Xander opened his eyes seeing the familiar design of the lapseless room. What was he doing here again? Oh right the Judge fully assembled with Spike and Drusilla's help. He got to his feet and stretched looking around. He looked at the clock and saw it was 10:30 everyone was in school in classes now. He looked down in disbelief. He actually frigging misses it. He's probably going to become a bookworm when they fix this… yeah right like that will happen. But with Buffy and Willow in class he can just ask some questions and leave the library in under five minutes.

Xander quietly sneaked up to the library window. The wondeful city of Sunnydale, Full House by day, Amityville by night. Xander walked to the library window and smiled seeing Giles open it for him as he hopped in.

Giles looked at him flabbergasted. "Xander, why didn't you just use the door like a normal person?"

Xander looked at him. "Because my logic is much more advanced then the human brain."

"I mourn for evolution." Giles quipped.

"Hey!" Xander protested. "Also I got expelled from a whole lot of absences can't use the front door anymore. Did Buffy check in?"

Giles nodded. "Yes, this morning, she and Angel laid low for the night she was concerned about you since you didn't check in."

"Tell her I'm fine." Xander replied. He looked around the room. "Not that I care but where is Ethan?"

"At my house, I have all my research books stored here now to keep him out of trouble. He aalso knows the council will come after him if he runs." Giles replied.

Xander looked around. "Did Buffy tell you about our other friend from last night?"

Giles nodded going into watcher mode. "Yes, the blue archer, I've been looking for him as a distraction for ways to counter act the Judge."

Xander nodded. "All I can think of for the Judge is slice and dice. And you obviously can't get close enough without getting burned."

Giles walked over to a table pulling out a book. "Thankfully your friend is not nearly that much of a pain to deal with. But what I can tell you is that he is not human."

Xander looked at him. "Really? He looks human enough. And I fought him in the day so that rules out vampire. What kind of demon am I up against?"

Giles shook his head opening the page. "You see that's the thing… the blue archer he's well... he might be a demon… but according to this... he's a champion."

Xander looked at him. "What? He can't be a champion. He's tried to kill me twice now!"

Giles looked at the page not really having an answer for him. "All I have is what's in the books. He's at least two hundred and fifty years old. He saved the world by destroying the dark witch Deltania."

Xander shook his head in disbelief. "Don't take it there's a way in there to stop him is there?"

Giles shook his head. "Nothing in the book about a way to kill him but he was injured in a fire so he can be hurt."

Xander nodded. "Figured that out when I stabbed him last night. Thanks for looking G-man. Now I gotta go find him."

Giles watched him leave. "You can't stay and say hi to Willow?"

Xander shook his head. "Last night he put three steel arrows in Angel's chest we might not be so lucky next time."

Giles nodded in agreement. "I see, good luck."

"Thank you."

That night Xander tweaked his neck it went stiff from how long he's been looking in the water. He's batting a thousand… only for team evil. He's been looking for ways to stop the Judge and he had no luck there. The only thing he figured was a cross slash but that would leave him way too close to get burned. He watched the original knights do it and it was like watching the original terminator watching resistance soldiers get vaporized by Skynet's advanced weapons.

The sad thing is that's still progress compared to the search for Blue. He can't even find his fight with the witch.

Xander collected himself maybe the scoobies have an idea of what's going on. "Show me Willow."

Xander watched as the water transformed into Sunnydale High's hallway. He smiled seeing the redhead at the vending the machine for a late night sugar rush. He looked and saw Angel also in the room with the creepiest non innocent smirk that you ever could see before reverting to Angel's broody stupid face. Something's wrong. He moved grabbing his blades and heading back to Sunnydale post haste.

Willow smiled soda in hand caffeine recharged and now she has work to do. She walked up both flights of steps and into the hallway until…

"Willow"

Willow jumped startled and turned. "Angel! You scared me! We have enough on our plate as is."

Angel smiled innocently. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. I just think I found a way to beat the Judge."

Willow's face lit up in a smile. "Really how?"

