AN: Thanks for all the reviews!! I'm trying to get this typed in as fast as I can but stuff keeps changing! Expect some losses and some gains, but no deaths, at least not yet. And for those of you expecting an appearance by Lindsey, I just plead for you to be patient, I am working toward something, it's just taking a little longer than I expected. I have to tie some things up and then I'll get back to the little snippet from the first chapter. Thanks to all for reading!!

"…but this is all that I have, so please

take what's left of this heart and use

please use only what you really need

you know I only have so little so please

mend your broken heart and leave…"

"Found it!" Willow yells, surprising everyone. Fred drops her books, Angel drops his cup and Faith falls out of the chair where she was dozing.

"Found what?" Angel asks, as they gather around the witch.

Robin is keeping watch over Wes at the hospital. He had stopped breathing in the bedroom earlier and that's when Angel took him to the hospital. Lilah's unconscious form is stretched out on the couch in Wes' living room.

"One of the spells that Lilah used had a failsafe…if the bond is broken by anything other than death, the two souls…" Willow's voice trails off.

"What? Willow, what?" Fred urges.

"He's trapped with her…"Angel realizes, reading over Willow's shoulder.

"So it's like that freaky dreamwalk you and I had off the Orpheus when you were all evil?" Faith asks, confused.

"Sort of. Yeah, it's like that," Angel replies, quietly.

"So how do we get Wes back?" Fred asks.

Willow stands up and goes to Lilah's side. She glances at the spellbook and then closes her eyes, speaking a few words. Lilah gasps deeply and then lapses back into unconsciousness. A few moments later, Faith's phone begins to ring.

"Yeah? Hey, Robin. He's back? He okay? Good. We'll be by to get you guys as soon as Wes' doctor okays his release. Love you, too." Faith smiles widely. "Wes is back. Clearer from what Robin says, looking a lot better."

"Willow, thank you so much," Fred sighs, relieved.

"I'm just glad I could help. You guys should know that Wes isn't out of the woods yet. He was exposed to some very intense magicks. I don't think he'll ever be the same," Willow admits.

"What do you mean?" Angel questions.

"He's probably going to have some lapses in judgement, in his sanity…I mean, just talking to him today, I could tell that he was struggling to hold it together. I couldn't undo the damage already done…I mean, it's permanent damage," Willow explains.

"If she wasn't already dead…" Angel mutters, glancing at Lilah.

"I feel kind of…sorry for her…all she wanted was Wes to love her…" Fred says, distantly.

"That wasn't love, though. It was magic. It wasn't real. What's real is how she hurt Wesley. I'm sure he'll be fine, though," Willow sighs. "He's a strong man. A good man. There aren't many of those around."

"I'm going to get Lilah out of here. You guys go check on Wes," Angel says.

*****

Wes recovers rapidly and in a week is patrolling regularly with Faith. Wes' doctor continues to visit Robin, running various tests to try and find out why it is taking so long for his wounds to heal from his battle with the First Evil.

Faith and Wes become good friends, for the first time ever. He adjusts to her fighting style and they become an admirable team, mirroring each other and having an uncanny knack for knowing where the other is in the fight. Angel and the others are very surprised at the rapport between the former enemies. Faith talks to Wes about everything, and he starts to rely on her to snap him out of the 'lapses' that he suffers sometimes when he loses touch with reality.

Faith comes home to Robin after a late night of patrolling with Wes. She is tired, the vamps being extra 'frisky' tonight.

"Faith."

The bedroom is dark when she steps inside. Usually, he waits up for her.

"Robin? What's wrong?" Faith asks, concerned.

"I talked to Dr. Harrison today."

"Yeah?" Faith smiles, expecting good news.

"Faith. It wasn't good."
Faith sits down on the bed, tossing her leather jacket into the corner. "What did he say?"

"Something's wrong with my spinal cord. Well, it's actually dealing with the vertebrae in my back," Robin says, finally, after a long pause. Faith listens, squeezing his hand until he pulls away. "I can get better but…I…I can't fight…I can't do anything strenuous or I'll risk paralyzation…" He won't meet her eyes.

"Robin, it's cool…" Faith begins.

"No. It's not cool, Faith. I can't fight with you. I can't watch your back. I can't do anything. I'm useless…"

"You're not useless, Robin," Faith hesitates. "I need you."

"No, you don't," Robin says, shaking his head, slowly.

"Yes, I do. I need you. I need you to come home to, I need you to keep me on the side of the good, I need you…" Faith rushes.

"I'm leaving, Faith."

His words hang in the air. Faith doesn't make a sound as the tears come.

"I talked to Giles. I'm going to Miami. We're going to start rebuilding the Council. Create a network. Xander's already on a flight here…"

Faith can't speak. She can't breathe.

"Faith. Say something."

"What?"

"Anything."

"I can't…you're leaving me…what…" She shakes her head, burying her face in her hands.

"I can't help you, Faith. I love you and I'm sorry but I can't sit here and be with you and not be able to fight by your side…"

"Why?"

