__Snowfall__
By Greyangel




The night air clung about her, feeling as though it had a restraining weight to it. The sound of movement in the halls was enough to keep her awake, and the pounding of the rain outside kept her well aware that she was where she was for a reason. She anticipated the coming sleep would not be peaceful and undisturbed… it hadn't been for a long while, for she'd dreamed. All of those who had come before her - even the one that was still alive - had graced her dreams with their lives and their deaths, their failures and their miracles. Every night she saw another pardon given to the world, and another gravestone…

She closed her eyes, aware that soon she would dream again of times long forgotten -when another fearful, defiant girl would stand up to the darkness and the demons of the world and be buried. All of them had fought for the good; all had given something to the world… all but her. She tightened her eyes, holding them closed -almost against her own will - and assured herself that she would wake again in the morning.

And in a place far distant, a young woman reclined gently into her bed beside her faithful boyfriend, sighing softly and closing her eyes as she pulled the warm blankets up to her neck. Her dreams had been filled with her predecessors also, and she did the best she could to learn of them by day as well as night…

Her mind wandered over trivial matters of the day before resting upon those more frightening - her deadly destiny and the repercussions being felt currently by her family…

And soon unconsciousness washed her worry into yet another dream.

The wind had chilled her bones, almost to the extent that she could no longer feel her body. Dusk had arrived, and with it came the deadly flame she was yet to face. She trembled where she stood, slumped, against the pillar of wood. The sounds of their shouts and screams seemed distant, however close they appeared. Her bare feet shuffled clumsily in an attempt to keep what little feeling remained, but even the orange-red light that danced below did not awaken them.

Snow fell so very gently, as if christening her in this, her darkest hour. Her eyes fell upon the finely dressed men that watched on from the podium not far away. Many remained still, without so much as a hint of emotion in their expression… others turned away…

She slid slowly down the pole as her feet were unable to hold her up. The flames now danced across her milk-white flesh, and she shuddered as the pain ripped up her legs. She cried out and tried to push herself back up, wrapping one of her legs around the pole as a truly deafening scream of pain heralded her body's awakening.

The snow that fell around her was whipped about in silver smoke, and she lifted her eyes to the sky, chanting. First softly, then slowly louder and louder until she was crying out in pain the words that had brought her to her fate.

'We are to fight the darkness and the falling of the sun. We are destined, we are watcher, we are slayer, we are one. We are here to fight the darkness and the falling of the sun - we are destined, we are watcher, we are slayer, we are one…'

Gasping deeply, she sprung into a sitting position, her eyes wide and full of fear. Feeling her sharp movement, he was up beside her in moments with his arms around her.

'Buffy? What happened? Are you alright?'

She blinked, still trembling, and returned his deep embrace as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. 'Oh, God… oh…' she sobbed into his shirt as vivid memories of the unbearable pain still held firm inside her mind.

'Are you alright?' Riley asked.

She pulled back for a second and nodded. 'Nightmare.'

While, in the distance, in a dark cell, she leapt from sleep into the reality that was her atonement, her eyes flashing a bright lightening purple before subsiding back to their normal chestnut brown. She shuddered and began to wretch as the smell of burning flesh still filled her nostrils. After recovering from her bout of sickness, she continued to shiver uncontrollably, pulling her filthy blanket from her makeshift bed and throwing it to the floor. She stumbled about the room warily before finally crawling back onto the bare bed and tucking into a foetal position. Sobs followed, along with an overwhelming feeling of loss and despair… betrayal…

In a moment of blind rage she leapt from the bed and brought her foot down swiftly, snapping the solid wooden bed frame in two. Her eyes flashed around the room like a predator until she finally spied a young guard in the next hallway… she would wait…

Finally the guard passed by for his usual checks. She wailed in pain, making sure to get his attention at just the right moment. He approached the bars cautiously. 'You alright in there?'

She leapt from the darkness and shot an arm through the bars to grapple his neck, and then quickly bring him forward to strike his head against the metal and knock him out. After doing so she knelt, moving as quickly as she could - the guards always patrolled in pairs. She found what she was after, and lifted it to the side of her cell door, unlocking it and sliding out as quietly as possible. The alarm sounded, and she made a straight dash for the nearest exit she knew of, knowing it wouldn't be easy to break out without taking a life…

* * *

Buffy lifted herself into a tuck position before dropping again and building up her momentum. She moved swiftly to and fro several times before she had enough speed to swing into a handstand position.

'How come she doesn't get all dizzy?'

'Dawn…' Buffy warned, upside down.

Giles remained quiet, keeping his eyes on his Slayer. 'Stay focused.'

Buffy held her position and closed her eyes, the muscles in her arms taught and full of power. She could feel every inch of her body responding with raw strength to every move she made… it felt good.

Giles remained perfectly still, his eyes unmoving. She seemed at complete peace, upside down, her feet less than an inch from the roof. His eyes travelled up and down her body - every muscle appeared to be tight and firm, holding perfectly the position. At this rate, he thought to himself, she could stay like that for days.

All of a sudden the door burst open, and with a gasp, Buffy loosened her grip. After falling in a great heap to the floor she remained stationary, until Giles had rushed to her side. 'Are you alright?'

'Just got the wind knocked out of me, that's all.' She assured him, gasping for air. She took his arm and pulling herself up.

Riley stood, feeling all at once terrible, in the doorway. 'Bad time, huh?'

Buffy remained silent, but looked at him with a sympathetic, yet somewhat irritated, expression.

He sighed and stepped back. 'I'll just… wait for you in the shop.'

She watched him go, and glanced over at Dawn. First with a look of defiance, then resignation, Dawn followed her sister's boyfriend. Giles glanced to the door, waiting for it to shut before he spoke. 'Aren't you going to stop him? I'm sure he didn't mean to…'

'No - I think we're well past the "no, Riley, wait, it's all right" phase. Now it's just a glance and an 'I'm sorry' now and then. He just… doesn't get it. He's still trying to be superhero boy and he's not anymore. And he thinks that it's all I care about - and… it's not. I just want him to stop feeling inadequate and unworthy. He puts me on this pedestal and acts like I'm the light in his sky… it just… frustrates me and…' she sighed, 'and that ends your tutorial on The Buffy, Riley Relationship.'

Giles rested a hand on her shoulder.

She half-smiled at him. 'I'm all right. It's… not, but things will work out. They always do, one way or another. I mean, I can't send him to hell or anything, 'cause hey, been there done that. And everything has to be pretty much uphill from hell.'

He smiled in return, turning to rearrange the mats they'd placed below the bar into a safer arrangement. She may have only had the wind knocked out of her, but he didn't want to take any chances.

'So, start again?' she inquired.

After a brief pause, he looked over his shoulder at her. 'Perhaps not… go after Riley, you've trained long enough today.'

'Aww.' She pulled a face. 'And I was just getting into it.'

Giles smiled. 'I appreciate your overwhelming new commitment to your training Buffy a- and I'm very proud of what you've been doing. But you need some time for yourself,' he insisted. 'Go…'

She looked up at him with a seemingly sad smile. 'Thanks,' she walked over to the chair where she'd left her coat, 'I'll see this afternoon.'

He nodded, watching her move to the door.

After turning the knob and opening it a little she stopped and wheeled around, her eyes wide. 'Oh! I almost forgot!'

His brow lifted.

'I had something - I was - uh, going to ask you about. I…' she tried to think of the best way to tell him. 'You know I've been dreaming about the Slayers, right? The ones that came before me? Well, I had this dream last night, well, more like a nightmare. Giles… were any of the Slayers ever burned at the stake?'

A baffled expression crossed his features. 'Burned alive, you mean? Not that I can recall, no… and I've been through most of the Watcher diaries and histories, especially when the Master was going to rise. I've never heard of anything about a slayer being burned… are you sure this wasn't just a normal nightmare?'

'I don't know… maybe… it just seemed so vivid.'

He removed his glasses. 'Understandable - a lot of people have vivid dreams, Buffy. What makes you sure this was real?'

'I could - I could feel the flames and the snow and it was… so… painful and frightening.' She shuddered.

He cocked his head. 'Try not to let it upset you. The fact that I've never heard of such an event in Slayer history means that it's probably just a disturbing nightmare. I will do some research, though. Just in case.'

She smiled. 'Thanks. Well, I'd better go after Riley. I'll see you later.'

He bid her farewell and watched her go. After she closed the door behind her, he sighed and sat down. She had told him often of the Slayers in her dreams, but they'd always been things she could cope with: averted apocalypses, vampire hunts and, usually, the death of a Slayer … but nothing this dramatic or detailed.

He worried about her. Probably far more than he should - but now that he was her watcher again he allowed himself a larger leeway for worrying than he had last year. Before she had always been his student - his responsibility and charge, for whom he constantly felt obligated to protect… and if he ever lost her he would have felt as though he had lost one of his own blood.

Things had changed drastically over the last five years. No longer the student and the teacher, they had formed a strange bond that found them as close friends and partners in her quest to discover the truth behind the Slayer's legend.

Although, if he lost her now, he would still feel that hole in his chest - that torn, torturing feeling that he could have, should have, saved her somehow. And it frightened him so - the nights that she would patrol and risk all for the hunt and kill… what she had been and what she was becoming were a world apart. He only hoped she could handle it, when the time came.

His thoughts were distracted momentarily by the door as it swung open. After a moment Anya's irritated face poked through.

'I need you out here.'

Giles sighed and made his way to the main shop where five or six people browsed the shelves. His brow lifted, and he looked over to Anya, who was stuffing her handbag with bits and pieces and slinging it onto her shoulder. She smiled at him as she passed and patted his shoulder. 'Right. Thanks.'

He waited until she was almost at the door. 'Anya.' He said in a strong, irritated tone.

She stopped dead, and paused a moment before looking back and replying. 'Yes?'

'At what point exactly did you intend to inform me where you are going and why you are going in the middle of the day, when you are supposed to be working for that money you so eagerly stuffed into your purse a moment ago?'

Anya let her shoulders noticeably slump as she rolled her eyes sideways. 'Xander wanted to celebrate his new raise, he told me to meet him for lunch.'

'And you didn't happen to mention to him that you're working today?' Giles added, holding back his now common Anya-provoked irritation.

'Of course, he already knows I work weekdays.'

Giles removed his glasses. 'I'm sensing a slight flaw.'

'Oh, right. I told him I'd speak to you about an extended lunch break.' She smiled and turned back towards the door.

'And at any point did you consider the fact that speaking to me about an extended lunch break might actually involve a verbal conversation about the subject?' He leaned against the desk, still hiding his annoyance.

She slumped again. 'Oh… that.'

'Go.' He said, turning back to the counter.

A childish smile spread across her face. 'Really?'

He flipped open a book and glanced up past his now replaced glasses to see her hopeful expression before returning his gaze to the book. 'Go.'

Her grin broadened as she turned. 'Thanks boss!'

After the door swung closed he lifted a hand to his forehead. 'Should have hired Willow or Tara…'

'Glad to know I'm the topic of … well, Giles to Giles conversation.'

He glanced up at the sound of her voice and smiled a weary smile. 'Willow… Tara. Hello.'

Tara waved from behind her girlfriend, and Willow just smiled, saying, 'Sounds to me like troubles of the employee variety.'

Giles gave them a quick glance.

Willow lifted her brow. 'I'll take that as a yes.'

Tara smiled. 'Well, Mr. Giles, if it's any consolation, I don't know how to stop the monkey's brains from exploding when you put it near that... stuff. At least Anya's good for something.'

'I'm glad I'm not the only one relating Anya to monkeys.' Willow grinned to herself.

He lifted an eyebrow at his young friend and received an 'I'm sorry' expression before he returned to his book. 'I'm beginning to think there's no end to the trouble in this town. First the Master, Spike and Drusilla, Angelus, the Mayor, the Initiative, and now Glory.'

Willow gave a swift nod. 'Yup. Sunnydale's got it all. Just once, though, I'd like to see some of that stuff in the brochure…'

Tara giggled slightly, and Giles gave her a slightly amused smile before flipping the page.

The bell at the door rang as Xander stepped in and gave the girls a quick wave. Tara smiled as Willow turned back to Giles.

'Hey hey, how are my two favourite Wiccas?'

'Good,' Tara offered enthusiastically.

'How'd you know to look for us here?' Willow asked.

The others looked at her with half bemused expressions.

She waved her arm. 'I mean, aside from the fact that we're witches and this is a magic shop and hey! Giles, how bout that book you're reading. Any good?'

Xander's gaze drifted to Giles, then down to the book he was engrossed in. 'Just looking up the usual mojo to work on the nasties?' he asked.

Giles glanced up. 'Essentially, yes. Wait a moment... ' an irritated expression crossed his features. 'Don't you have a lunch date with Anya?'

His young friend nodded and looked around. 'Yup. Where is she?'

'Gone.' Giles placed a hand on his hip. 'Out to lunch with you, I assumed.'

Xander looked around curiously. 'I told her I'd pick her up.' He insisted.

Giles sighed and rested his head in his hands, returning to the book.

