Killed By Death

Droplets of blood splattered onto stone. Drip drop, drip drop. A pool was forming underneath Libby's failing body. Her eyelashes fluttered slowly since her eyes burned from exhaustion. She couldn't see clearly anymore, not in daylight or darkness. Too much has been drained from her body. Not that it mattered to her heartbeat; it raced inside her chest and the cold sweat didn't help relieve her boiling insides. Libby couldn't take in more than quick shallow breaths and it wasn't because of the ropes tightly hanging her from the terrace tree. The human body could only take so much.

Buffy climbed onto a wall encircling the cemetery trying to ignore the sniffing and coughing her body kept forcing her to do. She jumped down and immediately fell. The Slayer hated this. All she wanted was to find a connection to where Angel was keeping her Protector, but night after night there was no trace. Buffy picked herself up and took out her stake. She refused to give up. Nothing would stop her from saving Libby. She walked through the plots and heard footsteps. Buffy readied her weapon only to nearly stab her friends. Xander and Cordelia screamed as they all came out from behind the crypt.

"Non-vampire, plus two," Buffy said.

"Hi," replied Willow.

"Man, Buffy. My whole life just flashed before my eyes. I gotta get me a life."

Ignoring Xander, Buffy asked, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be researching places Angel might be hiding Libby."

"I have been. But every place we've checked has been a dead end. I don't know what else to do but this. You're the one who shouldn't be here. Buffy, you're sick." Willow made excellent points, but emotion has a tendency to trump logic when Buffy put her mind to something.

"No, I feel fine. I mean, the world's spinning a little bit, but I like it. It's kinda like a ride."

"Half the school's out with this flu. It's a serious deal, Buffy. We're all concerned about how gross you look." Cordelia chimed in.

"I'm touched. Really. But I have work to do. I need to find a lead to Libby."

Willow compassionately urged, "Buffy, come on. We're out here so one night's rest is not gonna kill you."

"No, but it might kill Libby."

"You mean Angel might." Buffy turned from Xander and tried to walk away, but he pressed, "Buffy, this is not the time to challenge Angel for the ultimate fighting championship. He's at full strength with all the leverage and you're only half a Slayer."

"Yeah, but I'm still the Slayer. And as long as I am, Angel's not gonna kill anybody else, especially Libby."

Angel strode out from the darkness and taunted, "Ah, come on! Just one more. I mean, Libby tastes so good."

Growling, he pounced on Cordelia and Buffy pulled him off. "Where is she?" Buffy screamed as she tried to stake him in the shoulder. Angel blocked her advance and asked, "Not feeling well, lover?" Buffy punched him and when he went to kick her, the Slayer was able to grab his foot and throw him on his back. "That helped. Now tell me where my Protector is!"

Buffy got too close and he kicked her all the way to the mausoleum where Libby first came to their reality. It gave her new fire, but every time she swung for him she missed and he laughed. Angel grabbed her throat and said, "You know, you being off you're game is kinda taken the fun out of all this." He struck her across the face and Buffy went down. "Nope, still fun." The moment she was on her feet, he hit her over and over until Buffy was pinned to the ground. "Uh-oh. This does not look good for our heroine. How will she ever save her Protector now?"

As he lowered to bite her, Xander threw his jacket over the vampire's face and punched him in the gut. Since that felt so good, he kicked the soulless monster too. Repeatedly. However, when Angel launched back up all three friends held out their crosses.

"Take a walk, overbite," Xander ordered.

Backing away, Angel said, "We'll have to do this again sometime. I'd bring Libby, but she can't exactly stand."

"What've you done to her?" Xander desperately stepped forward.

"I haven't even begun to do her." Angelus' laugh disgusted all of them as he disappeared from sight.

Buffy sniffed the enraged tears down her throat, but the fever was taking over. "I told you guys to leave. I… I… need to find her… She needs me… I…" She collapsed, but it wasn't into darkness.

"Buffy? You're here." Libby shouted from across a line of blood.

They were in an all white room, but in the faded background it looked like her living room. Buffy looked down and saw the line was the mixture of their magical bond sealed in red, but what made her frown with the infinity symbol directly under the hilt. Libby stood on one side of it and Buffy stood on the other.

"Oh my god, Libby! What? Where are we?"

"No idea, but I've been in and out of this place for days."

Buffy darted for her Protector, but she hit an invisible wall at the line of blood. "Are you okay?"

"Not really. Angel is the worst host ever."

"How badly are you hurt?"

Libby paused. "Pretty bad, Buffy."

"Define pretty bad."

