Xander sighed. First Angel, now Wesley. What was he? A psychoanalyst in a box or something?
"Ok Wesley. What's your deal?"
"I passed on to the council the fact that Buffy would rather work with Giles than anyone they send." Wesley shrugged as he looked out one of the windows in the library. "They decided my services were no longer needed. Of course, tradition dictates that they keep me paid for three months after I've been let go."
Xander scratched his head. "So what will you do?"
Wesley looked over. "I asked Angel if he needed someone to tag along when he leaves. I figure he'll probably continue to fight. And I'm somewhat good at researching."
"Have you told Cordelia yet?"
Wesley grimaced. "I'm not ready for how she'll take it yet."
"Won't exactly have time during the battle. You'd better suck it up."
"Bloody Americans and their childish sayings."
Xander grinned.
- - - - - - - - -
Xander, Giles, and James were in the library researching. The explosives had been hidden in various corners near where they would be placed. Wesley and Cordelia walked in, arguing.
"I still don't see why you have to go."
"I was too much of a book worm. At least this way I can see how the world truly works. The council never explained it."
"And staying here won't?"
Wesley smiled. "This is the only place with a hellmouth. Not exactly normal."
"Fine. But I'll be leaving after graduation myself. Maybe we could ride together for awhile."
Xander looked up. "Well, Angel could always use someone around to harangue him."
"Jerk!"
"Dweeb!"
"Tweed Lover!"
Xanders eyes got wide. "Take that back!"
Giles groaned. "That's what the motto of the council should've been. See the world, babysit three year olds."
"Giles!" Both Cordelia and Xander yelled. Wesley and Bond laughed.
- - - - - - -
Buffy and Faith walked in. They'd just gotten finished asking her mother to leave town for awhile. She said no.
Bond pondered the two. "The explosives are ready, Buffy."
"Good. We just have to figure out who'll set them off when Faith and I lead the mayor in."
"I will." Said Giles.
Bond nodded. "I'll back him up."
Wesley spoke up. "I'll stick with Angel's team."
"Good, then we're ready."
Xander flinched as he read an article. "Giles? What's your equivalent of oh crap we're screwed?"
"Dear Lord?"
"Ah. Well, the original plan was for Angel and crew to snipe with the crossbows... however, there's an eclipse at graduation. Looks like any vampires the mayor employs will have full reign."
Angel walked in. "I've got some of the students with me."
"How?"
He shrugged. "They're ones I've saved in the past. They believed, and will fight." He nodded at Q who had just walked in and was starting to instruct the crew where to put the explosives. "I've supplied them with the new crossbows."
Xander picked up the duffle bag next to him. "And I had Q rig a special holster for the shotgun. Same ammo. Also, I've asked Fred and Jones to provide cover fire to kill some of what Angel and crew will fight before they get in range. That'll even the odds a little. And.... Surprisingly, Harmony has decided to inform the class to help me. They're waiting to be outfitted with weapons too. We should be ready."
Angel gestured Buffy to Giles office. They walked in.
"The dance was wonderful.... But I still need to leave after this is over. I won't prolong it by saying goodbye at the end."
Buffy stared at his back as he walked out.
- - - - - - -
Everyone sat in their appointed positions and listened to Snyder talk his head off.
Oz and Willow ran in at the last second. They looked a little frazzled.
Buffy glanced over at Willow and caught her eye. "We're talking later."
Willow blushed.
The mayor started into his speech. As he spoke, the sky darkened and he flinched as if in pain. Then he started transforming. The parents and guests tried to run away from the giant snake.
Buffy yelled. "Now!"
All the students threw off the caps and gowns and raised their arms and started firing crossbow bolts. A few used flamethrowers instead. Other than pieces being blown off, and the wounds quickly healing, no damage was done.
The mayor bent his neck down and closed his mouth on a screaming student.
crunch
Oz looked around. "Xander! Vampires!"
Xander put his shotgun to his shoulder. As he did, a streak of missiles impacted on the group of vampires, followed by Q's brand of vamp killing ammo. By the time Angel and his team arrived, the enemy was ragged.
While that fight continued, The mayor whacked a football player named Larry and killed him. Snyder walked up and yelled at him.
"This is unacceptable!"The mayor ate him, then his eyes got wide, and he spit him back out.
Cordelia flinched. "Ew!"
Buffy and Faith ran up and passed the mayor on either side. "What's the matter Dick? Too slow?"
The mayor roared and slithered after them.
Xander meanwhile ordered the rest of the students to switch to hand to hand. The fight grew intense. Harmony went down with a vampire attached to her neck. Nobody had time to check if she was still alive.
The chase through the halls continued, with the mayor crushing everything in his path. They ran into the library and leaped out the windows. The mayor slithered in and noticed the explosives. "Oh crap."
Giles had been watching from a nearby building through a scope Bond had produced. He triggered the device. The whole place went up in flames. Buffy and Faith stared in shock as the rest of their people showed up.
Firetrucks pulled up and began picking up the wounded etc.
Bond and Q stood to the side. Fred and Jones, and the two other agents had taken two cars and were chasing down the vampires that had escaped.
"Well Q, still think I'm destructive?"
"I hate to say it 007. But I'd rather have you blowing things up than them."
Xander looked over at Buffy and saw her looking for Angel. "He was ok when we all got out." Then he walked away leaving her to her thoughts. He was joined by Faith and they went to talk to James.
Buffy saw Angel through the smoke. They locked eyes, then he walked away.
Everyone rejoined her and stared at the remains.
Giles opened his mouth.
"Later, Giles... my brain is only capable of thinking fire bad, tree pretty. Maybe later."
Oz looked around. "Never blown up a school before. Cool."
Giles handed Buffy her diploma. They turned around and walked away.
"Now all we have to is get Faith her GED."
"No way!"
Xander grinned. "Scared of a little test, Faithy?"
"Come back here you!"
They ran away laughing leaving everyone to stare after them in shock.
- - - - - - - -
They all gathered at Joyce's and found that she had prepared a feast. She shrugged at their looks. "I knew you all would survive."
Everyone started talking about their plans. Faith had decided, after the tickle match she and Xander had got in, that the GED would be a good idea. Patrol schedules were set up for the two slayers.
Bond looked at his watch. "I need to call..." he looked at Joyce. "A friend. I'll be right back."
"We could always tell her, dad. She has two slayers for daughters, I'm sure she can keep secrets."
Bond smiled. "I'll have to get clearance first."
He picked up the phone in the next room, and called a special number.
"M."
"007. I take it the world is saved now?"
"Yes. Though... the results were quite explosive."
"Ah. I've been thinking, why don't you bring Xander by during the summer for a visit. Maybe up his training a little. I don't want to pull him away from his post for too long."
"I'll ask him."