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.'

- - - -

He was in Faith's hospital room, as she lay lifeless in her bed.

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.

- - - -

Chapter Seven:

Buffy and Spike walked side-by-side down the empty street, with Illyria walking a few metres ahead. She constantly scanned the street, always alert and on the lookout, but she found no movement. Buffy and Spike talked as they walked, and Spike found that he and Buffy could very easily get into the topic of what happened back in Sunnydale, and what has happened with each party since.

'So Buffy, how have you been?' Spike began.

'Busy.' Buffy replied. 'You?'

'Well, I won't say I've been good, but I can't say I've been bad.' Spike replied. 'Things have happened at Wolfram and Hart, that made life a lot harder, both for me and for Angel.'

'What sort of things?'

'Fred for one. Poor girl, Angel tried everything to save her, and it hurt us all when she died. But now we've got Blue here.' Spike gestured to Illyria out in front of them.

'She's Fred?' Buffy asked. 'Willow spoke of Fred when she came back last year after seeing Angel here, and I had a sneaking suspicion that Fred was a girl. Willow said she tried to "come onto her".' Buffy laughed softly, then abruptly stopped.

'Yeah, well I wouldn't know. If I remember correctly, at the time I was chained to the wall in your basement.' Spike retorted.

'Spike, it was for the best at the time. I don't have to…'

'Buffy, you don't need to apologise.' Spike interrupted, finishing her sentence. 'It's alright, I just meant that… well, I don't know what I meant really. I just didn't know about the whole Willow situation with Fred, you know. But now I do. And that's good.'

He was getting uneasy and unsettled. For a few minutes, they walked in silence. Until Buffy spoke.

'So how'd you come back?'

Angel returned to the street where his little apartment was and found that Buffy, Spike and Illyria hadn't returned from their patrolling.

He groaned in frustration, and stood alone in the middle of the room, quiet. He looked to his left, and saw a small dirty glass on the table. He picked it up suddenly and angrily threw it against the wall. It shattered into tiny pieces, and Angel spun around to face the door again when he heard a sound, his vampire visage visible.

Spike walked in the door first, followed by Buffy and Illyria. When Spike stopped, so did the two women behind him.

'Angel?' Spike said, seeing his sire's face staring at him from a few metres away. 'Is something wrong?'

'Buffy.' Angel replied as Buffy stepped out from behind Spike. Illyria wandered inside and stood against the wall, looking at Angel with a perplexed expression on her face.

'Angel? What is it?' Buffy asked when she saw his face. 'What's going on?' Angel returned to his human face and sat down on the couch.

'It's Faith.' He said simply. He rubbed both his hands on his face and then looked up at Buffy.

'What about her?' Buffy asked.

'She's…'

'She's what?' Buffy pressed.

'She's dead, Buffy.' Angel paused before adding, 'She's dead.'

'Oh.' Buffy said. She was lost for words, not knowing what to say in response.

'Buffy, I'm sorry.' Angel whispered. Spike stood at the door, allowing Buffy to brush past. He glanced to the carpet to find shards of glass scattered near the wall. Buffy sat on the couch next to Angel.

'Angel, when did you…' Buffy began, fighting back tears. Angel was silent, staring at the floor.

'Tonight. I went to see Faith at the hospital, but I was too late.' Angel explained.

'We have to tell Giles.' Buffy said.

'Done it.' Angel replied quickly. 'He said to go and tell you, but I had to be alone with her for a while.'

'Angel, how long have you known?' Buffy asked, getting to her feet and turning back to face him. Angel was silent still. 'Angel, how long?' Buffy asked again angrily.

'About two hours. I stayed with her for a while, just talking to her, bring around her, crying for her.'

'And you didn't come and tell me?' Buffy shouted. 'Angel, you know that I'm concerned for her and you should have come straight to me.'

'I was trying to cope Buffy, I just needed time.' Angel snapped back.

'Time is something that Faith is out of now.' Buffy angrily shot back.

'I couldn't leave without saying goodbye.'

'Hey!' Spike interjected. 'Just wait a second. Are you saying Faith's gone? For good?'

'You're a bit slow.' Angel mumbled. Buffy looked down at him angrily.

'Maybe we need to wait until morning so we can sort this all out.' Spike offered.

'No, I'm done here.' Angel said. He got to his feet and wandered into the bathroom. Buffy, Spike and Illyria watched as he leant over the basin and washed his face with water. He looked up into the medicine cupboard's mirror at the faces staring at him from out in the room. It was as if he wasn't there, and that's how he felt without Faith.

Author's Note: It may not seem like a very good place to end it, but I think it will do. We don't need details of the doctors bagging Faith's body or the funeral, now do we? If enough people want a chapter about this, then I'll gladly obey and post one. But otherwise, story's over kiddies, off to bed. Reviews anyone?