“”SO let me get this right, this demon plans to open the hellmouth.” Buffy said.

“That’s correct.” Giles confirmed.

“They can’t do that!” Buffy exclaimed.

“No, not without the slayers blood. Apparently the ritual you dreamt of, well it brings forth the demons from hell.” Giles explained.

“But not without the slayers blood?” Oz asked.

“True.”

“So we’re fine then, as long as these demons can’t get Buffy, then we’re fine.” Xander said.

“What about Faith?” Willow asked.

“Oh bloody hell, she’s gone on one of her walkabouts. We have to warn her.” Giles said.

“Faith’s a big girl, she can handle herself.” Xander stated.

“You don’t understand.” Giles said. “These demons won’t stop until they get what they want.”

“So I’ll find Faith and warn her.” Buffy said.

“I’ll come with you.” Oz volunteered.

Buffy smiled gratefully at him. “Xander, Willow, you help Giles.”

“I don’t take orders from you.” Willow said.

“Listen Willow, I don’t care right now that you’re mad at me. All I care about is saving this world. So are you with me, because if you’re not, get out!” Buffy said.

There was a shocked silence in the room. “I’m in.” Willow muttered.

“Good.” Buffy replied, as she and Oz walked out the room she heard Giles ask, “Did I miss something?”

“Faith are you in there!” Buffy yelled through the door of Faith apartment.

“She’s not in there.” Oz said.

“But we’ve looked everywhere else.” Buffy said.

“Look, we’ve been looking for nearly three hours, I say we go back to the library.” Oz suggested.

“Ok.” Buffy agreed.

“And with the slayers blood, the mouth of hell shall be opened.”

Faith lay unconscious, while the demons performed the ritual from Buffy’s dream.

Just as Buffy and Oz reached the library, it felt like an earthquake had hit Sunnydale.

Buffy immediately realized what was happening. “Willow, Xander, Giles get over here now!”

They all immediately obeyed her. Each with a weapon in hand they watched as the creature rose from the ground.

“If we stop this creature, the hellmouth will close.” Giles informed the slayer.

“So what are we waiting for?” She asked as she ran in to fight. Almost immediately she struck the demon with a dagger, but it had little effect.

“Go for the heart.” Giles called.

Buffy was about to do as instructed, but the creature batted her away sending her flying. The others fought as best they could, but none of them could match the skill of the slayer. Luckily the slayer came back and went straight for the heart. With an almighty scream the creature slashed wildly with it’s razor sharp claws and stabbed the slayer, as he disappeared back into hell.

Buffy took a few steps back towards Oz, before collapsing.

“Buffy!” He cried. “Oh God.”

“She’s losing a lot of blood, we’d better get her to a hospital.” Giles said.

Xander went to phone for an ambulance, and Giles put pressure on the wound. Willow watched as Oz knelt down and took Buffy’s hand. “Stay with me, you can’t leave me.” He whispered.

Willow rushed to comfort him, but he shrugged her off, only wanting Buffy. And it was at that moment that Willow realized how much Oz loved the slayer. Willow cried for her best friend, and the loss of Oz to another woman.

“Hey, it’s gonna be alright.” Xander told Willow.

“I told her I never wanted to see her again.” Willow cried. Not being able to watch Buffy and Oz anymore, Willow ran out of the library.

Once the paramedics had arrived they stabilized Buffy, but Xander did hear when the female said the words, “Looks like a DOA.” To her partner in a low voice.

Xander hated this, he’d always loved Buffy, but she had Oz. There was someone else that needed him more. So he went to look for Willow.

After Buffy was in the ambulance, the paramedic turned to Giles, “Any other injuries?”

Giles only shook his head in despair.

Once at the hospital, Giles headed towards the doctor. “Buffy Summers, is she going to be OK?”

“I’m sorry it doesn’t look good, she’s lost a lot of blood.” The doctor replied.

“But the is a chance.”

The doctor paused before answering. “Yes.”

