When Angel saw Faith, he felt the relief wash over him.

 

Before this moment, he wasn’t sure what they would find.  But now, looking at her, he knew she was basically okay, a little beat up, but she was still alive.  It didn’t escape his notice that Spike was still supporting her even though the immediate threat was over.  Ignoring Spike he asked Faith, “You okay?”

 

“Five by five,” she replied with a knowing smile.

 

“Everybody okay?” he asked looking at his motley crew.  Satisfied that they were all in one piece, he inquired about the Old One.

 

“Don’t reckon he’ll be coming back this time,” Spike supplied.  “Our Slayer here took him out.  No problem.  Right, pet?”

 

“No problem?"  She pushed away from Spike in jest. “Do you see the holes in these jeans?  I like these jeans.  They were my favorite jeans.  Now there’s holes and blood and I don’t know what the hell that is!” She pointed to a spot on her knee. “And they’re full of vamp dust.  I haven’t showered in what feels like days.  My ass hurts from being on it for so long.  And he says no problem.”

 

Angel and Spike exchanged glances.

 

“I would highly suggest we leave,” Wesley said, interrupting the light exchange between friends and pointing to the mass of rubble Angel had left in the warehouse.    A couple of vamps had actually made it through the avalanche and were emerging from the debris.

 

“Good plan,” Angel said. “Can I have that?” Angel took what was left of the candlestick from Faith’s grip and tossed it over his shoulder.  It landed on the pile and immediately burst into flame, fueled by the broken wood and old solvents from the barrels.

 

They all ran for the front door.

 

XXXXX

 

They arrived at the car debating over who was going where.  Spike wanted to go back to his place and he wanted Faith to go with him.  Angel wanted them all to go back to Wolfram and Hart.  Faith just wanted to get back to her hotel room alone, so she could shower and sleep for a about a week.

 

As it worked out, Faith, using all her powers of persuasion, did end up at her hotel room alone, amidst protests from everyone.  Everyone except Illyria, who thought the entire exchange was pointless. The rest of them landed at Wolfram and Hart after Angel refused to drop Spike off at his place

 

“Bullocks,” Spike protested. “You let Faith go.”

 

“Faith has been through an ordeal. I don’t see you covered in knife wounds. Nice job protecting her by the way.”

 

Spike decided not to argue, since Angel had just touched on something that he’d been berating himself for already.

 

Wesley stayed for a few minutes, listening to the details of what had happened before he’d arrived. He was anxious to go back in his office where he could be alone. Illyria followed him, not understanding his need for solitude.   Wesley accepted her presence with resignation. Somehow, when she was with him he felt even more isolated.

 

Angel finished questioning Spike and allowed him to leave. The brooding champion returned to his apartment alone.

 

The group that had joined together to save a friend had scattered, their mission accomplished, their purpose lost.

 

XXXXX

 

After a good night’s sleep with no dreams, a hot shower and clean clothes, Faith recognized a feeling of restlessness that had been with her on and off for most of her life. 

 

She hadn’t been in L.A. that long, but it was long enough.  She wasn’t about to admit it, but the entire bloodletting ritual had left her wigged.  It was time to move on and leave the bad memories behind.  She could always go someplace else and try to find different memories to replace them.  It’s what she usually did and it worked for her, so why change now?  She began to gather the little she had. She knew she could be out in less than an hour.

 

“Leaving without saying goodbye?” came the masculine voice from the doorway.

 

God.  Why did vampires have to be so stealthy?  Without looking up, she replied, “No.  I was going to stop by your office.  I just need to go.  I’m not…  I just need to go.”

 

Angel moved into the room and gently took her arm, prompting her to look at him.  “You know you don’t have to leave.  Right?”

 

Faith’s voice cracked ever so slightly.  “I know… but I need to.”  She pulled her arm away and walked over to her dresser, gathering the rest of her things from the drawers and shoving them into her bag.   “This isn’t me Angel.  Never has been.  One of the gang, being all groupy, I’m used to being solo… It’s what I do.”

