BTVSFIC - By Erie's Shore - 21/?
Title: By Erie's shore
Author tessarin
Rating: 15
Characters: Faith/Xander, Giles, Willow,ensemble
Summary: By the shores of Lake Erie dark forces stir within and without recovering their strength. Faith and Xander struggle towards a new understanding and the forces of the Old and New Council prepare themselves for a new battle.
Warnings; Language (Faith is in it after all)
Disclaimer: Buffy the vampire slayer is owned by Fox. All characters bar original characters are copyrighted by Fox and Mutant Enemy.
Author's Note: This fic is the sequel to 'Running on' and takes place during the following December . As such reading the earlier story is recommended.Thanks to w00hoo for the beta.
Previous parts are here
There was blood on his shirt. There was blood everywhere and no matter how much he squeezed his eye shut and wished it away it wasn't going anywhere.
Instead Xander forced his eye open again and put a brave smile onto his face.
"You hang in there Trud.” He couldn’t help the quaver that crept in his voice despite his efforts to keep it calm for her. He reached down and gently smoothed a strand of red hair out of her eyes and smiled encouragingly. "Help's coming."
"Fai...th." Trudy struggled to mouth the words and Xander had to lean in closer as he strained to hear. Her words were so faint, almost inaudible above his Slayer's ragged breathing. Her breath hitched and speckles of blood sprayed his cheek as she struggled to say something.
"Hey, don't. You can tell me later." Xander soothed, he could hear the tremor in his voice and hated how weak he sounded. He didn't dare look away, afraid that if he did... instead he looked her straight into her eyes. Eyes that were filled with pain and longing. He could see the fear there as she struggled to breathe.
"Fa..i.. di." Trudy tried to speak, each letter a desperate effort emphasised by the accompanying blood before suddenly she convulsed violently and then there was the sound of something breaking and she went limp under his hand.
"You know we can go see that concert we were all talking about. You know the one with those famous opera thingies, maybe take Ro you can bet Giles will be hot for all that action," said Xander.
"And then there's the all you can eat buffet at Lorenzo's. I remember a bet? Some sort of all you can eat challenge. I am so going to whup your ass at."
"Xander, she's gone." He felt Rowena’s hand lightly touch his shoulder.
"No!" Xander snapped angrily not looking up at Rowena.
"Xander," repeated Rowena. Softer this time, she crouched down in his eye line so he was forced to meet her eyes.
"No, she's not, she's not dead." He looked over at Rowena, desperately trying to ignore the tears running down her face as he became aware for the first time of the wet rivers running down his own.
His lip trembled and he couldn't hold it anymore and a convulsive sob broke free as he looked down and saw her gorgeous green eyes staring sightlessly into the sky. He shuddered as he threatened to lose it but he could feel the hysteria building around him and realised he had to hold it together. He took a ragged breath, sucking in a lungful of the cold winter air as he tried to calm himself before he reached down and gently closed his Slayer's eyes. Then eased his arms under her, obliquely aware of how light she felt as he gently picked her up. He cradled her limp body in his arms and staggered to his feet. He smiled a thank you at Rowena as she reached out a helping hand to steady him. When he turned around he found himself confronted with Faith.
She was flanked by a pair of Slayers, neither of them actually restraining her, they hovered nervously in the background but for all that they looked like a pair of guards. She looked wild, primal her hair whipping around in the gusting wind which had picked up in the last few minutes. Her tee was soaked through with blood. The rest of her told the same sorry story, numerous cuts and bruises, the way she held herself all told Xander that she had been in a fight. The fight that had killed his Slayer.
Her eyes held him captive. He could feel himself lost in their depths. He could see an echo of his own pain reflected in the complex whorls of emotion. There was guilt there as well, the guilt he reminded himself of a killer.
"Xander," said Faith. Her voice wavered, cracked as she reached out, her hand falling short as he angrily turned away refusing to look at her. He turned away and carrying the body of his Slayer walked away from her. The fight had killed both his Slayers.
Faith watched him turn his back on her and walk away.
"Hey," she called out. She could feel the hot rush of anger as it bubbled up at the sight of his back. She started after him only for her walk to be baulked by a pair of hands grabbing hold of her.
"Drop them if you want to keep them," she snapped.
"You can't go," said Rowena. Faith twisted round in her guards grip and prepared to deck her but stopped when she saw the sad look on the other Slayer's face. Rowena nodded over in the direction of Giles who stood watching her from the edge of the courtyard.
Rowena let go of her arm and Faith straightened her back and hobbled towards where her Watcher waited.
“Are you okay?” asked Giles. His concerned gaze was initially following Xander as he carried Trudy’s body out of the courtyard. When he turned back he sighed but his eyes were kind and Faith couldn’t see any sign of condemnation or judgement.
“What does it fucking look like,” snapped Faith. She winced as she braced herself against the wall. Her side was killing her and her back felt like it was ready to start sprouting daggers.
“What happened?”
Faith almost blurted it out but a sixth sense warned her to stay quiet. Her world had gone all off kilter like the ride at Six Flags. Andrew’s note had hinted at other things other than Trudy. Other betrayals and there were too many eyes and ears open all around for Faith’s comfort. She didn’t think Rowena was a risk. She was too strait laced and sides Red trusted her. She knew Giles did as well and that was good enough for her. But Ro wasn’t the only one around.
“Later, not here” she said. A small shake of her head told Giles that she didn’t want to talk about this.
“You best go then,” said Giles. He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she turned to leave. “Don’t worry Faith, I’ll sort this out.”
*****
Time had lost meaning as her awareness had retreated inwards and she concentrated on bolstering Kennedy’s recovery. Her whole world became the glowing tendril of life energy flowing from her; every so often she had to reach out to bolster the spell. So Willow was a little startled when she felt the gentle hand on her shoulder and the whispered, “Hey.”
Willow looked up into the gently smiling face of Robin and promptly burst into tears. The Watcher shifted uncomfortably for a while as if uncertain of what he should do before he put down the bag he had been carrying and gave Willow’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
He waited while Willow wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and the sniffles subsided.
“How is she?”
“Better, she’s going to make it,” replied Willow. She smiled tiredly and motioned at one of the nasty looking plastic things that passed for chairs. “Take a seat.” She watched as Robin lowered himself gingerly into the chair before observing, “You look like hell.”
Robin grinned and said, “I was about to say the same thing.”
“I’m fine,” replied Willow. She shrugged and looked away.
“Are you sure?” asked Robin. “I had a couple of calls from the Coven on my way down. They were concerned.”
Willow looked irritated and she glanced across at the sleeping form of her girlfriend before she sighed. “You can tell them not to worry. I’m just bolstering her to speed her recovery.”
