A/N: Thanks guys, I am pathetically addicted to reviews and ya'll are nice enough to give me my fix…tears up bless you: S.. (thanks for the reassurance, I needed it), General Mac , Spygrrl (I've never been hated before…grins Thank you! I make no promises about the removal of Angel's head from said orifice…but knowing me…well…), Nina (your enthusiasm is wonderful and "genius" Wow! Thanks), C'est Magnifique (wait for it, wait for it…), CF (I love that I'm able to do that…thanks).

A/N 2: And on a much more depressing side note, my Uncle is in the hospital and we don't know how much longer he has. That said, I don't know if I'm going to make next week's update, I'm going to have to play it by ear. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Chapter 6

Wesley grasped her hand tighter as Gunn pressed the handkerchief to Buffy's wound. It was impossible to keep the worry from his face as he looked down at her. She had lost too much blood, it stood out stark against the white of her tank top. He could barely tell that the shirt she wore used to be white. He couldn't believe she had stepped in front of that bullet like that for him, especially seeing as how he treated her in Sunnydale. He owed her his life.

Seeing the tender way Gunn was holding her he couldn't help but ask, "How did you know her?"

Gunn didn't look up from her face, "Known her a while man. She saved my life and kicked my ass on several occasions. She saved Anne, me, my crew. We owe her. Just ask George." Wesley looked over at the other man standing by who nodded.

He looked back, surprised at the words that were an echo of his thoughts, "When? She never left Sunnydale. How could you-"

"It was years ago man. Almost four."

Wesley looked closely at his friend, "You love, her don't you?"

Gunn looked up at that, "Like a sister, nothing else. She may have been able to protect herself, but she knew almost nothin' about the street. Me an' my crew took her in, got her on her feet. She and Alanna became great friends." His eyes closed in pain, "I don't know if I can lose another sister. It was bad enough the first time."

A small pale bloodied hand crept up to touch his cheek, bringing both men's attention back to the small woman, "I'm gonna be fine," she whispered. "You'll see."

Gunn gave a tiny grin at that, "Damn straight little girl."

"You better watch who you call little." Her gaze drifted over to Wesley, "How you been Wes?"

"I've been better, Buffy. Though I have to admit," he said wryly, "I never expected to meet you again in this situation."

"Oh," she sighed, "Well that makes two of us."

Their attention was diverted when Rondell ran back, "Ambulance ain't gonna come down here."

George glared at him and hissed, "Shut up before they hear you."

George looked over to Gunn who gestured for them to go back. They both hurried back through the fence as Wesley took off his coat to cover her.

"I don't think I'm doin' too good," she whispered, a scared look crossing her face.

"Hey, you're gonna be fine, alright? Getting shot like this," Gunn said as he picked her up again, "Yeah, I've seen a lot of people been shot worse than this never even slowed them down."

"It's here!" Rondell shouted.

"Come on, hurry, move!"

xoxox

George and Rondell watched the streets nervously while the paramedics loaded Buffy into the ambulance. Once she was in Gunn turned to them and said, "Meet me back at the shelter, all right? Watch your backs!"

They both turned to leave and Gunn and Wesley turned to get into the van. The paramedic moved to close the back doors when Gunn stopped him, "Hey, hey! We're with her."

The paramedic nodded and allowed them to climb inside.

"It's alright, Buffy, hang on," said Gunn while the paramedic worked on examining the wound. "We're almost there, okay?"

"Call Willow," she whispered.

"We will Buffy," Wesley said, taking her hand. "Don't you worry about it. You just hang in there."

As the ambulance neared the end of the alley two cop cars with flashing lights moved to block its exit and they slowed to a stop. "Something is going on up here," the driver called back. "I'll go see what it is."

Gunn and Wesley exchanged glances and Gunn up to look out through the front windshield to see the driver talking to the cops.

"Hey you guys," the driver shouted. "You got to let us through. We got…"

Gunn's eyes widened in shock, "No! Don't!"

"...a wounded woman in the back. We got to get her..."

Gunn darted out the back and into the driver's seat as the cops opened fire on the driver, riddling him with bullets. "Hang on!" he shouted to the others.

"Is it the Police?" Wesley yelled back.

"Yeah."

