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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
- 30
- 31
- 32
The Slayer

By Norwalker

Part 30B of a multipart 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

Cordelia, torn out of her
reverie by Faith's scream, scrambles out of her chair and rushes to Faith's
side.

She's awake, sitting
bolt upright in her bed, her hands clutching the sheets so tightly they're
bloodless, screaming.

"GILES!"

She doesn't seem to see
her, still staring out into space, her face pale and wan. Her eyes seem to
focus on something awful she's seeing , still wrapped in the web of her dreams.

Her look, her
expression cuts Cordelia to the heart, and she acts instinctively. She grabs
Faith and shakes her.

"Wake up, wake
UP," Cordelia pulls Faith close, holding her tightly. "You're just
dreaming. It's just a dream!"

For a moment Faith
fights her, and despite her injuries she is still very strong. Cordelia feels
some pain as she struggles in her arms.

She stops, and looks up
at him. Her eyes have cleared, but her face is still unnaturally pale, and her
eyes reflect the horror of her nightmare.

"Cordelia?"
She says softly, relief and surprise fighting for control. "Where's
Giles?" She looks around the room, a little desperately. "I need to
see Giles!"

"I sent him to get
something to eat. Him and the others. They've been with you all night, and I
figured they could use a break."

"He's ok, then?
He's not hurt? He's not�?"

"No, he's fine. I
promise."

The look she gives her,
of pure happiness of knowing Giles is alive and ok, melts Cordelia's� heart.

Suddenly, as if a storm
passes over, she shudders. Uncontrollably, the fear and anger, rage and pain
taking control. She tries to push it down, tries to bottle it, but she can't.

And she cries. Tears
spill out of her eyes, large wet hot tears; tears long suppressed deep in her
heart. Tears long needing to be spilled.

The shuddering becomes
sobs, and she cries from her heart, from her very soul. She looks young; very
young. Even younger than she really is.

Cordelia is somewhat
taken aback by this reaction; and utterly charmed. She's never seen this side of Faith, and she can't say she exactly hates it.

It brings out the
maternal instinct in her, and she has a strong warm rush of tender feelings
through her body.� She holds Faith
close, her only desire at the moment is to sooth and protect her.

"Is she ok over
there?" A voice comes from the other side of the partition.

"Yes, she's ok
now, I think" Cordelia replies, still holding Faith.

"I heard her
scream�"

"She was having a
nightmare."

"Well, could you
do it more quietly, please? I'm trying to get some sleep over here."

"Sorry�"

Gradually, the tempest
passes, and Faith's grip eases on her. The tears are a trickle rather than a
flood, and she pulls away, regaining her self possession.

She sniffs, and looks
up at Cordelia, eyes still bright with tears.

"Hey?" She
says, feeling suddenly stupid.

"Hey,
yourself," Cordelia replies, stroking her long dark locks. "You all
right now?"

"I'm�."

And suddenly, like an
angry fist, the pain hits Faith. Forgotten in her passion, it overwhelms her
like a tidal wave.

"Oh� crap�"
She says, suddenly laying back in her bed, her voice sounding scratchy and terse.
"I fucking feel like shit�"

"I guess the
medications have worn off�"

"Medications? You
mean drugs?"

"Yes. They've kept
you sedated for some time. You were in bad shape when you came in last
night�"

"Came in? Oh
fuck�" She remembers now, being in the hospital, and more.

Before the hospital,
Cornell attacking her, and then Spike. She's fuzzy on that, remembering only
little bits of it here and there.

"Spike," She
hisses his name like a cures. "He made me his fucking punching bag� and
I'm in the hospital." Another curse. "Great slayer I turned out to
be. Sucker punched by some half assed vampire�"

"Faith, baby,
don't be so hard on yourself�"

"Whatever�"
Faith shakes her head. A sudden, chilling thought hits her.

"Who found
me?" She says, dreading the answer. God, if she found me, then �

"I dunno. They
called me this morning�"

"Then it wasn't
you�?" The relief in her voice is palpable. And audible.

What's the deal? Why
wouldn't she want me to find her?

"No, it wasn't me� I'm thinking, from what Giles told me, that Willow and
Xander found you, and called him. Then I guess, as an afterthought, called
me�"

"I'm sure it wasn�t an afterthought�" Faith says, not
at all sure.

"Yeah, well�" For a moment, she feels like complaining
about Willow's 'tude towards her, but decides that Faith has enough on her
plate right now. "� anyway, I'm here now, and that's all that's
important."

"Yeah�" Faith smiles, leaning back and half closing
her eyes. "That's true."

"At least you're better than when they brought you in. They
had you in ICU," Cordelia says. "but from what Giles says, your
slayer healing stuff kicked in. They've moved you to a regular room." She
looks at the partition, and lowers her voice. "with a really grouchy
neighbor�"

"I heard that!"

"I thought you were going to sleep?" Cordelia says
with a sweet tone.

"How can I?"

"Sorry, we'll try to be more quiet."

"I'm not holding my breath�"

Faith looks slightly amused by the exchange, and mouths
"What a bitch!"

Cordelia giggles.

They lapse into a brief silence, just comfortable being
together. It gives Cordelia time to really look at Faith.

Somehow, she wishes it didn't. She has to be very careful to
keep all expression out of her face, but Faith looks awful. Her face all
bruised up, one eye half swollen shut, she looks like she was put on the
'insane' cycle at the Hellmouth laundromat. She reaches out tentatively to
touch Faith's face, then pulls back.

"Hey, it's ok," Faith smiles, "I don't bite. You
can touch�"

Cordelia reaches out, and Faith playfully snaps at her
hand.� She draws back quickly.

"Hey!"

"Ok, I lied. I do bite," Faith chuckles, then coughs.
"Ok, that sucks", she coughs again. " Hey, where's the grub,
anyway? Man, I'm starved. Do they feed you around here, or what?"

"Well, you've been out all night. They probably were
waiting til you woke up�"

"Well, I'm awake now�"

"Geeze, I think you're the only person I've ever known that
actually wants hospital food."

"Hey, I'm starved. I haven't eaten since�" She thinks
for a moment. "Crap, since yesterday morning�"

"Aw, poor tummy," Cordelia says, playfully rubbing
Faith's stomach

Faith winces.

"That hurts?" Cordelia brows wrinkles.

"Everything hurts. Shit, I don't think there's a place that
Spike didn't hit me or kick me�"

"I'm sorry," Cordelia takes away her hand.

Faith grabs her arm, pulling her hand back.

"No, wait, don't stop. It feels better, you know?" She
says , grinning. "I think you've got the healing touch� keep
rubbing�"

"Faith�"

"Do it."

Cordelia rubs her tummy, and Faith sighs.

"Lower," Faith says.

"Lower?"

"Yeah�"

Cordelia rubs a little lower.

"Lower�"

Cordelia complies again, puzzled a little.

