Summary: This is the ninth part of a series
SHS Gymnasium, 2:30 PM, September 18th
"That's great Jonathan, keep it up!" de facto assistant martial arts and gymnastics coach Xander Harris encouraged, "Harmony, Cordelia, a little more roll, doin' great!"
"Not bad, Alexander," Principal Flutie complimented, "Coach here says you've probably saved us from cutting back the teams from lack of interest. In don't know about how well most of them will do in the teams instead of the clubs you and Buffy set up this last week, but Harmony Kendall's father made a sufficiently large donation that your two athletic clubs and that..."
"SCA chapter and Archaeology Club?" Xander helped.
"Yes, that, thank you," the principal responded with a smile, "are funded for the year, with your uncle and your physical trainer Mr. Angel making up the difference. It's caught the Mayor's attention again, Alex, and he'll probably swing by on Parent-Teacher Night to talk to you about how things are going."
"Thanks sir, now I have to worry what to say," Xander rolled his eyes, then turning back to the students, "That's great Cordy! You and Harmony got it! Please show Aura and Marcie, thanks!" He beamed them a particularly big Xander smile, Amy having given him pointers on what works.
SHS Gymnasium, 4:35 PM
"Okay, great going cheerleader group!" Buffy called out as Xander walked up to her, "Hit the showers, and remember...quick cheer practice on Monday morning at 7, just the cheers, Cordelia'll let you know the what. And next Tuesday's class? Xander and I'll demonstrate simple ways of warding off most really pushy guys? Go!"
"Well, Buff, I know Club Co-President and Student Coach isn't the same as cheerleader," Xander smiled slightly, "But what do you think?"
"I think you hung around Wills enough to pick up some serious smarts, Xan," she replied, eyes slightly glistening, bittersweet. "And I think my 'big brother' has an invite from mom for dinner tomorrow night at six."
"Really? Cool," Xander smiled, "that'll keep me from figuring out which establishment would get my business, and now I'll be dining at Chez Summers...oh, wait, I think Uncle Hondo was going to come over."
"Bring him along," Buffy suggested, "Mom'll be thrilled to have another adult to converse with." She slowly walked toward the shower room.
"So you're dealing?" Xander pressed, waving over to Jonathan and the other to hit the showers after straightening the gym back into shape.
"Better than dealing," Buffy considered. "I get to be part of the normal things in a support way, and it counts toward training with Giles."
"And the fact that Snyder can't be too mean?" Xander asked, smirking.
"Doesn't hurt at all," Buffy met his smirk and raised him a smile. "The non-criminal offenders get sent to me for detention, and learn not to give me lip in school."
SHS Library, 5PM
The expanded Scoobies and Slayerettes gathered at the table for Giles to begin, Marcie and Jonathan, Amy, Willow, Angel (having used the old blanket trip to get from the car), Buffy, Xander, Cordelia, Dave, Fritz, Chris Epps, Jenny Calendar, 'Hondo' Harris, and Andrew Wells (freshman brother of Tucker Wells from the Animal Shelter, who with Jonathan noticed Marcie at the Talent Show and had some idea of demonology).
Gils, with Buffy to the right and Xander to the left of him stood, smiling widely but shaking his head as he set his glasses on the table before him.
"When Xander and Willow insisted on participating in the fight against the darkness, I was against it, but great good came of it. We couldn't and can't save everyone, but we shall try. This group for whatever reason, but usually out of misfortune, has come together much as I imagine the early Watcher's Council must have. And we've become close out of adversity, and I hope our new members will prove as important to our purpose as all of you 'veterans' have been. That said, I officially open the first meeting of the Sunnydale High Society for Creative Anachronism and Mythology Club, SCAM as Xander has nicknamed it but don't let outsiders hear it lest we be closed down, our legitimizing cover organization as thought out by all, and in particular Xander, Buffy, and Willow, our Old Guard if you will, who are our Co-Presidents and Secretary respectively. Thank you." The group smile and applauded as Buffy and Xander each placed a hand over Giles, and they struck the gavel. Xander gestured to Buffy to take the floor.
"Wow," Buffy responded with rolled eyes, eliciting chuckles, "I'd like to thank everybody for everything. I know I'm not good at it, but thanks. I really wouldn't be here without you, but..." she paused, tearing happily, "if you're with me I know I'll be the first of my calling to reach age one hundred. Xander and I agreed that while we are officially the students in charge, we're going to do something no teen would ever consider doing...we're entrusting Giles with operational control of the club, gavel and all, since he's...not only Watcher guy, and not only Library guy, but...the single person in our group who's been with us since day one, and he has our trust. Xander?"
"Thank you, Buffy," Xander said, accepting the gavel, "before us colonials hand absolute power back to the Crown, I'd like to report that the SHS Gymnastic and Self-Defense Clubs are going strong, and all students here are members except Andrew, Chris to start next week when his school restitution schedule firms up. We have every cheerleader, the gymnastic and martial arts team members that are not football players or seniors, and a few victims of those pesky gangs on pcp that recognize us since last Spring semester. Maybe thirty in all, meeting three hours each twice a week, then alternate sessions the other days. And as silly as it might seem to those over a hundred, I'd like to set the goal for each team as making the state championships, and cheerleaders as qualifying for nationals by the end the 98-99 school year. We'll increase the potential of each member, and make them less likely to be victimized, as we've started stressing larger and mixed groups...and no, Cordelia, we're not calling it the 'adopt a geek' program. So, Giles, on a note of having covered ninety percent of our security exposure with legitimized respectability...your gavel, good sir."
