Chapter Six

Faith pulled into the long gravel driveway after being on the road for almost two hours. She was tired and Angel was in the bed of the truck, passed out. Willow had fallen asleep shortly after they'd left and Faith nudged her awake as she pulled the truck up behind Wood's white Escalade.

The lake house was an impulse buy, but Giles had fallen in love with the place when he'd first set his eyes on it. He wanted a place to get away from the city every now and again and he wanted a place that would be safe. Faith hadn't been there since she'd came back to Cleveland, but the house itself held a lot of memories she'd never forget. The house itself was rather large, seven bedrooms, two bathrooms and a three car garage Giles had plans to transform into a training room for Faith or any other slayers that came there to stay.

"Hey," Wood said as Faith climbed out of the truck. "What's wrong with him?"

"Got is ass kicked. Close call. Got staked, missed the heart. He's out of it," Faith replied. "He needs human blood."

"Faith-"

"Not directly from the source. I'll head to the clinic in Madison tomorrow and pick up some for him, but for tonight he needs to get inside and rest. Give me a hand?"

Wood nodded his head and helped her get Angel out of the back of the truck. Willow grabbed their bags, making a few trips to drop them near the front door. Angel was mumbling, groaning in pain as Faith and Wood dragged him into the house. It was quiet inside and Faith knew that everyone there was sleeping. Whispering to Angel to stay quiet, they managed to get him down to the basement and on the extra bed that was down there.

"How's the girls been?" Faith asked as she grabbed a few blankets off the shelf near the bed and placed them beside Angel. "They adjusting okay?"

"As best as can be expected."

"All the rooms taken?" Faith asked him, helping Angel get his jacket off. She checked his wound and it looked a lot better than it had a few hours ago. Wood just nodded his head and she sighed loudly, helping Angel lay down on his left side. "Where we gonna stay?"

"I'll have the girls bunk together tomorrow, freeing up a room for you and Willow."

"Guess we're crashing on the couch, huh?" Faith laughed a little and she checked the few windows that were in the basement to make sure they were still sealed and boarded up. "Hey, Angel?" She said and he groggily opened his eyes. "I'm gonna get you something to drink in a couple of hours, okay? Just try to stay comfortable."

"I'm already healing, Faith. I'll be fine."

"You look like shit," she said and he rolled his eyes. "I'll see you in a couple of hours, big guy. Just try to relax in the meantime, all right?"

Wood followed Faith upstairs and into the kitchen. She sat down at the table and sighed, smiling a little when Willow brought her a cup of hot tea she'd just made. Wood made himself a cup and joined them at the table.

"Who attacked him?" He asked. "Random or organized?"

"Organized. Vamps and demons working for our newest big bad," Faith replied. "You guys haven't seen anything out here, have you?"

"Nothing. It's been quiet since we arrived. How has your research on the book you obtained from Kraal been coming along?"

"Oh, the book!" Willow said excitedly and she pulled the book out of her bag and handed it to him. "Faith was touching it yesterday morning and we hadn't really been getting anywhere and somehow she managed to unlock the spell it was under. It changed."

"Interesting."

"It was exciting!" Willow smiled. "But it's still pretty complicated. A lot of the spells in there, they were long since considered to be myths, not to exist or be able to be used in our dimension. I'm working on trying to figure out how to reverse the spell that Azri'el has used on all the slayers, but we need to find the orb before I can try to do anything."

"Any idea on how we're going to locate this orb?" Wood asked and Willow shook her head no. "Faith, you were shown the orb, right?"

"Yeah, but I didn't see anything else but it."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Everything he showed me, I remember like they are my own memories, like I saw it all with my own eyes. All I saw was the orb, blue with those wisps of smoke going into it, the screams-everything else around it was dark, like it was locked away in a box maybe? I honestly don't have a fucking clue."

"A box?" Willow asked and she shrugged. "Is that what you think it was in?"

"Like I said, I don't know, Wil. There was nothing else but the orb and it was glowing."

Willow nodded and left it alone, sipping her tea gingerly while Wood looked through the book of spells. Faith took her cup of tea with her and headed out onto the back deck. Although it was almost dawn, it was still darker than dark. It was always darkest before dawn and the chill of the cold night air hit her as she sat down on the steps. The sounds of the waves licking against the small sandy beach transfixed her and reminded her of the last time she'd been there with Giles.