'Don't worry, I can… I can find her.'

'Do try.' Giles groaned from beneath his hands. After several moments the girls exchanged glances, and Xander darted into the back to double check for Anya.

'Hey, uh. Giles. Not to bug you or anything but-' she and Tara lifted several objects. 'Paying customers…'

Confused, he lifted his brow. 'Oh! Sorry.' He briskly made his way over to the cash register and took the items from the girls. After packaging them all he paused for a moment, realizing what they had just bought. He lifted his eyes. 'Planning a spell?' he passed the bags over the counter.

Tara nodded. 'We, uh… we've been trying to do this one for a while now. It's really just an easy spell, not messing with anything big.'

'We can start fire, we just want to be able to mould it. This spell is an incantation only about a hundred or so years old, brand spanking new in terms of spells. It brings the fire into the form of a human, or, at least, we think it does. The chant talks about fire being the night's protector, and summons a fire Goddess to give a part of her soul to the flame. It really sounds awesome, we just need the right place.' Willow said excitedly. 'We've tried back yards and stuff… tonight we're thinking of trying the cemetery.'

'Did I hear cemetery?' Xander stuck his head out from the doorway, and his body followed not far behind.

Giles brow lifted as he turned his attention back to the girls. 'Are you sure that's entirely safe?'

'Not really.' Tara's eyes lowered.

He cocked his head slightly. 'I'm not saying you can't go, just that… you should take precautions.'

'Yeah, like something specific you should take with you.' Xander added.

'We did kind of already think of that…' Willow insisted. 'We are taking garlic, crosses, holy water… the whole nine yards.'

'Actually, I was thinking more like five three, blonde, perky but good with wooden objects…'

'We can't take Buffy away from her usual patrols.' Willow informed him.

Giles narrowed his eyes. 'Yes, that is… true, in part, but it's best you have some protection. Why don't you--'

'Take Riley?' Willow finished for him. 'With the way they've been going lately? I think a good, sound "bad idea" would be a suitable response.'

Giles lifted his brow. 'Actually, it wasn't what I was going to suggest.'

Willow gave a sheepish look. 'Sorry.'

'Why don't you talk to Buffy, she may be patrolling that way, or may be able to bend her patrol a little tonight. It's only one night, after all.' Giles suggested.

Tara nodded. 'That's a good idea.'

Willow looked over her shoulder and smiled slightly. 'We'll talk to her,' she glanced back at Giles. 'But we can take care of ourselves, you know.'

Giles smiled gently. 'I appreciate that, Willow. But with Glory around vampire activity seems to have doubled, and I'd rather not lose good paying customers.'

Willow grinned at her girlfriend. 'That's Giles-speak for "I care about you".'

Tara giggled and Giles lowered his head with a slight smile. 'Be careful.' He called after them as they left with Xander, who was off, once again, to find his missing girlfriend…

* * *

He glided swiftly into the room and threw open the weapon's closet, examining it's contents. After a brief moment of consideration he reached in and pulled two leather strap, spring loaded gauntlets.

'Wait, let me get this straight. You're going to Sunnydale?'

'Yes.' He replied, distracted.

'Dare I chance a "why" at this point?'

Without looking back at her he pushed up his sleeves and began to strap the gauntlets to his arms. 'From the reports, she's heading in that general direction.'

She placed her hands on her hips. 'So you're going after her?'

'That's the basic idea.' He loaded a stake into each of his gauntlets and set them in place.

'Planning on staking her?'

He shot her a quizzical look before she indicated she was talking about the stakes he had just armed himself with. 'No. There's just… a lot of vampires in Sunnydale.'

'I remember,' she agreed, pulling an alarmed face as he pulled a pair of handcuffs from the cupboard and closed it.

Seeing her expression, he lifted his shoulders in defense. 'To restrain her, they're-'

'I really don't want to know!' She exclaimed, cutting him off.

He sighed, turning as the sound of footfalls heralded someone's arrival. He looked to the doorway where his newest employee stood, arms folded. 'Hey, Angel. We heading out any time soon?'

'You're not coming.' Angel said simply, his tone not forceful but still holding enough power to make his employee think twice about questioning him.

Gunn, however, rarely thought twice. 'You said what?'

'I said you're not coming.' Angel insisted, noticing that Wesley had joined Gunn in the doorway. 'I'm going alone - you need to stay here and take care of any clients while I'm gone. Just… try to be subtle. This is urgent - I need to get her back before she-'

'Does the psycho again? We know.' Cordelia finished for him.

'I won't be gone long.' He pulled his duster over his shoulders. 'There's only one thing she could be after in Sunnydale, and that's Buffy.'

He moved to the doorway, closely followed by the others.

Wesley, feeling uneasy, watched him walk to the door before he called out, 'Angel,' and watched as his employer turned to look at him.

Angel lifted his brow, waiting for Wesley to continue.

The former watched tried to find a way to tactfully say what he wanted to say. 'Despite what she looks like to you, despite what you've seen in the last six months, she's still… she's still Faith.'

Angel's eyes traveled around the room and fell on Cordelia, who seemed to be silently agreeing with Wesley's point. He looked back to Wesley. 'I know.'

Silently, the three most important people in the vampire's life watched him slide silently out the door and begin his return to the place that had taken him to hell and back… literally…

* * *


The ringing of a bell announced the entrance of a new customer, and as the owner lifted his head to let the newcomer know the store was closed, he paused, then lowered his head again at the sight of his Slayer's boyfriend.

'Riley.' He greeted him casually, removing his glasses and massaging his aching head. His day had been full of loud and noisy customers, mostly wanna-be witches and gothic teenagers seeking a way to curse their parents, or their ex-boyfriends. All of the commotion and noise had blessed him with a rather irritating headache.

The tall, lean young man approached the table where the former watcher sat. 'Buffy?' He inquired.

Giles pointed over his shoulder without looking up, indicating his Slayer was training in the back of the shop.

With a half smile that lacked any kind of humor, Riley made his way silently to the training room Giles had established out the back of the magic shop.

After a half an hour of sweet silence, the banging of the door heralded yet another argument between the turbulent lovers as they made their way to the front of the shop once again.

Trying to ignore the shouting, Giles sighed rather loudly and rubbed his temples, his glasses still resting on the desk.

'Look, I'm going on patrol - I need to clear my head. We'll talk some more tomorrow morning.' Buffy insisted, much to Riley's chargin.

Giles lifted his head wearily, remembering an event earlier in his very busy day. 'Did Willow or Tara speak to you about your patrol?'

Buffy looked at him, confused. 'No, why?'

'They're performing a spell in Restfield Cemetery tonight - I suggested they ask you to bend your patrol around their way, just for safety's sake.'

'I can do that, I guess. It's only about ten minutes out of the way.' She turned back to Riley. 'We'll talk tomorrow.'

'Of course. Always… tomorrow.' He said, his voice thick with annoyance and sarcasm.

Buffy rolled her eyes. 'What do you want me to do? I have nothing to say to you tonight, Riley.'

'That's just the problem, isn't it?'

'Riley, please!' She cried.

In their mad argument they hadn't heard the soft bell as the door was pushed gently open. Giles looked up, and was surprised at who stood before him. After a moment, he indicated an invitation, and said gently. 'Come in.'

The new arrival tried not to smile at the scene before him, not really that unsure as to why the loud row made him feel quite so good. 'Am I interrupting something?'

The arguing couple stopped their argument for a moment and turned to the doorway. After the shock had finally worn off, Riley stepped forward, in front of his girlfriend.

'Angel.' Riley growled.

'Angel…' Buffy broke from her daze and sidestepped her boyfriend. She paused a moment before smiling gently. 'Hey.'

He gave her a nod, but didn't smile. 'Hey, Buffy. I, uh… we need to talk.'

'I gathered.' She agreed, stepping back and indicating for him to head into the back. He moved past Giles and a still-tense Riley before slipping through the door. Buffy followed not far behind and closed the door behind her.

She turned and folded her arms. 'So. How are things in LA.'

'Tense. Terrifying. But that's not why I'm here.' He said flatly, driving straight to the point. 'Faith has escaped.'

Buffy narrowed her eyes. 'What? Why?'

'I have no idea.' Angel sounded exasperated and frustrated. 'I spoke to her just the other day - she seemed perfectly fine. She's been getting a lot better - we talk a lot, well, when I can get in there to see her. She had no reason to break free… she was finding her peace… slowly, but still… she was finding it.'

'But as she said once to us before, she's the best actor. She played us.' Buffy looked down.

'No,' Angel stopped her immediately. 'Whatever reason she had it must've been valid. She wouldn't have done this without a reason.'

Buffy lifted her brow. 'I understand you think she's all better now, Angel, but I can't forget what she's done. And what she can do.'

Angel watched Buffy's face harden - he could almost feel her anger, and her pain. 'I'm sorry for whatever she did to you. It must have been terrible for you. But so was what I did. You forgave me. I'm not asking you to fall on your knees and swear that you'll forgive. I just want you to try.'

She paused briefly, then sighed. 'First, we find her. What makes you think she's here?'

'Tracked her through police reports after she broke out - this seemed to be the way she was heading. Didn't even stop to rob anything - didn't kill anybody on her break out, either. Just knocked them unconscious.'

Buffy looked around the room. 'You may be right, Angel. She may be finding peace. But she'd better give a damned good reason for what she's already done. She could get a longer sentence for this.'

'I know,' he held up a hand, 'but please, just help me find her.'

'I'm about ready for a patrol right now.' Buffy placed her hands on her hips.

'Where would she go this time of night in Sunnydale?'

Buffy thought for a moment. 'Any place dark, but not too concealed. She doesn't usually hide much.'

He nodded. 'She'd probably hit one of the cemeteries.'

'Hasn't slain a vamp in a good long while,' Buffy agreed, 'she'd be itching for a good hunt.'

'Good, then let's go.'

'Oh…' A look of sudden realization came over Buffy's face.

Angel lifted his brow. 'You okay.'

'Oh, God.' Buffy shuffled quickly to the doorway. 'Willow and Tara…'

Angel followed close behind as they burst out of the training room and went straight through the shop.

'Where are you going?' Riley called after them.

Buffy paused at the door. 'Willow and Tara may be in danger. Faith's broken out… I'll explain more when we get back - meanwhile, just… stay put.'

'I'm coming with you.' Riley slid off the desk and walked towards her, but she held up her hand with an impatient expression.

'Riley… if we found Faith, you'd probably just confuse her all the more. It sounds like she doesn't know what she's doing… Angel and I, we… we know her. Please, just stay here.'

With a look of irritation and defeat, Riley slid quietly back to his place while they rushed out the door.

Giles restrained himself from glancing back at Riley, knowing the boy would be halfway between furious and depressed. Instead, he carefully opened the book that lay on the desk before him, replacing his glasses, and tried as best he could to ignore the current crises. Another attack of Faith was the last thing they needed right now, and with Buffy and Riley's relationship faux pas piled on top, he was caught in the midst of a veritable avalanche of trauma. After several awkward moments of silence, Riley slid from the counter and strode the door, not even looking back at the former watcher before he stepped out into the night. Giles, not knowing whether or not to warn him against going after Buffy or remain silent, took the latter option, hoping Riley wouldn't be as pig-headed as to recklessly chase after his girlfriend.

After several moments, Giles truly wished he had said something...

* * *

Her eyes held tightly closed, she tightened her grip on her girlfriend's hand. After several moments of silence, she braved a slight peek from her right eye, finding Tara was doing the same. They gave each other sheepish smiles and opened their eyes fully, looking down at the large candle that sat between them, it's flame flickering normally.

Willow sighed. 'Maybe it's just this cemetery. We can try another one...'

'I don't know. I'm getting a very ... cold feeling.'

'Of course, that could just be this searing six degree heat.' Willow joked, and watched with a warm feeling as her girlfriend laughed.

Tara stopped her laughter dead, an alarmed look covering her expression.

Willow blinked, surprised at the sudden change. 'Are you alright?'

The young witch narrowed her eyes and cocked her head slightly, as if listening to something. 'I don't know. Just... another very cold feeling came over me.'

'Let's go. It's getting a little eerie out here.' She leant forward to put out the candle, but Tara's hand on her lips stopped her. She glanced up.

'Can we try it one more time?' Tara asked, suddenly a little nervous and withdrawing her hand.

Willow smiled slightly. 'Sure. But then we should kinda go. It's pretty cold out here.'

Relaxing again, they took each others hands and stared down into the slightly flickering flame of the plump candle. After several minutes, they both closed their eyes and lifted their heads, chanting quietly the spell they had tried so many times.

'Assica, world of one, we summon this your due
To bring forth spirit burning into spirit young and new
Allow this soul to flow to one protector of the night
To dance among the flames again, and soon succumb to light.'

After several moments, a disturbingly cold wind blew past them, and Tara gasped, her eyes opening.

Willow shuddered at the feeling that crawled down her spine and wriggled, trying to shake it off. She looked up at Tara, saying, 'What was that?'

