A/N: Once again, sorry for disappearing for so long but I'm back, and with a "working" computer. Well, we'll see for how long because I've got the sneaking feeling it's about to crash again but I'm gonna do my best with whatever time I've got and I'm trying to update all my stories as soon as possible, I've already done so with Homecoming and after this one I'll be working like crazy to get a new chapter up of Colliding Lives.

Thanks for you reviews guys. Reading your comments makes me smile ;)

Chapter 4:

July, Cleveland, Council Headquarters, late afternoon

"Where is she?" Giles asked, worry in his voice.

"We don't know. When we couldn't get a hold of her yesterday we went to her apartment." Xander replied. "That's when we found the note."

"What'd it say?"

"That she needed to take a break and that she would be out of reach for a few days." Faith said softly.

"Stupid girl! She knows better than to do something like this!" The older man exploded.

"She's grown up G-man; she's not a little girl anymore. She can make her own decisions." The brunette slayer replied calmly.

"But she should know better than to disappear. What if she ends up in trouble?" Willow retorted, her face weary.

"She'll handle it. She can take care of herself. Dawn isn't stupid."

"We never should have found Stabler for her. That's what created this mess to begin with."

"Oh come on, you if anyone should know that Dawn wouldn't have given up if we had said no." Faith scoffed. "She's as stubborn as her sister."

"I promised Buffy I'd take care of her." Willow stated, her voice tired. "I can't do that if she acts like this. Neither of us can."

"She's an adult." Faith said. "All of you still think and act as if she can't make her own decisions and you're wrong."

"You know where she is, don't you?" Giles suddenly said, looking at the slayer with a somber face, realization in his eyes.

"Yeah…I do."

"Where is she?" Xander asked, his voice low and restrained.

"I'm sorry. I promised her I wouldn't tell you."

"Faith!"

"I'm on her side in this." For a moment the slayer closed her eyes and then she looked at the others in the room again. "Don't try and find her, she'll come back when she's done. When she's ready. Just let her be."

"She's gone to New York, hasn't she?" Willow asked.

"This is something she has to do. And it's her decision to make, not yours. Leave her alone."

And with those words the brunette walked out, leaving the room's remaining occupants in complete silence.

TBC…