. . .

The Far Horizon

Chapter 3: The Hunter

After getting to know the people they owed their lives to, Faith and Dean left Giles apartment a few hours later. Walking back to the truck, before driving back to the house and heading home. Both of them were completely exhausted, too tired to do anything but curl up on the couch. Wrapping their arms around each other and snuggling under the sleeping bag. It was uncomfortable and cramped, Dean's feet hanging over the edge and Faith practically sprawled across Dean's torso, but it would do. It was warm and dry, which was better than some of the places they had spent the night.

They only managed a few hours' sleep before the first rays of sunlight filtered through the boarded up windows and Faith stirred, and accidentally kneed Dean right in the crotch. He came awake with a gasp of pain, sitting up and sending Faith tumbling to the floor.

Her Slayer reflexes, saved her from a bloody nose on the hardwood floor, but she still landed with a thump. "Oooff" she muttered, as the blanket fell over her head.

Dean winced as he swung his legs over the side of the couch, making sure to avoid Faith's sprawled legs as he stood up. "That hurt," he muttered, cupping the offended area.

"Sorry," Faith said sheepishly as she threw the blanket off and stood up, shaking her mane of hair over her shoulder with a huff.

She bent over to pull her jeans on and Dean gave her a pat on the backside for her troubles. She gave him a smirk over her shoulder as she pulled the jeans up and buttoned them.

"Tease," he taunted, as he grabbed his pants from the pile of clothes on the floor.

"Amateur," she counted, throwing off her dirty t-shirt and reaching into her backpack for a new one, giving him a peak at her bra-covered breasts as she did.

Dean sighed and turned away, leaving Faith to it as he walked to the kitchen.

They had a coffee and finished getting dressed before packing up their meagre things and taking the truck back to Giles apartment. The Watcher met them at the door, helped them to put their bags inside before they all headed out to the car.

He hopped in the passenger seat, next to Faith who had squeezed into the middle of the bench seat. "Good morning," he said pleasantly, a little out of breath. Faith and Dean turned in their seats, looks of disbelief on their faces as his cheery greeting. "Right, sorry." He said as he shut the door.

"So, where to now, G man?" Faith asked.

"Ah, yes. Well, just go back to the main street and I'll direct you from there. It's not far, Sunnydale is quite a small town considering."

They drove for about ten minutes, Giles giving them directions on which turn to take. Eventually they pulled up in the industrial side of town, the docks were only a block away. Most of the businesses here were shipping and trades, or manufacturing. But most were closed down, rusting away in the salt wind. There was nobody in sight.

Dean parked the old truck across the street from their destination.

"It used to be a club," Giles explained "and I suppose it still is to some people, it has the music, and people still go to mingle – but the vampires rule it, any humans who venture in during the night time hours risks a quick and painful death."

"Why do people still go?" Dean asked.

Giles shrugged his shoulders. "Some enjoy that type of thing, for others it's a risk they are willing to take."

"How many vamps?" Faith asked.

"Hard to say. He had a few fledglings with him earlier, but they were both dusted when the previous Slayer came to town. There is a newer vampire, a young girl Oz and Larry used to go to school with but most of those in his circle are old, and as feared as he is. Darla is his favoured childe, and a Master in her own right. Four hundred years old and as cunning as a fox. Drusilla is mad – and physic. She'll know your move before it happens, and there is a huge possibility that she has already seen what will happen. Her madness prevents her from being much of an adversity, but she is still as strong and swift than any other," he sighed, "It's Spike you have to worry about."

"Who the hell is Spike?" Dean asked.

"He's not as old as most, but he's already killed two Slayers. He's quick and cunning, and he's not afraid of a fight."

"So, what do you think we should do?" Faith muttered, "Those odds, we can't just waltz in."

"Is that your normal plan?" Giles asked in amazement.

"Yeah."

"Good lord, how have you survived this long?" he muttered.

"We're just good," Faith smirked as Dean nodded his head in agreement.

Giles shook his head, unamused. "We have weapons, we will all help. But four humans, a Slayer and a werewolf are no match against an undetermined number of vampires."

"We could torch the place?" Dean offered helpfully.

"I try not to cause undo damage if it can be helped." Giles huffed.

"It's a good idea though," Faith said, "Can we do it?"

