DISCLAIMERS: Faith, Kate, Buffy & all other Mutant Enemy characters are not owned by me. However the rest are entirely my own creations.
SPOILERS: Everything up to REDEFINITION and (for Buffy) CRUSH. Occurs after REDEFINITION, but before THE THIN DEAD LINE and I WAS MADE TO LOVE YOU.
NOTES: When I started writing this I hadn't seen 'The Thin Dead Line', so any themes that are similar to that episode are purely coincidental.
This is a big story and it's taken a long time to write. I never thought it would end :) and I still have ideas left over that I never put in. That screams sequel, but it's up to you guys depending on how much you like it.

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PROLOGUE

"Detective Lockley requesting paramedics," Kate screamed into her portable radio. She received confirmation and stated her location. When that was also confirmed she threw down the radio and pressed her hand against her blood-soaked right one. Officers were just arriving on the scene but she didn't notice. All she was aware of was the raspy breathing of the person she leaned over. Both hands were now stained with blood. The blood of a Slayer.

CHAPTER ONE

Faith hazily heard the sounds of sirens and people around her. One voice was coming through clearer than the others. Kate.

"Kate?" Her lips moved but there was no sound coming from them. She tried again and hoped she was more successful.

"Faith, stay with me now," Kate's voice responded. "Medics will be here in a couple of minutes. I know you can hold on that long."

"Don't leave." She mustered all her strength to say the words loud enough.

"I won't," Kate promised and wished she could see those eyes, but they were enclosed in their lids. She pressed harder on the wound, feeling the blood seeping through her fingers. Where was that damn ambulance! The girl was slipping into unconsciousness.

"Lockley?" An insistent hand on her shoulder didn't even cause her to turn. "Lockley, you need to let them take it from here." Kate turned and stared blankly at three people in paramedic uniforms.

"Excuse me, Detective," a woman said bringing in medical equipment.

"Gun shot wound to lower abdomen," Kate explained with a voice she didn't recognise as hers.

"Just the one?" The woman asked taking over Kate's duty to stop the flow of blood. Kate took Faith's limp hand in hers watching the spilt blood tarnish Faith's white hand. "Detective?"

"Yes, only one." Kate never took her eyes off Faith's face. "Come on, Faith, I'm right here."

"Make sure the ER is ready," the woman spoke to one of her colleagues. He nodded and she continued barking orders for the treatment of the patient.

After what seemed like an eternity to Kate, they lifted Faith onto a stretcher and wheeled her to the ambulance. Kate only let go of the hand to jump in the back before retaking it again. No one questioned her, not the police and not the medics. The determination and despair on her face was enough to know they shouldn't try to separate her from the brunette.

"What are her chances?" Kate asked when the woman commented that Faith had stabilised for now. They were moving through the traffic but she didn't even notice.

"Apart from the loss of blood, it looks like the bullet hasn't caused too much damage," the woman answered carefully. "We'll know more when we get her into surgery."

"That didn't answer my question." Kate gave the woman a glare before her eyes shifted back to Faith's still face.

"You should know the procedure, Detective. I can't tell you what you want to hear." The woman saw the dangerous look in the blue eyes. "Do you know what caused this scar?"

Kate looked down at the vertical line inches away from the new wound. She nodded. "She was in a coma."

"Then I'm sure if she is that strong, she should come out of this well, but don't take that as fact, the truth is there may be more damage than we are seeing."

Kate merely gave a weak nod and looked down to where her hands encased Faith's. It was not as warm as it should be, her mind registered wearily.

They stayed that way until the ambulance pulled up outside the hospital. Kate reluctantly let go of the hand as the hospital staff took over, but she followed at a close distance. The only thing that stopped her going into the surgery with Faith was a nurse.

"No," Kate shook her head and tried to continue.

The nurse stopped her again. They locked eyes and it took a few moments for Kate to back down, but not before she flashed her badge and demanded to be informed of Faith's condition immediately after surgery.

"Lockley?" She turned to see Detective Turloch moving her way. She took a deep breath and prepared to face her colleague.

"She's in surgery," she stated bluntly finding a seat in the waiting room.

"There are questions to answer," he said just as bluntly. This cop seemed to find herself in the most bizarre situations, he thought. First that incident a few weeks ago in the museum, now this.

"I'm not leaving. I am the closest thing to a friend she has," Kate said calmly. No one would understand her attachment to Faith, even she couldn't explain why she had befriended her.

"I know she was only released from jail a month ago, but surely she has family." Turloch didn't dislike the blonde detective, she was quite attractive, but he had heard the rumours and wasn't about to get mixed up in this and watch his career go down the drain over her. He wanted this case to be open and shut, but at the moment it didn't seem like it. All he knew was this young ex-con had been shot during an unofficial surveillance on a warehouse.

"None that anyone knows of. The person she listed as her next of kin has gone AWOL. I will answer questions. When I know she is going to be fine." Kate turned away and clasped her bloodstained hands together as her thoughts turned back to Faith's condition.

The detective watched her stiff back for a moment before shaking his head and walking away.

Kate sighed and closed her eyes once she knew she was alone. Damn Angel for deserting Faith when she needed him. She thought back to when Faith turned up at her new precinct fresh from jail just over a month ago. The girl explained Angel didn't even offer her advice let alone any other help. Feeling desperate she had made contact with Kate's old precinct looking for her. One morning she had come into work to find Faith sitting on her desk with a wink and a grin as way of a greeting. Kate had been surprised, but she felt she couldn't turn the girl away like Angel had. They had tried to call Angel several times, but he either didn't answer or hung up. The three that were still working as Angel Investigations were too busy wallowing in their own misery to want to deal with the Slayer. Kate recalled the look on Faith's face when she hung up the phone on Cordelia.

"No luck," she had said to the girl.

"Doesn't matter, never expected them to welcome me." Faith shrugged and swivelled the chair from side to side.

"You know, I have a friend who was looking for cops to join a private security firm he was starting up. It was a couple of months ago now, but he may still need some people. Maybe I could get him to give you a chance."

"With my record," Faith scoffed.

"I'm sure he won't mind," Kate smiled sincerely. "You have something in common."

Faith had warily agreed and a week later she was working for him, after breezing through the training course. She had found a cheap apartment and was making good money. Just a few hours ago Faith had been telling her about how she was looking to move up in accommodation because of the money situation. Now she was lying in a theatre being operated on.

**********************

A ringing brought Kate out of her reverie. It was Faith's cell phone. After rescuing it from Faith's jacket she had placed it in her own for safe-keeping.

"Hello, Faith's phone."

"Kate, is that you?" Marcus Anderson's deep voice boomed through the phone. "There was something about one of mine being shot. Please tell me it wasn't Faith."

"I'm sorry, Marcus, she's being worked on now." Kate stumbled over the words.

"So it's not serious?"

"I'm not sure." Kate's words were even shakier. She could imagine the man on the other end was probably in a similar situation. Marcus may have been an ex-con, but the tall, muscled man was as soft as they came. A good quality to have when dealing with Faith.

"What hospital?"

"I thought you were taking your kid to a game tonight."

"I think this is more serious than a game, Kate."

"Go. There's nothing you can do here except wait. I'll call you when I know." Kate hung up the phone and turned it off. She had a feeling the man was becoming attached to Faith, not sexually as Kate first feared -- Faith put her straight on that -- but as a member of his family. She had been welcomed into Marcus's home with open arms by him and his wife. Faith had joked Barbara was trying to fatten her up with all the food she cooked for her. Marcus's four-year-old son thought Faith was way cooler than his dad, much to Marcus's good-natured complaints.

"Detective?" Kate looked up at the nurse standing with a doctor still in scrubs. She acknowledged them and stood up.

"She has lost a lot of blood, but we've given her transfusions. The bullet was removed and it hasn't damaged any organs." Kate let out a sigh of relief at the doctor's words. "However, she is by no means out of danger yet."

"Thank you Doctor…."

"Singh." The doctor smiled. "I need you to fill out some forms."

"Of course, then can I see her?"

"Normally only immediate family is allowed."

"She has no one else," Kate interrupted, ready to fight the hospital policy head-on. "Even the person she last listed as her next of kin is not interested."

"How are you related?" The nurse asked pointedly.

"Friends. Good friends." In fact, she was going to list herself as next of kin, feeling confident Faith wouldn't mind.

Kate took a step forward, prepared to push her way into the room if she had to. The doctor quickly gave in to her request and she wasted no time in filling out the forms as best she could. The time spent on Faith's case helped with most of the information on the girl.

Finally she was shown to the ICU and she entered anxiously. Faith lay there with tubes and wires hooked up to her. The steady beep of the heart rate machine comforted the sight that lay before the detective. Gingerly she pulled up a chair and sat down on the hard surface. It was at this time she realised her hands and clothes were still covered with dry blood while Faith had been cleaned up. Quelling the urge to throw up at the sight of her friend's blood, she made it to the bathroom to wash up.

After wiping her hands, she stared into the mirror. There was blood on her forehead where she must have touched it with her hands. She washed that off too. No wonder people had been looking at her. After getting her stomach under control she walked back to the ICU.

Kate told herself to get a grip. She was a hardened cop who had seen many crime scenes with multiple murders. She had even seen one of her fellow officers shot. Why was she nearly fainting at a little blood?

Taking her seat again, Kate reached out for the still hand. She didn't know why, but she felt compelled to. The girl shouldn't mean anything to her, Kate thought. Though between the dinners she and Marcus's wife cooked for her, Faith probably hadn't spent a night cooking for herself. But she was sympathetic to Faith's situation. Angel had deserted her, for what reason she wasn't sure. No one else wanted to deal with her and her parole officer didn't seem to care.

Somewhere in the last month Faith had wormed her way into the detective's life. Kate didn't know how or when it happened, but making sure she was the first thing Faith saw when she woke was the most important thing now.

**********************

Kate didn't know how long she sat there studying the face after she phoned Marcus and left a message with Angel Investigations and the Hyperion. She wondered if she should phone someone in Sunnydale. Faith had told her that she had been up there to mend things with the other Slayer and her friends. It had been partially successful which had put Faith in a great mood for a few days. She phoned back Angel Investigations and left a message asking for a number to get in contact with Buffy.

The ringing phone jerked her awake. Her first glance was to the monitors that showed Faith's vitals. All seemed fine.

"Hello? Is this Detective Lockley?" A British voice asked.

"Yes. Who is this?" Kate looked at her watch in the dim light. Ten o'clock. The shooting happened six hours ago now.

"Rupert Giles. Cordelia said something about Faith being shot?"

"Right. Giles, that sounds familiar."

"I was Faith's Watcher."

"Of course." Kate coughed lightly and moved her stiff limbs.

"She said you wanted to get in touch with Buffy."

