Life on the Farm by Dark Wyldchilde

Rating: R
Disclaimer: This is an unlicensed work of femslash fanfiction. What that means is twofold. The first is that it uses elements that are under copyright by another party and are used without that party's permission or consent. They are not however being used for any financial gain. Any new creations that result are however property of the author.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse /mysticmuse.net
Feedback: Yes please.
Spoilers: Anything Buffy or Angel is fair game.
Author's Note: A long time ago Pat Kelly and I kicked around an idea for a collaborative fic in which Faith would pull a La Femme Nikita, but with actual good guys. Of course it was a long time ago and it never got past a few trial chapters. So I resurrecting it here and mixing it with a series of books I still love and used to collect fanatically. If I turn out to be a bit rusty I'll just ask your patience as I stretch those unused creative muscles.
Pairing: Faith/Tara

As requested I am putting this report together now that Faith is ready to enter the lists as an active duty operative of Stonyman Farm.

With the fall of the Initiative, Stonyman Farm was alerted to a new threat to the nation's security. Or more accurately, an old threat: A threat far older than the increase in terrorism that led us to found the farm back in the 70's. When we learned that the threat existed we faced initial problems in defining the nature of the enemy. Just the initial reports that came into our custody indicated that while there were definite hostiles even they were divided into subcategories with each category having unknown capabilities. Yet unlike the Initiative, the Farm had no desire to harness those capabilities.

We simply sought to battle this threat, but with that perspective we realized that there were already forces battling the common enemy. While they armed themselves with primitive weaponry, their knowledge of the hostile forces allowed them to maintain a viable war effort.

One of those groups is known as the Watcher's Council. Contacting the Council was considered and then rejected as they did not appear open to co- operation with anyone as even their internal actions would rather see their operatives dead then acting independently.

One such operative was located in the initial search as she was serving time for a murder committed with a wooden stake. While the Council had condemned her, the Farm recognized the event as a friendly-fire incident. Our first contact was just for information gathering, but it quickly expanded as we learned that the convict was a "Slayer."

A Slayer is a human with enhanced capabilities that allows her to engage the supernatural on an equal footing. (The Slayer invariably being female.) When we learned that the Slayer is a singular entity we extended an invitation to come and train at the Farm.

The logic was explained as the Farm would be going to war with those supernatural elements whether she was with us or not, and if she was with us she would be able to actively repay her debt to society rather then passively repay the sentence behind bars.

While she had some initial reluctance she also had a sincere desire to make amends and eventually decided to accept the offer. There was some difficulty releasing her from prison as there was the Council as well as a group of rogue Council operatives, which included the former Slayer.

So the solution was instead of altering her records we eliminated them. The Farm's computer resources deleted all records of her existence while all hard copy records were either gained though the Farm's contacts or stolen outright. While that left elements that were aware of her, they still believed she incarcerated. By the time they would have realized there was a change the trail would have grown cold.

That was proven true as Faith was successfully extracted from prison and brought to the Farm complex in the Blue Ridge Mountains for training. She possessed a natural aptitude for close combat and escape and evasion, she passed all standard firearm tests as well as training in demolitions and counterintelligence.

In turn she trained myself, as well as the rest of the Farm in the techniques for combating supernatural foes. That included both physical elements as well as intellectual, absorbing the necessary book learning while giving the Farm record of all her experiences and directing us to further resources that were then either bought or in some cases stolen from their original owners.

With her academic and physical requirements met she was then moved on to field-testing. While she performed as expected when dealing with paranormal threats she had problems dealing with human combatants that sessions with Farm psychologists were able to help her deal with, including guilt over past actions and the mental block they were creating when dealing with human opponents.

With the end of this file I am placing Faith on the active roster as "Slayer" and authorizing her for her first field mission, reconnaissance of Sunnydale, California with the purpose of analyzing the Hellmouth as a threat in and of itself as well as any and all hostile forces it may contain. Her secondary objective will be to contact the Rogue Council elements present on the Hellmouth and evaluate them as a potential information source and weigh them as either ally or enemy.

Faith sighed. The hotel room was all too familiar. Of course now the shoddy furnishings were strewn with weapons and materials with a combined value that could buy a nice house, but this was a small town and while nightly murders might be overlooked someone new in the neighborhood wouldn't.

Opening up her mil-spec laptop she brought up the files put together by Aaron "The Bear" Kurtzman. A hulking figure of a man confined to a wheelchair in the one incident of the Farm being attacked. Something that never impacted his role as the head of the cybernetic commandos who kept the field teams fed with up to date information.

The files she brought up were yet another example of the team's excellence as it contained everything she knew about the Scoobies, any records of events she didn't know about and every file created since she left.

There were records of Rupert Giles returning to England as a citizen instead of just a tourist. Joyce Summers had passed on and her daughters seemed lost without her. Dawn Summers was developing quite the sheet as a juvenile delinquent and Buffy had quit college to pursue a career at the Double Meat Palace.

Alexander Harris seemed to be fairing better as his bank records showed a regular income from construction work at a place that seemed to regularly put him at the head of work teams. Anya was fairing just as well as she was soon to become Mrs. Alexander Harris if the wedding license was any indication.

Willow Rosenberg however was not as fortunate as Tara Maclay had taken up residence outside the Summers household. Willow herself showed up as well on a report from child services which indicated that she may be having a relationship with Buffy Summers, and while Faith already knew that Buffy was far too uptight for any of that, the mention of potential drug use created a sick feeling in her stomach.

On top of that there was a description of a blonde man with a British accent who was supposedly living there, and even The Bear had thought it the vampire Spike. That also set off warning bells in her mind.

Faith knew that her primary objective was to assess the Hellmouth but she knew from her own experiences that the danger from the Hellmouth came from the creatures drawn to it. Sometimes they were simply pulled there and set up hunting grounds, and some were more ambitious.

No matter what their motivation the Hellmouth was prime real estate. She sought out the best way to explain it in her reports and decided on comparing it to weapons of mass destruction: a prime resource that numerous factions seek to control. Some would seek to simply "have" it while others would actually employ it.

The quickest way to find the specific players would be to contact one. While there were options like the bartender Willy, he, and any other resource she would tap would quickly get word to the Scoobies in one form or another. While that didn't disqualify them, it made approaching the Scoobies first the most reasonable.

So she had to decide her first step; which Scooby to approach. While she already planned on performing some surveillance, crashing a Scooby meeting would probably have those who hated her the most influencing those who might otherwise listen to her.

So she had to decide who might listen to her. Anya was once a demon as well as one of the Scoobies who were not really around when she was. The problem was that she was engaged to marry Xander, and that would have been a problem even if Faith hadn't slept with the guy.

Willow might have been an option since she seemed to be at a low point in her life, but that brought into question if the redhead would be of any real use. Then there was the fact she lived with Buffy Summers and that was the person who insisted Faith go to prison and would likely not be too happy to see Faith out. Faith disqualified Dawn for the same reason. While Spike could be an option, she knew that she had to present a completely reformed image and consulting with the demon first could damage that.

So that left one person: Tara Maclay. While surveillance was necessary there was also the possibility of being discovered. Meaning that she should keep it limited and small in scale. That meant doing it in person, close quarters, and no electronics. Tara may believe Faith was just not sure when to come speak to her, but a tap of the woman's phone would be another story.

Extraordinary measures were not necessary as part of her initial intel package included class schedules and when Faith finally went to the campus she found that Tara followed those patterns. The large masses of young people made it easy for her to blend into the crowd, because while Buffy had been behind the wheel at the time Tara still knew what Faith looked like.

While Faith had only met her once, while in Buffy's body, even she could see a difference. There was a sadness to the way the woman carried herself, but the gentle demeanor remained. Something that made her sadness seem all the more tragic.

Tara was leaving her last class of the day, and Faith reminded herself that Willow went to the same campus so time was not on Slayer's side. So she took a deep breath to steady herself and strode forward. "Tara Maclay?"

She turned around at the mention of her name and her face seemed to force away some of its inherent sadness as she focused her attention. The focused expression then was shocked. "F-Faith?"

Slayer immediately took a submissive posture. "I'm not here to hurt you. I'm not here to hurt anyone."

Faith knew that concealing things could ruin her mission, but in the covert world she was now a part of there was an instinctive need to keep secrets. While Tara didn't set off any of her internal alarms, the crowded college hallway did. "Not here."

They then had a long pause between them, neither woman what sure to do next. Faith was the one to take charge. "Your place would probably be closer, but I have a room."

Though Tara had calmed down once they had reached her room, Faith had still sought to put the blonde at ease. It was proven unnecessary as Tara's reply was calm and even. "I believe you."

Tara actually smiled at the tone. "I do. Your energy is different. More at peace, more focused."

The focused comment stirred the hairs at the back of Faith's neck, but then again Tara was the one who had detected Faith inside Buffy's body. So Faith figured the witch had a sense for people, the fact she was able to be at ease just made Faith feel good about herself.

Faith emptied her lungs in a long breath, taking another she leaned back into the chair Tara had offered from the desk. "Right now? I just need to get the lay of the land, You know? I've been gone a good two years know, and I was in a coma for a year before that."

Faith quirked her lip as she rolled her shoulders. "Not exactly. I mean I'm a slayer. I have a place on the Hellmouth. The question is what problems I'll have with the other slayer and her groupies."

Faith was confused by the remark, but more then that she was confused by the emotional reply. "Huh?"

Tara met the Slayer's eyes with an expression that couldn't hide the hurt she was feeling. "You came to me because I am not one of them. I never was."

Faith didn't hide her feelings either, but in her case it was skepticism. "I always thought you were..." Her expression then softened. "But I think I know what you're talking about."

Tara's sadness mingled with curiosity and she sat down on the bed next to where Faith had the chair resting. The question didn't need to be said and Faith kept going. "Well... think of it like you, but without being close to even one of the Scoobies."

There was a flash of sympathy on the Wiccan's expressive features, but she still had a question. "But you and Buffy?"

Faith shook her head. "B may have acted like she liked me, hell she may have convinced herself, but it was no where near like Red liked you. Of course I doubt Willow ever felt the need to prove she was the "real" witch, or let you know you were not the chosen one."

Tara sort of sunk in on herself, and while she fought the urge to cry a single tear managed to escape and roll down her cheek. Without even thinking about it Faith slipped out of her chair and in a fluid motion was sitting next to Tara on the bed. "So I'm guessing she did? Some sort of wand wagging contest?"

That got a choked snort of amusement before Tara took a breath to center herself. "There was a spell."

At first Tara wanted to dismiss Willow's actions. Her initial feeling was that it was not the kind of thing to discuss with a stranger, but the fact that Faith was a stranger to her so how made it easier to talk about what Willow had done to her, and the feelings it brought on.

It was sometime later after Tara had recounted the full tale and while she was emotionally exhausted, it was the kind of exhaustion one has after shedding a large weight.

Tara was shaking her head and had opened her mouth to object, but Faith quickly cut her off. "Hear me out. She took your free will from you. She impaired your judgment... I mean I'm kinda assuming you girls were intimate...?

