A/N YES! I am back with My Own Version of the Buffyverse 2! This is a
continuance of the first My Own Version. Every chapter will be from season
7 of "Buffy" and season 4 of "Angel." If you didn't read the first one, I
advise you to cause it would be smart if you wanna understand this story.
Memory refresher: Darla did NOT have Conner, Buffy did. She and Angel are
married and living in both Sunnydale and LA. They switch back and forth
when they have to. Angel did NOT destroy the Gem of Amara. He kept it and
gave it to Buffy as a wedding present. Well, he wears it, but it was a
present for her. OK! Now, I'm going to stop rambling and get on with the
story. Enjoy!
My Own Version of the Buffyverse 2
Chapter 1
"It's about power." Buffy said. She sat on the ground while Angel leaned against a tree a ways away. Dawn and Conner stood in front of her and listened intently to Buffy while a vampire rose from it's grave. "Who's got it. Who knows how to use it. So.." Buffy tossed a stake to each of the teenagers. "Who's got the power?"
"Well, I've got the stake." Dawn said.
"Doesn't matter Dawn" Conner said.
"Conner's right, the stake is not the power." Buffy said.
"But he's new. He doesn't know his strength. H-he might not know all those fancy martial arts skills they inevitably seem to pick up." Dawn protested.
"Who's got the power? Conner?"
"He does." Conner said.
"Never forget it. Doesn't matter how well prepped you are or how well armed you are. You're a little girl Dawn."
"Woman." Dawn said.
"Little woman."
"I'm taller than you."
"He's a vampire, OK? Demon. Preternaturally strong. Skilled with powers no human could possibly ever.."
"Excuse me. I think I'm stuck." The vampire said behind them. He was halfway out of the ground as Conner, Buffy, Dawn, and Angel all turned to it.
"You're stuck?" Buffy asked.
"My foot's caught on a root or something, and.. I don't even know how I got down there. If you girls could just give me a hand.."
"Hmm. So, he's got the power?" Dawn asked sarcastically.
"Zip it." Buffy said.
"I really appreciate it. It's just, it's so dark, and I don't even know what I'm doing here." The vamp said. Buffy picked him up by his suit collar and put him down standing on his feet. "Whoa. Ooh. Thanks. That was a help. Unfortunately it was the last.." Buffy grabbed his throat and squeezed. ".. thing you'll ever do."
"Listen up. I'm the slayer. You don't want to get into it with me. You want blood? You can have theirs." Buffy said, motioning towards Dawn and Conner. The vamp turned and ran after Dawn and Conner. Conner dived smoothly out of the way. "Power. He's got it. He's going to use it. You don't have it, so.." Dawn bent and flipped him over her back. ".. use that. Perfect." Buffy walked over to Angel and stood next to him while she watched Dawn and Conner fight the vamp.
"They're doing good." Angel said.
"Yeah. Considering it's Dawn's first time out. I expected it from Conner. After all he's the son of the Slayer and the vampire with a soul." Buffy said.
"Yup."
Dawn staked the vamp, and thought she defeated him, but she missed the heart. She got a panicked look on her face. He pushed Dawn down, got up, and got away from her only to run into Conner. He tried to stake the vamp, but the vamp overpowered him and threw him against a headstone, knocking him out long enough to grab Dawn as she was trying again to stake him and start to bite her on the neck.
"Buffy! Angel!" Dawn screamed.
Buffy walked up behind the vampire and grabbed its coat from behind as Angel went to check on Conner. The vamp dropped Dawn. Buffy fought with swings, kicks, and punches. Finally, she grabbed a nearby sword, and cut off its head.
"It's real. It's the only lesson, Dawn. It's always real. Let me see." Buffy said.
"It's nothing, it's just a scrape. Plus, I had a plan the whole time." Dawn said.
"Really?" Angel asked, coming up next to Buffy with Conner and taking her hand.
"Yeah, I planned to get killed, come back as a vampire, and bite you." Dawn said to Buffy.
"You wanted to be trained." Buffy retorted.
"Well, just the next time when you're gonna disa.."
"You did pretty well."
"I did?"