Oz took Buffy’s hand in his own. “Hey Buffy, there are so many things that I want to say to you. Being with you for the last few days has been the best of my life. I always thought that I could never love anyone as much as Willow, until there was you. I love you.” He took a deep breath. “So I said it. Now do something for me, I mean hey, I’m saying more in one go than ever before, just please wake up. You gotta wake up.”

He felt Buffy stir, so he called for a doctor. Buffy’s eyes fluttered open briefly. “Oz.” She murmured.

“I’m here.” He told her.

The doctor walked in and checked Buffy’s pulse.

“Hmm.” She said.

Mmm, what?” Oz asked.

“It’s quite amazing, the would is healing quite fast.”

“That’s Buffy.” Oz grinned.

“This young woman is very lucky, I think we can safely say she is going to be fine.”

“You’re serious?” Oz said happily.

“Very serious.” The doctor looked at Buffy again, who was stirring. “I’ll leave you two alone.”

Once the doctor had gone, Oz turned to the slayer. “Hey.”

“Hi Oz, your still here.” Buffy murmured.

“I’ll never leave you, I promise.” Oz assured he.

“Willow, Giles, Xander, are they OK? Buffy asked.

“Yeah they’re fine. We’re all worried about you though.”

“Don’t worry about me, I heal.” Buffy pointed out.

“True, but you should take it easy.” Oz warned her.

“Is Willow still angry?” Buffy asked.

“She’s worried.” Oz answered. “Anyway, looks as though she and Xander…”

“Are you Ok about that?”

“I’m great, I’ve got you.” Oz said.

“You do?” Buffy asked.

“Only if you want me to.” Oz said.

“I do, I want you.” Buffy assured him.

“Oz smiled. “Do you want me to get Giles?”

“Sure.” Buffy replied.

“Come on Will, we have to go to the hospital to find out how Buffy is.” Xander insisted to Willow.

“I can’t face her and Oz.” Willow protested.

“So that’s why you want to be with me, to get revenge on Oz and Buffy.” Xander realized.

“No-” Willow started.

“You know what Willow, I thought that we had something special going on, you’re my best friend. But I won’t be used for revenge.” Xander said.

“You’ve always loved her, am I to lose every man I love to the slayer?”

“Willow listen to yourself. Buffy is your best friend. She’s lying in hospital, what’s up with you?” Xander asked.

“I don’t know, it just hurts. First I lose you, then Oz, then you… again. And now I could lose Buffy.” Willow sobbed.

“You are not going to lose Buffy, and I’m not going anywhere.” Xander held Willow close.

“How is she?” Giles asked Oz.

“Putting up a brave front.” Oz replied.

Giles walked in to see Buffy looking very pale, and lying down. “How are you feeling?”

“Ok, a bit nauseous.” Buffy replied.

“Well you lost a lot of blood.” Giles pointed out.

“So that’s how you feel once a vamp has bitten you.” She joked, after seeing Giles face she quickly said. “Sorry, not funny. Bad joke.”

“Well I’m afraid I have some rather bad news.” Giles said.

“Slayer news?”

“Faith must have been captured, so until we find her, these demons will keep trying to open the hell mouth.”

“Thanks Giles, what can I do from where I am now?” buffy asked sarcastically.

“Well in my reading I found that the ritual of opening the hell mouth can not be performed on consecutive nights. So we have nearly forty eight hours to find Faith.” Giles explained.

“So Faith could be alive?” Buffy asked.

“I’m sure of it.” Giles said. “As for you being in here. I spoke to the nurse, and she said that the way you’ve been recovering, you could be out of here tomorrow morning. So I suggest you get some rest. That is unless you would like to see Oz.” Giles asked.

Buffy rolled her eyes at Giles inquisitive look. “Yes please.”

The next day after Buffy had been discharged fro the hospital, the whole Scooby Gang minus Cordelia, were in the library working out a way to save Faith.

“our main priority right now is to find out the exact location of Faiths whereabouts.” Giles pointed out. “And there are a few places I think we should check out. Firstly there is a spot a couple of miles out of town.”

