"Why do I have to hide out?" asked Dawn as she and Willow drove down the road late at night. "Don't you think I can help here?"

Willow kept her eyes on the road. Was there a diplomatic way of saying that you're a liability? "I just want to keep you safe, Dawn. Things could get worse before they get better." They drove in silence for a while. The streets were empty. It felt like the outside world was dead and there was only them and a homicidal Buffy. Willow silently hoped that Buffy wasn't the reason for the silence.

"What's that?" Dawn pointed ahead to a shape in the middle of the street.

It looked like a person. Willow slowed down and stopped in front of her. "Anya?" Willow opened her door and rushed to Anya, who was aimlessly wandering the street.

"Anya, what happened?" Willow got no response from the ex-vengeance demon. Instead she just tried walking away some more, despite Willow and Dawn holding her shoulders. "What's wrong?" Willow tried again.

Dawn stopped Anya's wandering by holding her in place. "Did you find Buffy?" Dawn said softly.

"He's dead," Anya replied with equal softness.

Willow realized what happened. "Xander?"

"She killed him."

"Oh my God," Dawn whispered.

"How?"

"She killed them all. They were just scared," Anya explained. "He tried to stop her. She didn' know. She didn't know her own strength."

"I think now might be a good time to call off the magic ban."

Willow couldn't help but agree.

"You can't stop her," said Anya. "If she wants you dead you're dead. Even if she doesn't want you dead, you're dead. She has so much power now."

"I hope you're wrong," said Willow. If even she couldn't stop Buffy with magic how could they stop her at all? Buffy was never one to listen to reason. She was just far too headstrong to talk down - unless you were proposing crazy fun, but that's what she was doing already. "Where? Where did this happen?" she asked Anya.

"Rack's."

Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. "Just up the alley?"

"Yes." Willow ran as quickly as she could. She had no idea what she was going to do if Buffy was still there. If Buffy could defeat Rack, Willow didn't have a chance. Maybe she was just rushing to follow Xander in death. She was surprised to see Dawn following.

There was a body in the alley. A young woman whose head was shattered on an unfortunately placed dumpster. The entrance was a few feet in from that.

Xander was lying there. His neck was at an unnatural angle, there was blood under his head. The room was scattered with the dead, some of whom she recognized from her two visits to the warlock's lair. Inside, Rack was dead too. His body had been quartered and burned. It was gruesome, even for someone who had seen death in far too many ways already.

"I can't beleive Buffy did this," Dawn whispered from behind her.

"That settles it. Dawn you're going to Angel's mansion. I don't know if he can protect you but I don't want you ending up like this."

"I don't want me ending up like this either."

Willow ignored Dawn's comment. She planted a kiss on Xander's forehead before she dragged Dawn back into the rest of the city. "Let's get going before something bad happens. Anya, start up the car!" Willow yelled. They briskly walked toward where they left the car but there was no sound. "Anya!" she yelled again.

The car was still there but there was no Anya. "Great. She wandered off."

"We can't wait for her," said Willow. "Get in. We're going now."

She was wandering aimlessly through the streets now, a dangerous venture in this town. She did not care. Anya's world had crumbled around her again. This piss-poor mortal existance was only tolerable, sometimes enjoyable, thanks to Xander's innate humpability. Now he was dead and that would be disgusting. Really. Viagra couldn't cure that.

Getting your life stomped on from above really sucked. It was so much more fun to do the stomping. She wished she could go back to the stomping. Blinded with tears she slumped against the brick wall of an alley, not pausing to worry about what possible icky remnants could be splattered there, or even the tasty vamp-snack she could make.

"Dear, oh dear," came an unimposingly high-pitched male voice. "Young women shouldn't be out alone at night. Especially around here, with all the looming danger and evil intentions. This is no place for a ray of sunshine like yourself."

"Go away, D'Hoffryn," Anya said, covering her eyes so he couldn't see the tears. Not that it helped. Maybe it was just so she wouldn't have to see the world with her teary eyes. Either way she didn't look at him.

"Oh come now, Anyanka. You don't really mean that," said her former boss.

"Do too," she said, sturggling through the convulsions in her lungs.

"Typical woman," snorted D'Hoffryn, "says one thing while meaning the other."

"Cut the sexist crap," said Anya as she turned to huddle against the wall, resting in her own arms. She really didn't want to have to go through this rigmarole. Just get it over with.

"That's rich, coming from one of the most dedicated man-haters the world has ever seen."

"I've grown as a person."

"Yet you've made such a pathetic one."

Anya wiped her eyes with her sleeve and looked at her former boss again for the first time.