"Yeah."
"Cause, you know, with the whole rolling thing, I was actually using his strength, and it was very Tai Chi. Right Angel? Plus I nearly got the heart."
"My first time out, I missed the heart too."
"No way!" Dawn and Conner said together.
Angel chuckled and nodded for conformation. "She did. I saw the whole thing."
"Just the once." Buffy said defensively.
"Well, the next vampire I meet.." Dawn started.
"The next vampire you meet, you run away. I just wish that was all we had to worry about. Vampires, demons.. they're nothing compared to what's coming." Buffy said.
"I know. I just can't believe it's back." Dawn said as they started to walk home.
"Believe me, I thought I was long past it. I guess you never are. Just a few more days 'til it starts. Then we'll never know what's coming next."
"What?" Conner asked.
"High school." Buffy and Dawn said.
"Oh."
"Not the best thing for your health, son." Angel said.
"Your dad defiantly speaks the truth." Buffy said.
"You went to high school dad?" Conner asked.
"Not exactly, but I was there the whole time your mother was. Not pretty."
"It was when I blew it up." Buffy said.
"Can I do that?" Conner asked.
"No." Buffy and Angel said.
"Well, unless a giant snake just happens to chase you through the halls." Buffy said.
"Right." Angel said.
Buffy busied herself with getting Dawn and Conner ready for school. Angel followed her around, helping out where he was needed. Buffy walked to the window and saw Xander pull up.
"Dawn! Conner! Xander's here." Buffy yelled.
"Just a minute!" Dawn called back.
"You're gonna be late."
"I'm comfortable with that." Conner yelled.
"Good morning!" Xander said when Angel opened the door.
"Well, you guys gotta eat something. I made cereal." Buffy called.
"Ok." Dawn and Conner called.
"You're unconscionably spiffy." Angel said.
"Client meeting." Xander said. Then to Buffy, "How exactly do you make cereal?"
"Ah, you put the box near the milk. I saw it on the food channel. Want something?" Buffy asked.
"I ate. I'm good. How are you guys?"
"My sister's about to go to the same high school that tried to kill me for three years. I can't change districts, I can't afford private school, and I can't begin to prepare for what could possibly come out of there. So, peachy with a side of keen, that would be me."
"Well here's a little something for what ails ya."
"You got the rest." Angel said as they followed Xander into the dining room.
"Take a look."
Dawn and Conner came in. "Hey. Check out double-O Xander." Dawn said.
"Nice." Conner said.
"Go. Talk with your mouths full." Buffy said.
"I've got two crews working on this diabolical yet lucrative new campus. One here, finishing the Science building, and one here, reinforcing the Gym. There are no pentagrams, no secret passageways. Everything's up to code and safe as houses." Xander said.
"Nothing creepy? Strange? From beyond?" Angel asked.
"Maybe you guys are just paranoid." Dawn said through a mouthful of cereal.
"Well, there is one interesting detail. I managed to scare up the plan from the old high school. You remember the very center of Sunnydale's own hell mouth?" Xander asked, putting two separate plans up to the window.
"Under the library." Angel said.
"Right. So I lined up the plans, new and old. And right exactly where the library was, we now have.."
"The principal's office." Buffy said.
"So the principal's evil?" Conner asked.
"Or in a boatload of danger." Dawn said.
"Well the last two principals were eaten. Who would even apply for that job?" Angel asked.
"Guess we'll see. Ooh, we have to leave though. You have everything? Books, lunch, stakes?" Buffy asked Conner and Dawn.
"Checked thrice." Dawn said.
"Did you them give them the.." Xander asked.
"No, we were saving it." Buffy said.
"What is it?" Dawn asked.
"Back to school gift."
"It's a weapon, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." Angel said.
Buffy handed Conner and Dawn each a wrapped present. They sat down and started to open it. Conner got his open first and stared at it.
"What is it?" Conner asked.
"It's a cell phone!" Dawn squealed.
"Hold it." Angel said.
"What?"
"It's only for emergencies." Buffy said. "There will be no calling your friends on this phone. The bill is going to be high enough as it is. You're always in danger here in Sunnydale."