The Protector didn't want to make her Slayer feel guilty or scared, but there wasn't much of a choice now. "I think I have sepsis. I've been ripped open so many times it makes sense that my wounds would get infected."

Tears fell from Buffy's eyes and her hands started to shake. "Where are you?"

Libby's head jolted behind her. "Do you hear that?"

"What?"

"He's coming back…" Libby frightfully glanced at Buffy. "I'm waking up."

"What do you mean you're waking up?" Suddenly Libby's form faded. "Libby? Libby!"

"We need help!" Xander yelled as he ran into the hospital with Buffy in his arms.

"Somebody, please. Now!" Willow cried out.

A nurse came up to them and asked, "What happened?"

All three of them shouted an answer, but Xander took charge. "The flu, fainted, and fell. She's sick. Make it better."

"It's gonna be okay. Let's get her up."

Xander placed Buffy on the gurney and the nurses went to work. "The patient's unconscious. Pupils are unequal and unresponsive."

"What does that mean?" Cordy asked.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Willow asked as she held Buffy's hand.

"Please, you gotta give us some room."

The doctor came up and inquired, "What do we have?"

"High-grade fever, possible fractures."

Buffy moved and everyone froze. Her eyes stayed closed but her limbs appeared to be fighting against something invisible. "Libby! LIBBY!" Xander's heart dropped and Willow reached out to her while Cordelia just stared.

"Get her into Trauma One. Give her a CBC, chem seven, type and screen. And have a sedative ready!" She turned to the friends and said, "I'm sorry. You can't go any further."

"Someone should be with her," Xander protested.

"I'm sorry. You can't go any further."

The doors shut and Willow took frantic action. "I'll call Giles, tell him what happened. You call Buffy's mom. Tell her…not what happened. Just get her here."

Willow and Cordy bolted for the phones. Xander stayed and watched the bustling hallway through the window even though Buffy was out of sight. She was unconscious…why, how was she calling to Libby?

"You smell horrible," Angelus said.

Libby stared at him with bloodshot eyes. "How bout a bath, then?"

Angelus chuckled and tore off the ropes. Libby crashed to the floor and didn't have the energy to cry out even though it felt like every bone in her body splintered through her veins.

"So black and blue…and red." Angel licked the bite marks and cringed. "I hate when blood gets infected. It's like moldy bread."

Libby trembled and asked, "Why aren't Spike and Drusilla here?"

"Because I wanted some alone time with you." Angelus caressed her hair and kissed her forehead. "But you're not gonna last much longer."

"So kill me. Get it over with."

"Why would I do that? When I'm still enjoying your company?"

Libby barely registered what happened next. Angel carried her from the abandoned mansion and whispered things like "an animal bit you" and "hit and run." Libby saw flashes of streetlights and cars, sounds of people and nightlife. It wasn't until the hospital that she became alert.

"What happened?" a nurse asked as Libby was placed on a gurney.

"We were supposed to meet by our spot in the park, but she didn't show. On my way to her house I saw her get hit by a car. It drove off before I could get the plates. She was just trying to get to me. As she passed out she said something attacked her on the way to the park. An animal I think?"

"Patient in and out of consciousness. Pupils are unequal but responsive."

"Please help her. I just want her to be okay." Angel sneered as soon as Libby was out of sight.

The nurses and doctor surrounded her as preemptive shots and necessary fluids were quickly administered. Libby's vision was blurred but she could've sworn she saw Giles leaning against a wall.

"On your right!" An orderly yelled and two beds swerved around each other.

Libby turned her head to see Buffy and Buffy turned her head to see Libby. Instantly, neither was out of it anymore. Buffy sprung up and started tearing the tubes from her flesh while Libby grabbed at the polls holding the fluid bags and hit the nurses with it.

"No! Let me go! No! No! Let me go! Stop it!" Buffy screamed as she fought them with all the strength she had.

"Get off me! No! Stop it! No! Please! Let me go! Get off!" Libby wailed. "Buffy!"

Everyone looked down the hall and every pair of eyes widened. For a moment no one remembered how to move…until, "GILES! Xander! Willow! Cordy! Please! Let me go!"

Xander was the first to start running and Giles was close behind. Joyce stayed with Buffy as did Willow, so she could narrate to Buffy what was happening. Buffy gripped onto her best friend with tears in her eyes. She needed Willow to stay with her.

"NO! Get that away from me!" The doctor pulled out a sedative and was about to stick it in her arm when Xander slapped it out of his hand. "Xander!"

