Chapter 12: School Hard

September 30, 1997 – Tuesday

Sunnydale High School

"A lot of educators tell students," Mr. Snyder, the principal, said as he looked at Buffy and Sheila, who sat across from him in his office, "think of your principal as your pal. I say think of me as your judge, jury and executioner. Tell me, who do you think is the most troublesome student in this school?"

Buffy noticed out of the corner of her eye Sheila jerked her head towards her. She let out a sigh.

"Well, it is quite a match between you two," Snyder said as he opened the two folders that lay in front of him. "On the one hand, Rutherford hasn't stabbed a horticulture teacher with a trowel, yet."

"I never stabbed anyone with a trowel!" Sheila said as she stabbed her file in front of Snyder with her finger causing him to involuntarily edge back. "It was pruning shears. It should say pruning shears."

Snyder looked toward Buffy. "On the other hand, Sheila's never burned down a school building."

Buffy glared at Snyder. "That was never proven…the fire marshal said it could have been…mice…" she told him.

Snyder snorted. "Mice?"

"Mice that were smoking?" Buffy offered sheepishly.

Snyder glared at Buffy for a moment before looking down at their files. "And the two of you seem to be tied in the class-cutting and fight-starting events. You're really neck and neck here. It's very exciting."

"What does the winner get?" Sheila wondered.

"Expelled," Snyder said happily. "This Thursday is parent teacher night. Your parents…" he looked at Buffy, "…assuming you have any…will meet your teachers…" he looked at Sheila, "…assuming you have any left. I have decided to put you two in charge of this event. You have three days to prepare the refreshments, make the banners, and transform the school lounge into a habitable place for adults. This will incur my goodwill and may even affect what I tell your parents when I meet them. Are we clear?"

"We're clear," Buffy said before looking at Sheila. "Don't you feel clear?" She looked back at Snyder. "We're very clear."

"Good," Snyder said. "Because you mess up this time, your parents will be coming to clean out your lockers."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy walked with Sheila down the hall as Xander and Willow approached. "It really shouldn't be that hard," she was telling Sheila. "We'll work on banners tomorrow at lunch and we can figure out refreshments then."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Sheila said. She noticed an older, slovenly, tattooed student. "Hey, Meatpie! Wait up!" She rushed after him as Buffy, Willow and Xander watched.

"Heard Snyder's got you guys making party favors," Xander said.

"Yeah, his two worst students," Buffy said. "Sometimes I wonder when mom looks at me if that is what she sees. A Sheila."

Xander shook his head. "Sheila's definitely intense," he informed his friend. "That guy with her? That's the one she CAN bring home to her mother."

"She smoked when we were in fifth grade," Willow added. "Once I was lookout for her."

Xander smirked at Willow. "You're bad to the bone," he teased her.

Willow smiled. "I'm a rebel."

"It's just not fair," Buffy said with a sigh. "I'm the Slayer, which requires a certain amount of fighting, cutting and magic. What's Sheila's excuse?"

"Homework. She won't do it," Xander explained. "And most of the teachers respect that now. You'll probably want to keep her away from sharp implements while you're working."

"Do you think any of the other Slayers ever had to go to high school?" Buffy asked with a sigh.

"Hey, it's no biggie. You'll put on a nice little affair," Xander offered. "The parents'll love it. As long as nothing really bad comes along between now and then, you'll be fine."

Both Buffy and Willow turn to him, completely appalled. "Are you nuts? What'd you say that for?" Buffy asked. "Now something bad is going to happen!"

"What do you mean?" Xander asked. "Nothing is going to happen!"

"Not until some dummy says…'As long as nothing bad happens…'" Willow countered.

"That's like the ultimate jinx!" Buffy agreed.

"What were you thinking?" Willow concluded with a smirk. "Or were you even thinking?"

"Well, you don't know. Maybe this time is different." Xander said defensively.

Summers Home

"Dawnie, I need a favor," Buffy informed her sister as they sat on her bed.

"Anything, Buffy," Dawn replied as she smiled at her sister.

"Thursday is Parent/Teacher night at my school," Buffy informed her sister. "I need you to help me keep mom from my teachers and the principal."

"Why?" Dawn wondered.

"Well they are likely going to tell mom about my grades and cutting class," Buffy said.

"And you can't tell mom why…" Dawn said in understanding as she patted her sister's arm.

"Exactly," Buffy said with a sigh.

"Rutherford?" came Joyce's voice from the hall.

