To Remember You By

By Eos

(dewdrop@mochamail.com)

PAIRING: F/K

RATING: NC-17 (language, sex)

DISCLAIMER: Not my characters. They belong to someone who actually gets paid
for using them.

SPOILERS: As always Five By Five & Sanctuary plus general Buffy and Angel up
to these episodes.

SUMMARY: Faith is given one day of freedom in a deal made by Kate and
Cordelia.

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

Today Faith had another reason to want to do good. One heart stopping reason
to try and get early release from the locked room she was now in. And there
was nothing that was gonna change her mind about toeing the line to get to
that goal.

4 DAYS EARLIER

"So what do I owe this pleasure or pain?" Faith shifted in her seat and
chuckled, watching the two women seated across from her. The two women
looked at each other in distain. One blonde in her late twenties and one
brunette only a couple of years older than Faith herself. "Listen, though it
might look like it, I haven't got all day. Prison is about schedule and
surprise, I have to stick to it."

"You have to tell the Detective something," Cordelia said and started
appraising Faith's prison apparel. Couldn't they make it more fashionable or
something? God, they had to wear it for years maybe, it could be a little
lighter in colour.

Faith looked at her and laughed loudly. "Cordy, Cordy, Cordy. Have you gone
crazy? I don't owe YOU anything."

"Listen, you psycho," Cordelia started and lifted her finger to point at the
handcuffed prisoner.

"Ah, Cordelia," Kate Lockley butted in, "calling her a psycho, my guess, is
not going to help your cause." Faith looked over at her arresting officer.
She had already liked what she'd seen, but now found she was drawn to her.

"Yeah, whatever." Cordelia whipped her hands in the air dismissively.
"Anyway, Detective Lockley has the wrong idea about something important and
you are the only one who can clear it up."

"Why would I want to do that?" Faith shrugged. "What are you offering in
return?"

"I'm not making any deals with you," Cordelia huffed. "I thought you had
gone good."

"There's a limit to my goodness, and it doesn't really extend to you." Faith
smiled at Kate. She was surprised to find an amused look on the detective.
She raised her eyebrows subtly at her but Cordelia was speaking again and
she should actually listen.

"She's arrested Willow for hacking," Cordelia complained.

Faith laughed harder. "Red? She had that coming. How did that happen?"

"Willow came down to look at our computer and Kate happened to walk in on us
accessing the LAPD database," Cordelia said with dramatic gestures. "We were
only checking to see if a vampire was going to rise."

"While I got no beef with hackers in general, Red's little moonlighting hurt
someone I happened to be working for. Serves her right." Faith sat back
thoroughly enjoying Cordelia's anger. This had to be the most excitement
since a couple of months ago when Ice had thrown food at one of the guards
starting a food hall melee.

"Please," Cordelia scoffed, "like I care about your pain."

"Again, you're not helping." Kate smiled at Faith, not sure why she was
being friendly towards the murderer.

"So why do you need my help?" Faith turned to Kate. "And why the hell did
you agree to come down?"

"You are the only one independent of Willow that can vouch for her doing
good with her hacking," Cordelia explained exasperated.

"Cordelia." Faith leaned over and gave her a sneer. "I just told you I think
Willow's hacking is a bad thing."

"The detective here," Cordelia glared at said detective, "won't believe
anyone else. Besides Willow was trying to help us slay vampires, which is
what you used to do."

"So why should she believe me? I'm a confessed psycho. Right?" Faith said
trying to sound casual.

"Because you don't have a conflict of interest," Kate explained, "like about
ten other people who would dearly love their law breaking friend released.
So, I said I would listen to what you had to say."

"Red's in jail? Hope they don't find out about her Sapphic tendencies,"
Faith snickered.

"Sapphic what?" Cordelia asked, but Faith caught Kate smiling and nodded to
her, ignoring the brunette.

"Don't worry. I don't know, some butch might come along and show her a good
time." Faith turned back to Cordelia who still had a puzzled look on her
face.

"Whatever." Cordelia shook her head. "Are you going to help?"

"What's in it for me?" Faith leaned in closer and ran her tongue over her
lips.

"Helping out a friend?" Cordelia asked hopefully.

"Red is no friend of mine. No, I think we both hate each other equally.
Especially after she wanted in her own words…" Faith used air quotation
marks, "Things thrown at me."

"We all get like that sometimes," Cordelia tried to reason.

"Like right now," Faith smiled and winked at the cop. "No deal, no info.
Your choice."

"What do you want?" Cordelia sighed. She should have been able to stand up
to Faith, but here she was bowing down to her. Why didn't the Detective do
something?

"Get me out of here for 24 hours and I'll get your witch off." Faith thought
about her words. "Only not in a orgasm way."

Cordelia rolled her eyes and thought about trying to get Faith out of jail,
"Like I could do that."

"You couldn't get Willow off?" Faith asked intentionally misunderstanding
Cordelia. "I thought you would have at least experience in that area." Faith
smirked, watching Kate trying to hide a grin.

"Hey!" Cordelia protested standing up. "There is no way I'm going to be
responsible for getting you out. You'd run the first chance you got."

"Then why I am still here? You think I couldn't get out if I wanted to."
Faith stood up levelling her eyes at her enemy.

"True." Cordelia sat back down warily watching Faith.

"You think you could escape?" Kate challenged.

"Have a little faith," Faith joked, "I could get out of here anytime I
wanted."

"Bullshit," Kate said, wondering if it was true.

Faith smirked, "I don't think you'd want me to prove it. I'd bet a million
bucks if I had it, that I could." She turned to Cordelia. "Looks like
someone needs to tell HER," she pointed at Kate, "about more than Red's
goodness and light. Try starting with what the hell I am."

"She knows you're a slayer, who Willow is, Giles and everyone. God knows,
she won't even listen to Giles."

"Xander?" Faith smiled as Cordelia looked at her in disgust. "You know he
has that ex-vengeance demon as a girlfriend now."

"Like I care, he couldn't get any lower after you," Cordelia shot back.

"After you I was a step up." Faith smirked but in the direction of Kate.
"Besides seven minutes doesn't count as a relationship."

"We're not here to talk about ex-lovers." Kate cut in watching the two girls
glare at each other.

"What about holier-than-thou Slayer numero uno?" Faith asked trying to hide
her pain at even the mention of her.

"She's more untrustworthy than Willow Rosenberg." Kate noticed Faith's
reaction to Buffy's mention, which was interesting.

"I suppose burning down a school doesn't impress you?" Faith sat back down.

"No." Kate sat forward, even more interested in Faith's background. While
her contact with all these people had been enlightening, there was an air of
secrecy surrounding everything. On the other hand, Faith seemed so casual
about the state of things.

"So, you want MY help?" Faith looked back to a pouting Cordelia. "I really
have to ask, where we you and your friends when I needed help?"

"Hey, don't lump me with them. I was out of the picture much of the time,"
Cordelia said angrily.

"No, it's just that English guy you WORK with kidnapped me."

"I think you already proved your point with that," Cordelia said icily. Kate
had no idea what they were talking about, nor that Wesley had kidnapped her.

"Fine, so you going to deal or what?"

Cordelia turned to Kate. "Can it be done?"

"I could take her out under the guise of needing some help with a case, but
it won't be easy." Kate couldn't believe she was agreeing to this. Not only
did she want to charge the hacker, but also it was downright stupid to think
about releasing a convicted murderer for no good reason. Then she looked at
Faith and stuck to her choice.

"You do that. When the papers are signed I'll give you a glowing account
about how Willow has saved countless lives, helped defeat big scary demons,
blah, blah, blah." Faith looked at Kate with a wry smile on her face.

"Fine." Cordelia stood and walked to the door.

