"Detective?" Kate looked over her shoulder at an officer. "There is someone here to see you." Kate nodded and saved her work on the computer.

"Detective."

"Wesley, right?" Kate nodded to the dark haired Englishman.

"Yes, may I speak to you?" He shuffled his feet.

"I told Angel yesterday I wanted nothing to do with him." Kate crossed her arms and leaned back on her desk. Her good mood was evaporating quickly.

"Yes, I understand that. However, I feel that it may not prudent to do this."

"In case you've forgotten," Kate hissed leaning her head forward, "it was my association with him in the first place that caused trouble." Wesley retreated a little under the probing gaze. "I've made up my mind so you can tell your boss that he need not bother again."

"I understand that you would be upset-" Kate laughed hollowly. "But you must know that it was not Angel's fault about the unfortunate consequences resulting."

"You defend him like he was a person, but we both know the truth. He is not an innocent, he is a mass murderer. So, don't go telling me about how good he is. HE, he is not blameless and I will not let another close to me die because your boss decides he is a law unto himself," Kate's voice was low but cutting.

"I know he is remorseful for what happened, and I'm not just talking about the last couple of weeks. He has done much good since his soul was returned to him."

"What did I just say to you?" Kate stood up straight her eyes boring into his. "Do not defend him. I've read enough to know who he is. Maybe he is trying to help, but it will never ever make up for the damage and terror he has caused in this world."

"You may have read some, Detective, but you don't know the whole story."

"And you do?" Kate returned her legs to lean on the desk.

"I've done extensive research on Angel. At first I wasn't convinced of his benevolence, especially given past circumstances, but I see now how he is trying redeem himself."

Kate looked at him for a moment. "It was you who gave me those papers?" Wesley glanced away sheepish. "What do you know about Sunnydale?"

"Quite a lot."

"Mind sharing why you gave them to me?" Kate relaxed a little.

"I thought it might help you � make sense of things," Wesley didn't look at her.

"I went up there and had a look around."

"Really?" Wesley seemed surprised. "Did you find anything?"

"Enough." Kate idly speculated about whether Wesley and Faith had known each other. "Do you know what a Vampire Slayer is?"

Wesley uneasily coughed, "Yes."

"You wouldn't happen to have any research material about them?" Kate pried further sensing Wesley's unwillingness to talk.

"In general?"

"You know of a particular slayers?" This was getting interesting, she thought.

"There are a few accounts of slayers throughout history," Wesley decided to play it safe.

"What about current slayers?"

"Their identity should remain a secret," Wesley side stepped.

"But you do know the slayer's identity?"

"Yes, what do you know about slayers?"

"They are sent to Sunnydale?" Kate asked pretending to be innocent.

"At the moment," Wesley said.

"So what happens if they leave the town?"

"Buffy�sorry the Slayer would never do that. It is their life-long duty." Who the hell was Buffy? Kate asked herself. And where did Faith fit into this? She wasn't prepared to let the man know that she knew Faith.

"Thank you�for the information. However it doesn't change my view on Angel." Kate looked at the man in kindness.

"I'm sure if you changed it, we would be more than willing to help." Kate nodded. "Now you must excuse me, Cordelia has given us a rather unusual case to handle."

"Unusual?" Kate asked cursing her inquisitive nature.

"Yes, a divorce." He smiled and Kate chucked softly.

"Not exactly your forte." Wesley nodded.

"Good luck, Detective."

"You too," Kate said and watched him walk out while thinking hard about the Englishman's words. She wanted to bring it up with Faith, but getting her to talk about her past without infuriating her was going to be hard.

"New boyfriend?" Harlan approached her.

"No, though it's none of your business." Kate gave the detective a scowl.

"It's just that you seemed in a good mood this morning." Harlan went on ignoring the scowl.

"I hadn't seen your face yet." Kate sat back down dismissing him

"Coming down to the bar again?"

"Not with you." Kate looked down at the information she was entering in to the computer.

"We had fun last night, Kate."

Kate looked up at him, a sneer on her face, "Why can't you understand I don't want anything to do with you outside of this place." Harlan stared at her then walked away in defeat. Kate sighed, shaking her head.

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

As Kate unlocked the apartment door, she could hear soft music in the background. One from her CD collection if she was not mistaken.

"Hey." Faith came from the kitchen dressed in black leather pants and a sheer halter-top. Faith saw her giving her the once over. "I was going to go naked, but I thought you might want to undress me yourself."

"Good choice," Kate dropped her papers on the table. Faith closed the distance and practically pulled Kate into her arms giving her one good going over with her lips. "What's with the music?"

"Thought I might give it a try," Faith said offhandedly. "I have something for you."

"Another earth shattering climax?" Kate pulled her jacket off and threw it over a chair.

Faith smiled. "Good idea, but not right now."

"Thought you couldn't wait." Kate advanced on her.

