Running on Faith, Season One: Episode 11: Stalkers
by filmtheory
“Never thought I’d say it,” Spike said as he and Faith rode toward the bank on the top of a train. “But I wish we had Boy Wonder for this job.”

“You mean Connor?” Faith asked.

“Yeah. Hacking computers and busting in to buildings. Seems more his gig.”

“We should head straight to the hotel. Maybe we’ll find them there and we can trade off.”

“Sick of working with me already, luv? I understand. It’s the sexual tension.”

“Please. You kiss like girl.”

“And how would you know what a girl kisses like?” Spike asked suggestively.

“I was in prison for a few years. I’ll let your imagination fill in the blanks on the rest.”

“Tease,” Spike growled.

Faith stood. “Get ready to jump.”

Without waiting for a cue, Spike jumped from the back of the freight train, hitting the ground and rolling.

Faith cursed under her breath and followed. “Great,” she said, when she’d finally rolled to a stop. “Just a five mile jog from here.”

“Let’s hope no black & whites pull up along side us. Maybe you should think about dyeing your hair blonde.”

Faith smirked. “Not in this lifetime.”

**

"Great," Buffy said as Connor cleared the glass out of the broken window. "You're out of the hospital ten minutes and already stealing."

"Yeah," Connor said as he grabbed the police scanner. "We should probably run now."

Buffy followed Connor back to the Hyperion. When they entered, Connor paused and listened. "It's clear," he said, entering the building.

"Glad to hear," Buffy said sarcastically. She had a hard time understanding some things about Connor. One of them was his hearing. She couldn't deny it was pretty awesome. He knew that crab demon was coming after them long before she heard its many feet scraping down the stairs.

Speaking of the demon, Connor was now shining a flashlight over its corpse. "Yep.”

"Yep what?" Buffy said loudly.

Connor turned and looked at her. "What?"

"I may not have your hearing, but I can still hear. Why'd you say yep?"

"I've seen this demon before. It was in a sewer pipe." He shined the light around the room.

She could barely see Connor as there was little light in the room. But she sensed he was afraid. "He really tore you up.”

"There's an incinerator downstairs. We should burn this." Connor looked up at the door, his face tense. Then he looked down again, relaxed.

"What?" Buffy said. The doors behind her opened as Faith and Spike entered.

"Stop doing that!" Buffy said, looking at Connor.

"So here's the deal," Faith said. "We're going to help you nab Dana tonight, then continue the Risen hunt in the morning."

"Nothing we can do 'til then,” Spike said.

"Wait a minute," Buffy said. "What are you two even doing here?"

"This is where the trail led, luv. Our Risen One does his banking out of LA. But since they don't open until the sun is bright and shiny, we figure we nab Dana, then have Faith and Connor walk their sunlight-immune asses into the bank at 8."

Buffy was about to object, but Connor interrupted. “I think I can still follow Dana’s scent. Maybe. I don’t know. But I can try.”

“Me too,” Spike said.

Buffy frowned and looked down. “By morning, Dana or no Dana, I want you back on the Risen’s trail.”

Faith scowled. “When the fuck were you crowned Queen Buffy the First? Dana’s as much my problem as yours. In fact, I think I could relate to her better than you.”

Connor stepped between them. “Let’s just find her. Then . . . then I can talk to her.”

“We already discussed my opinion on that,” Buffy said. “Besides, even if she weren’t too far gone, I don’t think a happy boy from the suburbs would be the one to relate.”

“Yeah, mate,” Spike said. “You may look girly, but you’re still man enough for her to want to cut your hands off.”

Connor looked at Buffy intently while ignoring Spike. “I’ll be fine. So let’s just find her.”

***

Dana walked down the alley. It appeared empty, but Dana knew better. She could feel the presence behind her. The woman following her had no heartbeat. She did not breathe. She did not live. And Dana knew that she would soon be dust.

“Does the pretty little doll hear me whispering,” hummed the woman in as if singing a lullaby.

