Sunnydale…

Cordelia sat impatiently waiting on the hospital bed. She kicked her legs back and forth against the bed, trying to get the attention of the doctors. She wanted to know what they were doing and what they were going to do. There had been very little poking and prodding so far. They must have thought she was just completely nuts.

She had gone to the police first, in case there was a missing persons claim filed for her. There weren't any that they could find, though they were going to check with the surrounding cities. They had decided that going to the hospital would be best for her at the time. One of the police officers took her photo and said that they would release it to the press, to try and stir up some information.

When Cordelia was first brought into the hospital, things felt much too familiar for her liking. Maybe she was a nurse? Or perhaps she spent a good part of her life either in or visiting people here. Something definitely sat wrong with this place.

After several hundred more impatient sighs, Cordelia got off the bed and headed towards the door, determined to find the doctor. She was just about out the door when a figure passed by. Cordelia stepped outside the room and looked around for the doctor. The passing figure slowly turned around and inspected her.

"Cordelia?"

She didn't respond. The figure moved closer.

"Ah, hello? Cordelia?"

She still didn't notice the person, she was busy scanning the hallway for her doctor. A hand reached out and tapped her on the shoulder, just as her doctor was heading toward her. Cordelia swung around quickly, knocking the figure to the floor, packages of blood spilled across the hallway.

"Bloody Hell!"

Within seconds Spike was on his feet and running towards the exit. Just before leaving the hospital he glanced in Cordelia's direction. She looked back at him questioningly. Two guards rushed passed Cordelia and then Spike was gone.

"Did you know that man?"

Cordelia knelt down and picked up one of the packages of blood. She examined it for a moment. Why didn't this gross her out? She handed the doctor the package.

"I…I don't know."

She looked back in the man's direction.

"He called me…um…Cordelia?"

"So he knew you?"

"I guess? Do I look like a Cordelia?"

The doctor shrugged. "It gives us a little to go on though." He gave Cordelia a sympathetic smile. "It's not a common name, it should help. Now what we would like to do is take some blood, do a couple of tests."

"No! No blood taking!" Why did that come flying from her throat? She can hold someone else's blood in her hands, but the thought of having her own blood taken sent a sudden rush of panic through her body. "You can poke me and prod me, but no removing of any blood!"

"But it's routine and we may be able to check our records. We should have already done it."

"No! I won't let you."

Why? Why wouldn't she?

The doctor stopped for a moment.

"Ok, it's getting quite late, how about we do a couple of other tests and we can take the blood in the morning?"

Not if she could help it. "Fine." Cordelia turned on her heel and walked back into the room.

________________________________________________________________________________

The Summer's House…

"Dawn, don't you think it's time you went to bed?" Buffy moved in front of the TV, her hands wresting on her hips. How was it that the slayer could over power vampires and demons, but when it came to her little sister she was powerless.

"Oh, come on Buffy, I have one week left until school starts again and I'll never again have the opportunity to stay up late."

Buffy tried to enforce a dominant glare, but Dawn new she would break through it. She always did. After the events of a few months ago, Buffy had given Dawn a little more responsibility, treated her like an adult. Sometimes.

"Come on! I just want to sit up and watch the late news. See if there are any new bad-danners in town."

"You, want to watch the news for bandannas?"

"Mmm hmmm."

Dawn flashed her one of her innocent smiles.

"Fine, whatever. Watch the news. Whilst you at it could you make sure there's no mysterious occurrences. Like young girls trying to hide what there really trying to watch."

"No problem."

Dawn smiled at Buffy who returned a smile and a shake of the head. She turned and headed for the kitchen as the theme music for the news played behind her.

"Is she going to bed?"

Giles was sitting back in his chair, glasses off and rubbing his eyes. He had decided to stay behind for a while. To get the Magic Shop worked out and to assist with Willow's rehabilitation. He had contacted the coven back in London and had set up a time for he and Willow to go there and continue the rehab. The coven had informed him that would like to teach Willow the ways of good magic, pure magic. But first she needed to be cleared of all the dark powers that had infested her skin. He was happy to be here now though. They all new the day for him to leave would come again soon. But even he was hoping for it to stay away a little longer.

