Life And Death After Highschool: No Use Crying
by Buffy Anne Harris
Cordelia Chase entered Sunnydale Community Hospital. She made her way to the nurses' station, noticing that one of the hallways had been cordoned off. Probably something else no one bothered to tell her about. She looked at the nurse who was on the phone with a look of impatience. "Which room is Xander Harris in?" she asked. The nurse merely held up one finger in a motion for her to wait. Cordy was of course in no mood for this she put her finger on the phone hanging it up. She held down the small buttons. "I asked a question. Which.. Way.. To.. Xander.. Harris'.. Room?" she said again slowly this time, making sure to emphasize each word. The nurse looked at her angrily and pointed in the direction for his room.

Cordy smiled, "Thanks." And let up the hook. The nurse heard the person on the other end asking if she was there and went back to her conversation. Cordelia continued down the hall to Xander's room. She was about to go when she peaked in and saw Buffy sitting there with him, holding his hand.

Inside the room, Xander lay in the hospital bed, the guardrails on both sides of the bed, wires extended from his body, attaching themselves to machines and monitors close by. Buffy's outreached hands held his through the bars. Cordelia watched and a small tear formed in her eye. She could hear them talking softly.

"It was the strangest thing," Buffy stated in closing to Xander, she had finished describing to him the events that unfolded in her dream. She looked down on him with worry and compassion in her eyes.

Xander met her eyes weakly, "I know, Buff, we'll find her." He tried sounding reassuring, yet he was feeling so tired. He was wrestling with his eyelids, trying to keep them from shutting. Buffy could sense that he was fatigued and she knew he needed his rest.

"You're tired, you need to rest," Buffy stated with compassion and caring in her voice. "I'm going to stay with you until Giles calls with news. Then I will have Willow and Oz stay with you while I go and hunt down the vamps who did this to you." As she finished, she stood, letting go of his hand, and pulling the cover up over him.

Cordelia stood there in the hallway watching. Unsure how to feel. Unsure of anything. Xander's eyes slowly shut as he began to drift off to sleep. And Buffy sat back down in her chair to watch him sleep. She reached out and held his hand. A few moments later, she could tell he was sound asleep. She leaned close and gently kissed him on the forehead. Then sitting back in her chair, she watched his slowing breath as he slept.

Out in the hall, a tear rolled down the cheek of Cordelia Chase, as she slowly turned and walked away. When she reached the end of the hall, she paused a moment, wiped the tears from her eyes, and whispered, "Goodbye," then resumed her journey down the cold sterile hospital corridor.


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