After a few moments, she realised her girlfriend was preoccupied with the flame in front of them, which was dancing about, streaking inches away from it's wick, then back again, in the half-shape of a dancing girl. Tara laughed softly, fascinated by the dancing rhythm, until Willow let out a startled cry that diverted her attention.

Looking up, she saw what it was that had Willow so alarmed. A dark, lean girl was less than two metres away, crouching, the pale moonlight fusing with the scarce candlelight to create an eerie glow across her face. She shuffled closer, and Willow and Tara leapt from their seats, backing up. For all the darkness, Tara still recognised the girl's face from their brief encounter the previous year.

'Faith...' Willow whispered gently beneath her breath. 'But... but...'

Ignoring her, Faith stretched out her leg and pulled herself closer to the abandoned blanket, still half-crouching. Her eyes were locked firmly on the dancing fire.

Willow looked from the candle back to Faith, then leaned close to her girlfriend and whispered, 'Get ready to run when I say...'

Faith's arm outstretched and held still over the dancing fire. She smiled a soft smile, and Willow grew alarmed - Faith had never smiled like that before, at least not to her recollection. She looked so... lost, but still, very peaceful. She watched in silence as a tear trickled down the dark Slayer's face. Then, as if she had heard thunder, nearly jumped when Faith spoke.

'Tor... the fire. I remember. It danced for me, once, too...'

Willow had barely heard her, but still, found her actions somewhat bizarre. The old Faith would have caught them totally by surprise and taken advantage, probably using them as bait against Buffy. But this time... something was wrong with her. It were as if she had been robbed of her senses, and quite possibly her sanity.

After a brief moment of complete confusion, Willow realised that, insane or no, it was still Faith. She reached out and grabbed Tara's hand, wheeling around and breaking into a dead run. Tara, surprised, stumbled after her, then finally caught her balance and began a solid run.

In moments, Willow realised, Faith had forgotten the fire and was chasing them. Same old Faith... She thought to herself, looking around for a place they could hide. The scrub around Restfield had proven helpful at times, but now, she knew, Faith was too close and would likely see her enter whatever hiding place she might find. She cast aside whatever hope she had of hiding and decided instead to head for the only place she would be safe from a Slayer - the home of another one. She made a sharp right and, still gripping tightly to Tara, ran out onto the pavement.

They had been running for several minutes before she realised she couldn't hear any footsteps other than her own and Tara's. Not liking the idea of stopping, she chanced a glance over her shoulder, and could see the Slayer six or seven metres behind them. Then she realised why she couldn't hear anything - Faith was barefoot.

Tara cried out, and Willow looked back at her briefly to see if she was alright. They were both getting tired, but Tara had been trying to tell her something. Finally, Tara managed to cry, 'She's yelling something!'

Willow listened hard, and could hear Faith's voice yelling desperately - 'Wait! Wait please!'

Not convinced, Willow kept on, trying not to slow in pace.

In what seemed like less than a second a wave of black flashed past them, then a flicker of blonde hair. Willow was knocked by a body darting out in front of her, and she spun, catching Tara as they both went down.

Breathing heavily, she managed to finally pull herself up from the pavement, holding herself up with her elbows, and looked to where three bodies stood, metres away. She recognised one as Buffy, and, after a few blurry moments, realised the other was Angel.

Staggering to her feet, Tara pulled her girlfriend up. They held onto each other as the adrenalin and fear started to subside, watching the small flurry of fighters not too far away.

After a struggle of kicks and punches, Faith withdrew, her eyes wild and animal like. 'I wasn't going to hurt them...' she ducked a blow, 'I saw the fire... I thought they had... summoned me here.' She had a truly hopeful look in her eyes as she glanced at the two frightened witches.

Angel placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder, finally managing to restrain her. She shot him an angry look, before glancing quickly over her shoulder to see if Tara and Willow were all right.

Angel approached the young Slayer, but she cautiously stepped back, then pointedly spat: 'Vampire.'

Buffy's eyes narrowed. 'Faith, give up the act. You're going back to jail.'

Faith looked around, alarmed. 'No, they never put me in prison. Hell, perhaps.'

As he shuffled forward, Angel held out his hands to show he didn't intend to hurt her. 'Faith, it's me. Angel. We need to take you back to LA.'

She had a confused look on her face, as if she didn't understand what he was saying. Before he could speak again, she whimpered softly.

Angel, too, was confused at her behaviour. Even when she was acting, this wasn't like Faith. 'Faith... do you underst--?'

'The fire!' She cried, cutting him off. A desperate, pained look was now on her face. Angel tried to comprehend what was going on. Buffy stood beside him, just as baffled, but still tense and ready to fight again if necessary.

'What about the fire, Faith?' Angel asked softly.

She swallowed hard, tears welling in her eyes. 'He... watched me,' she began to sob, 'stood there and just... watched... me...' then her sobs were broken with a sick, tired laughter. 'But I... I guess that's... his job...'

Buffy was becoming rapidly unnerved, and her hands tensed, clenching into fists. The longer it continued, the more she felt it a charade.

Angel's grip on her shoulder hardened, and he glanced a warning back at her, which only served to provoke her anger.

The sobbing had stopped, and now she simply looked off into the starry night with an empty, tear stained expression.

'Faith,' Angel said gently, 'we're here to help you.'

Her eyes refocused, and she looked down from the sky to Angel's gaze. 'Help me?'

He nodded gently.

Buffy growled and turned away. 'This is a waste of time.'

'Buffy!' Angel turned after her, annoyed.

'What?' she cried in returned. 'She's playing us again, Angel.'

He watched his former lover take up an offensive position, ready, in case Faith retailated. The other slayer stood, silent, her eyes examining her predecessor with a blank look.

Angel sighed. 'She doesn't know what's going on. I... I don't think it's truly Faith. Maybe she's got amnesia or there's a spell, but it's not really her.'

Buffy paced a moment, glancing occasionally towards her nemesis. She stopped, and looked up at her vampire friend. 'If you're wrong about this, I will kill her.'

'Slayer's don't kill humans, Buffy. You do, you'll become her.' Angel warned, well aware of the effects blood had on Faith's hands. He couldn't image the same thing happening to Buffy.

In a flash of moment, Buffy was being launched backwards by a powerful kick. Angel wheeled around to find Faith advancing on her. 'Slayer!' she screamed. 'They sent you, didn't they! They sent you here! But I'm not dead yet!' The venom in her voice was almost as painful to hear as it appeared to be for her to say.

Buffy kipped, her slayer sense taking over as she retaliated to the attack in full force. The two battled, a flurry of punches and kicks, leaps and hard blows. Angel tried to separate them several times but only found himself at odds with Faith, and unable to deliver a blow to either of them. Remembering who else he had in his company, he turned to the two witches, who stood, still trying to comprehend the situation.

'How good are you?' He called out to them. 'Do you think you can make something to put somebody to sleep quickly?'

After snapping out of her alarmed daze, Willow reached into the waist pocket in the rather large skirt she was wearing and produced a couple of satchels of herbs and magic ingredients, bark saps and sage. Between them they fussed for a few moments before rubbing several bits and pieces together. Willow rushed forward with a small plastic bag full of magic ingredients. She took the opened end of the bag and blew into it, sealing her hand around the end so the air remained inside, and the bag remained inflated. She handed it over to Angel, a tad woozy from the bark's fumes, which she had briefly inhaled. 'Put... uh, pop this in her face. It should have no effect on you because you're, well, dead - she'll be out, but only for about ten minutes.'

Angel nodded, and raced back over to where the two girls were still struggling. With a swift kick he seperated them and lightly shoved Buffy out of the way, wheeling around and striking the bag direclty in front of Faith's face. A shocked expression crossed her face briefly before her eyes drifted closed and she slumped. He managed to catch her mid-fall, and swept a hand under her legs. 'I haven't got much time before she wakes up again,' he insisted, 'I'll take her to the mansion - it's just through the cemetery.' He was already on his way before he finished the sentence.

Buffy went to follow him, but he turned and looked down at her. 'No, Buffy. I need you to go get Giles. She mentioned something about people who send Slayers - I'm assuming she meant the watcher's council - and he'd be the best person to ask about that currently. I'll meet you at his place.'

'Meet us at the Magic Box.'

Angel agreed, 'I'll be there. Now go.' He turned, breaking into a jog.

She watched him ago, but still felt silently angered at the encounter. Every part of her seemed to be unendingly positive that this was another act. And, yet, there was something about Faith's behaviour that had felt oddly familiar. Something maddeningly simple that had made her feel a definite, cold chill strike her spine. As if she were somehow... innocent in all of this.

She shook the feeling away. Faith's innocence had been lost long ago.

And yet, that desperate loss in her greatest enemy's eyes ate at her - the flood of innocence that had not been present there for nearly two years...

* * *

The Watcher shifted uncomfortably. After a few moments, he removed his glasses and began to clean them, trying to let his mind grasp what he had just heard. After a moment he replaced his glasses and looked over at his Slayer. 'So, where is she now?'

Angel slid quietly through the door, closing it behind him. The bell above the door barely made a noise. 'She woke up - but not until I had her restrained.' The vampire replied, moving over to where the others stood.

Giles considered. 'You say she was acting strangely... perhaps another trick?'

'That's what I think,' Buffy agreed, 'but I don't know. She's just... not her, it's like she's under a spell.'

Tara lifted her hand slightly, uttering a quiet - 'Um...'

Willow turned to her, her eyes still holding a deep concern for the earlier scuffle and how it may have affected Tara. 'Are you alright?'

The young witch nodded, and looked to the others. 'But she's not under a spell. Usually I can tell if somebody's being affected by a spell, and I didn't feel anything.'

'Well that settles it then.' Buffy looked back to Angel. 'She was playing us.'

'Not quite so fast, Buffy,' Giles objected, much to Buffy's chargin. 'I am very much aware of your history with Faith, but in the event that something is truly in control of her, something that may perhaps be even more dangerous than she is, we have to be cautious.'

Angel exchanged a look with Giles before glancing down to Buffy. 'He's right.'

Buffy, hatred in her eyes, wheeled around. 'Fine, great, you guys research something that takes over the bodies of psychopathic killers, while I go and interrogate her.'

'No,' Angel stood in her path, 'Buffy, that's not going to help right now. From what she said when she woke, she has even less a clue of who she is or where she is than we do. She's talking in riddles, but mostly to herself.'

Buffy looked unconvinced and angry, but still, her better judgement won over her hatred and she began to settle down. 'All right. So what now? Do we hit the books, or do we get somebody to talk to her?'

Giles lifted his brow. 'I'd prefer the former, but since we don't have any hint of what it is we're looking for, we'll need to speak to her.'

Angel thought for a moment. 'She said something when she woke up. Something about... torn?'

'Torn?' Giles said to himself, thinking carefully.

'Tor!' Willow cried. 'She mentioned something about Tor when she approached us, too... is that a demon or something?'

'Not that I'm aware of...' Giles replied, a thoughtful look crossing his features.

'I'm going to head back to the mansion - perhaps I can talk to her.' Angel said gently. 'Maybe I can find out what's going on.'

'I have to get back to the house - Mom said she'd be out late tonight and I shouldn't leave Xander and Anya much longer.'

Giles nodded. 'Go. There isn't much else we can do tonight.'

She sighed, and made her way to the door, sliding out into the night. The walk home was somewhat uneventful, and Anya and Xander seemed somewhat relieved to see her. Apologising for her tardiness, she saw them off and checked on Dawn. Her younger sister remained peacefully asleep as Buffy walked into her room and pulled her blanket further up to cover the girl's shoulders. Closing the door gently behind her, Buffy made her way to her own room and changed.

Sliding into her bed she stared up at the ceiling for close to half an hour, thinking, before rolling onto her side. It wasn't so much that Faith was back as the fact that the situation had been made difficult. Why couldn't it be the way it always was? Faith was the bad guy. They would fight…it would resolve itself, more likely than not with a large amount of pain. Still - it seemed a far easier equation than Faith the way she was currently - confusing and seemingly innocent. As hard as she tried, Buffy couldn't remove that look from her mind.

Finally, after hours of her mind stewing over issues of Faith, Riley and Angel, she drifted into sleep, only to be struck by the image of falling snow and fire...

She struggled aimlessly against the wooden pillar she was tied to, her hair flicking about her face as the cold sting of snow caressed her cheeks. She felt splinters in the wood digging into her arms as she moved, but ignored them in favor of the young man that approached her, a torch of fire in his hand. She looked down at him with an expression full of fear and loss. He glared back, lowering the torch to the piles of wood, hay and twigs that had been stacked around her feet.

Her eyes followed the flicker of golden flame across the first pile before she glanced with an empty expression up to the podium that stood not too far away. All at once the flames were forgotten, as she saw his face and felt the rage rise within her. He turned to a man near him and spoke, then continued to watch the barbaric spectacle before him. She shuddered a moment, then finally felt the heat of the fire below her. Although it hadn't reached her body yet, she knew the moment was coming, and felt the emotionally torturing numbness of her body. The torn, ragged cloth that had been carelessly wrapped about her exposed three quarters of her flesh to the icy-cold air, and she now felt as though her body was in another place and time entirely.

