Faith tried to ignore the boy as she went towards the computer. He probably wasn't too much younger than she was, but he felt younger, as if he hadn't seen as much, suffered as much, been petrified as much. Granted, that could have been deceiving, but it was the impression she got. Lorrie was trying to explain about vampires and demons being real, and he was apparently taking it pretty hard. Maybe he'd be able to cope with it, and maybe he'd just try to repress the whole visit.

Papers had blown everywhere, but the computer hadn't fallen to the floor, and seemed to be just fine when she turned it on. Grinning, she connected to the internet, and decided to check for any new emails. A few moments later, Faith sighed, deleting something written in weird computer symbols, an advertisement for Spanish travel discounts, three variations on discount drugs, a 'barely legal teens' porn ad, and something about 'cheep health insurnse' from somebody identified as 'grtiplnnnzt.

There as one from Willow. Taking a deep breath, Faith opened it.

To: BackFromtheDark5x5…

From: RedRose99…

Subject: Re: Problems

Hey Faith

Giles said that he'd heard of the Door somewhere, muttered something about Ethan and strange herbs, and pulled out a big stack of books. We've found a couple mentions, and apparently, it's some impressive thing that has to be made along specific rituals, takes years to build, and lots of mojo. Good news – no death or blood sacrifice required. When the circumstances are right – no, we haven't found what that means – it can open to other places, permit spirits to pass through, and 'do wondrous thynges.' Important thing – it can't be moved without a lot more mojo and some big precautions. Well, it can, but then it's just a door and not magical anymore, so that doesn't count.

But we've got some weird problems here, some nasty stuff, so we have to try to prevent a baddie from making an army of demonic hybrid cyborgs, so I have no idea how much we'll be able to look into this Door for you.

Xander turned red and muttered something that I couldn't decipher, and his girlfriend – I don't think you met Anya – demands that I a) thank you for teaching him how to give good orgasms and b) tell you that if you try to make another play for him she'll cause your intestines to turn into a writhing mass of half starved vipers. To which I said eeewwww. That's Anya.

Buffy's… umm. Buffy's not happy, and I think that's all I'm going to say. Joyce says to take care of yourself and send her a postcard if you're not going to be coming back.

And there's a lawyer trying to find you. Something about you being mentioned in the final will and testament of Mayor Wilkins? He gave me a card, and there's an email. I don't know what that's all about. SPritchard Wolfram&Hart . law if you want to contact him. (Spaced so the internet doesn't hide it for you.)

Willow

Faith grinned, feeling slightly better. It wasn't much, and really didn't tell her much new about the door, but it was a sign that she was being given a cautious chance, at least from Red and Giles. They were the ones who could do the research part anyhow. She didn't remember the name 'Anya' at all, and she sounded rather strangely vicious, but hey… Good to hear Xander was moving onwards with life. A writhing mass of half starved vipers… Vicious and vindictive sounding. Fortunately, she had Mort, and didn't need to go back to Sunnydale or make a play for Xander again.

Leaning back, she pondered the rest of what Willow had written. A lawyer was looking for her. Did that mean… Dick had mentioned something about putting her in his will, leaving his stuff to her. Was the lawyer his? Maybe if she met him in another dream, she could ask. An army of demon hybrid cyborgs… She decided not to ask, some things were just too bizarre sounding.

Yawning, she went upstairs, glancing at the lump that was Pyro under blankets on the uncomfortable couch, and shook her head. Life was weird sometimes. She'd feel better snuggled up next to Mort.

End part 38.

Faith leaned back, the leather of the chair creaking even as it spun around. It was probably the best thing about Dick's office, and she grinned as he tried to line up the shot for the golf ball and the little cup. Putting her hands behind her head, she waited.

"I'm still not sure that he's good enough for you." Dick's voice was calm as he putted the golf ball, missing by about a half inch to the left.

"Any particular reason?" Faith asked, realizing that he had to be meaning Mort. "He seems pretty nice, and he's not leaving me to go Slaying on my own."

"I suppose there is that." Dick sighed, and shook his head. "He's very useful for backup. But are you really sure that you want to involve yourself with a petty criminal and illegal immigrant?"

Leaning forward, Faith picked up a cookie and a glass of milk. "Would it be better if he was an illegal immigrant and criminal mastermind?"

"Absolutely. Why not go for the top?" He grinned, and picked up his own glass of milk.

"Because Magneto's old, shriveled up, and in prison?" Faith joked. "Besides, I don't know if he'd count me as human or mutant. Where do Slayers fall anyhow?"

"Hummph." He sipped at the milk. "Is this properly pasteurized?"

"You're dead, and this is a dream. I don't think you need to worry about germs anymore." Faith murmured. "Wait, there was something I wanted to ask you. Your lawyer, was it someone at Wolfram & Hart? Pritchard?"

"Yes, Saul Pritchard. The best lawyer that I've ever had, and he's been managing my accounts for eighty years now. Maybe there's something about that inheritance." He looked smug.

