Author's note: Really sorry for the delay in updating, didn't realise it had been nearly 2 months. My muse left me and I had a serious case of writers block. Hopefully this chapter makes up for it, even if it is rather short, sorry. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read and review.

Chapter 11

"I've got the results back from the labs regarding Faith's medication. It would appear that the tablets she was taking, although they look like her epilepsy meds, where in fact a placebo. Her status epilepticus episode was caused by her medication being inadvertently stopped, causing her seizure tolerance levels to lower."

"How is that possible?" Trudi exclaimed. "Are you suggesting that someone's tampered with her medication?"

"Possibly, however it could be due to a pharmaceutical error, which we will look into." he replied.

"What about these other pills she's been taking instead, are they harmful?" Michael asked.

Roger shook his head. "No, the pills themselves are harmless. Once her AED levels are back up to par, she should make a full recovery. We're going to consider taking her off the ventilator tomorrow morning, and reversing the sedation. I want to keep her here overnight for EEG testing, once I'm certain that the likely hood of her having multiple seizures has passed, I'll consider moving her out of the ICU."

"That's some good news at least." Michael said.

Roger gave them a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry I don't have anymore information for you, but I promise I'll let you know as soon as I found out who was responsible for this error. In the meantime we need to concentrate on Faith and ensuring she gets well."

Trudi and Michael nodded in agreement, "Yes of course."

They both stood to leave the office as Roger accompanied them to the door. "Thanks again Roger."

"It's the least I could do, if you have any further concerns don't hesitate to contact me."

They where heading towards the ICU when Michael looked at Trudi and sighed. "You realise we'll have to ask Buffy and the others if they've noticed anything out of the ordinary."

"What do you mean?" Trudi questioned.

"This business with the medication doesn't make any sense. Something doesn't sit right."

"There could be a simple explanation for it." Trudi reasoned. "It could be what Roger suggested, a pharmaceutical error."

"You don't believe that do you?"

Trudi sighed, "No, but I don't like to think that someone did this to Faith on purpose. I can't believe that anyone would be that callous."

Willow watched as Kennedy paced a hole in her carpet, when her girlfriend passed by her for the umpteenth time, she grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to sit on the bed beside her. "Sweetie calm down you're making me nervous."

"Sorry." she sighed. "I just…it's Faith you know."

"I know sweetie."

"She's like this force to be reckoned with, I always thought she was indestructible."

Willow smiled softly, "I think we all did."

"And today, when that happened. I've never been so scared in my life." Kennedy whispered, "And I just sat there and watched as she was…God!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in disgust. "She could have died Will, and I just sat there doing nothing!"

"It's because of you that she's still alive." Willow replied calmly.

Kennedy shook her head. "Will-"

"No listen to me!" Willow ordered firmly, "There was nothing more you could have done, you phoned an ambulance because you knew that something wasn't right. When Faith's better she'll tell you that herself. And you know as well as I do, that if you and Xander hadn't been there she might not have been so lucky."

Kennedy sat there in silence, her girlfriends words confirming what part of her already knew, however she still couldn't help but feel she could have done something differently. Maybe if she had Faith wouldn't be in hospital. They'd all have been at Buffy's having their movie night, or dancing it up at the Bronze. They should be celebrating together, not worrying about whether Faith would be okay or not.

"She will be okay won't she Wills." Kennedy whispered.

Willow looked into her watery eyes, and smiled softly. "Course she will Honey, she's Faith." she said simply.

Buffy was woken by someone calling her name, she could feel a hand on her shoulder shaking her gently. Blinking open her eyes, she frowned, momentarily disorientated, before the monotonous beeping of the heart monitor penetrated her senses and she remembered that she was at the hospital. Judging from the pain in her neck, she'd fallen asleep against Faith's bed.

Looking up at her girlfriend she was disappointed to see that there was no change, the rasp of the ventilator showing the seriousness of her condition. Biting back fresh tears she looked to see who had woken her, and saw Michael standing beside her. "Hey, sorry I didn't realise I'd fell asleep." she rasped.

"It's been a long day." he replied. "I'd better run you home Buffy, your mom will be worried."

"I can't leave her." She exclaimed, grasping Faith's hand tightly.

"Buffy sweetheart you need to get some sleep and something to eat. Faith wouldn't want you making yourself ill." Trudi replied softly.

Michael gently helped her to her feet, "You can come back first thing in the morning Buffy." he said gently, "She'll be okay tonight, Trudi and myself will stay with her, and we'll phone you if there are any changes." he said.

"You promise?" she asked tearfully.

"We promise."

Buffy sniffed and turned towards the bed. She studied Faith's face intently before pressing a tender kiss to her temple. "I love you baby. You better be here when I come back in the morning or I'll kill you myself." she whispered, so only Faith could hear her. She couldn't help but smile as she imagined Faith's response to that comment.

Stepping back she wiped the tears from her eyes, before reluctantly following Michael out of the room.

TBC