CHAPTER 11

The doors sprang open at her shove, and Faith took three strides into the hallway. It was as far as she got.

"I thought I saw you lurking in the hallways earlier. How fortunate that I decided to take a stroll around the building this afternoon." Principal Snyder smirked and stepped in front of her. "Maybe you can explain why you – someone who is not a student here – spends more time on campus than most of the non-dedicated student body?"

Faith ignored the question and peered over Snyder's head. Travers was almost to the main hallway. If she didn't catch him now… She sidestepped the principal with the intention of continuing her pursuit.

"I asked you a question, young lady!" Snyder wasn't giving up. He took her arm in a tight grip and moved even closer. "Or do I need to call the police and have you arrested for trespassing and, if I'm not mistaken, truancy?"

Travers disappeared around a corner.

"Listen, you little…" Faith snarled.

"Faith!" Giles's clipped voice cut her off. Faith and Snyder turned to face him. He stood in the library entrance and peered at them with lips pursed. "Have I not told you to keep a civil tongue?"

Had he been hitting the Scotch, too? Faith stared at him in confusion. "Uhh…" What was she supposed to say?

"Indeed." Marching up to her, Giles smiled apologetically at Snyder. "Forgive me, Principal Snyder. My ward has appalling manners. It is something I am working to correct, believe me."

Snyder's grip relaxed slightly, and Faith pulled away. "I wasn't aware you had a… ward, Mr. Giles. You neglected to inform me or the Board of your change in status." Glaring at Giles in disbelief, he continued. "I've seen her roaming the hallways for months, and yet she still isn't enrolled here. As a member of the faculty, I would have expected that to have been your first order of business."

"A mix up with her previous records." Giles was good at this. Faith slumped in mock sullenness to bolster Giles' cover story and watched him deftly handle Principal Snyder. "Until I can obtain them, I did not want to inflict her upon you."

Giving Giles a sympathetic look, Snyder said, "She can't be any worse than some of our other students, Mr. Giles. Bring the court documents to the office on Monday, and we'll get her signed up for classes."  With a last glare for Faith, he walked away.

"Now what, 'Uncle' Giles?" Faith pushed past Giles and returned to the library. "That friend of yours is long gone and we ain't got a clue where he's holed up." And they were running out of time. She started to pace back and forth in front of the research tables.

Giles hurried to follow and closed the doors in their wake. "Although I mistrust Quentin, the Cruciamentum is a long-standing tradition for Slayers. We must allow Buffy to prove herself to the Council, as have scores of her predecessors." His voice was flat and monotone.

It was the last straw. Faith stopped pacing and spun so fast that Giles nearly ran into her. "Who're you trying to convince, Tweed? You heard that asshole. B's so good they got something extra up their sleeves to make it even harder for her to pass this test. And, I got to tell ya', ain't too many Slayers walking out alive, anyhow." Faith remembered the unemotional accounts in the journals and clenched her fists. "I don't get it. You don't like this Travers guy. He was so pissed at you he tried to get you fired. Why the fuck are we here and not helping get B back on her feet?"

Avoiding her glare, Giles stepped around Faith and continued to the checkout desk. "I'm afraid you don't understand, my dear."

No way. He was not pulling that crap with her. "Oh, I understand just fine," Faith snapped. "You're hanging B out to dry – like all the rest of them Watchers." Quoting from memory, she said, "'Emmaline's performance was disappointing.' That's gonna be you. If B…"

"It will not happen that way." They were nearly shouting at each other. "Buffy is the finest Slayer in history." Giles whipped off his glasses and waved them at Faith. "I have every confidence she will complete this assessment with distinction." His voice lowered nearly to a whisper. "She has to."

"I hate to tell you this, Giles…" Faith was so serious she didn't register her use of his full name. "It don't matter how good B is if they rigged the test. Them books or journals in your office? All of the Slayers died. All of them!"

It might have been a trick of the light. When Giles looked up at her final statement, Faith thought there were tears in his eyes. "Yes, I know. I've read those accounts many, many times." Falling silent, he began to wipe the lenses of his glasses with a handkerchief. "I…I always knew this moment would come." He replaced the handkerchief in his pocket and stared sightlessly over Faith's head. "I never realized…" He seemed at a loss. Standing with glasses in hand, Giles stared fixedly at the carpet.

Not sure how to proceed, Faith, too, stayed frozen and watched Giles.

Finally, Giles came back to life. "The test is tradition, Faith. It is a way to measure a Slayer's skills in the unlikely event she must face the supernatural without her own enhanced abilities," Giles muttered.

Faith looked around for the cue cards Giles was reading because everything coming out of his mouth sounded stilted and stiff.  "Giles…" Faith could almost see him arguing with himself as he stood in front of her. "Red's got the books at her place. You wanna read them again? The only thing they're testing is how long B can last before whatever they brought with them from the Mother Country kills her. Fuck tradition. B's your Slayer. She needs your help," she finished softly, willing Giles to get off the fence and make the right decision.

Her patience paid off. This time, when Giles looked up, the indecision was absent from his expression. Aligning his glasses on his nose, he said, "Yes. Yes, she does. Thank you for reminding me where my first duty lies."

Barely holding back a raucous shout of victory, Faith straightened. "Wicked!" Ready to stop wasting time and get down to business, she asked, "You got some kind of shit to make B a Slayer again?"

Her exuberance was short-lived. Giles shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The serum – and its antidote – is closely monitored by the Council. I was only given enough of the drug itself to ensure Buffy was properly prepared for her test."

"You fucking gave her that drug and didn't have nothing to fix her?" Faith took a step in Giles' direction. He never did anything without a backup.

Giles held up a hand to stop her and forestall any more outbursts. "It is only a temporary condition," he said quietly. "Even though, as you pointed out, many Slayers have failed to survive the experience, the Council cannot risk leaving their Champion in a permanently weakened condition."

The knowledge didn't help much, and it further enraged Faith. "You're kidding, right?" Planting her hands on her hips, she nearly shouted, "You said you read the books! All the fucking Council's gotta do is let their Champion die, and they get a new one."

It was a low blow. Giles went pale and his mouth opened and closed without a sound.

Grudgingly, Faith backed off.  "Sorry." She tried to bottle up the anger still flaring inside and get things moving again. "We don't got to worry about B staying out of the game. What about finding out what your buddies are up to? Any ideas where we should look?" If Giles knew where they were… Well, maybe Buffy wouldn't have to fight anything until the drug wore off. Faith wouldn't complain about taking over and doing a little fighting and staking in the afternoon.

"I'm afraid not." Leaning against the checkout desk, a still-pale Giles appeared to consider their options. "My contacts within the Council haven't been able to discover anything. And they are becoming exceedingly tired of my questions. I dare not push for more."

Despite the bad news, Faith smiled slightly. Giles hadn't been completely behind the Council's test, after all, if he'd been trying to sweet talk information out of his friends. "If you're feeling lucky, we can check in with Red and B. If anybody can track down Travers and his goons, it'd be Red and her computer. Just got to hope B don't drag herself out of bed and kill you when we show up."

Giles didn't share her smile. "It is worth the risk, Faith." He straightened and met her eyes. "Losing Buffy's …" His words trailed off for a second. "…trust is painful, yet understandable, after my actions. Losing her permanently, however, must not be allowed to happen."

It was exactly what Faith needed to hear. "Then let's motor, Tweed." She was at the library door in a two strides.

"Wait!" Giles ordered.

"What the fuck? I thought you said you was back on the right side?" Faith left her hand on the door and glared at Giles over her shoulder.

He glared back. "I am, as you say, on the right side. However, after Quentin's visit, I am not certain he will not have me watched. Going to the Council… I may have pushed too hard to have the test delayed. If he no longer trusts my judgment…"

Faith's hand slipped off the metal touch plate. "Gotcha. You wanna go out the back?" She was already doing a mental tour of the school. "Ain't nobody in the lunchroom now. The loading dock sound good?"

"Excellent. Perhaps you were listening when I spoke about the importance of tactics and strategy." Giles led Faith out of the library and down the hallway to the left.

Snyder was nowhere in sight. Knowing that they might be under surveillance, though, Faith kept her senses strained to the limits. Humans didn't ping on her radar; that didn't mean she couldn't hear or see them before they did her. "I hate to break it to you," Faith murmured to Giles as they hurried toward the cafeteria. "I learned all about back entrances way before I met you and B. Call it part of my Southie schoolin'."

Giles' chuckle surprised her. "Perhaps I should allow you to do the lecturing on occasion. Bursting through the front door, while impressive, is not always the best tactical decision."

"Yeah. Right." Faith gave him a disbelieving look and went up on her toes to peer through the high, round windows of the cafeteria doors. "Empty. Looks like we're good to go."

In minutes, they exited the building through the delivery entrance.

Taking the lead, Faith skirted the student parking lot. "B's at Red's place. You up for a run, Tweed?" She gave Giles' suit and polished loafers a withering look.

"Watchers are required to maintain an excellent level of physical fitness," he answered.

Not bothering to comment, Faith took off at a steady jog. She kept them off the main streets – and also avoided any of her usual trips through back yards. From the gasping and wheezing behind her, Giles 'excellent' conditioning would make scaling fences and outrunning family dogs out of the question.

There was no sign of pursuit during the trip.

Still on alert, Faith approached Willow's house from an adjacent street. "See anyone you know?"  She scanned the few cars and people on the quiet street. Her senses were clear. Everyone wandering by was human.

"No." Pressing a hand to Faith's back, Giles headed for the Rosenberg's front door. "None of Quentin's associates would be caught dead in anything so American as a mini-van." Despite the humor in his tone, Faith felt the tension in his body. "I do not believe the Council understands how very resourceful Willow is. She would not rate a team."

"Dumb bastards," Faith responded. Pressing the doorbell, she continued to watch the street. "Can't wait to see Travers' face when she finds a way for us to get B a passing grade on the test." Not hearing anything from inside, Faith tried the bell again. Where the fuck was Willow?

As if her thought had summoned Willow, the door opened. "Faith!" Willow started to smile until she saw Giles. "And Giles." Her normally green eyes seemed to glow with an eerie light as she glared over Faith's shoulder.

The hand on Faith's back fell away.

Before the situation got out of hand, Faith intervened. "Save the bitching for later, Red. You got any news?" She gently pushed Willow out of the way and stepped into the house. "The Council's in town, and they got something special planned for B."

There was a deadly silence behind her as Faith put her foot on the lowest stair. "Maybe," Willow finally said. "Buffy and I thought the Council might use a warehouse for the test. They need something big and out of the way. I'm checking tax  and property records now."

"A safe house," Giles chimed in. His footsteps were close behind Faith. "Bloody hell. How could I not have realized…"

"Don't have time for that, Tweed. You wanna feel bad about missing the easy stuff, save it for later." Excitement put new energy in Faith's stride as she reached the landing. "You got any ideas where I should look?" Buffy was in no shape to go hunting so Faith would have to do the reconnaissance and report back.

She opened the door to Willow's room, already distracted with thoughts of the fun to come – and walked right into the fuzzy slipper flying through the air.

"I don't need superhearing to hear you on the stairs!" Buffy announced.  Tears streaked her face as she huddled against the pillows on the bed. "Why is G-Giles here?" Her voice broke on the name. "He's the one that did this to me. How could you bring him here, Faith?"