"Buffy and I got this so you can be out at night and if something happens, you can call us and we'll come help you." Angel said as he and Buffy pulled out their identical cell phones.
"Oh! I know what this is now. It's a phone that can go anywhere." Conner said. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, let's go. You don't want to be late for your first day." Buffy said.
Angel pulled up behind Xander's car and he, Buffy and Conner piled out of the convertible while Dawn got out of Xander's new car. They walked up to Dawn and Buffy peered through the passenger side window at Xander.
"Angel and I are gonna take Dawn and Conner to class, have a look around." Buffy said.
"Ok. I'm gonna be on-site here all day, so if you have any needs.." Xander said.
Buffy and Angel waved as Xander drove off before they turned to Dawn and Conner and began walking towards the school.
"Now, remember, if you see anything strange.. or, you know.. dead." Angel said.
"We got it." Dawn said.
"And stay away from hyena people, or any loser-type athletes, you know, or if you see anyone that's invisible." Buffy added.
"Hey, Buffy, I think it's pretty safe to say we're not going to see anybody that's invisible."
"You know, you guys could still drop out. Only nerds finish high school."
"You know, I don't really think it's fair for you to try and scare us on our first day of high school. Cause it is so redundant."
"The place is evil."
They entered an archway type thing where a tall black man greeted them.
"Tough to let 'em go, huh?" he asked.
"Hi." Buffy said.
"I'm Robin Wood. New principal."
"Oh, uh, Buffy Summers. This is Dawn and Conner. And this is my husband Angel.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Hi." Dawn and Conner said.
"So you're the new principal. I expected you to be more.. Aged." Buffy said.
"Huh. You seem a bit young to have such a gown-up son and daughter." Mr. Wood said.
"Oh. Uh, uh, no. She's my sister and he's our.. cousin."
"Oh, right, um, of course."
"You didn't really think they're my.. it's my hair. I have mom hair."
"No.." Angel said.
"I actually have heard of you, Miss Summers. Graduated from the old high school, am I right?" Mr. Wood asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's Mrs. Summers now. How did you..?" Buffy asked.
"Well, I better get back to work. Gotta start deadening young minds. It's really nice to meet you all. You have fun."
The principal left, and Buffy eyed him carefully as he walked away. "That was suspicious."
"You betcha. Bye." Dawn said, tugging on Conner's arm.
"Oh, guys.."
"I know! You never know what's coming. The stake is not the power. To Serve Man is a cookbook. I love you. Go away."
Dawn walked off with Conner who looked excited about going to an actual school. Buffy and Angel watched them go. She sighed and crossed her arms. Angel pulled her back against his chest and laid his head on top of her head.
"It is hard to let Conner go. I'm not as worried about Dawn. It's Conner." Buffy said.
"I know." Angel said.
"I mean, he was taken from us once, what's to stop him from getting taken again?"
"Us."
"Us?"
"And him. He doesn't want to leave Buffy. He's happy here with us. I don't think he wants to leave."
"Yeah."
"Come on, let's go check this hell hole out."
"Ok."
They started to roam the quiet hallways. Buffy took Angel's hand, getting just a teensy bit nervous at being back in high school. He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.
"He'll be fine right?" Buffy asked.
"He'll be fine. Don't.." Angel was cut off by a basketball slamming against the lockers in front of them. Buffy looked at Angel and they went to check it out. They saw a kid walk away down another hall out of sight. While following him, Buffy passed a door with a sign that said "Basement. No student access." They continued past it, checking out the halls. When they rounded the corner, all they found was the doors to the bathrooms. Buffy sighed and excused herself. She walked into the bathroom and walked up to he mirror. She lightly touched her hair and pouted.
"It's not mom hair." Buffy said.
She went to wash her hands and noticed a bundle of twigs. Buffy picked them up, and when she looked in the mirror, she saw a woman who wasn't there before. The woman looked very dead.
"You can't protect them. You couldn't protect me." The girl said.
Buffy spun on her heel to find a very dead janitor behind her. She backed into the wall and closed her eyes.
"Get out! Get out! Get out!" the janitor yelled.
