I hope she's all right.

I walk down the hall, kinda idly on the search for Faith.

She cares a lot about Pike and her relationship with him. I'd hate to think that what he walked in on would screw that up. He's a good guy and she's a great girl. They deserve to be happy together if they can make it work. I don't want to be the reason why they don't get to be happy. Maybe if I can find her and talk to them, they'll be able to be together. I can explain that it wasn't her fault. That she didn't do anything intentionally.

At least one saving grace is that it seems like Wrath hasn't emerged at all. I thought for sure that he'd be angry and that it would force a change in him. But there's been no big crisis in the building, which is probably how'd it go with Wrath if it were. So either anger isn't the trigger for him to come out, or Pike didn't get angry at her.

I'm assuming it's the first one. I know I'd be upset if it happened to me. At least it was when Riley did it to me that one time. It lead to our break up. I guess things are different between Faith and Pike. She told me that they weren't that committed, relationship wise. They were kinda just keeping it casual. Maybe he didn't react the way he did because they aren't very into each other. It's not like he screamed or yelled or anything like that. He kinda just left. He didn't seem that angry.

In fact, Faith seemed a lot more upset about it then he was. I'm still not sure how to feel about that. I mean, we talked it out and I feel much better about our past, but something about the way they are with each other is bugging me. Maybe if I can find them and talk to them, I can sort it out and finally feel okay with everything.

Turning down the hall, I see Faith leaning against the wall, alone.

Well that doesn't look good.

It makes me stop.

Should I... go talk to her? I mean, that was the plan with me wandering around Slayer HQ looking for her. But her being alone... she likes her alone time. I probably don't want to interrupt her if she wants to be alone.

"You all right B?"

Me?

"Uh... hey Faith, how's it going?"

There's a bit of a silence in the hallway. Eventually, she shrugs.

"Five by five I guess."

She doesn't sound all that enthusiastic about that.

"You sure?"

She looks up at me with that grin of hers.

"Do you wanna keep having this conversation across the hall?"

That was stupid of me.

I make my way over to her slowly.

"Sorry."

I lean against the wall opposite from Faith and just wait for a few moments.

"So... where's Pike? Did you find him?"

There's a silence before she answers.

"Yup."

She's being monosyllabic. That's usually not a good sign.

"Are you okay?"

Again some silence between my question and her answer.

"Yup."

I look up and down the hall, just to see if he's anywhere nearby before asking.

"Is he okay?"

"Yeah, he's just... taking some time."

That definitely doesn't sound like it went very well.

"What kind of time?"

"The kind that involves thinking."

Oh...

"Is that... a good thing?"

"Not sure yet."

Well that's... less terrible I guess.

"Oh..."

"Yeah..."

I might as well ask.

"Did you at least get a chance to explain?"

"Yup... that's why he's taking some time."

"So, he knows that it's not your fault."

"He does... but I'm not sure if that hurts or helps my case."

What does she mean?

"Why would it hurt?"

It takes her a second before she looks at me when responding.

"Because he was actually starting to like me."

Oh...

"I mean, we tried to keep things casual. We got into things with our eyes open. We knew what we were doing. But..."

I get it.

"It didn't stay that way for him."

She takes a deep breath, looking away as she does.

"Apparently not."

I don't really respond to that.

"So now he's taking some time to figure out how to feel about what he saw."

That makes sense.

"Right... I'm guessing seeing his girlfriend making out with one of his oldest friends wasn't the happiest experiences of his life."

"Not exactly... but he did understand when I explained it to him how it happened. That it wasn't exactly my choice or your choice either. And that we were trying to figure out why it was happening at the time he walked in on us."

"But it still hurts. I get it."

There's silence in the hallway for awhile.

"Are you okay?"

She responds without looking at me.

"It's like I said, I'm five by five."

It takes me a second to respond.

"You don't have to be."

She looks at me and smiles.

"I know... but I am... mostly."

I'm not sure I believe her.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, I mean... I haven't really put a lot of energy into our relationship, you know, besides the obvious."

Okay, not sure I needed to hear that... but I'll just let her vent.

"And with everything going on with you and me and Dawn? I kinda just... took for granted that he was there I think."

"So now you're thinking about it? What he means to you?"

"Pretty much."

"Have you gotten anywhere with it?"

She takes a deep breath.

"I like him... a lot. But I don't think it's more than that."

Oh, that's not going to be a problem.

"So... do you want to keep seeing him?"

"I don't know... I'd like to. But I'm not sure if he wants to. Which is why he needs time."

That really sucks... but at least there's still a chance for the two of them. I haven't heard from Derrick since our last talk.

"Well, I'm here for you if you need me."

She smiles at me.

"Thanks B, I appreciate it, but I'll be okay. Besides, we have more important things to worry about right now... like Dawn."

When she's right, she's right.

"Yeah, we should focus on that."

She stands up straight and I do the same.

"Let's go see how things are going."

We start to head back to where Dawn's being held.

At least they have a chance.