Uh oh, Buffy's in LA...can you say 'crap'?
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"Buffy?" Angel asked, getting up
Faith remained on the bed, averting her eyes from her fellow Slayer
"Wha? What's going on?" Buffy asked
"Buffy, what are you doing here?" Angel asked
"I heard Faith was in town, that you were in danger"
"Well, I'm fine now"
"You're punishing her with a severe cuddle?"
"B?" Faith said, getting up
"Speak to me and I will beat you to death," Buffy threatened
"We're not gonna have any of that," Angel said, getting between them
"You have any idea what she's done to me?" Buffy demanded
"Faith, go upstairs, now," Angel ordered
Faith headed upstairs, as Buffy went to stop her. However, Angel grabbed her by the arm, as Buffy whirled around and struck him. She went to punch again, but Angel blocked and struck her back. Buffy stumbled back, holding her jaw, looking at Angel in horror
"I'm sorry," Angel said
"You hit me," Buffy said
"Well, not to go all schoolyard on you, but you hit me first. You were about three seconds from making Faith run away again"
"And you're just gonna let her stay away from the law?"
"No, I'm trying to help her soul. It's what I do and you don't understand that"
"I don't understand?" Buffy asked, "Tell me what part I don't understand"
As the pair argued, Faith was watching them from the top of the stairs, as Wesley entered the office
"Faith?"
"It's you, Wes. Just…needed a break"
"I see"
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"What are you doing here?" Kate demanded
"Believe it or not, but we have something in common," Lindsey replied
"Our bodies are 80 percent water? I despise you and everything you do"
"I actually meant her"
Lindsey opened a file and withdrew a photo of Faith, handing it to Kate, before taking out a photo of Angel
"This man here, Angel, he's hiding her. See, there are creatures here that don't follow man's laws. Angel is one such guy. He feels he's above the law"
"So, he's hiding her, is he?" Kate asked, picking up Angel's photo
"Think about it. I know you want to rid the city of vampires. He can be the first. Plus, you have Faith, though I recommend very high security"
"So, I'm supposed to go on your word here that Angel is harbouring Faith?"
"I have sources, Detective Lockley," Lindsey said, "I can't touch them. But maybe you can. Like the justice you carried out on those who murdered your father"
"Don't act like you know anything about my father," Kate growled, "And by the way, thanks for the tip. Now beat it"
"If you wish, Detective"
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Angel and Buffy were still arguing, when Wesley and Faith suddenly came down the stairs in a rush
"Wes, what's going on?" Angel asked
"Hi, Buffy. In about two minutes, the Watchers Council will be arriving, expecting Faith to be sedated"
"Oh no, not those guys again," Buffy said
"Okay, take the sewers," Angel said to Buffy, "I'll handle these guys. Where's Faith?"
Just then, the first of the gunfire rang out. All three ducked out of the way
"Roof," Angel said, "She'll be heading for the roof. Go, Buffy"
Buffy took her chance and headed for the elevator, as Weatherby came down the stairs. He saw Wesley hiding behind a pillar, then saw Angel and took out a crossbow
"Weatherby, listen to reason," Wesley called
"Reason? A Watcher working for a vampire. It's perversion"
Angel dived out from behind a pillar, as Weatherby fired his automatic rifle at him. Wesley aimed and threw the syringe into Weatherby's neck, before walking over and punching him down
"Go," he said to Angel, "More will be coming"
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"Don't even think about running," Buffy called
Faith whirled around to her sister slayer, who was taking small, calculated steps
"What else am I gonna do?" she asked, pacing in a circle with Buffy
"I'm gonna make you pay for all that you've done to me. Anything that was mine, you took for your own, screwing around with it. Riley, my friends and family"
"And you're all about control," Faith shot back, "You can't stand it when you lose control over everything"
"Shut up!" Buffy growled
Just then, a Watcher helicopter flew over the top of the building, bathing the slayers in the spotlight. Gunfire rang out, as Buffy and Faith hid behind the skylights. They tried to head towards the door, but Collins burst outside, seeing the pair and firing at them
"You go that way, I'll go this way," Buffy said
Faith nodded and ran for it, distracting Collins, as Buffy ran over and knocked the gun from his hands. Faith dived behind a skylight, avoiding the gunfire, as Buffy battled with Collins, having the upper hand. The spotlight played over Buffy, as she took Collins down and looked up to see Smith aiming at her. However, at that moment, a vamped out Angel burst out of the skylight, landing on the helicopter and throwing Smith out onto the building roof
"Down," he growled at the pilot
The pilot landed the helicopter, just as Kate and a squad of police officers arrived
"Where is she?" Kate demanded, "You've got one chance, Angel, where is she?"
Angel simply gave her a silent look
"Arrest him for aiding and abetting a criminal"
Angel didn't resist as a police officer cuffed him and placed in the back of a car. Meanwhile, Buffy looked around for Faith, but couldn't find her anywhere
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Wesley and Buffy got out of the Plymouth and raced into the police station, where they came across Cordelia in the waiting room
"What's going on?" Buffy asked, "And how come you're pregnant? Got careless?"
"Angel's been arrested," Cordelia told Wesley, ignoring Buffy
At that moment, a cuffed Angel arrived, led by Kate and surrounded by officers
"Angel, what are you doing?" Buffy demanded, "You're not taking the fall for her!"
"Who are you?" Kate demanded, "Go away"
"Angel, you are not leaving me and the child," Cordelia said
"Wha? Angel is the father?" Buffy cried, "But…but that's not possible!"
"It is possible and no, I'm not lying"
"But-"
"Angel, look," said Wesley
He pointed to a desk, as Faith got up from the desk and approached Kate
"I'd like to make a confession," she said
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Angel had been released, while Faith was taken away to prison. Cordelia had gone home, while Wesley remained with Angel and Buffy at the station
"So, somehow you knocked Cordelia up," Buffy said, "I suppose congratulations is in order. Even if it is with her"
"Don't talk about Cordelia like that," Angel said, "She is a great woman. And I think she'll be a great mother"
"I thought we were meant to be together…in the end"
"Yeah, well newsflash: things change. I got over you. I moved on with Cordy"
"You must be so happy," Buffy said
"Look, you don't understand what I do in this city, so don't come here acting like you do. You don't know me anymore and this is my city. Go home," Angel said
"Well, I'm glad I have someone new in my life," Buffy said, "It's not like what you and I had. But you know what makes it new? I trust him"
"Go home"
Buffy grabbed her jacket and left the station, as Angel sighed and faced the wall
"For a taciturn, shadowy guy, I've got a big mouth," Angel said
"You want to go after her?" Wesley asked
"No, not really. But at the same time, yeah, I do. I'm gonna go check on Faith, then I'll see Cordy before I go after Buffy. She's last priority"
"Think she'll make it?" Wesley asked, referring to Faith
"She will," Angel replied, "She's strong. Peace is not an easy thing to find"
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Next chapter: Angel goes to Sunnydale