Disclaimer: Nothing here is mine.
Author's Note: Wow, this is it! I had a great time writing this fanfic, and I hope everyone enjoyed it. I want to thank everyone who supported this fanfic, and took time to review: Freezyboncoolipants, Slayer87, Out-Of-Reality, Emberlynn aka BAanna9, Spike'sRedQueen, cherrygurl1225, Eileen, mz. sarJe, GretchenGG, Jimmy Wilder, angel2db, PomegranateQueen, mistymidnight, Kim from Unnatural Brats, Kitty, and of course Tara, who supported this fanfic from the very beginning and often helped me out with the plot. I love you all! Many sincere thanks. And no, there will not be a sequel to this, sorry! Enjoy the final chapter and epilogue. 3 Erin
Chapter 9: Saved
"Please clear the beach, I'm coming in for landing," Charles Gunn said into his megaphone.
Meanwhile, the stranded castaways were beside themselves with joy. Buffy had leapt into Angel's arms, and was crying. Dawn and Connor were spinning around and letting out whoops of joy. Spike had run back to Cordelia, who was gaping at the helicopter. Xander and Anya were making out, and Giles was just grinning.
When Willow turned around and saw the helicopter, she pinched herself to see if she was dreaming. When it hurt, she had started to cry. "It's okay baby, we're saved!" she said, sobbing.
Everyone ran off to the side, still celebrating. The helicopter landed softly on the beach. The pilot climbed out. He was instantly mobbed by 7 of the 11 castaways, who all tried to hug him at once.
"I've never been so glad to see anyone in my life!" Buffy said happily.
Gunn managed to pull away after a minute or so. "Are you the guys from the boat that sunk 6 days back? The radio station winners?"
"That would be us," Xander said, arms tightly around Anya.
"Wow, we thought you were all dead. But then a pilot called in, said he thought he saw something out here. So I came to check it out, and here you are," he said. "Is everyone okay?"
Buffy came tumbling back to reality with a jolt. "No. Tara, she has a spider bite. It's bad. And Cordelia has a broken leg."
Gunn picked up his walkie talkie and waited for a signal. "Yo, I found them. All eleven of them. Send more rescue teams right away, we also need a doctor and medical supplies."
"And chocolate!" Anya said hopefully.
"And some real food." He finished the transmission and turned back to the group. "Help is on the way." Everyone screamed some more.
Gunn laughed. "I can't believe y'all have been livin out here," he said, looking around.
"Let us give you the grand tour," Xander said, heading towards the shelter. "Welcome to our humble abode, constructed by yours truly." Spike cleared his throat loudly. "Oh, and them too."
"And back there is the banana tree," Dawn said, pointing into the trees.
Gunn shook his head. "Wow."
"We were just about to go for help when you came. We built a raft. We knew that Tara needed a doctor," Buffy said.
Gunn nodded. "I told them to motor, so they should be here in a few minutes.
"Everyone, get your shoes and stuff! We're going home!" Buffy yelled. Everyone scattered, gathering their few belongings.
A few minutes later 3 more helicopters came into view. One of them was a medical chopper. They landed on the beach as well, and several more guys came out, one of them rolling a stretcher.
"Where is the girl with the spider bite?" shouted the one who looked like a doctor.
"In the shelter," Buffy said, shouting over the din of the running helicopters. The doctor rolled the stretcher across the sand to the shelter, where he began to examine Tara.
"Anyone else injured?" asked a second man.
"Yeah, Cordelia has a broken leg," Buffy said, pointing to where she sat with Spike. He nodded and hurried over.
The pilots of the other two choppers came over, grinning broadly. "We had just about given up on you guys!" joked one. Everyone laughed.
"Us too," Giles said wryly.
"Well you guys can start getting in the choppers, we can take three in each, and the two injured girls will go in the MediVac. You'll also find some food waiting for you inside." There were some more cheers. "Once we land you will all have to be examined at a hospital. You've been in some pretty unbelievable conditions." Everyone nodded. Then they ran for the helicopters without another word. Normally there would have been a fight over who was riding together, but everyone was so eager to get home that they just jumped in the nearest one. Buffy and Angel went together, as did Dawn and Connor, and Xander, Anya, and Giles.
