The rain started as they made a sweep of a run down area. They'd been on patrol for a couple of hours, but nothing until now. Faith noticed a lack of people on the streets in an area where there should be quite a few. It didn't bother Faith as she slid along the side of a house. Kate was a few footsteps behind her on guard. Hearing a sound Faith stopped and backed up a step, jolting Kate.

"Sorry," Faith whispered reaching around and finding Kate still standing. Faith wanted to charge into the house, she was so ready for a fight. But she had learned her lesson the hard way. She shuddered in memory. Instead, she punched the wall of the weatherboard house.

"What are -" Kate started but a hand clamped on her mouth and she found herself staring into Faith's eyes. Putting a finger to her own lips, Faith nodded to Kate and it was returned.

Then Faith twisted around and pulled out her stake ready for a fight. It didn't take long before a lone vampire came out checking for the source of the noise. He didn't see Faith before it was too late, he dusted without a sound.

"One down," Faith said in Kate's direction. "Let's go." Faith ran around the front and up the rotting stairs. She snuck a peek in the window by the door. Four vamps sitting around a table playing cards. Must be a slow night, she thought. There were probably more, but she didn't think about it. If they were stupid enough to send out single vamps, they were so dustable. She heard Kate behind her creaking up the stairs. So much for stealth Detective, Faith thought.

Faith waited, watching the vamps. A couple of minutes later another came into the room and was obviously asking about the one they sent out.

"Two outcoming," Faith murmured to Kate who had crept next to her. Kate put her arm on Faith's shoulder in understanding and they got ready. The door opened and Faith didn't let the first even get out the door. Slam, the stake went into his heart. The other crashed out and past Faith, but she let Kate handle it.

The game was on. The other two vampires at the table advanced on Faith. She kicked one, sending him back while she went punch for punch with the other. He was strong, probably had just fed. Maybe not so slow, she fleetingly thought as she ducked another punch. She heard Kate come into the main room. Taking a quick look and being satisfied Kate could hold her own, she turned back to be confronted by the two recovered vampires. Two against one, I'll take the odds.

The fight lasted quite a while, compared to the previous night's standards, but at the end two humans stood and six vampires were dusted. As Faith stood back her arm coming back up after dusting the last, she turned to Kate who was wiping the dust from her clothes.

"Six out of six," Faith whooped her arm coming up for a high-five. Kate slapped her palm, a little out of breath. "Not a bad night."

"Let's get out of here." Kate turned and walked out of the building. Faith looked around as an idea came to her. She rummaged around and found what she suspected: money and quite a bit of it. She returned to where Kate was waiting on the porch under shelter.

"Found money." Faith showed her a wad of bills. "And a couple of nice rings." She shook her head. "Vamps betting with money, always a hoot."

"Good work," Kate was still catching her breath, wishing vampires could be killed the way she had been trained. Hand to hand combat was hard. Faith's youth became an advantage in that situation.

"So we done, or is there more butts to kick tonight?" Faith stared out in the rain, which was heavier.

Kate looked at her watch. "That's enough."

"Too bad, I was just getting warmed." Faith flexed her muscles. She certainly wasn't as tense as the night before, but it didn't matter, she was horny anyway. It was the way she was and it didn't help with another person standing there breathing loudly. At least it wasn't as bad as tag teaming with B.

"I'd like to see what a tiring battle is to you." Kate shook her head slightly. "I keep my fitness up and I am still out of breath. You, however�"

"It's part of being a slayer. Extra strength, extra stamina. Good for quite a few things, fighting included."

"Right." Kate thought about that as she made her way down the steps and back to the car.

After towelling down and putting on dry clothes, they sat down on the sofa.

"I'm going to make something," Faith got up and went to the kitchen, "slaying gets me this way." And horny, oh boy, she thought.

Kate was too preoccupied with turning on the late night news to answer. Faith came back a few minutes later with a plate stacked with food. The news was still going, covering the latest sport scores.

"You're weren't kidding," Kate chuckled at the amount of food on Faith's plate.

"I never kid about food," Faith said seriously. She settled on the sofa, pushing Kate's leg out of the way. Retaliating Kate reached across and grabbed a couple of goodies from Faith's plate. "Hey get your own," Faith protested smiling, glad the detective had bounced back from earlier.

"You got to be useful for something around here." Kate took a bite making a show.

"I'm a lot more useful than this," Faith winked.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Kate grinned, enjoying the banter. Faith leaned across and angled her face above hers. "What are you doing?"