"How?" Giles asked "They will scatter."

"I need to kill the Master, if we can separate him from the rest of them I think we can do it, and if not…well."

"The last Slayer had that attitude, I thought you were smarter than that, you can have a life outside your calling," – he glanced at Dean when he said this – "this attitude has no place here."

Faith looked away. "Sorry," she muttered, "I'm not used to a Watcher who actually, you know – cares."

Giles sighed in sympathy and rested a hand on her shoulder. "The council is old, and set in the way they run things." He tried to explain. "It wasn't until I moved here that I started to question the methods being used, and if we could not be more effective if the council cared about its Slayers."

"That is just too damn weird," Faith muttered dryly, causing Giles to laugh.

"I don't understand what's up with that. Shouldn't a Slayer be…I don't know, honoured?" Dean added.

"You would think so wouldn't you," Giles said, "But unfortunately the council is archaic, it doesn't accept change lightly. Some of those rules and protocols have been in place since the beginning, over 2000 years, it's not going to change overnight."

The former Watcher sighed, took his hand of Faith's shoulder and started to clean his glasses. "But, I will fight beside you, don't you worry about that," he said gruffly, putting them back on his nose.

"Thank you." Faith whispered gratefully, "but I still think I should go in alone," she continued.

"What? Faith!" Dean snapped.

"Yes, Dean! I need to. I need to keep him distracted, what better way to do that than a Slayer. Then you can burn the place down."

"The others can do that, I'm going in with you. No arguments."

Faith frowned at him, but she knew it was no choice arguing with him. When Dean made up his mind there was no changing it. No matter how stupid or reckless the idea.

She wouldn't admit that she welcomed the help his presence brought her. His ego was big enough as it was.

"Fine," she whispered and motioned for Giles to hop out of the cab. "I can't stop you, do whatever you want."

Dean jumped out of the driver's seat and came striding around the front of the truck, he grabbed her around the shoulders and kissed her passionately on the mouth. Faith gasped and stood in shock for a second until she relaxed and put her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his.

"Well, that's sorted then," Giles said, clearing his throat loudly to get their attention.

The couple pulled away with a shaky laugh. Grinning with embarrassment.

"Come on," Giles encouraged, moving to the tray and started taking out the supplies they would need. This needs to be done before anyone notices something is amiss.

Faith grabbed the crates of supplies and hurried across the street, Dean right behind her. They broke into the building next door and headed upstairs. Opening an upper-story window and climbing out onto the roof of the Bronze. Once there they headed for the hatch that would lead them inside.

They had no interest in engaging the vampires at this point. But they needed to hide their supplies so they were ready for tomorrow. This time of day the vampires would be sleeping. But any noise or would wake them. They had to be as quiet as possible.

In the crates they had extra weapons. A sword and crossbow, grenades, a few guns and extra bullets. They hid it in the roof cavity out of sight and quickly came back the way they had come.

They met Giles back at the truck, where he was waiting patiently.

"Should we get back?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," Faith muttered. "We've done all the stuff we need."

The drive back to Giles apartment was uneventful. Giles and Dean chatted some more, while Faith stared out the window and pondered. This wasn't a job she would normally do. She didn't care about the big picture, she didn't care about winning the war – saving humanity for the end of days. But she did care about doing her part, doing the best she could do in the time it took her to do it.

The Master – he would be the toughest vampire she would ever face, and she was not so certain she would be able to get through it alive. It was a lot to take in for a young woman, who barely two years ago would have laughed in the face of anyone who had tried to claim that vampires were real.

She had had to grow up fast, put the life of the carefree street kid behind her. She became a warrior. The death of her Watcher had hit home the reality of what she faced, finding Dean had been a blessing – she wasn't sure how long she would have lasted without him. But still, through all that she was the one with the destiny, with the Calling – the one they called 'The Slayer' and vampires looked to with fear and reverence.

She didn't want it to end.

For the first time in her life she had a purpose. She had someone who cared about her, and someone to care about. For the first time she was someone who mattered. Not only to those around her but also to herself.

She wasn't about to let some overgrown, bat-faced vampire get in the way.

"Stop," she said suddenly, looking up from her musings. Dean glanced over and quickly pulled over onto the curb.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just….I had a crazy idea," she whispered.

