Chapter 3. Lips Don't Lie.
On her way down an alley to the Bronze, Buffy hears some footsteps coming toward her. She turns around and sees Xander running over to her.
"Man, you walk fast," says Xander, taking some shallow breaths.
"Sorry I almost bit your heads off," says Buffy. "I just don't want you guys to get hurt."
"We get it, Buff, but we do help out and stuff. We gotta."
Buffy smiles at him and leans over to him. She kisses him on the lips softly, then turns towards the alleyway that leads to the Bronze. Buffy then senses Angel as she nears the entrance. She turns around and so does Xander.
"Angel, I haven't got time for you," says Buffy as she turns away.
"You need help," says Angel. "Someone to watch your back."
"I'm here," says Xander. "So, back off because you're not needed here."
"Are you using him as bait?" Angel glares at Xander.
"Hey."
"Don't you two start, okay? I have enough problems as it is." Buffy slowly enters the Bronze. Xander follows after, then Angel follows. She sees a girl curled up near the stage, but Buffy knows that it's not Cordelia.
"I don't like this," Xander and Angel say at the same time. They look at each other.
The female vampire tells her that Cordelia couldn't make it and then she attacks Buffy. Buffy flips her over and the vampire falls on her back. She then pins her down.
"You're right. Why would they send just one?" says Buffy. "Here, you handle her. Don't let her loose." Buffy starts to run out of the Bronze. Angel grabs the female vampire.
"Buffy, wait up," says Xander as he runs after her again.
Back at the library, Willow is checking the door waiting for Xander. She then walks over to the table, where Giles is trying to read a book that has some information on what they are looking for.
"Xander's taking a long bathroom break," says Willow.
"He should have gone to get doughnuts," Giles suggests. "Ah! Ah, ah, ah! Uh, uh, the Latin is, is translated from the Sumerian, a-a-and rather badly. Closest to the Master actually translates as 'nearest'. Physically. The, the, the person or persons who were with him... when he…" Giles pauses and looks up. "It is a trap."
Several vampires appear on the mezzanine level above. Giles sees them. "It just isn't for her."
A couple minutes later, Buffy comes running into the library. It's a mess and Willow and Giles are missing.
"They're gone," says Buffy. "This was a trap for them and not me."
"Maybe if we would have all gone," says Xander. "This wouldn't have happened."
"Xander, this is not my fault. I didn't know…"
"Okay, enough with the arguing and let's find them and save them."
"Right." Buffy goes over to the table and sees a book on it. "Giles said that the revivification they would need someone close to the Master. If it's not me then…"
"The ones who buried him," says Xander, snapping his finger. "Giles, Willow, Cordy, and Ms. Calendar."
"But where could they be?"
"I'm guessing warehouse. Very homey for the vamps and their fiesta's."
"Next to the Bronze. It's gotta be those." Buffy goes into Giles' weapon cabinet and pulls out an axe. She grabs a knife for Xander and hands it over to him.
"Nice choice, but I'd feel much safer with the axe." Xander follows Buffy out of the library, ignoring his comment on weapon choice. The two arrive at the warehouse next to the Bronze. Angel surprises them as he appears out of nowhere as usual. "Geez, could you not do that." Angel glares at Xander.
"I heard some noise inside," says Angel. "Maybe…"
"They're in there," says Buffy, finishing his sentencing. "Where's the vampire?"
"Staked her. She was trying to come on to me."
"Hey, take that as a compliment," says Xander. "At least she was your species."
Buffy laughs at Xander's comment a little, but then gets serious as she approaches the entrance to the warehouse. The three enter as quietly as they can and head over to the main room.
"Witnesses to our Master's wretched demise," says a vampire named Absalom "They will breathe their last breath this night. The blood that pours from their throats will bring NEW LIFE to the old one. We gather for his resurrection. For the dawn of this new hell."
Buffy, Xander, and Angel look up and see their four friends hanging upside down just above the Master's bones that are placed on a table.
"Buffy, what do we do?" asks Xander.
"Angel and I will distract the vampires," says Buffy. "Xander, get the guys free."
