Buffy felt marginally better when Tara laughed softly. That didn't mean she wasn't still planning to have a long talk with Faith – and probably Englemann and Walsh as well. "Will, climb out and give me a hand stashing the weapons and your laptop. Mom should be here with Giles in a minute with food and research-y type things."

The front passenger-side door popped open immediately. "What about Faith?" Willow's voice sounded accusing as she continued. "You can't leave her to fight humans alone. Not after…"

Not after Finch, Buffy finished mentally. "And I can't leave you and Tara here by yourselves." It wasn't enough of a reassurance. She watched Willow's jaw tighten in the gloom of the parking lot. "As soon as Mom or Giles gets here, I'll go check on her."

Resolve Face seemed imminent when Willow's eyes narrowed.

"I promise." Buffy averted her eyes before Willow silently convinced her to go after Faith now. Faith was a Slayer. Faith could take care of herself, and she wasn't the same person she'd been when they'd run into Finch in that alley. All the same, Buffy prayed Giles would get there soon. No matter how good Faith was, bullets easily trumped super strength and speed.

In tense silence, they loaded Buffy's cache of weaponry into the rear of the Jeep. When the last stake was carefully settled, she spun and scanned the parking lot. A pair of dim, yellowed headlights illuminated a far corner. "Giles is on the way," Buffy told Willow. "And Faith is fine," she was grateful to be able to add when a shadowy shape sprinted their way.

"Get in, B. We're outta time." Faith didn't slow down as she ran past them and tore open the driver's side door. "I took care of the three stooges stakin' out the place, but I heard one of 'em call for backup on the radio. We're gonna be swimming in soldiers soon."

Great. "Mom's with Giles," Buffy said. She gently shoved Willow toward the car and then scrambled into the back seat, squeezing in between Tara and Englemann again. "Head that way so Giles can follow us to the school."

The engine roared to life. "Could probably walk faster than Tweed's car." Faith didn't say anything else as she sped through the parking lot, coming to an abrupt halt next to Giles' battered Citroen. Buffy watched as Faith and Willow jumped out of the idling Jeep and grabbed bags and books.

While the last of the supplies were packed into the back, Buffy tried to clarify the plan in her mind. The school shouldn't be on anyone's radar. None of them had been back, except for patrol, since graduation. They'd be safe there. But for how long? Could Ethan trace them? Even if he couldn't, how were they going to beat his magic? Tara had insisted she wasn't strong enough to fight him. Would Willow be able to help with that?

Buffy scowled so fiercely that Tara feared she'd unintentionally done something to anger the other girl. After a few seconds, though, she realized Buffy wasn't actually looking at her. She was, in fact, staring through Tara. "B-Buffy?"

Blinking, Buffy focused on Tara. "What?" She tilted her head. "Is something wrong?" Her expression sharpened.

"N-no." Tara hurried to reassure Buffy. "I…"

Before she had a chance to explain, the rear door of the Jeep slammed closed. Faith and Willow returned to the front of the SUV, and Giles stuck his head through an open window. "We're ready. Are you sure this is the best course of action, Buffy?" Then he seemed to realize there were new people in the vehicle. "Hello. Buffy?"

Obviously, Buffy hadn't relayed the entire story of their escapades when she went inside. Tara watched her hold up a hand to stop any more questions. "I'm not going over this again, Giles. No questions now. Save them for later." With a tight nod, Giles retracted his head and disappeared. "Let's go, Faith." Buffy sounded terse and tired.

From Giles and his questions? Or from the situation? Tara wondered. Was this sort of thing normal for them? She shifted a little, giving Buffy more room on the crowded seat and gently stroking a hand over Buffy's thigh where it pressed against her own.

The Jeep began moving again. Faith turned onto the street, constantly checking the mirrors. "Looks like we're good, B. Nothing behind us but your mom and Giles."

Tara did a little checking of her own. "I can't feel Eth-than, either." She pushed to the limits of her senses. There was nothing except the normal ambient energy around them. "When we g-get to the school, I'll…" She'd what? Find a way to defeat a far more powerful magic user? One look at Buffy's hopeful expression had her saying, "I'll work with Willow. I'm sure there's something we can do."

"Thanks, Tara." Buffy smiled and laid a hand over Tara's. "Giles might have some suggestions, too. He isn't big with the mojo these days, but he knows a lot."

Tara wasn't so sure about that. Not if Willow's magical knowledge was the result of his tutoring. Keeping her thoughts to herself, she idly ran her thumb over the back of Buffy's hand. There was enough time to worry about their magical situation when they reached the high school. After all, one of Giles' books might have just the spell she was looking for. Tara nearly groaned at how much she was thinking like Willow. If she wasn't careful, she'd forget all of her mother's teaching.

"Almost there," Faith announced, gently patting Willow's thigh. The Jeep slowed and turned right into another parking lot. "Where to now, B?"

Buffy's fingers twitched under Tara's. "Ummm…"

While Buffy grappled with the question, Tara peered out the window at the dark, hulking former high school. There wasn't much light since only a few remaining street lights were working. It was still enough to see the jagged edges of brick and mortar and the gaping holes and crumbling walls. No wonder Buffy had suggested this place; no one would ever think to look here.

"Try the cafeteria loading dock." Buffy pulled away and sat up. "It's in the back, and I think we might even be able to pull both cars inside. It's not like we have to worry about blocking the refrigerators or anything."