"I heard you," D'Hoffryn continued. "Over and over again in your mind. You wish vengeance. Your wonderful, wonderful hatred has returned."

"My fiancee was just murdered," Anya whispered at him, harshly.

"As good a reason as any."

"I need it back."

D'Hoffryn faked confusion. "What was that?" he said.

"I want the vengeance back."

D'Hoffryn patted her on the back. "That's my girl."

Anya was suddenly alone in the alley. There was no trace of the demon lord's visit except the power Anya could feel coursing through her veins.

"Buffy, you are going to die a slow, painful death."

Angel had already rushed out to meet them at the door to the mansion. He must have heard them pulling into the driveway. Dawn wondered how Buffy could have tolerated having a boyfriend you could never evade. It would be just too creepy. Dawn had always found Angel creepy and at the time she was just a little kid. Lousy monks, can create a human being but can't give me a healthy social life and toys.

"Oh God," Angel said upon seeing their haggard expressions. "You found her."

"Not quite," replied Willow. "We didn't get there in time. It was awful."

"She killed Xander."

Angel joined them in looking distraught, though with him it resembled stunned. "How could she..." he trailed off.

"I don't know. Maybe we've lost her."

Angel clenched his fists and looked at them with steely resolve. Dawn recognized this expression as the classic 'I've made up my mind to do something I'd rather not do' look. She saw it too often from him, and Buffy, and Tara, and just about everyone else.

"We can't let her continue," Angel said. "I'm going to stop her."

"It's worse than you think," Dawn interceded. "She's got magic now."

"What?'

Dawn nodded and rubbed her forehead. Despite the chill in the air she was sweating. "She spent all day at the magic shop reading up on it. We think she's trying to increase her power by sucking the magic out of the local witch and warlock population."

"We already found a few," Willow added. "That's where we found Xander."

Angel's jaw dropped. "How powerful is she now?"

"I don't know. But she killed a warlock who's way more experienced than me. We're not going to be able to beat the sense into her."

"What can we do if we can't talk her down?"

Willow thought for a few seconds. She brightened a bit. "I may be able to hold her with a resolute-sphere spell. It'll freeze everything within itself in a slightly altered plane of existence for an indefinite period of time."

"That's good," said Dawn.

"But I'm going to need a few things from the Magic Box and some preparation time."

"How much?"

"Couple of hours, give or take. I only know of the spell. I have no idea if I can do it."

Dawn was skeptical. "Do you think we have a few hours?"

"Dawn's right," Angel said. "I should try to find her and see what I can do."

"But Angel," Willow grabbed ahold of Angel's wrists before he could get going. "I brought Dawn here so you could protect her."

Dawn caught Angel stealing a quick, disappointed glance at her before he began whispering to Willow. Willow tiptoed up to Angel's ear and replied. Dawn couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could see that Angel disagreed. But there was no way to break her resolve.

"Alright," Angel said, aloud again. "I'll take care of Dawn. I don't really know what I'll be able to do but I'll try."

Willow gave Angel a hug.

"Thanks. I'd better get going," she said to Dawn.

"Hurry back," Dawn replied. Then Willow was gone out the door. She heard the car start up and drive away, fast.

"Now what?"

She hated how everyone always treated her like a little kid who needed to be protected or scolded or both at the same time. Everything just plain sucked. She plunked herself down on one of the ornate chairs in the mansion, sending a plume of dust swirling into the air around her.

"We sit tight," Angel said, sitting down next to her without producing an allergenic cloud of his own. Dawn fanned the dust away from her, but had to stifle a cough.

Man, she always got allergies in this place. Her nose was already starting to run a little. "Sounds like fun," Dawn said sarcastically. "A veritable barrel of monkeys."

"I once saw an animal trainer in China get swarmed by a barrel full of monkeys. He didn't think it was very fun. Crap all over the place," Angel looked at her, mischief in his eyes. She couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. Maybe he was just reminising about his fun, evil days.

"Buffy would freak if she heard you talking about..." Dawn suddenly realised she had spoken wrong. It just hurt that there may never be a Buffy freaking on someone in mock seriousness ever again. She remembered how lonely it had been when Buffy died. Mom was dead, dad was gone. Robbed forever of a normal childhood, it was hard to cope without the one familial bond she had come to count on, as lame and unreliable as it was.

Angel must have recognized the pained look on her face because he scooped her up in his arms, coddling her. "Hey, it's okay," he said softly. "We'll be alright."

"Thanks," Dawn said, eyes just watering a little. "It's just hard sometimes, you know?"

"Yeah, I know."

They sat there like that for a while, Dawn snuggly in Angel's embrace. For just an instant she thought she could get used to it, but then again, her brain wasn't working quite right.

