The door swung open with a loud bang. Everyone in the room looked up startled.

Buffy stood in the doorway, her hair was plastered down across her face, her clothes wet and torn, blood splashed across them but most disturbing was the limp figure in her arms.

Giles was the first to make it to the door offering a towel to the wet slayer. "Where can I put her?" Buffy asked ignoring the towel as she stumbled further inside the house.

"Here Buff" Xander said snapping out of his daze and moving things off the couch. Giles helped and then lay the towel down on top.

"Where's Willow" Buffy said looking around the room franticly after putting the figure on the couch.

"Um, ah, she..." Xander started.

"Go and find her" Buffy snapped. Xander nodded and ran out the still open door.

"Buffy I don't think you'll be able..." Giles was cut off by a glare from the slayer

"Help me or stay out of the way" she warned.

Giles nodded and went to get the larger first aid box.

When he got back Buffy had removed most of the persons torn clothing and had begun wiping away some dirt from the larger wounds.

"Can you do anything to help whilst we wait for Willow?" Buffy asked not turning around to look at the rest of the group.

"I'll do what I can" Tara said moving next to the couch.

"What's wrong?" Willows anxious voice carried across the silent room even before she had fully entered the house. "Xander said I was needed but not why, what's going on"

Buffy looked up, tears running down her face. Willow ran to her side, her mouth dropping open as she took her first look at the unconscious figure laying on the couch.

"But, but how, how is this possible?"