Faithfully Dangerous
Author: enigmaticblue
Rating: PG-15
Disclaimer: These aren’t my characters, as you all know. If they were, they’d all be living happily ever after by now.
Summary: Set during my story Latter Days. Faith is sent to L.A. to get information out of Angel and recruit Wesley—if she can. What she discovers is a scheme by persons unknown to take advantage of the imbalance, and an unlikely friendship.
A/N: Although this takes place during Latter
Days, there isn’t a direct 1-1
relationship between the chapters.
So, you could say that time is moving at a slightly different pace,
although
they will intersect.
Chapter 9
Faith was calling out directions and reminders to the girls as they sparred. All of them had had some training, and both Caridad and Uta had had Watchers of their own before they’d been killed by the Bringers. She was honestly grateful that they had the more advanced Slayers for the time being, given that she wasn’t ready to be a parent to some of the younger ones.
Then again, there were moments when the idea appealed to her, thinking about how the youngest Slayers, the ones they could find and train, would have a better childhood than she’d had. Providing that to someone would feel good, Faith thought.
When her phone rang, she went to fish it out of her pocket, calling to the others to keep going. “What’s up, Giles?” Faith asked as she headed up the stairs, away from the noise.
“Robin is dead, Faith,” he replied without preamble.
Faith stopped, feeling the blow. She wasn’t in love with him—she didn’t think she’d really ever been—but he’d been a comrade in arms. “What happened?”
“He was attempting to put a hit out on Spike,” Giles explained, his tone grave. “Kennedy and Rachel sensed that something was wrong, and they followed him. When he saw the two of them, he attacked.”
“Who was the one to do it?”
“Kennedy.”
Faith closed her eyes. At least Kennedy had killed out of self-defense, but Faith still remembered what it had felt like to kill her first human—although in that case it had been an accident. In a way, the next death had been easier, but harder, too; she tried not to think about it too much.
“How is she holding up?” Faith asked after a moment.
“Well, I believe,” Giles responded. “Rachel was injured more seriously, and so she’s been looking after the younger girls herself.”
She knew what he was going to ask before he said anything. “When do you want me to leave?”
“Thank you, Faith,” he replied, acknowledging that
he’d been
about to make the request. “As soon as you can, to
be honest.
Kennedy could use the assistance, and I’d like for you to assess the
situation.
I need to know if I should send another Watcher,
or if
perhaps the girls should be sent to
“What about the Hellmouth?” Faith asked. “You can’t leave it without a Slayer.”
“No, but Kennedy and Rachel have both proven themselves capable. I would leave them and perhaps one other Slayer there.”
Faith didn’t think that was a good idea. If Giles removed the other Slayers, it would seem like a punishment, and she thought that might not be wise under the circumstances. “Gunn said he could get Dana out without us having to break in,” Faith replied. “Wesley can look after the others, and he should be back soon with Ellen. I can leave tomorrow.”
“Good. I’ll arrange your tickets.” Giles hesitated
before
adding, “I’m not sure how anxious you would be to return to
“No.” The word came out of her mouth with more vehemence than she’d intended. “No,” she repeated, a little more softly this time. “I need to be here, Giles.”
The silence felt accusatory, although Faith knew that she was probably imagining it. “Is there something going on?”
For some reason, Faith felt uncomfortable telling Giles what was going on between her and Wesley. It felt too new, too fragile to speak about. She and Wes didn’t even say much about it, although they had done plenty.
“Is it you and Wesley?” Giles asked after the silence had stretched on.
“It’s something like that,” was all she could say.
He made a humming sound, and she couldn’t tell whether he was upset, surprised, or if he didn’t care at all. “I see,” was all that finally came out. “Of course I’ll honor your wishes. Have Ellen call me when she gets in, please.”
“Sure,” Faith replied, feeling awkward.
There was another long pause, and Giles finally said, “As long as you’re happy, Faith. If something happens…”
He trailed off, but Faith knew what he was trying to say. He’d let her stay with Wood the last time, and the relationship had quickly soured; there was every possibility that it would happen again.
She wondered if he thought she might ask for transfer after transfer, always leaving a failed romance behind.
“It’s not like that,” she said.
“Very well.” His tone
was
reassuring, and Faith thought that perhaps he took comfort in the fact
that she
wasn’t Buffy, and Wesley wasn’t a vampire. “Take care, and call me when
you can
in
Faith hung up, and couldn’t help but smile. It had been a long time since she’d had anything resembling a father-figure.
~~~~~
Wesley had no idea what to think about the latest turn of events, but he knew already that he was going to miss Faith. “Do you think you’ll bring any of them back with you?” he asked softly.
Faith had already spilled the news to the other Slayers when he’d returned with Ellen, making for very subdued greetings. Wesley had never met the man, and so while there might be the usual regret he felt for any lost life, he didn’t feel sorrow.