“Well if we have weapons, then lets go there.” Buffy suggested.

“Are you sure you are up to it?” Oz asked.

“I’m fine honestly. But right now we have to find Faith. Last time the opened the hell mouth, we had no major injuries, this time we might not be so lucky.” Buffy said.

“I’ll drive.” Oz volunteered, taking Buffy’s hand, they led the other three to Oz’s van.

“Giles, we’re kinda leaving here not knowing what we are facing.” Willow pointed out.

“Oh we know what we are facing, demon, and all we have to do is kill them.” Buffy said.

“Oh, I’m so glad my life is simple.” Xander said sarcastically.

“I’m afraid Buffy is right, the only way to save Faith is to kill these demons. And the only way is violence. I’ve been reading up, and there are no spells or incantations to harm this particular demon.” Giles explained.

“We’re here.” Oz said.

They pulled up outside a warehouse; they were in an almost completely deserted area. “Ok here’s the plan, Xander, Oz and I will distract the demons, but Giles and Willow are there to get Faith out, then run. That goes for you two too.” Buffy turned to Oz and Xander. “Let me do most of the fighting, it’s my job.” She turned to Giles, “Phone Angel. We’re going to need back up.”

“How do we know we’re at the right place?” Willow asked.

“I just know.” Was Buffy’s only reply.

Buffy, Oz and Xander silently entered the warehouse through a broken window. “Remember, stab these things with something sharp and silver, and we’re Ok.” Buffy whispered.

There were five demons, and Faith was chained to a wall, she looked unconscious. The sight of Faith looking so helpless made Buffy’s blood boil. “Let’s go.” She ordered.

The three of them charged in, Xander and Oz worked together to kill two of the creatures, whilst Buffy fought her way through the rest.

Giles and Willow took advantage of the distraction on the demon half, and went in to collect Faith.

They found the key to her chains, and carried the unconscious slayer out the warehouse.

With only two demons left, Buffy felt sure they had the upper hand. “Xander, Oz get out!” She yelled.

“I’m not going to leave you.” Oz said.

“Yes you are, now go.”

Whilst stabbing another demon, Buffy didn’t have time to protect Oz from the last demons deadly claws. Xander who was nearby, punched and kicked the demon violently before stabbing it.

“Oh my God, Oz.” Buffy cried rushing over to him. She felt for a pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief when she located a faint one. “Xander go get Giles.” Xander did as he was told.

Buffy knelt down beside Oz. He opened his eyes, and looked at her. “I told you to leave.” She said.

“And I promised I never would.” Oz said.

“But look at you, you’re injured, and it’s all because I couldn’t protect you.” She said, a tear falling down her cheek.

Oz reached up and caught it with his finger. His hand lingered on her face a while longer. “I love you.” He whispered.

Buffy looked shocked before answering, “I love you too.”

“I just had to tell you that…” Oz said.

“You’re not leaving me, you promised. So don’t you dare say your good-byes.” Buffy said, tears streaming down her face. “I’m not going to lose you.”

“Buffy.” Oz said.

“What?” She asked softly.

Oz grinned weakly. “A promise is a promise.” Buffy leaned forward to kiss him, to that he responded.

The sound of a man clearing his throat broke them apart. Buffy looked to see Angel and Willow standing there.

“Giles is tending to Faith. It doesn’t look good.” Willow explained.

“Oz needs help.” Buffy announced.

Angel covered Oz with his jacket, whilst applying pressure to the wound. He looked at Buffy. “We have to wait for the ambulance now.”

Buffy looked at Oz, who had lost consciousness again. “You promised you wouldn’t leave me.” She whispered.

“And he won’t.” Willow said gently, “But there’s nothing else we can do right now.”

Buffy turned to Willow. “Faith how is she?” She demanded.

“I don’t know Buffy,” Willow said, “I don’t think it looks too promising.”

“We were too late, I should of stopped this earlier.” Buffy said.

“It’s not your fault Buffy.” Angel assured her.