"No goodbye for an old friend?" Faith smirked as a flash of anger crossed
the brunette's face. "Check you later," she said as Kate followed.

"Later," Kate nodded to her and she left the room. She sat back with a
self-satisfying grin. Even if she weren't allowed out, it would all be worth
it just to see the detective again.

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

Two days later and she was back in the same room, watching the two women
across from her. She waited for one of them to start speaking, but there was
nothing coming. Faith turned her attention to the cop. "Are you going to
tell me what's going on or are we having a staring contest here?"

Kate reluctantly put some papers on the table. "Release forms, they need
your permission."

"My permission?" Faith laughed drawing the papers over. "Like everybody
isn't going to say 'hell yeah.'"

"Is it to safeguard against revenge attacks." Kate leaned forward on the
table with her elbows. "Your security is a consideration."

"That's too bad, the Council can't come and tell me they want a new Slayer."
Faith skimmed over the forms, not really paying much attention. "Pen?" Kate
handed her one and she signed. "So you want to take the statement now?"
Faith asked sliding the papers back across the table.

"Yes," Cordelia spoke for the first time. Faith thought she must have been
gagged before she came in because it was the only explanation for her
silence.

"Okay." Faith nodded to Kate who had brought out a tape recorder and pad.

"Pen please?" Kate looked up at her. Faith recognised that look, it was the
same one she had received when she was taking her confession.

"Right," Faith said throwing it over. Kate caught it cleanly. "Nice catch."

"Just get on with it." Cordelia again felt the odd one out although it
should be Faith, she thought sullenly.

"Where to start?" Faith tapped her chin in mock thought.

"Tell her about all the good things Willow's done," Cordelia barked unable
to keep herself under control.

"All of them?" Faith lazily smirked and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Just those relevant to the case," Kate cut in before the girls got into a
verbal fight.

"Right. Before I start let me say that I don't like Red." Faith smiled and
spilled on what she had seen Willow do in Sunnydale to save lives, help the
Slayers and generally make the world a better place.

"Thank you." Kate turned off the recorder and put her pen down.

"So when do I get out of here?" Faith leaned back in the chair and smiled at
the blonde.

"Hang on a minute." Cordelia looked to Kate. "Are you letting Willow go?"

"Based on what I've heard," Kate began and folded her arms across her chest,
"I will let her off with a warning."

"Yeah." Cordelia punched her fist in the air before realising two pairs of
eyes were looking at her. "When?"

"After we've finished here."

"I'm going to call the gang," said Cordelia racing for the door.

"Not even a thank you, Faith." Faith turned her head after watching the door
close. "Where's the respect?"

"Could be something to do with you trying to hurt her and her friends." Kate
looked straight into the dark eyes.

"Right," Faith intoned feeling rebuked. "So why did you even let Red go?"

"I feel Miss Rosenberg's talents could be used in this world." The dark eyes
were roaming the room, falling on everything but her. "Considering the
special circumstances, I thought it best to dismiss the charges."

"You know she's going to do it again." Faith stared out the window that
overlooked the perimeter of her prison.

"I'd rather that than someone getting killed by a demon." Faith's eyes
landed back on.

"So, you really letting me out or was this all one big let's bluff Faith
party?" Faith looked uncertain and turned back to the window.

"A day, that's what you asked for. I had to swing so it looks like you are
helping me with an investigation where you need to see the crime scene."
Kate pulled at a strand of hair in her way. "Not easy, but I do have a
couple of unsolveds that may be demon related and you might be able to help
me."

Faith continued staring out the window, but cracked a smile. "Why even
bother?"

"Bother?"

"You could leave me here and there's nothing I could do about it." Faith
swung her head around. "So what the fuck are you doing here, Detective?"

Kate raised her eyebrows. "You did something good knowing that you might not
get a reward, that itself deserves one."

"All part of the redemption, huh?" Faith smiled wryly at the blonde.

"Admit it, Faith, you feel better knowing you did a good deed." Kate
returned a small smile.

"Yeah, that's me, do-gooder of the year."

"I've arranged to pick you up at five. You never read the conditions on the
papers I gave you. So…" Kate pulled out another sheet of paper and handed it
to her.

"You're one step ahead of me here." Faith chuckled as she looked at the form
filled with rules of behaviour. Standard stuff really, things she already
knew from the process of getting here in the first place. "Oh," she moaned,
"cuffs 24/7?"

"Afraid so," Kate said seriously, "don't want you getting any ideas."

"Problem is, Detective," Faith looked straight into her eyes, "they're
useless on me, especially older ones. Break 'em if I work at it long
enough."

"Then don't try." Kate inwardly cringed.

"What I mean is I don't need them, I'm not running."

"You might change your mind after you experience freedom again." Kate took
the papers and put them back in her bag. "Be ready at five."

"Yeah, I've got so much to do before then. Shower, hair, make-up, oh and
choice of clothes. Always tough." Kate laughed quietly as she stood.

"Also think what you want to do."

"You doing all the chaperoning here?" Faith asked mentally crossing her
fingers.

"Yep," Kate sighed.

"Wicked cool." Faith nodded giving the detective another smile. This smiling
was becoming a habit, Faith thought to herself. I can't stop smiling at a
cop, I think I'm in trouble. "See ya round." Kate nodded and left to find
Cordelia and release one Wiccan hacker.

On the way back to the precinct as Cordelia babbled on about how all this
was a mistake, Kate's thoughts wondered to what she was in for with the dark
slayer. She must be crazy for doing this. Faith was a trained fighter and
she was no match for anything the girl might try. Her career would be over
if she lost a prisoner. Yet, she could sense that Faith was genuinely trying
to atone for her past and wanted this chance to show her that she could do
it.

"Detective?" Cordelia's insistent voice came through loud and clear.

"Huh?" Kate guided the car into the Precinct's parking.

"I said," Cordelia huffed, "that Angel's pleased at your change of mind."

"This isn't about him." Kate braked hard sliding into her parking spot. She
couldn't wait for this part of her day to be over so she could get on with
having a Slayer help solve a couple of cases for her. At least, that is what
she told herself she was doing by letting Faith out.

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

Faith was lead to the front gate by two guards. Kate watched her draw closer
noticing the guards were handling her more aggressively than was needed.

"Thank you." Kate took Faith's arm as they handed her over.

"Be careful with her, but not too careful if you know what I mean," one of
the guards laughed and the other joined in. Kate glared at them

"What are their names?" Kate asked Faith once the guards had disappeared
back into the prison.

"Doesn't matter," Faith sighed looking around at the outside world.

"Faith, guard brutality is not to be accepted." Kate tugged at Faith's arm
in an effort to get the girl to look at her.

"You report it, I'll only get it worse. Goes with the territory." Faith
shrugged and examined the car they were standing next to. It had a sunroof,
wicked cool.

"You don't deserve to be beaten," Kate sighed, resigned to leave it alone.

"Most people I know would be paying for front row seats. Under different
circumstances you might be doing the same."

"I don't consider what ifs." Kate opened the passenger seat and helped Faith
in. Climbing in the other side she said, "I'm armed and I won't hesitate to
shoot if you try to escape."

"Nice way to start off, Detective," Faith half-joked knowing Kate wasn't.
She got a grunt in return. Fine, Faith thought, she was stuck with a cop for
a day. Sitting in her cell she couldn't wait to get out of there, even when
she knew it would harder to go back after having a taste of freedom. The
lady seemed nice enough. Okay, more than nice. Anyone who would indulge her
in a field trip was insane, wanted something or actually liked her. Faith
looked at the profile of the blonde sitting next to her. She didn't think
the cop was crazy, but as to her other motives, she wasn't so sure.