The SCAM Club clapped and got down to the Scooby business, even its 'adult' sponsors caught up in the enthusiasm of the moment.
September 18th, The Bronze, 11PM
The early hunt and clear against some new vampires had gone off without a hitch, no victims present and just enough cash and valuables to cover recent donations to the school clubs. Xander left the gathering at the Bronze as it was winding down, dropping off Willow at her house. 'Boy, that was...angsty' he smiled.
Since last April, he'd casually pseudo-dated several of 'his girls' and had managed to avoid going beyond the quick peck or hug stage of things, but he sensed Willow's affections for him had grown back over the summer, but might actually be real. Pulling up in front of her house, she looked expectantly at him, a nervous smile on her face. He still felt very strongly about her since the wolf possession, but he had to admit that he still felt that some one else was also meant to be with him, but would that be fair to Willow? Sighing deeply, he decided the time for talking...and hopefully more...had arrived.
"Willow, can we talk?" he asked nervously, but taking her hand after turning the car off. She gulped slightly but noticeably, and nodded, still trying to maintain a smile. "Well, I know you used to have feelings for me, and you know from my 'great declaration' to Marcie in the Library regarding you and Buffy...now, the thing with Buffy is over and settled, and I'm in the situation, I still feel some one's supposed to...fill the spot I thought Buffy was filling in my heart and thoughts" Willow started to look glum. "But that doesn't change the first half of my feelings," Xander said as Willow now looked hopeful. "If you can live knowing that 'Wolf-Man Xan' might find somebody also not else, I guess...well...I'm thinking and hoping you and I?"
Willow had actually heard and listened to Xander at all levels, including the odd Willow-Xander channel, and was hearing her Xander repeat his declaration. 'Would it be so bad? Maybe he'll never find the other person? Maybe I'll like her? At least I'll have the dream even if I have to share it?' "I won't have to...you know," she waffled, "share you at the same time?" Xander smiled in relief as his glazed over on purpose, earning him a mock-glare.
"No, Wills, whatever happens," Xander said, "and I don't know what might, anything like that has to be worked out be you. It's just a strong instinct, but I really want more than friendship but think about it for a week or so, okay?" Willow nodded, and Xander quickly walked around the car and held the door for her. They walked to the front door, and Xander took Willow's right hand in his left. Xander kissed it, then her cheek, leaving her to blush thoughtfully as he stepped back, winked and walked to his car. 'Oy, that was angsty,' Willow thought as she locked the door behind her.
September 18th, near the Shelter Club, 11:15PM
Xander was letting the moment with Willow spin around in his mind as he noticed four way out of style troublemakers racing afoot at high speed to catch up with a teenage girl and her older blond-haired boyfriend. Xander pulled down a balaclava, then slowed slightly to take better stock of the situation, as two of the 'hoodlums' pushed the man down to the ground and easily tossed him into the side of a dumpster ten feet away. Xander, still moving at thirty miles per hour, veered his car into those two vampires, breaking their insides and surprising the two pushing the girl around. Xander opened up two-handed with his 45 Eagle through the open passenger window, putting four rounds into the groin and guts of the largest and closest enemy, grounding it. The other stepped back with the girl as a shield as Xander stepped out of the car and then around it, using a second 45 to throat-shoot the two car-grill specials into dust. Confronting the dark-clad Hunter, the vampire backed toward an alley corner.
"Stay back, or the girl dies, human," the vampire in game-face spits out, the girl in his hands finally ceasing her struggles as she decided to scream once instead before settling into shock.
"Well, fangy," Xander began, "Tell ya what, you let the girl go without harm, and my having to check on her boyfriend will slow me down enough for you to get away."
"How do I know you'll do that?" the vampire questioned, as Xander placed one of the 45s back into a holster.
"Because you'll toss the girl at me to block my shot, and I'll catch her front on," Xander replied, "And because she's dead and I'm the good guy, I'll have to take the time to catch her while you run away at vampire speed, right? And if you kill her, I'll simply duck and come after you." The vampire threw the girl at him as directed, and after a long day, Xander settled for doing as he'd suggested.
"Are you okay, miss?" he asked, setting her carefully on the hood of his car. "Can you wait while I call 911 and check on your friend?" She nodded, but didn't lift her face up. He made the call and checked to find the other guy dead from head and neck injuries. Taking the mask off and hiding the guns in the car, he drew out his paintball and squirt gun look-alikes he kept for times like this, and removed his gloves.
"I-Is he?" the girl asked, lifting her face to look down the alley. It was Sheila Johnson, tough girl extraordinaire, looking a little human around he edges, not yet able to raise her shields back into place.