Besides, if what Giles had said was true, the man had tried to kill two Slayers. Wesley couldn’t feel too sorry for him.
“I don’t know,” Faith replied, pushing her hair back from her face. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Giles left most of them with Ken and Rachel, but sent the younger ones here. We have more room, and it makes sense, in a way.”
“It does,” he agreed, although the idea of yet more responsibility was a little frightening. From what Faith had said, there had been girls as young as ten Chosen, and those were only the known Slayers.
Faith sighed. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be gone.”
“As long as it takes, I suppose.” He allowed himself the luxury of brushing the hair out of her face. “You’ll be careful?”
She looked amused, rather than annoyed, at his question. “Of course. Who else is going to keep you in shape?” Then her expression altered almost imperceptibly, giving him just enough warning to not be surprised by her kiss.
There was a moment of déjà vu, when he remembered kissing Fred in this very spot, in the place that had been his office, and now was again. But it was only a moment, because Faith took up his attention. All he could think about was her—her skin, her lips, her smell. It was exhilarating and frightening, but Wesley didn’t care.
He knew that he was taking a gamble that might not pay off, but the risk was worth it.
Spinning her around, Wesley pushed her back against the desk, but she pushed back, moving them both towards the couch. He didn’t much care where they ended up, just as long as he could feel her.
He ended up sitting on the couch, Faith straddling his waist. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and he allowed his to run up and down her back. Faith’s dark, wavy hair brushed his face, and he caught her scent.
“I’ll miss this,” she whispered.
Wesley didn’t reply—he knew what she meant. There were some things that were impossible to say.
~~~~~
Ellen followed Gunn through the halls of the institution, Wesley just behind her. The dark-skinned man had waved some official-looking paperwork that had gained them entry, and supposedly was going to affect Dana’s transfer to their care.
She had no idea how the man had managed it, or what kind of power he had. She didn’t much like the idea of trusting someone she didn’t know, but if they were able to avoid violence, it would be worth it.
Pushing her dark hair, streaked with gray, behind her ears, Ellen straightened her suit jacket. She was hoping that the clothing would make her look a little more legitimate.
“There you go,” said the orderly leading the way. He had stopped at the door, and didn’t appear too excited about going inside. “She’s sedated now; it’ll hold for maybe another hour or two. I wouldn’t bet on longer, though.”
“That’s fine,” Ellen said. “It’s all the time we’ll need.”
The orderly sniffed. “Then you’ve got stronger stuff than us. We’ve been increasing her dosage for the last few months, and it seems to be wearing off faster every day.”
“Of course it is,” she muttered. “Open the door.”
Her voice was authoritative enough to have the orderly unlocking the door. Ellen entered, Wesley just behind her. The girl was crouched in a corner, rocking back and forth, restrained by a straightjacket. “Hello, Dana,” Ellen said quietly. “I’m going to get you out of here.”
She didn’t respond, staring balefully at the wall.
Ellen crouched next to her, throwing a dark look at the orderly who made a sound in protest. “She’s dangerous!” he exclaimed defensively.
“She is traumatized,” Ellen said severely. “And if you can’t be quiet, you can leave.”
“It’s your funeral,” he muttered, leaving the room. He closed the door behind him, but Ellen didn’t hear the click of the lock. Not that she was worried about that.
Wesley said nothing, merely stood by the door with his arms crossed over his chest, watching with narrowed eyes. She knew he was there to make sure that no harm came to her, but Ellen was certain that she would be safe from the girl’s rage.
“Hello, dear.” She kept her voice soft, and her hands in clear view. “I know you’re frightened by all that’s been going on, but I promise that you’re going to be safe.” Keeping the same even, singsong tone that had worked so well in the past, she continued, “Why don’t we get that thing off of you? Won’t that feel good?”
Dana’s eyes finally met hers, and while Ellen still couldn’t see much sense there, she seemed calm. Moving carefully, she unbuckled the straitjacket and pulled it off, revealing nothing more than a thin robe.
Ellen motioned to the bag near the door, and in the same voice said, “Wesley, bring that bag to me, and no sudden movements if you please.”
She was relieved to see that he had some idea of what they were dealing with, because his movements were smooth and deliberate, and he passed the bag to her without alarming the girl. “Good,” Ellen crooned. “See how easy that was, my dear? Now, we’re just going to get you dressed while the nice Watcher turns his back for a moment. Won’t it feel good to wear some real clothes again?”
Getting Dana dressed took a long time, but Ellen had expected that. The girl was drugged to the teeth, which was probably a good thing for now. When she was wearing the jeans and t-shirt that Ellen had brought, and her feet had been coaxed into sandals, Ellen knew that the real work had just begun.