CHAPTER 12

Faith didn't hear the slipper as it dropped to the ground. Frozen, she could only stare into Buffy's blazing eyes.

"Well? What excuse to do you have, Faith?" Buffy demanded." Or…" Her voice broke, the fury seeming to drain away. "Has Will been right all along? Is this just some game to you?"

"Fuck Willow!" Chest aching at Buffy's accusation, Faith straightened and glared back. She dimly felt Willow and Giles hovering behind her but didn't glance over her shoulder at them. "This ain't about her. It's about you, B." It always was. The unspoken words sliced Faith's throat and mouth as she bit them back.

"It's always about me, Faith." As if Buffy had read Faith's mind, she echoed Faith's thought.

Reeling, Faith took a half-step away. The movement pressed her against Giles' chest, and she stiffened.

Buffy smiled nastily at Faith's reaction. "I'm on to you, Faith. You're playing a part, aren't you? I bet you and Giles had a good laugh when you went back to get him." Her voice dropped into a deep, accented imitation of Giles' speech. "Good job, my dear. We'll have Buffy exactly where the Council wants her. And…" Buffy paused to take a shuddering breath. "…as soon as she fails the test, you'll be able to take your rightful place as The Slayer."

The room spun, and Faith blinked rapidly to bring it back into focus. "B…" She tried to ask if Buffy really believed that, believed she would ever work with the Council to kill her rival. The words wouldn't go past the knot in her throat, however.

"Enough!" Giles broke the strained silence in the room. Pushing Faith gently out of his way, he strode across the room and stood over the bed. "Faith and I are not, in any way, working to ensure your defeat, Buffy. The idea is preposterous and is a clear indication that your emotions are once again controlling your actions."

At another time, Buffy's bright blush and open mouth might have been funny. Faith was too busy staunching her internal emotional bleeding to notice – or care.

Faith was so distracted, in fact, that she jerked when Willow's hand tentatively touched her arm. "She didn't mean it, Faith," Willow whispered with a half-hearted smile. "Buffy…she gets kinda cranky when she's scared, and...Wow. Big with the fear right now."

"Whatever." It was the best Faith could do. She shook Willow's hand off without returning the smile. "No big. I ain't doing this so B'll make me her new best friend," Faith insisted. No matter how hard she tried, though, she couldn't get the attitude right. The words lacked her customary uncaring brashness. Not wanting Willow to notice, she walked to Willow's desk and pulled herself into a sitting position on its surface.

The standoff between Buffy and Giles was still underway. Buffy's blush had faded to a near-corpselike shade of white, and she glared daggers at Giles.

He seemed completely unconcerned. Faith marveled at that. She'd seen his reaction in the library. Giles cared what Buffy thought of him. A lot. If she hadn't known that, she would have bought his act.

"Now," Giles rumbled, "if you are through with your histrionics, Faith and I believe we have some news about the Council and its plans for tonight. Would you care to listen? Or shall we leave you here to pout whilst we do our research in another room?"

Holding her breath, Faith waited for Buffy's answer.

"No. No, I want to be here," Buffy coldly said. "I don't trust you."

Giles' flinch was barely visible; however, it showed a chink in his emotional armor. Faith knew how he felt. Buffy had a talent for getting under her guard, too. Moving to keep the argument from spiraling out of control, Faith snorted. "That's getting old, B. You don't trust him? Come on. You got anything better than that? I mean, if you want to bitch at Giles 'cause he drugged you or he brought his buddies into town to do you in…"

She was now the center of attention – and it wasn't a comfortable place to be.

Hiding her unease, Faith met Buffy's eyes. "How about I give you something else to think about, huh? Something that ain't about how me and Giles fucked you over?" Faith's next words were quiet and sincere. "We were wrong about everything," she stated. "I got to meet the asshole in charge of the Council, B. He and Giles ain't exactly on the same team. In fact, he thinks you and Tweed are getting it on."

"What?" The question echoed in two different voices as Buffy and Willow reacted to that statement.

"Wicked, ain't it?" Faith couldn't help pushing. Then she sobered. She could push that particular button later. There was a point to her comment, and Buffy needed to understand it. "I got all teary, though, when the Head Tweed told Giles he was about to be fired."

The room was completely silent for only a second. "Fired?" It was Willow who spoke first. "You mean like out of a job fired? Sacked? Unemployed? How is that even possible? Giles is Buffy's Watcher."

Giles raised a hand and the flood of words stopped. "It is entirely possible, my dear." He didn't explain any further. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, as if waiting for Faith to continue.

"Now that you're done posing, B, can we get back to work?" Trying to match Giles' aloof expression, Faith pointed to the clock. "It's still ticking, and me and Tweed don't have all the info. We need Red to do her magic and connect the last of the dots."

If she'd expected Buffy to jump in enthusiastically, Faith would have been disappointed. Slumping back against the pillows, Buffy merely nodded. "We'll be coming back to the firing thing. Count on it." All the fiery energy from earlier had disappeared. Voice a mere whisper of sound, she asked, "Before Will gets to work, what else do you have? Even more news of the grim and grisly?"

"No." Despite the lingering sting of Buffy's verbal attack, Faith couldn't hold back the reassurance. "Not really. I mean, the Head Tweed showed up while I was…asking Giles some questions about the test." For some reason, Faith didn't want Buffy to know the truth about what she'd been planning to do to get answers from Giles. "Seems he and his boys are already in town and setting up for tonight, B." She stopped there and looked at Giles. Should they tell Buffy about the 'something special' the Council had planned?

Apparently not.

"Willow…Buffy, I believe I know why you were unable to find anything in your search of the property records." Giles changed the subject smoothly. "Something as drab and utilitarian as a warehouse would never do for Quentin. It lacks one thing he requires: comfort."

"So we're looking for a first class hotel?" Buffy asked mockingly. "Sorry, Giles. There aren't any of those in Sunnydale."

Smirking, Faith watched Giles pin Buffy with another disapproving glare. "I was thinking perhaps a house," he said in a clipped tone. "Did you check the residential properties as well as the commercial?"

"Um…no." Willow sidled past Faith and retrieved her laptop from the foot of the bed. "Give me a minute. I still have a hook into City Hall; it won't take long to try that next." She started to type rapidly. "Do you think this is something the Council bought for just this one event, Giles? Or should I look back farther? Maybe something from when Buffy first came to Sunnydale."

"A recent purchase," Giles said without hesitation. "Remember that Buffy's survival was in doubt thanks to the Codex."

Willow didn't answer, but Faith saw her head bob behind the computer screen.

Not wanting to be left out of the research for once, Faith hopped off the desk and took a seat on the bed near Willow. "You got any plans for how to help B out, Giles?" she asked. "Red's sure to find what we need. Only…" Pushing on, Faith spilled the last of their secrets regarding the Cruciamentum. "We ain't got a clue what your friends are planning for the party. Might want to see if the brain over there can help out with that, too."

The glare Giles had given Buffy was pale compared to the one he shot Faith.

Glancing back and forth between them, Buffy resettled on the pillows. "What do you mean, Faith? Is…Is there something you haven't told us?"

"Don't go off the deep end again, B." Faith didn't think Giles was going to field the question, so she did. "We didn't leave nothing out. Guess you could say we kinda didn't give you all the details, though." Squirming under Buffy's disappointed look, Faith mumbled, "You got enough to worry about, B."

Disbelief replaced disappointment. "You wanted to protect me?" Buffy asked.

No way was Faith touching that one. Verbally sidestepping the issue, she said, "From what this Quentin guy said, they think you're so good, B, they had to rig the test. Make it harder, or something. We might want to figure that out before we go teach the Tweeds a lesson."

"Oh." Buffy chewed on her lip and looked at Faith under her lashes. "We? As in you and me?"

Wondering if the air conditioning in the house had suddenly stopped working, Faith raised a hand to wipe at the sweat beading her hairline. "The Chosen Two, B. Ain't nothing the Tweeds got that can beat us if we're together."

They were still staring at each other when Willow waved a frantic hand. "I've got it! Or…I think I do."

Feeling shaky, Faith let Giles ask the obvious question: "What did you find, Willow?" She was too busy trying to pull herself together and hide her reaction to Buffy's look.

"The safe house," Willow confirmed. "The Council actually owns several places in town, guys. That warehouse Giles said wouldn't work, a couple of houses, and they finance the magic shop, too." She talked and typed without looking away from the computer.

"Can you tell which one they're using?" Faith's voice felt rusty and it cracked and wavered by the end. "We ain't got time to check all of 'em if the test is tonight." Needing some outlet for the energy streaking along her nerves, she stood up and began to pace.

Willow finally stopped typing. "I had to get creative." Turning on the bed, she glanced at Giles. "It's a good thing your friends like lots of pampering. If they'd done the housework themselves, I might not have found them." Willow grinned. "I traced a purchase from a Council account to a cleaning service in Sunnydale."

They were hanging on Willow's words. Faith stopped pacing and saw Giles and Buffy leaning forward intently.

"The address is one of the Council-owned houses on the other side of town." Bouncing excitedly, Willow said, "We've got them, Buff. We know where they are!"

Relief sucked some of Faith's energy away. Needing to sit down, she tottered back to the desk and sank into the chair. "You're a fucking genius, Red. I told Giles the Council was toast once you were in on the hunt." As she leaned back against the desk, Faith tried to put the pieces together. "So we got the right house. We got B safe and sound. We know there's some bad ass vamp in town." The facts were easy. Coming up with a solution, though…That was more difficult. "I'm all ears if ya' got a plan, Tweed."

CHAPTER 13

"I believe our best course of action is to discover exactly what Quentin has in store for Buffy," Giles announced.

Faith turned her head slightly so he wouldn't see her eye roll. Really? That was his brilliant plan? "Yeah, I kinda figured that part out on my own, Giles," she couldn't help saying. "You got something more? Like how we're gonna do that? I mean, I can go stake out the house, try to break in, if you think that would work."

"No, you can't do that, Faith." Peering over the computer screen, Willow met Faith's eyes. "You're supposed to be in LA, remember? The Council doesn't know you're here – and that makes you our secret weapon. If you go to the house, and they see you…"

She let the words trail off, but Faith followed her logic. "Right. My bad. Guess I ain't used to being part of the first team." That sounded bitter. Clearing her throat, Faith ignored the shocked looks from the other three and tried again. "How do we get the info, then? Can you do some more magic with the computer, Red? Or do we send Giles in to play the Council stooge?"

"As delightful as that sounds," Giles said dryly, "Quentin would never allow me access to information on his special plans. He doesn't trust me for some reason. If I show up now, playing the prodigal, I fear he would know I was up to no good."

Faith's eyes turned back to Willow. She was their last hope. "Red?" she asked. "What about you? You think you can help out?"

"Will always has the answers." Buffy smiled slightly and reached a hand toward Willow. "Why don't we give her a chance to do more research, though? I wouldn't want her to crack under the pressure."

That would never happen. Faith eyed a beaming and blushing Willow somewhat resentfully. All it took was a lousy compliment from Buffy, and Willow would happily throw herself under a bus. Letting her head tip forward, Faith rubbed her hands over her eyes. Hell, she'd be right there with Willow if Buffy ever managed to say something nice to her. Shoving that thought away, Faith snapped her head back up.  "So what do we do, B? Sit here and toss insults? Or do ya' got something for me and Tweed to do? All this sittin' around sucks."

