And leading up to....

Air Date: 14/12/2001

10 Sep 2000, Sunday 11:33am UCB office

Faith takes her 'special friend' and Casey outside to chat. She hands them both stacks of paper. "Look, this is access to my accounts and stuff. You both get half. Go party on it, 'K?"

Casey flips through it and then flips his head to wards demon lady. "What's she going to do with money."

"Im sure she'll find a use for it."

"You both get half, unless one of you dies, then the other gets it all."

Casey is mad as all fuck with Faith, he thinks she did it because she wanted to, and the recharge thing was really just an excuse. But he'll be trying to keep that from her, and being a bit distant, but still friendly.

The weird lady takes the papers and nods. "Yes. Although once you die, I shall return to my summoner."

"Yeah, whatever. Casey, look, you aint goin' into the portal with the scoobies, right? So you should get back to the house and stay by the car. If you see any fire, then we're probably all dead, so just get in the car and drive."

"Is this part of the dream thing again? You really think that I'd come along and 'finish you off'"

She looks at you and shrugs. "Probably not. But that not why I want you outie. If we do fry, then me and Jayde lose and the council get a new slayer. Go see Angel in LA. Tell him whats the what and maybe warn the next one or somethin'. I dunno. Guess there isnt much point actually. Its not like its gunna make any difference. The next one could be in Australia or some hole like that. Look, this is ment to be the part of the movie where we all make peace and split on good terms isnt it? Youre a white hat, just go do something good, if we all dont make it, ok?"

Casey nods slowly... "Ok. Anything else?"

"I dunno, if I end up in a coma again then pull the plug, 'K? For the Mayor's sake, just go get a life, ok? Go take that holiday to Hawaii or something. I dunno. Just get away from this lot. Go have a normal life. Forget about vampires and crap like that. Or go give it to charity or something if you got a concience about where it came from. Man, I dunno, what Im doing. Wicked, obvious, huh? Look none of this is legal, cause its all done with fake ID and stuff. Go get the money out before the watchers grab it or something. I dunno. Im probably missing out lots more, I cant remember it now. Oh and go tell Buffy and the scoobies that Im sorry for everything. They wont believe you, but it'd be cool if someone told 'em. Oh and just say you're delivering a message or they might go postal on you. And same with Angel, only he wont whale on you for knowing me. Just tell him Im not as strong as he is and I kinda slipped again and that Im sorry, but Im probably off in Hell roasting for it, if thats any help. Guess Ill find out what it was like for him, huh?" She shrugs. "Guess thats it. Oh and I stashed Mrs Post's diaries under the roof tiles of Buffy's room. Giles might like 'em or something."

"Check, cash, sorry, angel, diaries. No problems. Are we 100% sure that Orme is not being for real with the elemental thing? I mean, presumably he doesn't want to be set on fire either, right?"

"Yeah. Thats all. Thanks." She blinks a bit. "Orme? He a vamp, so probably not lookin' to do anthing we want. We got our own binding ritual, so lets not have him involved at all. Ill keep him busy and the others can stop the big bad. Demon doesnt get out, Orme gets screwed. Wins all round for the white hats. *flat* Woohoo. */flat*"

Casey frowns a bit "yeah, but as a vamp, he's unlikely to want the universe melted by flame too. So win/win for all, really. It just jumped out at me that we're all assuming that Orme has bad things in mind for all...." he shrugs. "I dunno. Just a thought"

"Maybe, look, honestly, Im not sure I care anymore. He's the big bad and Alex and Jayde want him taken out. Fine. Ill do the deed. Bring it on and get it over with, I say."

Casey nods again. "'k. I'll have the oranges and damp towels at the ready"

"No, you'll get the %@#* out of Dodge. I dont want you dead, whatever you think of what I did last night."

"What's the blast radius?"

"Dunno. But I figure stay a couple of miles from the Uni, and get ready to plant the foot if need be."

"That's what I figured too."

"Cool." Suddenly, she hugs Casey. "Thanks, ok. Thanks for everything. You're pretty cool for a geek." She takes a deep breath. "Im sorry for the last 24 hours." She looks up, "There ya go Angel. Im getting better at it. Im gunna go for a walk out into the glade. You know, to pull it together and get ready for the big smackdown and to try and thing up some puns to make me look cool. Its cool if you wanna bail. Im kinda edgie about this showdown. I dunno how Buffy went and faced the Master knowing she was gunna die. Guess if she can, I can too, right." Her voice isnt quite as confidant any more.

Casey finds that he's grinding his teeth. "Want me to tell the others where you are, or you want some privacy?"

"Whatever. I figure Im destined to be there, so its not like I can miss it, huh?"

Casey faintly smiles. "What have I told you about reading the horoscopes." He rubs his face with both hands. "Everyone seems to think one of you is."

She snort a laugh, "Yeah, horrorscopes more like. Well thats the biz off my chest, so thanks for saying you'll do that stuff."

"No problems. I'll go write it down so I don't forget it all, and let people know what you're up to." Casey sort of stands there, stuck between not wanting to get involved in a long angsty conversation and not wanting to blow Faith off...

Faith just watches Casey for a bit. "Look. Lets not do the teary goodbye thing. Just keep safe, Ok? And Ill try and make sure your little friends dont get killed or anything. You know, Ill do my job and be a good little Slayer."

Casey sticks his hand out to Faith.

Faith hesitantly shakes it. "Thanks. See you on the flip side, or whatever."

Casey nods and heads back inside.

"Hey!" She bounds after Casey. "Mary was always gunna win, wasnt she? That sounds harsher than I ment it. Im cool with it and all, but you know what I mean. You were always mary's boy, even if you havnt dont the deed yet."

Casey rolls his eyes and slowly biffs Faith in the head with his palm. "Stay alive, and I'll try and explain it all again, ok?"

"Yeah, sure. See ya round, huh?"

"You bet. If you don't survive, I'm going to learn that zombie spell, and bring you back." Casey shambles off, making urrrr noises...

"Cool. Always wondered what brains tasted like." Faith looks round and shifts uncomfortably. "Yeah. Grrrrrrrr. Arrrrrg." She smiles and waves to Casey. "Off you go then. Scoobies need you and all that."

Casey decides to make sure he leaves on a higher point, and continues to shamble away... "brraaaains"

Faith watches Casey go and then walks over to her demon companion and they walk off towards the glade.

roll credits

Lawyers take note: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel and all characters related belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and fox.