Aware of being studied Kate turned for a brief look at the prisoner. "I
figured you might want a shower and a change of clothes. Then some actual
food that doesn't taste like shit."

"And I do all this with cuffs on. You gonna shower with me?" Faith leered,
her mood perking up. This might just turn out to be a good day after all.

"That's the only time they come off." Kate shook her head slightly. She was
going to have to watch what she said, didn't want the girl to get any ideas.

"Damn, I was hoping for some personal attention," Faith said sitting up
straight. "In fact maybe we could stop off somewhere where I might get an
offer for a good screw."

Kate laughed, she couldn't stop herself. "Faith, this is not all fun and
games. You are still a prisoner. Besides I'm not giving you any money."

"No, I didn't mean THAT." Faith chuckled. "I don't have to pay for that kind
of thing. It's them that normally begs me."

"You're so full of shit." Kate gave her a grin, enjoying herself.

"Please, I could even have you begging." Faith's voice went husky, "Oh
please Faith harder, oh yeah that's it. Oh Faith, Faith, I'm going to -"

"I don't beg." Kate successfully controlled the blush that threatened to
burn her face.

"Never?" Faith smiled, the wheels turning in her head. "I hear all blondes
beg."

"You heard wrong." Kate smiled, having steeled herself successfully.
"Whatever you do in the next 24 hours you do by yourself."

"You wouldn't have any toys I could use?" Faith wasn't about to let the
conversation drop. The detective was playing along, something B never did.
Oh god B, she hadn't thought of her since this morning, which was about the
longest she had gone without the blonde Slayer invading her dreams or
thoughts since being sentenced.

"I don't…" Kate looked over as Faith's face paled a little. She looked out
the window and mirrors to see if anything had caused this reaction. There
was nothing but suburban houses. "You okay?"

"Five by five," Faith mumbled leaning her head on the window watching the
outside world flash by her.

"I want to visit a couple of crime scenes tomorrow morning, other than that
I have nothing planned. I thought we could see a movie, go to the beach,
whatever," Kate said quietly, troubled by the girl's change in mood.

"Slay."

"Pardon?"

"I want to go slaying." Faith hadn't moved her head. "I'm in good shape and
I haven't had a good slay for a long time."

"No way." Kate shook her head.

"Just a couple," Faith spoke uncertainly.

"I'm not about to let you fight. No more arguments." Kate took another
glance at her.

"No sex, no fighting. Gee, this is going to be one dull day." Faith tried to
joke, but it didn't sound like one.

"You want to see someone? Go some place? I'm up for it, but it has to be
within reason." Kate saw a little nod. "So, are you going to share?"

"I guess it might be nice to see Angel." Faith tilted her head back against
the window focussing on the dashboard's indicators.

"Just Angel?" Faith nodded. "That isn't going to be easy. There are a few
people from Sunnydale in town."

"Maybe you still have a chance of getting front seats then. Ever seen two
Slayers go at it?" Faith closed her eyes for a brief moment.

The action not getting past Kate, she felt a pang of sympathy for the girl.
"No and I don't want to."

"If B's there she's not letting me get anywhere near Angel. Let's forget
it."

"Actually, I don't think she is with Angel." Kate thought back to when she
released Rosenberg. Cordelia had said something about Buffy going back to
Sunnydale immediately after and that the hacker and her friends could stay
overnight. "I think she went back."

"Does she know I'm out?" Faith's voice faltered.

"No, unless Cordelia has told anyone besides Angel." Kate really wanted to
question her on why she was afraid of Buffy, but now was not the time.

"You entrusted Cordelia, I'm dead," Faith groaned.

"No you're not." Faith rolled her eyes and went back to watching out the
window. "You are under my care, Faith, I'm not letting anything happen to
you." Faith bit back a reply, not wanting to offend Kate. "Buffy should be
satisfied with you in jail."

"I suppose." Faith thought back to the last day she was free. 'No chance,
jail,' Buffy's words rang in her head. Maybe the other slayer was satisfied,
but Faith knew B had been gunning for her in a big way. She just never had
the chance to finish it.

Kate decided to leave the slayer alone for a while. The girl had a lot of
issues to deal with.

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

"Your place?" Faith examined the apartment they had entered.

"Yes. There are some clothes in the bathroom." Faith nodded and started
walking to the bathroom.

"Uh, a little help here." She turned back holding her hands out in front of
her.

"Right." Kate took out the key from her jacket pocket. She led Faith into
the bathroom and unlocked the cuffs. "Don't -"

"You don't have to remind me." Faith stretched her arms. "I'm not gonna run.
Besides I get to shower alone for first time in months, can't pass that up."

"I'll be right outside." Kate watched Faith for any sign of bolting. When
she was satisfied, she closed the door, eyeing it before she crossed to the
phone. God, she thought her heart beating fast, I've gone off my rocker. She
heard the water turn on and let out a heavy breath. Maybe she wasn't going
to ruin her career. After ordering a pizza and setting out a couple of
plates she returned to the door. The water was still going and she could
swear she heard singing.

The doorbell rang before the water had turned off. Reluctantly she got up
and brought the pizza inside. As she passed the bathroom door to the
kitchen, she gave it a couple of knocks. Putting down the box, she opened it
to smell the aroma. Delicious. The pipes cranking as the water turned off
interrupted her musings. She waited a couple of minutes then the door
opened.

"Don't tell me you've been there all this time." Faith poked her head out.
She sniffed the air. "What is that smell?"

"Pizza." Kate pushed the door all the way open.

"You do have my number, Detective," she chuckled. Seeing Kate subtly look
her up and down, she gave her a wide smile. "The clothes fit, thanks."

"Good." Kate stopped herself from gazing at the body in front her any
longer. She held the cuffs up. Faith rolled her eyes but offered her hands.
Snapping one cuff on her left wrist, Kate led Faith to the kitchen table.
When she had linked the other end to a table leg, she motioned the Slayer to
sit.

"You even know which hand I use," Faith said impressed. "Does anything
escape you?"

"Why you are so afraid of Buffy?" Kate sat down across from her and dished
out the pizza.

"What have they told you?" Faith picked a couple of pieces of topping off
her slice.

"Basic story. You went bad after killing Finch, sided with a demon trying to
destroy the town, ended up here after Angel, then found it all too much."

"Didn't happen to mention much then," Faith said munching on more topping.
Her confession hadn't included anything remotely supernatural.

"Well I had no idea about you...um...with Wesley." Kate found herself trying
to hold back her disgust.

"Tortured." Faith supplied the pain evident in her eyes. "Do you know he was
my Watcher?"

"Yeah, they filled me in on that too."

"My coma?"

"It was mentioned in passing." Kate didn't know much about it at all. The
Sunnydale police had no idea who had stabbed the girl and Faith never
admitted it. "Buffy stabbed you," she said as it clicked in her mind.

"Bingo. With my own knife, how's that for irony." Faith cast her eyes down
and concentrated on flicking a piece of cheese on the plate. "You got
anything to drink?"

"Sure." Kate got up giving some breathing space to both of them. With Kate's
back turned, Faith tried to keep the tears back.

"So how's Giles?" Faith took the glass off the table as soon as it was
placed there. Real Coke. She drank it down fast. The threatening tears
disappeared quickly.

"He was worried about Rosenberg. Listen, Faith I didn't exactly have the
friendliest relationship with any of them." Kate picked up her slice as she
watched Faith take her first real bite.

"Even Angel?" Faith would swear Angel was close to Kate, the way he had
talked about her when he had visited her. "He said you were a good cop."

"Angel and I," Kate stopped, trying to work out what exactly Angel was to
her. "We've used each other for cases in the past." Faith nodded taking in
Kate's unconscious emphasis on the word 'past.' "However, I spoke to him
briefly when you were in the shower and he wants to see you, so we are going
to meet him at some abandoned building he mentioned."

