Prey
by Liz M
Rating: R

Disclaimer: BtVS, Angel, all chars and related belong to J.Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox, WB, etc.

+1=2=3=4=5=6+

PART 1

(B pov)

"I can't believe it!" I paced back and forth, wringing my hands, absentmindedly wiping my face, trying to calm down. I stopped, faced the men currently staring at me and pulled in a deep calming breath. "Did you think that you could control her?" I shook my head, frustration and disgust seeped through my every pore. "Why didn't you come to me sooner? Huh?" I looked at the men who just stared at me with blank faces.

"We thought we could handle things...her." He looked back down at the ground.

I blew out a frustrated breath and stared at them. "So, you made the monster show herself again...and now you want me to clean up after your mess...again?" I walked towards the wall, leaned against it and rubbed the bridge of my nose. "How many died?"

"Huh?" The man asked.

I glared at him. "How many did she kill this time?"

The man stood and walked towards me, thrusting out an envelope for me to take. I hesitantly took it, walked to a table, took a deep breath and sat down. My hands shook as I fondled the envelope, opening it slowly to gaze down at the numerous pictures. I gasped as I flipped through the photos, pausing over one in particular a young boy. I pushed the picture over and saw a photo of Faith, wielding a long blade, it and her covered in blood, standing in a sea of bodies.

I closed the envelope and faced the men. "I thought she was with A.I.?"

The men moved closer, each sitting around the table with me. The one in charge or at least the one I assumed was in charge leaned forward. "She was.... but really since the demise of the original team, you have to admit... they're unorthodox... to say the least." He looked up at me, waiting to see if he'd hit a nerve. He licked his lips, continuing. "She's a liability.'

I interrupted. "She helped close the hell mouth in Sunnydale." I offered.

He shrugged, casually stating. "She's also aligned herself with demons in the past and present."

I glared up at him. "So have I."

He smiled up at me, daring me with his eyes, confronting me with his posture. "Granted, you've both dallied..." He looked up at me, directly into my eyes. "Albeit in very different manners."

I glared at him again, watching his every move. "What about the A team? Where are they in all of this?"

"Disappeared, all of them." He looked directly into my eyes. "She's alone right now. She wouldn't expect a recall.... and with you leading the team we could tag her and have her back in the mother land and awaiting rehab." He looked at me, making sure he got his point across. "With the least amount of casualties possible." He added for my benefit.

I nodded, agreeing, almost. I looked hard at the man. "What happened?"

He scrunched his brows together, questioning.

"What happened?" I repeated. "What made her go insane again?"

He laughed. "Was she ever sane?"

I regarded the man, lowered my eyes to the envelope and poured the photos out onto the table and fingered through them. I steeled my eyes and sighed. "Wait here. I'll be right back."

I walked into the back room, pulled my cell phone out of my purse and dialed Angel. I waited and waited but he never answered. So I punched in the numbers for the remaining team members, Illyria and Oz. Neither of them answered. I left messages and called A.I.'s main office. The phone rang and rang...and I stood there listening and waiting, hoping.

The man ran into the back room where I was. "She's just killed Thomas!"

"What?" I severed the connection and looked at him.

"Thomas is dead." He rasped out. "Our contact said she's heading east...she's after Rynn." He looked up at me with pleading eyes. "You've got to stop her... please?" I looked at him blankly, numb, fear and regret seeping through my system. He moved over to me, pulling at my hand. "She's the assassin." I jerked my head up, looking directly into his eyes, fear and loathing creeping out of him and into me.

I nodded, pulled in a deep breath, walked to the weapons cabinet and pulled a few weapons: Dagger, tranquilizer gun, baton and stake. I turned and faced the men, who were now standing up, staring at me. "Take me there." I stated flatly.

I walked behind the men, the councilmen and got into a van with them. I leaned back against the seat and stared out the window, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Why? Why Faith? Why'd you have to break your word?"

I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

(F pov)

I crouched down low, hidden just out of view and surveyed the scene before me. I felt my phone vibrate. I palmed the phone and backed deeper into the shadows.

"Yeah?" I whispered. I listened to Angel on the phone and peered from my hiding spot again. "Will do." I nodded, understanding. I severed the connection and crept back to my hidden spot. I watched money change hands, saw the deal go down. I searched the perimeter looking for my contact. There she is.

I hunkered down and waited for the dealers to clear.

"You can come out now." She said, blatantly.

I smirked and removed myself from my not so hidden spot, stretching out my muscles as I made my way over to her. "Rynn, I presume?"

She smiled at me and nodded yes. I furrowed my brow and looked around, suddenly feeling uneasy. I grabbed her arm and pulled her along behind me as I quickly moved us out of the open and along an alleyway.

I pushed us back into a darkened opening. "Shhh." I commanded. I felt my phone start to vibrate again. I glanced down at it, took heed of the emergency code flashing, sighed and looked around for somewhere to go and fast. I felt closed in. I reached back and grabbed Rynn and bolted.

We made the clearing; I looked right and left, trying to locate my jeep and finally saw it up ahead of us. I made a mad dash for it, dragging the woman behind me. I felt something pierce my skin before I heard the sound. I ducked down behind an awning, looking around, trying to find the sniper.

I stilled myself and used my senses, trying to locate the danger. I jerked my head to the right suddenly, just as a bullet hit the wall behind me and ricocheted. I hunkered down and moved quickly around the awning pulling the contact behind me, hiding us around the corner.

I stilled and peered around the corner, looked to the pockmark on the wall and followed the trajectory. I pulled out a dart gun as I ran my eyes along the length of adjacent buildings. I looked up and bingo.

"Got you, you son of a bitch." I whispered as I took aim.

I squeezed off the shot, and watched as the marksman suddenly fell from the balcony and into the bushes. Gotta love that. I smiled.

"Good help is so hard to find."

"What?" I turned around and looked at Rynn. "You?" I questioned. "You're the big bad behind this whole mess?"

She smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Well I'm not the big, big bad and I'm not the mastermind behind this wonderful ruse.... I'm just the bait."

I took a step backwards, bracing myself. Turn and run, just turn and run. I took another step back. "What do you want?" Ok, call me stupid, but you know the saying curiosity killed the cat...well... my motto's always been... satisfaction brought him back. I know, stupid.

She ambled in, smiling, stalking closer and closer. "You." She breathed out huskily.

"Me?" I licked my lips, watching the peripherals. I'm so screwed. No where to run, my jeep's tires are flat as fritters and I'm surrounded.... and I just shot my last wad at that sniper.

I cut my eyes to my jeep. Let's just hope that Illyria remembered to put some brute force underneath the seats.

I cracked my neck, got in a ready stance and waved the bitch onward. She smiled at me and brought out spikes from her elbows, hands and knees. What kind of crap is that? I lowered my hands; my mouth hung open slightly and I just stared at her. I mean cause really, what the fuck was I supposed to do with that?

I stared at her. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah." She stated.

I nodded at her, turned and ran with her following right on my heels. I ran for the jeep, speeding up as I neared it, not daring to stop. I jumped, put a foot on the side and pushed myself upwards, turning a flip and landed behind her. I delivered a powerful roundhouse that sent her flying up and over the hood of the jeep. She rolled, hit the wall and jumped back to her feet, seething.

"Oh shit." I muttered as I frantically searched underneath the seats for a weapon. I felt the hilt of a gun. Relieved, I pulled it out and pointed it at her. She laughed. I looked down and saw the toy water gun and cringed. "Oh fuck me." I breathed out.

She slowly moved around the jeep, smiling, taunting me. "You know, somehow I thought you'd be more of a challenge."

I nodded as I regarded her. "One can only hope." I put a cigarette into my mouth and shakily lit it up. I watched her move closer towards me. I shrugged. "Nervous habit."

She nodded, still smiling, still moving in for the kill. "Think of it as more of a last request."

I nodded and waited for the gravel to crunch underneath her feet. I smiled. She watched me and stopped dead in her tracks and looked down and saw the explosive pellets underneath her feet.

I stepped back a few paces quickly. She looked up at me, shocked.

"Boom." I stated.

The pellets exploded right on cue, lifting her up and throwing her a good ten feet. I reached into the back of the jeep and pulled out the crowbar, turned and strode directly for her just as she was getting to her feet and shaking off the affects of the blast. She moved to strike. I sidestepped her and arched the bar across the side of her head.

The back up started rolling in. I aimed the water gun and gave them all a nice little shot of acid. By itself it's harmless but you mix it with something such as... skin... well it burns like hell.

The back up backed up and ran like hell. I watched in amusement, letting my guard down momentarily. I felt her in behind me. I turned just in time to take a good hit to the face. I stumbled backwards, shaking off the burning sensation.

She drove the spikes toward me. I caught her hand and she drove in her knee. I tried to dodge but couldn't get out of the way. The spike caught the flesh and penetrated.

"Damn it!" I grunted out. I pushed her off of me and gave her a front kick that knocked her back a bit. She made the spikes clink together; trying to intimidate me, then ran at me. I lifted the crowbar, drew it back and threw it right at her. It penetrated her chest, knocking her backwards and onto the pavement.

I walked hesitantly towards her, kneeling down, making sure I was out of the way of her spikes. "Why?" I questioned.

I knew she was dying, so I waited and then I looked through her pockets, moving her, as I needed to check for any and all information.

I sighed and lowered her back down to the ground and looked at the blood that now covered my clothes and hands.

A van stopped nearby, its passengers got out. I looked up and saw B coming towards me.

(B pov)

I looked at her leaning over the body, her hands and clothes covered in blood. I strode towards her.

She sighed, slowly stood and smiled at me. "Hey B." She half smiled again. I can't believe she smiled. All I can think about is that boy and those people lying dead...all because of...her.