"Uh, I didn't know if she should be told. I'm not really sure of her and Faith's relationship at the moment, but Faith mentioned she had been up there, so I thought…." Kate trailed off frustrated by her inability to concentrate on her words. Her eyes never left the body lying next to her.

"Yes. Thank you for letting us know. I will pass it on to Buffy." There was a brief pause. "How is she?"

"She's, uh, doing fine. I think." Kate's voice was thick. "The doctors say she should fully recover." So it was a lie, but she knew Faith could get through this.

"How did it happen, if I may ask?"

"I'd rather not talk about it."

"You were there, then?"

"Yes," Kate sighed heavily.

"Are you hurt, Detective?" Giles' voice came through concerned and Kate warmed to the man.

"No, I'm fine. Faith was the only casualty and she still managed to take out the perp after she was shot."

"Slayer strength, I presume."

"Yes." Kate suddenly felt weary and couldn't wait to hang up.

"Well, uh, thank you for calling us."

"I'll keep you informed if you want?"

Giles agreed and they exchanged phone numbers before saying goodbye.

The nurse came in a while later to check on the progress. She reported that Faith was doing better than expected. Kate sat back in the chair with relief. While Faith only talked about Buffy stabbing her once, when Kate had accidentally seen the scar, Kate had worked out most of the details from what little Faith told her. All except how an injury that should have killed her, didn't. Kate hoped it had something to do with Faith being a Slayer.

Still holding Faith's hand Kate fell into another uneasy sleep.

**********************

"Kate." Faith opened her eyes to see the blonde sitting uncomfortably in the chair. Ouch, she thought.

"Faith?" Kate asked hearing her name. She leaned forward so she could see Faith in the dim light.

"What are you doing here?" Faith took the tubing off her face.

"Put that back on." Kate reached across and they struggled before Faith had a coughing fit ending the argument. "I'm here, because I needed to know if you were alright."

"What time is it?" Faith asked wishing she could yank off the cords and get out of there. She only hoped it wasn't eight months later.

"Two o'clock."

"What day?" Faith asked the anxiety unable to be hidden.

"Friday, it's only been a few hours, Faith." Kate reached over and pushed a stray lock of hair out of Faith's eyes. "Do you remember?"

"Uh, like I'm going to forget having a bullet lodge in me," Faith joked but it was lost on Kate. "It can't be too bad, right?

"You seem to have stabilised, but this is Intensive Care." Kate squeezed the hand she still held. It felt warmer than before.

"Good old Slayer healing." Faith saw the confused look on Kate's face and continued, "We heal faster than you mere mortals."

"Oh is that right?" Kate smiled for the first time in what seemed like years. "I should call the nurse."

"Kate," Faith said quickly. "I just want to say, well, thanks for sticking around."

"No problem." Kate wanted to say more but she was too exhausted. She called for the night nurse who was pleasantly surprised to see Faith awake and alert. She did a routine check and declared Faith to be one her best patients.

"Best today or best ever?" Faith asked taking off her tubing again and winking at the nurse. She'd already had a lifetime of being bound by hospital equipment.

"Best today, until you took that off." The nurse firmly put it back on and started writing on Faith's chart.

"You're no fun." Faith tried to pout but it was too much to even try.

"Don't get cheeky with me, missy." The nurse gave her a glance and headed out of the room.

Kate squeezed Faith's hand and quickly left to chase after the nurse. "Excuse me?"

The nurse turned around. "Lover?" She asked.

"No, friend." Kate frowned. "I wanted to ask you what happens now?"

"We wait for the doctor to see how the wound is healing and if there are any other complications. If not then it will be plenty of rest for at least a few weeks. These things don't heal overnight." The nurse gave Kate a kind smile. "She will be fine, from all signs her healing is more advanced than what we would expect at this stage."

Kate nodded and quickly returned to Faith's side. Retaking her hand she looked at the closed eyes.

"Faith?"

"Present and accounted for." She tried to open her eyes but the lids were too heavy.

"Rest, okay."

"Look who's talking." Faith did manage to open her eyes. "Go home and get some sleep."

"I…" Kate couldn't explain her compulsion to stay.

"I'm not going anywhere and you still have the same clothes on." Faith didn't mention they were covered with her blood.

"I'll be back tomorrow." Kate stood reluctantly and looked down at her.

"When you do, can you sneak in some food?" Faith had closed her eyes again but there was a hint of a smile on her face.

"No," Kate answered with a smile of her own. Giving the hand one last squeeze she said, "I'll leave your phone here. I contacted Angel, Angel Investigations and Giles."

"Giles?"

"Was that the right thing?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"See you later."

"Looking forward to it."

**********************

Faith heard the light footsteps fade away. She ripped off her tubing and sat up. Uncovering her wound, she pressed around finding it extremely painful. Not as bad as the stabbing, the pain at impact hadn't been as much, but it was painful nonetheless. Kate had saved her life, she realised. Her quick thinking and actions were the only thing the stopped her bleeding to death. She didn't know how to feel about that. Normally people who saved others expected something in return and no way was she going to owe the detective. But then again, Kate had probably saved a life or two in her time and thought nothing of it apart from a job well done.

Faith cursed her luck. If Kate hadn't accidentally touched her breast she would have noticed the human-looking demon coming at them from the side. The unexpected arousal that surged through her caused her timing to be off. The crossbow bolt hit him after she was blasted down with a bullet. Trust her to come across the only demon in LA that carried a gun at the moment she was distracted.

It was weird when she thought about it. All that fighting with B and not one moment of arousal during their fights. That had come afterwards with the memories. But one touch from Kate and she was reduced to lying in a hospital bed for her trouble. Not that she blamed Kate, the blonde had no idea she was attracted to her. One month and she was whipped, she thought disgustedly. It couldn't be right. She couldn't possibly feel anything for her. Faith didn't fall in love or even have more than passing feelings for people. She fucked them good and went on with her life.

She drifted off to sleep trying to tell herself to forget about the blonde cop.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Message: 2 Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 23:11:29 +1000 From: Eos Subject: Fic: Merely Mortal 2/11

CHAPTER TWO

Kate hurried away from the precinct straight after she finished her report. She hated all the red tape, especially when a civilian was involved. Luckily, it had happened on a property guarded by Marcus's security company, so Faith had a to be there. However, explaining what they were doing was hard, because they hadn't conferred on a cover story to tell Marcus or the police. Suspicious activity, Kate had written. It was luck that the demon had looked human.

Faith was talking and smiling into her cell phone when Kate arrived.

"…yes, I'm going to be okay." Faith gave Kate a glance and motioned her to sit, which Kate did. "If you ask your dad, maybe you can see me tomorrow." There were more assurances before Faith said goodbye and closed her phone.

"Marcus's boy?" Kate asked pleased to see Faith so active.

"Yeah, it's kinda of hard to explain to a four-year-old what happened." Faith laid the phone down and gave Kate the once over. "How are you?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?"

"So?" Faith smiled pleased Kate was concerned about her.

"Handling a lot of questions. They're going to want to talk to you too."

"Right." Faith shifted uncomfortably.

"My report said you called me to check out suspicious activity."

"That's exactly what we were doing." Faith nodded in agreement. "Marcus wanted to come in, but I told him not to bother until I'm out of this room."

"Has the doctor told you anything?"

"He can't believe how well I'm progressing." Faith gave her a wink. "I'm moving rooms tomorrow."

"So, there's nothing to worry about?" Kate asked hopefully.

"No." Faith smiled at Kate, comforted by the woman's presence. There was no one else in the world she would rather have sitting there. "The nurse says I need plenty of bed rest for a few weeks, but I'm hoping that's only a couple with my healing ability."

"You can't expect to be fighting in a couple of weeks, Faith."

"Yes I can. There's no way I'm even staying in here for more than three days." Faith's tone bordered on fearful.

"Faith," Kate warned, "you got shot. Your body needs time to heal."

"You can't tell me what to do." Faith turned away from the blonde, irritated at her attitude.

Kate took Faith's hand in hers and stroked gently. "Your mind needs to heal as well."

"You've got to be kidding," Faith laughed shaking her head. "I was shot. By a demon. Not much different to being punched, clubbed or kicked by them. He's dead. I won the battle and I move on."

"Doesn't it bother you that you nearly died?" Kate asked still holding the warm hand.

"Yeah, it should never have gone down like that." Faith turned and looked at the concerned cop. She seems to really care, she thought puzzled.

"So you blame yourself?"

"Don't shrink me, Detective." Faith pulled her hand away, immediately regretting the action.

"I'm not, I'm trying to help you." Kate leaned back in the chair and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"I should have got him before he even saw me." Faith stated putting her hand back on the edge of the bed where it had been resting in Kate's.

"Do you think you could have?" Kate linked her fingers together to stop the temptation of placing her hand back in Faith's. The rejection still stung.

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." Faith closed her eyes. "I'm tired. Can you come back tomorrow?"

"Of course." Kate stood and looked down at Faith. She didn't buy the explanation. The girl was not as good a liar as she thought she was. "Do you want me to bring you anything?"

"Clothes, for when I get out of here." Faith felt Kate leave her side and missed the presence already. "The keys to my apartment are over there."

"Right." Kate picked them up and gave Faith one last look. "See you tomorrow."

Faith opened her eyes and watched the blonde hair disappear out the room. She sighed heavily. How could she even begin to explain to the woman that one accidental brush of her nipple and she lost all awareness of anything else. Kate was a cop and that meant she was nosy. No way was she going to find out Faith was attracted to her. She'd probably use it against her.

**********************

The first look at Faith's apartment caused Kate to be shocked. The apartment was about as bare one could get and still be livable. Kate looked at the clothes strewn around the living room in the early morning light. It seemed that Faith lived in the room. The bedroom had nothing but a few boxes in it. She knew Faith came from a poor family background, but this place didn't even feel like a home. Just a place to sleep and eat. Maybe that's why Faith preferred to accept offers from Marcus or her for evening company when she wasn't slaying or god-knows where else.

Kate carefully stepped over the mess on the floor trying to find some clean clothes. She picked up the necessities from a pile that looked clean. When that was done Kate took a tour of the room. It was breaking Faith's privacy, she knew, but her curiosity about the girl was too much. A stereo was the only other prominent piece apart from the foldout sofa. Piled haphazardly beside it were a few CD's. Bands she had never heard of. A cheap TV sat on top of a small table. On another table sat a stack of fashion and woman's magazines. Not what Kate was expecting.

Her head swung towards the kitchen. It at least looked clean. The fridge was stacked with nothing much at all except loads of chocolate milk. Kate smiled at the addiction Faith seemed to have. Something had to feed the Slayer's energy.