"In here, mom," Buffy answered and a moment later Joyce walked into the room.

Joyce held up the mail. "I got the mail," she told her children.

"Oh good," Buffy said as she smiled at her mother.

"Which included a reminder notice about parent teacher night on Thursday," Joyce reminded her son.

Buffy sighed. "Oh, less good," she said with a grimace.

"Which you were planning on telling me about…?" Joyce questioned with a stern look.

"For the last two weeks," Buffy admitted. "I've been working up my nerve."

"Uh huh," Joyce said not buying it. "So, what do you think your teachers will tell me?"

Buffy sighed as she glanced toward Dawn before looking back at their mother. "Well…I…think they would all agree I always bring a pen to class, ready to absorb the knowledge," she said trying to deflect the question.

Joyce looked at Buffy with a knowing look. "And this absorption rate, how is it reflected in your homework and test scores?"

"What can you really tell about a person from a test score?" Buffy questioned hoping her mother would drop the painful topic.

"Whether or not you are ever going out with her friends again," Joyce countered authoritatively as her face took on what Buffy and Dawn called the 'Intimidator' face.

"Oh that," Buffy sighed.

"What about your principal?" Joyce questioned.

"He put me in charge of the banners and refreshments for the whole evening," Buffy admitted hoping that would buy her some brownie points. "If that's not a sign of respect I don't know what is."

"I look forward to meeting him," Joyce informed her son.

"Won't that be something," Buffy said with another glance at Dawn who patted her on the arm.

"Look life is more than grades and test scores and not getting kicked out of school," Joyce informed her children looking at them both.

"You are right," Buffy and Dawn agreed in unison.

"But we moved once because of you getting in trouble, Rutherford," Joyce reminded them. "And I had to start a new business—not to mention a new life—in a whole new town. And I had to pull Dawn away from her friends and put her in a new school as well."

"I miss them of course," Dawn admitted. "But I like it here. As long as I am with the two of you…"

"She knows, Dawnie," Buffy informed her sister before turning her attention back to their mother. "And you don't want to do that again."

"What I don't want is to be disappointed in you again," Joyce corrected.

Silence filled the room for a moment neither Joyce or Buffy and Dawn saying another word until. "Mom, believe me, that's the last thing I want, too," Buffy told her mother. "I'm trying, I've just got a lot of…pressure right now."

"Wait till you have a job," Joyce said as she gave Buffy a kiss on the forehead. She glanced at Dawn. "Bed time."

"I know, mom," Dawn said. "I will go to bed in a second after I stay goodnight to Rutherford."

Joyce nodded as she looked at her children. "Sleep tight," she turned and walked out of the room.

Buffy sighed as she looked at her sister. "I have a job," she said resignedly.

"You do," Dawn agreed sadly. "That said I would love for you to do something normal when you're a grownup."

"So would I, Dawn, so would I," Buffy agreed as she kissed her sister on the cheek. "Night."

"Night, Buffy," Dawn said as she hopped of the bed and headed out of the room, closing the door behind her.

October 1, 1997 – Wednesday

Sunnydale High School

Before school Buffy and Willow were painting Welcome Parents on a banner. Near them stood Xander painting Parent/Teacher Night on another banner. Sheila hadn't shown up. Buffy had a feeling why Sheila hadn't shown up, Sheila just didn't care one way or another if she was expelled.

"Sheila's a no show?" Willow asked as Buffy nodded. "She goes to this really rank bar, the Fish Tank, sometimes they have raids and…other things that could make you tardy."

"Can you help me cram some French later?" Buffy answered. "I don't want Mr. DeJean telling my mom I'm an imbecile! It's bad enough mom will likely have to speak to Snyder."

"I thought we were going to the Bronze tonight," Willow reminded her friend. "Because of how you thought Angel might show."

"If he does he'll meet some other nice girl," Xander countered. "Studying comes first."

"First, Xander, we've had this discussion," Buffy reminded her friend. "You and Willow are off the table, I know that. You both see yourselves as straight. Which means neither of you are interested in me in that way. Second, I don't want a repeat of Owen when he found out I was the Slayer. So my dating options really are limited."

"Sorry, Buff," Xander apologized. "I sometimes forget how much harder it is for you."

"I know," Buffy replied as she smiled at Xander. "And I am really happy to have your friendship and the support you both have shown me since I came out to the two of you."

"Thanks," Willow and Xander said happily.