Dana felt a rush air rush. She spun quickly. Still the alley appeared empty.

“Come out,” Dana hissed.

“Not yet, my dear,” the voice sang again. “He hasn’t found you yet, that wayward little one. But when he does, we shall all have tea. We will sit and have tea and eat biscuits.” The voice laughed, then spoke again in a low hiss. “And then I’ll eat you.”

Dana leapt up, grabbing the fire escape and pulling herself up. The vampire had the high ground. Looking around the alley, Dana found her; the tall, gaunt, pale woman with dark hair in a frilly dress. She stood in a window across the alley.

Drusilla gasped. “I see, now. She’s not a doll at all. She’s a toy soldier. Boys like toys such as you. Is that why my boy seeks you?”

Dana leapt across the alley landing on the fire escape near Drusilla. Dru smiled. “Tut, tut, deary. The tea is not yet ready.”

Dana snapped her hand up, stake ready. She lunged forward, aiming for the heart.

“No patience,” Dru smiled as she swung to the side, dodging Dana’s charge. “Not to worry, dear. I’ll teach you some.”

Dana turned to face Dru, but caught a slash across the face from the vampire’s sharp finger nails. Dana spun away, suddenly aware that she was losing blood and becoming woozy. Dru moved quickly, grabbing Dana’s hair and shoving her through the window. Glass shattered as Dana plunged to the street below.

Dru dropped to the street next to Dana. “Shhhh. I hear him. I hear my boy. He’s coming for you now.”

****

“This is like the forth alley you’ve said that about,” Spike complained.

“You’re the vampire,” Faith said. “Shouldn't you be helping with this?”

“Some vamps are better than others. I never particularly fancied myself the bloodhound type, though I can follow a scent when occasion calls for it.”

“The occasion calls for it,” Buffy said, shining a flashlight through the alley.

“Please stop with the flashlight,” Connor whispered. “I can see fine without it. So can Spike.”

“Faith and I need it.”

Connor rolled his eyes. “Leaving us two choices. Either you trust me and Spike to lead you or we split into two groups; two chicks with a flashlight who will get ambushed and two guys who won’t.”

Buffy flicked off the light. “Fine. God, you’re brattier than Dawn.”

Connor glanced at Buffy and smiled. “How was that?” he whispered quietly to her.

“How was what?” Spike answered loudly, indicating he’d overheard Connor’s question. He immediately cursed himself for having to show he was in the know. He’d have done better to let Buffy answer.

“I meant to say how hard was that,” Connor answered. “We’re almost there. Her scent is strong. I can smell her . . . her . . .”

“Blood,” Spike finished, walking up to a patch of red on the ground. “I can smell her blood and . . .” Spike turned to Buffy. “Get back! It’s a--”

Immediately a dumpster dropped down on heavy wires from above, trapping Connor. Three vamps sprung into the alley attacking Buffy, Spike, and Faith.

Spike spun away from the vamps in the alley. “Behind you,” he yelled as three more vamps charged from the street into the alley.

“Six of you for the three of us,” Faith laughed. “You guys are so dead.”

“Faith,” Buffy said as she kicked a vamp back. “Less talk, more punch.”

“I love punch,” Spike said as he slammed one the vamps into another. “Some fruit juice, little whiskey. Does a body good.”

Buffy heard the satisfying sound of a vamp bursting to dust. “Damn! I wanted the first kill.”

“I steal your thunder for once, huh, B?” Faith laughed, spin kicking a vamp.

Vamps charged Spike from either side. Quickly, he pulled out two stakes, slamming each into a vamp’s heart simultaneously. “Three to three now. Why don’t you boys quit while you’re ahead?”

“She’s had time,” one of the vamps said, as he ran from the alley. The other two ran after him.

“Okay, Mr. Cryptic,” Buffy said, watching the vamps run.

“Not you’re best comeback, B,” Faith smiled. “Now let’s get Mr.-I-go-to-Stanford out from under the dumpster there.”