Back in the main room tucked in a corner was a pile of stakes, an axe and a couple of knives. A punching bag was strung from the ceiling. It was something Kate hadn't been expecting either. She always thought that Faith didn't need the practice, that Slayers came already equipped with all the skill they needed and they stayed in shape by fighting. She needed to rethink that one.

As she was leaving a yellow envelope caught her eye. She walked over and studied it closer. A piece of paper laying next to it made her eyes go wide. On it was her picture and her name. She picked it up and quickly skimmed the contents. This was her service record. She opened the envelope and shuffled through the contents. Mostly Faith's legal documents plus medical and identification. At the bottom she found a well-worn piece of paper. It was a letter Kate had written to Faith not long after she was sentenced. In the time before going to trial they had spoken on details about Faith's life and of demons. It was why Faith thought she could at least trust Kate to help when she showed up a month ago. She read the letter:

'Faith,

I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to talk to you before sentencing. Good luck with jail and remember what we talked about to maximise your chances of parole.

I finally did what you suggested and I think it has helped. Forgiveness is such a hard thing but if you can do it, then so can I. I've been reading everything I can about Slayers, which is not much really. I didn't know there was so many of them. I would love to talk to you about the Council more, too.

Thanks for listening,

Kate Lockley.'

They never did talk again while Faith was in jail. She was busy with work and her time talking to Faith faded in the background. That was ten months ago. What was Faith doing with the letter and her record? There could be so many explanations for it and she warned herself against jumping to conclusions. Kate put back the contents of the envelope and let herself out intending to question Faith when she arrived at the hospital, damned if Faith feigned tiredness again.

**********************

Striding down the passage Kate locked her sights on Faith's new room. Barging in she opened her mouth when she saw a blonde sitting in a chair next to Faith's bed. Her first thought wasn't about who it was, but what was she doing sitting in her place.

"Kate." Faith turned her eyes away from Buffy and smiled at the cop. "You've met B."

"Buffy Summers." Kate crossed her arms and gave the blonde a stare. Faith wasn't the only one doing background checks.

"What about it?" Buffy gave Kate the once over.

"Hey, girls." Faith interrupted the staring contest with a wave of her hand. "Gun shot victim here."

"Sorry, Faith." Kate gave her an apologetic smile. "I brought you something."

She picked up the bag from where it had been dropped and hauled it up on the hospital bed table. Faith slid the table close and peeked in. On top sat a bunch of flowers.

"Wow, I don't think anyone has ever given me flowers before." The smile Kate received melted the anger away. "Thanks, babe."

"Since when did you get friendly with a cop?" Buffy asked suspiciously ignoring Kate's presence.

"Since I found out at least one of them is kinda cool." Faith put the flowers by her bedside and started prodding in the bag examining the clothes Kate had picked out. "B, play nice."

"Okay. But…" Buffy left it at that.

"And she saved my life," Faith continued wanting to impress on Buffy the importance of Kate in her life.

"I guess that makes her an okay person then," Buffy conceded still suspicious about the detective.

"How are you feeling?" Kate sat on the edge of the bed surprised about Faith's emphasising being saved. Kate would have done the same for anyone. Except now she thought about it, she had never lost her cool before. Never taken a ride in an ambulance hoping they didn't die on the way to the hospital. Never sat at the bedside of the victim for the night.

"Good."

"Good?" Kate arched an eyebrow.

"Doctor said I was getting stronger, something about blood, blah, blah, blah. I don't know, but it has to be good, he smiled at me several times." Faith pushed the table away and put her hands behind her head.

"Can I talk to you in private?" Kate shot a look at Buffy.

"Why?" Faith's smile wavered.

"Can't this wait until she's feeling better?" Buffy asked clearly not happy with the situation. "I'm only down for the day and would like to spend it with Faith."

"I would like to ask you something." Kate ignored the blonde.

"About what?" Buffy cut in.

"About something I don't think is any of your business," Kate hissed at Buffy, being reminded of their first meeting. Was the blonde always so disruptive?

"Ask away." Faith decided that it might safer with B in the room with the way Kate was looking at them.

"What are you doing with my police record?"

"You went through my things!" Faith would have jumped out of bed but for Buffy's strong grip on her arm.

"It was laying on the table in plain sight," Kate responded glaring at her.

"Fuck you, Kate."

"You know my number if you want to talk." Kate watched the fury on Faith's face for a moment before she swung the door open and walked out.

"Detective, wait." Buffy caught up with her down the corridor.

"Yes?" Kate asked masking her surprise.

"She didn't mean it. Not really."

"It sure sounded like it."

"Listen, I know why she has your record." Buffy steered them towards a bench.

"You know I could arrest on that." Kate sat down at least willing to listen to the girl.

"Plus a charge of hacking, but that's beside the point. She was only checking you out." Buffy sat down next to her.

"Like you need to be Einstein to figure that out. So?"

"She wanted to see if she could trust you. So she got your record to see if you had told her the truth so far."

"And I guessed I passed with flying colours?" Kate shook her head.

"I don't think you understand, Detective."

"Then make me," Kate implored genuinely wanting to try to help Faith.

"Just about everybody Faith has looked up to has either died or betrayed her. Trusting you is a big deal for her. Trusting anyone for that matter."

"Trust works both ways."

"She hasn't quite figured that out, I know." Buffy gave her a small smile. "Give her a chance."

"Why are you so friendly with her all of a sudden?" Kate asked after digesting the information.

"Over the last few months things have happened in my life that made me realise how few chances we have to make things right. Faith wanted my forgiveness and I was ready to give it to her." Buffy looked down unable to keep the emotion out of her voice.

"That took a great deal of courage," Kate said thinking back to her words on the letter.

"It was time." Buffy looked up and saw understanding in Kate's eyes. "Have you forgiven Faith for her crimes?" She asked quietly.

"Yes. Though I was never a victim, there is a hell of a difference," Kate's tone softened with the turn of conversation.

"Faith cares what you think of her."

"You said she looks up to me?" Kate asked.

"Yes…"

"But?"

"You don't know do you?" Buffy asked quietly.

"Know what?"

"She has a crush on you."

"A what?" Kate drew the word out. "How do you know?"

"She told me that she was attracted to someone who was wicked cool and in LA. I teased her about it but she wouldn't say anything. When you walked in…the way she looked at you, I've never seen it before. Call it doing the math."

"I never noticed." True, she'd never seen any sign of Faith being attracted to her. But there were little things, like Faith keeping the well-worn letter, which pointed to the girl liking her friendship. "Is it serious?"

"I don't know. I've never known her to have a crush before. She flirted with me, but I never got the feeling it was a crush or anything more than finding me attractive."

"She flirted with you?" Kate was starting to sound like a teenager again.

"I would like to stroke my ego, but the truth is Faith is a serial flirter. I wouldn't take it personally." Buffy smiled at the confused expression on the blonde's face.

They lapsed into a silence while Kate took in this new information about her friend.

"Does she trust me?" Kate eventually asked.

"Yes. Otherwise she wouldn't have let you go to her apartment. It was a risk."

"I don't intend to betray her." Kate looked straight into the Slayer's eyes. "And I don't intend to die any time soon either."

"Then let this incident go."

"Thank you, Buffy. Or do you prefer B?" Kate stood up and held out her hand. Buffy gave it a good shake and smiled at the cop.

"Buffy. Only Faith can call me B and get away with it."

The two blondes shared a smile before Buffy pointed back to the room.

"Can you please not tell her what we talked about?" Kate asked fearing the girl might shut her out if she knew Kate knew about her crush.

"Of course not."

They walked back in the room to see Faith trying to put the wires back on her.

"Damn things. Where the hell were you two?"

"I want to apologise, Faith." Kate came and sat down on the bed again. "Buffy explained why you have my record, and though I don't condone the method, it's okay. I understand why you would want to do it."

"You mean you're not going to yell at me?" Faith asked relieved.

"No. But no more hacking into government records."

"Yes, Detective Lockley," Faith said in a mock downcast voice.

"I just came to see how you are, I'll come again tonight if you want?" Kate asked aware of Buffy sitting across from her.

"Marcus and his family are supposed to be coming, but I'd love to have your company." Faith gave Kate another smile. A smile Kate saw in a new light. She had always seen it as Faith appreciating her friendship but now she saw it as it was, a smile of adoration.

"Tonight then. Nice to meet you again, Buffy." Kate smiled at them and walked out feeling better, but also aware of Faith's eyes following her movements out of the room.

Faith turned to Buffy. "You two playing friends now?"

"I only explained why you had her record. She calmed down after that."

"That must have been some explaining. This is Kate we're talking about," Faith chuckled.

"She wants you to be able to trust her," Buffy explained unsure why she was helping the cop out. "So, she saved your life?"

"Playing the big hero and all," Faith said smiling fondly as she remembered what Kate did for her. "She sat by my bedside until I woke up. I asked her not to leave and she didn't."

Buffy stared at Faith. In all the time she'd known her, Faith had never shown a gentle side, but seeing Faith now it looked like things had changed. There was something different about her and it wasn't the fact that Faith was smiling with genuine happiness. Faith's mood had changed since Kate had come by.

"She's the one, isn't she?" Buffy asked taking her seat again.

"One, what?"

"Who you were talking about the other day."

"Is it that obvious?" Faith asked worriedly.

"So you admit it, then," Buffy smiled teasingly.

"What if I did?"

"Is she gay?"

"I don't know," Faith sighed. "She's one tough nut to crack. I don't think so."

"What happened to using and discarding?" Buffy asked puzzled.

"Kate's different." This wasn't the person she wanted to be discussing this with.

"Because she saved your life?"

"No. Because I would never want to hurt her."

"That serious?" Buffy commented, surprised Faith was thinking about someone besides herself.

"I can't explain it, B. She's nothing like I expected her to be. Sure when she's working it's like she's any other cop. Going after the perp like her life depended on it, but once she takes her badge off, she's like this wicked cool person. As long as you keep on her good side." Faith pointed to the flowers to her left. "She brought me flowers, how wicked good is that."

"Are you sure you didn't have brain surgery as well?" Buffy chuckled and shook her head. Faith was excited about receiving a bunch of flowers.

"I told you that jail was the best thing that could have happened to me, well other than getting to know Kate. Those shrinks actually make some sense every now and again. Not that they brainwashed me, but I guess I learned a few things in there."

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing? There's something you're not telling me?" Buffy teased again.

"I don't want a relationship with her." Buffy gave her an incredulous look. "Okay, in my dreams, but get real, B. Kate's not gonna wanna touch me. Girls like her don't go for girls like me, if she goes for girls at all."

"You're not someone who's swapped bodies with Faith are you?" Buffy pretended to try to peer into Faith's head. "Where's Sexually Aggressive Girl gone?"

"I told you, Kate is different. Leave it, B. It ain't gonna happen. I can't afford to screw up another friendship."