"His injuries were too great," Xander informed her gently but truthfully, "Sorry...it was a good thing I was able to scare off those four 'pcp gang members with my paintball and squirt guns, uh?" She looked at him, catching the meaning of his words as a police car pulled up. "Wouldn't want to end up in a white room unless it had at least basic cable," he added with a sad smile. She mirrored it as she turned to the approaching officers and conveyed the cover story version of the truth.
September 20th, Shelter Club, 11PM
Xander Harris had finished clearing out a small nest of seven vampires with his uncle and Angel, and had sent the vampire to patrol with Buffy for newbies. Walking near the Shelter Club, he noticed two really drunk vampires heading into a park and decided to practice his pack skills a little. Pumping up his adrenaline levels, he let out a whistle beyond the hearing of normal humans, a little tune to call his canine pack of his clan to the hunt. For the first time in three months, he'd felt them earlier near the school, where the series of small parks and large cemeteries created a 'peninsula of wilderness to the mountains, tough at its greatest width only a half-mile wide. Five minutes later, silenced double eagles in hand, he met up with the six great wolves, and to his surprise, Kyle, Tor, Rhonda and Heidi.
"Uh, hi, guys," Xander greeted the humans and then with a 'happy growl' the great wolves. "What brings you here?" He holstered the guns as they watched.
"Uh, you apparently," Kyle replied, somewhat subdued. "We were just leaving the Shelter, when Rhonda was the first one to notice the whistle, then Tor the direction...so we're here. You call?"
"I was summoning the wolf pack of my clan," Xander mused, "as the Wolf Spirit and I merged. It never left. Does this mean you all still are feeling the after effects, or what?"
"We had to work probation last summer, remember?" Kyle asked, "Well it was mostly taking over your job at the shelter when you left, and putting in some time with animal control and the zoo. Each of us seems to have been...changed a little, and really don't like to be separated for more than a day or two."
"Like what, Kyle?" Xander asked, opening his senses and feeling them, and some of their differences.
"Well, Rhonda had far-sight and far-hearing, and near-sensing; Heidi and Tor have really good smell and sharper senses but nothing farther than normal, and maybe a little faster," Kyle listed, his stance purposefully and almost sub-consciously non-threatening but not submissive.
"What about you?" Xander asked, already sensing the answer.
"I have the speed, and can feel and send emotions if they're within twenty feet of me," Kyle added. "But as to why we're here now? Beats me?"
"You came because I summoned to the hunt," Xander explained, "and as you still have a bit of the wolf leftover, you're still tied to me and our wolf cousins, here." He gestured at a particular wolf, which came forward to Xander. "Kneel down with me where you are, all of you," Xander commanded softly and they felt the Alpha strength around them, "Kyle, beta. Magnus, beta." He placed a hand firmly but gently on Kyle's shoulder, than that of the Wolf, using all of his empathy as the two stared into the eyes. Between words, growls, whistles and whimpers, Xander emoted enough to both packs that they were same Clan, that Magnus and Kyle were Alphas in their respective packs only, and betas in the Clan. Ten minutes later, Xander sent Pack Kyle home, to meet at school within the next week or so to begin training in self-defense or to fight the darkness, as they'll be permitted Choice of role within the Clan.
"You can come out now, Sheila," Xander called, causing the girl to misstep in surprise, Xander catching her as she fell out of the brush in which she'd hidden. "What brings you here?"
"I saw you and your guns going after those guys," the tough girl admitted, reaching for a cigarette. "Thought I'd see what the new Bruce Wayne was doing playing the Batman." He cocked an eyebrow at her as she paused to light up. "Not exactly what I was expecting...So, do you talk to them?" she asked, waving at the wolves.
"Sorta..." Xander replied, "More like empathy and pack instinct."
Sheila moved closer, unconsciously feeling the power and inhaling the pheromones heavy in the air. Xander could feel the charges come off the hard young teen. She'd lived the trailer existence, but instead of trash became more of a human canine, a coyote. In her case bitch wasn't a derogatory term, it was as close to a power description as you could come up with unless 'pack.' She did pretty much what she wanted, and didn't have any guidance or limitation, like the coyote rather than others. But as she hadn't any canine in her, it didn't fix her behavior. Xander stepped back and waved the wolves at the cooling trail the vampires had left.
"Where're you gonna go, Harris," Sheila asked, actual breathiness surprising her more than him, causing her to halt.
"To hunt," Xander put it simply. "You're tough, Sheila, but you don't want to get involved in this. You have to follow orders or get killed. I'd make you go to class, get good grades and benefit the pack and clan. That simple." The girl stared at him as he blended into the night and disappeared. She followed a couple of minutes later, hard-pressed to keep up.
Small Warehouse near the docks
Twenty minutes later Xander Harris and his wolves had tracked the two vampires to their base of operations, one he'd had no prior intel regarding. He made his way around to a rear alley entrance and carefully checked his coated arsenal. He extended is hearing outward, determined most likely eight vampires, most semi-quiessent, and four small heart beats. He used his cell phone to text message Angel and Buffy the address and 811-08-04 (about to go in, 8 hostiles and 4 humans) when a crash from the front and a young woman's scream as a vampire brought Sheila into the lair, stirring up some of the vamps. Fearing the worst, Xander hit redial, then911 and charged in with eagle and a soaker.
