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Detective Kate Lockley tapped her foot impatiently as she waited in the Angel Investigations outer office. Cordelia seemed to be intently clicking away at the computer, although she was smiling, so Kate didn't think it could be work.

"I'm sure he will be up any minute," Cordelia looked up from her work.

"He said 11:00, I know you don't keep to any schedule, but I have work to do." Kate stared at Angel's assistant. "I don't even know why I'm here."

"You don't? That's Angel for you." Kate raised an eyebrow, silently questioning Cordelia. "You know it goes with the whole I'm-a-vampire-with-a-soul brooding thing he has."

"Right," Kate nodded slightly.

"No common courtesy at all," Cordelia continued before the computer made a beep. "Ooh mail." She went back into her own little world.

Minutes later Angel finally made his appearance, "Kate, thanks for coming." He guided her into his office.

"What's this about, Angel," Kate got straight to the point after refusing the chair he offered her.

"I need a favour."

"Go on," Kate frowned slightly.

"I know you probably won't agree, but I don't think Cordelia or Wesley would be willing to do it." He looked at her with a blank face. "I have someone who is being released from jail tomorrow, she needs picking up."

"And you want me to play chauffeur?" Kate asked incredulously.

"The thing is I don't think she wants to be released, I'm worried she is going to run."

"They don't want to be let out?"

Angel sighed, "The charges were dropped, but she wants to be punished, if she can't have that she might seek it out."

"Why me?"

"Because you were the arresting officer and the only other person she knows in LA, well apart from Wolfram & Hart."

"You're talking about, um what was her name?" Kate asked although she knew it. Faith's confession to her had been very unusual to say the least. Stabbing a mayors assistant with a wooden stake, killing a professor on orders from a mayor who died in mysterious circumstances, assault victims in LA and town called Sunnydale, not to mention a contract with W&H for killing a vampire. She wondered who this teenager was, but never got the opportunity to question her alone.

"Faith."

"The charges were dropped? She confessed."

"Apparently the evidence got thrown out at a Probable Cause hearing. I thought you would have known."

"I wasn't called to give evidence."

"All I'm asking is for you to make sure she gets here before anything happens."

"Why don't you send a taxi? Or one of your employees. Frankly Angel you're wasting my time."

"She doesn't trust either of them and-

"She doesn't trust me, she doesn't know me."

"Yes she does." Kate silently asked a question with eyebrow. "She wrote to me not long after being arrested, telling me how she was. She mentioned that you seemed nice for a cop." Angel smiled briefly.

Kate sighed, "Alright, I'll do this."

"Thank you." He gave her the details and she left wondering what she was getting into.

"Thanks baby," Faith winked at the guard as he delivered her to the lobby. He grunted as he none to gently let go of her. She looked around for the person who was supposed to be picking her up. Detective Lockley: blonde, blue eyes, would be a babe if she weren't a tight-ass cop, actually treated her humanely the couple of times she had seen her, and lastly a friend of Angel's. She didn't see her around, and there was no way she was going to stick around a prison, so she made her way down the steps to the parking lot.

"Faith," she heard her name called and turned to see the aforementioned blonde walking from the opposite direction. She was wearing typical detective clothes, Faith noticed, conservative but stylish

"That's my name." Faith smiled. Hey, the cop may have volunteered for this job, but the didn't mean she had to like it.

"My car's over here." Kate pointed behind her. She slowly approached the teenager assessing her state. She seemed unconcerned about the situation, but Kate knew the brunette probably had a myriad of emotions running through her at the moment.

"Lead the way, Detective," Faith smirked. She could run, but this might be interesting. "So how did you end up with doing Angel's dirty work?"

"It's a favour."

"A favour huh?" Faith found that interesting. "As in 'I'll scratch your back, you do mine', or something a little more personal?"

"Jealous?" Kate masked her uncomfortableness.

"Hardly, been there, done that." Kate whipped her head around, surprised. Faith took that in. "Good kisser, except those fangs get in the way, you know."

"Actually I wouldn't." Kate unlocked the car and got in, Faith jumped in the seat next to her.

"Yeah, you probably remind him too much of B," Faith continued once she buckled up.

"B?"

"Buffy," Faith said the name, thinking of the person in question and not in a good way.

"Buffy?" Kate had a good idea who she was, but she wanted to see what information Faith would divulge.

"You know the girl that was there that night trying to get Angel to stop covering for me."

"Right, the blonde who accused me of trying to murder a vampire, if that's even possible."

"Yeah, also been there, done that."

Kate nodded, "Not my first time either."

"Ooh, you got a pair on you, Detective. I like that." Faith smirked and turned on the radio finally finding an alternative station. Kate looked over at her then turned it off. "Well that probably was my," paused thinking, "fourth time trying to dust him, so I'm ahead of you there. So how did you find out he had no pulse?"

Kate turned to the young woman wondering if she was just making small talk or was actually interested. It might good to talk about it with someone. There had been no one to talk to since she had learned about evil evil things.. "He was fighting one of his creations and I was on the scene trying to solve a series of murders."

"Let me guess, all with teeth marks on the neck." The detective nodded. "Was it Dru, Spike, no wait he has a chip in his head?"

"What?" Kate saw for the first time Faith knew a lot more about Angel than she thought possible. "How did you find out he was a - a"

"A vampire?" Kate nodded again. "Long story cut short, I can't remember when I found out, but it's my job to know."

"Job?"

"You don't know. Shit, you thought one of them might have the courtesy to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"I'm a Vampire Slayer, like B." Kate stopped the car on the curb in shock. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes while Kate took this in and Faith let her.

"Well I guess that explains why you tried to," Kate made a stabbing motion.

"Dust him."

"You said Buffy is one too?" Kate thought Buffy was trying to protect Angel.

"Gee, you don't know at all, do you?"

"Well, everyone's been reluctant to talk about it." No kidding, she thought.

"Not even Queen C, herself?" Faith clarified when Kate gave her a questioning look, "Cordelia."

"No, although I know about the latest fashion thanks to her, we don't share information." Kate smiled faintly at Faith's name for the assistant.

"You know I'm hungry, I'll tell you a story if you feed me," Faith leered, but Kate was already pulling out and into the moderate traffic. "Is that a no?"

"I have work to do."

"Right," Faith said disappointed. Life had been looking at least interesting with this detective prodding her for information, may have even had a chance for a fuck if she swung that way.

"What are you doing for lunch?" Kate decided to risk the awkward situation for a chance to hear what the young woman would say.

"You DO want to feed me," Faith leered. "You feed me, I'll feed you." She couldn't help herself, the woman looked so good, and this was her first day out of jail for several weeks. Hell her last session in the bed that she could remember was with Buffy's beefstick. She mentally grimaced.

Kate ignored the suggestive remark, "I'll pick you up around 12:30."

"Your place or mine," Faith turned her head towards the woman, trying gauge her reaction. Disappointingly for her, Kate again ignored the comment.

"I know a little café not far from Angel's office."

"Ooh, public place, you're not a vanilla girl are you Detective."

"You'll never find out." Kate said as she gunned the car from a traffic light. Faith nodded smiling. So, the detective wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She was warming up to her, though still she couldn't forget that fact that this was a cop she was in a car with.

"I'm surprised you want to have lunch with a nut job." Faith looked out the window at the familiar streets.

Kate felt a pang of sympathy for the hatred in the woman's voice. "I don't see you that way." She steered the car into the street where the office was situated.

"Violent and unpredictable, those were your words if I recall."

Kate pulled up outside the building and turned towards Faith, "You want a chance to change, to start fresh?" Faith nodded. "That's what I'm doing." Faith sat back in the car seat, stunned at the woman's sincerity. She briefly closed her eyes, then grabbed the door handle and in quick motions exited the car. She leaned back in and looked into the detective's clear blue eyes.

"You shouldn't trust me, but thank you. I'll see you later." She closed the door and without looking behind her she walked into the building with her bag slung over her shoulder. Kate watched her go in, a feeling of protectiveness felt somewhere deep in her heart. She wasn't sure what a Slayer was, only the name gave some clue, but Faith's confession made a lot more sense than it did before. Whatever it was, it certainly shouldn't be given to young women still finding their place in world, no wonder the dark haired Slayer found the responsibility hard. She at 27 still couldn't believe the things she'd seen and as a detective she had seen plenty.

"I'm glad to see you really do work here, Cordy," Faith said as she entered the office.

"Just to let you know, I don't agree with having you here but hopefully Angel knows what he's doing." Cordelia never looked up from the information she was adding into the computer.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Faith tried for joking but it came out more serious. That made Cordelia look up.

"Hey, Angel is not into democracy. I had no vote whatsoever. So where's cop lady?" Her head went down to the papers in front of her.

"Back at work. Where's Soul Boy?"

"In his office, he's waiting for you." Faith slowly walked to the door and opened the door. Angel looked up from the book he was reading and smiled slightly. Faith looked tired, but otherwise healthy.

"Nice chauffeur service you got going, big guy, not bad looking either." She plopped down in the chair opposite the desk

"You okay?" He crossed his arms and leaned back.

"Five by five." Faith said evenly.

"You okay?" He asked again. Faith bowed her head looking intently at the scratch patterns on the desk. "It's okay if you're not, Faith. I know it must be hard to be here."

Faith looked at the tortured vampire, "I can't believe I'm out. I mean one minute I'm there and while I don't like being in a cell, it was helping, then some fucked up lawyer decides to make it his number one passion to get me off. I mean how am I supposed to change if it's all too easy," Faith spat out the last sentence. "One slap on the hand and I'm home free. It wasn't meant to work this way."

"How was it meant to work, Faith?"

"I was supposed to be out of action for ten to fifteen, way past slaying age, then I don't know retire to Florida."

"Have you thought what you want to do?" Angel asked carefully.

"Apart from giving another Slayer a shot at it?"

"Faith," Angel couldn't find the right words, "that's not what I meant."

"Chill. I don't know. I guess Sunnydale is out. No way B is gonna want me back up there. I really haven't got anywhere," Faith's voice dropped out as she realised her situation.

"That's what I thought. So I'm offering you a job."

"Angel, I don't want your charity or pity," Faith steeled her voice.

"That's not what I'm saying." Angel sighed wishing he were better at this kind of thing. "I'm talking about helping you get back on your feet, until you decide what you want to do. You can train here, with me if you like, and we'll find somewhere for you to stay. Faith, I know you didn't get satisfaction from the justice system, but you took a very important step in the right direction. You just have to find another way to seek your way back." They sat in silence while Faith digested this information. Angel returned to reading as he waited for her answer.

