Rating: M for this chapter it involves injury from a shooting but it's not graphic. Please read A/N for more details.

Disclaimer: I just own the people you don't know, for example most of the Millers and Rosenberg's.

A/N: This chapter was written about a year ago and will involve a slight school violence, I tried to rework it to be less offensive, but this was kind of a prime part of the story and I couldn't find a better way to make it flow with the story. I apologize if anyone gets offended by the background for the scene. I understand that school shootings are a real hot issue right now and I didn't write this to upset anyone.

Melissa: I loved Oz/Willow together too so I know where you are coming from. I just can't write him to save my life. As of right now I have no plans of bringing in Angel. I am not sure how he would fit into this story. If this makes you not want to read the rest of the story I understand, and will not be offended. I will warn you that this will more then likely end up with a Buffy/Riley pairing. I know that there aren't a lot of Riley fans out there, I was a fan of him, but I hope to make him a little bit more likeable then they did on the show.

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) )

It had been two weeks since the awkward talk between Willow and Ira. Dawn had been spared any sort of punishment that day thanks to Grandma Gail and Isabella, there was a grounding for her though. After a lecture on how you're not suppose to snoop through your siblings things she along with the boys were all grounded. The boys however were still serving their time she was now free, apparently reading through Diary's was less invasive than setting up video and audio equipment to snoop.

Dawn sat at her desk at the school. She really didn't mind the time she spent at the place but she would have rather been spending time with her new friends.

Dawn had found great friends in the Miller girls.

It didn't hurt that Jenoah came to visit Natanael and Efren when the girls came around to see Willow and the others. Dawn could easily say she had a crush on the older boy.

Dawn gathered her things and walked out of the room waving goodbye to her teacher. She wasn't doing too bad of a job trying to keep the girl on track. Dawn was passing with a solid B in all her classes. As she made her way down the hall Dawn was happy to be heading home for the day. After her moms death Dawn never thought she would be apart of a real family again, oh sure she loved the Scoobies and they were a family but Willows family weren't a bunch of mismatched misfits they were a true family and that was what Dawn loved.

"Hey there Dawnie. Need a lift home?" a male voice asked from behind her.

She turned to see Jenoah in his car a Mercedes C-Class in bright red. She had never understood the motto of 'Boys and their toys.' before meeting Jenoah he loved his car almost as much as his family. He was grinning up at her. It was becoming a regular occurrence with the two of them. He would pick her up and take her home everyday from school.

"I don't know, it looks like a pretty day. I think I might walk." she told him as she stepped off the bottom step and started walking away from the car.

Jenoah pushed lightly on the gas pedal and slowly started following her. She smiled a bit to herself as she continued to walk. They both knew by the time that she got to the end of the side walk she would be sliding into the front passenger seat as he would push in his latest music obsession.

Dawn continued to slowly walk down the sidewalk all the while Jenoah inched behind her in the car. Jenoah had been watching the girl but also had been watching their surroundings. He didn't ease up on the gas when he saw the same black van drive by oh so slowly for the forth time. Stopping the car and slamming the gear shift into park he jumped out of the his vehicle grabbing his cell phone as he stepped out. He walked over to her just as he saw that the black van had pulled in the drive way.

"Get in the car Dawn." he said as gently as he could in a low murmur trying not to freak her out.

He was hoping he was the one over thinking this whole situation. However his hope turned out wrong when the van speed up and aimed right for them.

"Dawn Ella Summers! Get your butt in the car right now!" he shouted at her in the same way that Grandma Gail had yelled at her.

The two turned back toward the car, Jenaoh flung open the door and watched as the van increased it's speed once more. The young Italian boy KNEW that if they got in that car there was no time to move and they would die. He waited until the last possible second and flung himself and Dawn to the side as the van and the Mercedes collided. He would mourn the death of his car later right now he had to get her to safety.

"Run!" he urged her as they climbed to their feet and ran back toward the school.

Once they got inside they could hide or lock the doors or something. He chanced a glance back as he heard shouting in a different language. He saw six men climb out of the black van and race toward them. Fear shot to his heart when he saw them carrying guns. Big guns that they were now aiming at the two fleeing teens.

Dawns long legs had her reaching the front doors first, Jenoah was a couple of steps behind her. They ran inside and dived to the floor as bullets sprayed the doors and glass.

"Go." he said as he climbed to his feet bringing her with him he turned back and locked the doors even though he knew it wouldn't slow the men down for long if at all.

