A deep breath. They were both such complex creatures -- physically. But she was the one who, despite the bruises and the fractures, only had to sleep off a week of being bashed about. Good as new, she was. On the outside. But he had to wait three months. And even then? There would be scar tissue.

But Nala could help. Willow, too, could have helped. A dozen other magical healers in town could have done the same or more but Buffy focused on the missing red-head.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there. I..." Buffy didn't know what she could have done. What difference she could have made. Guns..."I guess I thought you'd already made it that far. The tunnels were right there. The end in sight."