He was always happy there, at ease. It was a little piece of paradise and it gave him the quietness, the solitude and escape he craved. She remembered sitting out on the dock with him, fishing for hours on an end even though they never caught anything. It was little moments like that she would look back on and remember with a heavy heart. Giles had been everything to her after Sunnydale and even though they had their ups and downs, he was still there for her and she was his slayer, not Buffy.

Faith sipped her tea and stared out at the lake, the water black as the night sky and eerily calm. She heard the back door open and she didn't bother to see who it was. She already knew it was Buffy. She didn't even look at her as Buffy sat down on the steps next to her and sighed heavily. Faith clenched her jaw and took another sip of her tea, hoping that Buffy wasn't out there to get into it. It was far too late-or early really, and she was tired and hadn't slept at all since the other night.

"I heard you guys come in," Buffy said quietly. "How is he?"

"He'll survive."

"It-it was close, wasn't it?"

"Yeah."

Of course Buffy was concerned about Angel. They had some extremely heavy history together and some of it was more recent. Faith wanted to tell her off, telling her she had no right to be concerned about Angel right now, not after she abandoned him when he needed someone the most, and definitely not with her latest boyfriend there at the house. Faith rolled her eyes and kept her focus on the lake, noticing for the first time that the dock that was there the last time she and Giles stayed there was gone now.

Buffy was fidgeting, picking at the small tear in her jeans. Faith cast a quick glance her way and rolled her eyes again. Everything about Buffy's body language screamed that she was nervous just being out there with Faith alone, which caught Faith off guard. She was expecting a completely different side to Buffy, but definitely not something like this.

"You're quiet," Buffy remarked after a few long heavy minutes of silence.

"Don't have much to say."

"I don't believe that."

"Too tired to get into it with you right now, Buffy, so if you don't mind, I'd kind of like to be left alone right now."

"That's too bad," Buffy said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I came out here to talk to you. There's a few things I need to say to you right now."

Faith scoffed and turned to look at her. There were quite a few things she wanted to say to her too, but she kept her mouth shut. They had plenty of time to get into it with each other, do what they did best. They didn't talk, they argued or they fought it out. The few times they did manage to have a few talks, didn't turn out so well in the end. Buffy was famous for never giving Faith much of a chance to speak, never wanted to hear her out without having to add a few words of her own in there, effectively making the entire conversation more about her in the end.

"I want to apologize," Buffy said quietly and Faith raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I know that when things started with Azri'el, that we should've let you know. You should've known, but I was afraid. We didn't know hardly anything on him at first and I had no idea that it was happening to the other slayers around the world, not until it happened to Kennedy a day before Angel had called me to tell me what had happened to you too."

"Why'd you lie to him?"

"Huh?"

"Angel. Why'd you lie to him when he asked you if you were okay?"

"I don't know."

"That's bullshit, Buffy."

"Can I talk?" Buffy snapped. "I never told the others, not at first. They had no idea what had happened to me until about a week after when I was out with Dawn, Xander, and Sebastian and we were cornered by a group of zompires. I tried to fight, but the whole lack of being a slayer showed right away. If it hadn't have been for Kennedy being close by that night while she was out on patrol, we'd all be dead."

Faith nodded and sipped her tea, her thoughts racing as she waited for Buffy to continue. She was trying to understand why Buffy wouldn't say anything. She knew how it felt, how scared and hopeless, how weak and powerless she'd felt and still did feel. It was scary experiencing that pain and the emptiness that was left over afterwards. She wanted to tell Buffy that she was selfish, not just for keeping it from her friends, but from her too and every one else that had every right to know what was happening to them.

"We'd heard about Azri'el a couple of months ago. We tried to find anything and everything that we could on him, where he'd come from, what he was doing here. We still don't know enough. Some of the things that Andrew found out about this demon can work to our advantage. Azri'el is only vulnerable in his natural state, almost completely invincible when he's taken on another form. When he came to me, he was an old man and looked completely harmless, but he never changed in front of me."

"Did for me, guess that makes me wicked special, huh, Buffy?" Faith laughed bitterly. "You know what I don't get?" Faith asked her and she knew she couldn't bite her tongue for much longer, despite how tired she was and how much she didn't want to get into it with Buffy right now. "You couldn't even pick up the goddamn phone to call Willow when this shit happened to you. You really could care less about her or any of us, huh? You're really nothing more than a selfish bitch, aren't you? The only people that matter to you now are the ones who stuck by your side after all was said and done."

