A/N: Hello readers I hope that I still have some out there. Here is the next chapter. I must say I wrote and re-wrote this chapter so many times because I honestly did not know what to do. I kept going back and forth. I know where I'm going with the story but getting there is turning out to be a little difficult. Anyways, here is the next chapter. Think of this as the calm before the storm. Thank you to all the people who are still sticking with this.
Beta Reader: I have been editing my own writing for a while now and I think I've been doing and okay job. However, I know my overall writing skills are not awesome. If you would like to help me out and help beta this story please let me know I would really appreciate it.
Disclaimer: I own only the computer I type this on. The BTVS and Angel series characters all belong to whoever has the rights to them and that certainly is not me.
CH. 11
Angel pulled into the top of a parking lot building. He killed the engine of the car and grabbed the briefcase in the passenger's seat. He looked at his clock and it read 7:30. He was supposed to meet with the seller at 8'oclock but he always liked to be the first one at meet ups such as these. The vampire stepped out of the car and scanned the area. He scanned the building around him trying to sense if there was anyone waiting for him or aiming any weapon at him. As he finished his sweep he leaned back against the car and waited.
"Angelus, finally we meet."
Angel looked towards the voice as the owner stepped into the light his face was covered by some sort of mask but more importantly the mysterious man had a stake in one of his hands. "I go by Angel now."
"Ah yes." The man approached him. "Shall we get down to business?"
Angel gripped the briefcase a bit tighter. "Who are they?" Angel asked sensing at least three other people with them.
"My guards. You didn't think I would come meet vampire such as yourself alone would you?" The masked man chuckled and three men came out from the shadows.
"No." Angel responded.
"I have the book. Do you have the money?"
"Yes. Right here." Angel said as he lifted the briefcase.
The masked man approached Angel as his 'guards' walked behind him.
Angel sat the briefcase down on the hood of the car as the masked man sat the book down.
"Here take a look. This is the only book that survived."
Angel grabbed the book and examined it. The stem was barely holding the book together. He opened it reading the familiar Latin inscriptions he expected to see in ancient books such as these. As he was examining the book two of the guards snuck up behind him. One of them jumped on him and began to press own a cross on his chest.
Angel sensed the two men moving upon him and prepared for the attack. As the cross began to burn into his skin he slammed his back and the man on him into the vehicle causing the backseat windows to break. The guard slowly slid down the side door.
"You know, this is not a good way to run your business." Angel transformed and punched the other guard as he came at him with a stake. The third guard kept his distance and until his boss started chanting did he launched an attack on the vampire.
Angel was able to catch bits and pieces of the dialect the man was chanting but was preoccupied dealing with two of the guards coming at him. Then he felt it.
The vampire dropped to his knees and held his head in his hands. The guards began to beat on him kicking and punching him as the vampire failed to shield himself from the blows.
"Enough!" a voice stopped the guards and slowly they went to hide in the shadows.
The new figure approached Angel and ripped his shirt open. He took out a knife and began to carve into the vampire's chest as he chanted.
Angel screamed out in pain as he tried to catch his fleeting mind. He felt his thoughts contort. He tried to think of something but everything seemed so mixed up. His head felt like it had been cracked open and someone was playing with his brain like play-doh. He then felt a tap on his forehead and everything stopped. The migraine from hell was gone the pain in his chest gone. He sat up slowly looking around trying to see if his attackers were still there but there was no sign. He placed his hand over his chest trying to assess the damage. Surprisingly his shirt was still intact and there were no cuts or carvings on him. He sat there confused for a few seconds and got up. As he began to scan the area all he saw was the book, the briefcase was gone.
"You are all clear to train now Faith. According to all the test results you can return to training, however you will have to start slowly so you don't damage any of the tissue that is still healing understood?" Mike warned as he closed his folder.
"This means I can also dance right doc?" Faith asked ecstatic.
"Yes I supposed you could." Mike smiled.
