ANSWERS TO MY REVIEWS

ALLYCAT23: You're my biggest fan and I'm so glad you are enjoying this story so much.

ANNE: I'm glad you like it. I 'm typing as fast as I can.

JINX316: In the cartoon I think I remember Xavier lifting Scott one time when he got hurt. So that's why I put the part about the chair in. As for mind control I think it's from the comics I think. Either way it works with the story. I'm glad you like and hope you continue to read and review.

AREKANDERU: In the show to me it seemed more like a bonding thing since Eygon wasn't there. Either way in this story they have a watcher slayer bond.

THE-LADYSHIP-WRITERS, LUIS, CHILLI BB, & SM: Thanks for the review.

WHITE WOLF 3:That's what I thought too.

DOC: I'm glad you like it. I threw the Alex part in last minute to stir it up a little.

Thank you all for reviewing. I hope you enjoy the chapter. Sorry that it a little shorter than normal.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW

She was definitely weakened by the test that Sinister had put her through. Several parts of her body were wrapped in bandages from Sinister's experiments. They both had been given very little food and water since their capture a few days ago. Now they were in some kind of gymnasium that was somewhere in the complex. She was fighting not for her life but for Scott's. Sinister had threatened to kill Scott if she didn't fight. She was extremely weak but the thought of someone killing Scott gave her the will to fight. It was another one of his test to see how much her strength and abilities would last. Sinister had put her against not only Sabertooth but also Vertigo. Vertigo would change Buffy's balance while Sabertooth attacked her. Buffy was taking more blows than she was giving. She was on the floor in obvious pain. Her blood was pooling on the floor from her numerous cuts. The two loomed down on her ready to cause more pain. Buffy was sure that they were going to kill her. She waited for the blow. It never came.

"Leave my cousin alone."

Alex Summers said sending a plasma blast at the two mutants sending them flying back against the wall. He was followed by Scott and the other X-men. Sinister, Scalphunter, Scrambler, Riptide, Blockbuster, Arclight and Malice were at once ready to fight.

"You traitor!" Sinister screamed as he fired a shot at Alex. Alex dodged sending plasma blast toward Sinister.

"Damn straight! No one hurts Buffy and gets away with it."

The X-men and marauders paired off. Unlike the marauders Wolverine, Storm, Iceman, Jean, Rogue, Gambit, Havok, and Cyclops worked together. The fire power being distributed was causing major damage. Beast was cautiously able to make his way over to Buffy who was trying to get up.

"Lie still my dear. You have endured many abrasions."

"I have to help." Buffy said still struggling to get up.

"I assure you that we have everything under control."

Beast said as he began looking over her more serious wounds. He tried his best to stop the bleeding to her more serious wounds. He wasn't able to complete his diagnosis as the place around them began to come down due to all the fire power. Beast grabbed Buffy up and avoided being crushed by the fallen beam. He made it to one of the doors. He was undecided on what to do. A fire was spreading through the complex and several of his team mates could use his help to avoid the debris and fire. Beast was looking around debating on what to do. He wanted to stay with Buffy, but the others need him to. Buffy saw the conflict he was in.

"Go on and help the others. I'll be alright." Nodding his head in understanding Beast made his way over to Storm and Iceman.

Buffy looked for Scott and Alex. She saw them both. Alex was trapped under some burning debris. Scott tried to free him but couldn't do it with his optic blast without hurting his was nowhere to be found. 'Figures he disappear.' Buffy looked around to see who could help. Beast was looking over an unconscious Rogue. Logan was still fighting Sabertooth and now Blockbuster. It looked like it was up to her. Taking a deep breath she released the wall she was leaning on. Making sure she had her balance before getting started. She made it to Scott's side without incident. She was feeling slightly winded and her head was aching. Alex was unconscious.

"Buffy! Are you alright? You look terrible."

"It's good to know I look how I feel. Get ready to pull him out when I lift it up. Ready?"

Scott nodded. Buffy looked for a spot where she could get a good grip. Gripping the edge of the beam she grunted a little as she lifted. Once Scott had Alex out of the way Buffy released the beam.