The door was unlocked as no one would normally survive attacking vampires, and so he and his wolves were a quarter of the way across the room before he started firing. He double-shot the throats out of four prone vampires before the shock wore off the alerted and scattering undead. Spraying the nearest vampires with holy water as he fired his remaining rounds into them, he quickly dropped his soaker and eagle for Sheila's arm and a second eagle. The four remaining vampires found themselves bowled over by the great wolves, but another four undead coming in his planned exit dampered much of his hope for an easy run. He emptied his firearm quickly and efficiently, but these vampires were older and stronger, like drill instructors on inspection duty.
He managed to hurt three and dust one before being tackled with stake in hand. Remembering his success against the linebacker-built vampire from the nest in which Harmony was saved, he let himself go limo, letting his legs work under the mass just enough to slide the stake into the vampire's heart as they hit the ground hard. Dust everywhere, Sheila took out a switchblade and managed to take out an eye form a vamp trying to bite her, delaying what seemed the inevitable, until four teens with stick rushed into the fray, coming as close to growling as humans could get.
Xander rolled to the left and onto his feet, stabbing at the back of the vampire still after Sheila but bitten by two wolves. Sheila collapsed, tired, as Xander gave her a quick wink and tackled the vampire on Kyle, rolling it so the packmate could ram a small tree branch into the bloodsucker.
"Help Tor and Heidi!" yelled Xander, "and remember vampires aren't human any more!"
Standing over Sheila and Rhonda, Xander watched as four more vampires raced in to face four humans and four great wolves. A stand-off ensued for all of six seconds, until the rearmost two turned to dust, and a blonde girl with her dark-haired beau presented themselves to the group at large. Angel was the first to voice anything.
"Honey, I believe this is the party we're invited to," the souled vampire declared domestically, "Do you have our invites?"
"Oh, they're right here," she cooperatively quipped, throwing stakes from each hand into the two remaining undead. Xander, low but not deep growling, helped Sheila and Rhonda to their feet. Wolves and humans coming up to flank him, the former started to growl at Angel and the humans picking up on it took defensive stances.
"He's with us," Xander declared, cues at all levels soothing the two packs, "Buffy, Angel, slowly walk forward and kneel with me, Kyle and Magnus, here. Let me introduce you so everybody's feeling safe with one another."
In a shorter repeat, Buffy was introduced as litter-sister despite different smells, as well as her pack's beta. Angel as her consort and pack member.
Angel, though Irish an not Scottish understood family and clan in place of pack and clan, and the vampire understood that in this structure he was in a position similar to that Angelus held as a favorite of the Master as well as through Darla. The beast of the vampire resonated.
They freed the children and took them to the hospital, leaving an abbreviated account with the appropriate euphemisms. Parents arrived, not actually murdered in a happy state of events, and Xander left four thousand of the five thousand looted, to cover medical expenses and add to the 'tab' he'd unofficially run in the ER.
September 21st SHS Lunchroom, 11:00 AM
Sheila Johnson walked across the lunchroom in normal jeans and tucked in white blouse, carrying her books and seeming slightly lost as she approached Xander and the gang at their tables. Principal Flutie headed of a tirade of Snyder's by pointing him to an incipient food fight as he walked over to where the uncharacteristic Sheila was just reaching the table.
"Well, Miss Johnson," Flutie greeted, "I've been informed you were on time for every class today, and attempted to pay attention. Good showing on your part, or I'd be listening to the Vice Principal for an hour about you. But to what do we owe your change of attitude?"
"I talked to Harris, I mean Xander, and I'm hoping to get him to tutor me," she said, fire in her eye when addressing the Principal changing to hopefulness when turning her gaze to Xander, "He kinda saved my a-hide last night and told me what I'd need to do to achieve certain things. So..." Principal Flutie looked over to Xander, who had a small amused smile on his face.
"The group at this table seems to watch out for others," Principal Flutie confessed, placing hands on the shoulders of Xander and Buffy, "So I'm sure things will probably work out."
"Trial basis, I have a lot on my plate right now," Xander sighed, nodding, "And if she's willing to accept direction and...guidance from the others, things might work. Deal?" Principal and student nodded to different subtexts. The Principal departed.
"So..." Buffy began, wondering what had been agreed to.
"Sheila indicated she wanted to participate in my/our extra-curricular activities after her two exposures, one in which she lost her boyfriend," Xander replied, placing a friendly hand on Sheila's shoulder, "and the one at the warehouse you know about. I explained my side, that there are no lone coyotes, only pack members, and that they follow orders, go to class, get good grades and benefit the pack and clan. The implications being she'll benefit from pack and clan, filling the loneliness felt by the coyote with the fullness of the human and wolf together."
"You start to scare me sometimes with that wolfy talk, Xan," Buffy responded, "But okay. Welcome Sheila to...Pack Scooby." The tough girl sat down with the group and quietly got a feel for the dynamic like she had in previous gangs, watching Xander in particular.
