Buffy woke up to unrelenting darkness. Hadn't she escaped the burning high school? Or was she trapped under the wreckage? Angel had been running beside her; had he made it?

Would anyone save her if he didn't?

"Tap-tap-taptaptap," a familiar voice singsonged. "Who knew I could leave blood enough for such a panicked heartbeat?"

Buffy turned blindly towards the sound. He was well. He was safe. He was… teasing her. "I love you," she blurted, shocked because she'd meant to say the opposite.

His silence didn't last long. "I don't need to take you back to a hospital, do I?"