“Okay, that’s what I told them,” said Robin. “I brought the things you asked for.”
“Thanks. How was the trip?”
“Long and scary,” admitted Robin.
“You were attacked?” asked Willow suddenly concerned.
“No, just driving that far on the wrong side of the road isn’t natural,” replied Robin. He smiled and shifted uncomfortably as his ribs smarted.
“I see you’re all patched up,” said Willow indicating the dressing on Robin’s head and the stiffness of his movement caused by the bandaging of his ribs. She frowned and looked thoughtful for a little while. “Did you come down on your own?”
“Yes,” admitted Robin holding up his hand to forestall the objection he could see forming on Willow’s lips.
“The house was jumpy and I thought I needed to leave some of the more level headed girls there.”
“How are things?”
Robin pursed his lips. “They’re good girls, we’ve taken a hit but we’ll bounce back.”
“No, I meant how are things really Robin? Not the party line,” said Willow.
Robin sighed heavily and looked at Willow the exhaustion clearly showing on his face. “Bad, things are bad. A few of the girls Lecksi and Jez amongst them are holding things together but the rest are scared Willow. They’re badly shook up. I’ve not seen most of them like this since….”
“The First,” suggested Willow.
“Yes.”
“Well, we’re going to have to do something about that aren’t we,” said Willow. She looked thoughtful for a moment as she planned what to do next. “You need to go back Robin. We need to make sure we figure out who was behind the trap. I can handle things here now.”
“Okay, I’ll start back straight away,” replied Robin.
“Only if you don’t expect me to zap you rigid,” said Willow before she suddenly blushed a bright shade of crimson. “Not like that, not in the you know what kind way, not that I don’t as you’re really nice and kinda good looking.” Willow stumbled to a halt buried her head in her hands before sneaking a peak at a bemused looking Robin.
“What I meant to say, was morning would be fine. You’re no good to anyone if you end up in a ditch somewhere as you know roads here, way to narrow. I mean who makes roads where you can hit someone head on as let me tell you that is scary mister especially if you’re in a car with a certain nameless blonde Slayer who should definitely never be let near a car again.” Willow stopped and smiled at Robin, “Sorry, babbling again.”
“Please, don’t,” said Robin. “I actually kind of liked it.”
Willow grinned.
“So when do they think Kennedy will be okay to move? I take it she hasn’t woken up yet.”
“They’re not sure, but I don’t think it will be long before she wakes up. I mean she’s a Slayer. I think maybe a couple of days, in the meantime mister why don’t you grab some rest and get something to eat?”
“What will you do?”
“I think I’ll check the bag,” said Willow grinning at the skywards prayer Robin sent, “and then I think I’ll call Xander. Let them know what is happening here.”
***
The council chamber was a mirror of the room Giles had just left. Quiet and cold just like the makeshift morgue that had seen far too much use recently. No fire burned in the grate and the doors to the deck stood open. Hans stood there framed in the doorway looking out across the garden towards the cold rolling waters of Lake Erie beyond. Sam Zabuto sat nursing a drink at one end of the table. He looked up as Giles entered and treated him to a sad smile.
Hans turned around as if sensing Giles’ entrance.
“Rupert,” he said.
“Hans,” replied Giles. He glanced around counting the other chairs, noticing for the first time the number of empty spaces. “I don’t see Xander or Dawn?”
“Miss Summers will be along shortly,” said Hans. “As for Mr Harris I thought for a number of reasons he should be excused these deliberations.”
“And why would that be?” asked Giles suddenly suspicious.
“I thought he might need a little time. After all his Slayer has just been killed,” said Hans.
“I see,” replied Giles. Despite his misgivings Giles nodded his agreement and waited for Hans to sit down and then sat down at the head of the table.
Giles looked up as Dawn entered the room. She looked a little flustered and her red eyes told Giles she already knew about Trudy. Her fingers laced through his and she gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Giles didn’t answer he just gently squeezed Dawn’s hand.
“Now that Miss Summers has joined us I think we should get to the matter at hand,” said Hans.
“I agree,” said Zabuto.
“Since we’re agreed why don’t we get to the meat of the matter,” said Hans. “One Slayer is dead and another is currently locked up in our storage area.”
“There is more to it than that,” said Rowena. “We shouldn’t forget Rona.”
“Andrew is missing as well,” said Dawn. She grimaced as everyone looked her way. “No one has seen him since yesterday and he tried to talk to me. But he was a bit weird you know and not just Andrew weird,” she explained at their disbelieving looks. “There was something off and I could feel it.”
“So, we know there is a viper in our nest. A killer,” said Hans. He looked meaningfully in Giles’ direction. “Tell me something we don’t know.”
Giles gritted his teeth and refused to rise to the bait.
“She is not a killer.” He ground the words out.
“You don’t deny that Faith killed Trudy,” challenged Hans.
“Of course not,” snapped Giles.
“Well, it is rather hard when there are so many witnesses,” said Hans.
“Hey, we don’t know what happened,” complained Dawn leaning forward and glaring at Hans. “Faith was probably just defending herself.”
“So you think Trudy attacked her then?” asked Rowena. She looked like she found that possibility as palatable as Giles found it but he could sense no malice in it.
“No, I’m not sure. I don’t know,” admitted Dawn. She cast a pleading look at Giles then she grinned as if an idea had suddenly just occurred to her.
“Possession or a spell, that must be it!” she exclaimed.
“On who?” asked Giles.
“I don’t know,” said Dawn with a small shrug. “But that means something right.”
“Nita said she detected no magic other than the ward on the door,” said Rowena.
“That means nothing,” said Hans rather stiffly. “And anyway any trace would have faded if it were young Trudy.”
“But Faith,” said Dawn.
“Was caught red handed.” Hans reminded everyone.
“It’s a pity Miss Rosenberg isn’t here,” said Zabuto. “She might have been able to determine the matter for certain. That’s not to cast any doubts on the abilities of Nita and those others practiced in the art.” He looked over meaningfully at Giles.
“Yes, but you have to admit there is a rather more obvious culprit that is in front of us,” said Hans.
“I refuse to believe that,” said Giles.
“Your loyalty is commendable but misplaced,” said Hans. “Beside that still leaves open the possibility of possession and we know from experience that that is a very real danger as regards Miss Lehane.”
“That connection was broken. The demon slain,” said Giles.
“Can you be sure?” asked Hans.
“Can we take that risk? Besides her past there are the other concerns,” said Zabuto. He had the grace to look a little shame faced as he looked at Giles.
“And what do you propose?” asked Giles.
“A trial,” said Hans.