"She's just going to watch the news. I think she's growing up too fast." Buffy slumped herself next to Giles.

"It seems all Summer's women do that."

"I know, she's becoming more like me every day." She wearily looked at Giles. "I don't know how Mum put up with it."

"It's every parents joy to watch their children grow up. No matter how fast."

"Do ever wish you had kids?"

"Oh, I think I've done pretty well."

Giles placed a hand on Buffy's back and gave her a warm smile. Buffy placed her hand on top of his and returned the gesture.

"How's she doing?"

"Oh, she's coming along. The meditation is helping. We're actually going to visit Tara tomorrow. I think she needs to start visiting her."

"It's hard, going back to the grave and knowing that someone you love is there, but not. It's even harder when it's your own grave."

"Yes I suppose it-"

"BUFFY!"

Buffy instinctively jumped off her chair and darted into the lounge room to attend to her sister.

"What is it Dawn, what's wrong?"

"Look."

Dawn pointed at the television screen.

"Giles, you may want to see this."

Giles was only a couple of steps behind Buffy.

"Good Lord."

All three stared at the vision on the TV. Willow walked into the room.

"What's the matt- oh my god, is that Cordelia?"

"Sure is pet."

All four spun around as the English accent startled them.

"Spike?" Piped up Dawn, "Where have you been?"

"Around Lil' Bit." There is silence for a moment. Spike tries to look at Buffy who avoids his gaze. "I was at the hospital earlier. It's her, she was there."

"What is she doing back in Sunnydale and more importantly, what is she doing on the news?" Willow looked around for answers.

"And what was she thinking with that hair?" Buffy ignored the stares. "I guess we're going to the hospital then."

_____________________________________________________________________________

LA…

Wesley slowly brought his car to a stop. The night was gloomy and the sky was threatening. Quite fitting for the current setting. He sat silently for a few moments. He didn't want to be there. He hated that place. Hated that his friend was lying in a box, buried in the ground. He hated even more that he didn't get to say goodbye. That her thoughts of him before she died would be of disgust and hate, if she thought of him at all.

Wesley took two slow breathes and turned to Angel.

"This is the place."

The two sat in silence, neither wanting to leave the car and face the cold, hard stone that signified the end of a woman they both loved. Each in their own very different way.

"Did you bring it?" Angel did not lift his head as he spoke.

"Yes. It's in the back. But I really wish you would rethink this…"

Before Wesley could finish, Angel was out of the car. He removed the shovel from the back and turned to Wesley as he stepped out of the drivers side.

"You don't have to come. I can do this alone."

"I want to Angel." That answer couldn't have been further from the truth.

Wesley led the way, slowly weaving passed the numerous graves. Just how many of these people could they have saved? How many of them had tried to save others, as Cordelia had done. Wesley came to a halt and signalled to the stone. Angel knelt to the ground and ran his fingers along the lettering.

Cordelia Chase.

1981-2002

Friend

Seer

Champion

Angel ran his hands right down the stone and wrested them on the ground below. He rested his head on his hands and took unnecessary breaths.

Suddenly he furiously started ripping at the ground. Wesley jumped back slightly, startled by the burst of emotion. Angel began pounding his fists against the earth as it tore at his ferocious hands. He grabbed the shovel and started to demolish the ground beneath him. Wesley watched as his once old friend and brother of sorts, began to fall apart, unable to accept the truth.

"She's not dead Wesley. She's not down there. She's not."

It took forty minutes for Angel to reach the outer shell of the coffin. Wesley watched as Angel ran his hands across it's edges, placing his face on the cold marble frame, closing his eyes and drawing back memories. Wesley reluctantly stepped inside the hole to assist Angel. Angel pushed Wesley's hands away.

"I can do it."

Slowly, Angel found the clasps and released them. He stood still and motionless, before gripping the edges and heaving the box open. Wesley gasped at what he saw.

"Oh my God."