Finally, the fire touched her skin, and for a moment she couldn't feel it's presence. All at once a burst of searing pain ripped up her legs, and she screamed, struggling against the pole, feeling the badly cut wood dig long, sharp splinters into her arms as the rubbed furiously against it, trying to escape her pain but only causing more. Wrapping one of her legs around the back of the pole to try and excape the flames, she lifted her head and let out a loud, harrowing scream as the pain finally took it's full force against her body, eating her flesh. She silenced herself, feeling the pain mingle with her massive strength and the anger that had risen to a fury within. The torture continued, until finally her mind focused upon the podium where they stood and she began to quietly chant to herself. Soon, she was screaming the words, and after a moment felt true satisfaction as the words she cried out registered with those on the podium.

Finally her chants broke into another scream as her words drowned together, the pain becoming too much for her to bear..

Aboud her the smoke whipped and flickered with silver light, and her consciousness started to slowly lose the battle against the flames that were invading her body and soul...

Buffy shot up in her bed, breathing heavily. After a moment she held her forehead, trying to escape from the terrifying images her nightmare had presented her with. She closed her eyes as tight as she could and bit her lower lip in a visible effort not to cry, and finally threw back her covers. Dressing quickly, she made her way down the hall and peeked into her mother's room, seeing that her mother was sound asleep. Glad, because there was no way she could have left Dawn by herself, Buffy made her way down the stairs to the front door and slid out into the cool, refreshing night air.

Pulling her coat tightly around her she moved swiftly down her street and turned, heading towards the cemetery. After several minutes of navigating headstones she finally came through on the other side of Crawford Street, and looked up at the great, abandoned mansion before her. The place carried with it so many memories, and most of them unpleasant.

She pushed the door open and stepped through, carefully closing it behind her. After a moment she looked up and around the old mansion. It had far more cobwebs and dust than she had remembered, but, then, it had been truly abandoned this last year. The flicker of firelight coming from the next room made her shudder slightly, and she moved to the doorway, trying to leave behind the foreboding feeling that had suddenly crossed her.

Angel sat, as she had remembered him sitting often, by the fire, deep in thought. Faith, bound by chains, was curled up into a ball with her back against a strong pillar that supported the roof.

'Buffy,' Angel said, a surprised tone in his voice. 'It's late.'

'It is,' she agreed, but didn't feel like explaining the circumstances that had her awake at two in the morning. 'Couldn't sleep.' At least she wasn't lying.

He gave a slight nod and looked over to Faith, who examined the newcomer with nonchalance.

Buffy looked to her nemesis and felt a slight twinge at the expression on the girl's face. 'Faith,' she acknowledged.

Faith merely blinked, as if she didn't recognise the name.

'It's not Faith,' Angel informed her.

Buffy's brow lifted as she looked back over to the vampire. 'And you've come to this conclusion... how?'

'I've been talking to her,' he looked down at the restrained slayer, 'and she has no memory of me or what she's done. She doesn't even sound like Faith anymore. No, something's possessed her.'

'A demon?' Buffy suggested.

'I'd be able to sense a demon.' Angel looked down once again. 'And other than demons, the only things I know that possess people are sorcerers and oracles.'

Buffy examined their prisoner. After several moments she moved a little closer and waited for Faith's eyes to meet hers. 'Who are you?' she asked coldly.

Faith remained silent, a curious expression on her features.

'Who are you?' Buffy repeated, louder this time.

Angel looked to her. 'She won't tell me, either. It's almost as if she doesn't know herself.'

Unconvinced, Buffy crouched down and looked directly into her nemesis' eyes. There was an absentness there that disturbed her, and she withdrew almost as fast as she had crouched.

'She hasn't tried to escape.' Angel added, breaking the silence. 'Nor has she tried to attack me, so whatever it is in there, it's at least slightly friendly.'

The blonde slayer pondered this for a moment. 'Don't take any chances. Just... don't let her out of your sight.'

Angel watched his former lover for a moment before acknowledging with a slight nod.

Buffy sighed gently and turned to leave, but Faith's voice stopped her. She turned around, her brow lifted.

Faith cocked her head slightly. 'You're a Slayer,' she said, 'bane of darkness... they sent you here, didn't they?'

Confused, Buffy remained in stunned silence for a moment before replying. 'Who are they?'

The other slayer considered her question for a moment then looked back up. 'They are what controls your fury and what guides you.'

Buffy nodded gently. 'Watchers.'

Faith shuddered visibly. 'Them.' She acknowledged. 'Where is yours?'

'I don't really have one,' Buffy knelt, 'I left them, the council, after... an incident. They have no control in Sunnydale, believe me.'

'Tor... this life is apart from our own... she... freely walks away...' she mumbled to herself, an expression of curiosity and disbelief on her face.

Faith looked up at the vampire that stood nearby and pressed her lips firmly together. Finally her eyes drifted to the fireplace and she seemed to fall into a deep trance.

Angel and Buffy exchanged looks before the Slayer turned to leave once again, saying, 'If anything happens, call me. Otherwise I'll see you tomorrow.'

Without speaking a response, Angel watched her go and then let his eyes drift back to the restrained Slayer on the floor. She was still staring off into the flames, and the look on her face worried him somewhat. He noticed a sad longing in her eyes as she watched the fire dance about on the logs. Something cold, and yet so innocent, remained in her expression.

He turned away and moved over to the fireplace, sitting down to resume his brooding once again. Without him noticing, her eyes shifted to where he sat and she examined him carefully. Yes, he was the Angelus whom she had sought to destroy in her time. He and his bitch sire had torn a hole through half of Britain, and had created half the
uncoordinated vampiric army she had slain. But now…now Angelus had been reduced to a man inside a demon, inside a man. Somehow that worried her more so than if he had been Angelus...

Still, she wondered at the time she was trapped in - the body she was trapped in. So many confusing memories came to her at once, and so many she could still feel locked behind doors that would not open. The girl deep inside fought against her - fought to gain control with a desperate need to make right what she had wronged. Still, she remained under her control and out of the way, for now.

Her eyes returned to the orange flames that caressed the sooty-black bricks of the fireplace. She examined each flicker with a deep-set hatred that was not visible in her expression. No, despite her confusion and her need to seek revenge she felt a terrible pulling inside, something that told her she shouldn't be where she was... these new emotions only served to confuse her even more and let out a short whimper as she withdrew into a ball once again and tucked her head between her hands. He watched her for a moment, then realised she was not in pain nor was she angry, and so returned to his own thoughts.

And the fire flickered on, as if mocking the silent soul it had claimed so long ago.

* * * * *

Tired and irritated by their lack of progress, Buffy slumped back in her chair. Her watcher kept his eyes on her for a moment before removing his glasses. 'Didn't sleep well?'

After several moments of undistrurbed silence, she turned around. 'Hmm?'

He leaned back against his counter, cup of tea in hand. 'You're tired.' He said with a gentle smile on his face.

She blinked before yawning and nodding softly.

'Didn't sleep?'

'Couldn't sleep,' she confirmed, her voice still slightly a lower pitch from her yawn. 'I had another nightmare.'

He shifted uncomfortably. 'The same as last time?'

'If not more vivid.' She acknowledged, looking back to the half-drank cup of tea before her. She looked into it and wondered suddenly why there were no tea leaves. 'Giles, do use tea leaves?'

He paused, surprised at the question, then answered her quietly. 'Um, yes, but not this morning. Tea bags.'

She lifted her brow. 'Because you're supposed to be able to read tea leaves, right? And how can you find out what's going to happen if you don't have any tea leaves - because they tell the future, don't they? I think... or is that-?'

'Buffy,' he called. She stopped speaking and he gave her an inquisitive look.

She shrugged sheepishly. 'Sorry. I just...'

'You don't have to talk to me about your nightmares.' He insisted, knowing at once she was uncomfortable speaking about them.

She considered this a moment then looked back up at him. 'It's not that... it's like I'm. I'm confused, and everything is all weird and spinning out of control - I mean, Faith and Angel, and Riley going off like that.'

Confused, Giles said, 'Riley going off?'

Buffy paused and looked up at her Watcher. 'He left yesterday. Went on a short trip away, says he needs space while Angel is here.'

The Watcher nodded, placing his tea cup back on the bench.

Her mind awash with confusing thoughts, Buffy held her shoulders. 'Giles... did you have any luck finding anything about a Slayer being burned at the stake?'

His face registered comprehension when he heard her words and he closed his eyes for a moment. 'No, I'm sorry. I looked in the Watcher Diaries around the times of the Salem trials, the most likely point, but no Slayers were involved.'

She shook her head. 'No, I was alone up there.'

Alarmed, he moved to the table at which she sat. 'You were alone? Buffy, in these dreams are you... are you the girl?'

As if she were rather embarrassed, Buffy nodded gently. He sat down on the chair beside hers. 'Buffy, why didn't you tell me?'

She looked into his eyes, and seeing the visible fear in hers he tried not to let his worry show on his expression. He had seen her afraid before, but the look in her eyes spoke of such suffering as he had never seen in her before. Restraining the need to comfort her he simply placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Slowly, and with tearful eyes she began to recount what she could remember of her nightmares. He sat beside her, controlling his emotions as he listened carefully. After she had finished she looked at him with a half-exhausted, half-hopeful expression. He paused, simply looking at her, before he stood once again and made his way over to his books. 'I will continue my search through the Watcher Diaries, but I have been over them a hundred times before and I have never heard of such an event occurring.'

Nodding gently, she felt her hopes sink. 'Thank you... for trying.'

He managed a half smile, but it was an empty one.

'I'm going to check on Angel and Faith,' she informed him, pulling herself up from the table.

'I might go with you, actually,' Giles said gently. 'I wish to speak with her. Perhaps she'll say something about the council again, something that might give me a clue as to who she is and what she's doing here.'

Buffy nodded, and watched as he went to the back of the shop and informed Anya he would be out for a while. After several moments and a bit of a verbal battle between him and his employee, Giles emerged, pulling on his coat.

They made their way swiftly to Crawford Street, and Giles paused, looking up at the great building that had harbored him in the moments of his greatest agony. Putting the flood of angry emotion behind him he made his way up the steps and inside after Buffy, and she lead him through the first chamber to the second where they found Faith still chained. Angel was nowhere in sight.

Giles looked around the room with a deep chill slowly creeping up his spine. The room was quite familiar, but not the one he had been tortured in. He scanned the contents until his eyes fell on the ever-familiar form of Faith, and he cocked his head slightly. She sat quietly, her arms around her knees, her expression blank.

Buffy approached her and knelt.

'She hasn't spoken all day.'

Standing, Buffy looked over her shoulder. Angel made his way into the room, hesitating for a moment when he saw Giles. He gave a nod of acknowledgement to the Watcher then focused on Buffy again. 'She won't talk. I've tried.'

Buffy looked down to the girl on the floor and sighed. 'Great.'

Giles thought for a moment, then looked down at the Slayer and her restraints. 'She could break out of those chains quite easily.' He informed them, knowing now after some of Buffy's training sessions the true strength behind the Slayer's power.

Angel nodded. 'I know. But she hasn't tried to break free once.'

'Maybe she's just waiting for the right time?' Buffy suggested, a hint of anger in her voice.

Angel looked sideways at her before turning to look at Faith. The girl had barely moved all morning, which was not so much worrying him as disturbing his thoughts - she was thinking about something, he just wished he could tell what it was.

A large, echoing knock sounded from the door, and the three of them exchanged confused glances. Willow and Tara were both told to keep away from Faith for now, because of her fascination with them the night she was found. Xander and Anya were both working... it was sunny outside, which pretty much ruled out Spike... Riley was out of town. Buffy moved cautiously towards the door and placed her hand firmly on the handle. Pulling it open in one swift movement she held up a fist, before sighing and lowering it again.

He had a slightly offended look on his face as he said, 'Hello to you too...'

Angel looked up at the sound of his voice. 'Wesley?'

Walking inside, he glanced around the mansion before his eyes landed on Faith. He looked to Angel with a visible wince. 'Familiar situation.'

Confused, Giles and Buffy exchanged looks before turning to Angel.

Angel glanced around and lifted his brow. 'Except, you don't have a net this time. Why are you here? I told you to stay.'

'I'm very much aware of that. But we couldn't get in contact with you, and I figured you might like to know that you've been followed by an old friend.'

Angel was confused for a moment before his expression became one of annoyance. 'Kate.'

Wesley confirmed. 'She's after Faith.'

'Who's Kate?' Buffy asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Angel didn't respond, and when Wesley saw that he wasn't going to, he answered for him. 'A police officer who has a tendency to...to get in the way of important matters. Frequently.'

'The blonde thing that tried to drag you into jail last time we had a problem with Faith?' Buffy asked, turning to Angel.

He confirmed with a quick nod before looking down to Faith. 'We're fine here for a while. She won't know to look here. But we're going to have to find a place to put her.'

