“Right,” said Terry. “Look, if Terry doesn’t want to do it himself, why don’t I just hire him a detective of some sort?

S/B "if James", right?

Victor, adoring it. Only question is the use of "wonder" three times in as many breaths - was that deliberate?

Almost. Two of them were for real. The one in the middle was just me getting carried away. Better now. Also, other typos fixed.

Victor, I'm loving this, as always. Two very minor editing questions.

“There was note?” asked Faith. “I didn’t get a note.”

Something weird was happening back at ranch,

Should these be "a note" and "the ranch"?

Ooh, an African mask from an unknown shop. Cool. I'm ready for more now.

Erika, very nice. I don't think you need to add actual sex. I like the foggy with the bra over the lamp.

Connie, I want more of Giles and Ethan in China. I've been having a craving. Please?

OK, this is probably pretty weak, and I'm not abandoning Kay for it...but, that said. Bayliss/ Faith AU. Faith is hitchiking her way into Sunnydale for the first time.

Afterward, Tim liked to say that he sensed her rather than saw her, this teenaged girl in a temptress' body. She had her thumb out and looked used to the ways of the road in a way that pulled at Tim's heart. Frank had warned him about trying to be all things to all people, but there was something about this one. He pulled over.

"Are you going to Sunnydale?" she asked.
" You know, you're asking for trouble being out here like that. Not everyone is as nice as I am." He felt like a liar even as the words left his mouth.

It felt ridiculous to admit but the first stirrings of lust began when she lit a cigarrette and blew a puff of smoke in his face. He hadn't had a cigarette in fifteen days and five hours. Again.

"Asking for trouble? Dude, I am trouble. What are you? A social worker?" She looked at him intently. "No, I'd bet a million dollars you are a cop."

"What gave me away?" He wondered at his compulsion to stand here talking like some teenager.

"Piece of shit car. No clipboard. And(here she stuck her finger in the opening of the window and touched his nose.) it's written all over your face."

DUDE.

Must. Have. More. Faith/Bayliss.

erika, you're a panderer. You keep writing this stuff, and this high quality? I'll - I'll send you cookies, that's what.

Wow, I was totally faking it. And it's as close to PWP as I'm ever gonna get. But, knowing me, I probably won't let it lie.

erika, count me as one of the people who's never seen H:LotS, and yet I am *loving* what you're writing!

"So, you gonna give me a ride or what?" These old guys were so cute. Show them a little leg and they all wanted to adopt you. And this one was blushing like Wally Cleaver at the prom. Was he for real? She licked her lips. They all dug that.

"Of course. Where to? But you really need to stop doing that. Next time it could be a killer, a rapist, anything."

"I'd like to see him try it."

"No, you wouldn't. Trust me."

"Trust *me*. I can deal. When my rotten stepfather tried to get friendly with me, I broke his arm in four places."

"You've been through a lot already, then. How old are you?"
"Old enough to know better. How old are you?"

"Old enough to eat oat bran and quit smoking. Not old enough to like it."

Oh, Teppy, thanks. I'll probably finish this one today, it's kind of slight.