The Faith Lehane Files (complete)
I've finished posting at winter_of_faith, so as promised here's the complete documentation project, looking at Faith through the written records of people who came into contact with her. This is my Faith, who is also Rulesverse!Faith, though that's only important in the last segment, which is actual Rulesverse and therefore Giles/Faith.
Title The Faith Lehane Files 1: the calling years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 3 and before
First Watcher
Initial Assessment Report
Name of candidate Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Arthur Garfield
Position: Watcher-overseer, East Coast, USA
Date: November 1990
Physical assessment:
Healthy and robust. Physically active, confident, lacking in fear. Pronounced talent for team games. Aged 9 years, 2 months.
Intellectual assessment:
Limited, probably by environmental factors in part (see below). Courageous. Foolhardy. Tactical skills (assessed through observation of ball games, social interaction), generally fair but prone to temperamental bursts. Intellectual capacities not fully tested, but has not been well educated nor taught self-discipline and focus. School reports poor, unsurprisingly.
Environmental assessment:
Father unknown. Mother socially incompetent, evidence of alcohol abuse, multiple partners, some illegal substance abuse. One sister, Katherine Rose Lehane, aged 4. Poor nutrition and lack of educational ambition in family environment. Frequent house and school moves.
Recommendation:
Not a strong candidate in current circumstances, though the Slayer power of course moves in mysterious ways. Consideration should be given to removal from home environment in case of further deteriorations. However, FL does not fall into the most viable category of Slayer, and given the substantial costs of Watcher-homing, this option should be a last resort.
*
Second Watcher
Slayer Mission Assessment: Mission 2, destruction of vampire nest, Congress Street, Boston, MA
Name of Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Janine Delaney
Position: Watcher, active and assigned
Date: July 1999
Narrative:
A vampire nest was identified on 7/18/99 due to visible increase in vampire activity, attacks on local population (casualties: 3, fatalities: 2), newspaper reports of "undesirable elements" in the neighbourhood (JD note: usually code for young people in dark clothing and face paint; with reasonable frequency also indicates vampiric activity in this area). Nest estimated to contain 3-5 vampires given feeding patterns.
FL was briefed. A plan agreed, reliant on use of daylight as backup to provide failsafe should the Slayer become overwhelmed.
In the event, 7 vampires were at the nest, and the windows were solidly blocked, rendering them unhelpful as a backup. I was forced to intervene at three points to prevent loss of Slayer. Otherwise effective disposal of the vampires on a one-to-one basis.
Physical assessment:
Competent. A fair Slayer for her time in post, though always favouring the left slightly. Vigorous action, sometimes a loss of control leading to unnecessary effort. Movement is improving - several instances of dual-opponent challenges were well resolved.
Intellectual assessment:
FL is developing tactically. Has good oversight of battle situations. Requires minor backup only, even in multiple-opponent situations. Contributed significantly to (admittedly simple) mission planning and repeatedly revised plans under duress with effective outcome.
Environmental assessment:
As previously. I am concerned about her domestic situation. She is too young to live alone without any family or significant financial support. Recommend (also as previously) that the Council consider offering a stipend to supplement her (small) wages from what I believe to be illegal employment.
Emotionally, FL is dedicated to her Slaying, beneath a flippant exterior. She continues to blame a vampire for the death of her sister (see Slayer Initiation Report, May 1999), and to find catharsis in dispatching them individually and collectively.
Overall:
Fair.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 2: the Council years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 3 BtVS/season 1 AtS
Slayer Mission Assessment: incomplete assignment against the Mayor of Sunnydale, Richard Wilkins III, prior to his Ascension
Name of Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Wesley Wyndham-Pryce
Position : Watcher, active and assigned (at time of mission)
Date: May 2000
Narrative:
Faith has worked for Richard Wilkins III for some months, assisting in his rise to Demonhood. In the course of this, she has performed numerous deeds contrary to the Watchers' Council mission (among them murder of expert witnesses and the attempted killing of the souled vampire Angelus as a strategic distraction to the Slayer Buffy Summers - as per my report recommending action to his aid, disregarded by the Council).