"Let's get out of here. This place isn't stable anymore."

"Right behind you Scottie. You lead the way and I'll watch your back."

The debris was beginning to fall faster around them. Gambit was holding a hurt Storm, while Beast held Rogue. They were all waiting by the door that would lead them to the jet. Jean had a telepathic shield around the group keeping them safe as concrete blocks and rafters that came toward them. She was only a few steps behind Scott when her slayer senses told her to move. On instinct she back flipped away as a good size chunk of the ceiling landed where she had been standing. She grimaced as pain shot through her body because of that move.

"BUFFY!"

"I'm alright Scottie. Keep going! I'll meet you at the door."

Buffy was about ready to make her jump to get to the others when her path was cut off by Sabertooth. She got into fighting stance.

Wolverine could smell him almost instantly. He knew that Sabertooth had joined Buffy on the other side. The next sounds they all heard

were of the battle.

"Come Cajun. We're going hunting."

Wolverine stated as Gambit gave Storm to Bobby. The two moved like two agile cats. Wolverine had taken the lead having Sabertooth's scent. The debris was falling faster and the two did more than their best to dodge it quickly. They only had one obstacle to overcome before they would be where the two are fighting. They were just in time to watch Buffy plunged a piece of metal debris into Sabertooth's chest. He screamed in pain. The wound was flowing freely of blood as he fell to the ground. Buffy was totally drained as she watched Sabertooth wither in agony. She felt the strong arms of Gambit catching her as her body gave in to its damage.

"I got ya petite."

He embraced her carefully in his arms. Looking down he saw several wound bleeding profusely including the ones Beast had already bandaged. He looked to see Wolverine standing over Sabertooth claws extracted.

"We got to go Mon ami. The petite needs to be looked at. She's out cold."

Wolverine already knew that Buffy's injuries were serious. He nodded to Gambit and took one last look at Sabertooth before they left.

It had been five days since the X-men brought her back to the school. For two days Beast and Jean worked to heal her injuries. They had operated on her twice when they had found that she had started bleeding again. Her burned hands were bandage from where she lifted the hot beam off of Alex. Deep slash marks made by Sabertooth adorned her arms, stomach, and upper chest. Sinister had caused great internal damage with his test, and fighting Sabertooth hadn't helped. On top of all that she was severely malnourished. They knew she hadn't been eating a lot but they didn't know it had gotten this bad. For the following three days they would check to see if she had regained consciousness. She hadn't but she was never alone. Giles stayed with her as much as he could. He had been given a room to sleep in and was now sleeping. Beast had told Giles that he needed to rest because he would be no good to Buffy if he wasn't rested. Giles wanted her to know that he is there for her. Finally he conceded and went to sleep. Night had fallen and Buffy had developed a fever that had Beast worried. Wolverine and Scott were now sitting in the Med bay. Scott was talking to Alex, who stopped by to check on his little cousin, while Wolverine sat by Buffy's bed. He replaced the warm cloth on her forehead with a cool wet one. Every once in a while he would catch a part of her mumbling. The fever was inducing dreams that wouldn't let her rest peacefully. She tossed and turned a bit which could possibly aggravate her injuries further. Wolverine found that when he held her hand she would settle down and rest.

"How is she?" Scott asked as he approached the bed.

"About the same."

Scott touched her face and felt the heat radiate off of her. He took a seat on the opposite side of the bed. The two sat there in silence. Scott was stroking Buffy's hair.

"Cyke, you better get Beast down here. Her fever just went up."

Wolverine said. His keen senses told him that her fever had gone up at least three degrees.

"Hank is on his way."

Hank arrived a few minutes later. He began looking her over. He couldn't figure out what was causing this infection.

"She's getting worse. I didn't want to have to do this but it looks like we have no choice. I'm going to have to use the Shi'ar technology on her. I'm not sure how it will work on her physiology. She so weak already that I'm afraid she may not survive the process. If this doesn't help her I'm afraid nothing will."

A silence fell over them.