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The Slayer	By : norwalker Category: BtVS AU/AR > FemmeSlash - Female/Female Views: 19613 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 28
- 29
- 30
The Slayer
By Norwalker
Part 29 of a multi-part story.
Summary: What if Faith came first? If she were the slayer before Buffy( if Buffy even became a slayer)? Just my take on what might have happened.  AU, of course.
Pairings: Not sure yet. You might be surprised.
Rating: M( R )
Disclaimer: Characters depicted in this story, except for original characters created by the author, are the sole property of Mutant Enemy, Fox and Joss Whedon.

1
Faith rushes downstairs, making a beeline for the front door. Her face says it all: She's had enough of this place, and just wants to get the hell out of here.
Having a fight with Cordelia? Just the shit sauce on her crap sundae.
God, is the girl clueless, or what? Doesn't she see what's going on around here, anyway? Crazy blonde living in the next room, hello! And, ummm… did I mention her daddy is 12 levels of scary? But when she asked about what happened today, and I told her, she got all weird. Like I was delusional. Oh yeah, and she lives with that and ISN'T? God! Then she starts attacking ME! Telling ME I'm just insane. That her daddy isn't some kind of ….
She is out through the door, still wrapped in her thoughts, when a voice brings her jarring back to reality.
"Leaving so soon?"
Startled, she looks up to see Cornell Chase blocking her path, arms crossed. His head is tilted slightly, and he has an amused expression on his face.
"I mean, isn't it usually custom to stay the night after beating and fucking my daughter?" His smirk grows wider. "You know, so she really, really believes you love her?"
"Shit! Where the hell did you come from?" Faith has a major case of the creeps, standing there looking at him.
"I could ask you the same thing…" Cornell smiles, and suddenly reaches out and grabs Faith.
All the more strange since he's 10 yards away from her.
"… but then I'm not rude!"
Faith suddenly finds herself flung away, flying through the air. She hits a tree, and stunned, slides to the ground.
Cornell is there, standing over her.
"What the fuck!" Faith says, groggily, looking up at him. "How the hell did you…?"
"Questions, always questions," Cornell shakes his head slowly.
He grabs her, and lifting her up, holds her at arm's length. Normal arm's length.
"You really are a snoop, you know that?" He shakes her, and slaps her. "I really hate snoops. But you know what I hate worse?"
"Your nose?" Faith, scared, cracks wise. "I mean, you gotta admit, it's pretty ugly…"
"Smart too. I hate smart." Suddenly another … arm?… wraps around her neck, and slowly starts to squeeze.
To Faith, it feels like her neck is wrapped with a living steel bar, slowly crushing her windpipe. She starts to turn red, and her eyes start to bug out.
"No… not yet…"
Suddenly the 'arm' is gone. Faith gasps, drawing a breath. She almost chokes when she swallows.
"As I was saying, before you so rudely interrupted me," He grabs her arm, his fingers digging into her flesh, "what I hate more than snoops are snitches. Not nice telling Cordelia about our little chat…" He waggles his index finger in front of her face.
Faith winces, his fingers feeling like the steel. Seeing his finger, she leans in and bites it, to get him to let her go.
Cornell, not expecting that, releases her and roars in pain.
Faith takes that as her cue, and turns, running for her life. She doesn't get too far before she feels herself being lifted off the ground.
Aw, crap, doesn't this guy EVER stop?
"Now, now, no need to be that way," Cornell brings her back, holding her above his head. "That really was rather stupid, girl. But you're not very strong in the thinking department, are you?"
"You son-of-a-bitch! Let me down!" Faith's legs are flailing as she tries to free herself. "When I get down, I'm so gonna…"
"What?" Cornell drops her, and she lands unceremoniously on her ass. She's up in a second, facing him. "Come on, Faith. I'm right here. Go for it!"
Cornell opens his arms wide in invitation.
Faith takes it, and launches herself at him. She keeps going…right through him, losing balance, and winding up on the ground. She starts to get up, but is held down by a foot on her back.
"Don't struggle, stupid. It's pointless. You can't do anything to me. Your watcher, all your little friends? Not a thing. You're outmatched in every department, so just get used to it. Now, let me give you some news. You're going to die…"
"Fuck you!" Faith struggles on the foot, but it's like a 20 ton weight in on her back. "If I get my hands on you, I'll…"
Cornell shakes his head. "You'll do nothing, just like you've been doing all along. You're going to die, so get used to it. It's foretold, and frankly, I just want it to happen. So, it's going to happen."
"But, thought I'd give you something to think about before the blessed event. I don't want you obsessing on your pending death, you see. So, if you've got more than one brain cell, start using it. Think, girl. Why didn't your watcher tell you what I am?"
"He doesn't know, moron! That's why I'm here… to check you out, dig up the dirt."
"Really? Well, how amusing. But, as you're learning the hard way, things aren't always what they seem. And people don't always tell you everything they know. And people…" He makes a clicking sound with his tongue. "… they aren't always honest with you. You  might want to snoop into the people around you, rather than bothering me. You might be surprised at what you learn …" He lifts her off the ground, and brushes her off, almost solicitously, "… Face it, slayer. You're only cannon fodder. This is a war, and old war going back before time. You're only a soldier, and if you fall, another one rises. So why should they care about you? Think about it…"
"You're full of it," Faith bats away his hands, taking over the brushing off. "We're friends. Friends care about each other. What, don't you have any friends? Gee, can't understand why…"
Cornell chuckles. "Amusing, very amusing. Friends only help you out of their own self interest. They'll betray you on the drop of a hat. Be smart, trust no one… especially one you call Angel…" He cocks his head. "Don't ever forget, he's a vampire, whatever act he puts on. He hunts your kind, and you would make a tasty snack, I'm sure."
"You'll excuse me if I don't buy into your line of crap."
"Good, don't. But just check out what I've been telling you…"  Cornell seems to fade, becoming translucent. Faith can see the lights of the house behind him through him. "You can go now, we're done. Oh, and if you don't mind, don't come back. I really don't like you."
"What? No goodnight kiss?" Faith flips him the finger.
"Oh, don't worry, I brought along a little something to amuse you…"
Cornell fades out just as something strikes Faith from behind, sending her flying. For the second time tonight, she lands face first in the dirt, and wonders why she can't just keep her mouth shut. She yelps when something grabs her hair, pulling her head up.
"Hello, Slayer. We never did that that dance at the cotillion, did we?"
She's pulled to her feet, by her hair, and finds she's facing Spike, vamped out and grinning at her.
"Of course, by the looks of things, seems you prefer shagging birds…" He slaps her across the face. "What's wrong, pet? Cat got your … OH FUCK!"
Faith kicks up, her foot landing between Spike's legs. He drops her, and grabs between his legs.
"You're the best he's got?" Faith, landing on her feet, brings her boot up to kick him in the face. It never makes it, however, as Spike grabs her foot and shoves her back, causing her to flip back and land on her back. In a moment, he's on her, pinning her shoulders.
"You should do your reading, pet. Vampires might not like pain, but they can work through it. How's that go for slayers?" He head butts her. "Still feeling cocky?" He head butts her again. "C'mon, love, give me something here. I'm trying to learn more about your kind…"
Faith, a little dizzy, still manages to break his grip, and grabbing his arms, throws him over and behind her. Scrambling to her feet, she turns to him.
Spike is already on his feet, facing her. He grins at her.
"Now, that's more like it. I like a bird that fights back…" He rushes her, arms out.
Faith sidesteps him, and hooks a foot under his, causing him to fall to the ground. She leaps on top of him. Sitting on his back, she boxes his ears with her fists.
"BLOODY HELL I HATE THAT!" Spike roars. He bucks, flinging her off his back.
Faith flies through the air, landing heavily on her back, the wind knocked out of her.
Spike is on her in a flash, his legs pinning her arms this time.  He glares down at her.
"The master says I can't kill you, but he didn't say I couldn't have a little fun with you…"
Holding her down, she begins to pummel her face with his fists. Faith struggles beneath him, but he holds her tight. Finally, satisfied, he stops. He leans over her bruised and swelling face, and grins. "So, how you feeling now, bitch?"
Faith can barely open her eyes. But she hawks, and manages to spit in his face.
"You bleeding sod! What the hell…" He wipes her spittle off his face, and a malicious grin spreads across his face. "I'm going to enjoy this. Get back at you for that nasty skull cracking you gave me at your cotillion…"
He starts to slap her face, back and forth, with some brute force.
"By the by, gotta message for you, pet."
"Fuck you," She whispers through her swollen mouth.
"You wish. Just thought you'd like to know  …" He begins to punch her again.
"Angel sends his love."

