Buffy had a free moment to breathe just as Xander was being half-strangled, half-squeezed by a vampire that she'd only been able to see out of the corner of her eye. He must've snuck out of her line of vision while she was being pummeled.
"Not so fast, Sparky," she called out, rushing to aid her friend as she shoved the wooden stake through the middle of his back.
"You alright?" she asked, letting go of a breath quickly.