"Anyways, yes we're going to the Bronze. I can study and party and do Parent/Teacher night and make my mother proud as long as I don't have to…" she sighed when she saw Giles and Ms. Calendar approaching, "…fight vampires."

"There's nothing in the Chronicles about an extraneous lunar cycle," Giles said as he and Ms. Calendar came up beside the teens.

"The Order never accurately calculated the Mesopotamian calendar!" Ms. Calendar informed the librarian. "Rupert, you have to read something that was published after ten sixty-six."

"What's the up, guys?" Xander asked looking at the adults.

"I don't suppose this is something about happy squirrels?" Buffy suggested hopefully.

"Vampires," Giles answered.

Buffy sighed. "That was my next guess."

"Ms. Calendar has been researching," he continued. "Surfing on her computer. According to her calendar, this Saturday is the Night of Saint Vigeous."

"I think I remember reading about that in Merrick's books," Buffy admitted. "Something about a crusade of vampires."

"And you have trouble with French," Willow said shaking her head.

"Well even though I hate the research part of it, I do find vampire history interesting," Buffy admitted sheepishly.

"Especially if it includes Angel," Willow said knowingly.

"That is a plus," Buffy said as she smiled at Willow.

Giles coughed to get their attention. "You are correct, Buffy," he complimented. "They swept through Edessa, Harran, and points east."

"They didn't leave much behind," Ms. Calendar added.

"So, Saturday's kind of a big doo for bloodsuckers," Xander retorted.

"It's a Holy Night of Attack," Ms. Calendar agreed. "They'll come in numbers."

"We'll train on Friday and Saturday," Buffy said looking toward the banners on the table. "I have to get through Parent/Teacher night tomorrow first."

"You're being a tad flip, don't you think?" Giles asked. "This is serious."

"I know it's serious, hence training on Friday and Saturday," Buffy countered looking her Watcher in the eyes. "But if I don't get through Parent/Teacher night it's not going to matter what happens on Saturday. I won't be here. Because Snyder has threatened expulsion. And guess what, that means there is a chance mom could move me and Dawn again. Assuming of course she doesn't think private school instead."

"Friday and Saturday will require a great deal of preparation," Giles informed her.

"Well, we'll help," Willow offered nudging Xander.

"Yeah!" Xander agreed. "I can whittle stakes!"

Willow smiled. "And I can research stuff."

"While I'm whittling, I plan to whistle a jaunty tune," Xander said jokingly.

"Your help will be appreciated," Giles admitted. "But when it comes to battle, Buffy must be prepared to fight alone…"

"No I don't," Buffy countered. "I am the Charmed Slayer and my cousins are the Charmed Ones. Remember, Giles? We fight together. You are, after all, a slay—" It was at that moment he noticed Snyder approaching. "-slaves to the…television. You young people nowadays. Goodbye." He and Ms. Calendar made a hasty retreat.

Snyder looked at Willow and Xander with a glare. "You two wouldn't be helping Rutherford in Sheila's place would you?" he asked, daring them to say yes.

Xander hid his brush behind his back. "No," he countered.

"We're hindering," Willow added.

"Sheila ditched," Snyder said with an evil grin. "Mmm-mmm I feel an expulsion coming on."

"She's been helping for hours," Buffy said thinking on her feet. "She's just out getting more paint…" It was then they all saw Sheila stumble through the doorway. She rushed to Sheila and guided her to Xander's banner. "No more teal in the art room? I know you wanted it to be perfect, but we'll have to just keep going with the green." She plopped Xander's brush in Sheila's hand.

"Just make sure everything is perfect on Thursday," Snyder said as he walked off.

"Thanks for covering. Guy's a serious rodent," Sheila said.

"No problem," Buffy said.

"Did you really burn down school property one time?" Sheila asked.

Buffy glanced at Willow and Xander and then back at Sheila. "Well, not exactly one time…" she told the girl. But I didn't feel good about it or anything. I mean, I don't condone…So. We're going to Bronze it tonight, if you wanted to come."

Sheila shook her head. "I can't go there," she informed them, thinking of the last time she was in the Bronze. "You threaten one bartender with a broken bottle and they like ban you for life." She snorted.

The Bronze

Buffy and Willow sat at a table studying for Buffy's French class. "La vache doit me touche de la jeudi…" Buffy said as she noticed Willow's brow furrow. "Is that wrong? Should I use the plural?"

"No," Willow said with a sigh. "You said, the cow should touch me from Thursday."

