Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or parts of the storyline. All property of Joss Whedon and other stiff suits. Twists, turns and new faces are mine. Leave 'em be!

Summary: Re-write of Season 6. What if Faith came back while Buffy was dead? Follows parts of the storyline, veering more AU as the story progresses and changes occur.

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Faith

I look around the club as I slowly take a drag off my cigarette. I've been back in Sunnyhell for a little over a month yet this is the first time I've come here. I thought it best to avoid the old hang-outs since I was trying to keep a low profile.

That was until a few nights ago. The vampire I was fighting was tough. I chased him through the streets when he jumped a stone wall, tearing ass through a cemetery. Color me surprised.

So I hopped the wall and took off after him. I knew this place like the back of my hand. He was making a beeline for the crypts so I veered off to the left. Jumping over headstones like they were hurdles I round back and tackle him from the side.

We roll a few times before we come to a stop. I'm on top, just where I like to be. I grip his neck with one hand, pinning it to the ground as I start to pound my other fist in his face. He falls limp beneath me and I whip my hand behind me, pulling a stake out of my pants. I shove it through his chest and he turns to dust, causing me to fall back onto my feet. I crack my neck, replacing my stake and stand up. I brush the dust off my legs and I feel a presence. I straighten and turn slowly. 'Well, hello there.'

"Faith," Willow simply says, her tone surprised more than anything else.

I look past her to the group behind her. They make an interesting lot. Spike, Xander with that demon chick, Giles and that little wiccan chick Tara. I look back at Red and meet her eyes, "Hey Red. Miss me?"

"You're supposed to be..."

"In jail," I interrupt her. "Yeah, I know. But something happened and suddenly I'm worth something again."

Xander takes a step closer to me, "You always were Faith, just not much."

He's grown a pair. I grin at him, tempted to bait him but instead I take a breath, exhaling my words out slowly. "As I was saying... No new slayer was called, B's bloodline spawning me and all. The Council made me an offer I just couldn't refuse."

Giles quietly watched this exchange before he rubbed his hand over his mouth and chin, "What kind of deal?"

"They spring me and I work with them. Got me a little apartment on the other side of town and enough spare change to feed the beast." The looks on their faces is priceless as I rub my bare mid-riff. It rumbles under my touch and suddenly I'm famished, "Speaking of which..."

I turn and walk out the way I came. I'm just waiting for one of them to come running after me but they never do. So that brings me here, to the Bronze. I can enjoy the sights now that my cover was blown. I hold up my empty glass and the bartender brings me another. I pay off my tab and take the bottle of beer out to the dance floor. I look around as I start to move but don't see anyone that I recognize. Come to think of it, I pause in mid sip and close my eyes.

Nothing.

No slight tingle, no odd twinge. There aren't any vamps in here. I spin around slowly. This is odd, I can't remember a time there wasn't at least one in this place. Shit, now I have to patrol to get some action. I almost ran into the Scoobies last night but thanks to the power coming off Willow I was able to hide. Don't know why I hid, just didn't feel like another confrontation yet.

I down my beer and head out the door. I hear loud engines revving and screaming so I high tail it through the alley into town and stop dead in my tracks. No need for patrolling, a whole team of biker demons are tearing through town.

They're running over cars, driving through businesses... just massive destruction. I try to count them but there's just too many. I see a loner with a baseball bat and jump into the fray.

He backhands me and I go flying into the wall. These guys are tough. I grin at him and jump back up, spin kicking him in the face and grabbing his bat. I use it till he's almost pulp and look around as the engines start up again. Good thing I did because I bottle of fire was heading my way. I dodge and it hits the wall behind me, landing on the demon and engulfing him in flames. I look up from the street as the roar past me, setting half the block on fire. 'What the fuck?'

I start walking down the street. For once I'm speechless. The town looks like something out of a movie. These guys are everywhere. They're done with the town and are spreading out. I move to take out a demon cornering two young girls when I'm brought to my knees. The worst pain I've ever felt, gripping my chest. I try to breath but my lungs are stopped. I lurch forward onto my hands and start to heave.

I try to steady my breathing to catch my breath. I look around at all the chaos and suddenly I... Shit! I'm scared. I'm more terrified than I've ever been. And I've been through some serious shit, I kid you not. Before I even realize I'm running I'm halfway back to my apartment. I quickly unlock my door, rushing in and locking it again.

I look around my living room in a panic. I crank up my music and grab a bottle of whiskey out of the freezer. I try to lose my thoughts by chugging a fourth of the bottle and focusing on the music. This works for all of 2 minutes. 'Fuck!'

At least the pain is gone. I blink my eyes a few times, trying to focus. It's like I've got tunnel vision. Every thing's kind of blurry. I shrug my shoulders and lift the bottle to my lips. "If I'm already acting drunk, might as well get drunk.