"Come here and I'll show you." Angel finished

Willow took a couple steps.

"Willow, walk to me."

Willow turned around to her surprise she saw Jenny cross in hand. Not who she expected. "Ms. Calendar?"

Angel quickly changed to game face and grabbed Willow from behind and put his arm around her throat.

Willow gasped for breath not believing this. "Angel what are you doing?"

Jenny looked at him sadly. She's too late. "You're not Angel anymore are you?"

Angel shook his head with a smile but game face so hard to tell. "You're wrong lady. I am Angel at last."

Jenny scowled at the source of so much pain in her life past and present. "Let Willow go and you can have me?"

Angel let out an innocent little laugh. "Now why would I do that?"

Jenny looked at him. "I'm Romany, let Willow go and I'll go with you. You can do whatever you want with me."

Angel held Willow tightly. "Just one problem. I don't like having a meal that doesn't fight back and shows no fear. So I'll just kill Willow and wait for…" Angel was cut off by the tip of steel pressed against the back his neck.

Jenny took a breath of relief seeing Xander with his sword held on Angel as the teenager warned. "Let Willow go or I'll cut your damn head off. We both know I won't hesitate."

Willow smiled hearing the voice. Angel simply let her go and put his arms up in surrender as Willow ran for Jenny.

Angel moved quickly and back elbowed Xander in the jaw forcing the teen back and knocking the sword away from anywhere dangerous. Angel quickly grabbed Xander and threw him down a flight of stairs. Xander felt around oh good he didn't stab himself he saw Angel running at him and quickly ran to the wall to the surprise of Willow and Jenny ran up it a couple steps in a semi circle before jumping off the wall and hitting Angel with a devastating spin kick that knocked the vampire down the next flight of steps as Xander reclaimed his weapon.

Willow looked at scene a bit shocked. "We can't let him fight alone."

Jenny watched as Xander ran down a couple steps before leaping off sword held in both hands ready to drive it into the floor like a railroad Spike. Angel quickly rolled out of the way as the blade went into the floor. "I think he can take care of himself till we get Giles."

Xander pulled the sword from the floor and gave chase taking a swing in the cafeteria as Angel ducked and hit Xander with a punch to the face and a kick to the hand forcing him to drop the sword.

Xander walked keeping eye to eye with Angel as the two circled each other.

Angel glared at the boy. He wanted to keep him second to last but he doubts that would be an option. "Now of the many things I hate about you what would I miss the least."

Xander kept his focus on the vampire hand on the dagger attached to his back. "I never did like you."

Angel sarcastically clenched his chest. "I hadn't noticed. I've been too busy trying to figure out your other problem. What was it you used to call me... Dead boy was it."

"Still fits." Xander countered.

Angel smiled. "Fits for you too now pal. If Spike would ever pull his head out of his ass he'd realize it too."

"How long, how long did you know?" Xander asked.

Angel looked at him seeing his guard dropped. "As soon as I saw you at the wanna be vamp club. Soul boy wanted to talk to you in private before telling the others but he could never find you. It's getting worse isn't it? You smell weaker and weaker each time I see you. You're dying, don't worry I'll be here to comfort Buffy and Willow."

Xander exploded in a bout of rage as he went after Angel. The teen jumped in the air and caught the vampire in the stomach with a pump kick knocking him back. Xander threw a right punch that Angel caught and quickly threw a left hook that forced to Angel to release Xander to dodge the attack.

Angel threw a kick which Xander ducked under and countered with a roundhouse of his own which the vampire dodged. Angel tried to slam both of his arms into the teenager's ears deafening him but Xander got his arms up to block the attack leaving Angel wide open as Xander punched him two times in the gut and once in the head knocking him back. Xander jumped on the table using it as a boost jumped into the air and grabbed Angel using the momentum from his landing he flipped Angel into the air as the vampire did a 180 flip landing through a lunch table smashing it to splinters. Xander quickly grabbed a splinter big enough for a stake.