"Well, maybe that's what I was feeling," Buffy joked.

"And you said it wrong," Willow added.

Buffy sighed. "Oh. Je stink."

"You're just not focused. It's Angel missage," Willow said.

"Well he didn't say for sure," Buffy said. "It was a maybe see you there kind of deal."

It was just then Xander walked up to them from the direction of the dance floor. "Guys! I'm all alone out there! Somebody has to dance with me."

"Well, we are studying…" Willow said.

"Come on, one dance!" Xander begged. "You've been studying for nearly twelve minutes!"

"No wonder my brain is fried," Buffy said as she and Willow stood up as a new song began. The three of them walked onto the dance floor and danced together. She wished, sometimes, that she could lose herself in dancing. As the band played, she moved her body to the music, but her head remained in Slayer mode, always, her spidey senses tingling as she felt vampires around her. 'There are two in here,' she thought. Though she couldn't tell yet who.

Buffy made eye contact with a pale man and he gave her a considering look—too considering. She cocked her head to the alley. "Vampire, be right back," she told Willow and Xander. She then made her way outside. In the alley behind The Bronze she found the vampire waiting.

"Funny who you met up with," he told her, not giving her the pleasure of his knowing she was the Slayer.

"Funny," Buffy said. She gestured for him to lean against the alley wall, and when he didn't, she shook her head. "So, we're doing this the hard way."

"Never was an easy one, Slayer," the vampire said.

Buffy spun around and kicked him in the head. He grabbed her and hurled her against a wall. As he charged at her she ducked out of the way, pivoting under his arm. She ducked a punch and kicked out at the vampire. She knocked the vampire back long enough for her to pull out her stake. She drove it into his chest and he exploded to ash.

She was about to head back inside when she felt her spidey senses telling her another vampire was out here. "I know you're there."

The other vampire applauded slowly as he stepped out of the darkness. "Nice work," he said. "I was going to make a ruckus, lure you out here, but I didn't get the chance."

"You want to tell me who are you?" Buffy asked, twirling her stake.

"You'll find out on Saturday," he said.

"St. Vigeous," Buffy said with a nod of understanding. "Come on, give me a hint."

"You'll be my third dead Slayer," the vampire said with a smile. "Let me know if you figure it out." He slid back into the shadows and was gone.

She blinked and felt her spidey senses quieten, then she headed inside to collect Willow and Xander.

Sunnydale High School

When Buffy, Willow and Xander arrived in the library they found Giles sitting over a pile of books. He looked up startled to find them there that late. "Fought a vamp tonight," Buffy informed him. "After I was done with him another comes out of the shadows, says he's looking to get on St. Vigeous. Said he's killed two other Slayers. I'll kill him when the time comes. He can't be that much worse than any other vampire I've faced."

"He's worse," came Angel's voice. Buffy turned around and smiled at her boyfriend as he came dramatically out of the stacks.

"How long were you lurking there?" she asked.

"That's—not important," Angel informed her getting down to business. "I know who you're talking about. His goes by Spike now, he was originally named William the Bloody. Slayer of Slayers. And he won't be alone. He doesn't go anywhere without his sire and great love, Drusilla."

Giles let out a startled noise. "Dear lord," he said looking toward Buffy. "If that's who we're dealing with, you could be in a great deal of trouble."

Buffy sighed and buried her head in her hands. "Great," she said. "This is just great." She looked up and shook her head. "Okay," she said. "This is what we're going to do. We're going to spend the rest of the week finding as many vamps as we can and killing all of them. I'm going to be frickin' Robocop. Angel, I need you to find Spike's hideout, and we're going to burn it down."

Angel's eyes widened.

"What about Parent/Teacher night?" Willow asked worriedly.

Buffy groaned. She so didn't want to get kicked out again. "Well all that's left is the food and drink. I finished the banners earlier. I can get the food and drink ready just before parents start arriving. What I could use from you guys is stakes, stakes and more stakes. For now, go get some sleep." She looked toward her boyfriend. "Angel, head out now. I will meet with you later." Angel looked slightly stubborn, but stood up and left with Willow and Xander. She turned to Giles. "Tomorrow you will tell me everything you know about William the Bloody."

October 2, 1997 – Thursday

Sunnydale High School

The hour before Parent/Teacher's night started; Cordelia and Xander were sharpening stakes, Ms. Calendar and Willow were sighting arrows, tightening screws on the crossbow and other weapons. And Buffy was chopping carrots for an impressive platter of crudités.