Buffy appeared focused on Willow; however, after a second, she raised her eyes. "I don't know, Faith. If we can't send you out to snoop around the Council's house…" She frowned and Faith felt her muscles twitch as she waited for Buffy to continue. "I had an odd thought."

How odd wasn't immediately clear since Buffy fell silent.

The seconds ticked by, and Faith finally gave in to the energy demanding an outlet. She hopped off the bed and began another round of pacing. "You still with us, B? Or did you scare yourself with the thinking?" God, now she remembered why she hated Scooby research parties: too much talking (and thinking) and not enough action.

"What about Snyder, Giles?" Buffy asked softly.

From his furrowed brow and the slack expression on his face, Giles didn't understand the question. "I'm sorry, Buffy. How is Principal Snyder connected to this? Do you believe he might be working with Quentin?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, Giles." Impatience filled her voice. "I mean Snyder's on a 'get rid of Buffy' kick. He's always following me or showing up in my classes to make sure I haven't skipped out or blown something up. He had to notice I wasn't at school most of the day."

"Ah…" Giles stopped frowning and tapped a finger on his lips. "Yes, that will present a problem when you eventually return to school tomorrow. However, I'm sure we can concoct a believable excuse for your absence. I will speak with your mother about the situation. A note from her might keep Principal Snyder from pursing this further."

"I bet you'll be too late." Buffy pointed at the phone. "Snyder was probably calling her the second he noticed me missing. She's going to be so very not happy with me." Glancing back and forth between Faith and Giles, Buffy pleaded, "Can one of you call her and let her know I'm here and sick?" Tears leaked from Buffy's eyes and she sniffed deeply. "I don't think I can listen to her yell…"

Stopping at the foot of the bed, Faith stared at the tears on Buffy's face. She sounded like a five year-old. A very scared five year-old. "I'll do it." If Faith hadn't been the one speaking, she would have joined in the collective stare she received at her offer. "I mean, it's your mom, B," she continued. "How bad can it be? Mrs. S is cool." There had never been a hint of yelling or parental wrath when Faith had visited the Summers' house. The drug had to be affecting Buffy.

She started to doubt the ease of her task when Giles whipped off his glasses and began to clean them.

"I'll…ah, I'll use the phone downstairs." Feeling suddenly unsure of herself, Faith backed away from the bed. "You want me to grab anything while I'm there? Food? Drink?" A big knife to slit her wrists so she stopped babbling like Willow?

"No, thanks." Buffy smiled tremulously. "Thank you for dealing with Mom, Faith."

Faith straightened up at Buffy's smile, confidence flooding through her. Who cared about buses?  She'd go out and take on the entire Council just to see that look on Buffy's face again. "No problem, B. You and Giles keep Red company, and I'll be right back."

There was an extra bounce in her step as she galloped down the stairs.

At the bottom of the staircase, Faith realized she had no idea where the phone was. It deflated her puffed chest only slightly. A quick search of the living room yielded nothing. The den at the end of the hallway, though, was fruitful. Perching on the edge of the massive desk, Faith called the gallery.

"Thank you for calling the Sunnydale Art…" the receptionist's nasal voice scraped along Faith's nerves.

She cut off the monotone greeting. "Hi. I'm lookin' for Mrs. S…ummers." Faith caught herself at the last minute and tacked on Joyce's full name so there was no confusion.

"I'm sorry. Mrs. Summers isn't available. Would you like to leave a message?"

"Yeah," Faith replied. "You think Mrs. S'll be out of her meeting or whatever soon? It's kind of important." At least, Faith thought it was from Buffy's reaction. She'd never understood why the Scoobies were so freaked about Buffy not being able to go to school.

The sound of popping gum exploded in Faith's ear. "Mrs. Summers left for the day. If it's important, though, I can help you." The receptionist didn't sound convinced of that.

Luckily for them both, Faith didn't need the type of assistance a receptionist could provide. "No. I'm good. Thanks, though." Hanging up the phone, Faith stared at the handset before picking it up again. If she wasn't at the gallery, Joyce had to be at home. Faith dialed Buffy's house.

She automatically counted the rings. One…two…three… By the time the answering machine kicked in at six, Faith was rocking on her heels.

If Joyce wasn't at home, where was she?

Nothing came to mind, and Faith hung up without leaving a message. Maybe Buffy would have an idea where they should try next. Leaving the den, she took the stairs three at a time, bursting into Willow's bedroom.

"Good Lord!" The book in Giles' hands went flying as he stared at Faith in surprise. Then his eyes narrowed. "Can you not knock or at least open the door slowly for a change? Buffy is feeling poorly, and I prefer not to suffer cardiac arrest at this stage in life."

Faith didn't care about Giles. Her eyes flickered to Buffy, though, to see if her entrance had done any harm.

Although Buffy was pale and pressed against the pillows, her eyes gleamed with humor. "Yeah, Faith. No heart attacks for Giles…I've got something special planned for him when I get back on my feet."

Now Giles looked pale, too.

Before things could spiral out of control, Faith shared her news. "I called the gallery, B. Your mom wasn't there. The Queen C soundin' bitch on the phone said she left for the day. So then I called your house, 'cause I didn't want you to think I wasn't up to the job." Dropping onto the bed, Faith continued. "No luck. Only got the machine. You got any ideas where else I should try?"

Buffy's head moved a little against the pillows and she sat up slightly. "She wasn't either place?" Her voice sounded shaky. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, B. Why? You think she got lost on the way to the grocery?" Faith turned until she faced Buffy completely. "I can take a jog around town and check, if you want." She didn't think it was a good use of her time or talent (not to mention the Council guys could spot her), but Buffy seemed concerned about Joyce.

"What if she's at school, Giles?" Buffy was so panicked she didn't seem to care that she was appealing to her newest enemy and betrayer for answers. "Do you think Snyder called her already?"

He smiled reassuringly. "Buffy, it is a simple thing to tell her that you were ill. In fact, one look at you should convince her of your sincerity." After patting Buffy's shoulder, he walked around the bed and picked up the phone on Willow's nightstand. "Will it ease your mind if I call and see if she is there?"

Buffy nodded more enthusiastically. "Thanks, Giles."

While Giles dialed the number, Faith scooted across the bed and leaned over Willow's shoulder. "You find anything, Red?"

Willow shook her head. "Nothing." She scowled at the computer and her keystrokes were sharp and frustrated. "There are too many variables. We don't know for a fact that the Council is planning to use a vampire so I've been searching their demon database, trying to narrow the field to anything they might think was good enough to beat Buffy." She paused and looked up. When she spoke again, her voice was so soft that even with her Slayer hearing, Faith had to lean in to hear. "If Buffy was still a Slayer, the list would be very, very short. Right now, though…" Pointing to the screen, Willow indicated a document. "This is only A through D on the list of possible."

There were at least fifty names crammed onto the single page. "Son of bitch." Faith didn't dare look in Buffy's direction in case the other Slayer would glimpse the fear in her expression.

"I know." Eyes once again locked on the computer, Willow resumed typing. "I'm not giving up, though. I can't break into the personal records of the Council members…yet; I've got a program running algorithms trying to find the right passwords. Right now, I'm working my way through the freight shipments coming through Sunnydale Airport for the last two weeks. If Giles' boss brought something with him, I should be able to find it there."

Leaning in closer, Faith tried to see what Willow had found so far. Her reading was interrupted by a soft, strained, "Girls, I believe we may have a problem."

Faith spun – and felt Willow pressing into her back as they both looked in Giles' direction.

His eyes were shadowed and his hands were clenched into tight fists. "Joyce was, in fact, called to the school for a meeting."

A sharp inhale dragged Faith's attention away from Giles. Buffy appeared devastated by the news. "Oh, God. Giles...We have to call her. Tell her the truth!"

Giles' lips twisted. "I agree, my dear. However…" He brandished a small notebook with a number written across the top page. "The school secretary passed on a message left by a friend of mine who happened to stop by whilst your mother was there.  It was rather urgent I call this number."

There was more. Faith unconsciously reached out and gripped Buffy's hand. "What else?" Faith choked out.

"When my so-called friend left, he apparently offered Joyce a ride home since she was so distraught following her meeting with Principal Snyder," Giles responded.

CHAPTER 14

"Your friend? What friend would have been looking for you at school, Giles?" Buffy demanded. "I didn't know you had any friends here." She was so panicked over Joyce talking with Snyder that she hadn't put the pieces together.

Faith had. Inching up the bed until she sat against Buffy's side, she looked at Giles. "This friend got a name, Giles? Maybe Quentin?" Her arm automatically wrapped around Buffy's shoulders when the other Slayer stiffened at her question. "You thinkin' that it ain't just a special vamp that's the surprise for tonight?"

A pained grimace was answer enough. "Before today, I would have argued vociferously against even the thought that the Council would use such methods." Giles' eyes closed and he pinched the bridge of his nose tightly. "However, after our meeting this afternoon, I must agree with your conclusions, Faith. I believe that Joyce has been taken to ensure Buffy's enthusiastic participation in the Cruciamentum."

"Enthusiasm," Buffy gritted out. She pulled away from Faith and glared at Giles. "I'm going to show the Council more than that. I'm going to do some serious ass kicking…" Her grand announcement would have carried more weight if she hadn't nearly pitched to the floor when she tried to stand up.

Faith lunged across the bed just in time to catch her. "Sit the fuck down, B." Her heart hammered in her chest and her hands were slick with sweat where they gripped Buffy's arms. The Council had Joyce. They had Joyce and Buffy was in no condition to make them pay for that.

"I can't sit down!" Buffy snapped. "Did you miss the news? They have my mom!"

Insides twisting, Faith let her hands fall away from Buffy. "I didn't miss it, B. Not the thing with Mrs. S or the way you went all weak in the knees." She could see Willow wanted to say something and held up a hand. This was between her and Buffy. If Buffy wanted to survive and keep Joyce alive, she had to stop playing Slayer Prime.

Buffy's glare transferred from Giles to Faith. "I tripped," she lied without batting an eyelash.

It was now or never. Faith started gently, saving the heavier ammunition for a last stand if necessary. "You didn't trip, Buffy. Them drugs has got you all messed up right now. You can't go after the Council on your own."

"Of course, I can." Buffy wasn't going to listen to reason.

Hating the need to hurt Buffy more than she already was, Faith pulled out the big guns. "You do, and Mrs. S is dead." The words hung in the air for a long second while Buffy's eyes grew wider and wider. "The Council don't know I'm here, B," Faith continued in a softer voice. "Let me check things out so Red and Tweed can do their thing with the plans. Don't do somethin' stupid just to prove you're still the best Slayer."

Before Buffy could say anything, Faith slid off the bed. "I'll be back," she said. Tearing her eyes away from Buffy's, she looked at Willow. "See if you can track down anything more while I'm gone."

Willow didn't even hesitate; she nodded and then immediately bent over the keyboard again.

No one said anything as Faith strode out the door and started down the stairs. Then a quavering, "Faith!" spun her around.

If it had been anyone other than Buffy calling her name, Faith might have ignored the summons. It wasn't, though, and Faith returned to Willow's bedroom. "Yeah, B?" Standing in the doorway, she scowled at the toes of her boots and waited for Buffy to tell her – once again – that she wasn't needed for this mission.