Angel shot up in game face. This is embarrassing Xander freaking Harris has forced him to vamp out. Angel rushed him in a flurry of fists. Xander blocked it as quick as he could but being a demon gives Angel enhanced speed.

Angel kicked him in the ribs and Xander cut at him with his stake. Angel got his hands up and caught Xander's arm and smashed it into the wall a couple times forcing him to drop the stake. Xander hit back with a pair of knees to the ribs knocking the vampire back.

Xander shook the cob webs off. Glowing thing would be really nice right about now. Xander jumped for a spin kick Angel simply backed away from as Xander acted quick and kicked him in each shin wobbling his standing before kicking him in the gut knocking him back. Xander ran up the cafeteria wall and dove off with another punch wobbling Angel to one knee.

Angel growled in frustration… what does he practice 24/7 since Halloween. Angel went all out and blocked Xander's next two kicks and when the next punch came Angel grabbed Xander's arm and bent it behind the teenager's back before using his free arm to put him in a chokehold. "That's enough."

"You're pretty winded for a guy that doesn't breath." Xander quipped.

Angel snarled hard to believe Xander Harris pushed him this far. "I changed my mind, you're first."

"Do it and it will be the last thing you ever do!"

Angel quickly turned about 180 seeing Giles with Cordy, Willow, and Jenny. Angel smiled seeing Giles with the crossbow. "Take your best shot English."

Xander looked at Giles twitchy finger. "Just do it I'm dead anyway."

"Shut up." Angel ordered.

"SHOOT HIM GI..." Angel tightened the grip.

Giles went to shoot at the vampire's blind side just kept putting Xander in harm's way

Xander glared at the Englishman for god sake shoot. "Giles, if you care about me at all you will send this crazy bastard straight to hell!"

Angel kept his grip. "You know all I wanted to do was to leave a message for Buffy then I get all this drama."

"Then why don't you give it to me yourself." Buffy replied at the door.

Angel spins around with Xander to face her. "Well, it's not really the kind of message you tell. It sort of involves finding the bodies of all your friends.

He tightens his grip on Xander even more and he lets out a pained groan.

Buffy shook her head. "This can't be you."

Angel looked at her coldly. "Gee, we already covered that subject."

Xander took advantage of the lover's quarrel and used his free arm to dig into his back.

Buffy kept her focus on Angel, she knew something was different. "Angel, there must be some part of you inside that still remembers who you are."

Angel laughed at the attempt. "Dream on, schoolgirl." Xander takes the zyusouken from his back. "Your boyfriend is dead. You're all gonna join him."

Xander quickly jammed the blade into the vampire's leg as Angel involuntarily let him go. Xander went to stab him again but Angel grabbed him by the arms and threw him at Cordy and Willow with vampire strength knocking all three down.

Giles took a shot with his crossbow and Angel acted quick catching the bolt. "Bad move Englishman." He threw it with precision as the arrow went into Jenny's leg dropping her.

When Angel reached Buffy he grabbed her by her shoulders and smiled seeing her freeze. "Things are about to get very interesting."

He kisses her, shoves her into the wall and backed out the door.

Xander was the first one up and got to her. "Buffy, you okay?" Buffy just stared at the door. "Buffy."

Everyone gathered back in the library and to the big surprise of everyone Ethan of all people got to work patching up Jenny's leg. Buffy however was fuming at the gypsy.

Buffy looked at her. "So were you ever going to tell us that you were sent here to watch Angel?"

Jenny shook her head. "No, I was taught to be loyal to my clan. It wasn't until recently what a bunch of idiots we are. I'm sorry I just thought my family was being vengeful I didn't realize there was actual dangers. I'm sorry, I didn't think that the curse could be BROKEN!" Jenny shouted in pain.

Ethan rolled his eyes pulling the arrow straight out to make sure the arrowhead didn't get lodged in. "Of course there's an escape clause it's a curse. They didn't say here's a soul they cursed him with it. And curses by default have clauses that break them." Ethan turned to Giles. "American living has made you soft old man."

