Faith's brown eyes widened. "I mean, you and the Scoobs always seem to make that last second shot." She grinned wryly. "Just really wishing you were playing a different team, though."

Buffy nodded quietly at that, starting to move toward the Restfield exit. "As usual, though, the Slayer thing manages to get in the way of our wishes." She looked over at Faith. "Why did you leave the Mansion? Mom's freaking. She's out in the car looking for you."

Unwilling to break the strange new relationship going on, Faith answered with more honesty than she was used to. "We were talking about stuff, and, well, she said some things that pissed me off."

"Yeah. Mom's good at that." Buffy glanced around the cemetery as they crawled back through the chain link fence. "She and I used get into huge arguments. I even ran away to LA that summer before you got to town."

"Red mentioned it once." In the 'before time.' Before I killed Finch. Before I went to the Mayor. Stiffening against the thoughts, Faith slouched, letting her usual swagger resume. "So, B, who's the new man in your life? Gotta say it was wicked cool the way you let Fang go."

Remembering the look in Angel's eyes as he turned away, Buffy muttered, "Yeah, cool. Like stabbing him and sending him to Hell was cool."

Faith rubbed her temple. "Damn. What's with this headache? I thought Slayer healing would be all over this concussion." She glanced at Buffy, huddled in her jacket. "Look, B, I didn't mean anything. Guess I figured the breakup was a good thing, ya know?"

"Lot of people would agree with you." Buffy smiled a little. "One of them would be me, once the whole broken heart thing goes away." She leaned her head back, soaking up the sunlight. "And, just so you know, there is no other man." Not quite sure why she'd admitted that, Buffy resumed her walk toward home. "You still planning on heading out of town tonight?"

"It's the best plan, B." Faith reached out and halfheartedly shoved Buffy. "But, ya know, I could check in every once in a while. See if you needed a night off or a hand. Not saying I'm going to disappear. Just need to hide out until things cool off."

Buffy didn't immediately respond. Head bowed, she reached along the link. How could she get Faith to stay? She bit her lip, pushing against an unseen barrier. She was unable to break through. Looks like I'm on my own again. Huddling deeper into her jacket, she flicked nervous glances at her companion.

Faith noticed the sideways glances with amusement. "B, you got something to say? Or you just admiring my new fashion sense?"

Hazel eyes shot to hers, while pink tinted her cheeks. "Please. Where did you get those anyway? Walmart? I am so thinking you should get your money back."

"Well, you weren't around, B, I had to shop all on my own." Faith bit back a grin. Damn, she'd missed this. "Guess I coulda asked Red the other night. She was looking pretty hot." The grin peeked out. "She was ready to take me on, too. You giving lessons to the Scoobs these days?"

Buffy's lips twitched. "Not so much, no." She fell silent, and Faith stared at her. Finally, the blonde muttered, "Kinda haven't been doing too much training at all. Big research parties, lots of old, musty books."

"Thought you'd put on some weight." Faith ducked, just avoiding the small hand aimed at her head. "And slow, too."

"Bitch." The insult lacked sting, the smooth voice filled with laughter.

Smirking, arm tossed over Buffy's shoulders, Faith mocked. "You know it, girlfriend." She grunted at the sharp elbow jabbing her stomach. "Damn, B," she pouted, pulling away and rubbing the spot. "You sharpen those things?"

"Just a downpayment on the ass kicking I owe you for the fat comment." Buffy tossed her ponytail over her shoulder, growing sober. "I really need you to stay, Faith."

"I know, B." Faith looked at the sidewalk, teeth clenched. "But I can't." Her vision blurred, tears threatening. Clearing her throat, she ground out, "How do you want to play this?"

A little surprised at the abrupt change of topic, Buffy glanced at Faith. "Play what?"

"Me meeting the gang." Scrubbing her hands on her pants, the brunette Slayer threw her shoulders back. "I may have given you some help and all, but I ain't in to big apologies or nothing,'"

"Ah." Buffy nodded. "That. Well, I think we walk in, say hi, call Giles and Mom, and get started with more research."

Faith snorted. "You forgetting something, B?"

"I don't think so, F," Buffy commented bitingly.

"Just remember," Faith murmured as they climbed the steps to the Summers' house, "if Red kicks my ass, it's all your fault."

Pushing the door open, Buffy waved Faith inside, laughing. "If it looks like that's happening, I'm selling tickets. I mean, Will's way changed from Fuzzy Sweater Girl, but I don't think she's in your league yet." She poked Faith in the side as they entered the kitchen. "Hey, guys. I found Faith," she announced to the trio still huddled at the counter.

"That's Faith?" Xander turned on the bar stool. "Wait. Let me guess. They ran out of clothes at Leathers 'R Us."