"Do not talk to me about things that you do not understand, Faith," Buffy said angrily and she stood up, but didn't walk away. "I told you, I was afraid of what was happening. I know that it was a mistake, I know that now. I was trying explain things and apologize for my lack of judgement in informing you and the others on this entire situation and you're throwing it back in my face, making it out to look like I just don't care anymore? That's just so typical of you."

"You done yet?"

"God, you really haven't changed, have you?"

"Doesn't matter, does it?" Faith snapped and she stood up, knowing now that no matter what she said, Buffy was not going to get out of her face unless she was the one who walked away first. "You said what you wanted to say and I heard you out. So, are you done yet?"

Buffy threw her hands up and turned her back to her. Faith was about to walk away, but Buffy's hand on her shoulder stopped her. She clenched a fist at her side and stopped. Buffy clearly wasn't done yet and clearly wasn't going to let her just walk away before they both ended up saying things they'd regret later. Not like that was anything new between them.

"Whether you like it or not, we're in this together now, Faith."

"Great, looking forward to it, B," Faith replied, fake smile planted on her face and her voice dripping with sarcasm. She shrugged Buffy's hand off of her and walked back inside.

Faith dumped what was left of her tea in the sink, her hands shaking as the placed the empty mug on top of a pile of dirty dishes in the other sink. Buffy had done what she always did, got right under her skin and it didn't matter what she said, it still aggravated her to no end. The house was quiet too aside from the sounds coming from the living room at the front of the house. Faith headed there, careful to be quiet and tried to navigate the dark hallway, the only light coming from the kitchen and the living room up ahead.

Willow sat on the couch, a grey wool blanket wrapped around her. The only light in the room came from the fireplace where the fire was lit but slowly dying. Faith headed over and placed a few small logs on top of the embers and stood back after she shut the screen, watching as the flames licked over the new pieces of wood.

"Can't believe her," Faith muttered under her breath. "Apologized, but made it about her of course."

"What?"

"Buffy," she said as she sat down next to Willow on the couch. "Came out to talk to me. Said she was apologizing only it didn't really turn out that way."

"Oh."

"Doesn't matter, she said what she had to say, too bad I learned how to bite my tongue for the most part and didn't get to say the things I wanted to say to her."

"For the most part?" Willow asked, raising a questioning eyebrow at her. "What do you mean by that?"

"Kind of gave her shit about not bothering to call you when Azri'el got to her a few weeks ago," Faith replied, shrugging it off. "It was nothing really. Like I said, there were a lot of things I wanted to say to her. Figured now ain't a good time to get into it with her. God, we haven't even been here for an hour, Wil."

Willow laughed and leaned against Faith's shoulder. "We should try to get some sleep, Faith. With everyone in the house, it won't be long before they wake up and there's noise and we can't sleep because you know Andrew is going to have a million questions about what we know and-"

"Yeah, I know," Faith sighed and she moved over to the other couch and grabbed the other wool blanket that was folded up neatly and left there for her. "Night, Wil."

"Night, Faith."

Faith pulled the truck to a stop and killed the engine. She hadn't been able to sleep, the couch was too uncomfortable for her to relax. Just before six, she slipped out of the house and drove to Madison, the town just a half hour's drive away. She'd been there before when she'd come to the lake house with Giles. The man who ran the clinic was an old friend of Giles', ex-Council, and she went there and hoped that he still ran the small clinic and that he had a least a few bags of O-positive in storage.

The man, who went by Dr. Frank, greeted her warmly, remembering her from the one time that Giles had taken her to town to introduce her to him. She ran into him just before he opened the clinic and after vaguely explaining the situation, he told her he'd give her what she'd come there for, but after they had breakfast and some coffee at the diner down the street. Faith filled him in on what was happening to the slayers and with Azri'el, wolfing down her pancakes and breakfast sausage quickly in between pauses in their conversation.

Before she'd left the clinic almost an hour after she'd got into town, Dr. Frank told her he'd keep an ear out for any information floating out there about Azri'el or anything that was remotely connected to him or the First Evil. With the half a dozen bags of O-positive in the small cooler sitting on the seat next to her, she drove back to the lake house, music blasting from the radio and the windows down despite how cold it was outside.