Willow looked to Buffy. "Please don't be mad at her from the sounds of it she actually supported you and Angel together. Even fought with her people on it."

Buffy nodded and looked at Jenny she did nearly get the teacher's throat slit earlier this year, and a leg wound from trying to help Willow, so just this once. "It's OK just be honest from now on and see if you can find a way to cure him again."

Giles looked at his old friend kind of impressed with how easily Ethan patched Jenny up. "And you've learned some new things since last time I saw you."

Xander and Cordy stayed up on book patrol. Their main concern was the judge. Xander closed his book and asked. "Well I got nothing how about you?"

Cordy shook her head. "Same old, same old, took an army blah blah blah couldn't kill him blah blah blah reign of darkness blah blah blah."

"Wow, you make history come alive." Xander quipped.

Cordy just smacked him with her free hand. "Yeah well, however we're going to beat the judge we're not going to find it here." She threw the book onto a frighteningly growing pile. "we're screwed aren't we? Super powered demon that can burn us, no weapon, and Angel has joined team bad. I think we've hit rock bottom"

Xander looked at her and grabbed her by the shaking arms pulling her closer. "Hey this is something we've dealt with a hundred times already. We have doughnuts, we beat the big bads. It's what we do."

Cordelia looked at him in a smile getting closer to him. "What about what else we do?"

"Oh." Xander smiled until he heard an irritating low beep. "What is that?" Cordelia just pointed down to his wrist. "Oh"

Cordelia looked at him he was so happy and now she can practically see the color draining off his face. "Hey what gives?"

Xander looked down. "I had 38 hours to figure this out." He held up his watch so Cordy can see as she swallowed a bit in panic seeing (18:59:49) "I now have less then half of that."

Cordy looked at him. "Xander you gotta get out of here right now!"

"I know but not yet." Xander said as he came down and saw the rest of the scoobies minus one. "So where's G-man?"

"Bathroom" Buffy answered.

Xander nodded perfect.

Xander walked into the bathroom and saw Giles scrubbing his glasses. "Something wrong?"

Giles shook his head. "Just thinking about Jenny and where we could possibly go from here."

Xander raised his head. "You're not thinking of breaking up with her are you?"

Giles looked at him. "She lied to us, she lied to me."

Xander looked at him dumbstruck. "And we do what to Buffy's mom every time we see her? Besides I think you and her have something in common given that the demon I had to save Cordelia from was coming for you and Ethan from the looks of it."

Giles awkwardly nodded realizing yeah he really doesn't have a high ground. "Is this what you came here for?"

Xander shook his head. "I can only wish that was what I came here for."

Giles looked at him. "What's wrong?"

Xander looked at him. This was so much easier in his head. He had a speech and everything. "U…um, I don't how to…"

"What is it?" Giles repeated.

Xander looked at him barely able to speak up from the clamp in his throat. "I'm… I'm dying Giles."

Giles looked at him disappointed. "Xander, I know you're scared of the Judge. We all are."

Xander rolled his eyes. Did he really go there? He's the one person who went after Buffy when everyone went no she's dead there is no need for a body she's very, very dead. "Not that demonic smurf! I'm really dying you British… ugh."

Giles' eyes widened realizing he's telling the truth. "What happened?"

"Halloween" Xander answered. "Ever since Halloween, See I went as Japanese green ranger and while Willow's body kind of got put into a mystical coma mine just got crushed. I'm living off borrowed time and once that is over… I'm a dead man."

Giles looked at him more alert and focused. "How long do you have left?" Xander held up his wrist showing the counting down watch as Giles instantly changed tone. He's going to murder the boy. "You've had three months to figure this out and you bring me in with less then a day to go?!"

Xander looked at his wrist. "No, no, Giles there's no magic school or anything like that. I don't know where the glow came from. Giles when I'm away, I'm in a room that freezes the clock so I don't die. I have been turning every stone I can just trying to find a way to fix or even slow it down and I have nothing. I have 101 ways to make zombies for dummies."