"What happened to his offices?"

"Blown up. They've been working out of a hotel for a couple of months. I
thought he would have told you."

"We don't really talk about those kind of things." Faith finished her first
slice and started on her second. "Can you put some music on?" Kate turned
the stereo on and flipped stations until Faith had settled on an alternative
station. "Maybe I might take you up on that movie."

"Good." They finished the pizza while pouring over movie guide in the paper.
Kate wasn't in the mood for anything with mass murder or cops, Faith didn't
want any romantic mush, Kate then ruled out any teen oriented flick. After
ribbing each other about their choices and ruling out just about every movie
showing, they still couldn't decide.

"What about some porn?" Faith looked for something suitable.

"What kind?" Kate leaned back and smirked.

Never one to back down Faith returned a smirk of her own. "I was thinking a
little girl-on-girl action."

"Going Sapphic?" Kate asked bringing the paper closer.

"Hey, maybe we could bring Red along, have a threesome." Faith licked her
lips and gave the detective one long seductive look.

"I thought you hated her?" Kate's eyes didn't waver from the beautiful rich
chocolate ones. Given the gaze she was under it took a lot of strength to
maintain the contact.

"Never let feelings get in the way of good sex." She finally tore her eyes
away and looked down to Kate's chest. Very nice, she whistled to herself.

"When you stop undressing me with your eyes, maybe we can decide on a movie
before it gets too late," Kate managed to say evenly watching Faith's desire
flash across her face.

"Of course." Faith slowly brought her eyes level with a pair across the
table. Kate indicated they look at the choices again. They finally settled
on a comedy without romance as it's main plot. Kate went to her room and
came out dressed to go.

"I'm still carrying," she warned as she herded Faith to the door.

"What about these?" Faith held her arms up.

"Here." Kate placed a jacket over the cuffs. "It won't matter in the
theatre."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END PART 1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They found a couple of seats near the back left and Kate sat down nearest
the isle. Faith seemed happy enough after getting Kate to buy her the jumbo
popcorn and super sized Coke.

"I'm going to cuff you to the seat," Kate whispered leaning across to
Faith's ear. Faith nodded and ignored the fact that one sexy blonde was
blowing breath in her ear. Well, she tried her best to ignore it. She felt
her wrists being moved and her right one became free to hold popcorn that
was between her legs. She heard a quite click as the cuff slid into place
around the seat arm.

"Thanks," Faith said crunching her first piece of popcorn. God, it tasted so
good.

"I wasn't going to feed you the whole movie," Kate said evenly, though she
was smiling in the dim light.

"Afraid I might bite?" Faith gave her a leer.

"Hardly," Kate scoffed. "I came to see the movie, not watch your mouth."

"What if I showed you some of the wicked things I could do with my mouth and
tongue?" Faith leaned closer and dropped her voice.

"Not interested," Kate whispered back aware that she was starting to lose
control of her emotions. Please Katie, she thought, don't get involved with
a prisoner. But she was starting to think that it might be a little late. It
had started the moment she agreed to let Faith out. She felt a finger and a
piece of popcorn press against her lips and without thinking she brought
them both into her mouth. As Faith drew her wet digit away, they held each
other's gaze. The lights dimmed all the way down and Faith took this chance
to move closer, sensing that Kate wanted her. In the darkness, Faith sought
out Kate's neck with her lips but was stopped by a hand. The flickering
light from the screen allowed Faith to swear she saw disappointment on the
detective's face when she moved back. Not one to be discouraged she offered
another piece of popcorn to Kate's lips.

"That's enough," Kate hissed knocking her hand back. "If you are not going
to watch the movie we'll leave." Faith nodded and turned her attention to
the screen occasionally popping a piece of corn in her mouth or taking a sip
of her Coke. The movie turned out to be alright, she even laughed out loud a
few times.

During the obligatory and inevitable sickly smoochie scene that came about
two-thirds through the movie Faith turned her attention back to Kate. The
blonde was watching the screen with an intense expression. Was she actually
enjoying the major suck fest on the screen? Faith laughed to herself. After
about a minute Kate turned and glared at her, then turned back to the movie.
Faith studied the face a moment longer before turning back to the screen.
God, this part was so boring. She took a sip of her drink and made a
slurping sound as she came to the bottom. That got her another glare from
Kate. She put it down on the empty seat beside her and reached for the
popcorn. Only crumbs left. She put that down too. Too bad the hand closest
to Kate was cuffed. She could only imagine what it would be like to put her
arms on the strong shoulders. Pull her closer so she could bend down and
kiss her. God, she was getting horny just thinking about it. She sighed. A
third glare came shooting her way. A couple of minutes later the movie got
back to the comedy. Finally, she thought.

"Corny ending," Faith summed up the movie when the lights came back on while
the credits were rolling.

"Hmm." Kate was busy re-cuffing Faith's hands without being seen. She
finished and pulled Faith up.

"Thanks," Faith said as they were strolling back to the car. It was a long
time since someone had taken her to the movies without wanting a grope in
the dark.

"You're welcome," Kate smiled. The slayer was behaving better than expected.

"So what's next?" Faith asked while Kate unlocked her care.

"We're meeting Angel at ten-thirty." They both looked at the car clock.
9:19. "What do you want to do between now and then?"

"Can we take just take a drive?" Faith wound down the window letting in the
balmy night.

"Okay," Kate replied. "Anywhere in particular?"

"Beach sounds good." Faith heard the engine start and soon they were rolling
down the streets of LA with the breeze blowing through the car.

"You like the beach?" Kate steered them closer to the Pacific.

"Yeah, and in the day they're guaranteed no vamp zones," Faith joked. Kate
visibly stiffened at the mention of demons. Faith let it slide. Pissing off
the detective was not a good choice. Certainly not if she wanted her full
allotment of freedom.

"I know you're from Boston. Go to the beach there?" Kate looked across
briefly.

"Not really," Faith shrugged. They came down to the coast and the air
changed to the unmistakable smell of the ocean.

"Want to take a walk?"

"Yeah," Faith replied half-heartedly.

Once on the sand in bare feet, Faith walked down the shore. Freedom, she
thought, this is what I gave up. She felt Kate come and stand beside her.
The noise of the city was muffled this close to the shore. There were only
few people around enjoying the night as they were.

"Beautiful night," Kate said looking out across the water. Faith nodded and
turned her head to the stars. She closed her eyes taking in the slight
breeze, the ocean smell and the sand under her feet. She shook her head and
opened her eyes. She couldn't get wistful about her state of freedom. Just
for a reality check she flexed against the cuffs. No, she though, I'm not
free. She took a step and stumbled on a piece of driftwood. A steadying hand
pressed against her back.

"Thanks," she laughed softly turning to Kate.

"Watch your step." Kate let her hand drop. Faith nodded again and started
strolling along the shore feeling the water lap her feet. Kate joined her
and they walked in silence for a few minutes.

"You're taking a big risk here Detective, so why am I on a Californian beach
and not just dreaming about it?" Faith finally decided to ask a question
that she had been thinking of since getting out.

"To tell you the truth, I'm interested in you." Kate stopped and reviewed
her words. "I mean, this last week I've had crash course on slayers,
watchers and many other things I didn't really want to know about. Yet, no
matter who was talking to me, they were always guarded and secretive, until
I saw you. Why is that?"

"I don't give a rat's ass about the sanctity crap," Faith shrugged. "Why do
I have the feeling you want to interrogate me on demons?"

"Because that's what I was gearing up for?" Kate smiled. The girl was very
good at reading people. Another reason why she had to be careful about
showing her feelings, she warned herself.

"Okay then, let's get it over with." Faith walked a couple of yards up the
shore and plonked herself down on dry sand.