* * *
Buffy leans out of the window from above, looking down on the yard.
She watches quietly as Spike makes Faith his favorite punching bag. Her face is expressionless, giving no reaction to what is happening below. Her eyes, however, are focused and intent, as if watching a favorite program.
"Is this the best they've got?" Spike says, kicking at Faith's inert body. "I thought this would actually be a fight. God, they aren't making slayers like they used to…" He kicks her again, hard, in the side.
Buffy smiles tightly, watching the action. Well, dumb ass, maybe because that isn't really a slayer…
"God, this is boring. It's no fun when they don't fight back…" Spike grumbles, picking up the unconscious Faith and slinging her over his shoulder. "What a bloody waste of time…"
He carries her out and down the yard, disappearing into the gloom.
Buffy's smile widens, and she withdraws back into the house, a look of grim satisfaction on her face.

2

"I don't see anyone..."
Willow, face pressed against the glass of school doors, looks a little distressed.
"He said Giles would be here, didn't he?" She says over her shoulder, while still trying to see something ... anything... inside.
"I think so..." Xander shrugs, "He said he'd be doing research... and I figured Giles... research... that means library..."
Xander appears a little sheepish.
"You didn't ask him?" Willow sounds a little irritated.
"Well, you were right there, too! You didn't ask him, did you?"
"No..." Willow frowns. "Where do you suppose he'd be?"
"At his apartment?"
"You think?" Willow takes a last look. "I guess that makes sense..." She turns, and joins Xander on the steps. "Still, I thought he'd be here..."
"It's kinda of hard to think of G as having a life outside the library... I mean, a home and stuff..." Xander shrugs.
"Stuff?"
"You know... stuff..." Xander looks a little squirmy. "Life stuff..."
They start down the road towards Giles' apartment. A little smile tugs at the corners of Willow's mouth.
"Life stuff, huh?" Willow says. "Like what?"
"Oh, god, I don't know. We're talking about Giles here. You know, hobbies and well..."
"Are you talking about dating? You think maybe Giles has a girlfriend?"
Xander shudders. "Please. I mean... Giles? It's kind of against the law of nature..."
"Xander Harris! That's horrible!" Willow mockingly scolds him. "Giles is a very nice man. Why wouldn't he have a girlfriend or two? He's kind of cute..."
Out of the corner of her eye, she can see a mixture of surprise, disgust and jealousy in Xander's expression. She giggles to herself, just a little.
"... in an old guy, British kind of way. Not my type, but some women find that attractive..."
Again, she giggles to herself when she sees relief wash over Xander's face.
They walk along quietly awhile, when Xander breaks the silence.
"Will?"
"Hmmm?" Willow is a little distracted, thinking about other ways she can make Xander a little jealous. He's been way too comfy lately. Have to keep him on his toes. "What?"
"I was just thinking..."

"

That's always dangerous..." Willow teases him.
Ha, Ha... anyway, I was thinking. Do you think maybe Giles isn't doing any research?"
"What're you saying, Xander. Angel said he..." She trails off, the corners of her mouth turning down. "You think he was lying to us?" She sounds irritated.
"Maybe not lying... ok, yeah, I think maybe he was lying." Xander gives up, bracing for the coming explosion.
Willow stops dead, perfectly still, staring out and down the street. Her face is tight.
"He wanted to get rid of us. He just said those things to get rid of us."
"It's not like he asked us to come along in the first place, Will," Xander reminds her. "We were kind of sneaking around, following him."
"If they kept us in the loop, we wouldn't have to sneak around..." Willow starts to rev herself up, then suddenly stops, letting out a breath. "Oh, forget it. I'm tired. I'm going home." She shakes her head, as if clearing it. "See you tomorrow."
She starts down the street when Xander catches up to her.
"You're leaving? Giving up, just like that?"
"Xander, I know I'm stubborn. You don't need to rub it in. I guess it's just the way I am. However, I'm not stupid, either, and that last anvil did it. They don't want our help. Great. So, I'm done butting my head against a wall."
"Will, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought we'd go and see if Giles was working at his place..."
"What's the point, Xander? My eyes are swimming from reading obscure old books written by crazy old men about things that ...." She puts up a hand. "I don't want to think about it anymore. See ya tomorrow, Xander."
"Look, Will, I'm not all about the reading of dusty old books, but if we're helping..."
"Are we? No one ever tells us we are, so I gotta think, we're not."
She turns, and leaves him standing there, watching her disappear into the gloom.
"Hey, wait up," Xander runs after her, catching up with her. "Don't I get to go along?"
Willow stops and smiles at him, then links her arm through his.
"Always," she says, as they make their way down the street.