Climbing out of the truck, she grabbed the small cooler and headed around to the back of the house, hoping if she headed inside from the basement door, she'd avoid just about everyone in the house. She could hear them, just faintly, chattering in the kitchen as she used her key and unlocked the basement door.

"Faith?" Angel groaned as she shut the door quickly behind her. "Is that you?"

"I'm here," she said quietly as she approached where he still lay on the bed. "Got you something good to eat."

"I-I can't."

"I know you don't want to, but you have to, Angel. Taking a stake that close to the heart not to mention having your ass kicked? Pigs blood ain't gonna do it for you."

"It'll take a few days to heal, not a big deal."

"It is," Faith replied and she sat down next to him on the bed. She pulled out one of the bags and tossed it at him. "Now drink. Can't risk having you down and out for a couple of days, big guy. You're the strongest one we got here and our only chance in surviving if we get found out by Azri'el or any of his followers."

"No chance I can talk you out of making me do this, huh?"

Faith shook her head no even though she knew that there were consequences for Angel when drinking human blood, whether out of a bag or straight from the source. It stirred a different kind of hunger in him and ever since he had killed Giles, he had little to no control when it came to drinking human blood. But it was a risk they had to take and she knew that Angel knew he was useless being in the state that he was in now.

"How many did you get?"

"Six. Just in case. You're gonna need two right now, two later and..." She tried not to cringe as Angel tore open the end of the bag and sipped from it. "Two to mix with pigs blood, or whatever else we get from the butcher later to wean you off it."

Angel nodded and turned away from her, finishing off the bag and reaching blindly out for another. She handed him one and stood up from the bed, pacing along the cement floor, waiting for him to finish. She wanted to stay down there for a while longer, but Angel needed his rest. She just wanted to avoid going upstairs to face the others and the sound of laughter, especially when she heard Willow laughing, made her cringe.

"How ya feeling?" Faith asked when she heard Angel shuffle around on the bed. She turned and saw he was laying back down and his eyes were closed. "I'll let you sleep."

"Faith?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," he whispered, opening his eyes a little to look at her and he smiled. "But take that with you," he said as he pointed to the small cooler.

With a nod, she grabbed it and headed up the creaky wooden stairs. She had barely shut the basement door before she felt a pair of arms wrap around her tightly. Laughing, she gave Jamie a one-armed hug and eased the girl off of her. Jamie was thrilled she was there, she could see it just from looking at the girl, but she also still looked scared, tired, and everything else in between. Faith put the cooler down beside the fridge and looked around the kitchen. Willow was sitting at the table with Wood, Dawn and Andrew, dozens of books open in front of them, already getting knee deep in research and it was still early.

She didn't see Buffy, her latest beef-stick, Kennedy or Xander, but she knew they were there, she could hear them in the living room talking. That was the least of her problems, she'd just deal with the others later. Helping herself to a fresh cup of coffee, she walked over to the table and took a seat next to Willow, Jamie immediately following her and sitting down in the chair beside her.

"I missed you," Jamie said quietly. "I kept wanting to call, but Wood said it wasn't a good idea to be communicating too much unless it was important."

Faith looked over at Wood, glaring. "Yeah, well, a quick phone call wouldn't have made a difference," she said, mostly to him. "Missed you too, kid. Glad to see you're five by five."

"Barely."

"Something happen?" Faith asked her, her concern for the young girl clear. "You doing all right, Jamie?"

"It's so boring here," she groaned and Faith couldn't help but laugh. "This couldn't have happened during the summer when it was warm and we could've taken full advantage of being here!"

"Don't sweat it," she replied, still laughing at the look on Jamie's face. Typical teenager. Devastated because of boredom and not all because of the situation they were in.

"Faith," Dawn nodded at her, peering over the big book she was currently reading. "I'd say it's good to see you, but considering the circumstances-it's good to see you," she said with a cut and dry laugh. "You look good."

"You too, Dawn."

"Good? She looks fantastic considering what she's been through!" Andrew exclaimed and he blushed when all eyes at the table turned to look at him. "What? I can't give a beautiful woman a compliment?"

Faith chuckled, watching as Andrew turned a few different shades of red and pink before he returned to his normal color. She mouthed 'thanks' to him and sipped her coffee while she peered over at the book Willow was looking through.

"What are we looking at, Wil?"