Faith thought about the offer, it sounded good. B wouldn't be pleased she was working for her ex, but these days B didn't figure much in Faith's plans. While still not over her feelings for the other Slayer, she was slowly accepting that B and her together was just not gonna happen, not after the body-switch and certainly not after B coming to LA for vengeance. No matter how it hurt, the Slayer bond they once had going was over.

A thought occurred to her, "What about the Council?"

Angel looked up, "They are not going to try and retrieve you after the last time."

"How do you know?"

"Believe me, Faith, they might be fools, but they are not total idiots. They lost valuable men last time. Besides if they do come we'll tackle that when it comes."

"What about Wesley, I don't think he's gonna be pleased at seeing my face every fucking day reminding him that I fucked him over." Faith didn't want to see her ex-Watcher.

"You'd both have to face that, but he was willing to let you come here today." Angel remembered how calm Wesley was when Angel laid out his plan to him and Cordelia.

"And Cordelia?"

"She'll cope," Angel gave her a wry smile.

"Wolfram & Hart?"

"Believe me Faith, if the best they can do is one measly slime demon we'll be fine. Sunnydale was much more dangerous in terms of players trying to take you off the map."

"Right," Faith smiled at the memory of good times in Sunnydale. "Angel...I don't know... I'm not sure I can do this." Faith crawled back into her shell at the thought of trying to start again.

"Faith, I told you it wouldn't be easy. Sometimes it feels better to give in to that feeling and loss of control. But YOU can do it. You've already taken the first step."

Faith laughed, "You read that in some self-help book. Got that speech ready for all those lost souls who walk through this door."

"Is it working?"

Faith looked down again then grinned, "Yeah, you got me."

"Good." Angel nodded and put the book down.

"So when do I start, boss?"

"When you're ready."

"Do I get to slay?" Faith's face brightened.

Angel looked hard at her, "We'll work on that slowly."

Faith let out a breath, "Wicked cool."

"You must be hungry, I'll have Cordelia get some food."

"No that's alright."

"Faith, you can't-"

She held up her hand, "I have a lunch date."

"Already," Angel said puzzled.

"Relax, Detective Lockley offered. Seems someone didn't tell her anything about the current situation."

"Faith," Angel warned, "Kate has had a hard time accepting and learning about the demon world."

"She asked, Angel. Besides, she seems to want to learn all she can. That can't hurt." Angel glared at her in disagreement. "But if you don't want me spilling the beans on Sunnydale life or your varied past, I won't."

"I just don't think giving her all that information in one lump is a good idea. It is a lot to take in."

"Yeah, she nearly swerved into the sidewalk when I told her I was a Slayer. At least we'll be sitting down." Faith smiled in memory of the morning's events.

"Tread carefully, she hasn't had the best time being introduced to this other side of life."

"Big hurt?"

"Oh yeah," Angel said, "she lost someone close to her who was screwed up in dirty demon dealings."

"Ouch," Faith said in empathy thinking back to her first watcher, the pain from that experience still fresh in her mind as it had been the day she witnessed her torturous death.

"Be careful, Faith, sometimes ignorance is bliss."

"Another cliché, Angel, gee you're becoming a regular shrink."

"Never." Angel said joking, yet they both knew that he wasn't.

"I'm going for walk." Angel started to protest, his face betraying his concern. Faith gave him a smile. "Don't worry I need to stretch my legs for a bit, feel the semi-fresh LA air. I'll be back before Detective Lockley comes."

Kate stood outside Angel's office, inexplicably nervous about going in. Maybe it was the thought that the woman she was having lunch with could throw her across a room with a flick of the wrist. 'Violent and unpredictable,' did have some truth in it. Though she was willing to give Faith a chance, it didn't mean that Faith would take it in good faith. She had even said not to trust her. Drawing a big breath and letting it out she opened the door.

"Detective Lockley, come in," Wesley invited, "Faith is in Angel's office."

Kate opened the inner door to see Faith sitting seemingly staring out the window, except the blinds were down.

"Hey," she gently called out. Faith turned her head and flashed a quick smile. Then she remembered Kate was a cop, a person that enforced that law, not broke it. Kate looked around, almost nervously, "Angel not around?"

"He's downstairs," Faith saw Kate's relief. "Was is it with you two?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You both act uncomfortable when I mention the others name. You sure you haven't gotten a little bit personal with him?"

"No, him being dead is a real turn off," Kate deadpanned. "Come on, I'm getting hungry." They made their way out the car in silence, each taking time to appraise the other. Faith felt mildly comfortable in the detective's presence. She hadn't judged her too harshly for her crimes and seemed to be willing to understand what Faith had gone through. In fact, Kate seemed like the kind of person Faith should be friends with, not those losers she had hung around in Boston or the rent-a-friends in Sunnydale. Plus her beauty was a bonus.

Silent minutes went by as they drove a few blocks down a small café. Kate, for not the first time, wondered what was going through the teenager's head. One minute the girl was flirting with her, the next her face would go blank as in a daze. What secrets were hidden behind those eyes and what had turned a young woman into a brutal killer? Kate wanted to know, and not just out of curiosity, but so she could understand and maybe even help this girl. The feelings of wanting to watch over her came unbidden and she couldn't understand her own motives. As a police officer, she knew she shouldn't become involved personally at any level, but here she was.

After sitting down and watching Faith order enough for two courses, Kate decided to get straight the point of this meeting.

"So you are a Slayer. What exactly is that?" Faith grinned and launched into a brief history of how Vampires Slayers were called, the Council of Watchers, what Buffy was doing in Sunnydale and how Faith herself was an anomaly in the system.

"So Wesley was your Watcher?" Kate asked when Faith finished. As Faith had talked, she had polished off half her lunch, while Kate ate more leisurely listening intently to the young woman's story that had filled in many blanks for her. Kate found herself feeling even more sympathy for Faith and even for Buffy. To be told your destiny was to fight demons and to be expendable on top of that, that had to be rough.

"Yes, until I went to the dark side." Faith looked down before facing the hostility she expected from the law enforcer

"The dark side?" Kate kept her eyes on dark unreadable ones.

"Literally." Faith stated, surprised the detective showed no signs of wanting to run out the door and pull a gun her. Kate silently urged her on with a look. "I teamed with a demon who was to be his Ascension and devour everyone and everything he could." She struggled to keep her voice even.

"Ascension?"

"He turned into a big snake thing." Faith clarified.

"Right," Kate nodded not understanding at all. Faith looked down not able to keep eye contact. She hadn't talked about the boss or his demise to anyone, and the thought that B had killed him still hurt although she knew it was imperative that it was done. Kate seeing Faith's remorse over her crimes reached across and placed a hand on the one tightly gripping a fork. Faith looked up amazed at the concern and care that the detective had etched on her face. There were no words spoken, but both of them felt a connection. Kate slowly withdrew her hand worried the slayer was going to break down from the turmoil going on in her head.

"You obviously regret that and I'm glad you realised your mistakes. It takes a strong person to do that and I've seen so many more criminals go down the easy road." Kate praised her.

"I hurt a lot of people." Faith returned to blank stare.

"But the demon didn't win."

"No, B killed him." Faith stated with a hint of bitterness in her voice. She started eating again to give her time to compose herself. Kate noticed the bitterness, but didn't want to press Faith's fragile state.

"Are you from Sunnydale?" Faith shook her head, still eating. "Where is your family?"

"Dead." Faith never looked up.

"Same here," finally Kate had found some common ground. Faith stopped chewing and took a drink. She gestured for Kate to continue, but Kate couldn't find the words.

"Oh." The bomb dropped for Faith. "You recently lost them?"

"No," she said then became suspicious, "Angel told you about me?"

"Not really. He said you were new to the knowledge of vamps and shit and that you recently lost someone close to you. That's all he told me. I swear." Faith didn't want to anger the detective, and make her close up just as they were getting somewhere, wherever that was.

"My mother died when I was young, my father..." Kate searched for her voice, angry with herself that she couldn't keep it steady, "a few of months ago. Yours?"

"Dead alcoholic mother, never knew my father, he's as good as dead." Faith finished her food yet continued to push her fork around.

"Rough life."

"Bet you've seen hundreds like me, huh?" Faith challenged the almost pity in Kate's voice. Kate nodded.

"But they don't all have the responsibility of saving the world." Kate replied and felt satisfied as a flicker of surprise went across Faith's face.

"I even screwed that up," Faith laughed roughly.

"Big job, you're bound to make mistakes." Kate gently tried to offer Faith an alternate point of view on her life.

"B doesn't. No, she manages college, friends, family and a boyfriend while she's out slaying those demons." Faith's eyes turned dark in self-disgust. Kate was taken aback by this passive display of aggression. She knew she had just glimpsed the Slayer.

"She's never made a mistake?" Kate asked sceptically.

"Well of course, I mean not staking Angel was a big one, but she rectified that."

Kate became confused as to Faith's words, "She did?"

Faith realised what she had just said, "Forget I said that."

"Why?" Kate pushed.

"It's complicated. Angel and Buffy."

"Angel and Buffy?" Kate nodded as Faith filled in a few more blanks.

"Yeah big love, big loss. Caused a lot of hurt. Then there's Angel, B and me. Not the prettiest situation."

"I can imagine."

"Actually I don't think you can." Kate glared at her. "No offence, but understanding vamps with souls and Slayers is not easy.

"Slayers fall for vampires with souls?" Kate joked

"No, one Slayer fell for the vamp, the other..." Faith didn't need to get into that.

"Tried to kill him?" Kate guessed.

"Yeah." Faith let Kate think that was the end of the explanation, but Kate was in cop mode.

"Because you were just doing your job?" She peered intently at the slayer

"At first yeah, plus I thought he'd gone all wiggy again."

"Wiggy?" Kate smiled at the teenager's slang.

"Evil, Angelus, lost his soul." Faith shrugged

"That can happen?" Kate asked worried, maybe Faith had the right idea when she tried to stake him.

"Only on a certain occasion, or by extremely powerful magic." Kate wanted Faith to continue. "I don't think it's a good idea to tell you, not many people know about the escape clause in Angel's curse. Even Angel didn't know until it happened."

"Oh, is it likely to happen again?"