She started towards me. I removed the tranq gun and fired, hitting her directly in the chest. She looked down as if in slow motion and looked back up at me, her brow furrowed. Her mouth opened slightly as if she wanted to say something. She moved closer to me, trying to speak.

I pulled out the stun gun and zapped her. She went down on one knee, staring at me the entire time. I looked at her refusing to be taken down, refusing to give up.

"Give it up, Faith."

She was just too stubborn for her own good. She started trying to stand again. I pulled my baton, ejected it and cocked my arm back.

"Say good night." I struck the baton across her temple and down she went. The councilmen rushed in, chained her up and dragged her towards the van.

I leaned down next to the dead woman and looked her over. The sound of a car screeching to a halt knocked me out of my musings. I looked up to see Angel, Illyria and Oz running towards me.

I stood up. "It's over."

"What?" Angel looked at me and glanced down at the dead woman then back at me. "Where's Faith?"

I sighed and put my baton away. "She's where she can't hurt anyone else again." I turned to walk away but Angel grabbed my arm and turned me back towards him, towards all of them.

"What did you do?" He growled out.

I mustered up some dignity. "I stopped her...She won't kill anyone else."

They all just stared at me in disbelief. I started feeling uncomfortable so I turned towards where the van 'used' to be. I furrowed my brow and looked back at them.

"The council said she was killing again. They had all kinds of photos, proof."

Angel looked at me, hell all of them looked at me. "Are you sure they're council?"

I got a little angry. "Well they were English."

"Well did you check into it or did you just take their word, their proof?" He spat.

I looked at him blankly, not knowing what to say.

Angel turned from me and moved away. Illyria glared at me, daring me to make a move. Oz stepped forward being his usual diplomatic self. "Um Buffy. Faith.... she wasn't killing...she's been with us for the last three months straight, days and nights, no exceptions. She wasn't targeting people." He hesitated before continuing. "She was the target."

I looked up at him, shocked, my mouth open in disbelief. "No, that can't be true." I murmured.

Illyria stepped forward and shoved me backwards.

"It is and you just gave her to them."

PART 2

(B pov)

I stood there in front of all of them, the phone plastered to my ear, waiting for Giles to take me off hold. I fought against the need to squirm, knowing that they were scrutinizing my every move.

We had all moved to a large hotel suite after the fiasco earlier. Basically all we could do was wait for a few leads to come in...and that's what we were doing... well I was waiting on Giles to get his ass back on the line and tell me that it was true, the council had been sent to reel in Faith.

Angel left to take a call in the other room and I nervously watched him leave before I glanced at Illyria and Oz, who were still watching me, Illyria with her 'I'll stomp you to bits' look and Oz, with his 'I can't believe you're still fucking up' look. I turned away from them, showing them my back as I stood there looking and feeling foolish.

Angel burst back into the room, immediately kicking an end table over. He glared up at me. I was just about to muster up some indignant response when Giles finally picked up the phone.

I held up my hand, silencing Angel.

"What?" I asked into the phone disbelievingly.

I pulled in a deep breath and looked at the floor.

"You're sure?" I turned slightly, whispering. "There's no mistake?" I slowly hung up the phone and turned to face everyone. "I'm sorry." I stated lowly.

Angel glared up at me. Oz just continued to stare and Illyria moved forward, staring right through me. "You will be." She strode forward, right towards me. Angel intervened and stepped in between us.

"Not now." He growled. "This won't help her."

Illyria stopped and looked at Angel and finally nodded, relenting. She stepped back a step and watched as Angel started pacing the floor.

Oz spoke up, causing Angel to stop in his tracks. "She'll show. She's a slayer. She'll cause a scene of biblical proportions and show us the way." He shrugged as if his words were gospel. I could only look at him, shocked that he'd actually formed sentences.

Angel half smiled and nodded. "Yeah, she'll definitely show us her position."

I looked down at the floor again, guiltily and not too inconspicuously. They all looked at me pointedly. "What did you do to her?" Angel asked once again.

I blew out a breath, sighed and sat down heavily in a chair. I rubbed my temples, took another deep breath and decided to just spit it out. "I shot her with a tranquilizer, heavy dosage. She didn't go down...so I hit her with some medium sized wattage. She was still fighting, so I used the baton and struck her temple." I looked back down at the floor. "After that... well she was out and they came, chained her up and took her to the van." I faced them again. "You showed up, I turned around and they were gone."

They all regarded me silently.

"She doesn't have a chance, does she?" Angel asked lowly.

I shook my head no, ashamed. We all settled into an uncomfortable silence that seemed to last for hours. Nobody said anything but I could feel their thoughts and their looks and honestly, it was eating me up on the inside. Why was I so stupid when things concerned Faith? Why?

The door burst open and in walked a green, red-eyed demon. Angel, Illyria and Oz immediately stood up, anxiously awaiting something.

"Lorne...Anything?" Angel asked.

Lorne pulled off his jacket and threw it on the sofa and started nodding. "Oh yeah, and it's not of the good kind." He went to the bar and mixed a concoction, explaining. "Remember all the ruckus going on? The two cases we've been working on? The gambling one...where you have to pay to play and the attempted kidnappings of Faith." Lorne watched as they all nodded. "Both cases are connected and it's bigger than gambling. It's an event." He moved away from the bar, paced a bit and then turned to face them again. "The tickets to play just went sky high. The six highest bidders get the tickets. They'll get to play." He took a big swallow of his drink and looked back at all of them. "It's an organized hunt...and the word on the streets is that they just got 'the' primo player." He paused and looked at all of them. He shook his head at all the dumbfounded looks staring back at him. "It's Faith!" He looked at them. "She's the prize, the big kahuna, the one they'll all be gunning for." He waved his hands in front of them. "Hello... mounted? Ring any bells? And not in the good way...in the hanging on the wall way." Lorne pulled in an aggravated breath. "They're going to hunt her for sport."

Angel took a step towards Lorne..

"Just find the game."

(F pov)

I groaned, moving slightly, trying to open my eyes, trying to push my body up but I fell back into that hazy feeling. I slumped back against the floor, wall, bed, whatever; I'm not too picky at the moment. I forced my head to sludge through its last memories and lay there waiting for the thick mass to filter through all the crap.

Here it comes...contact, set up, trap, taken.... taken...taken by B? "What?" I rasped out, trying to get over the strong bout of vertigo and get up, whichever way up was. I crawled up on my knees like a baby and squinted my eyes, trying to focus. I tried to stand and stumbled back against the floor, instantly becoming nauseous. I dry heaved several times and finally emptied out my stomach.

I fell back down, grabbing at my throbbing head, slowly heading back into that warm, thick, fuzzy dream state.

Icy water hit me from every angle and I immediately jerked and struggled to get to my feet. I held my hands up, trying to stop the stinging water from hitting my face. I backed up against bars and steadied myself, feeling the water deaden all the pain, feeling it slap against all my senses. Sobered me up like a judge, instantly.

I focused and looked at the 'things' on the other side of the bars. If looks could kill, they'd be dead, burnt and buried in the backyard. I stepped closer to the bars, trying to grab hold of one of them.

"Awww... did you think you were still in control?" It taunted. "That's so sweet." It laughed, backed away and walked through a steel door. I looked through the bars, studying the door. I turned and looked at the big cage I was in and saw two more locked in with me.

"Oh shit." I whispered to myself as I looked at my fellow prisoners.

I turned back to the steel door and screamed. "Hey...you can't lock me in here with Hell Boy and the long haired Yeti!" I pulled on the bars. "Do you hear me? Damn it!" I kicked on the bars and pulled against them like a monkey, definitely losing cool points but 'who gives a fuck?'

I felt them behind me, looking down on me. I turned slowly and looked first up at Hell Boy. I took in his features, thinking vampire, old, powerful. I looked into his eyes and his face morphed...and here I am thinking, the only thing I have to give him is the finger.

I cast a cautious glance at the sasquatch, or whatever it was and found myself looking up and up and up, my mouth hung open. Damn he's huge. I'm dead. I took a step back and hit against the bars.

The vamp lunged at me, grabbed my hair and flung me across the cage to the other side, where I hit against the bars and crashed down into the floor. I pushed up off the floor, shook my head and saw twenty assholes coming at me.

Then Yeta, that's my new name for it yelled or roared or whatever and distracted me.

Big Red grabbed hold of me again and hoisted me up off the floor, leaving my feet dangling like I was trying to river dance or something. I was not amused. I boxed his ears, meaning I drew back both hands and struck them as hard as I could against his ears, popping them. Stings like hell. He screamed, dropped me and felt of those little red pointy things that he called ears, noting the blood slightly trickling from them. He glared at me.

I shrugged. "Oops?" I offered. He screamed in rage and ran at me. I dropped to the floor, scissored his legs with mine and tripped him. He fell right into the bars, his horns tangling up with them. I got up quickly, surveyed the sitch. "Ha, you freaking bastard." And I kicked him in the gonads. Hey it's what any self-respecting slayer would do. Again and again I laid into him... although I did forget one very important thing.... big foot. "Ahhhhh!" I yelled as I was lifted up off the floor and pulled right into the open mouth of Chewbacca. He roared or groaned again, bathing me in the most horrid breath. I just couldn't take the stench. I blew chunks all over his hairy.... dreads?

He dropped me, screaming. I scurried to the door of the cage and threw myself at it. I pulled off my belt, took the buckle and immediately starting trying to pick the lock. I felt breath on the back of my neck. I stilled, rolled my belt and buckle back into my hand and around my wrist, making a packed glove around my fist and then I waited.

I suddenly sidestepped and pushed the vamp against the bars, immediately stepping in and thrusting my fist any and everywhere. He grabbed my hand, twisted it and forced me down to one knee. I waited for the killing blow.