Physical Assessment:
Comatose. Significant head trauma. Significant abdominal trauma (see Mission Report: Sunnydale - Wilkins - Summers for further details).
Intellectual Assessment:
She has utterly turned to evil. Murder has been committed, on several occasions, I believe. If she wakes, there must be a reckoning. I recommend long-term incarceration and intense therapy.
Of wider significance, I note that as an institution we have failed this Slayer. She found something in the Mayor which we have not offered her. I had believed that she required capture and re-education, but our efforts in that regard were clumsy and resulted in worse. We should learn from the approach practised by former Watcher Rupert Giles, whose termination I believe to have been an error.
Environmental Assessment:
Sunnydale General Hospital, long-term care ward. I assume the Council will cover her medical bills. You certainly deserve to.
Recommendation:
She is not expected to regain consciousness. I regret to say that I believe this to be a good thing. Close monitoring required in case of situation changing.
Someone else will, of course, be undertaking this activity. I am apparently no longer a Watcher.
*
Mission Assessment: suppression of the active Slayer
Name of Slayer to be suppressed: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Collins
Position: Council Officer (wetworks)
Date: 2 May 2000
Assignment:
Informed of the reactivation of the Slayer FL, we proceeded to her base of operations (Sunnydale, CA, USA) with due speed.
Narrative
FL was captured in a timely manner, but proved uncooperative. A number of agents were injured in the course of an attempt to restrain her prior to termination. As a result, FL escaped custody, to our great regret.
However, the team remained a viable operational unit, and proceeded to Los Angeles on the trail of FL. (She is readily detectable: unexplained violence and lewd dancing are always combined in police reports.) It appeared she had repented of her failure to follow the Slayer task assigned to her, and she initially attempted to kill the vampire Angelus. We received reports that she had been encouraged in this by Wolfram & Hart, of whose activities the Council is already cognisant. We did not regard this as a sufficiently positive step to negate the mission rationale.
We received some initial support from former Watcher Wyndham-Pryce, but he proved unreliable. We might perhaps have anticipated this. Ultimately, FL joined forces with the vampire Angelus, and thwarted our attempts at arrest.
Outcome:
FL is now restrained in the California Women's Correctional Facility, and will be tried on a variety of charges in the foreseeable future. She is secured and apparently surrendered to justice voluntarily, offering full co-operation. How long this will last is of course open to question.
File note for former Watcher Wyndham-Pryce: Unsuitable for re-employment.
File note for Slayer Buffy Summers: appears to be hostile to FL. No attempt made to contact or assist FL during her time in Sunnydale. She also visited Los Angeles, apparently to attack FL. Her role in events is unclear, but should be noted for future use.
Recommendations:
1) Increased surveillance of the vampire and his gang. Angelus is not co-operative and clearly not trustworthy.
2) Continued surveillance of California Women's Correctional Facility. Review situation in 2 years or earlier, in the case that activation of a new Slayer becomes critical.
3) Review of strength/weaponry/permissible tactics of active squads in anti-Slayer activities. Mission failure was not an acceptable outcome.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 3: the Penitential years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 4 BtVS/season 1 AtS
LAPD: Arrest Report
Arrest Record 635-PH-657-2000
Date of Arrest May 2, 2000
Arresting Officer Detective Kate Lockley
Name Faith Lehane
Date of Birth November 8, 1980
Charges Aggravated assault, robbery, theft
Physical description Hair: dark brown, eyes: dark brown. Height: 5 feet 6 inches, build: medium. Distinguishing marks: large scar to lower abdomen.
Home Address None. Recently in-patient, Sunnydale General Hospital, Sunnydale CA
Occupation None given.
Remarks Lehane turned herself in, and asked for a range of additional crimes to be taken into account, primarily outside the LAPD jurisdiction. She appears co-operative and contrite. Expressed herself willing to go to jail. Exact words: "Seems like I need some time to get out of my head."
*
Client: Faith Lehane
Report: End of Session Summary Assessment
Date: November 2000
I met with Faith on six occasions, as ordered by the court. She appeared calm throughout, and I believe she has accepted her sentence and intends to serve her time. She sees the sentenced period in jail positively, refers to it as "thinking time" and "paying my dues".