They ran down the hall and made a right. He knew just where he wanted to go.

There was a little hide away hole or more commonly known as a panic room, in one of the classrooms in the Miller Wing of the school, both of the two families had a wing in the school since they've donated so much money to it. There was also one in the Rosenberg wing but the Miller one was closer. No one knew it was there, the Millers and Rosenberg's where the only ones. It helped that Jeremiah's contracting company were the ones that built the wings.

"Where are we going?" Dawn finally asked.

Jenoah held his finger to her lips. He drug her into the classroom and as quietly as he could moved the trap door of the code pad that was behind a shelve and painted to match the color of the walls, punched in a code on the code pad a door to the right of them opened up after replacing the trap door to the code pad he turned toward her.. He motioned her in and shut the door behind them.

Dawn was looking around. The room was small and didn't have a window but it was hooked up to the schools ac system which was pretty good.

"Dad? Can you hear me?" Jenoah was asking into his cell phone.

He was talking so loud that Dawn was afraid the men with the guns would hear him.

"Dad? Da.. Hello? Ah, fu.."

"Jenoah lower your voice please they will hear you. Oh god my teacher is still out there." Dawn whispered to him.

Jenoah looked over at her for the first time since they entered their little hiding place. She was sitting in a corner of the room her legs drawn up to her chest, her blue eyes trained on the door, her whole body shook with fear. Jenoah sighed. He sent his dad a quick text message letting him know what was going on. Apparently when they added the rooms they didn't take in consideration of cell phone calls.

He slid down on the floor beside Dawn and tentatively reached over and pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple.

"It's a panic room, it is sound proof. Also it looks to be cell phone call proof as well had to send a text. They can't get in here unless they know what to look for and no one but the families know the rooms are here. I would think you would be used to the whole life in danger stuff what with your old life and everything. I wouldn't worry too much about your teacher, it was us they were after." he told her in a soothing voice.

"Vampires and demons don't use guns, they just try to eat you. I'm sorry about your car. What's today?" she asked him.

"It's okay rather the car die then us, also it's Tuesday."

She gave a snorted laugh. "Figures."

Michelangelo glared down at his phone as the call with his son was terminated. He couldn't understand what was wrong but he knew something was. Jenoah had sounded worried and out of breath. A ding signaled he had a text message. After opening it his heart stopped for all of five sounds.

'Shooters, school, Dawn, me, Miller panic room.'

Michelangelo jumped up and ran from his office. He knew he was receiving strange looks but he didn't care his son was in danger. He wouldn't get there in time to help but someone else might. Ripping his cell phone open he dialed Anthony's number, cursing as he remembered his brother was in court. Michelangelo hung up and dialed another number, he wasn't sure who's it was he was desperate.

"Hello?"

Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Darren?"

"Yeah, Michel?"

"I need your help. Jenoah and Dawn are at the school, you're closer then me. I don't know all the details but they are being shot at. They are safe for now they're in the Miller room." he went on to tell him about the terminanted call.

"I'm on it. I'll contact Jeremiah and Isaiah. I'll let you know the plan soon okay? Don't freak out Jenoah is a smart kid he will protect Dawn and him self if he has too." with that Darren hung up and Michelangelo sighed with relief knowing that someone was on their way to help his son, just before speeding out of the parking garage.

Jeremiah was watching Xander as he moved about the construction site with ease. The younger man really seemed like he was in his element, even with just the one eye. Xander had been working with the crew for three weeks and everyone liked him, The crew accepted him into the work force and they never treated him any different just because of the eye. Jeremiah made a mental note to ask Xander what it was that happened to his eye as he felt his phone vibrate, reaching down he pulled the phone out of the case and pushed the talk button.

"Hello?"

"Hey, There's a problem at the school. Michelangelo needs backup I'm on my way but you are closer."

Jeremiah gave a curt nod of his head, then realized that his little brother couldn't see him.

"What's the situation?" the older man asked as he grabbed his car keys and jacket.

"I'm not sure on the whole thing but Jenoah had tried to call Michel and they got cut off. Michel received a text saying that Jenoah and Dawn were at the school, there was shooters there and the two of them are in the Miller room."

Jeremiah stopped at his car looking back over his shoulder at the working crewmen. He spotted Xander, knowing how close the boy was with Dawn he figured that the brunette boy would want to know about what was happening.