"No, it only happened once in a hundred years, plus I don't think Angel will ever find himself in the same situation again." Faith smiled thinking of the way he and B skirted around the sex issue. Too bad B wasn't up for a little one on one Slayer action. Don't go there, she thought.

"You seem to trust him," Kate said noticing the small smile playing on the slayer's lips.

"In non-Slaying matters yes, but if he ever goes evil again, I'd stake him."

"Just like that?" Kate felt a little safer.

"Yes, I wouldn't think twice about it, others might, but I wouldn't."

"Are you going back to Sunnydale?" Kate drank the last of her iced tea.

"No, bad things seemed to happen up there and I'm not just talking about demons. Besides B would probably run me out. Angel's offered me a job for a while, just to get me started. I don't know what happens from there." The detective noticed that Faith seemed to open up more once the conversation turned to the future. "Not much work out there for a dropout who's really good at using a wooden stake." She shrugged her shoulders. They fell into a comfortable silence and Faith found herself wanting to spend more time with the blonde cop, but there was no way a detective was gonna hang out with a violent teenager just gone good. Talk about opposites.

"I need to get back to work," Kate said interrupting both their thoughts.

"Right, of course," Faith said nonchalantly. She stood up and waited by the door while Kate paid the bill. They silently got in the car and drove back to the office.

"Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your honesty and I know how hard it must have been."

Faith laughed, "That's gotta be the first time someone's thanked me for my HONESTY, when I wasn't actually lying."

Kate gave a wry smile, "I guess I should be really thanking you for being honest, then."

"Yeah, I figured you needed more information, demon fighting is harder while being kept in the dark ... I should know."

Kate placed on hand on Faith's leg, "Faith, you're going to be fine." Faith looked from Kate's eyes to the hand on her leg and back again. At first, she thought Kate wanted something from her, but she realised that this person was, but it wasn't anything to do with sex.

"Thanks," Faith choked up. "Will I see you around?" Desperately hoping the answer was yes.

Kate smiled warmly, "Of course." She took out her purse and handed Faith a business card. "This is my direct line at work, I'll try and help you out if I can."

"Will do," Faith tucked the card in her jacket. She reluctantly told herself to get out of the car, but she didn't want to leave the friendly detective. "I'll see you around, then," she finally said and opened the door. They locked eyes for a moment before Faith got out and didn't look back as she made her way into the building. Kate watched her go, amazed at the courage of the young woman. Maybe Faith was like many other teenagers she had come across, but Faith had something none of them had: ability to want to change her life. _____________________________________________________________

Faith crashed downstairs after coming back from lunch. Angel tried to ask her about how it went but Faith, emotionally exhausted, fell asleep. Unlike jail, she drifted off straight away and fell into a dream filled sleep.

"Uh!" Angel rushed downstairs hearing a scream from his apartment. Faith was tossing around, profusely sweating.

"Faith," he tried to hold her still, "Faith, it's alright. Faith, hey." Slowly the words sank into her consciousness.

"Angel?" She opened her eyes and wrapped her arms around his cold body. Whimpering she clutched the vampire's back.

"Nightmare?" Angel said gently. He felt Faith's answering nod as she tried to bury her hands deeper in his back.

"Wanna talk?"

Faith slowly pulled back, "Knife ... B ... blood." She looked down at the bedspread. "Same old, same old." She pulled herself back in Angel's arms. They stayed like that for a while, before Angel's phone rang.

"I have to get that." Faith was laying back when Angel came back. "I have to go out for a while."

"A job?" Faith asked keeping her eyes closed.

"Sort of." He pressed some money in her hand. "Go get something to eat, I don't know when I'll be back. Hopefully it won't take long. No one is upstairs."

"Okay."

"Faith," he paused looking at the non-responsive girl, "you don't have to go anywhere, you are welcome here as long as you want."

"Okay."

"Will you be here when I get back?" Angel tried the direct approach. Faith opened her eyes and looked at him blankly.

"I'm not gonna run."

"Good." Angel grabbed a weapon or two and went out into the early evening. Faith drifted in and out for another couple of hours before waking up with a massive appetite. She grabbed her jacket and made her way to a half-decent take away shop. It didn't have the atmosphere of the café the detective took her to earlier in day. People waiting in the shop were the people she was used to. Those fucked by the world, hidden from the glamour the city projected to the outside world, those who lurked in the shadows, surviving on government handouts and petty crimes. She took a booth in the back corner, wary of the group of teenage boys talking in hushed tones and surveying the other customers with contempt.

After eating her fill, she felt restless. Normally she would be out on the prowl for her two favourite things; sex and violence. As a Slayer, she lived for the night, the excitement that at any moment she could be called to use those instincts and to feel the blood flowing and adrenaline pumping through her body. Then after a good fight that bloodlust could be tempered by a good fuck. She shook her head; she couldn't or shouldn't do that tonight. She didn't need to get back into that groove. Yet, there was nothing to do at Angel's except sleep and watch TV. After being in jail doing exactly those things she needed to feel her freedom, embrace the fact that at least someone wanted her on the streets.

She found a club, drawn by the heavy beats that could be heard from the street. Making her way in she let the smoky air draw her in and onto the dance floor. Letting loose was exactly what she needed. Dancing, spinning, capturing several men's attention, her body moved to the rhythm of the music. One young man in particular kept coming back, almost begging Faith to show an interest in him. Faith found him a good distraction from her earlier feelings and led him to a table.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asked leaning in close so Faith could hear him. Faith shook her head and kept moving to the music.

"I'm going to get one," he said his breath blowing on Faith's cheek. God, he smelled good, Faith thought as she indicated that she understood. When he came back Faith was ready for some action. Cheekily taking a gulp of his drink she pressed her open mouth to his and shared his drink. Responding to Faith's invitation, they shared several heated hard kisses. Faith thought it was time to leave and was just about to suggest it, when the music stopped. A commotion came from the bar as police forced their way through the crowd. Confusion seeped into the place and the crowd quickly became panicked.

"You wanna go get outta here?" Faith turned to lover boy.

He grinned, "Sounds good to me. My place is about ten minutes away."

"Best offer I've had all night," Faith took his hand and was just about to go when she thought she heard her name. Turning she came face to face with a pissed off Detective Kate Lockley.

"Detective." Faith nodded, putting her arm around her date. "I was just going." She gave a sexy smile to her date and turned back to the detective. "Nice to see you again." She looked at the cop then for show kissed lover boy who had no complaints. He pulled her along anxious to get out of there.

"Hold it," Kate grabbed Faith's arm.

"You gonna arrest me?" Faith shook her arm loose.

"No. Does Angel know you're here?" Kate was concerned, the girl had only been out of jail a few hours and here she was going god-knows-where with a stranger.

"I don't need his permission. I haven't had fun in a while, thought I'd celebrate my freedom." Faith smiled back at her date who showed no signs of wanting to leave.

"You go girl," her date cheered her on. Faith gave him another kiss, while she knew Kate was watching intently. She saw the detective narrow her eyes. Jealously? She asked herself.

"I'm taking you back to Angel's." No, just anger.

"Oh please, try me." Faith challenged.

"Back off bitch," her date finally had enough of this cop ruining his night. "She doesn't want you interfering." Kate moved a step closer to the couple.

"You know I'll be telling Angel," Kate threatened, running out of options bar handcuffing the teenager. Actually now she thought about, "How did you get in anyway, you're underage."

"Come on, Detective. I've been clubbing for years, it's not that hard. A wink there, a promise here."

"I'm either taking you back or I'm arresting you for being in this club."

Faith laughed, "Yeah right." But one look at Kate taking her cuffs off her belt and she realised the detective was actually serious. She couldn't afford to be arrested. "Fine, I'll go with you."

"Hey wait a minute, this is police harassment." Her date wasn't going down without a fight.

"Sorry, my boss knows her. Give me your number, we can do this again," Faith calmed him down, not feeling calm herself. He quickly gave it to her. Faith kissed him again, long and hard, making the detective wait until they were finished. "I'll call you when I can."

"Don't wait too long," the man leered at her and strolled away. Faith glared at the detective but followed her to the parking lot where several people were being read their rights and herded into police cars. She waited while Kate had a few words with another policeman while pointing at Faith. Then they got into Kate's the car, but Kate didn't make a move to turn on the engine.

"Satisfied, I sure know I'm not gonna be tonight," Faith looked out the windshield looking but not seeing the activity happening several yards away.

"There are safer activities to choose for fun." Kate didn't know how to proceed with the slayer. Sexual tension rose off the woman and she knew that she had just interrupted a very private moment, but she couldn't help but want to stop Faith having a meaningless one night stand.

Faith snickered, "I don't like playing it safe, too boring."

"That's what got you in trouble the first time, I DON'T want that happening again." Kate knew she had hit the mark when Faith flinched yet the slayer continued to stare out the window.

"Why should you care?"

"Because I do," Kate quietly admitted. Hearing the sincerity in the cop's voice Faith turned to face her.

"Racking up points with my boss?"

"No," Kate took a breath, "trying to win points with a Slayer."

"Trying to arrest me, funnily enough not doing it." Faith couldn't figure out what this detective was about. It was almost as if she really did care about her, which was just not possible.

"I'm sorry about that."

"No you're not," Faith smirked, "you would it again, if you had the chance."

Kate raised both eyebrows in response, "You're right."

"So don't you have to get back to arresting people other than me?"

"I'm taking you back." Kate started the car and started backing out of the parking lot.

"Angel's probably not gonna be there. He went out for a while." Faith didn't know why she shared that. God, the detective could have dropped her off and she could relieve some of the tension she was feeling by getting back out in the city again. Having the beautiful blonde sitting next to her wasn't helping her body tell itself there was gonna be no fun tonight.

"If I take you back are you going to stay there?" Kate could see the answer in Faith's body language.

"Of course."

Kate smiled, "It would make it easier if you didn't lie to me."

"It comes naturally, you're a cop. Brain's not programmed to be truthful to one." Faith's mood was coming back around. Too bad the woman wouldn't offer to relieve Faith's cravings.

"Oh I see." Kate passed a fast-food joint and remembered she hadn't had any dinner save a coffee and pastry. "You hungry?"

"And horny." The words passed Faith's lips automatically. "Sorry, my bad. For me the two go together. Slaying always does that to me."

"You went slaying tonight?" Kate asked as she pulled into the drive-thru lane.

"No. I'll just have some fries." Kate shook her head as she waited for the order. Certainly, life with Faith was not dull by any means. No wonder Wesley lost any authority he had over her. He was more the buried in a book type than any superhero mentor.