The delicate question was left hanging as a sickening feeling spread in Tara's stomach. For so long she had blamed herself, told herself that it was her fault for not talking to Willow sooner. She then said as much, but the protest was feeble. "But Willow wasn't herself."

Faith rest a tentative hand on Tara's knee. "Doesn't matter to me Tar, and it shouldn't matter to you." She held up that hand and it's partner quickly. "Again, hear me out. Tara, so many women who are assaulted blame themselves. If it was someone they knew then they think they led them on. Even if it's a stranger they think it was their own fault for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Even if Willow wasn't in her right frame of mind... if it was a guy high on drugs raping a girl would you say HE should get away with it?"

The occasional tears suddenly blossomed into full sobs and Faith put her arm around Tara, a comfort that was instantly accepted as the other woman leaned into Slayer's chest.

Faith brought the other arm around and actually cradled the other woman as she sobbed. While her body was still, her mind was racing in time with her pounding heart. Intellectually she was bordering on classifying the Scoobies as a threat.

Emotionally she wanted to get a team of blacksuits, a term used for the troops sent to the "top secret counter-terrorism training facility", and lead them to wipe out Willow Rosenberg as a potential threat. As Tara stilled, Faith found herself calming down.

While wiping out Willow could fall under Faith's prerogative, it had ramifications for her entire mission. She still doubted that the Scoobies had turned into actual hostiles, but they might have dropped from the friendlies category. For someone like Willow Rosenberg to do what she did the group would have had to have went through some serious sort of implosion. That didn't strike her as surprising as she thought it should, but when she thought about it the group had shown those signs back when she was first a member.

She had hinted at Buffy's competitive streak with Tara, but the deeper truth was that the first Slayer had need for both attention and control that bordered on obsessive at the best of times.

Willow on the other hand was well suited to work with Buffy as Willow's self-esteem was so low that she needed others to reaffirm her worth.

Something that would lend itself well to mind-raping her girlfriend if said girlfriend was angry at her. Xander Harris was actually one of the more stable of the bunch, but despite that he suffered from a tremendous lack of motivation and that led him to follow the leader without hesitation.

When those elements of the Scoobies are in balance they can function effectively as a group, but if Buffy were to suddenly stop trying to exert her control then Willow would become more drastic in her attempts to gain attention, while Xander would follow whoever told him what to do.

With the additional stabilizing element of Rupert Giles gone things would decay all the faster. Taking the information Tara had provided it fit all too well.

Her thoughts continued unabated as she rubbed the witches back in a comforting gesture.

Buffy died, leaving Willow without a primary source of approval. Willow, having finally gotten a real taste of power tries to make everyone happy by bringing Buffy back from the dead. She succeeds, but instead of bringing Buffy back from the hell dimension Willow had convinced herself Buffy was in she dragged her out of heaven.

That left Buffy in shock and unable to carry the emotional burden of being the groups everything she withdraws.

So when Tara finally called Willow on her excessive magic use it wasn't surprising that Willow took steps to make sure that Tara kept reaffirming Willow's worth by loving her. When that initially worked it entered her head that it could be used to make Buffy be who Willow wanted her to be by altering the Slayer's memories as well.

Fortunately that blew up in her face and Tara was able to get clear of the core group, no matter how painful that may have been.

Her analysis was complete and Faith was about to decide how she was going to use it as she felt Tara slump even harder into her. Her attention now focused, on someone she was feeling very protective of, the signs quickly indicated that Tara had fallen asleep in Faith's arms.

Militaristic thoughts were shelved as simple humanity took over and the exhausted woman was carefully laid out on the bed, but not before the blankets were pulled back so Tara could be slipped underneath them.

Once Tara was tucked in Faith had gotten up and shut off the lights. She was to the door, but she stopped before her hand could reach the knob. While it might be forward of her to spend the night, she would rather risk seeming pushy then have Tara wake up alone after such an emotional hit.

Faith laughed to herself... because when had she ever worried about seeming forward?

She was still very sensitive to Tara and the woman's fragile status. Leaving the light off she pulled the desk's chair up again and tried to make herself as comfortable as possible.

The nature of the situation left her with little to do except watch over Tara, but as she did it Faith found herself enjoying the situation in a way.

As Tara slept the hurt that had been on her face as faded away to leave a sort of serenity that was normally only hinted on when Tara was awake. Blonde locks were tussled on the top of her head while wild strands ran over her cheeks and neck.

Some of them found themselves pushed back behind Tara's ear as Faith brushed some away from the sleeping woman's face.

While the covers concealed the large portion of Tara's body the way they draped revealed womanly curves that were sadly uncommon in this day and age.

Yeah, Faith could appreciate that kind of thing. She might not have announced her bisexuality, she didn't hide it either and could enjoy good looks regardless of the person's gender.

Such good looks combined with such a blatantly kind spirit left Faith whispering to the room. "How the Hell could anyone be stupid enough to lose you?"

Tara awoke to a knock at the door. The next sound to draw her attention came right after as Faith gasped. Looking over to the Slayer she saw her worry reflected back at her. Their worries were interrupted by another knock and Tara slowly slipped from under the covers.

Faith stood up as well and shifted in place, whispering urgently. "What should I do?"

Faith couldn't help the grin from showing. "How long have you been in Sunnydale?"

Tara didn't fight the grin either, but it dropped away as she looked to the door.

Tara nodded and grabbed the door handle. Faith's prediction was proven correct as Xander and Anya were behind it and smiling in a highly exaggerated manner.

Anya pushed past him. "She was probably up to sleeping, Xander. Look, we wanted to invite you to Buffy's birthday party."

The invitation itself was cut short as Xander followed her in and yelped. "FAITH!"

Xander looked incredulously at Tara. "Ok! How can it be ok? You weren't here Tara. You didn't see half of what she did to us."

Surprisingly it was Anya who defended Faith, but sounded bored as she did so. "You mean like Willow?"

Tara dropped her head while Faith also looked away as the fiances argued, Xander taking his turn. "No, NOT like Willow. Willow had a problem."

Faith rose to Xander's comment and stepped close. "No, just ABOUT me. So I figured that I had the right to step up."

Faith spoke up. "But your sweet Willow can hurt whoever she wants and get away with it?"

Faith got right into his face. "What, she was possessed? She ACCIDENTALLY happened to erase the one memory that had Tara angry at her?"

Tara steeled herself up and stepped in. "Look, Xander. I invited Faith to my room. It's my room and my decision."

Xander tried to appeal to Tara. "But you don't know what you're getting into. You can't trust her."

He turned and stormed out, but to everyone's surprise Anya did not follow him. Instead she looked Tara in the eye. "Look, we already figured that things would be tense with Willow. The fact you're dating Faith probably will just help, so Willow knows you're over her."

Tara was trying to object but Anya plowed ahead. "So Xander's a little tense too. So what? It's Buffy's birthday party and she's what counts if I understand the whole idea. So if you can make it you already know when and where." Anya then quickly cut out before Tara could blink, let alone object to any part of the statement.

Faith opened her mouth to apologize but Tara shook her head. "It's ok... really Faith. At first I was only Willow's friend, and then I was Willow's girlfriend. I..." Tara sighed. "I'm not surprised they can't see me as more then that."

Faith shook her head. "Their loss, but I'm not going to repeat that mistake... Tara, I haven't lied to you, but I have a secret. I can't even tell you all of it, but I'll tell you what I can. If you want me to, that is. I don't have any right to get involve you in any of this."

Faith pursed her lips and nodded. "You're a good person, and that's why I'm here."

The cryptic response seemed to do it and Tara just nodded. Faith then squared her shoulders. "But I can't really do it here. I have some things back at my hotel room, if that's ok?"

Faith's worry was obvious, and Tara could tell it was because following Tara to her room was one thing but if Tara agreed to come back to Faith's room it was another degree of trust. So Faith's smile was still showing surprise as Tara agreed.

Tara wasn't smiling back at Faith's hotel room. Her expression was one of shock at the arsenal laid out before her. Those stunned eye met Faith's and the slayer took a deep breath before starting her explanation. "I don't know how much Red went into about the Initiative, but they weren't out to fight demons. They sought to find ways to use demons as weapons. Adam was just the crowning achievement of a million other projects."

Faith shook her head. "No, but when they went down their files scattered and some came into the hands of... my superiors." Seeing the question on Tara's face Faith held up a hand. "That's one of the things I can't go into right away. I'm going to contact them and press for your clearance, but until they say ok..."

Tara nodded and kept silent so Faith could continue the tale. "Ok, the group I belong to got some of those files. While the group was founded for counter-terrorism they had already expanded to cover things like crime syndicates and in some extreme cases even criminal acts by corporate bodies."

The blonde's eyebrows shot up at that and Faith quickly explained. "I mean serious stuff Tar. A good example was a company that was killing political leaders in South Africa because the end of Apartheid was threatening their diamond pipeline."

That seemed to satisfy the witch as Faith took up where she left off. "So when they learned that monsters were real they expanded their war to another front. Part of that was getting reliable intel on this new enemy. While they had some files from the fallout they were incomplete. So they started their own research."

Faith nodded. "A murder with a wooden stake jumped out at them. So they first approached me for information... THEN they learned about the Vampire Slayer. At first they were willing to shorten my sentence for hard information, but when they learned I was a full-blown super-soldier designed to fight in the war they were joining they extended an invitation. A chance to repay my debt to society by doing what I was born to do: fight evil."

Faith forced herself to meet Tara's eyes. "Evil, whatever form it takes. Usually that's the demons I'm familiar with, but there have been some threats..."

It was obvious from Tara's expression and posture that Tara wasn't happy with the answer, but she was understanding. "I know."

Faith shook her head. It just didn't seem like enough, she didn't feel the same need for approval that had led her to extremes like working for the Mayor, but she knew she needed Tara to truly see what she was saying. "Do you, Tara? I mean do you really know? The things I've seen have made the Hellmouth look tame by comparison. I mean demons at least have an excuse. I've seen humans, people who have souls do things... demons didn't make weapons of mass destruction, and they didn't fly the 747's on September 11th. "

That seemed to truly get to her and her expression sobered, as did Faith's. The slayer's expression was matched with a gentle voice. "That's what I fight Tara, but yes I've killed people. I haven't liked it, I've hated it, but I've done it. I did it because I found it easier to live with that then I would to live with the deaths that those people would have caused."

Tara's voice was calm this time as she met Faith's eyes. "I understand. How can I help?"

Faith paced up and down the front porch of the Summer's household. Tara stepped in her way and put her hands on Faith's shoulders. "It's going to be okay, Faith. You need to do this, and you are not alone. I'm here."

Faith smirked at that and Tara found herself grinning as well. That seemed to break the tension and Tara kept speaking. "I mean I AM your girlfriend after all."

Tara nodded. "It helps me, too." Tara got a shield against her former girlfriend and Faith now had a cover for being in Sunnydale.

They gave each other another nod and Tara turned to ring the doorbell. It was quickly answered by the woman of the house. Buffy quickly embraced Tara with a happy voice. "You made it!"

The women exchanged greetings and then Buffy turned to Faith, and the greeting was far less friendly. "Faith, you were the last person I expected to see. When did you escape?"

When Faith first planned her return to Sunnydale she was going to play it humble, but now that she as backing up Tara she wasn't about to play it nice. "I didn't, got released."