"We don't really have time," Kate said disappointed. It must be getting
close to ten-thirty.

"Ask away." Faith struggled to get up, but managed it when she saw Kate
going to offer. They started on their way back down the shore.

"What does it feel like to be a Slayer?" Kate asked curious. The two Slayers
were so different she couldn't figure out why they were chosen.

"Good and bad."

"Yes?" Kate prompted when Faith didn't offer anymore.

"Good because of the extra strength, stamina, fighting instincts. Plus we
heal fast. I love the fact that I'm stronger than demons and man alike."

"Bad because?" Kate asked carefully.

"I have this duty to 'humankind'." Faith used air quotation marks. "It's a
drag."

"Why? As a police officer I have a duty to humankind too, I certainly don't
see that as a drag." Kate said the last word sarcastically.

"I never asked to be a champion of humans," Faith said bitterly. "Saving the
world in peril is not as great as it looks in the movies. There's no fame,
no fortune, and no cute blonde begging you to get down and dirty with them."

"I would take being chosen as a compliment." Kate shook her head. Had Faith
lost hope in the world around her? "Out of all the millions of people in the
world you were chosen. That's got to be a ego boost."

"Next question." Faith hurried their pace towards the car.

"Later," Kate backed off. They came to the car and Faith took in one last
look of the ocean before she slid in.

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

"Hey, big guy," Faith greeted Angel as he walked towards the car. Kate
slammed the passenger door and leaned on the car silently watching the
exchange.

"How are you doing?" It was a serious question.

"You know me, five by five." Faith smiled at the vampire.

"Thank you for helping out Willow." Angel gave her a brief smile glancing at
the defensive posture Kate had taken up.

"Yeah, whatever." Faith blew the comment off.

"So what you been up to?"

"Movie, walk on the beach." Faith smiled back at Kate. "And a nice hot
shower without an audience." Angel nodded. "Not that I mind an audience, but
day after day it gets repetitive." That part was said more than loud enough
for Kate to hear. "So anymore Manilow?"

"No," Angel said awkwardly.

"What's it now? Bee Gees? Abba?" Faith teased him.

"We won't talk about that," Angel said uncharacteristically shy. Faith
laughed and gave him a light slap on the arm.

"Every time I see you, you're getting more human, you big softie." Angel
coughed and looked at Kate. They both knew that wasn't true. Faith looked
over to Kate, but the cop didn't offer any explanation.

"It's good to see you. Hope you are being good for Detective Lockley."

"I've heard no complaints." Faith smirked.

"Yet," Kate butted in coming and joining them.

"Good to hear." Angel noted the ease that Kate seemed to have when talking
to Faith.

"How is jail?"

"Good," Faith said nonchalantly. "No more incidents, but there is always
rumours doing the rounds that there's gonna be a challenge. I can handle
it." Angel nodded in understanding. "Food's the same. But can't complain, I
did the crime I do the time." They locked eyes and gave each other wry
smiles.

"So anything else to share?" Kate asked them both, taking note of their
interplay.

"No, just wanted to see how you were doing." Faith smiled back at the
vampire. "You never told me you moved base."

"It's been hectic," Angel said as way of excuse.

"You gonna swing by my pad sometime in the near future?" Faith asked
hopefully.

"Soon," Angel promised.

"Okay, see you then." Faith on impulse gave him half a hug and stepped back.
"Catch ya."

"Sure." Angel watched Faith open the passenger door and get in. He turned to
Kate and said softly, "Thanks for this."

"I'm not doing it for you," she said evenly.

"I know." Angel crossed his arms. "But I appreciate it. And judging from
Faith, she does too." Kate accepted that with a slight nod. Faith and Angel
waved goodbye to each other and they left.

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

After getting back on the main road, Kate couldn't keep her mouth shut
anymore. "You two seem tight."

"He's been visiting me." Faith turned to look at the detective. "The guy
helped me out after everything that I tried to do to him, his girl and their
friends. Gotta respect that. He's wicked cool."

"His girl?"

"Ex-girl I suppose. B has a new boytoy in her life." Faith didn't want to
think about the beefstick or his girl.

"Angel and Buffy?" That was news to Kate. "Eww. A human with a vampire."

"Yeah, don't want to think about them together. Makes me sick. Although
Angel is more animated dead than Riley is alive." She chuckled to herself.
"But humans with vamps, not eww, just kinky." Kate looked over at her in
surprise. Faith laughed, "I haven't actually done it with one, but I've been
tempted."

"Let's just change the subject," Kate shook her head in amazement and
disgust.

"Okay. Humans with humans, that's good too." Faith smirked in the darkness
of the car.

"Still need a subject change." Kate turned down her street.

"You and me, that would be a good thing, I can tell. How long has it been
Detective?" Kate glared at Faith and they sat in silence for a minute or so.

"You have some nerve," Kate finally said shutting off the engine and jerking
the keys from the ignition.

"You want it, I got it." Faith let herself out quickly and hurried to the
door. She heard the car door slam as she made her way into the building.
Kate calmed herself taking time to lock up the car. Katie, she warned, there
will be no even thinking about what Faith proposed. Yes, it has been a
while, but she's a convict. Yes, she is attractive, sexy, seductive, and god
knows willing, but no Katie. No sex.

Faith was waiting by her door when she made her way up. They went and turned
the lights on. Faith watched Kate make her way through the apartment.

"What's the sleeping arrangements?"

"I have a mattress in my room so I can keep my eye on you." Kate walked over
to the girl.

"All night?" Faith was already devising ways she could use this to her
advantage.

"That's what cuffing you to the furniture is for," Kate smiled.

"Or you could cuff us together," Faith suggested giving her a lazy smile.

"I don't do cuffs."

"Not even for fun? Gotta say it always gets interesting with cuffs in bed."
Faith could see Kate trying not to lose control.

"You have some mouth on you." Kate moved into her room.

"Yeah and you've only seen a little of it in action." Faith followed her in
and watched her ready the mattress.

"The less I see or hear the better."

"I was thinking more along the lines of tasting, touching, kissing."

Kate turned and watched the confident look on the slayer's face. "Is your
mind permanently on sex mode?"

"Pretty much." Faith didn't back down from the intense stare she was
receiving.

"Is that you or part of being a slayer?" Kate was back to questioning.

"A bit of both actually," Faith said actually stopping to think about it.

"So Buffy is not like that?"

"Not like what?" Faith knew exactly what she meant.

"Not as sexual?" Kate saw the tactic, but it wasn't as if she'd never talked
about sex before.

"She has this thing where sex has to be about caring." Faith sat down on the
bed while Kate kept an eye on her. "Too bad too, we would have got a little
after hours action happening if it wasn't for that pesky conscience kicking
in."

"So it's about bloodlust?" Kate sat down across from Faith and brought her
legs up under her.

"In some ways. But I've always liked to have a good time, fighting makes it
hotter."

"You've never done it with a vampire, so that means you and Angel…"

"Ooh, Detective you're getting a bit personal here," Faith smirked. "I
tried, but he had an obsession called Buffy that couldn't be shaken. Now
he's here, she's there and it's all over."

"There is something I never understood about your confession."

"And?" Faith's mind was starting wander, checking out the room she was in.

"Why did you?"

"Couldn't keep running forever could I?" Faith shrugged and looked to the
ceiling for a moment.

"Maybe not." Kate had a feeling Faith's emotional state at the time was more
a contributor than the law after her.



"Is that all?" Faith stood and eyed the mattress.

"One last question. What is it about Buffy that makes you love and hate her
at the same time?"

Faith laughed, "Love? The word is lust."

