Buffy was in an all to familiar room. The room that Faith had been staying in at the
time of the Mayor's ascension.
"Hey B. Long time no see."
Buffy turned and saw Faith.
"Tell me about it," Buffy said. "Got some cryptic message from the higher peeps for me?"
"More like a story I heard."
"I'm getting comfy," Buffy said sitting on a table.
"There's this bird-"
"Ooh. Big Wiggins. Big Flappy bird. Run like the wind Bull's-eye. Sorry. Continue with
the big mighty bird."
Faith smirked. "A bird one that sings just once in its life, better than any other
anywhere. From the moment it leaves the nest it searches for a thorn tree, never resting
until it's found one. Then, singing among the branches it impales itself upon the longest, sharpest spine," Faith continued, her smile turning sad as she let her eyes fall to her hands, resting in her lap. "Everything in the world pauses to just listen to this bird sing for that one moment."
"What's the point Faith?" Buffy asked raising an eyebrow.
"Things die B......Takes time, but things die," Faith said.
"Who's dying? Me? I am not......Wait the council...... Faith what's wrong?" Buffy asked
standing and walking over to her sister slayer.
"Something big is happening and you know it B. They need a warrior to fight the other
battles."
Buffy's eyes widened. "They're gonna kill you to call another slayer."
"I gotta go B. See you soon.....I hope."
Buffy woke up in her bed and she looked around before screaming, "GILES!!!!!!!!!!!"
Buffy was pacing the room while the Scoobies sat.
"Why would they need another Slayer?" Willow asked.
"I'm here instead of on a Hellmouth," Buffy said.
"But you're fighting evil," Dawn said.
"I got to help Faith," Buffy said plopping down onto the couch.
"Un excuse me. We're gonna help the girl who stole your body, almost killed your husband to be, almost killed us and including me personally, worked next to the evil while working beside us, tortured Wes, killed a human, tried to make Angelus make an appearance, and all that other evil stuff?" Xander asked.
"Yes!" Dawn, Buffy, and Willow answered.
"Alrighty then," Xander said.
"She did all of that to you?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, but she's changed," Buffy said.
Giles and Wesley each raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't watchers supposed to trust the slayer's opinions?" Buffy asked.
Their expressions didn't change.
"There was just something in the way she said it......Just trust me on this one. She turned herself in right? She's changed guys and we need to help her," Buffy said.
"So who's going on this rouge slayer mission?" Xander asked clapping his hands together.
"Me!" Dawn said.
"No," Buffy said.
"Come on Buffy. I haven't seen Faith in forever," Dawn said.
"And there's a reason for that," Willow said.
"Weren't you guys the ones who were just saying she's changed?" Draco asked.
"Faith is different. She may have changed, but she still has that rated R thinking," Buffy said.
"To sum it up. You think Buffy cusses bad. Imaging her 100 times worse," Willow said and everyone (Who didn't know Faith) looked at her skeptically. "No joke." Ron let out a low whistle. "Yep."
This is going to be great. Meeting up to save the other slayer who tried to kill you and
your family and your friends. Hello?!?!?
Can't shout, can't cry, the gentleman are coming by..... Where did that come from??? Uh SHOOT ME!!!
"Buff?" Xander asked and Buffy came out of her thoughts.
"Sorry," Buffy said. "What were you saying?"
"Me, Wills, and you are gonna go to get Faith. That okay?" Xander asked.
"Yeah. Sure," Buffy said.
"Let's go sleep then we'll talk later," Giles said.
So that's everything, huh? No weapons....No friends....No hope. Take all of that away.....what's left? Uh! God help me!!!!
Random thoughts were popping into Buffy's head the next morning during her classes. Her classes were doing work from the book so Buffy was sitting at her desk.
Love isn't brains children. It's blood....Blood screaming inside you till you work it's will.
Buffy groaned out loud and everyone looked up.
"You okay?" Hermione asked.
"I'll be fine," Buffy smiled half heartedly.
The bell rang signaling lunch. Draco, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stayed after.
"You guys can go eat in the Great Hall. I need to talk to Giles today," Buffy said and the kids nodded walking out.
"What do you mean random memories?" Giles asked as Buffy paced.
"Exactly that. Little tidbits of words that people have said to me," Buffy said.
"Any connection?" Giles asked.
"Yeah. They're all Annoying. Giles. Any ideas?" Buffy asked.
"Probably just random thoughts," Giles said.
"These are not random Giles. I'm thinking of one thing then POP here's another," Buffy said.
"I'll look into it. Now go finish your classes so you can get ready to leave," Giles said.
Buffy sighed then walked out. Probably some cryptic warning from the PTB.
"Alright I go in and you two watch for guards. We'll exit through that door and be ready to peel out," Buffy said. "Got it?"
"Yep," Willow and Xander said.
"I hope we're not to late," Buffy said.
"Better hurry before the council comes Buff. Good luck," Xander said and Buffy pocketed two tranq guns before going into the building.
