Warning: Sad time ahead. It wasn't planned, but it fit the action. Prepare yourself.

Chapter 30: Taking out the Big Bads

*****Where We Left Off*****

Xander's words echoed in the room, and everyone took in what he was saying. Willow, Xander, and Oz explained exactly how it happened.

Both Buffy and Faith looked stunned; both were speechless.

"Dear lord," Giles said, taking off his glasses and cleaning them as he considered his response.

"A scratch but not a bite," Wes stated. Xander nodded. "Hmm. I haven't spent much time studying the werewolf phenomenon."

"I have," Giles said grimly. "It doesn't matter, especially if scratched on the hellmouth. The virus will transfer to him on the next full moon, two weeks from now."

"So Thanksgiving break?" Xander asked.

Giles nodded. "Yes," he said.

"Guess I know what loads of fun I won't be having," he replied.

"We have a test to get to," Willow said, looking at the time.

Buffy went over to Natalie. "Consider yourself fired. If I see you in this town again, I will break more bones," she said. Then she hit her one last time, knocking her out cold.

"Buffy!" Willow exclaimed, moving to check on her.

"She's not dead," Buffy said grimly. "Angel is."

"At least this time, you know that his soul is free and not in a hell dimension," Cordelia pointed, surprising Buffy with her insight.

That was true, and it brought her great comfort. "Thanks, Cordy. Let's go take the test," she said to her friends.

"Buffy, I'm sorry," Giles said.

Buffy wasn't ready to look at him and left without speaking to him. Faith decided that it was way too early for adult drama that didn't concern her at all and went back to bed.

Wesley bent down to check on Natalie, muttering, "Dear lord."

Giles called Tony and let him know what had happened.

Tony was on the screen, so he saw Natalie begin to open her eyes. He couldn't believe it and wished he was there with the kids. Tony hated being so far away from them. The first night he was in town, he watched Buffy killed Angel and how devastated she was. Angel was somehow brought back, and his employee killed it. Guilt and frustration filled him as he debated what to do.

"Ms. Rushman, are you okay?" he asked.

Natasha opened her eyes and quickly assessed her injuries. "I'll live," she said, slowly getting up.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Tony demanded. "I was there when she killed Angel. I know how devastated she was, and he was somehow brought back to her. Then you go and stake him! Why? What were you thinking?"

"The band candy, Tony. It was cursed," Giles explained. "We were under its influence. It made me behave like a very younger version of myself."

"It was the face of his torturer, and I wanted to help end Rupert's pain," Natasha said. "I knew he never would, and I knew that Angel was a vampire who could one day pose a threat. My judgment was compromised because of the candy, but I did know what I was doing."

"So what am I supposed to do?" Tony asked. "Willow needs a bodyguard, and Pepper would not want you gone but Buffy wants you gone."

"She needs to go," Giles said flatly. He didn't look at her when he said it. This was his fault, and he felt sick with guilt.

"I can just guard Willow at the house and train the other kids when Buffy's not around," Natasha said quickly.

"That would be very confusing," Wesley added. "The kids live in each other's pockets."

Tony was silent as he considered things. Willow would be graduating in a few months, and it wasn't likely Willow would go the same place Buffy would.

"Thanksgiving break is coming up. I'll send the plane to get you both out of town as Willow's Jewish family in New York has already extended Pepper an invitation," Tony said. "Her parents will be joining her there, so it will work out. You will stay out of town until then. Willow will be coming in a few days anyway. I will have you check out the mutant school that I'm going to send Oz to."

"You might very well be sending Xander there, too," Giles added.

Tony groaned. "These kids," he muttered. "What was Oz thinking?"

"It was the band candy. Oz is very self-controlled. It didn't affect Xander because he is a typical teen, but Oz is not. It made him a bit jealous and possessive, so when Xander kissed her cheek, his wolf saw red, thinking he was kissing her in the other way," Giles explained.

"Like Xander would ever do that," Tony said with a scoff. "Has he seen Cordelia? I am almost positive they are sexually active by this point. He would not suddenly start hitting on Willow, especially not in front of her boyfriend."