"How crazy?" Dean asked.

"Impossible," she said before she took a deep breath and looked at Giles. "How many people live here?"

"In Sunnydale? Oh, five thousand, maybe – it's hard to tell."

"Can we get everyone out by nightfall?"

Giles frowned at her, not understanding. "What do you mean out?"

"Evacuated."

"Do you know how much of a mission that would be?"

"Yes, but they can't stay here. Not tonight. They need to be out by nightfall. Before the vampires come looking for us."

"You think they know you're here?"

"It seemed to easy – sneaking in and dropping supplies. I think they know and they are buying their time. I can't afford them to get any leverage against me."

Giles frowned. "If we start door knocking now, send people out into the desert with tents and supplies we should be able to get the town evacuated by nightfall."

"Let's do it, get the kids to help. Anyone. This town must know what goes on at night."

Giles nodded grimly.

"Tell them this is the chance to get rid of them once and for all," Faith added.

"Ok," Giles agreed.

"I can help," Dean added.

Faith opened the door. "I have one more thing to do, then I'll meet you back in town."

"Ok," Dean said doubtfully as she slipped from the truck and closed the door behind her.

Faith turned and headed back the way they had come. If they were going to ambush the vampires at the Bronze then they would need some serious back up. Something that could level the place in minutes. She had seen an abandoned hardware store down the road, and there was a nursery on the corner. Nothing like some homemade explosives to get the party started.

. . .

Night had fallen as the Master paced the length of the stage.

Crowded on the dancefloor stood this followers. He didn't command every vampire in town – most vampires were to anti-social for such niceties – but he commanded many. Those he had turned, those committed to his cause, those who needed someone to follow, those he would kill if they refused. Up the front were those loyal to him and only him. Darla, Drusilla, Spike and Harmony. All four vampires were looking eager and determined.

He stopped in the centre of the state. Looking out to survey those who stood before him. "Vampires!" he began, raising his voice to carry over the din.

Conversation stopped, silence fell. Cloth rustled as they shuffled to get comfortable, someone sneezed, and a vampire at the back scratched an itchy spot. Everyone's attention was fixed firmly on the ancient vampire standing before them.

"I can to this small town a long time ago, and spend over fifty years trapped in a Church buried beneath the city for my troubles. I have made this town our home. A sanctuary for vampires to come and feed, to gather and be merry! But someone is about to change that. Someone has decided to ruin our little community. Do you know who that is?"

"THE SLAYER!" the vampires in the room shouted as one, causing Dru to jump in fright.

"And what do vampires do to Slayers?!" the Master asked, raising his voice so it thundered around the room.

"KILL THEM!" The vampires shouted again.

The Master smiled. "I would like nothing more to crush her neck beneath my fingers, feel her skin rip apart beneath my fangs. But she needs to suffer first." The vampires around him cheered.

"Tonight, all of you. I want you to go out and bring back a hostage. I don't care who it is, just make sure they are alive when they enter these doors. If she is going to fight, then she must prepare for the consequences. If we die, THEY DIE!"

The vampires cheered again, clapping their hands together, jumping up and down, and shouting at the top of their lungs. They hated her almost as much as he did.

"Now go."

Slowly the vampires made their way out of the exit. Over two hundred demons walking out into the night intending to find their latest victim.

. . .

As the Master was rallying his troops Faith and Dean were walking home. They had spent the entire day helping to evacuate the town folk. Helping to start cars and pack essentials to get the civilians out of town. The High School kids – Larry and Oz's friends helped, and together everyone was on the road out of town. They had stolen the High School buses to take the Hospital patients and the elderly. Everyone worked together, helping each other.

For the first time since the Master had risen from his underground tomb the people of Sunnydale were optimistic. The community spirit was high, something that hadn't been present for a number of years now

The last cars were making their way out of town as the sun began to set. Dean took Faith's hand in his and together they started walking back to the house. They had a few more hours to wait before they could finally torch the town to the ground. They had to make sure every vampire was back at the Bronze.

Their bags and weapons were packed and on the back of the truck, now all they had to do was wait. So Dean decided to take a shower while Faith collapsed on the couch and put her feet up.

