I was going to post this last night, but for some reason my internet was down and I had to figure out which series of the two possible ways to do. I may make the other piece a different story later on.
Even with the best of effort and compassion they could muster, Angel could tell Wesley and Cordelia's ability to stick by him in his efforts were waning. Faith was far from reaching any goals set for her as far as her possible rehabilitation. Though their attempts at compassion were helping, the effort was strained on their part. Looking into the faces of two of her more recent victims of violence also appeared to be a lateral move for the girl. Nonetheless Angel persisted with his usual determination to help the fallen slayer.
The trio had discussed briefly the possible future. Faith would need a lot of work. The police- while clearly the best choice would not be an option immediately. The fact that at some point she would be serving time seemed to resolve some of the passive aggression the Wes and Cordy shared but the lack of immediate gratification was a little harder for them to accept. Angel was beginning to think there presence was going to eventually undo all of his work when he walked into his apartment and found something unexpected.
Bag packed, Faith sat on the bed very nearly the wreck she was just a day before. Wesley stood before her speaking angrily with her police bulletin in hand. There was no sympathy in his voice, but it actually seemed to help Faith. Angel nearly walked into the room to stop Wes from continuing but paused for a brief moment. Listening to him speak to Faith it dawned on him their connection. He was her watcher. If ever so briefly and, well, incompetently the two were bound together by something bigger than anything that might have happened between them. Wesley was beginning to understand that by the looks of things. He turned to leave but heard his name called from behind.
"I think I know what I have to do now, I have to confess." her voice was small, but determined.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Angel asked warily. Faith took a small glance at Wesley, who seemed to be trying to downplay his involvement but still showed signs of pride at his work, before turning her head and nodding to him.
"First thing we need to do is get you to the police station. Wes call Cordy and tell her what's up, she's at her apartment. Then we need to-"
"Explain to me what the hell is going on?" A voice rang out from the doors, interrupting Angel. He turned to find her standing, arms crossed. Buffy Summers' eyes bore through him, arms crossed. He met her eyes for a brief instant before she turned her attention to the other slayer in the room.
"What are you doing here?" He asked, trying to make the question seem a little less defensive than it managed to come out.
"Oh, god, B. B I'm so-"
"If you don't shut up I will beat you-"
"Hey!" Angel started, a sudden protective wave for the girl spilling over him just as suddenly as other emotions reserved just for Buffy fell over him, "Wes, take her to the office, Buffy this isn't your concern."
"I pretty much beg to differ." She retorted. Suddenly anger and frustration for the girl took over.
"Your being here isn't going to help her get better."
"She's beyond getting better." she retorted, pursing her lips.
Wesley and Faith finally began to move. Buffy watched for a moment, considering moving to stop them, before she could Angel stepped before her.
"I know Faith did some bad things to you."
"You can't possibly know."
"You can't possibly know what she's going through."
"But of course, you do. I'm sorry. I can't be in you club. I've never murdered anybody."
Silence fell for a few moments. Seething anger grew over the two remaining in the room.
"I hate to interrupt," Wesley began, standing atop the stairs leading down to the duo," But I've contacted Cordelia, she'll be on her way momentarily to transport Faith to Detective Lockley's custody.
"Fine." Angel said shortly, watching Buffy's reaction to hearing for the first time Faith's plan to place herself in custody.
"This was her decision?" She asked, recovering from the brief shock and turning to suspicion.
"She's ready to redeem herself." He replied quietly, letting the full affect of the words sink in.
"Yes, well, slight other problem," Wesley spoke once more his voice desperately having tried to break in for some time," It appears we have company on the roof. Watcher's council members and, by the looks of it, operatives working with Wolfram and Hart. Both want their Faith problem dealt with. Differently than we do most likely."
"Those council operatives are serious." Buffy offered.
"I'm willing to bet the Wolfram and Hart guys are just as serious. They're working together?" He questioned Wes, who nodded with, obviously disgusted with his former co-workers alliance with the evil law firm.
"Cordelia will be here in five minutes-" A crash from above interrupted Wesley, "However I don't believe the others will wait that long." In a flash both Angel and, to his and everyone else's surprise, Buffy moved quickly up the stairs to the oncoming fray. Wesley quickly followed suit.
The odds substantially lopsided against them, Angel quickly made his way to apprehend one of the Watcher's council members. Wielding a gun, Weatherby knew better than using it against a vampire, but apparently did not have the presence of mind to consider his clear mismatch. He threw a forceful punch towards Angel. Quickly ducking he put his shoulder into the man's stomach, lifted him, and carried him into a nearby cabinet. Then he quickly served several more punches to Weatherby, dropping him to the ground.
In the mean time Wesley attempted to close off access from the roof, where the Wolfram and Hart associates tried to make their way in. Lowering his head he narrowly missed several rounds shot off into the door. Moving out of the way the door creaked open. The first few members to attempt access were met with roundhouse kicks via Buffy. She dodged the next round of bullets, rolling back to a vertical base she was met by Wes handing her a few choice weapons from the now dismantles weapons cabinet. From the corner she could she Angel taking down a few more operatives before turning his attention back to Collins.
Angel could see that, with the aid of Wesley, Buffy had hands down taken care of the Wolfram and Hart team. With a final blow to Smith the threat had been neutralized. Before he could turn his attention to Buffy to continue to argue Cordelia walked in. casually stepping over Collins unconscious body.
"Okay, I'm here. Although I don't really see the point seeing as how Kate's outside with the full force of the LAPD but whatever..." She continued walking around the room, oblivious of the shocked expressions of the three. She took another quick glance, finally noticing Buffy.
"Oh. Hi. Nice surprise." Buffy just stared at her. Clearly wondering where the more mature, more adult Cordy Willow and Giles spoke of had run off to.
"So where is Faith?" Asking the obvious, Cordy took another look around along with the rest. She was gone.
Quicker than anyone else Angel made his way to the outside of his building to immediately find himself apprehended by the S.W.A.T team led by Lockley. She looked him up and down his frustration from this entire day ready to burst out in tirade, he tried to contain his temper.
"Are you going to tell me where she is?"
"I have no idea, Kate."
"Well then, I guess we'll have to make you talk down at the station..." as she continued her threats to him, Angel slowly tuned out, detecting a possible hint of Faith in the air. She had been outside recently. She had run. He closed his eyes, disappointed that once again he had come close, but ultimately failed the woman who needed his help the most.
He finally couldn't take it anymore. As they made their way to the station every emotion of the day was being taken out in the verbal sparring match he consumed himself in with Buffy. He sensed even Kate was growing uncomfortable with their arguing. She had someone new in her life. Someone that wasn't him. She had come over here to get revenge on someone and her words were certainly doing it to him. He was once again ready to retort to some insult or another when he finally caught sight of Kate's desk. Sitting, looking out of place and uncomfortable, Faith rose to meet the detective.
"I'd like to make a confession."
Let me know what you guys think. I'm a little unsure about this one cuz it generally follows the same path, but is going to cause some big changes in the future with Faith and Wesley mostly. I know that War Zone introduces Gunn- which is a big development, but I don't think I'm going to write chapter on it because essentially nothing changes. Blind Date, while important for Lindsay, is also pretty much unchanged so I won't do that one. The first finale is up next...