"Oz knows that," Giles said. "It was instinct, not rational. The band candy—it was cursed, Tony. Ethan Rayne, my old chum, worships the god of Chaos."

"That's a thing, really?" Tony asked, interested. "How does one get into that? Because that actually sounds like a religion I could get on board with!"

"Can you stay on task for one bloody moment?" Giles growled, not in the mood to deal with Tony's wandering mind.

"Fine. You never let me have any fun," Tony said with a sigh. "I'll send the plane for Natalie, so JARVIS will let you know when it's at the airport waiting. Looks like she could use a week's medical leave anyway. See that she goes to a doctor."

"Of course," Giles said.

"I'm fine," Natalie informed them. Fury was going to have her ass.

"I can clearly see that you are very injured, and no employee of mine is going to be hurt on the job and not be given proper medical help," Tony said, glaring at her from the TV screen.

"What about Mr. Harris?" Wesley asked.

"I will make sure that I am here with Dr. Banner on the next full moon," Tony said. "Now, I have to give Pepper the bad news. Catch you all later."

After his screen went dark, Giles looked at Natalie. "Let's get you to the hospital," he said.

"Do you need my help?" Wesley offered.

"No, I believe I can manage," Giles said. "We need to get a plan on how to deal with the immediate threat, Kakistos."

"Yes, I agree," Wesley said. "I will have Faith doing some daylight recon while the students are testing."

After he left the room to speak to Faith, Giles sat next to Natalie on the couch. "Are you all right?" he asked.

She looked at him and shrugged. "I'll live. We fucked up," she said. Then she decided to share a truth he deserved to know.

*****The High School*****

Willow was trying not to hyperventilate. The SAT was super important, but her oldest friend might be a werewolf because of her.

"Hey, it's going to be okay," Oz told her, his hand on her back.

"I know," she said automatically.

"No, you don't," he said. "I can hear your heart racing. Take a deep breath and breath out."

Willow did what he suggested. "I just feel so guilty," she said.

"This was not your fault. It was mine," he said. "I did this. But really, it was Ethan Rayne's."

"That's true," Willow said. "He's a real ass. I can't believe Giles was ever friends with him."

"Well, Giles did allow Natalie to kill Angel, so he clearly didn't have the best judgment when he was younger," Oz said.

"You're right," Willow said. "You're always right."

"Whatever happens to Xander, he will be okay. It happened to me, and I'm okay. Xander won't be alone because he has all of us," Oz reminded her.

"That's true," Willow replied, feeling better at the reminder.

"Now, put it out of your mind and take the test," Oz said. "Rock this score, so you can impress Tony."

Willow grinned. "I love you," she said.

Oz gave her a light kiss. "I love you," he replied. He went into the classroom where they were testing. Buffy was already in there.

Buffy was so not in the mood to take this stupid SAT, but she didn't know what else to do.

Angel was dead. Again. She had barely gotten used to the idea of him being back in her life only to have him snatched away for no good reason. Rage burned within her, and she broke her pencil. Willow heard the snap and glanced at her.

"Do you need another pencil?" she asked from Buffy's right side.

Buffy nodded.

Willow gave her another. "Here you go. We just have to focus on the test and put everything else out of her mind," she advised.

Buffy nodded again. "You're right. We studied. We can do this," she agreed.

Cordelia wasn't so sure as she glanced at her man. Xander was a wreck. He sat behind Willow, so she sat behind Buffy next to him while Oz sat on Willow's other side.

"Are you going to make it?" Cordelia asked him.

Xander shrugged. "I'll do my best," he said, giving her a weak smile.

"Okay, no more talking," the proctor said. "All phones and or smart devices need to go in the basket I am passing around, or the tests for everyone will be voided as if you didn't take them. Turn them off."

Everyone groaned and began to comply. Xander hadn't even brought his as all he could think about was the bandage on his arm. Would he become a werewolf? The idea was terrifying to him. Sure, having an acute sense of smell might be kind of cool, but it had to be the lamest superpower ever. Tony and Banner were working on a cure. Activating a mutant gene was kind of exciting but equally terrifying.