"Hmmm� now lower�"

Cordelia suddenly realizes where her hand is headed, and she
pulls away, making a face.

"God, what is with you? Even when you're all beaten up,
you're only thinking about�" Cordelia blushes a little.

"Well, hey, babe. You know how it is with us slayers. We
fight, we get hungry and horny. And since there's no food around�" She
arches a brow, smirking at Cordelia. "So, I guess you better get me some
grub soon, or I'm gonna need something to eat�" Faith licks her lips in a
very suggestive way.

"God, you are incorrigible!" Cordelia blushes deeply,
not hating this one bit. "I better find some food for you, pronto."

She starts to walk away, when Faith calls out.

"STOP!"

Cordelia stops. "What now?" She asks, pretending to be
annoyed.

"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to admire that fine ass of
yours�"

She pretends to be affronted, but she subtly pushes her ass back
towards Faith.

"Hmmm� man, you'd make one sexy nurse, you know? In one of
those tight white uniforms that can't quite button all the way up front, and
spread just so nicely across the ass.�
Mmmm, hmmm�"

"Right," Cordelia cracks, "And with those sexy
white works shoes with the crepe soles and no support that almost guarantee you
elephant ankles, huh?"

"Oh yeah, baby. Just love those white shoes and fat ankles
�" Faith retorts. "Just sooo sexy�"

"You're a total perv, you know ? And for your information,
I don't have fat ankles!" Cordelia shakes her mane of hair, and subtly,
her fine ass, and walks out, adding a little bounce to her step.

Faith lets out a wolf whistle, and chuckles when she sees
Cordelia's neck flush, just before she disappears.

"Hey!" the voice is back.

"Sorry, sorry" Faith says. "I forgot."

Faith falls back onto her bed, the energy seeming to drain out
of her. She hopes that Cordelia didn't see how bad she feels.

And then there was her father. That whole can of worms is eating
at Faith. She hated the fight they had last night, and she didn't want to go
there again. Right. And when you have to take on good Old Cornell, then
what? How is Cordelia gonna feel about me having to kill him? She chuckles
bitterly. �Oh yeah, she's gonna adore
me after that one�

"Hey, lucky you�" Cordelia returns, carrying a tray.
"I happened to run into the orderly delivering meals, and Viola!
Breakfast�" She carries the tray over to the little meal table by Faith's
bed, and arranges it across Faith. "C'mon, now, you gotta sit up to
eat�" She grabs a remote device by the bed, as Faith struggles to sit up.
"Relax, ok? Let the bed do the work�" She pushes a button, raising
Faith to a sitting position.

Faith, still feeling a bit off, stares down at the tray table in
front of her; more specifically, at the tray of food in front of her. She
twists her lips into a half smirk.

Even though everything looks �correct, i.e., the eggs are yellow, the toast brown, etc, somehow,
it looks a little too neat, a little too sterile.� As if someone opened a plastic container and� arranged the food on her plate, rather than
cooking it. Also, the smell wafting up from the tray doesn't help her appetite.
It didn't smell bad, particularly, it just smelled� plastic.

She picks up the plastic fork, and taking a bit of the 'eggs',
puts it in her mouth. She's tasted better cardboard in her life. Lowering the
fork, she pushes the tray slightly to the side.

"Know what? I'm thinking maybe I'm not that hungry after
all."

"What? 10 minutes ago, you were ready to eat the
wallpaper�" Cordelia comes over, and sits on the bed. "What's wrong?
Don't you like eggs?" She looks down at the tray. �Geeze, could they make it look less
appetizing?

"I dunno�" Faith gets a wicked grin on her face.
"Maybe I mistook being horny for being hungry�" She makes as if to
grab Cordelia's breasts.

"Hey!" Cordelia playfully bats away Faith's hands.
"I didn't sit down to get mauled, you know!" She picks up the fork,
and spears a bit of food with it. "Now, be a good girl, and eat a few
bites. You need to eat something." She holds it as if she's going to feed Faith.

Faith looks at the fork balefully. "What do you think
you're doing?"

"Well, duh, I'm going to feed you, silly, since you're
being such a baby about it!"

"I'm not being a � " Faith suddenly finds her mouth
stuffed with the contents of the fork. " Hey!" She grumbles, her
words muffled by egg.

"There, see? That's not so bad!"

"Yeah, easy for you to say. You're not the one eating this
crap�" Faith complains, swallowing.

"Oh, for goodness sakes!" Cordelia says impatiently.
She takes a bite and puts it in her own mouth. "See, yummy!" She
carefully� hides her disgust at the lack
of flavor.

Somehow, watching Cordelia surround the fork with her full, red
lips is very stimulating for Faith. Mmmm, could think of so much better uses
for those� �She chuckles softly. She's
right, I am incorrigible. And I like it!

"Now, here, take another bite�" Cordelia insists,
holding up something attached to the tines of the fork.

Faith briefly glances at the mystery meat hanging on the fork,
then opens her mouth and snaps it up, chewing it and then licking her lips. She
opens her mouth for another bite.

Cordelia can't help feeling that somehow watching Faith eat is
the sexiest things she's ever seen. She feeds her again.

Faith then grabs the plastic spoon, and taking a bit of the
dessert, which looks like a mixture of applesauce and fruit compote,� and pushes it at Cordelia's lips.

Cordelia looks at the spoon at her lips, and opens her mouth.
Instead of taking in the spoon, however, her tongue comes out, and she almost
licks the fruity glop off the spoon.

Eating then becomes a little game of one-upmanship; who can make
eating sexier? Like lovers everywhere, they soon forget about the taste, only
caring that they're turning on each other.

"Wait, wait�" Faith says, leaning a little towards
Cordelia, looking serious. "There's something on your face�"

"Where?" Cordelia�
tries to find the speck of food with her tongue.

"No� not there� over there�" Faith leans closer and
closer.

"Where�?" Cordelia leans closer to Faith.

"Right�" She stick out her tongue, licking Cordelia's
lips,"� there�"

Cordelia, by this time having a strong case of the warm fuzzies,
opens her mouth and captures Faith's tongue, and somehow they melt into a nice,
long kiss.

They become somewhat oblivious to their surroundings, somehow
managing to push the tray table out of the way as they pull each other closer.
Hands start to wander over each other.

"Ah�Ahem�" Someone clears their throat behind them.

They both almost jump away from each other, looking a little
guilty.

Standing behind them is Giles, flanked by Willow and Xander.

Giles looks on, a bit disapprovingly, while Willow's eyebrows
are arched and her lips are pushed forward into a little "O". Xander,
on the other hand, looks amused, half grinning at the two of them.

"Hey, guys," Faith bluffs through her embarrassment,
"good to see you. I was just finishing up breakfast�"

"So I see," Giles notes, somewhat acerbically.
"One takes it you're feeling better?"

