Chapter 2

Hours seemed to take days. They might have always been this way, but I'd never had anything to look forward to so I rarely noticed changes in the hourglass. Lindsey had never mentioned a specific time, so I had no choice but to sit alone in my cell, on my bunk, until my legs grew stiff waiting for the knock that seemed it would never come. After a while I started to stretch out on the floor, seeing how far I could bend since it had been forever since my last training session with any real effort. Yeah, I could still easily surpass any human in physical strength and flexibility. That was somewhat comforting.

Finally, after many an hour of waiting, the knock came.

"Your lawyer's here to see you." A male guard about twenty some years of age called in through the door of my cell. Exactly how often do they change the guards at my door?

"Okay," I quickly combed through my hair with my fingertips as I heard a click of the lock and the door swung open.

"Come on," He motioned to me and I found it obvious he was a 'professional'; just out of academy and working his way up. He still thought he could make a difference in the crime and punishment system or something. They're so naive when they start off, but don't worry, they learn.

I followed him out of the cell and took to the left side walking. Those cells still gave me chills; the white walls and the infamous padding made me feel criminally insane instead of just criminal. But if I stayed in here too long, I might just start to feel at home in those walls. That's what scared me the most.

I was led into the 'talking room' (slang in here isn't widely known for it's creativity). It was a step up from speaking through scratched up glass on little telephones like in the commons where Angel visited me. Instead it was a simple room with a table and chairs so that, in the least, the two (or how ever many) people could interact. It was used most of the time only for 'official' meetings.

Lindsey McDonald, lawyer boy and utter professional, sat in the chair opposite me, looking for a moment down at his watch. His briefcase took up the corner of the table in an almost obtrusive manner (how a briefcase can be obtrusive, I'm not quite sure, but it somehow managed). He looked up finally when he heard the door close behind me.

"Faith," He said in greeting, he was obviously going to make this a methodical encounter if nothing else. I briefly wondered if his businesslike attitude was to be attributed to the cameras installed overhead.

"So do I call you lawyer boy or Lindsey, either one can be taken as an insult." I tried to start this off on the right foot, me in control, but he merely raised an eyebrow and passed me a typed sheet of paper.

"I pleaded your case to the senior partners and they agree with me," Lindsey looked at me while I scanned the page with an expression of confusion. He quickly clarified, "This is your first case." I nodded in understanding; "The senior partners feel that you could be an invaluable tool if you can prove yourself worthy."

"Demons?" I looked up at him, he nodded to confirm, "But don't you Wolfram and Hart types work for these kind of things."

He chuckled at me and pointed out the name of the species, "This particular breed have been giving us a bit of trouble lately, getting in the way of some of our more affluent clients, and it's your job to make sure they don't disturb our patrons again. Are you willing to take it?"

I smiled at him and lifted my eyebrows. "Consider them dead."

A pleased smile spread across his features. "Then I believe," He said, sitting back down, "We can do business." He took out a stapled series of papers and placed them in front of me. I scanned the top, picking up little tidbits of how they planned to get me off on all charges.

"Our defense," He said, bringing his hands together, "Is really quite simple. A large majority of the crimes which you are accused of can be attributed to the late Mayor Wilkins…" I visibly flinched, remembering him… "Is there something wrong?" His tone was unusually sympathetic. So I was wrong, he is capable of some range of human emotion.

"Uh, no," I smiled weakly, "It's nothing."

He eyed me for a moment, trying to gauge my mood and reaction. He should know I'm too well practiced at covering my emotions to let him see anything I didn't want to shine through. "As I was saying," He continued, "A lot aren't directly linked to you and can be easily countered with alibis. The others, however, are trickier…"

"But I confessed," I interrupted, "How is there a way to get around it. It is, after all, in writing."

He did that smirk thing again, saying very blatantly that he knew something I didn't. "I'm afraid that the document you are speaking of doesn't exist on file." He folded his hands with a small smile.

My eyes widened in realization, "You got rid of the evidence." He simply raised his eyebrow in compliance and I saw a small twitch in his lip indicating a pleased grin. "No wonder Angel's on your ass all the time."

He tilted his head a little; no doubt he had little idea of what I meant, so I quickly clarified, "You know, that little fact that you're evil."

He glanced down for a moment, almost in some type of reflection. I thought for a second that his musing might result in the lack of a snappy comeback, however, I was wrong, "Perhaps that's why we found you appealing in the first place."

"Perhaps that's why I left…" I looked down; my voice had been too soft not to bare emotion. I took a deep breath and looked up at him again, fully collected, "We're not here to talk about the firm or your broken morals, we're here to talk about how you can get me off, Lindsey, and then we can talk about how dead these demons are going to get."

"Good girl," He said, passing me a smile that some might have melted at and others would have beaten his face in for. "Those crimes that can be connected to you, however, are not considered as serious as those we have taken care of. Beatings, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, all of these can be dealt with without any real difficulties." He leaned forward a little, "In other words, Faith, I can have you out by Friday."

"And I can have your demons dead by Saturday," I smiled wickedly. Yeah baby, I'm back.

Lindsey held out his hand, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you, miss."

I took his offered hand and shook it. "The pleasure was all mine." The purposely seductive undertow in my voice did more than ruffle a few feathers and he turned to go. It was like being back with the mayor, entering the office where no one could refuse me, no one judged me because they were just like me.

It's good to be back.

Chapter Three