Buffy opened her eyes and the two dead people were gone. She ran out of the bathroom and headed down the hall. Angel ran after her trying to figure out what was wrong and where she was going. She kept running till she paused at a hallway. Angel almost ran into her before she started running again. Buffy slammed through a door.
"Dawn! Conner!" Buffy yelled.
"Buffy wait!" Angel said, running in after her.
"What!?" Dawn asked agitated. Conner just stood up and stared at his parents.
"We have to go. It's not safe." Buffy said.
"But.."
"We, um. I mean I saw.."
"Can I help you?" the teacher asked.
"No, I uh. Dawn, I just thought you and Conner were, um, in danger.. of smoking. We'll be around." Buffy turned on her heel and yanked Angel out of the classroom.
When they were in the hall and around the corner, Angel grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her to a stop. "Buffy, what is the matter with you?"
"I saw two really dead people in the bathroom." Buffy said.
"What?"
"Yeah! One said that I couldn't protect Dawn and Conner because I couldn't protect her and the other one told me to get out."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I was thinking we should talk to Xander."
"Ok, let's go. He's at the science building, right?"
"I think so."
They took off and found the almost done building. Xander stood in front of the entrance and turned to them as they headed up the stairs.
"So, how's it looking? Does the place pass inspection?" Xander asked.
"Oh, it's great.. if you're a zombie ghost thing!" Buffy said.
"So school's back in session, huh?"
"Seems like old times."
"So, zombies or ghosts?"
"I'm not sure. They were in the mirror, but they disappeared. Um, but they touched me, I think. Well, let's just start with dead and pissed."
"Buffy said one of them told her that Buffy didn't protect her and that Buffy couldn't protect Dawn and Conner." Angel said.
"They were after you personally?" Xander asked Buffy.
"Like Angel said, they talked about protecting people. Told me to leave." Buffy said.
"No damage though?"
"I think I may have destroyed Conner and Dawn's social life in all of about 30 seconds, but apart from that, no."
"Ah, being popular isn't so great. Or so I've read in books."
"This isn't a coincidence, you know, the school being rebuilt. It means something."
"As in what?"
"I don't know! Angel and I are going to keep lurking. You, um.. You watch out for creepy stuff like ghosts."
"Will do."
"Call us if anything comes up." Angel said as he and Buffy headed back towards the main building.
My Own Version of the Buffyverse 2
Chapter 1
"It's about power." Buffy said. She sat on the ground while Angel leaned against a tree a ways away. Dawn and Conner stood in front of her and listened intently to Buffy while a vampire rose from it's grave. "Who's got it. Who knows how to use it. So.." Buffy tossed a stake to each of the teenagers. "Who's got the power?"
"Well, I've got the stake." Dawn said.
"Doesn't matter Dawn" Conner said.
"Conner's right, the stake is not the power." Buffy said.
"But he's new. He doesn't know his strength. H-he might not know all those fancy martial arts skills they inevitably seem to pick up." Dawn protested.
"Who's got the power? Conner?"
"He does." Conner said.
"Never forget it. Doesn't matter how well prepped you are or how well armed you are. You're a little girl Dawn."
"Woman." Dawn said.
"Little woman."
"I'm taller than you."
"He's a vampire, OK? Demon. Preternaturally strong. Skilled with powers no human could possibly ever.."
"Excuse me. I think I'm stuck." The vampire said behind them. He was halfway out of the ground as Conner, Buffy, Dawn, and Angel all turned to it.
"You're stuck?" Buffy asked.
"My foot's caught on a root or something, and.. I don't even know how I got down there. If you girls could just give me a hand.."
"Hmm. So, he's got the power?" Dawn asked sarcastically.
"Zip it." Buffy said.
"I really appreciate it. It's just, it's so dark, and I don't even know what I'm doing here." The vamp said. Buffy picked him up by his suit collar and put him down standing on his feet. "Whoa. Ooh. Thanks. That was a help. Unfortunately it was the last.." Buffy grabbed his throat and squeezed. ".. thing you'll ever do."