Giles looked at him. "Oracles?"

Xander shook his head. "None of them knew anything. The only thing that remotely resembles a lead was Loa. And even that was a cryptic mess. The moon, transference and the devil, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Giles nodded at least it's a lead at least. "I will look into but for now…"

Xander did a little salute. "Going back to the laspsless room sir."

Giles looked at him. "If we need you."

"I'll know." Xander assured him. "Just please don't tell Buffy and Willow I don't want them to know."

Giles looked at him concerned. "Don't you think they'd want to know?"

Xander shook his head. "And do what be stuck with this sad news. To cry and be depressed the whole time until I die. To research and hit failure after failure like I'm doing. No, I don't want them to know until we have something to fix it."

Giles looked at him confused. He can't help but notice another name didn't make it into the mix. Why in the name of god would he tell Cordelia? "I don't agree with it but I'll respect your choice."

"Thank you."

Giles looked at him he's on the clock and he's still been helping. "I swear to you I will find a way to fix this."

Xander just awkwardly shook his hand to his surprise Giles hugged him alright awkward and exactly why he didn't want them to know. "Thanks G-man, OK, gotta go."

Giles walked into the library and saw Willow's confused look. "I sent Xander out on a lead against the Judge he had."

Buffy nodded. "Hope it pans out to something at least."

Jenny looked at Giles concerned from her spot on the table. The watcher seemed gut checked but is keeping his calm.

Giles turned to Ethan and in crystal clarity knew why Xander always treats him like crap. Giles wasted no time and swung full bore connecting with Ethan's jaw so hard that he knocked the other Englishman out of the chair and onto the floor. Buffy ran over and pulled him off. As much fun as it would be now is not the time to blow off steam. He looked to Cordy and suddenly realized why she wanted resurrection rituals it confirmed what he already realized… she knew.

Ethan wiped a trail of blood from his mouth. "Feeling better old man?"

"For now." Giles replied. "I just wish we knew what the trigger was."

Buffy looked at him. "What?"

Giles looked at her. "Well something had to have happened to make the change in Angel. Buffy you were closest to him. If you could tell us…"

"I can't." Buffy quickly bolted from the room.

"Buffy" Giles repeated.

Willow easily caught on. "Giles shut up."

Jenny frowned. "She was the trigger."

Giles' eyes lit up in understanding and everything washed away for tonight. Besides now he has something else to look up.

"Why'd you hit me Ripper? Not that you weren't justified." Ethan replied from the floor.

Giles looked at him. Willow's still here so. "Seemed like the thing to do.

The next night Buffy walked flanked by the rest of the Scoobies minus Ethan who would slow them down and Jenny whom is still wounded. They did however have a newcomer with them Oz. With the Judge out there Willow didn't want to be alone. Cordy figured if she's going to die, do it fighting as theres reports of gangs on PCP at the city limits and Buffy is slaygirl. Her best bet is with her. Their current plan is to bum rush the judge. Because thousands of people are going to die if they don't and the Judge will just get stronger from it. This might be their only chance.

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise seeing Xander at the front door waiting for them. "How did you get here?"

"Trail went cold." Xander answered. "Figured I'd come here and try to carve up the Judge. Judging from the swords and the axes I'd say you guys had a similar plan."

They entered Spike's warehouse and quickly find it's abandoned. Giles looked around but he can't see Drusilla in her black dress in the dark. Stuck in her wheelchair. She should have just sent Daddy.

Buffy put down her crossbow frustrated. "I knew it."

Giles looked at the second floor and around the first. "We haven't a bead on where they would go?"

Buffy exhaled. "I don't know, uh... somewhere crowded, I guess. I mean, the Judge needs bodies, right?"

"The Bronze?" Xander offered.

Willow shook her head. "It's closed tonight."

Cordelia shrugged trying to think of anything where her and popular people would be. "There are not a lot of choices in Sunnydale. It's not like people are gonna line up to get massacred."

Oz put a hand up. "Uh, guys? If I were gonna line up, I know where I'd go."