Faith's time at the Farm has matured her old arrogance into a calm confidence. Yet her old attitude slid on like the leather jacket she had skipped in order to look nice for the party. "Good behavior." She smacked the gift she had bought for Buffy to the other slayer's chest. "Happy Birthday."

Striding into the house she was taken back. The professional still remained at her core, but she felt good, like she was stretching muscles that hadn't been used in far too long. At the Farm she had a support system that was there even when she was operating on her own. Here she was standing on her own, because unless she wanted the Scoobies cut down in a hail of gunfire she had to handle this solo. Though not really when she thought further, there was someone backing her up and she saw that person talking with the one Scooby Faith kinda wanted cut down in a hail of gunfire, and preferably Faith's own.

Of course saying that Willow and Tara were talking would be generous since the uncomfortable silence was hanging far heavier then the occasional bits of conversation. Faith broke the tension by coming up and draping her arm around Tara's waist. "Hey Tar, you thirsty?"

Tara was only capable of managing a nod, but it was enough for Faith to pull her away and lead her to the kitchen. Faith however didn't wait that long as she was already rubbing Tara's shoulder trying to comfort her as they walked through the kitchen door.

She was so focused on trying to soothe Tara that neither noticed Buffy until she spoke up from her position at the kitchen's island. "So how did you two meet each other... I mean besides the first time?"

While Faith's first thought as to curse herself for her initial treatment of Tara the woman in question seemed to realize Faith's train of thought and laid one of her hands on Faith's to silently put that thought to rest. That did the trick, leaving Faith's second thought to focus on Buffy. The fact was the other Slayer seemed to be making a genuine effort.

The rapid mood shift caught Faith's attention, but after Tara's explanation of Buffy's resurrection Faith was perfectly willing to let it slide. That left Buffy's question, but it was one they had prepared for. It had seemed best to keep it as close to the truth as possible so they had settled on the story that Faith had come to Sunnydale after being released and had approached Tara as the one Scooby who would not attack her on sight.

Much to the pairs' surprise Buffy looked guilty at that statement. "Was this before you and Willow...?"

Faith wanted to keep Tara from having to lie anymore then necessary so she lied for her. "It was right about that time..." She made a show of looking to Tara as if for confirmation before continuing. "And she ..." The next part was entirely sincere. "She seemed so sad." She then finished with more of an omission then an out and out lie. "We talked."

The discussion was interrupted by a surprising guest as the door opened to allow two demons into the room with the two Slayers. Faith didn't recognize the first one who seemed friendly enough, but was given away by the pointed ears, pointed teeth and rolls upon rolls of skin. The second however she quickly recognized as the vampire Spike.

Spike's friend introduced himself as Clem while Faith grabbed one of the beers Spike had brought. She returned the greeting and was pleasantly surprised at Clem's reaction. "Faith, the Vampire Slayer?"

She grinned as she nodded, but then Clem looked confused and looked between the two Slayers. Faith answered the question with a smile and a shake of her head. "Long story."

Spike had been sizing Faith up and finally chose to speak. "Not all of it, I wager. When I last heard you two weren't the kind to chat over drinks. I actually thought you would have to be chatting through bullet proof glass."

To Faith's surprise Tara stepped forward and put her arm around Faith's waist in a way that was obviously possessive.

Spike made a show of looking out to the dining room, and by extension the rest of the house. "That must have been a spot of fun?"

Because of where he was looking he was the first to see Xander entering the room with someone who was new. An attractive young man with blonde highlighted hair and blue jeans and red shirt who seemed uncomfortable, but nice enough."Hey Buffy, Richard was just wondering where he should park his car." He did a double take. "Faith?"

Tara broke the pattern that as developing. "Faith could show him where to park. Couldn't you, Sweetie?"

Faith was initially too startled to react, but she wasn't the only one and was the first to pick up on it. "Yeah, unless something's changed?"

The fact she was looking at Buffy caused a look of panic on the other Slayer's face but she soon realized that Faith was just asking if there had been any changes to things like parking since Faith had last been in Sunnydale. So she settled for a shake of her head.

Faith left with the young man which still left Xander, and while he also had a question on his face it was mixed with anger.

Tara answered it. "Anya knew I would want Faith here so she said I could bring her."

Buffy got up and walked to Xander. "And I want Tara here. So why don't we go mingle?"

That left Tara in the kitchen with the two demons, the vampire being the one who chose to speak. "So what the deal with Faith, exactly?"

Tara pulled her shoulders up slightly. "She's showing Richard where to park. Do you think he was cute? I mean I thought he was cute. I mean I'm really not a good judge, but I thought he was cute."

Spike however didn't find anything cute about the whole situation and left the room.

Outside the house the cute boy in question was talking to Faith as they sat in his car while they parked it. "So who are you, exactly? I mean I picked up that your name is Faith, but Xander didn't mention you."

Faith had been leaning back in the passenger seat, and that caused her head to sink into the headrest. "That's not surprising. We have a bit of a history, not to mention the fact my current girlfriend used to be dating his best friend."

Faith's expression grew downright cold. While he didn't realize it he was looking at the expression Faith usually wore when she was facing evil. "She still has feelings for Tara."

He might not have known exactly what was going on, but he could tell it was a delicate situation. "If you don't mind me asking... what happened?"

The car had just come to a stop so Faith and Richard turned to face each other as she spoke. "You mean between me and Tara, or Willow and Tara?"

Faith's hair swayed slightly as she shook her head. "Not really. Willow... has had some problems, and when it was really bad she hurt Tara. I had been... hell I had been incarcerated. I got out and came back to find her and Willow broken up. I just started out trying to be there for her... and it grew."

Faith made a display of looking at the house. "I suppose we better. SO? You interested in B?..."

Inside the house the woman in question was talking to Faith's supposed significant other. "Have you told her anything?"

Tara took a moment to consider the implications of what Buffy was saying. "You mean about Spike? No Buffy. I said I wouldn't tell and I meant it."

Tara smiled gently. "It's okay... I did tell her about where you were. About where Willow took you from? I-I thought she m-might be able to h-help."

That caused Tara to blink in her own feeling of surprise. "With monsters, patrol, the Geeks?"

Buffy then came to her senses. "Oh-OH you mean with slaying... yeah, that would be great."

She then veered entirely off topic. "So Tara... how? I mean, you and Faith, it just doesn't make sense."

Buffy's voice was quiet, but harsh. Tara was keeping quiet as well, but her voice was steady. "Doesn't it? You are all Willow's friends. Faith was finally someone who could listen to me without trying to apologize for Willow."

Tara headed off the objection before Buffy could even form it in her mind. "Buffy, I'm not blaming you. Willow is your friend, and she was your friend long before you ever met me. That's not something you can change, and I wouldn't expect you to. I... I would just ask you to let me have something for me."

Buffy kept up her birthday tradition, but with the presence of the second slayer it was one of Buffy's better birthdays. That was what helped lead to the conversation Tara and Faith were having.

It was in Tara's room as the two women were getting ready in the morning. Tara was looking through her closet, but had to move to the side as Faith put away a sleeping bag.

Tara actually smiled as she nodded. "I-It's like I said to Buffy. I like having someone who's there for me."

That made Tara blush even deeper, though Faith didn't understand why. "Still, you okay with my other stuff being here?"

There was a pause before Tara continued. "I'm glad this is an apartment and not a dorm. Are you sure that your bosses...?"

Faith broke into Tara's pause. "Can make me above the law? Yeah..." She kept speaking as she pulled out a nondescript black laptop computer. "We have huge ties with the Department of Justice." She gave Tara a roguish grin. "I can even BE a Fed. It's a bogus id, but it's real where it counts."

Faith set down on the bed, tucking one leg up and under the other, putting the laptop on the knee. Tara then sat down next to her as she fired the machine up, speaking as she did so. "Now, they should have finished the background check, cross-referenced my statement and yours, weighed my threats and shouting, and gave you clearance."

Tara was smiling as Faith set up the satellite uplink and logged in. Her brows shot up. "They want a conference. Do you think we have time before we are supposed to meet Richard?"

Faith set the computer down on the bed and looked into Tara's eyes. "It's going to be fine, Tara. These are good people."

Tara put on a smile, which led Faith to turn back to the computer and move it to the desk, setting it up for a conference call.

There were several passwords asked for in the security set-up, and once they were given clearance a window popped open to reveal a hard face that softened once it saw Faith looking back.

It was obvious he was an older gentleman, but the features were smooth enough that it was hard to place the age. His hair was still jet black, though if that was the result of dyeing or not she was uncertain. The man's one distinct feature were his eyes; icy blue, clear, intent and attentive. Even though he was looking though a tiny digital camera built into the frame of the laptop Tara felt he had already taken in the entire room.

Tara turned to her companion when she heard a warmth in Faith's voice that had only begun to creep into their conversations. "Striker, so I'm guessing Tara's cleared?"

Striker gave a curt nod. "Yes. Can you bring her up to speed on the Farm? We're not qualifying her as a field agent, even though she is in Sunnydale, but with her permission we will label her as part of the support staff?"

The two Farm agents turned to look at Tara and the blonde paled under the scrutiny. "S-s-sure."

Faith looked ready to comfort her but Striker actually beat Faith to it. Though his voice was more confident then calming. "Tara, we don't draft people, and if you are not sure all you have to do is say so. We wouldn't be able to inform you as to the nature of our organization for obvious reasons, but if you have doubts it would be better if you say so now. Just don't have doubts about if you're needed. Faith's recommendations as well as the knowledge you displayed made you a shoe in. We NEED good people here, Tara. While we have consulted with academics their knowledge WAS all academic. You have the hands on knowledge of the occult that we desperately need."

Striker gave Tara a smile before addressing Faith. "Now, with the rest of the situation. While I've went over your report I need know there is anything that can be salvaged or if we should simply set up operations on our own."

Faith motioned Tara to sit on the bed as she set the computer on the desk and did the same. Looking back to the desk she spoke. "I think that any attempts to salvage would simply speed up the decay. Right now I think that I should keep my cover as Tara's girlfriend and simply help them out while things resolve themselves one way or the other. That doesn't need to stop us though. I'll get the ball rolling. Just tell me what's free."

Striker nodded and seemed to reach towards them as he typed on the computer. His voice was distracted as his eyes read the screen. "Phoenix Force is currently in play with continuing ops in the Middle East, and I was there helping them. I'll be shipping back once Sunnydale is in motion. Able Team however has been freed up because of the Office of Homeland Defense."

Faith looked over her shoulder to where Tara was sitting next to her. "Phoenix Force works internationally while Able Team works more stateside. Striker and I operate globally."

Faith considered it, but shook her head no. "Actually I'm wondering if Leo might be free. I'll put more together but right now Sunnydale doesn't need guns. The place is actually pretty calm for the mouth of Hell. What we need to do is set up some sort of order here. I detailed it in my reports of the Scoobies past actions, but the heart of it is that the Scoobies are a more reactionary force. The Farm however specializes in taking a more aggressive stance, and that's what's needed. I know it may seem insane but I think we need to look into making a branch office."