* * *
"Ok, Xander, cut it out!"
Willow and Xander have just reached the sidewalk in front of Willow's house.
"Cut what out?" Xander says, innocently. "What're you talking about?"
She gives him an 'I know what you're doing' look. She gently pokes her finger in his chest.
"I love you, Xander. You know that…"
"Well, I love you too, Will. Is that what you want me to cut out?"
"Don't even think that, Xander Harris!" Willow says, her mouth turning down in a frown. "If you'll let me finish…"
"I'm not stopping you!" As if that were possible!
"Thanks," Willow says, somewhat sardonically. "As I was saying, I love you, but subtle? Not your strong suit. You've been trying to get me to change my mind since we left the school."
"Moi? Try to change your mind?" That would be a miracle and a half!
"Yes, you… and I love you for trying, but I've made up my mind. I'm done with the craziness…"
"Well, and a big 'bout time from me…"
Willow just gives him a look. Xander wilts, just a little.
"Ok, maybe I was… I was trying to get you to keep your options open. I mean, it's pretty much been always you that was gung ho to be involved in this, and now all of a sudden, you're changing your mind? Maybe you haven't really …"
"Haven't really?"
"Well…you know I love you, Will. And I think you're probably the smartest person on the planet, but maybe you haven't thought this thing entirely through…"
"Haven't thought this through?"
"Well, I mean, sometimes … don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing you here…"
"Not criticizing…" She catches his look. "Got it."
"But well, sometimes, you act … well, you're not always… I mean…"
"What, Xander?"
"Sometimes…" Xander takes a deep breath, "Sometimes you just act without really thinking about it." He says the last in a rush, hoping she'll not hear it clearly.
"I see…" Willow's brow darkens, and Xander's heart sinks. "So, you think I'm impulsive…?"
"I didn't say that…." Xander looks pained. He knows how Willow hates the 'I' word.
"You all but did, Xander," Willow sighs. "Look, I know it may look like I'm being impulsive here, but I'm really not. From day one, they haven't wanted us around. Ok, I was stubborn, because I thought, this being our town, we should be involved with what's going on. I mean, you and me, we've lived here forever, right?"
There's a brief silence as Willow waits for an answer.
"Did you want me to answer that?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh. Yeah, right. Forever."
"Precisely, and well, this is our town. If something bad's happening, we want to be in on it, right? No, wait that came out wrong. I mean, we want to be in on stopping it, right?"
"Uh-huh," Xander doesn't sound so sure.
"But pretty much, the so called 'experts' thought we were pretty much idiots…"
"That's kind of harsh, Will."
"Maybe, but true. They thought we were in the way, and they haven’t been exactly subtle in letting us know that. And Faith, she's the worst. 'I'm the slayer, and I know best and I'm boss of you all and you'll do what I say, when I say, HOW I say, or you're out'. Not in so many words, but that's what she meant. I mean, she's been sweating our butts off, to get us 'in fighting shape', yet have we once been included in any of the stuff going on? Don't think so, do you?"
Xander shakes his head.
"Exactly. Why? Because they think we're in the way and just get in the way if they include us in any of the important stuff. So, we're regulated to research and stuff. Ok, I'm not exactly Action Girl, but I do like being a part of things… " She notices Xander looking over her shoulder, and makes an impatient noise. "Are you even listening to me, Xander Harris?"
"Will," Xander points towards the backyard. "There's something in your driveway…"
Willow turns, and raises a brow. "Well, yes, there is. It's a car, Xan. Driveways have those, sometimes."
"No, not the car. By the car, but further back… do you see it?"
Willow peers down the driveway, trying to see what Xander's seeing. The streetlight behind them isn't helping, making the shadows appear darker.
"Xander, I think you've been drinking too many Red Bulls. I don't see…"
She trails off, suddenly seeing something lying on the driveway. It looks for all the world, from this angle, like a trash bag.
"… I see it. I think it's just a trash bag. Mom or Dad must've …"
Her voice dies away when both of them hear a faint groan, coming from the direction of the 'trash bag'. They look at each other, and then slowly, cautiously, they approach the heap.
Suddenly, Willow takes off in a run, calling over her shoulder. "Xander, call 911. It's a person, and they're hurt…" She runs down into the gloom.
"The heck with that…" Xander takes off after her, not thinking about anything except that whoever did the hurting might still be lurking in the backyard.
Something steps out of the shadows, grabbing them  each by an arm with a grip like iron.
"Well, then, I was wondering if anyone would show up for her…" A voice with a British accent says in the darkness.
"What the…" Xander tries to break away, but the grip is like a vise.
"Let go of me!" Willow takes  a swing, hitting something hard and cold. She gets a kick in the leg for her trouble. "OW!"
"Mustn't be kicking like a prat, now should you?" The voice says, pulling them back towards the street.  They emerge into the light, and both Xander's and Willow's face goes pale.
"You!" Xander says, still struggling with the grip. "You were one of those vampires at the Homecoming. I know you!"
"Spike!" Willow hisses angrily.
"You remembered!" Spike grins. "I'm touched."
"W-What're you doing here?" Willow suddenly feels a chill. Maybe I waited one day too late to get out…
"Don't you touch her!" Xander raises his fist. "You even try to bite her, and I'll…"
"You'll what?" Spike twists his arm around, causing Xander to yell. "Scream like a girl?"
"YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!" Willow kicks out at Spike, hitting him in the shin.
Spike grunts, and for a brief second, loosens his grip on her. That's enough. Willow, by instinct and the training she's been sweating over so lately, grabs the chain around her neck, pulling it off and shoving something into Spike's face.
"Get back!" She cries, all the while fumbling to get a stake out of her bag.
"What?" For a moment, Spike, confused, backs off. Then he gets a good look at what Willow has thrust at him. He laughs.
"What's that supposed to do, Red?" Amused, he shoves Xander away, turning to face Willow.
"It's a star of David. A holy object…. Why aren't you…" She shoves it at him, touching his cheek with it. "Why aren't you…"
"Burning? Well, Red, I wasn't Jewish while I was … human. So, this?" He grabs it, and squeezes the star in his hand. He waits for a moment, then opens it. "See? No effect. Now, you being Jewish…"
He suddenly grabs her, hauling her in.
"… this might have some effect. What say we test it out?"
"Hey, moron!"
Spike turns his head, seeing Xander up and coming at him.
"What…"
"How about this?"
Xander shoves the cross in into Spike's face, causing him to hiss and curse, and he lets go of Willow, backing off.
"Does that work for you?" He advances on Spike. His other hand has a stake, one he pulled from his belt.
"Bleeding idiot! Put that thing away, you could…"
"I think you should get out of here now…" Willow has also grabbed a stake from her purse.
Both of them move on Spike as a team, flanking him.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Spike says, his tone almost a whine. "You're not supposed to fight back!" He backs off a step, looking at them warily. "You're just a couple of…"
"What? Kids? Well, get a clue, fang boy. We're not gonna just take it anymore!" Xander says, advancing on him.
"Back off, you sod! I could kill you faster than you can …"
"Maybe, but then I'd shove this stake through your heart…" Willow says, her face hardening. "So, maybe YOU better back off, Spike."
Spike quickly assesses the situation, looking from one to the other for weakness. Instead, all he finds is a united front; a wall of resolve if you will. He frowns.
"What the hell is wrong with you two? It's not supposed to go this way!" He snarls, not liking what he sees.
"Yeah, well, maybe it's like Xander says," Willow grabs something else out of her purse. "Maybe we're just not gonna take it anymore!" She holds up what she grabbed: A vial of holy water. "I'm thinking you could use a bath. What do you think, vampire?"
Willow cocks her arm back, as if to toss it.
"I think we should be doing less of the talking, and more of the killing," Xander, face set, rushes at Spike.
Spike, cornered, suddenly explodes out, shoving Xander to the side, and runs, not liking one little bit what's come down.
Since when do rabbits suddenly turn on the wolf and attack? He wonders, rushing towards the car in the driveway. In one leap, he's on its roof. He turns, facing them.
"What the hell is your problem?" Spike hisses. "She's alive… I could've killed her!"
"Only because we happened along…" Xander says. "I say, we rush him!"
"Idiot! I was waiting for someone to show up. I could've just dumped her. But I've got a message for the Slayer…"
Willow's eyes go wide. She looks at the crumpled heap on the driveway.
"That's FAITH?"
"Ah, you're the smart one, aren't you? Well, yes, that's your dear slayer. Now, listen up, monkey girl. We don't like her snooping around in our business, me and Angelus, and you tell her to back off, or she's not gonna be so lucky next time. Got it?"
"Angelus? You mean Angel?" Xander growls. "I knew I didn't like that guy…"
"Ah, give one for the moron. Now, see she gets the message, understand?"
"I think I'd rather deliver you… in a bag…" Xander reaches out, trying to grab at Spike's legs.
"No-no! No grabbing, boy!" He kicks out, catching Xander in the head with the toe of his boot.
Xander reels back, stunned.
"Xander!" Willow rushes towards Xander. "You get out of here before I…" She threatens to throw the vial of blessed water at him.
"Well, must be off now. Things to do, people to kill. You won't forget my message, will you?"
Without another word, he turns and disappears up the street.
"Xander? Are you ok?" Willow is all solicitous, checking out Xander's head. "Did he hurt you?"
"I'm fine…" He glances down when he hears a faint groan. "Will…"
"Oh god, I forgot about her…" Willow rushes over to Faith, kneeling by her.
"If I see that son of a bitch again, I'm going to…"
"No time for that now! Call 911… She might be dying!"
Xander pulls out his cell phone and dials. He comes over to where Willow is kneeling by Faith.
"Yes, send an ambulance. She's pretty…."  Xander covers the phone. "Is she…?"
"Yes, she's breathing… she's got a pulse… but it's pretty bad, Xander…"
"Hurry, she's bad. Yes. 624 Adams. Near Revello. Right…" He snaps the phone shut, and goes over, kneeling by Willow. "Is she going to be ok?"
"God, how would I know, Xander? I'm a geek, not a doctor…" Willow's voice sounds on the edge of hysteria. "She can't die, Xander. Not after everything… she can't, can she?"
"She's tough," Xander says, not all that convinced himself, now that he can see her. "She's… she's got that super slayer healing. She's gonna be ok…"
"Oh, Xander, I didn't mean it. I just thought they didn't want us around. I wouldn't… I couldn't…" She looks at him, and even in the dim light, he can see the tears.
"It's ok…" He puts an arm around her shoulders. "It's going to be ok…"
Willow leans against him, and he can feel her shaking. He holds her close, and tries to use his native optimism to think of the positive, keep his spirits up.
Even the perennial optimist he is can't quite do it, however.
God, won't the insanity ever end?

