Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, but I do own Sophie, baby Lily, and Echo the puppy :)

A few hours passed, but unfortunately, the situation hadn't improved at all. Buffy's condition seemed to be worsening by the second, and the Scoobies were still no closer to finding any cure. Add to that the the fact that the tension between Riley and to certain ensouled vampires was becoming so thick that it seemed like they were going to snap and attack each other any moment, and you had a very stressful situation on your hands, a situation which Willow, having become the unquestioned second in command of the Scooby gang, had to deal with. Faith, however, was completely oblivious to the troubles of her friends downstairs, her mind focused on only one thing: the well-being of her ailing girlfriend.

"Here, B" said Faith, lifting a glass of water to her sister slayer's parched lips. "You should drink somethin'."

"I don't think I could" said Buffy weakly, shaking her head.

"You have to" said Faith, a little more forcefully. "It might make you feel better."

"Okay" Buffy relented and took a sip of water, knowing that her girlfriend only had her best interests at heart, however feeble she now thought her efforts may be. Unfortunately, almost as soon as Buffy had swallowed it, the water came straight back up. Faith frantically dabbed away the moisture around her girlfriends mouth with a towel.

"Maybe you had a little too much, B" she said. "Smaller sips next time, okay?" Buffy nodded, although she didn't think that that was the problem at all.

"Faith, I think we should talk about something.."

"Anything B, I'm listenin'."

"If.. If I don't make it.." At these words, the Dark Slayer's skin paled, and she suddenly became a lot less willing to listen.

"Don't say that, B. You're gonna be fine. Everybody's doun there workin' on gettin' you better right now."

"I know" said Buffy, taking a deep, rattling breath. "But just in case, there are some things I need to tell you just to.." she took another breath, "ease my mind a little."

"Okay" Faith agreed reluctantly. "If you really think you need to."

"I do" said Buffy. "Okay, you know my lucky stake?"

"Mr Pointy?"

"That's the one" Buffy smiled softly. "Kendra gave it to me just before she died, and I've kept it ever since. If something happens to me, I want you to have it."

"Okay" Faith repeated, frowning. "But nothin's gonna happen to you, B."

"I know" said Buffy, more to placate Faith than actually believing in the words. "And the Slayer scythe, you'll be in charge of that too. And you'll have to take care of Dawnie for me. She's lost so much already.."

"She's not gonna lose you, B" said Faith. "None of us are."

"I know" Buffy repeated again, taking another weak breath. "Now, this next part is the most important of all, so you have to listen really good, okay?"

"Okay" Faith nodded. Buffy smiled weakly, tracing the features of her girlfriend's face with her finger.

"I love you, Faith. No matter what happens, I will always, always love you. Never forget that."

"I love you too, B" Faith replied. It was at this moment she noticed her girlfriend's breathing had become very shallow. Buffy had fallen limp and heavy against Faith's side, and her eyelids had drifted shut. "Hang on there B, Red told me I'm not supposed to let ya fall asleep when you're poisoned. Buffy did not respond. "B?" Faith repeated, her blood running cold. The original slayer showed no sign of life apart from her dangerously shallow breathing. "This isn't funny B, now open your eyes." Faith began to shake her girlfriend. "You can't do this to me B!" she cried. "Buffy, come on, wake up! Buffy!"