"Thanks." Faith's head snapped up at Buffy's softly whispered word. A tiny smile greeted her disbelieving look. "Sometimes I forget that there's no 'I' in team."

It took a second for Faith to find her voice. "Sure, B." When Buffy's smile dimmed a little, she scrambled to bring it back. "You're welcome." That was better, and Faith straightened and felt her own lips turn up into an answering smile. "Guess I forget it ain't just me on the court, too." With an awkward wave, she resumed her trip down the stairs.

The euphoria of that last exchange carried her almost through the front door. Then reality set in. She might have just garnered an official invitation into the Scooby gang – but, for the moment, Faith was the gang. The rest of the crew was holed up in Willow's house, or (in Xander's case) was completely oblivious to the current threat.

If Faith got caught…

That couldn't happen. Getting caught meant letting Buffy down and maybe getting her and Mrs. Summers killed. Faith responded instantly to that thought and changed direction. There might be someone watching the front of the house. She had to stop thinking like Buffy; beating the Council meant thinking like Faith and using all those not-so-legal skills she'd learned in Boston. Back doors were a much better idea.

Once outside, Faith easily scaled the wooden privacy fence and dropped into the next yard. Taking a direct route to the house Willow had indicated might be fast; however, it also had the disadvantage of possibly letting the Council know Faith was still in town. Surprise was their only advantage right now, at least until she got did some poking around. Faith cheated a little so her unorthodox trip through Sunnydale didn't take all evening. Using a fraction of her Slayer speed, she hurdled another fence.

She maintained that pace through a dozen more yards and an empty lot.  Finally, Faith hugged the side of a barbershop on the edges of downtown and peered up and down Main Street. No familiar cars appeared in front or behind her. Either the Council was following on foot (unlikely), or there wasn't anyone tailing her.

Faith didn't let that stop her from continuing with care. Hands stuffed in her pockets, she walked down Main Street as if she were a normal citizen of Sunnydale. Of course, none of them scanned every car on the road, each reflection in the shop-front windows, or the rest of the passersby on the sidewalk.  By the time Faith reached the intersection she needed, her nerves were frayed and her clothes were soaked in sweat. Chasing vampires was far easier than this, she ruefully acknowledged. At least they had the right idea – do the skulking and clandestine activities in the dark. Creeping around in the daylight, where people could easily see you, was much more difficult.

She went back to utilizing yards and alleys in the rundown residential area where the Council safe house was located. It was harder this time, though. There were more people at home, and clusters of kids clogged the corners and yards. Realizing the futility of trying to maintain her concealment, Faith gave up. Instead, she concentrated on using the new cover provided by the residents of the area. She slowed her pace and worked on blending in. Her threadbare jeans and T-shirt helped.

Her experience with this type of neighborhood helped more.

Ignoring the need for urgency that sent tremors through her muscles, Faith strolled down the sidewalk. She winked at a pair of teens sprawled on the porch steps of a rundown house and carefully eyed the crew of probable gang members two houses down. They eyed her back, and Faith made sure to keep the Slayer well hidden as her tension ratcheted up. They weren't her concern – as long as the four young men stayed where they were.

The back of her neck prickled as she passed them and continued closer toward the Council's hideout. The house looked rundown and fit in perfectly with the rest of the neighborhood. Faith walked past it, not wanting to seem too interested in case anyone was watching from the windows. Two houses later, though, she ducked behind a car parked in a driveway and then snuck between rows of bushes into the back yard.

The move was risky. Unlike Willow's neighborhood, this one was devoid of trees. Faith was out in the open as she utilized her enhanced speed to dash across the patchy grass. Panting more from the adrenaline rush than the effort, she plastered herself against the safe house's back wall. There wasn't an entrance from this side, and the nearest window was actually boarded shut. Faith held back a snarl of frustration and crept along the battered siding. There had to be a way to look inside.

Two steps later, she froze. Her Slayer senses screamed suddenly, and the cramping nearly doubled her over.

Gasping against the unexpected feeling, Faith grimaced and made a mental note that the Council had brought in an opponent for Buffy. "Survey says," she whispered as she kept moving, "vampire." Good thing for all of them that Buffy didn't have to face the Council's pet alone. Faith looked forward to the chance to do a little Slaying, maybe show that bastard Travers her skills.

Her inner vision of that scene faded when Faith reached a grate covering a deep window well. It wasn't exactly what she'd hoped for…but it would have to do. Gripping the rusted metal, Faith carefully lifted the grate and set it in the grass. She paused and extended all of her senses as far as they would go.

The only thing on the radar seemed to be the vampire.

That was her cue to drop into the window well and examine the dirty glass. The view of the basement was obscured by the grime and the rapidly diminishing sunlight. With an impatient movement, Faith scraped some of the dirt off with her shirt tail. It helped…a little. A single light bulb dimly illuminated the concrete room.

Most of the room had all the appearances of a home remodel gone wrong. Piles of bricks and two by fours littered the floor in one corner and a half-completed wall surrounded a portion of the stairwell.

The stair well…Faith pressed her face nearly flat against the glass. The unfinished construction project didn't quite hide Buffy's probable challenge. Ensconced in what appeared to be a straight jacket, a solitary figure flung itself against the metal bars of the cage imprisoning it.

Faith's heartbeat stuttered in shock. To one side of the cage, a chair sat wedged in the corner created by the half-wall. Tied to its seat was a clearly terrified Joyce.

"No way," Faith whispered. Her right hand rose automatically, closing into a fist. One hard blow and the window was history. The fist descended in a blur, and the sound of shattering glass filled the air. Jerking back at the noise, Faith dropped into a crouch. Where the hell had that come from? Peering through the still intact window in front of her, she tried to locate the cause.

"Bloody hell, Hobson, could you possibly make any more racket?" an angry voice demanded in a muted rumble. A wedge of light illuminated the top of the stairs leading into the basement, and Faith glimpsed two figures in the doorway.

The person in front spun. "I suppose I could. The next time, though, you get to carry the drink for our friend in the cage." The patch of light widened to show the man wiping at the legs of his pants. "I hope Councilman Travers has more of that. Otherwise Kralik will have to lick his medicine off the floor."

The caged vampire roared in response. "Medicine!"

"See? You've got him all brassed off. If he keeps up that racket, we'll never hear the end of it." Putting a hand on Hobson's back, the other man shoved him back through the doorway. "Try not to drop the bloody stuff this time."

After glaring over his shoulder for a second, Hobson disappeared.

The movement attracted Kralik's attention. Twisting against the hold of his straightjacket, he called out, "Where's my medicine?" When the bonds held, he slumped against the metal bars and bowed his head. "Hurts…" His voice was more of a whine than a roar this time.

"It's coming, you bloody bastard." Faith didn't like the way the man at the top of the stairs rocked on his heels. He seemed nervous. Too nervous, considering the vampire was bound and in a cage.

Why? Faith hesitated in the window well. Maybe she should just take care of things before it got more out of hand. The odds were good. Her mind took a mental count and catalogued what she'd learned. There were at least two people in the house with Travers, plus Joyce and the vampire Kralik. She could handle that many, and Buffy would never have to crawl out of bed.

CHAPTER 15

An echo of Faith's own voice whispered, "Guess I forget it ain't just me on the court…"  It kept her in the window well. She'd been right when she'd reminded Buffy that this wasn't a one-Slayer job. Sure, she could go in. Faith had no illusions about her chances against the two Council members – and Travers, if he was in the house. However, those chances got much slimmer if there were more people involved.  And Joyce would definitely be involved. Keeping Joyce safe trumped any desire to charge inside.

Faith needed more information. That was why she'd come, after all. Hoisting herself up into the grass, she paused. This required more finesse than she was accustomed to using. And maybe some help. Faith sprinted back across the safe house's yard and, scaling the fence, she returned to the street.

She was in luck. A group of kids tossed a football back and forth in the quiet street. "Hey!" Faith called out as she jogged closer. "I need a favor." She couldn't take the risk of getting inside; maybe one of these kids could at least get her a glimpse of the main floor, though.

The boy nearest to her barely glanced her way. "I ain't sellin'. Check down the street, second house on the left. It's a one-stop shop." From the bored quality to his voice, he was obviously used to people cruising the neighborhood in search of pharmaceutical aids.

With a wry smile, Faith dug into her back pocket and extracted some cash. "Not the kind of help I'm looking for, kid. I got another jones." She had his attention; although, he tried to hide the way his eyes followed the folded money waving next his head. "See that house over there?" Faith pointed the proffered bribe at the Council's hide out. "A friend of mine did something stupid; got hooked up with some bastard that lives there," she said, embroidering the truth. "I need to see if he and his gang are home or if I can bust in and drag her out."

"I don't know…" Turning completely away from the football still sailing through the air, the kid considered Faith's request. "I've seen them guys. You sure you got the right house? They're old," he said with complete disdain.

Faith laughed. "Well, my friend ain't no spring chicken." Despite the humor of the situation, she wasn't truly amused. Her internal clock continued to tick, the sound louder and louder in her head with each passing second. "Can you help me or not?" Making a show of scanning the street, Faith pushed a little. "'Cause I'm sure there are other people needing some quick dough."

That earned her a scowl, and a hand reached out to snatch the money from her grasp. "I can do it," the kid assured her. Then he asked, "What do you want me to do?"

It was an excellent question. Praying her plan would work, Faith explained. "I want you to toss the football through the front window." She saw his eyes widen. "If this guy's home, he'll come to the door, won't he? As soon as you see him come out, you can split." And Faith would be somewhere nearby, checking out the view.

It must have sounded too good to be true. The kid eyed her suspiciously. "That's all I got to do? Why can't you break the window? Plenty of rocks and bricks laying around."

"Yeah, and if he sees me outside the house, what chance do I got of getting my friend out?" Faith pointed out. She fought to keep from bouncing with pent-up energy. If this took much longer, she was going to give it a try anyway. Maybe the two goons she'd seen in the basement wouldn't recognize her as the second Slayer in Sunnydale.

The kid grunted and spun back to his friends. "Give me the ball," he ordered brusquely. The request received a host of grumbles and not-so polite comments – but the football did arch in his direction. "You need me to tell you if he comes to the door?"

"No." Faith was already moving. "I'll be able to see for myself." There weren't a lot of places to take cover. However, she wasn't worried about getting a little dirty. Sliding under a rusted out car across the street, she peered at the safe house and waited.

Her partner in crime stopped at the end of the house's driveway. He looked up and down the street and fiddled with the football for a second. Then, as Faith was almost ready to kick the nearest tire in frustration, he threw a perfect spiral right at the large bay window overlooking the street. The sound of shattering glass eclipsed the cries of disbelief from the rest of the former football players.

Not even a minute later, the door to the house was wrenched open. Hobson's companion loomed in the doorway. He held the football in one hand, and, now that he wasn't shrouded in gloom, Faith saw the leather strap of a shoulder harness and the bulge of a holstered gun under his left arm.

"This your bloody ball?" the Councilman growled.

"Yeah…sorry." Faith wasn't the only one who'd noticed the weapon. The kid stared at it and backed away from the house. "It was an accident," he said earnestly. "I…I mean…" Without finishing his statement – or retrieving his football – he bolted.