Buffy nodded and they changed subjects to Faith's relief. She'd already spent too much time on the subject of her attraction to Kate.

**********************

When Kate returned that evening, she found Marcus and his family in Faith's room. There was no sign of Buffy Summers. She took a moment to take in the scene. Josh, Marcus's son, was sitting on the bed eating Faith's dinner. The dark-haired boy was sitting against Faith's side with Faith's arm resting lightly on his back. Marcus and his wife were sitting in chairs dividing their attention between their child and Faith. The casual observer may have even mistaken them for a family, they seemed that comfortable with each other. The Anderson's were a caring and giving couple, so it was no surprise when they took Faith into their hearts. Marcus and Kate had run into each other a few times over the years, though their connection was mainly to do with being friends of friends.

She walked in and broke up the scene.

"Hi, Katie." Marcus greeted her and gave her a hearty hug. She received the same from his wife, Barbara.

"Hi." Kate moved over to the bed watching a smile spread across Faith's face. "You, young lady are supposed to be eating that. Shame on you for giving it to Josh."

"You're starting on me, already." Faith sighed and spread her hands to her audience. "The things I put up with."

"Katie!" Josh put the spoon down and crawled over Faith to get to Kate.

"Hey, JD," Faith complained really hurting from the trampling. Marcus came over and lightly explained what he did wrong.

"Sorry, Faith," the boy pleaded giving her a puppy dog look.

"That's okay," Faith commented hiding the pain she was feeling. "You're my little warrior, I would never be mad at you."

Josh gave her a gentle hug, minding he didn't hurt Faith. Pleasantries were exchanged before Marcus declared it was time to get Josh home to bed.

"Do I have to?" The boy gave his best puppy dog look to his father, then to Faith.

"I'm sure you can come back tomorrow," Faith said looking at his parents.

"Of course," Marcus said grateful for Faith's intervention.

Josh reluctantly released his hold on Faith and said goodbye.

"Nice kid," Faith remarked after the family had left. "Sit."

"You okay?" Kate sat down beside her and crossed her legs. It was the first chance she had to relax all day.

"Five by five."

"So you've gone from good to five by five. How does the scale work?"

"Better than this morning," Faith smiled. "Rough day?"

"Working on a case that doesn't have many leads." Kate didn't want to tell Faith she was trying to track down Darla. Faith must have heard who she was. "When did Buffy leave?"

"A few hours ago. We had one of those heart to heart things. Got out a lot of shit."

"And?"

"I think we're okay now. Not five by five okay, but just…you know...."

"Wary allies?" Kate supplied noticing Faith's discomfort.

"Something like that. I did offer to fight if she ever needed me. Apparently Sunnydale has some kind of god going around making people crazy. Wicked weird, even for Sunnydale standards."

"Listen," Kate started, "when you get out I was thinking that it might be a good idea to stay with me awhile."

"Why?" Faith asked defensively.

"Because even if you must insist on being released early, you still need time to heal. It would be a lot easier if you had help." Kate looked straight into the dark eyes. "You were talking about moving out anyway. It will only be for a few weeks until I'm sure you're ready to look after yourself."

"So, let me get this straight," Faith said smiling. "You're offering to be my slave while I get plenty of bed rest."

"I wouldn't have put it that way, but essentially, yes."

"Well, I suppose it will save on your gas."

They chuckled before Kate turned serious again. "You understand, I'm not trying to control you your life, I'm trying to help."

"Kate, I do," Faith said sincerely. "It's a deal."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, but are you?" Faith gave her a cocky grin.

"I'm sure I can handle you." Kate flashed her own grin.

"Wanna bet?" Faith smiled then reached out for Kate's hand. "Thanks."

The quiet seriousness of Faith's voice made Kate realise how much trust Faith had just placed in her. She gave her another smile and squeezed the hand in hers.

"What did Marcus say?"

"That as soon as the doctor declares me fit for work--"

"Not that, about…what happened."

"You can say shot, Kate." Faith let go of the hand and placed it over the covered wound. "He said that accidents happen."

"You still think it shouldn't have," Kate reacted to the bitterness in Faith's tone. "Faith, I don't know your slaying record, but sometimes things don't go the way you want them to go. It's not your fault. Although we don't like to think about it, there are other factors out there that we can't take into account. We can't control everything."

No, I can't control my body, Faith thought disgustedly. She sighed and tried to roll over but the wires attached to her body stopped her. Her hand reached out to rip them off when another hand stopped her.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

The words were said so menacingly, Kate shot back to her chair, her mouth open. Before either had time to respond, a nurse walked in to check on Faith. Kate took the opportunity to pretend to move out of the nurse's way and into the doorway. While Faith grumbled to the nurse about her situation, Kate took the time to calm herself down. For someone who was supposed to have a crush on her, Faith wasn't acting like it. The nurse reassured them the prognosis was good and left.

Kate lingered in the doorway, tapping her foot before Faith motioned her back in. She sat down and an awkward silence descended upon them.

"Do you want me to go?" Kate asked after realising Faith wasn't going to attempt to speak.

"No," Faith answered softly. How could she explain what she said to Kate without giving away her feelings?

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" Kate asked crossing her arms.

"Can you find out when I can get outta here?" Faith looked out the window at the clear sky. She felt like a prisoner in this room.

"You can ask your doctor tomorrow." Kate leaned forward and placed her hand next to Faith's on the sheets. "You don't want me to go and you don't want to talk to me. What do you want?"

"Can't I just chill with my girlfriend?" Faith asked giving her a nervous smile. "Unless you have somewhere you need to be?"

"Nothing is more important than seeing you get better." Kate's fingers reached across and lightly rested on Faith's. "You know you matter to me."

"Kinda guessed with the flowers and all," Faith answered aware of fingertips rubbing against her hand. "Plus all the free dinners you keep giving me, Chef Lockley."

"Have the police questioned you yet?" Kate pulled her fingers back not wanting to overdo the contact. At least Faith hadn't told her off again.

"Some Detective Turnlock--"

"Turloch."

"Whatever. Asked me some basic questions, he seemed satisfied with the answers I gave. Clearly a case of self defence, he said." Faith looked questioningly at Kate.

"Open and shut case, hopefully. The body was examined, but surprisingly nothing was found out of the ordinary. Are you sure it was a demon?"

"Do humans consume blood through their foreheads."

"Eww, no."

"You did ask," Faith winked. "I told you, you didn't have to be there with me."

"Ha, you're the one who told me you thought there was gang activity down there."

"I was right. Just happened that a demon scared them away." Faith looked at her smugly.

"Yeah," Kate conceded. "I put some uniforms on it this morning."

"I'm sorry I got you mixed up in this," Faith shook her head. She didn't blame Kate one bit, but it was hard not to regret the blonde's presence down there.

"Faith, I'm not. If I hadn't been there I wouldn't have been able to save you."

"I wouldn't have needed any saving," Faith burst out frustrated.

"Are you implying it wouldn't have happened if I wasn't there?"

"It may have made a difference."

"So what you're saying--"

"What I'm saying is I was looking out for two people instead of one. I don't blame you, Kate."

"You blame yourself." Kate again touched the hand next to hers. "Maybe it's time to forgive yourself."

"I'll work on it."

"Do you want me to move your stuff or do you want to wait?"

Faith thought about it for a couple of minutes before answering almost shyly, "Can you do it?"

"Sure." Kate patted the hand and withdrew it completely. "I could also tie up your lease for you."

"You sound eager." Faith gave her a lopsided grin.

"Just trying to make it easier for you."

"There's not much, well, you've seen it, I have a few boxes that you can use." Kate nodded. "But be careful with my stereo, that cost a whole lotta dough that I didn't have."

"So that's why you want all those free feeds," Kate joked.

"Oh come on, you enjoy showing your talent off. Besides no one cooks as good as you."

"I bet you say that to Barbara as well," Kate said smugly.

"Maybe her chicken is better, but nothing can beat that pasta dish you do." Faith licked her lips in appreciation.

"Is that a hint for me to stock up on pasta?"

"Wouldn't be a bad idea."

"Well if you like it so much, you can learn to cook it." Kate smiled at the sour expression she was receiving. "It's easy."

"Yeah, but it won't taste the same. Besides me and a kitchen, that's one battle I can't win."

"We'll see," Kate answered teasingly.

"Any word from Angel?" Faith asked after a short silence.

"No," she answered gently. She was tempted to go down there to give him a piece of her mind. Faith could really use his support right now.

"No matter." Faith shrugged her shoulders. "Don't really need him, I have you."

"And Marcus and his family," she added, surprised by Faith's gentle words.

Faith tried to cover a yawn before saying, "Saturday night, I should be out partying."

"You can barely keep your eyes open," Kate answered reaching across one last time to cover Faith's hand. "I should let you get some rest."

"Are you coming tomorrow?" Faith asked drawing comfort from the hand on hers.

"Of course, I have nothing better to do."

"Gee thanks."

"No problem," Kate chuckled. "'Til tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Faith said yawning again.

Kate let go of the hand and quietly stepped out of the room.

**********************

After making herself a light snack, Kate sat down on her sofa and dialled.

"Hello."

"Hello, Mr Giles," she started, "this is Kate Lockley, Faith's friend."

"Oh yes. What can I do for you?" the Englishman asked.

"I was wondering if you had any information on Slayers. Since I'm going to be looking after one, it might be helpful."

"What would you like to know?"

"I'm not sure, Faith hasn't really been forthcoming and most of my information is scrappy at best. I haven't found anything about them other than brief references scattered throughout what I've read. For instance I didn't even know they had accelerated healing abilities."

"Well, there is a Slayer handbook, I'm not sure if that will be any use to you."

"Would you mind if I borrowed it?" Kate guessed that a book like that wasn't available just anywhere.

"Actually Wesley or Angel should have a copy."

"I'll try them then," Kate answered disappointed she would have to speak to at least one of them.

"There are Watcher diaries, but these are too precious to lend out, I'm afraid."

"That's okay, I'm only looking for the basics," Kate reassured him. "So, that means you have a diary on Faith?"

"Ah, yes."

"Would you mind if I had a look at it?"

"No, not at all," Giles answered. "I can send it to you if you would like since it isn't as valuable as the others. But you must take good care of it."

"Yes, thank you." Kate gave him her address.

"Do you know about the Council of Watchers?"

"Somewhat. Although I don't see why they would want to kill what they purport to protect."

"It does seem rather odd, doesn't it? I would love to talk to you about it, but I'm rather busy right now. Perhaps if I give you a call sometime tomorrow?"

"Ah, that would be good," Kate said surprised.

"May I ask why you've decided to take Faith on?"