“Surprised he didn’t just throw it off,” Spike said, bending down and gripping it. Buffy and Faith joined him.

“On three,” Buffy said. Faith and Spike gave each other smirking glances.

“One . . .” Buffy said. Spike and Faith immediately lifted and flipped the dumpster. Buffy turned to Faith. “Can neither of you count?!”

“Bigger problems,” Faith said, nodding toward the ground.

Buffy turned to see a hole in the ground beneath where the dumpster had been.

“Come on,” Spike said. “I can follow the scent.”

“Oh, so now you can be a bloodhound?” Faith said.

“It’s a smell I’m pretty familiar with. Known it since forever.” Spike jumped through the hole.

Buffy looked at Faith quizzically, then followed Spike. “You’ve known Connor’s scent how long?”

“I’m not tracking Connor. I’m tracking Dru.”

*****

Connor hung on a wall in chains. He stared at Drusilla as menacingly as could manage. Her minions, after chaining him, were now playing Texas Hold ‘em with human fingers and toes serving as chips. The toes were apparently worth five fingers. Connor mused that it was an interesting currency system.

“Wake up, baby brother.” Drusilla slapped Connor’s face. “Wakie, wakie.”

Connor glared at her. “I’m not sleeping. I’ve been conscious the whole time.”

“Then why are you still dreaming?” she asked, tilting her head. “About your dead family, and silly cousins, and that dirty, dirty girl Tracy?”

Connor glared at Drusilla. “Leave her alone.”

“But I need you to wake up. My baby brother was raised in a wonderful, wonderful place. Filled with darkness and dragons and such tortures I can barely imagine!”

Connor’s blood ran cold.

“Ah, yes, my love,” Dru purred, stroking his hair. “I know all about it. The clouds told me. They laugh, bragging how the real sun cannot shine through them, dirty and hazy and confusing. But the clouds lie to you, my dear. They hide you from yourself, not letting him know who he really is.”

“Don’t worry,” Connor said. “I know everything.”

“You know too much!” Drusilla snapped angrily, jerking his hair. “It taints you! These memories you have tell you of things that never were. That’s why I had to take them. Starting with your parents. I saved the tasty little ones for last.”

Connor stared with confusion. “Wolfram & Hart. They did that. They killed my family! Angel told me.”

“Was he there? I don’t remember seeing him. Although I was a bit preoccupied. Your sister was very tasty. Virgins always are.”

“You fucking bitch!” Connor struggled furiously against the chains. “I’ll kill you!”

Drusilla patted his cheek patronizingly. “That’s the spirit.” Dru turned and sauntered away. “The nasty, nasty sunlight will be out soon. But then we can go and find our daddy.”

Connor looked at her. “Our daddy? Oh. Drusilla.”

Dru smiled. “He told you about me? How wonderful! Now our family reunion shall be all set.” Drusilla exited the room.

They were underground. Connor could tell that from the feel of the air. His eyes searched the room.

“Dana!” he said, seeing the lump on the floor. The slayer didn’t stir. Connor feared she was dead until the rhythmic rising and falling of her chest indicated she was breathing.

******

Drusilla walked down the passageway. “My children,” she said, spitting the words. The three remaining vampires from the alley ambush stopped before Drusilla. “You return to me, stinking of failure. And defeat. And fish.”

“The fish market’s only a-”

“Silence,” Drusilla barked. “The air is singing. Singing of your worthlessness. And your betrayal.”

“We would never betray . . .”

Drusilla slapped the vampire. “You lead the slayers here. Your carelessness is your betrayal.”

As if on cue, Spike turned the corner. “Hello again, pet. It’s been a long time. Love the dress, by the way.”

“It’s been never,” Drusilla said, almost pouting to protest this horrid situation. “You are not the William I met in London. Nor the Spike I left in Sunnydale. I don’t know you.” Drusilla drew a long dagger from her frilly dress. “And shall never have that pleasure.”

Faith and Buffy turned the corner to face Drusilla.

Faith looked Drusilla up and down with disgust plastered on her face. “Where the fuck do you even get a dress like that anymore?”