"Jer are you there?" Darrens very calm voice asked.

"Yeah I'm here. Don't worry I'm on my way, gonna grab Xander then I'm breaking every law there is to get there. See you soon little brother." Jeremiah said as he walked back over to the working crew,

As he shoved the phone back in his pocket he called out to Xander. The other man turned to him with a smile on his face.

"Hey Uncle Jer is everything okay you look a little, well ticked off." Xander asked giving him a concerned look.

"Hey kiddo, yeah just some family emergency that we need to go check on." Jeremiah didn't have to say anymore that had apparently been the code for the group when they were in public as well.

Xander nodded once looked over at his co-workers and gave them a nod.

Everyone knew that the two came to and left work together everyday. As they walked back toward the car Xander hung his hard hat on the hook that was assigned to it and grabbed the jacket from the hook under it.

After they pulled out of the parking lot Xander turned to him and asked,
"So is this normal family business, Scooby gang type of business or busting knee caps and making cement shoes business?"

"A combo of all I guess you could say."

"What's going on?"

Jeremiah filled him in on what he knew and he saw the young boy shake his head in disbelief, before muttering.

"Of course it's a Tuesday."

Jeremiah wasn't sure what that meant but he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Huh, yeah." not really understanding the statement. As he had told his brother, Jeremiah had broke a few laws getting to the road out side the school gates. He parked his car and climbed out; his passenger followed suite. Opening the trunk of the car and taking the side panel off of the wall Jeremiah allowed for Xander to see an aspect of the Mafia life for the first time.

Grabbing two handguns and a shotgun first, then reaching for a handful of knives Jeremiah gave a silent laugh as another hand reached over and grabbed a crowbar and a couple of knives. Turning his head to look at the younger brunette and pinned him with a questioning look.

"I can't shoot a gun but I can throw a knife, I'm not Buffy or Faith but I hit my target seven out of ten times." came the reply.

"Well watch out for those other three that you miss. Remind me to take you to the shooting range." Jeremiah said he heard another car pull up.

Being on his guard the tall burly man chanced a glimpse and saw his brothers Ira and Isaiah getting out of the Iras car. They turned and did the same thing that he and Xander were doing. After the two new arrivals were armed and ready the four men made their way toward the school.

"Just wondering but what are we hoping to find besides Dawnie and Jenoah?" Xander asked as they snuck behind a large bush.

"Hopefully nothing, just the two of the them in one piece. I really don't think you should have come son." Ira spoke as he survey the school grounds.

"Would you had rather Andrew be here?" Xander shot back.

Ira stopped what he was doing and looked over at the boy who had been his little girls best friend through out her life. He felt a tinge of guilt when he met the boys eye, he could see the resolution in that one brown orb. Xander wasn't going to leave the school grounds unless Dawn was with him. The guilt wasn't because of what Ira had told Xander no the guilt was because it had taken the bald man such along time to notice that Tony Harris had abused his son for to long.

One day during the summer between the kids eightieth grade and freshmen years of school Ira had been in town on a rare occasion and had finally had enough of the way Tony treated the boy. After Xander had come to the house to see Willow with Jesse in tow Ira saw the hand marks on the kids neck, and the slight limp that he had when he walked. To any one else it would have looked like marks a kid would get while roughhousing but to a son of a mafia lord he knew a beating when he saw one.

Ira had gone over to the Harris household and when Tony answered the door before the drunk could even get the words 'What do you want Ira?' out, Ira was shoving him back to the wall and pinning him there. After threatening his life and showing Tony he was more the capable of delivering the promised injures Ira had gone back home and watched the trio in the back yard.

"I'd rather neither of my sons were here, at least not until I teach them the proper way to shoot.." the bald man said to Xanders question.

The group of men turned and pointed their weapons at a rustling that was coming from the bushes. They lowered their guns when Michelangelo rushed to a tree next to them.

Xanders gaze hadn't left Ira the whole time. He had been all for Ira and the family to adopt the group but to hear those words come from the man that he had always wished were his dad filled Xanders heart with hope. He had never thanked the man for what ever it was he had said to Tony that day but the beatings had stopped and verbal abuse wasn't so bad. Anytime Tony had looked at Xander he would get white and leave the room. Xander wasn't stupid he had see the marks on his dad he knew that someone had beat him up. It wasn't until that moment hiding behind the trees at Dawns high school that he realized that Ira had been responsible for it.