The Judge stood in the mall Angelus and Spike at his side. Spike doesn't agree with the plan but two things convinced him. One, it's what Dru wants. Two, the whelp seems to come when the scoobies get in serious trouble. With a sadistic smile the Judge spread his arms out as every shopaholic was caught in a laser grid of seemingly hell fire. Spike's men blocking the exits so no one can get in or out.

The Judge let out a smile about to smite them all when a crossbow bolt was fired into his chest.

The Judge pulls the arrow out furious ready to burn who ever did it. "Who dares?"

Buffy looked at him in cold resolve wishing she could do more then this. But if you're going out against a demon. Make the bastard earn it. "I think I got his attention."

The Judge glared at her. "You're a fool; no weapon forged can hurt me."

Buffy looked at him. "Don't worry we'll figure it out."

Xander quickly brought his dagger and sword together and each glowed firing an energy blast at the Judge taking the blue demon off his feet and knocked him out. "Well, that was anti climactic."

Angelus ran for the back to the theater Buffy quickly in pursuit. "No, wait!" Xander looked at it guess it's up t him to slice and dice. Xander rolled his eyes seeing Spike and Angel's flunkees rush him.

Cordelia was helping people out of the mall on one side Oz at the middle with Giles and Willow at the right on the second floor Xander fighting Spike's men with a couple decapitations. Cordelia's eyes widened in terror as she felt her whole body freeze at the Judge getting back up, she ran for her life upstairs the Judge slowly walking after her like the slasher after a cheerleader in a horror movie. She made it to the second floor running for Xander before she was grabbed from behind.

Spike smiled picking up the cheerleader's scent. "Well, I've been looking for a way to pay the whelp back. This will work."

Xander cut the next head off one of the minions and his eyes widened turning to familiar scream seeing the Judge getting close to Cordelia. "No!"

The Judge held his hand out as Xander made a mad dash running up a bench and jumping over Spike's last minion. He ran right in front of Cordy cutting off the Judge's attack as it hit him head on.

Xander bit his lip trying to grit through the Judge's touch so much for those 18+ hours. Xander groaned in pain as his eyes turned into white orbs his body taking on the white glow until it released a concussive shockwave that knocked down Spike, The Judge, Cordy, and Xander. The shockwave knocked Spike's minion down to the first floor where Giles made quick work of him.

Xander was the first to his feet and quickly pulled Cordelia away from Spike. "Are you OK?"

Cordy nodded. "How did you know that the Judge couldn't burn you?"

"I didn't." Xander replied.

Cordy looked at him as it slowly sunk in. "But that means you would have…"

"Cordy they're getting up get out of here." Xander ordered.

Cordy saw the Judge and Spike moving and took that as the sign to move. Where the hell is the damn slayer?

Spike looked at him with a smile. "Well look at this alone at last. You're going to pay for what you did to my Dru."

Xander shot him a cold hard glare. "You come near me I'll do worse then what I did to your girlfriend."

Spike looked behind him seeing the Judge getting up. "You think you can beat us both?"

Xander looked at the vampire knowing not a chance. "I know I can." Just then a blue arrow struck the wall attached to a rope as Blue dropped down his leg showing no signs of damage from the other night. "Oh come on!"

Spike smiled seeing Blue notch an arrow and aim it at Xander. "Well it just sucks to be you today."

Xander looked at all three of his opponents as he took out both blades. Well, he had a nice run.

Blue looked at the teenager before turning to Spike and firing the arrow right into the dead man's shoulder. The arrow coming out the other end as the arrowhead turned into four hooks digging into Spike's skin.

"Ah! You horse's ass!" Spike shouted as Blue watched the vampire drop to his knees.

Xander watched Blue just dive off the second floor seeing a rope right behind and quickly realized the other end is still attached to Spike as the vampire went sailing over the guard rail leaving him alone with the Judge.

