The Quickening

Notes: Okay, so I'm done traveling for the summer as far as I know. I'm going to be wrapping this story up and then I'll start posting the season 7 story I've been working on. Thanks for the reviews and keep them coming. The next chapter may be the last. I'm not sure.

Previously:

"Speaking of Buffy," Wes said. "What're we going to do with the information Willy gave us?"

"Tell her," Faith replied. "What she decides to do with it is her choice."

Chapter Seventy-Two:

Faith hesitated in the doorway leading to Angel's bedroom. A small candle was lit next to his bed and Faith could see his pale face contorted in pain. Buffy sat beside him, holding his hand, and whispering something that Faith could not hear. Shadows played on the walls, dancing, and twisting as the candle flame flickered. "How's he doing?" Faith finally asked. Buffy jumped, startled, and turned.

"Not much better," she replied. "Giles went to the library to see how Will's analysis of the sample was coming."

"Any word?" Faith asked.

"No," Buffy replied despondently. "I don't think he has much time left either."

"Buffy," Faith said, pausing. Buffy looked at her expectantly. Faith suddenly wondered if telling Buffy was the wisest choice.

"Faith, if you know something…" Buffy said, rising to her feet and approaching her sister slayer.

"You're not going to like what I know," Faith finally replied.

"What is it? Is there no cure?" Buffy asked, anticipating the worst.

"There is a cure," Faith said.

"Well? Spill, Faith," Buffy said impatiently. "Angel doesn't have a lot of time left."

"It's your blood," Faith finally said.

"What?" Buffy asked in surprise.

"The cure is the blood of a slayer," Faith clarified. "It's the only way to save him."

"Oh," Buffy said, moving over to the nearest chair and lowering herself into it. "Not really what I was expecting."

"I know," Faith replied, sitting across from her.

"So how…how does this work?" Buffy asked, looking up at Faith.

"I don't really know, B," Faith said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Do you know how much blood?" Buffy asked.

"More than most people would be willing to give," Faith answered evasively. "I know what you're thinking, B, and I'm not sure it's such a good idea."

"Why not?" Buffy asked defensively. "I can't just let him die."

"And I can't just let you kill yourself on the eve of a very important battle," Faith shot back. "We need you to defeat the Mayor."

"We may need Angel, too," Buffy replied.

"How do we know he'll be able to stop once he gets going?" Faith asked.

"If it was Xander, what would you do?" Buffy shot back.

"Okay," Faith acknowledged. "But I want to be in the room. If he tries anything…"

"Do what you have to," Buffy finished. "Let's get this over with."

The two slayers rose to their feet and with shaking steps, walked into Angel's bedroom. The vampire turned to look at them. Seeing the anxious expressions on their faces, he lifted himself up on his elbows with great difficulty. "What's wrong?" He asked, his voice cracking slightly.

"We found a cure," Faith said.

"But it's a bit more complicated than we thought," Buffy continued.

"What is it?" Angel asked suspiciously.

"You need to drink my blood," Buffy said gravely. Silence blanketed the room and Angel shook his head.

"No, no way. I'm not going to do that," he refused.

"You don't have a choice, Angel," Buffy pleaded.

"Yeah, I do. I just made it. I would rather die than do that to you," Angel stated.

"No, you don't get it," Buffy said, her voice full of resolve and determination. "You don't have a choice. Either way, you're doing this. Even if I have to slit my veins open and pour the blood down your throat myself, you're going to drink."

"I wouldn't try to argue with her, big guy. You know how she gets," Faith added.

"It's gonna be alright," Buffy reassured him. "Faith is going to stay to make sure things don't get out of hand. As soon as you're done, she'll take me to the hospital."

"Just for the record, I'm totally against this," Angel stated for the last time. "But I really don't think I'm going to win this argument."

"No, you're not," Buffy said, smiling. "You ready?" She asked. Angel nodded. Leaning down, Buffy tilted her head so that her neck was exposed to the wounded vampire. Angel could hear the blood rushing through her veins as her heart beat in her chest. He had spent so many years learning how to control his blood lust that he found every fiber of his being fighting against the urge to lean forward and claim her as his own. "You have to do this," Buffy urged. Angel closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Slowly, his face morphed into its demon visage. Opening his eyes, Angel leaned forward and gently kissed the side of her neck. Then he bit down into her flesh, suppressing a moan as her blood poured into his mouth.