'We can put her in the back at the Magic Box if needs be.' Giles cut in. 'But for now, we need to find out what's got control of her.'

'Something has taken possession of her?' Wesley asked, alarmed.

Buffy cast a look Giles way, and he nodded, making his way over to Wesley. He explained quickly the circumstances and the events of the last few days while Buffy knelt beside her nemesis and tried to get her to speak again, to no avail. Angel watched the events around him, thinking carefully about what to do next.

'If she's possessed, then I suggest an exorcism.' Wesley said finally.

Angel lifted a hand to his face, holding his elbow with his other hand. 'It's not a demon, it can't be. I'd sense it. That, and if it were, it would have acted by now,' he insisted.

The others considered, and found this a logical conclusion. Buffy watched Faith with intense eyes, irritated that there was nothing she could do to break the girl free from whatever held her, and send her back to jail. Everything would be so much easier after this was all over.

'We need to find out what it is inside her before we try and get rid of it,' Angel said, his eyes fixed on Faith.

'You're right, of course,' Wesley agreed, 'it may be here because it needs our help.'

'Learning this being's origin will be the hardest part - we don't even have half a clue to form any conclusions.' Giles removed his glasses and cleaned them.

'And even when we do find out, an exorcism still may not be a very good idea.' Buffy's tone told the others her frustration was growing.

'You're right. But I've got a better idea.'

They turned to the doorway where she stood, smiling, a book in her hands.

Buffy sighed. 'Will, you shouldn't be here. She might react badly seeing you here - she seemed pretty preoccupied with you and Tara when we found you...'

'I know, I know,' Willow agreed. 'But I've found somethi... Wesley?'

He lifted his brow and smiled. 'Hello, Willow.'

She smiled. 'When did you get here?'

'Only about twenty minutes ago. I had to warn Angel about another possible problem,' he replied, smiling in return.

'People - issue at hand here.' Buffy lifted her brow, looking at her best friend.

Willow had a dazed expression on her face until she saw Buffy. 'Oh, right.. yeah, I've found something. A spell, actually.' She walked forward, holding out the large volume to Giles. Wesley moved to Giles's side and observed the book over his shoulder.

'It's an incantation,' she continued, 'nothing big really. It just casts the inhabiting spirit, demon, boogie monster, whatever, out of the body. It brings the creature into corporeal form so you can, well, slay it.'

'We're not quite sure we want to slay it, just yet,' Buffy said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Giles and Wesley looked closely at the incantation and, after a brief moment, both looked up. 'It will work, I believe.' Wesley informed her. 'But you'll need a lot more power than just yourself.'

'That's where I come into it.' Tara moved forward, standing behind her girlfriend. They hadn't previously seen her as she had remained mostly in the other room, but Wesley and Angel exchanged confused glances before Willow introduced each of them.

'No offense intended, Tara. But it still may not be enough,' Wesley said gently, looking back to the book.

'Mr. Giles might help us cast,' Tara said gently, looking to the Watcher.

He nodded. From his history dealing with the black arts, which his young friends had known of for years now, he maintained a lot more of the magical abilities than he had freely shown any of them. Often he had cast spells with Willow to help them out of a situation, but still, had never show them quite what he could do. He wasn't quite sure of his limits, and so kept to himself what remained of his abilities. Somehow, though, he had a slight inkling that Tara perhaps knew what he was capable of, and if so, was grateful she hadn't shared the information with her girlfriend.

'That's it, then.' Angel looked to Giles, who seemed to be deep in thought. 'The first thing we do once it's in corporeal form is try to talk to it. See why it took over Faith.'

Buffy agreed, an obvious note of tension in her voice.

The others all watched while Willow, Tara, Giles and Wesley gathered the ingredients they would need to mix from Willow's tote bag and follow the spell's instructions. After a few minutes they had completed the preparation, and Wesley indicated to Angel to lift Faith to her feet. The girl was lifted like a rag doll, and, even on her feet, she still looked past everyone in the room to some far off place that only she could see. Wesley readied the dry mixture in the bowl and started to spread it in a circle around the support pillar Faith was chained to. Once finished he returned the bowl to the table, and looked up, startled, when Faith issued a quiet, cold laugh.

Her face was still empty, and there was no humor in her expression, which made the laugh seem more like crying. She cocked her head slightly and started to mumble. He couldn't make out much... -

'She always falters... every time... Tor... they're coming for me... '

Withdrawing from the magic circle, he felt a cold shudder as he remembered being restrained once himself... to a chair. He remembered the glass and the fire, every moment of it.

And all at once, to him, her face was no longer human. He turned away, disgusted at the memories that flooded back to him, and allowed Willow, Tara and Giles to continue the spell. Angel and Buffy stood just outside the magic circle, observing the casting and waiting for the creature to emerge.

After several moments of chanting and incantations, Giles looked up and lifted the small magic amulet of Willow's that they had focused their energy into to work like a magnet against the spirit. As positive ends of magnets swerve away from each other with great force, the power of the amulet was so akin to the spirit residing within the Slayer that, being applied near it, would cast it from the girl's body and force it to take corporeal form to survive.

Giles approached the circle and, with caution, stepped inside, still chanting, moving the amulet closer and closer to Faith. Finally recognition registered in the girl's eyes, and she squirmed for a moment, then focused her eyes on the amulet. Giles felt a great pushing against him, but forced himself forward. As if pushing against a hard barrier, he struggled to move closer, finding the spirit had strengthened itself against his attack. Alarmed, Buffy leapt into the circle and placed her hands behind her Watcher, aiding him forward. Grateful for the help, as his strength was quickly being drained, he forced himself forward.

A white light began to flood from the amulet, enveloping all those within the circle. Buffy cried out, as she, too, felt her strength vanishing. Braced against each other, the Slayer and Watcher pushed one last time forward and in a great rush of white light, finally were released from their hold. Faith convulsed, and cried out. Suddenly, in a silver-grey explosion of light and sound, she collapsed. A great spear-shaped bolt of fiery light struck the young woman in the circle as she gripped the arms of her Watcher. Giles cried out to her, wheeling around to catch her shoulders, and she slumped down a moment, held up only by his firm grip. She cried out again, as further bolts of blue grey light shot out, launching everybody in the room backwards.

Wesley, Angel, Willow and Tara each were thown away from the centre of the room. The two girls and the vampire were all knocked unconscious, but Wesley had struck a wall with his back, rather than the hard floor with his head, and crumbled to the ground, still conscious. He looked up, wary of the splitting pain in his back.

Inside the circle, standing beside the slumped Faith, Buffy still clutched her Watcher. She looked up, and he saw a flash of lightening purple strike her eyes. Alarmed, he cried out, 'Buffy?!'

She shuddered and stumbled, but he managed to catch her. 'Buffy, are you all right?'

Her eyes darted up once again and she spoke in a voice completely unfamiliar to him. 'Where am I... what have they... done to me...?' She looked around the room, her eyes still bright purple.

Still holding her shoulders, he cocked his head to try and regain her attention. 'Buffy. Listen to me. It's me. Giles. Your Watcher. Buffy--'

Her head snapped back around and she looked up at him, shocked. She stumbled towards him and he held tight to her shoulders. 'Tor...' she said gently, and laughed the same cold laugh she had a moment ago.

Giles, alarmed, shook his head slightly, unsure of what to say. It wasn't Buffy...

'They told me... you did this to me... they did. Everything is blurry, isn't it? I don't... remember... do you?' She looked up at him, expecting an answer.

He was taken entirely aback, unsure of how to reply. 'I..I'm not...'

'Shh,' she lifted a finger to his lips. 'You remember me... the nights... every moment was worth the pain... and so much pain...' the bitter laugh returned, 'and you stood up there... you watched me... but I don't care.'

Wesley could barely hear Buffy's voice, but he knew something had gone drastically wrong with the spell.

Giles looked around to try and saw the others had been knocked out. 'Listen to me,' he said, 'I'm not who you think I--'

'You are,' her voice was flat, forced and demanding. 'You betrayed me...'

Wesley, hearing the anger in her voice, pulled himself up and dragged himself over to where Willow had landed. He shook her with force and whispered her name as loud as he could without drawing too much attention. It was clear the spirit had leapt into Buffy, and the only way they could remove it again was another spell. After Willow's eyes had finally opened he quickly pointed out their situation and turned to rouse Tara. The three of them moved quickly to the table, glad that Buffy was too preoccupied with Giles to notice them. Willow located the amulet, which had been launched in the expulsion of the spirit, and they recast their powers.

Giles had noticed the movement, although Buffy had seemed in a half-trance, and had started mumbling to herself. He shifted, realizing they were still completely in each other's arms. The difficulty of staring down into Buffy's eyes while knowing she wasn't there was making him hurt inside. He tried to break away from her, but she held tight.

'Don't you move from me.... you may be theirs... you may have broken me... but you will always be Tor...' she reached up quickly and brought her lips up to his.

Giles was shocked, briefly, before succumbing to the depth of the kiss. She was gentle, passionate - and he could feel a deep ache of longing in her touch.

She pulled away only slightly and looked into his eyes. 'And for that I will always love you.'

Wesley looked up breifly, seeing how Giles was faring. He reached over and grabbed the amulet, racing forward holding it up to Buffy's back. She cried out and fell forward. The spirit flooded in a spark of white light, and Willow and Tara were, once again, launched back. Wesley remained stationary, as, he realized, he was still inside the circle. Giles managed to catch Buffy in time but the spirit sent sparks of white light in every direction as it darted about. Wesley held the amulet up in front of himself, but the spirit was heading back towards the centre of the circle, and in seconds, Faith gasped and as her eyes shot open.

She started to cry out, before she finally slumped back down to the cold floor below.

* * *

The girl struggled as the flames continued to consume her. The fire ripped through her skin until it crackled and spat from her blood.

Buffy looked around her. She stood on the podium, looking over the crowd below. She looked over, seeing the young woman bound to the pillar in the middle of the town square. She kept her eyes on the girl, whose raven black hair flicked about in the smoke and the snow. Buffy blinked. Where am I? She found she had spoken without voice. Her mouth had not moved, nor had she issued sound.

You are with me. The girl replied, for a moment we were one. We are where I died.

You used my body? Buffy asked, shocked.

I did. The girl confirmed. I had need of you. Your Watcher is a brave man.

Buffy looked angry. What did you do to him?!

The girl seemed indifferent to her burning flesh, and Buffy realised the fire wasn't moving. They appeared to be trapped between moments.

This is not a dream, Slayer. This is my mind, and yours. The place you see is London. The girl looked around the crowd. They burned me.

Alarmed, Buffy finally realised what was going on. You are the spirit inside Faith…the girl from my dreams. You were a Slayer? You were burned at the stake?

For an eternity, was the response.

Buffy tried to comprehend the situation. She was... inside the slayer's mind. She was trapped inside a memory of some sort. Why did they do this?

They knew no better. She looked to the unmoving crowd, their faces contorted in snarls of rage and cheering cries. The girl looked to the others that stood, motionless, on the podium. They played the crowd to this end.

They? Buffy looked at the men around her, all dressed in expensive coats and suits.

Yes. The girl confirmed.

Who are you? Who are they? Confusion filled her mind as she tried to understand what was going on.

I am Slayer. The girl replied, her eyes falling on Buffy. As are you.

Buffy shook her head. No, it's not that easy. Why have you brought me here?

The rope fell from the girls' arms and she stepped down from the pillar of fire and scorched wood. She made her way over to the podium and climbed the steps, her legs a bloody mess of charred skin. Despite her horrific state she was still quite beautiful. Her long, ebony hair framed a soft face that was graced by two large, dark, blue-grey eyes. She cocked her head and smiled gently. You brought yourself to this place.

Even more confused, Buffy looked at the suits around her. And these men - they are your enemy? They are against the Slayer?

The girl examined the men that surrounded them. They are my enemy. They are our greatest bane, they are the hand that holds us back. But for generations of memories they are all the slayer has ever known, and so, knows no better...

Buffy finally understood and looked around in horror. Watchers? She felt sick to her stomach as she looked back over to the stake surrounded by fire. The Watchers Council burned a slayer?

It sounds horrific, doesn't it? The girl seemed humored by Buffy's reaction.

Why? Was Buffy's only remaining question.

The girl did not give her an answer, only moving around the podium, looking at each Watcher carefully.

Why? Buffy repeated.

She turned, hearing the note of desperation in Buffy's voice. She knew the Slayer felt sickened at what she had discovered, and there was much more for her to learn. But she would not learn it here. They come soon. I will be taken from you again.

No, wait! Buffy cried. Who comes? Where are you going?

The girl folded her arms and thought for a moment. They are preparing to force me back into the other Slayer. They think I am hurting you.

So you're a part of me, at this moment? Buffy tried to understand her current situation.

The Slayer nodded confirmation.

Then, why, when you were a part of Faith, could I still see your fate in my dreams? Buffy asked, confused.

