Title: Key To The First

Chapter: Struggling (7/?)

Author: Anna

E-Mail: mostunstableone@aol.com

Rating: PG-13

Website:

Feedback: according to karma, it would do you well to give me feedback…

Disclaimer: I don't own BtVS… unfortunately. But wouldn't it be cool if I did? :)

Note: takes place after 'Storyteller'

          Buffy looked up at the clock on the wall. Seven fifteen. They had been trapped in the school for the entire day. Well, except for Dawn. She turned a corner and continued her patrol of the hallways. I hope she's okay.

          When the evacuation failed, Principal Wood had ordered all students and staff to stay in classrooms for their safety, and to make it easier for Buffy, Spike and the potentials to keep a watchful eye over the school. As Buffy turned another corner she practically collided with Spike.

          "Hey luv." He said, "Seen anything yet?" He turned and fell into step with her, glancing at the windows where no sunlight had come through. The swirling black cloud had become so thick that it shrouded the building from fatal rays of light, making it look like nighttime.

          She sighed. "No. You?" He shook his head and dug his hands deeper into the pockets of his long black leather duster. He rarely took it off anymore, seemingly making up for lost time. Buffy chuckled at that thought and Spike raised an eyebrow.

          "What was that for?" he asked.

          "Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking." She answered.

          "Hm. As funny as the idea of you having deep thoughts is, the look on your face says it was something else. Come on, pet. I'm bored. Tell me or I'll be forced to make conversation." He smirked, knowing she didn't want him to choose the topic of conversation. She gave him an amused look, but said nothing.

          Robin paced back and forth across the office floor, not knowing what to do with himself. Buffy had given him orders to stay where he was, to be command central, but he was restless. As he looked up, he saw Buffy passing by the office windows and thought about going out to speak to her, but when he noticed that Spike was with her, he stopped dead in his tracks. His anger rose at the sight of them being so… friendly. He turned, not wanting to watch, and silently counted to ten. When he got to ten, he punched a hole through a cubicle wall and then stalked into his office, slamming the door so hard that the walls rattled.

          On the second floor of the school, the potentials roamed the hallways. Each had a weapon, of some sort. Some had stakes, a few had crossbows, and the rest simply carried their shovels. They were tense with anticipation and afraid because they didn't know what they were up against. Vampires they could probably handle, but mysterious black clouds? No. They were entirely wigged out.

          "So, do you think it's The First?" Vi asked to no one in particular.

          "Probably. I mean, who else would do this?" Rhona said.

          "True." Molly spoke up, "But why just keep us here? Why isn't it trying to kill us? If it's The First, shouldn't it be doing something more… evil?"

          They all exchanged glances, letting the truth of Molly's words sink in. Before anyone else could speak, the soft humming of the cloud rose and suddenly it became hard to breath.  Chao-Ahn clutched at her throat, coughing as her eyes searched around wildly. Not being able to speak English, she really had no idea what was going on. Leslie, who had been trailing behind the group, fell to her knees. She reached for her asthma inhaler in her backpack, but her wheezing grew louder and before she could use her medicine, she fell to the ground.

          The noise subsided and it felt like oxygen was rushed back into the school. Kennedy took a long deep breath, feeling relieved, that is until she saw Leslie.

          The potentials gathered around their fallen comrade and Rhona stepped forward. She put two fingers to Leslie's throat and waited.

          "No pulse?" Molly asked, shocked.

          "No." Rhona answered. "She-she's dead." Rhona stood up again, and backed away. Silence took over the group.

          "We should move her, take her to Buffy." Kennedy suggested.

          "Are you sure we should move her? We could hurt her." Vi cringed.

          They all gave her a look that said How are we going to hurt her is she's already dead? And Vi got the point. "Oh." Was all she said.

          "Come on." Kennedy said as she knelt down by Leslie's head. A few other girls helped, and they lifted Leslie and carried her slowly and mournfully to the main office.

          Robin was standing in front of his weapons, trying to decide which he would use when he killed Spike, when there was a knock at the office door. It was Amanda.

          Robin opened the door and immediately noticed Leslie's lifeless body placed carefully on the office floor. He went to the PA system and turned it on.

          "Buffy, we need you in the main office."

          Buffy and Spike were on the other side of the building when they heard Robin's voice over the speakers. They shared a look of confusion before taking off at a sprint towards the main office.

          It was eight o'clock before they had wrapped up Leslie's body and once again the potentials were dispersed for patrol. Buffy and Spike were about to leave the office when Robin approached Buffy.

          "I think I should help patrol around the building." He said almost pleadingly, "You need backup."

          Buffy looked up at Spike, who was standing at her side, and then back to Robin. "I have Spike for backup. I'm good." And with that she turned and left the office, Spike trailing behind her.

          When they had gotten a few feet from the office, Spike spoke. "Well, it looks like the Principal doesn't cope well with rejection."

          "I didn't reject him. I just didn't… choose him. There's a difference." Buffy said, but she didn't sound like she believed herself.

          "Right. So then who did you choose, luv?" He tried to keep the hopefulness out of his voice, but Buffy could still see it in his eyes.

          She sighed. This isn't exactly the time or place, but what the hell?

          "Spike…" she began.

          "Yes, Buffy?" he stopped to face her.

          "I-"

          "I hate to interrupt-well, actually I don't- but I'm on a time schedule here."

          They looked up, both a bit disappointed that the moment was broken. When Buffy's eyes landed on the figure that had spoken she gasped. "Angel?"

          The visage of the vampire laughed. "I am whomever you don't want me to be, Buffy." And then Angel's features melted into the face of Joyce.

          Oh no. Not this. Spike thought. Don't bring Joyce into this.

          "My dear sweet Buffy." Joyce's voice rang out clearly in the hall. "You're going to die, and there's nothing you can do about it. Everyone in this building will be dead by the stroke of midnight."

          Buffy was silent.

          "And what about the Nibblet? Dawn?" Spike questioned.

          "She and Andrew are having a grand old time trying to stop me. But they won't. Actually, I was on my way to them when I just decided to pop in and see how you two were." Joyce shook her head, "Honestly Buffy, another vampire?"

          In the blink of an eye Joyce was gone and silent tears ran down Buffy's face. Knowing she wouldn't ask for comfort, Spike took Buffy in his arms anyway. Much to his surprise, she didn't resist, but put her arms around his neck and began to cry harder. He rubbed circles on her back and held her, telling her that Dawn would be okay, but not believing it himself.

Author's Note: Writer's block cleared up a bit, thanks to all of you who reviewed and left me some ideas… thanks guys! It really helped. Another chapter should be up soon, hopefully by Tuesday but I'm not promising anything.