Sliding up next to the young man, Faith wrapped her arms around his neck and purred, "Nah, X-Man, I got these from your ex-honey. Just knew you liked the preppy look." Laughing at the dumbfounded look on his face, she let go and hopped on the counter amidst the mostly empty boxes. Choosing a doughnut at random, she munched.

Buffy gave her a wry look. "Swallow, Faith, and then fill us in." She took a seat at the kitchen table. "She got a close up look at a new demon in town." Bitter smile. "Perfect timing, as always."

"It's cool," Oz remarked. "Giles called a few minutes ago about the demon. He and Cordy are on their way with some kind of information"

"Here? You mean we don't have to go to the library?" Buffy eyed Oz. "This isn't just some almost-graduation day joke, right?"

Willow giggled. "Buffy! Oz isn't joking. Look at him. He's serious."

"No offense or anything, Red, but he's always serious." Faith swiped crumbs off her new shirt.

Bright red flooded Willow's face. "Well, no, I mean, he…Sometimes, he…"

"Gotcha." Faith grinned. "So Dogboy does have expressions. It's all good."

The front door slammed. "We're in here, Giles!" Buffy called out.

"I'm old and tired, but I don't look like Mr. Giles," Joyce commented wearily. Then she spotted Faith. "Well, I'm glad I spent the last two hours driving around Sunnydale. Why didn't I think that my runaway might be at home?"

Faith closely examined the dirt and blood under her nails, feeling the unhappy glare from across the kitchen. She was saved from comment when the front door slammed again. Seconds later, Giles popped his head through the door. His eyes widened at the site of the entire Scooby gang in the kitchen. "Ah, good morning." He half smiled, nervously resettling his glasses on his nose. "Cordelia brought me a video of the new demon in town. Could we perhaps watch it in the living room, Joyce?"

The question set off a mass exodus. Bodies sprawled everywhere in the Summer's living room as Xander popped a video tape into the recorder. "So, you brought this to Giles?" he asked disbelievingly, staring at Cordelia.

"Well, someone needs to do more than just stuff their face with doughnuts. Let's see, what did you have for breakfast today, Xander?" With barley a pause, Cordelia snapped her fingers and smiled condescendingly. "Oh, that's right, doughnuts."

"Yes, well, perhaps we can stay on the subject for once?" Giles tried to steer away from the building argument.

Sandwiched on the couch between Joyce and Buffy, Faith bounced her leg as the surveillance footage rolled. Peering at the grainy black and white images, she watched the demon dive through the window and attack a tuxedoed kid preening in front of a mirror minutes before Cordelia charged to his rescue. "Nice skills there, Queenie. You ever think of teaching self defense?"

"Too much chance she'd break a nail," Xander sniped.

"What is it, Giles?" Willow interrupted. "It looks really familiar."

Giles turned so he could look at the assembled group. "If I'm not mistaken, it's a Hellhound. It's particularly vicious. It's sort of a demon foot soldier, bred during the Machash Wars."

Faith chanced a look at Buffy. The blonde pressed tightly to her side gazed blankly at her knees. Jostling her a little, Faith inquired, "Don't you think you should be paying attention? Kinda hard to kill this thing if you don't have all the info."

"No." Her voice was flat. "Think I got all I need. After you've seen one hairy bringer of death, you've seen them all."

Absently rubbing her temple where the headache had suddenly reappeared, Faith kept an eye on Buffy. She saw signs of Angel withdrawal. However, she had her own problems. Dragging her gaze back to Giles, she inquired, "This thing just passing through town, or do you think…someone brought it here and let it loose?"

"Like the Mayor?" Joyce's voice was soft.

Faith nodded jerkily.

"It is unlikely the creature simply appeared here. They have voracious appetites and feed on the brains of their victims. I believe we would have noticed if one had claimed any of the areas around as its hunting ground." Giles chewed thoughtfully at the earpiece of his glasses. "That does beg the question as to why it is here."

Faith fought her way off the couch and strode around behind it, hands gripping the back tightly. "I don't think it was the Mayor who brought that thing."

"Seems right up his alley to me," Willow shot back. "He's definitely about destroying all of us."

"Yeah, Red, but the Boss had major plans to use Sunnydale as his own feeding ground." Faith swallowed the sour taste in her mouth. "Why would he bring that thing here to share in the munchies?"

Everyone stared at Faith until Cordelia sprang out of her seat, waving frantically at the TV. "Look! Right there! Zoom in on that," she commanded Xander, who held the remote.

"It's a video tape," he mocked.

"So?" Cordelia exclaimed. "They do it on television all the time."

Once again halting the verbal fireworks, Willow tried to redirect things. "Cordy, did you have something you wanted us to look at?"

Pinning the shy redhead with a haughty look, Cordelia spit out, "Yes. Look!" She waved at the screen again. "Back it up." Grumbling, Xander rewound the tape until he received an imperious palm indicating he'd reached the right spot. "Right there. Pause it."

"Good Lord, what is that?" Giles moved closer.