Buffy took one last look around her room. She wouldn't see it again for a long time. In the last six hours she had packed a small suitcase and said her good-byes. It had been established no contact could be made between her, her friends and Dawn. Whoever had hired Gugsrak might get a hold of Buffy's location and then her cover would be blown.

Dawn had cried and begged to come with her. She had promised to be good and take care of herself. Buffy firmly refused. "Dawn you have to stay here. You can't come. I'll come back before you know it." Dawn had finally given up, then tearfully hugged Buffy and reluctantly helped her pack.

Anya and Xander were there also. They sat in the family room together, watching as Buffy went room to room making sure she forgot nothing important. "Goodbye Buffy," Anya had said. "I'm glad you're leaving. Because if Gugsrak killed you then where would we all be? Dead." Buffy had smiled and thanked Anya for her unique goodbye. She had kissed Willow and Tara goodbye as friends do, and hugged Xander.

Buffy sighed remembering it and went downstairs. Giles was already waiting by the door. "The taxi is here to take us to the train station. Come on Buffy." Buffy tried to be strong as she hugged everyone goodbye again. "You're sure you can handle patrolling while I'm gone?" She asked. Everyone assured her they could. She started down the path towards the street, looking back just once to see her friends in the doorway.

She hoped it wouldn't be the last memory she had of them.

****

Buffy shifted on the hard wooden bench beneath her. The train was due any minute. She looked around her. The residents of Sunnydale had learned long ago to stay indoors if possible at late hours of the night and for this reason the train stop was empty.

There were many wooden benches identical to the one she sat upon, a closed ticket booth and a snack and soda machine. She sighed. Next to her was Giles, reading a book as usual. She wondered what it was about.

She sensed someone approaching and turned around to see a familiar blonde vampire strolling towards her. She was surprised. What was he doing here? She stood and walked over to him. Giles looked up from his book to see what was going on.

"Hello Spike," Giles said absently as he went back to his book. "Hullo," Spike said, his eyes never leaving Buffy. "What are you doing here Spike?" She asked politely. Spike smiled. "Went off without saying goodbye to me. Not very nice of you," Spike responded, not giving a straight answer. Buffy smiled a little.

"We were in a hurry," she explained. The truth was she didn't think she could have handled the look on Spike's face when she said she was leaving. It would have been worse than seeing the love in his eyes every time she saw him. It would break his heart even more than not being able to return his love did.

"It's alright love, I understand. Still, thought I'd come down here and say goodbye, keep safe, all that rubbish." Buffy had to smile. "Thank you Spike." Spike looked around sheepishly. "Who told you where we were going?" Buffy asked. "Niblet. She said to make sure to tell you not to do anything stupid. And that she's going through your room." Buffy laughed. "Nice of her to keep a secret."

Spike loved to hear her laugh. She hadn't done it very much in the last few months. He smiled. She was so beautiful.

Buffy screamed as a loud shot rang out. She covered her head as Spike turned around to see what had happened. "Bloody hell!" he said as he saw Giles, Buffy followed his gaze. "Oh my God! Giles!!!" She ran towards him.

Giles was hunched over on the bench, holding his stomach which was torn open from a bullet wound. Buffy began to cry hysterically. "Giles, oh God Giles!" Spike was looking to see where the shot came from but couldn't sense anyone any place near. He stood near the threshold watching Buffy and Giles, not sure what to do.

In the distance the train horn sounded. Giles was staring up at Buffy, mouth opening and closing. Buffy's tears fell down her face in streams. "Giles oh god. Spike! Get help! Call someone for help!" She tossed her phone at him as she tried to support Giles on her lap.

Spike quickly dialed Buffy's phone number, having remembered it even though he knew he would never have called her. "Willow? Come quick. Someone's shot Giles." Buffy half heard Spike explain in the background as the train churned up. The doors opened, waiting for passengers to board. No one got off the train,

Giles opened his mouth. "Go...Buffy go..." Buffy shook her head. "No Giles. I won't go. I'm not leaving you." She tried to ignore the blood pouring from the wound. "*Go*." Giles commanded resolutely, despite his weakened state. He managed to reach into his jacket and pull out the tickets.

Spike watched Giles try to tell Buffy to go. Spike knew what he had to do. He quickly grabbed the tickets from Giles hand, tore Buffy away from Giles and hauled her towards the train.

"NO!" Buffy screamed. "Let me go you bastard! Giles!" Despite her Slayer strength Spike had a firm hold on her. Giles watched as Spike carried Buffy onto the train. He was relieved. Everything was getting dimmer now. The pain had stopped, everything was numb. He closed his eyes.

"No!" Buffy yelled as the train doors slid closed and the train started. Spike still did not let her go. "Giles. I have to get Giles. Giles," she repeated over and over again.

She pressed her hand to the window, watching Giles grow smaller and smaller as the train moved swiftly away.