"We on schedule?" Faith asked, stopping in the alleyway, the rest of the group with her.
"Yes, it's time," Giles told her, looking at his watch.
"Everyone knows their jobs," Faith said, looking at everyone. "Remember, the ritual starts, we all die. And I'll kill anyone who comes near Brand."
She strode ahead again, head high, strangely confident for someone who may be meeting their death.
"Well, not exactly the St Crispin's Day speech, was it?" Spike asked, turning to Giles.
"We few... we happy few..." Giles started, following after the Slayer.
"We band of buggered..." Spike continued.
Gwen glanced at Angel. "Guess this is it."
"Guess so," Angel replied.
They stopped short at the mouth of the alleyway and stared up at the tower that had been constructed for the ritual. Three figures were faintly seen at the top.
"Oh my," Wesley commented.
"What is it?" Gunn asked, staring up.
"The portal is opening up there," Giles told him, pointing.
"Guess I'm up," Faith said, stepping forward. "My guess? Vampires are gonna be all around. Stay safe guys."
"You need anything?" Angel asked, touching her arm.
"Could use a little courage," she smiled.
Spike shrugged and pulled a flask out of his pocket.
"The real kind. But thanks," Faith replied.
Angel stepped forward and for a long moment, he and Faith shared a look.
"I know," she smiled. "I'll come back to you guys. Promise."
And on that note, she walked over to the bottom of the tower. Taking a deep breath, she started to climb, moving with exceptional speed.
"Minions," Wesley breathed, pointing.
"Guess we're interrupting," Angel said, slipping into game face.
~*~*~*~
"Faith!" Brand yelped as she reached the top, barely out of breath.
"Slayer, how nice of you to join us," the Father greeted pleasantly.
"Well, I could never resist a party," Faith replied.
"Bleed him," the Father ordered the minion.
"No, stay still, puppy," Faith said, then punched the Father hard in the face. "I'll get to you in a minute."
~*~*~*~
Angel looked up towards the tower, and then glanced at Spike.
"Spike. Go. Now."
"On it, boss."
Spike darted past the main fight and leapt for the tower, before climbing swiftly, on his way to help Faith.
~*~*~*~
"This is the fabled Slayer, who faced my Son?" the Father sneered, punching Faith and sending her flying back to the edge of the platform.
She managed to regain her balance, then strode over and retaliated with a powerful roundhouse kick.
"Yeah. Kicked his ass, didn't you hear?"
~*~*~*~
The minion slit across Brand's throat and threw him off the tower, and for a moment, Brand's body suspended mid air, before plummeting down to the ground.
~*~*~*~
"It begins," the Father grinned. "What will you do when your heaven becomes hell?"
"If you're so amped on hell," Faith spat, plunging a stake into the Father's chest. "Go there."
~*~*~*~
"BRAND!" Wesley yelled, seeing the boy hit the ground.
~*~*~*~
The sky seemed to open up, almost resembling a sunset, and Faith stared for a long moment, before Spike landed on the top of the tower. He touched her shoulder.
"Faith - "
Faith turned and smiled at him, before taking a running leap off the platform.
"FAITH!" Spike yelled.
~*~*~*~
Faith's body landed in amongst the cloud that had formed where the gate was opening.
For a moment, everything was light, and her eyes slid closed, a peaceful expression on her face, and in that moment, Angel felt the connection break off and he knew she was gone.
Sam
Sam stepped out of the shadows below the tower, throwing his hand up and closing his eyes in concentration.
Faith's body suspended in mid-air, and Sam could immediately feel his legs crumbling from underneath him.
As he began lowering her body to the ground he did fall to his knees, his nose beginning to bleed when she was still as far as five metres from the ground. By the time she was one, his hand was barely raised, and he had to drop her.
Before he himself collapsed backwards, exhausted.
Giles and Gwen
"Gwen," Giles said softly.
Gwen approached Faith's body and kneeled next to it. She shook her hand slightly.
"Just like hotwiring a Chev. Come on."
She touched Faith's chest.
Nothing.
Sam
Sam groaned and coughed, rolling over onto his side. His fingers went to his face, feeling the blood that had run down his chin from his nose.
Angel, Gwen, Giles and Spike
"What's wrong?!" Angel came to Gwen's side, touching Faith's face gently.
"Nothing's happening," Gwen replied, panic in her voice. "I don't know - "
Giles bent beside Sam and handed him a box of painkillers.
"Faith said you might need these."
Spike jumped down the last few rungs of the tower and ran over.
Sam
"Faith," Sam suddenl remembered, pushing Giles aside gently and struggling to his feet.
He staggered bckwards into a wall, before getting is balance and rushing over to her.
"Faith?!" his voice shook, falling to his knees beside her.
Spike, Gwen, Angel and Lindsey
"Try again," Spike said firmly to Gwen.
Gwen nodded and pressed her hand against Faith's chest.
"Make it work, or I'll kill you, soulled or not," Angel said quietly.
~*~*~*~
Lindsey's eyebrows rose as he watched from his place in the shadows.
He'd been especially interested in Sam catching Faith mid air.
Impressive.
Sam
"Faith no," Sam cradled her head, his bottom lip quivvering as his eyes welled up.
"Don't do this to me. Don't make me tell her."
Gwen, Spike, Angel and Faith
Gwen pushed Sam away, none too gently, and then lit up the strongest spark she could in her hand. She pressed her palm down onto Faith's chest.
Faith's body convulsed for a moment, before laying still again. Seconds later, Spike and Angel smiled at each other, hearing the faint thud of heartbeat.
"Miss me?" Faith said hoarsely, opening her eyes.
Sam
"Faith!" Sam grabbed her, pulling her upper body into a tight hug.
"Oh thank God," he breathed, tears falling from his eyes in spouts.
Faith, Angel and Spike
Faith wrapped her arms around Sam as tightly as she could in her weak state.
"Told you I'd always come back."
Angel glanced to where Brand's body lay a few metres away.
"Faith..."
"I know."
"Bloody hell, you like to be dramatic, don't you, ducks?" Spike grinned. "For a moment, I thought Angel was gonna cry."
Sam
Sam let go of her, then grabbed her jawline and kissed her passionately. When he finally pulled away, he looked at her sternly.
"Don't ever do that to me again!"
Faith and Angel
Faith let out a laugh and she leaned into Sam, running a hand down his face.
"Promised you, I would. And I did."
Angel watched the pair through thoughtful eyes.
It really seemed like he was going to have to put up with seeing Dean on a regular basis, considering what he could see was going on between Faith and Sam.
Sam
"It's not that I don't trust you or anything-" Sam chuckled, before cutting himself off and kissing her again.
Spike, Gunn and Faith
Spike chuckled, nudging Gunn like a little schoolboy, as the group started to get up to leave, the only two left were Faith and Sam.
Faith laughed into Sam's mouth, pulling away gently.
"Anyone would think you're glad I'm still around."