"Right," Faith said, coming around the front of the chair to stare at the minion she'd captured.
He moaned, his head falling back against the chair. Blood was caked on his face and there were fresh cuts and new bruises starting to colour on his cheeks. A gag was roughly shoved into his mouth and it was soaked red.
"We're going to play a little game."
The Slayer tapped her knife against her cheek, her head tilting sideways a little as if she were simply trying to decide what to wear that day.
"It's called 'you tell me where Angel is and I'll kill you quickly'. Sure, not a great name, but give me a break, I'm running out of time here."
The minion groaned around his gag, trying to form words.
"Oh good, good, it's always much better with audience participation," she said, reaching across and ripping the gag from his mouth. "You were saying?"
Dean & Sam
Dean slowed as they drove into an industrial area.
"You think these are abandoned?" Sam asked, unsure.
"Sure looks like. You know, judging by the graffiti and doorless framework. We should be fine here," Dean insisted.
"At least it's close I guess. Did Bobby say if he was coming?"
"No. I figure we'll get a call later."
With that Dean turned the car around, pulling into a vacant lot. He parked behind the building so any patrol cars wouldn't see the impala, before they both got out and went to collect their paperwork and some sleeping bags.
"Do you think he'd mind us starting without him?" Sam asked, closing the trunk before following Dean to the nearest building.
"Nah," Dean shrugged, stepping into the dark and shining his flashlight around.
He froze when it settled on some blood on the floor, leading into the next room.
"Sam?"
Sam came up behind him, and immediately dropped their stuff. They both armed themselves, before carefully making their way to the next doorway. Hearing voices, they stopped.
Faith
The minion spat some teeth and blood out onto the ground, then returned his defiant gaze to Faith's eyes. "You will never find him, you piece of - "
"See, that's where you're wrong," Faith interrupted. "Now, we've got five basic torture groups. Blunt, sharp, hot, cold and loud. Do you have a preference?"
The minion spat more blood out. "A Slayer looking for a Vampire. Ironic, isn't it?"
"Well," Faith said, pulling his hair back with one hand while slicing her knife down his face. "I think this calls for sharp."
Dean & Sam
"You've gotta be kidding me," Dean said to Sam, "that's what, five states in a week?"
"Either she's following us or it's meant to be," Sam sighed, holstering his pistol but feeling for his knife.
Dean smirked before stepping into the room and leaning against the doorway.
"Hey babe," he spoke up, Sam still standing awkwardly in the shadows.
Faith
Faith turned towards the door in surprise, and her face broke out in a smile when she saw who was there.
"Well well well, my favourite brothers. Sorry, bit tied up at the moment."
She turned to the minion.
"Well, technically, you're the one who's tied up."
The minion looked from Faith to the Winchesters and gulped a little.
"So where were we? Oh yeah... sharp."
And with that, she plunged the knife deep into the minion's gut, careful to miss any vital organs, but still, making it hurt like hell.
"I'll... tell... you!"
Dean & Sam
"Looks like she's got it covered," Dean looked over his shoulder to Sam.
"Yeah looks like," Sam agreed, flinching a little as he watched her work.
Faith
As the minion detailed where Angel was being kept, Faith tapped the knife against her side impatiently.
"You'll never get there in time though," he said smugly.
Faith frowned and snapped a kick to his kneecap, dislodging it and causing a shriek of pain.
"Why?"
"He..." the minion gasped for breath. "Poison..."
"And the cure?" Faith looked at him expectantly.
The minion smiled, showing his toothless mouth.
"Not the right answer," Faith said, dislodging his other kneecap.
"Your..." he breathed deeply through his nose. "Blood."
"Right." Faith looked over at the boys. "You think you could finish him off for me? I have a friend to save."
Dean & Sam
Dean glanced at his brother, then walked over to join her.
"Sam will stay, I'll come with you," he insisted, "if from what I gather you're gonna be pumping the blood machine, you're gonna need a ride."
Faith
"Fine."