“That requires the full council and you know it,” snapped Giles.
“Or an assembly of her peers. Every Slayer now has that right. A right you quite rightly forced on us Rupert,” said Hans.
“Well that I can agree with, but there is surely no need to keep her confined,” said Giles.
“I’m afraid to say that that is as much for her protection as it is for the other Slayers. There have been too many deaths Rupert.”
“So you’re going to keep her locked in a converted storeroom,” said Giles. He resisted the urge to remove his glasses and instead asked, “How do you intend to keep her there?”
Hans looked down at the table, pursed his lips in irritation and then reached into his jacket pocket and drew out a vial.
Dawn and Rowena looked blankly at the vial as Hans placed it on the table. Zabuto groaned and buried his face in his hands and Giles just stared at it. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He knew some vials still existed. Some had been kept for this very purpose but somehow he hadn’t believed that it would ever come to this.
“You’ll leave her defenceless?” Giles’ answer was pitched low and dangerous and the threat was not lost on Hans who blanched.
“What if she is innocent she’ll be defenceless against whatever it is that’s stalking these halls.”
“What if? Before, you were saying was Rupert,” challenged Hans.
“You know what I mean,” snarled Giles. “This is barbaric. I will not permit it.”
“What do you mean you will not permit it?” asked Hans. “I seem to remember someone here saying he intended to re-empower the council to remove us from the shackles of the past.”
“There has to be some other way, you have to understand we cannot do this to her,” pleaded Giles.
“Giles, I don’t understand. What is that?” Dawn asked as she looked at Giles. She looked worried and not a little adrift. The fact that he would have to explain did little to calm him. So he sighed and reluctantly he told her. Dawn’s reaction when he told her what the drug did and how he knew didn’t help matters.
“No, no way,” snapped Dawn. “We are not doing that to Faith.” She looked daggers at both Hans and Giles.
“I’m afraid there is no other choice. Miss Lehane has shown she is much too dangerous to be left alone. She has killed before and may have killed again. We cannot take the chance with the lives of the others in our charge,” said Hans.
“But you’re prepared to risk her life,” said Giles his voice cold. “You do realise that Faith is likely the victim in all this. That she is the focal point of prophecy.”
“All the more reason to keep her safe and close,” said Hans. “And if she is guilty….”
“I have to agree with Hans,” said Rowena. Her gaze was level and she was absolutely calm and collected as she looked into Giles’ eyes.
“We gain nothing by arguing and we must provide a lead. We must not forget we have a house of super powered girls looking to us for guidance,” said Hans.
“I agree we should vote,” said Zabuto.
The hands were raised. It hurt but didn’t surprise Giles that Rowena voted to keep Faith locked up. Dawn voted with him but her angry glance told him he wasn’t finished with talking to the younger Summers sister. That left Sam who looked from Hans to Giles and then back again before raising his own hand, to vote for incarceration.
“The vote is carried three to two.”
The tableau was frozen for a while until Giles broke it. "This is unbelievable. I expected better from all of you.” His voice was dead, devoid of any emotion any hint of which had drained away as a result of the events of the last few hours. But echoes of the anger he had felt was reflected in the clenched fists hanging at his side.
"That's not fair Rupert. We're merely acting in the best interests of the Council," replied Hans. He looked for confirmation to either side of him and seeing the nodding heads smiled in triumph at Giles.
"Shut up," snapped Giles.
"Even you Sam?" he asked. He looked down the table towards where the Jamaican watcher sat.
"It's for the best Rupert," said Zabuto. "You know my concerns and you have to admit that she is the most likely culprit. Even if she isn't, there are dangerous portents all around her and we would be foolish to ignore them."
"So you're going to lock her up and throw away the key," said Giles.
Zabuto didn't answer him instead he looked away shamefaced.
"No, merely hold until we can ascertain her guilt or innocence," said Hans. He sighed and moved his pen to one side. "After all isn't that part of our responsibility. Something we all agreed on. Something you insisted on Rupert. She'll have her trial."
"That wasn't the intention and you know it," snapped Giles. "That was..."
"Isn't it?" Hans interrupted. "I thought the intention was to give rogue Slayers a genuine trial by their peers rather than the summary..." Hans left the obvious rejoinder hanging in the air.
"You don't understand this will kill her. At least allow her to stay in her room."
"I think not," sneered Hans. "She has shown time and again how dangerous she is and I would have thought her previous experience would have inured her to this minor discomfort."
"You bastard," snarled Giles.
"I'll ignore that on account of the stress you find yourself under Rupert," said Hans.
"I would say we should wait until the Slayer Prime and the others returned but I am not sure we can wait that long," said Hans.
"You'll pay for this mark my words Hans," snarled Giles.
"And what if I'm right," snapped Hans. He glared at Giles' back who ignored him and stormed from the room slamming the doors behind him.
"Well that was interesting," said Hans.
"Yes," said Zabuto. He winced and eased himself to his feet. "Now' if you don't mind I have other matters to deal with."
"Of course," said Hans.
***
Giles headed up to his office. Slayers scattered in his wake but he wasn’t really aware of them. He wondered if they could see the storm clouds all he knew was that he needed a drink and space, space to think, to figure out what to do.
He found a bottle of his best whiskey hidden away in a drawer. He pulled it out and set in on the table, looking at it for a moment before carefully unscrewing the top and pouring an extra large tipple into his glass.
The drink was smooth and mellow as it slid down his throat but it didn’t provide the answer his was looking for. That didn’t stop him from taking a second slug and sighing as he leaned back in his chair and studied the books lined up on his bookcase. So much knowledge, so many hours spent studying, so much experience and still the world and people managed to surprise him.
Today Hans and Sam and then there was Dawn. He frowned realizing nothing good would come from today’s revelations. He took another sip as he pondered the other source locked away three floors below him.
He had looked into her eyes in the courtyard and known. Known right then that she hadn’t murdered Trudy. He had seen the devastated look she had sent Xander when he had turned his back on her and carried the dead body of his Slayer from the courtyard. He even doubted that she had killed Trudy, he wasn’t so sure there and he hadn’t managed to talk to Faith yet about it. He removed his glasses, leaned back further in his chair and closed his eyes and took another sip.
There was a gentle knock on the door and Giles opened his eyes. Sam Zabuto stood waiting in the doorway.
“May I come in?”
“Pull up a pew,” said Giles.
“Drink?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” replied Zabuto.
“Why are you here Sam?” asked Giles.
“I’m still your friend Rupert for all that we disagreed,” said Zabuto.
“This is just a disagreement Sam? It’s more than that. I thought you of all people would have understood having worked in the field.” He looked over the edge of his glass at Zabuto who just watched his drink, swirling around in his glass. “Having had a Slayer of your own.”