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh right. And you know, how?" Faith moved over. "What do you see?" Faith
gave her a long seductive look, as she imagined all she wanted to do with
Kate Lockley. "Lust or love, baby?" Faith had Kate's full attention as she
leaned further forward. "Now hate is a different matter." She pulled back
leaving Kate confused. "B can be a real bitch. Especially when it comes to
thinking she's better than everyone else. 'Oh look at me, I'm a Vampire
Slayer, I'm better than you.'" Faith mocked Buffy's whining. "You, I don't
hate. You got a good head on your shoulders apart from when it comes to
Angel." Kate looked at her in surprise. "Yeah I've seen how you are every
time he's mentioned. But you can be wicked fun too."

Faith leaned down again and grinned when she saw Kate's eyes follow every
movement she made. God, she loved a captive audience. "The question you
should have asked is…" Faith paused making sure Kate was hanging on every
word. "What. Is it. About. Detective. Kate. Lockley. That makes me. Lust.
After. You." Faith smirked as she finished her drawn out words. "Maybe
you'll get the answer you were after."

"You want sex, Faith. Pretty simple answer." Kate stood up and took out the
key to the cuffs.

"Buzz. Wrong answer." Faith watched the fingers fiddle with the piece of
metal. "Why don't you ask me?"

"Because," Kate said stepping closer, "I would only be pandering to you.
This is my turf, Faith. I'm the one who's in control here."

"You think, huh?" Faith smirked and held out her cuffs to Kate. When her
fingers were about to close on the chain, Faith yanked her hands away. "You
can't even cuff me to the furniture without my cooperation."

"I'm the one with the key and the gun. I'm the one who can take you back to
jail any time I want." Kate tried to get Faith's hands to stay still but it
wasn't working.

"I'm the Slayer here, Detective." Faith ducked out of the way when Kate
tried to immobilise her.

"And here I thought you were making fun of Buffy for using that line." Kate
reached over when Faith froze at her comment and snagged the chain between
the cuffs. She walked Faith over to bed and she said, "So why do you lust
after me, other than the fact you want to get laid?"

Faith allowed one hand to be freed and she shook it a little. "You do things
for me, to me that no one else has ever managed to do."

Kate looked up to see a very serious expression. "Cuff you to furniture?"

"Look after me." Faith put her free hand on Kate's shoulder. She again had
her full attention. "Make me feel like a worthwhile person, not some bad kid
or evil Slayer."

"I'm a cop, I'm supposed to help people." Kate looked down and gently rubbed
Faith's wrist where the cuff had been for most of the day.

"I thought you were supposed to go 'Stop or I'll shoot!'" Faith's free hand
went into a shape of a gun.

"That too," Kate chuckled softly, looking back up at Faith's almost
ever-present smirk.

"I'm getting the impression that you aren't an ordinary dumb cop. I bet you
were the eager little beaver in the academy." Faith cocked her head and
watched Kate try to contain a smile. "Yeah. I can see you now." She knew
Kate was starting to let her guard down. About time, she thought. "Probably
a virgin too."

"Buzz. Wrong answer. Not even in the academy." Kate smirked seeing a flicker
of surprise cross Faith's face. "But how about we leave my private life,
private."

"Gee, I don't know. I'm here in your BED room, where you sleep, maybe do
other things and you want me to stay out of your private life." Faith knew
she was walking a fine line. "I want to be in your private life. Maybe just
your privates."

"My privates?" Kate laughed loudly, tickled by Faith's words. "I expected
graphic detail from you, not some polite word."

"You want detail? I can do that." Faith watched Kate gaze at her almost
expectantly. She's coming around, Faith thought to herself. "First you don't
cuff me to the furniture, you put your wrist into the open cuff and click."
Faith grabbed the empty cuff and brought it up to Kate's wrist. Just as it
was about to lock in place Kate jerked her hand away. "Okay then. Skip the
cuffs. Then I tell you how much I want you and the undressing commences."
Faith's voice turned husky and soft. "You have to help me of course."

"Of course." Kate stared entranced at the eroticism of Faith's words and
actions.

"Then we get under the sheets and I show you the pleasure of loving a
woman." Faith stopped and smiled hesitantly. Was Kate considering her words
or trying to think of a polite way to say no thank you? "Kate?"

"Tell me you want me," Kate asked shocking them both.

"I. Want. You." Faith captured the chin in her fingers as she spoke the
sincere words. "The thing is, I will only have you if that's what you want.
So you're gonna have to give me some sign." Her days of want, take, have
were over. She would have, but not without consent and certainly not without
Kate's full desire.

"You know I shouldn't," Kate defended weakly.

"It's up to you. But if in the morning you're gonna regret it, don't do it."
Faith flopped her backside down on the bed and got comfortable. She couldn't
remember the last time she'd slept in a decent bed.

"This is not just for bragging rights when you get back under lock and key?"
Kate tried to think of reasons why she shouldn't be doing what she was
contemplating.

"I bagged a cop. Don't think it will go down well. Unless I screwed their
eyeballs out and dumped them in the middle of the highway naked."

"Nice imagery," Kate said grimly.

"I would never do that to you." Faith replied quickly, trying to get Kate
back to the present. "I told you, I like you. I thought I made that wickedly
clear."

"I want you," Kate breathed moving over to Faith and finding herself caught
up in a fiery kiss. She felt the cold metal of the loose cuff bump into her
back as Faith's fingers grabbed hold of her shirt. Their lips parted and she
felt Faith's tongue wrap around her own. She welcomed the physical contact
that she hadn't had for so long. The feelings Faith was eliciting from her
caused her to moan softly. She was surprised her body responded so easily to
Faith's touches. Clothes became obstacles to their greater aim and were
discarded.

Faith moaned throwing Kate's bra out of the way. She bent down to suck the
first hard nipple she spotted. Kate moaned encouragingly and she gently bit
down. Kate arched her back. Faith switched nipples, blowing on it before
giving it the same attention. Kate decided that whatever Faith could do she
could do too. Her fingers trailed down the sides of warm breasts and teased
the skin she found there. She smirked when the action made Faith miss a
couple of strokes of her tongue on the nipple.

"Feel so good," Faith looked up at Kate. The agreement was on Kate's face.
Faith moved her head lower and she could feel Kate's body anticipate where
she was headed. Instead, she decided to divulge Kate of the last of her
clothes. Soon she was staring down at one naked cop. "You're so beautiful,
you know that?" Faith whispered, surprising herself at the intensity of her
words. Kate took the pause in activity to undo Faith's jeans.

"You're not wearing any pants!" Kate pulled down the jeans and turned her
eyes to a smug smile.

"And that's a problem?" Faith's eyes cast themselves down to her pantiless
hips.

"I'm not complaining." Kate was looking a little lower than where Faith was.

"One less item to remove." They worked together to rid Faith of the jeans.
Faith smiled lazily down at her once the task was completed. "Oh god." She
was really going to do this with Kate. She stretched out on the body below,
her breasts rubbing along Kate's.

"You got that right," Kate moaned and brought her hands around Faith's back.
They kissed again, this time more urgently. Faith's hips started a slow
rhythm against Kate's both start to moan with frequency. Kate could feel
Faith's wetness start to pool on her mound. This was really happening, she
thought emitting a series of unintelligible sounds. Faith's kisses were
becoming harder and faster in time with hips that were really grinding
against her now. Kate felt herself climbing when the activity stopped. She
let out a loud groan.

"All this time I've been telling you how good I am, can't let you down,"
Faith murmured looking straight into the fiery eyes. Faith's hands resumed
exploring the glistening body, making sure she spent a long time teasing
Kate by avoiding touching the areas she knew would set her off. She loved
the sounds Kate was making. Kate's hand reached out and landed on the hand
that was lightly tracing her breast. Forcefully she pulled it up and onto a
hard nipple. Faith chuckled but gave into the request.