"Libby," he sighed a brokenly elated smile at the sight of her. She was so…small. Weak and pale like a fleeting breath, her flesh was battered with indigo and maroon bruises with deep, brutal bites on her neck and wrists, and slightly distorted limbs from where bones were snapped like twigs. A fog had swept over her eyes and her cracked lips bled when she smiled up at him. Xander couldn't help it…he laid his head on her stomach and cried. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

Libby rested one hand on his shoulder and ran her fingers through his hair. She glared at the nurses, but softened when Giles came up and told them all to give them space. Libby reached a hand out to him and Giles took it gladly. Xander clung to the sheets hugging her fragile body and Giles leaned down to kiss her forehead. Cordelia finally walked over and sweetly went to untangle Libby's hair while Willow wept as she told Buffy what was happening.

"We have to get her to the ICU," the doctor pressed. "She's in critical condition that needs to be addressed before it's too late."

"What does that mean?" Cordy shrilled. "She's gonna be okay, isn't she?"

"Not if we don't get her to the ICU."

Xander was pulled away from her by Giles and Libby immediately rolled away. She laid down so the nurses could put her on the drips.

"You can visit her tomorrow." The doctor looked over his shoulder and then lowered his voice to Giles. "And maybe you can tell me everything you know about her since the story the young man told when he brought her in doesn't match up to her injuries."

"Of course," Giles nodded.

Xander glared and went rigid with fury. Not even Cordelia's touch calmed him down. "I'm gonna kill him."

They all walked over to Buffy, a very alert and upright Buffy. "Where is she? Is she okay?"

"They said she's in critical condition," Xander answered.

"How on earth did that happed to her? Where has she been?"

No one looked at Joyce. And thankfully, Giles handled it. "It must have happened tonight, on her way to meet them all."

"I need to see her." Buffy tried to hop off the bed, but the nurses wouldn't allow it.

"You can see her tomorrow. You two aren't going anywhere."

Buffy wanted to get them out. Run from this place and hide together under the covers of a warm, safe bed so Libby would know she was right there with her and Angel could never hurt her again. But it was clear that wasn't an option tonight.

Xander stood outside the ICU doors. He looked through the glass like he could see Libby but she was in a room off to the side. Buffy had been given a sedative to sleep a couple halls over. This wasn't a coincidence. Buffy and Libby being admitted in the same night. Angel was planning something and Xander was determined to see it fail.

Willow and Cordelia walked up to him so he asked, "D'you think they're gonna be okay in here?"

"I don't know. Lysette got her nose done here. She came in looking for the Gwyneth Paltrow and it looked more like the Mr. Potato Head," Cordelia replied.

"Cordy."

"Buffy and Libby aren't in here for cosmetic surgery," Willow said, offended for her friends.

"I know that," Cordy's voice turned defensive. "It's horrible to think about why Libby's in here so excuse me for focusing on something else."

Willow nodded apologetically, but realized, "Do you think Angel will attack them in here?"

"He can come in. It's a public building," Xander said.

"That's true."

"What could he do?" Cordy added. "After everything he's already done…what else is there?"

Xander turned toward the window again. "That's the million dollar question."

2:27am

Buffy wriggled awake, sweat glistening her skin and breaths heavy in her lungs. She opened her eyes to see a boy standing in the doorway. He couldn't have been more than 10, probably closer to 8. He walked away and was followed by a tall man in a black suit and hat…only it wasn't a man. It had long silver hair, rotting skin, a long crooked nose, and a smile full of monster fangs. Buffy blinked and suddenly saw Libby sitting at the edge of her bed.

"Killed By Death."

"What?"

"It's the episode we're in."

Buffy touched Libby's hand. She was solid. "Am I dreaming?"

"Honestly, I don't know." Libby looked around and winced when she shifted on the bed. "It feels like before so we're asleep but not quite dreaming? Maybe?"

"I don't get it. This has never happened before."

Libby frowned and limped into the empty, red-lit hallway. "No, not really, but then again… We weren't separated by something evil before."

Buffy followed and looked as the red flashed white, sending them to the ICU just outside Libby's room. "So is this how we can communicate when we're torn apart? Prophetic dreams turn into dream telepathy?"

"Sure. Why not? We are bonded by…" Libby glanced down at her feet when she felt something seep between her toes. "Blood."

They were standing in the Slayer–Protector Symbol. And it began to sink.

Whistling sounded from the double doors. Xander turned to see Angelus walk in holding a few white roses and a few light pink roses. He stood up and blocked the vampire's path.

"Visiting hours are over."

"Well, I'm pretty much family."

"Yeah. Why don't you come back during the day? Oh, gee, no. I guess you can't."

