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.'
- - - -
'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.'
- - - -
Chapter Six:
Faith was dead. Angel sat there, quiet and alone with her hand held in his. As he looked at her face, peaceful and undisturbed, he began to cry. He wept for her like he'd never wept for anyone before in his life. He didn't even cry like this when Buffy died.
But this was different. Faith was different. She had come from a relatively good family, but had crossed to the wrong side of the tracks. It wasn't her fault; it was an accident. But all those years ago, when Faith made one mistake, it cost her everything. It cost her all of her friends. It cost her everything she had worked so hard for all her life. It cost her all the dignity she had left when she turned to the Mayor of Sunnydale to bring about the Ascension. And now it cost her the most important thing anyone can ever have, her life.
Since trying to fix her life after attempting to kill both Buffy and Angel, Faith managed to get her priorities in order. She realised that there were good things out there for her, and she searched for them. She had a brief relationship with Sunnydale High's principal Robin Wood, but they decided that things were just too complicated when Robin headed over to Spain and Faith went to England with Giles to train potentials.
It was shortly after that when she was told she had cancer. At such a young age, Faith couldn't believe it. At first she was in denial and kept the news from her friends while she was in England on a visit. Then, just before she was about to leave, she told Buffy. She had become closer to Buffy after the battle against the First and the closing of the Hellmouth, and decided to tell her first. It was hard for her to talk about it at first because at this time she had begun to believe what the doctors had told her.
'They're doing a few more blood tests and I have to go for a CT scan so I won't know for sure for a few days.' Faith explained to Buffy. Buffy couldn't help herself; she'd grown too fond of Faith this past year. She cried. She hugged Faith, forgetting everything that had ever happened between them and how strong the both of them were, she broke down and wept for her friend.
'Faith, I'm so sorry.' Buffy whispered into Faith's ear.
'Yeah I know B, me too.' Faith's head rested on Buffy's shoulder and Buffy's head rested on Faith's head. They were alone in Buffy's bedroom, while everyone else was doing their own thing elsewhere in the new English headquarters for the Watchers Council.
Faith broke the news to everyone and decided that there was one more person that she had to see. Angel.
So she and Buffy headed over to Los Angeles to visit Angel. By the time they had reached Los Angeles, Faith's cancer had worsened. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour and was told she had to stay in hospital because the cancer was in its latter stages of growth.
Upon hearing this news, Faith was devastated. Buffy swore to Faith that she would get Angel here and headed off to find him at the Los Angeles branch of Wolfram and Hart.
And now, here he was. He was in Faith's hospital room, as she lay lifeless in her bed. Angel hadn't got up to leave just yet to go to Buffy, because he wasn't ready to part with her. Her perfect skin shone in the light cast by a small lamp on the table beside them.
Angel looked at his watch and was surprised at the time. 5:45am. He slowly got to his feet, wiping tears away from his eyes. He looked at her one last time before walking out. He left her behind, alone, and without anyone to watch over her. It wasn't the first time.
Author's Note: One more chapter to come, and I think that will finish it off. I think it's gone in the direction I wanted it to, and achieved exactly what I wanted it to. Please review and I'll write the final chapter.