"Origins of Azri'el," she replied. "Andrew managed to get his hands on this book. It's extremely rare. So rare that I remember when Giles-"

"I found it in a hidden archive once owned by the former Council," Andrew interrupted. "It was during an excursion in Croatia I went on in June. I just happened by chance to come across records that led me to the hidden archive."

"Oh really?" Faith asked, quirking an eyebrow. "And just how hidden was this place?"

"It was in a church, in the basement."

"Right."

"He had to trade some of our more valuable books for this one," Dawn pointed out as she rolled her eyes. "Thank god we have everything backed up or else we'd be stuck," she said as she tapped her closed laptop. "We told him not to do it, but Andrew has a mind of his own and he was determined to find anything on Azri'el that he'd do just about anything for it."

"Hey!"

"Giles would've done the same thing," Dawn continued. "He would've known how much more valuable this book was than the ones that were traded for it were and he would've taken necessary steps to assure that we still had all the information at hand. Despite our teasing, Andy, we all know you did the right thing. If you hadn't gotten it, we'd be in the dark."

"So," Faith said, clearing her throat. "Just what's the big deal about this book?"

"It's the One," Dawn replied. "The first book on demons that comes from the oldest known Hell dimension, including you know, resident evil number one, The First and all It's followers, disciples, things along that line."

"Sounds heavy."

"It is very valuable and very, very rare," Andrew said pointedly.

"I'm getting that. You guys make copies of this thing yet?"

"One step ahead of you," Dawn replied and she pulled out a disc from her laptop bag. She handed it to Willow with a soft smile. "I just finished it before we left. I would've emailed it to you, but I figured since we were coming here to work on this together-"

"Right," Willow nodded and she tucked the disc in her bag.

"How come it's in English?" Faith questioned. "Did it change like the book we have did?"

"The priests who were in possession of it told me that years ago it had changed on it's own and we have reason to believe that it happened around the time that we were in Sunnydale, facing the First and right about the time that Willow used the spell on the scythe to activate all the slayers in the world," Andrew said and he smiled, looking like he was proud of himself for knowing what he did. "So, in a way it did change, but not the way this one did," he said as he pointed out to the smaller book with half the cover gone. "That book is called incipiens finium, loosely translated to "beginnings of end". What that means, we're still not sure. Half the cover is missing and it wasn't translated when the spell was triggered."

As much as research normally didn't interest Faith, she knew she needed to find out what they all knew so far. It concerned her on a personal level this time-deeper than personal, it effected her soul, who she was and she needed to find a way to get that part of her back.

Andrew, being the same Andrew she remembered back in Scotland, took charge and started asking Faith questions about her encounter with Azri'el. He took notes, the questions detailed and when she told them of the visions she'd been shown, nobody said a word until she'd finished speaking. The whole discussion became about the orb she'd been shown and she tried hard to keep from showing her frustration when Andrew kept asking her again and again to describe every last bit of it in detail.

Their discussion went on for hours and by the time Faith had enough, Andrew had a few ideas where to start looking for the origin behind the orb that Azri'el had used and had shown to Faith. She felt mentally drained from talking to Andrew, Dawn, Willow and Wood about the visions that Azri'el had shown her. Talking about them made her see it all over again in her mind, just as clear as the moment she'd been shown them.

Faith headed out back for some fresh air and the sun provided a little bit of warmth against the cool, crisp air outside. Since early that morning, she hadn't seen or spoken to Buffy and she was surprised she hadn't come in to join in on the discussion at all. She kept hearing her speak, here and there, so she knew she'd been in the house the entire time. It made her wonder if she was purposely avoiding her now.

"That was pretty intense," Jamie said, joining her on the back deck. She'd been in the kitchen for most of it, listening quietly as she'd sat on the kitchen counter. "The things he'd shown you, how real you said it felt."

"Felt like I was right there," Faith replied quietly. "Intense doesn't even begin to describe it. Not even close."

"Can I tell you something?"

"Sure, you can tell me anything, kid."

"Carla has been getting in touch with some of the other girls, the ones who used to be here in Cleveland before the Seed was broken," she whispered and she inhaled sharply. "Wood doesn't know and he can't know. He told us it wasn't a good idea to try to contact anyone outside of well, us, right now."

"Why's that?"

"Trying to keep us safe," Jamie shrugged. "If you ask me, he's either hiding something or he's being paranoid as hell."

"Why would ya think he's hiding something?"

