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Part 56 - Final Battle

Xander staked the last vampire that was near him and turned to
look at the school building. He glanced around him and noticed
that all the other vampires were gone. Everyone, like him, was
staring at the school. They watched the last of the creature's
tail disappear inside, as it followed Buffy.

Xander felt like time stood still as they all waited. There were
no sounds, other than that of the creature's enraged roars as it
chased Buffy. He was grateful for the sound, though, since it
was the only way he knew she was still okay. He looked over at
Oz, who was standing by the van, his eyes trained on the windows
to the library. Buffy had two minutes, from the time she got the
demon into the school, to get back out again. Whether she did or
not, Oz would then do what needed to be done to complete their
plan. He looked down at his watch, she had ten seconds.

"Damn it, Buff. Get out of there," he whispered, starting to
panic.

"She will," Willow said, walking over to him and taking his hand
comfortingly. He looked over at her and she repeated, "She
*will*."

"God, I hope so," he replied, his voice a whisper, because of
the fear overwhelming him.

"Giles?" Oz looked over at the ex-watcher. "It's time."

"NO!" Not *yet*!" Xander yelled, breaking away from Willow and
running up to Giles. "Giles, she's not out yet!" he pleaded with
the watcher.

"Xander," Giles said, "I don't like it either, but... we can't
wait any longer. Do it, Oz."

"DON'T DO IT!" Xander yelled, running over to Oz. "You'll KILL
HER!"

"I'm sorry," Oz said, sadly, before he pushed the plunger on the
detonators.

"NO!" Xander screamed. Giles held him from running into the
school building as a series of explosions went off inside. "STOP
IT! LET ME GO!" he yelled, trying to get free. He could do
nothing but watch, in horror as the building collapsed, amidst
fire and smoke.

"Oh god, NOOO!" He yelled again, tears running down his face.
"BUFFFYYYY!" He couldn't breathe. The air was gone. He fell to
his knees and Giles let him go.

Willow knelt next to Xander, pulling him into her arms. "Xander,
I'm so sorry," she whispered, rocking him gently. "None of us
thought that this would happen..."

Xander didn't reply, just held onto Willow as he cried, fighting
for breath that wouldn't come. He'd come so close to losing
Buffy so many times, he couldn't believe it had finally
happened. He'd actually been thinking about the possibility they
could spend the rest of their lives together. But now that dream
was shattered.

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