''It's getting closer to that time...'' he said turning his head to face her.
''Sleeping in a bed instead of a ditch...'' he joked, at their surroundings.
''Real food...'' He groaned stuffing the candy bar back in his pocket.
''We're not going on vacation here... this is our chance... to fix...'' she began.
''Everything... I know.'' he said resting his head on her shoulder.
''You sure you don't wanna get some sleep, big day tomorrow...'' he said smiling.
''I couldn't sleep even if I wanted to.'' she replied with a smile.
''Doesn't seem real does it?'' He asked.
''I'll just feel better once we're at the gateway.'' she replied.
''So, you thought of a name yet?'' he asked.
Walking down the narrow hallway which lead to his apartment he clung onto the large box for dear life, his aching arms ready to drop it any second. Stopping in front of the door to his apartment Xander positioned the box of books between himself and the wall so that he could open the door. Stepping inside he used his foot to close the door behind him, before making his way over to the dining room table where he set the box down. Taking a minute to regain the feeling in his arms, he looked up from the box to find the apartment empty.
''Hope?'' He called out.
''Hope!!!'' he called louder.
''Faith...'' he said, running to his bedroom.
Stopping inside the doorway he saw that Faith was in the exact spot she had been when he left. Walking further into the room he found Hope asleep in the small armchair in the corner, her head tilted at a downwards angle. Walking over he spotted his sketchpad resting on her lap, studying it for a moment before he knelt down in front of her.
''Michael...'' she whimpered in her sleep.
''Hope... Hope.'' He said softly as he placed his hand on her arm and gently began to shake her.
She was awake within seconds, her eyes darting left and right as she slowly remembered where she was.
''Faith!!!!'' she said jumping out of the chair at lightening speed.
''Is fine.'' Xander said.
''You must have nodded off.'' he told her.
''What?'' she said grabbing his wrist so she could see his watch. ''...How long?''
''Calm down... I wasn't gone long.'' he told her.
''Calm down... something could have happened... the demon...'' Hope began scolding herself.
''Isn't here.'' Xander said following her.
''That's not the point...'' she told him.
''You always beat yourself up about every little thing?'' He asked.
''It's a habit.'' Hope shrugged.
''Well the good news is, your eyes seem fine now...'' He informed her as he bent down to retrieve the sketchbook.
''They're not glowing.'' Hope sighed with relief.
He studied the sketch for a moment, it was of the demon they had fought in the ally.
''Did you draw this? He asked, going over the detail.
''Why... you wanna pin it on the fridge...'' she replied, a sharp edge clear in her voice.
''Sorry I get mean when I'm tired...'' she apologized, seeing the hurt expression that flashed across his face.
''Really... I hadn't noticed...'' he replied, handing the sketchbook over.
''When was the last time you slept Hope...'' He asked, now noticing the dark circles under the young slayers eyes.
''Just five minutes ago, you woke me up remember...'' she replied rubbing her temples with her free hand.
''You know what I mean.'' he replied his tone turning serious.
''I sleep just fine Xander...'' she began
''Who's Michael?'' he asked softly.
He didn't get an answer as she was cut off the loud groan that came from the bed behind them.
''Faith?'' Hope spins around.
''Can you hear me?'' she asks as she moves towards the bed.
''Loud and clear Future Girl...nice of you to stop by.'' Faith replies rubbing the side of her head.
''How are you feeling?'' Xander asked.
''Just peachy.'' Faith groaned.
''Please tell me that demon is still out there 'cause I'm ready for round two...'' Faith stopped suddenly.
''Faith?'' Xander asked seeing the odd expression that spread across her face.
''What is it, what's wrong...'' Xander began rushing to her side.
''I can't... I can't see.'' Faith said her eyes darting back and fourth.
''What...'' Hope said looking at the panicked slayer.
''Xander... her eyes.'' Hope said sitting in front of the older slayer.
They were glowing a neon blue as Hope's had earlier, searching in vain for something, anything.
''What!?'' Faith asked.
''They're glowing...'' Xander informed her.
''Glowing!!! The demon must've...'' she paused gripping the future slayers arm.
''What the hell did that thing do to me?'' Faith asked, her voice cracked finally revealing her fear.
''I don't know...'' Xander began.
''Well we need to find out... is this permanent...am i...'' Faith asked aloud.
''Faith!!!'' Hope said stopping the slayers panic filled sentence.
''I need you to listen to me...'' she said placing her hands on the older slayers shoulders, causing the girl to jump.
''I'm gonna fix this... but I need you to calm down...'' Hope told her.
''Calm down... my eyes are glowing and I can't see a damn... you want me to calm down.'' Faith snapped cutting her off.
''Look we've got the books, we know what the demon looks like... it shouldn't take too long to find something.'' Xander said heading for the living room, and the box he'd brought.
''And what am I supposed to do just sit here and do nothing...'' Faith asked turning her head towards the sound of Xander's voice.
''No you can fight the demon...'' Hope said, sarcasm filling her words.
''...If you can get out of this apartment, down onto the street and find your way back into town that is...'' she continued making her point.
''You done?'' Faith asked.
''Look all I'm saying is that you've gotta trust us, we'll find a way to...'' Hope paused seeing the look that flashed across the other girls features.
''So I see your ability to not trust others is still fully intact.'' she said.
''You don't believe I want to help you. Then believe I want to help myself...'' Hope told her.
''What are you talking about?'' Faith asked as she felt the future slayers weight leave the bed.
''When we found you in the ally, the demon was pulling some kind of energy out of your body and into it's own...'' Hope informed her.
''I fought it off, but not before...'' Hope paused.
''What, what happened?'' Faith asked moving towards the edge of the bed.
''You tell me...'' Hope replied.
''I was just heading for the street when that demon jumps me...'' Faith began.
''I throw a punch at the thing and the jackass is smiling...'' she told the future slayer.
''Demon gets the upper hand, puts its hand on the side of my head....'' Hope continued.
''Whatever the demon did to you, it tried to do the same with me...'' Hope paused.
''You don't believe I want to help you... believe I want to help myself.'' Hope repeated.
''I'm headed for the books, you want me to come back in here...'' she began.
''I'm blind, I'm not four.'' Faith said cutting her off.
''Suit yourself.'' Hope said leaving the room.
''Thinks I need a babysitter.'' Faith said getting to her feet.
''I don't need...'' tripping over her own feet she fell face first to the floor.
Walking into the living area Hope saw Xander sat on the couch with the box of book open at his feet.
''Think we have enough books?'' she asked as she sat beside him.
''I hope so...'' he said handing her a small stack.
''Let's find our needle in a haystack.'' she said.