"He's been...acting strange. I mean, more so than usual. He doesn't say much and when he does, it's not, you know, normal."

"Not following ya here, Jamie," Faith sighed and she motioned for her to follow her down to where the dock used to be. "What's really going on here?"

"I don't know, maybe I'm just being paranoid too. This is a pretty scary situation to be in right now and none of us are really prepared for whatever can happen next."

"Jamie-"

"The way he just up and decided that we were leaving the house was all of a sudden," Jamie said quickly. "Told us to pack everything we could fit in the Escalade and next thing you know, there's a realtor at the house and it's up for sale, fully furnished except for what we were taking with us. Wood loved that house. Why would he do something like that?"

"I don't know, Jamie. A lot has happened in the last week. Did you try talking to him about it?" Faith asked and she laughed when Jamie pulled a face. "Right, I get it. I also get why you're thinking like this. But, look at it this way, all he's ever done was want to keep you girls safe, right? With Amelia gone, he probably freaked thinking he was gonna end up losing you or Carla and didn't want to take that risk. Look, before shit went down in Scotland with Twilight, he and Giles talked about what to do in a situation like this or similar to this."

"They did?"

"This house? It's not the only one, but it was one that was bought on impulse. Giles loved this place and not just cos of the view and the quiet. It's safe here. In more ways than I can even list off the top of my head. Giles and Wood, they agreed that if anything major started happening and they needed to get the hell outta dodge, they'd leave wherever they were, leave what they could behind and take what they could, and come to one of the safe houses."

"Are you lying to me, Faith?"

"Have I ever lied to you?"

"No-not that I know of."

"Wood isn't Azri'el, if that's what you're trying to get at here, Jamie."

"How the hell would you know that?" Jamie asked, clearly upset and angry. "You said he could change what he looked like. What better way to get in with us is by killing Wood and making himself look like him?"

"Jamie-"

"It's possible, isn't it? I'm not completely losing my mind here, am I?"

"Jamie, shut up," Faith said under her breath and she cast a glance back towards the house to make sure they were still out there alone. "Even when Azri'el changed his shape, the eyes stayed the same. I'm thinking that's one thing he can't hide."

"Unless he's smart and wears contacts."

"Doubt the contacts could hide the way his eyes are. They kind of glow, like tiny flames are there just under the surface."

Jamie stumbled back, hands going to her mouth as her eyes went wide in shock. Faith stepped towards her, raising a questioning eyebrow as she reached out for her. Jamie just shook her off, shaking her head as she dropped her hands to her sides.

"What, Jamie?"

"It's not Wood."

"What?"

"He's here," she whispered, the fear in her eyes so clear it chilled Faith to the core. "He's here in the house and we didn't even know."

"What are you talking about? Azri'el? How can he be here? I saw him change and haven't seen him since. There's no way he could be here with us without me knowing."

"It's him," she said under her breath. "It's him."

"Who?" Faith said forcefully, grabbing on to Jamie's shoulders. "Who is it? Tell me."

"Buffy's boyfriend, Sebastian."

Faith was seeing red and she let go of Jamie like she'd been burned. "No," she said shaking her head. "Not possible. Buffy would know there was something-"

"She doesn't know, she doesn't see that he's not human, that he's evil. You're the only one who saw him change, Faith. Maybe he still looks what he appeared to you last or something else."

"You're jumping to conclusions, kid."

"I'm not!" She yelled. "The second they got here and Buffy made the introductions, something felt completely off about him, wrong. You haven't even met him yet, have you?"

"No, don't really care to either."

"Well," Jamie scoffed and motioned towards the house. "Maybe you should."

Faith laughed. Had everyone gone and lost their minds? She had to take a step back and think about it for a second. Jamie had always been able to read people well, just like she could. It didn't take a slayer to be able to figure out if there was something not quite right with a person. It showed, sometimes in their body language, the way they'd smile or it showed in their eyes if one looked hard enough, deep enough.

Deciding she had to find out for herself, she told Jamie to stick close and to be ready to get Angel in a moments notice, or less than that. She led the way, marching back to the house. She walked through the back door, through the kitchen and into the living room, expecting to find Buffy and her beef-stick in there, but was disappointed only to find Xander and Kennedy lounging on the couches, the small TV on and playing an old movie.