Faith met Sam's eyes briefly, hoping to communicate her thanks. But as quickly as they'd warmed up, they turned icy and determined again as she left, not even waiting for Dean.
Dean & Sam
Dean threw the impala keys to Sam who caught them in his right hand.
"Follow when you're done. I'll call with the locale," he ordered before he disappeared.
By the time he made it outside Faith was already in her car, so he urried over and slipped in the passenger side before she could take off.
Sam meanwhile, had taken out his knife and approached the minion.
"Go ahead," it insisted.
Sam leant down to it, watching as blood pooled on the floor around him, running down his skin.
"Not quite yet," he said softly, "we've got things to talk about first."
Faith
Disregarding basic road rules and speed limits, Faith got them to the location pretty quickly, before getting out of the car. She closed her eyes for a second.
"Four demons. And a Vampire. But that would be Angel. So four demons, probably minions, should be a cinch."
And with that, she head inside.
Dean
"Yeah, sure. Cinch," Dean rolled his eyes.
He armed himself with his Taurus and followed her in, all the while wondering who the hell this 'Angel' was.
Faith and Angel
Faith had disposed of the two demons she'd encountered, and followed her senses up to where she could feel Angel's prescence.
Angel looked up weakly, but still in shock, as the door was kicked across the room. He managed a smile when he saw who it was.
"You've looked better," was her greeting.
"I've felt better, too," he replied, relaxing as she untied him.
Dean
Dean had his own encounter with a demon when he first walked in, quickly firing his pistol into its legs and putting it out of commission for the time being. It wasn't like he had time to sit and exorcise them, especially from memory, after all.
He managed to follow Faith close enough to know where she'd turned, and finally came across her untying some bloodied dude in black clothes.
Faith and Angel
"Can you stand?" Faith asked, but Angel's attention had turned to the door.
"Faith," Angel managed.
"It's ok, it's Dean. He's a friend." She shrugged his concern off, trying to help him up.
"Faith."
"Alright, I get it, you can say my name. Now hurry up and drink my blood already so you can say more than one thing."
Angel stared at her. "I won't."
"You will. It's the only cure."
Dean
"It's cool," Dean said awkwardly, still not quite sure what he was getting into.
"Do your thing. I'm watching out for her."
Angel and Faith
Angel looked at Dean again. "You better."
Faith turned to Dean briefly. "He's a vampire. But he has a soul. He's good. Don't kill him after this."
She looked at Angel.
"I'm not going to do it, Faith."
"Goddammit, you are going to. You are going to drink and save your life. Unlife. Whatever. Because dammit, I am not mature enough to live my life without your help. So do it."
"Faith - "
"Shut up and do it! You've saved me before, this is my turn. Just don't... just don't drain me."
Looking hesitant, Angel vamped out and tilted her head back. He took a deep breath, then bit into her neck.
Dean
"Woah," Dean took a step forward, hands on his hunting knife and ready to take aim if he had to.
Then he stepped up to Faith when it looked like she was starting to fade out of consciousness, and forcefully pulled her away from him.
"That's enough," he said sternly.
Faith and Angel
Faith collapsed into Dean's arms while Angel's face slipped back to normal, his brow furrowing.
"Ok, we need to get her to a hospital. She heals pretty quickly, but she'll need... some blood." Angel looked as though he wanted to take Faith's body from Dean, but he didn't, just led the way out.
Dean
"Of course she does," Dean muttered under his breath, still very confused.
He slid one arm under Faith's legs and lifted her into his arms.
"I take it you're Angel?" he made sure, before following him out to her car.
Angel and Faith
"Yeah," Angel said, opening the car. He slid into the drivers seat, then pulled down the visor to reveal the other set of keys, waiting for Dean to get in and settle Faith.
Faith's eyes fluttered slightly, blood still leaking from the two puncture wounds in her neck.
Once Angel was sure she was secured, he started in the direction of the hospital.
Dean
Once Dean had Faith settled with her head in his lap and keeping pressure on her wounds, he pulled out his cell phone and speed dialled Sam.