He glanced at Cordelia as the tests were passed out. Would she still love him if he was a freak? Sure, she thought he was a freak now and loved him. But what if he was a real freak?

They filled out the personal information quickly, and he found the simple task calming. Okay, he put the werewolf thought out of his mind and focused on the verbal.

Who knew that all the wittiness that was Tony Stark would pay off? He recognized so many words from their summer of science even when he tried not to listen.

This wasn't so bad.

Then came the math section. Xander tried hard for about an hour, and then he just gave up.

Straight line C would have to do. He closed the book in relief.

It was not like he was going to college anyway.

*****City Hall*****

Clint was glad that Fury agreed with him. Mayor Wilkins was an imminent threat that must be taken out, and he gave him the green light.

That would-be baby killer was going to die, and he was not waiting a minute longer. He just had to decide how to do it. It needed to be the weekend when there was less traffic, and it needed to be in the daytime. There would be fewer vampire bodyguards.

So far, Wilkins liked to swing by the office Sunday afternoons to finalize his agenda for the week. Clint really wanted to slit the man's throat and make sure he knew who killed him. However, it could leave a window for him to call out for help or use his magic.

Instead, he sat in his nest across the street; the perfect place he had scoped out. Just in case, he decided to come on Saturday instead of his normal Sunday. Clint was waiting, determined to catch him before Monday. He had a clear view of the office and knew Wilkins loved looking out at the city from his office, so he kept the blinds opened. The man's OCD made him very predictable.

The information on Wilkins showed that he was a warlock of some kind who had extended his life well over a hundred years. He was the original Wilkins who had founded the city, not the heir he pretended to be. That meant that he might have some type of magical defenses, so Clint had gone by the city's magic shop and paid for a magical blessing for his weapons.

Did he feel stupid for doing it? Sure. Would he ever tell anyone that he did it? Of course not. However, he was going to cover all his bases and make sure that this monster was put down with no chance of resurrecting. The slayers had been through enough and had enough monsters to kill in this city.

This was the least he could do.

His phone rang while he was waiting. It was Nat.

"You okay?" he asked since she never called.

"No. I messed up," she admitted.

"Really? What happened?" he asked. His partner never messed up.

"Rupert and I were on the band candy, and I decided to slay a vampire with a soul that Buffy loved," Natasha shared. "She beat me unconscious this morning when she found out."

Clint winced. "Are you damaged?" he asked.

"Concussion, two broken ribs, and cracked cheek bone," she shared. "I'm lucky that they didn't have to wire my jaw shut."

"Damn," he said.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Fury gave me the okay to take out Wilkins," he said. "I'm waiting for him to arrive now."

"Do you need backup? I can have Rupert send Faith. The rest of the kids are taking the SAT," she told him.

"No, I got this one. It's the least I can do," he said.

"He's not a normal human even though he looks like one," she warned. "He's a magic user."

"I know," Clint said. "I've seen his evil alter firsthand."

"Okay. Call me when it's done," she said.

"Will do," he said.

"Tony is flying me out of town. I'll be back in New York this evening," she told him.

"I will let you know when it goes down. Probably not until tomorrow since he doesn't normally come into the office until Sunday," Clint shared.

"Good luck," she said.

"Don't need it," Clint said. He had skill and being on the side of right. For one of the few times in his life, he was right down eager to take out a target. He would wait patiently for his prey to come into the building.

The next morning, his wait was finally over.

Wilkins was entering his office.

It was show time. He watched as the sick bastard started his coffee pot and walked toward his desk. Predictably, he walked to the window and looked out. Although Clint really wanted to put an arrow through him, he used his rifle. The scope centered on Wilkins, and Clint lined up his shot.

Right between the eyes. He squeezed the trigger.

It was done.

Clint moved quickly, putting his gun in the case and dropping it in his car's hidden compartment. Then he quickly drove and parked in the deputy commissioner's parking spot. No vampire bodyguard outside, which was fortunate. Being the one to find the body was risky, but the cops in this city were so stupid. For once, things were easy as no one else was in the office. He grabbed Wilkins' cell phone and sent him a text.

Come to the office to go over this week's schedule.