“My Slayer is gone Rupert. Yours are still alive,” replied Zabuto before adding pointedly, “Both of them.”
Giles grunted, poured another shot for both of them and then put the empty bottle down on his desk. He drank another swig and looked Zabuto straight in the eyes. He saw the sadness written there. How deeply the loss of his Slayer had scarred the other Watcher.
“And I intend to keep it that way.”
"You're not going to do anything stupid?" asked Zabuto.
"No, of course not," lied Giles.
****
“So have you seen her?” asked Giles.
“Trudy, in case you can’t tell from the blood all over my clothes I just came from there,” said Xander. His voice was flat utterly without emotion and his posture reeked of defeat. Something Giles had never expected to see in Xander his whole demeanour just shouted that he had given up.
“No, I meant Faith,” said Giles.
“Why the hell would I do that?” Xander snapped rubbing absentmindedly at the blood caking his hands.
“I don’t know maybe because she is sitting alone and scared in a cell and because you care about her.”
“So did I. I bet Trudy did as well,” said Xander not looking at Giles. “Seems we were mistaken.”
"You stupid, stupid boy.”
"She killed my Slayer," said Xander.
"Of course she didn't," snapped Giles. He looked angrily at Xander. "Your Slayer tried to kill her."
"How do you know that?” Xander snapped before somewhat shamefaced he added, “You weren't there.”
"Because Faith was and she told me," snapped Giles. He slammed his book down on the table sending papers flying and knocking over a small cactus perched dangerously on the end of his desk.
"And you believe her?" asked Xander. He crossed his arms and glared at Giles.
"Of course I do. I trust her that's why," said Giles, the disbelief that Xander wouldn't clear in his voice. "You do to or you wouldn't feel the way you do. It's just the pain talking now."
Giles sighed before he continued his voice soft, "Have you looked in her eyes?"
"No," admitted Xander. He shrugged and studied his boots for a moment noticing the dirt and blood that lay ingrained in the scuffed leather. "I can barely stand to look in my own."
Giles returned to searching for whatever it was he was searching for.
"Well if you had. You wouldn't be standing here asking stupid questions. Instead of..." Giles trailed off. He groaned and removed his glasses, his fingers massaging his temple.
"Giles, I've fucked this up haven't I? I'm such an idiot," said Xander. He groaned and buried his head in his hands. "
"Yes," agreed Giles but when Xander looked up he could only see the sparkle of amusement in the older man's eyes.
"So, what do I do?"
"I don't know. I don't know that there's anything you can do," said Giles.
**
Xander looked up and flattened himself against the wall. The shadow stumbled and Xander heard a very British curse echo down the passageway. He relaxed when he caught sight of Giles.
"Pssst." He hissed almost causing Giles to drop the flashlight he was carrying."
"Xander," said Giles.
"Hey, nice Blair Witch impression Giles," teased Xander. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you I would guess," said Giles.
"Oh and what would that be?" Xander asked trying to sound calm.
"Breaking Faith out, what else," said Giles. He sighed and fixed Xander with one of his patented pained expression.
"Oh that's good, cause otherwise I would have had to knock you out."
Giles laughed and shook his head.
"So that's why I found the door unguarded?"
"Yeah," admitted Xander.
"I did wonder where Caridad had gone," said Giles.
"Bribed her with some of Faith's Sam Adams saying I wanted some alone time if you get what I mean." Xander replied he waggled his eyebrows and grinned at Giles.
"Unfortunately I do." Giles groaned and clapped Xander on the shoulder.
"Well you can go now. I'll let you know when we're somewhere safe."
"Hey, I was here first," complained Xander.
"So, she's my responsibility," said Giles.
"No she's not, she's mine, plus you know, ugly bumping trumps watcheryness," said Xander.
"Xander, go away. I'm not dragging you down with me," said Giles. He fixed Xander with an irritated look and continued to work his way through the key ring.
"No way G, I'm coming with. She's my girlfriend," replied Xander. He smiled as he noticed the irritated flutter flit across Giles face at his use of a dreaded nickname.
Giles sighed with resignation. "And she's my Slayer and no you're not. Now please stop being so damn stupid and let me get on. I do not have time to spend it arguing with a bone headed colonial."
"La, la, la not listening," said Xander putting his fingers in his ears and smiling broadly at Giles.
"Oh do shut up you stupid boy can't you see I'm trying to concentrate here," complained Giles.
"No. And I am so coming," snapped Xander.
"Will you both shut the hell up and one of you come rescue me," snapped Faith. Her voice whipped echoing sharply down the corridor causing both men to start nervously then turn and peer through the small grate like window. Faith's eyes watched them amusement dancing in their depths.
"Not that I need it mind, cause whoever did this door..." She grinned naughtily.
"Hey...," complained Xander until he heard Faith guffaw. He glared at her. "Not fair."
"And just for the 411. I'm nobody's anything," said Faith. "Now hurry up and open the damn door. I'm freezing my tits off down here."
"Ah, here it is," exclaimed Giles finally finding the key and sliding it into the lock.
Xander grinned expecting Faith to leap into his waiting arms instead he had a second to glimpse the angry set to her face before she slugged him causing him to reel backwards. "That's for not giving me the chance to explain," snapped Faith. Xander was just easing himself up when Faith her fingers splayed shoved him hard back against the wall.
Then her mouth was hungrily seeking his and her hand was working its way downwards. An embarrassed cough broke the moment and Faith and Xander grinned mid lip lock and then broke apart.
"Spoilsport," grumbled Xander and then, “Ow.” He rubbed his jaw and glared at his girlfriend who seemed to have gone back to ignoring him.
"Well, there is the small matter of escape and whilst I'm sure the delay would have been minimal we really should get going," said Giles.
Faith snorted and then a sexy peal of laughter broke out before she could stop it. She clamped a hand over her mouth and settled for rolling around on the floor and not in the sexy way that Xander had intended. For his part he just crossed his arms and glared at Giles who smiled back as if he just hadn't insulted Xander's manliness.
Faith recovered and clambered to her feet dusting off her jeans.
"We best hit the road," said Faith. She glanced in Giles' direction who just nodded.
"We cool," she asked Xander. She brushed up against him, her eyes studying his face as if she was trying to memorize every scratch, every scar and blemish.
Xander smiled and gently kissed her forehead. "Of course, I trust you."
Faith leaned up and this time the kiss was gentler and filled with something else. She groaned as Xander cupped the side of her face before she stepped back and smiled. It was wry, lopsided and not a little sad.
Then she slugged him again and this time much harder.