"Bored again," she said finally.

"What would you like to do now?"

"Can you teach me how to fight?"

Angel looked surprised all of a sudden. "You mean you live here, on the Hellmouth, with the Slayer and several heavily armed friends, and you don't know how to fight?"

"Well, Buffy usually wants to keep me sheltered from stuff. She says I'm too young, even though when she was my age she already died once. I'd like to avoid that with myself."

Angel smiled. "Usually avoidance of death is good." He walked to his chamber and returned with a short sword.

For the next hour Dawn practiced the techniques under Angel's experienced care. She wasn't terribly good, but not terrible either. She relished the feel of the blade in her hands and quickly realized that she had never felt more alive. The school psychiatrist was going to have a fit if he found out she was having fun with violence.

Suddenly Angel froze.

"Wait," he said as he put his hand up to stop Dawn's next swing.

Angel looked around apprehensively, as if he were expecting attack.

"What is it?" Dawn whispered.

"I think I hear something. Wait here."

This was scary when even the old vampire was worried. As Angel rushed up the stairs, Dawn sneaked her way to Angel's room, where he had gotten the sword. She needed to arm herself.

Willow was rushing back as quickly as she could, driving recklessly, speeding, cutting off old ladies and running stop signs - as the average American called it: driving. She had only been gone for about twenty minutes, twenty minutes longer than she would have liked. But she had all the magic ingredients and power objects she needed to safely encapsulate Buffy. Another three hours and this nightmare would be behind them, or at least nothing else could happen.

They'd lost so much already... Xander, and Buffy's humanity. It hurt to think about, but she couldn't stop herself. It made her flustered and her driving suffered for it.

Thwak!

She just went through a mailbox.

Bless the wonderful Sunnydale police department for not putting an end to her carmaggedon.

She barely saw the bodies along the road.

Oh no! Buffy had killed again. Willow almost kept on driving but suddenly someone stepped out into the road in front of her. She hit the brakes hard and skidded to a stop.

Great. Spike had nearly caused her to have an accident.

"Did you see this, mate?" Spike asked as he pulled open Willow's car door.

"Yes," she said, "we can't let Buffy keep doing this. I've got a spell ready that'll freeze her. If you'll just let me get going-" Willow tried to shut the door again but Spike held it fast.

"She didn't do this," he said.

"What?"

"Buffy wasn't responsible for all their deaths. There's not a mark on the lot. No blood. No bites. No bruises or broken bones." Spike paused, waiting for Willow to digest this.

She was unconvinced.

"Spike, you may not know this, but Buffy's gained a great deal of magic. And she's capable of terrible acts of evil now. She," Willow fought to keep back the sobs, "she killed Xander."

"Blimey," whispered a sincerely saddened Spike. "I'm sorry, luv. I never meant for any of this to happen."

"Well, it did. And now he's dead, and they're dead, and she just killed all these people... I have to stop her." All the rage in the world was building up inside her.

"She didn't."

"She didn't?" Willow calmed a bit. She felt the plastic of the steering wheel deformed beneath her fingers. It was slightly warm. How did that happen?

"I found a gal rocking herself on a bench a block over. She said she did it. It wasn't her doing though."

Impatient, Willow practically shouted, "Who was it then?"

"All that girl said was, 'I wish they all were dead.' That ring any bells with you?"

Willow was shocked. "You mean?"

"Vengeance demon. I don't think Anya has taken things particularly well."

Willow opened the passenger side door.

"Get in," she said.

"You what?"

"I said get in," Willow repeated. "Tell me everything you know as we drive. I'm in a hurry."

"Okay then." Spike got in and Willow sped off.

Spike held on tight to the arm rests with all his might.

The hair on Angel's neck stood up on end. Buffy was close. He couldn't tell where she was, but she was virtually on top of him.

"Buffy?"

"Angel."

He spun around to face her.

"I screwed up bad, Angel," she said, without preamble.

"I heard."

She smiled weakly. "I thought you might. Listen," she played with her feet, shuffling her shoes timidly. "I don't want to endanger people anymore. Every day it gets worse. I need you to stop me." Buffy forcibly grabbed Angel's hands and clutched them to her chest. "Please."

"Alright," he said. Thank God. Maybe they could do this without a fight. "Willow's gone to get ingredients for a spell to keep you in check. She'll be back soon."

"How?"

"Binding spell, removes you from our plane of existence. I'm releived you're helping us. I'm proud of you, Buffy. You're doing the right thing."

"Thanks, Angel. I can always count on you." Buffy grabbed him in a big hug. Damn, she was strong, stronger than before.