That got his attention, but she just kept going. "Look Striker, the Hellmouth is like an IMMOBILE WMD, and it needs to be secured."

Faith clucked her tongue while shaking her head. "No, they set up a lab. If you have another option I'm listening but the whole reason I am here is to assess the danger the Hellmouth possesses and I can sum it up like this... when the world ends I'll bet my last bullet this is where it starts. This place is THE most likely ground zero for Armageddon."

He let out a long breath. "Maintain position. Keep assisting the Scooby Gang. Deal with the Geeks as you see fit and alert us if any greater threats develop. Striker out."

Faith held up a hand. "Wait. I'll be submitting info for Tara's paychecks. With that I'm going to want to shore up my cover by explaining our windfalls."

Faith took a moment to fully consider that. "Even if I can't explain my sudden income I am going to set up a full safe house for a long term deployment. So I'm going to need the appropriate supplies."

An arched brow was enough to ask the question and Faith elaborated. "Vengeance demon had cast a spell forcing us all to stay within the Summer's household. I used the round to destroy the locket that houses the demon's power, and explained it as personal protection from the Council if they come gunning for me again."

Faith again looked over her shoulder to find herself nose to nose with Tara. "Bear's keeping an eye on them. The Council might try to sneak a team in but I don't think they'll manage it." She then put a hand on Tara's knee. "But we'll have to play it as it comes."

Tara nodded as Faith turned back to Striker. "Still, that covers it. Slayer Out."

Tara kept the smile, but turned it down a notch. "So you made reports on the Scoobies? What did you say?"

Faith bit her bottom lip. "What we covered, that as a unit the Scoobies have no leadership and no morale. Individually they are unstable but only a danger to those close to them."

That took away Tara's smile and she looked away but Faith reached over and gently pulled Tara's chin to look her in the eye. "But that IS a danger. So I recommended isolation and observation."

Tara nodded and tried to look away, but Faith still had her chin and made Tara look back once more. "And as a member of the Farm's support staff I am directing you to avoid contact unless accompanied by one of the Farm's combat operatives."

Faith nodded. "Me. I really should bring you up to speed on the Farm, but if Richard's not there already he's going to be soon."

There was more conversation, but they had added three people and moved it to the Espresso Pump where the five of them were nursing caffeinated beverages while they conversed. Richard was the odd member of the group and the focal point of the two pairs of Faith and Tara, and Xander and Anya.

But before they could focus on him they had to settle some other matters. Alexander Harris being the source of the issue. "So Faith, I'm surprised to see you here."

Everyone looked surprised but Anya was the one to deal with his issue by kicking him in the shin from where she was sitting next to him. "Faith is Tara's new gay-type girlfriend. I'm just wondering if Faith's got the gun."

Richard was the one to bail Faith out after he took a long drink of his black coffee. "I'm glad she's here and I'm glad she had the gun. She kept me from being stabbed and she managed to shoot that thing so we could get out."

Xander smoothed the situation over in his way, but almost as a matter of reflex. "An, honey, that 'thing' cast a vengeance spell on us."

Richard however was the one speak over the arguing. "So this kind of thing is common?"

Xander put a calming hand on Anya's elbow as he spoke to Richard. "It's kind of a catch 22. Once you know it's there you can't help but run into it."

Richard didn't seem to be buying it so Tara tried to help. "The supernatural is all around us, but most people dismiss it. They call it bad luck or animal attacks or accidents and just ignore the idea that it could be something else."

Faith backed Tara up. "Yeah, but one of those things was using a sword. So when someone is found hacked up the cops just figure some psycho used a machete or something, and if I hadn't shot Anya's buddy... well they wouldn't have heard about us until we were skeletons and that wouldn't have told them anything was out of the ordinary."

That convinced him and he slowly nodded, his shoulders giving a shudder. "And you and Buffy..."

Faith was understandably the one to elaborate. "We're Slayers... we're the natural born hunters for those kind of things."

"So you fight them?" Richard followed the statement with a confused look in Anya's direction.

Xander was the one to answer the look directed at his fiancé. "Yeah, but it's not ALL back and white, mostly black and white, but not all."

He followed that with a pointed look at Faith and that led her to sigh. "Ok, I'm sure Xander would tell you as soon as possible anyway. So I may was well beat him to it. I was co-opted awhile back. I have always been a Slayer, but I ended up working for the bad guys for awhile."

Faith sighed again, her resignation showing. "No, that came before. A human strayed into a big vampire fight and I staked him before I realized he wasn't one."

Faith glared at him. "Yeah, but the rest of the group turned on me quick enough, so I turned on them.

Faith was about to continue, but her train of though derailed when she felt Tara take her hand. Looking over she met the other woman's eyes, and while they were pretending to be girlfriends the support in Tara's eyes was sincere.

Swallowing hard Faith continued. "There's a group that calls itself the Watchers Council. They appointed themselves to train and help the Vampire Slayer. The fine print though was that they also sought to keep the Slayer on a leash, their leash."

Xander's angry eyes met Faith's, and he seemed to finally see she was getting just as angry as he was. "... I think they showed that's not a bad thing."

Faith's nostrils flared. "You mean like when Giles doped Buffy up and locked her AND her mom in a house with a psycho vamp?"

Xander twitched at that and remained silent. Faith was obviously preparing another verbal volley but she was cut off when Tara reached up to touch her cheek. The tender gesture cut off all of Faith's thoughts and all she could so was again turn to look as Tara, and again see that support, but this time it was voiced.

It was Tara's turn to lose her senses as Faith leaned in and kissed her temple. "Thanks."

Tara's first thought when she came back to her senses was recognizing the look on Faith's face as the Slayer being afraid she had went to far. So she gave a smile to let her know it was ok, the shyness it held was just a natural reaction.

Richard was now smiling as well as he looked at the two women, as was Anya, and even Xander seemed impressed by the public display of affection.

Tara was the one who took control of the attention delivered their way by addressing Richard. "So Richard, d-do you think you could do that?"

Faith gave her a wink and they all looked to Richard as he answered. "I dunno guys, I mean I could have been killed, but..."

Their coffee date broke up soon after that since the main reason it had happened was that they wanted to talk to Richard about his first encounter with the supernatural and a possible second encounter with Buffy. The simple things like not trying to tell people about the existence of monsters was quickly covered and since he wasn't sure about Buffy the conversation dried up quickly enough.

The supposed girlfriends were walking back to Tara's room and while Faith knew she should be getting ready to tell Tara about the Farm she could only think about kissing her.

Tara was smiling and blushing as she nodded. "It was fine." She took a deep breath and then let it out." It was kinda nice." Her smile then grew cheeky. "I would've thought you've kissed girls before."

Tara was still smiling, but she stopped to put her hands on her hips and arched her brow.

Faith stopped and her voice showed how much she was enjoying the game they were playing. "What?"

Faith sobered, not in a truly negative way, but enough to let Tara know that she was trying to be serious. "I don't really go into it. I always figured I don't need to broadcast it. Guys were never hard to find and if a girl was interested... actions usually spoke louder then words."

Tara looked away and then back. "I wish I could be like that. When I meet a girl I like I'm always afraid to say it because if she's not..."

Tara took a second to realize what Faith was saying, but she blushed once she realized.

Faith took a long pause, and then held out her hand. Tara looked at it then up at her and took Faith's hand.

The two women were talking about what they were going to do next. The relationship facade would allow them to get a safe house without too many expectations, and unless the Farm came up with a better explanation their plan was to say that the money came from something left over from the reign of Mayor Wilkins.

With a loose plan ready they thought they would start coordinating with the Farm, and had booted up Faith's lap top to do so.

Faith rolled her head on her shoulders. "Looks like Richard has some competition, Buffy's ex is back in town."

Then she watched a change come over Faith. She had seen hints of it in the conference call with Striker, but Tara realized that it wasn't the Vampire Slayer speaking, but "Slayer," the soldier who now spoke.

"The good thing is that I have recognition codes, but that means the Farm has cleared me to break some cover with him."

"Almost like you when I first told you, I was a government agent. By using these codes I will be showing myself as someone who has the clearance to have them. While the tools I showed you were a sign, they were a deniable one. These codes will identify me as a ranking agent in the United States Military/Intelligence network. It also means that I am supposed to make some kind of contact."

Faith smiled. "No Tara. The relationship was not about my cover here. My cover is just the sprung Slayer. We are doing this for you. I want to do this for you."

Their eyes met again, and for a moment the soldier's inner steel melted. Faith then looked away, and when she looked back, the steel had returned.

Faith quietly got up and moved to the cabinet where she had stored her military gear and started pulling the lethal devices out. She inspected each piece with practiced hands and then concealed the weapons on her person. When she was done she put on her leather jacket, and if Tara hadn't watched her conceal everything she would have never known they were there.

Faith met Tara's eye at the question, but Tara knew what the Slayer was about to say and simply met her look with determination.

Faith sighed. "Riley will make a beeline for B. He wouldn't bother operating in her town without letting her know and her help would be too valuable to NOT contact her."

"Okay Tara, get ready for your first briefing. The first point is that Riley won't actually be here for Buffy. He's got his own back up, that he's engaged to..."

The report had been as accurate as Faith's prediction and the two women were able to intercept an obviously combat-ready Riley Finn as he was about to enter the Double Meat Palace.

He was about to argue, but instead kept Faith's gaze a second longer. "Would I know them?"

Tara could see Faith weigh her decision. "No, we started counter terror but expanded to demons when we learned about them in the fall of your old bosses."

He nodded slowly. "I'm betting that's where you enter the picture. Carrot or stick?"

She smiled at that statement. "Carrot, but I need to keep it on the QT. Right now I am just an ex-con and until they pass muster I don't want to clue them in."

Faith's expression still seemed professional, but there was also a bizarre calm to her. "The Hellmouth is prime real estate. So we are looking to deny them the asset. I was sent to weigh the locals both friendly and hostile. You?"

"Suvolte demon eggs. They are relentless eating machines, and when they're first born that first feeding could take out cities."

Faith took that in. "Ready-made WMD. Structures are left standing and decontamination is just a matter of finding the critters and laying in with some ordinance."

Finn nodded. "That's why they are here. There's a mother we're tracking to her clutch. That's why I was going to contact Buffy. I could use the back up."

Faith was the one to answer. "Willow went to the edge on the magic and hurt Tara in the process. We're together now."

Faith nodded until he ended his sentence. "Yeah, yeah...point being Tara and I are together. Tara knows I'm an op but no one else does. Clear?"

Walking into the fast food restaurant they saw Buffy working the counter. She actually managed a smile as she spotted the two women. "Hey Tara, hi Faith, who's...Riley?"

The continuing conversation between Buffy and Riley wasn't much clearer but it had the desired result and Buffy slid under the counter to join the other three people. The four of them quickly left the Double Meat Palace and Riley brought Buffy up to speed.

He answered her main questions about Riley, but as they started tracking the demon Buffy had one for the two women with them. "So why are you guys here?"

The seemed to satisfy Buffy, but that turned out to be the only satisfaction Buffy was to have for the moment as the Suvolte demon managed to escape their first encounter.

The only big change in the situation was Buffy changing from work clothing that looked like, as Riley put it, a "pylon", to dressing in a combat style like his own black clothing with kelvar armor.