Faith watched as Angel fed on Buffy. She could sense her sister slayer was weakening as the blood flowed from her body into Angel's mouth. With each passing second, Angel grew stronger. Finally, he ripped his mouth from her neck and scrambled away from her. Buffy fell forward, barely catching herself on the bed. Faith rushed to her side as Buffy clamped her hand on the wound on her neck to stop the bleeding. "How ya feeling there, B?" Faith asked, helping Buffy to her feet.

"Been better," Buffy mumbled.

"You?" Faith asked, nodding over at Angel. The vampire nodded and waved Faith away.

"Just get her to a hospital. I'll be fine," he said. "I'll meet you there."

Faith nodded, knowing that Angel needed to cool off after having tasted human blood for the first time in many years. She could see the demon in him fighting to break free and feed again. "Come on, B," Faith said, leading the blonde through the mansion. Buffy had lost a lot of blood, but she would recover.

"Is Angel okay?" Buffy asked as Faith led her through the streets of Sunnydale.

Nodding, Faith smiled down at Buffy. "He'll be alright."

"Good. Because we've got bigger things to worry about," Buffy said. "I'm graduating tomorrow."

"Yeah," Faith said.

"I mean, I'm actually graduating from high school. What the hell am I going to do with myself?" Buffy asked, panic evident in her voice. Faith laughed.

"I think you'll figure it out," she replied. "I'd be more worried about the big ass demon that's planning on attacking sometime between the diplomas and the key note speaker."

"Oh yeah," Buffy said sheepishly. "Forgot about that for a second."

Shaking her head, Faith replied, "Yeah, you're definitely suffering from blood loss."

…………………….

Wesley paced back and forth in the hospital corridor. He did not particularly like hospitals – the sterile smell and crisp, white walls left him with a cold feeling. Angel had arrived shortly after Faith checked Buffy into the hospital. The vampire had called Wesley, who had been waiting per Faith's instructions at his apartment for news. He, in turn, had called Giles. The other Watcher sounded less than enthused to learn that his slayer was in the hospital. Though Wesley knew that Giles was worried, he did not want to explain to the older man what had happened over the phone. The doors at the end of the hallway burst open and the rest of the Scooby Gang rushed towards him.

"What happened?" Giles demanded.

"Perhaps you would like to sit," Wesley said, pointing towards the plastic chairs in the waiting room next to him.

"I'd rather not," Giles ground out. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll tell me what the bloody hell is going on right now."

"Buffy cured Angel," Wesley said simply. "She's receiving several transfusions as we speak."

"What do you mean she cured Angel?" Willow asked, paling considerably.

"How did she find out about the cure?" Xander wondered aloud.

"Wait," Wesley said, catching the boy's words. "You all knew about it?"

"Yes," Giles admitted. "And we didn't tell her because we knew that she would do something rash. Like allowing Angel to feed off of her, which, apparently, she did," Giles replied angrily.

"She's gonna be pissed when she finds that out," Faith said, stepping into the hallway through the emergency room doors.

"Which is why you're not going to tell her," Giles said.

Faith smirked. "She's going to be alright, in case you were wondering," she said pointedly.

"Of course I was wondering," Giles argued back.

"Guys?" Cordelia cut in, "Now that this catastrophe is over, can we head home to get some sleep? We've got a big day tomorrow."

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "I've got to get my beauty sleep," he joked.

"I'll walk them home," Faith volunteered. "I think Buffy would be glad to see you," she said as she walked past Giles.

Faith walked the Scooby Gang home, heading to Xander's apartment last. "Wanna come in?" Xander asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Faith laughed, but agreed.

Xander closed the door behind them and flipped on the lights. Faith slid her jacket off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor. Turning, she wrapped her arms around Xander's neck, pressing her body against his. "You know, the world could end tomorrow," she whispered in his ear, her husky voice and the feel of her warm breath against his skin caused shivers to run up and down his spine.

"Yeah," Xander replied, closing his eyes and Faith's tongue darted out of her mouth and flicked his ear.

"So I can only think of one way I'd want to spend my last night on earth," she said.

"Me too," Xander said, claiming her mouth with his own. His legs turned to jelly when he heard Faith moan as their tongues met in a playful caress. Leading her towards the bedroom, Xander lifted his shirt off. The back of Faith's legs hit the bed and she found herself flat on her back. Xander moved over her, his eyes shining in the dark. "I love you, Faith," he said softly. Faith felt tears sting her eyes and she smiled.

"I love you too."