Before the group could decide what do about Faith's living conditions, something happened that changed everything.
"Buffy and Faith were patrolling last night and were attacked by a group of vampires. A human wandered into the fight and Buffy threw him at Faith. She didn't realize it was a human until she'd staked him."
"Poor kid. Friendly fire accidents can be hard to deal with." Tony said. "The what ifs can really mess with your mind."
"That's not really the problem. Faith freaked out and dumped the body. Giles and Buffy don't think she's reacting normally. She and Buffy are blaming each other. I heard Giles tell Buffy, it's not the first time it's happened."
"Of course not. Humans and innocents get caught in the cross fire. It happens. Your soldier memories should be telling you that." James said.
"They are, but Giles didn't tell Faith that. He let her think he's agreeing that it's Buffy fault, instead of telling her it's an accident. I heard him tell Buffy, she's not stable."
"You've got to be kidding me." Coral said. "She's reacting normally. Of course she's going to freak out, she accidentally killed someone! And of course, her first thought was to make it go away. That's normal! How's Buffy acting?"
"The way she did when the police were investigating Ted's death. Like she's afraid she's going to get the blame. Once Giles told her, he believes her and not Faith, she calmed down."
"They're equally responsible, but it was still an accident. What the Hell is he thinking?!" Charles said.
Xander slipped out and left the adults talking, Cordelia followed him. "What are you thinking?" She asked.
"That my soldier memories might be able to help Faith. If I can tell her I understand and convince her, maybe we can help her. I'm going to talk to her."
"Other circumstances and I might be jealous of you going to a motel to see another woman, especially since I know you find her attractive."
"I do, I've been honest about that. But I love you."
"Good, because I love you too."
Xander knocked on Faith's door.
"Something I can help you with?" She eyed him suspiciously.
"No, but there's something I may be able to help you with."
"And what would that be?"
"What happened was an accident, Faith. I don't care what Giles and Buffy are saying. Freaking out is perfectly normal. And friendly fire accidents happen."
"What do you know about it?"
"Quite a bit, actually. I don't know if you heard, but a year ago, an old friend of Giles came to town, he wanted to play his idea of a prank on people for Halloween. Anyone who bought a costume from his place, became their costume for a couple of hours. I went as a modern day soldier. And unlike Buffy, I remember everything. Procedures, ordinances, weapons. And I know exactly how the military would respond in this situation. They'd convene a hearing, determine the facts and declare it an accident. They'd send you for counseling to help you deal with it. Eventually they'd determine if you could return to active duty. This wasn't your fault Faith, this was an accident. One Buffy is also responsible for. But still, an accident."
"You really think so?"
"Yes. Faith, I'm going to trust you with a secret. One Buffy and them don't know. Buffy's group isn't the only one I'm apart of. Cordelia and I are part of another group. Our families have been fighting to protect Sunnydale since they were teenagers themselves. Would you like to meet them? We can help you, if you let us."
Faith was never sure why she decided to trust Xander Harris that night. She'd never trusted any man in her whole life. But she went with him. They drove to a large mansion near the out skirts of town.
"Woah! What is this place?"
"Cordy's family's home. Chase Manor, been in the family for four generations."
"You're girl's part of this group?"
"Her parents founded it when they were teenagers. Along with my parents and three other families."
Xander opened the front door and motioned Faith in.
"Everyone, this is Faith, the Vampire Slayer. I told her we could help her."
"So what's this group called anyway? I heard X over here named B's group, the Scoobies."
"We've never actually chosen a name for our group." Charles said. "Welcome Faith. We may be able to help each other."
Later that night, Buffy and Angel decided to do an 'intervention' on Faith. Xander had just dropped her back at the Sunnydale Motor Lodge when he saw Angel attack her and knock her out. He followed them and saw him chain her to a wall in Crawford Mansion. When she came to, Angel started lecturing her the nature of good vs evil. Buffy was in a nearby room, listening. 'What the Hell do they think they're doing?' Xander thought. 'How the Hell, do they think this is supposed to help with anything?'
Then to complicate things even more, the new Watcher, Wesley Wyndom-Price, and a squad from the Watchers Council attacked Crawford Mansion and took Faith away.
"I saw them load her in a van." Xander reported to the group. "Wesley was claiming the authority of the Watchers Council and saying she was to accept their judgement for her crimes. I saw her escape a few minutes later."
"What the Hell is wrong with them?! Buffy and Angel's stupidity was bad enough, but you would think the Watchers would understand friendly fire." Charles shook his head, unable to understand the sheer stupidity.
"Faith's in play now. We just have to wait for her to make contact and pass information on." James said. "Then we'll finally know just what the Mayor has planned for the centennial."