"Do you think Sheila will show?" Willow asked.

"I doubt it," Buffy answered. "She doesn't seem to care about getting kicked out—about anything. I sort of envy that."

Giles approached them, book in hand. "Spike is a famous and widely-feared vampire turned in 1880. He is well-known for having faced and killed two Slayers, as well as his history of torturing his victims with railroad spikes. His reputation for evil and bloodshed is second only to that of Angel, before he got his soul."

"So, not much more than what Angel said," Buffy said with a sigh.

"Not much," Giles agreed.

Buffy glanced at the clock. "The parents start arriving in an hour. Okay, banners are in place, the lounge is comfy, what am I forgetting…?" she asked as she looked at Willow.

"Punch?" Willow suggested to her friend.

"Punch," Buffy agreed. "I need punch."

"The important thing in punch is the ratio of Vodka to Schnapps," Xander informed them. They all turned and gave him concerned looks. "That was obviously far too sophisticated a joke for this crowd."

Cordelia dropped a stake. "My fingers are cramping; how long have I been doing this?" she said clearly exhausted.

"Three minutes." Xander said glancing at the clock.

"So, can I go now?" the cheerleader asked. "He's not going to need that many stakes, I mean if this Spike guy's as mean as you all said, it should be over pretty fast." She looked at Buffy. "We're still rooting for you on Saturday. I'd be there myself but I've got a leg wax."

Buffy chuckled as she got up. "You guys hold the fort, I'm punch bound," she said as she headed for the door. "I'll be back for the platter." She looked at Xander and Cordelia as they reached for the food on the platter. "And no eating the food."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

An hour later Buffy and Willow stood at the punch bowl as Buffy finished making the punch. "What kind of punch did you make?" Willow asked looking at the yellow colored punch.

"Lemonade," Buffy answered as Willow took a cup. "I made it fresh and everything."

"How much sugar did you use?" Willow wondered.

"Sugar?" Buffy said worriedly.

Willow grimaced as she took a sip of Buffy's lemonade, which had absolutely not sugar what so ever. "It's very good…" she said as she put down the cup.

"Be honest," Buffy countered. "It's terrible isn't it." She let out a sigh. "Growing up as a boy I never got to do stuff like you did. So I don't…"

"I know, Buffy," Willow said as she patted her friend on the arm in comfort. "It does need sugar, as it's a little bit sour."

Buffy nodded. "I'll know next time," she said. "I'd try and fix it now, but no sugar." Willow nodded as she patted Buffy's arm again. "Anyways if we can just keep my mother and Snyder from crossing paths for the next three hours…"

"Hi, Mrs. Summers…Hi, Dawn," Willow said as she saw Joyce and Dawn approached her and Buffy.

"Hi Willow," Joyce and Dawn replied.

Joyce looked around and then at Buffy. "Hi, honey. Did you do all this?"

" I did. How 'bout some lemonade…" Buffy said as she noticed Snyder approaching them, "…after Willow shows you the library." She quietly steered her mother and Willow in the direction of the library. "I have to stay here and take care of the guests. I will also keep an eye on Dawn," she informed them.

Yeah, the library…" Willow started and then remembered that everyone was in there preparing for Saturday, "…no, because Giles and everyone…"

Buffy nodded in understanding as she steered her friend and mother down another hall. "…are locked inside studying. French class it is."

Willow disappeared with Joyce as Snyder walked up to Buffy and Dawn. "Was that your mother?" he asked looking at Buffy.

"Oh hi," Buffy greeted. "Yeah, I wanted to introduce you. She wouldn't have said too much, she doesn't speak a word of English."

Snyder glared at her before walking over to some parents to greet them.

"Lame excuse, Buffy," Dawn admitted.

"Yeah, I know," Buffy replied sadly. "But what was I going to do. Tell him that I didn't want them meeting?"

"I see your point," Dawn admitted. "By the way I thought you wanted my help in keeping mom from him."

"I did, but Willow was here and I thought, she could do it better since she knows her way around the school," Buffy informed her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

It was a quarter to nine when Dawn came up to her sister. "Buffy, where is the bathroom?"

"It's down the hall and to the left," Buffy said pointing Dawn in the right direction.

Dawn nodded appreciatively as she hurried off toward the restroom passing Cordelia as she walked toward her, fuming. "Giles has us locked in that library working on your weapons. Even slaves get minimum wage." She then noticed Willow approaching with Joyce. "Is that your mom? Now that's a woman who knows how to moisturize," she stated appreciatively.