"If I decide to walk into Libby's room and then Buffy's, do you think for one microsecond that you could stop me?"

Angel's voice was low, but Xander wasn't going to let him anywhere near his best friends. He refused to fail them again. He would die before letting him get close to Libby. "Maybe not. Maybe that security guard couldn't either. Or those cops trying to figure out your bogus story. Or the orderlies standing by if something you did to her gets worse. But I'm kinda curious to find out. You game?"

Angelus snickered. "The white knight. But who's knight are you? Which damsel do you love?" He leaned in as Xander looked down. "It must just eat you up that I got there first…willingly with Buffy, forcibly with Libby."

Xander's eyes shot up and he punched Angel in the jaw. "Hey! That's the guy who assaulted Libby Winters!" The cops turned, but Angelus already fled. All six roses were left on the ground, the only sign that the vampire was ever there.

Giles ran over and pushed Xander off to the side. "Officers, there was a man following both Libby Winters and Buffy Summers, but the girls got a restraining order against him. He hasn't been seen in weeks so I doubt he had anything to do with Miss Winters' injuries. After all, those bites aren't human."

The Watcher was able to get the cops off the trail of Angelus and when he faced Xander, the teenaged boy said, "Why did you do that? They could've –"

"Gotten themselves killed by unknowingly tracking down a vampire?" Giles hissed. "I know you want Angel to pay, but don't make the mistake I did by putting innocent people in danger."

Xander nodded as Giles picked up the roses from the floor and threw them in the trashcan.

Buffy opened her eyes to see Dr. Wilkinson standing over her. "Good morning."

"Could've fooled me."

"How're you feeling? Look's like your fever's gone down."

"Good. I can go see my sister."

She lunged forward, but Dr. Wilkinson put a hand on her shoulder to keep her on the bed. "Not so fast. Hmm…"

"Good "hmm" or bad "hmm?""

"The swelling's…gone. Does this hurt?"

Buffy shook her head. "No."

"Amazing."

"Then I can go see my sister, right?"

"No. Soon. We have to make sure that fever is gone. That's a strong virus you have and if you pass it to your sister…well, it would put her in more danger."

Buffy eased into the pillow and fiddled with the gold cross necklace. "How bad is she?"

"I've spoken with her doctor and he tells me she's touch 'n go."

"But what does that mean?"

Giles knocked on the door and asked, "May we come in?"

"Please. Maybe you can keep our patient from bolting to the ICU." Dr. Wilkinson turned to Buffy and said, "Rest. Hmm? For your sister's sake."

"Flowers milady," Xander presented her colorful balloons on a string.

"I think they call those balloons."

"Yeah, stick 'em in water, maybe they'll grow."

Willow plopped folders and books on Buffy's lap. "Not to be outdone."

"Homework?"

"It's my way of saying, "get well soon.""

"You know, chocolate says that even better."

"I did all your assignments, so all you have to do is sign your name."

Buffy's eyes became gleeful. "Chocolate means nothing to me."

Then they all turned to an empty-handed Cordelia. "Nobody told me I was supposed to bring a gift. I was out of the loop on gifts."

Giles stepped forward and said, "It's a tradition among, erm, people." Buffy giggled as Giles gave her a bag of grapes. "Well, did you pass the night well enough?"

"Not really. Something happened I thought you…" A nurse came around to check on Buffy's vitals so she said, "You know what? Let's take a walk."

The four brought Buffy outside in a wheelchair, but she couldn't enjoy it. "You must've gotten Libby some amazing stuff compared to the great stuff you brought me."

"Actually, they won't let us see her as of yet," Giles replied.

"Have they told you anything?"

"No," Willow said sadly. "They said we should contact family and we tried to explain, but…"

Buffy couldn't hear this. She put her hands on the wheels and forced Willow to stop pushing her onward. Looking up at her most trusted circle, Buffy demanded, "Is she dying?"

Xander refused to tear his eyes off his feet while Willow and Cordy looked to Giles. The Watcher shuffled and finally said, "Libby was threateningly close to going into shock. I overheard the doctor say she should be passed the stage of treatment, but her vitals showed otherwise. If memory serves, Libby will be on an arterial line, getting a range of antibiotics and IV fluids. Thankfully, she was not put on mechanical ventilation…but there's still a chance she might. Libby's also lost a lot of blood –"

"Is she dying?" Buffy whimpered.

"Libby's strong. She'll fight this," Xander said.

Willow attentively pushed the chair forward and everyone started walking again. It was silent between them all for a while, so Giles said, "You were talking about, erm, stuff."