From her position under the car, Faith caught only a glimpse of the interior of the house before the door slammed with a resounding thud. "Fuck!" She hadn't managed to find out anything more than she'd known before. Well, that wasn't entirely true, Faith reminded herself as she crawled out from under the car. She now knew the Council wasn't only stocking up on stakes and swords. The game had changed. They were carrying more modern weapons.

It was a good thing Faith hadn't gone rushing in before. Slayer skills were amazing; that didn't mean Faith thought she stood a chance against a speeding bullet, though. She needed to go back to Willow's. She might not have much information, but it was better than what they'd started with. There was a vampire in the safe house, along with Joyce and at least two other people. And guns. It was a start.

Thanks to the darkening sky, Faith felt safe using more speed on the return trip. She streaked through back yards and hurtled fences with reckless abandon, arriving on the Rosenberg's back porch in under fifteen minutes. Not slowing her headlong pace, Faith took the stairs three at a time and burst into Willow's room. "I'm back," she announced.

Three pairs of startled eyes stared at her, all three Scoobies having jerked to face the door at Faith's entrance.

Finally, Giles muttered, "Yes, we see that. Not to mention we heard the ruckus on the stairs." He straightened his glasses and sighed. "We can only hope that the abrupt nature of your return does not preface bad news."

Faith hovered uncertainly by the door. Was her news bad? She shot a look at Buffy, gauging the other Slayer's condition. "Uh…" Buffy's eyes were still a little glassy, but she seemed more alert than before. Maybe it didn't matter that there weren't a lot of details for her to share; what she did have was quality. "I got a little more than we had before."

Her audience all straightened. "Mom? Did you see Mom? Is she OK?" Buffy demanded.

"Yeah, she's there, B," Faith answered. "They got her tied up in the basement." Although she wanted to sugar-coat the news, she knew Buffy needed to hear the truth. They were going to have to deal with the situation – and that meant they all had to understand the way things were. "And it looks like Red was right. Travers brought in something special. There's a vamp down there, too. A big one. They got him caged up and in a straight-jacket." Faith moved into the room as she talked.

"Did you see anything else?" Willow turned fierce eyes toward Faith and gripped her laptop tightly. "Maybe I can find out who the vampire is and why the Council thinks he can beat Buffy."

Faith refrained from pointing out – again – that even a normal vampire could handle Buffy in her current state. "He looked like a vamp, Red. All pale and fangy." Then she frowned. "Hang on. One of the Tweeds used his name." It was right on the tip of her tongue. "Kra-something," Faith mumbled, trying to remember. She could see the two men arguing at the top of the basement stairs. Hear them… "Kralik! His name's Kralik."

Even before Faith stopped talking, Willow's fingers flew over the keyboard. "Give me a minute," she said tersely. "I'm hacking the Council records again."

Trying to relieve some of the tension in the room, Faith looked at Buffy. "Mrs. S looks good, B. Pissed, but good. I'm thinking we ought to let her take out Travers. Bet she'd show him a thing or two."

Buffy didn't quite smile. "Yeah. She's pretty scary when she's mad." Something in her demeanor told Faith she had a lot of experience with an angry Joyce. "What else did you find? How many of Giles' friends are there?"

"I don't know." It wasn't what she wanted to say, even if it was the truth. "Two, I think, plus the Head Tweed guy. I couldn't get inside, and I tried everything I could think of," she said earnestly. Helping Buffy, getting her approval… Faith had ached for that. Now, though, she hurt for a different reason: she hated the disappointment clearly etched on Buffy's face. Voice low and tight, Faith went on. "I don't think it's the numbers that matter. The one I got a good look at was packing a gun. Guess the Council don't play by the same rules as us, B."

Their conversation was interrupted by Willow's shocked, "No way!"

Faith looked in that direction. Willow huddled over the laptop – with Giles seemingly a part of her shoulder. "You got something?" Crawling up on the bed, Faith resumed her earlier spot next to Buffy. "This Kralik bad news or do we stand a chance?" They should, she reasoned. There were four of them on the case.

"This…I don't…Wow!" Willow finally managed. She pointed to the screen. "The Council's had Kralik locked up for years, Buffy. He's crazy – really crazy."

Locked up? Faith shared a look with Buffy.

"You mean they have him in some kind of hospital, Will?" Buffy scooted a little closer to Faith and leaned across her chest to peer at the laptop. "Why would the Council be trying to cure to a vampire? And why did they bring him here? Am I supposed to put him out of his misery?"

If Buffy was trying to be funny, she failed. No one laughed.

Looking very pale and tense, Giles straightened from his crouch behind Willow. "Kralik is, perhaps, the worst threat to your survival since the Master, Buffy. Before the Council captured him several years ago, he was credited with over two dozen kills in the London area alone." He fell silent for a second, and Faith automatically reached out to grip Buffy's hand. "I had thought the stories of his continued captivity were no more than a rumor. Rumblings of discontent over Quentin's iron-fisted rule or sheer spite. I had not thought…"

"Giles?" Buffy's fingers twined tightly with Faith's as she talked. "You didn't think what?" Her voice rose in agitation at the end.

"I didn't think they would actually do what Quentin brought before the Council, Buffy." His eyes, even behind the lenses of his glasses, looked haunted. "It was so horrific a notion, no honorable man or woman would countenance it."

Buffy shook against Faith, and Faith quickly wrapped a steadying arm around her. "Easy, B. Let him finish." She really wasn't sure she wanted to hear the story, though, no matter how much they needed the information.

"The Council has a medical ward at its headquarters in London. Quentin had proposed using it as a place to…study some of the more notorious vampires of this age. Kralik was the first name on his list." He cleared his throat loudly. "That was six years ago. If Quentin has been…studying Kralik all that time, I fear he may have made the monster even more fearsome."

CHAPTER 16

"And that's what I have to kill?" Buffy asked incredulously. "They've got Mom sitting right next to that vamp and I know I remember you telling me the Council wouldn't stack the deck, Giles…"

Her words shook Giles to his core. His head bowed and his eyes closed. "Indeed. It appears I was wrong, my dear. Terribly, terribly wrong." As Faith watched, Giles seemed to shrink into himself. He looked tired and defeated. "I can only offer my abject apologies for believing the assurances of a man I once considered a close friend."

"Look," Faith interrupted the tense scene reluctantly. At any other time, she would have enjoyed Giles' fall from grace. His brand of reserved superiority drove her crazy. "We get this done, you two can play Bash the Council all ya' want." Meeting Giles' shadowed eyes, she said, "Maybe me and Red can join in the fun, too. Right now, we got other things to worry about. Like that vamp, the goons with the guns, and getting Mrs. S out safe."

Mouth tightening, Giles nodded tersely. "You are correct, of course. Did you have something specific in mind, Faith?"

Clearing her throat, Faith wished she'd remained silent. Although they did need to put a plan together, she hadn't been volunteering to be in charge of the raiding party. Her eyes flickered around the room, touching briefly on Willow and Buffy. Both of them watched her expectantly.

"Uh…" They needed a plan, Faith reminded herself again. That was the important thing; the only thing. A way to get Mrs. Summers out safely, kill the vampire, and do a little schooling on the Council guys. Slowly, her mind began to churn out ideas. "There's a way into the basement in the back of the house. And the front window's broken." Faith didn't even try to put all the pieces together; she simply relayed the information as the thoughts came. "And…Red, can you see if the house's got any problems? There were a lot of bricks and shit, like they were trying to fix something in the basement."

"I'm on it, Faith." Just like that, Willow followed Faith's suggestion. "If there's anything to find, I'll get it." Head bent over her keyboard, she scowled fiercely at the screen as she worked.

Buffy perked up. "We could go in the back way and surprise them. I mean, if Giles is supposed to 'deliver' me like I'm some kind of package, won't they expect me to use the front door?"

"Yeah." It made sense. Only Buffy still wasn't up for a showdown – even a surprise one. She was too pale and every time she moved, Faith expected her to keel over. Keeping that to herself, Faith smiled slightly. "We need to get 'em in their zone, B. If you don't show, they're gonna know the plan's busted." That gave her an idea. Maybe this wasn't as hard as they'd originally thought. "How about this? You knock on the door like a good little Slayer, and me and the troops can go in the back? They don't know I'm here; Giles is supposed to be toeing the line. And no one gives Red any respect. We can get your mom and that vamp while the Council is offering you tea and cookies."

"That is a bit of an oversimplification, Faith," Giles warned grimly. "The Council is here only to witness the trial. They will not allow Buffy to know that they are present. More than likely, they will be hidden somewhere in the house to document Buffy's actions during the Cruciamentum."

Or to finish her off if the vamp didn't do the trick. He hadn't mentioned that possibility, but Faith wasn't counting it out. Silently cursing, Faith considered their other options, and had to say, "I ain't sure we got a choice, Tweed. The rest of the place was all boarded up and I didn't see any other way in. B's our best shot at faking them out."

"Faith?" Willow asked suddenly. "I think we have another problem."

"Only one?" The sarcasm was automatic as Faith fought back the realization that the four of them might not be enough. When she saw the blush covering Willow's face, though, she rubbed a hand over her face and sighed. "Sorry, Red. I'm wound kinda tight. What did you find?"

"Nothing." Voices high and strained, Willow hurried on. "I mean, there aren't any notices filed with the city for renovation, and I couldn't find any problems with safety inspections. Whatever the Council is building, they haven't filed the paperwork on it."

The conclusion was obvious. Faith looked at Giles. "Something else 'special' for B tonight?" she asked.

"I…I don't know," Giles admitted reluctantly. Removing his glasses, he rubbed his red-rimmed eyes. "It would seem to be a logical assumption. However, I cannot find a good explanation for the materials." Finally raising his eyes, he looked at Faith. "Did there appear to be any obvious use for the bricks and mortar?"

Faith closed her eyes as the image of the basement became clear in her mind. "They were building a wall." Wait. That wasn't right. "Or…maybe more. There was one by the vamp's cage and a couple more over by the stairs, kinda leading up to where they had Mrs. S."

If anything, Faith's words made Giles more concerned. She saw his right hand grip the comforter of Willow's bed. "Something like you might see in a carnival?"

"A what?" The question sounded important, and Faith had no idea what Giles was talking about. Scowling, she snapped, "Speak fucking English, Tweed."

A hand touched Faith's knee as Buffy shifted slightly. "I think he means like a circus, Faith. You know, the House of Mirrors. Walls in weird places." Faith felt marginally better as Buffy's fingers rubbed a light circle on her leg – and she spotted the hopeful look Buffy shot Giles. "Right?"

"Indeed." Impatience edging his voice, Giles continued. "Although I cannot be certain until I see the construction myself, it would make sense for Quentin to arrange the parameters of the test to his advantage. It is an old trick to control an enemy's movements by creating a maze within the house. In such a way, Buffy's route to Joyce and Kralik becomes even more predictable and dangerous. They can plant traps and ambushes for her throughout the house."

It was Faith's turn to reach out to Buffy. She grabbed the hand that had suddenly turned to a fist against her leg. "Easy, B. Remember, it don't matter what Travers is planning. Maybe," she stressed, "he might make you sweat if you were on your own. All the plans in the world ain't going to help with all of us on the job, though."

"So how do we spike his plans?" Buffy wasn't listening to Faith's reassurances. "How? If I knock on the front door with a big, 'Hi! I'm here for the test!' Travers won't even need a vamp to take me out. He or one of his stooges could do it." She pulled against Faith's grasp without managing to do more than shift their joined hands. "I don't even know if I can make it to the front door."