The girl had a truly intrigued expression on her face. She seemed suddenly surprised that Buffy had chosen that question. All Slayers are a part of their predecessors - but you have something else in you. A part of something else, but I don't know what it is. You have sensed my coming.

Buffy listened carefully and pondered what the girl had said, alarmed at the conclusion.

The girl smiled gently. You will understand all eventually.

I... Buffy tried to get her questions straight. I don't understand. What did you do to Giles? Where are my friends?

The girl pondered a moment, then turned to her descendant. Although my unconscious memory remembers everything, and knows everything about what has happened in my past, my conscious memory is fragmented and distorted. As we are awake presently, our conscious minds combined see your Watcher as ... somebody I once knew.

Buffy was still somewhat confused.

Your friends will not be seriously harmed. The girl informed her. I apologize for any temporary discomfort I may have caused.

Her mind was still a rush with images and memories from this ancient Slayer, and she suddenly felt as though the image around her was moving.

Watching the girl move to the edge of the podium and lean on the wooden beam that made up the side, she followed and looked at the Slayer's face. Wait, I have to know why they did this to you.

They come. The girl said sternly. I cannot tell you more than I have, except that this is not the end of what you must learn. I cannot show you the answer, but only guide you to it's resting place. The Slayer looked at her, then down for a moment. Your answer does not lie in here. It lies elsewhere. And your way, she looked out to the crowd, lies out there, if you can find it. They come.

Concerned for time, Buffy scanned the crowd, disappointed and upset. She didn't recognize anything at all, it was just a large blur of faces.

The girl started to fade. If you do not look, Slayer, you cannot see.

Confused once again, Buffy watched the girl vanish as the crowd slowly began to dissipate. She searched frantically, scanning the crowd again and again. After a moment, she finally realised what the Slayer had meant...

Buffy closed her eyes and extended her senses. After a few brief moments she sensed the presence of a vampire, and her eyes shot open. She looked around until her eyes came to rest on a figure standing in the deep shade of a building, clear of the sun. She gasped softly as time resumed and the young man folded his arms gently, leaning against the wall. Buffy looked over to the stake and found the girl burned there once again. Her eyes darted back to the shadows where the vampire stood, his long, blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. While those around him cheered and screamed he stood with a sad, regretful expression before finally turning away from the horror.

Buffy felt herself drift into complete unconsciousness, and as she fell she uttered quietly to herself...

William...

* * *

With a heavy sigh Wesley dumped the large volume on the table. 'For all their incompetence, I must say, the Council did keep a very good filing system.'

Giles nodded, his attention remaining focused on the passage he was reading. Wesley smiled gently before skimming through a diary dated through the early to mid seventeen hundreds.

After a few moments Giles cursed and slammed the book closed. 'Frederick Torden, William Torem, Rupert sodding Tormed but not a bloody 'Tor' in sight.'

Wesley half shrugged. 'Perhaps it may be one of them. Tor could be a shortened version of any of them.'

Giles shook his head. 'No, no... this was far too personal to be his last name. It has to be his first.'

Wesley gave a resigned sigh and continued his search. 'What makes you think he's a Watcher, anyway?'

'When... I tried to talk to Buffy when the spirit took her over, I told her I was her Watcher. Something... awoke at that moment. That was when she called me Tor,' Giles explained, a note of slight discomfort in his voice.

Wesley decided not to push the matter further.

Giles picked up another diary and began to flick through it, scanning the pages. After several moments of silence, Wesley finally closed the book he was skimming. 'I'm heading back to the mansion. I have to speak with Angel - Kate is probably here already and sooner or later she'll find the mansion.'

Looking up from the book, Giles observed the younger Watcher. They had a lot in common, but he knew he and Wesley were still two worlds apart. 'Thank you for your help today. You... did well.'

Wesley felt touched, but tried not to take it too personally. Still, coming from Giles, it meant something. 'Thank you. I'm just glad I wasn't knocked unconscious with the others.'

'Believe me, I'm grateful I was standing in the circle. My head takes another pounding and I may just yet wake up in a coma.'

'Wake up in a--?' Wesley shook off his confused look and turned to the door, laughing gently. 'I'll bring them back with me - do you have any restraints out the back of the shop?'

Giles considered, then rubbed his forehead. 'I'll find some.'

Pulling the door, Wesley sighed at the ringing of the bell. 'That is extremely annoying.'

The elder Watcher lifted his brow and exchanged looks with the man in the doorway. He nodded. 'Try having a busy day. That bell is getting close to death row.'

Wesley laughed as he closed the door behind him, moving out into the cold night. He made his way silently to the mansion, pondering the night's events. The mansion came into sight, and he was about to climb the stairs, when he saw a figure emerge from the doorway. He slid around the side of the steps and watched, making sure he was out of plain sight.

Buffy raced quickly down the steps and out into the dark night. Thinking quickly, Wesley looked to the door, and then finally the running Slayer, and started his pursuit.

Completely unsure as to why he was following the young girl, he continued on his chase, gaining speed. Los Angeles had strengthened him a great deal in both fitness and emotional tolerance, and he found Sunnydale almost alien to him - a place he may have been in another life. Perhaps those years had taken him to another life, he wasn't sure, but all he knew was on his long chase, the wind in on his face, his loose black shirt whipping around about him, he felt alive.

Finally he saw a flicker of blonde hair move into the bushes nearby, and he followed where she had gone. After a moment he came to a halt and found he didn't know where to go next. Inwardly cursing, he wheeled around and scanned the area for any hint of where she had gone. She had still been asleep when they had returned to the Magic Box to research what Giles had learned, and now she was running off into the night? No, something wasn't right. She had no reason to run as hard or as fast as she did unless the matter was of great urgency.

She stepped out of the bushes, angry. 'Wesley? What are you doing chasing me?'

He hadn't jumped, though he was rather surprised at her sudden appearance. He was breathing heavily, but still felt the adrenalin pumping through his veins. 'I... I saw you run from the mansion, I figured... something must be wrong.'

'Go back,' she ordered him flatly.

'Not a chance. Where were you going?' He was slowly managing to catch his breath.

'Go back, Wesley. I'm not asking.' Her tone was still harsh.

Feeling a rush of Anger, he pulled his glasses of and pointed them at her. 'Listen. I may not be your watcher any more, Buffy, but you can't order me around either. I'm coming with you.' Even he was surprised at his own words.

She shook her head. 'You were never my watcher.'

'Hey!' He cried, taking her by surprise. Stepping forward, he looked down at the rather small girl in front of him. 'Buffy, you and I were never friends. You never respected me. I never really gave you a reason to, but I'm here to help you, and Angel. I don't need your dramatics and I don't need your anger. I'm coming with you.'

Trying not to show her shock, Buffy paused for a moment, looking around. 'Fine.' She said finally. 'Just don't get in my way.'

'Buffy,' he reached for her arm as she turned, but suddenly he felt his other arm being pulled, and he was suddenly confronted by a fist in the face. He stumbled backwards, clutching his eye, while he heard a cry of pain from nearby. After a moment he realised he had dropped his glasses, and when he heard a resounding crunch, realised that either the newcomer or Buffy had trodden on them. With a humourless laugh he stood and rubbed his face slightly. He never liked those glasses anyway...

Buffy looked at the newcomer with confusion in her expression. 'Spike, what are you doing?'

'I'm... aarrgh, dammit!' he cursed, still clutching his head, stumbling back and forth. 'I'm protecting you from this great ponce, aren't I? Damn it, that hurts!'

'Arrh!'

Hearing him groan, Buffy remembered her companion. She looked over her shoulder. 'You all right?'

'Yes. What was that?'

'Spike.'

'A spike?' Confused, Wesley looked up. Seeing the white-haired vampire he blinked and stepped to Buffy's side. 'And what exactly are you?'

Spike glanced towards Wesley and smiled slightly. 'So who's this one then? Replacement for Sir Shagalot?'

'You're a pig, Spike.' Buffy growled.

'With the best of them, pet.' He replied, smiling.

Wesley looked to Buffy. 'He is a vampire, I'm assuming. One William the Bloody, if memory serves. Dare I ask why he's still alive?'

Buffy shrugged. 'Long story.'

The Watcher's brow lifted. 'Short version?'

She sighed. 'Military chip. Can't hurt living things. Harmless as a fly.'

'Hey!' Spike scowled. 'Bloody salt in the wound.'

Buffy placed her hands on her hips. 'Not caring. Look, Spike, I don't know what you're up to, but you're the reason I'm here.'

Spike visibly brightened. 'I am?'

She glared, and he let his expression drop. 'I need information.'

Rolling his eyes, the vampire turned. 'As always. You'd better have cash this time.'

Buffy walked after him. 'Sure, I got cash.' She grabbed his arm and spun him around, striking him directly between the eyes. 'I got a whole fistful.'

After a couple more blows he lifted his hands in defense. 'All right, all right, I get the picture! What do you need to know?'

She folded her arms. 'We need to go somewhere to talk.'

Annoyed, Spike indicated his crypt not four metres away and they walked over, entering the dank, cold home. Wesley looked around, a half-amused, half-unsure look on his face. 'A neutered vampire living in a crypt. Who'd have thought.'

'Stick around sparky, the Munsters are coming for tea,' Spike jibed, slumping into one of his chairs. 'Right, then.'

Wesley glared at him, while Buffy found a place to sit. 'What do you know about a Slayer that was burned at the stake?'

Spike paused for a moment, letting her words register, before he finally said, 'It's never happened, as far as I know.'

'You're lying.' She insisted, standing to strike him.

He lifted a hand. 'Okay, okay!' He cried. 'There was... one.'

She seated herself once again, getting ready to listen. Wesley's expression was one of plain confusion, but he decided to listen also - he had never heard of such an occurrence.

Spike looked thoughtful, almost regretful, before he leaned forward. 'But you've got to be ready to hear this slayer, it's not pretty.'

'I know.' She replied. 'I've seen it.'

He laughed shortly. 'Well, pet. So have I. For real.'

His words chilled her for a moment and he leaned back once again, beginning to tell the story. 'After Angelus had let me know of the Slayer's existence, I sought her out immediately. And I found her soon enough. She was a lot like you - tricky, powerful... beautiful...' his voice trailed off, before he looked back up again. 'Our greatest fights have been minor scuffles in comparison to what I had with her. Oh, I fought so hard to claim her as my first Slayer, but they beat me to it.'

Buffy nodded. 'The Watcher's Council.'

'Wait a minute!' Wesley interjected. 'What's going on? A slayer burning at the stake? The Council would never do such a thing... I... ' He paused a moment, realizing he had no reason to defend them. 'Or, perhaps, they might. But where did this all come from?'

Buffy paused, wondering whether or not to tell him. After a moment she looked up. 'Since Faith's arrival I've been having nightmares of a Slayer being burned at the stake. The pain and ... the fire, it's all so vivid. At the mansion, I had a chance to speak with her. She told me that the watcher's council were somehow responsible. I also saw you,' she turned back to Spike, 'in the crowd.'

Spike nodded. 'I was there. It was 1898, she was nineteen, and we had fought for two years on and off. Every fight we both came close to death - but I know she loved it as much as I did.' Ignoring Buffy's disgusted expression, he continued. 'They humiliated her - they had hired men strip her and wrap her in rags, and tell the crowds she was a witch. Because the people had no idea, nor did they know of the Slayer's existence, they took the bait. Naturally, the crowds formed a mob and soon the stake was raised. There was nothing I could do - but had I the chance to stop it, I would have. For all the pain we caused each other, she wasn't meant to die by their hands.'

Buffy tried to ignore the emotion in his voice and focused on the information itself.
'Why her?'

'She wasn't exactly light and innocence. Why her, you say? Why any protector of the night?'

'If it were demons that had her burned, I'd understand. But the Council? Why would they?'

Spike paused, then shrugged. 'I don't know.'

Buffy stood once again, but his arms darted up in defense. 'I swear to God, I really don't.'

Feeling as though she had not learned anything more, Buffy turned, annoyed. Wesley stood and looked down at the vampire, who sat, an expression of thoughtfulness on his face.

Looking around the crypt once more, Wesley followed the Slayer out with a final backwards glance at the vampire, who slumped in his chair and called out: 'You're welcome!'

On their walk back to the mansion, Wesley was caught up in his thoughts. It wasn't until the police car out the front of the mansion came into sight that Wesley inwardly cursed and took Buffy's arm. 'Kate's already gotten to them. We have to go the Magic Box. Maybe Angel made it out in time.'

Buffy nodded and began a short jog with Wesley at her side. 'It was a pretty decent walk from the mansion to Spike's crypt. Did you... did you run all that way before?'

He nodded, smiling slightly. 'I did.'

Her brow lifted. The Wesley she knew could barely handle a training course, let alone a full fly chase that long. She was impressed, though she didn't say so.

'What happened to your glasses?' Buffy asked after a moment of silence.

It took a moment for him to realize he had been spoken to, as he had been caught up in his own thoughts. 'I um... your vampire friend stepped on them.'

'Oh,' she gave him an apologetic expression. 'Sorry. He... he's not really a friend. Not even an acquaintance really. We just let him un-live and he gives us information now and then. Can you see okay?'