Author tessarin
Rating: 15
Characters: Faith/Xander, Giles, Willow,ensemble
Summary: By the shores of Lake Erie dark forces stir within and without recovering their strength. Faith and Xander struggle towards a new understanding and the forces of the Old and New Council prepare themselves for a new battle.
Warnings; Language (Faith is in it after all)
Disclaimer: Buffy the vampire slayer is owned by Fox. All characters bar original characters are copyrighted by Fox and Mutant Enemy.
Author's Note: This fic is the sequel to 'Running on' and takes place during the following December . As such reading the earlier story is recommended.Thanks to w00hoo for the beta.
Previous parts are here
There was blood on his shirt. There was blood everywhere and no matter how much he squeezed his eye shut and wished it away it wasn't going anywhere.
Instead Xander forced his eye open again and put a brave smile onto his face.
"You hang in there Trud.” He couldn’t help the quaver that crept in his voice despite his efforts to keep it calm for her. He reached down and gently smoothed a strand of red hair out of her eyes and smiled encouragingly. "Help's coming."
"Fai...th." Trudy struggled to mouth the words and Xander had to lean in closer as he strained to hear. Her words were so faint, almost inaudible above his Slayer's ragged breathing. Her breath hitched and speckles of blood sprayed his cheek as she struggled to say something.
"Hey, don't. You can tell me later." Xander soothed, he could hear the tremor in his voice and hated how weak he sounded. He didn't dare look away, afraid that if he did... instead he looked her straight into her eyes. Eyes that were filled with pain and longing. He could see the fear there as she struggled to breathe.
"Fa..i.. di." Trudy tried to speak, each letter a desperate effort emphasised by the accompanying blood before suddenly she convulsed violently and then there was the sound of something breaking and she went limp under his hand.
"You know we can go see that concert we were all talking about. You know the one with those famous opera thingies, maybe take Ro you can bet Giles will be hot for all that action," said Xander.
"And then there's the all you can eat buffet at Lorenzo's. I remember a bet? Some sort of all you can eat challenge. I am so going to whup your ass at."
"Xander, she's gone." He felt Rowena’s hand lightly touch his shoulder.
"No!" Xander snapped angrily not looking up at Rowena.
"Xander," repeated Rowena. Softer this time, she crouched down in his eye line so he was forced to meet her eyes.
"No, she's not, she's not dead." He looked over at Rowena, desperately trying to ignore the tears running down her face as he became aware for the first time of the wet rivers running down his own.
His lip trembled and he couldn't hold it anymore and a convulsive sob broke free as he looked down and saw her gorgeous green eyes staring sightlessly into the sky. He shuddered as he threatened to lose it but he could feel the hysteria building around him and realised he had to hold it together. He took a ragged breath, sucking in a lungful of the cold winter air as he tried to calm himself before he reached down and gently closed his Slayer's eyes. Then eased his arms under her, obliquely aware of how light she felt as he gently picked her up. He cradled her limp body in his arms and staggered to his feet. He smiled a thank you at Rowena as she reached out a helping hand to steady him. When he turned around he found himself confronted with Faith.
She was flanked by a pair of Slayers, neither of them actually restraining her, they hovered nervously in the background but for all that they looked like a pair of guards. She looked wild, primal her hair whipping around in the gusting wind which had picked up in the last few minutes. Her tee was soaked through with blood. The rest of her told the same sorry story, numerous cuts and bruises, the way she held herself all told Xander that she had been in a fight. The fight that had killed his Slayer.
Her eyes held him captive. He could feel himself lost in their depths. He could see an echo of his own pain reflected in the complex whorls of emotion. There was guilt there as well, the guilt he reminded himself of a killer.
"Xander," said Faith. Her voice wavered, cracked as she reached out, her hand falling short as he angrily turned away refusing to look at her. He turned away and carrying the body of his Slayer walked away from her. The fight had killed both his Slayers.
Faith watched him turn his back on her and walk away.
"Hey," she called out. She could feel the hot rush of anger as it bubbled up at the sight of his back. She started after him only for her walk to be baulked by a pair of hands grabbing hold of her.
"Drop them if you want to keep them," she snapped.
"You can't go," said Rowena. Faith twisted round in her guards grip and prepared to deck her but stopped when she saw the sad look on the other Slayer's face. Rowena nodded over in the direction of Giles who stood watching her from the edge of the courtyard.
Rowena let go of her arm and Faith straightened her back and hobbled towards where her Watcher waited.
“Are you okay?” asked Giles. His concerned gaze was initially following Xander as he carried Trudy’s body out of the courtyard. When he turned back he sighed but his eyes were kind and Faith couldn’t see any sign of condemnation or judgement.
“What does it fucking look like,” snapped Faith. She winced as she braced herself against the wall. Her side was killing her and her back felt like it was ready to start sprouting daggers.
“What happened?”
Faith almost blurted it out but a sixth sense warned her to stay quiet. Her world had gone all off kilter like the ride at Six Flags. Andrew’s note had hinted at other things other than Trudy. Other betrayals and there were too many eyes and ears open all around for Faith’s comfort. She didn’t think Rowena was a risk. She was too strait laced and sides Red trusted her. She knew Giles did as well and that was good enough for her. But Ro wasn’t the only one around.
“Later, not here” she said. A small shake of her head told Giles that she didn’t want to talk about this.
“You best go then,” said Giles. He laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder as she turned to leave. “Don’t worry Faith, I’ll sort this out.”
*****
Time had lost meaning as her awareness had retreated inwards and she concentrated on bolstering Kennedy’s recovery. Her whole world became the glowing tendril of life energy flowing from her; every so often she had to reach out to bolster the spell. So Willow was a little startled when she felt the gentle hand on her shoulder and the whispered, “Hey.”
Willow looked up into the gently smiling face of Robin and promptly burst into tears. The Watcher shifted uncomfortably for a while as if uncertain of what he should do before he put down the bag he had been carrying and gave Willow’s shoulder a gentle squeeze.
He waited while Willow wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand and the sniffles subsided.
“How is she?”
“Better, she’s going to make it,” replied Willow. She smiled tiredly and motioned at one of the nasty looking plastic things that passed for chairs. “Take a seat.” She watched as Robin lowered himself gingerly into the chair before observing, “You look like hell.”
Robin grinned and said, “I was about to say the same thing.”
“I’m fine,” replied Willow. She shrugged and looked away.
“Are you sure?” asked Robin. “I had a couple of calls from the Coven on my way down. They were concerned.”
Willow looked irritated and she glanced across at the sleeping form of her girlfriend before she sighed. “You can tell them not to worry. I’m just bolstering her to speed her recovery.”