While she called most of his combat gear "cute" the black SUV he used to drive them around was far more impressive.

When they drove back after their second encounter, their minds were not on the SUV. Riley was thinking about the Suvolte. While it was dead its eggs were still in play. Riley's wife had joined them and was thinking about the same thing, and Buffy was thinking about his wife.

Faith's fears were similar to those of Mr. & Mrs. Finn, but Tara's were at Summer's residence, at the plan what to do next.

While she knew that Faith would be there it would be different from Buffy's birthday because Faith would have to be focused on finding the eggs, and while Tara desperately wanted to hide behind her Slayer she couldn't put her own fears over monsters that could wipe out this city and so many others.

Thankfully Faith realized the same thing and did her best to keep Tara involved, but the witch's helpful nature turned out to be her downfall.

When Willow wasn't able to perform tracking magic to help them find the eggs, Tara volunteered her talent and they quickly accepted. Tara began writing down the ingredients she would need for the spell she had chosen to try to find the eggs and that left her alone enough for Willow to approach her.

Tara's head hung down so that her hair hung over her eyes. "I don't know what there is to say."

Willow took a step closer, bordering the woman's personal space. "Not about that. I..." There was a pause as Willow took a deep breath. "Not about us, about you and Faith."

Tara looked up at that but Willow kept going. "I mean I hope she's taking care of you, making you happy?"

Tara's nod hurt Willow, but she kept speaking. "I just need to know how. I mean, why Faith?"

A tremble shot through Tara's frame, but before she was forced to summon up an answer the other woman in question found them, and Faith quickly took in the scene, putting herself as in front of Tara as she could.

While it was obvious she was addressing Tara, Faith kept facing Willow and settled for putting her hand behind her on Tara's hip. "Hey Babe, you ready to go? We managed to put a plan together. Riley and I will team up as will Buffy and the Misses. You will cast the spell at our place, and call then this number. You then text message the address here." As she said that she held up a piece of paper. "That will ring both Riley and the wife. In the meanwhile we'll try legwork."

Faith looked back and while her eyes still seemed wary they also seemed weary. "Xander's got that covered. With you on the wagon we figured it for the best."

Tara looked doubtfully at her reflection in the full-length mirror. It didn't help that Faith was not having much success hiding her giggles at the bridesmaid dress Tara had just put on.

Tara's voice was not angry and so instead of quieting Faith it made her louder and she started laughing in earnest.

Arms wrapped in green frills set on hips clad in the same shade as Tara tried to give Faith a frustrated look that came out as more of a pout then anything.

That quieted Faith's laughing, but it didn't make things any better. "Awwwww my poor baby. Don't you like the former demon's taste?"

The laughter had quieted to a soft snickering. "It's all part of being in a wedding, Babe."

Faith's smile suddenly vanished. Moving right up to Tara, the blonde had hung her head in shame, her hair draping over her face.

The tenderness Faith acted on was entirely alien but all too right as she reached out and cupped Tara's cheeks. Leaning in she pressed their lips together, and when she pulled back Tara's eyes were wide.

Faith's voice was a soft, soothing tone. "I think the Scoobies weren't the only ones being fooled."

The smile on Tara's face grew as the realization sunk in, but she still wasn't able to speak.

"You need to reapply your lipstick. How about I go get ready for our first date?"

Tara hadn't thought her smile couldn't grow any further, but it actually hurt as she looked down again. This time however it was a shy look on her face as she darted her eyes back up. All she could manage was a nod.

Faith had appeared calm as she walked out to her "guest" room where her preparations had already been set up to be done after Tara's more extensive preparation to be a bridesmaid. Once inside she had calmly started putting on the simple, yet elegant dress and doing her hair but she found her hands weren't very steady. Her dress went on easily enough, but she went to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror to help her do her hair up and off her neck as she had planned.

Looking at herself in the mirror her hands still hadn't steadied and Faith had to think it had something to do with the radiant smile staring back at her.

While her happiness was apparent, her hands still weren't ready to cooperate and the smile was starting to flicker with frustration. It was enough to keep Faith distracted as the door opened behind her. Only after a second set of hands started working on her hair did she realize that she was not alone.

Faith's eyes met Tara's in the mirror, but then the slayer's eyes looked demurely away and she let Tara set her hair as the girls had discussed. Her voice when it as done little more then a whisper. "Thanks."

Tara's voice was quiet, but sure. "You're welcome." There was a long silence in which Tara studied Faith. "I'm not the only one who needed this, am I?"

She didn't bother to let Faith reply as she leaned their foreheads together, her lips bridging the gap between them in a soft series of motions.

Time didn't exist, and Faith figured that was why the normally aggressive way she handled her lovers didn't come forward, but none of her former lovers ever made her feel this way. Tara Maclay brought out a side of Faith that hadn't...ever been before.

That realization first manifested in the tears rolling down her face but they quickly turned into sobs. Faith tried to explain why she was crying so, but looking in Tara's face she could tell Tara already knew. Tara showed how she knew by pulling Faith into her arms and to her chest.

She complimented the move with a soft rocking motion and even sang a small, nonsense song that was almost a lullaby. While she didn't run her fingers through Faith's hair one hand gently caressed the smooth skin of the neck that the hairstyle left exposed.

Faith's actions weren't as tender, but neither woman expected them to be. Instead she gripped the other woman desperately, the only restraint being to keep from using her full, superhuman strength. There was no thinking for Faith, only feeling, feeling the support, the tenderness...the love that Tara was offering to her.

The doorbell rang but it was ignored until they were ready, and by that point it was up to a half-dozen chimes. Tara reluctantly broke away, but when Faith looked up she could see that Tara didn't want to move. Faith shook her head. "Go. I'm ok."

The witch still looked at her fondly, but there was some admonishment in the expression. Instead of saying it however Tara settled for leaning in and pressing her lips to Faith's forehead. When she pulled back, she touched her lips and then grinned. "How's my lipstick?"

Faith found herself starting to grin as well, but her voice shook slightly. "You tell me." She wrinkled her forehead deliberately and pointed to the kiss done in Tara's shade of lipstick. "Go ahead. I'll fix myself up."

Tara nodded and slipped from the bathroom. When she got to the front door, she cut off the knocking that had begun by opening the door.

Dawn Summers was there in a dress all too like Tara's, and she jumped slightly at the sudden intrusion. "TARA? Are you ok? You didn't answer."

Tara's face softened into a welcoming smile and she moved back to let Dawn into the house. "Come on in, Dawnie."

Dawn did as she said but she was timid as she did so. "You know, You probably shouldn't invite people In so quickly."

Tara shook her head quickly and firmly. "Not at all. All she wants is for you to be okay with her, for all of you."

The question made her mind leap back to the tender scene she had just shared with Faith. "Oh yes."

"It's...well. It's kind why I'm here...Buffy thought, with Willow and you and then Xander still not liking Faith...Buffy's out in the jeep."

Faith's voice suddenly broke into the conversation. "Then we shouldn't keep her waiting...YOU look nice Dawn."

Tara looked relieved at the sudden banter between the two brunettes. She then joined them as the headed out to Buffy and the jeep, and beyond that the wedding.

"I didn't like pistol-whipping B, Baby." The Vampire Slayer's face twisted as her alliteration struck her. "I'm getting these Geeks. From what Bear has put together they are escalating."

Faith was pacing the living room in their safe house as Tara sat uncomfortably on the couch. While she and Tara had to take care of the initial moving in both of the Summers girls had started coming around and had been helpful with setting up their household.

There had been some things that Faith alone had the training to handle, brought by special couriers that from the Farm that also took back choice pieces of Tara's tomes for scanning into the Farm's library. While Faith was still sleeping in the "guest" room the couple had been taking shape and had already been out on several dates and had shared numerous kisses and embraces, though they had yet to be intimate.

Intimacy was far from either woman's mind though as Faith explained her point. "Okay according to B they started out with a bank robbery and then moved onto a museum heist, but now with this Katrina chick they've gotten violent."

The emotion in her girlfriend's voice suddenly broke through Faith's anger and stopped her flat. She slowly sat down with one leg tucked up next to her body so she could be facing Tara who took up a similar position on the couch. They held hands as Faith replied. "I'm not going be hunting them...but they've shown themselves capable of taking human life. I'll do what it takes to make sure they don't take mine."

While it didn't necessarily settle Tara to hear that, there was something calming about knowing Faith would do what it took to come back to her. Then a thought snuck into her head. "Could you a-arrest them?" Faith laughed. "I suppose I could. I mean the Farm could cook me up something nice like FBI or NSA, but that would wreck my cover...though yours could stay intact."

What Tara found perverse was that the only shock came from not being shocked about her immersion into the intelligence world. Admittedly, it was in an advisory capacity, but she was still a member of a covert military force. She had even spoke to several members of the Farm team over the satellite link enough times that she could do so without stuttering anymore.

Faith pulled her from the thought by continuing with the thought. "But what I'm thinking is that I will make sure that they get bagged by the local authorities and then the Farm can make sure they are dealt with."

Tara knew what the question meant. "Faith, I know what your job requires." Tara sighed. "I know it's necessary, but I don't think I will ever be 'okay' with it."

Faith shook her head fondly. "I wouldn't want you to be. *I* don't want to be ok with it. Still, it depends on the potential threat. The big problem is that they are a threat that most run-of-the-mill prisons couldn't handle. I mean I could have walked away long before the Farm ever found me. While these guys aren't Slayer's they've shown that they're dangerous."

As she got an affirmative nod, Faith kept on. "Warren might be a simple matter of keeping him away from technology, but even in a regular prison inmates are supposed to have rights. The other two seem to be more magically inclined and they would probably need to be put away in a mental institution or the like to explain why they would have to be kept away from occult objects, BUT that's AFTER I catch em."

Tara scooted to the side where she could put her head on Faith's shoulder. "Promise me you'll be careful."

Faith reached up to rub Tara's head. "I always am. There is a long line of people at the Farm who would kick my ass if I wasn't, and you'd be at the head of it."

Tara nodded without removing her head from Faith's shoulder. "Right now I'm worried about Anya. Have YOU heard from her?"

Faith shook her head and leaned in to kiss Tara's brow. "Well there was the whole bizarre episode where she talked to us about hating men..." While the silence seemed comfortable Faith was mulling a point over. "Babe? I gotta ask you a question, and it's business. At least for me it is, for you it might be personal. So I'm figuring you probably won't be able to tell me everything, but the fact I'm asking means I need to know. Ok?"

"I know something's up with B, and I think it's more then just the aftereffect of being resurrected. I also think it involves Spike."

The guilty look on Tara's face said a great deal, but Faith put an arm around her and gave a squeeze. "Like I said Sweets, you don't need to tell me everything, I just need to know if it may come up in the field, and remember Spike was the "Doctor," and selling those eggs."

Tara's voice was quiet. "I don't think it's an issue anymore. Things seemed different between Buffy and Spike at the wedding."

Tara looked away again and Faith sighed. "Damn, girl's got a thing for corpses. Still, at least Angel had a soul, but then again I doubt she loves Spike."