Wesley half nodded. 'I'll be all right. I can see where I'm going, which is all that's really important.'

Buffy glanced sideways. 'Did you see what was going on when that spirit took me over?'

Wesley paused, unsure of what to say. 'I... uh, a little.'

She narrowed her eyes. 'What ... did happen? I have no idea of what she did or what she said. When I was talking to her she said something about Giles. She didn't hurt him, did she?'

Forcing back a smile, Wesley shook his head. 'Oh, no no. He... they... spoke, for a while. Then we put her back in Faith.'

Buffy was glad no harm had come to her friends, although she still felt he wasn't telling her everything. Leaving it alone for now, they approached the Magic Box and carefully opened the door, ignoring the dinging of the bell.

Wesley glanced around until his eyes fell on two figures seated at the table, going through the watcher diaries. After a few moments of letting his eyes readjust, he recognised the first as Xander, but the second - a young, blonde girl - was unfamiliar.

Giles emerged from the back and approached the two in the doorway, pausing slightly when he saw Buffy, then continuing, slightly red. 'Angel managed to get her here before Kate found him. It might be awhile, but he believes she will come here soon, too.'

'Then we have to finish this.' Buffy said sternly, heading past Giles into the back of the shop where Faith was restrained.

Sighing gently, Giles looked to Wesley. 'And I thought you were going to warn Angel about Kate? He said he didn't see you.'

'Buffy and I took a slight detour. We managed to get some information from William the Bloody.'

Giles nodded, aware of Buffy's method of getting information from Spike.

Finally, the girl at the table looked up and sighed. 'Nothing. It's hopeless.'

Xander cast her a sideways glance and then looked up at Giles and Wesley. 'Hey, Watcher's reunion. When did you get here?'

Wesley lifted his brow. 'Hello to you too, Xander.'

'Whoa.' Anya looked up at the tall stranger. 'Man... James Bond much.'

Xander glared, while she couldn't seem to take her eyes off Wesley.

'And you would be?' Wesley asked, intrigued and slightly embarrassed.

She shrugged a little. 'I'm Anya. Xander's girlfriend.'

Wesley glanced at Giles and said quietly. 'Back story?'

Turning, Giles placed his hands in his pockets. 'Former demon turned human, recently hired employee.'

Surprised, Wesley lifted his brow. Then, after a moment of thinking, realised he had seen her before - briefly - while they were researching the ascension. He followed his fellow Watcher to the back. 'Sunnydale student. Should have guessed.'

After a moment Wesley paused beside Xander. 'Do me a favor,' he said, looking over the diaries, 'and check the one that has the turn of last century in it. Around 1890 to 1900.'

Xander acknowledged with a half nod as Giles and Wesley moved between the rooms, seeing Buffy and Angel both solemn and focused on Faith.

After a few moments, Buffy turned to where her former Watchers stood. 'We have some information - from what I learned from the spirit and from Spike.'

Indicating the table at which Xander and Anya were seated, Giles led them into the main shop, where they sat - except Angel, who preferred to stand. Buffy explained what she had learned from the Slayer and from Spike.

Giles thought carefully as she spoke, then, once she was finished leaned back. 'Unbelievable. I know the Watcher's council have done some... horrific things in their time. But this is... just...'

'It explains her preoccupation with fire,' Angel added. 'All this time she's been staring at candles and fireplaces. Now we know why.'

'We have to find out more about this Tor. Perhaps she was involved with certain members of the Watcher's council - she may have known too much information--'

'Which led to her being roasted?' Anya offered. 'I don't like Watchers anymore.'

Giles looked slightly hurt, but for the most part ignored her. Xander looked back down to the diary Wesley had told him to look through and paused for a moment. 'What did you say that guy's name was?'

'Tor,' Wesley replied.

Xander skimmed a moment longer then said. 'I think I found him.'

Giles moved from his chair to look over the younger man's shoulder. Xander, taking the hint, read aloud: '"Under the charge of one Marcus Regal a new subject is being trained to be brought into the council. Torvald Hobson is young and arrogant, but will be taught appropriately and has the potential to sit on the board of directors one day." It's dated 1891.'

'It's him.' Giles said, a note of relief in his voice. 'It has to be.'

'It's around the Slayer's time, too. If he did make it to the board of directors, it would explain why she was burned,' Wesley insisted.

'For being romantically infatuated with somebody on the Watcher's board of directors? I don't think so,' Giles asked, uncertainly.

'No,' Wesley replied. 'Not so much that, as what he told her. If he told her too much...'

'Romantically what?' Buffy asked, alarmed.

The two watchers ignored her. 'You're right,' Giles said, caught up in a flood of thoughts. 'If she had known too much and the board members found out, they would act.'

'But a slayer?' Wesley exclaimed, a note of disbelief in his voice. 'The Slayer is the reason the Watchers exist. Why would they destroy a Slayer, and in such a fashion?'

Xander sighed, shaking his head. 'Define irony. Slayer is burned at the stake.'

Angel stepped closer to the table. 'No, we can't just run on maybes for now. We need solid information to know what we do next. I don't want to expel this thing from her again without knowing where it will go.'

'It's linked to Slayers.' Buffy informed him. 'That's why she rushed to me instead of Giles, even though he was closer. Even if you force it out of her again, it will come straight to me, no matter how far away I am.'

Xander sighed, flipping the page of his book. 'There's no mention of a Slayer this entire time. It mentions the death of one in 1894 and then it mentions one later on in China in 1898.'

'That's the year she died.' Buffy added. 'So they managed to just skip four years without anybody noticing? Wonderful.'

'It's not something Watcher's would bring up.' Wesley cut in. 'If they knew about it, they'd never talk about. If not, they wouldn't bother to ask. Usually gaps in the diaries are there for reasons.'

'That's not good enough.' Angel's voice was controlled, almost angry. 'We need to find out what happened and we have to find out now. I have a feeling we're slowly losing Faith.'

The others sat in silence for a moment before Giles pushed his chair out and stood. He moved to his bookcase and pulled several volumes and manuscripts from the shelves and dumped them on the table. 'These books all have mention of the Slayer at some point or another. They're mostly focused on witchcraft, but since she was burned at the stake, perhaps they may mention her as well.'

With a heavy sigh they each took books and began to skim read. Hours later, they still sat, spread though the room, each with books open in front of them. Angel had retired to the back room to brood and keep Faith company.

Wesley, sore from sitting, lifted himself and stretched, returning his book to it's proper shelf. He moved over to one of the other bookcases containing potions and ingredients, and examined them with fascination, adjusting the spare glasses that Giles had loaned him. He narrowed his eyes, ignoring his slight headache. The glasses were a bit strong for him, but at least he could read. After a few moments, he looked down to the table beside him that was covered in potions and incantations. After thinking for a moment, he realised that he hadn't seen anybody at the table all night, and wondered how they all got there. His eyes fell on a small scribbling of an incantation, and he lifted it to read it. After a few moments his jaw dropped, and he wheeled around. 'Giles!'

Giles looked over to his fellow Watcher and watched calmly as he approached the desk, holding out a piece of paper. 'What is this?'

Examining the piece of paper, Giles passed it back. 'It's Willow's handwriting. That table over there has a lot of the girls spells and ingredients on it, they promised me they'd come back for it in the morning.'

Wesley handed the piece of paper back. 'Read it. Have they performed this spell recently?'

Giles read it, and his eyes grew wide. 'They have. Dear god. They... they thought it just molded the fire of their candle... they must have. God - they've been trying this for weeks, they thought it wasn't working.'

'It worked. Far better than they know.' Wesley said, a grave tone in his voice.

'What is it?' Buffy asked, annoyed at being kept out of the conversation.

'It's a spell - one that Willow and Tara have been trying for weeks.' Giles informed her, lifting the piece of paper he read:

"Assica, world of one, we summon this your due
To bring forth spirit burning into spirit young and new
Allow this soul to flow to one protector of the night
To dance among the flames again, and soon succumb to light."

'In the ancient lore,' Wesley began, 'in times even before the Council, the Slayers were represented by the Goddess Essiqua. Perhaps this is an adaptation of the Slayer's goddess?'

'Yes.' Giles agreed. 'But this…protector of the night…this has to be referring to a slayer.'

'Bring forth spirit burning into spirit young and new...' Wesley repeated. Then turned to look into the back room. 'Well, at least we know how she got here.'

'But now how do we send her back?' Xander asked, leaning forward.

There was a moment of silence before Buffy stood and placed the book she was examining on the nearest table. 'I'll go get Willow and Tara. Maybe they know some way to take back the spell?'

'And if they don't?' Angel asked from the doorway.

Buffy glared at him. 'Then we find another way. I don't see any bright ideas coming from your corner.'

Without replying he watched her turn and go. Wesley re-read the incantation and then something struck him. He thought for a moment before removing Giles' glasses. The headache was getting worse, but he tried to ignore it. Rushing to the back he searched around until he found what he was looking for, ignoring the puzzled glance he received from Angel. Without saying a word he passed through the next room and moved to the door. Before leaving, he looked over his shoulder and said, 'I'll be back soon - I have an idea.'

Giles watched him slip out the door to the ever-familiar tingle of his bell. The other Watcher had seemed far different than Giles had remembered him - and it was a much -appreciated improvement. All this time Giles had wondered how someone as unlikely as Wesley was employed by Angel, and still managed to keep up.

Now it seemed the young former-Watcher had a way of his own, and with a hint of amusement in his eyes, Giles wondered how the dark vampire would keep up...

* * *

Lazing back in his chair, he took a quick swig of his bottle. Memories of so long ago had been dredged up finally, and he wondered silently to himself how long it would be before they finally found out the truth.

The door swung open with a loud crack and a tall, dark figure stepped through, his crossbow aimed high.

Obviously not very long...

Swinging the door closed behind him, he cocked his head slightly. 'William. Or Spike? Whichever it may be, I need some information.'

'If it's about the girly, I told you all I know.' He insisted, taking another swig. Re-corking the bottle he glanced over to the Watcher. 'So. You're the new sidekick?'

Wesley lowered the crossbow. 'Not quite.'

'Well then…what exactly are you, mate?'

Wesley thought about his question for a moment, before replying shortly: 'An old friend.'

'Ah, with the mystery of it, then. That's fine.' Spike turned his attention back to his bottle. 'But as I said, I don't have any more information.'

'I think you know a lot more than you're saying,' Wesley insisted.

Spike paused and observed the intruder. 'Is that so? Well then, Sparky, what is it that I know?'

'You know why the slayer was burned at the stake. You also know about a spell involving her spirit.' Wesley lifted his brow. 'Care to share?'

Shifting uncomfortably in his seat, Spike fiddle with the bottle's cork. 'I don't know a bloody thing. I told the Slayer everything.'

'Really?' Wesley asked, intrigued at the response. 'You told her everything?'

Spike nodded.

With a short laugh, Wesley stood. 'Well that's that then. Thank you.' he turned to leave before wheeling around. 'Oh, but wait up.' He lifted the crossbow. 'There is still this matter of my not believing you.'

Spike stared at the crossbow, then looked up to Wesley. 'You wouldn't use that thing.'

The crossbow fired, and Spike yelped as the arrow struck him fair in the shoulder. 'Arrggh...! Bloody hell!'

Wesley maintained his hard expression. 'As I was saying…'

'The sodding council burned her because she rebelled against them. Bloody hell!' He reached to his shoulder and tried to remove the arrow, but felt the pain sear up his shoulder. 'Arrgh!'

Wesley moved swiftly to his side, took the arrow shaft and reefed hard. The arrow came free with a cry of protest from it's victim.

'And what else?'

Spike growled for a moment before taking another drink and motioned for Wesley to sit. 'The bloody girl was in love with her Watcher.'

Wesley looked at him with an expression of pure shock. 'She was ... what?'

'The Council forbid it, and so they rebelled.' Spike continued. 'They chased her for four months before they got sick of it. They used the Watcher as bait - threatened to kill his family and friends if he didn't help them. He betrayed the sodding Slayer and they burned her at the stake as an example. All right?'

Wesley tried to contain his horror. Calming himself, he glanced over to the vampire. 'What happened to the Watcher?'

'Tor?' Spike asked, then laughed. 'Bastard got what he deserved. He was burned a week later - he'd tried to find the next Slayer and tell her what they'd done, but they found him and torched the bugger.'

Feeling sick to his stomach, the former Watcher cast his eyes downward. 'And what about this spell?'

Spike looked confused for a moment before shrugging. 'I don't know much about it. All I know is that, before he died, the Watcher gathered some of his greatest allies - mostly sorcerers - and formed a spell of reconciliation. Something about drawing her soul out again so Tor could tell her the truth of why he did what he did and... something about resting in peace…I don't bloody know.'

Wesley held his hand to his chin, thinking. He sat back, trying to put all of the pieces together. After a moment he looked over to Spike again. 'One more question. What was her name?'

Spike thought for a moment before saying gently, 'Tash.'

