"So, Buffy, what are your and Angel's plans today?" Joyce asked her
daughter as she puttered about the kitchen making breakfast. Angel was
upstairs getting ready to go.
"Well, Giles and Ang.." Buffy started to pour milk in her cereal, but only a drop came out. She tossed an irritated glance at Dawn and then continued talking to her mother. "Giles, Angel, and I are making a little magic shop run this morning. Need to pick up some supplies for my new improved training sessions."
"Oh, that's great.."
"Well, yeah, thanks, it's kinda exci-"
"You can take Dawn shopping for her back-to-school supplies."
"What?"
"Mom! I thought you were taking me!" Dawn said.
"I know, honey. But I've got the Gurion showing tonight and there's so much to do to get the gallery ready." Joyce said, walking out of the kitchen.
Buffy was hot on her heels. "No, but, see, Mom, we're just going to the magic shop. No school supplies there."
"Yeah, Mom, I'm not going to Hogwarts." Dawn said. Buffy stared at her. "Jeez, crack a book sometime."
"I'm sure Mr. Giles won't mind dropping you guys and your sister off at a department store afterward." Joyce said.
"Yes, he'll mind. This is supposed to be quality Watcher/Slayer/Fiancé- that-helps-with-training time. I told you Dawn totally messed up my training yesterday." Buffy said.
"Did not!" Dawn called.
"Oh, you know you did, too!"
"Buffy, I realize the importance of your new slayer thing.." Angel came down the steps and Joyce smiled at him as she continued talking. "But I really could use your help."
"Morning, Mrs. Summers. You look great." Angel said.
"Thank you Angel." Joyce kissed Buffy on the cheek and left, shutting the door behind her.
"Suck up." Buffy said to Angel.
"What? It's a nice outfit. Besides, I'm here to violate your firstborn' never goes over with the parents. Not sure why." Angel said. Buffy smiled and kissed him. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. Dawn groaned and the two broke apart. "Hey, kid."
"I'm not a kid!" Dawn said as she went back to the kitchen.
"Hurry up! Giles will be here soon." Buffy called.
"Hurry up? I thought your mom was taking her school shopping?" Angel asked.
"She was, but she had to run. Something at the gallery."
"So we have to go to the mall?"
"Why do you shudder so?" Buffy asked dramatically. Angel frowned and stared blankly at her, trying to tell her that the mall was not his idea of fun. "I get what your saying, but the last time we were at the mall together, I had a rocket launcher and was blowing away the Judge."
"Not to mention that fight in the movie theatre lobby where we were both wet."
"Good point." Buffy heard Giles honk outside. "Dawn! Let's go! Giles is here!"
Dawn came out of the kitchen carrying her bag and rushed out the door in front of Buffy and Angel. They walked to the car and climbed in. Angel got stuck in the back with Dawn.
"Hey Giles!" Buffy said.
"Hello Buffy. Hello Angel." Giles said.
"What? No 'hey Dawn'?" Dawn asked.
"Hello Dawn. What are you doing here?"
"Mom needs you to drop us off at the mall after we're done. School shopping." Buffy said. "It's stupid. Mom just doesn't understand how important this Slayer stuff is."
"I sympathize with you Buffy. I truly do, but you can't allow personal concerns to
distract you from your.. Dawn!" Dawn was messing with the radio that was set on some classical station. "Will you please stop fiddling with the radio and sit down?"
Buffy sighed and looked at the list Giles handed her. "Lotta books on this shopping list you gave me. Any of them come on tape? You know, read by George Clooney or somebody cute like that?"
"We're entering a whole new realm here, Buffy. One for which even I, myself, am not entirely prepared. Are you ready for this commitment?"
"I was kidding. This Betty's ready. Color me committed."
Suddenly the car grinded and Giles said, "Blast!"
"Put it in 'neutral' again, huh?" Angel asked.
"Not accustomed to automatic transmissions. I loathe this.. Just sitting here, not contributing. No. No, this just isn't working out."
"Giles, are you breaking up with your car?"
"Well, the damn thing did seduce me. All red and sporty."
"Little two-door tramp." Buffy said.
"I don't know.. I've been so at loose ends. Searching for something to make me feel.."
"Shallow?"
"Perhaps, as I am going to act as your Watcher again, a modicum of respect might be appropriate.."
"Do I hafta?"
"I'm actually serious, Buffy. There's going to be far less time for the sort of flighty, frivolous.."
"Hey, there's Willow and Tara!" Dawn said.
"Oh, they haven't seen my new car." Giles drove the car over with a honk of his horn and parked.
