Part 5

Buffy walked into The Magic Shop. The Gang was still assembled around the table playing cards. A radio was playing in the background.

"Hey Buff. Did you get that little problem taken care of?" Xander inquired casually.

"Yes. I don't think I will have to deal with that problem any time soon." Buffy noticed they are playing cards. "Oh, Poker! So, who's gonna spot me some kittens." She paused as she realized it might not be so easy to put that 'problem' behind her.

The song playing on the radio ended and a news bulletin rang out: "Los Angeles: Details from last night's prison break continue to trickle out. In all, it is believed that 8 inmates have escaped from the LA Women's Penitentiary. A dozen guards are confirmed dead. The ringleader is believed to be a woman in her early 20's named Faith Parker."

"Oh my god. Faith!" Buffy moved closer to the radio. The rest of the gang abandoned the card game and stood to join her.

The bulletin continued, "Two of the escapees have been apprehended. Information gathered by the police indicates that all of the fugitives have scattered. Miss Parker was last seen headed north toward Sunnydale. She is believed to be in the company of a man named Walter Barrows, an ex-con recently paroled after serving a sentence for armed robbery. If you see them do not attempt to stop them. They are considered to be extremely dangerous. Please contact your local authorities with any information."

Buffy went into Slayer mode, "We have to find her and stop her. If she escaped last night she is probably in Sunnydale already. Anya, you take Dawn to your place. Faith won't show up there. Willow and Xander you come with me."

"Where are we going?" Willow asked.

"Where she could do the most damage. The Bronze." Buffy replied grimly.

*****

Faith entered Spike's crypt and looked around. "So this is where you crash? Sure beats where I've been hanging out. Not much of a view though." She plopped down in the chair and threw her leg over the arm.

"I don't take much of a fancy to windows."

"No, I suppose you wouldn't." She sat up straighter and fixed him with a sultry gaze. "So what's your story? You got a girlfriend?"

The muscles in Spike's jaw tensed briefly. "No."

"That's a total waste." Faith opined, "I can't believe Buffy never had the sense to try you out."

Spike was getting more suspicious. "What do you know about the Slayer? And I don't think I caught your name."

Faith rose smoothly and strolled over to him. She laid an arm over his shoulder and ran a finger across his bottom lip. "I'm surprised you haven't figured that out yet. I thought you were smarter than that." She patted his cheek and backed away. "I'm Faith."

Spike's eyes widened for just a second, then his face became unreadable. "I see. The other Slayer."

"That's me." She sauntered away from him. "And I'm not the "other" Slayer. I'm the real Slayer. She began to pace around the room, becoming increasingly agitated. "I am the chosen one. Buffy and her friends would like to keep me locked away so that she can get all the glory. They just don't get it. The rules don't apply to me." She stopped and smiled. She was suddenly calm again. "B's just been holding down my gig while I played nice girl, waiting for the chance to make my big move."

"And you say we've met before." He couldn't believe he wouldn't remember her.

"Yeah!" She smiled, and then faked a big pout. "And I'm hurt that you don't remember. Of course, like I told you, I didn't look like this then. No, I was a skinny little thing with blond hair." She looked at him as realization set in. "Please! You had to know B would never come on to you like that! Not with that stick stuck up her butt."

He realized what she was getting at. "Then it was you telling me."

"...About all my special muscles and how I would ride you? But oh no, it was WRONG!" She laughed. "I think you promised me we'd have a confrontation, if you ever got that pesky little chip out of..."

Spike cut her off. "I remember. I didn't realize, all this time." He moved away from her. He poured himself drink. "So you were trying to take over her life then, but you buggered that up. What's your grand scheme this time?"

"I'm keeping it simple. I'm here to take back my turf, and I need Buffy out of the way. She hates you, and you hate her. I figure you can lure her out here. While she is busy trying to take you out, I show up and take her out. We both win. Everything is great. Five by five." She smiled again.

"You become the only Slayer, and we have an agreement to stay out of each other's way." He understood her.

"Exactly." She slinked toward him again. "Except for when we want to get in each other's way." She reached around to the back of his head and pulled him down to kiss him.

Spike lifted his head slightly. "There is only one problem with your plan, pet." His voice is deadly calm and cold. "I'll spill your blood from your open guts before you ever touch a hair on her head."

Spike's fist smashed into Faith's solar plexus, sending her flying across the crypt. With cat-like agility she twisted in the air and landed on her feet. Slightly hunched over she looked up at Spike, her eyes glowing with fury. "What is it with Vamp's falling for Goldilocks?" She spat out at him.

She launched into full attack. Spike desperately fended off blows and kicks. He grunted as Faith landed a blow to his chin and sent him crashing into the furniture, smashing his bottle of Jim Beam under him. Faith pounced, straddling him, raining blows on him. She was out of control. "You are such a freaking idiot! I was offering you more than you deserve. And you want her instead of me?" She continued to rant as she pummeled him. Spike fended off blows with one hand and used the other to reach down and search for the remains the liquor bottle. Grasping the broken bottle by its neck, he slashed at the crazed slayer with it. She staggered back on her heels, blood pouring out of her wounded throat. A disbelieving look filled her eyes as she fell to her knees.

Spike rose from the floor and sauntered over to her "OK so it was your throat, not your guts. Whatever works." Spike smirked with his pulped lips and reached down to pull her up by her hair. He looked directly into her face. "And nobody but me calls her Goldilocks!" His face transformed to fangs and ridges, his eyes full of yellow fury. He put his mouth to her wounded throat, and drank deep.