"Sammy? Yeah. Look, we're headed to the hospital. You'd better come pick me up before the cops start snooping around. No she's ok, just lost a bit of blood. I'll meet you out front when we're done."
He hung up and went back to seeing to Faith, still not sure he like the idea of a fang being behind the wheel. Even if Faith did trust him.
Angel and Faith
Angel reached over into the seat beside him to get Faith's phone. He quickly flipped it open and called through to Wesley.
"Faith? Where are you?" Wesley's voice came over the line.
"Wes, it's Angel - "
"Angel, thank God! Did - what - "
"Wes! I need you to organise the jet to come to Iowa airport. I'm taking Faith to the hospital, but once she's released, she's going to need to come back to LA."
He paused.
"She broke me out. And my guess? Paymon's not going to be all that thrilled. She won't be strong enough for a fight right away. Get Cordy to talk to the Senior Partners about protection for her. Just do it. I'll call you back."
Angel slowed the car at the hospital, and he turned to Dean.
"I'll take her in."
Dean
"Eyes off, I had her first," Dean said pointedly, getting ready to lift her again, "you just worry about what you're gonna tell the docs."
Angel and Faith
"Fine."
Angel got out of the car and helped Dean out, then strode into the hospital.
"My daughter," he told the nurse at the admitting desk. He turned and indicated to Faith in Dean's arms. "She's lost a lot of blood, I need you to admit her right away."
"Sir, you can't just - "
"I'm the CEO of Wolfram and Hart, and my daughter needs medical attention."
"Oh! Yes, right away!"
Dean
Dean's eyebrows rose as a gurney was fetched.
"Ok, A: she is way too old to be your daughter. B: What the hell is Wolfram and Hart? Nevermind, later," Dean shook it off.
He lay Faith on the gurney carefully when it arrived, not taking his eyes off her for a moment.
Angel and Faith
"It worked, didn't it?" Angel said in a low voice, but not without a hint of smugness.
He ran his hand gently over Faith's cheek and looked up at the doctor who had arrived.
"You'll have to stay here, sir," he said to Dean, then turned his look to Angel. "We'll come get you when - "
"I'm going," was all Angel said, and the doctor nodded.
Dean
"Wait wait wait!" Dean insisted.
"If he's going, I'm going."
"Sir..."
"Look, that's his daughter, yes, but she's my fiance. And this guy's not gonna tell you, but he hates my guts. So he probably wouldn't let me see her anyway. But I can tell you for sure that the first thing she'll want to see is my face and not that ugly mug of his ready to discipline her or something she didn't do."
Angel and Faith
Angel shot Dean a look of annoyance, but followed the doctor into the ER.
"Right, we're going to need 200cc's of - what's her blood type?"
"O negative," Angel replied, standing slightly to the side.
"O Neg. Stat."
The staff were working fast, nervous at the prospect of accidentally killing the (fake, but they didn't know that) heiress to one of the most powerful lawfirms in the country.
Dean
Dean stood back and watched, the whole scene bringing back some depressing memories from the last few times he'd been in an ER. Or rather, one inparticular.
And that made him wonder what he was doing here in the first place.
Oh right. Faith surviving was a good thing.
He kept his eye on Angel, wondering how the fang got away with being so prominent in the public eye.
Faith and Angel
Once the doctors were confident that Faith was stable, they departed to give the "father" and the "fiance" time alone with her.
Faith reached up and rubbed her nose.
"Faith?" Angel was by her side in a second.
"You owe me," was her greeting.
Dean
"And you still owe me, so does that mean Angel owes me?" Dean joked with bad timing as usual, making his way over to the other side of her bed.
Faith and Angel
Faith looked over at Dean and shook her head slightly. "Well, it is nice to see that you didn't kill each other."
"It was close," Angel said, a slight smirk on his face. "But we decided you were more important."
She grinned. "Hell yeah. So, when can I get out?"
"Wes and Gunn are making arrangements. And Cordy is going to see the Senior Partners."