“Okay, that’s what I told them,” said Robin. “I brought the things you asked for.”
“Thanks. How was the trip?”
“Long and scary,” admitted Robin.
“You were attacked?” asked Willow suddenly concerned.
“No, just driving that far on the wrong side of the road isn’t natural,” replied Robin. He smiled and shifted uncomfortably as his ribs smarted.
“I see you’re all patched up,” said Willow indicating the dressing on Robin’s head and the stiffness of his movement caused by the bandaging of his ribs. She frowned and looked thoughtful for a little while. “Did you come down on your own?”
“Yes,” admitted Robin holding up his hand to forestall the objection he could see forming on Willow’s lips.
“The house was jumpy and I thought I needed to leave some of the more level headed girls there.”
“How are things?”
Robin pursed his lips. “They’re good girls, we’ve taken a hit but we’ll bounce back.”
“No, I meant how are things really Robin? Not the party line,” said Willow.
Robin sighed heavily and looked at Willow the exhaustion clearly showing on his face. “Bad, things are bad. A few of the girls Lecksi and Jez amongst them are holding things together but the rest are scared Willow. They’re badly shook up. I’ve not seen most of them like this since….”
“The First,” suggested Willow.
“Yes.”
“Well, we’re going to have to do something about that aren’t we,” said Willow. She looked thoughtful for a moment as she planned what to do next. “You need to go back Robin. We need to make sure we figure out who was behind the trap. I can handle things here now.”
“Okay, I’ll start back straight away,” replied Robin.
“Only if you don’t expect me to zap you rigid,” said Willow before she suddenly blushed a bright shade of crimson. “Not like that, not in the you know what kind way, not that I don’t as you’re really nice and kinda good looking.” Willow stumbled to a halt buried her head in her hands before sneaking a peak at a bemused looking Robin.
“What I meant to say, was morning would be fine. You’re no good to anyone if you end up in a ditch somewhere as you know roads here, way to narrow. I mean who makes roads where you can hit someone head on as let me tell you that is scary mister especially if you’re in a car with a certain nameless blonde Slayer who should definitely never be let near a car again.” Willow stopped and smiled at Robin, “Sorry, babbling again.”
“Please, don’t,” said Robin. “I actually kind of liked it.”
Willow grinned.
“So when do they think Kennedy will be okay to move? I take it she hasn’t woken up yet.”
“They’re not sure, but I don’t think it will be long before she wakes up. I mean she’s a Slayer. I think maybe a couple of days, in the meantime mister why don’t you grab some rest and get something to eat?”
“What will you do?”
“I think I’ll check the bag,” said Willow grinning at the skywards prayer Robin sent, “and then I think I’ll call Xander. Let them know what is happening here.”
***
The council chamber was a mirror of the room Giles had just left. Quiet and cold just like the makeshift morgue that had seen far too much use recently. No fire burned in the grate and the doors to the deck stood open. Hans stood there framed in the doorway looking out across the garden towards the cold rolling waters of Lake Erie beyond. Sam Zabuto sat nursing a drink at one end of the table. He looked up as Giles entered and treated him to a sad smile.
Hans turned around as if sensing Giles’ entrance.
“Rupert,” he said.
“Hans,” replied Giles. He glanced around counting the other chairs, noticing for the first time the number of empty spaces. “I don’t see Xander or Dawn?”
“Miss Summers will be along shortly,” said Hans. “As for Mr Harris I thought for a number of reasons he should be excused these deliberations.”
“And why would that be?” asked Giles suddenly suspicious.
“I thought he might need a little time. After all his Slayer has just been killed,” said Hans.
“I see,” replied Giles. Despite his misgivings Giles nodded his agreement and waited for Hans to sit down and then sat down at the head of the table.
Giles looked up as Dawn entered the room. She looked a little flustered and her red eyes told Giles she already knew about Trudy. Her fingers laced through his and she gave his hand a comforting squeeze.
“Are you okay?” she asked. Giles didn’t answer he just gently squeezed Dawn’s hand.
“Now that Miss Summers has joined us I think we should get to the matter at hand,” said Hans.
“I agree,” said Zabuto.
“Since we’re agreed why don’t we get to the meat of the matter,” said Hans. “One Slayer is dead and another is currently locked up in our storage area.”
“There is more to it than that,” said Rowena. “We shouldn’t forget Rona.”
“Andrew is missing as well,” said Dawn. She grimaced as everyone looked her way. “No one has seen him since yesterday and he tried to talk to me. But he was a bit weird you know and not just Andrew weird,” she explained at their disbelieving looks. “There was something off and I could feel it.”
“So, we know there is a viper in our nest. A killer,” said Hans. He looked meaningfully in Giles’ direction. “Tell me something we don’t know.”
Giles gritted his teeth and refused to rise to the bait.
“She is not a killer.” He ground the words out.
“You don’t deny that Faith killed Trudy,” challenged Hans.
“Of course not,” snapped Giles.
“Well, it is rather hard when there are so many witnesses,” said Hans.
“Hey, we don’t know what happened,” complained Dawn leaning forward and glaring at Hans. “Faith was probably just defending herself.”
“So you think Trudy attacked her then?” asked Rowena. She looked like she found that possibility as palatable as Giles found it but he could sense no malice in it.
“No, I’m not sure. I don’t know,” admitted Dawn. She cast a pleading look at Giles then she grinned as if an idea had suddenly just occurred to her.
“Possession or a spell, that must be it!” she exclaimed.
“On who?” asked Giles.
“I don’t know,” said Dawn with a small shrug. “But that means something right.”
“Nita said she detected no magic other than the ward on the door,” said Rowena.
“That means nothing,” said Hans rather stiffly. “And anyway any trace would have faded if it were young Trudy.”
“But Faith,” said Dawn.
“Was caught red handed.” Hans reminded everyone.
“It’s a pity Miss Rosenberg isn’t here,” said Zabuto. “She might have been able to determine the matter for certain. That’s not to cast any doubts on the abilities of Nita and those others practiced in the art.” He looked over meaningfully at Giles.
“Yes, but you have to admit there is a rather more obvious culprit that is in front of us,” said Hans.
“I refuse to believe that,” said Giles.
“Your loyalty is commendable but misplaced,” said Hans. “Beside that still leaves open the possibility of possession and we know from experience that that is a very real danger as regards Miss Lehane.”
“That connection was broken. The demon slain,” said Giles.
“Can you be sure?” asked Hans.
“Can we take that risk? Besides her past there are the other concerns,” said Zabuto. He had the grace to look a little shame faced as he looked at Giles.
“And what do you propose?” asked Giles.
“A trial,” said Hans.