"Buffy…"
"I'll be careful. Now go!"
"Hey, Angel."
"What?" asks Angel, irritated.
"Watch her back."
"I will." Angel grins.
"When I tell you to watch her back, I don't mean it in that way or you'll get some sunlight tomorrow morning. I know where you live."
"I'll watch her back." Angel follows Buffy.
Xander then heads over to the chains that has the Scooby's in a vine. He starts to pull it, but it's really hard since he is trying to pull on four people hanging upside down.
Buffy goes on a dusting frenzy and kicks some vampire behind. Angel comes up behind her and helps her. He already sees that she has got it covered. Angel then sees Xander struggling with the chains and heads over to help him.
"Need a hand?" says Angel as he starts to pull on the chains.
"Where's Buffy?" asks Xander, worried that he is not backing her up.
"She's handling it." The chains are pulled all the way and Xander heads over to the Scooby's and helps them down. Angel wraps the chain to something hard, so that it will hold and then heads over to Xander to help him with the others.
The Scooby's come out of their unconscious state and get up. They then look down to the first floor and see Buffy fighting like crazy with the vampires. There are only two left and she stakes them with two quick movements. She then turns and sees that her friends are okay. Buffy stares at the Master's bones on the table.
Xander hurries down to the first floor and heads over to Buffy. He wants to ask her if she is okay, but she ignores him. She picks up the axe she had on the floor and starts to break the Master's bones. Her eyes start to fill with tears after a couple minutes, then she turns away and drops the axe. Xander goes over to her and she grabs hold of him. Buffy begins to cry and it's a first for her in front of all her friends.
"It's okay, Buffy," says Xander, soothing her with his hand rubbing her back gently. "He's gone."
The next day at school, Buffy enters the class and sees Xander and Willow. She knew she was acting not friendly to them since she got home, but Xander smiles at her and signals her to sit next to him. Buffy sits down and looks at Willow, who is sitting across from her.
"I told her," says Xander.
"What?" asks Buffy, not knowing what Xander meant by that, but it must have been the thing with the sex.
"PMS?"
"Oh. Yeah, totally. I'm over it now."
"That's good," says Willow.
"Willow…"
"I know, Buffy, and I'm okay with you and Xander."
"So, you told her."
"Yeah, she was going to pull my hair if I didn't," says Xander.
"What a wuss," says both Willow and Buffy. The two laugh.
"Willow, I'm glad you're okay with it. I didn't want to hurt your feelings. I know you really like Xander."
"Willow," says Xander. "You like me. Wow, I'm speechless. Hey, we could share. One of you on Monday through Wednesday and the other Thursday through Saturday." Both girls hit Xander. "It was just a thought."
"Besides, Xander, I'm kind of over you," says Willow.
"You are?" says Buffy and Xander at the same time.
"Angel asked me out last night. I'm moving on to the dead." Willow looked forward with a grin on her face.
"No, Willow," says Xander. "You didn't. Please tell me I'm dreaming?"
"Willow, I…He did…How…" says Buffy, confused and a little jealous.
"Is that a jealousy tone I'm sensing?"
Buffy looks at Xander innocently. Then Willow looks at her two friends, who are surprised that Willow would go out with the dead.
"Hey, Buffy," says Cordy as she comes over to her desk. "I hope you don't mind. I asked Angel out and he said yes. Just wanted to let you know since you saved my life and all. Bye."
Xander and Buffy watch Cordy go sit down in her seat, then they look back at Willow. Willow tries to be strong and not laugh. She has a smile from ear to ear and couldn't hold it in much longer.
"Okay," says Willow. "So, Angel didn't ask me out because Cordy got to him first."
"Can I give you some advice, Willow?" says Buffy.
"Yeah."
"Never again."
"You should have seen the looks on your faces. It was so worth it."
"You little devil," says Xander. "You really had us going there. I was really worried."
"Oh, Xander. I won't date anyone without your approvable. Besides, maybe I'll find a warlock or a Werewolf." Willow gives them a smile. Both Buffy and Xander shake their heads as the teacher begins to talk.