He got back into his car and went to the nearest coffee shop and ordered two cups of coffee. Then he went back to the office and discovered his boss on his back with a bullet hole in his forehead, clearly dead with his eyes open. Taking out his phone, he snapped a picture and sent it to Fury and Natasha.

Then he called 9/11. Time to put on a show.

*****The Next Day*****

Buffy went downstairs after a horrific weekend when she overheard Mr. Coulson tell her mother, "It couldn't have happened to a better guy."

"What happened?" she asked.

"The mayor was murdered yesterday," Joyce said.

"Really?" Buffy said, smiling. "Vampire? Demon?"

"A bullet to the brain," Joyce told her.

"Was it SHIELD?" Buffy asked.

Coulson shrugged. "Probably. He was a dangerous man, and he was going to sacrifice babies. Clint probably took him out," he said. "He hates when people hurt kids."

Buffy felt relieved. "Should I send him a thank you card?" she asked.

"For killing someone? That's really crass," Joyce said in disapproval.

"Fine," Buffy said. "I'll just thank him in person." She poured some orange juice and considered what to tell her mother. "Angel was brought back by the Powers. He was himself again. Faith and I trapped him the Hulk House before I was shot."

"Really?" Joyce said in surprise. "Does Rupert know?"

"He does. But it doesn't matter now," Buffy said, looking as glum as she felt.

Joyce shared a look with Coulson, who shrugged. Natasha had not told him anything, and he hated how private the agent was.

"Why not?" Joyce asked.

"Natalie killed him Friday night, and Giles let her," Buffy revealed.

"What?" a stunned Joyce asked.

Buffy nodded. "That's what happened. They were eating the band candy, and she decided the face of Giles' torturer needed to die," Buffy said, looking stricken. "Giles let her kill Angel."

"Oh, honey," Joyce said, moving to hug her daughter. "I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

"I'll live," Buffy said.

"I'm sorry, too," Mr. Coulson told her, feeling bad for the poor girl. She just couldn't catch a break.

"I told Natalie she better get gone. Willow said that Tony sent a plane for her Saturday, so she's gone," Buffy said.

"Good," Joyce said. She liked that the woman was training the kids, but Buffy didn't need that kind of added trauma in her life.

As her daughter went to school, she looked at Phil. They were now in her living room. "I worry so much about her. How much can she take before she breaks?" she wondered.

"Your daughter is incredibly strong," he said. "She will get through this."

"I hope so," Joyce said. "Are you ready to go back to your place?"

"I suppose so," he said. The band candy had caused them to jump some steps in their turbulent relationship. "I know we skipped some steps, but I can't say that I'm sorry because you're talking to me now."

Joyce smiled. "I guess life is too short stay mad. I know you have a job that means a lot to you. It's what brought you into my life, so I should let it go," she said.

"I am sorry for hurting you," he said for the fifth or sixth time.

"Phil, I know. You don't have to say it again," she assured him.

"My job is important to me. In fact, it's been the only thing in my life since I started it," he admitted. "You started as a mark. I'll admit that, but you've been special from the beginning. I began falling for you from the first dinner we shared."

"It's the same for me," Joyce admitted, smiling at him as he took her hand. "Since finding out about Buffy's calling, my life's been a bit crazy. It has been good having something that is just mine. I think that's why I felt so betrayed. I thought you were mine, but it was all about Buffy."

Phil nodded. "I get that," he said. "I hope you know now that it's not all about her. So, where do we go from here?"

"Well, you go back to your place, and we'll continue to date," Joyce said. "I think that is a good place to start."

Phil smiled. "I like that plan," he said. He leaned over and kissed her, glad she had finally forgiven him.

*****A Week Later*****

It was time. Xander may or may not turn all furry in a few days, but they needed to end the newest threat now that the mayor was dead.

"I still can't believe the Deputy Mayor killed our evil mayor," Xander remarked as they gathered one evening at Slayer's Headquarters.

"You can't say that, Xander," Willow admonished.

"Besides, he might resign due to the horror of the violence," Faith said, snickering.

"Yes, that was my favorite political quote," Xander said.