The Judge quickly blasted Xander again just for the glow to come back and knock him back. Xander took out his sword and cut the Judge across the chest. The demon turned away from Xander hand on the wound and the Sunnydale teen just cut the super demon across the back and kicked him as the judge bounced off the wall and to the floor.

The Judge looked at the glowing teenager terrified as he pulled himself up. "How! You're only human!"

Xander smiled as pulled out and played the Zyusouken and as both blades glowed green. "If I knew I'd tell you."

He's seen Jason use it as a kid so he knows how this works. He ran at the Judge in a scream as he jumped to the air cutting across the Judge's chest with Zyusouken before using the sword and cut the ancient demon in half. Wait don't these usually… Xander bolted in the other direction as the glow wore off and the Judge exploded into pieces in an explosion.

Cordy joined Willow and the others just in time to see the show and hissed as the sprinklers came to life. "Whoa, you think that killed him?"

Giles shook his head. "No way to know for sure. Get the pieces keep them separate."

Cordy eyes widened. "Pieces, we get the pieces. Our jobs suck!"

Spike looked down and yanked the arrow through his gut well that was a fun ride. He looked at the Blue archer and growled at him. "Do you know who I am, what I intend to do to that friend of yours."

Blue hit a button on his bow as it compounded into itself turning into a staff. "I don't care." Blue swung high and Spike ducked quickly. Blue swung low and Spike jumped only to get a kick in the kidney when he landed followed by two punches to the face.

Spike went to game face and caught each of Blue's next punches and head butted him. Blue wobbled back and pressed a button as his staff uncompressed to a bow. Blue loaded an arrow and fired that Spike caught as the archer smiled.

Spike looked at the arrow blink and promptly threw it right back as it exploded at Blue's feet knocking the archer down forcing him to drop the bow. "I'm not stuck in the fourteen hundreds like most vampires mate."

Xander hopped down sword in hand ready to strike. Xander swung and Spike quickly ducked under. Xander was quickly knocked to the floor by a kick to the gut and a devastating punch to the face that made him drop his blades.

Spike smiled seeing for the first time who he knocked down. "Oh I've been waiting for this." He smiled his hand going into his black duster pulling out in Xander's eyes the world's biggest nail. "Do you know why they call me Spike?"

Xander looked at how far the sword and dagger was as he got to his feet. "Like I care."

Blue got the bow and in a moment of desperation the two cut loose on the vampire. Xander rushed forward unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks while ineffective Spike is so focused on his rush it makes it easy for Blue to hit him, at some key points as his foot connected with Spike's knee buckling the vampire followed by an elbow across Spike's face drawing blood. Spike quickly switched to Blue with a couple punches before focusing back on Xander. Blue threw his recursive bow to Xander allowing the teen to block each of William the Bloody's strikes. Blue quickly connected with two punches to Spike's head as Xander quickly struck Spike's good leg with the bow and a kick to the gut knocking Spike back as he threw the bow back to Blue whom quickly notched an arrow and shot it at Spike pinning the demon to a pillar holding up the second floor as the arrows let out a series of mini cables and tied him to it.

Spike growled form his ropes trying to break free. "This won't hold me Droopy. And you can't kill me because I know how to cure Angel." Xander looked at him for a moment. I'm going to get out of here and make your little cheerleader bird suffer as much as Dru suffered before I kill her and you!"

Xander took all of two seconds before he just ignored Spike and walked the other way. Blue simply backed up and Spike could only watch stuck as Xander grabbed his sword and started walking back towards him.

"Bugger"

Xander made one quick overhead swing taking the vampire's head clean off.

Xander watched and in a way he can't believe it… how did he kill Spike? He always figured it would be a Buffy thing.

Blue looked at the scene for two seconds before turning around and hitting a defenseless Xander with a roundhouse kick in the face knocking the teen to the floor.

Xander struggled to his knees before turning around and saw the archer. "What was that for?" Blue quickly loaded up an arrow. "OK, what were the last couple minutes?"