“Where are Connor and Dana?” Buffy demanded.

“You can have your toy soldier back. But baby brother comes with me.”

“You’re going to have to use names, pet,” Spike said. “None of us know how to translate Crazy into English.”

Drusilla frowned as Spike confirmed her earlier statement. And her worst fears. She really didn’t know him. “The girl you take. The boy stays with me. Although he’s perhaps more your family than mine now, anyway.”

Spike looked at Dru strangely. “Family, luv. Any family we have we left 10,000 miles and 200 years away.”

“We want them both, Dru,” Buffy said sternly.

“Then you’ll have neither,” Dru smiled.

“And with that,” Faith said. “We fight.”

*******

Connor looked at the vamps playing cards. The one with his back to Connor had the key to the shackles hanging from his necklace. Connor smiled.

“He’s not bluffing,” Connor said. The vamps looked at him. “This fat ass with his back to me. He’s had a flush since the river.”

“Shit, Curtis” one vamp said. “I fold.”

“Man, shut the fuck up,” the fat vamp Curtis said, turning to Connor.

“So, like, being a vampire. Is it a big orgy and stuff? Like, you guy’s can’t get STD’s and stuff, right? I mean Drusilla, she’s gotta be banging you all. Why else would you guys be all graveling to a chick? Only time I ever did that is when I was getting some. So you guys . . . You’re going to raise three fingers when you’re holding a seven and a deuce! No one’s going to let you bluff through this hand.”

The vampire Curtis stood up and turned to Connor. “You need to keep your fucking mouth shut!”

“I used to tell your mother the same thing. Of course, that was just so she didn’t drool when she was sucking my . . .”

Curtis slammed his fist into Connor’s face. He didn’t even care about his mother, but still couldn’t stand this human talking trash.

Connor swung back from the force of Curtis’ punch. The other vampires were still sitting, laughing. Connor swung forward as hard as he could. He raised his legs, wrapping them around Curtis’ head and lifting the vampire. Curling his body unnaturally, Connor managed to get Curtis’ necklace to his hands. He grabbed the key with his teeth and ripped it lose, dropping Curtis to the ground.

The vamps were on their feet as Connor unshackled his hands and dropped to the floor on all fours. Four to one and he had no weapons. He was sure he was dead.

Connor charged forward, stepping on Curtis’ back as the vamp tried to get up, and springing off the vamp and over the table. Connor grabbed a chair and smashed it, holding a broken leg in his hand.

“How come you guys never buy plastic chairs?” Connor smirked. “Because the wood ones: bad idea.”

“Plastic’s not as comfortable,” a vamp answered.

Connor charged, punching one vamp and kicking another. He quickly kicked Curtis in the face, again thwarting the vampire’s attempt to stand. Connor jabbed backward reflexively and staked a vamp. He spun to face the other two.

“Any chance I get a time out,” Connor said, backing toward a corner.

“Sure,” one vamp said. “Toss your stake down. We promise we won’t attack until you pick up again.”

“Come on guys. This isn’t fair. I need to breathe.”

“Not for long,” the vamp smiled.

“Maybe we can do this without--” Connor punched the vamp to the ground. Attacking amid sentence had surprised them. The other vamp grabbed Connor as Curtis ran into the fray. Connor pushed pack hard, slamming the vamp holding him into the wall. Connor pulled loose and staked the vamp in front of him.

Connor swung his fist forward as if to punch Curtis, then quickly pulled back and threw his arm behind him, staking the vamp he’d backed into the wall.

“Nice moves,” Curtis said.

Connor smiled. “Your mother taught them to me. No. Wait. She taught me that thing with my tongue.”

Curtis charged forward, yelling with rage. Connor feinted back, then moved forward, plunging his stake into Curtis’ heart.

“Never attack when you’re angry,” Connor said as the vamp turned to dust. “My dad taught me that.”