"Right, yeah," Buffy focused. "I had a dream last night. There was little boy and then I saw a monster following him. Libby said this was all "Killed By Death." She knows what's going on, but the thing is, is that we weren't dreaming exactly. It happened to us before when you guys brought me to the hospital. I saw her and talked to her. We're both conscious only we're not awake."

"That's why you called out to her…" Willow said.

"There's more. I couldn't reach her the first time because we weren't in the same place because last night I could. And there was this symbol added to ours drawn in blood on the floor."

"What symbol?" Giles asked.

"Infinity. Just under the hilt," Buffy pointed to her tattoo.

Giles sat on a nearby bench to ponder the meaning. "The double spiral symbolizes the bond between Slayer and Protector, the sword your destiny to fight evil, so perhaps the infinity symbolizes another aspect? I would have to – erm – read more into it."

"What about how we're able to communicate?"

"I would need my books."

"Then take Willow and Cordelia for research while Xander helps me get in to see Libby. I need to know how she is and what's happening to us. Not to mention the monster going after that little boy, something only Libby knows about."

The Protector stretched herself awake. Beeping and humming echoed in her ears as she adjusted to the light. The room was full of machines – a heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, arterial line – and several IV bags with tubes inserting into her veins. Everything in her body ached, but the morphine burned so good. Soon, her eyes caught Xander standing outside and Buffy was peering out from behind a corner. He was distracting the orderlies and leading them far enough away for Buffy to sneak inside the room.

"Libby," she whispered and embraced her Protector. "I'm so sorry I didn't save you in time."

"Eh, you were in a t-tough spot."

Buffy blinked at the mumbling words and asked, "What are the doctors saying? Are you gonna be okay?"

Libby's eyes grew wide and she giggled. "They seem really confused by me. Apparently, I should be dying but instead I'm responding to treatment. They said at the r-rate I'm healing I should be, um, good to go in a couple of days."

"Oh thank god!" Buffy hugged her sister close to her heart. "I was so scared for you. I thought –"

"You know, being a medical marvel they should def-f-initely be watching my vitals like paranoid hawks, but they not. Sure, I supernaturally heal myself, but they don't know that." Libby feebly flung her arms and fiddled with the tubes. "Ugh, "just rest" they say. Rest. I do like the bed though. It moves." She pressed the button and shifted down only to press it again to come back up.

Buffy giggled and checked out the bag of morphine. Three quarters down. "You're so high," Buffy whispered as she looked over her shoulder. When she saw the coast was clear, she said, "Okay, now I need you to try and focus. Giles, Willow, and Cordelia are researching why the infinity symbol was in our dream and how we're able to dream communicate in the first place."

"Good, 'cause I have no idea."

"Who was the boy? And the monster following him?"

Libby squinted her eyes shut to remember the episode. "Boy, boy, little boy… I want to say, R-R-Ryan. Yeah! Ryan. He calls the monster Death, but its not. It's a monster that kills sick kids but doctors think it's natural, but it's so not. I mean, come on! Its eyes worm out of its head and suck onto the kid's, sucking the life out of them. It's really gross and does it every night." Libby poked her head with an index finger. "I can't remember what it's called, but you have to be feverish to see it and if you break its neck it'll die."

"Fair enough. Except the special fever sight thing."

"You need to go find Ryan," Libby randomly grabbed Buffy's hand and it felt as powerful as a baby bird. "Tell him not to be afraid. That you'll save him."

"What about you? I haven't seen you in –"

Voices and movement were heard outside the door. Libby weakly pushed Buffy away. "You need to go before they catch you 'cause they'll start yelling again. Tell Ryan everything will be okay. I'll see you tonight, right?"

"Tonight or sooner."

"Hmmm. Tonight, right. Ha! That rhymes."

Buffy pitifully smiled and snuck out as Libby lay her head down. When Xander saw her vanish down the hall, he went to stand guard outside Libby's door. She waved at him and he waved back. 'I wish we could talk,' Xander mouthed. Libby tilted her head and they both laughed.

The Slayer walked down the hall of the children's ward until she found Ryan in one of the rooms, drawing at a desk. She walked in and asked, "Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm Buffy."

"You shouldn't be here."

"Why not?"

"Contagious."

"Nah. I already got what you got," Buffy said as she sat down next to him. "My sister told me about the monster you guys call, Death." Ryan peered at her from the corner of his eye but didn't say anything. "She told me that grown-ups can't see it and that it comes for one of you every night." Buffy leaned over and saw the picture Ryan was drawing. The monster.

