"What?" I gasp. "No." The doctor just gives me a sympathetic look.

"I'm afraid so. When Miss. Summers arrived her injuries were extensive, and we had to re-inflate her lung. That along with her stomach would caused her heart to stop for awhile. Luckily, we were able to bring her back." Oh my god. I can't lose her. I place my head in my hands and am shocked at the amount of moisture on my face. I had no idea I had been crying. I look at the doctor.

"When will she wake up?" I can barely force the question because of how afraid I am to here the answer.

"The next twenty-four hours are critical;the longer she stays in a comatose state, it will be harder for her to wake up."

"Is there anything you can do for her?" Dawn asks.

"I'm sorry, but no. She has to wake up on her own." Well, what the hell good is he? My best friend and the love of my life is in a coma, and he can't get her out of it.

"But that's what doctors DO!" Cordelia explodes. We all look at the obviously upset girl. She seems to calm down as Xand gathers her up in his arms. "You're suppose to make her better. She's too young. She's only seventeen years old. Please. Help her." The begging note in her voice mixed with the pleading in her eyes pierces us all. It even makes the doctor look apologetic and guilty.

"I think what my girlfriend is trying to say is can't you run more tests? Try harder or something. The world needs her." He buries his head in Cordy's hair making his already tearstained voice more muffled. "We need her." Well said, Xander.

"We ran all the tests we can think of multiple times. I'm so sorry. I have no idea what you're going through, but it seems that this Buffy Summers is an extraordinary person.

"The best." Dawn responds. The doctor gives her a sympathetic smile and walks away. The enormity of the situation finally hits me with a tremendous blow causing my knees to tremble. I back up an run into a wall and begin to slide down it. My Buffy. What if she doesn't pull through. I glance at my family. Huh. Family. Two years ago, I would have never believed that I would have a group of people who would back me up against anything. Family is the only way I can describe these brave individuals. I'm not alone with my grief.

I've never seen Giles cry before. He has his arm around a devastated Joyce and Dawn. Poor Giles. Just after he lost the woman he was in love with, he has to face this. There is no doubt in my mind that Giles loves Buffy like a daughter. Me and Cordy. And he loves Xander like a son.

Mrs. Summers didn't even get to see Buffy. She's been riddled with guilt all summer, and now Buffy finally came back and this happened. She's probably thinking she doesn't want what she told Buffy before the fight with Acathla to be the last thing she said to Buffy.

Xander and Cordy are wrapped in each other for comfort. Dawn walks up to me.

"Are you okay?" Why would she ask that? Who would be okay in a situation like this?

"No. I am no where near okay. In fact, if me an okay were neighbors we would be leaving really really far away. No where in the vicinity were okay lives. Okay-"

"Okay! I get it. You're not okay. Stupid question."

"Sorry. Sometimes my mouth has a mind of its own."

"You're good. I'm pretty upset myself. I don't want to lose Buffy. She's my big sis. I know that we act as if we get on each other's nerves. 'Cause that's how we're supposed to act, but I love her." Great. Here comes the tears. "Oh! I'm sorry, Will. I didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm fine." I try to put on a cheery smile, but I know I failed when I see Dawn's eyebrow raise. Just like Buffy's does. "Okay, I'm not. It's all my fault. Why did I run out? I practically brought Angelus to Buffy. Then, when she saves me; I run away to safety and leave her with that monster. If I'm so powerful, I could have killed him then like I did back at the mansion. I'm the worst best friend ever and the biggest screw up. If Buffy dies now it's all my fault." I drown in my pain as a wave of sorrow and guilt washes over me.

"Stop it, Will. You know Buffy doesn't want anything happening to you. She would die before she let that happened. And I totally understand how you couldn't kill Angelus then but could at the manor. I probably could too after seeing what that asshole did to my sister."

"Okay. Willow will no longer wallow in self-pity." I look right into Dawn's eyes. "Dawnie. I don't know what I'm going to do if she doesn't pull through."

"My pain is no where near as bad as yours." Huh?

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how you're in love with Buffy." I jerk my head to the side and look at the Scooby Gang to see if anyone heard Dawn's little admittance. I'm very grateful to see that they didn't.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Buffy's my best friend."

"And your soulmate. Anyone with eyes can see you two are head over heals in love with each other. You're meant for each other." I wish.

"Dawn. We love each other. Just Buffy only loves me as a friend. I didn't get a chance to tell her how my love for her goes deeper then friendship." Panic fills my heart. "What if I'm never able to? What if Buffy never knows my true feelings for her?" My heart-wrenching sobs fill my ears and I'm unable to hear anything else, but I feel a pair of arms envelope me in a hug. I sob for hours but it feels like days. I glance at the clock. It's 4 in the morning. 7 hours from when we first brought Buffy in. Giles took everyone home a few minutes ago, but I refused. The doctor sees me, and I walk to him.

"You should have went home with the others," she says, "get some rest."

"No. I'm staying. I don't want Buffy to wake up alone. Can I stay with her?"

"It's against hospital policy, but screw it. She's just down the hall. Room 132."

"Thanks." I run to her room and am astonished at the the mangled body in the bed. Buffy's beautiful body is covered with black and blue bruises. I push a chair beside her bed and grab her hand. "Buffy. If you can hear me, wake up. You need to know that I love you more than life itself. You're the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing on my wind when I go to sleep. I don't even remember when I fell in love with you. Wake up. Please. I want to tell you this when you're awake." I kiss her hand. "You can't die on me, because my soul will die with you." Her eyes flutter. "Buffy?" I see her beautiful hazel eyes open and focus on me.

"Will."

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