"Don't worry, sis, just stuff I picked up from my shaman guide back in June before heading to school," Xander reassured her and the others, "Sometimes when you come from a gang-exposed, unfortunate family, or in-clique situation, it's easier to use pack-like terms and let others from similar backgrounds feel their way into real friendships and such later."
SHS Vice Principal's Office, 2:00PM, September 22nd
"A lot of educators tell students, 'Think of school administration as
your pal,'" Snyder lectures Buffy and Sheila, "I say, 'Think of me as your judge, jury, and executioner.' Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school?" Sheila is expressionless, but Buffy looks a bit apprehensive.
"Well, it is quite a match between you two," the Vice Principal continued, "On the one hand, Buffy hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel..."
"I didn't stab anyone with a trowel," Sheila pointed out, still tough if interested in something, or someone better. "They were pruning shears."
"On the other hand," Snyder said, ignoring the correction, "Sheila has never burned down a school building." Buffy grimaced with a slight blush.
"W-well, that was never proven," Buffy replied, slight panic creeping into her voice. "The Fire Marshall said i-it coulda been mice."
"Mice," the troll-like man dead-panned, waving down further response, The two of you seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-starting events. You really are neck and neck here. It's quite exciting." Sheila bit down a remark. Thursday is Parent-Teacher night. Your parents, assuming you have any, will meet your teachers, assuming you have any left. I've decided to put the two of you in charge of this event. You have three days to prepare the refreshments, make the banners and transform the school lounge into a habitable place for adults. This will incur my good will. And may affect what I and the Principal tell your parents when we meet them. Are we clear?
"We're very clear," Buffy responds, Sheila remaining quiet.
"Good. Because you mess up this time," he smirked, "and your parents will be coming to clean out your lockers.
"So what's the deal with these clubs you and Harris are running?" Sheila asked as they're generally walking in the direction of the gymnasium. "You already have some moves, why the extra school?"
"Well, you have to train to really be able to survive doing the whole night shift thing like we do," Buffy began somewhat uncertain as to where this was leading, "And enough people have become involved, usually being attacked like you were, that we need to be able to cover the training and other stuff we need to do. And if that means having members that work just as hard without knowing what it's really for, it might mean they survive when we're not there to help them. It also keeps us in contact with the people who benefit from our efforts, grounds us I guess...So, the Parent thing...it shouldn't be that hard. We can work on the banners at lunch tomorrow and figure out refreshments then?"
"Yeah, sure," Sheila replied, "Can I join these clubs or are you full up?"
Xander and Willow meet up with Buffy and Sheila, hearing the last bit.
"Snyder's got you guys making party favors, huh?" Xander asked, "And yes Sheila, since you know about the vampires, all three clubs are open to you. Though in the last one, we might not have a lot for you to join in until we see where you are in the fitness stuff, 'kay?" Sheila sighed, and nodded. This good-guy gang stuff was...weird. But if she could get Harris alone?
SHS Gymnasium, 4:45PM
"That's right, Dave, we need four of the long Teacher-Parent banners, maybe a hundred feet of colored lights of some kind," Xander listed off over the cell phone, "five of those large party platter, three and one containers of coffee from Espresso Pump, maybe a couple of five gallon containers of punch or lemonade, a couple of big party bowls for it with fruit...and anything you can think of. I'm going to let Buffy do her thing, and we'll show up at five to save the day. And don't tell Buffy."
"Don't tell Buffy what?" Buffy asked coming out of the shower room.
"Nothing, it's a surprise," Xander smiled, "oh, and in our raid on the warehouse with the kids we found wood and metal lathing equipment, and good-sized stockpiles of materials."
"Um, so what does that mean?" Buffy asked as Sheila, Willow and Amy exited the locker room.
"We can make our own equipment if we have to," Amy answered, "And
since Xander and his uncle just picked it up for taxes and forfeiture, no moving. A simple revocation spell to make it vampire-unfriendly, and we're good to go."
"Hey, Xan, you wanna grab dinner somewhere?" Willow asked, trying to sound not too eager.
"Sounds good, Will," Xander responded, then gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he headed toward the hall, "Just let me check in with Principal Flutie regarding Chris Epps' volunteer service and stuff."
Willow waved to the others, walking with her maybe soon to be more than best friend into the hall, "So how did you become peer counselor guy?"
"It just sorta happened, you know?" Xander considered aloud, "I think the fact that I seemed to have such a turnaround with Flutie and studying last year, and he knows what my home lie was like, I guess th police graduation ting didn't hurt either, and then we all seem to be in the middle of rescuing people with our night patrolling, but mainly Harmony going on and on about me and Uncle Hondo."
"What about Chris? He was like, zombie-creating guy last week, and I know you're not helping Eric," Willow noted as they reached the door to the school office.
"Well, Chris had emotional issues and didn't want to hurt anybody," Xander replied, "So when he went ahead and confessed, it meant he was willing to give up his bad stuff for the good. Eric liked what they were doing, and that's why he's being handled by Snyder and others."
SHS School Lounge, 5PM, September 23rd
Buffy, Willow and Sheila are making Parent-Teacher stuff when Marcie came in crying, being comforted by Xander. He didn't have any expression at all on his face, causing Willow to immediately stop her activity and head over to them.