"Hold on to that," Kate passed her order to Faith and drove out.

"Mmm, non-prison food," Faith chomped down on the fries. She handed a couple of bills over to the detective. "You forget there is something that tastes better than undercooked vegetables."

"My treat," Kate handed the money back. She decided she had got her money's worth at the look of delight on Faith's face when eating fast-food fries. Who knew the slayer could find pleasure in something so simple.

"Thanks." Faith mumbled through her eating. "So what was going down at the club? Drugs?"

"Drugs." Kate stated as she made her way through the streets towards Angel's for the third time that day.

"Never got involved with that. The high I get when Slaying has always been enough."

"It makes you feel powerful?"

"Shit yeah. There's nothing like it. I have no idea where our powers come from, but when I'm in that zone it's like I'm invincible."

"Addictive?"

"Very. Especially when you know that you are stronger than any man, and a lot of demons. That is quite an advantage in a fight."

Kate once again pulled up to the curb outside Angel's and cut the engine.

"Thanks for the lift," Faith opened the door and got out. She sighed when she realised that she couldn't shake the detective.

"Nice try," Kate smiled as Faith lead the way down to Angel's apartment. No one was home, something that Faith was thankful for. Kate invited herself in and proceeded to start in on her food while Faith flopped in a chair across from her. The slayer looked the detective up and down, blatantly staring. Kate once again felt the sexuality roll off the young woman, making her wonder if Faith may have needed to blow off some steam. Maybe it was part of being a Slayer.

"What other advantages are there to being a Slayer other than increased strength?" Kate rolled up the paper bag the food had come in.

"I come more alive during the night. The hardest thing about jail was trying to function before ten in the morning." Faith leaned her elbows on the table

"Makes sense, since most creatures come out during the night," Kate remarked trying not to stumble on the word 'creatures.'

"I don't really know anything else, from what I've learned Slayers aren't a factory line, we all are different."

"You and Buffy?" Kate sensed there was quite a lot of history between the two Slayers.

"She likes to think we're totally different, but we're not. She has the same darkness in her as well. She just has a lot of self-control. A whole lot," Faith emphasised thinking about B's famous control.

"You don't get on?" Kate dug deeper, sensing Faith hadn't put up her barriers yet.

Faith's eyes darted to the stairs, "We did at first, but B wasn't too pleased that there was another Slayer. You know, she had the deal where she was the Chosen One, then she had to deal that a second Slayer was active. Cut into her pride."

"I would have thought a second Slayer was a good thing," Kate stated watching Faith's evasive body language closely.

"B's ... well, as I said she likes control. When I went off the rails, she and I were so close to..." Faith trailed off thinking back to that fateful night where she saved B's life only to turn up on the Mayor's doorstep.

"To what?" Kate wondered what happened, was it Buffy that made Faith feel the dark side was better for her?

Faith could either go for the truth or lie, but she didn't know which one. For some reason, lying to the detective was becoming an unpopular choice. Faith bowed her head and softly answered, "To being really close." Kate took that in, wondering if Faith was implying a more than friendly relationship or if she was reading more into it because of Faith's earlier actions.

"She abandoned you?"

"Well, yes and no. She tried, but B's all holier-than-thou sometimes. It came across as if she was judging me too harshly for something that we were both at fault for."

"So you found a better deal with this demon?" Kate felt she was getting somewhere with Faith as she hadn't completely closed up yet, like other times.

"Basically," Faith smiled weakly at the detective. "Stupid, huh?"

"Probably," Kate tried to keep her voice noncommittal. Judging Faith was not going to help, especially if Buffy had already fulfilled that role. "Does Buffy know you are out?"

"Angel's said nothing, but I bet he has called her. She'll be down in a day or two."

"For what?"

"Who knows, last time it was to kill me, maybe she'll give me a little break this time."

"She was going to kill you!" Kate shook her head; there was no way that was going to happen. She may be a demon fighter, but that didn't mean that she could kill humans..

"Yeah may have had something to do with me trying to ruin her life." Faith shrugged as if she thought Buffy was justified in her actions.

"That doesn't mean she has the right to kill you." Faith could see the detective riled about this news. Maybe she was telling the truth and she did care about Faith.

"Think about it, she's the only one who could stop me."

"She could have taken you to the police -"

Faith laughed, "The only reason I was in jail is because I chose to be there. I found a way to break out within a few hours when I was first put in. Those guards are so strict in their patterns."

"Oh," Kate's perspective on Faith's redemption had just changed. Angel's worry the day before had been warranted.

"Yeah," Faith nodded and stood up. "B is -" A noise stopped Faith and she whirled around ready for battle.

"Relax, it's me," Angel closed the door at the top of the stairs. "Kate."

"Angel, I found her wandering the streets, thought I'd give her a lift back," Kate stood as the vampire came down the stairs. Faith gave her a glance and a smile before turning back.

"Good night?"

"Yes." Angel took off his jacket and looked at the women.

"I'd better be going," the detective wanted to get out of there.

"Thanks," Faith turned to Kate and gave her a warm smile.

"It's alright, just don't go wandering around the streets in the dark again," Kate pointed a finger at her, also smiling.

"I'll be a good girl, Detective, I promise," Faith mocked pleaded. Kate chuckled before heading out. "She's alright, Angel." Faith said after she had gone. Not just alright, Faith thought, she covered for her. The cop knew how to bend the rules.

_____________________________________________________________

Faith again found herself alone in Angel's apartment the next afternoon. After spending a restless night on the bed, Angel and her went through a cautious workout. It felt good to finally have a weapon back in her hands and to put herself through her paces without having to look over one shoulder at anyone watching. Cordelia and Wesley kept well away after Faith had given an apology to both of them for past wrongs, which was easier than Faith thought it would be. They were now out researching or something. Angel had gone on another errand somewhere, extracting a promise from her to stay in the building before he left. A knock at the door shifted her attention from some daytime soap. The door opened and Kate stuck her head in.

"Mind if I come in?"

"No," Faith smiled in pleasant surprise as the blonde came down the stairs. "Angel's not here. No one is."

"I came to see how you were," Kate took a step closer, noticing for the first time that Faith looked weary.

"No, really," Faith switched off the set and turned her attention to the cop. She was dressed casually. "Not working today?"

"Undercover work tonight."

"Who you smoking out?" Faith stood up and invited Kate to sit at the kitchen table.

"Still working on the drug case." Kate sat down.

"Right, I'd offer you something to drink, but the only thing Angel has is blood." Kate winced. "Whoops. Guess you didn't need to know that."

"Actually it answers a couple of questions I had."

"Right, yeah. It's not human either."

"Oh, he doesn't need human blood?" Kate asked puzzled

"No," a new voice came from the stairs.

"Buffy." Faith thought, talk about déjà vu.

"So they let you out," she came down the stairs and stood about two feet from the two women.

"Don't you ever knock?" Faith stood, willing herself to stay calm.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Buffy met the other Slayer's eyes.

"Trying to stay out of your way."

"How thoughtful of you," Buffy took a step closer. "So you decide to stay with Angel."

"His idea."

"How long did it take to accept. Ten seconds."

"Look you two obviously have issues, don't bring me into them." Faith backed off a little.

"That's interesting coming from you." Buffy wasn't about to let Faith get the upper hand in this fight.

"I'm not interested in Angel. You know that."

"It's not that I'm worried about, it's your track record in trying to kill him," Buffy's eyes bored into Faith's.

"That's not gonna happen again. The guy saved my life." Faith looked away unable to stand the guilt trip B was laying on her.

"Oh right, I forgot. He's your knight in shining armour."

"I'm sure you're his. Protecting him when he came back from hell and all that."

"You're not staying here." Buffy moved forward unfolding her arms.

"That's not your decision."

"How's Wesley feel about it?" That hurt, Faith looked down. "Thought so."

"Same way I think Giles would have felt." Faith knew that hurt Buffy, even if she didn't show it. "Bet he was real glad when Angel left Sunnydale." Kate was following the conversation carefully, but again recognised that these people had a long history together.

"I think the Council would be interested to know you're out."

"Why don't do their job for them." Faith smiled and held out her arms.

"Don't tempt me Faith," Buffy took another step and stopped a foot from her.

"Still have my knife?" Faith taunted.

"No, had no use for it after the Mayor died." Buffy counteracted.

"Pity, I could have thought about several uses for it." This verbal sparing was starting to take its toll emotionally on the younger slayer.

"You wanna go a round with me?" Buffy asked sensing Faith was gearing up for a fight.

"What ya gonna do, B. Kill me? I know you're capable."

"If I have to."

"Wait a minute," Kate got up and stood beside Faith, "that is not going to happen." Buffy turned to the detective acknowledging her for the first time. "You another of Faith's protectors."

"I will be if you keep this up," Kate moved her jacket back showing the blonde slayer her service weapon.

"Whoa, Detective. This is MY fight," Faith tried to push Kate out the way.

"I'm not letting her kill you." Kate stood her ground.

"I suggest you keep out of this, lady," Buffy glared at her. Kate glared back, not about to back down.

"What you suggest I do, B? I got nowhere to go." That shut Buffy up. For all her threats, she didn't know what to do with Faith. Her confession had been the last thing Buffy had expected. How did she handle this new side of Faith?

"I don't know," she finally admitted. "When you woke up I thought maybe there was a chance for you to change, but after ... well," Buffy trailed off but backed away from Faith in the process.

Faith smiled wryly, "I know."

"You know?"

"I peeped in that night at Giles'. When you got the phone call." Faith thought back to that night, how things could have been so different if she hadn't got riled up about B on Riley's lap.

"Oh, right. That's how you knew about Riley."

"Still with the beefstick?" Faith smiled

"Yes," Buffy hissed the word.

"So you forgave him for sleeping with me," Faith smirked, her bravado coming back.

"He didn't know it was you. Besides, I knew you would go after him. Made it easier to take the fact that it wasn't because he was attracted to you."

"Frightening experience that. He kept calling out your name, but I think I used your body in ways in that it have never has before. Nice to know you're not a real blonde." Faith smirked, and Buffy slapped her.

"Stop," Kate ordered. "I have no idea what you are talking about, but you slap her again I won't hesitate to stop you."

"Took your body out for a test run, B. Fuelled my fantasies for quite a while. Knowing how you sound when-," Kate clapped a hand over Faith's mouth.