"Mayor Finch is now in charge," Buffy said. "Funny how things work out the way they're supposed to."

"About damn time, I say," Faith added.

The man in question knocked on the door, and Oz opened it. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," Clint said.

"We were just talking about you," Xander said. "And the public service you recently did."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Clint said, giving him a cool look.

"Xander," Giles said, frowning at him in disapproval.

"Fine," Xander said. "Whoever killed the evil warlock mayor deserves a medal! That's all I'm saying."

"I agree," Cordelia added.

"Are you still the Deputy Mayor now that Finch is back and is mayor?" Willow asked.

"For now," Clint said. "Gives me a legitimate excuse to be everywhere, and Finch likes having someone with real authority in town. Not to mention, Wilkins terrified him to his core, and I make him feel safe." He was still on the hellmouth since Natasha had been pulled, so he was accompanying them for this remaining monster. He still could not believe that his partner had screwed the pooch so royally. It wasn't like her at all to mess up so royally.

He glanced over at the slayer. There was a hollowness to Buffy that made him especially glad that he had killed the mayor for her. Her watcher was watching her very carefully, clearly concerned. However, Buffy wasn't looking at him. She was still angry at what went down. Clint didn't blame her.

"That is very good news," Cordelia said. "Finally, we don't have to worry about Buffy getting arrested all the time."

"That's a good point," Willow added.

"Does Mayor Finch know you are the one who killed the other guy?" Cordelia asked.

"He does," Clint said, nodding. "It's part of the reason he insisted I keep my job. I make him feel safe."

"I can imagine it was terrifying working as a human and knowing what Wilkins was up to," Giles said.

"He was complicit. Don't mistake him for a good guy," Oz pointed out.

"True," Giles acknowledged.

"He's not a bad guy, just weak," Clint said.

"Yes, well, glad that you are there, so let's go get this ugly toast vamp now," Buffy said, tired of all the talking. She needed to kill something.

"Kakistos," Wesley and Giles both corrected.

Buffy grinned at the Watchers. "You guys are so easy," she said.

Faith laughed. "Okay, let's get some weapons. I know where the freak is," she said.

"He's a big vampire," Xander pointed out. "You're going to need a really big stake to kill him."

"We can just take off his head," Buffy said, swinging a word.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Faith agreed with a feral grin.

They had collectively decided to put the idea of werewolf Xander out of their minds until the next week because they were in a waiting limbo. The mayor was gone, so this was the final thing to take care of before Thanksgiving break.

Cordelia and Willow carried crossbows while Clint held his preferred bow and arrow. Xander and Oz were carrying axes and the slayers swords as they loaded into Oz's van.

The night was overcast, and thunder could be heard as they got out of the van by the docks.

"It's going to rain," Willow observed.

"Fits my mood," Buffy said morosely.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Clint told her.

"Thanks," Buffy said, giving him a fleeting smile. No one else had bothered to say that except her mother and Mr. Coulson. Giles had said he was sorry for what happened but not for what she had lost. Her friends had collectively decided not to bring up the topic of Angel. She didn't know if she was grateful for that or if she resented it.

She hadn't called and told Matt about it yet; she just couldn't find the words. However, she did invite him and Foggy to town for Thanksgiving.

Now they were ready to put down the ugly cloven handed vamp.

Inside the warehouse, Mr. Trick was telling his boss: "There's two slayers in this town, and they both survived my Slayerfest. Now they've killed the mayor, and he was a hundred-year-old warlock. We need to get out of town before we get dead."

"I am going nowhere," Kakistos replied. "The mayor was mortal and human, not nearly as powerful as he thought if a bullet could take him out. Besides, slayers do not use guns."

"The slayers were recently gunned down. Obviously, they have gotten smart," Mr. Trick pointed out.

The door to the warehouse was knocked down, and they looked up.

"Slayers!" Kakistos growled.

"Told you," Mr. Trick said. "I'm out of here!"

He turned to run, but both Cordelia and Clint had their arrows aimed at him. He didn't get far.

Kakistos didn't like his right hand being killed so easily and pointed out his other minions. "Attack!" he ordered.