Gunn backed up the ambulance, but before he could turn around his way was blocked by another cop car. He turned the ambulance and rammed it through the fence they slipped through earlier. Three cops ran after them, firing their guns at the back of the ambulance. Gunn made it out of the alley and started to speed down the road.

xoxox

The ambulance came to a screeching halt outside the shelter. Gunn jumped out, ran around the van, and threw open the doors so they could unload Buffy. Wesley pushed the paramedic out of the way and began to un-strap Buffy. The paramedic looked on "We're stopping? What are you doing?"

"Trying to survive," Gunn spat out. "Help me get her inside. Come on, Wes."

Wesley passed Buffy to Gunn, and grabbed the IV bag off the hook before following.

They all moved to the entrance of the shelter, Buffy cradled in Gunn's arms, "Hold on, girl. I got you."

xoxox

Anne's attention was pulled away from two teens arguing about who had the right to which room by someone frantically pounding on the front doors. She brushed the kids aside and ran over. Something was wrong, she knew it. She threw back the locks in time to hear Gunn shouting.

"Annie! Open up. It's G. Open up! Hurry!"

She pushed the door open to take in the scene before her. There was Buffy, cradled in Gunn's arms, blood dripping down her limp and dangling arm. This wasn't supposed to be happening. No one was supposed to be hurt, "Oh my God! Buffy! What happened?" She took the few steps to get to the fallen girl's side and grabbed her hand.

"They shot her," Wesley said.

"What? Who did?" she asked, her eyes focused on Buffy.

Gunn just shook his head, "The cops. They're not human."

Anne stared for a second, "Buffy, is she going to be ok?"

"Anne!" Gunn shouted. "We need to get her inside. She has to be stabilized, and we can't do that out here. Anne, look at me."

She dragged her gaze away from her friend to look in his scared eyes. She slowly nodded her head in a daze and moved to the side.

Gunn wasted no time and moved her inside as quick as possible. Anne stood for a moment, staring at the ground in shock. Why did these things always seem to happen to them? She remembered blaming Buffy the last time, but now? There wasn't really anyone to blame.

She glanced out into the darkness once more, then closed the door. The situation just got worse.

xoxox

The paramedic took Buffy's blood pressure while she clung to one of Gunn's hands. "He had no right."

"I know, shh."

There was a commotion coming from the other side of some of the teens who were watching what was happening. They were seeing the death of a hero. The woman who was seen as unbreakable was hanging on by a thread.

Cordelia's voice grew louder as she neared the teens that surrounded Buffy. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the Slayer covered in blood. She rushed over to the sofa Buffy is laying on. "Buffy, oh God!" She turned to Wesley who was standing to the side. "Wes, what happened?"

He was in shock, "She stepped in front of me. She saved me."

She looked over at the paramedic, "What can I do?"

He handed her a pad, "Apply pressure to the wound."

"Okay. I got it," she said, kneeling at Buffy's side. "Hang in there Buffy. It's okay."

"Angel," she breathed.

Cordelia looked over at Wesley who was watching the entire scene. They were both thinking the same thing. What would his reaction be if she didn't make it?

"What were you thinking," Cordelia asked her, a tiny smile on her face that took the bite out of her words. "You come back to town and get mortally wounded. What's up with that?"

"You're in good hands," Gunn said to Buffy. "I have to go get them ready." She gave him a weak smile and he leaned down and kissed her forehead. He released her hand and stood to look out the window.

Anne moved over to him, "How's she doin?"

Gunn just shook his head, "Are we safe here?"

"Safer than out there," he said. "But we need to lock all the doors, alright? And keep everyone away from the windows!"

Anne nodded and raised her voice, "You heard him! Lets go! Come on!"

xoxox

The paramedic looked at Cordelia who was still holding the wound shut, "She's going south."

"No. Come on," she looked over her shoulder, "Wesley, Gunn!"

Wesley, Anne, and Gunn ran over at the shouting. "What?" Gunn asked.

"I think there's internal bleeding," the paramedic looked worried. "But we can't help her here. We've got to get her to St. John's, fast."

Gunn looked between Cordelia and Anne, "Look we can't go back out there, all right?"

Wesley nodded, "You saw what they did to her."

"She's going to die," Anne said.

Cordelia looked hard at them both. "We're taking her to a hospital, now. I don't care who's out there!"

Gunn looked at the paramedic, trying to see how bad it was. He glanced up and shook his head. "Alright. Get the door."

Cordelia quickly moved away to get to the door while Gunn picked Buffy up, "Come on."

"Where we goin'?" she asked weakly.

"To the hospital."

"'bout damn time."

Just as he lifted her up Cordelia came back, a scared look on her face, "They're here."

Tbc…