I ran through town with a werewolf slung over each shoulder, no longer caring how it would look now that Faith is unconscious. I've determined it was probably from blood loss or something, because by the look of things she was the one that suffered almost all the damage. Not surprising, since she's so much smaller and less frightening looking than wolf-Oz...

"Giles, first-aid kit!" I shouted upon bursting through the library doors.

"Are you alright??" He asked with worry, running to get it and the key to the cage so we could lock Oz in. He probably thinks I'm hurt because I'm covered in all of Faith's blood... Once the doors were opened I slid him off my shoulder and into the cage, not caring if he was hurt or not as the loud thud sounded when he hit the ground. I slammed the door shut and made sure it was locked before turning my attention to the more pressing matter at hand.

"I'm fine. It's Faith, she fought Oz, she's unconscious." I muttered, rushing over to the table in the middle of the room and using my now free arm to shove everything off before gently laying her down on it. "She's really hurt, we have to do something..."

He said nothing, quickly opening the first-aid kit and setting it beside Faith before checking her wounds. I couldn't watch as he started to work, deciding instead to walk back to the cage and glare at Oz.

I don't know what his problem is, but at this point I don't care. If something happens to Faith... if she doesn't make it... I will end him. Human or not.

"Buffy." I turned to look at Giles, trying not to lose hope at the expression on his face. "I'm afraid there isn't anymore that can be done. Not until sunrise, when it's clear in her human form just how much damage has been done."

"What do I do?" I asked, feeling oddly weak and helpless. I hate it, I hate that I don't know what to do. I'm at a complete loss.

"I'd suggest you take her home, keep an eye on her. I can drive you."

"Yeah... Okay... Sure..."

He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder as I gazed down at my wolfy girlfriend, heart breaking at the sight of her bloodied, ripped up form.

"She's strong, Buffy. She won't give up without a good fight."

Let's hope so...


Once we got home I brought Faith up to my room, tucking her into bed and sitting down on the ground beside it, holding on to one of her paws, eyes refusing to leave her unconscious form. I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but before I knew it I was woken up after feeling her shifting in bed. Which is surprising, I'm normally such an extreme sleeper, how did such a small thing do the job?

"B?" She grumbled, voice scratchy and rough. I jolted upright and looked down, noticing the paw I was holding earlier is now a hand. She looked up at me with sleep-lidded eyes, confusion obvious. "What... why..."

"You were stupid and fought Oz last night." I tried to sound angry and lecture-y, but I'm just so glad she isn't dead, so it didn't come out as threatening as I'd hoped.

"Must be why I feel like shit." She tried rolling over, but could only make it halfway before wincing in pain and letting out a weird mumbling noise. "Fucken dammit, that stings like a bitch..."

"Don't move!!" I ordered, quickly tossing the blankets aside to see just how bad the damage is. By the sounds she's making it doesn't sound good at all.

"Damn, B, dunno if I'm up for any rough and tumble just yet, gimme a few hours..."

"Relax, perv-o." I smirked, at ease a little more now that I know she's okay enough to talk like she is. There's definitely a lot of wounds though, and not all of them have even stopped bleeding yet. That's not good, is it? Werewolves probably don't heal nearly as fast as slayers, we could be in life or death situation territory here! I need help... "I - I should go get Giles, he'll know what to do, he'll have a plan - "

"I'm fine, just a few scratches."

"You are not fine! You passed out from blood loss last night, you're probably lucky to be alive right now!"

"Probably? Bullshit, I've had worse. Not gonna kill me. Now can ya roll me over, 'cause I'm wicked uncomfortable here..."

"You're uncomfortable because of the gaping wounds covering your entire body!"

"Would you chill already? Goddamn, actin' like I almost died and crap, fuck's sake I'm good..." She mumbled into the pillow, eyes closing. I think she's starting to lose consciousness again.

"You're hopeless, you know that?" I sighed, trying not to let my anger fade at the way she's being so cute and stubborn.

"Am not, ya motherfucker..." She drawled out, followed by a loud snore.

I sighed again and gently covered her back up with the blankets, careful not to let them scrape up against her wounds too much, and left to call Giles. But to my surprise, once I got downstairs I noticed him in the kitchen. With my mom. Holding her hand.