"Making you believe," Faith put her hand around Kate's head and pulled her to her hungry lips. Kate struggled weakly for a few moments, but Faith was too strong this time. When she felt Kate accept the kiss she pulled back, greedily looking at the cop. "Did it do the trick?"

Kate considered slapping the girl for a moment. "No, didn't do a thing." Faith gave her a lazy smile which Kate didn't expect. "Is this a game to you?"

"Only if you want to play. Do you want to play, Detective? I could give you a good ride. You'd be begging for more just from-" Kate stood, her arm drawn back. "Go ahead, won't be a first."

"I'm not going to hit you," Kate lowered her arm. "I'm going to bed."

"Is that an invitation?" Faith stood and levelled her eyes on the detective.

"No." She turned the TV off and started across the floor.

"Fine, but we both know the truth, Detective. You enjoyed that kiss. You know it. I know it." Faith seductively said, "When you're ready to admit it, I'll be here." The response was the door being slammed. Faith finished her meal, tidied up and got herself off again, this time just to satisfy her fantasies of the detective.

*******************

Sleep was again not easy to come by so when Faith woke to the sound of cries again, she tried to block them out. She gave up after a few minutes.

She crept into the room and knelt in the same place as the previous night. Kate was shaking in her sleep. "Kate."

"So cold," Kate answered. Faith pulled the covers up on her as far as they could go. "So cold."

"Kate?" She shook her a little.

"Don't go," Kate whispered then mumbled a few more things she couldn't work out.

"Kate." Faith this time tried to wake her more forcefully.

"Cold." Kate shook as if physically experiencing her subconscious thoughts. Faith shook her again, but it only made Kate grip the arm on her own.

"Kate," Faith hissed, experiencing Kate's strength.

"What?" Faith wasn't sure if she was awake or not.

"Let go of me," Faith tried to get free.

"Huh?" Kate moved then, awake.

"I might like my arm back." Faith tugged it for emphasis.

"Oh." Kate let go, trying to make sense of what was going on. "Why are you here?"

"You were dreaming again." Faith moved her head towards Kate's whispering.

"Sorry." Kate closed her eyes. Get it together, she reprimanded herself.

"Don't apologise. You're still doing the grieve thing. It's better to get it out, or so I've been told." Faith gathered Kate's hand in the own and gave it a squeeze. She didn't know what else to do in the dark. "You probably try so hard to keep it together during the day at work, that it finds a way to come out anyway. Am I right?"

Kate felt the warmth of both Faith's words and actions. "Yes."

"Me, I went on pretending everything was still wicked cool. You know, nothing had happened." Faith shifted so she was sitting on the floor, her head leaning on the bed. "Even made up stories to tell others. She wasn't gone. No, she'd just gone to England on holiday. Didn't help though."

"You got through it?" Kate's only other experience was the death of her mother and she was too young to understand everything. But now, now she knew what kind of world she lived in and how fucked up it could be.

"Yes," Faith lied knowing Kate was looking for support not her own disastrous story. "You will too." Faith shook her head at her own do-gooder words. She sounded so fake. The night stillness settled back over the room as the women were drawn into their own thoughts. Kate revelled in the feeling of being cared for, it had been so long. She drifted off trying to cling to the rare feelings. Faith's hand still held Kate's as her breathing changed to a slow rhythm and matched Kate's.

The alarm woke both of them. Kate opened her eyes to find Faith's only inches away from hers. The slayer had moved so her back leaned on the side of the bed, her head resting back on it. Her arm rested on top where it ended still encased in Kate's. Faith didn't move and Kate thought she had ignored the alarm until she tried to extract her hand. Faith held on not wanting to give it up.

"Faith," Kate broke the morning silence.

"Hmm," came the answer.

"Aren't you uncomfortable?" Kate looked down and winced in sympathy for Faith's position.

"Too warm to move." Faith mumbled still not moving.

"How can you be warm? It's early morning."

"Warm sleeper." Faith turned her head to face Kate. "Giving you some of my warmth."

"What?" Kate rubbed her eyes and stifled a yawn. Faith wasn't making much sense.

"Go back to sleep."

"I can't, I have to go to work. You can." Kate tried to take her hand out of Faith's again. The slayer wasn't letting go.

"Okay," Faith tried to crawl on the bed, but Kate blocked her.

"Wait until I'm out of it first."

"And spoil the fun," Faith complained smiling. She was certainly awake now, Kate decided.

"Try, avoid being slapped." Kate returned the smile.

"Okay, but you're missing out," Faith sighed. She let go of Kate's hand, leaving her own feeling cold.

"Thank you," Kate said gratefully. Faith looked into the blue eyes and gave her a grin.