"She's stabilized for now. That shot should stop the infection from spreading any further. But she needs to get to the hospital. Go jump in one of the other helicopters, she'll be safe with me." The doctor smiled at Willow. Willow was reluctant to leave Tara, but joined Dawn and Connor in their helicopter. The doctor loaded the stretcher with Tara on it into the chopper, and then helped Spike and his assistant with Cordelia.
"Take care, love," Spike said, squeezing her hand. He headed for the other choppers, and was dismayed to see that the only vacancy was in Buffy and Angel's helicopter. "Sorry to intrude on the lovebirds," Spike said, boarding. He sat down and fastened his seatbelt. A minute later Gunn came on board, closing the door behind him.
"There's food in that compartment under the seat," he said, before sitting down and adjusting his controls. He watched as the Medivac carrying the two injured girls took off for land. Then he followed, lifting the chopper into the air.
"Goodbye island," Buffy said, getting one last glance at the place that had been their home for the last 6 days.
"And good bloody riddance," Spike added bitterly.
Inside the Medivac, the doctor had Tara stabilized, and had moved on to Cordelia's leg. "This splint seems to have been quite effective. No permanent damage should occur," he said.
"Well that's good. Look, when do you think I'll be able to walk again? Because I am an actress, and I need to audition," Cordelia said impatiently.
Dawn and Connor were safe in each other's arms as they flew back home. Willow was nervous and kind of jumpy since leaving Tara.
"Willow, she's going to be fine. They're taking great care of her," Dawn reassured. Willow nodded slightly.
"I'm just so thankful they found us when they did," Willow said quietly. "Any longer and I might have lost her."
Connor looked in the compartment where the pilot said there was food. He wrinkled his nose. It wasn't much. It was mostly canned food. "I think I'll just wait till we get home to eat," he said.
Dawn smiled dreamily. "I can't wait to get my hands on a candy bar. Or a cake."
"Anything but bananas," Connor said. They all laughed.
"Are we there yet?" Anya complained.
"Not yet, sweetie," Xander said.
"We must be getting close though," Giles said. "I can see birds again."
"I wonder if we'll be famous. Maybe they'll make one of those Lifetime Movies about our story. Someone really famous and pretty can play me," Anya mused.
Xander smiled and rubbed her shoulders. "Maybe." She was strange, and a bit tactless, but he had actually became very fond of her, and hoped they would remain close when they got home.
Angel and Buffy were snuggling in their helicopter, while Spike made faces at them. "I seem to remember a little promise we made each other earlier," Buffy whispered seductively.
Angel grinned. "Oh, I didn't forget. You know what I can't wait to do?" He whispered something in Buffy's ear, causing her to blush and giggle.
"You two make me want to heave," Spike said.
"We're almost home," Gunn called from the cockpit. "We're flying straight to the hospital so you guys can get checked out. Then you should be free to go do whatever. Let's just hope we beat the reporters."
A few minutes later they were flying over land. Buffy had never been so glad to see Sunnydale before. As they approached the roof of the hospital, where the Medivac was already landing, they realized that they had definitely not beat the reporters. "Damn," Gunn said. "You guys are quite the celebrities."
There seemed to be a reporter from every major news station and paper in Sunnydale. As the doctors rolled Cordelia and Tara indoors, they ran after them, videotaping and shouting loud questions that Buffy couldn't quite make out. Gunn landed their helicopter next, and turned around to look at them. "You don't have to talk to them if you don't want to. Just stick with me, I'll get you inside." They nodded.
He opened the door of the helicopter and they stepped out, Angel holding on to Buffy tightly. Immediately the reporters were sticking microphones in their faces.
"Excuse me, how does it feel to be home?" one man asked Buffy. He had a video camera from the local news station.
"It feels great," Buffy said honestly. She reached up and touched her hair with a grimace. Of course, the one time she was on TV she looked like crap.
"How was life on the island?" another demanded of Angel.
"Swell," he said, moving quickly through the throng. Thankfully the second helicopter was landing behind them, and some of the reporters ran to get a shot of Dawn, Connor, and Willow.
"Are you upset that the local search and rescue squads did not find you sooner?" one shot at Spike.
He just frowned. "Bugger off."
They reached the door and ran inside, Gunn slamming the door behind them. "Gee, I wonder what'll be the top story on the 6 o clock news," he commented.
They were joined a moment later by Dawn, Connor, and a very frazzled looking Willow. "Where's Tara?" she demanded.
"They just took her through a few minutes ago," Buffy replied.