"I can't watch you die. I'm a coward, whatever…I have to go…I'm sorry," Robin says. Faith ignores the sobs in his voice.

"Me, too." Faith cry escapes her. "Bastard!" She says, standing up and spinning around to face him. "I loved you! I've never let myself love anyone before! I trusted you! I believed you and…" She sinks to her knees.

"Do you regret it? Faith, baby, I love you, I love everything about you…" Robin starts, climbing out of bed.

"Don't. Please. Just leave it. You made your decision." Faith forces herself to her feet.

"Faith, don't go, let's talk about…" Robin protests, but Faith is already out the door.

*****

Faith is stunned. She leaves the house in a daze. Pain. She is in pain. She can't breathe. He's leaving her. He doesn't want her anymore. He's…leaving.

She realizes that people are speaking to her but she can't see. She just walks. When the door opens, his voice breaks through for a moment.

"Faith?" Wes calls.

He sees her face and takes her arm, pulling her inside his apartment.

"Faith? Are you alright? What happened? Faith!" Wes demands, worry draining all color from his face.

"He's…he's leaving…" She breathes, falling to her knees. She barely registers Wes' voice. Robin is gone. He's moving to Miami because she doesn't make him happy enough to stay. Something's wrong with her. She's broken. She forgot about it for a while, let herself be happy in this new life, but it all comes back to the fact that something is wrong with her.

She closes her eyes. She doesn't want to feel it. She is strong. Unbeatable. Unbreakable. She doesn't need to feel it. The loss is like a demon. She can beat it.

"Faith!"

Wes is holding her struggling arms, clearly straining. Blood is trickling from a long gash in his face over his swelling eye. The concern in his eyes snaps her out of her building rage.

"Wes?" She realizes that she is standing up now.

"Faith. Can you sit down? You're safe here…" Wes lowers her to the couch, his voice soothing her. "You need to breathe…Faith? Look at me…" Wes cups her chin, sitting down beside her. "Take a deep breath."

She obeys automatically, allowing his British voice to calm her.

"Another one?"

She releases a sob, but exhales.

"Drink this…Faith…" Wes puts a warm cup of something sweet in her hands. She can't taste. She doesn't know where the cry that escapes her throat comes from. She is weak. Robin has her strength. He is her strength. She is dying.

Wes pulls Faith to him and she lets herself cry. She clings to him, leaking her pain into his arms. Finally, she runs out of tears and is asleep. He carries into his room and covers her in his bed. He leaves the door cracked and sits down on the couch, unable to sleep.

*****

"Wake up, Faith. Faith. Wake up, baby…"

Faith opens her eyes. Robin is standing over her. "I didn't think I was your baby anymore," She whispers.

"We don't need to leave it this way…I don't want to hurt you," Robin says, reaching for her.

"Fuck you." She recognizes Wes' bedroom as she scrambles out of the bed and his reach. She stands up. "How'd you get in here?"

"Fred let me in," Robin replies.

"Robin, I need you to leave. You said you were leaving…" Faith can't catch her breath.

From outside the room, Wes' voice is heard. "Fred, who's in there?"

Faith's vision goes dark as she starts to hyperventilate. She barely registers Wes' voice. "What did you do to her?"

Faith recognizes Wes' hands on her shoulders, holding her upright. She grips his upper arms with her hands, holding onto him.

"Robin. Go. Wait outside. Now." Wes' voice is stern.

"But…"

"Get out before I have to make you leave," Wes says.

"I have to talk to her before I leave…" Robin protests.

Faith pleads with Wes with dazed eyes. "Please…make him go…please…"

Robin leaves as Faith struggles to catch her breath. She is suffocating. Robin is her air. She can't breathe. She hurts.

"Faith. Breathe. Look at me. I need you to breathe. Calm down. Okay?" Faith tries to focus on Wes' voice to fight the thickening darkness. "Breathe in. Breathe out. Come on, Faith…"

She looks around. She is sitting on the floor of Wes' bedroom. He is gently holding her shoulders and her knuckles are white from where she is gripping his upper arms.

"Sorry," She gasps, releasing him. She realizes that her slayer strength has probably hurt him.

"Faith."

"I'm okay…he's gone…" Faith says, wrapping her arms around herself.

"What did he do to you? Did he hurt you?" Wes demands.

Faith sees a flash in Wes' eyes and realizes that he wants to protect her. He's pulsing with controlled rage at Robin for hurting her.

"Faith, what…"

"Don't do anything, Wes. He didn't hurt me. Well, he hurt me…he's leaving me," Faith says, more oriented.

"Why?" Wes asks, concerned.

"He says…I…" Faith starts, but she collapses into tears. He embraces her and she accepts his comfort, releasing her pain for the second time in the last 24 hours.

She won't let him leave her. Every time he tries to sneak away, she wakes up and begs him to stay. Wes doesn't argue, he just holds her.

Finally, Faith hears Angel speak.

