The next day the Scoobies showed Faith around the school, pointing out the place where Angel nearly fed Xander to Spike and Willow was nearly sucked into a watery grave and Angel nearly killed Willow and the cafeteria where they'd been attacked by snakes.
"They say kids these days don't learn much in school, but I've learned to be afraid," Xander joked,
"You guys are a hoot, if I'd had friends like you, well; I'd have probably still dropped out of school, but I'd have felt bad about it, you know."
Willow spotted Buffy coming towards them. "Buffy how did your test go?"
"I think I passed. So what are you guys up to."
"Oh, we were just showing Faith around. We're heading for the library, Giles said he had some news for us."
They walked toward the library, continuing to chat with Faith.
"Giles, what's up, Xander said you had news."
"Yes, I was able to get ahold of the head of the Devon Coven, Agatha Harkness, she agreed to send two of their membership out to evaluate you, Willow. They are both skilled in healing. Also, they will test both you and Cordelia, Xander, to try to determine your mystical potential. If they are able to identify it, they may, if you're willing, safely aid you in activating it. Or you could wait and allow it to activate on it's own. There is some risk involved, though. If it's too soon for your abilities to activate, doing so may cause some damage. On the other hand, since naturally occurring ability is tied to emotions, waiting may mean they active at an inoperative time, such as in the middle of a battle, or an argument or any other time in which strong emotions are being felt."
Xander looked alarmed, "Any kind of strong emotions? Like anger, fear, kissy feelings?"
"Yes, any type, Xander."
"Ok, than for my part, I'm willing to let them help, not wanting to risk hurting anyone here," he slid his arm around Cordelia's waist, "anyone at all."
Cordelia leaned into his side, "me either, so tell your friends, they can do what they need to, Giles."
"I thought you'd say that. They'll be here Saturday, the same day as my lecture, so that will be a good time to take care of things."
"They are preparing to stay a few days or if necessary, weeks in order to help you, Willow. Healing, especially a soul, cannot be rushed, doing so could compound the damage and these two ladies have been healers for more than two decades. They know what they are doing and do it well. Be warned, Willow, you may not be able to give up magic, entirely. You may need to learn to manage what is now within you. However, you will not be alone, any of you, in this. I too have had to learn to manage what is within me. And you have my experience, as well as example, of how not to misuse magic, to help you."
They all thanked him and then returned to their classes.
Something had been bothering Cordelia and she finally figured out what it was and went looking for Xander. Once she found him, she pulled him into the nearest janitor's closet. "We don't have a free, Cordy, much as I'd like to make out with you right now, I don't think you want us to get in trouble."
"No, that's not why I pulled you in here, much as I want to do that too. No, something's been bothering me about Faith, since we met her and I finally figured it out. She acts all confident, but her scent isn't matching her attitude. I think she smells afraid. When she mentioned her Watcher being on a retreat, she reeked of it. I didn't realize it at first, because, ew smelling people isn't something I've been aware I could do, except you of course and that just feels natural, like it's my right to or something, I guess. Like since you're my boyfriend/mate, whatever, I have the right to make sure you're ok, kind of thing. So I haven't been paying attention to other people's scent, but hers is just so strong, I couldn't help but smell it and now I think I've figured out why. Am I gross for being able to smell others?"
"If you are, then so am I. Giles says my check showed I have heightened senses, I must be able to smell people too, just tuning them out, like you tune out a running refrigerator. Now that we're aware, it might be something we can learn to turn on and off. Come on, let's go see, Giles, he can write us a note for class. Don't worry, we won't mention the smell thing. I'll tell him Soldier Boy noticed some stuff." He grabbed a quick kiss, which had her grinning and they headed to the library.
"Giles, got a minute, and yes I know we're late for class. Something's been niggling in the back of Soldier Boys awareness since we met Faith and I think I figured it out. She's overcompensating for something, she acted bold, but she's twitchy, nervous and not in a 'I'm in new environment and surrounded by strangers' way. In a, 'something has me running scared' kind of way."
"You're certain?"
"Yah, the more I think about, it seems like she's acting like someone whose been having to look over her shoulder for a long time looks. Constantly checking, over and over, being startled easily, then acting like nothing happened and being over the top to draw attention away from anything she might have let slip."
"Interesting, the more you use that knowledge, the more aware you get. Like a skill to be honed, this could be very useful. In the meantime, I will see if I can get ahold of her Watcher or The Council. I'll write you a note for class."
Xander and Cordelia left, notes in hand, as Giles moved to his office to make some calls.
"Nicely done, very believable."
"Actually, I wasn't making anything up, Cor. Once you pointed it out, I could see everything you said and it clicked with Soldier Boy. She really is acting like something's wrong, but doesn't know how to ask for help. Kind of reminds me of myself, whenever Tony, you know. I kept hoping someone would notice, but when no one said anything, I thought they didn't. That or didn't care. Now I wonder if Sunnydale Syndrome didn't play a part. If you can't see one thing, it's hard to see something else."
"We kids, for the most part, were aware, but it's one of those things you think adults are going to do something about. Monsters are for under the bed, not real life. I'm sorry I never said anything, Xander."
"You think I blame you, or Willow for that matter? No, I don't blame you guys, you were kids, what could you do. Willow's assumptions made me mad, because she and Buffy used them as an excuse to not take me seriously, that hurt."
"Probably didn't help, though that I use jokes to hide, like Faith used her stories to hide. It's too late to do anything about Tony, but we can help Faith."