"Not used to doing the comfort thing, but I'm happy it helped." Faith stood and stretched aware Kate was staring at her.

"It did." Kate threw back the covers and waited for Faith to get out. She didn't take the hint, looking back at the detective, distracted by Kate's curves. "Out."

"Fine," Faith huffed. "But you've got nothing to be ashamed of." She winked and gave Kate a mental undressing. "Nothing at all," she echoed as she closed the door behind her leaving a flushed Kate.

*************************************

The apartment was silent when Kate walked in a little after eight that night. She noticed a note next to the phone. 'Gone slaying. Dinner in fridge. Don't worry you are not rid of me yet. Sit back and relax. Faith.' Kate opened the fridge and found a plate of steak and salad. She put it in the microwave to warm up the meat. Faith must have cooked since Kate knew she had all this in the kitchen.

Sitting down and watching some sitcom to take her mind off work, Kate couldn't stop her mind wandering to Faith. Was she okay? Where had she gone? She started worrying and told herself she shouldn't since the last two nights Faith had done ten times better a job at fighting than Kate herself could ever do. Still, as she finished dinner and half-watched the television, her mind kept going back to the girl, hoping she would be home soon.

She woke up sometime later, the television screen showing some early morning program.

"Hey, still up?" Faith came around to the front of the sofa.

"Went to sleep." Kate rubbed her eyes, adjusting to the dim light.

"You weren't waiting up for me, were you?" Faith asked half hoping that Kate was doing exactly that.

"No," Kate answered, although when she thought about it, she subconsciously did want to make sure Faith was safe. "Tiring day. Any luck?"

"Yes," Faith said happily as sat down at the other end. "Two vamps and some weird yellow spotted demon had a run in with me. Bad for them, good for me."

"That all?" Kate yawned, not quite awake.

"Yeah, went back to the place last night, but no sign." Faith leaned her head back and groaned happily. This slaying in LA was turning out to be a good gig. Being anonymous and not having to report on numbers or techniques to some stuffy Watcher made it much more relaxing.

"That's good." Kate grinned at Faith, grateful the slayer was not displaying any of the distress she did on Sunday. "You're going good. I'm proud of you."

"Proud. Bullshit," Faith laughed.

"No bull." Kate sat up, shaking the last remnants of sleep from her head. "You said last night you're a slayer and you're good at what you do. That's reason to be proud."

"Yeah, well, last person who was proud of me is not around any more, so don't get used to it."

"I'm not that person," Kate said forcefully. "Thanks for dinner."

Glad Kate changed the subject, Faith chuckled, "Needed to keep up my energy, just as easy to cook two steaks."

"Well it was nice to come home and not have to cook, so thanks." Kate reached for the remote, turned the TV off and put a lamp on. "I'm off to bed."

"Sweet dreams," Faith said seriously catching Kate unawares.

"I'll try," Kate smiled gently. Faith nodded and returned an easy grin. Secretly she hoped Kate would need her again. "Goodnight."

"You too." Faith made her temporary bed, but couldn't even try to sleep. Kate's smell permeated the sofa from where she had been for several hours. More tired than lustful, Faith tried to put it out of her mind, but it still affected her thoughts before she drifted off.

It happened again. Trevor Lockley lying on the apartment floor, exsanguinated from the two puncture wounds in his neck. He lay there. So still. Kate could feel everything as though it was happening in the present. But something occurred that never did before. A hand on her shoulder and a gentle voice calling her name. She tried to see who it was but she was frozen, curled in the corner. The gentle voice continued to soothe her. Instinctively she reached her arms out, the lost little girl wanting to be hugged. And she was. The arms cradled her, gently stroking her back as she whimpered. "Kate?" The voice called again. She recognised it.

"Faith?" She called out.

"Here." It answered as if Faith was right there holding her. She jolted from her dream finding it true. Faith had climbed over her and was stretched out partly under, partly beside Kate holding her with both arms.

"Faith," Kate breathed a sigh of relief. Once again the girl had rescued her from the dream.

"This is not what it looks like," Faith tried to keep it light. She removed one arm that had kept Kate's torso on her, but kept the other one slowly rubbing the detective's back. Kate didn't move staying tucked under Faith's chin, her breath gently blowing the dark hair. "Besides it was you who rolled on me." Kate became mindful that their embrace was extremely intimate. Almost as lovers would sleep. She moved a little. "You don't have to move, Kate. It's no trouble."

"I'll bet." Kate pulled her head back, making out Faith in the dark.

"I didn't mean it like that. Sure, it had crossed my mind but I was a little busy trying to wake you at the time." Faith still rubbed Kate's back feeling the warmth soak through to her hand.