"Wow. Sharp wheels, Giles." Willow said.
"The rest of the car's nice, too." Tara said.
"Thank you. Handles like a dream." Giles said.
Buffy rolled her eyes and took Angel's hand as they walked up to Willow and Tara. "Where you two headed?"
"Magic shop. Had some charms on back order." Willow said.
"Willow, hi!" Dawn said.
"Hey, Miss Dawny. How's my favorite chess partner? Still leading with your knight?"
"Hey, Dawn." Tara said as Willow turned back to Buffy, Angel, and Giles.
"So, what are you guys doing?" Willow asked.
"Giles, Angel, and I figured out a schedule around school. A block of time every day to just focus on my new Slayer training." Buffy said.
"That's a work ethic! Buffy, you're developing a work ethic!"
"Do they make an ointment for that?"
"People gotta respect a solid work ethic. Look at you. Motivated Buffy, eager to soak up learning. You and I are going to have so much fun this semester."
"Yeah, that reminds me. With the whole training schedule, I kinda had to drop a class."
"That's understandable. Your slayer studies are way more important."
"So I won't be taking Drama with you."
"What!? You have to. You promised!"
"I know, Will, but Giles was saying.."
"The hell with Giles!"
"I can hear you Willow." Giles said.
"Drama's just Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. You can blow off training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, can't you?"
"What happened to 'people gotta respect a work ethic?'" Angel asked.
"Other people. Not me. There's a whole best friend loophole."
"Shop's kinda dark. Maybe it's closed." Tara said, peering into the window of the Magic Shop.
"That's odd." Giles said, opening the front door.
"Think 'odd' just got upped to 'bad.'" Buffy said, stepping into the shop.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Giles called as they all walked farther in.
"Mr. Bogarty!" Tara called. Buffy, Angel, and Giles turned and looked at her. "The owner. I'm in here a lot."
"Maybe this happened really late in the night when no one was.. whoa!" Willow started, but tripped over something.
"Will?" Buffy asked.
"I'm fine. Just tripped over.. Mr. Bogarty." Willow scrambled away and Tara helped her to stand up.
"What is it? Is-Is he okay?" Dawn asked, standing in the doorway.
"It's nothing you need to see, Dawn. Go wait outside." Angel said.
"I don't wanna wait outside. What happened to.."
"Dawn!" Buffy said sternly. Buffy walked over and took Dawn by the arm and hauled her outside.
"Ow, that hurts! You're hurting me. I'm telling."
"I don't have time for this. Just do like I say and wait here." Buffy went back in and stood by Angel.
"You didn't have to be so harsh." Angel said.
"She never listens!"
"She's a teenager. She's never going to listen."
"I'm nineteen! Key word: teen. I listen." Angel stared at her. "What? I do!"
"Sure."
"Buffy, come here. What do you make of this?" Giles asked, crouched near the body.
Buffy walked over with Angel and said, "Judging by the bite fest I'd say this was more than one vampire."
"I'd make it four, at least." Angel said.
"Looks like someone's put together a new fang club."
"I've cross-checked the inventory and some things were definitely taken. Mostly books,
including one called A Treatise on the Mythology and Methodology of Vampire Slayers." Willow said, coming in with a book.
Buffy pulled out her list and read. "Shoot. Was that the only copy?"
Angel chuckled at her as Giles took the book from Willow and said, "This could be very serious, Buffy. Whoever's leading this pack of vampires appears to be interested in learning more about you. Perhaps searching for weaknesses or..Good lord!"
"What!? What is it?"
"I had no idea the profit margin for a shop like this could be so high. I mean, look at this! Low overhead, Out-of-State orders, International.. No wonder there's never any trouble attracting new owners. This place is a virtual.."
"Deathtrap?" Buffy interrupted.
"Hmm?" Giles looked up. "Well, yes. Yes, there is that. Still, the location, in terms of pedestrian traffic.."
"So what's the next step?" Willow asked.
"Buffy, I think you and Angel should begin an immediate search for their lair."
"Kay." Buffy said.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Impressive square footage.." Giles said as he walked off.
"You're on Dawn duty." Willow said.
"Oh, duty. I've got to drop my sister off at home first." Buffy looked up at Angel. "My mother's gonna kill me!"
"It's ok. I'm sure she'll understand." Angel said, taking her hand.
"And I'll bet the death rate keeps the rent down-oh. Something's been taken from this case." Giles said, pointing. "See here?"
"What did they take?" Buffy asked.
"Perhaps an item of great value. Or power. Possibly even.."
"A unicorn." Willow interrupted. "A ten-inch ceramic unicorn, imported from Thailand."
