"Bloody hell, what happened to you?" Spike asked, turning from his position at Harmony's reception desk to look at Faith. "You look like hell, Slayer."
Faith stopped in the entrance to the foyer of Wolfram and Hart, her whole body drooping and ready to collapse. Her pants were ripped and dirty, and her face was already starting to show the fresh bruises.
"Yeah," she replied, blinking. "Feel like hell too. Is Xander here?"
Spike nodded. "Saw him come in about an hour ago, why? Whole lot of British guys are roamin' round the building too. Don't know what that's about."
Faith clenched her teeth. "I have a hunch. Did Sam or Dean check in?"
Spike shrugged. "What am I, a bleedin' watch dog?"
Dean
"Sam's out. Looking for you," came Dean's voice from behind her.
He walked up, his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket.
"Where the hell were you?"
Faith
"Getting my face used as target practice, apparently," Faith sighed.
"I was meant to meet Xander, but... well obviously, that was a set up."
She flipped her phone out to call Sam.
Dean & Sam
"A set up?" Dean's frown deepened.
He was about to add something when he heard Sam's ringtone. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Sam jogging towards them.
"Faith!" he exclaimed, immediately pulling her into a hug when he got to her, careful not to hrt her at the same time.
"What the hell happened?!"
"A set up," Dean was encouraging Faith to elaborate.
Angel, Spike and Faith
"Faith?" Angel opened the doors to his office, looking out into the lobby. "What happened?"
"Cannon Fodder set her up," Spike interrupted, grinning. "Didn't think the boy would be up to that, but there you go. He grew a pair. And look, the Rogue came back all roughed up."
He looked at Faith and leered suggestively.
"It suits you, by the way."
Faith ignored him. "Get Xander, Wesley and who I can only assume to be members of the Watcher's Council here. Now."
Angel looked to Harmony, and the blonde nodded, tapping buttons on the phone.
"Come on," he said to Faith. "I have a medkit in my office."
Faith nodded and looked up at Sam for a second, before reluctantly pulling away to get patched up.
Sam & Dean
Sam followed Faith like her shadow, not letting her less than a few feet away from him. Dean hung back in the foyer.
"This Xander guy better have some balls," he said absently to Spike, "because I don't think Sammy's gonna let this go lightly."
Spike, Angel, Faith, Xander and Wesley
Spike looked at Dean, sniffed, then grinned.
"I don't know who you are. But Angel doesn't like you. So I like you."
~*~*~*~
Angel sat Faith down on the couch, sitting across from her and opening the medkit. He gently cleaned the graze on her chin.
"Ah," Faith hissed, turning her face away slightly.
"Sorry," Angel apologised, glancing up as the others entered the room.
"You, uh, called?" Xander looked nervous, while Wesley's face was stoic, hanging back with Quentin beside him.
"Yeah." Angel pulled back as Faith stood up.
Dean & Sam
"The old 'enemy of my enemy' trip," Dean nodded, "so why are you here then?"
~*~
Sam clenched his jaw for a moment, stepping towards the men who'd entered.
"Who did this to her?" he demanded.
Spike, Xander, Faith, Wesley and Angel
"Eh, to annoy Angel, big brooding block of wood that he is," Spike said, grinning faintly. "He gets to be king of the castle, and I get to knock him down a few pegs."
~*~*~*~
Xander was having a hard time looking Faith in the eyes as he pulled something from his pocket. He opened the leather case, revealing a syringe and a vial of yellow liquid.
"It's an organic compound... of muscle relaxants and adrenal suppressers. The effect is temporary. You'll be yourself again in a few days."
Faith's eyes widened, betrayal flashing through them. "You?"
"It's a test, Faith," Wesley stepped in, sensing that Xander wasn't able to. "It's given to a Slayer once... if she reaches her eighteenth birthday. You... you didn't have a Watcher back then - "
"I was in a coma back then," Faith snapped.
"You knew?" Angel looked at Wesley in shock.
"I was aware, yes."
Dean & Sam
"I like the way you think," Dean pointed at him with a smile, "if my bro wasn't with Faith or so friendly with Wesley it'd be the only reason I'd be here too."
~*~
Sam took one step forward and landed a well-aimed blow across Wesley's left cheek.
Spike, Wesley, Angel, Faith and Xander
Spike grinned. "Yeah, mate, it's worth it. Stabbed him right through the chest a few weeks ago coz there was a demonic bug on his back. I mean, I could've asked him to turn around, but that wouldn't be half as much fun, right?"
The bleached blonde chuckled to himself.
"Though, I don't fancy the chances of those blokes in there," he said, indicating inside the office. "I learned pretty early on, you don't mess with the Rogue, or Angel will hurt you. She's under his skin something bad."
~*~*~*~
Wesley reeled back, holding his chin and staring at Sam in half surprise, half acceptance.
Angel made no move to help him.
Quentin cleared his throat. "Congratulations, you passed. You exhibited extraordinary courage and clearheadedness in battle. The Council is very pleased."
"Wow, thanks," Faith said sarcastically. "Do I get a gold star?"
"I understand that you're upset," Quentin replied carefully.
"You understand nothing," she answered with controlled fury, before turning to Xander. "All this time, you saw what it was doing to me... all this time and you didn't say a word!"
"I wanted to," Xander said, emotion creeping into his voice.
"Liar," Faith snapped.
"You think the test was unfair?" Quentin asked.
"I think you better leave town before I get my strength back," she threatened.
"We're not in the business of fair, Miss Lehane, we're fighting a war," Quentin told her evenly.
"No," Angel spoke up. "You're waging a war and she's fighting it, there's a difference."
"I don't understand, you've followed Council protocol before, you've followed our previous orders that have been dangerous," Quentin said.