"I do have some self control," Faith pointed out before she was caught up in another kiss. "However," she arched her head as Kate's lips searched out new places, "it�isn't�much." When their lips separated again Faith had enough willpower to take a step back. "Go sit down." Kate did as was asked while she watched Faith bring a parcel out from the kitchen. "Now it isn't much, actually quite crappy, but I wanted to get you something because�I don't know." She nervously held it out to Kate.

"Thank you." Kate smiled, forgetting the trials of the day. She took the rectangular package from Faith, who stood there nervously waiting. Opening it, she guessed it was a book. She flipped it over so she could read the title: 'Dreams & Nightmares: How to Manage Them.' She looked up at Faith, a big grin lighting up her face.

"Told you it was crap," Faith said looking at the book in slight disgust.

"No, Faith it's not." Kate put the book down and took her in her arms. "Sure, I'm not exactly into the 'self help' thing, but who knows it might have a few helpful suggestions." She brought her hands to Faith's cheeks cradling them. "Nothing you could ever give me is crap." Kate pulled Faith to her and gave her a gentle kiss. "Especially when it is given to show that you care. As the phrase goes, it's the thought that counts. Just knowing you care is enough."

"If you say so." Faith pulled back.

"Faith, you couldn't have done better. You answered any doubts I had today."

"You had doubts?" Faith frowned.

Kate scratched her forehead. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that�"

"I know, give me the talk. Faith, I enjoyed this morning, but I wasn't thinking straight, I was thinking gay."

"I wasn't going to say that at all." Kate moved closer, but Faith recoiled. "Yes, I don't usually have sex with a woman, but I'm not worried about that." Kate took a deep breath, "I was going to say that I had thought about you just wanting to get me in bed. But I know now you care about more than that."

"Whatever." Faith looked right into those blue eyes and couldn't stand to see the pain in them. "You don't regret it?"

"No, best part of my day."

"Yeah, well it's not every day you get to writhe under a slayer. That extra strength and stamina comes in real handy." Faith smirked and wrapped her arms around Kate's waist. "You're still packing."

Kate moved back and undid the gun holster, throwing it on the sofa. "Better?"

"I don't know, I like a woman with a weapon."

"Fight this," Kate stuck her tongue out and crushed their lips together. Faith expertly moved them into the bedroom where she started undressing the rest of her detective.

A couple of hours later Faith wrapped her arms around Kate and moved her so they were facing each other on the sheets. "Where did you learn to do that!" Faith breathed out. Kate laughed in response. "If I knew it could be this good with a cop I might have tried it before now. Must be all that pent up aggression."

"Look who's talking." Kate tucked a stray hair behind Faith's ear.

"You got a mouth on you and a tongue too." Faith grinned.

"I aim to please."

"Well, you're definitely hitting the right targets." They lay there for a while, occasionally kissing and caressing.

"Dinner," Kate said as she heard Faith's stomach rumble.

When they were both sitting at the kitchen table and starting on their meal, Kate decided to delve into Faith's past.

"I found out who gave me the information about Sunnydale." She stole a glance at her lover's expression.

"Yeah?" Faith tried to sound uninterested.

"Yes, turns out it was the people I thought it was." Kate noticed Faith was getting a little agitated.

"People?" Faith wondered who down in LA knew about Sunnydale.

"A private investigation firm that I use for information sometimes."

"Like a source?" Faith felt relieved. Kate nodded. "And they know about demons?"

"Yes and they're not the only ones."

"Who else?"

"There's a law firm who actually defends these creatures in court."

"You're kidding!" Though Faith could see she wasn't. "I guess they don't ask for payment in the usual way, then."

"Afraid not. Who knows how many demons they have in their back pockets? There's nothing these guys wouldn't do to win."

"Can't you shut them down?"

"Faith, they aren't a small firm. They have a lot of financial backing and wealthy clients. Demons aren't their only clients, they defend human scum too."

"Oh, at least you can beat them in court." Faith felt like going out there and kicking their greasy lawyer butts herself.

"Anyway, my source says that slayer's identities should be kept secret, so why were you so willing to tell me?"

"You told them about me?" Faith asked her shoulders stiffening.

"No, I asked him if he knew what a slayer was and he did." Kate watched as Faith took the information in. "He gave me a bit more information than you did."

"You accusing me of holding back?" Faith dropped her fork on the plate.

"Let's be honest here, Faith. I don't know much about you or your special abilities. Sometime in the future, not now, I want to know more. "

"So one day in the sack and you think you have a right to order me around." Faith stood up, making the chair scrape on the floor.

"I don't have the right to order you to do anything. I want, no, I need to understand a few things. It doesn't have to be right now or tomorrow. I have no idea what a slayer really is. If you die or are immortal," Kate said and looked up concern on her face. "What to do if you hurt yourself. Do I take you to a hospital or is that redundant?" Kate stood and levelled her eyes to dark ones. "Faith, I'm flying blind here and I don't like it."

