Faith rolled on her back watching as the guard drew the bars across the cell.

"Get up," the guard barked. Faith continued staring, not caring what the guard wanted her to do. Having got a reputation in the prison as a person you don't mess with, anyone was loath to try to force her to do anything. Normally she complied with the guards since a bad prison record could set her back years inside. Today she didn't feel like it. "Get up, you have a visitor."

"Are they good looking? Maybe it is a conjugal visit." Faith mustered up a leer.

The guard smiled slightly. There was something about the self-confessed murderer that she liked. Not that she would be caught liking a prisoner, just the girl had spunk. "Not unless you do detectives."

"A detective." Faith pretended to think. "Nah, never done one of them." She got up and held her arms out to be handcuffed, then walked beside the guard as she took her to a small room. The only detective she knew was that blonde who arrested her. She peeked inside and there sat said blonde at a table with a box in front of her.

"You know the rules," the guard said as she pushed the door open. Faith nodded and went in.

"Hello Faith," Detective Kate Lockley said amicably as the girl sat down on a wooden chair across the table from her.

"What's in the box?" Faith nodded to the smallish package sitting ominously on the table as a way of greeting.

"I was asked to give this to you." Kate pushed the box in her direction.

"By whom?" Faith looked at the box suspiciously. Who knew what was in it? Could be some magic shit sent to hurt her.

"By a friend," Kate replied patiently.

"A friend? Of yours or mine." Faith looked into the intense eyes, smiling. "I don't recall having any friends and lady I sure as hell don't trust anyone you know."

"A mutual acquaintance."

"Let's see, we have what four people in common. Angel, Wes, Cordy and B. So who is it? Or what is it?" Faith gazed intently at the blonde, wondering whose errand runner she was.

"Why don't you open the box and find out." Kate stared back at the prisoner.

"No way." Faith shook her head wearily. "I'm not opening anything until I find out." She saw the detective becoming frustrated and smiled. "You open it."

"I was told to give it to you." Kate crossed her arms and blinked a couple of times.

"I didn't know detectives wages were so low you had to become someone's courier." Faith moved her hands to near the box. "Besides I can't open it with the cuffs and all."

"Right." Kate seemed to forget about the fact she was sitting across from a murderer. Maybe it was because Faith was no ordinary girl. She reached over and ripped off the tape holding the box closed, then slid it back to Faith.

"Oh joy," Faith said sarcastically peering in the box. She opened the box further and pulled out a few volumes of large heavy books. "Is this some kind of joke." Seeing the look of disgust on Faith's face Kate chuckled. "It's not funny. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a doer not a reader. Jeez, there's enough here to last more than a lifetime." She looked at the volumes of demon lore and miscellaneous information on all things supernatural.

"That was the general idea," Kate said still chuckling at the girl's predicament.

"Return to sender." Faith put the books back haphazardly.

"I don't think so." Kate shook her head.

"Seeing I'm in here for a long time, I don't think catching up on what I should have learnt already is going to help me out. Tell Angel or Wes that I'd rather magazines or comics if they want me to read. Plus getting caught with books on demons is not going to do much for my rep." Faith looked over to where the guard was waiting on the other side of the door. "Why are you doing this for them anyways? You tried to kill Angel."

"From the way I hear it so did you," Kate said seriously.

"And I have a lot of guilt from that," Faith answered sarcastically. While she regretted her actions against the vampire, trying to kill him was her job and she wasn't going to back down from past choices on that front. She reached over and straightened the books. "Listen, Lockley." Faith remembered her name well. "I know you thought you were doing someone a favour here, but demons aren't my favourite subject anymore."

"What do you want me to tell Wesley?" Kate finally gave up the pretence Faith didn't know what was going on.

"After you torture a guy, they're not supposed to give presents." Faith wasn't even satisfied with the look of shock on Kate's face. She was over that. "Don't be so shocked, I'm a murderer remember."