"Listen up. I'm the slayer. You don't want to get into it with me. You want blood? You can have theirs." Buffy said, motioning towards Dawn and Conner. The vamp turned and ran after Dawn and Conner. Conner dived smoothly out of the way. "Power. He's got it. He's going to use it. You don't have it, so.." Dawn bent and flipped him over her back. ".. use that. Perfect." Buffy walked over to Angel and stood next to him while she watched Dawn and Conner fight the vamp.
"They're doing good." Angel said.
"Yeah. Considering it's Dawn's first time out. I expected it from Conner. After all he's the son of the Slayer and the vampire with a soul." Buffy said.
"Yup."
Dawn staked the vamp, and thought she defeated him, but she missed the heart. She got a panicked look on her face. He pushed Dawn down, got up, and got away from her only to run into Conner. He tried to stake the vamp, but the vamp overpowered him and threw him against a headstone, knocking him out long enough to grab Dawn as she was trying again to stake him and start to bite her on the neck.
"Buffy! Angel!" Dawn screamed.
Buffy walked up behind the vampire and grabbed its coat from behind as Angel went to check on Conner. The vamp dropped Dawn. Buffy fought with swings, kicks, and punches. Finally, she grabbed a nearby sword, and cut off its head.
"It's real. It's the only lesson, Dawn. It's always real. Let me see." Buffy said.
"It's nothing, it's just a scrape. Plus, I had a plan the whole time." Dawn said.
"Really?" Angel asked, coming up next to Buffy with Conner and taking her hand.
"Yeah, I planned to get killed, come back as a vampire, and bite you." Dawn said to Buffy.
"You wanted to be trained." Buffy retorted.
"Well, just the next time when you're gonna disa.."
"You did pretty well."
"I did?"
"Yeah."
"Cause, you know, with the whole rolling thing, I was actually using his strength, and it was very Tai Chi. Right Angel? Plus I nearly got the heart."
"My first time out, I missed the heart too."
"No way!" Dawn and Conner said together.
Angel chuckled and nodded for conformation. "She did. I saw the whole thing."
"Just the once." Buffy said defensively.
"Well, the next vampire I meet.." Dawn started.
"The next vampire you meet, you run away. I just wish that was all we had to worry about. Vampires, demons.. they're nothing compared to what's coming." Buffy said.
"I know. I just can't believe it's back." Dawn said as they started to walk home.
"Believe me, I thought I was long past it. I guess you never are. Just a few more days 'til it starts. Then we'll never know what's coming next."
"What?" Conner asked.
"High school." Buffy and Dawn said.
"Oh."
"Not the best thing for your health, son." Angel said.
"Your dad defiantly speaks the truth." Buffy said.
"You went to high school dad?" Conner asked.
"Not exactly, but I was there the whole time your mother was. Not pretty."
"It was when I blew it up." Buffy said.
"Can I do that?" Conner asked.
"No." Buffy and Angel said.
"Well, unless a giant snake just happens to chase you through the halls." Buffy said.
"Right." Angel said.
Buffy busied herself with getting Dawn and Conner ready for school. Angel followed her around, helping out where he was needed. Buffy walked to the window and saw Xander pull up.
"Dawn! Conner! Xander's here." Buffy yelled.
"Just a minute!" Dawn called back.
"You're gonna be late."
"I'm comfortable with that." Conner yelled.
"Good morning!" Xander said when Angel opened the door.
"Well, you guys gotta eat something. I made cereal." Buffy called.
"Ok." Dawn and Conner called.
"You're unconscionably spiffy." Angel said.
"Client meeting." Xander said. Then to Buffy, "How exactly do you make cereal?"
"Ah, you put the box near the milk. I saw it on the food channel. Want something?" Buffy asked.
"I ate. I'm good. How are you guys?"
"My sister's about to go to the same high school that tried to kill me for three years. I can't change districts, I can't afford private school, and I can't begin to prepare for what could possibly come out of there. So, peachy with a side of keen, that would be me."
"Well here's a little something for what ails ya."
"You got the rest." Angel said as they followed Xander into the dining room.
"Take a look."
Dawn and Conner came in. "Hey. Check out double-O Xander." Dawn said.