"Well I believe I've seen every classroom on campus," Joyce admitted. "And in each one your teachers had miraculously just stepped out."

Buffy shot Willow a discreet thumbs up before she noticed Snyder heading their way. "But you didn't see the boiler room. And that's really interesting because of the boiler being right there in the room and all—"

Joyce ignored her son's efforts as she turned to Snyder holding out her hand. "Hello. I'm Joyce Summers, Rutherford's mother."

"Principal Snyder. I'm afraid we need to talk. My office is down here," Snyder said as he led Joyce away.

Buffy groaned. "He didn't look very happy."

"When they're done talking…" Cordelia started.

"What?" Buffy questioned as she frowned at the cheerleader.

"My guess? Tenth high school reunion?" Cordelia said. "You'll still be grounded."

"Cordelia… have some punch," Willow suggested, she winked at Buffy as she handed Cordelia a cup. "Hey where is Dawnie?" she asked noticing the younger Summers sister was missing.

"Bathroom," Buffy said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Joyce walked toward Buffy a frown firmly placed on a face. "In the car. Now," she ordered. "Where is Dawn?"

"Bathroom," Buffy answered as Snyder started flicking off the lights. She had barely moved in that direction when the huge window looking into the student lounge was shattered as Spike crashed through it flanked by six other vampires.

Pandemonium erupted as Snyder and the parents scream and run. Only Buffy stood still as Spike looked at her from across the room.

"What can I say? I couldn't wait," Spike said as he made a beeline for her.

Buffy grabbed a chair and swung it in a 360-degree arc and let it fly. The chair hit Spike in the head, knocking him back. "Run!" she ordered.

"What about Dawn?" Joyce said as she and Buffy ran toward Snyder, a couple teachers, a student and a parent.

"I'll get her," Buffy promised when she noticed there was a vampire blocking the exit. "They've got the exits, this way! Everybody, this way!" She hustled everyone down the north hall toward the library.

Giles, Xander and Ms. Calendar flew out of the library doors, and noticed them coming. "It's Spike and a small army! Look out!" Buffy shouted to Giles as a vampire rounded the corner.

Buffy hustled her group into the science room across from the library. "In here! Go, go!" she ordered as Giles, Ms. Calendar and Xander hightailed it back into the library.

"Barricade," Buffy instructed everyone as she locked the door behind her.

Several parents slide desks and cabinets in front of the door as Buffy vaulted across the room and locked the door at the opposite end of the room just as the lights went out.

"Rutherford?" Joyce said clearly panicking at the thought of Dawn being out there with those people.

"I know, mom," Buffy said looking at her mother. "I had to make sure you are safe first before I went to look for Dawn.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Giles clicks the hook switch on the phone trying to get a dial tone, but sadly the phone was dead. "They cut the phones," he said looking over at Xander. "There's an old boarded cellar behind the stacks. You can get out that way. Find Angel. He knows about Spike, we need him."

"I'm not going anywhere until I know Buffy and Willow are all right," Xander countered.

"No one's going to be all right if we don't get some help," Giles told the boy, who realized truth of Giles' words in that instance.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy stood next to her mom, thinking hard about how she was going to get out of the room to not only find Dawn but take care of Spike.

"Who are these people, what do they want?" a parent asked as they heard the vampires outside trying to force the door open.

"I didn't get much of a look but, is there something wrong with their faces?" Joyce asked.

"Yes!" Snyder cried as Buffy looked at him. "P.C.P. It's a gang on P.C.P.! We've got to get out of here." He climbed up on a chair and clawed at the metal slats on the windows.

"You can't go outside. They'll kill you," Buffy said firmly.

"YOU DON'T TELL ME, I TELL YOU!" he yelled at the Slayer.

Buffy pulled him off the chair, getting in his face. "They will kill everyone in this room. Nobody goes out. Nobody comes in. Until I say so. Do you read me?"

"Dawn?" Joyce said looking at her son.

"As soon as I've figured out how I am getting out of here, I will find her, mom. I promise," Buffy informed her mother soothingly.

"Who do you think you are?" Snyder snapped.

"I'm the one who knows how to stop them," Buffy informed him and then noticed how she could get past the vampires and into the library. She glanced at her mom. "I'm going to find Dawn."

"How?" Joyce asked.

