Interlude Three

Yet somewhere else south of Sunnydale

Faith stirred in the sunlight; her dark brown eyes fluttered open briefly before shutting themselves again. She raised a thin arm to ward off the offending rays and opened her eyes again. E? she asked. Right here, Ethan responded, sitting at the foot of the bed. What time is it? Faith muttered, glancing at the ancient clock the hotel had seen fit to furnish them with. Noon, or somewhere thereabouts, Ethan provided. Faith noticed he fiddled with a laptop computer. Whered you get that? she asked, sitting up. Ethan glanced over at her. Though Faith remained rail-thin, she had regained her color, and her cheeks had tinted a delicate pink that Ethan found he sometimes had trouble turning away from. Lets just say the previous owner will be frightfully upset when he discovers its missing. Faith reached for the water bottle on her nightstand. Another dissatisfied customer, she spoke. Cool. She uncapped the bottle and drank deeply, belching slightly. She covered her mouth and mumured, Oops. Theft is not an opportunity for mischief, Ethan instructed her. I take only what I need, and am very certain to use what I take. Stealing for its own sake is a low pursuit. Stealing for a means, however, is quite acceptable. He rubbed his nose. Besides, I make better use of these acquired goods than their original owners ever will. I like it, Faith said, sipping on her water again. So whats the means to this little beauty? Ethan glanced back at the laptop and typed in some instructions. This rather handsome model used to belong to a Watcher. He looked up at Faith and smiled. Im very sure hell be quite upset at losing it. Theres a Watcher out here? Faith queried. Wherever here is. Ethan sighed. You dont need to know, and you know you dont need to know. The less you know, they less they can sweat out of you. Faith gave him a mean look. Im tough enough. Ethan raised an eyebrow. You will be. I have every confidence in that. But youre not yet. Youre only barely walking by yourself. He sighed. You heal remarkably fast, no doubt another side effect of your wondrous Slayer powers. But youre nowhere near full strength yet, dear girl. The closer you get, the more I can let you in on. Faith sulked at him and lay back down on the bed. So whose is it? The computer? Ethan spoke. It belongs -- well, it did, at any rate -- to a Watcher named Wyndham-Pryce. Wesley, I think his first name is. No shit! Faith said, bolting up. You stole Wesleys laptop! Wicked. Ethan regarded her, trying to look stern but unable to when confronted by her smiling enthusiasm. You know him? Faith pffted. Hes some lame British Watcher dude the Council sent here to train B. She kicked his ass huge time. She shook her head. I cant believe hes still here.
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Ethan gestured to the screen. According to this hes just returned from England. Apparently he left for the old country shortly after Ms. Summers put you in your coma. And he just showed up now, because... Faith wondered. Ethan cleared his throat. Actually, he was coming to take you back to England. Faith sucked down some more water. No shit. No way. Me? In a coma me? Comatose you, Ethan agreed. Apparently the Watchers Council has not made much headway convincing your friend Buffy that they really are sorry about how theyve treated her. So they were gonna revive me. She looked up at Ethan. Huh. Ethan stood up. I dont think they were going to revive you, dear. Faith frowned, her dark eyes troubled. If they werent gonna restore me, what the hell were they...? Ethan crossed his arms. In every generation there is born a chosen one. She alone can fight the powers of darkness, et cetera et cetera. All very nice and expository. Except when there are two Slayers, dont you see? And one of them goes and has the reprehensible gall to fall into a coma. The issue perplexes the Watchers Council; how can they have a Slayer of their very own to do their bidding if Buffy refuses and you lie useless in a Sunnydale General hospital bed? Faith pointed at him, her face taking on a grim look. You just said they werent gonna revive me. Ethan shrugged. There are other means to that particular end. They were gonna kill me? Faith asked, incredulous. No fuckin way. I rather think they were, Ethan contradicted her. With you out of the way, they could raise another good little girl who wouldnt have the spine to disobey them. Faith stared up at him, her eyes angry. Im gonna make them pay, she spat. Im gonna kill Wesley. Ethan nodded. For starters.

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