"I think you have the wrong idea, I'm taking care of her until she recovers from her injury." Kate paused for a moment, thinking of Giles' words. "She seems to have put her trust in me and while I have no designs on taking over her training as a Slayer, I know she needs some guidance in this area also. There is no one here who wants to know her."

"Oh. Well, I'll help where I can."

"Thank you. I know you might be somewhat reluctant considering what she has done to you and your friends."

"I've always believed she could be rehabilitated, but I'm afraid to say I was at a loss as to how. It seems jail has done her a great service."

"It has." She didn't give any more explanation.

They said their goodbyes and Kate hung up pondering the man's words. At least someone was prepared to take responsibility for Faith's wellbeing. She'd noticed that every time she mentioned Faith taking up slaying on a more regular basis, Faith shut down. Since she was released, Faith had been going out on an average three times a week looking for a good slay. Kate knew that the girl should take her duties more seriously, but without knowing much about Slayers there wasn't a lot she could do. Now armed with knowledge she could help Faith sort out her place in the world again, because Kate knew that the girl was destined to do more than work as a security guard.

**********************

Faith was asleep when Kate poked her head in the doorway the next morning. Creeping in, she deposited another bunch of flowers on the bed and sat down in the chair. She had spoken to the nurse and had been told Faith was requesting release. The doctor had told her not until at least tomorrow.

Linking her hands together she let her eyes roam over the body. She had to admit Faith looked healthy. Gone was the paleness and lifeless look that had been there the first day she was brought in.

"You smell good."

"What?" Kate asked as Faith opened her eyes and gave her a smile.

"Not like this shit hole. You smell real."

"Thank you...I think." Kate leaned forward. "What's this about wanting to be released?"

"I'm going crazy in here," Faith said seriously.

"Okay." Kate nodded. "If that's what you want, I'll take you home tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!"

"I don't even have my place ready for you. I'm sure one more day isn't going to kill you."

"Suppose not."

"What did the doctor say?"

"He thinks the I'm patient of the century the way I'm recovering. Of course, I can't tell him why. He's pretty cool, too. Isn't even in it to get an eyeful while examining me."

"Well that's, uh, good to know," Kate answered looking strangely at Faith.

"Not that these damn hospital gowns cover much anyway. Geez, if they have us wear next to nothing at least make it have more sex appeal than this."

"Faith, people are here to get well, not find potential lovers," Kate answered chuckling.

"So you're not into doctors or lawyers?"

"In my profession you think I want to be with a lawyer," Kate said acting offended at such a suggestion.

"Good point."

"As for doctors, well it's never been a turn on in itself." Kate stunned herself with her candidness.

"So what are Detective Lockley's turn ons?" Faith asked with a wink.

"No way, Faith. My mouth is staying closed." Kate wondered if Faith was asking for curiosity or because of her crush.

"Flowers. How long have those been there?" Faith happily picked them up and put her nose to them. "These smell good too."

"They're going cheap." Kate shrugged enjoying the effect the present was having on Faith.

"Liar."

"They were!" Kate laughed.

"Thank you," Faith said softly. She was so comfortable with Kate. It was the first time in her life she 'clicked' with someone other than the Mayor. "It's not too late to change your mind, you know."

"Change my mind? Faith," Kate gave her a curious smile, "I'm not going to change my mind."

"Even when you find out I'm not the best roommate."

"It's going to take a couple of days to get used to having another person in my home, but I'm sure we're gonna be fine."

"I'm messy."

"When you're well enough you can clean up."

"I take long showers," Faith grinned.

"Not if you want to be fed." Kate mockingly shook her finger.

"I--"

"Faith, it's only for a few weeks. You can have your own corner of my living room and all the chocolate milk you want."

"Ooh, chocolate milk. Don't torture me," Faith groaned.

"Tomorrow, then?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"I don't want to spoil the mood, but I have to go. There's a few things I need to do."

"Thought you said you weren't busy." Faith tried not to look disappointed.

"If you want to come home with nothing to sleep on or in, then I can stay all day."

"Fine." Faith reached out for Kate and hooked fingers around an arm. "Why are you being so nice to me?"

"We've been through this already," Kate sighed thinking back on how many times Faith had asked that in the last month. "This is not a burden for me. I would still be helping you even if the others were here."

"And I told you, you wouldn't."

"I'm not getting into this, Faith. I'm here and I have no intention of leaving you. So get used to it." She stood and smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Early tomorrow."

Kate nodded before they started arguing again and headed out.

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Message: 3 Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 23:11:49 +1000 From: Eos Subject: Fic: Merely Mortal 3/11

CHAPTER THREE

Taking a deep breath, Kate took her keys out of the ignition in the hospital parking lot. The morning sun was shining through the windshield. Though she had told Faith it would be no problem, she had her reservations. The girl wasn't the easiest person in the world to get along with even though they had been going all right so far. She hoped she was prepared for Faith's moods.

The day before she had packed and moved what little Faith had into her apartment. In the month Faith had been out of jail all she had collected was three boxes worth of possessions. Faith's car was still at the docks where she had parked it at the start of her shift on Thursday. That had been her next job. For the contract of killing Angel, Wolfram & Hart had paid Faith half up front, and she had put the money to good use in buying the car. The convertible was old but still in good condition, making Faith joke she slept with the salesman to get a good deal. Kate had started to chew her out about it before Faith had told her she was kidding.

The rest of the day had been spent cleaning her apartment. Though she wasn't a neat freak, she kept her home in a reasonable condition. She imagined all that would change in a couple of days.

Giles had phoned in the early evening. They had spent a couple of hours talking about the Council and both Buffy and Faith's positions with them. Having recently been reinstated, Giles offered to find out the Council's position on Faith now that she had been released from jail. At the end Kate again thanked him and looked forward to further conversations with him.

Walking up the corridor she took another deep breath. When she walked into the room the doctor was talking to Faith.

"Detective Lockley." Doctor Singh held out his hand and they shook. "I'm told you are going to be looking after our stubborn patient here."

"That would be right." Kate glanced at said patient dressed sitting in the bedside chair.

Faith gave her a wink before Dr Singh started explaining the medication Faith had to take and how to deal with stitches breaking. It all seemed straight forward. There was to be plenty of rest and strictly no working until he cleared her.

"Thank you, Dr," Kate said as they were getting ready to leave.

"What's that?" Faith asked pointing to a wheelchair.

"No matter how well you're healing, you are in no condition to walk out this hospital," the doctor explained firmly.

"No way, I'm not getting in that thing."

"Yes you are or you're not leaving," Kate declared hoping Faith would leave it at that.

"But--" Faith groaned then sighed exaggeratedly.

She hid her head in her hand as Kate wheeled her out of the hospital. At least the blonde was being gentle.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Faith asked once she was settled next to Kate in the passenger seat.

"I've asked for time off." Avoiding Faith's eyes, she backed out of the space.

"Kate! Shit."

"I haven't had any time off since, well it seems like forever. The Lieutenant was actually pleased with my decision. He said take as much time as I need."

"You didn't have to--"

"I wanted to, okay. We're not talking about that anymore."

Faith nodded but wasn't satisfied with the decision. The last thing she wanted was for the cop to rearrange her life. All because she couldn't control her body.

"Are you going to follow the doctor's orders?" Kate asked after Faith fell silent.

"You going to cuff me to the bed if I say no?" The comment was flippant but Kate turned and stared at her for a second before returning her eyes to the road.

"No. You're my houseguest, not a prisoner. I just don't want to find you in a ditch because you bled to death after trying to fight while injured."

"Let's put it this way. I'm not going out there when I know I can't win a fight."

"There's nothing I can do about it, is there?" Kate said resigned.

"No. When I think I'm fit, I'm going back out there again, doctors orders or not."

"I know you take your duty seriously, but Faith...." Kate sighed unable to finish the thought.

"I'm not going to change, Kate. This is how I am."

"Even if you're aiming for a young death."

"All Slayers die young. It's in-built."

Kate shuddered at the words, yet she knew what Faith said was true. Her talk with Giles had already uncovered information about other Slayers and their cruelly short lives. It wasn't something she wanted to think about.

"It doesn't mean to say you can't control your life."

"I know that, but I was built for slaying and I'm going to do it until I die."

'That's what I'm afraid of,' Kate said to herself.

**********************

Kate put Faith's bag down on the foldout sofa she had moved out of Faith's apartment and into hers. It was all set up ready for the patient.

"I'm fine," Faith said through her teeth when Kate reached out to steady her. She had insisted on walking up to the apartment and didn't want to admit how out of breath she was.

"No, you're not," Kate replied with a hint of amusement.

She helped Faith over to the bed and watched carefully as she got in. The Slayer was still dressed in sweats, the only clothes Kate could find that were suitable.

"Happy now?" Faith asked feeling the softness of the sheets. They smelled like Kate too.

"Yeah." Kate smiled. "How does a chocolate milk sound?"

"Wicked cool."

When Kate disappeared from sight, Faith surveyed her surroundings. Next to her bed was her stereo and TV, both of which were not plugged in. What clothes she owned were folded neatly on a chair, even the ones she knew had been dirty. Kate had cleaned one of her tables and set it up with a clock and lamp next to the bed. Everything had been thought of. Even her keys were laying on the table, minus her old apartment key.

"Here you go," Kate said handing Faith a glass and a plate of toast.

"Did you know hospital food is almost as bad as prison food?" Faith asked before taking a huge bite.

"Marcus phoned me last night." Kate settled in a chair next to the bed.

"And?" Faith asked with a mouthful of food.

"He said you asked when you could return to work when he visited you yesterday. I told him not to listen to you."

"Why does that not surprise me? I know you're trying to do the caring thing, but you're not my mother."

"Thank goodness," Kate muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Faith asked putting her toast down and crossing her arms.

"Your mother was a horrible person. I sure hope I'm nothing like her."

"You've done more for me in a month than the bitch did in the sixteen years she knew me," Faith said as she avoided looking at Kate.

"While you're staying here there is one rule only. No fighting until I say so."

"Can't it be, in bed by twelve?" Faith quibbled.

"You love to argue, don't you?" Kate smiled, confident Faith was slowly giving in to her.

"So do you, Detective." Faith picked up her toast and started eating again. "And don't think you've won this round."

"I know I have no say in what you do, Faith, but I would hope you would respect my wishes while I'm looking after you."

"Playing the guilt card, that's low."

"Is it working?" Kate raised an eyebrow slightly with amusement.

"Maybe...maybe not." Faith returned her stare with an eyebrow raise of her own. Only hers was smugger.

"I'm a cop, I know a lot about guilt trips." Kate grinned and watched as Faith's eyes flickered away to her plate. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that kind of---"

"It's five by five, you know...I have myself to torture with my own brand of guilt tripping," Faith croaked.

"How does that milk taste, huh?" Kate sat down on the bed and linked her fingers nervously.