"One takes it correctly," Faith mocks him lightly.

Cordelia for her part has gotten up, blushing prettily. She
moves to the head of the bed, next to Faith.

"She needed to eat, right?" Cordelia, reading Willow's
expression accurately, feels a little defensive for some reason. "So she
can get her strength back, right? I was just seeing that she ate�"

"I don't think�" Faith takes Cordelia's hand,
squeezing it gently, "� my eating habits are anyone's biz. Do you?" She
looks pointedly at Willow.

Willow flushes, and Xander subtly gives her the thumbs up. Faith
gives him a wink.

"Well, now that you've had a hearty breakfast, do you
think� you're up to telling us what
happened last night?"

Faith can't help it. She tries not to, but she glances briefly
at Cordelia before she answers.

"Maybe we could talk about that later?"

"Ah, yes, of course�"

"No!" Cordelia says, suddenly.

"Excuse me?" Giles says, surprised.

"Babe, it's not a big�"

"I said no," Cordelia firmly stands her ground.
"If I'm part of this, and I am part of this�" She looks at
Willow particularly,"� then I have to be in the loop, too." She turns
to Faith, her expression a mixture of defiance and sorrow. "It was my dad,
wasn't it? He had something to do with this, right? He� hired someone to beat
you up or something. That Spike guy�?"

Faith and Giles look at each other, and hesitate.

"I'm not a child!" Cordelia declares, pulling her hand
from Faith's and jamming both in her jacket pockets. "I dunno what's going
on, but I know something's way wrong." She moves away from Faith, "He
said some stuff last night� scary stuff� about�" She fingers the stone on
her necklace, and her voice fades out.

Everyone waits for a few beats, expecting her to go on. Then finally,
Faith speaks up.

"Cordelia?"

"Huh? What?"

"You were saying? Your dad said some stuff�?"

"My dad?" She asks, sounding confused. "What
about my dad?"

"You were saying he said something�"Giles says gently,
going to her. " About what?"

"Oh. Right. My dad�" Cordelia seems to struggle
against something. She slips her hand out of her pocket, holding the necklace .
"He gave me this�" She looks at it, frowning.

"He gave you a necklace? That's the scary stuff?"
Willow says, her tone slightly sarcastic. "What's wrong? The stone wasn't
big enough?"

Xander, also not a big fan of Cordelia's, chuckles.

"Was that really necessary, Willow?" Giles says,
reprovingly. He gently takes the necklace from Cordelia's hand. "It's
quite charming."

Giles notes the dull glow in the middle of the stone, and
something in his memory nags at him. I've seen this before, but where?
Something is �

He suddenly drops the
necklace, and bends to retrieve it. "Well, that was rather clumsy of
me�" While bent over, he surreptitiously breaks the clasp.� "Oh, dear�" he says, straightening
up.

"What?"
Cordelia looks the necklace in his hand. "Oh, you've broken it!"

"Yes, I'm afraid I
have," Giles agrees, sounding contrite. "Rather clumsy of me, I
fear."

"Oh. Well, that's
all right, I'll take it and have it repaired�" Cordelia puts her hand out
for the necklace.

"No! I mean, I was
the clumsy one. I'll take it to the jewelers, have it fixed right up for
you."

Faith is watching this little
exchange, and she suddenly feels a twitch in her nose. �Giles is up to something�

"No, it's no
problem�" Cordelia insists, perhaps a little forcefully. "I'll take
care of it."

"I insist,"
Giles says, pocketing the necklace. "I'll return it in a day or two�"

"Oh�"
Cordelia blinks her eyes, as if suddenly waking up. "Ok, thanks�" She
looks at the others. "So, what happened to you last night, Faith?"
She notices everyone looking at her. "What?"

"You were talking
about your dad, Cor," Faith says, "Something he said?"

"I was?"� She looks puzzled for a moment, then the
light bulb comes on. "Oh, right. He said some terrible things. About you
and well� me�" She looks a little disturbed. "He really doesn't like
you, Faith. I don't know why� no, wait I do know� Buffy. She must've been
bending his ear about her capturing you�" She shrugs. "I think he
thinks you're some kind of burglar or something�"

Giles starts at the name Cordelia mentions. Buffy? No, that
can't be. I'm sure it's just a coincidence�

"Yeah, I'm sure that's it�" Faith turns away, not
wanting Cordelia to her expression.

"And� he threatened me� and� seeing you, I know he had to
have something to do with it�" She moves over to Faith, and kneels down by
her. "I'm sorry, baby. I didn't think he'd do something like this�"

Faith exchanges a look with Giles. There's some guilt in that
look.

"I'm sure he didn't mean for it to go this far," Faith
reassures her, gently caressing her hair. "I'm sure he just meant to shake
me up�"

"I'm not stupid," Cordelia stiffens.

"Cor?" Faith is a little taken aback by her reaction.

"That's what you think, isn't it?" She stands up,
shaking her head. "All of you, right? You think I'm just some airhead
cheerleader that happened to stumble into your clubhouse!"

"Uh oh�" Xander looks a little scared.

"I think Cordelia's ready to blow�" Willow backs up a
step. She's seen Cordelia go off. It's not pretty.

"Cordelia. I'm sure if you calm down�"

"Stop treating me like a retarded child! I'm not an idiot.
I know something's wrong. A lot of somethings are wrong. I know that my dad is
too rich, too powerful. I know that. I mean, I didn't want to think about it,
ok� he's my dad. And it's not until you came along, and pulled me into
this�"

"Whoa up. I didn't twist your arm�." Faith protests.

"I know that. But � how could I not fall for you? And
become part of your life? And now, I see stuff I didn't want to see before, and
I know stuff I didn't want to know. I can't hide from it , or pretend it's not
happening. And last night, when� I
looked into my dad's eyes,� he must've
let the mask slip� because whatever that was I saw there, it wasn't the man I
knew to be my father. I �" She looks around at all of them. "I've
gotta know. What is he? He can't be� I mean, nobody can do what he's done� and
�the things I've seen and didn't want to believe� I � who is he?"

"Ms. Chase. I don't know what went on between you and your
father last night, but once you calm down I'm sure�"

"Shut up, Giles! There you go again with the 'I'm too stupid
to get it' stuff. Well, I'm not. It's like my necklace, right? I saw you break
the clasp. You're not all that clever, you know.� What is it? What does it do?"

"Frankly, I'm not sure," Giles admits. "I've seen
it somewhere in my researches, and I wanted a chance to look it up. I thought
perhaps Cornell might be using it to�"

"Spy on you? Is that it? You think I'm some kind of spy for
my dad?" She turns to Faith. "is that what you think, too?"

Faith shakes her head. "No�" She turns to Giles.
"Tell her, Giles. She deserves to know what we know�"

"Tell her what?" Willow breaks in. "What're you
guys talking about? What do we know?" She stares at Giles and Faith.
"Or maybe I should ask, what don't we know?" Her tone grows a little
harsh. "We're part of this too, we should know!"