Once Anya, Xander, and Giles had joined them, they went downstairs to the emergency room. "It's procedure for you all to get checked out," Gunn said. "Thankfully, the reporters aren't allowed inside the hospital."
Once they reached the emergency room, Willow and Spike ran to the nurse on duty to inquire about their significant others. A few other nurses and doctors approached the rest of the group.
"Welcome home," one said kindly. "If you will all kindly come with us, we need to examine you. You all look remarkably well, considering your ordeal."
The couples separated as the doctors led them into cubicles. Overall, everyone was okay. No one was even dehydrated, which was kind of a miracle. The doctors said that with a healthy meal and a good night's sleep they should be good as new.
When Buffy rejoined the others in the waiting room, she found the nurse giving them the latest news on Cordy and Tara. "Miss Chase appears to be fine, the doctors are giving her a proper cast now. She should be able to be released tonight."
"What about Tara?" Willow asked frantically. "Can I see her?"
"Miss Maclay has been stabilized and should make a full recovery. The doctors are moving her to a room now. She'll need to stay here a few days until the infection is gone," the nurse said. Willow let out a sigh of relief. "Once she is settled in her room you can see her. But I recommend that you all go grab a bite to eat."
Everyone nodded. "That sounds great," Buffy said. "Thank you."
A minute later a doctor escorted Cordelia to the waiting room. She was using crutches, and looking much better. "Miss Chase is free to go now. The splint was very effective," the doctor said. Willow smiled with pride.
"What do you say we all go to Mickey D's and pig out?" Dawn said. Everyone agreed. Willow was reluctant to go, but decided to just come right back to visit Tara after.
They headed outside, and made a mad dash across the street before the reporters could catch up. Spike carried Cordelia. They burst in the doors of McDonalds and got in line. "Hey, you were just on the news! You're the kids that were stranded on that island!" the checkout girl exclaimed. Everyone's heads turned, and the other employees came out from the back to gawk.
"Whatever you want, it's on the house," the manager said.
"Awesome!" Connor exclaimed. After ordering more food than they could carry, they headed for a table. Angel grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her back.
"After we eat, how bout we go make good on that promise," he whispered.
Buffy grinned. "Oh yeah. But what about Dawn and Connor?"
"They can stay at my place, and we'll go to yours," Angel suggested. "I don't think we need to worry about them."
"Okay." Normally Buffy wouldn't have agreed to leaving her sister alone with her boyfriend, but she couldn't wait any longer to be with Angel.
"Oh, my God," Cordelia said, diving into a jumbo french fries. "Food!"
They sat there eating for well over an hour. They asked the manager to lock the door, so they could only wave happily to the flock of reporters standing outside filming them as they pigged out. "Just what I always wanted. A shot of me stuffing my face with chicken nuggets all over the news," Dawn said.
When everyone else was distracted by conversation, Buffy and Angel pulled Dawn and Connor aside. "Connor, Dawn's going to go back to our place with you. We'll take a taxi over to get the car, then I'll take you home. Buffy and I just want to be alone at her place," Angel said quickly.
The two teens smiled knowingly. "Ooh, okay." Buffy and Angel both blushed.
They returned to the table where the others were cleaning up. "We're gonna head home. We'll come back tomorrow to see Tara," Buffy said. Everyone stood up to hug and exchange phone numbers. They had all become really close over the past 6 days. Buffy knew that no matter what happened now, they would all be friends for life.
As the four of them left the restaurant and began running past the reporters, Anya made a comment. "Guess they just can't wait to have sex," she said. Spike choked on a french fry, causing Cordy to glare at him. Giles just sighed. They were all used to Anya's tact, or lack thereof, by now.
Once outside and past the reporters, Buffy whispered to Angel. "I'm just gonna get a taxi home. I wanna freshen up," she said. Angel smiled and nodded.
"Dawn, I'll come get you tomorrow morning." She kissed her sister on the cheek.
"Have fun," Dawn said with a smirk. Buffy kissed Angel one more time before running to get a cab, while the others continued on to the parking lot where they had left their cars 6 days ago.
An hour later Angel opened the door to Buffy's house, armed with his purchase from the drug store. He grinned when he saw a trail of rose petals leading upstairs. He followed them to find Buffy in the bedroom, wearing a sexy negligee. "Why hello," she said seductively.