"Is that valuable?" Angel asked.
"List price: $12.95."
"Which begs the question: what sort of unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?" Giles asked.
"I don't know, but you guys need to find out for me. I need to get Dawn home and explain to mom why there are no shopping bags." Buffy said.
"Yes, you should go patrol afterwards. Take Angel with you. If this is something bad and after you Buffy, you'll need all the extra help you can."
"Gotcha." Buffy pulled Angel out the door. "Dawn." Dawn and Tara stood up. "We gotta go. Hey Tara."
"Hi." Tara said. "Oh and bye." Tara walked into the store.
"What about school shopping?" Dawn asked.
"It's been canceled for today." Buffy said.
Buffy, Angel, and Dawn walked back to the Summers' house. Joyce was home and upstairs moving around, getting ready. Before Joyce could see Buffy, she ducked into her room with Angel. After a quick change into something a little more slay-worthy, Buffy went out and faced the music.
"So not only didn't you take your sister shopping for school supplies, you brought her to a murder scene." Joyce said.
"I didn't bring her to it. It just sorta came upon us.." Buffy said. "It's not like she saw the body or anything."
"Oh, well, that makes it all right then, doesn't it?"
"That's not what I meant."
"I asked one favor of you, Buffy. To keep an eye on your sister. And now you want to unload her so you and Angel can go out."
"To patrol. I'm working. It's not like we're going to the sock-hop."
"Well, I've got to be at the pre-showing reception in half an hour. Who's going to watch Dawn?"
"I don't need anyone to watch me!" Dawn yelled.
Angel came into the room as both Joyce and Buffy yelled. "Yes, you do!"
"So you're saying if I can get a babysitter over here before you leave, I can go patrol now?" Buffy asked
"Babysitter?! I'm fourteen! I'm old enough to be a babysitter." Dawn yelled.
"And who are you going to get on such short notice?" Joyce asked.
"I can take care of my.."
"Xander." Buffy said.
"Xander?" Joyce asked.
Dawn ran in and bumped Angel out of the way. "Ok."
Buffy rolled her eyes and went downstairs, Angel hot on her heels. She dialed Xander's number and let it ring. After he picked up, they had about a four-minute conversation before Buffy hung up.
"He's on his way. Let's get our stuff before mom decides to change her mind." Buffy said, running up the stairs into her room.
"Well, Giles and Ang.." Buffy started to pour milk in her cereal, but only a drop came out. She tossed an irritated glance at Dawn and then continued talking to her mother. "Giles, Angel, and I are making a little magic shop run this morning. Need to pick up some supplies for my new improved training sessions."
"Oh, that's great.."
"Well, yeah, thanks, it's kinda exci-"
"You can take Dawn shopping for her back-to-school supplies."
"What?"
"Mom! I thought you were taking me!" Dawn said.
"I know, honey. But I've got the Gurion showing tonight and there's so much to do to get the gallery ready." Joyce said, walking out of the kitchen.
Buffy was hot on her heels. "No, but, see, Mom, we're just going to the magic shop. No school supplies there."
"Yeah, Mom, I'm not going to Hogwarts." Dawn said. Buffy stared at her. "Jeez, crack a book sometime."
"I'm sure Mr. Giles won't mind dropping you guys and your sister off at a department store afterward." Joyce said.
"Yes, he'll mind. This is supposed to be quality Watcher/Slayer/Fiancé- that-helps-with-training time. I told you Dawn totally messed up my training yesterday." Buffy said.
"Did not!" Dawn called.
"Oh, you know you did, too!"
"Buffy, I realize the importance of your new slayer thing.." Angel came down the steps and Joyce smiled at him as she continued talking. "But I really could use your help."
"Morning, Mrs. Summers. You look great." Angel said.
"Thank you Angel." Joyce kissed Buffy on the cheek and left, shutting the door behind her.
"Suck up." Buffy said to Angel.
"What? It's a nice outfit. Besides, I'm here to violate your firstborn' never goes over with the parents. Not sure why." Angel said. Buffy smiled and kissed him. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss. Dawn groaned and the two broke apart. "Hey, kid."
"I'm not a kid!" Dawn said as she went back to the kitchen.
"Hurry up! Giles will be here soon." Buffy called.
"Hurry up? I thought your mom was taking her school shopping?" Angel asked.
"She was, but she had to run. Something at the gallery."
"So we have to go to the mall?"
"Why do you shudder so?" Buffy asked dramatically. Angel frowned and stared blankly at her, trying to tell her that the mall was not his idea of fun. "I get what your saying, but the last time we were at the mall together, I had a rocket launcher and was blowing away the Judge."