Yeti came up beside us, raised his club sized paw and plunked it down on top of the vamp's head, knocking him instantly to the floor. I looked up just in time to see the other hand connecting with my head and down I went, lying across the un-living blood bank like a long lost lover.

I came to, just in time to see my leg about to get munched on. I thrust out with my foot and caught the hairy bastard dead-on in the face. I jumped up, jumped on top of him and start kneeing and hitting at him. "Oh no you did not just try to eat my leg!" I rained my fists of fury over his head.

I took a kick to the back, instantly feeling the nerve there light up. My hair was grabbed and yanked hard, pulling me back and right into the waiting arms and fangs of goat boy. He sunk his teeth in and started to drink. I reached down between his legs, grabbed his balls and twisted like crazy.

He removed his teeth and we stood, him trying to keep his balls and me trying to keep my balance, then I pranced him around the cage like a little ballerina. That was actually quite funny, well until our captors decided to make an appearance.

There we were, Yeti on the floor, and me, vamp balls in hand, dancing us back and forth around the cage. I had to let that one go, of course. We all faced the men, waiting, for whatever they would bring forth.

Tasers fired from all positions, hitting the vamp, the ape, and me, giving us the shock of our lives. We all sat on the floor, shaking off the after affects, glaring daggers at the men.

"Now, that we have your attention." He paused, looked at us and threw some supplies inside the cage; first aid kit, blood, food, water. "I trust that you'll stop fighting each other and conserve your strength and energy for the hunt."

"Hunt?" I questioned. I looked around the room, looking for that bitch Buffy. "Where's Buffy?" They all looked at me blankly. "The girl that did this to me?"

The man smiled. "Yes, she did deliver you didn't she?"

I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. "Would you quit with the cryptic and just tell me what the hell's going on?"

He smiled at me and nodded. "First thing tomorrow, the game begins." I started to ask another question but he held up his hand, silencing me. He motioned to the supplies inside the cage. I moved over and got the supply bag marked with my name, opened it and looked at the ration of food and water, make that one ration and just enough first aid supplies to fix what was wrong with me at this present time. He paced. "We'll release you three in six hours. You'll be pursued until you're caught and killed or until you kill all the players and find your way out of the drop zone."

"Oh fuck me." I whispered to myself. The man laughed. I looked up into several smiling faces. He stepped closer to the cage.

"Oh I'm sure, after your capture, your death won't come until all of us have had a go at you." He winked and left. I watched the door close, turned and looked at the other two.

"Truce?" I asked. They looked up at me, both with 'yeah right' looks on their faces, not really saying anything. I rolled my eyes. "Okay, we'll kill them first, then we'll kill each other. Deal?"

They nodded.

I tried to act casual and tough but who was I kidding? I was worried. I guess payback is a dish best served cold.

And she got me. Damn, she got me.

(B pov)

I was pacing around the hotel room, waiting for Lorne to get back. Angel silently sharpened his blades, looking at me from time to time. Illyria just walked around and glared at me. Oz, well he was looking kinda anxious, so I just stared at him for a bit. His eyes flashed and I stepped back.

Angel and Illyria both looked at Oz. "You need to go?" Angel asked. Oz looked up at all of us.

"Yeah, I think I do." Angel nodded and looked to Illyria.

"Take him and get him settled in." She looked hesitant so he motioned to the door. "Go on." He encouraged. "We'll get her back." She relented and followed Oz, closing the door quietly behind them.

An hour later, Lorne rushed in. "It's happening in two hours."

"That soon?" Angel questioned. "Did you get the place?" Lorne held out a piece of paper. Angel took it, glanced down at it and looked back to Lorne. "You know the place?"

"Yeah." He nodded. "We'll have to go in by boat. I'm thinking the roads will be blocked."

We gathered up our stuff, called Illyria, told her to meet us at the docks and left with one thought on our minds. I made a last ditch effort to call in Willow. I figured she could locate Faith quicker than any of us could. She met us at the docks and brought along her girl, Kennedy.

We took off from the docks, packed with weapons and wishful thinking, each of us lost in our own thoughts, unsure as to what we were walking into, unsure of what I'd carelessly thrust Faith into. Accusations flew towards me again, as the tale of my doings was relayed.

I sighed and shrank back against the seat, nodding, admitting what I'd done.

I looked up at all of them. "I know.... I don't know why I keep... messing up when it comes to her... I..." I looked down and became quiet.

Kennedy moved over and touched my leg, getting my attention. "Tell me Buffy, is it really easier to hate her...than to just love her?"

I looked up pointedly at Ken. "I don't love her." I stated lowly.

She shook her head sadly. "Then why do you work so hard at hating her... if not to hide how you really feel?" She pulled in a deep breath and scoffed at me. "I mean, really, why bother?"

I looked up into all their faces, seeing their unspoken agreement. I lowered my head, whispering. "Because I don't want to feel that way."

Willow moved closer. "You can't help who you love Buffy. But you can help what you do about it...and you two...if you keep hiding those feelings and pushing them down...well someone's gonna get seriously hurt; again."

I shook my head agreeing and looked out into the water.

(F pov)

A short time later, more people came in. They covered the cage and loaded us onto something. I could feel us moving but I couldn't see where or tell for how long we'd been traveling.

We suddenly stopped and then all the moving started again and this time when it stopped. I didn't like the feel of it. I stood up and waited.

Someone hit the side of the cage, crawled up on top and started doing something at the four corners. My breathing and heart rate picked up.

"Okay!" A voice yelled. "You have a one hour head start!"

I closed my eyes and waited. Nothing happened. I heard a truck start and pull away, the engine growing more and more distant.

Some kind of engine kicked in. The cover started rising up slowly. A countdown began in the background. 10, 9, 8, 7, the bars of the cage started to groan. 5, 4, 3, I looked around. 2, 1, Let the game begin.

The cover and top ripped off the cage and the bars just fell to the ground. We stood there, still, in shock, looking around.

I covered my eyes with my hand, trying to focus my eyes. I looked to the others. "Let's go."

I moved to run, stopped and looked back at them. The vamp combusted just as the sun came out from the darkness.

"Damn." I stated, drawing the word out, looking at the dust. "That was a bit premature. Don't you think?" I looked up at the beast standing next to me. He roared or whatever and ran off through the woods, knocking trees over along his way. I watched him run away from me. "Well that's certainly stealthy."

I looked at the dirt tracks left in the road and followed the direction I thought the truck went.

I stepped forwards and bullets littered across my path from some kind of automatic weapon. I turned and ran in the opposite direction, bullets hitting directly behind my feet. I jumped into the woods, rolling over the ground and back up onto my feet, still dodging bullets. I ran deeper into the woods, stopping a good way in.

I leaned up against a tree, breathing heavily, my hands instantly going to the new wounds. I grimaced and pushed off from the tree.

Heading for somewhere safe. I hoped.

PART 3

Note: I took a lot of leeway with the way a few of the chars act and behave.... so while the behavior might not be the norm... it was needed for story purposes.

(B pov)

We hid the boat in a small alcove, underneath a flurry of trees, hoping that we'd remain undetected. In our rush to get there, we forgot something extremely important, that something being, Angel and sunlight don't mix. So he had to stay behind inside the cabin of the larger boat, while we took this small, stealthy, watercraft the rest of the way in.

We crawled underneath the sheltering trees and made a spot for Will to cast a spell. Me, Will and Ken had basically set up shop and started trying to locate Faith. Wills cast the spell and showed us a general area.

Ken stayed behind with Wills, to protect her. That left the blue wonder and me alone to hunt for Faith. We checked our radio headsets and took off for the last known place of origin.

Wills would be feeding us info as we went.

Illyria and me climbed to the top of alcove, peered out and entered the playing field. I took two strides and felt Illyria touch me on my shoulder, stopping me. I turned to look at her and Bam, that blue bitch knocked me back a good five feet.

I rubbed my jaw, sighed and started walking again. She followed behind me quietly. I glanced at her and she smirked at me. Of course I had to become righteous; it's my biggest sin, deniably so.

"When this is over...." I let the words hang in the air as I rubbed my jaw, indicating that this thing between us was far from over.

She looked straight ahead, her voice void of emotion. "When this is over, if Faith's alive, she'll be the one to kick your ass." Her words stopped my momentum. I looked back at her as she strode up to me and passed me. She continued. "If she dies, there's a line waiting to kick your ass.... So either way...."

I stared at her. "Who taught you to talk?" She ignored me. I blew out an aggravated breath, adding. "Shame they didn't teach you tact." Her words echoed in my head, eating away at me. I know I'm in the wrong here, but I've always had the superior thing going on...childish I know...but I always feel like I have to be the best.... and that sometimes makes me sound callous. "Faith could never beat me?" I stated.

Illyria stopped and looked back at me, studying me. "Do you think she ever really tried?" She asked.

I scoffed, smirked and widened my eyes at her. "Yeah." I nodded for emphasis. "She tried to kill me, my friends and my family." I added for affect.

She looked at me again. "Funny." She turned and started walking again. I stopped her.

"What do you mean, it's funny?" I questioned, annoyed. She studied me again.

"You say she tried to kill all of you." She seemed to think about her words, and then added. "She's a slayer." She looked at me again. "How many of your friends and family did she kill then?" She waited for me to answer.

"She tried." I said between gritted teeth. Illyria just looked at me. "She shot Angel with a poison arrow." I added.

Illyria stepped forward, towards me. "So, she didn't kill any of your friends or family. She shot a being that was already dead.... Out of all of the choices she had to choose from, the only one she tried to kill was someone who'd been dead for years?"

I stood there blankly.

She continued. "She's a very inept killer." She paused. "You seem to have been the only one actually going through with the motions, then and now."

"Inept? She killed Finch and that Professor." I stated.