"How does she know that?" Ryan whispered, gazing up at her now.

"My sister knows a lot of stuff. She's really special and she sent me to tell you that everything's gonna be okay. That we're not gonna let this thing hurt you. Any of you. Grown-ups don't believe you, right? Well, we do. We both know that there are real monsters. But there's also real heroes that fight monsters. And that's me and my sister."

"You can't fight Death."

"Ryan, listen to me. I promise you, it's not Death. My sister said so."

"How can she know?"

Buffy took a breath and smiled as she gently held his hand. "Because my sister is magical. The best, strongest person you'll ever meet. She's never been wrong and has never let anyone down. I trust her with my life and I promise you can trust her with yours too."

Ryan put the crayon down and smiled.

Libby felt someone softly touch her forehead. She opened her eyes to see Angel smiling down at her. Jolting, Angel pinned her down before she could use her powers.

"Good evening, beautiful," Angel breathed into her ear. "I see you've had visitors."

Libby struggled to see if Xander was all right but Angelus chuckled. "Your guard in shining armor fell asleep on the job."

"If you hurt any of them I'll have your ashes!"

"Ah, there's my girl."

"What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Angelus seemed offended. "I want you at your best, of course. What fun are you to me dead?"

Libby scowled. "What do you want?"

Angelus leaned closer and grazed his lips over her neck. "I want you to remember why you fight so hard to stay alive. I want you to cherish these moments with your friends because if you tell them where I keep you or that I'm coming back for you…I'll turn off Jenny's machines." At Libby's frightened stare, he said, "Yeah, she only a few doors down. And after Giles sees her corpse, I kill him."

"I hate you," Libby whispered.

"Don't worry, beautiful. You won't always hate me. One day you'll need me."

"You plan on making me learn helplessness?"

Angelus winked. "Something like that." He looked at the new bag of morphine. "I think it's time for a little more, don't you?" He pressed the button. Libby felt a new rush of relief enter her system and it immediately made her brain fuzzy.

She watched him leave and relaxed when he didn't touch Xander. However, she relaxed so much she quickly fell asleep. It was too cruel. Putting her so close to everyone only to rip her away…again. Is this what he did to Drusilla before he killed her entire family? Did he get off on destroying the illusion of hope surrounding her? Libby couldn't dream straight and it felt like hours before she found her way.

"Libby!" Buffy shouted as she ran through the infinity symbol in the hallway. "Dr. Backer, I saw the thing kill him. Sort of."

"Right, yeah, I forgot about that," Libby half-heartedly scolded.

"Are you okay? Did something happen?"

"What? Oh, I-I'm fine," Libby distracted. "I actually just remembered something I needed to tell you."

"What?"

"The monster, the kids call it Death because its name means Child Death. It likes children's wards because it's the best place for him to feed…and, uh, you've seen it before…not seen, seen but its…work…when it killed your cousin."

Buffy lost her balance for a moment. "We can't let it kill any more kids."

"And we won't. Tomorrow when Giles comes with information you tell them the plan."

"What plan?"

"The one I'm coming up with right now while my mind is still conscious enough."

Buffy studied the drawing Ryan gave her as Giles and the gang walked in. "What do you know?"

Giles hesitated and leaned against the windowsill. "Very little is written about the infinity, but from what I was able to find, it seems – erm – that it means inspiration in the face death."

"Then why is your face so scrunched?"

"Well, it has a rather negative connotation. The infinity is meant to strengthen the bond between Slayer and Protector…when one's life is threatened."

Buffy clenched her jaw. "So this symbol only shows up when one of us is on death's door?"

"Yes, to-to tell you there is little time to waste."

"Is that why we can telepathically communicate in dream land?"

"I'm not sure," Giles said as he cleaned his glasses. "As far as I understand it, this power develops when the Slayer and Protector are bonded for a certain amount of time."

"Like a milestone?" asked Willow.

"Oh, hmm, yes I-I believe it is."

Buffy huffed as she plopped her head backwards on the pillow. "So because Libby hasn't died for me yet we get a new power but the infinity shows up in said power because her life's in danger. Yeah, that makes sense."

"Anything new on the monster?" Willow kindly distracted.

"Yeah, it's name means "Child Death" and it kills by sucking the life out of kids even though it looks like whatever made them sick killed them. That's why it goes through the children's ward, picking them off one by one like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Of course, when someone like Dr. Backer starts curing the kids, the monster rips it to shreds. Libby said you can only see it with a fever and I can kill it by breaking its neck."

"Child Death…" Giles thought. "A Der Kindestod."