They were parked a good distance away, but close enough for the slayers to get in quickly. A cell phone rang and Willow answered it.
"Hey Giles. She's in there now," Willow said.
Before Willow could say another word the windows to the car blew out as the prison exploded in a ball of flames.
"BUFFY!!!!!!" Xander and Willow screamed as they made their way out of the demolished car.
They got the first sight of the building. There wasn't one part that wasn't on fire. Xander started to run in, but Willow stopped him.
"Xander no!" Willow looked Xander in the eye and handed him the phone. "Tell Giles to send help."
"Willow I'm not going to stand around here knowing that they could be trapped and dying. Stay out here and I'll be out soon enough," Xander said then ran inside.
He saw someone walk through the flames carrying another.
"Buffy!" Xander yelled.
"Xan-" Buffy said then she collapsed.
A beam fell from a top landing on the two slayers, hitting them in their back and setting them aflame. Xander knocked out the fire and pulled them out. He started to Pick up Buffy.
"Xan. Get Faith out first," Buffy whispered then was out again.
Xander nodded and Picked up Faith running her out and setting her a safe distance. He ran
back in and saw more flames where Buffy was. He picked her up then a board flew in front of him blocking his path with flames. He protected Buffy's small body in his arms then ran through the flames out of the building. Willow ran up to him putting the small flames on him out after he set Buffy next to Faith. Xander walked over to a car and busted a window in. He hopped in and hotwired the car.
"Come on Willow. We'll take them to the Hyperion. It's only a few minutes from here," Xander said taking Buffy in his arms.
"Jeeze! We've been gone one day and look what happens," Cordelia said when Xander ran in black ash on his face.
"Xander?" Angel asked coming out of his office.
"We need help. Faith and Buffy. They're hurt," Xander said then ran out again, Angel following.
Connor came down the stairs as Xander, carrying Faith, and Angel, carrying Buffy, came in.
"Oh my god," Connor said seeing their burnt forms. He went over to Willow who was sitting in a chair. "What happened?"
"The Council wasn't taking any chances that Faith survived. So they killed everyone in the
prison," Willow said.
"They what?!" Wesley cried.
A murmur came from the couch that Buffy was lying on. Everyone looked over at her.
"Thanks for getting me out B," Faith said.
"No Prob. Almost got us both killed, but we're alive....I think," Buffy said her nose
wrinkling. "Do you know if we're dead or alive?"
"Beats me. No Cryptic Faith here. It's just plain old me," Faith said.
"God help us all," Buffy said rolling her eyes.
Faith laughed.
"If I get any more scars from this fiasco, I'm kicking your ass from here to Carolina,
Faith," Buffy said.
"Like you could B."
"Wanna bet on that? Wait. Let's just wait till you come into my class. Then we'll fight in
front of everyone. Deal?"
"You want to lose in front of your students? Fine with me."
"In cast your memory has forgotten something F, but I kicked your ass the last time we
fought."
"Any ideas on how to get out B?"
"Why do you ask me Faith?" Buffy asked.
"You're the teacher."
"Of Defense Against the Dark Arts. Not 'Get out of your dreams 101'," Buffy said rolling
her eyes.
"Great so were stuck in a coma together. I hate these things," Faith said sitting on the
ground.
"Sooo.........This sucks," Buffy said.
"I WANT OUT!!!!!!!" both yelled then looked at each other then laughed a long laugh.
"What exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked from the end of the table that the whole group was sitting he had arrived 3 minutes after the group came into the hotel. "We need to know what to treat them with."
"Buffy went in and we were waiting when the building blew up a few minutes later from a
powerful bomb," Willow said.
"I went in and saw Buffy carrying Faith down the hallway which was flaming. Then Buffy
collapsed so I ran over there and was about to pick her up, and get her out when she came to and told me to get Faith out first. Knowing how pissed she can get I took Faith out first. While they were down though a beam fell onto their backs setting their clothes aflame. Probably serious back damage. So I got Faith out then when I picked up Buffy another beam came down. I shielded her the best I could ran threw the flames and then we came here," Xander said.
"We should get Buffy and Faith to Hogwarts to be Treated," Dumbledore said standing.
"Now can we call the council and yell at them?" Dawn asked Giles and Wesley.
The group was in the Scooby common room.
"Dawn-" Wesley said.
"We have the right to. Cos if my sister dies they are going to wish that they were in that Building cos I will kick their asses from here to Carolina for all I care. Plus an extra ass whooping for Faith and all that other shit they did to us in the past," Dawn said.
"Go Dawnie," Willow said then got a look from Wes. "Don't give me that look Wes. Dawn go call the Council if you want." Wesley was about to say something, but Willow pointed to her face. "Resolve face."
Wesley sat back down.10 minutes later Dawn came out with a smile on her face.
"What did they say?" Xander asked.
"They directed me to the head of the watcher's council," Dawn smirked.
"And......." Cordy said.
"Let's say that they won't be messing with us for awhile," Dawn said.