Giles and Faith look at each other.

"I think we need to have a private talk, Ms. Chase. If
you'll come with me?" He holds out his hand for hers.

Cordelia hesitates, not sure she really wants to know, now that
it's going to happen. Then seeming to make up her mind, she puts her hand in
Giles'.

"Ok, but I'm not going to like this, am I?"

Giles doesn't answer, he just gives her a sympathetic look. Her
heart sinks.

"Oh, crap, I'm really not going to like this."

She follows him out.

2

For a moment, there's silence in the room. Everyone feels a
little awkward, not sure what to say.

"Well, uh� " Faith half grins, "I guess me
training you so hard paid off, huh?"

Willow looks at her like she can't believe her.

"You JERK!" She cries, burying her face in Xander's
chest.

"What did I say?"

"You could've died, don't you get that? You very nearly DID
die. And you're making with the jokes. Well, excuse me if I don't find that
really funny, ok?" She looks at Faith, her face red and her eyes bright
with tears.

"Willow, I'm sorry�"

"No, Faith. Sorry just doesn't cut it. Do you think it's
funny I find you lying in my driveway, looking like someone worked you over
with a sledgehammer? Maybe the funny part was that you weren't breathing when
we found you. Oh, and being attacked by Spike. Yeah, that was real fun. So much
fun, I think I nearly pissed my pants."

"Oh, god, Willow, I wasn't trying to make fun of you. I
just� made a joke�"

"A joke. You think this is a joke?"

"Willow, don't do this, " Xander says, trying to calm
her down. "You'll only �"

"What? What am I gonna do, Xander? No, don't even start
with me�" She looks at Faith. "That's what we are, isn't it? A couple
of jokes to you. Two dumb kids without a clue! Isn't that right, Faith?"

"No, god, no!" Faith protests, struggling to sit up.
"Is that what you think I think?"

"Well, duh!" Willow breaks from Xander, coming over to
Faith. "You treat us like jokes."

She looks at Xander. "You too?"

Xander hesitates, then walks over to Willow, putting his arm
around her shoulders.

"Me too. You kinda treat us like we're not anything�"

"Oh god," Faith lays back, letting out a moan.

"Well, we're sorry if it pains you to hear the truth�"
Willow's tone is acidy.

"No, that's not it," Faith closes her eyes. "I'm
a total fuck up, and I don't know how to fix it. I don't even know if I can fix
it�" She opens her eyes, and sits up. "Look, guys, the last two
people that are jokes around here are you two. You two guys� you mean everything
to me�"

"Yeah, sure, I believe that�" Willow says,
sarcastically. "Maybe next you can tell me about the Easter Bunny
too�"

"I got that coming, I know�" Faith says, her tone
pained. "But I really mean it� look, guys, I'm the slayer. I know that doesn't
mean I get a pass here, I'm just trying to explain. Slayers work alone. Well,
they did until you guys showed up, anyway�"

"Fine, if you want to work alone, that's just fine�"

"That's not what I'm saying. Being the slayer, I don't expect
to have anyone help me. Shit, even before being the slayer, I didn't have
anyone to help me, you know? I didn't have a family or nothing. There was just
me. I had to get by, and I didn't give or get thanks for anything, you know?
Because I didn't know any better, and now, it's hard for me to break that old
habit�" She lets out a sigh. "But I want to, because well, you guys?
You are my family. That's why I ride you so rough sometimes. If anything
happened to you two, either of you, I'd never forgive myself. "

"Faith, you're not responsible for us. We know what we're
doing�" Xander says.

"I know that, but that doesn't change the way I feel,
Xander. And, the worst part is? So far, it's you guys saving my ass. What? Two,
three times now? I've lost count. And I know I haven't said what I feel,
because I guess, being the slayer and not having family before, I didn't know
how to say it. But I guess I'll just say it. I love you guys.� I think you're the best. Both of you. I
couldn't ask for two better friends. You always come through for me, and I
don't know what I'd do without either of you.�
I'm only here to say this cuz you once again saved my sorry ass. And I'm
grateful. Really grateful. God, I wish I wasn't so crappy at this. But I
am.� I don�t know any better how to say
it. All I know is I need you guys, and I haven't said that, and I'm so, so
sorry�" her voice catches. "I don't � shit� I'm sorry�" She
turns away to hide the tears falling out of her eyes.

"Faith, don't, please don't�" Willow comes over, and
leaning over, hugs her. "I didn't want to hurt you. I just needed to know
you really needed us, too. We need you, Faith, and seeing you like that, dead
and all� and then you start joking about it� it's too much, you know? We �
Xander and I� we just didn't feel you needed us at all.� And that hurts�"

"I know. God I know�" Faith says, turning around. Her
cheeks are wet with tears. "I never meant to make you feel like
that�"

"Just let us help you, ok? Don't shut us out anymore, ok?
Please?" Willow's lip quivers, and a big fat tear rolls down her cheek.

"Oh god, don't start crying," Faith says, a sob
escaping. "I promise, no more secrets, ok?"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

They hug, and Faith, seeing Xander standing awkwardly by,
stretches out towards him.

"C'mere, you," She says, including him in an awkward
but satisfying three way hug.

Xander grins, and hugs both his favorite women.

"Gosh, we've got to fight more often. I'm really loving the
make up!"

"Xander!" Willow breaks and hits him on the arm.

"Ouch!"

"You goof!" Faith gives him a gentle shove.

"Hey, what did I do?"

"Men," Willow and Faith say at the same time, then
laugh.

"Two against one is so unfair," Xander complains.

"Yes, well, deal with it, Xander," Willow says, while
giving him a hug and peck on the cheek.

"So, are we good now?"

"We're good," Willow says.

"Good," Faith nods. She leans back in her bed.
"Was there anything you guys wanted to say? I mean, anything you haven't
said?"

Xander and Willow exchange a slightly guilty look.

"Nooo.." Willow says.

"No, nothing." Xander adds.

"Ok," Faith says, softly. "I've got something to
add." She lets out a breath slowly. "It's about Cordelia�"

"Oh man, I knew it," Willow feels herself revving up
again.

"Willow, please? I know you two don't get along �"

"That's putting it mildly," Xander says.

"Whose side are you on?"

"I'm just saying�"

"Guys?"

"Huh?"

"About Cordelia. I know she isn't a fave, ok? But, try to get
along with her, please? Because, like it or not, she's part of this too. And we
all gotta to stick together�"

"Yeah, but Cordelia?" Willow says, not at all happy.

"Guys�"

"Do we have to like her?" Xander says, mournfully.

"No. But you have to be nice. Stop all the sniping,
ok?"

"But�"

"Ok?" Faith's tone is a little firmer.