"Xander, what's wrong?" Willow asked, worried.
"Morgan finally died this afternoon, Wills," the young man managed to force out, "His suffering is over."
Buffy with her Slayer hearing heard him from across the room, faltered, and started to cry. The Scoobies had tried to swing by and see Morgan weekly if possible, and had emailed everyday from class. His passing marked another friend lost, this one in a way none of them knew how to fight. Buffy made a decision.
"We're going to the Bronze tonight," the blonde teen asserted. "We're already ahead on the Parent-Teacher night stuff, and I can manage to study later and make my mother proud as long as I don't have to fight vampires these next two nights." Giles and Jenny come walking in.
Giles: Buffy! Giles: (to Jenny) There is nothing in the chronicles about a-an
extraneous lunar cycle.
Jenny: The Order never accurately calculated the Mesopotamian Calendar.
Rupert, you have got to read something that was published after 1066.
Giles: Very funny.
Xander: What's the up, guys?
"W-um, Ms. Calendar has been researching, well, uh, surfing on
her computer," Giles explained, "a-and she's... Well, according to her calculations, this Saturday is the night of St. Vigeous." Xander gulped audibly, causing Giles to look at him while Buffy remarked.
"Let me guess: he didn't make balloon animals," the already saddened girl quipped. Giles continued to look at Xander, who was rubbing the brdge of his nose.
"Xander are you all right?" the librarian asked, "You seemed to react a moment ago."
"Well, come on, Giles," Xander only slightly smirked, "Vampires celebrating a crusade of vampires through Seljuk Syria? Not exactly something to inspire the troops?"
"How did you know that, Alex?" Jenny Calendar asked, "and do you need any aspirin?"
"No, thanks," Xander replied, the pressure in his head lessening, "And I don't know. Ever since my 'spirit vigil' with Sherman, I've been... remembering things that happened way before I was born, though some of it has made my classes and the gymnastics stuff a breeze."
"W-was this the matter we discussed at your graduation, but haven't had time to discuss?" Giles asked, mollified as Xander nodded.
"Hey, wait, Giles went to your graduation?" Willow gasped, "Why didn't we go?"
"Wills," Xander sighed, "It was a last minute thing, and Giles, Jenny, the Fluties my uncles and Street's SWAT team were there, and Sherman. My teachers." Giles intervened and got back on topic.
"Well, we need to prepare," Giles asserted, "and concentrate on that."
"Well, if I survive Parent-Teacher night tomorrow," Buffy exhaled, " I'll see what I can do about Saturday."
"You're being a tad flip, don't you think?" Giles replied, "You know what happens when you, you let your life interfere with your slaying."
"That essence of angry Slayer Spirit causes her to lash out irrationally and nearly get us all killed?" Xander interjected, causing a pause in the building of tension.
"Okay, well, if my slaying doesn't get me expelled, then I promise my banner making won't get me killed, okay?" Buffy sighed, "Just please let me get through this week."
Giles: This Saturday's going to need a great deal of preparation.
"Really, Giles?" Xander asked, surprised, then continuing as we half-inventoried their resources. "What do you think we need? We have guns, super soakers for people behind the lines, many of whom have learned basic duck and run if things look bad, Angel and myself to provide close-up support for our favorite slayer, SWAT guy to provide close protection for you ranged-weapon folks, and we can have an ex-Special Forces shaman and possible SWAT team experience as possible reinforcements. Compared to a slayer with a pointy stick..."
"A-an excellent point," Giles conceded, "But coming up with some sort of a plan would increase our chances of survival and success."
"How 'bout hittin' them first, Mr. Giles?" Sheila asked simply enough, "If you knew where they were a night or two in advance you could burn down the buildings they're in at sunrise and you'd have fewer vampires Saturday night."
"I like her," Buffy stated, "So all we need to do is find where they might be hanging out."
"A-and not get caught burning buildings down," Giles remarked sourly, as Snyder comes over.
"It's good to see I'm not the only one aware of her misbehaving background, Snyder sneered as he just came within hearing, "You kids wouldn't be helping Buffy, would you?
"No, we were just talking to Mr. Giles," Xander replied, feigning innocence. "Willow and I were just leaving to go have dinner and then study. Would you like us to offer to help?" He watched as Principal Flutie came out of his office and approached the group.
"Just make sure everything is perfect on Thursday," Snyder responded sourly as Giles and Jenny made good their escape, before leaving himself. Flutie engaged Snyder in conversation, then left.
"No problem," Buffy replied to unoccupied air, then turned to Xander, "Please find out the details...for Morgan's funeral, Xan. Even though he only was able to help out that time with Sid, he's one of us."
"Sure, Sis, but you know, how about instead of the Bronze we just go for burgers and shakes, they were Morgan's favorites," Xander said, giving her a small smile, as the group nodded, "Come on Wills, Marcie."
"Did you really burn down a school building one time?" Sheila asked Buffy.
"Well, not actually one time," Buffy replied.
"Cool, let's clean up and go meet the others," Sheila responded.
SHS Library, Thursday, September 25th
The Scooby team has just finished checking all of the Library-based assets for Saturday's fight, and are slowly being directed out of the room by Marcie, leaving Buffy, Sheila, Xander and Giles. Xander mentions the time a few minutes later, spurring Buffy to greater activity.