"Yes...she did." She glanced at me. "One of them all by herself, the other, she had help with, although she was the only one to get any of the blame or any of the labels."

I squared my shoulders. "She went after my mother and boyfriend when she woke up from that coma."

She laughed. "After months of being tortured and chased by you in her dreams? Imagine that." She walked off leaving me behind.

I started to mention something about Xander, but thought better about it. I tried to kill him too, along with my family and friends. I shook my head and looked up to find Illyria looking back at me.

I watched her back as she continued on. Not much I could say so I followed quietly. All I could really do was hope that we found Faith or that she at least lasted until dusk, cause I knew that if we couldn't find her, Angel could, at least I hoped, cause I really don't think I could live with the guilt or with all these Faith fans.

(F pov)

I moved quickly through the briars, pushing myself through. I held my side, putting pressure on the wound. I didn't have much time to check it but I knew that the bullet had gone clean through the fleshy part. I kept my eyes ahead, barely looking at the ground.

I glanced down briefly, saw a set trap and adjusted, trying not to step on it. My foot grazed it and it snapped shut. I lost my footing and fell downwards, rolling down the slight hill. I landed roughly, sensed the dangerous traps lying near me and snatched my arm up just in time. I jerked my other arm and brought my legs up as more traps snapped around me.

I pulled in a deep breath and released a shaky sigh. I stood up and looked around, saw a straight tree limb and went over to get it. I figured if there were traps set out for me... the least I could do was let them snap the limb and not my leg. I pulled the limb. It clicked. My mouth hung open as I waited.

I heard a swooshing sound and fell to the ground, pushing my back against it, flattening myself out. A branch with spikes attached to it flung out of nowhere and struck the tree right above me. I lay there, just looking at it. I pulled myself out from underneath it and studied it.

I looked around, shook my head and decided to just go for it. If I died, I died. I drew my foot back and kicked the branch, snapping it in two. I pulled the spiked part from the tree and made a few adjustments to it. Now I had a spiked club and some stakes.

I walked back to the traps, grabbed up a few with ropes attached to them and started moving again. I heard something and stilled. A stream. I headed for it.

I made it to the small flow of water and crouched down, checking the area. I moved out into the water and started walking downstream as quickly and quietly as possible.

Further downstream I came across some barbed wire that'd been strung across the water. I moved out of the water and onto the bank, looking all around me.

I heard the click as I stepped down and felt the trigger give underneath my foot. I closed my eyes and slowly looked down. "Oh damn." I muttered to myself. I'd stepped on some kind of charge. I was trapped. I heard something coming through the woods fast and hard. I looked up, searching.

The brush was parting. This was it. Caught. I pulled in a breath and waited.

(B pov)

I steadily walked behind Illyria, keeping quiet, occasionally stopping to get directional changes from Will. The woods suddenly became silent. We stilled and listened to our surroundings. "We're being watched." I whispered. She nodded. I looked around, pointed and gave her a push. "Go, quickly."

She rushed ahead with me following close behind her. We ducked in behind some rock formations, crept around to the other side and peered out. I motioned her to step out as bait.

She slowly moved out and stood behind a tree, while I waited and watched her back. Slowly someone approached her from behind. I drew in a slow breath and moved in closer. The hunter quietly drew a knife and expertly turned the blade in his hand as he moved closer.

She suddenly kicked her foot out backwards, hitting him dead on in the face. He flew backwards and landed on the ground. I walked up and looked down at him. He sat up, pulling a gun. I pulled my baton, drew back and cracked it against the side of his head.

I glanced at Illyria. "Nice kick." I leaned down and removed all the weapons from the hunter. I sighed and looked around, not really knowing what to do with the man. I guessed we'd just have to tie him up. I looked around for something to use and started towards some vines when I noticed Illyria moving towards the man. I hesitated, turning to get a full visual.

Illyria leaned down and lifted the man by the head. I knew what was coming. I moved quickly, but not quick enough. She twisted his neck. I stopped dead in my tracks at the sound of the snap and looked at her.

"Five left." She stated.

I walked up to her, grabbed her arm and turned her around to face me. "I don't condone what you did you him." I snarled.

She looked at me. "No...you only condone what you or your group do."

She snatched her arm away from my grip, daring me to continue. "I'm no killer." I stated between gritted teeth.

Illyria laughed. I was shocked; I didn't think that laughing was something she was capable of. "There's the caught and the uncaught and those above the capture." She challenged me with her eyes.

"Oh please." I rolled my eyes, disgust filtering through my voice.

She found me amusing. I could tell. She started walking and I followed. "Did you go to jail?" She asked.

"I haven't killed." I stated again.

"Those knights were human." She offered.

"Those knights were trying to kill Dawn."

She nodded and smiled. "So you condoned the killing of those humans because of your need to save your sister, who in her original form is nothing but a glowing mass of energy?" I started to speak but she beat me to it. "You stabbed Faith to feed her to a demon...and you got away with it." She paused and looked at me. "Your watcher was responsible for many deaths in his youth and a few in his adulthood." She pointed at me and tapped her finger against my chest. "Your best friend killed out of vengeance and rage and went on a sabbatical to get over it." She shook her head. "And lets not forget your demon lovers, they've both killed. One killed inside your own circle, the other, still wears the trophy of the slayer he killed." She scoffed at me. "Like I said, you and your group are above the law...you make up your own law as you see fit...and if you're not 'in' the group or if you're not 'with' one that's in the group, you don't get away with your transgressions...you die or worse." She turned and started walking away, casually stating. "You and your friends are hypocrites."

I watched her silently, angry, upset and maybe... enlightened.

She took a few more steps and something snapped. We looked down at the ground and saw the leaves moving quickly, parting. "Move!" I yelled, stepping back.

Up she went into the air, upside down, her foot caught up in some kind of snare. I bit back the urge to say something smart and witty as I watched her dangling up there.

She looked around, glanced up at her leg and furrowed her brow. "It's a trap." I stated.

She looked back up at it. "It's very effective... primitive, but effective."

I resisted the urge to smile as I nodded agreeing with her. I looked around for the trip line. Something snapped and moved through the woods. "Shhh." I whispered. "Something's coming."

I left her hanging there and moved over behind a few trees. I looked out from my position. I heard the click behind me and felt the barrel point against my back. I raised my hands and slowly turned around.

(F pov)

I stared at the break, wanting to run but not wanting to lose my lower half. Closer and closer the sound came, growing louder and louder with each second.

I frantically looked around for a rock or something...then I remembered the traps. I opened them, setting each one of them and gently lifted one up by the rope, leaving the other one lying on the ground. I raised my arm and started gently swinging the set trap around my body like a lasso.

I looked to the break, twirling the rope with more momentum, getting ready to let the trap fly. The brush broke apart. I grimaced, gave the trap another twirl, this time harder and let the trap fly. The sasquatch broke through the brush and groaned when it saw me.

The trap flew right at it, hit and released. The thing stood upright and screamed. The ground shook. He broke into a full out run, straight for me. My mouth opened and I set myself for the blow. He ran right past me. I turned to watch the blur as he kept running and yelping.

I was so stunned that I forgot I'd wrapped the rope around my wrist so that I could pull the enemy to me and pummel him. The rope reached its limit. I looked down; saw the thick line pulled tight. "Oh shit." I breathed out just before I was snatched up off my feet and pulled across the ground.

The landmine exploded. My body contracted as I tried to sustain the fall out from the explosion. Then I heard more clicks. One by one, another landmine exploded. That hairy son of a bitch was dragging me through a minefield. I screamed at the top of my lungs as I dodged each click, trying to keep my parts in tact.

I'm not sure but I think I was drug a mile or two before I stopped...or he stopped if you wanted to be technical. I raised my head and blew out the dirt in my mouth, coughing and spitting. I slowly unwound the rope from my hand and shook my head as I tried to get up on my knees.

I looked around, shook my head again and rubbed my ears, trying to get my hearing to work right. I looked at the rope lying next to me, lifted it, and slowly reeled it until I felt it pull tight, then I jerked it.

I heard Yeta yell. I rolled my eyes and gave the rope another tug. Bastard.

(B pov)

I slowly turned around to face my captor. Explosions sounded off in the distance. He cut his eyes and I reached out and took his gun. A dart flew past my head. The hunter used my distraction to hit me in the face. I shook off the blow and hit him.

Another dart flew by. I looked around not seeing anything. Another hunter came out of the woods. A dart hit him in the forehead and he slowed down, looked around and fell face first into the dirt.

The hunter kicked me between the legs. I sucked in a breath and looked at him in disbelief. I don't care what anybody says.... it does hurt if you kick a girl there. He used my moment of shock to move in and choke me. I reached down and pulled out my taser.

I struggled with the hunter, each of us holding onto the other, moving in a circle. Something pierced my ass. I jerked, sucked in a deep breath and moved my taser toward the guy. He jerked and pulled away from me. A dart hit him in the neck. He looked up and fell into the dirt.

I turned and looked up and saw Illyria holding a dart gun, firing wildly. I reached around to my ass, felt the metal in the cheek and slowly pulled out the dart, bringing it around to look at it.

I looked up at Illyria swinging upside down in the trees. "You shot me in the ass." I stated

I fell into the dirt.

PART 4

(Kennedy pov)

We heard the commotion over the headsets and I took off for Buffy and Illyria's position.

Funny, but they hadn't really gotten very far. I reached their immediate area in less than thirty minutes. I crouched down and checked the area, noticed three down up ahead. I checked the perimeter and cautiously moved forward, weapons at the ready.

I edged closer to the three bodies lying on the ground, looking all around me and keeping a watchful eye on them, just in case they were luring me in. I saw Buffy lying near two men but I still didn't want to run in blindly. I pulled out my tranq gun and shot two rounds, one in each of the men. I slowly backed away, checking, cause something didn't feel quite right.