Her background is profoundly deprived. Parental support lacking throughout her formative years. Some more recent authority figures have repeatedly failed her, whether voluntarily or (in two cases) due to untimely death. It is a tragedy that the supportive relationship she was building with her employer, the late Mayor of Sunnydale, should have been ended by his violent death. This seems to be the trigger for her recent degenerating behaviour. She needs support, structure and boundaries. I recommend further counselling if available in the long-term correctional institution Faith serves her sentence.
Her recent history is complex and unclear. I still do not understand what brought her to California. She seems to have no close ties except to one man, a private detective, but this does not appear to be a romantic interest. She often speaks bitterly of her former acquaintances in Sunnydale, but appears nonetheless to have affection and loyalty for them. "Buffy" in particular appears to be an alter ego for Faith, resented and admired in almost equal proportions. I suspect that Buffy had some connection to Faith's hospitalisation, but she is unwilling to discuss it.
I recommend she be reassessed periodically. Her current state of mind is co-operative, but her history is traumatic and it would not be difficult for her to return to an antipathy to lawful behaviour unless she feels there is a place for her in congenial society.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 4: the years of freedom
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting Post-series: in the Rulesverse
Slayer Council Aptitude Assessment
Faith Lehane
Status Senior Slayer: pre-Choosing calling. A précis of her early career held on file at FML/01/PERS/01
Key notes: never, ever joke about her initials.
Date: January 2006
Reason for evaluation: Requested return to field assignment
Evaluated by: Panel B
Faith has been core to the development of the post-Sunnydale Council. Not only was she part of the closing of the Hellmouth, she has consistently supported new initiatives in Slayer training and organisation. Specifically:
2003-05 Faith trained four intakes of junior Slayers with strong results. Some issues with the latest trainees (see Drury, Briana), now resolved. A good teacher, overall and able to bring out the best in some of our more challenging recruits.
2003-04 Faith combined her trainer duties with developing the infrastructure of the Council’s South American operations. Diplomatic engagement with demons was a challenging aspect of this, and she requested removal from demon liaison roles, with full Council agreement. Overall, however, a successful posting with good tactical and negotiating skills displayed.
Overall: Physical assessment remains very strong. Leadership qualities are growing, though she lacks self-confidence in imposing her views on others. Good trainers with strong field experience should be at the top of the list of potential squad leaders.
Counter-signed:
Unquestionably suited to the field. If she wants to return and there is a suitable vacancy, she should become a squad leader as soon as possible. She will undoubtedly be an asset to the Council in this role, and there is no sense in restricting her to central
On a personal note, I would request that in future, I do not have to sign off Ms Lehane's field assignments. It feels inappropriate.
R. Giles
*
Rupert Giles, in attempting to compose his own wedding speech
November 2006
I had hoped that we could avoid the formalities. We did, after all, go behind your backs when we got married. We have been a couple for quite some time, and in the circumstances of the tragedy in Ulan Bator, we felt that a small ceremony was by far the most appropriate way forward. But Buffy has [inserted] kindly [/end insert] insisted on throwing us a party to celebrate. And inviting you all. So, a speech is required.
Firstly, I must thank Buffy and my other Council colleagues for all your generosity and good wishes. We have been very touched to have your blessing.
But I believe any groom's principal duty in his speech is to pay tribute to his bride. I have here a job which is both simple and complex. I can talk about Faith's good points for hours [pause for laughter. Briefly.] But you all know Faith. You know she's strong, and brave and beautiful. [Include if need be: And even though she has chosen not to wear something traditional,] I'm sure you will all agree that she looks exceptionally lovely tonight.
I have known Faith for many years. Since she was 18, in fact. And I was 42, as you well know, and there's really no need for me to rub that in, is there?
I struggled with writing this speech. At first, I didn’t know why. Then I assumed I was displaying an unfortunate level of Britishness. But in the end, I realised that you don’t need me to tell you about Faith. She’s more than capable of defining herself.
