"According to my calculations, it should be halfway to L.A. by now." Willow's finger traced the line she had drawn on the map. "It's called a Brillcrall demon, and they are very deadly. They mostly prefer to...murder children. As for weaknesses or ways to kill it....so far, I haven't found any."

"I'm going to L.A." Buffy declared, standing up and heading for the staircase. Willow looked to Xander and Anya who also sat there with worried eyes.

"Buffy you can't!" She protested. Buffy turned back.

"And why not? It's heading to L.A. Will! It's a huge city! I can't let it do any more damage."

"We don't even know how to kill it yet. From everything I've read...."

"I'll find a way when I get there." She interrupted. "I can't let that thing have the chance to kill anymore innocents."

"Buffy this is crazy! You're not thinking." Xander insisted.

"We need to know more." Willow agreed.

"So....what? We just sit around here while this thing preys on more little kids? Twelve children died Willow! I'm the slayer. I can't allow it to happen again."

"Why don't we call Angel?" Dawn suggested. All heads turned to her. "I mean....we could tell him about the Brillcrall demon and he could make sure it doesn't strike again until we know more."

"I like that plan. It's less suicidal than Buffy's." Anya agreed. Buffy shook her head.

"No way. I'm not calling Angel."

"Why not?" Willow asked.

"I'm not going to ask him to risk his life fighting a demon that I'm responsible for. Sunnydale is my town. This thing is my demon and I let it escape. I won't add to Angel's responsibilities in L.A. by asking him to take on this thing...not when we don't know how to kill it." She sighed heavily. "Look guys I understand where you're coming from. But I have to go. I have to take this thing out. It's my job and you know it."

"I'm coming with you." Dawn declared.

"Absolutely not." Buffy countered.

"Dawnie, you can't be serious..." Willow added.

"I'm dead serious. I'm your sister Buffy. If you're going to fight this thing then I am going to be there when you do. I can't sit around here."

"You don't have a choice Dawn." Buffy said firmly. She turned to face the group of eyes that sat, staring at her. "You're not coming....none of you are."

"OK, now I know you're crazy!" Xander exclaimed. "You can't just take off to L.A. to fight a demon you don't know how to kill without backup! It kicked your ass when you fought it before...or have you forgotten?"

"I haven't, believe me." Buffy replied. "What are you going to do Xander? Shut down your construction crew to come with me? Huh? I don't know where it's going to be, and if it leaves L.A. I'm going to follow it wherever it goes until I kill it. I don't know how long I'll even be gone. I can't ask any of you to pack up your lives just to follow me around after a demon!"

"But that's what we do Buffy," Willow insisted. "It's what we've always done. Why does it have to be any different now?"

"Look I appreciate all of you wanting to help, I really do, but I'm going alone and that's that. I'll take my cell phone and if you can find a way to kill this thing call me on that OK? I will be fine....we've fought way worse if you guys can remember."

"Yes Buffy, I remember that we've fought way worse." Willow stressed her words carefully, but Buffy chose to ignore the distinction.

"I'll leave tomorrow and call you from whatever hotel I end up at when I get there." She stood up and headed towards the staircase, intending to go to bed.

"Buffy..." Dawn called out, when she got to the top. Her sister turned. "You're really not going to ask for Angel's help?"

"No, Dawn." Buffy replied with a grim smile. "I'm really not."