I looked all around me, stepped back again and brought up my weapon. I checked in with Will, confirmed the trouble as I continued to get more and more paranoid.

I jerked my head upwards and looked directly into Illyria's face. I gasped and stepped back and got a better look. She's alive. I released the breath I'd pulled in and relaxed somewhat, relieved. At first glance I thought she was dead and strung up in the trees.

I looked back up at her as she stared at me. "It's a trap." She stated; then added. "Primitive but effective."

I nodded up at her, located the trip line and cut it. She fell to the ground with a grunt and sat up, still looking at the snare. I nodded my head in annoyance and cut the line from her leg.

"I don't get how you can be so smart and so stupid at the same time." She looked up at me. "You're like a century old or something, how can you not know things?"

She just sat there staring so I went over to Buffy, shook her and sat her upright. I went through my medic bag and pulled out some serum that would negate the effects of the tranquilizer. I gave her a dose and waited for her to come to.

She finally moaned and shifted slightly before her eyes snapped open. She looked around groggily.

"What happened?" She asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I'm guessing that stable mabel over there shot you along with everybody else." I made a big dramatic production of waving my arm in the direction of Illyria. "And that you just kind of left her swinging in the trees, leaving her a perfect target." That sobered her up. She glared at me. I looked back at Illyria. "Go back and protect Willow, you're not ready to deal with these types of traps."

Illyria looked at me, about to protest. I looked at Buffy, who looked as if she was gonna say something too. I got mad.

"No... I don't want to hear it... any of it. I'm surprised any of you are alive at all and that includes the A team." I shook my head. "My God...it's a wonder you're not all dead and buried... you're like a big bunch of retards with weapons!"

I heard laughter coming over the headset from willow and then a muted, 'Hey...'

I rolled my eyes. I just knew I was gonna get a 'talking to' later on.

(B pov)

I glared at Kennedy. I mean who the hell does she think she is, calling us...special? Bitch. She was right about one thing though, Illyria is not quite up to date enough to deal with deliverance type tactics.... Hell I'm not even sure we could go up against them effectively.

I watched Illyria make her way back towards Wills and I looked to Ken, wondering, since she's so smart, just what her plan of action would be.

"Now what, Oh wise one?" I asked.

She looked at me, smirked and said. "East, six foot spaced formation." She moved and I followed, spacing out from her. "Look out for tripwires and landmines." She whispered.

We walked and made headway. Willow came over the headset, stating that Illyria had made it back and that we needed to turn southeast. We made the adjustments and walked in silence. I looked over at Ken, cause something was just eating at me and I had to know.

"Ken." I whispered. She stopped and looked at me. I turned off my headset and she did the same. I looked up at her, contrite. "Uhm...did you all hear, Illyria and me talking earlier?"

She smirked, adding. "You so got schooled." She laughed and looked at me, instantly becoming somber. She nodded and sighed. "Everybody heard. In fact, several people got schooled today."

I looked up at her. "Do you think she was right?" I asked.

Ken blew out a breath and looked at me. "About some of it, yeah, but the deal is... Faith made that choice, she did things all on her own, ya know...but in all honesty... I don't know what I would've done either."

I looked up at her questioningly. "What do you mean?"

"Well when she first came back to help... I heard all of you talking so I set out to do some investigating on my own. I talked to the owner of that motel where she stayed and he told me that there were lots of days that she couldn't afford to rent the room.... and that he really didn't know where she stayed when that happened, only that it was frequent."

I looked down at the ground. "I didn't know." I stated.

She sighed. "I just listened to you all talk about her and came to my own conclusions."

"Which was what?" I asked.

She shrugged. "I really don't think she had much of a chance to begin with. I mean here's a young girl, two or three years younger than you.... she becomes a hero of the world and she gets told... sorry, it's a mistake." She laughs, continuing. "Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I approve of her choices...I'm just saying, to be thrown away and neglected when it's your god-given right to lead, well...anyone would be thrown off by that."

I stared up at her, not knowing what to say. "So what's your prognosis?" I asked.

Ken shrugged, sighing. "I think she was starved from the basic necessities of life...shelter, food, care, concern, the need to feel wanted and the need to feel that you had purpose...and I do think that you all played a part in that." Ken sighed again and turned on her headset. "It's just a shame that a demon took notice of her weaknesses while you all ran around oblivious to everything around you."

"Yeah, I kinda wished he hadn't of noticed her myself." I added lowly.

"Are you kidding?" She asked. "As evil as he was... he was the only decent thing in her life... the only thing she had to hang onto." She shook her head and walked away, leaving me behind.

I looked at the ground, turned on my headset and just stood there, thinking.

(F pov)

I stumbled along, following the rope. My head hurt, my ears rang and I owed it all to that oversized throw rug.... and now I'd lost all my weapons to boot.

There he is, that damned son of a bitch! I stomped over to him, and hit him on the shoulder. He stood and I looked upwards, reared back and punched him in the stomach. He grabbed my head and pushed me back. Ok, I'm pissed now. I started swinging and kicking wildly, not hitting anything, while he just held me back as if I were in some kind of stasis.

I finally tired myself out and sunk to my knees, breathing heavily. I got a second wind, stood up and started screaming. "You dumb son of a bitch...you could have killed me!" He moaned and pointed to the bear trap hanging off his ass. I yelled some more, calling him names. He moaned again and motioned to the trap. "Shut up!" I screamed...but I doubt he heard it; he'd chosen that exact moment to moan again.

I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms and looked off at the woods. After a few minutes of neither of us giving in, I gave in.

"Maybe we should get moving, yeah?" He automatically started moving...so I followed. I glanced over at the trap attached to his butt cheek and lowered my eyes quickly, trying not to laugh. "Uhm..." I stated. He looked at me. "I could get that for you." I moved my arm towards the trap. He moaned and slapped at my hand. "Ok.... okay. I'm just saying." I looked at the trap again and let my eyes follow the rope; I put my head down and smiled. It wasn't long before I burst out laughing. Of course it didn't last long. He immediately raised his big paw and plunked me on the head.

Down I went, out like a light. Didn't even realize that he picked me up. What a picture I'd have made, being carried through the woods by big foot, my head hanging down behind his knees, my ass at his waist, looking like a pair of bongo drums. On second thought, I'm so glad I didn't know.

(B pov)

Willow came over the line in a hurry. 'She's coming right towards you, fast.'

We looked around. "Spread out." Kennedy stated. "If she's coming fast, something's after her."

I nodded and crouched down behind a bush. Something jumped out behind us, some kind of beast, growling. I stared at it; it stared at me. Ken opened fire. It growled and shot back? What the hell...then it hit me. "It's a hunter! Get him!" I opened fire on the beast. He jumped, pivoted, knocked Ken down, swung around a tree and slammed into me before running off. I took a few shots at his retreating form.

I looked over at Ken, who still hadn't gotten up. I ran to her, turned her over and saw huge; deep furrowed scratch marks on her face and body.

"Damn." I whispered.

"I'm okay." She groaned out. "Nothing vital.... who wants to look pretty anyway." She added, before lying back down on the ground.

Willow came back over the headset but I couldn't hear her, something was coming through the brush at me; fast. I stood up, started to bring up my weapon when the abominable snow beast broke through. He ran right up and over me, knocking me off to the side and onto the ground. I couldn't believe my eyes. He had Faith. She was hurt. He ran right past me, shocking me into stillness momentarily.

I jumped up and took note of the rope being pulled behind him. I grabbed the rope, set my feet and pulled.

The thing wailed and jerked on the rope, pulling it hard and fast, taking me off balance and down I went, trailing behind them, being pulled across the ground.

"Let go of the rope!" I heard Ken yell. I finally let go and just lay there. Ken made her way over to me and helped me up. The brush parted again. We turned and looked into the face of this thing.... The only thought in my head was.... predator. "Holy shit." Ken muttered out.

The predator shot out a net and knocked Ken backwards, pinning her against some trees. I dove to the side, rolled over the ground, brought up my weapon and shot him several times. He brushed at the scratches I'd made and glared at me.

He stomped right at me. I stepped back. He pulled a weapon, clicked it and out shot two blades, one at each end. He jumped and landed right on top of me, lifting me upwards. He growled and leaned in to smell me.

He scrunched up his face as if disgusted and hung me on a tree, weaponless and then he pounced off after the snow beast.

I just hung there and looked over at Ken.

"Guess I'm not the only retard, huh?"

Ken cut her eyes at me.

(F pov)

I came to and looked around. What the hell? I was going ninety to nothing, bouncing like a boob. I focused, looked up and saw two big as hell beasts chasing after me...us. "Go...Go...Go!" I screamed as the two hunters moved in closer.

I tried to push myself back, further away from the fast approaching beasts. I started looking around, not knowing what to do.

I looked back to the beasts and noticed that one just saw the rope. He picked it up, got the other's attention and they slowed, each grabbing hold of the rope. They got ready, dug their feet in, ready to pull.

I reached for the trap to release it but it was too late. They pulled. Yeta stopped violently and was jerked backwards, letting go of me in the process. I rolled and watched in horror as they took aim on him. I started to move forward and looked directly into the barrel of a gun.

The hunter fired. I took a slug to the shoulder. I flew backwards and rolled with the momentum. I pushed myself up, glanced back and ran.

PART 5

(B pov)

"That's very effective also." I looked down and saw Illyria looking back up at me. I nodded at her and resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

She tugged me down onto the ground and we made our way over to Ken. Damn.... she was pinned tight. I'd never quite seen anything like it before. We tried to cut her free but couldn't. We stood back and studied the problem.

Illyria cocked her head and stared at the situation, walked over, grabbed the net where it attached to the tree and ripped it away. Ken slumped to the ground, groaning. I looked down at her. "Oh man, you're hurt."