"Thanks doc. you are the best." Faith hopped off the examination bed.
"Take care of your self Faith, I hope I don't have to see you back here."
"Don't worry doc." Faith smirked and walked out of the room. Today was her last day of doctor visits. She had followed most of the instruction the doctors had given her with the occasional punch here and there during training time with Buffy. She had done all her therapy and her shoulder felt brand new. She couldn't wait to tell a certain blonde slayer about the all clear. Buffy had once again volunteered to go with her to the doctor but Faith had insisted for her to go be productive somewhere else. Faith had actually felt okay being alone during her visits.
The slayer decided to go by the gym hoping to find Buffy.
"Hey" Kennedy greeted her as she walked into the nearly empty room.
"Hey have you seen Buffy?" Faith scanned the room seeing some familiar faces.
"Nope. She headed out about 10 minutes ago. I think she went to talk to Giles." Kennedy unwrapped her fists as she approached Faith. "Are you clear for training?"
Faith smiled "Is it that obvious?"
"Kind of. You want to train a bit? I have time and I'm sure whatever your girl is talking to Giles about it's going to take a while."
Faith pretended to think about it. But she was itching to do something. "You don't have to ask me twice. How do you want me to kick your ass?"
"Buffy this is Noah, Noah this is Buffy." Giles said as he introduced his slayer to his former friend.
"It's an honor to meet the slayer Miss. Summers. You've done such incredible things." Noah said as he allowed his hand to linger during the handshake.
"Nice to meet you." Buffy said as she slid her hand on her shirt trying to calm down her slayer senses. There was just something off about this guy. Giles had explained to her who he was and how he could help them. She knew that Giles had probably kept information about this creep from her. Regardless of who this guy was she had to deal with him if they wanted to get ahead of the First and the Hell God.
"Yes. Noah will be around to help us with this new threat." Giles said as he looked over his notes.
"So what do you have for us?" the blonde asked wanting to be away from him as soon as possible.
Noah smiled and took a seat at one of the tables and slowly crossed his legs. "This will take longer than a chit chat Miss. Summers. I'm sure you are aware of how powerful a hell demon can be."
Buffy nodded and clenched her jaw "Yes. That's why you're here so talk."
Noah turned toward Giles and expected his old friend to somehow discipline his slayer.
"I see you've given her a lot of freedom Rupert. You have changed quite a bit." Noah then pulled out a small notebook from his jacket. "As far as I know, the Hell god is not here yet. It hasn't entered our world yet."
Giles and Willow both looked towards the man but Buffy spoke what they were all thinking.
"What?"
"In order for a hell god to materialize in our world, it requires a vessel. I'm sure the last hell god you encountered had a human counterpart correct?"
"Yup." Willow chimed in.
"Yes. It appears that the First is gathering the power and resources to find the vessel and bring forth this hell god."
Giles jotted down something in his notebook. "How do you know this?"
Noah laughed. "Rupert how do I know all the things I know my friend? I know people and I've also gotten my hands on very old scriptures." The man opened his bag and pulled out three books. "These should have the information you need to find this vessel."
"How do we stop it?" Buffy asked.
"You kill them. Who ever it is you kill them and that will stop the First. It's not easy to find a vessel and prep them for receiving that kind of power. "
Buffy knew that answer was coming. "But whomever the vessel is do they know what they are? Are they evil?"
"Does it matter? If you want to stop another apocalypse Miss. Summers you will find the vessel and you will end their life."
"And if I don't?"
"Your death wont' be the only one this time." Noah stated and placed the books on the table. He walked towards the door. "If you need more assistance I'll be close by, you have my number Rupert."
"Ken you've gotten a lot better at this." Faith said as she blocked several blows.
Kennedy launched another set of attacks. "Or you are just out of practice."
The older slayer smirked and countered Kennedy's kicks by sweeping the new slayer off her feet. She hopped down and held Kennedy pinned to the ground with her elbow.