"Ok, ok, we'll be nice," Willow says, definitely not
liking this.

"But we don't have to like it�" Xander says.

Faith smiles, knowing when to quit. She hears a small noise, and
looks up at the doorway.

3

A moment later, she sort of wishes she hadn't.

Giles and Cordelia have returned, and one glance at Cordelia's
face tells her that she's heard what Giles had to say, and is definitely not
happy about it.

Cordelia looks pale, and is frowning deeply. More, her head is
shaking slightly, as if trying to shake out something she didn't really want to
know or hear.

"Cordelia? Are you ok?" Faith asks quietly. Perhaps she
doesn't really want to hear the answer.

"You're kidding, right? Am I ok?" Cordelia, standing
at the doorway, stares at Faith. "You want to know if I'm ok? That's a
joke, right?"

Willow and Xander stand by Faith, staring at Cordelia, not quite
getting what's going on. Cordelia snaps at them.

"Stop staring at me! I'm not some kind of freak!"

They look at each other, then deliberately not look at Cordelia.
Again, they don't want to be on the wrong end of a Cordelia explosion.

"Cordelia�" Faith's tone is almost pleading.
"Don't do this�"

"Do what? I'm not doing anything! I� " She looks at
Willow and Xander. "Do they know, too? Who else knows? Maybe we should
just publish it in the Sunnydale Herald."� She chuckles, unpleasantly. "Just get it out of the way
now!"

"God, Giles, what did you tell her?" Faith turns a
slightly accusatory eye on Giles.

"I just related to her briefly what I told you about
Cornell, Faith�" Giles says, a little defensively.

"Yes, so I see. But I was hoping you might use a little
tact�"

"What's the point, anyway?" Cordelia says, finding a
chair, and sitting heavily. "I mean, when I said I thought my father was
not the man I thought he was, I thought he was still a man� "

Xander and Willow suddenly look at Giles, then at Faith.

"What's she talking about?" Willow says, "What
about her dad?"

"Will? Not now� I think maybe we can wait on this
one," Xander says. He still doesn't know what's going on, but he gets that
now is not the time to pry.

"But�"

"Not now!"

Willow subsides, not at all happy about the new turn of events.

"Cordelia, if you recall, I said I wasn't sure what the
situation is with your father, only that we're pretty sure he's involved with
whatever's going on in Sunnydale�"

"That isn't all you said�" Cordelia declares, her
voice shaky. "You said he wasn't� I mean, he isn't� oh god, I �really
don't want to think about it� " She looks at her hands, and gets a strange
expression on her face. "Does that mean I'm gonna�?"

Giles looks at Faith for help.

"Cordelia� "

"What?" She snaps at Faith. "Did you know this?
What am I saying? Of course you knew this� how long? How long have you� did
you� is it because of my father? Is that why you�?"

"God, no!" Faith declares, suddenly understanding.
"You're father has NOTHING to do with the way I feel about you,
Cordelia�"

"How do I know that?" Cordelia suddenly gets up out of
the chair, and moves further away from the rest of them. "You might want
to use me to get to my father�"

"Cordelia, stop!" Faith's tone turns harsh, demanding.
"Come here�"

"No�" Cordelia suddenly looks frightened, and very
alone. "I won't!"

Willow looks at Xander. "What the hell is going on
here?"

"How the hell would I know?"

They both look at Giles, who shakes his head curtly.

"Cordelia, I mean it. Come here!" Faith points to a
spot next to her bed.

For a moment, a brief moment, it looks like Cordelia is going to
do that. Then she seems to think better of it, and stops herself.

"No, I won't!"

"HEY!" A voice from beyond the partition speaks up.
"Do you think you can cut down on the drama? Some of us are trying to
recuperate here!"

"Oh for god's sake!" Faith grumbles to herself.

She throws off her covers, and getting up,� stops for a moment to get her balance. Then,
she walks over, and grabs Cordelia, pushing through the doorway and out of the
room.

"Let me go!" Cordelia protests as Faith drags her down
the hall. "I don't want you touching me!"

"Be quiet!" Faith orders, her patience stretched thin.

Cordelia, despite any inclinations, lets Faith drag along. They
finally stop between rooms, and Faith corners her against the wall.

"Look at me!" She says, when Cordelia looks for a way
to escape. "Look at ME!"

"I don't want to!" Cordelia cries, struggling against
Faith. "Just let me go!"

"Not until you get what I've got to say, " Faith says
gently, but firmly. "I love you, Cordelia. I do. I love you, more than
anything before. And that has NOTHING to do with your father. It has just to do
with you! I don't care what you are, or who your family is or whatever. I love
YOU. Understand that? Can I make it clearer?"

"How can you love me?" Cordelia pushes against Faith,
causing her to step back. "I'm a monster�"

"Who said that?"

"Giles!"

"He called you a monster?"

"Well, not exactly. But he said my father might be some
kind of Demon, so what does that make me?"

"I dunno, what? Really bitchy?"

"Don't make fun of me! I'm half demon�"

"Well, news for ya. So am I�"

"What?"

"The Slayer. Exactly where do you think we get the power? I
have the essence of a Demon inside of me. All Slayers do, every since a bunch
of old guys got together and made the first slayer. So, what? You afraid of me
now?"

"No!" Cordelia declares. "Well, not any more than
usual, anyway. But, that's different�"

"How? I have the essence of demon in me, and so do you. So
the freaking what? It's not what you are, Cor, that matters. It's who you
are�" She cocks her head to the side. "You don't have a sudden
craving for baby flesh, do you?"

"What? That's gross!"

"And, you don't have an urge to go out and kill puppies and
kitties, do you?"

"No, that's just� silly�"

"Well, you're probably not evil then. Of course, I'm sure
there are some freshman at high school that would disagree with me�"

"Stop that! It�s not a joke!"

"No, it�s not," Faith agrees, her tone growing
serious. "You have to deal with your heritage. Welcome to life, Cordelia.
We all got that. So, just deal with it�" She looks Cordelia in the eye.
"Do you feel like a monster? I mean really?"

"N-No�" Cordelia says nervously, her voice soft.

"Good, cuz not sure I could love a monster�" Faith
leans in against Cordelia.

To Cordelia, beyond being stimulating, it's comforting to feel
Faith against her. As if it makes everything make sense again. She relishes the
touch.

"What if I grow horns, or tail or something�"

"Mmmm� sexy�" Faith says, pressing her lips to
Cordelia's ears. "I don't care, don't you get it? I love you, no matter
what�"

"Really?" Cordelia feels suddenly so much better.

"Yeah, really�" Faith says, leaning against Cordelia.
"Are you feeling better now?"

"A little�" Cordelia admits.

"Good, so can you help me back to bed now? I'm feeling�
kinda crappy�"

Cordelia realizes Faith's face is pale, and her breathing is
shallow. She feels a wave of guilt.