"Ooo! Parents start arriving any minute," She exclaims, finishing her last party tray. "Okay, so, um, banners are in place, the lounge is comfy... What am I forgetting?"
"To go to the lounge and make sure everything is the way you want it?" Xander replied, smirking as the four of them head out of the Library. A few minutes later, Buffy and Sheila arrive to find more banners, food, beverages and decorations, some placed outside to draw attention to the room. The girls are speechless.
"With the Mayor possibly coming," Xander softly joked, "We made sure Snyder couldn't ruin it for you." Buffy leaned in for a hug, an Sheila mimicked her, not pressing to hard lest she scare Xander off.
"Hi, Mrs. Summers," Willow greeted, "Welcome to Parent-Teacher Night.
"Hi, Willow. Hi, honey," Joyce greeted, amazed at the decorations, "Did you, uh, do all this?" Xander handed her a cup of coffee.
"She sure did Mrs. Summers, her and Sheila both," Xander interjected, and the raised donations for the rest."
"I have to stay here and hostess, Mom," Buffy remarked, why don't you and Willow do a tour of the school?"
"Hey, sure!" Willow agreed, "Bring your coffee and we'll go." Willow leads Joyce away as Snyder comes up to Buffy.
"Was that your mother?" Snyder asks, then heads after another student.
SHS Lounge, 7:00 PM
"Well, Alexander, Allen and I just had to stop by and see how things were going for ourselves," Mayor Richard Wilkins enthused, "We hear many good things about what you're doing, and hope to talk to you within the next week or so about a very good opportunity for you, young man." He shook hands with Xander, then Buffy, before being led away by Principal Flutie on a tour of the facility.
SHS Lounge, 8:45 PM
Cordelia wanders over from where a few of the 'high-end' parents are just leaving. She stares at Buffy's face. Sherman Blackstone walks in and, seeing Giles, begins talking to the librarian.
"What?" Buffy asks, "Is there something on my face?"
"You're starting to look a little slagged," the May Queen notes, "What, are you just skipping foundation entirely now?"
"Cordelia, I have at least three lives to contend with, none of which really mesh," Buffy sighs, "It's kind of like oil and water and a... third
unmeshable thing."
"Yeah, and I can see the oil," she comments, then sees Joyce and Willow, "There's your mom, Now that is a woman that knows how to moisturize. Did it, like, skip a generation?"
"Well, I believe that I have seen every classroom on campus," Joyce remarked with a slightly amused look, "and just as I get there all your teachers miraculously have stepped out." Willow smiles over Joyce's shoulder, proud of herself.
The Fluties come up, as do Jenny and Giles, making a moment of small talk before expecting to leave. Larry walks by on his way out.
"Hey Harris? Where's your family?" the bully asks nastily, not seeing Principal Flutie. Xander turns and gestures at the gathered group.
"Right here, Larry," Xander replies normally, "Right here." At that the adults smile in approval of his restraint and at the very high compliment they've all received. Some of the Slayerettes start leaving, the Fluties right behind them. Buffy sees Snyder come back into the room, and over to the group. Joyce offers her hand to him, which he ignores.
"Hi. I'm Joyce Summers.," the woman greets, "I'm Buffy's mother."
"I'm Vice Principal Snyder," he states, "I'm afraid we need to talk. My office is down here." Joyce follows Snyder to his office.
Fifteen minutes, as people start leaving, Snyder comes back in with Joyce in tow. The Slayer's mother comes up to her daughter. Giles and other adults are in the hallways, generally heading toward the Library or parking lot.
"In the car, now," Joyce sternly orders her daughter. Snyder starts to turn off light switches when two vampires suddenly come crashing through the window. Buffy looks back into the room, and sees several more
vampires storming into the room, Spike following after. She guesses he's the new bad guy in town.
Spike attacks but Buffy grabs a chair and throws it at him, tripping him up. She runs back out of the room and grabs her mother's hand. She turns down the hall to the right, but more vampires come in that way, so she goes the other way. In the lounge Spike grabs hold of a man, about to kill him.
"Nobody gets out!" Spike rages, "Especially the girl!" The vampires pour into the hall as a figure with a crossbow fires at Spike's side, achieving only a flesh wound, but Xander is able to drag the stunned Sherman Blackstone out of the room and away form Spike.
SHS Hallway near Library and Science Labs
The vampires seem to be covering the exits, Buffy trying to lead everybody away without confronting the undead.
"Everybody, this way!" she yells out, "C'mon! C'mon!"
Snyder and several others run past her as she shoves a cleaning cart
into the two vampires chasing them. Willow and Cordelia come running down the hall and manage to get into the Library with Jenny and Giles, Xander with Bridgestone getting inside in time to block the door against four strong-looking vampires. Barring the door and pushing the table as further mass, they pause.
"What the hell...?!" Giles begins, then gathers himself together. Xander hurries to gear himself up, and ordering Willow to call everybody.
Buffy meanwhile, has opened the door to the science classroom across the hall from the Library.
"In here!" she orders, "Now!"