A clap filled the air. Everyone turned to Giles.
"It's about time someone told them off," Giles said.
"Agreed," Willow and Xander said.
The portrait door flew open and Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Draco ran in.
"What happened?!" They asked as one.
"Buffy and Faith got hurt pretty bad," Dawn said.
Draco walked over to Dawn and they sat together. He was hugging her and she was clinging on to him.
"Will they be okay?" Harry asked.
"We don't know. For all we can guess they might even be paralyzed," Dumbledore said walking in.
"What?!" Dawn asked her eyes widening in fear.
"It seems that beam that hit them in the back broke a few vertebrae," Dumbledore said.
"When will we know if...." Harry asked.
"As soon as they awaken," Dumbledore said.
"Which will be?" Ron asked making a motion with his hands to get on with it.
"No one knows," Dumbledore answered.
"Well this is bloody brilliant," Ron said throwing his hands up in the air.
"Ron!" Harry and Hermione said.
"Well the git is right," Draco said.
"Seconded," Dawn said.
"We all agree," Xander said.
"So who's down there now?" Harry asked.
"Angel," Cordy said.
"Come on Drake. I wanna see my sister," Dawn said pulling her boyfriend out of the door with her.
"What is it with the Summers women and bad boys?" Xander asked.
Everyone looked at him.
"It's true. Until the bad boys get all good again after they-" Xander said. "And this is me shutting up."
Willow chucked a pillow hitting Xander in the head.
"I've been wanting to do that for years. Thanks Will," Cordy said.
Willow nodded then another pillow flew hitting Cordy and Willow.
"This would be our que to duck," Wesley said as he, Harry, Dumbledore, Hermione, and Giles ducked.
"Why?" Ron asked as he was beamed in the head with a pillow as a pillow fight started
between those three knocking him clearly off his chair. "Note taken."
Later the three returned to their classes at the order of Dumbledore.
Dawn clung onto Draco's hand as the entered the hospital wing where Angel was sitting
between Faith and Buffy's beds holding his soon-to-be wife's hand.
"How you doing mate?" Draco asked Angel.
"As expected," Angel said.
Dawn sat on the other side of Buffy's bed. "You know I wouldn't have been shocked if it was just Faith in a coma cos that's her thing, but Buffy isn't the coma type."
"What is she?" Draco asked puzzled.
"The dying type," Angel and Dawn answered.
"That's what's got you all worried, huh?" Draco asked. "Cos she's already died twice and...."
"Almost three during that night when Spike went nuts," Angel said. "She would have if I hadn't bonded her that night."
"Faith," Buffy said the same time Faith said, "Buffy."
Both looked at each other then grabbed their stomachs in pain.
"Buffy? What's going on?" Faith asked.
"We're dying Faith," Buffy said painfully. "Our time is up."
Faith lifted her head to look Buffy in the eyes.
"So this is what death feels like. I thought it would be more...."
"Surprising? Painless? Quick? It never is," Buffy sighed.
"B. I can't really feel anything."
Buffy fell to her knees and looked up at the sky. "It's almost over."
Faith then fell next to Buffy. "It's the end B."
"Night F," Buffy said holding her hand out.
"Night B," Faith said grabbing Buffy's hand.
Angel stood up shocked.
"Angel. What's going on?" Dawn asked seeing her sister's face turn into pain.
Angel looked between the two slayers. "Their hearts are slowing."
"No!" Dawn cried out falling to her knees and looking at her sister's face that was still in pain then whispering," Please Buffy stay."
Draco was looking at the other slayer, Faith. Her face didn't look to happy either. Then there was no expression. Draco put a hand on her chest to feel any heart beats. Then he checked for a pulse. He caught a look with Dawn.
"No. Faith," Dawn whispered and sat on the ground.
Angel felt Buffy's heart slowing even more till there were no beats anymore. Dawn started
crying and Draco sat on the ground next to Dawn holding her as she cried. Angel looked at his soul mate and cried silently.
Giles and Wesley looked up at each other. Then they both took off running towards the hospital wing. Everyone in the room looked at each other.
"They're watchers.......Buffy! Faith!" Willow yelled then took off running a group following.
Willow halted in the doorway next to the two watchers. She saw Dawn crying and Angel sitting there in disbelief, his tears already shed. Draco looked up and nodded.
"Oh my god," Willow whispered.
Dumbledore entered the Potions Classroom where Hermione, Ron, and Harry were in during that time.
"Dumbledore," Snape said.
"I need to borrow a few students," Dumbledore said.
Snape nodded, happy to get rid of the three. They looked up and saw Dumbledore's face.
Their eyes widened and they took off leaving their things. Snape looked at Dumbledore his face in question and Dumbledore nodded.
"Thank you," Dumbledore said then shut the doors behind him.
"Professor Snape?" A student asked. "What was that about?"
"Professor Summers. Buffy. She's dead," Snape said sitting.
"What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!" The class cried out loud.