As Buffy's voice rose, Faith sat up and turned to face her completely. Giles and Willow…the room… All of it faded. "Buffy," she said softly, "you're the Slayer. The best one ever. You're so fucking good that the Council had to make up new rules for this test so they had a chance of beating you."

She had Buffy's attention. Faith stared into wide hazel eyes for a minute before realizing that they didn't need an audience for what she was about to say.

"Giles," Faith said firmly without looking away from Buffy, "use the phone in the kitchen and call the Head Tweed back. We don't want him to know we're onto him and his game. Tell him you'll have B there for the test; see if he'll slip and give you more info once he thinks you're still on his side."

She sensed more than saw him leave the room.

"I'll go downstairs, too." Willow seemed to understand that Faith wanted to talk to Buffy alone. "I've got some of Buffy's weapons stashed in a closet and then I'll see if my hook into City Hall came up with anything." Her laptop clicked shut and she slipped off the end of the bed.

The silence in the room settled around Faith as she continued to watch Buffy. Something was wrong. Something she wasn't used to – Buffy was on the edge of losing control.

She couldn't let that happen. They needed Buffy to make the plan work. And Faith needed Buffy to be…Buffy. She wasn't ready to step into Buffy's sandals and lead the charge. Feeling her way, Faith tried to pull Buffy back from the brink. "How many times've you kicked some demon's ass when no one thought you'd win? Three? Four? More?" The answer wasn't really important. Faith merely wanted to drive her point home. "This ain't any different – except it might be easier. You got one vamp in that house with three normal guys." She carefully left out any mention of the guns.

Buffy, though, hadn't forgotten the Council's weapons. "I beat vampires. The last time I checked, the worst they could throw at me was bad fashion sense and blood breath. You said those guys at the house had guns!" She managed to finally pull away and crossed her arms across her chest. "I can't beat guns."

All Faith's good intentions faded under a wave of irritation. She'd be damned if she was going to let the Council take Buffy's spirit away like they had her power. "You're a fucking liar, B, you know that?" Giving up on trying to sweet talk Buffy into feeling more confident, she rolled off the bed and leveled a few home truths at Buffy. "When I hopped off the train here, all I heard from you and your groupies was how great it was to be part of the team. I ain't even gonna go into the fact I never got an invite to the group." Faith glared at a suddenly slumping Buffy. "What about the team, B? Were you even fucking listening when we were layin' out the plan?"

"Yes," Buffy snapped. "I listened. You want me to go to the house and knock on the door."

"And?" Faith wasn't giving an inch. Voice growing rougher and huskier, Faith asked, "What else, B? Is that it? You go knock on the door like some Girl Scout selling cookies?"

This time, there was no answer. Buffy simply shifted on the bed and avoided Faith's gaze.

Faith wasn't letting the avoidance tactics work. She stalked around the bed and gripped Buffy's shoulder tightly until Buffy reluctantly met her eyes. . "What about me and Red?"

"I can't do this, Faith! I can't!" Buffy cried out. "I know you think I can…but I can't! Not this time; it's different."

"How is it different, Buffy?" Releasing her hold on Buffy, Faith dropped to her knees and began stroking Buffy's leg. "It's one more day on the job where the evil guys got all the power and all you got is the Scoobies backing your play. So it's the Council and not some ugly-ass vamp or demon. That ain't new. Remember my Watcher? We shoulda figured Giles wasn't a normal Tweed after the shit she pulled. The whole Council sucks."

Slowly, the tense muscles under Faith's hands relaxed. "I'm not a Slayer now," Buffy said more softly – and very sadly. "That makes it different. They've got Mom and I don't have my powers anymore."

Now that Buffy had calmed, Faith took a chance. Moving from the floor to the bed, she sat as close to Buffy as she could – and hunted for the right words. "B…" It was harder than Faith had expected. "You're still a Slayer. The drug's wearing off. Red said so, remember? All you got to do is wait."

She knew that wasn't enough; Buffy stiffened immediately at the statement.

Faith rushed on before Buffy started spouting off again and they ended up in an argument… because that wasn't going to get them headed to the safe house. "I get that you're freaked, B. Fuck, I'm freaked and it ain't even me that's drugged up. But you still don't get it. It don't matter that you don't have any superpowers," she explained one more time. Maybe this time, Buffy would hear the words and believe them. "You've got a team, Buffy. Me, Red, Giles… Hell, even X-man if you want us to call him. When you knock on the door, I'm gonna be busting in through the basement window."

"I still can't…" Buffy protested.

"Shut up, B!" Leaning forward, Faith placed her hand over Buffy's mouth. "Man, I thought Red was the one that liked to talk. You gotta listen." The lips pressed against her palm trembled slightly and Faith's anger drained away. Buffy was scared and that wasn't something she was used to; she was lashing out because she didn't know what else to do.  "The Council might have won if you was like the kids in the books, B. Alone, barely trained, and sick. You got two of the three beat. You got a team with a plan. Even all drugged up, you got all that trainin' to help you out. We're going to win, Buffy.  I promise." Even if Faith had to take out the Council guys to keep her vow.

Buffy slowly nodded against Faith's hold.

"Good girl." Dropping her hand from Buffy's mouth, Faith scooted off the bed and held out her hand in entreaty. "Come on, B. We got some Tweed ass to kick and a demon to dust."

CHAPTER 17

Buffy paused long enough for Faith to feel light headed from lack of oxygen as she held her breath. Finally, though, a slender hand gripped Faith's fingers and Buffy smiled tremulously. "Ass kicking sounds good. Until I'm back to full Slayer status, I name you Head Kicker." Her smile widened. "Don't let me down. I don't think Will's up to the job."

Air exploding from her lungs in a slightly manic laugh, Faith said, "No worries, B. I got the right boots for the job – and I'm way motivated.  The Tweeds're gonna know not to mess with the Chosen Two." She helped Buffy off the bed and maintained her hold on Buffy's hand as they walked out of the room. "I think you might be wrong about Red, though. She's got other skills. Travers might look good as a rat…"

Faith couldn't hold back a grin at Buffy's giggles. "She's got one rat already. I bet Amy would be happy to have a friend." Her fingers tightened for a second. "Thanks, Faith." Serious now, Buffy peered up into Faith's eyes as they reached the first floor. "For…for reminding me I'm not alone. And for being a part of the 'us.'"

"No place else I wanna be," Faith answered in a suddenly husky voice. Her cheeks felt hot, and she had trouble holding Buffy's gaze. They stood at the bottom of the stairs for a minute while Faith struggled to say more. She wanted Buffy to know that she – and the Scoobies – could trust her. That…

The kitchen door opened abruptly, and they jerked apart. "Ah, there you are. Willow and I were becoming concerned." Giles didn't seem to realize he'd interrupted anything. "I've just spoken with Quentin. He wasn't very forthcoming, even after I promised to deliver Buffy on schedule." His accent was more clipped than Faith had ever heard it, and Giles' eyes were glacial behind the lenses of his glasses.

"Damn." Buffy rolled her eyes. "And here I thought this was going to be like all the other times where we had all the answers and everything went our way."

Withholding a whoop of victory, Faith mentally celebrated her success. Buffy had been listening to her speech. "Ah, don't be like that, B. Giles can't help it that his friends ain't real bright. We'll have to make sure they know the score after we vist 'em." She cracked her knuckles and let a little of the Slayer into her smile.

"Indeed. I do hope you'll allow me the pleasure of tutoring Quentin." Giles didn't look like a librarian as he echoed Faith's expression.

Responding to that look, Faith nodded. "Me and B already agreed, Tweed. You and Red are full members on this mission. Those fuckers deserve whatever you wanna give 'em after druggin' B and nabbing Mrs. S." She held his eyes for a second and then looked away, deliberately shifting the mood. They needed to save the intensity for the actual fight. "Where's Red?"

"Right here," Willow announced from behind them. She grunted and held up an armful of stakes and knives when they all turned in her direction. "Call me She-Ra, Woman of Weapons." Then she squeaked. "Hey, can you stop staring and grab these? They're way heavier than I thought…"

Faith dropped Buffy's hand and sprang forward just in time. Only Slayer reflexes kept some of the weapons from hitting the floor. She tucked several of the stakes into the tops of her boots and a couple of daggers into her belt. "I'll finish passing these out, Red. Why don't you tell us what else you found?" She hoped no one noticed the almost pleading quality to her question. Despite the pep talk to Buffy, Faith wasn't convinced they were ready for whatever the Council had planned.

"Oh…I…" Willow frowned and backed away a few steps. "I didn't find anything, Faith." She glanced nervously from Faith to Buffy. "I tried. I did! I mean, I got into files and places in City Hall I'd never seen before. There wasn't anything to find, though."

It would have been too much to hope. "No worries, Will. It ain't like I was expecting the Council to file a plan for the walls or whatever." Faith shrugged to hide the fact that she had been hoping exactly that. If Giles was right, knowing the layout would have given them an edge in dealing with any ambushes. "Looks like we're ready to hit the road, then," Faith commented as Buffy and Giles relieved her of the last of the weaponry.

"How do you wish to proceed, Faith? Quentin merely gave me the address of the safe house and a stern admonishment to have Buffy there by nightfall." Giles glanced out the living room window. "We have, at most, thirty minutes until the deadline."

It wasn't enough. Faith followed Giles' gaze and bit back a curse. He was right. The sky had been darkening on her return trip. There was very little sunlight now, just the faintest hint of light along the horizon. "Red, do your parents have a car?" There was no way Buffy (or Giles and Willow) could make the trip on foot.

"Yes." Willow was off like a shot, dashing into the kitchen and returning seconds later with a set of keys held aloft.

"Thanks." Taking the keys, Faith tossed them at Giles. "You drive, Tweed. And not like normal. We need to get there before tomorrow." Ignoring his insulted expression, Faith frowned and pictured the front of the safe house in her mind. "You're gonna have to park a couple of blocks away. B can walk to the door while the rest of us head for the back yard."

It was a calculated risk. The Council knew Buffy would be there at the appointed time. They could easily have one of their traps already set.

Buffy must have realized that, too. "Should I wait? I mean, are you guys going in first?" Pulling a stake from a pocket, she threw it at the wall behind Giles – where it bounced off harmlessly after smacking the wallpapered surface with the side rather than the point.

The grim reminder of Buffy's humanity stiffened Faith's resolve. They were going to annihilate Kralik and his keepers. "Nah, B. We'll go in together." She smirked and picked up the fallen stake. "All you gotta do is ring the bell. I'll hear it, and that'll be the signal." She refused to verbally acknowledge the fact that Buffy wouldn't have been able to hear any signal the Scoobies might have initiated.

With a brave (and obviously forced) smile, Buffy nodded. "Let's motor then."

"You're gonna be sounding like me any day now, B." Wrapping an arm around Buffy's shoulders, Faith steered her toward the front door – and froze. "Fuck!" What if the Council had managed to find them?  There might be someone watching the front of the house by now. "Hold tight for a second." Without any other explanation, Faith sprinted through the house and out the back. This time, she used the cover of near dark and the neighboring yards to make her way stealthily to the end of the block.

The same cars Faith had scouted earlier sat in driveways and along the street.