Tara still hadn't looked up so Faith leaned in and guided her chin up to she could give Tara a peck on the lips. "I'm guessing she needed someone to talk to about it and she picked you? I understand Sweets, I figured it out, you didn't betray any thing."

She caressed Tara's neck and kissed right beneath her right ear. "I gotta get going love. We have a list of potential hide-outs for the Geeks and B's probably already running down her half."

Faith got up and secured her weapons; a combat knife, several stakes, her Colt .45 and an H&K machine pistol chambered in the same caliber as well as silencers for both firearms.

Tara left the house right after her but the only equipment she had were the contents of her purse which hadn't changed much in many years.

But it was still with her when she went to the Summers household to be there when Buffy and Faith brought back whatever they might find. While Faith was worried about Willow being there, Tara wasn't worried anymore. Before her relationship with Faith was a shield she hid behind but now it was something inside her, a confidence, a strength.

She tried to find something different between what she shared with Willow and what she shared with Faith, but she couldn't find anything. Of course there was a difference, but it was really more professional then anything and Tara then realized what it was...Faith respected her. While Willow loved her, she really did think of Tara as "hers." Faith on the other hand just wanted to be with her and showed it, showed that she valued whenever Tara wanted to be with her. Even now that they were in a relationship Tara still felt like an individual who chose to be there.

So when the door was opened to reveal Willow Rosenberg she was able to mutter a greeting before slipping inside to join Dawn and a mournful Alexander Harris. Each of them gave their respective greetings before sitting down to a waiting silence. While both Dawn and Tara were content to wait, Xander was too upset to rest.

Willow was also uncomfortable but instead of it being over the loss of Tara, or even withdrawal, it looked more like guilt than anything else. When she started speaking, it didn't do anything to assure them.

While Willow was standing and swaying her arms Tara was sitting in one of the living room chairs and calmly smoothed out a wrinkle in her skirt. "Buffy asked me to. She thought it would be best so we could make plans for the Geeks."

Willow nodded a little too enthusiastically and everyone else in the room started to feel nervous. "I just meant that you haven't been seeing much of your friends since you started seeing Faith."

That didn't seem to satisfy Willow. "But that shouldn't keep you from seeing your old friends, should it?"

Before Tara could reply ,one of the minor changes to Tara's purse, a cell phone rang. Taking it out she flipped it open and put it to her ear. "Hello?"

The voice was the strong, familiar tone of Striker. "Tara, where's Faith? This is Striker. You have hostiles en route."

His words were proven all too correct as an English accent spoke up in the room. "I think you better tell them you'll call them back." While the accent was familiar, as was the voice, the source was entirely unexpected, Quentin Travers; the head of the Watcher's Council.

Another refined English voice spoke in and it was also a familiar voice, Rupert Giles. "Please do as he says, Tara."

The two men were accompanied by four more and they were all dressed in a similar conservative fashion. Three were holding handguns that all had silencers affixed, while the fourth was looking at Tara in a way that told her he was there for her. Most likely to counter any spells she might try.

Her hands froze as her blood ran cold, but that was fortunate as it allowed her to leave the cell phone on and open and just set it aside.

Giles stepped close. "And we won't. We just need to keep them here until the situation is resolved."

Tara's look was both accusing and brimming with tears as she turned to Willow. "Faith?"

Quentin Travers was not as gentle. "Your feelings about the rogue Slayer are irrelevant. She was already dangerous before and with her expanding her murderous skills to more modern weaponry she is even more so."

Tara felt Faith's cover story for the guns leap to her mouth even while she realized there was some truth to it. "So you can use guns but she can't? Have to keep her controllable, don't you?"

Quentin Travers flashed a bit of annoyance before schooling his face to a hostile neutrality.

To his own surprise Xander found himself defending Faith. "She used those murderous skills to save us! More then you ever did Travers!"

Giles tried to defuse the situation. "Yes she did Xander, but how long will that last?"

He looked like he was about to say more but Tara interrupted him, and her voice was anything but calm. Her voice was a mixture of panic and hate. "It's not about that...is it Willow? It was all you, wasn't it? You called the Council and the location you gave Faith sent her into a trap?"

Willow stepped toward Tara, her voice almost desperate. Tara however staggered from her chair and away from Willow. "No Tara, no baby. Faith's dangerous, she'll hurt you, she'll kill you."

The emotion in Tara's voice deepened. "Don't you call me that, don't you EVER call me that!"

Dawn ran to Tara and moved to support her, both physically and emotionally. "Willow? What did you do?"

While Willow was getting frantic, it was Travers who answered the teen. "She did the right thing and told the Council about its rogue asset, and assisted us in containing her."

So far Faith had only had one bit of luck, and that was that the attackers seemed to be expecting a simple Slayer. Perhaps with a handgun and not "Slayer" so when she stepped back inside the house they weren't surprised but when the H&K assault weapon stuck back out the door it came as a shock. A shock that cut two down with a brief sweep of automatic fire, and drove the rest to ground. She wasn't going to plan on that keeping them down for long. Even if they were playing this on the fly, they would have the house surrounded.

If they had this planned then the house would be surrounded with all ways out covered and more ways in then she could plan for. The only advantage was that they should not be expecting her additional training.

Her natural abilities saved the moment this time as she heard a sickeningly familiar sound, a pin being pulled from a grenade and the spoon dropping free. That sound was being followed by the breaking of glass as it was hurled through a window.

Thankfully they weren't as well trained as her, and had thrown the grenade right away rather then letting it "cook." All grenades have a fuse on them to give the user a chance to get the explosive device away from them. The problem is that all fuses are long enough that there is a real danger of the grenade being picked up and thrown back. That made it into Faith's weapon as she picked it up and hurled it back along its path.

The boom went off almost as soon as it broke the glass on its way out. The fact she had dropped behind the windowsill was the only thing that saved her from the shards of glass that had been driven back into the house by the blast.

As it was the team covering the front of the house had not fared as well under the shards of twisted metal that the grenade sent sailing.

The attackers at the front of the house were all shredded by the metal and fire unleashed by their own lethal little egg, and were shown alive by their agonized screams. Faith knew that it was an opportunity she would not get again and she used it to charge out the front door, and instead of trying to vary her path, she went right up the middle.

The shock of the blast combined with the brazenness of the move left the three in her path flat footed, but instead of stopping to engage she ducked between two of them which cut the third off from any potential shot. She then danced around the third on and the team mate blocking his shot.

They were bringing their guns to bear as Faith ran into the night and would have cut her down. They were so focused on their target they didn't see their own grenade spoon that had fallen to the ground on their feet where Faith had collided with one of them. The guns were still aiming as the grenade went off.

Her luck then bit back as she managed to hit the first street out of the trap. The hostile team showed that the trap expanded well beyond what she had planned for as a black sedan surged out of an alley right into her path and kept going. Bouncing the Slayer up over the hood. They had developed a decent head of speed that drove Faith further rolling her over the roof and off the back until she hit the pavement behind. The car squealed into reverse but Faith was able to turn herself so that she was going between the wheels rather then under them. As the vehicle passed over head she brought up the stutter gun and fired a tri-burst into the right front wheel.

The rubber shredded under the assault and rounds clanged against the rim as Faith forced herself to her feet so she could run to the right of the vehicle. The fact she was able to shoot and now could run told her that her limbs had made it through all right, but there was a fuzziness to her head that didn't want to clear, and as she took a breath to run there was the unmistakable sensation of one or more broken ribs, as well as a small burn on her cheek from the hot muffler.

She still seemed in better condition then the car chasing her but it too was not willing to quit as it ground on its tire rim to try to run her down. Yet over the sparks that were already starting to fly Faith picked out the sounds of other vehicles converging as well as the shouts and footfalls of people joining the chase.

Realizing her luck against vehicles had already been sketchy at best she took to the alleys that were too small for cars to pass. At least she took to the entry way, at which point she took to the top of a dumpster and then leapt to the top of one of the lower buildings.

As a team of pursuers entered into the alleyway Faith was given her first real opportunity to assess her attackers. "Watchers" was the first fact she could ascertain, and while they were probably the best of the Watchers' covert personnel, they were a private army. All they had was training from people who had little more then training. While Faith had just over two full years at the Farm she knew that she had already clocked more field time then the entire party sent after her.

She had a dreadful focus as she screwed the silencer onto the barrel of her .45 pistol. The words of David Mc Carter, formerly of the British Special Air Service and current leader of Stonyman Farm's Phoenix Force came to her: "They never look up." And the Watchers didn't.

They didn't as Faith targeted the first of four and they only started to as she drilled a around right between the man's eyes. Another went down before they even realized they were under attack.

The third seemed to be saved as his training kicked in and he dropped prone, but he didn't follow through on the move and Faith simply adjusted her aim to open up his throat with another silenced slug.

The fourth and final came up firing in a maneuver that would have been textbook if he fired in a controlled manner. Instead he was firing madly as fear guided his weapon. It didn't guide his bullets as they plowed into the building she had taken cover on. Her shot was more accurate and he was hurled backward with what was left of his head leading his path to the ground.

Faith had hoped to search her attackers and recover a radio, but with the Watcher's unsilenced auto-fire tearing up the night she knew that their teammates would be heading for their position and there was a more then likely chance that Sunnydale's finest were also on the way to where the grenade went off, and that would leave them right near the spot where the sounds of battle continued to rage.

With few other options Faith chose the rooftops as a helicopter would attract attention in Sunnydale, putting the sound suppressor on her assault piece as she started moving upward

At least she had intended to go to the rooftops, but a voice hailed to her from just below ground level. "Psst, Slayer!"

The voice was a whisper, but it also held an English accent, so Faith didn't pull the trigger but she still led with her gun.

The British vampire Spike held up his hands, and kept speaking in a whisper. "Hey! Trying to help here."

Faith replied in a similar tone but her focus kept shifting between the undead Englishman in front of her and the living ones blazing up her backside. "Why?"

Spike gave as much of a snort as their whispered conversation allowed. "Because I've been chased by those poncy bastards and any enemy of theirs..."

Faith gave him a long, sizing look. "I won't even bother with a warning if this is some sort of set-up."

Striker already had a floor plan of the Summers household that he had been able to study but it had no way to account for the living factors- friendly, hostile, or somewhere in between.

The only confirmed friendly would be Tara Maclay, occult advisor to the Farm and now actual romantic interest to his protégé "Slayer."

He still had the earpiece that was allowing him to monitor the signal coming from Tara's cell phone, but the battery would be running low. In fact he was surprised that it had not died already. Luckily the Farm made sure its people had the best.

Tara had left the phone on for him and was still using it to help him plan what was looking like an assault.

One of the things she had done was identify everyone by name if possible and that helped him to map out the variables.

Besides his single friendly, there were two who were not confirmed friendly but would be likely allies. Even if they would not help, he would leave it to Tara to keep them under control.

Dawn Summers would be the easiest for Tara to keep in line as the young woman looked up to Tara as a sort of surrogate mother. The only concern Striker had for the teen was if she would get in the way in a misguided attempt to protect Tara.

Alexander Harris was closer to the line because he was already listed by Faith as a nuisance grade threat because of his antagonism towards her. If it weren't because of recent events he would be inclined to put Xander closer to the hostile camp but he seemed to be suffering from a change of heart.