"Or was I going easy on you?" Faith stood up and extended her hand out and helped Kennedy up. "Damn that was good."
Kennedy walked towards a bench and took a seat. She tossed a bottle of water towards Faith.
"So how are things with Buffy?" Kennedy asked
"We are good. She saved my life and I think we are past the killing each other part."
Kennedy chuckled "Yeah and gotten more with the lip contact?"
Faith's head turned so fast Kennedy heard a small crack. "What the hell Kennedy?"
Faith was thrown back. She was already uneasy about Kennedy knowing about her feelings for Buffy. How the hell would Kennedy know about what's going on between the two. Had Buffy told Willow? How come she hadn't told her about it?
"Relax Faith, Buffy hasn't said anything to anyone. I just know these things okay? Just don't screw it up okay?" Kennedy said and walked out of the gym. Faith took a few seconds and then honed on a punching bag and began to reacquaint her self with her slayer abilities.
Sooner of later Faith realized that whatever she and Buffy had it would get out. She punched the bag harder. How would the gang react to them? Her bigger concern was how would Angel take it. She felt guilty. She began to kick the bag. She felt guilty for being this happy and knowing Angel, her savor, would suffer because of it.
Buffy found her half an hour later almost in the same spot and leaned against the frame and just observed.
"Either you are being very bad or the doctor gave you the green light to train." Buffy said teasingly. The blonde had to admit it; watching Faith train was hot.
"The doc. said I was good as new." Faith threw a few more punches and approached the blonde woman. "So what was the meeting for? Any new information?"
Buffy sighed and placed her hand on Faith "Why don't we got back to my room. We can talk there."
Faith sensed Buffy's worry and nodded. They silently made their way back to the room.
"So what's going on Buffy?" The dark-haired slayer asked taking a seat on the edge of Buffy's bed.
The blonde took a seat next to her and reached out for Faith's hand.
"Giles brought in one of his old friends. He is a real creep, but he said that the Hell god is not here yet."
Faith looked confused "Isn't that a good thing?"
"No. From the gist of it, in order for the hell god to form it self it needs a vessel. An innocent person and the only way to stop it…"
"Is to kill them." Faith finished the other slayer's sentence. The two stared at each other and Buffy leaned into Faith. She needed the comfort.
"I'm sure Giles will find another way B." Faith embraced the blonde and tried to comfort her.
"What if they don't?"
"Shh. Don't say that. Come on. . . " Faith scooted them back towards the bed and leaned against the headboard and let Buffy mold into her body.
"Can we just stay here for a little while?" The blonde asked. Faith only tightened her grip on her.
A few minutes later Buffy was sound asleep.
Faith's mind was too restless and she let her mind wonder again back to those guilt ridden feelings.
Buffy had spent most of the week running around non-stop. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually been able to even touch the blonde for longer than a few seconds. The new slayers had gone out three times patrolling and had encountered trouble. They had lost two slayers and that had weighted down on the blonde. She remembered feeling so helpless and pissed off that she wasn't able to help them. Buffy had avoided her. When they met to train the new slayers, Faith felt Buffy close off and go into business mode. She watched her raise her voice and push the slayers while she was stuck walking on a treadmill. She was glad she was clear to finally train and help the sleeping blonde carry some of the responsibility.
"Giles we have to tell Buffy. We can't keep this from her much longer." Willow stated as she wrote down more information on her notepad.
"I understand but we must first find this vessel." Giles countered. He wasn't sure if he should completely trust Noah's words but what his old friend said had checked out. The watcher had read the books and gotten the same information from them. "Willow have you found more on the vessel?"
The redhead flipped through the book "Well not much. It has to be someone strong, able to contain the power but that's about it. "
Giles nodded. "Do you think the covenant would mind doing a spell to try and narrow our search?"
"I could do it." Willow said a bit apprehensive.