3

Damn her! I hate HER!  Cordelia whines to herself as she grabs a washcloth to scrub off the ruins of her makeup. She splashes cold water on her face, hoping it will lessen the puffiness around her eyes and even out the tone of her face.
Cordelia stares at the ruin of herself in the mirror She looks like an android from Blade Runner.
Her skin is red and blotchy, her eyes puffy, her mascara has run down her cheeks, Her hair is a total mess, and she can't seem to get her bottom lip to stop quivering. She's been gripping the sink so hard her knuckles are white, she groans, realizing she's a total mess. And yet, she still looks better than she feels.
She feels like faith has given her a dozen body blows with a 20 pound sledge. She's all twisted up inside, her guts feeling like they're on fire. Her heart feels like it's made of lead, and she just wants to sink into some dark corner and cry.
Cry until she dies.
Bitch! BITCH, BITCH, BITCH, BITCH!!!!
How could she? How could she say those things! Calling daddy some kind of … MONSTER! HOW DARE SHE! Stupid, stupid, stupid BITCH! I HATE HER…she starts pounding on the sink, until finally the pain in her fists make her stop.
She doesn't, and when the tears begin to blur her vision again, she slumps over, feeling defeated. Again.
Get a grip, Cordelia!  She scolds herself, trying to push down the hurt she feels.  "You're a chase," She mutters, in a low tone. "Chase's don't go around crying like little babies! Act tough! Get ahold of your… OOH GOD…"
She starts to cry again, sinking down onto the floor.
She hunches over and curls up into a ball, letting the hurt and pain and anger wash over her like storm waves on the shore. Every breath she takes is punctuated with a small sob, and her eyes feel hot and grainy. She rocks herself, trying to find some comfort, something to make it all go away.
How could you say those things? How could you do that? My daddy isn't some kind of MONSTER! Why did you say that? WHY? To hurt me? Is that it, did you want to hurt me? Well, good work Faith you whore BITCH! You hurt me, ok? I'm hurt here, really hurt!!
So, Ms. Smarty know everything, if my daddy's a monster, what's that make me? AM I A MONSTER TOO???? Is that it? DO you LIKE FUCKING MONSTERS? IS THAT WHY YOU WANT ME????? I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you so much I could…. God I love you and you do this to me! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS, IF YOU LOVE ME!!!!!????
Cordelia sits up, sniffling and wiping her nose with her sleeve. God, now you even got me being a slob LIKE YOU!
She sits there awhile, working hard to get it back under control. Slowly, slowly, she calms down, her breath no longer feeling like hot knives to her heart. Every bit of her aches; her joints, her muscles, her hair… she feels like she's been on a week long drunk. She forces herself to stand up, and for a moment she's dizzy, grabbing onto the towel bar to steady herself.
Well, bitch, happy now? I'm hurting, and I know why you did it! I do! You want to break up with me, don't you? You're just like a guy! You get what you want, and now your bored and you wanna move on and leave me, right? You don't care what it does to me, do you? You don't CARE AT ALL! You did this to hurt me, to get me mad, so I'd break up with you! Well, fuck you, Faith Lehane! It worked! I HATE YOU! You rotten, cold hearted slut! You … You…
She starts when she hears a soft tap at her bathroom door.
"What? Go away, I'm busy…" She calls out, trying not to let her voice sound too weepy.
"Miss Cordelia. You're father is looking for you. He expects you at dinner."
Shit!
"Tell him I'm not feeling well, Arthur," Cordelia replies, leaning on the sink. "I'd rather have a tray sent up…"
"He seemed quite insistent, Miss…"
"Fine, fine… tell him I'll be a few moments…"
"Very good, Miss Cordelia".
She hears him walk off, and she lets out a deep sigh.
The last thing in the world she wants to do now is go down  and make happy talk at dinner. The idea makes her want to puke.
She knows, however, if she doesn't go down, her father will come looking for her, and if that happens, there will be hell to pay.
You don't miss dinnertime with Cornell.
She stands there, inspecting herself, hoping she looks better.
But her conscience, won't stop nagging at her. Even as she's railing at Faith, a part of her knows that Faith didn't do this to hurt her. She remembers the look on Faith's face, the look that broke her heart. It was so sad, so… it broke her heart to see it. And then Faith said those things…
Somehow, deep down, she knows that Faith isn't lying, either. It isn't something to hurt, to wound her. She knows that as far as Faith knows, it's true. That her father is some…
NO! I won't BELIEVE IT. HE'S NOT!!!
Something inside knows. Knows, and it scares her. But she won't believe it, she can't.
Because then she's ….
She feels the pain rising again, but she beats it back.
"No…" She says, her voice almost calm, almost free of tears. "No, I won't… I can't. I have to…" She looks at herself. "I'm a Chase. I have to do this. I have to …"
She straightens up, and forcing herself, against the pain, starts to clean up