"OH, baby, I'm sorry�"

"Shush. Stop it. It's ok, but really� I could use to lie
down now�"

Cordelia manages to get an arm under Faith's, half carrying her
back to her room.

"We've really got to stop meeting like this. It's killing
me," Faith cracks as they walk back to the room.

"Faith!!"

"Kidding!" Faith grins weakly. "god, no one's got
a sense of humor no more."

They enter the room, and meet with three rather concerned faces
huddled in a group. They stare at the couple.

Willow looks like she's ready to bolt to help support Faith, but
Faith holds up a hand to restrain her. Cordelia leads her to bed, and Faith
gets in, laying back and letting out a sigh.

"Guys, I love you all, and thanks for like watching over me,
but I'm kinda tired now, and I need to sleep some more, ok? Can we do this
later�" She nods her head towards the curtain, and lowers her voice
"I think the natives are getting pissed�"

"I heard that," The voice next door pipes up.
"This is a hospital, remember?"

Faith rolls her eyes, and mouths "See what I mean?"

"Yes, I think it best you rest. According to the doctors,
they see no reason why you can't be discharged in the morning� tomorrow
morning�"

"Another night here. Sweet." Faith's tone is slightly
sarcastic.

"� and we'll be back later to check in on you�"

"More quietly, I hope!" The voice floats over the
curtain.

Another look from Faith, and nods from the others.

Cordelia for her part hesitates. She really doesn't feel like
going home. Not right now. She's not sure she can deal with it right now.

"Can I stay? I mean, I won't bother you, and I'll be
quiet�"

There's a snort from behind the curtain.

"I will!"

"You can come with us�"

Faith, along with Giles and Cordelia, look at Willow and Xander,
somewhat surprised.

"She's part of this now, like it or not�" Willow says,
" And I think right now, she needs somewhere to think� right?"

Cordelia looks at her gratefully, perhaps mixed� with a little suspicion.

"Why are you being nice to me, all of a sudden?" She
asks, confused.

"Don't get it wrong, Cordelia. Faith told us to. We don't
all of a sudden like you. But�" She looks at Giles and Faith. "Even
if some of us won't tell the rest of us everything, we're not stupid. They
dropped a bomb on you, and I guessing right now you could use some kind of
support. If you're with us, then that means we gotta help you�"

"Thanks," She sounds doubtful. "I think."
She walks over to them.

"Oh, that's ok. Just call us Dr. Phil�" Willow grins.

"Hey guys, she's been through a lot, ok?" Faith speaks
up. "Remember what we talked about, ok?"

"Don't be such a mom, Faith," Willow says, "We've
got it"

"That's exactly what I'm afraid of�"

The three walk out. Perhaps Cordelia looks the least happy about
it.

"Well, I best be off, too. You need your rest, and I need
to do some research�"

"Wait�" Faith grabs his sleeve, not letting him go.
"There's something I need to talk to you about. Alone�" She drops her
voice to a whisper, waving him closer.

"What?" He asks, as he kneels next to her. His tone is
barely above a whisper.

"It's� something Cornell said� something about � well, as
he was scaring the shit out of me, he got all talky, and he's telling me I'm
going to die, blah, blah, blah. Usual villain stuff, I guess. They all kinda
like to brag�"

Giles smiles.

"But he said something. About my death being a prophecy? I
mean, beyond the usual Slayer's life is short and brutal and that stuff. Do you
know what he was talking about?"

Giles' smile slipped, and suddenly he looks uncomfortable.

"Giles," Faith's voice is soft, but firm. "If
there's something, I gotta know it� please�?"

Giles kneels there, looking into her face. Her young face, so
battered and bruised and swollen. And he hesitates. �How can I tell her�?

"Giles, please," Faith repeats, insistent while still
quiet. "If there's something to this, I've gotta know it�"

"There's a book� called the Pergamum Codex. I thought all copies
had been lost, but Angel found one for me� I don't know how, and I didn't
ask," He seems reluctant to say it. As if saying it will make it true.
"It was written over a thousand years ago by what some call a seer, others
a madman. In any case, he was a blind monk�"

"Giles! The point. Today, please."

"I was getting to that�"Giles says, a little
impatiently. "there's a passage towards the end. It goes something like :
"In the end of days, near the time of the great upheaval between Dark and
Light, there will come one from the depths. And he will gather his power, and
he will be strong. And lo, the Chosen one will fight him. She will battle
bravely, but in the end, the Slayer will die, and he, the Master, will rise
up�"

He looks at her, and his heart sinks.

Faith's face is a blank mask, not exhibiting any emotions. The
only thing proving she's actually alive are her eyes, which are staring out in
space. There is a fierceness in them.

"I guess that pretty much covers it, yeah�" She
finally says, her tone slightly distant.

"Faith, believe me. These things don't always come to pass.
I've been looking for an out, some way around it�"

He feels his hand suddenly surrounded by hers. She squeezes it
firmly, but not enough to hurt.

"Giles, don't," She says softly. "I'm the slayer,
right? This is what I do. No one promised me a long, happy life�" she
can't help the slightly bitter edge to her tone. "If I die, another one
comes along�"

Giles is shocked, and somewhat hurt by her seeming flip
attitude. "Faith, I hardly believe that's what it means to be a
slayer�"

Faith smiles, though it's easy to see she doesn�t feel like it.
" Giles, I don't want to die�"

"Faith�"

"I don't want to, and I'm not gonna lie, I'm not taking
this lying down. Well�ok, you know what I mean. I'm gonna fight it, Giles, with
everything I've got. I've got a lot to live for�" Her face softens along
with her eyes. "There's you, and of course, Cordelia. And Willow, and
Xander. I've�" She stops a moment, a little sob breaking out of her.
"Ok, sorry, I mean, you all mean a lot to me. You're like my family� and I
need that. And I'm not gonna go like the lamb to slaughter, ok? I'm gonna fight
this�"

Giles doesn't answer, not knowing what to say. Pride mixes with
concern mixes with a father's love for a child.� It's something to behold.

"Faith, I'm not going to let this happen. I'll find a way
out�"

"And if you don't?" Faith says simply. "Giles,
whatever happens, it's not your fault, ok?�
I knew this gig was rough going in, and I knew what might happen. And
I'll deal. But it's not going to happen if I can help it, ok?" She
squeezes his hand. "And if you can help it. You've got my back, I know
that�" she sighs. "But this has to be between us. We can't tell the
others�"

"Faith, they have a right to know. They should be on guard,
in case�"

"No! Giles, no. If they're worrying about me, if they think
I'm going to die, what's that going to do to them? They're going to lose their
spirit, you know that. They'll all be about trying to protect me, and they'll
get themselves killed, trying. No�" Faith shakes her head, "No, we
need them to be concentrated on this. This isn't going to be a cakewalk as is.
Telling them will only get them killed�"

"Faith, I think this is a mistake. You're right, they're
part of this, and they should know everything�"

"Not this�" Faith looks at him, her face determined.
"Not this. How can I do my job if I'm worrying about them doing something
stupid to try to 'save' me? I can't, and you know it, and that WILL get me
killed. So, if you care about me at all, please, promise me. Only you and me on
this."

