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.'

- - - -

'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.'

'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 there's still a chance she can be healed.'

Chapter Five:

The next night, Angel returned alone. Buffy and Illyria had gone out with Spike to patrol the streets, and Angel decided that he wanted to pay Faith another visit.

Thankfully, the hospital allowed night visitors. He wandered through the hospital halls, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his pants. He wasn't looking where he was going, and just outside of Faith's room he bumped into a doctor.

'Oh, I'm sorry.' He quickly apologised. The doctor he'd knocked down smiled and brushed it off.

'It's okay.' She said to him, gathering up a few of the papers she'd dropped. Angel picked up another two and handed them to her. He smiled and apologised again, stepped aside and pushed the door open. A hand rested on his shoulder, and he spun around. 'You can't go in there.' The doctor said.

'Why not?'

'Are you family?'

'I'm the closest thing she's got to family.' Angel replied.

'Then I'm afraid you will me very upset if you were to enter that room.' The doctor told Angel. 'The young girl in there, Faith, she passed away a few minutes ago. She couldn't be revived.'

'What? You couldn't save her?' Angel asked.

'I'm sorry sir.'

'Let me see her.' Angel said in defeat. 'Please.'

'Alright.' She pushed open the door and stepped inside, allowing Angel to follow her. They approached the bed, where Faith lay peacefully. She appeared to be sleeping, and nothing else appeared to be wrong.

'What happened?' Angel asked as tears began to form in his eyes.

'The tumour affected the way her brain works, and for lack of a better medical term, it told the brain to shut everything off.' The doctor explained in the gentlest way she possibly could.

'And you couldn't do anything?' Angel asked.

'No sir, I'm sorry.' Angel stared at Faith for a few minutes, without saying a word.

'Can I call somebody?'

'Yes, there's a pay phone out in the hall.' Angel turned slowly and left the room, with Faith still lying motionless on the bed. She was beautiful, preserved in a perfect slumber for eternity.

Angel dialled the number that Willow had left him, and Giles answered. 'Hello?' It was the late hours of the night, and Angel could tell that he had just woken up Giles.

'Giles.'

'Angel?'

'I have bad news.'

'Where are you?'

'I'm at the hospital.' Angel could tell that those words suddenly got Giles' full attention.

'What's wrong? Is it Faith?' Giles asked.

'Giles, Faith's dead.' Angel said bluntly. 'I came here tonight to see her and one of the doctors told me that she passed away a few minutes before. Giles, I was too late.'

'Oh dear. Did you see her?' Giles asked.

'Yes.'

'Is she…?'

'Yes, she's fine. She looks just like she's sleeping.'

'Oh dear, the poor girl. You have to tell Buffy.'

'She's out patrolling with Spike and Illyria.' Angel explained. 'Giles, I don't want to leave.'

'I understand Angel, but she's gone. You can't stay there. You need to tell Buffy, and I'll inform the others in the morning.'

'I promised that I would help her, that I wouldn't give up. I promised her that I would take her to do whatever she wanted, and now I can't. I let her down Giles.'

'No you didn't Angel, you believed in her when the rest of us were; excuse the pun, losing faith. You wanted to help her even though things looked grim. We wanted to as well, but we didn't know what we could actually do.'

'Thanks' Giles that makes me feel better. A bit. But it doesn't change that Faith is gone. I miss her already Giles.' Angel moaned.

'Angel, go and tell Buffy. She deserves to know.'

'I want some time alone with Faith first.'

'Angel…'

'Giles, I won't be long. I just… I want to talk to her.'

'Okay. Goodbye Angel.'

'Bye.' Angel hung up and wandered back to Faith's room.

Author's Note: What next? Well, I guess you've just got to wait and see.