"And things just get more and more strange..."

"Buffy!" Giles shouted, quickly letting go of her hand and getting up to walk over to me. "How is Faith? I assume she's, eh, human again?"

"In all her charming glory." I nodded, trying not to pull a face since I'm noticing some blush action going on, on both of their faces, like they're really embarrassed about being caught. I'm only letting it go because of the way my girlfriend needs help. "She doesn't look so good. She was awake for a few seconds, and complained about being in pain. I checked, and it looks like some of the wounds are still bleeding... is that bad?"

"It certainly can't be good." He muttered, seeming to be deep in thought. "Well, I do have a bit of medical knowledge, perhaps I could take a look to determine just how severe her condition is."

"You have medical knowledge?" I asked, confused. "That something the Watcher's Council teaches?"

"Actually, no... They don't give much care for things like that in their teachings, it was something I decided to look up on my own after taking you on as my slayer. For... well, in case anything happened..." He paused. "Why don't I see what I can do." He frowned, picking up the first-aid kit he brought with that was set on the table, and going upstairs.

"Are you alright?" Mom asked, getting up to place a hand on my shoulder. It seems to be the universal sign for comfort these days, but it didn't help me feel any better.

"I'll be fine once I know she is."

It was only about a minute later when there was a loud crash coming from my room. We ran upstairs to see what happened, only to find Giles stumbling out of my room with a large bruise on his forehead.

"It seems she.... ehm... isn't comfortable with me being the one to, uh... check her wounds." He winced, bringing a hand up to his head. Mom rushed over to inspect it, so now the ick factor is back. When did they get all lovey-dovey?? It's sorta creeping me out.

"Uh, mom?" She stopped to look back at me, blushing again at being caught. "Maybe you should go in there."

"That should work." Giles nodded. "I believe her reason for not wanting me was, and I quote, 'I don't want you lookin' at my goodies'." He smirked. "I don't think she was willing to believe I was doing otherwise, so I was then attacked by a lamp."

"The lamp flew off the table and hit you??" Oh, wait... "Let's pretend I didn't say that."

"Fair enough, dear." Mom smiled, going into my room to check on Faith. We didn't hear any complaints, so either she's passed out again or she just doesn't have any about who was sent in.

That's when I turned my focus to Giles, staring him down hard. He's refusing to meet my eyes, even took off his glasses like he was going to clean them. Never did, just held them and shifted around awkwardly.

"I believe I can, eh... give you a break from your duties for the next few nights." He mumbled, looking so uncomfortable I'm trying not to laugh. "You know, so you can keep an eye on Faith. I'm sure you won't be wanting to leave her alone for any long periods of time."

"Thanks, Giles." I smiled. "The next few nights off, huh?" He nodded, glancing up at me suspiciously because of the tone I used. "But wouldn't that cut into your hand holding time with my mother?"

"I don't, err... I, ehm, you see... What you, uh, what you fail to realize is that... eh..."

Mom decided to take that moment to return to the hallway, giving Giles a break from his impressive display of stuttering.

"I tried lowering the blankets and she took a swing at me."

"Oh, for pete's sake!" I shouted in annoyance, going into the room myself to toss the blankets off the bed, ignoring the displeased grumble coming from the brunette sleeping on it. Mom and Giles peeked in from the hallway, curiously. "There. See what you can do, and i'll keep her in line."

Giles nodded and made his way into the room, opening the first-aid kit and removing some items from it that I assume will be used to give her some stitches. But once he got close enough, she started to wake up again.

"Told ya already, fuck off..." She grumbled sleepily, lifting her arm up to swing at him. I grabbed hold of it and she seemed to kinda relax to my touch, the snores coming back after a matter of seconds.

"That's weird." I shrugged, letting go so it dropped back down on to the bed. Giles stared for a minute, I guess making sure she isn't going to try and attack again, and then got a little bit closer. The snores stopped and she started to move her arm again.

"I think maybe you should just hold her hand, honey." Mom smirked, somehow finding all of this funny. What's so funny about it?

"I don't see how it will help, but whatever." So I held her hand, growing even more confused as she relaxed again. "Um... I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is one of those freaky connection things between werewolves and their mates?"