"You don't have to do that, you know."

"Give you milk?"

"Change subjects whenever my past comes up."

"I just don't want you dwelling on it."

"I can't escape it. Stop trying to make me feel better."

"You should be moving forward. I know you don't want to forget what happened, but you can't change it. You can--"

"Don't shrink me, Detective." Faith angrily put her plate on the table. "I've been through all this with the prison shrink."

"And it helped."

"Yeah, but I wasn't staying in her home."

"You have to talk to someone, you've been through a life threatening situation," Kate said gently.

"I've been there before."

"And what happened last time. You went out of control."

"That's not gonna happen again," Faith stressed hating the fact that Kate knew so much of her dark past.

"If you don't want to talk to me, how about Giles," Kate suggested carefully.

"What's he got to do with anything?"

"He was your Watcher and I know you trusted him at one stage."

"Trusted, Kate. In the end he was just like everyone else. Besides he works for the Council again and I don't want them anywhere near me."

"I think clearing up your position with the Council might be a good idea. Giles can help you do that."

"What do you know about the Council?" Faith studied Kate. "You've been talking to him, haven't you?"

"Yes," Kate stated simply.

"At least you're not gonna lie about it," Faith shook her head giving a disbelieving smile. "So what secrets has he told you?"

"He hasn't. We talked about the Council and of course Slayers. Both of you. He seems to really want you to get back on track. Slaying wise. And I like him."

"You like him?" Faith asked frowning.

Knowing how Faith's mind worked, Kate laughed, "Not like that. I've never met him. But from our conversations, he hasn't said one bad word about you."

"Giles was always the diplomat."

"I think you should at least listen to what he has to say about the Council. You don't know if they intend to kill you. Giles said he and Buffy worked without the Council for nearly a year and a half, maybe they will leave you alone if they believe you are doing fine."

"Getting shot is not doing fine." Faith gave a short laugh.

"How many times do I have to tell you, it wasn't your fault." Kate tried not to let her frustration come through, but she knew Faith was picking up her mood. "I intend to keep talking to Giles until I'm sure the Council is not going to assassinate you. It is up to you if you want to talk to him, but I'm sure he would be glad to hear how you are."

"Whatever," Faith shrugged.

She drained the last of her milk and settled under the covers. Kate was still sitting on the bed, but after a couple of minutes, she heard a soft sigh and the pressure taken off the mattress. A short time later she was fast asleep.

Kate watched the sheets gently rise and fall with Faith's breathing. It was going to be hard, she knew that, but Faith was worth it. She thought back to Buffy's words. 'Everyone has either betrayed her or died.' She wasn't going to be like that. Once again she wished Angel was willing to help her out, but despite continued efforts she hadn't spoken to him since that night she had released him to chase down Darla. If she was going to get that handbook, her best bet was Wesley.

**********************

When Faith woke it was early afternoon. The apartment was still. She looked around and found a piece of paper folded on the bedside table.

'Had to go out shopping. Be back around 2.'

It was the first time Faith had been alone in the apartment. She sat up and tried to get her bearings, but her head had other ideas. Flopping back down she waited a few moments before trying again. Kate must have put something in that milk. She was right to do it too. There was no way she was going to willingly take any shit the doctor was giving out. It made her feel weak and not just physically.

Carefully she pulled herself up and swung her legs over the bed. Success. Kate's apartment was so different to her old one. For one, there was carpet. Her feet touched the ground and she slid off the bed. It took another couple of moments to stand up straight. Slowly she walked over to the shelves that held Kate's personal mementos. Her father. She picked up the photo for a moment studying it. The blonde had never talked about it, but Angel had filled her in. She put it back and headed for Kate's bedroom, the only room in the apartment she hadn't been in.

Faith didn't intend to snoop around, she only wanted to see how the blonde lived. Good was the word. A double bed drew her attention immediately. Neatly made as well, she noted. Without really thinking about it Faith stretched out on the bed. It also smelled like the blonde. Too bad this was the only time she would ever be on this bed. She took the time to look around. Like the living room, this room was nicely decorated with Kate's personal touch. A small bookcase below the window caught her eye.

The Detective was a bookworm, she knew. There were books in here and the living room on a range of subjects. Not surprisingly many were about law and crime, but some were novels including a couple of names even Faith knew: Shakespeare and Dickens. However, on the bottom shelf there was what looked like photo albums. Faith pulled a couple out. Old high school yearbooks from Kate's last two years. Faith put them back and pulled out a leather bound book. Bingo. She turned the pages over finding baby photos. Before she could have a good look at them she heard the front door opening.

"Faith?" Kate dropped her keys on the table by the door before moving her shopping bags into the kitchen.

"Here," Faith called from the bathroom. She made a motion of rubbing her hands together before taking a few steps into the middle of the living room.

"Have a good sleep?" Kate asked watching as Faith made her way back to bed.

"Yeah."

Kate nodded with satisfaction that Faith was okay. She moved back to the kitchen to unload her shopping. When she was sure Faith wasn't looking, she hid a heavy book. It had taken a lot of staring for Wesley to finally hand over the Slayer Handbook, but Kate convinced him that if he wasn't going to bother with Faith then she had a right to it. Yep, she knew how to guilt trip. However, it was Cordelia that finally persuaded him to turn it over when she declared they had no intention of seeing Faith again. Kate was fine with that. Faith didn't need people like that in her life. It would only hold her back. Besides it was Wesley's handling of Faith in the first place that was one of the reasons for Faith's defection in Sunnydale. She didn't want him involved in Faith's training, not even if he had volunteered.

"Kate, can you come here?"

"You called?" She came and stood in the archway with crossed arms.

"I was thinking 'bout what you said earlier, you know…about talking…"

"Yeah," Kate's tone softened and she uncrossed her arms.

"B said I could trust you."

"You can."

"Want to hear a story?" Faith smiled nervously. So far Kate had listened to all she had to say, but this was different.

"First can I make us some lunch?"

"Does it include non-poisoned chocolate milk?"

"Your last one wasn't poisoned. In fact quite the opposite." Kate smiled to herself.

"Okay so maybe poisoned is too strong a word, spiked then."

"I want you awake, so no it won't be spiked."

"I don't miss much, Kate. You should know that by now."

"Ditto, my friend," Kate chuckled and headed back to the kitchen.

Faith stared at her for a moment. My friend? That was extremely friendly for Kate's standards. Making herself comfortable in the bed, she didn't have to wait long until the blonde came back with a couple of hot chicken rolls and milk.

"I thought you were going to MAKE lunch?"

"I cheated." Kate pulled over a lounge chair and leaned back ready to listen.

"You know I did good in jail right?"

"Yeah." Kate smiled before taking a drink. "Early parole."

"And I've never mentioned why." Faith fiddled with a piece of roll before popping it in her mouth.

"You keep avoiding it," Kate answered lightly. "But that's okay. Sometimes it's better to leave what goes on in there, in there."

"I met someone."

"Someone?" Kate asked confused.

"A friend." Faith clarified not wanting Kate to think it was that kind of relationship. "She was in for life."

"What did she do?" Kate asked conversationally.

"Killed three men trying to rape a young girl. Young girl got away fine, she gets life. How does that work?"

"Excessive force. No matter what someone else is doing you can't kill--"

"I know." Faith waved her hand around. "It's just so fucked up, though. Anyways she was like this person you're told to stay away from."

"So you didn't," Kate smiled.

"Of course not," Faith scoffed. "There were rumours she killed a couple of guards. Never found out if that was true."

"You don't ask."

"Exactly." Faith was pleased Kate understood where she was going. Buffy didn't and she had only half explained what went on inside because of it. "Anyways, I remember the first time I saw her. She was in the exercise yard sitting alone. I can't explain it, but I had to go over even though I had ten inmates screaming at me not to. When I got there I came out with some seductive line about not being alone or something. She completely ignored me."

"You hit on her!"

"Not really. Borderline flirting." Kate nodded remembering Buffy's words about the subject. "I'd been in a month and was starting to feel cocky. Already I had a few groupies, not because I wanted them, but they sensed that I could hold my own and then some. So I introduced myself. Again she ignored me. Just as I was about to walk away she said, 'heard about you.' I stopped and waited. And waited. Then she said 'where did you learn to fight?' I answered on the streets and she didn't say a word so I finally walked away wicked confused. When I got back to the groupies they couldn't believe I had spoken to her and not been jumped on."

"Attacked?" Kate asked to clear it up.

"Yeah attacked. The last thing on my mind was sex." Faith stopped to eat the rest of her roll before it went cold. "The following day she sat down next to me at lunch. You should have seen the others scamper from the table. We had a general conversation about the food and other such things in jail. Then she started talking about fighting and we ended up spending the rest of lunch talking about different techniques and strategies. Of course, you know I had no strategy, but over time she taught me when to use what."

"But you learned more than that?" Kate asked finishing the last of her lunch.

"We started spending a lot of time together. Mainly talking about fighting, but sometimes about what got us in jail. She believed I could change and go back to fighting for good."

"Sounds like she was a smart woman."

"She was. She liked to read about things I knew nothing about. Philosophy, like Plato and shit. I tried once, but I couldn't make much sense of it. Her nickname was Frankenstein. Did you know Frankenstein was the doctor, not the creature?"

"Yes, I've read the book. Why?"

"Because her rep was built on crazy but deadly things. Like she supposedly once made one of the girls crawl on broken glass just because they accidently ran into her during a basketball game. And there was this other story about her driving some bitch so crazy she killed herself. Me, I think she just lived on her rep. Maybe she did a couple of things, but not everything that was said of her."

"That was partly what drew you to her." It wasn't a question.

"At first. But then we started talking. She knew she would never get out, but I could and I had a chance to change. So I started seeing the shrink. Frankie didn't really like that. She thought they messed with your mind. But I always used to talk to her afterwards about what went on."

"So you got two perspectives," Kate said mostly to herself. "You could come to your own conclusions."

"It opened my eyes. I know I'm not the smartest cookie, but things that seemed so complex before became simple. Like the reasons why I enjoyed being destructive and using my powers for wrong."

"Did anyone know you were a Slayer?"

"No. Everyone just thought I had some wicked fighting skills. And Frankie taught me that fighting is about using your head as well. That's what B does, but I never appreciated it until then."

"Have you told her about this?"

"I tried, but I don't think she really understood, like you do. She was pleased the shrink helped me. Just before I got out I made Frankie a promise I would try my best. So here I am."

"Thank you for sharing." Kate gave her a wide smile, inside proud Faith was learning to trust her more. "I'm glad you had someone there for you inside."

"Your turn." Faith gave her own smile.

"I'm afraid I don't have any jail stories to tell."

"Come on." Faith reached over and gave Kate a poke in the shoulder.

"I want to help you."