"Don't make it worse," the detective hissed near her ear. "This is over. Buffy go back to Sunnydale, Faith is staying here."

"Excuse me, but I have unfinished business with her," Buffy stared at the detective, "you have nothing to do with it."

"So what did you do in mine?" The slayers ignored Kate's warning.

"Let's see, unfortunately I was kidnapped by the Council to get the same luxuries. But I tell you the things they said about you."

"Heard it all before, your friends gave me an earful. Did you know Willow is still pissed off at me for sleeping with Xander, gee. And what was up with that blonde witch, talk about crush, I never knew Red swung that way."

"You know about that?" Buffy asked confused, it was weeks after they had dealt with Faith that Willow had told her about her relationship with Tara.

"Of course, two minutes with them and had 'em pegged. Gotta hand it to Red, she has some kink in her." Seeing Buffy's uncertain look, Faith persisted. "Don't tell me you didn't know about them at the time?" Buffy continued staring. "You didn't, gee it was written all over their faces. Or is it the girl on girl action that has you ruffled." Buffy's look flicked for only a moment, but it was enough for Faith to pick it up. "Never knew you were a prude, B."

"I'm not."

"I don't know, you boink the undead, but get uncomfortable at the thought of lesbians. Double standard," Faith shook her finger.

"Like you can talk, you would have slept with Angel if he gave you a chance."

"Hey if I couldn't have who I wanted, having someone they slept with was the next best thing," Faith shot back. Buffy looked at Faith in shock. Faith looked at Buffy with a mirrored expression. Kate looked between them and mentally sighed. It certainly put things in perspective for all three of them.

"You, you wanted..." Buffy couldn't finish the words.

"Don't flatter yourself, you know my policy; use and lose. Would have been fun, could have loosened you up like I did when we danced. But that's in the past, I'm WAY past it," Faith said shrugging her shoulders. "Thrill went a long time ago. No spark, plus an eight month coma does things to girl's mind."

"You can stay here, Faith. But if I see you anywhere near my town, I'll be gunning for you." With that Buffy turned and headed out, slamming the door behind her. Faith wanted to run after her, to see what B thought of her confession, but she couldn't. It was over and she truthfully was getting past her feelings. She couldn't at look the detective though. Kate didn't need to know her sordid history and screw ups with the other slayer and here she was getting more than a history lesson in Faith's twisted emotions.

"You okay?" Kate asked not sure whether to reach out to the seemingly paralysed slayer. Faith turned, tears welling in her eyes. Kate gently reached out and enfolded the trembling girl in her arms. Faith nearly pushed her away, but the warmth was too inviting. Her arms hung loosely for a few moments before wrapping her arms around the detective's. A few minutes later Kate led them over to the bed where Faith renewed her cling to the detective after they sat down.

Faith slowly became aware that she was wetting Kate's top. She sat up embarrassed. "Sorry about your clothes."

Kate smiled, "Tis okay. It will dry."

"I would understand if you never want to talk to me again," Faith let go of the warmth altogether.

"Why would I want to do that?"

"I don't know, sleeping with peoples boyfriends, trying to kill others, torture, to name a few things."

"Well I don't have a boyfriend, so that's one thing I don't have to worry about," Kate tried to keep it light as she didn't want Faith dwelling on her past mistakes.

"Still leaves a long list."

"Yesterday you told me not to trust you." Faith looked up into Kate's blue eyes waiting to be rejected. "Despite that warning, I do trust you and believe me I'm not good on the trust factor with most people."

"Fool." Faith stood up and paced. "I will only end up disappointing and hurting you. One hundred percent success rate so far."

"I'm giving you a chance to change that."

"So what's the deal?" Faith faced her with a unreadable expression.

"Deal?"

"What do you want in return." Faith stared down the cop.

"Nothing," Kate said puzzled.

"Oh come on, I don't believe you're doing this from the goodness of you're heart. So, what do you want? Sex, someone to do dirty jobs, or maybe the dish on the demon world. What is it?"

"Nothing." Kate kept her eyes on Faith's, leaving herself open.

"Nothing, bullshit. Don't play me, Detective." Faith gestured wildly. "Everyone wants something."

"I don't want anything from you. Nothing that you aren't willing to give me freely." Kate kept her eyes locked with Faith's, willing the slayer to not back away. "I play it straight, Faith. I don't have time or energy for games, I have enough of that arresting assholes."

"So I'm not an asshole?" Faith desperately wanting to believe her.

"Only half the time," Kate smiled.

"Hah, hah." She sat back down on the bed. Their eyes locked again and Faith looked like she wanted to say something.

"What?" Kate prodded gently.

"I guess you want an explanation of what B and I were going on about."

"Not unless you want to tell me, although I must admit I'm curious."

"You want the long story or the short one?" Faith asked closing her eyes briefly.

"Whatever you feel comfortable with."

"You got time?"

"I have," she checked her watch, "three hours."

"Mind getting out of this place?"

"Let's go," Kate was relieved to get out of there too. Angel's place was just a little creepy for her taste. Getting in the car with Faith was becoming a ritual. "Where do you want to go?"

"Don't know, I've spent all of a week free in LA. Not many places I've visited."

Kate thought for a minute, she could take Faith to a public place, but Faith might want a little more privacy than that, so she headed in the direction of her apartment.

"Where are we?" Faith said opening the as they reached a door.

"My place," Kate said pulling out her door keys.

"There's a dirty joke somewhere there, but I don't think this is the time."

"Good call," Kate opened the door into the place she called home. Faith stepped in after the detective and took in the semi neat apartment. It looked homely, just as she would have imagined if she'd thought about it. Kate had definitely decorated the apartment. On the walls were several art works, the furniture was casual yet stylish, and stereo had pictures of people on top.

"Nice place," Faith commented.

"Thank you, have a seat," she pointed to a sofa in the living area. Faith sat down while Kate disappeared into what was probably her bedroom. The pictures on the stereo consisted of a couple, Faith concluded they were her parents, a young Kate in her uniform, probably on her graduation from the academy and a couple of others that could be relatives or friends.

"Can I get you anything?" Kate came back into the room.

"No, I'm five by five."

"What?" Kate said sitting across from her in an easy chair.

"I'm fine."

"Okay," Kate rubbed her hand together and sat back trying to think how to proceed.

"Well you know I was in Sunnydale for a while. I'm originally from Boston." Faith settled back.

"Long way to travel."

"Yeah, but I had to meet infamous Buffy. My original Watcher had told me many stories of Buffy's slaying. Anyway, Boston turned bad. My Watcher got killed so I took off to Sunnydale. Met B, she had just come back from being away." Faith explained how Buffy sent Angelus to hell and was going through a tough time when she showed up.

"I was immediately drawn to her. I mean who wouldn't be?"

"I'm not," Kate smiled.

"Right. Well, we started badly, our personalities clashing, plus she thought I was putting the moves on a boy she was interested in. But over the first few weeks we built up a good relationship and the slaying..." Faith smiled, "it was so good to be side by side fighting like we were totally in sync with each other. Until Angel showed up." Faith related in bare detail the events that had led to Gwendolyn Post's demise and the Slayer's lack of trust in each other.

"Suddenly Angel was back and his past sins were forgotten. Giles, who had his girlfriend killed by Angelus and was tortured by him wasn't too comfortable with the arrangement, but B said she had it under control."

"That explains some things." Kate thought about it, Faith thought she might have a chance with the slayer until Angel had come back. That would have hurt.

"Things went alright for a while until Giles slipped up with the Council of Watchers for not testing B on something. Thus, Wes was called to take over. None of the gang was happy with that, except Cordelia. Huh that's funny."

"What is? And who is the gang?" Kate asked following Faith's narrative, her opinion of Faith not changing for the worse. She sensed something big coming up.

"Cordelia and Wesley, they're not doing the dirty?"

"No, I don't think so," Kate answered, not really interested.

"They were practically all over each other in Sunnydale. Wonder what happened there?"

"Common sense."

Faith laughed, "Maybe. The gang. That would be B, Giles, B's best friend Willow, Xander and for a while there Cordelia and Oz. Now there's Xander's girlfriend, Willow's girlfriend and B's boyfriend all in the mix. All tight-knit and no room for a second Slayer."

"And they all know about otherworldly things?" Kate asked incredulously. These people were barely out of their teens.

"Yes. Well Oz was a werewolf and Willow and Tara are into some pretty heavy magic."

"A werewolf," Kate shook her head in disbelief.

"He was pretty cool, had a mean band going there. He was Willow's main squeeze but don't know what happened to him. Probably shafted when Willow went to bat for the other team."

"So Wesley came, then what?" Faith found interest in the blank TV screen. "Faith?" Kate switched to the sofa leant back against the right arm. Kate's nearness made Faith both nervous and encouraged.

"Decided not to listen to anything he had to say. Convinced B to do the same. We went out on our own. I'd been looking for an excuse to rope B into something, push her limits, shake that control out of her. Well it worked, she skipped school, broke into a sports store with me when we needed firepower, crashed a police car," Faith looked at Kate, "nothing personal." Kate nodded slightly.

"We were almost unstoppable, had a demon in town with a small army of groupie vamps that we were taking out." Faith took a breath, but found she couldn't continue. Kate reached over and put her hand over Faith's. "Someone, a human, got in the way."

"Oh god," Kate couldn't help but feel Faith's pain. Instinctively she moved closer to the slayer and squeezed the hand she was holding.

"Of course it was me who did the kill shot, but B was there, she was the one who had pushed him down. She couldn't handle it and put all the blame on me. It was MY problem. I was the one who had to deal. It all went downhill from there. I couldn't deal either, but there was no one there for me after B decided I needed a reality check on the situation. So, I went a little crazy. The cops were sniffing around, but they couldn't really find much." Faith stopped again and studied the carpet.

"The mayor's assistant?" Kate put the pieces together.

"Yeah. His name was Finch." Faith could see Kate remembered the name from her confession. "I think he was a bad guy, I mean he was working for the mayor."

"The mayor?"

"The Ascension demon."

"He was the mayor!" Kate shook her head.

"Yeah. Anyway, things went downhill from there. I tried to murder Xander while we were having a rough and tumble. Angel interrupted and took me to his place. He tried to tell me that I didn't have to walk down the path I was going down. I was starting to listen to him when good old Wes decided the best course of action was to kidnap me and take me back to England. Needless to say I escaped and that was it, I couldn't hang around while all these people were telling me I was bad."