With a shake of her head, Faith headed up the stairs quickly with Jamie close behind her. All the bedroom doors were open except for the one at the far end of the narrow hallway. She took a deep breath and asked herself if she wanted to do this. She couldn't defend herself and her last encounter with Azri'el had proven that she was definitely not strong enough to fight him off in any way if he chose to attack her.

She walked quietly down the hallway and listened as she approached the closed door. Faintly she could hear noises coming from inside and there was no mistaking what was going on behind that closed door. She turned to Jamie slowly and frowned.

"Go get Angel," she whispered. "Now."

Jamie nodded and made her way quickly back to the stairs, trying to remain as quiet as she could. Faith turned her attention back to the door and held her breath and listened. She could hear Buffy moaning and it made her insides churn. She almost didn't want to just barge in there, not knowing what exactly she'd be walking in on, but she had to. As long as he was in the house, none of them were safe, not even Buffy.

Faith could hear the others downstairs, they were talking and arguing as Angel came up from the basement. She tried the door and found it unlocked and she shoved it open hard, the door banging on the wall and startling Buffy and "Sebastian". Buffy scrambled to get off him, both were nearly naked and on the bed, heavily making out before Faith had interrupted them.

"What the hell is your problem, Faith?!" Buffy yelled, grabbing the sheets off the bed to cover herself as Faith stalked her way over to a very smug looking Azri'el lying on the bed.

"You think you're so fucking smart, don't you?" Faith yelled as she grabbed him by his tank top. "How long did you think it'd take before one of us figured it out?"

"Faith? What the hell are you doing? Get out of here!"

"Buffy, shut the fuck up!" Faith yelled at her and found herself being shoved, hard as Azri'el rose to his feet. "Fuck, that hurt!" She screamed at him as she picked herself up from the floor. "You fucking bastard."

"Now, now," he said in a smooth and calm voice. "No need for violence."

"Faith, get out of here!" Buffy yelled at her and she grabbed her by the shoulders. "What is your freaking problem? Have you lost your goddamn mind?"

"Just about to ask you the same question, Buffy!" Faith yelled right back and she grabbed her and spun her around to face her latest beef-stick. Before she could say a word, they were both thrown back, Buffy through the door and Faith against the wall. Clenching her now sore ribs, Faith struggled to get to her feet and she grinned. "You never answered my question, Azri'el. How fucking long did you think it'd be before one of us figured it out?"

"That's an interesting question. I always thought it'd be her and far sooner than this," he chuckled sinisterly, licking over his lips as he slowly approached Faith. "For five months I've had her fooled. Not once did she know who or what I am. Even as a slayer, she never got those, what did she call them, demon-y tingles whenever I was around her."

Buffy groaned in the hallway and Faith made the mistake in turning to see if she was okay. Azri'el chose that moment to grab her by the throat and slammed her hard against the wall, the plaster cracking as her head whipped back.

Dizzy, but not out for the count yet, Faith struggled against him, ignoring the pain that she was feeling everywhere. She could see the flickering flames just beyond the surface of his eyes, it burning brighter now since she'd enraged him.

"We're gonna win. Again," she said through gritted teeth. "You know we are."

"Are you now?" Azri'el laughed, the sound of his voice making her stomach turn. "I really love your optimism, Faith! Makes me wonder if I picked the wrong slayer, but hey, live and learn, isn't that the way the saying goes?"

Faith closed her eyes, feeling her chest tighten as her lungs struggled for air. And then she was falling to the floor and she could hear the sounds of a fight erupting in front of her. Groaning, she lifted her head and forced her eyes open and she could see Angel fighting him and looking like he had the upper hand.

"Saved by an Angel," Azri'el laughed, his voice booming so loudly it made Faith's ears ring. "But not quite," he sneered and he threw Angel clear out the window, shattering it.

Faith scrambled to her feet and ran to the window, watching as Angel lay there unconscious on the ground, his entire body smoking. She spun around just in time to see Azri'el blowing her a kiss before he disappeared into thin air.

Ignoring the others as she pushed past them to get out of the bedroom as they all spilled in, she ran as hard and fast as she could down the stairs and out the front door. She grabbed on to Angel's jacket, the tears streaming down her cheeks as she struggled to pull him out of the sunlight. He wouldn't budge. She didn't have the strength. Not even the adrenaline coursing through her body now was enough to save him.

"Come on, Angel," she yelled at him as she hit his chest with her fist. "Wake up!"