As the group slowly made their way toward the school they saw a black van smashed into Jenoahs car. The car was destroyed, but there was no one in it so at least the two teens had gotten out before the crash.

"Ouch, poor Jenoah he loved that car. How did you get here before me?" Darrens voice spoke as he joined the group the last part was directed toward Michel.

Darren had been able to contact Ira and Isiah and Iezekiel but the last brother had been told to get the grinder ready in case they were able to catch one of the gun men.

"Lets go." Isiah said as they all slowly made their way closer to the school entrance.

When they weren't fired at they looked at each other.

"Maybe they left." Michel spoke.

"How their van is right there? Unless there were two, we still need to be careful." Ira said.

They all made their way up the steps and into the school. The front doors were shot up and kicked in. As they stepped inside they went in pairs. Jeremiah and Darren, Isiah and Xander and Michel and Ira. Ira though he was partnered with one of his best friends he couldn't help but keep Xander in his line of sight. Everything was pretty uneventful, they all realized that Michel might have been right the shooters probably left when they couldn't find the two teens.

After a through sweep of the school and rooms surrounding the classroom that held the Miller panic room they had yet to come across the shooters. The group steeped in to the final room and glanced around. There were desks overturned, the blackboard looked to be half off it's hinges.

Darren wondered briefly what the gun men had thought would be able to fit behind the blackboard.

Jeremiah reached over and reveled the code pad, punching in the code, the group all turned to see the door of the panic room crack open. The group slowly opened the door to reveal a frightened looking Dawn trying to support a wounded Jenoah.

The young man had blood dripping from a gash on his head, and a slice on his arm. Dawn was applying her coat to the wound that was in the boys stomach.

"Oh god, Jenoah." Michelangelo shouted out as he rushed to his son.

Darren turned to Xander. "There is a black bag in the backseat of my car. I need it. How fast can you run?" he asked tossing the keys to his BMW to the man beside him.

"Be back in a jiff, Dawnie you okay?" Xander asked and gave a stern smile when the girl nodded, before he took off toward the front of the school.

"I'll go with him in case they are still around." Jeremiah informed them all as he turned and followed Xander.

"They got in. I fought them off but, I guess they heard you coming and took off." Jenoah whizzed out through the pain.

"Shh. It's alright son, Darren is here he is gonna fix you up good as new." Ishia said as he knelt down next to the rapidly growing group by the injured boy.

"Couldn't let them have..." Jenoah said but was cut off as a sharp pain tore through him.

"Oh god!" Dawn cried out as she watched him breath through the pain before he passed out in her arms.

The gathered group could tell she was feeling very guilty about the injuries that the older boy had suffered to protect her.

Xander ran back into the room just as Darren was getting up to go call out to see what was taking so long.

"Here. Is he alright?" the boy panted out as he threw himself on the floor.

"He will be." Darren went about set out the medication he would need for the wounded young man.

"Dawn sweetheart, they got in here? Did they say what they wanted?" Ishia said trying to get some forum of information.

"I.. I... I think they wanted me." she muttered her blue eyes landed on Jenoahs face. "He wouldn't let them near me."

The group of men all looked at each other. There was something seriously wrong with the matter at hand, how did they get into the room? Only family members knew about it. None of them wanted to say what they were thinking out loud.

"Dawn it's okay, everything is going to be fine." Ira said as he pulled her to him in a hug.

After the bleeding slowed enough Darren stitched up the cuts on Jenoah. Jereimah and Ishai carried the boy out to the waiting car that Michelangelo had pulled around. As Darren climbed into the backseat with the unconscious boy he told Michelangelo to go to the Rosenberg house they were having an emergency joint family meeting.

"Shouldn't he go to the hospital?" Dawn asked her voice breaking just a little.

"We are taking him. The rest of you go to the house, let the adults know what is going on, do not tell Buffy that Dawn was a possible target. We can do a family meeting when we get there." Michelangelo told them.

Ira drove a silent Dawn back with him. Ishia had taken Darrens car and behind them Jereimah and Xander rode in silence in the black SUV that his younger brother cherished so much.

"Dawn?" Ira tried to break the girls silence but there was no luck as she just stared straight ahead.

The bald-headed man was afraid that she had gone into shock. He had seen the same look on Willows face her Sophomore year of high school when a group of students had been murdered in the student wreck room. Ira had never felt as helpless as he did at that time, but now all those feelings were surfacing again.