Chapter Two

Xander cleared the living room of the sleeping bags and pushed them all against the wall in the corner. Giles and Andrew pulled the coffee table back in front of the couch. Xander walked silently toward the window and looked out.

"Still no word?" Willow asked sadly as she entered the living room.

"No." Xander shook his head. "I tried calling her a million times, but no answer."

"Maybe she shut the phone off." Willow whispered. "You know, so no demons will hear the ringing?"

"Yea." Xander said, unconvinced. "That's what happened."

"I'm sure she's fine." Giles said, standing up and crossing to Willow. "Buffy has always been one of the most remarkable young women I've ever known. She and the others have been training very hard. I'm sure the group faired well."

"The coven doesn't know how The First got potential here with out anyone knowing." Willow said. "Or why they brought this one instead of just killing her."

Giles shook his head. "I wish I had the answers."

"Guys!" Xander almost shouted as he caught sight of Buffy coming down the street. "There they are."

Xander and Willow ran to the door and pulled it open. Giles let out a breath of relief and steadied himself before rushing out to meet his slayer.

"Buffy!" Willow yelled and rushed down the driveway. She grabbed Buffy into a hug as she approached.

"Hey Will." Buffy half smiled.

"Buff." Xander nodded. "You're okay."

"We're alive anyway." Buffy said softly.

"Are you okay?" Willow prodded.

"Hurt." Buffy said. "Mostly sore. Although, some a lot more than others."

Willow lifted her eyes from her friend and took in the sight of last night's patrol group. Injured and bleeding, they all helped each other up the driveway, Dawn following last holding the hand of a little girl in pink feet-pajamas.

Willow quickly fell instep with the girl and began helping them inside. Faith smiled lightly, tears filled her eyes.

"Take her." Faith said, passing Vi off to Willow. Willow obliged and didn't ask as Faith blinked and left for the back of the house.

"It's hard." Buffy said before Willow could say anything. "To work so hard to fight your way back from the dark side and then to be thrust into killing again."

"I know." Willow sighed.

"It's different." Buffy said. "I'm not saying that to be mean, Will. But last night was brutal."

"So we see." Xander said, helping the girls into the house.

Buffy looked at the path Faith had just taken before walking into the house.

"Buffy." Giles smiled.

"Giles." Buffy said.

"How was the patrol?" Giles asked, cleaning his glasses.

"Full of action, adventure and thrills a minute." Buffy said, resting her weight against the wall. "We got the girl."

"Yes." Giles said, eyeing the small girl gripping Dawn's hand.

"They were out in full force." Rona added.

"Big time." Chloe said, shifting her weight.

"I suggest you get cleaned up." Giles said. "All of you."

"I'll go hunt for something for breakfast." Xander said. "And then we'll tuck you into bed."

Willow glanced at him from the staircase.

"Well, not me personally." Xander back peddled, "But me as a member of the team. Will find food. And prepare it. And. And."

"We got it, Xand." Buffy smiled and pulled herself up the stairs behind the others.

"She looks. Bad." Xander said.

Giles nodded. "I'm going to get to the med kit. I imagine some of that is more than small cuts."

Xander nodded and went into the kitchen. Several other potentials were gathering their supplies.

"She back?" Shun Li asked.

"She is." Xander replied. "You guys going out?"

"We hunt." Shun Li said. "We hunt now."

"Yes." Xander nodded and watched the day team leave. They would do a few sweeps around town, then return for afternoon training. Xander walked to the refrigerator and looked at how empty it was. Anya had left an hour ago to go to the grocery store. Xander pulled out the eggs and a pack of bacon and dug a frying pan out of the cabinet. After a few minutes the smell of bacon scented the downstairs.

"Smells yummy." Dawn said, walking into the kitchen.

"Thanks." Xander grumbled.

"Everything, alright?" Dawn asked carefully.

"Yea." Xander said.

"Faith still out back?" Dawn asked.

"I haven't seen her." Xander said worriedly, glancing a look at the back door.

"I'll go check." Dawn said, leaving the kitchen.

Faith sat quietly, curled into a little ball in the corner of the back yard. Dawn walked cautiously up to her.

"Hey." Dawn said. "Xander's making breakfast."

"Not hungry." Faith replied softly.

"You have to eat." Dawn said, sitting down on the ground next to Faith.

"You're going to get dirty." Faith said, eyeing Dawn's clean pants.

"That's okay." Dawn said. "I know where the washing machine is."

Faith smiled. "All grown up."

"That's me." Dawn said. "All grown up."

Faith turned to look out over the yard. "Things change all the time."

"They do." Dawn said, resting her head on Faith's shoulder.

"You don't have to sit out here with me." Faith said.

"I don't mind." Dawn smiled. "Besides, we're like a family, remember."

Faith smiled.