Chapter Thirty

Xander paced as Giles and Wesley hovered over Buffy. Both men used every ounce of their training as they wrapped and bandaged her injuries. He peered over the men occasionally to see how his friend was doing.

Xander walked the length of the hallway and stopped by the kitchen. Kennedy was seated at the table with Willow to her side. Willow's head rested against the table with a half eaten bowl of cereal nearby. Kennedy held Willow's hands and whispered reassuring words.

Xander nodded at Kennedy and left the room as Kennedy returned his nod. He walked slowly into the dining room. Injured people sat around in circles, tending to each other's cuts and bruises. Rona sat still as Gunn carefully stitched a gash on her arm. Rondell sat off to the side, tending to a deep cut on Dawn's leg. Xander looked over the group. Oz was asleep in the corner, his body covered with gashes and cuts that would have been a lot worse if Oz had received them in human form. Xander closed his eyes against the injuries and walked back into the living room.

Faith was still lying on the floor with enough pillows around her to smother her. She looked so peaceful. Xander bent over her body. Her face was covered with bruises and cuts, her neck and arms were covered with gashes and scratches. Her lip was large and swollen. Xander dabbed her forehead with a damp cloth and moved on.

Although he had never been a fan of Angel, he stopped by Angel's side. Angel's eyes were closed and he hadn't moved since they had gotten home. Xander looked Angel over, his clothes were torn; his face and body were covered with large cuts. Xander shook his head and walked off.

Xander stopped by the front windows, careful to stay out of the way. Giles and Wesley continued to care for Buffy's injuries. He looked out of the front lawn. Connor and several others stood around the house, guarding against attacks. The sun was setting. Xander inhaled sharply, he knew that the Turok-Han would be out the minute the sun went down. He looked back at Buffy, then to Faith. The two girls stayed motionless.

"You okay?" Anya said, joining Xander at the window. She handed him a cup of coffee.

"Thanks." Xander said, sipping the hot coffee. "I'm okay. How about you?"

Anya lifted her tightly wrapped arm, "Just a sprain." She said.

Xander reached up and massaged the back of his neck. "The sun will be down soon."

Anya nodded.

The two stood by the window as the sun set over Sunnydale.

"Eerie." Willow said as she joined the two.

"The glowing?" Anya said. "It's fire. The whole city's a blaze."

"Why?" Willow asked.

"What the demons didn't burn, people burned in hopes of keeping the demons and vampires at bay." Xander said.

"Did you hear from your mom?" Willow asked, rubbing Xander's shirt.

"She and dad are still in Florida." Xander replied. "They're not coming home anytime soon. Your parents?"

"Arizona." Willow replied.

Xander nodded. "That's good."

"Yea." Willow said. "Oz's family went to stay with relatives. Amanda's mom and dad left town with her sisters after Buffy told them what was happening."

Xander nodded again. Now all he had to worry about was his family that stayed in Sunnydale.

"We've got to get out there." Willow said.

"Too dangerous." Xander replied flatly. "But I agree."

"Gunn is taking the gang out." Willow said. "He and Rondell, all the slayers that aren't injured too badly."

Xander nodded. "Hope they don't get killed."

"Connor's going too." Willow said. "And Wesley. He swears they'll be okay, that they're not looking for a fight, but just going out to protect anyone stupid enough to be out on the streets."

Xander nodded again.

"Xander?" Anya asked. "What's wrong?"

"I'm just scared." Xander replied seriously. "For the first time, I'm afraid that Buffy's not enough. We're not enough. We did everything that we could and it didn't help."

"It did." Willow said. "The First is corporeal now. We just need to kill it."

"How?" Xander asked.