The other two Scoobies present were definitely in the hostile camp. Rupert Giles was the first and a danger in his own way, a man who was convinced he was doing the "right thing." While conviction has been there to carry a person in spite of all odds, when the conviction was held in spite of all facts it created some of the worlds most hideous atrocities.

Willow Rosenberg on the other hand likely knew she was in the wrong but had accepted her place out of a misguided devotion. Misguided conviction may be a source of atrocity but misguided love was perhaps the world's greatest source of tragedies.

From what he knew history was repeating itself with the only difference being that instead of it being put into motion by an accident it was created by past slights.

The impending tragedy was made complete by the inclusion of the final player who was both hostile and confirmed dangerous, Quentin Travers. While Rupert Giles may THINK himself correct Quentin Travers considered himself infallible and his actions were right because they were his actions.

There were four more hostiles, but they were an enemy that was all too familiar to the veteran warrior. They were killers, while skill and equipment may vary, at the heart they were prized for the simple virtue of a willingness to hurt their fellow human beings.

While Tara had indicated the three had silenced pistols the fourth stuck out in his mind because from Tara's questions to the man she had let it be known that he possessed abilities like her own, and while he hoped they were specific to countering spells like those Tara might employ he intended to make the opening volley solve that question for him.

With the players counted he was physically assessing the site for a daylight assault when yet another variable presented itself and she was perhaps the most variable of them all. Buffy Summers, the original Slayer with a list of issues almost as long as her list of accomplishments. While Slayer's reports tended to say that Buffy Summers was a good person at heart her ego made her a potential threat.

It was with that in mind that he moved into position to intercept her. His training with Slayer gave him an actual chance at subduing her he chose to deal straight, or as straight as possible in the shadow worlds they both moved in.

She looked up at her name and he flashed a badge that he carried around for just such an occasion. "I'm Detective Mike Belasco." Faith's reports on her past action in Sunnydale had been supplemented by Tara's recollections and he brought up that mental file as he put together the story he hoped would get her somewhere they could talk.

She was unsure but she still replied. "Yes, I'm Buffy Summers. Is something wrong?"

"I just need to know what you know about a recent death. The woman's name was Katrina and her boyfriend's name was Warren."

Striker played along with the jovial nature of the conversation with an arched brow and a smile. "Excuse me?"

Buffy smiled and looked shyly away. "I'm sorry, it's just good to see that someone will finally give Warren what he deserves."

Buffy nodded and followed him away from the house, but as soon as they got a suitable distance away he pulled her to an alleyway and Buffy's smile evaporated.

He shook his head and his voice dropped back to its normal register. "While Warren is going to get what he deserves I need your help with a hostage situation on Rovello Drive."

"And yes, you know the house, you also know the hostage takers. Or at least their leader, Quentin Travers."

He knew he had to lay out a few more cards. "He is leading a team that has come here to American soil to kill an American citizen."

He still gave an answer. "Quentin Travers has occupied your house with the help of four members of the Watcher's Council... and both Rupert Giles and Willow Rosenberg."

Buffy was confused, and agitated and she didn't bother hiding either. "You spoke to her?"

He shook his head in a similar curt manner. "I learned that the Council had managed to get a team stateside and had tried calling Faith to warn her. When I couldn't reach her I called Tara's cell phone, but they had been taken hostage by that point. Tara however had the presence of mind to leave her cell phone on so I could listen in to the situation."

He held up a hand to still her. "The team that's trying to kill Faith is already in the field and that means that Faith is being hunted. That means that I cannot contact her, but will have to wait for her to contact me. Tara on the other hand has other resources to find Faith that I do not."

The soldier acknowledged with a nod before continuing his plan of attack. "On top of that she IS being held hostage along with your younger sister and your friend Alexander Harris."

"I know at least four of the Watchers have guns. So I'm not confident that she could stop them even if she wanted to."

He gave her a long look, and she broke. "You have to understand, Willow is not in her right mind right now, she's messed up, but she's getting better."

His look hardened. "In the meanwhile she has sent one woman to her death and taken another hostage. I'm going to resolve this situation."

Her eyes first widened, and then narrowed. "Were not talking a SWAT team are we?"

"Besides Tara, one of the Watchers is believed to possess mystic power. That is not something your average police officer is equipped to deal with."

"But you are right? So I either help you or Willow and Giles go down in the crossfire?"

He shook his head. "Miss Summers, not everyone is a friend or an enemy. I am not out to ruin you or make your life miserable. One of my friends is fighting for her life as we speak while the other is being held hostage by two friends of yours and WITH two friends of yours. I felt that we might have a cause in common."

She exhaled. "I'm sorry, you're right. I just don't know what Willow and Giles are thinking."

He looked her square in the eye. "I think you have a general idea, but I don't care what they are thinking. I only care about releasing the hostages and saving Faith."

"Good. Now I need you to tell me ways into the house. There are the front and back doors, windows for the living room and kitchen. Then there are windows to the second floor bedrooms and second floor hallway, correct?" When she nodded he finished the thought. "Can you give me anything else?"

Not surprisingly Spike was the first to comment. "Well now. Look's like we've got ourselves a party brewing."

The biggest reply came from Striker as he looked at Faith and arched his eyebrow.

Her next comment was directed to both him and Buffy. "I know why I'm down here... Watchers are in town by the way, but what about you guys?"

Striker answered the non-question. "Rupert Giles and Willow Rosenberg are part of the opposition."

Spike whistled. "Not too shocked about Red, but didn't think Rupert had it in him."

Faith didn't bother to question further as she checked the magazine on her submachine gun. "What's the plan?"

He shook his head at her and pulled out his Beretta 93R and attached its silencer. "Three gunman with pistols, one who can nullify magic and maybe cast his own, then there's Travers who is armed, Giles and Rosenberg."

Buffy stepped between the two gunmen as Faith pulled out her own sidearm with the silencer already attached. "I told you that they aren't a threat!"

He looked her right in the eye. "That's your job. Take them out of consideration. I will not risk Tara, Faith or myself on the strength of your word. So it's up to you to make sure that they do not try to pose a threat."

Before he could light it Striker pulled it from his mouth and dropped it on the ground. "All this talk is already threatening to give away our position."

"Faith, Tara's going to be your responsibility. Take out the counter so Tara can bring magic into play on our side. After that take shooters as they come with the focus on any pointed at the hostages. Buffy, you make SURE that your two friends do NOT come into play. I will make Travers my priority target and take any gunman pointing at the team. We'll be entering in from a single entry point. I will go first followed by Faith and then Buffy. Get in quick and scatter as to not present a single target."

Before answering Striker threw a gaze to Faith and she gave a nod before he replied. "Okay, I know about your chip. So your priority will be getting the hostages out of the line of fire. Since you aren't alive I'll be expecting you to shield them with your body if necessary."

Without another word the man gripped the pistol firmly in his right hand and pushed the door open with his left. He eased it open slowly to avoid any noise and let it stay open while he stayed back inside the sewer passage. When no one was present he eased into the room, his pistol still up and tracking.

The others followed behind him, his actions conveying even more then his words their need for stealth. He had already questioned Buffy about the sewer entrance and was given the key. He scanned around the doorjamb looking for any signs of tampering, but it seemed to pass his inspection as he reached out for the knob.

For their part the tension was getting to Buffy and Spike who were far too used to charging into a combat situation. Then again, they rarely had hostages to rescue and had no trouble following the strange man's obvious expertise.

What caught them though was that Faith did not share their apprehension. Even more then that she was mirroring his movements, everything from how she placed her feet, to where she put her eyes and how she held her pistol.

The doorway into the house proper underwent a similar scrutiny but the knob was turned even more carefully as he wanted to make sure that there was no sound to alert the Watchers. It worked as he was able to ease into the dining room without notice.

Guns seemed to move in unison was they targeted their divergent targets. Faith's weapon tracked on the man who had no visible weapon but still stood guard over Tara. Striker's weapon aimed right at the heart of the Watcher team by targeting the head of the head of their team, Quentin Travers.

For their part Buffy and Spike found themselves reviewing their roles as the foreign firearms left them feeling in over their heads. While it was not the first time they had ever been shot at it was the first time they were working with the shooters, and it drove home the lethality of the world they had entered. They may have had the confidence of being superhuman, but there were four people in there that weren't superhuman, but still had to face the Watchers weapons. Weapons that could kill or maim at the touch of a finger.

The three gunman had distributed themselves at three of the walls with the hostages sitting in front of the windows in the living room, facing into the center of the room where Travers stood with his spell-casting companion as well as Rupert Giles who was slightly off to the side with Willow sitting even farther to the side as close as she could to the hostages. Though Tara's angry gaze left Willow keeping her distance.

Buffy and Spike were still taking the scene in as it descended into chaos. The head of the Watcher's council exploded in a grisly shower of blood, bone and gray matter as a 9mm tumbler burrowed through one side of his head and continued towards the ceiling as Striker entered the hallway. Rupert Giles was acknowledging the grisly shower as Faith's .45 sent a jet of blood streaming out of the neck of the caster.

That left Striker at point blank range with the Watcher who was in the hallway they had stormed into. As the Watcher turned to deal with the threat he was thrown off by Spike darting across the line of fire to protect the hostages. Buffy made a similar darting path, but she was dodging the bodies of the Watcher spell caster and the Council head as their corpses bounced off each other as they fell.

Rupert Giles had just started to try to mop the blood out of his eyes as Buffy swept his legs and sent him tumbling to the same carpet that was now beginning to soak up the lifeblood of the two already slain. A bullet sizzled across Buffy's ribs as she tackled the chair Willow was sitting in and sent it sprawling over backwards.

There was no follow up shot from the Watcher as Faith followed with her own round that shattered the bone at the top of the man's nose before exiting out the back of his head. Two were left as the first one managed to get his weapon clear of Spike's disruption, but Striker had been expecting the maneuver so he was quicker and managed to drill a double punch that burrowed into his collar and chin in succession.

The final Watcher against the back wall suffered a moment of confusion and his weapon wavered, trying to pick which shooter was the greater threat, but the shooters wiped the look of confusion from his face with a round from each of their own weapons.

The pair swept the room with their weapons, but not even the hostages were moving and the only Watcher still drawing breath was held down by his Slayer, Buffy Summers.

He tried to get up and after Buffy looked around and saw the situation had been resolved she got off both him and Willow.

As this happened Faith kept her weapon in hand but let it drop to her side. She dashed across the room to Tara and fell to her knees next to where the witch was sitting. Her free hand was frantically searching for any sign of injury.

Tara looked into Faith's eyes and saw that panic was fighting to get out from under the woman's training, and that made her own eyes soften. She reached out with her own hand and touched Faith's cheek. "I'm okay, sweetie."

The soft words, the gentle way they were spoken and the tender look given sunk into Faith. When she saw Tara's eyes looking her over for wounds she cracked and her bottom lip began trembling. Tara simply pulled Faith to her chest and left her there. Faith followed the move and when she head was tucked to Tara the sounds of relieved breathing escaped.

They were accompanied by Rupert Giles trying to sound indignant. "Who the hell are you?"