"You think?" She looked up at me.

I helped her to her feet. "You're done.... at least for now." She nodded up at me, not arguing. She slowly moved towards Illyria, who wrapped an arm around her for support and started moving slowly out of the playing field.

Ken turned and looked at me. "I don't think we can help her." She stated.

I looked at her quietly and thought about what she said. "Maybe." I sighed, adding. "But I have to at least try." I looked at the ground.

"Buffy." Ken said, lowly. I looked back up at her. "Good luck." I nodded and watched them make their way away from me. I looked at the ground and picked my weapons back up, pulled in a deep breath, closed my eyes and searched out Faith with the slayer bond.

I opened my eyes, looked northwest, steeled my eyes and ran.

(F pov)

I stumbled slightly, wincing from the pain in my shoulder. I took a quick glance back and felt them behind me. I sucked in the pain and pushed on.

An arrow pierced through my thigh, causing me to miss a step and stumble over the ground. I rolled with the momentum, got back up on my feet and continued to run. I turned slightly and ran up the hill, wincing with every step. I heard the brush breaking behind me. I broke right and ran as fast as I could.

I suddenly stopped, skidding along in the dirt, flailing my arms, trying to keep my balance as I stared at the drop off below. My foot slipped and I righted myself. Something moved in the woods behind me. I turned to look and something grazed my head, knocking me backwards and over the drop off.

I fell head over heels downward, hitting against trees, briars and the hard ground. I landed in an inlet of water face down, unmoving.

After a few seconds of not being able to breathe, I jerked my head up, coughing and trying to pull in a deep breath. My lungs burned and I couldn't see. I leaned back in the shallow water and let myself be pulled by the gentle current, using my arms to help move me along.

I floated, I hoped, away from danger.

The water became too shallow for me to float. I turned over onto my stomach and peered around, looking for anything suspicious. I crawled to shore. I felt my head, looked at my hand and saw it covered with blood.

I looked at the bolt sticking through my thigh. I closed my eyes, blew out a breath and picked up a rock. I hit the bolt, knocking it further through my leg, whimpering as it pushed its way through my flesh. I grabbed the sharp, protruding end and pulled.

I looked around again, checking out the area, trying to figure a way out of this. I moved over to the bank, splashed more water up into the dirt and started making mud. I caked it over my body, making sure I covered every part. I broke off some tree limbs and started throwing leaves all over the place, making sure that a lot of them stuck to the wet mud. I backed up next to a nearby bank, pulled the limbs around me for cover and pushed my back against the bank, trying to blend in. I gripped the bolt and waited.

(B pov)

I slowed down, listening, scanning up ahead. I felt a presence to my right so I backed up and moved left, crouching down behind a tree. A shimmering presence appeared. I pushed myself back a bit more, making sure I was unseen and watched as the ripple moved towards me. I held my breath, waiting for it to get within reach.

Slowly I reached down, and unclasped my taser, letting my thumb brush over the controls, setting it to maximum. I didn't move; I didn't breathe; I waited.

Closer and closer it came, moving slowly as if it were searching the surrounding area. It hesitated right in front of me. I braced myself to strike. I released the breath I'd been holding and thrust my arm outward, took aim and pulled the trigger.

It moved fast, like a blur. The taser struck and lit, shocking it, making it show its solid form. I kept the pressure on, not wanting it to get back up. I didn't know what to do with it. I sighed, shook my head and gave in to what I knew I had to do. I drew my sword and decapitated it.

I stood back after the kill and shook my head, disgusted, not by the kill but because Illyria was right. I was a hypocrite.... and what was worse...was that I had no reason to deny it anymore. I just stood there, looking down at the proof.

Another hunter was down, two more to go. I looked around again, searched out, feeling for Faith. I turned in the opposite direction, scrunched up my face wondering how in the hell she ended up there. I reported in, letting the gang know that there were only two hunters left and I left Ken the pleasure of describing them and their abilities.

I moved out, picking up my pace, trying to be quiet, but trying to get there quick enough to even out the odds.

I just hoped I was in time.

(F pov)

I'm not sure how long I'd been waiting...all I know is that I was stiff as hell. I was dying to stretch but I remained still. I heard something shuffle through the water; I cut my eyes in the direction of the sound, trying to see.

It finally came into view. I'd never seen anything like it. I'm not sure if it resembled a bug or an animal...to be honest I really didn't care. I just wanted to be home, in bed, with a good book and maybe a good woman to boot.

My heart rate picked up and my adrenaline started building up at an alarming rate. I watched as the beast moved closer to my position. I willed my breathing to remain calm; all the while my heart was rampaging in my chest.

It looked at the ground, looking at the mud, at my footprints, at the big mess I'd made. It walked closer to my position and looked around. It moved right in front of me, bent down and looked at the ground, stood up and looked across the stream. It looked back down, saw the broken tree limbs and turned, looking right at my hiding spot.

I opened my eyes and yelled, startling it. I lunged forward, pushing the bolt fast and hard. I grabbed hold of it, holding it steady as I plunged the dart deep in one eye socket, pulled it out and pushed it in the other one.

I pulled the arrow out, drew my arm back and swung in an uppercut, pushing the bolt through his chin and out his head.

I slowed him down, slightly. He raked his claws out, cutting a path across my skin, grabbed me by my neck and flung me out into the water.

I pushed myself up, grabbing hold of a couple of rocks, one in each hand. He moved in, swung his claws, hoping to draw more blood. I ducked, stepped inside and crashed the rock underneath his chin, hitting him with another uppercut and knocking the arrow further in.

He bellowed and knocked me so hard that I flipped and landed in the water, face down. He dropped his weapon and bent over, trying to remove the arrow from his head.

I stood up, slowly watching him. I licked the blood from my lip and clinched my fists.

He turned abruptly, looking at me. I yelled, grabbed the arrow and yanked it from his head. I gripped it and moved in fast and hard, jabbing the arrow over and over into his head, ignoring his claws, ignoring his teeth, ignoring the pain.

I hit him again and again until he stopped moving. I withdrew the bolt and jabbed it in again for effect and just to be sure. I stumbled off of him, crawling in the water. I got my breathing under control, walked back over to him, put a couple of nice sized rocks in each of my pockets, snatched the arrow and took his weapon, which was some kind of hatchet.

I slowly moved away, back to the muddy bank, applied more camouflage, looked around and decided to backtrack, hoping to get in behind the rest of the hunters and get them before they got me.

(B pov)

I felt her just up ahead. I slowed, not liking the way the area felt. I moved in cautiously, crossing the stream and quietly moving along the bank.

I saw one of the hunters lying in the water. I moved in, checking the area. I was relieved another hunter was dead. I looked around, noticed the skirmish that had to have taken place, saw drops of blood and tracks.

I followed the tracks and looked into the woods. She's going back. "What are you thinking?" I asked myself.

I heard something move in the trees. I backed up and hid myself, watching as the other hunter moved into view. I didn't know how in the hell we were gonna deal with this one... all I really knew was that we stood a better chance if we worked together.

He suddenly bolted down to the ground and inched over towards his dead companion. I used that opportunity to back away quietly. I turned, looked to where I thought Faith would be heading and decided to cut straight through the woods. I'd cut off my traveling time and maybe, just maybe I'd get to Faith, cut her off before the last hunter caught up to her.

I moved silently until I got out of range of the hunter and took off running.

(F pov)

I ran as swift and stealthy as I could, slowing when I caught the stench of death in the air. I crept forward, eyeing all around me, stopping to check the immediate area when I saw what the problem was. It was yeta. I started moving again, not stopping to check...hell I already knew. There wasn't anything I could do, except try to get away.

I finally made it into a clearing and saw two bodies lying on the ground. I moved over next to them cautiously, noticed that their chests were moving. I toed them, kicking them slightly. I leaned over, took a dart gun from one of them and removed all their darts, putting them carefully inside one of my cargo pockets. I took a holster and strapped it on and removed their shoelaces.

I started to move out but stopped and looked back to the men. I pulled the gun, and shot each of them with a dart. I reloaded and holstered it and moved on back towards the stream where I'd seen the barbed wire from earlier.

I thought I heard something so I crouched down next to some trees and watched the area. I pulled the rocks from my pockets and tied the shoelace ends around them, making some kind of a snare. I carefully rolled them back up, making sure I didn't get them tangled and placed them back in my pockets, except for one, that I tucked into the waistband of my pants for quick access.

I didn't see or feel anything so I took off for the stream. Something popped underneath my feet. I dove and rolled over the ground, rolling to my knees and back up on my feet, jumping back just as a net sprung forth and shot up into the trees. I turned and ran, trying to distance myself from the trap and whoever would be coming to check on it.

I cut a path straight for the stream, to hell with taking the quiet, scenic path.

(B pov)

I felt my bond with Faith growing stronger. I sped up, hoping to catch up to her, stop her or if nothing else at least be right behind her. I ran up a hill, stopping just at the top in a small clearing and tried to suss her out. I couldn't tell which way she was coming from, only that she was coming at a fast and frantic pace.

She broke through the trees and stopped dead in her tracks, staring at me, her eyes full of fury. She was caked in mud. Blood was trickling down her face and body in places and she glared at me.

"Faith." I tried to reason with her but she acted as if she didn't hear me. I tried again, slowly moving towards her. "Faith."

She sidestepped and started moving around me in a feral manner, never taking her eyes off of me. She removed something from her pocket or somewhere, unrolled it and started swinging it. I looked at her as if she were crazy.

"You're going to attack me with rocks and string?" I asked, trying to lighten the moment.

She moved around me, twirling something with one hand and wielding some kind of axe in the other.

I saw her glance down at the gun I was holding and I sucked in a deep breath and shook my head. "No...I wasn't gonna use it." I raised it to show her and made a huge mistake. She took the movement as an attack. She growled, flung the rocks at me and lunged in behind them.

