"Buffy," Joyce smiled weakly as she opened her eyes to see her daughter.
"Hey mom," Buffy forced a smile. "The doctors are almost ready for the operation and then you'll be as good as new."
"Listen honey, if I don't make it."
"No, don't even think that. You're going to get better." Buffy assured her.
"Just take care of Rupert and Faith. You always were the strong one." Joyce sighed as she tried to sit up.
"Joyce you know the doctors told you to take it easy." Giles came in and kissed her. "The nurse is coming in so I'm going to take Buffy to the waiting room, but we'll be here when you wake up."
As they walked past the nurse to the waiting room Giles grabbed Buffy's arm. "As your former watcher I feel I must tell you something."
"Giles, what's wrong? You have apocalypse face." Buffy gasped.
"Spike went back to New York."
"I know. He and Angel are working on a situation out there, but they've got everything under control."
"He's not planning on surviving this apocalypse."
"No, Spike loves me. He would never."
"He had the 'I'm going to do something heroic and stupid' look." Giles warned her.
"Oh god, but mom, I have to wait till she's out of surgery."
"It'll be alright." Giles assured her. "But you must get back to New York. Take Faith with you. I feel this will take as much slayer power as you can muster."
"Thank you Giles and mom."
"I'll call as soon as she's out of surgery."
"So what's the deal B?" Faith asked on the plane ride to JFK.
"I have to go kill a Hell-God and kick my fiancée's butt." Buffy steamed.
