"The Rogue has a mean right cross," Spike grinned, barging into Angel's office and interrupting the conversation that was going on. "Might have to up my game a little."
Cordelia turned to look at Spike. "He'll agree."
"Sod off, I will not," Spike automatically argued. "Agree with what?"
"The situation with Priestly," Angel replied, leaning back in his chair. "Cordelia seems to think there's no help for the kid."
"He tried to kill his own family, Angel," Cordelia scoffed. "He admitted he felt no remorse when he thought he'd killed Dean. He doesn't see the point in saving human lives. So yeah, I think there's not a lot of hope for him."
"Lorne, what did you see?" Angel turned to the green demon, who was standing quietly in the corner of the office.
"He's clear," Lorne offered, stepping forward. "He feels a lot of confusion, but I don't see that he has the same intentions that he once did."
"So he's clean," Gunn shrugged. "Debate over, as far as I'm concerned. I trust Lorne."
"You've been wrong before," Cordelia said to him. "I don't mean to sound like a bitch, but you have been wrong before."
Angel glanced over at him again, and nodded slightly. "This isn't an attack on your abilities, Lorne. I just need you to be sure. For Faith's sake, I need you to be absolutely sure."
Lorne nodded. "He's clean. Completely."
"I don't trust him," Cordelia started again.
"He's a bit soft, but he seems alright," Spike offered.
"He's a risk," the former cheerleader stared haughtily at the rest of the men in the room. "Remember what happened with Connor, Angel? I don't mean to hurt you by bringing it up but it was the same situation. Priestly will turn on them, just like that. He can't be trusted. We have to do something. Turn him in or something."
"Or in the alternative," Faith interrupted, standing in the doorway of the office. "How 'bout... we don't?"
"Faith..." Angel started.
"It's a neat theory, Cor, but I'm not buying into it. And I'm not going to let you dump my son into a whole mess of trouble here," she continued.
"I'm not saying it will be easy," Cordelia said, softer this time. "But I - "
"I think Faith had the floor," Gunn nodded.
"Maybe he's evil, but maybe he's not," Faith told her. "And right now, I don't think I want you playing those odds."
"Oh, so you came here to fight?" Cordelia asked.
"We're fighters, all of us," Faith told her. "But you have to give us something to fight. Something real, not..."
"Windmills," Spike murmured.
"There is something in what I am saying!" Cordelia protested.
"Maybe," Spike conceeded. "But we can't be sure of that. That's a hell of a lot to ask of Faith and Pip."
"Too much," Angel agreed.
"I'm not saying we kill him!" she argued. "But I think there's a problem that needs to be addressed. And you can't do it alone, guys. I know you want to, but you can't."
"Maybe we have a vote," Gunn suggested.
"No."
"No, what?" Spike asked.
"No, you don't get to vote until I've had my chance to sleep around, you know, get everyone sexually frustated," Cordelia snapped. "See, I didn't get that this was a popularity contest. I should have equal time to flirt with you all, bake you cookies - "
Faith rolled her eyes. "Understand them?"
"You're just loving this, aren't you?" Cordelia whipped around to face Faith.
"You have no idea what I'm feeling," the Slayer replied evenly.
"Come in here, take everything I have... you did it before. Does anyone remember that? How she used to kill people for fun?" Cordelia asked bitchily. "Funny how she gets forgiven with a slight pout of the lip and heaving bosom. She's good. She has all of you wrapped around her fingers."
"Cordelia, that's enough!" Angel snapped.
Cordelia shot a hurt look in Angel's direction. "Of course. Always standing up for your Slayer. Can't say anything bad about Faith, even if it is the truth!"
"I didn't come here to take anything from you," Faith said calmly. "But I'm not going to be your lapdog either. I came here to help him, for him to see there's a choice. He's my son. And I am aware of his past, I'm not blindsided by anything. Sam, Dean and I will handle it, we will make sure he stays in line. And you won't get involved, Cordelia. I mean it. You do, and I can't promise you won't get hurt."
With that, Faith turned around and left the room.