"He never pressed charges." Kate looked at this woman again. When Wesley had called her, without Angel's knowledge, and asked her to deliver the box she had wondered what relationship existed between those at Angel Investigations and Faith. Wesley filled her in a little of who Faith was and the slayer's history with him and Angel. Yet, a lot was left missing.

Faith shrugged. "Yeah, the guy turned out to be okay."

"So take the books, make him happy." Kate crossed her arms once more.

"So what did he tell you?" Faith sighed.

"A bit." Kate stared down the slayer.

"About slayers?" Kate nodded. "And you believe him?"

"Makes sense. I already knew what Angel was before I arrested you," she answered evenly.

"A Private Investigator." Faith joked. Kate smiled allowing herself to show Faith her amusement. "A blood bank. A kick-ass fighter. A soul trapped in a cold body. A leather walking hunk. A lover of all things night. A-"

"That's enough," Kate protested laughing. Faith gave her another smile, enjoying talking to someone that wasn't afraid of her or wanted to throw down.

"You take the books." Faith indicated with her hands. "At least they might be used for something other than dust collectors."

"Wesley went to a lot of trouble, Faith, the least you can do it accept them," Kate said, although she was tempted to take the offer. They certainly would help her out. The more she learnt about demons the better she could fight these creatures.

"Okay, I accept them." Faith pulled the box towards her. "Now I give them to you as a thank you for treating me like a human. Not to mention you making the effort to come down here." Faith slid the box over to the other side of the table.

"Faith," Kate protested.

"Take them, Detective, I'm really not going to read them," Faith earnestly reasoned. She saw Kate hesitate. "You could use them, right?"

"Yes, but Wesley entrusted me to give them to you." Kate's resolve was faltering.

"Look, Lockley I admire your loyalty, but please take the fucking books. I spend more time in the exercise room than I do in the library, that's not going to change." Faith smiled at the detective. Finally, Kate conceded with a nod. "Tell Wes thank you."

"That's all? I'm sure he will want to know how you're doing." Wesley had asked her to check on Faith's progress.

"I'll write him." Faith shrugged, the weary look replacing the smile.

"Really?" Kate smiled disbelieving.

"Once a cop, always one." Faith shook her head and laughed. "You think you're so smart. I've already written a couple of letters to Angel. I WILL write to Wes."

"Okay." Kate sighed relieved.

"So how did you get this job?"

"Not your business." Kate packed the box and closed the flaps.

"You two doing the deed?" Faith asked slyly.

"No," Kate remarked with slight distaste.

Faith laughed, "You don't go for the bumbling Englishman." She watched as Kate looked at her watch. "You did your job, you don't have to stick around."

"Wouldn't want that, I might start to like you." Kate's expression didn't change.

"Can't have that." Faith smiled, she herself starting to like the detective.

"I do have to go though, I'm back on duty in about ten minutes." Faith nodded. "I'll come by again, if you like?" Kate asked hopefully.

"Yeah, you can fill me in on the books, just in case Wes tests me." They both chuckled at that.

"I'll give your message to Wesley." She stood.

"Thanks for coming." Faith looked up at her.

Kate smiled, "I'll see you soon." She gathered the box in her arms, gave Faith once last smile and walked out the door.

As she hurried to her car, the detective allowed herself a satisfied smile. Reporting back to Wesley was going to be a pleasure. Armed with the knowledge that Faith was settled into prison life and a few details from her prison record, Kate knew the Englishman would be content with the information.

She settled the box beside her in the car and closed the door. Demon books, she thought to herself. Not a bad swap for spending her lunch time at a prison. She knew she should feel guilty for taking them. Wesley probably had something in mind when he sent them to Faith. However, the girl was adamant about not using them. Kate would make sure they were put to good use.

Taking one look back at the prison, she drove off. As she steered the car back to the precinct, her thoughts were on her next meeting with Faith.

END