"So you decided to live up to their expectations?" Kate started to understand what exactly had made this woman turn on her calling.

"Exactly. It was too easy."

"What about what you said about a coma?" Kate was startled when Faith took off her jacket and pulled up her top.

"See this," Faith pointed to the 8 inch vertical scar on her stomach. "That's B's handiwork. Got me an eight month coma."

"Oh god, you weren't joking when you said she tried to kill you," Kate was horrified. Maybe Buffy should have been the one arrested.

"Payback for poisoning Angel." Faith watched Kate's hand move closer to the scar before pulling away again.

"I didn't know vampires could be poisoned." Kate couldn't take her eyes off the damage. She had seen some nasty stuff in her work, but that looked fatal. She guessed that if Faith wasn't a slayer then she would be dead. She inwardly shivered as she didn't want to entertain that idea.

"They can," Faith launched into a summary of what was supposed to be the mayor's ascension leaving out many details about her relationship with the demon.

"So you were in a coma for eight months?" Kate didn't even know how that would feel, missing eight months of your life.

"Yeah woke up, learned what happened and took off to see the B was up to. Surprised to find Angel not there and in his place some clean-cut obviously-the-complete-opposite-of-Angel in his place. Riley, oh god, how dull is he."

"You slept with him?" Kate shook away a little jealously that surfaced inexplicably.

"For payback."

"With Buffy's body?" Kate couldn't believe she was saying this out loud.

"With B's body."

"How the fuck is that possible!" Kate exclaimed.

"Don't know, the device that switched us was a present from the mayor, post death." Faith exhausted left the sentence hanging. "Can I have a drink or something?"

"Sure," Kate removed her hand from Faith's and went into the kitchen. She came back with two glasses of soda and resumed her place next to Faith, their legs now touching as Faith had moved closer while she was gone. The warmth of the young woman was seeping through.

"I don't want to talk about the rest. Too recent." Faith took a drink.

"That's okay, I understand that it must be painful for you." Kate laughed to herself, trying to remind herself that Faith was the perp not the victim here. Somehow though, she couldn't stop thinking about Faith as the victim in all this mess as well.

"But you're helping," Faith smiled.

"I'm glad," Kate reached over and gathered Faith's empty hand in hers. "Can I just ask one question."

"Can't guarantee an answer." Faith squared herself for the onslaught.

"Do you love her?" Faith jumped up, physically shaken. That was not what she been expecting. "I'm sorry, Faith. I just wondered..." Kate stood and tried to take Faith in her arms, but she was pushed away.

"Don't." Faith moved further away. Kate wasn't clear what that was in response to. She stood patiently waiting for Faith to make the next move. Faith started slowly, "I did, once, but I meant it when I said that it is in the past. Too many things have happened for me to even feel what I once did for her." She felt arms encircle her and she embraced the support offered, wanting it more than anything at that moment. "She has never felt the same way, I knew that it would never happen."

"But you still had hope that just maybe?" Kate clutched the girl happy to be support for her.

"Until I saw Riley. Or slept with him. That turned me off." Faith moved her hands down Kate's back, feeling the warmth. Kate's own hands were clasped tightly on Faith's back. Faith felt like she never wanted to leave, which for her was a first. Hugging was something Faith had never done. She pulled back and looked at the beautiful blonde. "Oh god," she exclaimed softly and moved away from Kate.

"What is it?" Kate puzzled over the mood change.

"I can't." She picked up her jacket and put it on.

"Can't what?" Kate moved in Faith's way, blocking a path to the door.

"I can't," Faith tried to move, but the cop was determined not to let her go.

"Faith?"

"I need some air."

"Are you alright?"

"I'll see you later," Faith pushed Kate in the shoulder trying to move her but Kate pushed back managing to stand her ground. "Don't try and stop me."

"Is that a threat?" Kate asked concerned.

"If you don't move, then yes."

"Then do it," Kate stared defiantly at the slayer. Faith looked at the woman, knowing that she was probably bluffing, but she could do some damage to her if she was serious and Faith couldn't imagine hurting this wonderful person.

"I could take you down with one punch, don't make me."

"I don't want you running away, I'll take you back if that's what you want."

"I don't need watching twenty-four seven." Faith looked directly into Kate's eyes. "I'm not some charity case to make you feel like a better person."

"I don't see you like that."

"Then stop with the protective custody act." Faith saw that comment had smarted. The detective dropped her eyes for the first time since they had met. So the detective has a weak spot, she takes pride in her work.

"I just want to make sure you're safe."

"Why don't you just take me back to jail." Faith spat out leaving Kate's guard down and letting her get past the cop. "I'll be safe in there."

"Is that what you want? To go back." Kate turned trying to strategise a way to keep Faith from going off into the day.

"Hey regular meals, regular exercise, even regular sex if you want. Can you offer me that," Faith smirked.

"This isn't about me. It's about what you want to do."

"I'll tell you want I want," Faith stepped right in Kate's face.

"What?"

"A screw," Faith let the word hang, "with you." She smirked.

"What would that achieve?" Kate found herself drawn to Faith's overt sexuality. How could she be attracted to this young woman, in fact any woman. It had just been a while since she last had any. That was it.

Faith laughed, "Gee, I don't know, pleasure." She was trying to mask her surprise at not being slapped.

"I'm not a one night stand girl. I thought that was your policy." Kate decided to play along.

"Use them and lose them? Yeah. But you wouldn't consider making an exception for me?" She leaned in close watching the detective.

"Not if that's all it was to you."

"Oh, the detective likes a little romance. Sure I haven't done that before, but I could try." Faith found herself actually wishing her offer was serious. In fact, her offer didn't seem appealing any more. She couldn't do that to Kate, she didn't deserve that kind of treatment ... from anyone. "Actually forget it, that would be too much of a bother." She turned and walked to the door.

"Faith?" She let go of the knob and turned to find a worried detective. "Call me?"

"I don't know," Faith said truthfully. She opened the door and disappeared into the hallway. Kate sat back on the sofa, confused over what had just happened. The slayer certainly ran hot and cold, but underneath it all she saw a young woman struggling to come to terms with her past actions. For someone who had always been on the right side of the law and had been surrounded by police all her life it was hard to understand how Faith could survive under the weight of her guilt. Kate sighed; at least Angel had gone through the same thing. __________________________________________________________

Two weeks went by and no word from Faith. Kate sat at her desk, tapping her pen on the report she was going over. She had called Angel the week before to check on Faith's progress. He had said that she was moving forward step by step, but her attitude to her future had gone and changed for the worse. Angel used the words "deeply disturbed." She desperately wanted to go and see her, but Faith would likely shut her out, maybe for good. If she was to see Faith again, it had to be on Faith's terms. She handed in her report and made her way home, stopping on the way to pick up a bottle of wine. Another Friday night ... alone.

Later in the evening she settled down on the sofa with a good book and a glass of wine. A frantic knocking transported her back to real world. She opened the door to find a rain-soaked Slayer standing there.

"Faith, what happened to you," she herded the girl into the warmth of the apartment. Faith stared blankly at her, so she went and got a blanket to wrap around the woman.

"Bathroom?" Faith looked around.

"In there," Kate pointed the way, wanting to check her for injuries, but Faith slammed the door in her face. She heard Faith going through her the room, packages rustling, then silence. "Faith?" No answer. "Faith, do want any help?" Still no answer. "I'm going to make you a hot drink, okay." She left the door and made her way into the kitchen.

"You wouldn't have any dry clothes?" Faith startled her, standing only a couple of feet behind her.

"Of course," she quickly pulled out a pair of jeans and an old T-shirt. "Here." Faith disappeared in the bathroom again. The girl was sitting on the sofa by time she had made a mug of hot chocolate. She silently handed it to her and sat back down next to the anxious girl. For the first time, she noticed a tattoo on Faith's right arm. She reached over and took a closer look. "Nice tat." Faith looked down at her arm and acknowledged Kate with a nod.

"I'm sorry," Faith said looking down in her mug.

"That's okay, I wasn't busy."

"Not that," Faith glanced at Kate, "for, for coming on to you. You didn't deserve that."

"Oh," Kate was puzzled, was that the reason why Faith had stayed away for two weeks?

"I couldn't do that to you, I respect you too much."

"That's a good thing, right?" Kate smiled, happy that Faith still thought highly of her.

"Yeah, I guess. Can't sleep with people I respect." Faith took a gulp, the liquid soothing her throat.

"Never?" The words slipped out accidentally.

"I'm cold," Faith shifted on the sofa. Kate quickly a sweater and handed it to the woman. She noticed it was getting late. They sat in silence for a while, neither one wanting to ruin the atmosphere. "I'd better go," Faith finally said.

"Wait," Kate gently placed her hand on Faith's arm. "It's pouring out there. You can stay here tonight. No sense in you getting wet for no reason."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Faith said trying to maintain control, trying to get her mind off the hand on her arm.

"Why not?" Kate demanded. "The sofa's not too uncomfortable, I know that for a fact. And I'll even cook you breakfast." Kate appealed to slayer's appetite.

"I shouldn't," Faith protest was considerably weaker. Kate capitalised on Faith's indecision.

"I have pop tarts."

Faith laughed, "A cop who eats pop tarts, this I have to see."

"Good, it's settled." They moved around cleaning up and getting the sofa ready for Faith. "You'll need something to sleep in."

"No, this will do." Faith pointed to her clothes.

"Are you sure?"

"This is way overdressed for me anyway." Faith sat back down on the sofa and pulled the blanket up. "Can't remember the last time I owned a pair of PJ's. Bet you have a matching set." Faith smiled when Kate looked away and she could swear the detective was blushing.

"Good night," Kate put her hand briefly on her shoulder.

"Sweet dreams, Detective," Faith lay back on the sofa and snuggled into the blanket. Kate watched for a moment before leaving, closing the door her room.

The next morning Kate woke to sounds of what sounded like a TV cartoon. Her suspicions were confirmed when she poked her head out the door. She heard Faith giggle at something and found she liked the noise. She smiled herself as she popped back in her room. When she showered and came out dressed, Faith was still seemingly engrossed in the adventures of some cartoon superhero. How different the cartoon and the real life versions were, Kate mused.

"Morning," Faith said twisting her head to see Kate, who with the sunlight at her back looked the best she had seen her. Faith unconsciously licked her lips. Down girl, she thought.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes," Faith lied. In truth, she had spent much of the night taking in Kate's presence. She had crept into the bedroom and had stayed there for a better part of an hour. Kate was so cute when she slept. Faith smiled at the memory. It was long time since she had spent the night at someone's, Angel not included.

