A/N Although it's never stated in canon whether Xander ever retained anything physically from being possessed by the hyena, aside from memories, he so rarely got injured fighting things considerably stronger than him that it does suggest some aftereffects. And while we don't know how long it was 'in world' between episodes, the fact is, even the two times he had a broken arm, he was fine by the next episode. It's one of those things that we should have gotten an in world explantation for, but the writers simply never thought about it, so it was never mentioned. I've speculated on exactly what that might be in other fics and now I'm wondering what effect he might have given he's experiencing a sort of deja vu effect. And than there's Faith who's already possessed by something stripped from a demon, what effect might that have?

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"Jesse, when was the last time you saw Faith?" Diana urgently questioned as soon as she located him. "She didn't come home last night after leaving to patrol. Actually, she usually tells she heading out to patrol and last night she left without saying anything. I'm not even sure what time she left."

"I saw her at the Bronze for a little while." Jesse answered. "I think she and Xander were on an actual date, neither of them were paying any attention to anyone else, just each other and both were dressed like it was a date. Faith looked hot."

"A date? Faith didn't mention anything." Diana was puzzled. "I know she kinda likes him, but she's only known him a couple of months and hasn't been on a date with anyone since we moved here. Why didn't she say something? And that doesn't explain why she hasn't come home or where she is now. It's nearly noon and I've checked the school, she's missed her morning classes."

"Xander didn't tell me they were going on a date either." Jesse admitted. "And he's missed his morning classes too."

"When was the last time, prior to seeing them at the Bronze, that you saw them?"

"At the zoo, we rode back on different buses. We were exploring the zoo together, they were flirting. I needed to talk to Johnathan anyway, so I gave them privacy. Xander probably got the nerve to ask her out then."

"If it wasn't for the fact that she's left me worrying, which isn't at all like her, I'd agree they may have had a date. But the fact that she never came home last night and neither are in class means something is wrong. We need to find them, perhaps his parents might know where he is."

"No, ma'am." Jesse looked and felt uncomfortable, this wasn't a topic Xander would want discussed without his permission. "Talking to his parents won't do any good, they didn't notice when he was gone for two days and in the hospital after the attack."

"Jesse," Diana Dormer went on alert. "Jesse, why wouldn't his parents notice? Be honest with me, Jesse, please."

Jesse winched at the intent look she gave him and buckled. "They drink." He admitted. "Especially his dad."

"No one's investigated the situation?"

"I know some of the doctors at the hospital have called Family Services, but no one ever follows up." Jesse squirmed inwardly, Xander wasn't going to be happy. "He won't let me tell my parents because he's afraid he'll get shipped off somewhere. Most of the people in his family are the same way."

"Let's find them." Diana said grimly. "And I'll follow up on your information, Jesse. I'll find out what's going on and figure out a way to help him. Come on, we need to start at the zoo, that was the last place you saw them behaving normally, correct?"

"I guess so." Jesse hurried to keep up, Diana was speed walking back to her car. "I've never ditched class before."

"I'll deal with that too, this is more important." Diana said firmly. "How were they behaving at the Bronze?" She questioned as she drove towards the zoo.

"Like I said, they didn't seem to see anyone except each other. They danced one dance and Xander is usually a spaz on the dance floor unless he's slow dancing, but last night he seemed to know what he was doing. They left before the dance was finished though. Just walked off the floor and out the door and that was the last time I saw them."

"Like something caught their attention? Something outside, a vampire perhaps."

"Faith, yeah, she's the Slayer, but Xan couldn't sense a vampire and now that I think about it, it's like they were in sync with each other. They didn't say anything to each other, just walked off the floor and out the door."

"That does suggest something has happened to them both. But what? A spell? Some other Magic?"

"I know you said it was real, but do other people really know that?" Jesse asked.

"Enough that the Council has had to deal with black Magic users and demon worshippers and summoners several times." Diana replied. "Demons, of which vampires are the most common, are what we normally deal with, but humans seeking and misusing power are also concerns."

"That's sick. Why?" Jesse asked.

"Why do people drink or do drugs? Something is missing from their lives or they're in pain and seeking an out. Or it's exciting and than it takes you over and consumes you. People always feel they have a reason."

"And Xander and Faith might have been affected by something someone else was doing and now they're in trouble." Jesse summoned up, feeling scared, he was barely sixteen years old, Diana agreed to teach them in an effort to keep them safe, so they weren't trying to find answers on their own. Even with an adult helping, it was still scary. Still, Diana Dormer was a solid, reassuring adult presence in a world turned sideways and Jesse was grateful for that. He just hoped they could find Xander and Faith in time to save them from whatever might have happened to them.