'Tash.' Wesley repeated.

They sat in silence for a moment, Wesley still trying to think of his next move.

Spike shifted and winced. 'Bloody... argh. That hurts.'

Wesley lifted his brow apologetically. 'Oh. Sorry about that, by the way.' He looked to his crossbow. 'I didn't actually intend to use it.'

The vampire cast a glance his way. 'So why did you bloody bring it, then?'

Shrugging, Wesley smiled. 'For effect, mostly.'

Spike rolled his eyes. 'Sodding 'effect'. Just brilliant. I have a hole in my shoulder. You're not a bad shot, Sparky.'

Wesley shrugged and indicated that he didn't have his glasses on. 'I was aiming for the chair.'

Spike let out a short laugh, and Wesley joined in for a moment. After the laughter died down slightly, Wesley stood and turned to leave.

'Wait up.' Spike leant forward, hissing at the pain that issued from his shoulder. 'How did you know I knew all that about Tash?'

Wesley thought for a moment. 'I heard you say something when I was here before. Protector of the night. It was a part of the spell that brought her here.'

'And the fact I knew why they killed her?'

With a half-smile Wesley shrugged. 'Lucky guess.'

Spike shook his head laughing. 'Oh, you're a smart one, Sparky. I like you.'

Wesley moved to the door, saying over his shoulder. 'It's Wesley.'

As he left, he laughed at the sound of Spike's voice fading behind him:

'What kind of poncy Watcher name is Wesley?'

* * *

Willow and Tara filed through the door behind Buffy with apologetic expressions. The expression on Tara's face was close to disbelief as she heard what Giles had to say about the Slayer that was burned at the stake and the spell that brought the spirit forward. Reading over their incantation, the girls exchanged worried glances.

'I'm so, so sorry,' Tara said gently, looking as though she were about to cry.

Willow put an arm around her shoulder. 'We both are.'

'Willow... Tara,' Giles smiled at the young girl. 'Everybody makes mistakes. We just need a way to send the spirit back to wherever it was she came from.'

'I... I don't know, I don't understand how we brought her here,' Willow exclaimed. 'I mean, we just thought the spell wasn't working. But... it was.'

'The spell obviously does work, otherwise you would not have had the result you finally achieved that night in the cemetery,' he insisted. 'Still, perhaps it is because your powers are far stronger than you imagine. Only once you were weakened could you conjure the lesser effect of the spell.'

Tara nodded. 'That makes sense. If our powers were combined and at full strength, they could take the spell to full effect. But we thought it hadn't worked because we hadn't changed the fire.'

'I thought you said you could tell when someone has a spell on them?' Buffy chimed in. 'And if this spirit is really the result of your spell, shouldn't you have been able to tell straight away?'

Tara shrugged. 'I can tell. Normally. But not for my own spells.'

Buffy accepted this, and turned to Giles. 'Well, back to square one.'

'Not quite.'

They looked over to the doorway as the bell rang and Wesley entered. He let the door drift closed behind him. 'The girl was a Slayer, as you now know, but Tor wasn't just any watcher. He was her watcher.'

The others looked at each other in astonishment. Giles removed his glasses. 'How did you find this out?'

'I spoke to your friend Spike again. Seems he had more information than he let on.'

Buffy growled and stomped her foot. 'I'll kill him.'

'How much did you have to pay?' Giles asked, curious.

Wesley tossed him the crossbow he'd borrowed. 'Not very much.'

Surprised, Giles lay the crossbow on his desk as Wesley continued.

'Torvald was her watcher and they were romantically involved with each other. The Council found out and forbid it.' Wesley sat, and many of the others did the same. 'They rebelled against the council, but the board of directors threatened to kill Tor's family if he didn't give them the Slayer. Without much choice, he chose his family and the Slayer burned. He was forced to watch, and remained a part of the council, misleading them until he sought out her successor and tried to warn her. For this he, too, was burned alive.'

Expressions of sadness and horror were exchanged before Wesley continued. 'The spell that Willow and Tara found was put together by Tor and some sorcerers he knew - it was meant as a reunification spell, so that one day she might find out why he did it…and forgive him.'

'So then, how do we stop the spell?' Xander asked.

'We don't stop it,' Wesley informed him. 'We play it out. This spell is to put her soul at rest. So she has to know, she needs to know why he did what he did.'

'What, we just tell her and that's it?' Anya folded her arms. 'It's too easy.'

'She's right,' Angel agreed. 'And we've tried talking to her already. She doesn't know any of us.'

'She knew me,' Giles said gently, then looked up at the group. 'When she took over Buffy, she thought I was Tor.'

Buffy blinked. 'She what…?'

Wesley nodded. 'But she's not in Buffy anymore.' His mind flurried with the answer. 'She's in Faith.'

He turned and undid his cuffs, folding his sleeves up quickly. He glanced down at the watcher's diaries and the small piece of paper with Willow's spell on it before heading for the back room.

Giles stepped forward to stop him. 'Wesley, you don't know how she'll react to you.'

'Good plan - march in all, 'Hi, I'm the guy who got you barbequed and I just wanna make up?' Xander cut in. 'My bet is on her.'

Wesley shook his head. 'No. She doesn't want to hurt him. Look, if this doesn't work out, then we're no worse off. But if it works, then this is over.'

Angel went to protest once again, but Buffy stopped him. She nodded to Wesley. 'Go.'

'Wesley…!' Angel called, and the Watcher stopped and looked to his employer. 'I'm not trying to stop you for any reason other than the fact that that girl in there has the face of Faith.'

Wesley considered his words for a moment, a hard resolve crossing his features.

Finally, with a questioning but sympathetic tone, he asked: 'Can you do this?'

The Watcher looked up at Angel and gave a slight nod. 'I have to.'

He moved through the doorway and half-closed the door behind him. Looking wearily around the room he let his eyes fall on her form, kneeling quietly in the corner, tied to the wall.

Silently he made his way over to her and knelt, untying her slowly. She looked up at him but her face didn't register any kind of recognition. After she was untied he looked over to her face. Sitting back on his haunches he sighed gently. 'What am I to do, Faith?' He asked. 'After everything you've... here I am still. Forgive me this intrusion, but try not to forget that I'm saving your arse.'

None of his words registered until finally he took a deep breath and reached out to touch her face. 'Tash,' he said soflty.

Her eyes flickered up.

'I'm here. I have always been right here.' His voice was gentle, almost a whisper.

She blinked and tears surfaced. 'Tor...'

He nodded slightly. 'I am here.'

Trying to read her features, he watched as she shifted slightly and cocked her head. 'Why have you come back? Is it that I am still alive and not yet charred to bone that you come to see my end?'

'No,' he replied. 'I never wanted this. What I did I had to do and I will regret until the day I die.' The words came out choked and painfully, as all he could see in her face was Faith.

She winced. 'I don't care for your apologies or your excuses. You betrayed me and did suffer for it also. You burned as I did.'

He wondered silently how she knew. 'I did.' He confirmed. 'I suffered so ... you understand this.'

'I know that you are not Tor,' she replied. 'I know that you bear a part of him. And I also know that this girl has subjected you to horrors bordering on my own.'

He felt shocked at the revelation - she was very much aware of what was going on around her.

As if reading his mind she smiled softly. 'Do not fear me - I have had time to remember a great deal. I know that he stood and watched me. And all the angels of my world could never see me forgive him what he did. But I also know that I have never loved any as I did him. As I did you.'

Wesley swallowed hard and tried to control the stirring rage and the feeling of deepset pain that was slowly overwhelming him.

'Let go your emotion,' she said gently. 'As in mind you may be here for my well being. You may have come to make amends for Tor and for the bond between the Watcher and the Slayer that was forever distrubed when he watched my body being burned. But in your heart you are here because of this girl. Because you need to mend what she has pulled undone and you know that her soul still grieves. She has touched evil and come back from it - something not easily done. And she feels true regret - true suffering at these memories. Still, you blame yourself.'

Suddenly she lurched and shook slightly, and he caught her. 'What is it?'

She shuddered. 'Something dark ... the girl has been held down for too long, she is fighting free. Her darker impulses are rising.'

'Let her go!' Wesley demanded.

'As she rises my memories flood from me,' her eyes were wide and full of fear. 'And in you once again I see my Tor. For what you have done to me there are many short excuses. But for what she has done to you there will never be a reason.'

She cried out, and white energy began to flood from her body. He held tight to her, feeling the energy pass through him. He let out a cry, himself, at the intensity and tried as best he could to stay upright as the force was rather overwhelming.

Suddenly the scream of sirens could be heard, and he remembered Kate, and Faith's predicament. Using all the strength he could, he forced her back from him. 'Tash! Tash listen to me - Tor cast this spell to bring you forth and make amends. His love for you was so that he died willingly and freely. He brought you here to tell you that he would have taken your place in moments. He loves you. He always will.'

Her eyes struck a bright shade of purple, and she looked up at him with tears coursing down her cheeks. She leaned forward and kissed him passionately before falling back once again. With a gentle smile she reached out and touched his face. 'Thank you,' she said softly, before her eyes drifted closed...

Wesley placed a hand on her face. 'Rest in peace, Tash.'

* * *

Angel glanced over to where his employee sat, still chatting with Willow and Tara. With an expression bordering on a smile, he shook his head and approached the trio. 'We have to head back.'

'Oh, uh,' Wesley placed his teacup on the desk and stood. 'Well, goodbye, ladies, it was nice to meet you, Tara.'

Tara smiled softly, and watched as Wesley and Angel approached the other table. 'We're going,' Angel informed them.

They said their goodbyes quietly, and Buffy gave Wesley a smile, to which he said, 'Keep your eye on Spike.'

Buffy scowled. 'Do I have to?'

With a soft laugh, he approached his fellow Watcher alone and leaned against the desk. Giles looked sideways at him.

'Well?' Wesley asked.

Confused, Giles lowered his brow. 'Well what?'

'Are you going to tell her?'

Giles looked over to where Buffy sat, laughing and talking with Xander. Angel was saying his goodbyes to Willow and Tara, and none could hear the two Watchers talking softly.

The Watcher shrugged. 'I... no, I don't think I will.'

Wesley smiled. 'She's bound to find out eventually.'

Giles shot him a look. 'Perhaps.'

'Bright side...?' Wesley offered, and Giles nodded. The second Watcher leaned in. 'At least yours wasn't a psychopath.'

With a half-smile Giles regarded his one-time companion and gave a soft chuckle.

Wesley rounded the counter and moved to his employer's side, giving the group one last wave before they left.

Once out on the street, Wesley turned to Angel. 'I was surprised at Kate.'

Angel had a blank expression. 'She's changed. Faith may have a longer sentence, but there wasn't much any of us could do about that.'

'But she seemed... calmer than usual. Less arrogant.'

'I guess.' Angel looked up at the half moon. It was bordering on the early hours of the morning, but it was the only time they could travel back to LA. 'Ever since I bit her, things have been a little strange.'

Wesley held back a smile and shrugged. 'I wonder how Cordelia and Gunn fared in our absence?'

Angel didn't respond, but winced slightly. Wesley noticed, and this time smiled slightly. 'I wouldn't worry.'

They walked in silence for a while, and Wesley's mind ran over the night's events. Ever since his encounter with Tash he had felt... warm inside. As if some great, cold chasm left by his experience with Faith had been gently closed, at least temporarily. He wondered at Tash's experience, and at what Torvald had done. Seeing himself in the same position he knew that it would have killed him to make such a decision - but that Tor had somehow, despite the horrors, made the right one.

Angel looked sideways at his friend and, seeing his expression, pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. He held it out, and Wesley looked down. 'What's this?'

Angel shrugged. 'Something Faith gave me. It's for you.'

Unsure at first, Wesley finally took the slip of paper and unfolded it, slowing down. Angel kept walking, deciding to leave him alone with Faith's words.

After a moment, Wesley called out. 'Angel, I can't read.'

The vampire shrugged. 'Try harder.'

Wesley moved the piece of paper back and forth from his face until it finally focused somewhat. He cocked his head slightly and read the words in his head. He lowered the piece of paper, blinked, then lifted it and read again. Finally he folded it and placed it in his pocket, still walking after Angel, who was a short distance in front.

As he walked, he looked around himself in wonder as a white flicker of ice flittered down from above. It was soon followed by another, and then another, until they were surrounded by silver snowflakes.

Angel dropped back to his friend and cast him a confused glance. 'I know it's been cold but... it never snows in Sunnydale.'

Wesley nodded, a grin across his face. 'I know.'

'What's so funny?' Angel asked, amused. 'What did the note say?'

'It said "Remember Tash".' He laughed.

Angel's confused expression returned. 'And the funny part?'

Wesley sighed, still smiling. 'Tash is, well, it's a word they used long ago in London to describe one of the heaviest snows there, hundreds of years ago. It's just a slang term. It means... well, it,' he laughed again and indicated the sky.

'It means snowfall.'

And in a distant, dark cell illuminated only by fading moonlight, a young girl lay curled in her cold bed, smiling.


* * *