DISCLAIMER: the characters of Buffy are not mine, but Charlotte and Jana are.

RATING: PG-13 for this Chapter

SPOILERS: same as earlier

Chapter 1: "Calming the wind"

     "Something's wrong back at my place. Wesley was knocked out and there's a dead woman lying on the floor," Angel said to Faith, hanging up his cell. They were already walking towards his mansion, slipping in and out of the shadows, until the sun completely set.

     "What do you think it is?" Faith asked, the slayer blood in her aching.

     "Too soon to say. Let's hurry up and check it out," he said.

~*~*~*~*~

     "Jana, calm down," Wesley coaxed the frantic girl. She had begun to freak out, getting violent.

     "My watcher is dead! How am I supposed to become a good slayer?" she cried, blond hair wild about her face. Blood was seeping through Jana's white tee shirt.

     "Good God, you're wounded!" Wesley approached her. Jana quickly backed away, like a trapped animal.

     "Don't touch me! How do I know to trust you?"

     "What's with all the screaming? If I knew there was a party goin on I would have been on better behavior," Faith sauntered in with Angel. Her deep brown eyes moved to Jana, then to the wound.

     "Stay away, I'm warning you…don't…"she said, her voice weakening.

     "Faith, be careful. We don't know what—" Angel started. But it had already seemed as though this girl intrigued Faith; she knew what she was doing.

     "Shh…no one's going to hurt you," Faith soothed.

     "If you are going to kill me like they did Charlotte, then go ahead…" Jana replied, her fighting spirit broken. Faith approached her. "Don't…" Jana said.

     Faith continued walking towards her.

     "…come…" Jana whispered, "any closer…"

     Strong arms enveloped the small, bruised and broken frame of Jana. Faith whispered soothing words she didn't even know she was able to use, to the girl. She, too, had lost her watcher at one point as well. Faith caressed Jana's back, and felt her tired muscles ease slowly.

     "Slayer…" Faith whispered. She felt the connection right away, hoping the girl felt it as well.

     "You knew?" Jana asked.

     "I felt it."

     Jana smiled. She needed someone strong right now to hold on to more than ever.

     "Come on," Faith said, smirking, "let's fix that slash wound so the slayer healing can kick in."

     Jana nodded, looking at her blood soaked shirt.

     "Angel, where's the First Aid kit?" Faith asked.

     "Bathroom on the left," he replied, helping Wesley and Cordelia.