"Help me?" Faith asked suspiciously.

"To become a better Slayer. Oh god, that sounds so corny," Kate chuckled. "I want to help you where Watchers are supposed to help."

"Watchers are supposed to know what books to look up to find the info on demons."

"I'm sure I could do that. Research is a big part of being a cop."

"I can't let you, Kate." Faith shook her head violently.

"Why not?" Kate asked disappointed.

"Because Watchers have a tendency to become demon bait. Every Watcher I've known has."

"Most Watchers don't have police academy training," Kate answered. She had to get Faith past this fear of having people die on her.

"No way. Look what happened last Thursday. It could have easily been you lying in this bed."

"I'm not letting you out there to slay without some backup," Kate said firmly and reached out for Faith's hand. She didn't connect with it.

"If I die, I die, but there's no sense in getting anyone else killed at the same time." Faith turned her head away trying to hold back the tears.

Kate looked at the stiff body for a few moments longer before nodding slightly and started clearing up their lunch dishes. Someone had died on Faith, probably a Watcher. That was obvious. What wasn't however, was how she could get Faith to accept that it didn't happen in every case. Giles was still alive, so was Wesley.

When she returned the girl was asleep or at least pretending to be. She moved into her bedroom with the handbook and flopped on her bed.

The next couple of hours were spent pouring over the guidelines set out by the Watchers Council. Occasionally she stopped to jot down notes. It didn't take long to understand that neither Buffy nor Faith had ever followed these guidelines. For one Buffy had a social life. She could see why this strict set of rules was laid down for the Slayers, but they seemed outdated. Nevertheless it did give her a good foundation on the Council. Except an explanation of their motives for trying to kill BOTH Slayers nearly a year ago. Killing one that was out of control made some sense, but trying to kill the other at the same time? That was unfathomable. As far as she could tell, Buffy was one of the best Slayers the world had seen.

"Kate."

"Yeah?" Kate put her pen down and headed out to the living room. Faith was trying to sit up.

"Water."

"Coming up," Kate smiled and moved into the kitchen. When she returned to Faith's side, the brunette had accomplished her task.

"Thanks." Faith took the glass and gulped it down in one go.

"How's the patient doing?"

"Just dandy, Dr Lockley."

"Okay," Kate chuckled.

"Do you mind if I call Marcus?"

"Of course not." Kate smiled and brought the phone over to Faith. She placed it down on the table, picked up the receiver and dialled the number. "Say hello for me."

"Will do." Faith took the phone out of Kate's hand and waited until the secretary put her through to her boss.

Kate moved out of the room and tidied up where she had been reading. She could hear Faith laughing and smiled to herself. Putting Faith onto Marcus was one of the best things that could have happened. While Marcus had a record, it was for things that happened years ago. Since then he had married, had a kid and bought a good house. Just the kind of thing Faith needed to see to convince her that she also could be successful after a stint inside.

Quietly she moved into the kitchen and started preparing her famous pasta dish. In the background she could still hear Faith talking and laughing.

"Looks good," Faith commented walking in and taking a seat at the kitchen table a while later.

"What has Marcus got to say?" Kate asked chopping an onion.

"He says to take as long as I need before I go back to work. He thinks it's a good idea to wait." Faith waited for an answer but instead she saw a nod of Kate's head. "He says insurance is going to pay for most of the medical costs."

"If you need any help paying for the rest…."

"I've still got a bit of money left over from a certain contract," Faith answered softly.

"'Kay."

"Thanks…for the offer though," she said awkwardly. "JD wants to see me again."

"Maybe I should invite them over for dinner tomorrow?" Kate asked hopefully. It had been a long time since she'd been to a dinner party.

"Wicked cool!" Faith felt like jumping up and hugging the woman, but restrained herself. "I'll have JD bring his PlayStation."

Kate gave an amused sigh, "That's why you spend so time much over there."

"So that's a yes, right?"

"While you're here you are allowed to have people over. Except for demons and vampires. All vampires."

"Got ya."

They settled into a comfortable silence before Kate laid down a couple of plates full of pasta goodness.

"With cooking like this I can't believe you're single," Faith said taking in the smell of dinner.

Kate only nodded trying not to frown. This crush of Faith's was confusing her. The serial flirter that Buffy talked about rarely showed itself in her presence, yet the girl was supposed to be attracted to her. She shook her head at her thoughts.

"You are single, right? I mean there's no secret husband stashed away somewhere?" Faith asked taking a mouthful of the meal. Delicious as always.

"No," Kate laughed. "Haven't even been engaged."

"But have you been asked?" Faith waved her fork, smiling.

"Once…When I was six."

"Ah, smart boy. He knew you were going to grow up into this sexy, sassy, wicked cool woman."

Sexy? Sassy? Now that was more like the Faith Buffy knew. She hadn't really paid much attention to Faith's comments before Buffy told her of the crush. Kate raised an eyebrow. "Too bad I turned him down then, huh?"

"You were only six. You probably didn't know what you even wanted in a man," Faith said trying to steer the conversation.

"Other than being clean and not having boy germs."

"You know you could have avoided them altogether."

"Yeah?" Kate asked taking a sip of wine.

"Of course," Faith said giving her a smirk. "Stick to your own kind."

"Where would be the fun in that?" Kate asked treading carefully. It was the first sign that Faith actually liked women other than flirting with them.

"There's a lot of fun to be had," Faith responded still smirking, but her hopes falling. "Love what you did with the tomato sauce." She started eating at a rapid pace.

"What…oh thanks." Kate turned her eyes down to her food wondering what had caused Faith to change the subject.

**********************

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Message: 4 Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 23:12:7 +1000 From: Eos Subject: Fic: Merely Mortal 4/11

PART FOUR **********************

They finished dinner and Faith went back to bed while Kate cleared the dishes.

"Buffy?" Faith asked once she dialled the number.

"Faith, how are you?"

"Five by five," Faith answered shrugging. Then in a lower voice, "She's not gay."

"Oh, Faith. Did she say that, exactly that?" Buffy sounded sincerely sympathetic.

"Not in so many words. But it was made clear."

"Well, you're not gay either."

"No," Faith answered unaware her voice was loud enough for Kate to overhear, "but at least I've slept with a woman."

"Did you tell her about how you felt?"

"No way, how could I after what she said?"

"Maybe you should talk to Willow about this, after all she's more qualified in this area."

"I'm not talking to her, B. She'll probably laugh in my face. Besides, I can handle this myself."

"Maybe there's still a chance. I mean, some women don't find out until their forties that they feel…that way."

"I'm a fool."

"No you're not." Faith heard Buffy sigh.

"I shouldn't have thought I had a shot, this is Kate Lockley, not some woman in a bar. But…" Kate leaned in the doorway unseen by Faith. What had made Faith change her mind about her?

"You at least had hope."

"Something like that."

"But is it a definite no, Faith? I just don't think you can dismiss this without knowing exactly how Kate feels. She may not have even thought about being with a woman until now. Look at Willow. Until she met Tara, she thought she was straight…at least I think so. When you mentioned it, did you get the impression she's repulsed by the thought?"

"No."

"Then, don't rule anything out until you know for sure."

"Why are you pushing this?"

"Well…"

"B, come on."

"You looked so happy when she came to the hospital. As much as I am not ready to be friends with you, I would like to see you happy. I know you've changed."

"I'm no good with this stuff."

"Relationships or romance?"

"Both."

"Don't turn to me for that kind of advice," Buffy laughed softly.

"You know I am sorry for that."

"You didn't break us up," Buffy repeated her words from a couple of days beforehand.

"He was all wrong for you, anyways. You like 'em with a bit a bad in them."

"Faith!"

"It's true, and the bad ones seem to keep falling for you. Too bad I'm good now."

"Faith!"

"We could have, you know." Kate frowned at the words. Faith had feelings for Buffy?

"Yeah, except I'm straight."

"And we come back to my problem. I never used to have trouble finding…" Faith trailed off realising it was too silent in the apartment. She lowered her voice again and continued, "Finding someone with the same interests."

"That's because all you were interested in was sex."

"True."

"I can't really say anything except give it time. Things don't always change overnight."

"Yeah, five by five," Faith breathed out defeated. Nothing was five by five at all.

"Faith, really, don't give up. And if it doesn't work out at least you have a great friend."

"Thanks B."

Faith heard Buffy say goodbye but she was already listening for Kate's movements. She picked up the sound of cutlery being rattled. Quietly she made her way into the kitchen and watched Kate for a couple of moments before making her presence known.

"Need any help?"

"No. I heard your voice, were you on the phone?"

"Yes," Faith answered. 'And you know it, Kate.' Aloud she said, "B wanted to know how I was."

"Are you okay? With talking to her?" Kate asked putting the last of the dishes away and turning to face the girl. Faith's voice didn't have its usual energy.

"Yeah. I'm just tired, I guess."

"Go sit on the sofa, I'll bring you dessert."

"You didn't say anything about dessert."

Faith immediately perked up again. Kate motioned her out and a couple of minutes later returned holding two bowls of icecream.

"How are things between you two?" Kate asked sitting down and letting Faith take a bowl from her hands.

"What did you hear?"

"What?" Kate asked not looking Faith's way.

"You know what."

"Buffy is attracted to bad boys?" Kate asked still not looking. "Or is that girls too?"

"No," Faith laughed relieved. "Guys only. Although I keep telling her they treat her badly."

"Guys in general or the bad ones?"

"All guys," Faith smiled. "They're all in it for one thing only."

"Every single one of them?" Kate asked with a small smile.

"Have you ever dated a guy you haven't slept with?" Faith raised her eyebrow and smirked.

"As a matter of fact I have. And no, we didn't break up when I wouldn't put out. It just never evolved that far. Not to mention a couple of unconsummated relationships in school."

"With women, you know you're not just a warm place to put a cock."

"Faith, that's disgusting! And not all men are like that." Kate shook her head and wondered how the girl could have such a prejudiced attitude.

"Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the occasional boink with a man."

"But?" Kate asked knowing Faith wasn't about to divulge her secret crush.

"Long-term and me don't mix."

"Even if you found someone really special?" Kate asked, perplexed by her need for Faith to answer no.

"I'm not kidding myself here, Kate. First I have to find someone who likes me, then they have to be five by five with the fact I'm a Slayer, which in turn means they have to know about demons…See my problem?"

"I do, but you didn't answer my question." Kate gave her a small grin.

"If everything was cool, then maybe," Faith gave in, but no matter how she saw it there wasn't any way for her to do the 'grow old together' routine.

"How did we get talking about this anyway?" Kate chuckled.

"Talking about B's sexual preferences, which are in fact straight," Faith summed up keen to have Kate realise there was nothing going on there.

"Right." Kate nodded and went back to her icecream.