I watched in shock as the rocks twirled at me and wrapped around my body. I looked up and she was standing right in my face. "Faith." I tried to get her attention. She reared back and butted her head against mine, knocking me backwards, causing me to stumble across the ground.

She swept my legs out from underneath me with the axe, causing me to fall. She climbed on top of me and drew back her fist to strike. "I didn't know...I didn't know." I rushed out, trying to appeal to her. She hesitated and looked in my eyes, searching for truth. Something in the trees caught her attention. She scrambled off of me, pulled her dart gun and shot several times up in the trees.

I got up from the ground, unwound myself, set the snare again and started twirling it like Faith did earlier. The hunter showed himself, crashed down onto the ground and started stalking towards her.

I flung the trap, watching as it twirled through the air, falling down to his knee area and tangling around them.

She moved in, swinging the axe, hitting him in the head repeatedly. He threw her off like a rag doll and righted himself. I took aim with the dart gun and fired, hitting him in what I thought were soft areas.

Faith set herself for another run at him. She moved in quickly. He fired a net at her. She rolled out of the way and ran in for another strike with her axe. He brought out his weapon, released the dual blades and blocked her strike and knocked her back.

She stood there in front of him, sizing him up. I watched in shock as I took a step back. "Oh shit." I whispered. "Don't do it." I pleaded.

She threw down her gun and dropped her axe as she glared at him, challenging him. He howled in laughter and dropped his weapons to the ground and moved sideways, accepting the challenge.

I shook my head no, still stepping back. "Run." She growled out. I looked at her, shocked. I shook my head in disbelief. No...she can't take him on. There was no reasoning with her; she was gone, out of her head. I've never actually seen that look on her face before. She was pure adrenaline and rage. I felt the power from her surge through the air. I'd only thought she was scary before but now... now she was terrifying.

I backed away further, calling for immediate backup, telling them to come carrying everything they could, the bigger the weapon the better. I backed up against a tree; my weapon ready for an opening to shoot the beast and watched I in awe and fear.

(F pov)

I stood still, watching as he moved around me. I waited. He lunged in, swinging his arm at my head. I ducked, leaned over and brought my leg up, hard and fast, connecting with his face. I lunged and rolled over the ground, out of his reach and got back on my feet, anticipating him.

He threw a punch; I dodged it and countered with a punch of my own. He caught my fist and bent my hand backwards at the wrist, bringing me to my knees. He laughed. I looked right at his groin, gritted my teeth and butted him in the privates with my head. He released his hold on my wrist.

I scurried in between his legs, got up and kicked him behind the knee, buckling it, causing him to falter slightly. He stood, turned abruptly and swung wildly. I stepped up, blocked the swing with my left arm, pushing his arm upwards and used my right arm to push him off balance, turning his body out of position and away from me.

I jumped and kicked him in the back, sending him forwards. I looked around; saw his weapon with the two protruding blades. I dove over the ground, rolling, picking up the weapon as I went, rolled to my knees, onto my feet and ran straight for Buffy, grabbed her arm and pulled her behind me as fast as we could run.

I heard him scream in behind us. I kept on running, trying to figure out a plan. He'd be coming and fast. I had to hurry.

PART 6

(B pov)

Faith pulled me behind her relentlessly, not slowing, not stopping, and not giving a glance behind her. We got to a junction and she froze, frantically scanning the area. The noise of the beast in pursuit grew louder behind us.

Faith pointed off in a direction. "Short cut." She said. I looked to where she pointed, into the thick tangle of brush and nodded my head no.

The brush behind us started to part. We looked to the breach, wide eyed, our breaths coming in short gasps. She turned and started running again, pulling me behind her and into the thicket.

We ran into the tangle of limbs, fast, ducking and pushing ourselves through the low branches and tangles of brush. The briars tore our skin as we ran but we didn't slow or stop. The noise in behind us grew steadily louder, letting us know it was gaining on us.

"Faster." She breathed out

A noise sounded to our right. Faith broke to our left still holding onto me as we ran. We ran into a thick area of covering, pushing and forcing our way through, the thick brush tangling us up and slowing our retreat.

The sound of the hunter seemed to echo all around us, on top of us. We frantically pushed ourselves through the tangle and emerged from the thicket. We ran. Up ahead we saw a clearing.

Leaves and branches snapped around us. Faith looked around quickly and pushed me away from her. "Straight ahead...don't stop. I'll draw him off." She pushed the weapon into my hand and shoved me. I looked at the weapon, not wanting to take it from her. She pushed me again and moved away from me. I nodded and ran as fast as I could for the opening.

(F pov)

I looked around, listening, heard footfalls all around me and I ran to my left and up a small incline. I darted left and made a break for the opening, looking for open ground to fight on. The brush parted beside me and I veered off to the right, slipping slightly but continuing to run.

I heard Buffy yelling my name in the background and saw a faint outline of her up ahead in the clearing. "Behind you!" She screamed but it sounded faint and far away.

Branches snapped right behind me, the leaves rustled as something moved through them quickly. The opening was just ahead. I ran faster. Ten feet from the clearing I felt the hot breath of the hunter as he exhaled against my back.

Five feet left to go, I felt claws as they ripped through my shirt. I cried out and made a mad dash for the clearing. It grabbed me. I turned, my eyes widening as I saw it lunge for me.

I yelped as I fell backwards, landing out the thicket and into the clearing on the ground. I looked up and looked into the face of the hunter. I opened my mouth and pulled in a sharp breath as it exited the brush and crawled over me.

"Say goodnight." She stated.

The beast and I both looked up and saw Buffy; the weapon drew back at the ready. She swung the weapon; hit the beast head on, knocking him back and off of me.

She grabbed me, pulled me up and backed us away from the heavy woods, each of us looking to where he lay just moments before only to find him gone now. We watched silently, waiting, trying to get a read on him, trying to figure out where he was.

We backed into the middle of the clearing. She silently handed me the hunter's weapon and drew her own, pointing it towards the woods. I looked around and internally mapped out the area. Alcove; incline; drop off.

I nudged her, leaned into her and whispered. "You move to the bottom of the drop off. I'm gonna lure him up, get him to chase me and jump to the other side." She looked around, saw the top of the hill, noticed the drop off to the bottom and then looked at the distance from one side to the other.

She looked at me. "That's a big jump." She stated quietly. "You won't make it." She added.

"Wasn't planning on it." I whispered flatly. "He won't either." I added. "I'll make sure he falls with me, you wait at the bottom and go for the kill when we land."

She looks back up at the drop, grabs my arm and shakes her head no. "You could die."

I almost laughed. "And deprive you of the kill?" I turned and moved away from her, continuing as I removed my last snare from my pocket. "I wouldn't dream of it."

(B pov)

I looked at her in shock, not knowing what to say. Something snapped up in the trees. I ignored it, moving closer to her. I grabbed her arm again, turning her around to face me. "I don't want you dead." I told her.

She looked at me, smirking. "Words and actions tell a different tale." She looked up into the trees. "Now's not the time for this." She stated.

"It never is." I breathed out. She looked at me and half grinned as if she knew me.

I became mad. "I'm not like you." I forced out between gritted teeth. She arched her brows and smirked at me again. I got angrier. "You don't know me." I stated flatly.

She looked up in the trees again, then around the area, crouching into a ready stance, her snare by her side. "I know your attitude sucks the big wad." She said lowly.

I looked at her slightly shocked. I shook off the stupor and glared at her. "And just what are you gonna do about it?" I asked, challenging her.

She laughed, mocking me. "Nothing...I just wish you'd swallow and shut the hell up for once."

Well, that certainly shut me up.... cause I didn't have a clue how to respond. A blur off in the distance caught my attention, I crouched down, looking, feeling my adrenaline start to surge.

I looked back to Faith, fixing to ask the mega million question when she dove across the dirt and off to the side just as an arrow struck and sunk in the ground where she was. I moved behind a tree and peered around it, checking the surroundings.

"Go." She whispered, motioning for me to leave. I stood there and stared at her. "Go!" She ground out. I backed away and watched as she moved out into the opening, luring the beast out.

(F pov)

I stilled and looked around, trying to silence my pounding heart and my frantic breathing. I looked up the incline again, looked to the jump and inwardly sighed.

Who was I kidding; I'm hurt... in numerous places and weak from loss of blood and energy. My senses started going crazy. I looked and saw Buffy still off to the side, watching me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and scoff. Slowly I started moving up the incline, trying to get a read and location on the beast.

I had a thought and it made my heart speed up faster than it already was. What if Buffy was one of the hunters? I glanced over at her again. I guess my eyes showed more than I intended because she stared at me, and her eyes widened.

I took several steps back, moving further away from her, watching for the hunter and for an unsuspected attack from her. "Faith." She called out to me.

I ignored her, silently making my way up the incline. I heard a twig snap behind me. I stilled, listening intently. I felt hot breath against the nape of my neck. My eyes widened and I pulled in a sharp intake of air, turned and raised the weapon to block with.

The hunter hit against the weapon, drew back his arm and swung again. I ducked the swing, pivoted and brought the weapon around, hitting him at the foot area. He jumped, brought out a long blade and sliced it through the air at me.

I turned the weapon, thrust it upwards and blocked the blade, pushing it back. I turned, gaining momentum with the weapon and yelled as I thrust it forward, trying to stick it into the beast.

He moved quickly, causing me to miss anything vital. The blade penetrated at his hip and sunk in. I yanked the blade and readied myself to strike again. He dove and rolled off into the wooded area.

I tried to follow him with my eyes but couldn't.

"Faith!" She yelled. "Come with me!" I ignored her, pushing her voice into the back of my mind. I took another step back, another step up the incline. "Now!" She screamed.