"Ah yes," Kate groaned out when fingers closed around the nub and pinched.
The other hand started the action on her unattended one. Her stomach
twitched when she felt a warm wet tongue licking it. She couldn't stop her
hips bucking up. Faith stopped and gave a leer. Then she continued and
Kate's hips again started their encouragement. Leaving a trail of wetness,
Faith's tongue arrived at puffy lips. She couldn't resist a swipe of her
tongue. They both moaned. Faith brought a hand down and started stroking the
pink flesh. The hips bucked in a steady rhythm as Faith's tongue came back
into play and sucked at Kate's clit.

"That's it Faith, harder."

"Please?" Faith took a breath for a moment, still keeping her fingers
moving. Kate looked at her defiantly and felt the fingers slow down.
"Please?" Faith repeated.

"Please." Kate's voice was laboured. "Make me come." Faith's lips went back
to their work and Kate closed her eyes and exploded.

When she opened her eyes Faith was inches away giving her a greedy look.
"You are so tasty." Faith bent down and gave Kate's mouth another going
over. "Wanna taste?" Kate nodded still trying to wrap her mind around her
feelings. Faith straddled her face and lowered herself over waiting lips.

"Oh yeah," Faith groaned taking Kate's hands and placing them on her ass.
The tongue continued stroking her. "Faster," she commanded rocking her hips
with pleasure and kneading her own breasts. The thing that made her go over
the edge was Kate's fingers thrusting into her. This woman knew how get her
going. Faith felt hands steadying her and pulling her down. Kate pressed her
lips gently on hers and they nibbled for long moments while Faith caught her
breath. Being a Slayer it didn't take long and she was ready to go again.

Faith showed Kate repeatedly the pleasure a Slayer with one wicked
imagination could give her. Each time a different position, a different
speed but with the same result. By the end of the night they were both
exhausted.

Faith watched Kate fall asleep, their warm bodies wrapped around each other.
She'd just had amazing sex with a woman that had arrested her. She felt Kate
shift and sigh lightly. She wanted to commit this moment to memory. There
wasn't another time when she could remember actually wanting to cuddle after
sex and let someone fall asleep in her arms with the intention of staying
all night. Not that there was a choice. No way was she running out on Kate,
besides she was worn out, not completely, but Kate matched her intensity.
She briefly wondered how she and B would have been. Two Slayers together.
All that strength, all that endurance. But that was not even in the equation
anymore.

She looked at the woman in her arms then to the blinds that stopped the
streetlights shining in the apartment. Street lights. A comfortable bed. She
was free and although she liked it, she knew she had a long way to go until
she deserved full freedom status. But while she had a taste of it she was
going to savour every last drop. Finally, no matter how much she resolved to
stay awake she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END PART 2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Faith woke to the sounds of banging. She rolled over and assessed her
situation. She was handcuffed to the bed-head. How did that happen? She was
sure it wasn't part of Kate's sexual repertoire. She looked down. Yep, still
naked. She allowed herself a smug smile. She could still hear Kate's words.
'I want you.' And hell did she show it. Several times. She looked at the
clock. Just past nine. Only another eight hours before she had to go back.

"Morning," Kate entered the room in a robe.

"Certainly is." Faith smiled at the happy expression on Kate's face. They
awkwardly looked at each other for a moment. "Were you planning to have your
way with me again?" She rattled the cuffs.

"Faith." Faith didn't like the tone Kate was using. She moved her body
further up the bed so she could sit a little. "We shouldn't have."

"Why not? You were into it last night."

"If anyone ever found out, I could be in a lot of trouble. Censured or
worse."

"So I won't tell," Faith said offhandedly.

"You CAN'T tell anyone." Kate came and sat on the edge of the bed, well away
from Faith if she tried to reach out.

"Oh, I get it. You don't trust me." Faith nodded in understanding. "Join the
club, Scully."

"What?" Kate's face turned a pale colour.

"You heard me." Faith bobbed her head. "You think I didn't hear about the
reputation you have around the place. Didn't even have to use my fantastic
hearing to get an earful about how crazy you've gone."

"You call me names again and I will haul your ass back to jail so fast you
won't have to worry about me not trusting you."

"So you admit it. Figures. Tell me, do you sleep with all your convictions
or just those you don't trust?" Faith swung her legs over the bed to avoid
Kate's glare.

"Why are you are so hell bent on turning everyone you meet into an enemy?"
Kate stood and collected Faith's clothes. "And here I thought you might be
making some progress. When you get back to jail make sure you get some
counselling for those pesky insecurity issues." She threw the clothes at
Faith and left the room.

Faith got dressed as best she could with one arm immobile. She was tempted
to rip the cuff off the wooden frame, but she wanted the full allotment of
her freedom. "A little help here." She called out a few minutes later when
she couldn't see or hear anything in the apartment. Kate appeared and
watched Faith pull on her the cuffs.

"Maybe I should keep you there all day."

"I thought we had crime scenes to visit." Faith decided to play nice.

"Are you going to behave?" Kate took a couple of steps in and folded her
arms.

"About running or putting the moves on you?" Faith couldn't help but get in
a few digs.

"About being difficult to deal with."

"I thought that was part of my charm." Faith gave her eyebrows a wiggle.

"You have no charm."

"Then what was it that attracted you to me?" Faith watched as Kate seemed to
go off in a world of her own for a couple of minutes. She lay back on the
bed, still warm from where they had been laying.

"You need a shower," Kate finally said. "I can't send you back to prison
like that."

"Freshly fucked, you mean." Faith started loosening her pants. Kate didn't
respond, instead she came over and helped with the undressing. "Was it good
for you?"

"Need your ego boosting?" Kate said in an attempt to cover up her feelings.
Faith's voice was serious and they both knew she had wanted a straight
answer.

Faith laughed softly, "Kate, I've had plenty of ego boosts over the years."

"You want an answer?" Faith nodded as the last of her clothes came off. Kate
paused to run her eyes from Faith's legs to her eyes. Faith felt a quiver of
arousal start in her. Of all the people that had eyed her body like that,
Kate had to be one of her favourites. "Do you trust me?"

"Not completely." Faith answered with a hint of a smile.

"I'll have to work on that," Kate said seriously. "It was good."

"In the 'I can't stop thinking about you' way or just plain good?"

Kate took her eyes away from hers for a few beats then turned back with a
serious look. "Can I trust you?"

"Not completely." Faith smiled. "Joking. Yes."

"In the 'I wish you weren't in jail' way." Kate leaned over and unlocked the
cuffs. She pulled Faith to her feet.

"Major obstacle, huh?" Faith was trying to process this. Did Kate just say
she liked her?

"Somehow I don't think conjugal visits are possible."

"I'm supposed to be up for parole in a while."

"Guess we'll have to wait and see what happens." Kate smiled, almost shyly.

"By then you'll have moved on."

"Knowing my luck with relationships, I don't think that's a likely
possibility."

"You mean there aren't a line of people behind me?" Faith smiled, but felt
relieved Kate didn't think she'd be with someone. "Still, if you meet
someone don't feel bad."

"I won't." They shared another smile. "So was it good for you?" She asked
uncertainly.

"Yeah baby!" Faith wrapped her arms around Kate and pulled her close. "But I
was right."

"You were?" Kate slipped her hands around Faith's naked back.

"You do beg." Faith delighted in Kate's face turning a light shade of red.
"A lot."

"I seem to recall I wasn't the only one."

"That wasn't begging, that was requesting."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that." Kate smiled and gave Faith a quick
kiss before taking her hand and leading her to the bathroom.

"You joining me?" Faith asked hopefully.

"I would like to, but I've already had one," Kate replied trying not to look
at Faith.

