Title: The Faith Effect

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon and others

Rating: PG-13

Information: Begins the day after the Angel episode 'Sanctuary'.

Kate entered the holding cell. Faith barely acknowledged her arrival as she continued to stare at the floor.

"Good news, Faith. You're free to go."

Faith's head jerked up in astonishment. "How come?" she asked.

"The Sunnydale warrant for murder has been withdrawn, and none of the good citizens of LA, that you beat up and robbed so expertly, seem willing to press charges against you. Isn't that nice of them?"

Faith looked confused and remained seated.

"You're a strange one," Kate remarked. "They usually go, 'Yahoo!' and run out the door. Angel's waiting for you, by the way."

"Is he?"

"Yeah. He's very concerned about you. You seem to mean a great deal to him."

"I tried to kill him," Faith said without emotion.

Kate was startled by this revelation. "And he still wants to help you? You must be special."

"Oh, yeah, I'm special all right. I'm Chosen."

"Chosen?"

"Long story. Sad ending. You don't wanna hear it."

"I might. Look, Faith, I don't know you, but you seem like a decent kid at heart. Perhaps I can help you in some way."

"Decent? Where'd ya get that idea from?"

"You. You're sorry for what you've done. You want to make amends. I've met a whole lot of bad people in this line of work. You're not one of them."

Faith looked at her with expressionless eyes.

"You're right, you don't know me, or what I've done, but thanks for offering. You've been very kind, more than I deserve. I'd better go. Angel is waiting for me."

"Okay, but if you need to talk, you know where to find me, I'll be willing to listen."

Faith smiled wanly at her and then went off to find Angel.

Kate was left more puzzled than before by the enigma that was Faith. Her detective's curiosity was keen to know more, but perhaps there was another reason why she wanted to know more about Faith. Something to do with those invitingly dark eyes and full lips, tousled hair, hoydenish charm and...

Oh my God! Kate exclaimed silently as she realised what was going on. This hadn't happened to her since Valerie in high school. How long ago that now felt, but here it was again, she was falling for another woman. Not her best friend this time, but a virtual stranger. Go figure!

Faith entered the office trailing behind Angel. Cordelia pointedly ignored Faith, turning her bruised left cheek towards her. Wesley just stared with undisguised contempt. She followed Angel down to his quarters and sank, defeated, into a chair.

"I'm not going to jail, but everyone hates me. That's my punishment, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is," Angel replied, also taking a seat. "At least until you can convince them you're not the person they hate."

"You think that's likely?"

"I think so."

"Detective Lockley thought I was decent."

"You see? Not everyone hates you."

"She said I could talk to her if I wanted."

"Do you want to?"

"Maybe." Faith shrugged with apparent indifference.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then."

Faith was surprised. "You don't mind?"

"Why should I?"

"You weren't the best of friends the other night."

"Yeah, well, Kate had a job to do and so did I. I don't mind if you see her. It's good that you meet new people. If she liked you, others will as well."

"I didn't say she liked me, she just offered to listen to me."

"Oh, and I'll bet she offers that service to everyone she meets."

"Maybe," said Faith with a slight smile.

A week later, Faith took Kate up on her offer and phoned her. She was surprised, and secretly pleased, that Kate agreed to a lunchtime meeting in the park.

"I didn't think you'd contact me," said Kate as she sat next to Faith.

"Neither did I," Faith replied truthfully.

"So why did you?"

"Angel. He's been great, but I can't tell him everything. Anyway, he wants me to get out and meet people. So here I am."

"You're looking better than last I saw you."

"Thanks. I feel five by five."

"That's good," Kate said, though unsure what 'five by five' actually meant. "So, what do you want to talk about that you can't say to Angel?"

"It's about B, er, Buffy."

"Angel's ex?"

"Yeah, that's the one, the blonde bombshell you met. You see, he wasn't the only one who loved her."

"You too?"

"Yep. Head over heels. I don't do love, so it was a bit of a shock."

"Did you tell her?"

"I was going to, until I discovered she was seeing Angel in secret. He'd 'gone away' then come back unexpectedly. I kinda lost it after that, did a lot of things I now regret. I hurt Buffy bad, totally screwed up everything. I did everything I could to hurt her 'cause I knew I could never have her."

Kate looked at her quizzically. "And you're telling me this, why?"

"'Cause you said you'd listen and you said I was decent. I want you to know I'm not. I'm rotten. Rotten to the core."

"No, you're not," said Kate as she took Faith's hand and squeezed it.

"Why?" Faith demanded.

"Because it bothers you so. You did wrong. You know you did wrong, and it's hurting. If you really were rotten to the core you wouldn't care. You certainly wouldn't have told me what you have, and that puzzles me. Why do you want me to think the worst of you?"

"'Cause I like you, and I hurt the people I like, so I wanted to warn you."

"I like you too, Faith, and I'm touched by your concern for me."

"Really?"

"Yes, really." Kate squeezed Faith's hand again and smiled warmly at her.