And that, I believe, is why I love her. If you’ll forgive me the sentimental moment.
Title The Faith Lehane Files 1: the calling years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 3 and before
First Watcher
Initial Assessment Report
Name of candidate Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Arthur Garfield
Position: Watcher-overseer, East Coast, USA
Date: November 1990
Physical assessment:
Healthy and robust. Physically active, confident, lacking in fear. Pronounced talent for team games. Aged 9 years, 2 months.
Intellectual assessment:
Limited, probably by environmental factors in part (see below). Courageous. Foolhardy. Tactical skills (assessed through observation of ball games, social interaction), generally fair but prone to temperamental bursts. Intellectual capacities not fully tested, but has not been well educated nor taught self-discipline and focus. School reports poor, unsurprisingly.
Environmental assessment:
Father unknown. Mother socially incompetent, evidence of alcohol abuse, multiple partners, some illegal substance abuse. One sister, Katherine Rose Lehane, aged 4. Poor nutrition and lack of educational ambition in family environment. Frequent house and school moves.
Recommendation:
Not a strong candidate in current circumstances, though the Slayer power of course moves in mysterious ways. Consideration should be given to removal from home environment in case of further deteriorations. However, FL does not fall into the most viable category of Slayer, and given the substantial costs of Watcher-homing, this option should be a last resort.
*
Second Watcher
Slayer Mission Assessment: Mission 2, destruction of vampire nest, Congress Street, Boston, MA
Name of Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Janine Delaney
Position: Watcher, active and assigned
Date: July 1999
Narrative:
A vampire nest was identified on 7/18/99 due to visible increase in vampire activity, attacks on local population (casualties: 3, fatalities: 2), newspaper reports of "undesirable elements" in the neighbourhood (JD note: usually code for young people in dark clothing and face paint; with reasonable frequency also indicates vampiric activity in this area). Nest estimated to contain 3-5 vampires given feeding patterns.
FL was briefed. A plan agreed, reliant on use of daylight as backup to provide failsafe should the Slayer become overwhelmed.
In the event, 7 vampires were at the nest, and the windows were solidly blocked, rendering them unhelpful as a backup. I was forced to intervene at three points to prevent loss of Slayer. Otherwise effective disposal of the vampires on a one-to-one basis.
Physical assessment:
Competent. A fair Slayer for her time in post, though always favouring the left slightly. Vigorous action, sometimes a loss of control leading to unnecessary effort. Movement is improving - several instances of dual-opponent challenges were well resolved.
Intellectual assessment:
FL is developing tactically. Has good oversight of battle situations. Requires minor backup only, even in multiple-opponent situations. Contributed significantly to (admittedly simple) mission planning and repeatedly revised plans under duress with effective outcome.
Environmental assessment:
As previously. I am concerned about her domestic situation. She is too young to live alone without any family or significant financial support. Recommend (also as previously) that the Council consider offering a stipend to supplement her (small) wages from what I believe to be illegal employment.
Emotionally, FL is dedicated to her Slaying, beneath a flippant exterior. She continues to blame a vampire for the death of her sister (see Slayer Initiation Report, May 1999), and to find catharsis in dispatching them individually and collectively.
Overall:
Fair.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 2: the Council years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 3 BtVS/season 1 AtS
Slayer Mission Assessment: incomplete assignment against the Mayor of Sunnydale, Richard Wilkins III, prior to his Ascension
Name of Slayer: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Wesley Wyndham-Pryce
Position : Watcher, active and assigned (at time of mission)
Date: May 2000
Narrative:
Faith has worked for Richard Wilkins III for some months, assisting in his rise to Demonhood. In the course of this, she has performed numerous deeds contrary to the Watchers' Council mission (among them murder of expert witnesses and the attempted killing of the souled vampire Angelus as a strategic distraction to the Slayer Buffy Summers - as per my report recommending action to his aid, disregarded by the Council).
Physical Assessment:
Comatose. Significant head trauma. Significant abdominal trauma (see Mission Report: Sunnydale - Wilkins - Summers for further details).
