Xander whistled, looking around the lobby of Wolfram and Hart. He turned and saw Angel, standing in the doorway to his office.
"Moving up in the world," Xander said by way of greeting.
"Guess I am," Angel replied, walking over and shaking his hand. "How's the eye? Anymore weird visions?"
Xander shrugged. "Not since I left Seattle a week ago. The doctor thinks everything is fine and it may have just been a reaction to the painkillers."
"What do you think?" Angel pressed.
"I think I've seen and done too much to believe that was the case. Which is why I'm here. I checked in with Willow, briefly, but she couldn't tell me anything," Xander answered. "So... you guys. Well oiled machine, as it were."
Angel nodded and gestured for him to come inside his office.
"Haven't heard from Faith, huh?" Xander asked, setting his bag down before taking a seat himself.
"No," Angel said, shaking his head. "Have you?"
"Briefly," Xander admitted. "Beginning of the month but now... nada. She's fallen off the map, it would seem."
Angel sat down behind his desk, scratching at his chin. "How did she sound, you know, when you last spoke to her?"
Xander thought for a moment. "Well, she was sick. But she was pissed at you, man. But you know Faith, she just needs time to cool off."
"Maybe," Angel said after a moment.
"You don't think she's in trouble, do you?" Xander questioned. "I mean, the link... you'd know, yeah?"
"Yeah." Angel was quiet for awhile, his expression troubled.
"So, what aren't you sharing?" Xander asked. "Come on, I can see it, you're worried. And not just about the fact that Faith hasn't called either of us. Or anyone, for that matter."
The vampire rubbed his temples. "It's just... the link. It's oddly... vacant."
"As in... bad? Like... dead?" Xander leaned forward in his chair.
"No, I would've felt that right away," Angel said, more to himself than to Xander. "But... she's there. Just... far away. Almost like she can't access it, or something. I don't know."
"Have you got anything new on her? Any leads?"
Angel shook his head. "She's not using any credit cards, not leaving a trail. And as far as contacting anyone, no one has heard anything since the beginning of the month. It's not like her to stay hidden like this."
Xander frowned slightly. "I hate to bring it up, but... isn't this exactly like her? I mean... with what she was like before - "
Angel shot him a look.
"Hey," Xander replied, holding his hands up. "Look, I know as well as you do that Faith has changed, I wouldn't've signed on to be her Watcher if I didn't believe she had, but... well... look at the facts. She felt betrayed by you and she disappeared. What happened the last time she felt betrayed by you, by all of us? She turned to Mayor Wilkins. I'm not saying she's turned again, but... well... couldn't it be a possibility? The girl is a Slayer and she is the strongest that I know... that's a lot of firepower in the hands of one person."
Angel sighed, closing his eyes. "I did think of that. And I've been watching the news reports... either she's changed her MO or she's just not getting caught. Or she's fine and she's just left the country or something, but... I'm still keeping an eye out."
"Big guys upstairs know nothing?" Xander asked, pointing at the ceiling.
"If they do, which I'm sure they do," Angel replied. "They're not spilling. I just hope she knows what she's doing."
"So do I, man, so do I."