Buffy was the one to speak next when she turned to Giles. "Who is HE? Who are you? Taking hostages?"

Giles was trying to straighten out his appearance. "We did not take hostages. All we did was keep them here so we could do what needed to be done."

Tara's face rose and Faith's came right behind and both were growing darker and darker in anger.

Giles however focused on Faith and showed no signs of fear. "Now I suppose you will show your true colors Faith?"

Faith's anger suddenly vanished and she calmly pulled the silencer from her weapon and holstered it. She then turned to a surprised Tara and held out her hand to help Tara to her feet. Just as calmly she addressed Spike. "Can you get rid of the bodies?"

She shrugged and made a display of looking at each of the rapidly cooling corpses. "I figure there's at least six pints left apiece."

Faith then turned to Striker and nodded for the man to follow. As they were about to leave though Buffy shouted out to them. "Hey! Is there something you want to tell us?"

Faith signed, but stepped into the role as a leader of the little trio. "Later, B." Buffy looked ready to protest, but Faith's eyes carried a weariness that made Buffy pause and then nod. As they reached the door Faith then looked back at Giles. "My true colors have changed, and while I suppose I can't keep you from coming after me, if you EVER threaten Tara again in ANY way... I was the Council's Slayer and I know who leads it up. I can find them Giles, and if I have to I will. I will calmly, and rationally find them and kill them."

Back at their safe house sitting in their living room Striker addressed the women. "They're going to have questions. What are you planning for the answers?"

Tara took Faith's hand between her own, but before she could speak Faith yanked her hand free. "DON'T! Do NOT tell me how they made a mistake, or try to tell me to forgive them. They took you hostage, and they tried to kill me!"

Tara's voice took on a steel it didn't casually show. "Willow and Giles tried to kill you, and I will NEVER forgive them for that, but Buffy didn't, Dawn didn't, and Xander didn't- even Spike didn't. Spike helped you."

Faith locked angry eyes with her girlfriend, and then dropped them away, nodding. "You're right. I'm sorry Babe."

Tara and Striker met eyes and the two shared a nod as the man addressed the women again. "That's the question you have to answer. Can you separate them? If so how and who? For now though I'll tell you they can NOT be told about the Farm."

Faith grinned ruefully and shook her head. "Don't worry. Fact is Striker there is something to be salvaged, but I want to set up something external that they can then join."

Faith stood up as she started expressing her thoughts as they formed. "Something like the Farm, but on a scale that can hide inside Sunnydale."

He didn't seem convinced. "Do you think you could hide a covert agency inside Sunnydale?"

Tara was the one to answer and she had her trademark crooked grin. "It wouldn't be the first."

The warrior from Stonyman Farm gave a small laugh. "True enough. So what will you need?"

When both the warriors turned almost in unison to Tara the witch's eyes got wide. "I-I don't , I m-mean, I-I c-c-couldn't, I..."

Faith sat down next to her. "You're not a soldier. I know that, we know that, but this isn't going to be a typical military base. One of the functions we have at the Farm is training forces from friendly governments and part of the training is going to be training in occult matters. That is something you do know, and something we will need you for."

Tara bit her bottom lip, but Striker saved her. "It's going to be a long time in the planning, and here you will not handle the bulk of the training. You will train the teachers for the Farm. Right now you need to think in the short term. What are the immediate concerns?"

Faith sat down and looked over at the other two. "Those three geeky guys. They might not be that big of a threat, but they are one, and I just don't like the idea of leaving them in play."

Striker took a breath before speaking. "You could probably work those two together and deflect questions by working against a common enemy."

Tara furrowed her brow as she answered, and without realizing it Faith had a beaming smile watching her. "Okay, Mr. Striker..."

"Still, we can use it. A federal agency could get Faith out of jail. Willow actually told me about some agent-type guys who once took away an invisible girl who was terrorizing the school."

Tara looked between the two. "Well, yeah. A girl named Marcie turned invisible because no body noticed her." When they both gave her a look she shrugged as she continued. "She blamed Cordelia and her friends for it so she started attacking them. Buffy finally managed to defeat her by hearing where she was. When Marcy was defeated two agent-type guys who had been hanging around the school took her away, and Buffy thought that it had happened before, you know other kids in other schools."

Striker considered that. "Likely, most agencies wouldn't have picked up on a one-off event."

Considering it Tara replied. "About five years ago, when Buffy first came to Sunnydale."

"Okay, I want you to make a full account of everything you can think of and I want you to make a second report on the invisibility itself. Work with Faith on this because she's aware of the detection technology we have available, include possible countermeasures."

Tara's brow furrowed again. "There are a lot of ways for a person to become invisible."

Tara returned the smile and even Striker added his own. "But that's not a priority. What it does is give you operating room; between this unknown and the Initiative the Scoobies will be open to the idea of the government knowing about the supernatural. I think you have enough credibility that you can give us a positive spin."

He finished his thought. "While you can not mention the Farm you can label us as `federal resources,' bring us in to help track down the current threat. With the activity the questions should be kept down."

Tara looked between the two, confused by the term while Striker answered. "I've trained you well Faith. I trust you to deal with the Geeks as you see fit. Just keep the Scoobies reactions in mind."

Tara then shook off what she heard and took the topic elsewhere. "Willow and Giles?" Faith gave a look, but Tara returned it and silently reassured Faith with her eyes.

Striker allowed them their moment. "They have proven themselves a threat. As it is, the Farm will be increasing our surveillance of the Council and considering expanding into active operations. These two have acted with the Council as part of a murder conspiracy. While we may not be ready to move on them we can't ignore them. Play on that to keep a hook into the Scoobies." He then changed directions. "We've been seen. Fact is with this new front it was considered. We still won't be opening up operations, but we have to take this into account. The upside is that this whole world is widely considered myth. So I will leave it to your discretion, just keep us informed."

Faith nodded with her eyes straightforward, and then looked him in the eye. "So you heading back in?"

Faith was already a few sips into the coffee drink the guy behind the counter had recommended when Buffy finally arrived. The Faith that Buffy remembered would have preferred her coffee Irish, but since the Espresso Pump didn't have a liquor license that was not an option.

As Buffy examined her sister Slayer she had to admit the one fact that had become undeniable in the days since Faith and her friend had shot up her house: this was not the Faith she had remembered. That Faith would not have arrived early, and she would not be looking at her with the keen eyes that had now focused on Miss Summers.

"I would have ordered for you, but I didn't know this shit well enough to pick something out for myself."

Some things never change. "Don't worry about it. They know what I like." A statement that was shown true as Buffy was able to order with nothing more then a nod to the same man who helped Faith pick out her own drink.

Faith shook her head, taking another sip as she seemed to warm to the drink. "Not all. You gotta understand, B. Your Watcher and your best friend were part of a conspiracy to kill me." Faith paused to allow Buffy room to object, but to her credit Buffy remained silent. While she paused long enough to show she wasn't going to defend neither Willow nor Giles, she still used the space to ask a question. "But Tara knows, doesn't she?"

Faith set her cup down. "She does." Even though she had been practicing the speech in her head the past week Faith still took a moment to compose her thoughts. "Ok B, I'm going to lay out what I can for you, but I'll tell you now that this is not all of it. If any of it makes its way back to the Council, all ties will be severed."

Faith met the eyes. "No, it was determined that even if you turn out not to be a friendly force, as along as you do not become hostile you are too much of a threat to the hostiles to not have you in play."

Faith didn't break the contact. "We talked about it. You need to understand this Buffy..." The use of her full name had the desired effect of focusing the woman's attention. "For centuries now, millennia, the Slayer has been saving the world effectively on her own. Now you're a slayer, you know how LITTLE sense that makes."

Faith continued the connection, trying to intensify it to convey just how important the things she was saying really were. "Your last death was in order to save the world. That's what it has to do with it. You, me... God help me even Tara if it came down to it. With a population in the billions you have to take that kind of view."

Faith exhaled, breaking the contact and then renewing it. "No, like I said, I'm going to lay out what I can. The Initiative was not the only governmental body to be aware of the supernatural. After the Initiative fell even more groups became aware of "something" as troops were shuffled around and odd files as well as the occasional bit of tech circulated. The group I belong to was the first to act and quickly gobbled up those stray bits."

Buffy interrupted again, her mind obviously picking up the thought. "And got you out of jail."

Faith confirmed with a nod while answering the first question. "Nah, with me on staff bringing Riley in was deemed premature, but when he was here last I did clue him in that I had joined the establishment."

Faith chuckled. "Nah, I just mean that I was on the inside with the whole black ops thing. My superiors gave me recognition codes so that he knew I was an ally."

Faith sobered and shook her head. "I can't detail, B. What I can tell you is that the organization that I belong to recognizes the supernatural as a threat to national, and international security and has been moving to counter it."

Faith locked eyes again. "This is prime real estate for evil Buffy, and we aren't going to leave a single girl with a solitary Watcher to guard what will probably be ground zero for Armageddon."

Faith clucked her tongue. "Sure, as long as it's yes." Buffy scowled. "Look, B. Are you telling me that you don't want help? You've had to lay down your life twice now. You telling me that you wouldn't finally like someone to share the load? Me being just one of them? OR are you telling me that you would rather handle it yourself regardless of who might be hurt? Even if it's the whole damn world?"

Buffy paused a long moment. "So either I hand over authority to you or I'm a selfish bitch?"

Faith locked eyes with Buffy again, but with an intensity that only came out when she had to kill humans. "No Buffy, I'm taking authority. I'm leading the group here and my orders are clear, but I don't want to fight you."

"Guard the Hellmouth. It's a resource all the supernatural world would like to control so it must be denied to them."

Faith sighed sadly at the mention of her old boss. "Yeah B, kinda like that, but since he was pretty hands-off, work with evil kind and we will be a hands- on destroying evil organization. Even if you wouldn't be working with us you would probably find less beasties on patrol, fewer evils rising, things like that."

"Look how well it turned out last time. No B, even if Adam had worked out we are not into R&D. We exist to take out threats to America and her allies."

Faith's hard expression turned to an uncertain one. "Officially she's a resident expert on occult matters, unofficially she's... she's the best thing that ever happened to me, and that includes getting called as a Slayer and getting out of prison."

"Out of respect for you they get a pass this time, but Buffy, we have one real response when it comes to threats. I'm not trying to intimidate you or anything. I just need you to understand that if they force the issue..."

"That's Tara unofficial status, but unofficially I would kill her, but this is between you and me B." Buffy face flickered anger at Faith's words, but she allowed the woman to speak, even as she scooted her chair closer to hear.

"Look at the mind wipe B, the first one that is." Buffy's anger warred with uncertainty at the reminder. "She reached into Tara's mind and made Tara do what she wanted... I compare it to a magic date rape drug."

Buffy flinched and was about to object, but then she remembered the two leaving the Magic Box back when they were under the effects of the dancing demon. That made her protest seem rather feeble. "But she wasn't herself."

"I don't give a damn, B. I love Tara, and if anyone threatens her, good, evil, or state of mind will not be issues."

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Life on the Farm

by Dark Wyldchilde

Copyright © 2004

wyldchilde37@yahoo.com