She cradled his head in her lap with tears in her eyes. How could it end like this? After all they'd been through? After all the fighting, the tears, the nightmares made real?

He stirred, recalling her wandering mind.

"It's going to be ok, you're going to be fine. It's only a couple of scratches," she lied, as much to herself as to him. He opened his eyes.

"Sorry.I messed.up," he forced out painfully, almost too weak to speak.

She shook her head, "It's my fault. It's always been my fault.all of it." She took a shaky breath. "I just wish you and everyone else hadn't had to . suffer for my mistakes."

"No. It.wasn't your.fault." He paused to take a weak gasp, visibly straining with the effort to keep speaking. She took his hand. "I.wish I.wasn't.leaving you.alone. Keep . keep . surviving."

This time he didn't take a breath. He closed his eyes and slowly his body relaxed. He was dead. She stood up, leaving his body on the ground, surrounded by his blood. She looked at it for a moment, but it wasn't him. Besides, there were no tears left any more, and she knew too well the difference between someone and their dead body.

Xander was gone.

Faith turned on her heel and left.