* * *
Cordelia stands at the top of the stairs. She shakes herself, as if trying to cast off the last of her hurt. She adjusts her dress, and sighs.
"Ok, let's do this."
Walking down the stairs, she turns the corner, heading for the dining room at the end of the hall.  She looks up and stops.
Something just doesn't seem right.
She steps back a pace, keeping out of view for a moment as she looks at the tableau in front of her.
Maybe it's because of what Faith had said earlier, but as she looks at the scene before her, she gets a small chill up her spine.
Cornell is sitting at the head of the table, as usual, with Joyce flanking him on one side, and Buffy on the other, across from her mother. Everything looks normal, but Cordelia senses something else.
Buffy is talking about something, looking directly at Cornell with a look that disturbs Cordelia. It's almost a worshipful look, combined with an intensity that makes Cordelia's stomach churn.
What's even more unsettling is the way Cornell is looking at Buffy. It's not the way an adult looks at teenager, nor even the way a parent looks at a child. There is something predatory in the look, as if he wants to consume her.
And Joyce, sitting right there, seems not to notice. Truth be told, she doesn't seem to be aware of anything around her, but is staring off into space, in her own little world.
And, why does she look … different? She doesn't look the same as when she came here. She looks younger… too young to be Buffy's mom.
Ok, that's crazy. This is all crazy. You're imagining things. Knock it off! God, she's got me spooked of my own father now.
Still…
She makes a small noise, and walks forward, and Cornell looks up and out, and smiles.
Somehow, the smile doesn't reassure her.
"Well, there you are!" Cornell says, standing. He practices all the old world customs. "I was about to set the hounds off on you. You're late."
"I'm sorry, " Cordelia mumbles as she makes her way to her place. She sits down, next to Joyce, close to the end opposite Cornell.
"You're sorry?" Cornell says, looking askance. "That's not good enough, Cordelia. We do have rules around here, and one of them is being on time for dinner."
"I know, I know," Cordelia says, her voice low. "I was tied up…"
From across the table, she hears a snigger. Looking up, she sees Buffy staring at her, a smirk on her face. Cordelia glares at her, but Buffy only chuckles.
Buffy's reaction seems to reach Joyce. She looks at her daughter, slightly irritated. " Is something funny, Buffy? Maybe you'd like to share it with the rest of us?"
Buffy blushes, and looks down at her plate.
"No, ma'am, sorry…" She mumbles.
"That was rude. Apologize!" Joyce says, firmly.
"I’m sorry," Buffy almost chokes on the words. That you exist.
"Forget it," Cordelia says, graciously. I have. Now, if I could only forget you…
"Don’t  be hard on Buffy, Joyce…" Cornell says pleasantly. There's a slight edge in his voice.
Joyce blinks rapidly, and seems to withdraw back into herself.
"… after all, Cordelia was late." He looks over at his daughter, frowning. "I don't ask too much of you, I don't think, Cordelia. Making it to dinner on time, well, I don't think that's asking too much, do you?"
"Ummm… no, sir…" It's Cordelia's turn to blush, and suddenly her veggies are mighty fascinating. God, what's going on here? It's not like I was that late!
"I didn't think so," Cornell says, leaning back in his chair. He cocks his head slightly to the side, and he has a small, tight smile on his face. "So, if it’s not too much, why are you late? Where were you?"
"Uhhh…" Cordelia thinks furiously, trying to come up with something plausible. She really doesn't want daddy to know where or who she was with. "We had practice. It ran late. I had to go over some routines with the girls…"
"Really?" Cornell's eyebrow arches, " that's odd. I mean, Buffy wasn't late. She is on the squad, too, isn't she?"
"Yes, but… ummm… well, Buffy isn't … I mean, Buffy's a natural. She picked it up like that…" Cordelia snaps her fingers.
Joyce looks at Cordelia suddenly, with a strange expression.
"… this was for the slower girls. I kept some after so they wouldn't embarrass us at the regionals next month.  But Buffy…" Cordelia looks at Buffy, plastering a fake smile on her face. "… well, no one's like Buffy…"
Buffy frowns for a second, getting the insult. Then she matches Cordelia's phony smile, megawatt for megawatt.
"Well, aren't you just the sweetest?" Buffy says, her voice dripping sarcasm.
"Not nearly as sweet as you, Buffy, dear," Cordelia shoots back, the venom just below the surface.
"Cordelia…" Joyce says, her tone slightly hollow.
Cordelia turns to her, and she gets another major creep out when she sees Joyce's look. It's a combination of  almost expressionless face, but her eyes seem to be… frightened. Almost pleading.
"Mrs. Summers?"
Joyce's eyes seem to fade like her expression, and a smile comes to her face. It doesn't look anything like a real smile.
"Call me Joyce, dear," She says, almost mechanically. "I just wanted to thank you for getting Buffy on the squad. It's been good for her. She used to love it back in L.A. …" Joyce seems to be struggling to remember ,"…she was happy being a cheerleader, I know that…"
"Well, she's good at it…" Cordelia admits, a little reluctantly. "And it's always good to get fresh talent on the team…"
Buffy is watching this little conversation with a mixture of amusement and bemusement. Practice, my ass,  Buffy thinks to herself. No extra practice today, unless that bitch Faith joined the team… and you were giving her private lessons… oh yeah, that…
She struggles, trying to remember this afternoon. Everything is a bit of a blur to her. She remembers coming home, and then later, much later waking from a nap.  Feeling strangely tired. She'd gone to her window, and looked out, just in time to see that Demon disguised at the Slayer getting her ass whomped really good. That was fun. Just wait til Cordelia finds out she's been boinking a hell creature. That'll be…
Again, she feels strange, as if someone is inside her head with her, staring at her. She seems to feel a mist wrapping around her thoughts.
"Thanks, Cordelia, " She smiles, somewhat Stepford like, and nods. "I like being on the team."
What the fuck, did I just say that?
Cordelia looks startled. What the heck is that? She's kissing up to me? Since when?
They look at each other, both puzzled.
"Well, I for one am glad to see you two getting on so well," Cornell interjects, looking at the two girls.  He turns to Cordelia, giving her a proud papa look. "Thanks for making our guests feel so welcome, dear."
Cordelia, despite all, blushes. She likes it when her daddy is proud of her. She looks up, and her blush turns into a leaden feeling in her stomach. Her father is giving her that same look she saw him give Buffy earlier.
Ok, it's not like that. He's just… I mean… this is getting out of hand. I've got to forget what Faith said. She's way crazy…
But still she feels just a little scared.
"Seeing how well you and Buffy are getting along, I have something I want to say," Cornell stands up, and walks over behind Joyce's chair. "I know you wanted to wait, Joyce, but I think now is a good time…"
Joyce giggles, and looks up at Cornell.
Buffy looks at her mother as if she's never seen her before. Certainly, she can never remember her giggling before.
"Oh, Cornell, do you think?" Joyce says, the words sounding a little hollow. "I mean, do you think now is a good time?"
"I think now is a perfect time…" Cornell says firmly, squeezing her shoulders. "After all, they have to know sometime."
"What?" Buffy looks puzzled." Know what?"
"Now?" Cordelia echoes. Somehow, she's feeling more nervous by the second. "What's this about?"
"Now, girls, be patient…" Cornell says, his smile widening, showing off his perfect teeth. It lends to his predator image. "After all,  this is big news."
"Big news?" Cordelia and Buffy say in unison. Neither sound particularly thrilled. They look at each other.
"Well, as you both know, Joyce and I have been friends for a long time, " Cornell says, smiling. "We were quite close back in college… quite close, isn't that so, Joyce? Before Hank that is."
Joyce blushes, and looks down. "Oh, Corny," She giggles.
Oh brother, Buffy thinks.
Cordelia looks at Joyce, a little startled. That was just wrong. She sounds like a teenager. Eeew…
"Anyway, I had quite the crush on your mother, Buffy."
"Really?" Buffy sounds very unenthused.
"And, well, now that we're both single, and … old friends… and we've renewed our acquaintance…"
Cordelia is getting an awful feeling in her stomach. Acid mixed with lead mixed with fire breathing dragons.
"Mom, what's going on?" Buffy sounds a little desperate.
"Dad, what're you trying to say?" Cordelia sounds just like Buffy.
"Joyce, do you want to tell them?"
"No, Corny, you," Joyce giggles again.
Cordelia feels goosebumps. Those giggles makes her want to squirm.
"Well, I'll just come out with it. I mean, I don't mind being the bearer of good news," He pauses for effect. "I've asked Joyce to be my wife, and she's agreed…"
Buffy and Cordelia stare at each other, both feeling like the bottom has dropped out of their stomachs.
Oh, no, no, no, no! This can't be happening, this can't BE!
"Did you hear me?" Cornell asks, looking at the girls. "We're going to be married…"
NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!
The silence in the dining room is deafening.
It lasts for a beat. Then another. And then, another.
"Well?" Cornell is not pleased by this reaction at all. "Don't you have anything to say?" He looks pointedly at his daughter.
"Uhhh… Uhhh…"
Cordelia is so shocked that even the pain she's been feeling is knocked out of her. Right now, she feels numb. Betrayed, and numb.
"Cordelia?" Cornell's tone takes on a hard edge.
"I…I… " Cordelia struggles, doing everything she can to not run from the room, screaming. "It's such a surprise…I don't know what to say…"