Connor walked to Dana. He quickly unlocked her shackles and scooped her up. He walked to the door and tried to open it while holding her, but the door wouldn’t budge. Connor sat Dana down, then tried the door again. Again, nothing. He tried the key to his shackles, but it was completely the wrong size.

Connor sighed and leaned his head against the door. Slowly, he turned around. Connor gave a slight yelp of surprise as he found himself face to face with a now completely awake Dana.

“I’ve been waiting a long time for this,” Dana said.

“Have you?” Immediately, Connor realized this was not a good moment to be his usual smart ass self. But it was too late. The words were already out.

Dana threw a quick punch, knocking Connor back. She threw another, but Connor caught it, and pushed her hand back.

“Dana, I am not the man who hurt you. I would never hurt you. And I will never hurt you. Even . . .” Connor blocked another punch. “Even now, when you’re clearly trying to kick my ass. Dana, I want to help you.”

“You will help me.” A malicious grin, formed on her face. “I’m strong now. I can hurt you. And that will make me better.”

“No, Dana,” Connor said desperately. “It won’t.”

With a shout of rage, Dana grabbed Connor and flipped him over, slamming him down on his back. Connor jumped to his feet.

“Dana, I won’t fight you.”

Dana threw a hard punch. Connor caught a kick, only to have another punch, knock him back into the wall.

“My name is Connor. Connor. I just met you. I helped you with McHenry, remember?”

Dana scowled and punched Connor hard in the ribs, then again in the stomach. Connor’s knees gave out, but Dana caught him and held him up. She punched him in the face again. Then once more, this time as hard as she could. She released Connor and he dropped to his knees.

“My name is Connor,” he said desperately, spitting blood onto the floor.

“My name is Connor,” Dana mimicked him. “Well, I’m strong now, Connor. I won’t let you hurt me.”

“I never hurt you.”

Dana stood behind Connor and firmly gripped his hair. “It doesn’t matter. You want to. You all want to.”

Connor tried to shake his head no, but Dana tightened her grip and stopped him. “No,” he said. I don’t.”

Dana smiled. “You will.” Dana pulled Connor’s head back, then slammed it forward into the wall.

“Dana, please stop,” Connor whimpered.

Dana pulled his head back. “You never stopped for me. Not when I asked or cried or begged.”

Dana pushed Connor‘s head into the wall again, but this time he got his hands up in time to cushion the blow.

“No!” Dana shouted loudly. “No!” She quickly sidestepped and kicked him in the ribs. “No hands.” She kicked him in the face.

“Dana, you have to know this is wrong. You have to know that I never hurt you. Please. You can talk to people. They can take this pain away.”

Connor looked up to see that Dana was no longer standing over him. But all hopes that she’d reconsidered quickly disappeared. Dana approached, now swinging Connor’s shackles like a mace.

“Dana,” Connor said, his face bloody as he stared resolutely into her eyes. “Let us help you.”

“I tried letting you help me. It only hurt more. No more people helping me. Now I help me.”

Dana swung the shackled hard, hammering Connor in the side of the head.

*******

Two of the three vamps from the alley were left, but they were still giving Faith and Buffy a decent fright. For her part, Dru had Spike pinned to a wall, and was slashing him with the dagger.

Buffy spin-kicked her vamp into Faith’s. Buffy quickly staked hers, while Faith plunged a stake into the other vamp’s eye.

“Faith!” Buffy yelled, tossing her stake.

“Thanks,” Faith said, catching Buffy’s stake and jabbing it into the vamp’s heart.

“That’s it, Drusilla!” Buffy yelled.

Dru finally backed away from Spike, but she looked at the ceiling, rather than Buffy. “No,” Dru said frantically. “They’re here. They’re here for my baby brother.”

Buffy stepped forward, again half-wondering if Dru’s eccentricity were just a ploy for the insanity defense. Quickly, however, the tapping many legs filled the corridor. Two large crab-like demons, like the one Buffy and Connor fought at the Hyperion, appeared behind Dru.

One turned to Drusilla and snarled. “Where is the father!”

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