"Buffy!"

Buffy looked up as she heard a familiar voice outside the
doorway.

"Willow!" Buffy called. "I'm down here! We're down here!"

Willow entered then, armed with a crossbow. Her face went pale
when she saw Xander's condition. Buffy looked over, and realized
it must be quite alarming. His black shirt was drenched in his
blood, and he was pale as a ghost.

"Will, where's Spike?" she asked.

"Spike, well, he got away unfortunately," Willow sighed, as she
knelt next to Xander. "But not before I scared the unlife out of
him." She checked Xander's pulse. "He's still alive," she
reassured Buffy. "Giles is out there, and so is Oz. They're
covering the exits so that we can get out of here safely."

Willow muttered a few words under her breath Buffy didn't
understand, but the shackles dropped from Buffy's wrists
instantly.

"Wow," Buffy said. "You're getting really scary with that stuff,
Will." She went over to Xander and knelt next to him, taking his
head into her lap. "Xander," she said, trying to wake him.
"Please, Xander. We need you to help us get you out of here." She
felt like crying from relief when he opened his eyes, but she
held her emotions in check. "I'm going to help you stand, okay?"

"Yeah," Xander replied, nodding.

Buffy put one of his arms around her shoulders, and pulled him to
a standing position. He leaned on her while she helped him walk.
Willow preceded them, keeping an eye on all the corridors.

"Buffy! Xander, are you all right?" Giles asked, coming toward
them to help Buffy with Xander.

"Oz, please tell me you have your van," Buffy said.

"It's right outside," Oz replied.

"Let's get him to the hospital, then," Buffy said.

********