"If you want to take a shower, feel free." Faith suddenly felt very aroused. A shower, where Kate had just been ... naked ... soapy. Uhh! "What?" Kate asked. Whoops I groaned aloud, Faith couldn't help it.

"I'll pass," she replied trying to get naked Kate out of her mind unsuccessfully.

"Really I don't mind," Kate said as she moved to the kitchen.

"I do," Faith mumbled.

Kate turned back to see Faith looking trapped. Again, she puzzled over Faith's mood change. "Is there something wrong?"

"I gotta go," Faith turned to retrieve her clothes.

"I promised you breakfast." Kate walked over to the flustered slayer.

"Not hungry."

"Bullshit." Kate scoffed sensing she was losing the battle to get through to the young woman. What had changed from the giggling she awoke to? Had she said something to upset her? She mentally ran through the conversation, but came up with nothing.

"Thanks for letting me stay last night, but I've got to motor." Faith looked around for a second shoe.

"Just tell me why. Have I done something wrong?"

"No, no. If anything you've done more than I ever imagined. But it's too dangerous to be around me, people end up hurt or dead. It was a mistake to come here last night. I'm sorry." Faith found what she was looking for and prepared to dress herself.

"You're not going to give me an explanation? You're just going to walk out again leave me worrying myself sick about how you are doing!" Kate moved closer.

"You shouldn't care so much then," Faith shot back torn between rejoicing that Kate cared so much and knowing that it wasn't the way she would like.

"No, I can see that now." Kate was hurting. "Go, then." Faith was about to retort when the phone rang. "Hello." Faith picked her clothes up. "Yes she's here. Would you like to talk to her?" Kate handed the phone to Faith. "It's Angel."

"Hey big guy," Faith turned her back on Kate.

"How did your date go?"

"My date?"

"You said you were meeting someone. But I didn't think it would be Kate."

"It wasn't. Came here to shelter from the storm."

"You okay." A worried voice came through the wire.

"Yeah, the guy turned out to be total loser, couldn't dump him fast enough." Faith smoothly lied. Truth was she couldn't stop thinking about the blonde not far away from her. Kinda put a dampener on the night. "So why you calling?"

"I know you're not the type to spend all night out. I was worried."

"Oh, he has a heart," Faith crooned. "I'll see you later then?"

"Okay," Angel's voice sounded lighter.

"Bye." Faith hung up the phone knowing Kate was probably shooting daggers in her back with those blue eyes. "I'll get out your way now." Faith got her dry clothes and went to pull up Kate's borrowed T-shirt, before remembering that...

"You're injured," Kate came over and pushed the T-shirt up to inspect the wound on Faith's left side. "Why didn't you tell me."

"No big," Faith pulled away. "It will heal in a couple of days."

"A couple of days! It looks like it needs stitches." If Kate was worried before, she was alarmed now.

"Slayers heal fast, it will be gone in a couple of days."

"It needs more treatment than a makeshift bandage. It will get infected," Kate couldn't help but show her slight panic at the wound.

"I'll deal."

"Come with me," Kate pulled the woman into the bathroom. Faith was too stunned to object. "Sit." Faith sat on the toilet.

"Someone playing nurse has never been one of my fantasies," Faith said as Kate pulled out bandages and other first aid. But I'm liking, she added to herself.

"I'm so sorry I don't have the uniform," Kate grunted out while she hunted for something.

"I just got my first pay check, I'll treat ya to one," Faith was disappointed she couldn't see Kate's face. "Or I'll trade you for the uniform you must have lurking somewhere around. Or better yet you could play dress ups for me."

"In your dreams," Kate turned around looking none too friendly.

"You better believe it," Faith leered. "Those handcuffs could come in handy. Ever played bondage games, Detective."

"Are you trying to flirt with me or make me angry," Kate barked as she wet a cloth.

"Whatever floats your boat." Faith pulled the T-shirt off, leaving Kate a little stunned and Faith in a black bra. "Like what you see?"

"No, the wound doesn't look good at all," Kate got over her momentary surprise and concentrated on cleaning the large cut. Faith tried hard not to make a noise, but the truth was it still stung like crazy. She moaned in pain. "Sorry. So how did this happen?"

"Fighting."

"Well, I wouldn't have guessed." Her hands grazed Faith's stomach and she felt the shiver go through the slayer's body. She looked up to Faith's closed eyes. The pleasure on Faith's face couldn't be denied. Kate kept her voice steady, testing a theory, "Am I hurting you?"

"Just a bit," Faith admitted. Kate again pretended to accidentally touch Faith's waist, her reaction was immediate. Another shiver ran through the slayer's body.

"Are you cold?" Kate asked innocently.

"No, your hands are though." Faith hoped Kate accepted her explanation.

"Cold hands, warm heart, that's what they say." Kate couldn't be sure it was the touch or the person who was causing the shivers.

"Who?" Faith looked down at what Kate was doing.

"It's just a phrase," Kate finished cleaning the wound and reached for some antiseptic cream.

"I'll do that," Faith said quickly. She took the tube out of Kate's hand and gently applied it to the wound. Kate watched mesmerised, her own thoughts taking a sexual tint. She shook her head as Faith handed the cream back to her. She wasn't, she couldn't be attracted to this woman. Kate Lockley was not like that. Without words she applied a fresh bandage and carefully made sure the wound was sealed.

"There," she stood and cleared up the mess.

"Thank you, Nurse Lockley, your bath side manner is impressive." Faith sauntered into the living room and put her own top back on.

"How about some breakfast now," Kate crossed into the kitchen. "I'm not taking no for an answer. Your body needs it."

"My body needs a lot of things," Faith put her own pants back on while Kate's back was turned.

"Let me guess; food, sleep, slaying and sex." Kate started making breakfast for two.

"Four out of four. The question is what does your body need, Detective Lockley?" Faith moved into the kitchen and sat at the table.

"I could live without the slaying."

"What about sex?" Faith was testing the cop.

"Like it."

Faith laughed, this cop was good, perfect comebacks that gave little away. "What do you prefer; vanilla or kink?"

"Not your concern."

"Me, as long as it feels good, I'll do it," Faith turned her voice down an octave.

"I kinda guessed that."

"So you've thought about how I like it. Interesting thoughts there, Detective." Faith smirked. The chance of Kate liking her was increasing, she could feel it.

"Well you keep talking about it so often, it's hard to miss."

"Does that bother you?" Faith's tone was so serious that Kate turned from her work and eyed the slayer.

"Not really, I work in an environment that's conductive for that kind of talk," Kate answered truthfully. It amazed her really, one minute they were bantering then Faith would throw a loaded question or comment into the mix.

"Right, the force is a boy's club." Faith mulled over Kate's career choice, looking for the first time at the qualities that made her a good cop. She found she liked the fact that Kate used her skills to help the world. "Good thing about slaying, we're all females."

"Here you are," Kate laid two pop tarts on the table. "Help yourself if you want a drink."

"Thanks." Faith realised she was ravenous. Kate amused by Faith's gusto, quietly started in on her own. "So," Faith said between mouthfuls, "what made you become a cop?"

"My father was one." Kate easily shared this piece of information.

"Was he good?"

"Yes."

"Like father, like daughter." Kate raised an eyebrow. "You seem like a good cop, Detective. Good instincts, sharp observation, plus you know when to be compassionate or tough." Faith took another bite. "You must be one kick-ass cop." Kate laughed, but silently felt proud that one of her arrests thought she did a good job.

"Flatterer, you just want more pop tarts." It was Faith's turn to laugh as she held out her empty plate and then pouted.

"Please, Detective, may I have some more?" Kate snatched the plate and returned to the bench.

"I do have a first name. I know you've never used it, but you might want to it give a try sometime." Kate faced the slayer, leaning back against the bench.

"Kate." Faith smiled. "Kate. Detective Kate Lockley. Kate. Kate. Kate. Kate."

"Enough," Kate grinned at the slayer.

"I was hoping the first time I used it I would be screaming out in pleasure." Faith smirked. Kate's smile faded and she turned around busying herself. "I was joking. Hey," Faith got up and stood directly behind her, "I'm sorry."

"Faith," Kate steadied her voice, "I don't want to hear any more jokes or comments, especially if you don't mean them."

"But I ... okay," Faith took the pop tarts from the toaster and sat down. Kate took the respite to leave the room. She closed the door to her room and took a breath. A while ago, she was sure Faith was attracted to her, yet she had shown no interest in going through with any of her suggestive comments. Was she just flirting or was it something more. Something tickled in the back of her mind. She hadn't really seen Faith interact with others. Only Buffy and Faith's feelings toward her were clear. She wondered if she did this with Cordelia, Angel or anyone else she knew. Then there were her own feelings. Increasingly she found herself thinking about Faith that way. She had to admit the slayer was beautiful, sexy and good company. How had that happened? She asked herself. There was no answer.

When she came out Faith was finishing tidying up. "This time I really have to motor," Faith looked past her to the door. "I won't trouble you again."

"You're no trouble."

"Yes I am." Faith answered firmly.

"Why can't you believe me when I say I don't mind your company, in fact I like you, care for you. Is that so hard to understand?" Kate pleaded.

"I understand, Detective, all too well. You don't need me in your life, you'll be better off without me."

"I don't think that for a moment."

"Well I do. All you have to do is ask anyone who knew me in Sunnydale. Or Cordelia, or Wesley. If they told you about me you'd be pleading with me to stay away, not to stay."

"Faith, I'm a cop. I arrested you. I've heard your confession, your crimes. I'm willing to let that stay in the past. You've just been released, you have a second chance and I've already told you that's what I'm giving you. I don't need a run-down of every person you've hurt. I've heard enough to know you were a danger to society. But the woman I see before me has also shown that she is suffering from the guilt of her past actions. That tells me so much more than anything I could get from the people in Sunnydale. If you let me, I want to be there for you, in any way I can ... within reason."

"You're forgiving me?" Faith asked her eyes blinking rapidly.

"Yes, since you aren't capable of it at the moment." Kate moved closer to the shocked woman. "Others in your past, they wanted to believe that you were capable of immoral actions and you lived down to their expectations. I'm telling you I believe you are capable of good and rightful actions, that you can be a good person. Why is it easier to listen to those who put you down than me?" Kate reached over and put her hand on Faith's shoulder. Faith flinched but didn't move away.

