Chapter Four

Flash, spark, explosion; the front walls of the Bronze crumbled. Sunlight poured in through the cracks at first sending the few vamps milling around the pool tables bored running for the corners, which didn't save them from going up in flames when the front wall finally crumbled

Oz stared at the dusted air. "How do you fit 100 vamps in a car? 2 in the front, 3 in the back, and 95 in the ashtray."

"This is hardly the time for jokes."

Meanwhile the Master sat stewing, they couldn't fight back in the daylight damn it.

Willow sat at the bars of the cell peering out into the hallway. Her face brightened when she saw the four white hats running over. Oz started picking the lock on the cell. "We gotta get out of here before they find some SPF 1000." He flung the door open while the others looked for signs of an ambush and Oz set to work unlocking the second cage.

Angel looked up, "No, just go, don't waste time on me anyways, I won't make it out at this time of day." He said urgently. He was sure he could hear approaching footsteps.

"You expect us to just leave you?" Willow exclaimed

"Yes. I'm okay, they won't kill me."

A few vamp voices could be heard approaching from a darkened hallway.

"Hurry and get out!" Angel said.

"Come on" Giles insisted, Oz tugged at Willow's arm to get her moving.

"We'll come back, Angel!" Willow called over her shoulder as they pulled her out to the van. They slammed the door and sped back to the school.

"What a Saturday, huh?" Larry commented.

"You realize we can't go back for him?" Giles said.

Willow looked out the back window, "I wish we could, he's got a soul you know, he's a good vampire… Cordelia once said he was like a care bear with fangs…"

"But we can't go back, we have no idea what they are going to do now that the Bronze is mostly rubble." Giles slid off his glasses and cleaned them before putting them back on.

Willow sighed staring back out the window as they sped onwards. "They're not gonna be happy with us."

"No."

"The might put together a huge army to come after us.," Oz said, "But what else is new."

The sun was already starting to set, by the time they were back at the school. Willow sat with them as all the white hats with the exception of Giles sat whittling stakes out of broken chairs from around the school.

Nancy walked over to Giles trying to read over his shoulder. "What if we can't get her back?" She whispered, but Willow could still hear.

"I… I'm not sure…I can't find anything. Not without a connection to the other dimension."

Willow felt something drop in her stomach. She wished she'd had anything, anything she shared with Tara. That answer would have been obvious but she had not expected to be sucked right into Vampy land.

The sun was down. She continued to whittle until her hand slipped and she sliced her finger open. "Ow…"

"Willow, can you hear me?" the voice sounded in her head.

Willow looked around, no one was talking.

"Willow? Can you hear me?"

"Tara?" Willow said.

Oz blinked, "Who are you talking to?"

"Oh goddess, you're alright. You're alright, aren't you? Not hurt?"

"I cut my finger, but I think I'll survive." Willow replied.

"Is she mental?" Nancy asked.

"Good, now that I found you, I just need t-to open a portal, it'll take a little while will you be okay?"

"Yeah I think I…"

Willow trailed off as the door to the library swung open and a good 10 vampires swarmed in.

"Tara, just hurry!"

Willow grabbed up a stake from the table, as did Nancy, Oz, and Larry. Giles ran to get his crossbow. The vampires stood waiting, as if they needed someone to press a button before they could go anywhere when Xander pushed his way to the front of the group, "Have fun guys… but she…" he pointed at Willow, "She is mine."

Willow stumbled back, her first instinct, which she decided was run. And she did. She made a beeline for the back of the library where she knew there was a vent.

Outside was far too risky, also they probably had others standing guard. She didn't want to abandon the others but when it's fight or flight, generally flight is the better option. She crawled through the vents, expecting Xander to show up behind her at any moment. Good thing she knew the school's vents by heart. She finally dropped down into the cafeteria, which was pretty much in shambles, most of the tables and chairs were turned over.

Unfortunately, Xander was waiting for her. She gripped the stake tighter.

"Come on, Willow. You know it only hurts for a minute. Don't you want it again?" He was slowly advancing on her, "Don't you want the power? The thrill that comes with being a creature of the night? Face it right now you are on the losing team. I'm doing you a favor. Sunnydale is the land of the vampires, and nothing will change that. Join us again. "

Xander had her backed up against the wall. Willow raised the stake, hand shaking slightly at the thought of dusting someone who looked just like her life long friend…and in fact WAS her life long friend… only…bulgy and yellow eyed and fangy. Great.

Xander saw her about the bring the stake down and grabbed her wrist, twisting until the wood slipped and hit the floor with a clatter.

"Repel!" Willow shouted and a force threw Xander back.

"Feisty, where'd you pick up that magic trick?"

"Willow," Tara's voice came back, "The portal is ready."

Willow saw Xander getting back up.

"Focus on my energy and I'll pull you back."

"Alright, hurry." Willow stood against the wall trying to focus on Tara's power that she could feel enveloping her, or wait, was that Xander's hands closing on her shoulder, his mouth closing on her neck. She didn't open her eyes to find out because she felt the touch fading away and with a rush she felt that she was on a carpeted floor and god knows the cafeteria didn't have carpeting. Then it all went black.