"Buffy? Hurting now," he said.

"Sorry. I guess it's just as well. Is Dawn here? I want to apologize to her before I get all bound and removed."

"Yeah. She's downstairs."

Buffy jumped up and planted a kiss on his mouth. Reflexively he responded, before thinking better of it. Though it didn't suck.

"I love you Angel," she said.

"I-"

Suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his kidneys.

"You're so gullible."

Buffy dropped him to his knees. Angel gasped, clutching his chest. He tried to stand but the pain was almost unbearable. Looking up he saw Buffy's fist soaring toward his head. It was the last thing he saw before he lost consciousness.

Dawn heard footsteps coming down the stairs from the roof.

"Angel?" she asked tentatively. But they were all wrong. As light on his feet as he was, there was no way Angel could sound like that coming down the stairs. Dawn realized too late that she had made a mistake.

"Dawn. It's me," said Buffy. Buffy seemed awfully calm. Dawn raised the sword in her hand. It was a lightly built short sword that she had retrieved from Angel's luggage. To Angel it would have been either a concealed weapon or a backup weapon. For Dawn it was about the largest she felt comfortable handling. It didn't look big enough.

"Stay back," Dawn warned. She waved the sword nervously in front of herself. She wasn't particularly menacing.

"Oh Dawnie, please put the sword down," Buffy pleaded. "You're my sister. I'd never hurt you." Despite her small size and familial bond, Dawn was utterly terrified of Buffy at this instant.

"Liar. Where's Angel?" Dawn asked as she backed away from her slowly approaching sister.

Buffy stopped to sit on the railing at the bottom of the stairs. "He decided to leave us alone for a bit. I think he's taking a nap."

"What did you do to him?"

"My poor ex? I've done him worse. But enough about him. Let's talk about us. You're a very special girl, we both know that. With so much untapped potential."

Dawn didn't like where Buffy was going with this conversation. She had backed up into a wall but knew there was a hallway nearby. Without hesitation she started running.

"Naughty Dawnie," Buffy said.

Dawn screamed as she nearly ran into her sister. Buffy had just appeared right in front of her.

"Always causing mischief. I'm going to do a better job taking care of you. No more neglect from Buffy, no-sir-ee." Buffy tore the sword from Dawn's hand.

"Now, back to business," Buffy smiled as she grabbed onto Dawn's shoulders to keep her from running again. Buffy's hands were so cold. Dawn could feel the heat conducting out of her body, even through her jacket.

Buffy leaned in to whisper candidly into Dawn's ear. "I've found a way to unlock your power, to finally put it to use. We could tear down the fabric of space and rebuild it however we want. Only thing is, I'll be wielding the power, but don't worry. I'd never dream of killing my little sis. So, what d'ya say, Dawnie?"

"My sister is dead," was Dawn's reply. She found Vamp-Buffy utterly revolting and, despite the promises, Dawn had trouble believing that she would somehow emerge from Buffy's world-redecorating unscathed.

"I was, but I'm feeling much better now. And you will too. In a few moments the world will be my oyster, and it will be all thanks to you."

"I won't be a part of this," Dawn said. She started crying softly. "I'm sorry, Buffy."

There was a click as the tightly-wound spring unloaded. Then Dawn was alone. Against the hard stone wall she slumped, tears streaming from her eyes. She wiped them away with her hand, scratching her nose on the stake protruding from the wrist-sheath that was concealed under her sleeve.

Slowly she sat down amidst the dust.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Dawn stirred out of her groggyness. She could barely see out of her encrusted eyes. Willow shook her shoulder again.

"Dawn?"

"Willow. I, I..."

"Shhhh... It's okay." Willow rubbed the sleep from Dawn's eyes with her sleeve. "We were worried about you. We've been trying to wake you up for a while now."

Dawn sniffed. "It's over," she said. "She wanted to use my power to take over the world. I had to kill her."

Willow didn't say anything, she just embraced Dawn as hard as she could. Dawn hugged her back. Spike was in the corner, he collapsed into a despondent heap.

"Willow, Dawn. What happened?" Angel said as he stumbled in from upstairs. He was nursing a head injury, probably a concussion, if vampires got concussions.

Dawn tried to speak but really couldn't figure how to say it right. Willow gave her hand a squeeze and spoke for her.

"I was too late," said a forlorn Willow. "Dawn saved us all."

Angel slumped to sit on the bottom step. He knew what it meant.

"Buffy's dead."

They both nodded.

"I'm going for a walk," said Spike.

Willow jumped up, shocked. "Spike, it's morning!"

But Spike didn't listen. He just walked outside into the sunlight.