He walked towards her. "Finally." They kissed passionately, falling back onto the bed.
"No more waiting," Buffy said with a smile. Then they proceeded to lose themselves in each other.
Epilogue
5 years later
"Tonight we have a very special edition of Dateline NBC," Katie Couric said into the televison camera. "Tonight we join the eleven survivors of the boating accident that left them stranded on a deserted island for nearly a week five years ago today." She turned to the eleven "castaways," who were seated in a row. "Their lives were changed forever, and now they are here to give us an update."
She looked at Willow and Tara who were seated on the end. "Tara Maclay, you were hospitalized for a week after the rescue recovering from the effects of a spider bite. What do you have to say about the experience?"
"I am just thankful t-that I met Willow," Tara said fondly. "While I was s-sick on the island she took care of me, and we have been t-together ever since."
"Willow Rosenberg, how has life changed for you since your return?" Katie asked.
"It has been amazing. We both graduated from college, and we're living together here in Sunnydale. We're just really happy. I still think about that island all the time though," Willow admitted.
"Do the rest of you still have thoughts about the island?" Katie asked the group.
"Oh, yes. I had a dream the other night that we were still there," Cordelia said dramatically. "It was terrible."
Katie smiled. "Cordelia Chase, you have probably experienced the most success since your return. Your acting career took off after, correct?"
Cordelia smiled the million dollar smile that could now be seen on magazine covers everywhere. "Yes. The accident was great publicity for me. My new film, in which I play the girlfriend of Johnny Depp, comes out next week," she said, grinning at the camera.
"Spike, I understand that you and Miss Chase were an item while on the island. What happened to the relationship?"
Spike glared at his ex. "She ran off to star in movies and got all big-headed, that's what bloody happened."
Cordelia glared back. "For your information, I happen to be dating Joaquin Phoenix ever since we starred together in Last Minute Bride. And we are happier than you and I ever dreamed of being."
Katie cleared her throat. "Rupert Giles, you were the oldest person on the island. Did you ever feel isolated?"
"Well we all had to work together to survive, so no, not really," Giles said pleasantly.
"And since, you have gone on to host your own show on the Discovery Channel about survivors of boating accidents," Katie said.
"Yes. It has been most rewarding. But I still keep in touch with everyone, we're all good friends."
Katie nodded and turned to Anya and Xander. "Anya Jenkins, are you and Xander Harris still together?"
Anya beamed at the camera. "Yes. We are engaged too. See?" She held out her hand and flashed her ring to the camera.
"Congratulations to both of you. Xander, have you set a date yet?"
"No, we're taking our time. We learned that life is very special since we were stranded, so we're taking our time. We don't want to rush into anything," he said.
"But if anyone from a big designer company is watching this, yes, I would love to have you design my gown free of charge," Anya said to the camera, flashing a big smile.
"Dawn and Connor, you were the youngest people on the island. What did you think of the experience?"
"Well, it was rough, but I had my sister Buffy and I met Connor there, which I will always be thankful for," Dawn said, beaming at Connor. "I graduated high school, and I'm attending UC Sunnydale. We have an apartment together, and couldn't be happier."
"Yeah, it's been really great. But I haven't eaten another banana since we got back," Connor added. At the mention of the dreaded fruit, everyone groaned.
Katie laughed. "So I see that there will always be lasting effects from your stay on the island." She turned to Buffy. "Buffy Summers, everyone here agrees that you took a leadership position on the island."
"Well, I suppose I did. I just knew that if we were going to survive, someone had to," she said.
"And you married Angel 6 months after your return. Congratulations," Katie said.
Buffy and Angel beamed at each other. "Yes. And we are expecting our first child in two months," Buffy said, placing a hand on her growing stomach.
"That's wonderful. Angel, looking back today, how do you feel about the events of five years ago?"
"Well I thank God every day for bringing Buffy and I together. And we've all remained really close. I think that in the end we came out ahead," Angel commented.
"Have any of you been out on a boat since the accident?" Everyone shook their heads vehemently.
"Too many bad memories," Willow said. "We were the lucky ones, people died that day."
"Yeah, we are definitely lucky," Angel said, smiling at his wife.
Katie turned back to the camera. "So it seems that one experience can truly change someone's life forever. Many thanks to the survivors of the accident five years ago for being here and sharing their thoughts with us. We here at Dateline NBC wish them all continued happiness. Good night."
The End