"Not to mention that fight in the movie theatre lobby where we were both wet."
"Good point." Buffy heard Giles honk outside. "Dawn! Let's go! Giles is here!"
Dawn came out of the kitchen carrying her bag and rushed out the door in front of Buffy and Angel. They walked to the car and climbed in. Angel got stuck in the back with Dawn.
"Hey Giles!" Buffy said.
"Hello Buffy. Hello Angel." Giles said.
"What? No 'hey Dawn'?" Dawn asked.
"Hello Dawn. What are you doing here?"
"Mom needs you to drop us off at the mall after we're done. School shopping." Buffy said. "It's stupid. Mom just doesn't understand how important this Slayer stuff is."
"I sympathize with you Buffy. I truly do, but you can't allow personal concerns to
distract you from your.. Dawn!" Dawn was messing with the radio that was set on some classical station. "Will you please stop fiddling with the radio and sit down?"
Buffy sighed and looked at the list Giles handed her. "Lotta books on this shopping list you gave me. Any of them come on tape? You know, read by George Clooney or somebody cute like that?"
"We're entering a whole new realm here, Buffy. One for which even I, myself, am not entirely prepared. Are you ready for this commitment?"
"I was kidding. This Betty's ready. Color me committed."
Suddenly the car grinded and Giles said, "Blast!"
"Put it in 'neutral' again, huh?" Angel asked.
"Not accustomed to automatic transmissions. I loathe this.. Just sitting here, not contributing. No. No, this just isn't working out."
"Giles, are you breaking up with your car?"
"Well, the damn thing did seduce me. All red and sporty."
"Little two-door tramp." Buffy said.
"I don't know.. I've been so at loose ends. Searching for something to make me feel.."
"Shallow?"
"Perhaps, as I am going to act as your Watcher again, a modicum of respect might be appropriate.."
"Do I hafta?"
"I'm actually serious, Buffy. There's going to be far less time for the sort of flighty, frivolous.."
"Hey, there's Willow and Tara!" Dawn said.
"Oh, they haven't seen my new car." Giles drove the car over with a honk of his horn and parked.
"Wow. Sharp wheels, Giles." Willow said.
"The rest of the car's nice, too." Tara said.
"Thank you. Handles like a dream." Giles said.
Buffy rolled her eyes and took Angel's hand as they walked up to Willow and Tara. "Where you two headed?"
"Magic shop. Had some charms on back order." Willow said.
"Willow, hi!" Dawn said.
"Hey, Miss Dawny. How's my favorite chess partner? Still leading with your knight?"
"Hey, Dawn." Tara said as Willow turned back to Buffy, Angel, and Giles.
"So, what are you guys doing?" Willow asked.
"Giles, Angel, and I figured out a schedule around school. A block of time every day to just focus on my new Slayer training." Buffy said.
"That's a work ethic! Buffy, you're developing a work ethic!"
"Do they make an ointment for that?"
"People gotta respect a solid work ethic. Look at you. Motivated Buffy, eager to soak up learning. You and I are going to have so much fun this semester."
"Yeah, that reminds me. With the whole training schedule, I kinda had to drop a class."
"That's understandable. Your slayer studies are way more important."
"So I won't be taking Drama with you."
"What!? You have to. You promised!"
"I know, Will, but Giles was saying.."
"The hell with Giles!"
"I can hear you Willow." Giles said.
"Drama's just Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. You can blow off training Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, can't you?"
"What happened to 'people gotta respect a work ethic?'" Angel asked.
"Other people. Not me. There's a whole best friend loophole."
"Shop's kinda dark. Maybe it's closed." Tara said, peering into the window of the Magic Shop.
"That's odd." Giles said, opening the front door.
"Think 'odd' just got upped to 'bad.'" Buffy said, stepping into the shop.
"Hello? Is anyone here?" Giles called as they all walked farther in.
"Mr. Bogarty!" Tara called. Buffy, Angel, and Giles turned and looked at her. "The owner. I'm in here a lot."
"Maybe this happened really late in the night when no one was.. whoa!" Willow started, but tripped over something.
"Will?" Buffy asked.
"I'm fine. Just tripped over.. Mr. Bogarty." Willow scrambled away and Tara helped her to stand up.
"What is it? Is-Is he okay?" Dawn asked, standing in the doorway.
"It's nothing you need to see, Dawn. Go wait outside." Angel said.
"I don't wanna wait outside. What happened to.."
"Dawn!" Buffy said sternly. Buffy walked over and took Dawn by the arm and hauled her outside.