"I know you didn't." Kate stayed where she was. Faith was offering comfort and she really needed it.

"So much for sweet dreams."

"Hmm."

"I didn't know if I should wake you. At the end there you quietened down."

"That was you," Kate admitted quietly, not sure why.

"Maybe I should stay here, that way you might not have any more," Faith joked wishing Kate would take the offer. Kate stiffened in response. In theory it sounded so good, the nightmares were taking their toll. In practice was another story. Faith's free hand started stroking the blonde hair. "I'm not good with all the caring words that I'm supposed to say, mainly because I think they don't mean much. So this," Faith indicated their embrace, "is what I'm doing. Never been much a hugger, but it feels right."

"You're going a great job of caring," Kate said. "I wouldn't refuse it."

"Good," Faith smiled happy that she was doing something right and Kate wanted her to keep doing it.

"Never been much for hugging either, well not in recent history." Faith stopped the motion of both hands content to have someone, no make that Kate, want her comfort and support.

"Go back to sleep."

"You too." Kate sat up making Faith's hands leave their resting places.

"I can do without." Faith moved her body closer. "I'll make sure you get back to sleep."

"Faith, it is too late�early to think clearly. I don't want you in my bed right now." Faith didn't move. "Out."

"I'm not going to try something, I promise," Faith pleaded, not wanting to leave Kate unprotected from her dreams. Kate was bringing out a protective streak that she never knew she had.

"It's not that," Kate answered weary.

"I'm sleeping on the floor, then."

"Fine," Kate gave in, wanting to get back to sleep. She heard the determination in Faith's voice and felt a little flattered that Faith wanted to look out for her. Faith left the warmth of her bed and returned to the bedroom with a pillow and blanket.

After she had settled down on the floor, Faith uttered a goodnight. It was returned and they both fell asleep thinking how nice it was for someone to be close and looking out for them.

*******************

For the next night and the next two nights after that, Kate had come home after three in the morning and didn't have a deep enough sleep for the nightmares to make an appearance. Over this time a pattern was established. Faith slept late then trained for much of the day. She took off just before dark to patrol the streets. She had mixed success on the streets. She then lay on the sofa waiting for Kate. She was disappointed she hadn't been needed since spending the night on the floor.

When Faith woke mid-morning she wondered why Kate wasn't up yet. Maybe she had a day off. No, she reconsidered, it was Saturday. She'd been here nearly a week. There hadn't even been a hint of the cops looking for her, no news bulletins or anything. She doubted Kate knew anything either, thank goodness.

In what was becoming familiar, Faith heard whimpering from the bedroom. Without any hesitation she burst into the room. Kate was just waking up as she made her way to the bed.

"Morning," Faith knelt by the bed.

"Morning," Kate turned to face her.

"You okay?" Faith resisted the temptation to wipe away the tears on Kate's face. She chose to reach for a tissue and gave it to her.

"Thanks." Kate took the tissue, embarrassed in the light of the morning.

Feeling awkward without the dark to hide their emotions Faith stood up, "I'll leave you to it." Kate wanted her to stay, but simply nodded and Faith slipped out. About twenty minutes she smelled food being cooked. There was a knock on the door a couple of minutes later.

"Come in," she answered as she propped her back against the wall. Faith made her way in the room with a tray full of breakfast.

"Thought you might want a pick-me-up." She put the tray down on the bedside table. "Now I'm not sure how you take your coffee, so I brought just about everything you can have it in."

Kate chuckled, then looked up at Faith. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "It looks wonderful." She surveyed the eggs and toast, her mouth watering.

"Don't compliment me until you taste it." Faith shifted her weight.

Kate gave her a smile. Taking the fork she jabbed some eggs and took a mouthful. "Good," she said as she swallowed.

"You mean I'm not going to give you food poisoning?" Faith acted disappointed.

"No such luck." Kate prepared her coffee and took a sip. "You even got the coffee right." Faith smiled. "Where's yours?"

"Not ready." Faith didn't look too worried.

"Go then," Kate motioned her out. Faith nodded, satisfied she cheered up the cop, and headed out to get her own.

Faith was reading the paper and eating cereal when Kate came into the kitchen showered and dressed. She placed the tray on the sink and turned beaming, "Compliments to the cook."

Faith looked up, "All gone?"

"Every last crumb." Kate came to the table and pinched the sports section. They sat there swapping sections for a while. Finally bored, Faith looked up.

"What you doing today?" She asked watching Kate read the headline news.

"Hadn't thought about it."

"What about some action?" Faith folded the paper in front of her.

