Faith stepped down the steps of Wolfram and Hart, almost breathing a sigh of relief to be outside. She had tried listening to everyone's advice, that maybe she just needed rest, maybe she was just coming down with something, but there was nothing to say that she couldn't take it easy while being outside. She wouldn't even go patrolling. She'd just go to the boardwalk, maybe get some cotton candy.
She pulled her jacket tighter around her body, a little chilly in the cold night air, as she walked.
"Hey baby!" an older man called out, whistling as he nudged his friends."You need some warming up?"
Faith ignored them, walking a little faster. She didn't feel like picking a fight she wasn't entirely sure she would win.
A man's voice, humming, behind her, as she walked along the street.
"Humming," Faith said, turning around, only seeing nothing. "Big turn off. I like guys who remember the words."
She turned around again to see a vampire standing in front of her, grinning.
"You know, I wish I could, but my mind just isn't what it used to be," he said, grabbing her arm hard.
"Let me go," Faith said with clenched teeth, trying to pull out of his grasp.
"You didn't say please!" he replied playfully.
Faith brought her free hand up and punched him as hard as she could, almost recoiling from the pain. She stomped on his foot, and then pulled away from him, running in the opposite direction.
"Somebody help!" she cried.
Sam & Dean
Sam's head snapped up, Dean looking straight at him.
"That'd be her," Dean sprung into action, hightailing it around the corner with Sam in pursuit.
"Calling for help?" Sam frowned.
As they came to the end of the alley they saw Faith run past the opening, a man in pursuit. Dean made it to the street first, pulling out his gun and aiming.
"HEY!"
He caught the guy's attention and landed a round in his chest. When the man didn't budge, Sam took a few running steps toward him and plunged his dagger into his neck. The vampire hissed as Sam held the knife stable, before snapping the neck bone and letting the head drop. He stopped to catch his breath as Dean caught up, a shocked look on his face.
"Dude. Lay off the sugar, huh?"
"Faith?!" Sam called out, looking down the street and not seeing her.
Faith
Faith looked around, cradling one hand against her chest as she ran, limping slightly.
"Lost, little lady?" A man stood, leaning against a fence. He approached her slowly.
"Leave me alone," Faith replied, her voice shaking.
"Well now, you know I can't do that, can I?" Another slow step.
"Somebody please, help!" she called frantically.
Sam & Dean
"That's her!" Sam exclaimed.
"Go. I'll clean up this mess," Dean insisted, not a moment before Sam took off.
He finally came across her just as the man inched closer.
"HEY!" he yelled, "get away from her!"
Faith
The man glanced at Sam and then decided it wasn't worth it, taking off in the opposite direction.
Faith breathed a sigh of relief, her whole body shaking. She limped in the direction of Sam.
Sam
"Faith what happened?" Sam asked, jogging over to her and pulling her into his arms.
Faith
Faith buried her head into Sam's chest.
"I don't know," she said, her voice timid. "Please, just... take me home."
Sam
"Ok, ok," Sam tried to calm her down, "we just need to find Dean. Come on."
He slid his hands under her shoulders and knees, lifting her into his arms.
Faith
"Something's wrong," Faith whispered, her body still tense in his arms.
"We have to find out what's wrong."
Sam & Dean
"We will, we will," Sam assured her, walking back towards the laneway.
Just in time for Dean to walk out.
"Cleaned up?" Sam asked.
"Yeah. She ok?"
"No, not really. Let's just get her back to Wolfram. Maybe they can help."
Faith
Faith shook violently from the cold and from fear, and she held onto Sam with the little strength she had left.
"They can't help," she mumbled. "They've been trying."
Sam & Dean
"Then we'll call someone, ok?" Sam insisted, "just rest for now. We'll sort it out in the morning."
"Motel then?" Dean suggested as they got back to the car.
"Yeah, I think so," Sam nodded.
Faith
Faith let her head fall against Sam.
"I've lost my powers," she said tiredly.
Sam & Dean
"It's ok, we'll work it out," Sam insisted as he put her in the back seat.
He slipped in beside her as Dea got in the front, and threw a blanket over her before closing the door.
"We good?" Dean asked as he started the car.
"Yeah, go," Sam insisted.
Faith
"Hope so."
Faith rested tiredly against Sam.