"Faith�"

"Promise me!"

"Very well, I promise I wont say anything. For now."

"Giles!"

"I'm sorry, but that's the best I can do."

"Fine, but if anyone gets killed because of it, it's on
your head."

He stands up, releasing his grip on her hand. "I better go.
You need your rest."

"Yeah, I think you better," Faith says, her tone a
distant.

Giles turns and strides to the door. His face says it all. He's
not going to stop trying. He won't let her die. He won't.

Whatever it takes.

He doesn't turn around as he leaves. HE doesn't see her grip the
sheets fiercely, nor does he see her bury her head in her pillow.

She curses, silently, every deity she knows, everything that
seems to be set against her. She hates the idea of dying.

Now, especially, when things are beginning to be so right. To
have it snatched away now, is crueler than anything she can think of.

She looks up at the ceiling, her eyes wet with tears.

"Why now? Why now?" She asks, to no one in particular.
"Why do you hate me so much?"

And for the moment, she gives in, just letting herself be what
she really is.

A scared teenager faced with something she can't deal with.

Yet, she has to deal with it.

And that hurts. Beyond anything she's known before.

4

"Wake up!"

Spike is standing next to the chained Angel, slapping him none to
gently across the cheeks. Angel hangs loosely in his bindings; he's bound to
the wall, in a faux crucifixion manner, arms spread wide, feet bound together.
He is unconscious, his head hanging chin to chest

Spike lifts Angel's head off his chest, and stares at him. He
slaps him again.

"C'mon, you sod. Wakey-wakey. Time to get up�" Spike
puts his arm around Angel's neck, giving it a squeeze. "Rather rude to
sleep through your own torture. Says I'm not trying hard enough. I'm
hurt."

Angel slowly opens his eyes, and looks around. For a moment, he
doesn't remember where he is; all he can think about is the pain. His body is
covered with burns and cuts, evidence of Spike and Drusilla's amusement. His
mind clear, and looking around, remembers that somehow Spike 'captured' him and
brought him down into the tunnels. Down to the place where the Master used to
hold his 'revivals'.

His gaze shifts to Spike, taking in the smirking platinum haired
vampire. He feels anger, mixed with a healthy dollop of disgust.

"Spike," He hisses, reflecting his feelings.

"There he is," Spike sounds amused. "Have a good
nap, Peaches? Are you all rested up and comfy now?"

Angel simply glares at him.

"What's wrong, Angelus? Haven't we been perfect hosts?
Sorry if things are a bit rough, but�" Spike shrugs, "I suppose
that's just the breaks, eh? The Master never was one for luxury�" He
inspects Angel closely. "I see Drusilla has been busy while I've been
gone. Looks painful�" He nods, sympathetically, then slaps Angel across
the chest, causing Angel to flinch. "Well, not like you haven't given as
well as you've gotten�"

"Daddy was naughty�" Drusilla says in a sing song
voice. "Naughty, bad Daddy�"

"Naughty?" Spike's neck seems to stiffen, and he turns
to look at Drusilla.

She is seated at a small rectangular table, a small tea service
in the center. Along each other side is one doll, seated by a tea cup. Behind
them, in chairs, are three humans, all bound and gagged. Each has neck wounds,
and two of them look near death. The other is more alert; she stares at
Drusilla warily.

"More tea, Miss Emily?" Drusilla holds up the pot
towards one of the dolls. Seeming to hear an answer no one else hears, she
pours nothing into one of the cups by one of the dolls. "Yes, the singing is
lovely�" Her gaze turns towards the woman staring at her. "But, I do
wish she would stop staring. It bothers me she's staring, you know? " She
turns to address the captive woman. "Stop staring at me, it's rude!"

The woman keeps looking at her.

"I said, stop it!" Drusilla raises her voice,
frustrated. She pounds her fists on the table, causing the cups to clatter.
"Stop it, stop it! Uhhhh�. Uhhhh� Why won't you stop it!" She yells
at the girl. "Stop it, stop it, STOP IT!" She has what some would call
a tantrum.

"Drusilla, love�" Spike comes up to her, putting his
hands on her shoulders. "Calm down�"

"Make her stop, Spike� make her stop!" Drusilla
blubbers, shaking and weaving in her chair. "She won't stop staring at
me!"

"Ahhh, Drusilla�" Spike says, walking over to the
bound woman. Her eyes follow him, full of loathing and fear. "Don't you
remember your bible, pet?"

"Eh?" Drusilla seems confused by the question.

"If the eyes offend you�" Spike says calmly, standing
behind the bound woman. Without warning, Spike reaches around, digs into the
woman's face, and plucks out her� eyes.

"� pluck them out."

The woman, even gagged, manages to scream loudly.

Spike casually grabs her head, and twists her neck violently,
ending her suffering and her life.

"Oh, Spike," Drusilla says, her voice awed. Then she
starts clapping, bouncing in her chair. "Do it again! Do it again!"

Spike smiles; grabbing the corpse and chair, flings both
casually over into a corner, out of the way. He leans on the table, next to the
doll .

"Now Dru, what did you mean, naughty?"

"Hmmm?" Drusilla seems to have lost interest, pouring
more imaginary tea for one of her dolls. "What?"

"You said Angelus was naughty�." Spike's tone is a
shade frosty. "What do you mean?"

"Hmmm? Oh, Angel� yes�" Dru looks over her shoulder at
Angel, smiling. "Yes, naughty, naughty daddy�" She giggles.
"Tsk, tsk, sooo bad, sooo very bad."

Angel, despite his seeming passivity, is following along
closely. He smiles internally, seeing Spike's rising jealousy.

"How bad?" Spike's tone is firm.

"Oh�he said things�" She looks at Angel again, and
smiles. He returns the smile, or at least an approximation. "Naughty
things. Didn't you, Daddy?" She turns to Spike, smiling. "I had to
teach him manners, didn't I?"

Angel chuckles.

"What're you laughing at, you bloody sod!" Spike
storms over to Angel and punches him in the kidney. "Laugh at that, you
burke!"

"Gee. Spike, after all these years," Angel says, his
voice a little hoarse and rough. "You'd think you'd be over it�"

"Shut UP!" Spike punches him again.

Angel laughs, between his groans.

"What's so BLEEDING FUNNY!" Spike lands another in his
gut.

"You are�" Angel smirks, coughing at the same time.

"Oooo, look, Miss Emily!" Drusilla holds up one of the
dolls, facing towards Angel and Spike. "My boys are fighting over me! My
pretty, pretty boys!"