"I'll have to talk to him after we get this Door to Heaven and Mistress Vamp thing solved." Faith rubbed at her head, her fingers feeling cool from the glass of milk. "I just hope we don't need to read some book in a language nobody reads."

"Don't worry, Faith. I've got a few connections left, and I'm trying to arrange something." He patted her hand gently.

The dream faded, and Faith snuggled closer to Mort.

Eventually, morning came, and Faith dragged herself out of bed, shuffling towards breakfast. Pyro was still there, not quite as irritating. Maybe he was just still half asleep, or maybe Lorrie was having a good effect on him after all. It was quiet as they ate eggs and toast.

"If someone else could get the dishes, I'm going into town to pick up a few things. A newspaper, and more coffee and bandages." Tanya stated.

As her words were met with various noises and nods, Tanya left, the keys to the car jangling in her hands.

"So, a school just for mutants?" Lorrie asked. "Are there a lot of people there?"

"Not really." Pyro shrugged, looking back at his plate. "There aren't too many mutants, and a lot of people are scared of us."

"You don't seem scary to me." Lorrie offered, a small smile on her face. "And apparently not to Faith either."

Pyro winced. "Yeah, the knife and glare was a give a way to that."

"So, if you're a mutant, what's so different about you? Besides being a bit cuter than average?" Lorrie asked.

Faith blinked, and looked at Mort, whispering a question. "Is it just me, or is she flirting?"

"She is, she is." He shook his head, and peered into his empty coffee mug. "Need a refill?"

Pyro produced his lighter, and flicked his thumb over it with the smooth motion that suggested lots of practice. A wisp of amber flame popped up, and as he looked at it, it leapt away from the lighter, turning into a birdlike shape. Soaring around the table, it left a ripple of warm air in its wake. Smugly, he explained, "I play with fire."

"Ohhh." Lorrie was staring at the bird. "Cool."

"I bet that would be handy against vamps." Faith agreed, watching the little firebird. It certainly explained the lighter that he'd had when running from Tanya and Lorrie. Obviously, he was a lot more dangerous than he looked. "They're flammable, and fire's one of the ways to kill them. It works for most demons, but they tend not to burn as easy."

"And this has turned into a really freaky breakfast conversation." He tucked the lighter back into his pocket, and allowed the bird to wisp away into nothingness. He stared at the last corner of toast. "I thought it was strange enough to be a mutant. To have people freaking out over that. But the only mutant here is him, and nobody's freaking out yet, not about the mutant part. Now, you're telling me about vampires and demons, and that's just… "

"Strange and scary beyond words?" Lorrie offered. "I remember when I first learned about scary stuff out there. Of course, I was only eight."

"I don't care if you're a mutant." Faith offered. "I don't even care if you're human, as long as you don't cause me any problems."

"Which brings me back to the demons are weird part." He muttered. "So, a magic door brought me here? Why?"

"Mort popped though it to try to talk to someone. He left it open because otherwise he'd be stuck over there, and the reception might be a little too warm for his liking." Faith shrugged. "You wandered in, and here you are."

"But why was he over there?" Pyro asked.

"There's a vampire trying to create an army." Faith spoke, the words low and soft. "She's decided that vampires made from mutants will be superior and more effective troops, so she's hunting them."

"And killing them." Mort added.

"Ahhh." Pyro shivered. "Yikes. So you… the Professor?"

"He listened, I just don't know if he believed me." Mort explained.

"It sounds pretty far fetched, except that I saw those guys turn to dust last night." Pyro muttered.

"Yeah, that does have a tendency to give a bit of weight to the idea of vampires." Mort agreed.

The rest of the morning seemed fairly quiet, with Lorrie and Pyro sort of flirting as they washed the dishes and Faith and Mort trying to put back into order the scattered papers and boxes from last night.

"I'm still a bit worried about hat-vamp." Faith admitted.

"Hat-vamp?" Mort repeated, one eyebrow raising. "That can't be his name."

Faith smirked. "We didn't do introductions. He just said that he was there because the idiot minions couldn't read a map, and that he wanted to make sure the Mistress got what she deserved."

"Is that supposed to be good for her, or revenge?" Mort asked.

Faith paused. "Come to think of it, I don't really know."

"It could make a big difference." Mort offered. "If he's…well, he's probably not on our side regardless, but if he's not on her side…"

"That would be nice." Faith agreed. "He felt pretty strong. And his eyes were glowing, so he's definitely not your average vamp."

"A mutant?"

"Maybe. Or possibly a mage." Faith shook her head. "We have to remember that he's dangerous, and not our friend. And she's definitely dangerous, willing to kill horribly, and now she knows where we're living."

"That can't be good." Mort grumbled.

"I know. So, back to the roof for us?" Faith cracked her knuckles, and picked up a hammer. "We might as well work on fixing the house while we worry."

End part 39.