Giles took his glasses off and looked up. "I rather not put you in any danger Willow. Only a week ago you ended up in the hospital."
Willow smiled. "Giles I can do this. It's not like the key finding spell. This one will just narrow it down. I can do this."
Giles shook his head. "Please Willow I'd rather you call the covenant for this."
"Call the covenant for what?" Angel asked.
"I'm sure that you've been filled in on the information Noah provided us with."
Angel nodded.
"The vessel has to be strong enough to sustain the hell god. The covenant could do a spell to narrow down our search." Giles reasoned out.
"How do we stop it?
Giles nodded this time. "According to Noah and all our research in order to truly prevent this, the vessel must die."
"Does Buffy know this?" The vampire asked.
"Yes. But you know Buffy; she wouldn't kill an innocent person. The vessel might be able to carry evil but they are innocent nonetheless" Willow said.
"I know. Please let me know when we narrow down our search. The business on my end has slowed down so I can have more people looking into this as well." Angel then quickly left the room.
"Giles, you don't think Angel would try and kill whomever this is do you?" Willow asked afraid to find out.
The librarian went silent for a few seconds and shook his head slowly "I believe Angel would try every other way to save them."
Buffy woke up and felt alone. She quickly opened her eyes searching for the dark-haired slayer whom she had fallen asleep with. "Faith?" Buffy asked but there was no answer.
The blonde sat up on the bed and stretched out her arms. She really did need that nap. She glanced at the clock and it was nearing 9pm. She got up and walked into her bathroom and splashed some water over her face. Buffy then grabbed her jacket and loaded up with a few weapons. She had decided to go on patrol alone and not risk the lives of the new slayers again. She had actually left it to Angel and his security people to patrol the nights following the death of two of the girls but tonight she felt like she needed to blow off some steam. She could feel the evil that was upon them or more like about to rain down on them again. Although she had slept and rested her dreams had been preoccupied with thoughts about the key, the hell god, and the new slayers. As she was waiting for the elevator to open she heard a familiar voice.
"Hey B, where are you going?" Faith asked as she stood next to the blonde.
Buffy shrugged and pulled out one of her stakes. "I'm thinking I need to blow off some steam. Plus I've been MIA from patrols for the last couple of nights."
Faith examined Buffy carefully noting that the nap the blonde had taken had done little to alleviate the almost chronic tiredness the green-eyed beauty carried. She could also see the guilt Buffy felt because of the loss the two new slayers.
"Great. I've been itching to stake some vamps." Faith took the stake Buffy had taken out. As the elevator doors opened, Faith hopped in and Buffy slowly stepped in as well.
"I'm not sure if you should go out Faith. You just got cleared to train." Buffy really didn't want Faith out there with her. She knew Faith could hold her own but her perceived failure to protect the new slayers made her doubt her ability to protect anyone; not the Faith needed protection of course.
"What better way to train than with some live ammo B?"
Buffy smirked. Faith sometimes had a way of just getting her way. "Fine but no jumping into unknown rabbit holes okay Alice?" Buffy half joked.
Faith laughed and nodded. The two slayers silently made their way out of the building. A few minutes later Faith broke the silenced that had taken over them. "You know you enjoyed it though."
"What?" Buffy asked confused.
"You know that one night when you jumped in after me when we followed those vamps with the weird clothes and pointy swords?"
The blonde chuckled. "If I remember correctly, I was almost drowned. I don't define that as fun."
Faith shoved her hands in her pockets. The brunette only wanted to make Buffy genuinely laugh or smile. But apparently it wasn't that easy.
"I did enjoy it a little. " Buffy finally said a few minutes later genuinely smiling. "You know before you came to Sunnydale I was just so burdened by being THE slayer but the nights we patrolled together were some of the few times I actually enjoyed my job."
Faith smiled then her face turned serious. "Well I hope that you are ready to party B, we got some company."