She didn't accept that at face value, however. Keeping to the shadows, Faith zigged and zagged her way up the street until she was sure no one lounged in any of the parked cars. There was little she could do about the many windows with a view of the Rosenberg house. Feeling slightly reassured, Faith returned to the house via the front walk and knocked on the door.

It opened slowly, and Willow peered carefully through a tiny gap between frame and door. "Are you crazy? What are you doing?" she demanded.

Faith didn't feel like long explanations. Every minute they delayed shortened their prep time when they reached the safe house. "Didn't want the Council to get the drop on us before we got to the house, Red. Had to make sure none of 'em were here watching us."

The door opened fully and Willow stuck her head outside, checking out the neighborhood.

"The coast is clear," Faith said, not bothering to keep the sarcasm from her voice. "Did you think I'd knock if it wasn't?" She grabbed Willow's arm and pulled her all the way outside. "The rest of you can come out, too," she called into the house.

Looking sheepish, Giles and Buffy crept out onto the porch.

"Let me guess, you put Red up to checking things out." Faith rolled her eyes and started toward the garage at the side of the house. "It's like the blind leading the fucking blind. What was she gonna do if I was a Council goon?"

Although Faith had been teasing, Willow's voice was the slightest bit stiff when she responded, "I have a knife, you know."

Now wasn't really the time to point out the weapon wouldn't do any good if Willow wasn't actually holding it. "My bad, Red. You did say we should call you She-Ra. Funny, though, I coulda swore she was at least a foot taller and blonde."

"Will's in disguise, Faith. Geez, don't you remember? She-Ra was some kind of princess in her real life…" Buffy flashed a quick smile when Faith shot her a surprised look. "What? Xander convinced me to watch it one day. It wasn't bad – even if she relied on a sword to give her her superpowers. I mean, what happens if someone steals it?"

Faith flinched at the same time as Buffy. They didn't exactly need a magical sword to be Slayers, but the Council had managed to run off with Buffy's powers. "See that's why She-Ra had He-Man. He was there to make sure things got taken care of when she was out of commission."

A hastily smothered chuckle interrupted their banter. "Excellent. Thank you so much, Faith. I shall never get the image of you and that infernal cartoon character out of my mind." Giles continued to grumble as he unlocked the garage door and pulled it open.

"What? You don't think I'd look hot in nothin' more than a pair of red shorts and a breastplate?" Faith couldn't resist pushing Giles' buttons. She enjoyed the bright blush staining his cheeks, and she did a mental countdown, waiting for him to clean his glasses.

On the count of three, the glasses came off and Giles reached for the handkerchief in his shirt pocket. "Get in. Please. We have far more important things to worry about than your questionable wardrobe." Faint squeaking sounds emanated each time he rubbed the cotton over the lenses of his glasses.

Letting the topic drop, Faith waited until Willow and Buffy climbed into the back of the dark sedan and then took her own seat in the front passenger seat. She refocused her attention on making sure she hadn't missed any Council surveillance crews as they drove down the street and on trying to create some kind of strategy for taking care of Kralik and Travers.

It seemed like seconds, rather than minutes, later when Giles pulled the car to the curb and killed the engine. "We're here," he announced unnecessarily. When Faith glanced his way, she noticed that his knuckles were white where he gripped the steering wheel. Great. Giles was nervous; that meant he secretly shared Faith's doubt about their chances for success.

Desperate to hide her own fear, Faith hopped out of the car and stretched slowly. "Alright, kiddies, here's the way this is gonna go down." The words and the plan took shape as she spoke. "B, take Giles' watch and give us five minutes to get to the backyard. Then play the Girl Scout – with a twist. We want Travers and his bully boys to think you're way worse than you are. Look real out of it as you walk up to the door."

Buffy nodded, already appearing in character for her new role. She was pale and she was about to gnaw a hole in her bottom lip. "Got it. Should I knock or just go in? They aren't going to answer the door."

"Nah, they won't. But you ain't supposed to know that, B." Faith met Buffy's eyes as calmly as she could. "You knock. You wait. I'll be able to hear you up front. I promise." Buffy's fear ate at her, and Faith felt her jaw clench. If something went wrong, it would all be her fault. She'd made the plan. She'd been the one to tell Buffy it would all work out.

"You're right." Buffy stopped chewing on her lip, going so far as to smile…slightly. She took a step down the sidewalk and then paused.

What was wrong now? "B?" Faith didn't know what else she could say. She'd laid everything out back at the Rosenberg house. If Buffy still wasn't on board, they'd have to leave her behind.

Braced for the worst, Faith wasn't ready for the human missile that suddenly launched itself in her direction. Buffy thudded into Faith's chest and wrapped her up in a tight hug. "Thanks. I'm glad you're taking care of me."

As quickly as she'd appeared, Buffy was gone. Faith shivered at the missing warmth and watched Buffy stride more or less steadily toward the safe house.

CHAPTER 18

Faith stood there a second too long. "Faith? Shouldn't we be moving into position?" Giles asked.

"Yeah." Still off-balance, Faith slowly turned away from her view of Buffy's back. She wanted to run after Buffy. Tell her to go back to the car and wait until this was all over. "Stay close and try not to make too much noise," Faith snapped instead. They didn't have the option of putting Buffy in a safe location to wait it out. Using that anger (and the accompanying fear) to regain her focus, Faith pushed past Willow and Giles.

She could feel their stares as they ducked behind a row of scraggly bushes in a neighboring yard. "Should I have a spell handy? I found this really great one." Willow whispered. "It's supposed to create a flash of light. If I…"

Cutting her off, Faith disagreed. "No." The last thing they needed was for the spell to backfire. She saw Willow's crestfallen expression, though, as she clambered over a rusty chain link fence. "Uh…" Damn. Faith tried to backpedal. "Remember, Red. We only got the one vamp, and light ain't gonna work with the Council guys. Let's check things out, and if we need the mojo, I'll turn you loose."

The expression faded. A little. "OK." Willow chewed her lip and dropped over the fence. She and Faith waited for Giles to make his own climb. "I don't know if I have anything that would work on humans, though. Unless…"

Faith expected to see blood soon from the way Willow gnawed on her lip.

"I've be researching the spell Amy used to turn herself into a rat." Willow paused and grabbed Giles' arm, steadying him as he lurched to the ground. "I think I found it. I could use that on the Council."

Unsure if Giles' alarmed look was from the unaccustomed exercise or Willow's musings, Faith considered that plan. "Keep it handy," she said. "If it looks like the Tweeds are winnin', give it a try."

Willow's lips immediately began moving silently.

Praying that enough practice time would decrease Willow's chance of a mistake, Faith pointed to the nearby safe house. "There's the target, kiddies. I go first to make sure B's at the front door and that we ain't got more in the basement than I saw the first time." She met Giles' and Willow's eyes. "You hear breaking glass, that's the signal."

Not waiting for a response – or an argument – Faith took off using full Slayer speed. She was at the rear of the safe house in seconds. She pressed against the grimy siding and listened intently.

Buffy was out front. Soft, unsteady footsteps scuffed against the concrete walkway Faith remembered led up to the house. "Hope you guys are back there," Buffy mumbled. "It feels like I'm walking into a haunted house. Don't they believe in porch lights over here?"

Faith bit back a chuckle. At least Buffy hadn't lost her sense of humor. She'd need it once the fighting started. When the footsteps moved closer, and the first porch step creaked, Faith dropped into the window well and peered through the window into the basement.

She couldn't see anything except the brick wall now covering the interior of the window.

The men inside must have had enough time to finish at least a few of the walls. There was no chance to panic, however. As Faith glared in impotent fury at the bricks, she heard a tentative knocking sound from the front of the house. Buffy was in position.

With no time to reconsider their options, Faith dropped onto her back. Drawing her knees to her chest, she lashed out at the window with her booted feet. The glass shattered easily. The bricks, though… Faith ignored the flaring pain in her calves and knees and tried again. Mortar and chips of brick littered the window well.

"Faith! Why are you…Shouldn't you be in the basement by now?" Willow's voice coincided with Faith's next attempt to kick down the wall.

She was making progress. One of Faith's feet slipped inside a small hole in the wall. "That was the plan, Red. But things ain't goin' like we thought." Faith gasped and pulled her aching legs back for one more try. "You and Tweed head to the front. B's probably inside and she's expecting help. I'm almost through the wall," she lied. "I'll meet ya' upstairs with Mrs. S."

"Be careful, Faith," Giles said softly. Then he and Willow disappeared.

It was too late for careful. They'd lost the element of surprise by now. No one, not even the Council stooges, could miss her kicking her way through the brick wall. The new surge of fury gave her next kick extra momentum. More brick debris exploded through the shattered window, and Faith nearly shouted in victory as a larger hole appeared in the wall.

In a heartbeat, she was up and through the gap.

The basement didn't look anything like she remembered from that afternoon. The single bulb over the staircase was absent. In its place, lights had been placed along the walls, dimly illuminating small pockets of the large area. Faith yanked a stake out of her back pocket and crept forward with her senses strained.

Nothing moved nearby; although, Faith heard footsteps overhead. Buffy and the gang, she hoped. A sudden spike in her senses brought all her attention back to the basement. There was a vampire up ahead. Gripping the stake tighter, Faith dropped into a crouch and dove forward.

She hit the ground in a tuck and rolled to her feet. "Hey, bet you were expecting something different." Faith smirked at the wide-eyed vampire in front of her. "Hobson, right? You're one of the dumb fuckers who brought that crazy vamp."

"How do you know that?" Hobson demanded. He scowled, baring his fangs, and moved closer. "Who are you?"

It was a question Faith had every intention of answering. "I'm Faith." Lunging forward at full speed, she slammed her stake into his chest. "The other Slayer," she told Hobson as his body disappeared in a shower of dust. One down; another three to go, if Faith's suspicions were correct. If Hobson had been Turned, she no longer expected to see human Councilmen hiding in a corner or a closet taking notes. Apparently it wasn't only her plans that had been busted.

Faith froze in sudden realization. Damn it! Buffy wasn't expecting more than Kralik. Faith frantically scanned the basement for the stairs. She had to warn Buffy. She had to keep her safe. She'd promised.

A scream echoed through the house, spurring Faith forward. Buffy was in trouble.

There was a doorway up ahead. Skidding to a halt, Faith wrenched the door open – and stared at the brick wall it revealed. "Fuck!" She slammed the door in frustration and took off again. The small basement seemed to grow with every step. Every twist and turn. Faith knew she was doubling back on herself, going in circles thanks to the maze of walls and fake doorways.

Finally, though, she thought she glimpsed a widening in the hallway ahead. Putting on a new burst of speed, Faith raced for it. This had to be the right way. It had to be.

Faith was so intent on finding a path to the first floor that she almost missed the tableau laid out in the dim recesses of the stairwell. Her foot hit the lowest step and she leaned forward, intending to leap the next few on her way to help Buffy.

A hand thrust between the steps, however, and wrapped around her ankle. Before Faith had time to register it, she toppled backward, slamming into the concrete floor. Through the ringing in her head, she heard a voice say mockingly, "Hmmm, it looks like I'm not the only one playing the game by different rules. You aren't the dinner I was promised."