"Ah, friends in high places. Oh, is Sam ok?" Faith looked at Dean ccasually, but Angel noted the very subtle change in tone.
Dean
Dean loked a little confused as to why she was asking, but shook his head.
"Fine. He's manning the getaway car," he nodded, "I notice 'Angle' didn't mention that whoever Cordy is is organising to get you back to LA for whatever reason..."
He just felt she should know.
"I don't see you doing anything to try and get her out of danger," Angel said back.
Faith looked between the two of them. "So, what's the what?"
"Could be trouble, I want to get you back to LA. You'll be safe there," Angel said.
Faith nodded. "Do you expect them to come after me?"
"It's what I would do." Angel shrugged.
Dean
Dean smirked.
"Don't tell me you've known her for more than a few days and you can't see that she can take care of herself," he said pointedly.
"And what makes LA safer than anywhere else?" he looked between them.
Angel and Faith
"And just how many times have you seen Faith die?" Angel said, his tone harsh. "Coz me? I think I'm up to twice now."
"Guys," Faith said, a warning tone in her voice.
Dean
"You didn't answer my question," Dean pointed out.
"And I've seen plenty of people close to me die, so don't try and play that card."
Faith and Angel
"Guys!" Faith tried again.
"We can protect her better than you could, so I think it's time for you to go now," Angel replied, voice low and menacing.
"Oh Jesus..." Faith rolled her eyes at the two of them.
Dean
"Yes fiance?" Dean focused his attention on Faith before things could get too heated.
Faith and Angel
"Well, that was a whirlwind courtship," Faith said. She raised an eyebrow.
"White lies to get us in," Angel shrugged. "I'm your Dad."
Faith snorted. "Well... dark hair, dark eyes. Kinda works. So, what are we doing now?"
"My guess is Paymon is going to come after you, after all, you broke me out," Angel told her. "Cordy's seeing what she can do, and I've got Gunn looking into old contracts we might have with him and if we can twist that now that I own Wolfram and Hart."
"Ok, so I go back to LA and lay low for a bit? You know how well that works, right?" she made a face.
Angel almost smiled. "I know, I know, you don't like being caged, but just until we can get it sorted."
Dean
"And what does 'get it sorted' entail exactly?" Dean looked between them.
"What is this thing, is it a demon?"
Faith and Angel
"It's... ok, you'll have to explain, because I hung up on Wes before I got full details," Faith said, looking to Angel. She shrugged at his look. "I didn't really think about it. You were in trouble. I went."
Angel shook his head. "Paymon is one of the King's of Hell. Or rather, of one of the Hell Dimensions. He commands about 200 legions, roughly, and I... well... when I was, you know - "
"Evil," the Slayer said helpfully.
"Yeah. I gambled with him, and well... let's just say there's a score to settle."
"You lost?" Faith asked.
"Not exactly," Angel replied. "But I skipped out on what I owed him. And..."
"And?"
"Well, I turned his daughter."
"Oh, so he's a little pissed."
"To put it mildly, yes."
Dean
"You could have just said yes," Dean rolled his eyes.
"So let's just find the son of a bitch and send him back to hell. How hard could that be?"
Angel and Faith
"Harder than you might think. Which is why we're trying other options," Angel replied. He looked at Faith.
"Hey," Faith said, holding her hands up. "I kinda want to live, so I'll sit this one out if I have to."
"The jet is coming to Iowa airport. We can leave tomorrow."
Angel and Faith
"Harder than you might think. Which is why we're trying other options," Angel replied. He looked at Faith.
"Hey," Faith said, holding her hands up. "I kinda want to live, so I'll sit this one out if I have to."
"The jet is coming to Iowa airport. We can leave tomorrow."
Dean
"Yeah, so you can head back to Hollywood," Dean smirked, "good luck with that."
He stood back and looked down at Faith.
"I don't doubt for a minute I'll be seeing you around though," he pointed at her and winked.
"But better not keep Sammy waiting. See you round."
Angel and Faith
Once Dean had left the room, Angel turned to Faith.
"Ok, we need to talk about that boy."