“That requires the full council and you know it,” snapped Giles.
“Or an assembly of her peers. Every Slayer now has that right. A right you quite rightly forced on us Rupert,” said Hans.
“Well that I can agree with, but there is surely no need to keep her confined,” said Giles.
“I’m afraid to say that that is as much for her protection as it is for the other Slayers. There have been too many deaths Rupert.”
“So you’re going to keep her locked in a converted storeroom,” said Giles. He resisted the urge to remove his glasses and instead asked, “How do you intend to keep her there?”
Hans looked down at the table, pursed his lips in irritation and then reached into his jacket pocket and drew out a vial.
Dawn and Rowena looked blankly at the vial as Hans placed it on the table. Zabuto groaned and buried his face in his hands and Giles just stared at it. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He knew some vials still existed. Some had been kept for this very purpose but somehow he hadn’t believed that it would ever come to this.
“You’ll leave her defenceless?” Giles’ answer was pitched low and dangerous and the threat was not lost on Hans who blanched.
“What if she is innocent she’ll be defenceless against whatever it is that’s stalking these halls.”
“What if? Before, you were saying was Rupert,” challenged Hans.
“You know what I mean,” snarled Giles. “This is barbaric. I will not permit it.”
“What do you mean you will not permit it?” asked Hans. “I seem to remember someone here saying he intended to re-empower the council to remove us from the shackles of the past.”
“There has to be some other way, you have to understand we cannot do this to her,” pleaded Giles.
“Giles, I don’t understand. What is that?” Dawn asked as she looked at Giles. She looked worried and not a little adrift. The fact that he would have to explain did little to calm him. So he sighed and reluctantly he told her. Dawn’s reaction when he told her what the drug did and how he knew didn’t help matters.
“No, no way,” snapped Dawn. “We are not doing that to Faith.” She looked daggers at both Hans and Giles.
“I’m afraid there is no other choice. Miss Lehane has shown she is much too dangerous to be left alone. She has killed before and may have killed again. We cannot take the chance with the lives of the others in our charge,” said Hans.
“But you’re prepared to risk her life,” said Giles his voice cold. “You do realise that Faith is likely the victim in all this. That she is the focal point of prophecy.”
“All the more reason to keep her safe and close,” said Hans. “And if she is guilty….”
“I have to agree with Hans,” said Rowena. Her gaze was level and she was absolutely calm and collected as she looked into Giles’ eyes.
“We gain nothing by arguing and we must provide a lead. We must not forget we have a house of super powered girls looking to us for guidance,” said Hans.
“I agree we should vote,” said Zabuto.
The hands were raised. It hurt but didn’t surprise Giles that Rowena voted to keep Faith locked up. Dawn voted with him but her angry glance told him he wasn’t finished with talking to the younger Summers sister. That left Sam who looked from Hans to Giles and then back again before raising his own hand, to vote for incarceration.
“The vote is carried three to two.”
The tableau was frozen for a while until Giles broke it. "This is unbelievable. I expected better from all of you.” His voice was dead, devoid of any emotion any hint of which had drained away as a result of the events of the last few hours. But echoes of the anger he had felt was reflected in the clenched fists hanging at his side.
"That's not fair Rupert. We're merely acting in the best interests of the Council," replied Hans. He looked for confirmation to either side of him and seeing the nodding heads smiled in triumph at Giles.
"Shut up," snapped Giles.
"Even you Sam?" he asked. He looked down the table towards where the Jamaican watcher sat.
"It's for the best Rupert," said Zabuto. "You know my concerns and you have to admit that she is the most likely culprit. Even if she isn't, there are dangerous portents all around her and we would be foolish to ignore them."
"So you're going to lock her up and throw away the key," said Giles.
Zabuto didn't answer him instead he looked away shamefaced.
"No, merely hold until we can ascertain her guilt or innocence," said Hans. He sighed and moved his pen to one side. "After all isn't that part of our responsibility. Something we all agreed on. Something you insisted on Rupert. She'll have her trial."
"That wasn't the intention and you know it," snapped Giles. "That was..."
"Isn't it?" Hans interrupted. "I thought the intention was to give rogue Slayers a genuine trial by their peers rather than the summary..." Hans left the obvious rejoinder hanging in the air.
"You don't understand this will kill her. At least allow her to stay in her room."
"I think not," sneered Hans. "She has shown time and again how dangerous she is and I would have thought her previous experience would have inured her to this minor discomfort."
"You bastard," snarled Giles.
"I'll ignore that on account of the stress you find yourself under Rupert," said Hans.
"I would say we should wait until the Slayer Prime and the others returned but I am not sure we can wait that long," said Hans.
"You'll pay for this mark my words Hans," snarled Giles.
"And what if I'm right," snapped Hans. He glared at Giles' back who ignored him and stormed from the room slamming the doors behind him.
"Well that was interesting," said Hans.
"Yes," said Zabuto. He winced and eased himself to his feet. "Now' if you don't mind I have other matters to deal with."
"Of course," said Hans.
***
Giles headed up to his office. Slayers scattered in his wake but he wasn’t really aware of them. He wondered if they could see the storm clouds all he knew was that he needed a drink and space, space to think, to figure out what to do.
He found a bottle of his best whiskey hidden away in a drawer. He pulled it out and set in on the table, looking at it for a moment before carefully unscrewing the top and pouring an extra large tipple into his glass.
The drink was smooth and mellow as it slid down his throat but it didn’t provide the answer his was looking for. That didn’t stop him from taking a second slug and sighing as he leaned back in his chair and studied the books lined up on his bookcase. So much knowledge, so many hours spent studying, so much experience and still the world and people managed to surprise him.
Today Hans and Sam and then there was Dawn. He frowned realizing nothing good would come from today’s revelations. He took another sip as he pondered the other source locked away three floors below him.
He had looked into her eyes in the courtyard and known. Known right then that she hadn’t murdered Trudy. He had seen the devastated look she had sent Xander when he had turned his back on her and carried the dead body of his Slayer from the courtyard. He even doubted that she had killed Trudy, he wasn’t so sure there and he hadn’t managed to talk to Faith yet about it. He removed his glasses, leaned back further in his chair and closed his eyes and took another sip.
There was a gentle knock on the door and Giles opened his eyes. Sam Zabuto stood waiting in the doorway.
“May I come in?”
“Pull up a pew,” said Giles.
“Drink?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” replied Zabuto.
“Why are you here Sam?” asked Giles.
“I’m still your friend Rupert for all that we disagreed,” said Zabuto.
“This is just a disagreement Sam? It’s more than that. I thought you of all people would have understood having worked in the field.” He looked over the edge of his glass at Zabuto who just watched his drink, swirling around in his glass. “Having had a Slayer of your own.”