"Really, Cor?" Buffy taunts her, enjoying her distress. "You always have something to say about everything…" She smirks, nastily. "Or maybe it's because you're just such a big old lesbo that the idea of a man and woman together makes you wanna barf?"
Cornell looks up sharply at Buffy, and for the first time in her life, she feels fear. The color drains out of his face, then is replaced with a deep red tint.
"Elizabeth Anne Summers!" Joyce barks, seeming to come out of her haze. She is furious. "That's … " She shakes, she's so angry, suddenly. " Get up, excuse yourself, and GO TO YOUR ROOM, NOW!"
"For what? For telling the truth?" Buffy sits there, defiant. "This sucks.  All of this! I have to be HER sister? I have to be nice to her for like ever? No freaking WAY!"
Joyce, her face red from anger and embarrassment, almost spills her chair getting up.  She rounds the table towards her daughter.
Buffy, seeing her mother's anger, suddenly gets up and backs away. She's never seen her like this before. Not that she can remember, anyway.
"Buffy Summers. You apologize to Cordelia this instant!"
"Joyce, don't be hard on her…" Cornell says, getting up to go to Joyce. "She's… just getting used to the idea…"
"No, Corny, this is inexcusable. I raised you better than this, Miss, " Joyce traps her daughter in a corner. "Now, say your sorry or…"
"Or what, Mom? You'll beat me? I don't think so!" Buffy stands defiant.
"Mrs. Summers. Please, it's all right, " Cordelia puts in, wanting to put this fire out. Now. Before it gets worse.
"No, Cordelia, it's not all right, " Joyce turns to her daughter. "How dare you, Buffy? How dare you act like this? Cornell and Cordelia have taken us into their home, treated us like family, and this is how you repay them?" Joyce suddenly lashes out, grabbing Buffy's hair. "Well, young lady, that's finished. I've been too lenient on you, for way too long. That's over, as of now."
Dragging Buffy by her hair, Joyce turns, starting towards the hallway.
"Mrs. Summers… Joyce, please. Don't. It… I don't care, just don't…"
But Joyce seems to be somewhere else, a bad place.
"Mom…MOM! You're hurting me!"
"Not even close to how much I'm going to make you hurt, young lady, " Joyce's voice takes on an almost brutal tone. "Cornell, I apologize for my daughter. You can bet she'll never do this again."
Without another word, she drags Buffy, struggling to get away, from the dining room.
"Dad, you've got to stop her…" Cordelia turns to her father, and trails off when he sees his expression.
"Well, Cordelia," Cornell says, staring at her with hard eyes. "Are you happy now?"
"What?" Cordelia looks at him , confused and a little frightened. "What're you talking about?"
"You know very well what I'm talking about, Cordelia." Cornell's tone is ice cold. " Sit down."
"No, I won't sit down," Cordelia says defiantly.
"SIT!" Cornell snaps, his tone steel.
Almost against her will, Cordelia finds herself sitting.
"All right, I'm sitting," Cordelia pouts. "What's this about? I didn't do anything!"
Cornell looks at his daughter, and without warning, laughs.
Cordelia stares at him, unsettled.
"Do you think I'm a fool, Cordelia?"
"What? No! I never…"
"Oh, c'mon, sugarpop. I'm sure you're like the rest of your crowd, thinking old dad's pretty much the biggest idiot walking on two legs. I mean, the only reason you even put up with your parents is because we have the money, right?"
"Daddy! That's so not true!"
"Oh, really?" Cornell asks, a slight grin on his face. "So, why did you think you could fool me, then?"
"Fool you?" Cordelia is puzzled, "I don't know what you mean?"
"I don't know what you mean, " Cornell throws her words back in her face. "Oh, that's just so like you, daughter of mine. Thinking you can act innocent and dear old dad's just going to believe you…"
Cordelia is starting to get more frightened. She never remembers really fearing her father before, but tonight, she's beginning to.
"Daddy, what's this about?"
"Do you think I don't know? Did you think I wouldn't find out?" Cornell says, his tone quiet, but with harsh undertones. "Did you think you could hide it from me?"
"Daddy…!" Cordelia is close to tears. "What?"
"Daddy, what?" Cornell mocks, using a falsetto. "You… you disgust me!"
"Daddy… " Cordelia starts to whimper.
"Don't even try the tears! You little whore, did you think I didn't know about you and that… tramp?"
Cordelia's face loses its color.
"And you brought her here! You did you're filthy acts in MY house!"
Cordelia sits there, almost shaking in fright. She's never seen her father this angry, this rough before.
"Now, you and your little slut have ruined my happiness. I hope you're proud of yourself, Cordelia. I hope you're proud!"
"Daddy…" Cordelia's voice is shaky, "It's not like…I… I…"
"Oh, please, don't. Don't tell me you 'love' her!" Cornell roars, unleashing his anger. "You little … nothing! You have NO IDEA what love is! You're barely more than a child! How could you? You're just a horny little bitch, and you decided to pollute MY house with your perverted little bitch of a girlfriend! Well, I won't HAVE it, do you hear me? I won't HAVE a PERVERT as a daughter!"
Something in Cordelia snaps. All the stress and pain she's felt, her heartbreak, and now this? It's just too much, too much for her to sit back and take.
Whatever she's had with Faith, it wasn't ugly. It wasn't perverted.
"I'm not a pervert!" Cordelia says quietly.
"WHAT?" Cornell yells at her, " What? You think what you did is … normal?"
"What we did… what we have… is beautiful, "Cordelia says quietly, and defiantly.
"Beautiful? BEAUTIFUL?" Cornell roars. He comes over to her, and grabbing her roughly, pulls her out of the chair. He holds her within inches of his almost purple colored face. "You little harlot! What you did was FILTHY! PERVERTED! You and that little tramp are nothing but … WHORES!" He throws her against a wall in his anger.
Cordelia, scared and stunned, slides slowly down the wall. Her head and back hurt fiercely.
But she's not allowed to rest. Cornell comes over, and grabbing her, hauls her to her feet. Again she finds herself staring into his anger maddened eyes.
"You make me sick. You make me ashamed, do you know that?" He hisses, his eyes almost slits on his face. "You bring that common cheap trash into this house, and you … you… fuck her under my roof! And what, I'm supposed to be happy about it? IS that what you expect, you little piece of shit!"
Cordelia just stares at him.
"Well, at least ONE of my daughters turned out right. You are a waste, a nothing…"
Cordelia blinks, not understanding. One of…? She gets a sudden, awful thought. No… no way…
"Oh… I see, missy. You don't know everything like you thought you did, do you?" Cornell's face twists into a sardonic smile. "So, Miss know it all, how about that? You have a sister…"
"What?" Cordelia can't comprehend what he's talking about. " A sister? Where?" He's lying. He's trying to confuse me!
"Why, right in this house, dear girl . You see, Buffy isn't Hank Summers' daughter. He just married Joyce after … well, let's just say Joyce is a real eager beaver between the sheets, shall we?"
Cordelia feels a like sick, and a lot disgusted. Oh, god, oh god oh GOD!
"Oh, that disgusts you, does it? How do you think I feel, hearing my daughter is some perverted lesbian that likes to get whipped?"
Cordelia cringes.
"I told you, I know everything. Everything…" He smiles, regaining his calm. He lets go of his daughter, who can barely stand on her shaky legs.  "Well, now, isn't this just grand, dear? Reunited with your sister after all these years. Yes, it's going to be just wonderful. Me, Joyce, Buffy and you… except…"
He frowns, and his eyes narrow.
"I wonder … where do you fit in this? I mean, having a disgusting pervert as a daughter isn't exactly my idea of the perfect family…" He shoves her into a chair, "… and I have a reputation to keep. So, my dear, I think you better give up this little perversion of yours. I think you better start walking a very narrow, straight line from here on out. After all, I have another daughter… another heir… " He grabs her face between his large fingers, pinching it. "So, I really don't have to coddle you, do I? So, what do you say? Want in, or…?" He stares into her eyes.
And suddenly, she knows. Something in his look, something in his eyes tells her. Something she sees tells her he wants her. As more than a daughter… much more.  He wants both of his daughters… the idea makes her skin crawl.
Faith was right. Her father is a monster! Her anger is only matched by her disgust.
She manages to pull away from his grip, and upsetting the chair, she gets up, backing away from him.
"Don't touch me," She hisses, repulsed by him suddenly. "She was right… she was right about you…"
"Cordelia, sit back down, NOW!" Cornell orders, not used to being defied.
"No, I won't. I won't… "  She turns, and starts to run from the room.
"Cordelia. You come back here! We're NOT done here!"
"NO!" She stops, and turns around. "I love her! I love her, and you can't make me NOT love her! Do you get it? DO YOU!?!?!? I don't care what you do to me, I love HER!"
With that, she turns and runs up the stairs.
A few moments later, a door is heard to slam upstairs.
Cornell stands there, in shock. He can't believe what's just happened.
For the first time, ever, Cordelia has defied him.
And for  the first time in memory, he feels a trickle of fear.
This was not how it was supposed to go. Something was wrong here. Very wrong.
Her liaison with the Slayer wasn't supposed to work out this way. It was to bring out her dark side, her demon side.
Instead, against all his plans, his daughter has betrayed him in the worst way.
She's fallen in love with the Slayer.
His eyes narrow, and his mouth becomes an angry gash across his face.
This is her fault. The slayer. She did this.
But he swore, she wouldn't get away with it. She would pay for this perfidy.
He would make her death excruciating and horrible.