Buffy's 'spidey senses' immediately picked up on 9 very undead people making their way towards them. "Lets hope we are in sync as before."
"Yeah Lets." Faith said charging and drop kicking one of the vamps while punching one square in the nose.
Buffy couldn't help but watch Faith for a brief second before two vamps launched towards her. She dodged one and threw the other one against a garbage can.
The other vamps hesitated to jump into the fight and two quickly fed. This gave Faith time to stake one of the vamps. Before the dust settled, three vamps jumped towards Faith struggling to pin her down.
Meanwhile three other vamps were circling Buffy. The undead Americans circling the blonde decided to launch towards her at the same time giving the blonde an excellent chance to jump away and land behind one of the vamps and stake him.
Although three vamps were pinning down Faith, she was smiling. She was so glad to be back out slaying and to be out slaying with Buffy. She brought her leg in close then pushed out and managed to toss the vamps a few feet away from her. Faith quickly grabbed her stake and jumped back to her feet. She launched her stake like a dart and dusted another vamp.
"Just getting started." Faith said under her breath as the two vamps focused on her regrouping to launch another attack.
Buffy kept a close watch of Faith. She could feel Faith's hyped up body through their slayer connection. If the younger slayer were in any trouble, she would know. She spin kicked a vampire and as she landed, elbowed the other one. The blonde felt her legs being grabbed and moments later fell hard against the concrete ground.
One of the vampires that were attacking Faith saw the blonde slayer fall and turned his attention towards her instead and signaled for the other two vampires circling Buffy to hold her down.
Faith noticed this and quickly head budded the vamp and kneed him making him drop to the floor. She quickly approached the three soon-to-be-dust vamps.
Buffy struggled against the restrains as a third vampire approached her surely believing he would get to drink her. Yet as he got closer she smirked confusing the vampire and she quickly used her legs to kick the vamp making him stumble backwards straight towards Faith who was more than happy to drive her stake through him. In the mean time Buffy pulled the two vampires towards each other knocking them hard. Seconds later Buffy felt Faith next to her.
"Two to go B," Faith said as she turned to look at Buffy.
The blonde also turned to look at the other slayer and they silently communicated their next move. As the remaining vampires tried to escape the two slayers sent their stakes flying across hitting both of the vamps straight in the hearts causing a small explosion of dust.
Buffy began to dust her self off and Faith decided to lean against a wall.
"Not bad for my first time back huh?" Faith asked smirking
The blonde smiled and nodded in response. After a few minutes they began to silently walk again. The vampires had jumped them before they got to their designated 'patrolling' area.
"I think we met our quota for the night don't you think?" Faith said. She was hoping Buffy wouldn't mind ending their patrol early. Although Faith would normally beg to stay out longer on patrols, she had something else on her mind.
"Seven vamps?" Buffy scrunched up her nose "We used to get at least a dozen back in Sunnydale remember?"
Faith chuckled "Yeah but come on B, I know L.A. is pretty bad but it ain't no hell mouth." The brunette shoved one of her hands in her back pocket while she played with her stake with the other. She was really hoping Buffy would agree to what she had in mind. She was actually kind of nervous about this and was desperately trying to calm her self down. The fight with the vampires had given her an adrenaline rush she didn't need.
"Yeah that's true. But do you really want to head back so early?" Buffy asked then halted her walking and grabbed Faith's arm. "... Unless you are not feeling okay? Did the vamps hurt you?" Buffy was now worried. 'Of course she could be tired she just recovered and she is out taking on vamps' Buffy thought.
"Nah B I'm doing great actually. I just want to go do something else." Faith said slowly reaching out her hand from her back pocket and intertwining it with Buffy's own. Buffy's face was covered with an adorable blush.
"I was thinking we could go out dancing?" Faith held her breath and she didn't notice her grip on Buffy's got a bit tighter.
"I'd love to." Buffy answered and reassuringly squeezed Faith's hand.