Tonight they were going to be facing one of the oldest vampires to have ever walked the earth, and she was a little scared. She wasn't ready to let things go just yet. She wasn't one to dwell on life. Shit happened, you learn to deal with it. She was a little scared – but she wasn't gonna admit it to anyone. This might very well be her last night on earth. She wanted to make it a good one.

She looked around when she heard the shower start, a cheeky smile spreading across her cheeks.

Dean wasn't expecting her when she came up behind him, stepping into the shower and wrapping her arms around his waist. She pressed her breasts against his bare back, the warmth of his skin warming her own. He lowered his arms, shampoo running down his shoulders as he turned around and gave her a grin. "Hey," he said "What's all this?"

"I thought that was pretty obvious," she replied with a smirk, reaching up and moving shampoo off his forehead so it wouldn't get in his eyes.

Dean stepped back, and stood under the shower spray, rinsing the rest of the shampoo out of his hair. When he was done he stepped aside, grabbed Faith by the arm and pulled her close so she stood underneath the shower with him.

Faith stood on tip-toe, wrapping her arms around Dean's neck and planting a kiss on his lips. Dean put his palms on her hips, pulling her close against him.

They kissed, pressing their bodies against each other. It had been a long, stressful few days. Neither of them were used to working with others, or trying to save an entire town. That was new. Most of the time they would come to a down, deal with the Big Bad and be back on the road in a few days, nobody the wiser. They needed some release.

Dean ran his hand down Faith's body, gripping her backside and lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Dean moaned as she rubbed her body against his stiffening penis. He took a step and pressed Faith against the wall.

She gasped as her bare back pressed against the cool tiles.

The hot water continued to spray down around them as Dean pressed a palm against the tiles and holding Faith with the other started to move his hips against her. Faith gasped, digging her nails into Dean's shoulders and lifting her legs to wrap around his hips.

Dean moaned softly, running his hands slowly over her body, pausing to fondle her breasts. He smiled at her soft moans and gasps, running his hands down her side until he put his hand between them. Faith gasped, and moaned again. Dean grabbed her hips, and spread her legs, moving his hips against her inner folds. Faith moved her hips with him, encouraging him with every thrust.

Faith reached between them. Wrapping her hand around his penis and stroked him gently.

"Yes," he whispered, leaning forward and putting his mouth on hers for a kiss. Faith returned it, with interest. She continued to encourage him, her palm moving over his soft skin. She held him at her entrance. He groaned softly, a hoarse sound, full of need and desperation.

"More, I need more," she moaned.

Slowly his rocked his hips forward, entering her slowly. Faith gasped, and wrapped her legs even tighter around his waist.

They moved against one another, gasping and groaning with each thrust. Faith arched her back, moaning softly, the sound echoing in the small shower stall. Encouraging him. Dean responded, thrusting his hips against hers in a faster rhythm that left them both gasping for breath.

The shower continued to poor down around them as Faith dug her nails into the hard, tense muscles of Dean's shoulders, holding on tight as her quivering body threatened to overwhelm her.

Dean's thrusts were coming harder and faster now, the rhythm almost lost as he sort release. Faith was close as well, and moved with him. "Oh yes," she whispered as he leaned forward to nuzzle her neck and shoulders, "Yes,"

Dean could feel himself tipping over the edge, with a heady groan he thrust inside her one last time and shuddered his release. Causing Faith to cry out in ecstasy as she tipped over the edge at the same time.

"Oh, wow." Dean muttered. Leaning forward and placing his head on her shoulder as he sagged against her.

Faith's heart pounded against her chest, and she sucked in deep breaths as she tried to get it under control. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the tiles. "Wow is right." She muttered into his ear, causing Dean to chuckle with satisfaction.

Slowly they untangled, Dean pulling away as Faith let her legs drop to the floor, they both stood under the shower for a little longer. Washing the stickiness from their legs before turning the shower off and stepping out.

They dried themselves quickly and dressed. Dean's cell started to ring as she finished buttoning his jeans.

"Hello?" he called into the receiver as he grabbed a clean shirt.

"Yeah, yeah, we're on our way." He said before he hung up.

"Giles?" Faith asked with a smirk.

"That old man needs to stop worrying," Dean muttered as he pulled his shirt over his head.

"He's been living on a Hellmouth for three years, I think it's just habit now."