A/N: Sorry about all the 8's I couldn't get the page breaks and stuff to work right

Disclaimer: Not mine.

DEATH is a dialogue between

The spirit and the dust.

"Dissolve," says Death. The Spirit, "Sir,

I have another trust."

Death doubts it, argues from the ground.

The Spirit turns away,

Just laying off, for evidence,

An overcoat of clay.

-Emily Dickinson

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"Caridad! Catch!"

A shout ripped through the madness of the battle.

Caridad looked behind her as Raven threw an axe in her direction to replace her shattered broadsword. Her hand caught it with a practiced ease as she spun her whole body to come around on the thick-skinned clawed demon attempting to kill her.

Green goo sprayed up and all over her face and hair as the axe sliced through the demon.

"Gross." Caridad tried to wipe the goo from her face, but she only succeeded in spreading it around. "Damn it."

"Oh I don't know Caridad, I think it's a good look for you. It brings out your eyes."

"Oh bite me Rave, its not like you look much better," the thin Dominican spat to the younger blonde girl.

Raven smirked looking down at herself. She had demon blood covering most of her body and hair and some of her own blood was mixed in there too.

The slayer was slightly concerned as to the consequences of demon blood seeping into her wounds.

Hopefully she didn't grow horns!

That would totally suck.

An arrow cut through the skull of a nearby demon and it collapsed next to Caridad's feet.

"If you two are quite finished contemplating the fashion of demon guts could you get back to the slaying? That would be great." The freckled redhead came into view as she strapped her crossbow on her back and unsheathed her sword. Two more slayers who were armed to the teeth were following close behind.

"Sure thing Vi." Raven smiled.

"We need to find Faith and see that she's alright. We should never have gotten separated." Caridad said visibly worried.

Raven pulled a sword out of a demon corpse and replied, "Shit happens; now we just have to make sure she didn't go and get herself killed," the brash blond replied, as she blocked off the advances of a purple demon that vaguely resembled Barney the dinosaur; apart from the large amount of drooling and very sharp teeth. She made short work of the not-so friendly dinosaur.

"Alright then," Vi nodded. "Let's get to work."

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Was this death?

All he saw was a blinding white which stretched endlessly in all directions. There was an overwhelming silence and overwhelming calm.

Hadn't he been doing something important?

Then it came to him. The Department of Mysteries. Bellatrix! Harry was in trouble!

Sirius remembered the pain and confusion he saw in his godson's eyes as Sirius had started to fall through the veil. His own heart had retched because he knew he was the cause. He had been too overconfident of his own abilities and it cost him and Harry. Then all thought stopped till he came here.

But, this couldn't be death! He couldn't be dead. Harry needed him.

"Harry will be fine, he's a strong kid."

Sirius's eyes snapped up to a woman he hadn't noticed standing in front of him.

"Who are you?" He asked accusingly.

The woman before him smiled. She looked to be in her mid-twenties perhaps, American if the accent was any indication. Her brown hair fell softly alongside her face and stopped just short of her shoulders. She was wearing a white silky dress and a glow surrounded her.

"My name is Cordelia, and I work for the Powers that Be."

Sirius didn't have the foggiest idea what that meant.

Cordelia seemed to sense his confusion and clarified, "The Powers that Be. They are the self-righteous a-holes who like to control other's destinies, or at least try too. They are the ones who mess with people's lives down there on Earth, like your godson Harry's."

She looked at him sympathetically, "the Powers really do seem to love their prophecies."

So there were higher beings messing with his godson's life and ensuring that his life was a sodding nightmare?

That was more than unsettling. It royally pissed him off. "For being employed by them you certainly don't seem to care for them too much."

"Yeah, well I've known a few champions in my time. Champions who they've royal screwed over. So let's say I can get a little testy about their methods." Cordelia answered with a frown.

"So, where are we and what do you want with me?"

It felt as though she was staring right through him before she spoke.

"You don't beat around the bush. I like that about you Mr. Black. Well, I'll get right down to the nitty gritty."

Sirius didn't like the sound of that.

"This…" she motioned to the white abyss, "is limbo; a place which is between life and death. You see, you're not quite dead yet Sirius, but you certainly aren't alive either. So you are going to be given a choice. The Powers feel it isn't your time to 'go quietly into that good night'. They feel that you are still needed here. You see Sirius, the Powers wanted to offer you a deal. You do something for them and they'll bring you back."

Sirius desperately wanted that. He had to protect Harry had to make sure he would be okay.

"What do you want me to do?"

Cordelia looked to him thoughtfully.

"Well Mr. Tall-dark and broody, I'm here about a girl."

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"Sp…Spike?" her voice rough and cracked.

A face came into view as the person knelt in front of her.

"The one and bleedin' only, firecracker."

Her vision cleared as Spike offered her his hand.

Wasn't Spike dead?

Was she dead?

That might explain why he called her firecracker. Only her mother and Mayor Wilkins had ever called her that. Frankly, those were two people she had no desire to be thinking about right now.

"Don't call me that."

Faith took his offered hand and was lifted up.

"Testy little tart aren't you?"

Faith frowned at that, and picked up her sword.

"I don't know what that means, but I think I should be offended." She looked at him critically, "Aren't you supposed to be dead by the way? And I'm speaking in the completely dead type of dead, not the undead vampire type of dead."

Spike nodded. "Yeah, well it was this whole big thing that is a really long story. But I'm kind of hoping to stay an undead vampire and not be completely dead by the end of this thing, so if you could save the inquisition till after the battle it would be much appreciated."

Faith turned to see more demons coming their way. They looked like Fyarl demons with a few hellhounds in tow.

"Great." Faith murmured.

Spike lifted his own sword awaiting their approach.

"You haven't happened to see Angel anywhere 'round here? I hadn't seen him since the battle started."

Faith's gut sank at the reminder of Angel, but she steeled herself.

Her eyes drifted to the patch of ground she'd be avoiding, where Angel's ashes lay.

She would get through this battle and then she would mourn Angel properly. Then she would mourn Gunn and Wesley too. But for now, Faith would make sure she made it through this alive and make sure these demons didn't get their victory. So that Angel's sacrifice might mean something.

Spike's eyes followed hers and widened upon seeing the ashes.

"Bloody hell."

Faith couldn't tell what emotions coursed through Spike at the realization that his grand-sire was gone and she would probably never know. She wasn't the type to ask such things.

"Are you going to be okay Faith?"

Faith was startled by Spike's show of concern. She focused on the approaching demons and avoided Spike's eyes.

"I've never been okay Spike, but I'll get by." She clenched her jaw tightly. She would not let him see her cry.

"Five by fucking five."

A Fyarl came rushing at her and lashed out with its large fist and she lifted her sword in a quick flourish and chopped off its hand, and its head followed not soon after.

These demons were messing with the wrong slayer.