"I didn't think that taking two showers in the space of an hour was a mortal
sin."

"It is if you want any chance of a cooked breakfast."

"Hmm, breakfast or shower? Tough decision."

"No decision. I'm cooking you breakfast." Kate closed the door behind her
and moved into the kitchen. That's where she was when Faith emerged fully
clothed. "If I leave the cuffs off you'll stay?"

"Yeah, don't want you getting the sack," Faith took a piece of egg and
popped it in her mouth. "Hmm how good is this."

"Good enough to eat?" Kate asked and Faith groaned appropriately.

"Not as good as you." Faith resisted the urge to wrap her arms around her.
That would be too much a picture of domestic bliss. They sat down to
breakfast and Kate had Faith look over the case files. They were basically
unsolved because the evidence didn't point to a clear killer. Faith told
Kate that she wasn't really up on her demon reading, but she would have a
look anyway.

"Thanks for the food," Faith said making sure her plate was as clean as she
could get it.

"Going to be a long time before you get a cooked breakfast again," Kate said
and started clearing away the dishes.

"Been a long, long time since I actually had a cooked breakfast," Faith said
standing. She studied Kate and laughed softly. "Looks like we went Sapphic
after all."

"Yeah, too bad Rosenberg couldn't join us." Faith's eyes went wide and Kate
enjoyed getting one up on her.

Faith recovered and came back with, "At least it wasn't as sugary as that
scene in the movie last night. I saw you watching that with interest."

"Who said I wasn't playing my own fantasy while that was going on." Score
two for Kate.

"What fantasy would that be and it included me, right?"

"Not telling and maybe." Kate smiled. This was so much fun.

"Maybe? It'd better have been with me."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll deprive you of my hot kisses."

Kate laughed, "You think you are all that?"

"You must do too or you wouldn't have screamed my name out."

"I'm surprised you heard it over your own screams." Score three for Kate.
Faith closed her mouth. "Go get ready," Kate said, still laughing at Faith's
defeated expression.

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

It was all business on the trip to the first crime scene. A middle-aged
couple had been murdered in their apartment. Faith did her best to study the
photos and report, but she was a Slayer not a Watcher. There was nothing
doing at the first crime scene and Faith felt the need to apologise to Kate,
which the cop rejected saying there was no need. The second crime scene
produced better results. A politician was murdered in his penthouse where
there was no evidence that a killer ever entered forcefully. Kate pointed
out a corroded window frame, but there was no way a human could have got in
and out of the twentieth floor window. While Faith looked around Kate leaned
against a table with her arms crossed trying to think of the solution, but
her mind wandered to who she was with. Katie, she told herself, you came so
close to blowing your career. You're lucky Faith wasn't playing you. But she
couldn't help smiling to herself. She hadn't felt this good in a long time.
The only regret was that it was going to be a long time before she could do
it again.

Faith called out and pointed a few holes in the cement outside near the
window. She said that it could be hand and foot holds. The cop agreed with
her and said she'd check it out further. Faith smiled glad she could help
and pouted her lips for a kiss. Kate returned the smile and gave her a quick
peck.

On the way back to the apartment, Faith found herself trying to distract her
thoughts from the future. Going back was going to be even harder than she
thought it would on the beach the previous evening. Shaking her head to rid
the thoughts, she concentrated on the houses whooshing by.

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

"You have to change back into your prison clothes soon," Kate said as they
entered the apartment.

"Oh yeah," Faith replied unenthusiastically. She didn't want to be reminded
of her criminal status by Kate.

"We have a couple of hours to kill. Want do you want to do?"

"I don't know, pretty much done all I dreamed of…and more. Unless you want
to ask more about demons."

"That can wait until another time. It's up to you, but I'd rather we stay
in."

Faith thought that another session in bed wasn't the best way to go. She
didn't need to be reminded of what she was going to miss in jail. "I don't
really want to do anything."

"Come on, I don't believe that." Kate came over and sat by Faith. "What
happened to all the lines you were using yesterday?"

"I don't want it to be like that."

"Like what?"

"All the bullshit I come out with. You aren't some one nighter that doesn't
give a shit except for having a good time." Faith saw Kate's hand reach out
and touch her lightly. "You do give a shit for some reason and unlike in the
past I respect that."

"You've changed."

"Changed?"

"You're not the same person I arrested and certainly not even close to the
person everyone has told me about."

"Jail does things to a girl."

"Well, I'm glad it's for the better. Jail can be a bitter experience for
some."

"I didn't say I was happy to be there, but I wouldn't have wanted to go down
another path."

"Nor would I, we wouldn't have met otherwise." They both gave each other
side-glances and smiled.

"Wanna make out?" Faith asked as she wiggled her eyebrows, her earlier
reservations disappearing. Kate's laugh filled the room but when she saw
Faith's expression turn feral she quickly fell silent taking up and
challenging Faith's stare. Slowly they met halfway in a exploratory kiss
before Faith deepened it. Kate's hands went to Faith's breasts and she
traced the nipples through the material. For long minutes they used their
tongues and hands to rediscover what they found the night before.

When Kate felt her top being inched up she had to draw back. "We can't
Faith."

"Okay," the girl nodded and stole a kiss on Kate's bare stomach before
pulling the top down again. There was a silent agreement they keep it simple
and neither of them spoke much in the remaining time they spent in the
apartment; their lips were otherwise occupied.

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

Kate stopped the engine at the prison gates and spared a glance at the
silent Slayer. This was going to be hard on both of them, and that was an
understatement.

"I'm going to see you next weekend, so you better behave yourself." Kate
joked as way to break her depressing thoughts. How she wished she could turn
the car around and keep on driving.

"During that time don't do anything I wouldn't do," Faith said picking up
Kate's diversion. Anything to make this easier, she thought, as long as they
didn't argue.

"Well, as I've been told, that doesn't narrow the field much."

"Make that, don't do anything I can't do."

"Still not narrowing it down."

"Kate," Faith whined but when she found Kate's gaze on her she stopped.

"I know." The voice was soft.

"Yeah and thanks." The reply just as soft.

"The weeks will fly by, especially if you do as well as you have been." Kate
wasn't used to consoling prisoners and they both knew her attempt was
clumsy.

"I have incentive now to be real good, right?"

"Right. No matter what is going on in my life when you get out, Faith, I'll
be ready to help."

"That right?" Faith asked not believing she could be hearing right.

"You can take my word on that."

"Word is bond."

"What?"

"Just something one of the other prisoners says. You know, your word is set
in stone."

"And if any guards give you trouble, just tell me."

"Rat them out. I don't think so," Faith laughed shaking her head. "Do you
know how bad that would be for my rep?"

"I don't want you hurt in there."

"Out of all the people in there, I think I'm the most qualified to look
after myself."

"But you're not invincible. So be careful, watch your back."

"I will," Faith said softly. They stared at each other for long moments
before Kate finally put her hand on the door and jerked it open. They
climbed out.

"Kate." Faith stopped her and they stood for another few beats of silence.
"When I get out, I would really like to get to know you…you're someone worth
knowing."

Kate smiled, "So are you, so I'm going to hold you to that. Okay?"

"Five by five." At that moment a guard came out to greet them and take Faith
back under lock and key. Kate was grilled about the prisoner's behaviour to
which she gave glowing account before Faith was led away. When the guard had
turned her back, Faith reached behind her and grazed Kate's hand on her way
past. They both smiled secretly before Faith was jerked back to walk in line
with the guard. Kate watched Faith slowly became smaller and smaller before
disappearing into the confines of her imposed home. She dreamed of the day
Faith would make the journey in reverse and see the back of this place for
the last time. On that day, Kate promised herself, she would be standing
right there waiting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
END
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~