Chapter 7

Angel went into the hotel still holding Buffy. The others saw him and went over to him as he put Buffy down on the table. "Oh god, what happened?" Dawn asked, upset after seeing her sister.

"The demon got her; I didn't know what else to do so I brought her back here." Angel told all of them and they all looked upset.

"There's not much we can do for her here. We have to take her to a hospital." Spike stated, finally speaking up.

"There's no time." Spike turned around to see Alex. He moved out of the way as Alex kneeled down beside Buffy. "Here goes nothing." She said. She placed her hands over the wound and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. The others stepped back as Alex's hands started to glow and then Buffy. They saw the wound start to heal and then disappear. Alex pulled her hands away and almost fell from using too much power when Spike caught her. Buffy's eyes then opened and she sat up slowly and looked at all of them.

"What happened?" She asked and then Dawn flung herself at Buffy and gave her a big hug.

"You almost left again, that's what happened." Dawn let her go. "Don't scare me like that again." Buffy gave her sister a warm smile.

"I'll try not to." After that everyone else hugged her too, happy that she didn't die again. Buffy went to talk to Alex. "So, I hear you're the one that healed me." Alex just nodded. "That's pretty neat; I didn't know you could do that." She told her.

"I found out about it recently. I honestly didn't know I could either, I don't even remember my mom ever telling me about developing healing powers. It's pretty cool though. I never actually tried it on a human before, for a second there I thought I wouldn't have been able to." Buffy put her arm around her.

"You came through, thanks." Alex smiled at her. Buffy then went to go look for Spike. She didn't see him after she rejoined the living again and wondered if he was okay. She went out the back and saw him sitting in the garden. "Nice night, huh?" She said as she sat down next to him. He just nodded and stared off into space. "You okay?" He then looked at her like he was seeing her for the first time.

"I've been better." Buffy nodded.

"Well, it's okay now because I'm fine. See, I didn't die again so there's a big plus there." Spike looked away from her.

"Did you want to?" Buffy then looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time also.

"What do you mean?" She asked, confused.

"Did you want to die again?" Buffy shook her head.

"Of course not. I know I didn't wanna be brought back, but I am back now and I wanna make the best of it. I don't want to die again." That seemed to get Spike angry and he stood up and glared at her.

"Do you think I'm stupid? You honestly don't think I've noticed what you've been doing." He stated.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, again confused.

"I've been watching you, Buffy. Incase you haven't noticed. I've been with you on patrol and I've seen how careless you've been fighting ever since you were brought back. I know you didn't wanna come back like you just said, but it looks like to me that you want to lose. You never used to give up before and now I've noticed changes in your fighting like you wanna give up. I'm worried about you. I was right when I told you that every Slayer has a death wish. I wish I wasn't, but I was. When they died it was because they wanted to, because they had nothing worth living for. I know you hate being back here and believe me I hate seeing you suffer everyday like this. You were given another chance, Buffy. Which is a lot more than any other Slayer. You have everything to live for. Just think about Dawn, think about how it will destroy her if she lost you again. Not to mention everyone else who loves you." Spike stopped when he saw tears in her eyes. He kneeled down in front of her and raised her chin so she would look at him. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you again and I would rather not find out. You have to live, Buffy." With that Buffy broke down and cried and Spike just held her. Neither one of them noticed Angel watching them, hearing the whole thing.