Intellectual Assessment:
She has utterly turned to evil. Murder has been committed, on several occasions, I believe. If she wakes, there must be a reckoning. I recommend long-term incarceration and intense therapy.
Of wider significance, I note that as an institution we have failed this Slayer. She found something in the Mayor which we have not offered her. I had believed that she required capture and re-education, but our efforts in that regard were clumsy and resulted in worse. We should learn from the approach practised by former Watcher Rupert Giles, whose termination I believe to have been an error.
Environmental Assessment:
Sunnydale General Hospital, long-term care ward. I assume the Council will cover her medical bills. You certainly deserve to.
Recommendation:
She is not expected to regain consciousness. I regret to say that I believe this to be a good thing. Close monitoring required in case of situation changing.
Someone else will, of course, be undertaking this activity. I am apparently no longer a Watcher.
*
Mission Assessment: suppression of the active Slayer
Name of Slayer to be suppressed: Faith Lehane
Name of submitting officer: Collins
Position: Council Officer (wetworks)
Date: 2 May 2000
Assignment:
Informed of the reactivation of the Slayer FL, we proceeded to her base of operations (Sunnydale, CA, USA) with due speed.
Narrative
FL was captured in a timely manner, but proved uncooperative. A number of agents were injured in the course of an attempt to restrain her prior to termination. As a result, FL escaped custody, to our great regret.
However, the team remained a viable operational unit, and proceeded to Los Angeles on the trail of FL. (She is readily detectable: unexplained violence and lewd dancing are always combined in police reports.) It appeared she had repented of her failure to follow the Slayer task assigned to her, and she initially attempted to kill the vampire Angelus. We received reports that she had been encouraged in this by Wolfram & Hart, of whose activities the Council is already cognisant. We did not regard this as a sufficiently positive step to negate the mission rationale.
We received some initial support from former Watcher Wyndham-Pryce, but he proved unreliable. We might perhaps have anticipated this. Ultimately, FL joined forces with the vampire Angelus, and thwarted our attempts at arrest.
Outcome:
FL is now restrained in the California Women's Correctional Facility, and will be tried on a variety of charges in the foreseeable future. She is secured and apparently surrendered to justice voluntarily, offering full co-operation. How long this will last is of course open to question.
File note for former Watcher Wyndham-Pryce: Unsuitable for re-employment.
File note for Slayer Buffy Summers: appears to be hostile to FL. No attempt made to contact or assist FL during her time in Sunnydale. She also visited Los Angeles, apparently to attack FL. Her role in events is unclear, but should be noted for future use.
Recommendations:
1) Increased surveillance of the vampire and his gang. Angelus is not co-operative and clearly not trustworthy.
2) Continued surveillance of California Women's Correctional Facility. Review situation in 2 years or earlier, in the case that activation of a new Slayer becomes critical.
3) Review of strength/weaponry/permissible tactics of active squads in anti-Slayer activities. Mission failure was not an acceptable outcome.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 3: the Penitential years
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting season 4 BtVS/season 1 AtS
LAPD: Arrest Report
Arrest Record 635-PH-657-2000
Date of Arrest May 2, 2000
Arresting Officer Detective Kate Lockley
Name Faith Lehane
Date of Birth November 8, 1980
Charges Aggravated assault, robbery, theft
Physical description Hair: dark brown, eyes: dark brown. Height: 5 feet 6 inches, build: medium. Distinguishing marks: large scar to lower abdomen.
Home Address None. Recently in-patient, Sunnydale General Hospital, Sunnydale CA
Occupation None given.
Remarks Lehane turned herself in, and asked for a range of additional crimes to be taken into account, primarily outside the LAPD jurisdiction. She appears co-operative and contrite. Expressed herself willing to go to jail. Exact words: "Seems like I need some time to get out of my head."
*
Client: Faith Lehane
Report: End of Session Summary Assessment
Date: November 2000
I met with Faith on six occasions, as ordered by the court. She appeared calm throughout, and I believe she has accepted her sentence and intends to serve her time. She sees the sentenced period in jail positively, refers to it as "thinking time" and "paying my dues".
