Chapter 8: The Sacrifice

Buffy stepped nervously into the alley. "Here demon, demon, demon, come out, come out, wherever you are!" she called shakily into the darkness. She could hear it breathing, a low growl. Cautiously, Buffy took a step forward, her crossbow ready. Maybe she wouldn't have to sacrifice herself if she could kill it…

After kissing passionately on the couch, Buffy had reluctantly pulled away from Oz. "I face it tonight, you know. The demon?"

He had kissed her forehead, smiling. " You'll do great."

She had only shaken her head, on the verge of tears. " Oz—they said that to stop it I have to sacrifice myself. This—if they're right, this is the last time we'll be together."

He had just held her, and then finally said, "You're brilliant. You'll find a way."

She had kissed him goodbye, painfully, and now she was here. With Unselana. She lunged forward and let the arrow fly at the demon. The arrow did little damage to the demon's armored skin. She nervously loaded another arrow, but was stopped by the big green hand around her neck. Struggling wildly, she got free by kicking Unselana in the face. With a roar of pain, it dropped her. Buffy's mind raced as she tried to think of a plan to weaken it. While she was thinking, she was whacked toward the brick wall at the end of the alley.

" Ow!" she screamed. The demon held her viciously against the wall and raised its claw, preparing to strike. She was about to cringe away, to block her face, when she saw a blur of her new love jumping in front of her, and being thrashed by the claw that had been meant for her. The demon roared, even as Oz fell, and sank into the ground. She hurried to Oz after the demon was gone. He lay still and bleeding on the ground. She knelt by him, feeling tears well up in her eyes, and shook him, calling his name, until his eyes fluttered open. He smiled weakly.

" Hey…watch out," he said quietly. She threw her arms around him as he scanned the alley, confused. " Hey, where'd the demon thing go?"

Buffy smiled. " The only thing that could stop him besides the sacrifice of the Slayer was the blood of someone who loves her enough to be willing to sacrifice himself for her." He smiled too, despite the pain in his side where Unselana had clawed him.

" I did all that?" he asked with an expression of surprise. Buffy helped the wounded Oz up, and half-carried him to the hospital.

" Help, someone—anyone, help!" Buffy cried as she entered through the emergency doors.

" Miss? What happened?" a nurse worriedly asked as she hurried up to Oz and Buffy.

"Uh, he was mugged, I think. I was walking by and I found him like this. He much have been stabbed by the muggers." All Oz could do was nod weakly in agreement. After the doctors had taken Oz away on a stretcher, Buffy called Willow and Tara, Giles, and Xander and Anya.

When the rest of the gang arrived, they saw Buffy sitting, holding back tears. Giles nearly collapsed with relief when he saw Buffy alive.

Xander sat next to her. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Buffy shook her head. " Not me. Demon's gone, though," she added, looking up at Giles. He moved closer, astonished.

"What? How?"

Buffy sighed. " Oz. I choked, and my mind went blank, and Unselana almost killed me. He was willing to get hurt—to die—for me, and it stopped the demon. He, uh, he did get hurt," Buffy replied, matter-of-factly. While saying this she glanced at Willow, who looked away, her face guilty. Buffy stood up and hugged Willow, who began to cry quietly.

" I'm so sorry, Buffy," she whispered.