"Standards and Necessity" Blue replied aiming an arrow only to get kneed in the back so hard he did a tumble forwards as he rolled back to his feet and turned around. "OK, who has the ba… Oh Sh…" Blue quickly ducked a fast punch and used his bow to block two kicks thrown by a very angry Buffy. Blue threw an overhead strike with his bow which Buffy ducked giving Blue the chance to run the slayer giving chase.

Xander fell to the floor as the adrenaline of nearly dying from a combo of the Judge, Spike, and Blue ran out.

Blue made it into a service entrance as the door was quickly reopened by Buffy giving chase. Blue turned a corned and quickly aimed. Blue fired as soon as Buffy turned the corner only for Buffy to duck as the arrow hit the fire extinguisher setting off a cloud of extinguisher and the archer's own smoke from the arrow blinding the slayer momentarily.

Once the extinguisher left her eyes she looked around and ran up to the outside but Blue was long gone.

Xander got to his knees trying to get to his feet but smiled seeing a hand which he gladly took as Cordy helped him to his feet.

Xander looked at her. "You came back."

Cordy nodded. "Ran all the way to Willow and Giles before I realized neither of them was chasing me." She let out a very low laugh before practically colliding into Xander in a hug. "I was so scared."

Xander put his arms around her not letting go unless pushed off. "It's over Cordy. We're OK… mostly."

Cordy let out a sigh breaking the hug. "In all the excitement I forgot about that, any new progress on that?"

Xander shook his head. "No… but hopefully Giles will have more luck then I've had recently."

Cordy looked at him confused. "Wait, Giles."

Xander nodded. "I told him last night."

Cordy smiled. "Finally got your brain huh scarecrow?"

Xander looked at her. A moment like that then she does that. "Come here Dorothy!"

Cordy tried to run but Xander easily caught her as she smiled getting closer.

Buffy came into the mall looked at the two and what the hell did she walk in on? If she didn't know any better she'd say they're a couple. She cleared her throat getting their attention as Cordy swiftly broke free.

Cordy looked at the slayer. "Is your boyfriend dead… or redead… whatever dead is to a vampire."

Buffy shook her head. She couldn't bring herself to do it. "He got away, Spike and the Judge?"

"Got them both" Xander replied.

Buffy looked at him. "I should have helped with the judge I'm sorry I just..."

Xander put his hand up stopping the apology. "Buffy, if there is anyone exused for being off her game it's you.." Xander thought on it and added. "I had help though, what happened to that guy anyway? Dusty ending?"

"Smoky Vanish" Buffy replied. "What did I walk in on here?"

"Still alive celebration." Cordy replied.

Buffy nodded. Of course, they were just happy the world didn't end.

Giles drove Buffy home that night. The slayer insisted on everyone being safe. Oz drove Willow home and Cordy drove Xander home. She can't shake the feeling that something is going on there. Though it really don't matter much to her. There's only one thing on her mind right now. Sunnydale has a new big bad and she did it.

Giles finally broke the silence. "It's not over. I-I-I suppose you know that. He'll come after you, particularly. His profile, uh, well, he... he's likely to strike out at the things that made him the most human.

Buffy frowned. "You must be so disappointed in me."

"No." Giles replied causing Buffy to turn her head. "No, no, I'm not."

Buffy looked at him. "But this is all my fault."

Giles shook his head. "No. I don't believe it is. Do you want me to wag my finger at you and tell you that you acted rashly? You did. A-and I can. I know that you loved him. And... he... has proven more than once that he loved you. You couldn't have known what would happen. The coming months a-are gonna, are gonna be hard... I, I suspect on all of us, but... if it's guilt you're looking for, Buffy, I'm, I'm not your man. All you will get from me is, is my support. And my respect.

Buffy smiled at him through her tears realizing things between her and Giles will at least be OK.

She went in and mom had a candle. But after everything she had nothing to wish for, no hopes, no dreams, she just let it burn while Xander saved the day. Maybe that's what that slayer dream was about saving him in the high school so he could be the big damn hero tonight. Well at least she knows now.

Author Notes

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