Author's Note: I love the idea of Buffy and Faith, together, on the ground, looking up at the Valiant where the Doctor and the Master are looking down. I think it's kind of a beautiful image.

Faith has a number of very good points she brings up. She knows far too well what it's like to be on the bad-guy end of this kind of relationship.

By the way, despite what Buffy and Faith say, here, I have no idea what would have happened if the Master got his hands on Rose. I know it would definitely have changed things, significantly. But who knows if Faith and Buffy are right about the end result. They certainly think they are.

I guess we'll never know.

Enjoy.

Martha's World:

Glasgow was a labor town.

It wasn't a land of pure evil with poisonous air, like Mordor. But it was filled with suffering and devastation and loss. Filled with people packed into houses like sardines, only allowed out to work.

Most of the rest of the city, while abandoned, was still standing. Tons of hiding spots.

Thankfully for Buffy and Seo.

The first thing they'd done, when they arrived in Glasgow, was to seek out the resistance. Which was, of course, expecting them. The resistance had whisper channels and things that Buffy and Seo could use to their advantage. Figure out where to meet up with Dawn and the others, and whether or not they'd come in, yet.

"We have word that Faith Lehane is on a boat, headed here," said one of the resistance members. "She should arrive later today."

In the meantime, Buffy and Seo told stories. Helped bolster the spirits of those in Glasgow, helped bolster up Martha's plans. Buffy smiling, as she told people of her own time spent with the Doctor. The ways in which he'd defeated monsters and saved the day, even when everything seemed hopeless.

And Seo spent a lot of time thinking. Just thinking, very hard, staring into space.

"I can't jump into this," she explained, to Buffy. "It's not just about finding a way to get around the Paradox Machine or the Archangel Network, so we can open a portal. The two of us will be channeling more energy than we've ever channeled, before." She fidgeted in place. "If I don't do this right… I'll destroy my aunt, completely."

Buffy sucked in a sharp breath.

It was risky. She'd known it would be risky, right from the start. But… to help save the people of Earth… to give the Doctor enough of an upper hand that he could take down the Master…

"I believe in you," Buffy told Seo. Put an arm around her shoulders. "You'll find a way."

The moment Dawn's boat arrived in Glasgow, the resistance coordinated a meeting spot.

"An old warehouse," they said. "We'll make sure the others have the exact location."

Buffy and Seo nodded. Then set off for the warehouse in question.

This was it. The final stretch.

Nearly time to save humanity.

Faith, Xander, and Dawn snuck off the boat. Trying to stick to the crowds of people. Locate shelter. Get around unseen.

"Glasgow's… a lot bigger than I thought," Xander muttered, staring around him.

He'd never actually thought about how they'd manage to find Seo and Buffy, when they arrived here.

A ragged-looking man walked right into them, stumbled backwards. "Pardon me," the man muttered, in a thick Scottish accent, then pushed past them and went on his way, again.

Faith looked down at the slip of paper the man had managed to shove into her hand, when he'd walked into them. Gestured at the others to follow her to cover, then opened the note and read it.

Exact location for Buffy and Seo.

"Gotcha," said Faith, with a grin.

Buffy had never been more happy to see anyone than she had been to see the bedraggled, worn, tired-looking image of her sister, entering the warehouse. The moment Dawn and Buffy spotted each other, they raced towards one another, arms outstretched, each grabbing the other up into a tight hug.

They'd only spoken to each other two months ago.

But it felt like lifetimes.

"You're all right," Buffy breathed.

"So are you," said Dawn.

They separated, and Dawn looked over at Seo. Grinned.

"Come here!" Dawn said, grabbing up Seo into a hug, as well.

Faith glanced over at Xander, who'd gone very still.

"What?" said Faith.

"Do… you hear that?" Xander whispered to her.

Faith paused. Frowned. Concentrating.

And the moment Faith's eyes went wide, the moment she heard it, Buffy heard it, too. The tick-tick-tick sound, coming from nearby.

"Bomb," Buffy and Faith said, together, as they grabbed up everyone and sprinted out of the building.

The blast knocked them to the ground, Buffy and Faith managing to dive out of the way of most of the wreckage, Seo tugging Dawn along behind her, to outrun the explosion. The entire city shook around them, the fires from the explosion smoldering, the crater resulting from the blast just beside them all.

They panted for air.

And then realized… one of them hadn't made it.

"Xander!" Seo shouted. She scrambled to her feet, preparing to launch herself down into the crater, and search for him.

Buffy and Faith both pulled Seo back.

They all knew… UFC troops and Toclafane wouldn't be far behind, now. Looking for them. Picking off survivors.

"He's gone," said Buffy. "We have to run!"

"No!" Seo screamed, fighting against Faith and Buffy. "No! Xander! He can't be—!"

"Seo!" Dawn shouted.

Seo's eyes were bitter, pained, her heart looking like it was about to break in half, as her eyes remained glued on the crater that had claimed Xander's life.

But she didn't resist the others. As they all turned.

And fled.

"We believe the three of them escaped the blast," ADC Urxin reported. "But troops are already on their way. And the Toclafane you sent should be more than able to shoot them down."

The Master mused this over, interested.

Not just because Elizabeth had survived, again. Not just because of the mysterious 'Dawn Summers'. No. Also because… of what the Toclafane had been chattering about, recently.

That the 'invisible lady' was in Glasgow.

That was very interesting. Led the Master to think… what if 'Dawn Summers' was just a code name?