Seconds later, Faith pulled up next to an angled ramp bracketed by high concrete walls. The roar of the engine echoed loudly. "You want to do the honors, B?" She waved a hand at the metal retracting door illuminated by the Jeep's headlights.

"Why not? I've already blown up the rest of the school. A little B&E won't be a big problem." Buffy smiled and tilted her head and winked at Tara. "Give me a hand?"

Some of Buffy's seemingly misplaced humor infected Tara. "You k-keep forg-getting, Buffy," she said softly, already reaching for the door handle. "We broke into a m-military base tonight. A sc-school is no big deal." Giggling at Buffy's slack-jawed expression, Tara clambered out of the Jeep and into the sepia-toned glare of Giles' car's headlights.

"I'm going to have to keep an eye on you," Buffy muttered. "You're getting mouthy; too much time with Faith. That's what it is." She affectionately poked Tara's shoulder as she stepped around. When she spoke again, her voice was marginally louder. "Give me a minute to get the door up, Giles, and then drive inside."

An indistinct question emerged from the tiny car.

It was loud enough for Buffy, apparently. "Giles, there aren't any creepy ladies with hairnets in the kitchen anymore. We're here to hide, remember?" she snapped, hands planted firmly on her hips.

Giles' "Yes; sorry," was clear and chagrined. The battered Citroen crept around the Jeep and stopped at the base of the loading ramp.

"Be right back." Buffy waved (Tara assumed at her) and trotted past the two vehicles.

Despite Buffy's jump from the bar window and her fight with the soldiers on campus, Tara still watched in amazement as Buffy gripped the padlock on the dock's overhead door. Buffy's muscles rippled for an instant while Tara held her breath. Air exploded from her lungs in time with the sound of rending metal. Seconds later, the door slid up, revealing the dark, cavernous interior of the former schools' kitchen.

Now Buffy's waving hand ushered Giles inside. The car struggled with the incline, its engine roaring and sputtering. With the Jeep gently pushing from behind, it did, however, finally manage the climb. Both vehicles disappeared into the gloom at the top of the ramp.

Buffy trotted for the Jeep. "Let's get the supplies out. We need to find a good spot to camp out and I promised Giles I'd explain everything. If I don't start talking soon, he'll turn into Question Man." She met Tara's eyes with a wry smile. "And we so don't want that."

Nodding, Tara opened the rear door as Faith and Willow climbed out of the suddenly quiet SUV. "Me and Red'll take the Brain Trust into the cafeteria."

"Yeah," Willow agreed. "If they get too mouthy, I'll have Faith have tie them up. Or we could stuff them in one of those big freezers. I bet those are empty."

At least she hadn't suggested something magical, Tara thought with an internal eye roll. Taking a few bags from Buffy, she walked through the large, darkened kitchen.

Joyce waited for her. "I found a couple of serving carts, honey. Dump the bags there and Rupert and I can move them wherever the girls decide to set up the research party." She reached for the bags on Tara's arms, though, removing them without waiting for Tara to move past.

"Thanks, Mom." Buffy had loaded herself with the rest of the food bags, and she groaned faintly as she dumped them onto the cart. "I don't know where's the best place for the research. Will's going to need her computer – and that means electricity and a phone line."

Was she serious? The school was a shell. "Um…" Tara looked at Joyce for help. Had they made a mistake in coming here?

"Honey," Joyce said, laying a hand on Buffy's arm. "You keep exaggerating your exploits. Only the main building was destroyed at graduation. The rest of the school wasn't badly damaged. I read in the paper last week that construction crews have been clearing away debris and starting renovations on the other buildings. I'm sure those areas still have everything you and Willow need."

Thank the Goddess. Tara relaxed as Buffy nodded. "I'll take Faith. The auditorium might work, and there was a couch up in the lighting booth that used to be popular." Her grin caught Tara off guard. "You know, in case you older people need naps or whatever."

Before Joyce could reply, Giles walked up and set down an armload of books. "I will certainly keep that in mind, Buffy. After all, I have become quite accustomed to regular sleep since the end of my tenure here." There was a bite to his words, despite the slight twitch to his lips. "However, before I elect to spend time on that infamous couch, perhaps we could locate the classroom or office being used by the construction foreman? I did not notice a construction trailer in the parking lot. I daresay any business office – even one located in a partially destroyed high school – would have not only electricity but all the modern conveniences. I suggest you begin your search in the science wing, as it is the farthest point from the library."

"I'm ready when you are, B." Faith said. She lounged against a steel counter, one arm around Willow's shoulder. "Come on. Let's track down this office or whatever. I got Walsh and the Colonel tied up in the other room." One hand indicated a set of double doors leading, Tara thought, to the main part of the cafeteria. "The rest of the gang can keep 'em company."

Tara shouldn't have been surprised by the immediate exodus Faith's suggestion started. Somehow, though, she was. The kitchen had been dimly lit by starlight and the distant glow of streetlights from the school parking lot. However, Giles paused to lower the loading dock door, cutting off all outside illumination. Her hands rose in front of her as Tara prayed she wouldn't run into anything. Her world narrowed to the sound of shuffling feet and quiet breathing from the rest of the unseen group – until a hand gently touched her back.

"Don't worry. Faith and I can see fine," Buffy whispered, her breath warm where it puffed against Tara's neck and ear. "I won't let anything happen to you; I promise."