"Wesley. We need you. It's an emergency." Something in Angel's tone chills her. She doesn't fight when Wes disentangles himself from her grasp.

"What is it?" Wes asks, in the living room.

Faith sits up, following the men into the living room silently.

"There's a nest of vamps down at the docks. It's big. Over a hundred by our count. They're planning something and with Faith out of action we really need…" Angel's voice falters as he sees her standing behind Wes. "Faith."

"A hundred vamps and no slayer? You sure are cocky," Faith remarks, her voice hoarse from crying.

"We can handle it." Angel glances at Wes and then walks over to Faith. "You can do better than him. You're too good for him."

"But he was good enough for me," Faith replies, letting him hug her.

"So there's vamps," Faith says, once Angel steps away.

"You're not going," Wes says, quietly.

"Like hell. Why not?" Faith retorts, stepping toward Wesley.

"Because I'm asking you not to," Wes replies, not moving.

"Why?" Faith asks, not arguing. Angel watches the exchange.

"I need you to wait here for Xander," Wes replies.

Faith walks over to Wes and brings her arm back to hit him, but he grabs her fist, stopping her. She didn't have her full strength behind it because she wouldn't be able to stop him.

"Faith. Wait here for Xander. Angel and I will be back in a few hours. Okay?" Wes' voice is quiet.

Faith feels his hand relax and he releases her fist. She lowers her arm. She looks in his eyes. "Okay, Wes. Are you sure?"

Wes looks at her, seriously. "We need you, Faith. But can you honestly tell me that you'd put 100% into this fight?"

She doesn't answer.

"Faith. Xander will be here soon. We'll be back," Wes says, as she pulls her to him.

"Okay. Don't take too long."

"You're okay?" Angel asks, swiveling Faith to face him.

"I'll be okay. I'm not right now, but I'll be okay. Be careful," Faith replies, as Angel and Wes leave. She curls up on the couch, rocking herself.

She doesn't know how much time has passed when she hears the knock on the door.

Faith swings open the door. "Yeah? Hey, Xander."

"Faith."

She holds the door open and he steps inside. "I hear your boyfriend's an asshole," Xander states.

"Yeah," Faith replies, trying to ignore his eyepatch and gaunt complexion.

"Well. Speaking as a former asshole, I'm sorry," Xander says, quietly.

Faith smiles. She hugs Xander, impulsively.

"How are you?" Faith asks.

"How are you?" Xander responds.

"I'd have to say shitty," Faith says.

"I'd agree with that. I'm pretty shitty, too," Xander nods. "Where's your crew?"

"Nest of vampires. Wes didn't think I was up to it," Faith answers, sitting down. Xander sits down beside her.

"Are you?" Xander asks, concerned.

"No. I loved him, Xander. I really did. He left me. He had reasons, but none of them were good enough for him to leave me," Faith says, slowly.

Xander kisses her forehead. "He's obviously ignorant. Do you want me to kill him?"

"Let me think about it," Faith answers, smiling.

Xander nods. "Okay."

After a long silence, Faith stretches. "Where are you staying?"

"Wes said he'd work something out for me," Xander replies.

Faith sees something in Xander's eyes. Dullness, like he's not really there. She gasps. "Anya…God, I'm sorry…"

"What?" Xander asks, confusion on his face.

"You loved her and she died, I'm so sorry…" Faith says, hugging him.

"It's okay, Faith," Xander replies, letting her hug him. "See?" He smiles for her, but it's a faded version of the one she's used to seeing on his face. "I'm tan and stable, I'm chipper and enthusiastic…I'm okay. Faith?" He takes her hands. "I'm okay. We'll be okay."

For the next few hours, Faith actually relaxes. She listens to Xander's animated details of Buffy's gang and the new slayers.

An hour before dawn, the door swings open. Angel and Fred, looking beaten, stagger inside supporting Wes' unconscious body.

"What happened?" Faith asks, as she and Xander get up so Angel and Fred can drop Wes on the couch. The three warriors end up sitting down side by side on the vacated couch, Wesley propped up between them.

"We just killed a whole lot of vampires. We kicked ass," Fred says, her eyelids drooping.

"Not by ourselves, we had backup from Gunn's old crew…but we did kick ass," Angel sighs.

"Hi. I'm Fred," Fred nods, to Xander, before lapsing into unconsciousness.

"We took a few hits. Wes passed out on the ride back," Angel says. "Hey, Xander."

"Angel," Xander nods.

"No 'deadboy'?" Angel asks, smiling. "I guess you really have grown up…" Angel is asleep.

"How cute," Xander grins, seeing them all asleep leaning on each other. Faith covers them with a blanket.

"You tired?" Faith asks Xander.

"I could sleep," Xander shrugs.

"We'll share Wes' bed. No sex, though. I'm too tired," Faith jokes, leading him into Wes' bedroom.

"Thank god for small favors," Xander laughs, teasingly.

"Shut up!" Faith laughs.