Faith smiled back and inwardly glowed with happiness. Kate liked her. She'd told her the awful truth and Kate still liked her. Perhaps Angel was right, perhaps redemption was possible. They sat quietly for a while, then Kate spoke.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You said something about being 'chosen', what does that mean?"

"You know what Angel is?"

"Yes."

"You know he's a rare exception, that most of his sort are demonic murder machines?"

"I know, they killed my father."

Faith was taken aback. "Oh, I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"Me too. You were saying?"

"To balance out the forces of evil there are the Slayers. I'm one and so is Buffy. It's our job to kill the vampires and demons."

"Job?"

"Well, I s'pose you'd call it a vocation. You get training to prepare you, and when the current Slayer dies the next one is chosen to take her place."

"Chosen by whom?"

"The 'powers that be', whoever they are. They give you your powers, extra speed, strength, senses, healing, that sort of thing. Then a couple of years later you're dead and the next one is chosen."

Kate was shocked. "A couple of years?"

"Yeah, it's a hard life, and a short one."

"That's terrible."

"Tell me about it. I haven't been active very long. Buffy's been slaying since she was fifteen. She's real special - one in a million."

"You still love her, huh?"

"I guess. Tell me, do you ever stop loving someone?"

"I don't think so, it diminishes over time, but it never goes completely."

"Figures. So what about you, Kate, anyone special in your life?"

Kate suddenly became flustered, glanced at her watch, declared she was late for duty and dashed away. Faith was left alone and somewhat confused.

Faith returned to the office just in time to catch Cordelia mooning over Angel. Cordelia, realising she was being observed, hurriedly pretended to be working. Faith went into Angel's office. Seeing her, Angel smiled.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

Faith pulled a face. "I'm not sure. We talked about stuff. It didn't faze her. She said she liked me."

"See, I told you she did. So, what aren't you sure about?"

"Dunno. I asked her if there was anyone special in her life and she suddenly bailed on me. Is she seeing anyone right now?"

"I don't think so. Did she give you a reason?"  

"She said she was late for duty. She probably was," Faith conceded. "Anyway, have you noticed Queen C lately?"

"Why?"

"Well, when she isn't avoiding me, she spends every spare moment looking at you."

"Oh, that. Yes, I've noticed."

"She's got the hots for you."

"Yep."

"So?"

"So, I'm hoping she'll get over it."

"Why? C's okay, 'cept for the fact she still won't talk to me that is."

Unwilling to continue this line of conversation Angel changed the subject.

"I'll talk to Delia about that. Are you going to see Kate again?"

"Maybe." Faith smiled. "Yes, I'd like that."

However, Kate seemed strangely elusive, and when they next met it was quite by accident. Faith was patrolling alone when she came across Kate sitting in a battered brown sedan, trying to look inconspicuous. To Faith she stood out like a sore thumb. she tapped on the car window. Kate was not pleased to see her.

"What are you doing here? I'm working, go away!"

Faith didn't go away and Kate reluctantly let her into the car.

"I just wanted to talk," Faith said  apologetically.

"Yeah, look, I'm sorry about not meeting with you before now," Kate responded.

"Why is that?" queried Faith. "Did I say something to offend you last time we spoke? Cos if I did, I'm real sorry about it."

"No, it wasn't anything you said, it's my fault."

"Oh?"

Kate sighed, she hadn't felt this nervous since she kissed Valerie for the first time, but despite her misgivings she decided that honesty was the best policy.

"To answer the question you asked. There is someone special in my life."

Faith's face fell. Dammit, she thought. I'm second best to a boyfriend - again! Why does this always happen to me?

"That special person is you."

"What did you say?"

"I'm in love with you."

"You are? When did this happen?"

"Pretty much when we first met."

"You... but... I..."

Kate grinned. "With conversational skills like that, no wonder you need a stake to get your point across."

She leaned across to kiss Faith tenderly, then whispered in her ear. "That okay with you?"

"Oh, yeah!" replied the ecstatic Faith before returning the kiss with interest.

Faith knew what to do next, or at least what she used to do next, but Kate was different, she'd used the 'l' word. No one had said that to her before and actually meant it; it had thrown Faith for a loop.

"Umm, I think I should go now," she told a clearly disappointed Kate.

"Must you?"

"Yeah. I'd like to stay, but I don't want to spoil this. I think you're worth waiting for. So, could we take this slow?"

Kate smiled. "See, I knew you were decent. Would you like to go out for a meal tomorrow, maybe catch a movie?"

"You really need to ask?"

"Okay, I'll call you tomorrow to sort out the details."

Kate kissed Faith goodbye and told her, "You be careful out there."

"I will, and thanks, Kate, you won't regret this."

"I'd better not," Kate said with a grin.

A dinner and a movie later. Outside Kate's apartment Faith was saying goodnight, or trying to, as Kate wouldn't stop kissing her. Faith eventually broke away to catch her breath.

"I thought we agreed to take it slow?" she panted.

"I changed my mind," said Kate as she opened the door. Clutching Faith's hand, she dragged her inside, saying with a broad smile, "Don't worry, I'll still respect you in the morning."

Faith laughed and followed her eager girlfriend into the bedroom.