"Because," Faith started but found she couldn't continue. Kate led them both to sit on the sofa, relieved Faith was listening to her.

"Because?"

"Because I'm afraid I'll fail you." Faith found herself being completely honest with not only the detective, but also herself. "What if I go along fine, then I find I can't deal? That's worse than just walking out right here, right now."

"Firstly, you shouldn't be doing this for me. This is about you, Faith. Secondly, if you walk out, it won't change the fact you have to face these issues someday. Thirdly, Angel sees you as someone who can change and I don't see you walking out on him."

"That's because he's a vamp. He has his own issues to deal with." Faith said weakly.

"What's going on here, Faith?" Kate changed tact not satisfied Faith was being completely honest. If this was the last time they were going to see each other like this then she wanted to know why.

"What do you mean?" Faith played innocent.

"There's something you're hiding from me." Faith leaned back and closed her eyes. "I'm right aren't I?"

"What if I was? I don't have to tell you," Faith said keeping her voice calm, her eyes still closed.

"No, but if it is something about me I would really like to know," Kate responded gently.

"Yeah and if I tell you, you'll laugh in my face and throw me out."

"I promise I wouldn't," Kate put her hand on Faith's knee. "I don't know how I will react, but I would never laugh at you."

"Can I ask you something first before I tell you?" Faith's leg burned where Kate's hand rested, but she couldn't bring herself to move it.

"Okay," Kate readied herself.

"Have you ever been in love?" Faith opened her eyes.

"What kind of question is that!" Kate leaned away from Faith, but the dark eyes lay open in seriousness of the question. This was not a joke, but an earnest question. "Yes, I have."

"Well I hadn't been until B came along." Faith moved so she was sitting front on to Kate. "Knowing she would never return the feelings really hurt. I don't know if I can go through that again." Faith stopped, noticing that her words were just dawning on Kate.

"You are in love?" Kate said, scared yet excited it could be her.

"No." Kate's face fell. "Not yet, but I could let myself." Faith looked away embarrassed at her words. "However, this person, I don't know how they feel. I could be my normal self and be satisfied with a quick fuck, get it over and done with, but I have too much respect for them. I would never do that, not unless that is what they wanted."

"If this person told you that they had no experience with what was being suggested, but wasn't adverse to the idea, would you give them some time to know you better?" Kate locked her eyes on those dark ones, hoping she was choosing the right path. Faith's moods were so unpredictable, she couldn't be sure that she was doing the right thing.

Faith smiled, "Maybe."

"Maybe?" Faith leaned in close and gave Kate a kiss on the forehead. Kate sighed inwardly as she felt the soft lips touch her skin. If that felt so good, she thought, imagine what a real kiss would feel like. She felt jealous of Angel and the no-name Faith was with a couple of weeks ago. They didn't have to imagine what those lips felt like on their own.

"They would have to be more than just not turned off, Kate. There would have to be an attraction, an understanding that this wasn't just an experiment in sexuality and most importantly they would have to be able to put up with me." Faith wanted to kiss her right there and then, but once she started she doubted she would want to stop. She licked her lips thinking about it. Kate's eyes were drawn to this action and without thinking leaned in close, her lips aiming for Faith's.

"I can't," Faith stood up, leaving a very confused Kate on the sofa.

"You can't?" Kate's voice betrayed her hurt. "Are you all talk and no action."

"No, it's not that."

"Was this a game to see if you could seduce the cop? Now you have me, you don't want me!" Kate stood up feeling like she'd been played for a fool. Of course, Faith was just playing with her. It made sense.

"NO!" Faith ran her hand through her hair. "I meant every word. It's just that ... I don't know if I..." she took Kate's shoulders in her hands, "if I could stop. I want you so much."

Kate grinned and let out a long breath, "You do?"

"Yes. But you are obviously not ready. I've never taken it so slow before. I'm not sure how to deal." Faith sighed and dropped her arms. "But I'm not playing you, Kate. Bagging a cop in bed has never been a goal of mine."

"You know if you screw me over, it won't be pretty?" Kate asked relieved Faith was genuine. She didn't want to walk into this only to find out the slayer was counting her as just another notch.

"I'm getting that impression." Faith ran her hand through her hair again. "So you in?"

"Yes," there was no hesitation in her voice, "but you have to understand, while we may be taking it slowly I want this to be monogamous."

"Huh?" Faith asked.

"No more one night stands, or anything else for that matter. I find you cheating, that's it."

"I won't. I know it's hard to believe but I have actually had relationships that lasted longer than a week."

"I hope you intend to break that record with me," Kate smiled, challenging.

"Something to aim for, I like it." Faith couldn't believe this was happening. For two weeks she had tortured herself with images of Kate this, Kate that, but she never would have thought that she was standing here discussing a future relationship with the blonde. "So what's the next step?" She decided she going to let Kate take control for a while. She wasn't entirely comfortable with loosing the control, but Kate seemed to need to know that Faith was not going to push this.

"I don't know, I've never done this before either." Kate smiled almost shyly.

"Dating or sex?" Faith teased.

"Oh, I've done both, just never with a woman," Kate felt a little insecure.

"We'll learn together then." Faith leered at her soon-to-be lover. "I'm the right person to teach you about a little girl-on-girl action."

"Let's see if you are as good as you say you are," Kate flirted.

"Just say the word and I'll give you an experience you'll never forget."

"I'll hold you to that." Kate told herself she was being crazy. There were so many ways this could go wrong and so many things that were working against both of them. They were both bringing baggage, though Faith didn't know that yet. Not to mention the fact that she didn't even see herself as a lesbian.

"I hear you're a bit of a romantic," Faith teased. "I have no idea about that, but flowers they're good, right?"

Kate grinned, "Flowers, very good. Especially roses."

"Roses. How about chocolates?" Faith motioned for them both to sit down again. This time Faith moved her legs up against Kate's revelling in the closeness. How strange she could feel this much pleasure from it.

"Still good, but only in small quantifies. The old standard of dinner and a movie goes down very well." Kate also found herself enjoying the closeness of the slayer.

"Do you kiss on the first date?" Faith half-leered, half-curiously looked at the detective.

"There's only one way you're gonna find out."

"Okay." Faith stood up and paced for a moment, enjoying the impatience Kate displayed. She dropped to her knees in front of the sofa, looked up into blue eyes, "Kate Lockley, how would you like to be treated to dinner for two, followed by a movie of your choice?"

Kate took Faith's hands in her own. "I would like that very much."

"Wicked cool." They made plans for the following Friday, letting Kate have plenty of time to get used to the idea. They both promised each other that the other could back out if they wished and there would be no hard feelings. Faith left not long after that but before she did, she gave Kate a peck on the cheek. Once again, Kate found herself contemplating what a lip lock would feel like and just stopped herself from finding out right then. After the slayer left Kate couldn't keep her mind off her lips and going by the way she was all over that young man in the club, Kate suspected that Faith's bragging about being a good lover was true. ________________________________________________________

Faith wiped the sweat away from eyes. Angel and her had just gone another round in sparring. The blood was pumping in her body once more and if felt so good. The tension from not being able to touch Kate for a while was getting to her and exercise was only just taking the edge of it and not having seen the detective for five days was playing havoc with her body.

"How am I doing?" Faith picked up a towel.

"Better than me," Angel was exhausted.

"Vampire made a funny."

"It happens sometimes."

"Angel," Faith's demeanour took on a very solemn tone, "I want to go to Sunnydale."

"Why?"

"You said part of facing up to my crimes is to apologise. And in case you've forgotten, Sunnydale holds a lotta potential apologies. By my count: B, Red, Giles, Xander, Joyce and that's just the start."

"You think Buffy is going to allow you walk in there?"

"No, but I have to try. And I am sorry. I just feel I need to face them."

"To punish yourself?" Angel couldn't tell what Faith's motives were. He didn't doubt that she was sorry, but going to Sunnydale was a big step that might not be successful. If Buffy rejected her apology again, Faith could go off the deep end.

"No. I mean I know it's not gonna be easy, but B said she was ready to forgive me once, just after I got out of my sleeping beauty state, until I went and screwed that up."

"You should talk to Giles." Angel could see Faith's reasoning, but was wary.

"Giles?"

"He could arrange something for you, without you having to talk to Buffy."

"Think he'll talk to me?"

"Yes." Angel nodded gaining a little confidence in the idea. "But I can't take you up there."

"I wasn't ... I didn't ... I guessed you wouldn't want to. That's cool, Angel. This is my problem." Faith smiled slightly.

"But I think you should go with someone."

"You think?"

"Yes, if things don't work out, you are going to need someone there." Angel hoped that wasn't the case, but it was a big possibility.

"Well I guess that leaves out Wes or Cordy. Do you think Kate would go?" Faith was treading on shaky ground. She had told Angel about her talks with Kate, but hadn't mentioned they were trying the dating thing. She didn't know if Angel had any feelings for her.

Angel smiled, getting Faith to agree to have company had been easier than expected, "If she said she'll support you, then I'm sure she'll agree. It also might help if you had someone there that the others don't know."

"Why?"

"Kate will more objective. Plus if what she has said is true and is willing to forgive you, it might show the others that you are worth listening to."

"Plus she has that whole I'm-a-cop thing going on." Faith joked.

"That to," Angel wryly smiled. So, Faith phoned her second Watcher who was cautious, but willing to listen to what she had to say. Giles said that the weekend would be a good time, and that he would get back to her when he found out what everyone was doing. Faith's stomach churned as she got off the phone, comprehending for the first time what she had just proposed to do.

Kate had arranged to pick Faith up at 6:30 for their date. Wesley had left for day, Angel and Faith were downstairs talking and Cordelia was actually doing office work.

"Hi, is Faith around?" Kate Lockley stood there dressed in a stylish suit, but Cordelia noted it was a bit too dressy for work.

"Uh, she's downstairs with Angel. You look dressed up." Cordelia looked like she was about critique her clothes so Kate got in.

"Cordelia, how do you feel about Faith working here?" Kate walked around the office taking in the changes since she last visited. Wesley must have been doing research because there was book strewn everywhere.

"Not happy. I mean I know she trying to change, but can't she do it somewhere else." Cordelia scoffed. "The trying to kill my boss and my friends doesn't help the working relationship at all."

"What do you make of her?"

"Hey I know you are pumping me for information here. But, you need to know. Faith, she's either likely to want to have sex with you or kill you. Not much room left for anything else."

"So where d