"Isn't it a little early for that?" Kate also folded her section of the paper

"No, I mean the going out and having fun kind of action. There have to be some wild clubs here in LA." Faith enthused.

"Well, one you're under drinking age, two I don't think it is a good idea anyway."

"Oh come on, Kate. I've being going crazy all week. I NEED some action." There was no doubt what Faith meant.

"I'm not getting into this," Kate refused to be baited. "You need a bit of stability in your life and doing what you are proposing is not good, Faith."

"Fine," Faith groaned. "I sometimes forget you are the straight-laced cop. Fun for you must be hearing a judge sentence a crim." Kate gave her a stare. "Okay, okay, I get the picture. But that doesn't mean you've ruled out slaying, right?"

"No."

"Thank fucking goodness for that."

"Actually I have something to do today," Kate stood.

"Invitation only?" Kate didn't answer. "You got a date?" Faith's voice couldn't hide the crestfallen tone.

"No, there's something I need to do," Kate said avoiding Faith's gaze.

"You want me there?" Faith sensed this was something about Kate's father. "You know for...whatever."

Kate studied Faith's sincere look. "This is not fun."

"Doesn't matter."

"Okay, get ready," Kate said and walked away quickly.

"Do you want me to wait in the car?" Faith asked as Kate parked the car. She looked out into the cemetery grounds. She wasn't used to seeing one during the day.

"Yes." Kate nodded and saw the hurt on Faith's face. "I need to do this alone." Faith nodded and reached over with her hand briefly touching Kate's shoulder. Kate nodded her thanks and stepped out of the car.

She made her way to where her father lay at peace. The bouquet of flowers was laid at the headstone and she stood up looking down at the marker. 'Beloved Father.' Oh Daddy, she thought, why couldn't we say what we needed to before it was too late. I don't know what I'm doing these days. Taking in a stranger, hunting demons like they were suspects, feeling like crying most of the time, going on trips to strange towns. Why did I have to meet Angel? Maybe all this would go away if I never saw him. A tear made it's way down her face and she fiercely wiped it away.

You sure wouldn't like Faith, Kate continued her internal monologue. She's brash and you would have labelled her a no good troublemaker. Maybe she is, but I know she's changed. But she cares about me, Daddy. You said just before you�well that it wasn't good to be alone. I didn't want to listen to it then, but I know it now. Faith makes me feel less alone. She also has had some loneliness in her life, lost people as well. Maybe we can be lonely together, I don't know. She's the only person who seems to understand I don't need pity or talking behind my back, I need a friend. For the first time in a long while, I'm allowing myself to give in to my needs. It feels good.

Satisfied that she had got that out, even if it was to a grave, Kate closed her eyes for a few moments before heading back to the car.

"You must have loved him," Faith said as Kate closed the door and nodded as an answer. "Was he a good father?"

"Yes," Kate left the word hanging

"But?"

"He loved my mother so much that when she died I became a constant reminder. It was hard on him�me as well."

"So different," Faith mumbled.

"What?" Kate fumbled with the keys in the ignition.

"We're so different." Faith didn't look at Kate. No kidding she thought, she's a cop and I'm a murderer.

"Why do you say that?" Kate thought they had much in common.

"No reason," Faith shrugged hoping Kate didn't question her.

"Where is your family, Faith?" Kate took her hand off the keys.

"Long dead." Kate gave her an empathetic look. "Don't be sorry, weren't that close, unless you call hands colliding with my body tough love."

"I'm sorry," Kate drew out the breath. She'd seen victims of abuse and put away some creeps away for it, but knowing Faith was one stirred up so much more emotion in her.

"Don't be, I don't want your pity," Faith slammed her fist on the dash.

"I didn't mean it that way," Kate defended.

"What way did you mean it?" Faith wasn't convinced.

"I�I guess�. Hell. I wish I could go back in time and stop it from happening," Kate finished.

Faith laughed, "That's the weirdest response I've ever heard to that."

"Yeah well," Kate gave a small smile, "doesn't stop it from being true. I guess I've seen first-hand what kind of bastards do things like that and I know how strong the victims have to be." Kate turned and placed a hand on Faith's. "So I guess I meant it in a understanding kind of way, even though I'm sure I'll never totally understand what exactly a victim goes through. If that makes any sense?"

"Yeah," Faith nodded so aware of Kate's reassuring hand-hold. "I don't normally tell people because I get those pitiful looks. Drives me mad. But you actually knew what to say." They shared shy smiles.

"Home?" Kate asked turning the keys and starting the car.

"Drive on." Faith said, relieved that Kate didn't want coddle her. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

*****