She took Dana’s hand, relieved when the girl did not resist, and she looked deep into her eyes. “It’s time to go now, love. You’ll have a rest free of dreams, and then we’ll have a nice, long chat.”
~~~~~
Wesley had no idea what he was seeing, but he thought that it might be something of a miracle. He’d never had much contact with the witches of the coven, although he’d heard stories. Most Watchers distrusted anyone with that sort of power—power they didn’t hold themselves. Giles was one of the few to form bonds of friendship with them.
Ellen took the girl’s hand, and Dana followed her willingly. Wesley had come armed with the tranq pistol just in case, but it appeared as though he wasn’t going to need it.
“Let’s go,” Ellen said quietly. “I need to remain in contact with her, so you’re going to have to sign the papers to get her out of here.”
Wesley did as he was told, recognizing that she was the one with authority in this matter. Giles had said that the witch was qualified to deal with Dana, but he hadn’t said why, or what she was capable of.
“Is there anything else I can do?” Gunn asked.
Wesley shook his head. “No. Thanks for your help, Charles.”
“Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you,” he said in a low voice. “Or if you find out about Angel, and what he’s hiding.”
“I’ll do that,” he promised. “Take care, Gunn.”
“You do the same.”
They briefly clasped hands, and Wesley experienced a moment of remembrance so strong that he was nearly overcome. At one point, this man had been like a brother, and now he felt as though he was staring into the face of a stranger—albeit a familiar one.
In a moment, the exchange was over, and Wesley turned to leave, knowing that what was lost could not often be found again.
The ride back to the hotel was quiet save for Ellen’s quiet reassurances to Dana. Wesley had been concerned about the drive back, but it all went smoothly. He experienced a pang of regret that Faith wouldn’t be there to meet them, wondering what she’d make of Dana, her troubles, and Ellen’s mysterious ability to soothe her.
Faith was becoming a true partner in a way that Wesley had never before experienced. In the past, he’d either been the subordinate or the boss, but he’d never truly had an equal.
Unless he included Cordelia, before he’d taken over, and even then it had been different. They hadn’t really been friends until later, after Fred had entered their group.
When he entered the hotel, Wesley saw Fred sitting on the round couch in the center of the lobby, the Slayers standing around her awkwardly. “Fred? Is something wrong?”
“I heard from
He blinked, trying to sort through what she’d just
told him.
“You contacted
“Girls, would you show Ellen and Dana up to their rooms?” He made it sound like a suggestion, but was certain to put a force behind his words that would indicate that it was more of a command.
There was a moment’s hesitation, but since Ellen was already heading upstairs, the Slayers trooped up after her.
“Let’s go into the office,” Wesley suggested gently.
“It’s not yours?”
“I prefer to think of it as ‘ours,’” he responded, shutting the door behind them. “What’s going on?”
“I can’t go back there,” Fred replied. “Angel changed my memories. I don’t know what’s real and what’s not anymore, and I can’t trust him.”
Wesley took a deep breath. This was not something he’d expected, but then again, perhaps he should have. Fred had made great strides since returning from Pylea, but he was certain that the specter of madness still haunted her. “Is that wise?”
“I don’t care!” she burst out. “I have to get out
of there.
I emailed
Wesley scanned the paper. “I don’t know that this is something I can do. It would require that everyone be present whose memories were altered, and—”
“But that’s us,” Fred pointed out. “You, me, Gunn, and Lorne.”
“Not to mention Faith,” Wesley countered. “And she’s not here right now. Although it will likely take me time to either purchase or create an Orlon Window.”
His musings were interrupted by Fred. “Where’s Faith?”
“One of the Watchers who had a grudge against
Spike
attempted to put a hit out on him, then tried to kill two Slayers who
found
out. Faith went to take charge in
“It won’t change his memories unless he’s present,” Fred pressed. “I need to remember, Wes. I just—”
“I know,” he interrupted. “What about Knox?”
Fred shook her head. “I can’t. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
Wesley had no idea what to tell her. He was unwilling to perform the spell until Faith had returned, and he was concerned for Angel’s son. The boy was an innocent in all of this, and even if the Orlon Window had no affect on him due to his absence, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t suffer some other way.
“I’ll do what I can,” he promised. “But I need to wait until Faith returns to actually perform the spell.”
Fred nodded. “I understand.”
“Do you have somewhere to stay?” Wesley asked. He found that his feelings on the matter were curiously detached at the moment. Fred was merely his good friend; he was no longer in love with her—if he ever had been.
She nodded. “I still have the apartment I got after Angel gave this place up. And I have some money saved.”
“I’ll call you if something comes up,” Wesley promised. “Until then, there’s nothing you can do.”
He could see that it didn’t sit well with her, but she accepted his statement without argument.
“If I can help with the Slayers, let me know,” Fred replied. “I feel like I haven’t done anything worthwhile in weeks now.”
Wesley knew exactly how she felt.