There were seven vampires still alive from their last fight, and they wasted no time engaging the slayers group. For Buffy, they were not much of a challenge, clearly fledglings. She dispatched two while Faith put down three of them. Her friends took care of the rest while she and Buffy faced Kakistos.

"Are you slayers ready to die?" Kakistos asked them.

"Every damn day," Faith said with a smile.

"Does it suck to be that ugly?" Buffy asked with her own bright smile.

Faith snickered as the vampire growled and charged at Buffy, who ducked, which allowed Faith to hit him hard in the face. Then Buffy followed it up with a kick in the face.

This continued for several minutes because the vampire was just so tough. Clint even managed to hit him in the heart with an arrow, but he didn't die.

"What the hell?" Clint asked.

"You will need a much bigger arrow," Kakistos told him with a chuckle as he pulled it out. Then he knocked Faith out with a hard blow to the head.

"Faith!" Buffy exclaimed.

Willow moved to check on her. "She's alive," she told Buffy.

Cordelia picked up Faith's sword to help Buffy.

"I got this," Buffy told her.

"No, you don't," Cordelia said. She had been using the sword Buffy got her for her birthday quite a bit with Natalie and was sad to see the woman literally ran out of town even though she understood Buffy's rage. This vampire was the biggest and ugliest they'd faced in a long time. Then she jumped forward and stabbed the vampire in the stomach, causing him to scream in rage.

Quickly, she jumped back before he could reach her. Then Buffy kicked him again and hit him in the stomach where she'd cut him.

"I will destroy you and your friends!" the ancient vampire screamed in rage.

"Yeah, yeah, that's what they say," Cordelia said. "How about you die already? I got better things to do."

"Be careful, babe," Xander called out.

Cordelia turned her head slightly to smile at her boyfriend, and then she looked back at Kakistos. Buffy was fighting him again. Then he knocked Buffy's sword away, and he managed to hit her hard enough to push her several feet away. This left Cordelia standing alone, so Clint and Xander immediately moved to stand on each side of her.

However, Kakistos was quick and grabbed Cordelia before she could evade.

"Cordelia!" Xander screamed, swinging his sword at Kakistos' legs while Clint shot his arrow into the vampire's heart yet again.

Still the vampire didn't dissolve.

The enraged vampire snapped Cordelia's neck, tossing her aside like a broken toy.

Faith opened her eyes and sat up just in time to see Queen C land at her feet, her unstaring eyes looking out.

Buffy gasped in horror, unable to comprehend what had just transpired.

Cordelia was dead; it happened so fast.

Moving to her feet, she grabbed the sword Cordelia had dropped and swung it at Kakistos' head just as Xander's ax cut off his left leg.

"No! He needs to feel pain!" Xander yelled.

Buffy grabbed him while Faith gently took the ax from him.

Willow and Oz were already at Cordelia's side. Willow was sobbing as Oz looked in shock at Cordelia's body.

"What the hell happened?" Faith asked, looking up at Buffy.

Buffy looked down at her one-time nemesis, who had not hesitated to fight next to her when Faith had fallen. How had Cordelia Chase become so amazing in the past year? Even in death she was beautiful, and Buffy had failed her like she had failed Jesse.

Clint looked at the slayer and saw the guilt and devastation. "She stepped up when you got knocked out. It was the bravest thing I ever saw," he said. Then he looked at all of them. "You all are the most amazing group of kids I have ever had the privilege to meet, and I hope my kids grow up to be half as brave and strong."

Xander bent down and picked her up in his arms; her body was already growing cold. "We have to take her out of here," he said, not yet ready to process the loss of his love.

"I will call Mayor Finch," Clint said. The one good thing that came out of keeping his job was he could smooth things over with the authorities.

They had finally killed their final big bad, but the price was too high.

*****Chapter End*****

I know what you're feeling because I'm feeling it too! This is a high school story, and I almost just had her getting hurt. However, Cordelia lived her life to the fullest and was always prepared to die in my story. Although I hadn't at all planned to kill her, I realized that the day I had her and Xander have sex, I had laid the groundwork for her death. Reviews are appreciated. I hope you'll still want to read more!