"You know� Spike�" Angel stammers a little at the
pain. "It must be hard�"

"Not as hard as this, mate!"� Spike brings his boot up between Angel's legs, kicking him
fiercely.

Angel lets out a roar, and Spike steps back, looking
satisfied.� Dusting his hands off, he
turns to go.

Angel manages to look up, his eyes bloodshot. The smirk is still
on his face.

"� must be hard�" he repeats, hoarsely, his crotch throbbing madly.
"To still know� that after all this time� and devotion� you still� come
up� short�"

"THAT'S IT!" Spike roars.

If he could flush scarlet, he would, his rage is so perfect.
Instead, he whirls about, and marching over to the corner where he threw the
body, he grabs the chair, and busting off�
a piece, starts over towards Angel.

"I've had it with you, and your crap, Angelus!" Spike
says, advancing with the makeshift stake raised high. "You've gone TOO far
this time!"

"Spike, NO!" Drusilla lunges from her chair and rushes
at him, getting between him and Angelus. "No, Spike, don't.
Remember!"

"Remember what?" Spike foams, shoving her violently
out of the way. "That he's an arsehole? I remember that quite well, thank
you!"

"You're so touchy, Spike!" Angel almost grins.
"No wonder Dru has to look elsewhere to get satisfied�"

"YOU BLOODY BASTARD!" Spike raises the stake, and goes
to stake Angel, but stops. Something is holding his hand. Suddenly, he's flying
across the room, and slams into a stone wall. The makeshift stake clatters to
the floor as Spike slips down the wall, stunned.

"That'll be enough out of you, Mr. Spike," A voice
floats out of the shadows.

Angel's and Drusilla's heads whirl towards the voice, and
someone emerges from the shadows, dressed well in a very expensive Pierre
Cardin suit. He walks over to Drusilla, and lifting her, flings her almost
casually at the heap of Spike.

"Put your dog on a leash, and get him out of my
sight," Cornell says softly, with a steel edge to his voice. He turns
towards Angel.

"He was trying to �" Spike, somewhat recovered and
chilled by the appearance of Cornell, tries to explain.

"Shut up, Vampire. Haven't you done enough tonight?" Cornell,
quite capable of show rage, does. "You've messed up once tonight, and now
I catch you trying to kill him�" He nods at Angelus. "I told you, I
have plans for him, and to hold him� not to make a dust bunny out of him."

"But he was�" Spike protests.

"GET OUT!" Cornell roars, and suddenly two long
tentacle seem to emerge from nowhere, grabbing Spike and Drusilla and holding
them high in the chamber. "You're this close to being nothing more than
vacuum bag filler, you idiot! I gave you two very simple assignments, and
you've managed to muck up both of them. I told you to only rough up the Slayer,
and you nearly KILL HER! Do you have any idea what that would to my plans, you
insufferable mud worm?" Cornell slams Spike none too gently into the chamber
wall.

Angel feels as if an icicle has been plunged through his heart.
A cold chill runs through him, and he shudders. Despite his own injuries, the
idea that Faith might be near death hits him a lot harder than he expected. It
surprises him; he can't remember the last time he felt like this about anyone.

Watching Cornell 'play' with Spike, he mutters to himself.
"If I get out of this�"

Cornell drops Spike's unconscious form, and almost barks at
Drusilla. "Get him out of here. If I didn't have use for him, neither of
you would be leaving � and don't think I can't get a dozen more to replace
him."

Drusilla impossibly seems to pale, and going over, picks up
Spike off the stone floor. Flinging him over her shoulder, she makes her way
away from Cornell and the chamber.

Cornell turns back to Angel, all smiles. He walks over and
kneels down beside him.

"If you get out of this?" Cornell mirrors his words
back to him. "Oh, don�t worry, you'll be leaving us soon enough. Alive and
quite well�" he looks over Angel, and shakes his head. "Sorry, good
help is so hard to find these days." He stands, and walking over, grabs
the chair Drusilla was using. He looks at the two now deceased bodies, and
makes a noise. "Vampires. Always so messy. Leaving their trash for others
to clean up." Turning around, he brings the chair to within a few feet of
Angel, and sits. "As I was saying, don't fret your empty little head over
it, Angelus. You'll be leaving soon enough. When the time is right."

He sits there, studying Angel as a zoologist would study a rare
new specimen.

Angel, uncomfortable under the scrutiny, finally cracks.
"What?" He whispers, his throat hot and dry. Inside, a deep anger is
forming.

"A vampire with a soul�" Cornell says, cocking his
head to the side. "Almost an oxymoron. Yet, here you are. How
�unique." He leans in, almost conspiratorially. "It's not often I get
to see something so rare and new. That's the curse of a long life, I
fear."

"Yeah, well, hurray for you," Angel says, tight
lipped. "You don't mind if I don't give a damn?"

"Oh, dear, but you should give a damn, as you say,"
Cornell gets up, going over to Angel. "It's the reason you're still alive,
Angelus. I've heard about you�" He smirks at the bound vampire. "Cut
quite a bloody swath through Europe for 150 years. Not all that long, but what
a reign of terror while it lasted. Quite � remarkable. Yet, nearly 100 years
ago, you seemed to disappear�" he pats Angel on the head. "Many
thought you were dead. Not exactly news with your breed, now is it? You're
given immortality, if only you avoid getting staked. Yet, that seems almost
impossible for your kind�"

"Must've gotten your information from a bunch of
Brits," Angels says, a slight lilt in his voice. "They never can get
things right, the sodding morons�"

"Yes, indeed� because there were also rumors of a curse. A
gypsy curse, restoring a soul to a vampire. I was fascinated� but I never
thought I'd actually get to meet you. Isn't it just lovely how things work
out?"

"Yeah, I know I'm thrilled," Angel's tone is
sarcastic. He pulls at his chains.

"Well, a necessary precaution. After all, if I unchained
you, you'd scamper away to warn your friends. I can't have that� not yet,
anyway. Not until things are set just so�" He shrugs. "Not that I
really need you� just evidence of you� and your actions� but I digress� for
now, you stay where you are�and I get to study you�"

Angel glares at him.

"Oh such looks. I think it must be that pesky soul� where
do you suppose those silly gypsies put it, anyway?" He grabs Angel's head,
pulling it back. "In here do you think?" He holds up his hand, and it
glows. He plunges his hand into the top of Angel's head.

Angel screams.

"Nope, not there�" Cornell smiles, withdrawing his
hand. "It must be here somewhere� maybe in here�"

He suddenly plunges his hand into Angel's chest, moving it
around as if looking for something.

Another scream out of Angel, louder than the first.

"Those clever devils. They've hidden it really well. I
guess we'll just have to keep looking, won't we?"

Angel screams.

* * *

To Be Continued.
- 30
- 31
- 32
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The Slayer