Biting back a groan, Faith scrambled to her feet and peered blearily through the gloom. "The delivery guy musta got the order wrong. Bet you thought you were gettin' the California special instead of the Boston chowder." Finally locating her attacker, Faith turned to face him squarely. Kralik. It had to be. The very large vampire in front of her looked nothing like Travers or the third Councilman.

Travers. Her eyes flickered away from the vampire for a second, and Faith had to swallow hard against a surge of nausea. The head of the Council sprawled across the floor to Kralik's left, and blood pooled beneath him. It also coated the walls and the stairs. If she hadn't been in such a hurry before, Faith might have seen the carnage.

Her horrified examination was cut short. Kralik threw back his head and laughed. "Excellent. It's been too long since I feasted. You and…" He stopped laughing and drew in a deep breath. "…and the group upstairs might ease the hunger I feel. Mother can wait for dessert."

Was Kralik hallucinating some long lost relative? Then Faith heard a series of terrified moans and the scrape of chair legs against the concrete floor. Mrs. Summers?

"Don't worry, Mother," Kralik called out in a sing-song voice. "I haven't forgotten about you. I was merely greeting our new guest. You'll like her, I promise." He moved forward, and Faith backed up automatically. "Come. The table's set."

That's what Faith was afraid of. "Sorry. I ain't hungry." She swung the stake in her left hand at Kralik and grunted when he blocked her arm with a powerful sweep of his right. The impact tingled from her wrist to her shoulder. Refusing to back down, Faith swung again, adding a powerful thrust kick to take Kralik off-balance.

If the kick had landed, it might have worked. Kralik didn't wait for Faith's attack, though. He was already moving, and Faith's foot sailed harmlessly by. He took advantage of her outstretched position, slamming a heavy fist into her side.

The unmistakable crunch of breaking bones coincided with the white-hot agony ballooning in Faith's ribs. For the second time in minutes, Faith hit the floor. She lay there gasping as Kralik loomed over her.

"Dinner is served," Kralik announced. He reached for Faith, fangs gleaming in the dim light.

Not yet it wasn't. Faith bit her lip to hold back a cry of pain and rotated her hips. Her right foot caught Kralik just above the heel of his left foot. With a howl, he fell backward. Scrambling to her knees, Faith followed as best as she could. Each breath hurt. Standing was pure pain. She wavered on her feet for a second before taking a shaky step in Kralik's direction.

She'd taken too long. Kralik regained his feet and charged.

Or…he started to charge. Faith watched in confusion as he stopped abruptly and grabbed his head with both hands. Kralik's sudden, agonized cry filled the basement.

The wood of Faith's stake dug into her palm as she took a careful step toward him.

"Pills!" Hands still pressed to his head, Kralik looked frantically around the maze-like walls in the room. "I must have them!"

This was her chance. Faith waited until Kralik's gaze locked onto a pill bottle on a table near Travers' desecrated body. At his first staggering step, Faith seized the moment. Diving forward, she slammed her stake into Kralik's side.

It wasn't a killing hit.

Blood poured over Faith's hand, and she lost hold of the stake. She nearly lost more than that when Kralik lashed out at her. One flailing hand caught Faith in the temple. The already poorly lit basement darkened further, as she struggled to stay on her feet and conscious. Damn it, she was a Slayer. She could handle one migraine-weakened vampire.

Yanking another stake from her pocket, Faith ducked another wild swing and moved a couple of steps to the right.

Kralik's crazed eyes met hers and he roared.

"Shut the fuck up," Faith told him – and sprang forward. This time, her aim was true. The stake pierced Kralik's chest over his heart. "All the yellin' is giving me a headache, too."

She was talking to a pile of dust.

Smirking at the last remains of Buffy's big test, Faith slowly straightened and wiped her bloody hands on her jeans. Time to get to the next part of the evening. "Mrs. S?" she called out.

More scraping and a few grunts answered.

"Hang on. I'm comin'." It was harder than it sounded, though. Faith skirted the grisly scene in the stairwell and limped through more labyrinthine corridors. "Fucking Tweeds. Ain't never goin' to a house of mirrors again now," she complained.

Finally, though, Faith found Joyce. The older woman was still bound to a chair and her mouth was covered with a piece of duct tape. She mumbled energetically the second she saw Faith peering around the incomplete brick wall hiding her from the main hallway.

Faith wasted no time removing the tape, wincing in shared discomfort as it clung to Joyce's face and lips. "Sorry," she said.

"That's…that's OK, honey." Joyce tried to smile as Faith tossed the tape aside and started working on the rope on her wrists and ankles. "Where's Buffy? Is she hurt?"

Fingers faltering on the rope, Faith hesitated before answering. "B ain't hurt," she said at last. Faith prayed it was the truth. "She's upstairs with Red and Giles." Resuming her work on the knots, she managed to release Joyce's right arm. "I'll take ya' up as soon as I get done."

She could physically feel Joyce staring at her as she wrestled with the bindings. "What about you?"

"Huh?" Faith looked up but didn't stop untying Joyce.

"Are you hurt, Faith?" Joyce asked.

Only the ropes on Joyce's ankles remained. "I'm five by five, Mrs. S," Faith lied with a cocky smirk. "You didn't think that Kralik guy was gettin' the drop on me? Please." She could only hope Joyce had missed the way she'd limped into the room or the fact that Faith nearly whimpered at every breath.

A gentle hand brushed her hair seconds before Joyce shakily stood. "I didn't mean to imply anything, honey. You just…" The hand disappeared as Joyce steadied herself using the back of the chair. "You weren't moving too well when you got here."

So much for hiding her injuries. Faith scowled at her feet. "Come on," she said, changing the subject. "Let's make sure B and the Superfriend's got everything under control." Making sure not to outdistance Joyce, Faith led her back through the hallway to the stairs.

"Oh my God!" Faith had forgotten to warn Joyce about the bloody tableau. "Mr. Travers…"

Faith reached out and gripped Joyce's hand, pulling her up the stairs. "Yeah, I think Kralik was pissed about being locked up so long." They were almost to the top when the door to the first floor popped open.

"Mom!" Buffy's smile lit up the gloom. There was a new cut on her forehead, and Faith saw bruises darkening her cheek. Still… nothing seemed seriously wrong with her.

Joyce moved away from Faith and hurried up the final few steps. Wrapping Buffy in a hug, she whispered, "I was so afraid for you. I overheard Mr. Travers talking to some other man about a test for you. He sounded very sure you wouldn't pass it…"

"Speaking of the test, B." Faith hovered behind the two women. "You find the other Council guy? Only two down here with Kralik."

"We found him. He was…a little paler than you mentioned." Buffy's head lifted from Joyce's shoulder, and she peered at Faith with a tired smile. "Travers might have been right about me failing, Mom – if we hadn't had a better secret weapon than he did. The Council forgot all about Faith, and she's been keeping me safe." Buffy moved away from her mother. "Why don't we talk about all the details at home, though? I'm beat, and I just want to get some sleep. I can't miss school and Dad will be here tomorrow afternoon, too."

If Faith hadn't been watching so closely, she would have missed the way Joyce stiffened. "Buffy, about your father…"

***

Maybe that last thing of cotton candy hadn't been a good idea. Faith rubbed her stomach and nibbled on a handful of popcorn to help with the nausea.

"Are you going to share this time, or do I have to get my own?" Buffy asked. Her hand snaked into the jumbo bucket on Faith's lap. "I don't think I have any money left. Mom forgets about the whole Slayer Hunger sometimes."

Pushing the popcorn closer to Buffy, Faith laughed. "Couldna been the twelve hot dog and all the other shit we've eaten, right?" She ignored the death glare she got from the mother next to her and concentrated on the skaters on the rink below. "This is wicked, B." Faith's voice dropped into a mumble as she continued. "Thanks for invitin' me."

Buffy's butter-covered fingers touched Faith's. "Who else would I ask?"

"Uh…" Was that a trick question? Faith stopped watching one of the performers spin in circles and glanced at Buffy. "Red comes to mind. Tweed. Your mom." Even Xander.

"Nope. None of them would have worked." With a wink, Buffy snuck a few more kernels of corn from the bucket. "Think about it, Faith. Willow would have spent the entire day telling me about the history of ice skating and the aerodynamics of the new blade on the skates."

Faith's lips twitched. She could almost hear Willow's voice in her head. "And Tweed?"

"Would have brought a demon text to read," Buffy said immediately. "And before you ask, Mom was the absolute worst option. She hates skating. You should have seen the panic in her eyes when I even mentioned that I needed a new date since Dad pulled a no-show."

The action on the ice lost some of its appeal. Faith had been Buffy's only option. It shouldn't have been a surprise – or hurt so much.

"Besides…" Buffy was still talking; although, her voice faded slightly under the sudden pounding in Faith's head. "None of the gang would have understood today. To them, skating's girly. You know, skimpy tights and skirts and all the waving hands."

Giving up on the rest of the food, Faith shoved the popcorn into Buffy's lap and wrapped her arms over her chest.

"I knew you'd get it, though." Buffy bumped Faith's shoulder. "These guys are athletes." She smiled slightly when Faith looked at her with a scowl. "It's like Slaying. You have to be part of the Chosen Two to understand."

Faith relaxed a little. "Don't think even bein' a superhero would let me do some of them moves, B."

Buffy's smile grew. "Not the point, Faith. So not the point." The popcorn resettled on Faith's legs. "I wanted you to come today. You." She tossed a piece of the popcorn at Faith. "This whole test thing…it made me realize something."

"Yeah? What's that?" Pretending to be irritated, Faith brushed at the tiny particles of popcorn clinging to her jacket. "You finally figure out I'm the hottest thing to hit town? That's old news. Just ask any of the guys at the Bronze."

Another kernel bounced off Faith's shoulder. "Faith! I'm being serious here." Buffy narrowed her eyes. "Until yesterday, you just… I don't know. You never seemed to really want to be part of the group. You were all 'I can do this alone. Get out of my way.' Then Giles turned into a Council stuffed shirt, and all of a sudden, you were more than just one of the Scoobies. You were General Faith, leading the troops into battle."

An unexpected and completely unwanted blush heated Faith's cheeks. "It wasn't like that, B."

"Yes, it was, Faith," Buffy disagreed. "I liked her – General Faith. She didn't take no for an answer and she really wasn't letting me get lost in Drama Queen Buffy." Shifting uneasily in her seat, Buffy peered up at Faith through her lashes. "I want to see if there are other Faiths I haven't met yet."

The flimsy cardboard bucket crumpled along one edge as Faith gripped it tightly. "You askin' me to join the Slayerettes, B?"

"For starters." Buffy tilted her head and smirked. "Basic membership includes doughnut runs, movie nights, and…" Faith held her breath as Buffy leaned in closer. "…hair braiding and toenail painting parties."

"Sounds alright, I guess," Faith lied easily. If it meant more time with Buffy, she'd put up with braids. "But you know me, B. I ain't gonna want to stay at basic. There an upgrade?" She cursed the question the second the words left her lips. Buffy's eyes widened and she pulled away. Scrambling to cover her mistake, Faith choked out, "Moonlight walks in the cemetery, sparring, teasing the boys at the Bronze…"

Faith didn't think she'd been convincing. Buffy was stiff and still in the seat next to her. Finally, though, Buffy took a deep breath. "I don't know, Faith." The answer was soft and hesitant. "No one's ever applied for Premier Membership before. Maybe…maybe we can talk about the benefits some time."