“I’m the slayer, I should have protected her.”

“So is Faith. You can’t be there for everyone.” Willow pointed out.

“I just wish I could of done something.” Buffy said. She felt Oz stirring next to her.

Willow looked at Angel. “Lets see how Faith is doing.” She suggested.

Having left Buffy and Oz alone, Angel turned to Willow, a question in his eyes. ”What’s going on between those two?” He asked.

“They’re together.” Willow said.

“And you don’t mind?”

“I don’t have much choice. Oz and I are finished, mainly because of me and Xander, but now because of Buffy.”

“I’ve never seen Buffy so desperate or upset before.” Angel said.

“I have; once before.” Willow said.

“She really loves him?” Angel stated, more than asked, pain evident on his face.

“He loves her.” Willow replied, “That much is obvious. I hope they are happy together.” Wiping away a tear, she and Angel walked towards the ambulance, which was loading Faith into the back.

“What did the paramedics say about Faith?” Willow asked Giles.

His face said it all, “She’s lost a lot of blood…”

“Oh.” Willow turned to see the paramedics loading Oz into the back of another ambulance. She saw Xander rush over to comfort a sobbing Buffy. Willow looked away in pain. She would never truly have Xander; Buffy would always come first. Crying she felt two arms pull her into a hug.

“It’ll be alright, they’re gonna be Ok.” Angel whispered. He led her to Oz’s van, which Giles was driving to the hospital.

Buffy paced around in the waiting room, when she saw a doctor she ran up to him. “Um, could you tell me how Oz… I mean Daniel Osbourne is?”

“He’s gonna be fine, you can go and see him if you like.”

Buffy walked into Oz’s room. “Hi.” She greeted him.

“Hey.” He replied smiling weakly.

“How are you feeling?”

“Suddenly better.” He grinned.

“Well we saved the world again.” Buffy announced.

“What about Faith?” He asked.

“I don’t know. I’m going to find out how she is, but I had to see you first.”

“Well I’m ok, but I’m worried about you, you look pale.” Oz replied.

“It’s just been a really weird night.” Buffy said.

“Go find out how Faith is.” Oz urged her.

“Ok, I’ll be back though.” She said kissing him briefly.

Buffy walked out into the waiting room, she saw the gang, they rushed towards her, but Xander reached her first. “How is Oz?” He asked.

“He’s good. Have you heard about Faith?” Buffy replied.

As if on cue, the doctor arrived. Giles walked over to him. “Well?”

The doctor looked at the floor, and then looked Giles in the eye. “I’m very sorry, there was nothing we could do.”

“Oh my God.” Willow whispered.

“I wish there was something we could of done, but she’d lost too much blood.” The doctor said.

“Thank you.” Giles said quietly.

“I’ll go tell Oz.” Buffy said, and headed off in the direction of his room.

“Maybe I should go with her.” Xander said.

“No Xander, give her a minute.” Giles suggested.

“The sun’ll be up soon.” Angel said suddenly. “I better leave.”

“I think we should all go home and rest.” Giles said.

Willow nodded, but Xander said, “I’ll say and wait for Buffy.”

“I’ll give you a lift home Willow.” Giles said, looking a Xander Willow thanked Giles.

After they had left, Xander sat down and waited, he couldn’t get the image of Willow’s hurt face out of his mind. Guiltily he tried to push it away. When he saw Buffy walk in to the room, he went up to her. “You Ok.”

“Oz is asleep, do you want to go for a walk, I don’t feel much like going home.”

“Sure.” Xander agreed.

“So, you and Oz… that’s a bit of a surprise.” Xander said.

“Yeah, Willow sure was surprised.” Buffy commented.

“Well it’s hard for her.”

“That’s how you feel about Cordelia, huh?”

“Yeah, sorta.”

“Willow loves you Xander. But you already knew that didn’t you?” Buffy asked. Xander nodded. “And you love her.” Again Xander nodded.

“So tell her, now.” Buffy said.

