Ever since the alert, Xander and the rest had taken to wearing at least one of the modified weapons. The sleeves on their shirts had been specially modified so the bolts could fire without giving anyone a clue as to a weapon being there till they did.

They had just gotten finished working the details out and everyone was off to the library to work.

"Xander."

"Yes Cordelia."

"I need to get to work."

Xander blinked. "Wha..."

"It's not like I have a choice. My parents are having most of their assets taken from the IRS.... And I don't even know why I'm telling you this. Granted you saved my life." She glared at him. "Just get me over there. It's a clothing store. Shouldn't be too far."

"Ok Cordelia."

"Xander."

"Yes Q?"

"Take the vehicle you used to rescue Faith. We don't know what will happen between now and ascension night after all. It does have more equipment than the other car."

"Of course."

- - - - - -

They pulled up to the house, and Xander got out. He walked around to the other side before Cordelia could open the door, and opened it for her.

Cordelia blinked. "Um... thanks?"

Xander shrugged. "You're welcome." Then he walked with her into the store.

"You don't need to."

"I wanted to see where you worked."

"Riight."

As Xander walked around looking at the mens section, he noticed Cordelia looking at the dress she had been looking at a week before.

"Cordy..."

She sighed. "Just thinking it would be nice to have a prom dress. Though, I'm not going to be able to get it. I can just imagine what people will think of me if I show up in jeans." She shook her head. "I can't even go to the schools my GPA got me into... no money. Except what I earn."

Then she glared. "So, going to brag to everyone about it?"

Xander flinched. "You should know me better than that."

"I thought I did."

CRASH

Xander and Corelia flinched and turned. A creature of some sort had leaped through the window. When it started to move, Xander lifted his left arm and fired the crossbow. It lodged in the creatures nose and exploded, scattering pieces of it around the store. Xander looked around quickly, and noticed everyone had been too busy running and screaming to notice. He walked toward it and kneeled. As he did, he saw an unfamiliar figure put away some device and walk quickly away.

Cordelia stared at his back in shock. He'd saved her again.

Since everyone had run away, Xander quickly grabbed the security tape and dragged the creature to the car's trunk. He paused while Cordelia got in, then he smiled. After shutting the trunk lid, he got in and drove away. Cordelia would have the dress if he had anything to say about it.

Xander called Giles, Wesley, Faith, and asked them to meet at the warehouse.

"Xander, I need to stay with the store."

"We'll call the manager and tell him you ran away with the rest. Since I've removed the video, nobody will see otherwise."

Cordelia sighed.

- - - - - - - -

He arrived when everyone else did, and opened the door. They went in, and Xander showed them how to get to the lower level. Bond had already arrived.

"Fred, Oz, a little help here." Xander said as he struggled to get the creature out. It'd been easier putting it in.

"Dear Lord. Xander, why do you have a hellhound in your trunk?"

Bond and Q blinked and looked at each other. "Hellhound?"

Xander waved the security tape. "Got attacked at a clothing store. It's all on this."

"What were you and Cordelia doing there?"

"She needed to burn a hole in her dad's wallet, and I was the chosen victim to tell her how beautiful she looked."

Cordelia shook her head. "I'd smack you, but I'm still in shock."

Q had put the tape in while they bickered. He pushed play on the equipment he'd just happened to have laying around.

Cordelia smiled slightly as they watched the video. "Well, monsters do have good taste."

"Funny."

Oz looked closely, then pointed at the kid that Xander had noticed. "Isn't that Tucker Wells? From my Chemistry Lab?"

Wesley spoke up. "Is it just me, or was the hound turning toward the person in the Tuxedo?"

Giles thought for a minute. "Could he have trained it to attack those in prom wear?"

"Q, you have an internet hookup here? Maybe I can check his e-mails?" Willow spoke up. "Eeep..." she said when everyone turned toward her.

- - - - - -

After finding the e-mail about the prom being everyone's last night, they all scattered to find information. Fred and Jones headed to Sunnydale High with Q while Bond and the two new agents drove Cordelia back to the store. After calling M with a situation report first of course.

M stared at the phone, then spoke again. "Supernatural is one thing.... But a mayor turning into a giant snake?"

"And you thought I made life annoying..." Bond said with a smile in his voice.

"Yes, quite. Do you need anything?"

"Short of bringing in a military division... the mayor might know we're aware, but he doesn't know of our plans. We need to keep it that way."

M sighed. "Ok. I trust your judgment. Be careful 007."

"I always am."

When Cordelia arrived at the store, she found that the dress she liked had been paid for anonymously. And enough money had been paid up front to ensure that it would be ready by prom day. That was the only time that Cordelia sounded like Willow after receiving a birthday gift.

While that was going on, Buffy was talking to her friends. She shook her head. "Let me worry about the hounds, you enjoy the prom."

When Buffy arrived at Tuckers house and tied him up, she noticed the cages. She ran toward the school, picking up weapons on the way. When she arrived, she heard a CRACK. Turning the corner, she stopped and watched Fred and Jones finish killing the last hound. The cracking sound was one of the exploding bolts.

They looked at Buffy who was staring in shock. "Hi. This them?"

She shook her head. "Yes."

"Orders?"

"Everything ready for the mayor?"

"Yes."

"It won't happen till graduation. Keep an eye out."