Her background is profoundly deprived. Parental support lacking throughout her formative years. Some more recent authority figures have repeatedly failed her, whether voluntarily or (in two cases) due to untimely death. It is a tragedy that the supportive relationship she was building with her employer, the late Mayor of Sunnydale, should have been ended by his violent death. This seems to be the trigger for her recent degenerating behaviour. She needs support, structure and boundaries. I recommend further counselling if available in the long-term correctional institution Faith serves her sentence.
Her recent history is complex and unclear. I still do not understand what brought her to California. She seems to have no close ties except to one man, a private detective, but this does not appear to be a romantic interest. She often speaks bitterly of her former acquaintances in Sunnydale, but appears nonetheless to have affection and loyalty for them. "Buffy" in particular appears to be an alter ego for Faith, resented and admired in almost equal proportions. I suspect that Buffy had some connection to Faith's hospitalisation, but she is unwilling to discuss it.
I recommend she be reassessed periodically. Her current state of mind is co-operative, but her history is traumatic and it would not be difficult for her to return to an antipathy to lawful behaviour unless she feels there is a place for her in congenial society.
*
Title The Faith Lehane Files 4: the years of freedom
Author Brutti ma buoni
Rating PG
Setting Post-series: in the Rulesverse
Slayer Council Aptitude Assessment
Faith Lehane
Status Senior Slayer: pre-Choosing calling. A précis of her early career held on file at FML/01/PERS/01
Key notes: never, ever joke about her initials.
Date: January 2006
Reason for evaluation: Requested return to field assignment
Evaluated by: Panel B
Faith has been core to the development of the post-Sunnydale Council. Not only was she part of the closing of the Hellmouth, she has consistently supported new initiatives in Slayer training and organisation. Specifically:
2003-05 Faith trained four intakes of junior Slayers with strong results. Some issues with the latest trainees (see Drury, Briana), now resolved. A good teacher, overall and able to bring out the best in some of our more challenging recruits.
2003-04 Faith combined her trainer duties with developing the infrastructure of the Council’s South American operations. Diplomatic engagement with demons was a challenging aspect of this, and she requested removal from demon liaison roles, with full Council agreement. Overall, however, a successful posting with good tactical and negotiating skills displayed.
Overall: Physical assessment remains very strong. Leadership qualities are growing, though she lacks self-confidence in imposing her views on others. Good trainers with strong field experience should be at the top of the list of potential squad leaders.
Counter-signed:
Unquestionably suited to the field. If she wants to return and there is a suitable vacancy, she should become a squad leader as soon as possible. She will undoubtedly be an asset to the Council in this role, and there is no sense in restricting her to central
On a personal note, I would request that in future, I do not have to sign off Ms Lehane's field assignments. It feels inappropriate.
R. Giles
*
Rupert Giles, in attempting to compose his own wedding speech
November 2006
I had hoped that we could avoid the formalities. We did, after all, go behind your backs when we got married. We have been a couple for quite some time, and in the circumstances of the tragedy in Ulan Bator, we felt that a small ceremony was by far the most appropriate way forward. But Buffy has [inserted] kindly [/end insert] insisted on throwing us a party to celebrate. And inviting you all. So, a speech is required.
Firstly, I must thank Buffy and my other Council colleagues for all your generosity and good wishes. We have been very touched to have your blessing.
But I believe any groom's principal duty in his speech is to pay tribute to his bride. I have here a job which is both simple and complex. I can talk about Faith's good points for hours [pause for laughter. Briefly.] But you all know Faith. You know she's strong, and brave and beautiful. [Include if need be: And even though she has chosen not to wear something traditional,] I'm sure you will all agree that she looks exceptionally lovely tonight.
I have known Faith for many years. Since she was 18, in fact. And I was 42, as you well know, and there's really no need for me to rub that in, is there?
I struggled with writing this speech. At first, I didn’t know why. Then I assumed I was displaying an unfortunate level of Britishness. But in the end, I realised that you don’t need me to tell you about Faith. She’s more than capable of defining herself.
And that, I believe, is why I love her. If you’ll forgive me the sentimental moment.