4

"Wait up, Mr. Giles!"
Merrick, huffing and puffing a little, hustles through the hospital parking lot after Giles, who is walking very quickly towards the entrance.
Giles, seeming obsessed, doesn't slow down a bit. Merrick tries to catch up, but sees it's hopeless.
"Mr. Giles! Please, I'm sure she'll still be there if we're a few seconds later…"
Giles suddenly stops, as does Merrick. He realizes by Giles' posture he's made a mistake.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Giles' voice grows distinctly icy when Merrick finally catches up. His face is distinctly pale and drawn, his mouth a grim line across it.  Much in contrast to Merrick's, which is somewhat florid from the exertion.
"I just meant…" Merrick wheezes a little. "… that she's not going anywhere, and rushing isn't going to change things. She's a slayer… she'll heal…"
Giles stands there, feeling the blood raise to his cheeks. You corpulent little…. He almost bites his tongue, to keep from saying something harsh.
"Slayers have died, you do know that, right, Mr. Merrick?" Giles turns, and starts towards the entrance.
"I'm sure she'll be fine. You said she's tough…" Merrick starts rushing after him again, " Mr. Giles! Wait!"
Giles sighs, and stops.
"Thank you," Merrick doesn't sound all that grateful. He takes a look at Giles, and a sly little glimmer comes to his eyes. "Mr. Giles. One would think you'd become … emotionally involved with your charge…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Giles says tightly, not liking the tone of Merrick's voice.
"Just, that you're acting more like a …" He pauses, seeing the expression on Giles' face. "… a father than a watcher…"
"That's absurd!" Giles says, dismissing him. He turns and walks towards the hospital entrance. "Yes, I care about my slayer. She's my duty, to keep her safe. But our relationship is strictly professional, beyond reproach."
"Is it?" Merrick trots along side. He hates trotting. "I mean, it's understandable, you know… working closely with her, spending much of your 'free' time together training. A bond is going to form. But, you have to keep a detachment… after all, this is a war we're in. A fight of good vs. Evil. And Slayers are expendable…"
Giles suddenly stops again, grabbing Merrick by the arm. He hauls him just a little closer.
"Listen to me, Merrick.  I don't need you to quote Quentin Travers to me. I know my place, and my duty. I really don't need you reminding me of that duty, is that clear?"
"Yes, of course. I just meant…" Merrick definitely doesn't like the look on Giles' face.
Giles, for his part, can't help feeling somewhat …unclean … touching Merrick. He quickly lets him go, and turns away.
"Maybe, " He says brusquely over his shoulder as they reach the hospital entrance, "if we took better care of our Slayers, we wouldn't need to break them in so bloody often."
He disappears through the doors, but Merrick hangs back for a moment.
Oh no, no emotional involvement there, he thinks to himself, sarcastically. Well, isn't this interesting?
He puts that bit of knowledge away. Maybe he can use it later, to his advantage.
He follows Giles into the hospital.