Everyone frowned. "Sure," Buffy said. "I'm going after it tonight."

"What? Buffy, slow down," Xander said.

"No. This thing killed Celia and I'm not letting it kill another child."

"It killed your cousin?" Willow was stunned.

"Yeah, Libby told me last night during our dream talk, which is when we came up with a plan. Willow, Cordelia and I are gonna sneak Libby out of her room while Xander stays to guard the hall. The four of us will get me some of that virus so I can see the monster. Willow and Cordelia will end up distracting some guards and we'll meet Xander in the hall to go to the basement and kill the Kindle snot."

"Kinderstod."

"That."

Suddenly, Joyce walked in with a cheerful, "Good morning." At the looks on all their faces she said, "Oh, it looks like I interrupted a secret meeting."

"You sure didn't." Cordelia awkwardly laughed.

"Honey, I just talked to the doctor and she said I can take you home."

Buffy went rigid. "No. I should stay here."

"But, honey, I thought you'd be ready –"

"Well, I think my symptoms are flaring up."

"She doesn't look well," Willow supported.

"Cause I'm not well. I feel all ooky."

Joyce put a hand on her daughter's forehead and asked, "Is this because you don't want to leave Libby in the hospital all alone?"

Buffy blinked. "Maybe."

"Honey, she's in good ha –"

"I'm not leaving until we can leave together."

Joyce sighed and gently rubbed her daughter's hair. "Honey, I know she's your friend, but you've been telling everyone in the hospital she's your sister."

Buffy looked up at her mom's smile. "I know, I just wanted to."

Joyce kissed Buffy's non-fever forehead. "All right. I'll talk to the doctor."

"So "take down Kindestod" on three?" Xander said once Mrs. Summers was gone.

They all nodded and headed out when Giles stopped by Buffy's bed and asked, "Did you tell Libby about Jenny?"

"No. She's been through enough as of late."

"Good, good. I'm going to visit her then as I still can't get access to Libby, if you don't need my help?"

Buffy smiled. "We got it covered…even after being tortured by my ex for days and days she still knows everything. Morphine makes it kinda hard though."

Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Cordy all peeked their heads into the ICU hallway. Libby curled her lips over her teeth when she saw the image. They looked like Rachel, Phoebe, Ross, and Joey in the Friends episode, "The One with the Late Thanksgiving," when they stuck their heads through the chain locked door. Xander broke off first and sat on a bench to guard. Buffy dashed for the door and Willow moseyed into the middle of the hall and Cordelia kept their exit clear.

"Curtain time," Buffy whispered.

Libby telekinetically slid the curtain to hide her bed and fled the ICU with Buffy, Willow, and Cordelia. It took the gang longer to get to the ICU since the nurses said Libby was pretty much restricted access, so night was fast approaching. By the time they got to Dr. Backer's office the sun was setting. Buffy opened the fridge and found the vile of flu virus.

"Has anyone thought about how Buffy's gonna fight this thing with a 107 degree temperature?" Cordy asked.

Buffy looked to Libby. "Motivation."

She went to down the vile when both Willow and Libby yelled, "Buffy!" – "Don't!"

"What?!"

"Buffy, that's 100% pure. It'll kill you in an instant," Willow replied.

"Oh. They really should put that on the label."

Libby tapped the label and chirped, "They do."

Buffy looked and sheepishly smiled. Willow grabbed the water bottle from the fridge and a beaker from the counter. "It needs to be diluted."

"Okay, but this better work fast."

Willow put a droplet in the water, but it wasn't enough for Buffy. "Faster than that," she whispered so Willow put in another drop.

"Here's to my health." Buffy felt it instantly. She tripped over herself and needed Willow to help her walk while Cordy made sure Libby's legs had the strength to carry her. Thankfully, they all made it to the children's ward without toppling over and drawing attention.

"Libby, tell me again that this'll work because I feel like it's not."

"It'll work. I promise. You're okay."

"Okay. I'm okay."

They reached the door and looked in to find no children. "Where'd they go?" Cordy asked.

"We're late. They must've all gone down to the basement."

Following Libby's lead, the girls turned to find another way down when Dr. Wilkinson blocked their path. "What are you doing out of the ICU?" She demanded and then saw the state Buffy was in. "What's wrong? What's going on here?"

"They're not feeling well…" Willow stumbled.

"You should be in bed and you need to be in ICU."

"No, please, you don't understand." Libby begged as the doctor tried to lead her away.

"You two are coming with me."

"No!" Buffy shoved her and grabbed Libby and they bolted.

"She's sorry!" Willow called out as she and Cordy ran after them.

