Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns all of these characters. I'm not Joss Whedon.

X X X X X

Tara said, "Mr. Giles, Xander, give me your hands. Dawnie, don't touch us."

Mr. Giles took her left hand, Xander her right.

She began chanting in Latin. Mr. Giles, once he realized what she was doing, added his voice to her own. He wasn't a witch, but every voice helped. Tara could only hope that Xander wouldn't join in -- now was not the time for a humorous mispronunciation.

Fortunately, Xander didn't try.

What Tara was doing was dangerous -- to her, and somewhat less so to Mr. Giles and Xander. But it was the only way she could think of to help keep Buffy alive. I know they'd be willing to do this if I took the time to explain. But I don't have that. And while Dawnie would volunteer too I don't want to drag her into it. Buffy and Willow would never forgive me if I did.

The heart-rate monitor resumed beeping -- Buffy's heart rate was now as strong as it could be under the circumstances. But they weren't done yet; if they stopped chanting, Buffy's heart would stop. Tara needed to keep this going until she was out of danger.

They kept chanting.

X X X X X

Angel said, "If I concentrate I seem to be able to turn this power of location on and off."

"Yes," Anya said. "I did it that way on purpose. No need seeing where he is once he's been brutally disembowelled. He'll kind of be stuck in the same location for the rest of eternity. Or many different locations, depending on the scavenger activity."

"Anyway," Angel said, "I'm thinking maybe only one of us needs to actually be paying attention."

"I'll do it," Cordelia said.

"Good. So, we're coming up on an intersection. Which way do we go?"

"Straight ahead."

"You're not completely human," Anya told Cordelia.

"Neither are you."

"I was just curious. Xander always described you as the only normal person he'd ever dated."

"Xander described me as normal?" Cordelia asked.

"Well, he did say it was a relative term."

"Now that's the Xander I know," Cordelia said.

"Another intersection coming up," Angel said.

Concentrating, Cordelia said, "Right. And he's moving."

"In what direction?"

"Roughly northwest."

"So," Anya asked, "What happened to make you not completely human?"

"Is this really the time for casual conversation?" Angel asked.

"I'm not asking casually," Anya said. "I loved Willow and I love Buffy and I have a hard time grasping what this death thing is and what it means to be mortal. So right now to avoid having a nervous breakdown I'm asking questions. Lots of questions. Because if I ask questions then for just a second I stop thinking that I'll never be able to talk to Willow again or watch her research or hear her babble in that annoying way that seems to charm everyone else. If I ask questions then maybe Buffy will be okay and making wisecracks about killing vampires again. Do you understand me?"

"Actually, amazingly, yes," Cordelia said. "I get visions from a group of beings called The Powers That Be. A while back it was discovered that the visions were slowly killing me . . . "

X X X X X

Warren was royally pissed at Rack, but there wasn't much he could do. The warlock could have caused him major damage if he'd been so inclined; instead, he was content to clear out of the neighborhood.

But just because his best chance for magical help had turned coward didn't mean he was completely screwed. He considered contacting that Amy Madison woman who'd "treated" Willow to some kind of magical effect back in January, but wasn't entirely sure where her loyalties lay. The Magic Box was probably unguarded, but the two magic experts of the bunch were currently locked in jail. Warren was sure the place had items of great power, but didn't want to risk mistaking a hand of glory for a mummy hand.

Maybe he didn't have as many options as he thought. Right now, what he had was a pistol and once lip of ammunition.

He wandered by the last lair the Trio had had before that damn Slayer had stolen his superpowers and thwarted his armored car robbery, but the police had apparently already been by; the place was covered in crime scene tape.

He ignored it and went inside, but everything obvious of value had already been taken. Had they found the secret panel?

No.

Unfortunately, the only thing left behind the secret panel was a robot Warren had had made of himself. It wasn't programmed for combat -- he'd wanted it to be realistic, but he might be able to get some use out of it. And he found another clip of ammunition for his pistol.

So he'd be leading from the rear while his robot led from the front. He could deal with that.

One more go-over of the place netted him nothing useful.

He ordered the robot to follow him and he headed back for the demon bar.

His army was waiting.

X X X X X

Fifteen minutes later they were still chanting.

Dawn had come up and tried to grab Xander's hand, but at a headshake from Tara he shook it free. Giles did the same. I'm so sorry, sweetie. I know you want to help. But I can't let you.

Inside the surgery room, the doctors were trying to remove the bullet from Buffy's chest.

And, Goddess, I'm running out of energy. I was never as powerful as Willow was. Please, Goddess, give me the ability to do this. Let me save Buffy where I couldn't save Willow.

Where Tara got the strength, she didn't know. But it came from somewhere.

Then she saw them take the bullet out and gestured for Xander to let her hand go.

He did so and staggered backwards.

Buffy's heart rate remained strong.

She gestured for Mr. Giles to do the same thing. He stopped chanting and released her hand.

Closing her eyes, Tara uttered one more silent prayer.

Then she stopped chanting.

Buffy's heart continued to beat.

Tara had done it.

Thank you, Goddess.

"That was a terrible risk you took, Tara," Mr. Giles said.

"I had, had to take it," she said. "And, and I'm sorry I dragged you into it." Her voice was hoarse.

"Don't concern yourself there," Mr. Giles said.

Xander asked, "What risk?"

Mr. Giles said, "The spell Tara cast and we helped in preserved Buffy's life -- but at a cost to our own. We essentially lent Buffy some of our life essence to assure her survival."

"Mostly mine," Tara said.

"She's alive," Xander said. "That's the important thing. But -- in practical terms --"

"It means I borrowed from our lifespans," Tara said. "We, we will now all die a bit sooner than we would have otherwise. A few weeks, maybe a month."

After a second he said, "It was worth it."

Mr. Giles added, "Yes. Now, with any luck, her Slayer healing factor should kick in. Let us just pray there are no emergencies until it does . . ."