"I'm going up," Buffy informed her mother pointing at the ceiling tiles above their heads. She put a foot on a chair and jumped. Buffy moved a ceiling tile aside and then climbed into the cramped space. She looked back down. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure Dawn is fine."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Spike strolled down a hall, humming a merry tune. "Slayer…here kitty, kitty…" he called as he kicked down a door. "I find one of your friends first, I'm going to suck 'em dry and use their bones to bash your head in." He kicked another door open. "Are you getting' a word picture here?"

Spike was about to kick in the Utility Closet when: "Spike!" called another vampire. Spike lowered his foot and walked down the hall to the other vampire, who pointed up at a vent. "Listen."

They could hear the faint sound of someone crawling. "Someone's in the ceiling," Spike said as a smile appeared on his face.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Giles pocketed several stakes and hefted an axe as he headed to the doors, which had cabinets piled high in front of them. He peered through a piece of the little round window and started to pull a cabinet back.

"What are you doing?" Ms. Calendar asked concerned. "There's at least three vampires in that hall and god knows how many others in the building."

"I'm the Watcher, I'm responsible for her, I have to go," Giles reminded Ms. Calendar, who put a hand on his arm.

"Be careful," she pleaded.

Giles looked at her hand for a moment, emotions churning, then he grabbed the cabinet. "Push them back the minute I'm—" he didn't finished what he was going to say when they heard a crash behind them.

They turned to find out what had just crashed through the ceiling tile, ready to defend themselves when they spotted: "Buffy!" Giles cried as Buffy got to her feet. "You're all right."

"How are the others?" Ms. Calendar asked as Buffy began loading her book bag with various weapons.

"Snyder, my mom, and four others are locked in the science room across the hall. Dawn went to the bathroom. Cordelia and Willow ran the other way, I don't know if they're…where's Xander?" she asked when she noticed Xander was missing.

"He got out through the stacks. He's getting Angel," Giles informed her.

"Good. After I take out the vamps in the hall you two can get my mom and the others out that way, too," Buffy informed them. "Then I'm going to go look for my sister before I take care of Spike," she said as she grabbed her bag and kicked a chair under the hole in the ceiling.

"I should go with you and fight," Giles offered.

"Giles, my mother is in that classroom," Buffy reminded him. "If I don't make it, I know you'll make sure she does. And if I don't, you will also find Dawn and make sure she does as well."

"Bloody well right I will," Giles agreed. "What's your plan?"

"They split up to hold us here," Buffy informed him. "So, I can take 'em one on one. Set 'em up, knock 'em down." She then jumped on the chair and climbed back up in the ceiling.

"Watch your back…" he begged her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Snyder paced, growing more feverish by the moment. "Why don't you sit down…" Joyce said trying to calm the principal, even though she's just as freaked as he, but for different reasons of course as both her children are out there.

He looked at Joyce with wild eyes. "This is my school. What I say goes. And I say this isn't happening."

"Well then I guess the danger is over," Joyce said sarcastically.

"I'm not waiting for them to break down the doors," a parent said. "I'm getting out."

"Don't be an idiot!" Joyce snapped letting her fear for her children show.

"I'm beginning to see a certain mother-son resemblance," Snyder said glaring at the Summers matriarch.

A parent climbed up on a chair and started pulling like crazy at the metal bands that cover the windows.

"No! You heard what Rutherford said," Joyce said fearfully.

"He's a student, what does he know?" Snyder countered as he climbed up next to the parent and started to help him.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

A vampire hurled himself at the science classroom door. "Doors are solid," he told Spike as he came up behind him.

Spike gently put a hand on the vampire's head. "Use your head…" he said as he slammed the vampire's head into the glass of an emergency fire axe case, breaking it. He grabbed the axe and dropped in into the vampire's hands before moving back toward the lounge. He motioned toward another vampire. "You. Come with me."

The vampire raised the ax and chopped into the science classroom door.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Joyce looked toward the door in fear as the fire axe hit the door. Then she looked back at the parent and Snyder who had one of the metal bands peeled off and were working on a second one.

"I did it!" Snyder cried when they had pried the second enough to crawl out. He tried to crawl out the window only to be pushed aside by the parent.

Suddenly the parent is yanked out of the window. They heard his horrible screams before they slowly faded to silence.