"Nice." Conner said.
"Go. Talk with your mouths full." Buffy said.
"I've got two crews working on this diabolical yet lucrative new campus. One here, finishing the Science building, and one here, reinforcing the Gym. There are no pentagrams, no secret passageways. Everything's up to code and safe as houses." Xander said.
"Nothing creepy? Strange? From beyond?" Angel asked.
"Maybe you guys are just paranoid." Dawn said through a mouthful of cereal.
"Well, there is one interesting detail. I managed to scare up the plan from the old high school. You remember the very center of Sunnydale's own hell mouth?" Xander asked, putting two separate plans up to the window.
"Under the library." Angel said.
"Right. So I lined up the plans, new and old. And right exactly where the library was, we now have.."
"The principal's office." Buffy said.
"So the principal's evil?" Conner asked.
"Or in a boatload of danger." Dawn said.
"Well the last two principals were eaten. Who would even apply for that job?" Angel asked.
"Guess we'll see. Ooh, we have to leave though. You have everything? Books, lunch, stakes?" Buffy asked Conner and Dawn.
"Checked thrice." Dawn said.
"Did you them give them the.." Xander asked.
"No, we were saving it." Buffy said.
"What is it?" Dawn asked.
"Back to school gift."
"It's a weapon, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is." Angel said.
Buffy handed Conner and Dawn each a wrapped present. They sat down and started to open it. Conner got his open first and stared at it.
"What is it?" Conner asked.
"It's a cell phone!" Dawn squealed.
"Hold it." Angel said.
"What?"
"It's only for emergencies." Buffy said. "There will be no calling your friends on this phone. The bill is going to be high enough as it is. You're always in danger here in Sunnydale."
"Buffy and I got this so you can be out at night and if something happens, you can call us and we'll come help you." Angel said as he and Buffy pulled out their identical cell phones.
"Oh! I know what this is now. It's a phone that can go anywhere." Conner said. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, let's go. You don't want to be late for your first day." Buffy said.
Angel pulled up behind Xander's car and he, Buffy and Conner piled out of the convertible while Dawn got out of Xander's new car. They walked up to Dawn and Buffy peered through the passenger side window at Xander.
"Angel and I are gonna take Dawn and Conner to class, have a look around." Buffy said.
"Ok. I'm gonna be on-site here all day, so if you have any needs.." Xander said.
Buffy and Angel waved as Xander drove off before they turned to Dawn and Conner and began walking towards the school.
"Now, remember, if you see anything strange.. or, you know.. dead." Angel said.
"We got it." Dawn said.
"And stay away from hyena people, or any loser-type athletes, you know, or if you see anyone that's invisible." Buffy added.
"Hey, Buffy, I think it's pretty safe to say we're not going to see anybody that's invisible."
"You know, you guys could still drop out. Only nerds finish high school."
"You know, I don't really think it's fair for you to try and scare us on our first day of high school. Cause it is so redundant."
"The place is evil."
They entered an archway type thing where a tall black man greeted them.
"Tough to let 'em go, huh?" he asked.
"Hi." Buffy said.
"I'm Robin Wood. New principal."
"Oh, uh, Buffy Summers. This is Dawn and Conner. And this is my husband Angel.
"Nice to meet you all."
"Hi." Dawn and Conner said.
"So you're the new principal. I expected you to be more.. Aged." Buffy said.
"Huh. You seem a bit young to have such a gown-up son and daughter." Mr. Wood said.
"Oh. Uh, uh, no. She's my sister and he's our.. cousin."
"Oh, right, um, of course."
"You didn't really think they're my.. it's my hair. I have mom hair."
"No.." Angel said.
"I actually have heard of you, Miss Summers. Graduated from the old high school, am I right?" Mr. Wood asked.
"Uh, yeah. It's Mrs. Summers now. How did you..?" Buffy asked.
"Well, I better get back to work. Gotta start deadening young minds. It's really nice to meet you all. You have fun."
The principal left, and Buffy eyed him carefully as he walked away. "That was suspicious."
"You betcha. Bye." Dawn said, tugging on Conner's arm.