The people all run into the room, Buffy following them in last and closes
the door as the two vampires come running into the hall and begin
banging on the door. Snyder and another man maneuver a storage cabinet in front of the door. Buffy runs over to the other door and closes and locks it before the power goes out.
SHS Library
Giles, Jenny and Willow look up from barricading the doors as the lights go off and the emergency lights come on. Xander's eyes glow green, and he starts to whistle. Finishing, he moves closer to the others.
"Xander, uhm," Willow begins, "Your eyes are glowing."
"Yeah, it's a—"
"Stop," Sherman intervenes, "Please don't try any more of your I am pack, you are members lines. I had enough of that listening to you to try picking up Wolfen girls last summer." Willow giggled, and explained his in-clique and such comment. Sherman groaned.
"That stuff only works on hippy chicks and drunk anthropology majors, Xander," the shaman-wolfen bemoaned, "I told you not to poach any more of my lines until you had a chance to work on them."
"What about the oppressing the poor Native American lines" Xander almost whined, "I'm almost as dark as you, now, and much better looking."
"Not until you've gotten the basics, cub," Sherman insisted.
"W-While I'm sure this is vastly more important than survival," Giles frowned in disapproval, "We have the lives of others to save if we can."
SHS Science Classroom
"Who are those people," a parent asks, "and what do they want?"
"I didn't get much of a look," Joyce began, "but is there something wrong with their faces? I..."
"Yes! PCP! It's a gang on PCP!" Snyder declared, "We've gotta get out of here." He grabs a desk, sets it in front of a window and starts climbing.
"You can't go outside!" Buffy exclaimed, "They'll kill you!"
"You don't tell me!" the angry little vice principal yells, "I tell you!"
She looks up and walks across the room, trying to find a way into the
ceiling. Joyce grabs her by the shoulders.
"Buffy, are you crazy?" Joyce asked her daughter, no longer mad but concerned. "Look, I know you've been accused of fighting and other things, but those guys are serious. You can't go out there."
"I know," Buffy assured her, "That's why I'm going—"
SHS Hall near Library and Science Classroom
Spike is looking for Buffy, calling out obnoxiously.
"Slaaayer! Here, kitty, kittyyy," the master vampire laughs, "I find one of your friends first, I'm gonna suck 'em dry. And use their bones to bash your head in."
SHS Library
"Okay, everybody got a stake and super soaker?" Xander asked, then continued as everybody nod. We're going to open up the door, and while I charge in, Giles and Sherman right behind, I want streams of holy water in support, okay?" They nodded again. "Giles? Anything else?"
"No, I think that's it," he responds, "Are you on the phone with the others now?" I have Jon and the others, Angel and Hondo on the front door, ready to charge down towards us. Angel is just calling Buffy to give her a count down."
SHS Science Classroom
Buffy stops what she's saying, and answers the phone, nodding.
"There are three right outside the science classroom door here," Buffy explained, then, "Uh huh...Uh Huh...Count ten and charge? Got it, bye."
SHS Hallways
"Spike!" a vampire calls out, interrupting the hunt, "There's a group of hunters gathering at the front with Angelus, what should we do?"
"How the hell many of them are there?" Spike sighed.
"About seven?" the vampire guesses, "and we're hearing a group in the Library starting to unbar the doors. It could be more."
At that minute, Front doors, Science classroom and Library doors fly open the SCAM Club and sponsors racing into the hallways to engage Spike and his minions. Xander and Angel each dust one, and Buffy two, as the others supersoak the rest of Spike's group into retreat.
"Get out!" Spike shouts to his follows, and makes good his escape. "Blondie and her friends get this one." Spike races down the hall, feeling three stings as something pierces his jacket and flesh. He keeps running.
SHS Science Classroom
The man starts to pull himself back through the opening he and Snyder created for escape. Snyder helps, but turns to face the opened door as Buffy heads out to fight. Two minutes later, dust settling, Joyce catches up to her daughter and hugs her.
"Buffy!" she asks worriedly, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, mom," Buffy smiles as the SCAM Club rendezvous successfully, "the Sunnydale Gymnastics and Self-Defense Club seems to have scared the bad guys away...again." They embrace.
SHS Outside, An Hour Later
The police are everywhere. The Police Chief walks over to his car, Snyder coming up to him.
"Hello, Bob," Snyder greets, 'Looks like those PCP gang members got away." They look at each other for a minute before the Police Chief nods and drives away. Giles and Jenny coming out of the building a slight distance away.
"Well, another wonderful fun-filled evening," Jenny sighs with a smile.
"Uh, yes, you know, um," he stammers, "I will understand if you decide to start avoiding me." Jenny takes Giles' arm, and they walk off together.
"So Dave, have you and Fritz tracked the gps tags yet on Spike?" Xander asked, Hondo and Angel waiting for a response.
"No, it looks like he yanked 'em out, but we know he's in the warehouse district, not a cave, if that helps," the young whiz sighed, "Sorry."
"Not your fault," Angel assures the young teen, "Spike's luck is as great as his evil. We'll get him."
"Damn straight," Xander promised, petting a great wolf who happily received the attention. "We'll get him."