Faith relinquished the breath she had been holding and got a bit closer to the blonde. "Yeah?" She asked trying to make sure she didn't hear wrong.
"I'm sure. Plus I promised you we would go out dancing and I'd love to go."
Faith then led them to a hole-in-the-wall kind of club. The two women made their way to a lounging area. The music was thumping hard and loud.
For a few seconds the two slayers stared at each other with equal sized grins. They both knew what they wanted. Faith scooted closer to Buffy.
"So what do you think?" Faith almost yelled trying to get her voice over the music. Of course she knew that Buffy would be able to hear her with the whole slayer super hearing package they had. Buffy smiled.
" It's nice, kinda small, but really cozy, and kinda gay?" Buffy finished her thoughts with a question.
Faith nodded "Yeah. I hope you don't mind but I figured that we might as well try it, plus I've heard this is one of the best clubs in the city." Faith said feeling a bit insecure about brining Buffy to a gay club. But she quickly extinguished those thoughts when Buffy got up and extended her hand out nodding towards the dance floor.
It was packed. As the two slayers made their way into the crowd of people Faith instinctively held onto Buffy's hips until they found their spot and began to move to the rhythm of the music. As soon as they began to move, their bodies began to respond to each other. As Faith swayed Buffy's body followed and vise versa. They were getting lost in the feeling of each other and the music that surrounded them. The two seemed to create their own bubble and even though other people were dancing mere centimeters from them, the two slayers only felt each other.
They kept each other close. When the music began to slow down, Faith wrapped her arms around the blonde's hips bringing her close. Buffy took her cue to place her arms around the other's neck. A few moments later she leaned in closer to Faith wanting to kiss her right there and then but hesitated.
Faith felt Buffy's hesitation and quickly spoke "You don't have to B, if you don't feel comfortable. It's okay."
The blonde smiled and then looked away for the first time. She saw many other women dancing and making out and if she wanted to be really honest, a couple almost having sex in a corner of the club. She realized that she was being silly. When she turned her attention back onto Faith, she leaned to capture Faith's lips in a slow passionate kiss causing shocks to go through both of their bodies.
When the blonde pulled away she stared into chocolate brown eyes and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach awaken. All the electricity that was coursing was overwhelming her through out her body. The blonde had never been this turned on and scared at the same time. She didn't want to end up one of Faith's 'get some get gone' stories. She knew that Faith wouldn't do that, but she wanted to take things slow. However her body was telling her otherwise. Faith at the same time was trying to control the urge to take Buffy back to HQ and have her way with her. Being this close to the blonde made her body become very active. She stared into the green-color pools that were Buffy's eyes. After a few more seconds Buffy spoke
"Drinks?"
Faith nodded and followed the other woman towards the bar area. As they waited for their drinks they looked around the club once again.
"I've missed this." Faith said returning her attention to the blonde.
"Me too. I haven't danced like this in a very long time."
Faith smiled "I'm glad you enjoyed this B." Her eyes focused on the blonde's lips. She really couldn't get enough of them and really wanted them again but she was kind of shy about it. That thought made her laugh. Here she was the bad girl who slept around so much with her "get some get gone" policy and she was shy about kissing a woman.
"What is it?" Buffy asked catching Faith's small chuckle.
"Nothin. I just really want to kiss you."
Buffy leaned in leaving a small space between their lips. Encouraging Faith to close the distance. Moments later Buffy's eyes closed and felt the delicious lips she had already memorized graze against her own. She placed her arms around Faith's waist bringing their bodies closer. She felt Faith's hand travel down towards her butt and smirked into the kiss.
A/N: Okay so what do you guys think? Please please please leave a review and let me know. I'm still highly addicted to them. Also when I get them it reminds me to keep this story going and makes me feel guilty when I don't work on it so please I need more guilt. Again as a reminder if you are interested in helping me out with this story send me a PM.