"Oh, guys.."
"I know! You never know what's coming. The stake is not the power. To Serve Man is a cookbook. I love you. Go away."
Dawn walked off with Conner who looked excited about going to an actual school. Buffy and Angel watched them go. She sighed and crossed her arms. Angel pulled her back against his chest and laid his head on top of her head.
"It is hard to let Conner go. I'm not as worried about Dawn. It's Conner." Buffy said.
"I know." Angel said.
"I mean, he was taken from us once, what's to stop him from getting taken again?"
"Us."
"Us?"
"And him. He doesn't want to leave Buffy. He's happy here with us. I don't think he wants to leave."
"Yeah."
"Come on, let's go check this hell hole out."
"Ok."
They started to roam the quiet hallways. Buffy took Angel's hand, getting just a teensy bit nervous at being back in high school. He smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.
"He'll be fine right?" Buffy asked.
"He'll be fine. Don't.." Angel was cut off by a basketball slamming against the lockers in front of them. Buffy looked at Angel and they went to check it out. They saw a kid walk away down another hall out of sight. While following him, Buffy passed a door with a sign that said "Basement. No student access." They continued past it, checking out the halls. When they rounded the corner, all they found was the doors to the bathrooms. Buffy sighed and excused herself. She walked into the bathroom and walked up to he mirror. She lightly touched her hair and pouted.
"It's not mom hair." Buffy said.
She went to wash her hands and noticed a bundle of twigs. Buffy picked them up, and when she looked in the mirror, she saw a woman who wasn't there before. The woman looked very dead.
"You can't protect them. You couldn't protect me." The girl said.
Buffy spun on her heel to find a very dead janitor behind her. She backed into the wall and closed her eyes.
"Get out! Get out! Get out!" the janitor yelled.
Buffy opened her eyes and the two dead people were gone. She ran out of the bathroom and headed down the hall. Angel ran after her trying to figure out what was wrong and where she was going. She kept running till she paused at a hallway. Angel almost ran into her before she started running again. Buffy slammed through a door.
"Dawn! Conner!" Buffy yelled.
"Buffy wait!" Angel said, running in after her.
"What!?" Dawn asked agitated. Conner just stood up and stared at his parents.
"We have to go. It's not safe." Buffy said.
"But.."
"We, um. I mean I saw.."
"Can I help you?" the teacher asked.
"No, I uh. Dawn, I just thought you and Conner were, um, in danger.. of smoking. We'll be around." Buffy turned on her heel and yanked Angel out of the classroom.
When they were in the hall and around the corner, Angel grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her to a stop. "Buffy, what is the matter with you?"
"I saw two really dead people in the bathroom." Buffy said.
"What?"
"Yeah! One said that I couldn't protect Dawn and Conner because I couldn't protect her and the other one told me to get out."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine. I was thinking we should talk to Xander."
"Ok, let's go. He's at the science building, right?"
"I think so."
They took off and found the almost done building. Xander stood in front of the entrance and turned to them as they headed up the stairs.
"So, how's it looking? Does the place pass inspection?" Xander asked.
"Oh, it's great.. if you're a zombie ghost thing!" Buffy said.
"So school's back in session, huh?"
"Seems like old times."
"So, zombies or ghosts?"
"I'm not sure. They were in the mirror, but they disappeared. Um, but they touched me, I think. Well, let's just start with dead and pissed."
"Buffy said one of them told her that Buffy didn't protect her and that Buffy couldn't protect Dawn and Conner." Angel said.
"They were after you personally?" Xander asked Buffy.
"Like Angel said, they talked about protecting people. Told me to leave." Buffy said.
"No damage though?"
"I think I may have destroyed Conner and Dawn's social life in all of about 30 seconds, but apart from that, no."
"Ah, being popular isn't so great. Or so I've read in books."
"This isn't a coincidence, you know, the school being rebuilt. It means something."
"As in what?"
"I don't know! Angel and I are going to keep lurking. You, um.. You watch out for creepy stuff like ghosts."
"Will do."
"Call us if anything comes up." Angel said as he and Buffy headed back towards the main building.
