The Archer

Cordelia drove the SUV into the hospital parking lot as fast as she could, though she truly didn't care about the jock. She was completely freaked out by what had happened and she wanted answers, though she doubted very much that those doctors knew anything. She parked the car and got out as the orderlies came towards her.

"What's wrong, why are you driving so fast," asked one of them.

"There's this guy in the car," said Cordelia, "He needs help."

Xander ran into the lobby as he heard a familiar scream. It sounded like Cordelia. As he got closer, he heard her scream another time. That was Cordy.

"Xander," called out Cordelia as she saw him coming forward.

"Cordelia," asked Xander, "What are you doing here?"

"I punched some jock and he ended up flying out the car," said Cordelia.

"…I think we may have a problem here."

Giles cleaned his glasses so much that they were probably lacking in several layers of glass. Faith's injuries were not the worst, but the blood loss was. She had died for a brief moment, so the Slayer spirit was obviously transferred from her to the next potential. Now, Cordelia was coming forward, talking about how she had punched a guy through the door of an SUV. It was never boring on the Hellmouth.

"She died," asked Cordelia.

"Just for a minute," said Giles, "She's stable as of right now."

"What does this mean," asked Cordelia.

"I believe that, from your description of the events…"Giles began, "…You're the new Slayer, Cordelia."

Cordelia looked up at him blankly.

"Are you OK," asked Xander.

"How can I be," asked Cordelia, "I just slammed a guy through a car door and now I'm hearing that I'm the new Slayer! How the Hell can I be OK? Am I going to have to get a Watcher? Am I going to have to go to England or something? What's going to happen to me? What's going to happen to us?"

"Breathe," said Xander.

"Cordelia," said Giles, "I understand how difficult this must be for you, and w-we all sympathize for you, but…you are the new Slayer."

"Cordelia," said Buffy, "Let's walk."

"Hey," said Xander as he sat down beside the now awake Faith.

"Hey," said Faith, "…How do I look?"

"Like a princess," said Xander.

"I don't feel like a princess. I feel like I've been through the ringer."

"…How are you holding up?"

"I'm not sure. I've never been hit by a car before. I'm shocked I got only a broken arm. …They told me I died."

"You did."

"…I can't remember. No tunnel, no white light, just…darkness. It was kind of depressing. So, is there a new…"

"Yeah. We know who it is."

"Who?"

"…Cordelia."

"…Oh."

Cordelia sat in her seat after hearing Buffy's spiel about what a Slayer is, how she works, and what it means to be a Slayer. She also pointed out all her mistakes in slaying and advised her to not make those same mistakes. The two had agreed to train every day after school and patrol together for a while. And once Faith got back on her feet, the three would alternate patrols together towards where one of them would get a night off every now and then. Things would be weird for a while, but…Cordelia accepted that she was a Slayer, and she also accepted that she had to do her part. Before, she'd been outside looking in. Now, she was inside…envying her former self.

A/N: short chapter, I know. Next one won't.