'll find her for you. I promise."
At the Mansion Buffy enters and picks up and studies one of the chains which held her the night before.
"How you doing?" Angel asks.
"Been better." Buffy says.
Angel nods, "Not hard to believe. You were a real soldier last night, Buffy."
"That's me. Just one of the troops." Buffy says.
"I know how hard it was for you." Angel says.
"I doubt that." Buffy says.
Angel nods, "If there's anything I can do to make it better..." He looks to her, hopefully.
"Angel. I know you only did what I asked you to. And we got what we wanted." Buffy says.
"I never wanted it to go that far." Angel says.
"I know. It's not even a question. But after all that... I just need a little break." Buffy says. Angel is hurt by this news. But he says nothing. "Please."
Angel nods. She starts to go. "You still my girl?"
"Always." Buffy says and she leaves. Angel watches her go.