* * *

"Is she all right?"
Those are the first words out of Giles' mouth as he approaches Willow and Xander, who are waiting for him in the hospital lobby.
They are standing together, looking a little pale and grim.  They turn to Giles, their eyes reflecting their concern.
"She's in a hospital, Giles," Xander speaks up, his tone slightly harsh. "How 'all right' can she be?"
"Xander!" Willow says, a little shocked.
"No, no sugar coating, Will. She was pretty beaten up by Spike, and I think Giles should know…"
"Spike?" Giles says, his tone distinctly defensive. "I thought he left town."
"Well, pretty much not, I'd say, considering…" Xander touches his head.
For the first time, Giles sees the bandage on Xander's head.
"What happened?"
"A little parting gift from Spike," Xander says grimly. "I'm thinking there are steel toes in those boots of his…"
"Maybe if you hadn't grabbed at his legs…"
"Will!"
"I'm just saying…" She turns to Giles, her own expression not overly friendly. "What do you know about Angel?"
"Angel?" A voice behind them speaks up.
All turn, a little startled. Giles had forgotten about Merrick.
"Who are you?" Willow and Xander chorus, looking at the new arrival.
"I could ask the same of you…" Merrick says. "I'm Merrick. Mr. Giles… friend…"
"They know, Merrick." Giles says shortly.
"They know?" He looks at the pair. "Children? That's quite…"
"Hardly children, Merrick," Giles states simply. "Both of these… children… as you call them, have leant valuable assistance to our fight… after all, this is a war, as you were so quick to point out earlier…" He looks at Willow and Xander, and then back at Merrick,"… sometimes in war, you find strong allies in the most unusual places."
It took a moment for it to sink in, but then you could almost see Xander and Willow glow. Praise of any sort from Giles was almost non-existent.
"I see, " Merrick says, not really seeing. "Still, they are civilians, Giles, and you know the council frowns on civilians becoming 'involved'…"
"They are soldiers in a war zone, whatever you or the council thinks, Merrick… again, I don't require you to quote Travers to me. If they ever got off their overly plush chairs and actually did something…"
"That's enough, Mr. Giles." Merrick changes the subject. "It's done. Now, what was this about an angel?"
"Not an angel…" Willow says, quietly. "Angel… that's his name. He's working with us… " she turns to Giles, "or is he?"
"What are you saying?" Giles asks, genuinely puzzled.
"It's not what she said," Xander puts in, "It's what Spike said…"
"Spike? William the Bloody?" Merrick asks, frowning. "He's here?"
"Yes…" Willow starts.
"… he's the one that beat up Faith…" Xander adds.
"And, he had a message for her…" Willow continues
"… that he and Angelus… that's Angel, right?" Willow looks to Giles for confirmation.
Giles, almost reluctantly, nods.
"Angelus?" Merrick raises a brow.
"Yes… he said he and Angelus didn't want her snooping about anymore… and that she'd get worse if they caught her at it again."
"Are you saying Spike said he and Angel…"
"Angelus" Merrick corrects him.
"… are working together?" Giles ignores him.
Willow and Xander nods slowly.
"That's bad," Willow says, not asking, but making a statement.
"That's very bad," Merrick puts in. "And not unprecedented. I mean, 100 or more years ago, he and Spike and Darla…"
"Darla?" Xander is startled. "Isn't she the one we rescued him from? Angel?"
"Yes," Giles nods.
"As I was saying, he and Spike, along with their paramours, Darla and Drusilla, cut a bloody swath through Europe…"
"That's before Angelus disappeared, " Giles reminds him.
"Nonetheless, if he and Spike are working together again…"
"We have no proof of that…" Giles says, " And now is hardly the time to discuss it…"
"Now is exactly the time, considering what's happened. I can get my slayer …"
"Your Slayer?" Xander and Willow exclaim. They look at Giles. "What is he talking about?" Xander continues. "I thought … isn't Faith… I mean, it's only one Slayer… that's what you said…"
"Again, this is something we can talk about later…"
"When Mr. Giles?" Merrick asks, impatiently, "The more time we waste here…"
"LATER!" Giles almost shouts it, his anger bubbling to the surface.
All three are shocked. Giles is not one known to show emotion. Ever.
"I'm sorry," Giles says to Xander and Willow. "Where did you say she was? Can we see her?"
"She's in the ICU," Willow says, recovering first. "We can't go into her room, but we can see her through the observation window…"
"Then let's go," Giles says, starting towards the elevators. "I want to see her…"
He starts towards the elevators, then stops when he realizes no one is following him.
"Well?"
"It's down this hall, Giles," Willow says gently.
Even from here, she can see the pain on Giles' face, which he is desperately trying to hide.
"We'll show you the way, Giles," Xander says, with Willow, going to Giles.
"I'll… go see Buffy. Maybe we can have her look for this Spike fellow. Get more information from him," Merrick says, hanging back.
"Yes, good idea, you do that," Giles replies, distracted. "Let me know if you find out anything."
"Roger that," Merrick says.
The thee depart, and he watches them as they go down the hallway.
None of them see the satisfied little smile on his face, or the bounce in his step as he exits the hospital.

* * *

Giles stands quietly, looking at Faith through the ICU observation window. He's flanked by Willow and Xander.
"The doctors say it's just for precaution. They're actually amazed she's not in a lot worse shape than she is…" Willow says quietly, trying to reassure Giles. "She's strong, Giles. And she has that fast healing power…"
"Yeah," Xander adds. "She's already better than when she came in…"
"How do you know?" Giles says, shortly. "Are you a doctor?"
"No… I mean…"
"The doctors said so," Willow defends Xander, while giving him a look. "They're amazed at her progress."
Giles sees her, laying quietly, tubes seeming to run everywhere into her. Somehow, he's not reassured.
His mind flashes back to another scene, years ago. His wife and child are on gurneys, in the morgue. He's been called in  to identify them.
He almost fainted that time, they'd been so brutalized by their attacker. They had been covered with bruises, their bodies gashed and gouged. The attending physician had told him those injuries had come before death.
Kakistos had tortured them before killing them.
Death had been by loss of blood. Both of them had torn throats, as if savaged by a pack of wild animals.
He had been sick, very sick, for a very long time.
But not now. He wouldn't allow himself to be sick again. He'd sworn then, and he renewed that vow now. If it were in his power, he wouldn't let happen again what he'd seen that night, that awful night.
Never again.

To be continued
- 28
- 29
- 30
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The Slayer