Buffy in Wonderland

In the final battle with Glory, Buffy is mind-sucked. Spike saves Dawn from the tower, and the portal never opens. After Glory mind sucks Buffy, she turns briefly back into Ben and Giles kills him. The gang tries to take care of her, but have to send her to the hospital.

Chapter One: A Mad Labyrinth

"But I don't wish to be among mad people, Alice told the Cat," Willow stopped abruptly, a flurry of emotion playing across her face. She but her lip, stealing a glance at Buffy. The blond girl simply stared off into space.

"I think that's enough reading for today, eh Buff?" Xander smiled nervously. Buffy didn't say anything, just continued to look past Willow across the lawn of the hospital's back garden. There was a long moment of silence between the three of them. Xander was sitting on the bench next to Buffy, Willow was across from her, shoving a copy of Alice in Wonderland back into her book-bag. "Guess what Buff? I got that promotion yesterday! I'm the foreman of the site now!" Xander gently swung his arm around the silent Slayer, pulling her in gently. "Imagine that, huh? They're puttin' the Zeppo in charge!" He smirked and puffed up his chest, but his humor didn't reach his eyes.

Willow reached out and placed her hand on Buffy's, "Dawn's going pretty good, Buffy," she said meeting the vacant gaze. Hearing her sister's name made the fingers beneath Willow's twitch ever so slightly, and Buffy blinked.

"Dawn, dusk, sunset… darkness," Buffy mumbled and shivered. Willow's breath caught and Xander held his friend tighter. Both of them exchanged quick glances.

Willow swallowed, "Don't worry Buffy, we're all taking care of her. Even… even Spike is helping!" she finished earnestly.

"Yeah, he… he helps her with that hard English homework and," his voice drops a little, "keeps the baddies under control."

There was another long moment of silence. Willow did her best to not cry, squeezing her friend's hand. Xander gritted his teeth and felt a quick surge of anger at what had happened to Buffy and that he couldn't do anything more helpful for her. "Don't worry, Buff," he said with a tight voice, "we'll get you outta here. G-man's hittin' the books, looking for a way to… get you back!" Willow nodded earnestly.

"Back? Backwards, forwards, up down, left, right!" Buffy shivered again; "It's a maze, a mad labyrinth!" she cried out, her eyes going wide. Willow was instantly at her side, and Xander pulled her closer. Buffy's eyes closed, and when they opened again, they were vacant once more. She only murmured, "The Beast, the Beast…"

Her outcry had caught one of the nurse's attention, and she came scurrying over, to the three huddled together, "I think that's enough for today, Mr. Harris, Ms. Rosenburg. I think Ms. Summers could use some rest," the nurse began pulling Buffy towards a wheel chair.

"R-right," Xander stood and stopped his shaking and tried to keep his heart together, and put on his best smile, "You rest up Buffy, I'll bring some Twinkies on Saturday!"

Willow grabbed her book-bag, slung it over her shoulder, "Yeah, I'll bring Dawn by then too, she's really excited!" Buffy was gone again though, and the nurse quietly took her back inside. The two friends watched for a long moment.

"We'll get her back," Xander said softly, his head lowered.

"We will," Willow nodded. She took a deep breath, and put on her patent Resolve Face, "we will, no matter what it takes!"