"I'm human, Kate," Faith replied softly. She couldn't stand to see her like this. "But I don't like hospitals." She visibly shivered at the thought of having spent eight months in one. "I die like everyone else. When I do, another slayer will be called to replace me. Dying is the only way I lose my powers. Anything else you want to know?" She demanded hoping that was the last of it. Tomorrow she could get out of here and never see Kate again.

"For now," Kate said not wanting to upset her more. "Except why you told me."

"You already figured out the vampire bit, besides you were getting nosy." Faith sat back down and picked up her fork trying to effectively ending the conversation.

Kate persisted, "Faith, I want to know because I care about you."

"Care?" Faith threw the words back knowing she was hurting Kate. "You shouldn't."

"Too late." Kate came around and moved Faith's chair back from the table. She took the fork from Faith's hand and placed it behind her on the table. She then straddled Faith's legs, putting her arms around the back of her neck. "Way too late," she whispered and leaned in for a kiss that Faith accepted but didn't encourage. "And don't tell me you feel nothing for me, because we both know that isn't true."

Pulling Kate back Faith looked pensive. "I shouldn't be doing this."

"Why not?" Kate gave her another kiss.

"You're right, you don't know a thing about me. That's the way it should stay." Putting her hands around Kate's waist, she tried to help the detective off her lap. It didn't work.

"Where were you born?"

"Huh?" Faith's hands moved to cup Kate's ass.

"You heard me just fine." Kate couldn't help but grind her hips a little.

"Boston." Faith thrust up into her.

"East Coast girl," Kate managed to get out before their lips came together again, this time Faith controlling.

"Something wrong with that?" Faith asked as she moved her lips lower.

"Not at all," Kate moaned as Faith started a slow grind into her. "Did you play any sports at school?"

"What's this, twenty questions?" Faith picked up her pace.

"Just getting to�know you." Kate gave up trying as Faith undid the fly of her pants.

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

Kate woke the next morning wrapped up in naked Faith. She couldn't believe it had only been twenty-four hours since they'd become lovers. Lover, she thought, haven't had one of those for a long time. Well, not one that she wanted to remember. She reached out her hand and moved a strand of hair over Faith's closed eyes.

"Do you have to wake me at this hour?" Came a husky voice.

"Yes, it's how I get my kicks."

"I thought you got your kicks last night." Faith loosened her hold.

"Wasn't enough."

"You seemed satisfied enough." Faith opened her eyes focussing on the beautiful face.

"I am," Kate answered. "I'm getting up before you entice me into another session." She drew the covers back taking in Faith's naked form.

"You better stop looking at me like that then." Faith laughed as Kate caught herself eyeing Faith's body for too long.

"Go back to sleep, I'll see you tonight."

"Might be out slaying." Faith felt cold as she lazily watched Kate leave the bed and pad across to the wardrobe.

"Okay." Kate was thankful she had her back to Faith as a frown appeared on her face.

"Just because we've slept together doesn't mean we change our whole schedule." Faith studied Kate's butt, licking her lips. "Besides I'll be more than ready when I come home."

"And it doesn't mean I'm going to be at your beck and call when you're horny," Kate said as she started for the door.

"Right," Faith mumbled pulling up the covers and rolling away from Kate. She heard her stomp out the bedroom and the bathroom door close. Now she remembered why she hadn't had a relationship in a long time. Not that there was anything to her and Kate, they just fucked each other. No need to get all serious.

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

When Kate got in that night there was a note laying on the desk. 'K, thanks for the memories but I gotta go. Don't feel too bad. Faith.' She screwed up the paper and threw it down. Looking for Faith's things she found that Faith had left everything that wasn't hers. On the desk were the apartment keys and other borrowed items. Damn, she said out loud, damn it. She took her own keys from where she threw them and went back out on the streets, checking out places where they had gone hunting.

After an hour and ready to give up the almost futile search, Kate heard the sounds of a fight coming from a back alley. She raced out the car, drawing both gun and stake and descended into the dark street. She was too late, the fight was finished, but the victor was human. Faith.

"You're a coward, you know that." She put the stake back in her pants and slowly approached the dark figure.

"Better than being a loser." Faith eyeballed the gun that was still drawn. "What, you gonna shoot me?"

"The way I feel at the moment I just might." Kate kept closing the gap.

Faith chuckled, "You know I could give you a bang without the gun involved."

"Funny, I would have sworn you leaving put an end to that."

"I'm always up for one last go around. You?" Faith stayed still while Kate stopped a couple of feet from her.

"Not here." Kate lowered her gun hand.

"Why not. Public places always get me off." Faith stepped closer.

"Perhaps you should go solo if it turns you on so much."

