Previously…

'So do you think we won?

'Do you think maybe…' Angel began before being interrupted by Spike.

'…No. We are not going to them Angel, we can't. You know we can't.

'Who says we can't Spike?'

'Angel, you're not angry at me, are you?' Spike asked.

'I think we should go to England, Spike.' Angel answered. 'It's not safe to stay here. The city is a mess, and everyone is living in hiding.'

'That's exactly why we need to stay here. These people need our help. If we don't do anything, then who will?'

Spike's question was answered by a familiar female voice. 'I will.'

- - - -

'Uh, Buffy? About what happened back in Sunnydale…'

'Spike you don't need to explain. Andrew spilled.'

'Angel, I'm sorry to tell you this, because we only just found out ourselves and it's a little upsetting.'

'Buffy, just tell me what it is, please.'

'Angel, Faith's in the hospital.'

'What's wrong?'

'She's been diagnosed with a brain tumour. Angel, she's only got a few months. She asked for you specifically Angel.'

'We'll go right away.' Angel said. 'As soon as night falls.'

- - - -

'In my time, the Slayer was at the same level in society as the human. Lower than the vampire.' Illyria said.

'Thanks a bunch.' Buffy replied dryly.

'Angel.' Faith whispered. 'You came. Where's B?'

'Stayed behind to hold the fort.'

'Angel, I'm so afraid.' Faith broke into tears. 'Nothing is gonna happen when I die. There's not going to be another Slayer that rises because I'm gone. There's not going to be anything special that happens because my go at being a Slayer is over.'

'Faith, that doesn't matter. You were one of the best Slayers that ever lived, and don't ever doubt that.'

'Faith, how long were you told you have left?'

'About 5 weeks.'

Chapter Four:

Giles began filling in Angel on Faith's condition, according to the doctors. Spike spoke to Faith for a few minutes before returning and catching the tail end of the conversation.

'Giles, Faith told me she only had a few weeks. Buffy told me that she had a few months. How long does she have?' Angel pressed.

'Well, apparently she has anywhere between about 5 weeks and 3-5 months. She's in the latter stages of development and to heal her would require a lot of chemotherapy.'

'And what are you going to do about it?' Spike interjected. 'You're going to get her to have the chemo aren't you?'

'Spike, it's complicated.' Giles explained. 'First they have to find the tumour and remove it before she can receive treatment. Because her tumour is so far developed it has firmly attached itself to her brain stem. There may not be a way to safely remove it, and she may die sooner rather than later because of it.'

'No.' Angel stepped in firmly. 'I'm not letting her die. There has to be a way to remove it safely. There has to be.'

'Angel, I'm sorry but you may just have to face the fact that she can't be helped.'

'No!' Angel snapped, drawing attention to their little huddle in the hospital hall.

'Angel, believe me we know exactly how you feel.' Willow said. 'We're all just as upset as you.'

'No, you don't understand. I had a different relationship with Faith to anyone else. Even Buffy. I don't know what it was, but all I ever wanted was to help her. I still want to help her, with anything and everything. When she came to me for help, I was willing to help here even thought she actually came to kill me. Over the years, whenever Faith and I have met up it's been because one of us was helping the other. It's just the way things are, and I have always felt one sure thing with Faith, and that was that I understood everything she was going through. I don't want to leave her high and dry here with no help. She deserves better than that.'

'Angel, I was there to help when Faith was broken out of jail. I know exactly what you mean, but you can't let your feelings interfere right now. We have to do what's best for Faith.' Willow told Angel.

'And what's best for Faith is for her to get better.' Angel shot back. 'I feel Faith's pain just as she feels mine, and right now she's feeling like the last person on Earth. She feels so scared, so alone and so hurt that she just wants to give up. And I felt that in her when I spoke to her. We can't give up on her, and I refuse to. You can say that it may be too late for her, but I'm going to fight because I know that it's not too late for her to be helped.'

Angel turned, his coat flapping in the air behind him. And as the others watched, he disappeared down the hall and down the stairs to the basement carpark. Spike smiled and waved goodbye to the others briefly and then he too left them all standing in the hall with slightly bewildered looks on their faces.

A/N: Yeah I know, really short. I couldn't really think of anything that would fit into this chapter, so it can go into the next chapter. Reviews anyone?