Okay, because it's ten AM, I feel better, I have my music, and I'm still on dog-watch duty. :/

BUT BUT BUT: I HAS GOOD NEWS!

The good news is: I UPLOADED TODAY. YEAH YEAH YEAH.

And maybe, I might upload chapter 17 today..

Enjoy!

***

A large feeling of deja vu washed over me as I opened my eyes slowly. What happened yesterday?

And then it all came to me.

I had a gun held to my stomach and my head..And then..Oh yeah. I got freaking shot and Jackson disappeared with the guy that shot me.

 It's either because I was nauseous or because I was shot, but my stomach is hurting. I can't even think about eating, it just makes me feel sick.

Nobody was in the room right now. I was alone, so I reach out to Leto.

"Leto?"

"Faye? Thank goodness," Leto replied right away.

My heart ached with relief. Thank gosh we didn't lose our bond.

"I'm so sorry," Leto whispers. "I should of helped you."

"There wasn't really anything you could do." I hesitate. I mean, it was true. We were surrounded by humans, but that didn't stop Arch.

"Arch has the ability to erase the minds of them," Leto tells me, reading my thoughts, "He can make them forget they saw him..but.."

"But what?"

"He can't make them forget they saw other supernatural creatures," Leto says, sounding guilty. "It was banned by Lucifer himself. He wants the humans to go crazy if they see a supernatural. I would of-"

"I don't blame you Leto," I say. "We wouldn't want Slayers on our tails, or humans. There was nothing you could do."

Leto sighed. "I just feel guilty."

"Well don't," I said firmly, "You did what you could, but what's done is done."

I felt Leto relax in my head, so to speak. Well, her emotions did.

I couldn't stay awake anymore. I was pulled into a dark, black pit of dreamless sleep.

 -*-

I felt like I was torn apart into tiny bits of pieces and thrown around, stomped on, then got glued back together.

Trust me, the feeling isn't good. 

"She's opening her eyes," A distant voice echoed. It was female, maybe Mom? No, it wasn't Mom's voice.

When I stretched open my heavy eyes things adjusted to the light. Jordan was standing over me, with Mom and Dad over her shoulder. Quince and Lucy were both to my right, staring down at me with concerned looks.

I look down at my arms, which had tubes in them leading to IV's. I was in a hospital gown and had a breathing tube in my nose.

I lifted my hand and started to pull out the nose tube, but Mom reaches out her hand and grabs my own. "Don't take that out, sweetheart."

My mouth is so dry, I have to open and close it like a fish. I felt like I haven't talked in three years. 

"Why?" I rasp, managing to finally speak. Although, it did hurt my throat a little.

"They have you connected to it for a reason, you know," Lucy said, a small smile playing at her lips. "Not just for you to tear them out, Missy."

I manage to smile at Lucy, but just saying that first word in who knows how long really tired me. 

"Are you thirsty?" Mom asked, petting my hair. 

I nod quickly and she leaves the room. Probably looking for a nurse.

Jordan blinks, tears leaking out of her eyes. "I'm sorry."

I shake my head at her, giving her a fierce glare. It isn't her fault the coffee place was robbed! It's not like she can predict the future, after all.

"I should of done something," Jordan continued, avoiding my glare. "Jumped in front of you? I don't know. But I'm so sorry, little sister."

"Jordan-" Dad starts, reaching his hand out, but I've had enough. She shouldn't blame herself.

"Jordan," I say, my voice scratchy and weak, "this is not you're fault, okay? This wasn't something you could predict. Besides-" I gesture for her to lean down, and when she does I whisper in her ear, "-you had a baby to take care of, Jord. I would've never forgiven you if you jumped in front of me, got shot, and lost the baby."

Jordan pulled away from me so she could look at my face, and I noticed she had bags under her eyes as she nodded a little. "I-I guess you're right."

Quince and Lucy shot us questioning and curious looks but didn't ask what I whispered.

Mom returned, a cup of water in hand. She sat down on the end of the bed, handing the water over. I took it gratefully. As I was pulling the cup towards my mouth, I noticed my hands were shaking badly.

I brought the cup to my lips and started to take big gulps, but Quince stops me. "Slow down," she tells me, tilting the cup away from my lips, "You're stomach might be.."

I grip the cup. "Weak, I know."

"Well.." She seemed lost for words, before she sighed, "Yeah. It's probably not very strong at the moment."

I take slower sips. When I set the cup down, I ask, "Do Jackson and Ken know?"

"Yes," Mom answers, pulling the blanket closer to me. Motherly instincts have taken over her, it seems, I think with an eye roll. Moms. "They've been waiting in the lobby on the first floor since Tuesday. I sent them home last night to rest and shower up. They'll be back today, I think."

"Tues-" I furrow my eyebrows. "Mom, how long have I been out?"

Mom and Dad share a look. Dad says, "About four days."

"F-four days?" I rasp, eyes widening. "Nuh-uh. Can't be."

"Faye, sweetheart," Mom leans over, hand on my knee. "You've been unconscious for four days."

"No," I said again. "That's not right. I woke up once, for like, ten minutes. I spoke to Leto."

Everybody shared a glance, as if shocked. "But..the doctor had said there wasn't any change of your situation," Lucy murmured.

"Well, nobody was in the room when I did wake up," I retorted, sitting up. That, however, was a mistake because sharp pain shot through my stomach like pins and needles. I groaned and slide back to my other position with help from Dad.

"Be careful," he warned, his hand on my hair. He frowns, a deeply worried look on his face. "You're still very weak."

"I thought I'd be..I don't know, recovering."

"Sweetheart," Mom said sadly, "The surgery you went through was long and hard."

"It was?" I gave her a shocked and confused look.

"Yes." She looked down at her hands, a tear blinking in her eye. "The bullet was so deep. It had caused so much internal bleeding and outer bleeding that they thought you wouldn't make it. It had punctured a lot of organs, and it took over six hours to get you into a stable position during and after surgery."

A deep feeling of horror welled inside of me. "I nearly..died?"

Mom, Dad, and Jordan all nodded solemnly. Jordan and Mom were sniffling still, along with Quince. Lucy had dry tear streaks and looked as if she were trying to hold back any stray tears. Even Dad was crying a little.

"Well," I say weakly. "At least I'm okay now, right?"

Lucy smiled, Quince let out a sob on accident it seems, but was looking relieved. Mom and Dad were smiling as well, and Jordan was laugh-sobbing.

"Always positive," Jordan said, sniffling.

"Well," I said again, "It's not good for the unstable to be in negative air after all."

They all laughed, even I gave small giggles. It hurt to laugh, though.

But the air was lighter, the thick and sad air had faded away.

***********

YAS HAHA. I WAS ABLE TO POST YESSS.

REMEMBER:

One-shots are due this Sunday, if none turn up the one-shot page will be taken down!

Until next time, beauties! :)

-Grace xx