"Would you shut the fuck up?" I screamed. I turned to go up the incline and ran into the beast. I stepped back from the force of the impact and looked upward into his face.

His fist came at my face fast and hard. I pivoted, causing his fist to just miss its mark. He threw another punch; I weaved, missing the blow. He became angry and threw a wild punch. I ducked under his arm, turning and stepping beside him, brought up the weapon like a spear and rammed it down through his foot and into the ground.

He bellowed. I snatched the weapon out of the ground, out of his foot and swung it toward his midsection. He blocked the blades, getting cut for his effort. I glared at him, daring him and I backed away from him, up the incline, watching him until I was a good distance away before I turned and ran.

I cast a glance back as I ran and noticed that Buffy was finally making her way to the designated area. I wasn't sure about her but I'd deal with her after.

I heard the hunter gaining, heard his short puffs of breath and heard the low growls of fury that he was emitting.

I saw the jump ahead and sped up, pushing my body faster, beyond anything I'd ever done before.

Closer and closer to the edge, my breaths coming in short pants; I realized that maybe this wasn't such a good idea at all. Then my desire to live kicked in and I knew.... that I could make the jump and knock this beast down a peg or two.... or at least die trying.

I ran wildly for the jump, sucked in a deep breath, held it in and leapt, one arm flailing for balance, the other holding onto the weapon. My breath released as my foot touched down on the other side. I gasped out of relief, my adrenaline pushing my strength to new levels.

I lost my footing as my body came down. I righted myself and turned, watching as the beast followed me over.

He jumped, sailing over the rift. I watched in awe, dread and fear. I pulled back the weapon and swung it hard and fast, hitting him in the head right before he was to touch down. He reared backwards, losing his balance, flailing and looked at me.

He fell, grabbed onto the weapon and toppled me over the side with him. I fell downwards, just missing the protruding rocks that jutted up out of a small pond. I splashed down into the shallow water, hitting bottom.

I finally came to my senses enough to raise my head out of the water and pull in a deep, painful breath. I looked around, saw a bank and started towards it. I held onto my side as I waded through the water.

Spent, drained, tired; I stumbled for shore. I heard the water ripple behind me. I knew it was the hunter coming up for air. I didn't want to look, didn't want to see it coming, I was too tired to care.

I stumbled forwards, faster, trying to get away but my body was giving out. I fell into the water and started crawling for the bank.

(B pov)

I didn't know what to do. I saw the hunter hit down into the rocks and submerge. I watched as Faith splashed down and went under. I ran along the shore, looking, calling out for her.

She came up for air, looked around and started trying to get to the bank. I yelled for her but she couldn't hear me. I started around the inlet of water, trying to get to her to help her out.

The beast rose up behind her. She stilled momentarily and tried to get away only to have her body finally give out on her. She fell and started crawling for the shore.

The hunter pulled out a long blade and strode through the water towards her.

I shot at him but he didn't slow. He was on a mission. I looked at my weapons, shot two darts into his head zone. He hesitated and pulled out the darts.

I ran out on some rocks, getting ready to jump into the water and rush him. I remembered the stun gun holstered to my ankle. I pulled it, turned it on and touched the current to the water.

The electricity grew, arched across the top of the water and lit him up. I looked to Faith, who was out of the water but lying in the wet mud. She'd get some of the current but it couldn't be helped.

I heard the brush part all around us and saw the A team move in, all of them. Dusk had settled in allowing Angel to finally get into the game. I let go of the trigger and watched as the hunter fell. I stood up and looked at Faith lying in the mud.

I watched as everyone moved slowly over to her and kneeled. I suppressed a sob as tears built up in my eyes. I moved closer quietly and watched as they turned her over.

She groaned and everybody gasped in relief. Willow performed some kind of spell, sustaining her and placing her in a kind of stasis.

The hunter jerked upright in the water, floundering. He growled low and raised himself up out of the water. He looked into the faces of Angel, Oz and Illyria, who had walked out and surrounded him.

The hunter hesitated, they didn't. They pounced, each delivering deadly strikes, each bringing out a weapon and using it against him. He fell into the water and they, each in turn, thrust their weapon in him, leaving him pinned just underneath the surface.

They turned and made their way back towards Faith. Angel lifted her up in his arms and carried her back to the boat as the rest of us quietly followed behind.

Once in the boat, we made sure Faith was comfortable. She opened her eyes and half smiled. Angel cried out of relief and moved away as if embarrassed. He kept glancing our way, as if upset about something. He'd look at us and then turn his head abruptly when we looked at him.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He'd reply and turn away. Finally he glanced at all of us, stating flatly. "I'm not retarded." He turned away again.

We all smiled and went back to watching over Faith.

(F pov)

I came to in the hospital, sat up abruptly and immediately started trying to get away. The only thing going through my mind was that they were after me. I looked around for somewhere to run and hesitated as the bright white walls became visual, focused. I blinked and looked around, letting my breathing return back to normal. I pinched the bridge of my nose and called the nurse.

I left of my own accord, signed out and called a cab.

I walked into headquarters and went straight for the big guy. I burst into the office and walked to the center of the room. Angel, Oz and Illyria all stood up, nodding that they were glad to have me back.

"You better?" Angel asked.

I shrugged. "In time." We all nodded.

I felt that old familiar tingle behind me. I turned and looked into the face of Buffy. I stared at her and she stared back. She pulled in a slow, deep breath and started to speak. "I'm...so."

I reared back and punched her in the mouth, cutting off her words. She looked up at me in shock. "That's for when I was a kid." I stated. I hit her again, fast and hard. "That's for gutting me for a vamp." I struck her again. "That's for hitting me when I came back." Again, I tapped her in the face, quickly, pinning her hand to keep her from blocking my fist. "That's for hitting me cause you didn't like what I did." She went to block, setting me up for a return hit. I caught her fist and struck her again. "And that's for kicking me out after the fall of the hell mouth." I started to step away and came back, driving my fist upwards, giving her a huge uppercut, sending her backwards and knocking her onto the floor in a sitting position. I walked closer to her, looking down at her. "And that's.... for giving me to those sick bastards."

She glared up at me and I smirked. I knew she was burning up inside. I walked over and held out my hand for her to take. She looked up at me, fire in her eyes, rubbed her jaw and hesitantly took my hand, allowing me to pull her up off the floor.

I yanked her hard, pulling her up and over to me. I leaned in and gave her a nice, moist kiss, allowing it to linger momentarily and nibbled a bit before I pulled back to look at her.

"And that's just for the hell of it." I smiled.

She held her own smile back and took a deep breath. She turned and looked at me slyly, anger lying just below her surface. "You know, that if I weren't feeling so guilty that you'd never have gotten those hits in right?" She looked at me.

"Right." I answered, looking at her. "I need to tell you something and you're not gonna like it, hell knowing you, you'll probably take it as a threat or something." I looked at her waiting.

She looked up at me quietly, allowing me to say my piece. "Your attitude has got to go." I stated flatly. She started to speak but I held up my hand, silencing her and continued. "You act like the highlander or something...." I looked at her confused face. "You know... there can be only one." I paced, stopped and looked at her.

"This is about who's in charge, right. What does it matter?" She asked.

I smiled at her. "That's just it, it only ever mattered to you...and as long as 'you' were the one, you were okay."

She narrowed her eyes and glared at me. I smiled.

"I just want you to know, give you fair warning.... Someday, I will step forward and take my place." I looked intently at her. "Soon." I added.

"What does that mean?" She asked.

I laughed. "Don't play stupid. You've known all along." I looked at her, reading her. "Time's they are a changing.... and you'll have to change so you best get used to the idea now before it gets here."

I turned to walk away, stopped and glanced back at her. "If you're still intent on playing dumb.... you should talk to Giles. He knows." I opened the door and looked into her eyes.

"I'm gonna need you." I stated, adding, "and just for the record.... I don't care who leads, it won't be my ego costing us the slayer nation... just so you know." I grabbed the doorknob, smiled and gave her one last look. "We'll be equals or I'll stand and lead alone." I pulled the door to, closing it quietly. I stood just outside the door and smiled. I walked down the hallway.

(B pov)

I looked over at Will and Ken as we made our way back home. "Ken?" I got her attention.

"Huh?" She said, looking over at me.

"Do you think I act... highlanderish? You know there can be only one?" I looked at her.

She smirked, held back a smart assed comment and nodded yes. I sighed and asked. "You said that Faith had a god given right to lead, does that mean that you think she should be in charge?"

Ken sighed and looked at me. "Let me put it this way Buffy. Faith feels you, she runs through you...but the others and me.... we feel her.... we run through her.... You died.... She was... born." Ken leaned back against the seat.

I bit my lip, thinking. "Do you think if it came down to it, that the slayer line would choose her over me?"

Ken laughed and looked at me. "Buffy, didn't they do that once already?" I looked up at her, remembering how they chose her over me during the closing of Sunnydale. I nodded yes.

Ken leaned towards me. "I really wouldn't worry about Faith, you know. One thing she has is humility, you taught her that. She'll share, if you'll allow her to." I looked up into Ken's eyes, looking past her to Wills.

"She told me that someday, she was going to step forward and take her place."

Ken nodded. "She will...she should've already."

I looked up abruptly at Ken, who added, "The question is not if she's gonna step up, it's what will you do when she does."

"What should I do?" I questioned.

Will leaned forward and into Kennedy, looking at me intently. "You make sure she's ready, stand by her side and kick back the darkness like you should've done from the beginning."

I nodded and looked up at Will. I looked out the window at the scenery passing by, thinking of Faith, thinking of her words, her fire, her kiss.

I watched the blur of the scenery as it passed by. I absentmindedly brought my fingers up to my lips, touching them, still feeling her touch. I smiled.

...continued in Dominion...