"Well, whenever Angel sends me on a mission he always saus 'please'," Faith replied, sarcasm evident in her tone again. "And afterwards, I get a cookie."
Dean & Sam
"Yeah..." Dean trailed off, looking toward the door, "she's kinda under ours too."
~*~
"One more word," Sam warned Quentin vicously, "and I won't hold back."
Spike, Xander and Faith
"Yours too, huh?" Spike asked, shrugging. "Don't really get it myself, although, the first time we met, we were very close to screwing."
~*~*~*~
"Faith, I'm - " Xander started.
"If you apologise to me, I swear to God, Xander, I won't need my strength to kill you," Faith interrupted angrily. "You know, I really should've seen it coming. Betrayal from one of the Scooby gang. That's not really anything new."
"It wasn't his choice," Wesley spoke up. "You were overdue for the test, it was something that had to be completed as part of your training. You passed, it's an extraordinary feat, Faith, you should be proud."
"Bite me."
"Yes, colourful girl," Quentin commented.
Dean & Sam
"Yeah, ditto," Dean nodded, "it just took us twenty years to get to it."
~*~
Sam's eyes had been staring Quentin down, but at the last comment he'd spun and punched Wesley a second time.
"What kind of f***ed up training program is that?!" he demanded, fighting the urge to use his telekinesis.
Spike, Wesley, Faith and Angel
Spike grinned, leaning back against the wall.
"Yeah mate, that one, she looks like she'd be up for the rough and tumble. The rougher the better."
~*~*~*~
Wesley fell back against the ground, hand moving to his eye.
"The Slayer is not just physical prowess," Quentin said. "She must possess cunning, imagination, resourcefulness. Self reliance."
"You know, you didn't have to set this test up for me to gain that," Faith spoke up. "I have all of that. I grew up and learned all of that."
Angel put his hand on Faith's shoulder. "I think it would be best, Wesley, if you took some time off."
"You can't be serious!" Wesley protested, struggling to get to his feet. "I simply knew of the test, I had no involvement."
Dean & Sam
"Oh yes," Dean closed his eyes appreciatively, then opened them again.
"Damn I need to get laid..."
~*~
"And if you actually came out on the streets and saw her, you'd know all that!" Sam said with venom, ignoring Angel and Wesley, "but instead, you chumps sit on your glorified asses, and dictate what these girls should and shouldn't do."
Spike and Faith
"What I don't get, is why Rogue's shacked up with your brother," Spike said to him. "Didn't think that would be her type, really. She's a doer, not a talker."
~*~*~*~
"It is not the way," Quentin replied calmly. "A Slayer slays and a Watcher - "
"Watches?" Faith suggested.
"We haven't the skill," Quentin continued.
"Oh please," Faith scorned. "A stake through the heart, a little sunlight... it's like falling off a log."
Dean & Sam
"That's what I thought too," Dean shrugged, "but a lot changed when I got back."
~*~
"Then why don't you..." Sam stepped forward to tower over the smaller man, "take all those fancy training methods of yours, and train yourselves?"
Spike, Xander, Faith and Angel
"Eh, women," Spike said, waving his hand. "Easily replaceable."
~*~*~*~
"Haven't the strength," Quentin replied evenly. "And now, the test is over, though I must say, Alexander, the Council and I will be meeting to decide if you should stay on as Faith's Watcher."
"But... but I did everything that was required of me," Xander said, confused.
"Hmm, academic probation's not so funny today, is it, Xander?" Faith said, rather smugly.
"Even so," Quentin went on. "You have too much affection for your charge, you let her run loose when she should be with you, following orders. Must I remind you what happened the last time she was allowed loose?"
Angel stepped up at that, and punched Quentin hard in the jaw. "Leave. Now."
Dean & Sam
"I'll throw him out," Sam offered, not waiting for a response as he grabbed Quentin's arm and forced him out the door.
"Do yourself a favor - get a gym," he glared as he threw him from the office.
Dean looked up in surprise when he heard the commotion, instantly springing to action and walking to Sam's side.
"Sam?"
Faith, Angel and Spike
Faith glanced out the window, noticing that it had started raining.
She quietly slipped past the others in the lobby, heading for the roof.
~*~*~*~
Angel watched Sam deal with Quentin, regarding the situation.
"Oh old Broody is back," Spike said, looking at Angel. "Whatsit, the Rogue all weepy now? She did it, didn't she? Heaving bosom and all."
Sam & Dean
"GET OUT, NOW!" Sam bellowed.
"Sammy-!" Dean grabbed his arm.
"They did it to her," Sam glared back at his brother.
Dean took the hint, stepping back and letting his brother go for it.
Angel, Wesley, Xander and Spike
"Perhaps you should follow his advice," Angel told Quentin grimly. "Because he may kill you. And I don't think I have the energy to try to stop him."
Quentin hurried towards the exit of Wolfram and Hart, and Xander stared after him.
"Xander, Wesley," Angel said, turning to the other two men. "I think it would be best if you left as well."
"Yes, I think so," Wesley murmured, looking at Xander. "Come."
Xander nodded and followed Wesley, both men looking a little like dogs with their tails tucked behind them as they walked.
"Where's Faith?" Angel asked suddenly, looking around. He hadn't liked the look in her eyes when they were in the office.
Spike sniffed slightly. "Peaches, she's gone to the roof. You think she's gonna make a break for it?"
Angel scented the air as well. "I think it's what she does best."
Dean & Sam
"You ok?" Dean stared at his younger brother.
"Not now Dean," Sam insisted, before taking off down the hall.
Dean glanced between Angel and Spike, before following.
Spike and Angel
"You really think she will?" Spike asked again, sounding concerned this time.
Angel shrugged, changing his course of direction for the fire stairs.
"I think she might try."