"It's always more fun with two." Faith invaded Kate's space, drawing her face into her and then pulling back again.

"Come back with me."

Faith waggled her finger. "No no no. I'm not falling for that. Who do think I am, Detective?"

"A coward." Kate finally holstered her gun.

"You said that already. Broken record, much."

"Doesn't make it any less true."

"So you want to do it or should I go find someone else?" Faith smirked when Kate's expression turned dangerous.

"You got a place to stay?"

"Not yet." Faith leaned in again. "But that's easily fixed."

"Come back with me, just for sex." Kate pulled Faith in and kissed her hard.

Faith wiped her lips as they broke apart. "Want me to pay you?" Kate swung her arm back, ready to slap, but dropped it at the last instant. "And you call me a coward," Faith taunted, "go ahead and do it."

"I'm not going to hit you. You've had too much of that in your life." Kate crossed her arms.

"Spare me the pity," Faith spat out.

"Not pity, fondness."

"Even now?" Faith turned sideways to her and laughed. "I thought you were smarter than that, Detective Lockley."

"You know, I was hoping you would stay, but I think I always knew it was only a matter of time before you shot through," Kate said sadly. "Just know you are still welcome in my home." Kate waited but Faith stood still not facing her, so she walked slowly back to her car wishing Faith would follow her. She got in and waited a few more minutes before reluctantly giving up and driving off. Faith watched from the shadows. As the car engine faded in the distance, she slumped down on the cold concrete, her head in her hands.

Kate really cared about her. She hadn't expected that. Somehow, she wished she had been hit, it would be easier to deal and move on. Sure B had made the same kind of promises, but Kate didn't have any demanding friends telling her that Faith was a piece of shit or that were jealous of her. No Angel to run back to, no Willow to give her murderous looks, no Watcher to order her around and no B telling her she needed to tone it down. Kate was as alone as Faith was. Oh god, she thought, I fucked up the only good thing I've ever had. She could do two things; go back and swallow her pride or never see her again. She didn't want the second option, so she had to do the first. Tomorrow.

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

After another nightmarish night and not much sleep, Kate rolled into work for another Thursday. She had waited most of the night for Faith. Any noise alerted her, but it hadn't been what she had hoped.

"You look like hell." Harlan came over with a stack of papers. Kate glared at him. "New case," Harlan said as handed her the papers. "Murder over at some swish hotel." Kate took them and quickly thumbed through them, relieved she could turn her mind to something other than Faith or her father.

"You working it too?" Kate stood and grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair.

"Yeah, Lieutenant wants quite a bit of manpower over there, rumour has the victim as some high-flier from Asia."

"Let's go then." Kate strode with purpose out of the office and down to the parking lot.

Moving through the day, Kate put her mind to the case that thankfully seemed to point to a very human killer. They had lifted fingerprints, hair and fibres from the crime scene. While waiting for the results late in the day with nothing else to do until then, Kate found herself thinking about the night before. Faith was hiding something from her; she had known that since she had met her. The question was, what was it? She was tempted to look up the criminal database for a clue, but if she did find something she didn't know how she would deal with it. She was a cop and had a duty. If Faith was running from a crime it should be her duty to turn her in. There was no way Kate wanted to make that decision.

She desperately wanted Faith to come back. She finally admitted to herself that she needed Faith's support. Being alone seemed second best to what she felt when she was with Faith. Faith, the word stuck in her mind. Where did my faith go in this world? The belief that the good guys win and the only demons were in people's minds. Surely, her father hadn't known what he was dealing with, but what was he thinking in dealing with drug dealers in the first place? Part of her was angry with him. She hadn't needed the money; sure she wasn't rich, but she wasn't lacking for money to pay bills and rent. She loved him so much and after her mother had gone he was all she had in the world and now he was gone too. Leaving her all alone. Faith had changed that for a few days and she desperately wanted her back again.

"Hey Lockley." Harlan turned from the desk next to hers. She sighed and looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You actually doing any work there?"

"Bite me." Kate turned back to the profile she had finished a while ago. "I'm waiting for lab results."

"You look like you have some serious issues going on up there." Harlan gave her a pointed glance.

"What are you, a shrink?"

"Just saying, sheesh." Harlan turned around shaking his head. Kate ran her hand over her head a couple of times. Even Harlan thought she was going out of her mind.

"I'm sorry," Kate said sincerely. "I hate high-profile cases."

"Yeah," Harlan sympathised turning back, "all that pressure coming from the top. Not to mention the foreign diplomats harping on about correct procedure."

"Listen," Kate said as she glanced at her watch, "we can't do much more until the lab results come back which probably won't be til tomorrow now. The people we need to question can't be done until tomorrow either. So how about we go down for a beer. We can throw some ideas around see how we do."

Harlan smiled. "Sounds good." They packed up and each took a pile of paperwork and headed off for the bar.

*****