Walking back to the house felt like torture, nobody spoke but Faith was acutely aware of the glances Buffy was giving her out of the corner of her eye

Ofcourse B didn't trust her how could she after everything she had put the slayer through. The truth is she didn't trust herself.

It was different with Angel he knew what it was like…

To be touched by Evil,to feel the guilt,shame and remorse once that Evil had dissipated…had it dissipated??

Buffy could never understand, how could she? She'd never felt that pull of Darkness, the loneliness and Anger that came with it.Had never felt the brief moment of relief that came with inflicting pain on someone else in order to quell your own.

She was pulled out of her dark spiral by the sound of Buffy clearing her throat "Let me do the talking"

Faith shuddered she had not realised they had reached the house-to consumed by her dark thoughts- and was not ready for this. All the adrenaline from their initial encounter and fighting the Vampire had worn off and now she was warily facing the front door with trepidation of what was on the other side.

Buffy had already climbed the porch stairs and opened the door looking back with a look of frustration "Faith! Are you coming?"

Faith stood rooted on the spot chancing a glance down the street while an urge to run pulled at her mind.

Buffy must have sensed it because she descended the stairs again and stood right in front of her blocking her view of the road ahead - That Damn link!

"Faith! Come on! we haven't got time for this!" Voice laced with irritation.

Shaking the fog from her brain Faith jolted into action

"Yeah! Let's Go B, what you waiting for?!" She grinned taking off up the stairs and through the door.

Buffy wasn't fooled she could of sworn she had seen fear in Faiths eyes,confirmed by a weak pull of fear on the Slayer connection she felt whenever Faith was in the vicinity.the connection was weak probably from the distance and time spent apart.but it was still there much to Buffys annoyance. There was no time though she needed to get inside before there was a bloodbath.

"Whoa. Memory Lane. Same old house." Faith whistled as Buffy caught up.

"Yeah, well, every piece of furniture's been destroyed and replaced since you left, so, actually, new house."

Faith Meekly shrugged it looked the same to her, she was suddenly overcome with a wave of sadness unsure of where it had come from.Not unnoticed by Buffy who looked at her quizzically before being pulled out of her thoughts by the approach of Dawn,who looked in Faiths direction with utter Disdain

"Buffy?"

"We have a new house guest."

Trying to diffuse the tension Faith remarked "Hey, got a spare bed for a wanted fugitive?"

Giles only Nodded in her direction "Hello,Faith" A non committal response not unkind but not overly friendly. Trust the watcher to play it neutral.he somewhat felt responsible for what had happened to Faith. The girl had not had it easy with her 'guardians' in the past and then was left to the mercy of that imbecile Wesley. He often thought maybe if he had shown her the attention and care he had always shown Buffy maybe things would have been different.

"Well, I guess "wanted" wasn't really accurate." She said half heartedly attempting to fill the silence

"Does she have to stay here? Because there's some nice hotels that welcome kill types."

Okay that hurt. Responding the only way she knew how.On the offensive "Check it out. Brat's all woman-sized."

Buffy sensing where this was heading and feeling the familiar spark of fire rising in faiths chest quickly changed the subject

"Look, I need to get to the hospital. Some girl was attacked on her way into town. We think she might be a—"

"We know. Willow's been calling."

"She's still there. She's gonna call if the girl wakes up."

"Fine." Buffy answered,glaring at Giles before walking out of the room

"Well, Faith, we better, um, see if we can find some place to squeeze you in for the night." Giles muttered before Dawn and himself also left the room.

Spike who had been silent up until now watching the scene unfold piped up "Not all that tension was about you. Giles was a part of a plan to kill me...for Buffy's own good."

"Well, that makes me feel better about me, worse about Giles...kinda shaky about you."

Spike Chuckled before also making his exit

Yep it was good to be back Faith sighed and out of nowhere she had an unsettling feeling she was being watched.