She looked around at Faith a few minutes later to find the girl asleep. She reached across and took the bowl from Faith's limp hands before giving the girl a shake.

"Faith."

"Mmm?" came the answering mumble.

"I hate to disturb you but I think you should take a shower and then go to bed." Faith opened her eyes and stretched her arms. A look of pain flashed over her face. "And have a couple more painkillers."

Faith sat up reaching for her stomach at the same time. Immediately she felt an arm around her helping her stand. Step by step they made it to the bathroom where Faith leaned against the doorframe.

"Thanks," she said softly still clutching her abdomen.

"You want any help in there?" Kate asked wondering how Faith was going to manage with the amount of pain she seemed to be in. She reminded herself she should give her the pain relievers more often.

"Uh, no," Faith replied while turning around. She started taking off her top but paused mid strip when she realised Kate was still behind her. "Maybe just a bit."

"Never be afraid to ask for my help, Faith," Kate intoned lightly while she took hold of the top and pulled it gently over Faith's head.

"It's hard, you know," Faith remarked once she turned around. "I haven't asked for anything in years." She conveniently forgot her plea to Angel nearly a year ago.

"I know." Kate smiled gently before getting a look at Faith's wound. It was covered, but the surrounding area didn't look too good. She dragged her gaze up past bra-encased breasts to Faith's anxious expression.

"It will heal." Faith looked down and back up at Kate.

They were silent for a moment before Faith reached for her sweat pants. Two hands batted hers away and slid them down to the floor. Kate hooked them over Faith's feet and looked back up at Faith again from her kneeling position.

"I don't mind helping you with the rest." There was a hint of amusement in Kate's voice.

"I've never been the prudish type," Faith laughed to cover her nervousness.

"No, I bet you haven't," Kate chuckled as she reached for the bikini pants.

She pulled them down in one movement concentrating her eyes on where they went, not where they had been. When they were off Kate stood careful not to look down.

"Turn around." Faith did as ordered. When the bra had been removed also, Kate started to run the water. "You want me to wash you as well?" she asked lightly although she was hoping Faith saw it for the joke it was.

"No," Faith answered sharply turning around.

"Okay…" Kate said before taking in the sight in front her. Involuntarily her eyes drifted down the full breasts capped with erect nipples and then they slid down to the small tuft of dark curls not hiding much. It only took a moment, but it was enough to burn the image into Kate's brain. Her eyes flickered back to Faith's and she nodded before turning and walking out.

Carefully stepping into the warm water, Faith smiled to herself. She knew when she was being checked out, and what happened moments before qualified. There might be hope yet.

Faith managed to dress herself, foregoing the underwear, and opened the bathroom door. Kate was on the sofa curled up with a book.

"Feel better?"

"Much."

"There's poisoned milk on the table."

"Thanks."

Faith made her way over and into bed without wincing once. After chugging down her milk she fluffed the pillows and settled down under the sheets. She was greeted with a front on view of Kate reading. The blonde seemed deeply engrossed in her material, leaving Faith free to study her. While she was in the shower, Kate had turned off most of the lights in the room illuminating only the space around where she was sitting. This gave Faith the advantage of being able to see Kate more clearly than she could see her.

"You don't mind do you?" Kate asked looking up and pointing to the light.

"Nah." Faith shook her head and smiled. "It is your home, after all."

Kate went back to her book and Faith back to memorising every movement that she made. She didn't know why Kate was so nice to her but it was a great excuse to see the blonde even more than normal. While she might hang around for the great cooking, it was also so she could see, hear and sometimes touch the blonde cop. This had gone way past trying to deny her attraction. This was something totally out of her league and she had no idea what to do about it.

**********************

When Kate put down her book an hour later, Faith was soundly asleep, the pills doing their job. She sighed in relief. It was still early so she went to her bedroom and picked up the phone to call Barbara about coming over the following evening.

"Katie, how is the Hellraiser doing?" Barbara asked chuckling.

"Raising hell…No seriously she is behaving better than expected." Kate settled down on her pillows making sure her voice was kept as low as possible. "I was calling to ask you and the boys over for dinner. That is if Josh is willing to bring his PlayStation for one aforementioned Hellraiser."

"I'm sure that can be arranged," Barbara chuckled again. "Although it will be the end of any conversation you can have with either of them for the night."

"If it keeps her mind off the accident, it will make us both happy."

"Still blaming herself?"

"Still?"

"She apologised to Marcus at least five times at the hospital. We kept telling her that money is nothing compared to her being alive. She seemed more worried about what would happen to the place she was guarding than her own wellbeing."

"She thinks she should have been able to stop it from happening," Kate explained. She was glad she called Barbara. It was nice to be able to talk to someone about this.

"As Marcus told her, she's not Superwoman."

"No she's not," Kate intoned, seeing the irony.

"I was relieved when I heard you would be looking after her. She trusts you more than she trusts anyone she knows."

"I know."

"The way she talks about you, you would swear you were a saint. But I know better," Barbara chuckled.

"How come I was the last to know that Faith looks up to me?" Kate asked more for herself than the kind woman on the other end. "Another friend of hers only pointed it out a couple days ago."

"You do know she's scared that one day you're going to wake up to the fact she is a criminal?"

"She's told you this?"

"Katie, that girl communicates more with her body language than opening her mouth."

"I forget you've done a degree in psychology," Kate chuckled. "Does Faith know that?"

"No, why?"

"Talking to a psychiatrist is one of the reasons for Faith's new outlook on life."

"And here I thought it was you."

"Can't take credit for that. I keep telling her I'm not going to leave."

"In her mind it doesn't make any difference what you say, it's what you do. I gather from what she's said there's not too many people who have kept their promises to her. It's going to take some time before she accepts your words and actions are going in the same direction."

"Barbara, has Faith talked about her love life?" Kate ventured.

"A little." There was silence on both ends for a moment. "Now this is getting interesting. Do you know something I don't?"

"I was just curious as to what she has told you because I'm not aware of her even dating since she's been out."

"Actually she said that she had her eye on someone."

"Really?"

"She had the funniest smile on her face when she said it. But she said they were out of reach and she wasn't going to pursue it. A week after that she told me she'd slept with some guy she met at a bar. I'm fairly sure she said it just to see my reaction."

"Did she give any indication of who this special someone was?" Kate asked re-evaluating everything she knew about Faith's crush on her. Every piece of information created more confusion.

"No, but I got the feeling it was someone who would never accept her past."

"Thanks, Barbara," Kate said muffling a sigh.

"Is everything okay?" The woman asked worriedly.

"I'm just trying to work out how best to help Faith through this."

"She has you looking after her, that's all Faith wants. That girl adores you, Katie. For all that protected exterior, Faith has a great capacity to care. She just thinks that's a weakness, not unlike a certain cop."

"Gee, thanks," Kate remarked uncomfortably.

"How does seven sound for tomorrow?"

They made further arrangements and Kate hung up the phone slowly. That certainly didn't go as expected. Either Buffy was mistaken or Faith had no inclination to have a relationship with her. She didn't think it was the former, for she'd seen and heard too many things over the last few days to not believe Faith was attracted to her. When Buffy had said crush, immediately she thought it was a case of Faith mixing her feelings up with her gratitude towards her. But Faith was way past having an innocent schoolgirl crush. She'd been around and probably experienced things even Kate hadn't. In some way she felt a little jealous about the anonymous man Faith had been with. Faith had gone to someone else rather than explore the possibility of being with her. What was holding the normally sexually aggressive girl back? Kate shook her head and left those thoughts alone. Her main goal was getting Faith well, not figuring out her love life.

**********************

After opening her eyes for the first time the next morning Faith noticed Kate was in exactly the same place as the previous evening. Although the clothes she had on were more casual than the day before. She could get used to seeing the blonde showing off a bit more skin than usual.

"Whatcha reading?"

"Slayer Handbook." Kate looked up smiling nervously.

"Sounds old and expensive." Faith sat up and watched Kate make her way over to the bed.

"You do know what I'm talking about?"

"Yeah, something about how the Council controls Slayers. My first Watcher thought it demeaning and Giles never used it. I'm sure Wesley would have followed it to the letter."

"It's not only about that, although I'm sure it is part of it. It's very educational as well. Don't worry, I'm only reading it for research."

"You know," Faith gave her a smirk, "I would swear you are waiting for me to make a stink about it."

"It's not your favourite subject," Kate said sitting down on the bed and laying the book between them. "I needed to know about Slayers. Giles recommended this."

"So what does it tell you?" Faith asked running her fingers over the hard surface of the cover.

"The Council only know half the story."

"What's the other half?"

"Slayers are human. They feel, they think and most importantly they can love." Kate let the word hang in the air, but there was no reaction from Faith. "The kind of Slayer the Council wants is not what you are, it's not what Buffy is either. It's no wonder they lost control of you both. Their methods might have worked in the past, but in this day and age they have no idea how to make it work."

"You don't agree I should live like a nun unless I'm slaying vamps?"

"Faith, you are far from a nun." Kate laughed and was pleased when Faith joined in. "You were a human for years before you were a Slayer, how could anyone ignore that? You've just got out of jail and I think you should try and find your place in this world as a human being. I'm not suggesting you stop slaying, just that there are other important things in your life as well."

"Like you," Faith said softly.

"And your other friends," Kate noted trying to recover from the unexpected words. "Speaking of which, your PlayStation buddy is arriving at seven."

"Kate?" Faith asked apprehensively. "I don't think I ever thanked you for saving my life. So thanks. I'm sorry I don't have anything to give you as repayment."

"You being alive is more than enough." Kate leaned over and enfolded Faith in a warm hug. "You don't owe me anything, Faith. Remember that."

"Yeah, then one day you're gonna want to call in a favour."

Kate pulled back gently and shook her head. "I would never do that. We're both in the business of saving lives. You just happen to be more important than most of the people I've saved."

"So you don't normally open your home to injured people?" Faith smirked. "Just to convicted criminals."

"No, just to those who I care about." Kate laid her hand on Faith's in an action that had become familiar in the last few days. "You've paid for what you did, Faith. I don't hold that against you." Kate thought back to Barbara's words. "You've been judged for your crimes and I was part of that process, but that doesn't mean I can't forgive you for them."

"You can't forgive me, you weren't even there."

"Remember we talked about forgiveness once. Before the trial. I was trying to see why a Slayer was friendly with a vampire."

"Yeah, you'd said you'd try to forgive the hypocritical bastard. I guess that didn't work out."

"Not really." Kate looked down and sighed. "But this isn't about him. Faith…" Kate sighed loudly trying to come up with the right words. "The person who you are now is wiser, more experienced and above all capable of caring for others. The person who you were when I first met you is not there anymore. I don't care for the person who you were a year ago and I never will, but I do like the new and improved you. Unless you change back