"Ow, that hurts! You're hurting me. I'm telling."
"I don't have time for this. Just do like I say and wait here." Buffy went back in and stood by Angel.
"You didn't have to be so harsh." Angel said.
"She never listens!"
"She's a teenager. She's never going to listen."
"I'm nineteen! Key word: teen. I listen." Angel stared at her. "What? I do!"
"Sure."
"Buffy, come here. What do you make of this?" Giles asked, crouched near the body.
Buffy walked over with Angel and said, "Judging by the bite fest I'd say this was more than one vampire."
"I'd make it four, at least." Angel said.
"Looks like someone's put together a new fang club."
"I've cross-checked the inventory and some things were definitely taken. Mostly books,
including one called A Treatise on the Mythology and Methodology of Vampire Slayers." Willow said, coming in with a book.
Buffy pulled out her list and read. "Shoot. Was that the only copy?"
Angel chuckled at her as Giles took the book from Willow and said, "This could be very serious, Buffy. Whoever's leading this pack of vampires appears to be interested in learning more about you. Perhaps searching for weaknesses or..Good lord!"
"What!? What is it?"
"I had no idea the profit margin for a shop like this could be so high. I mean, look at this! Low overhead, Out-of-State orders, International.. No wonder there's never any trouble attracting new owners. This place is a virtual.."
"Deathtrap?" Buffy interrupted.
"Hmm?" Giles looked up. "Well, yes. Yes, there is that. Still, the location, in terms of pedestrian traffic.."
"So what's the next step?" Willow asked.
"Buffy, I think you and Angel should begin an immediate search for their lair."
"Kay." Buffy said.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Buffy?" Willow asked.
"Impressive square footage.." Giles said as he walked off.
"You're on Dawn duty." Willow said.
"Oh, duty. I've got to drop my sister off at home first." Buffy looked up at Angel. "My mother's gonna kill me!"
"It's ok. I'm sure she'll understand." Angel said, taking her hand.
"And I'll bet the death rate keeps the rent down-oh. Something's been taken from this case." Giles said, pointing. "See here?"
"What did they take?" Buffy asked.
"Perhaps an item of great value. Or power. Possibly even.."
"A unicorn." Willow interrupted. "A ten-inch ceramic unicorn, imported from Thailand."
"Is that valuable?" Angel asked.
"List price: $12.95."
"Which begs the question: what sort of unholy creature fancies cheap tasteless statuary?" Giles asked.
"I don't know, but you guys need to find out for me. I need to get Dawn home and explain to mom why there are no shopping bags." Buffy said.
"Yes, you should go patrol afterwards. Take Angel with you. If this is something bad and after you Buffy, you'll need all the extra help you can."
"Gotcha." Buffy pulled Angel out the door. "Dawn." Dawn and Tara stood up. "We gotta go. Hey Tara."
"Hi." Tara said. "Oh and bye." Tara walked into the store.
"What about school shopping?" Dawn asked.
"It's been canceled for today." Buffy said.
Buffy, Angel, and Dawn walked back to the Summers' house. Joyce was home and upstairs moving around, getting ready. Before Joyce could see Buffy, she ducked into her room with Angel. After a quick change into something a little more slay-worthy, Buffy went out and faced the music.
"So not only didn't you take your sister shopping for school supplies, you brought her to a murder scene." Joyce said.
"I didn't bring her to it. It just sorta came upon us.." Buffy said. "It's not like she saw the body or anything."
"Oh, well, that makes it all right then, doesn't it?"
"That's not what I meant."
"I asked one favor of you, Buffy. To keep an eye on your sister. And now you want to unload her so you and Angel can go out."
"To patrol. I'm working. It's not like we're going to the sock-hop."
"Well, I've got to be at the pre-showing reception in half an hour. Who's going to watch Dawn?"
"I don't need anyone to watch me!" Dawn yelled.
Angel came into the room as both Joyce and Buffy yelled. "Yes, you do!"
"So you're saying if I can get a babysitter over here before you leave, I can go patrol now?" Buffy asked
"Babysitter?! I'm fourteen! I'm old enough to be a babysitter." Dawn yelled.
"And who are you going to get on such short notice?" Joyce asked.
"I can take care of my.."
"Xander." Buffy said.
"Xander?" Joyce asked.
Dawn ran in and bumped Angel out of the way. "Ok."
Buffy rolled her eyes and went downstairs, Angel hot on her heels. She dialed Xander's number and let it ring. After he picked up, they had about a four-minute conversation before Buffy hung up.
"He's on his way. Let's get our stuff before mom decides to change her mind." Buffy said, running up the stairs into her room.