Dr. Wilkinson went to the phone and ordered, "Security. Come to the children's ward. We have a situation."

The girls didn't get far before two guards cut them off. "Okay, come on now. We can do this the easy way." At his words they looked at each other and something simultaneous happened.

"Frogs! Frogs! Get 'em off me! Oh, my god! Frogs! Get them off of me!" Willow screamed as she shook pretend frogs off her body.

"You need the frogs to go with your outfit! Stop brushing them off! They make the outfit!" Cordy screamed as she pretended to throw frogs at Willow.

Libby smiled as the guards ran for the girls, giving the Slayer and Protector the opportunity to get away. Dr. Wilkinson soon came on the scene and yelled, "Not them! The other two!"

"No more frogs," Willow said.

"Come on!" The guards ran after them, but Willow and Cordy knew they wouldn't catch up.

Buffy slammed into the wall where Xander was waiting, but Libby started to lose balance. Xander hurried over to them and helped hold them both up.

"We gotta get to the basement," Libby said.

"Yeah, I got you."

It wasn't until the stairs that holding them both became a problem. Libby was about to trail behind when Buffy said, "Hold Libby up. Make sure nothing happens to her." The Slayer went on ahead and the Protector didn't argue, just relaxed into Xander.

"You okay?" he asked.

"It's horrible being stronger yet not nearly strong enough and not have your brain know it."

"As long as you're getting stronger."

They entered the basement and immediately heard the children screaming. Buffy picked up the pace with Xander and Libby right behind. They soon came upon the Kindestod hovering over Ryan…his pale dead eyes growing out of his head to latch onto a horrified boy. Libby swung her arm and sent the Kindestod flying into a pipe. She didn't see it, but she heard it. Ryan crawled away and stared at her in amazement.

"You make me sick," Buffy said and kicked him in the face.

It came back at her, but she punched it again and again as Libby lifted Ryan into her arms and Xander went to get the other kids out.

"You hurt him with your mind…" Ryan awed.

"It's my superpower."

"Wow, Buffy's right. You are magical."

The Slayer got hit in the face and then thrown into a pipe when Libby passed Ryan to Xander. She fumbled to her Slayer and whipped her arm in the general direction she thought the Kindestod to be and heard a thump. Buffy lunged for it and kicked it before it could get up. It grappled for her, but Buffy bent down and twisted its neck as far as it could go. Snap.

"You get it?"

Buffy flipped hair out of her eyes. "Yup."

The sisters hugged and then got wobbly so Xander came up behind them and it became a group embrace. Libby nuzzled into her best guy friend's neck as she held onto Buffy and said, "I like it here."

"We like it when you're here too," Buffy sweetly said.

"It's just not the same without you," Xander agreed. "But you two should probably get back to bed before one or both of you yak on me."

Angelus waited on the side of Libby's bed with a single pink rose. "You and Buffy kill the big bad monster?" He asked when she walked in. "I must say, you look much better."

"I am." Libby flicked her hand and Angel flipped over a monitor. The Protector ran out of the room because she knew there was no holding him off indefinitely. She wasn't strong enough yet, especially with the morphine clouding every part of her. Angelus growled as he pursued. Sharply turning down the hall, Libby screamed, "Buffy!"

The Slayer darted out of bed and toward the sound of her Protector's voice. "Libby?"

The brunette swung her arm out behind her and sent Angelus flying down the hall, but he was adaptable, strategic. Angel landed like a cat and once Libby turned away to pick up speed, he pounced. There was no way to react in time. Angelus was on her and she couldn't escape his grasp. Buffy ran around the corner and stopped dead. Angelus had Libby by the throat; his fangs ready to tear her open.

"Let. Her. Go."

"I think not. She's too important. Without her, my life is empty," Angel laughed.

"You are unbelievable! If you want to hurt me, hurt me!"

"I don't want to hurt you, Buff. I want to damage you beyond repair. And what better way to do that, then turn your Protector?"

Libby's breath hitched and then a scream to shatter every eardrum in the hospital escaped her throat. Angelus' fangs chomped into her neck, blood freely flowing down her chest. Libby tried to free her hands but she was too weak. Buffy charged Angel, but she was still delirious with fever. He kicked her to the floor and held Libby's body over her so the blood could pour onto Buffy.

"She's mine, lover. Never to be your Protector again."

Feet started pounding closer so Angelus flung Libby over his shoulder and ran out of the building before the guards gathered at the scene, leaving only a trail of blood on the tile for them. "Screw your warnings, Angel. I'm getting my Protector back. No matter what."