“My Slayer is gone Rupert. Yours are still alive,” replied Zabuto before adding pointedly, “Both of them.”
Giles grunted, poured another shot for both of them and then put the empty bottle down on his desk. He drank another swig and looked Zabuto straight in the eyes. He saw the sadness written there. How deeply the loss of his Slayer had scarred the other Watcher.
“And I intend to keep it that way.”
"You're not going to do anything stupid?" asked Zabuto.
"No, of course not," lied Giles.
****
“So have you seen her?” asked Giles.
“Trudy, in case you can’t tell from the blood all over my clothes I just came from there,” said Xander. His voice was flat utterly without emotion and his posture reeked of defeat. Something Giles had never expected to see in Xander his whole demeanour just shouted that he had given up.
“No, I meant Faith,” said Giles.
“Why the hell would I do that?” Xander snapped rubbing absentmindedly at the blood caking his hands.
“I don’t know maybe because she is sitting alone and scared in a cell and because you care about her.”
“So did I. I bet Trudy did as well,” said Xander not looking at Giles. “Seems we were mistaken.”
"You stupid, stupid boy.”
"She killed my Slayer," said Xander.
"Of course she didn't," snapped Giles. He looked angrily at Xander. "Your Slayer tried to kill her."
"How do you know that?” Xander snapped before somewhat shamefaced he added, “You weren't there.”
"Because Faith was and she told me," snapped Giles. He slammed his book down on the table sending papers flying and knocking over a small cactus perched dangerously on the end of his desk.
"And you believe her?" asked Xander. He crossed his arms and glared at Giles.
"Of course I do. I trust her that's why," said Giles, the disbelief that Xander wouldn't clear in his voice. "You do to or you wouldn't feel the way you do. It's just the pain talking now."
Giles sighed before he continued his voice soft, "Have you looked in her eyes?"
"No," admitted Xander. He shrugged and studied his boots for a moment noticing the dirt and blood that lay ingrained in the scuffed leather. "I can barely stand to look in my own."
Giles returned to searching for whatever it was he was searching for.
"Well if you had. You wouldn't be standing here asking stupid questions. Instead of..." Giles trailed off. He groaned and removed his glasses, his fingers massaging his temple.
"Giles, I've fucked this up haven't I? I'm such an idiot," said Xander. He groaned and buried his head in his hands. "
"Yes," agreed Giles but when Xander looked up he could only see the sparkle of amusement in the older man's eyes.
"So, what do I do?"
"I don't know. I don't know that there's anything you can do," said Giles.
**
Xander looked up and flattened himself against the wall. The shadow stumbled and Xander heard a very British curse echo down the passageway. He relaxed when he caught sight of Giles.
"Pssst." He hissed almost causing Giles to drop the flashlight he was carrying."
"Xander," said Giles.
"Hey, nice Blair Witch impression Giles," teased Xander. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as you I would guess," said Giles.
"Oh and what would that be?" Xander asked trying to sound calm.
"Breaking Faith out, what else," said Giles. He sighed and fixed Xander with one of his patented pained expression.
"Oh that's good, cause otherwise I would have had to knock you out."
Giles laughed and shook his head.
"So that's why I found the door unguarded?"
"Yeah," admitted Xander.
"I did wonder where Caridad had gone," said Giles.
"Bribed her with some of Faith's Sam Adams saying I wanted some alone time if you get what I mean." Xander replied he waggled his eyebrows and grinned at Giles.
"Unfortunately I do." Giles groaned and clapped Xander on the shoulder.
"Well you can go now. I'll let you know when we're somewhere safe."
"Hey, I was here first," complained Xander.
"So, she's my responsibility," said Giles.
"No she's not, she's mine, plus you know, ugly bumping trumps watcheryness," said Xander.
"Xander, go away. I'm not dragging you down with me," said Giles. He fixed Xander with an irritated look and continued to work his way through the key ring.
"No way G, I'm coming with. She's my girlfriend," replied Xander. He smiled as he noticed the irritated flutter flit across Giles face at his use of a dreaded nickname.
Giles sighed with resignation. "And she's my Slayer and no you're not. Now please stop being so damn stupid and let me get on. I do not have time to spend it arguing with a bone headed colonial."
"La, la, la not listening," said Xander putting his fingers in his ears and smiling broadly at Giles.
"Oh do shut up you stupid boy can't you see I'm trying to concentrate here," complained Giles.
"No. And I am so coming," snapped Xander.
"Will you both shut the hell up and one of you come rescue me," snapped Faith. Her voice whipped echoing sharply down the corridor causing both men to start nervously then turn and peer through the small grate like window. Faith's eyes watched them amusement dancing in their depths.
"Not that I need it mind, cause whoever did this door..." She grinned naughtily.
"Hey...," complained Xander until he heard Faith guffaw. He glared at her. "Not fair."
"And just for the 411. I'm nobody's anything," said Faith. "Now hurry up and open the damn door. I'm freezing my tits off down here."
"Ah, here it is," exclaimed Giles finally finding the key and sliding it into the lock.
Xander grinned expecting Faith to leap into his waiting arms instead he had a second to glimpse the angry set to her face before she slugged him causing him to reel backwards. "That's for not giving me the chance to explain," snapped Faith. Xander was just easing himself up when Faith her fingers splayed shoved him hard back against the wall.
Then her mouth was hungrily seeking his and her hand was working its way downwards. An embarrassed cough broke the moment and Faith and Xander grinned mid lip lock and then broke apart.
"Spoilsport," grumbled Xander and then, “Ow.” He rubbed his jaw and glared at his girlfriend who seemed to have gone back to ignoring him.
"Well, there is the small matter of escape and whilst I'm sure the delay would have been minimal we really should get going," said Giles.
Faith snorted and then a sexy peal of laughter broke out before she could stop it. She clamped a hand over her mouth and settled for rolling around on the floor and not in the sexy way that Xander had intended. For his part he just crossed his arms and glared at Giles who smiled back as if he just hadn't insulted Xander's manliness.
Faith recovered and clambered to her feet dusting off her jeans.
"We best hit the road," said Faith. She glanced in Giles' direction who just nodded.
"We cool," she asked Xander. She brushed up against him, her eyes studying his face as if she was trying to memorize every scratch, every scar and blemish.
Xander smiled and gently kissed her forehead. "Of course, I trust you."
Faith leaned up and this time the kiss was gentler and filled with something else. She groaned as Xander cupped the side of her face before she stepped back and smiled. It was wry, lopsided and not a little sad.
Then she slugged him again and this time much harder.