“It’s late.” Xander said. Then turned to Buffy. “How are you?”

“I just can’t believe Faith gone. My life is so great right now, my friend’s dead, my best mate hates me, and my boyfriend is in hospital.” Buffy said sarcastically.

“Willow doesn’t hate you.” Xander pointed out. “She’s just hurt.”

“I know.” Buffy said. “I just wish she would talk to me about it.”

“Give it time.” Xander said.

Buffy went to the hospital the next morning to meet Oz who was being discharged. “we’re meeting the others in the library.” She told him.

“Buffy, listen, I’m sorry about Faith.” Oz said.

“It’s ok, but I just wish that she and I had parted on better terms last time we met.”

“I’m sure there would be no hard feelings.” Oz assured her.

Buffy smiled gratefully.

“But |I am kinda wondering one thing.” Oz said.

“And what’s that?” Buffy asked.

“Who the next slayer will be?”

Buffy and Oz reached the library, and saw that only Giles was there. “Hi.” Buffy called to him. “Xander and Willow are no shows?”

“As of yet.” Giles said. “And how are you feeling Oz?”

“I’ve been better.” He replied.

“So there’s no danger of the hell mouth being reopened.” Buffy asked.

“Not by this demon.” Giles answered.

Xander walked in. “Willow here? I need to talk to her.”

“Not yet.” Oz replied.

A minute later Willow wandered in. “Ah, good Willow, can we talk?” Xander asked.

Willow looked confused, but nodded. They were about to walk out when a middle aged woman walked in, she spoke with a British accent. “Are you Willow Rosenburg?” She asked the girl in question. Willow nodded. “I’m Audrey Healy from the watchers council.” She introduced herself. “You must come with me.”

“Why?” Willow asked.

“If this is slayer business, then talk to me, I’m the slayer.” Buffy said.

“And so is Willow Rosenburg.”

Willow looked as though she might faint.

“What?” Buffy demanded.

“Of course.” Giles murmured.

“Oh my God.” Willow said. “I’m the slayer.” She turned to Audrey. “Could you give us a minute?”

“Of course.” Audrey left the library.

Buffy broke out in a massive smile. “We’re slayers, the two chosen.”

“It seems that way.” Oz muttered.

“Is it possible that they’ve made a mistake.” Willow asked.

“The council rarely makes a mistake on any matters such as these.” Giles said.

“So it’s official.” Willow murmured.

Xander walked over to Willow. “You know I’ve always had a thing for slayers.” He whispered.

“You know guys, I need just a second to deal with this.” Willow said.

“Will, can I talk to you for a moment?” Buffy asked.

Willow nodded, and the two walked into Giles’s office. “Willow I’m sorry about Oz.” Buffy apologized.

“No it’s me that should be sorry. I never should of gone off like that.” Willow said.

“It’s ok. So you’re a slayer. This is great.” Buffy said.

“It’s kinda hard to swallow at the moment.” Willow smiled.

“It’s like that at first, but when you do accept it, you really appreciate it.” The two slayers hugged before returning. Buffy saw Xander slip his hand into Willows. Buffy smiled at the knowledge that those two would be Ok.

Audrey came back in to explain a few things to Willow.

Oz was tugging on Buffy’s hand to leave. They walked outside the school and sat and talked. “Well that was surreal.” Buffy commented.

“Agreed.” Oz said. “Willow a slayer.”

“It’s great isn’t it?” Buffy said.

“Talk about Xander having a thing for slayers, I’ve dated two of them.” Oz smiled.

“Where do we go now, with us I mean?”

“You know I’m happy the way things are going now.” Oz told her.

“Well at least things are good between me and Will again.” She looked at Oz. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.”

“Hey, I almost lost you the day before that.”

“It’s been a weird couple of days.” Buffy commented. Oz held Buffy close, and she felt a shiver go down her spine. “And you didn’t leave me.” Buffy said.

“Just as I promised.” He turned to Buffy; he brushed back a strand of her hair. “What I said last night at the warehouse, I meant. I love you.”