For Martha Jones?

"Set up transport down to Earth," said the Master. "Let the city residents of Glasgow know that if they don't hand over Summers and her team, every single last one of them will be killed." He grinned. "I think it's time… I took care of Elizabeth and her mysterious ally myself."

Seo cried for a long time.

Cried until she had no more tears to shed.

But, that evening, managed to put aside enough of her distress and misery to try to make this happen. She and Dawn launched into frantic negotiations, trying to figure out how to open a portal without running into the Paradox Machine, the Archangel Network, or wiping Dawn's personality.

From not far away, Buffy and Faith looked on. Together.

The Valiant loomed overhead.

"Xander," Buffy said.

Faith nodded.

They were silent, for a few moments. Just letting the loss sink in.

"Willow, too?" Faith asked.

Buffy sighed, in affirmation. "And Alison. And Luke. Everyone except Seo and me."

"All of us, too," said Faith. "Kennedy. Andrew. All the Slayers. Ria."

"Cleveland," Buffy added. "Just a radioactive wasteland, now." She glanced at Faith. "The Scythe?"

"No idea," said Faith. "Might have survived. Might not. No clue."

So there was no way of knowing if the Slayer Line was still going strong, or if the Master had just wiped out all the Potentials and Slayers together, in a blast of oblivion.

They looked up at the Valiant, in the night sky.

"Weird, huh?" Buffy mused. She crossed her arms. "The two of us. Surviving. Here, together, standing united. What might be the Last of the Slayers, facing down the Last of the Time Lords."

"Two in all the world," Faith agreed.

"I guess… if they're the last two… they won't kill each other," said Buffy. Her forehead creased. "Not unless the Master figures out a way to get Rose."

"Like when I shot Angel, you mean," said Faith. She shoved tangled hair behind her ears. "Remember that. You flipped."

"Total flipped," Buffy agreed. "First time I was angry enough to actually kill you. Same way you always wanted to kill me."

"Never wanted to kill you," Faith replied. She shrugged. "Torture you, yeah. Course. Hurt you, uh-huh. Threaten to kill you — obviously. But actually kill you?" Her eyes met the ground. "Not sure I could have gone through with it."

They stood together. Looking out at the night sky.

Two girls, in all the world.

Buffy gave a small grin. "Do you remember… how many times I begged you to let me help you? To see a better way?" She laughed. "You hated that."

"Got to learn, sometime, B," Faith replied. "Not everyone wants to be forgiven." She shoved her hands into her back pockets, slouching. "Sometimes… gotta leave the punches to do the talking."

"Would that have stopped you?" Buffy asked.

Faith's eyes darted into the distance. "Probably not," she admitted. "Good thinking it, though."

"Yeah."

They were silent, again. Remembering days they'd been united. The days they'd been rivals. The days they'd been enemies. And the moment they'd finally managed to fight on the same side, again.

"He'll be fine, up there," said Faith. "The Doctor." She rolled her eyes. "Long as he's not all B-like, on his high-horse, being all with the I-forgive-yous and the I-can-help-yous. Should be fine."

Buffy gave Faith a pointed stare. "Have you met the Doctor, before?"

Faith slouched.

"You're right, though, he's fine," Buffy agreed. "I'm sure he's fine. He… just… has to be." She sucked in a sharp breath. "If there's any way… I could get up there… to help him…"

"We'll be dead long before that," Faith said. "Both of us."

"Don't say that."

Faith shrugged. "True, though." She nodded at Seo and Dawn. "Master knows about Dawn. Up to us to give ourselves up, fight off the UFC single-handed, give Dawn and Seo as much time to make this work as they need."

Buffy didn't answer.

She knew that was true. Knew she needed to give up her own life, if she had to, in order to make sure Seo and Dawn fixed all of this. But she also knew that… if she got the chance to go up to the Valiant, even just as a prisoner… Buffy would do it. Just to see the Doctor, again. Just to try to help him.

"Does the Master know there's two Dawns?" Buffy asked Faith.

"No idea," said Faith. "Why?"

"Because if he thinks there's only one, he might be able to use his rockets to tear the universe apart, piece by piece — but won't be able to construct a stable portal, so he can start in on the rest of the multiverse," Buffy said. "If he knows there's two…"

Faith grimaced.

"Everything's up for grabs," Buffy said.

"Better make sure he doesn't find out, then," Faith replied.

Up on the Valiant, the aged Doctor, chained to his wheelchair, had been placed in front of the window. The Master looking over his shoulder, down at the world below.

Two Time Lords… in all the universe…

"Thought I'd go get your Elizabeth myself," said the Master. "By hand."

The Doctor didn't answer.

"Along with… the other one, traveling with her," the Master continued. "The 'Invisible Lady'. I hear she has a very… sunrise personality."

The Doctor persisted in saying nothing.

The Master shoved the Doctor's wheelchair away. When he did find Elizabeth and 'Dawn Summers', maybe that would be enough to get a reaction out of the Doctor. Because… the way the Doctor was right now…

Was really starting to bug the Master.

Where was the pleading, on his knees, begging Doctor that the Master had expected? Where was the constantly-but-futilely-fighting-back Doctor that the Master had prepared for?

"Your plan's failed, Gandalf," the Master snapped. "Elizabeth and the blessed saint Martha are nearly in my grasp. I just have to collect them." He turned. "Maybe their deaths will be enough to provoke some reaction out of you."