"I do miss her. I will never stop but it's not the same. You're a pain in the ass, Buffy but truthfully.. and I'll deny it if anyone ever asks if I said this, I wouldn't change that for the world."
"That means a lot, Giles." Buffy whispered, sinking further into the couch. "So does that mean you don't hate me?"
"None of us do. ESpecially not Xander and Willow and frankly, Buffy, if anything, they're a little bit annoyed that you would think that they value their friendship with you so little that you could abolish it by simply yelling at them."
Buffy nodded slightly; the fatigue obviously beginning to overtake her. "I had to try, you understand that, right? You know what it's like to feel like you let someone down. In my case, if I let them die..it really is my fault."
Giles reached across and softly stroked her hair. A moment later he drew her to his chest and held her there, "It's all of our faults for choosing to fight this war."
He waited for her to reply but none came. After a moment he looked down and saw that her eyes were closed. He smiled at her and rested the young Slayer back down on the couch. He drew the blanket back up and over her and then leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.
"I'll stay with her if you'd like to go home," Angel said from the foot of the stairs. "Willow and Xander are both crashed upstairs on her bed and your other friend left about an hour ago."
"I..uh..I think I'd like to stay and watch her. The note from her mother said that she wouldn't be back 'til Wednesday. I think I'd like to keep an eye on Buffy.."
"I figured as much," Angel said with a lop-sided grin. "I think I'll join you..well..Buffy anyways." He moved over to where Buffy was lying and laid down next to her. Giles gave him a strange look but Angel just shrugged.
"Well then..good night." Giles murmured. And with that he crossed over to the opposite couch and laid down himself, his eyes never leaving the Slayers' sleeping form.