 

“Nothing I can say will change your mind?” he asked gently.  She shook her head.  “At least let me help you.”  Angel walked to where she was standing.  “Take these.”

 

Faith looked at what Angel had placed in her hand.  “What are these for?”

 

“If you’re leaving you need a way to go.  It’s not like I don’t have one to spare.” 

 

“You’re giving me a car?” she asked, stunned.

 

“I’m giving you the Viper.  It's Spike’s favorite.  And I guess that’s a good enough reason for me,” he said with a mischievous smile.  “Besides you need one. You never know what kind of creep you might meet on a bus.”

 

Faith shook her head, laughing.  “I cannot believe you’re giving me a frickin’ car.”

 

“Now you won’t have an excuse not to come back… one day,” Angel said.  He studied her seriously.  “Deal?” He extended his hand.

 

Faith stuffed the car keys in the front pocket of her jeans.  “Deal.”   They shook hands, lingering for a moment.  But the moment passed, and Faith let go of Angel’s hand.  “Could you do me a favor?  Tell Wesley and, um, Spike… Tell them I left. And, well, thank you, I guess?”

 

“I’ll do that,” Angel said, turning to walk away. 

 

Faith ran and jumped in front of him, forcing him to stop.  “Thank you, too, for everything.  And I don’t mean just today or last week.  I really mean… everything.”

 

“You’re welcome.”  The two friends exchanged an affectionate glance, Angel squeezed her shoulder and then he left.

 

Faith sat on the bed.  She had planned on going back to Wolfram and Hart to say her goodbyes.  Hadn’t she?  She really didn’t know.  Part of her believed she might sneak off without saying anything to anybody.  That was always easier.  Her friends had saved her, yet again, and she was going to leave without thanking them for it. 

 

After making sure she had everything, Faith tapped her front pocket to make sure the keys were still there.  “Damn,” she said smiling.  This could make things more interesting.

 

After trying to pay her hotel bill, and finding out it was 'already taken care of', Faith headed out.  The car wasn’t too hard to find.  Angel had left it right outside the front entrance, parked at the curb.

 

She popped the trunk and threw her bag inside.  After checking to make sure traffic was clear, she walked to the driver’s side door.

 

“After all I did for you, you're taking my car.”

 

Shit. 

 

Faith dropped her head.  She should’ve known it wasn’t going to be that easy to get away from Spike. 

 

“Nope, just borrowing it.”  She closed the car door and walked across the street to where he was standing in the shadows. Only thing visible was the glow from his cigarette.

 

“Want one?” he asked.

 

Shaking her head. “No way.  I know for a fact those things can kill you.”

 

Spike smiled widely and tossed the butt to the ground, grinding the cigarette out.  “So you’re heading out?  Know where to?”

 

“Figured I drive around, see what I can see.  End up wherever I end up,” she said, trying to sound nonchalant.

 

“’That so?”  Spike said.  “Been standing here thinking how it’s been around here with Peaches being all tall-dark-n-broody lately and Wesley holed up in his office with the Blue Nun.  Gunn’s… well, that’s a long story.  Figured if the Slayer was leaving, maybe I’d tag for a bit.”  Spike motioned to the street.  “Gotta be better then what’s been going on around here lately.  Present company excluded of course.”

 

Faith tried to ignore the involuntarily speeding up of her heart.  Spike wanted to come with her?  With her? Too many thoughts started buzzing through her head and she had a hard timing grasping any of them.  Where would they go?  Why did he want to come?  What would B say if she knew?  Robin would flip.

 

“Car’s got that special glass so it’s not like you’d slow me down any.” She was surprised at herself. She hadn’t even known she was going to say that.

 

Oh well, it was out.

 

Faith turned and started walking towards the car.  After a few feet she noticed that Spike wasn’t following.  “If you’re coming, come on already.”  As an afterthought she added, "Don't even ask, because I’m driving.”

 

The End

 

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