Snyder jumped down, backing away as Joyce climbed up and pounded the metal back in place.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Spike looked up at a vent, listening as the other vampire stood beside him listening too as something crawled around in the ceiling.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"You know about this Spike guy so, uh, you got a plan?" Xander asked as he and Angel ran toward the doors. "Good plan," he agreed when Angel grabbed him.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Spike pulls two long metal support bars out of the rubble of the broken window. He tossed one to the other vampire before walking around the lounge never taking his eyes off the ceiling. Suddenly he thrust the metal spear up right through the ceiling.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The vampire continued to chop away at the science classroom door. He saw the terrified faces of Joyce and Snyder within. "Guard that door. I'm almost in," he instructed another vampire who went around the corner.

He raised the axe about to chop again when he heard something. He looked left and then right and saw nothing. He started to bring the axe down when the ceiling burst above him and Buffy staked him quick and quiet. She moved to the door and saw her mom looking out through the hole.

"Rutherford! Are you okay?" Joyce asked.

"I'm fine, Mom," Buffy informed her.

"Rutherford, go find Dawn, get out of here! We'll be okay," Joyce ordered hoping her son would listen.

"Just hang on for one more minute, till I tell you to open the door," Buffy countered as she peered around the corner at the other vampire, who was dutifully standing guard at the other door. She stepped back from the corner and pulled out a sharp stake. It was in that moment her spidey sense began screaming at her. She spun and saw Sheila, who came in from the outside door.

"Sheila!" she said as he spidey sense kept screaming at her. "They turned you, didn't they?"

Sheila stared at Buffy with deadly contempt.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Spike and the other vampire stabbed the ceiling as the door burst open and Angel walked in dragging Xander. "Angelus. I'll be damned," he said in surprise. He dropped his bar and walked over to Angel and hugged him.

"I taught you to always guard your perimeter," Angel said nodding toward the door he had entered. "You should have someone out there."

"I did. I'm surrounded by idiots," Spike groaned. "What's new with you?"

"Everything," Angel admitted.

"Come up against this Slayer yet?" Spike wondered.

"She's cute," Angel admitted. "Not too bright, though. Gave the puppy dog, I'm-all-tortured act. Keeps her off my back when I feed."

"People still fall for that Anne Rice routine?" Spike asked with a chuckle. "What a world."

Xander looked from Angel to Spike. "I knew you were a lying…undead liar guy."

Angel silenced Xander by grabbing his hair and his shoulder and baring Xander's neck for Spike. "Want a bite before we kill her?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Sheila smirked as she let her vampiric visage show. Buffy thrust her stake into Sheila's chest and Sheila exploded into dust. She turns just in time as the other vampire came from around the corner and she drove the stake into his chest and he too exploded into dust.

"Mom! Now!" Buffy said coming back to the door that the vampire at been chopping at. Joyce unlocked and opened the door as Giles and Ms. Calendar open the library doors. She ushered Joyce, Snyder and the remaining parents into Giles' care. "Get them out."

"Dawn?" Joyce asked.

"I'm going to find her now," Buffy informed her mother.

As Giles and Ms. Calendar herded everyone into the library, Joyce hung back, watching as Buffy headed down the hall toward the lounge.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Haven't seen you in the killing fields for an age," Spike asked as his eyes flicked from Xander to Angel.

"I'm not much for company," Angel told him.

"No, you never were," Spike agreed. "So why are you so scared of this Slayer?"

"Scared?" Angel asked with a chuckle.

"Time was, you'd've taken her out in a heartbeat," Spike reminded him. "Now look at you. This tortured thing is an act, right? You're not housebroken?"

"I saw her kill the Master," Angel admitted. "Hey, you think you can take her alone, be my guest." He nodded toward Xander. "I'll just feed and run."

"Don't be silly. We're old friends. We'll do it together. Let's drink to it," Spike said as he nodded toward Xander with a smile.

Xander tried to break free as Angel held him steady. For a moment Spike held Angel's gaze, then bent to Xander's neck. "No!" Xander cried.

At the last moment, Spike looked down as Xander closed his eyes. He then sucker punched Angel in the face. "You think you can fool me? You were my sire, man… you were my Yoda!"

"Things change," Angel admitted.

"Not us! Not demons. Man, I can't believe this - you Uncle Tom!" Spike said as he and Angel circled one another. "This isn't a spectator sport!"

As Spike and the other vampire attacked Angel shoved Xander toward the exit, the just barely make it out the door as the vampire gave chase.

Spike picked up the rod again, ready to give chase. Then something catches his attention. "Fe fi fo fum. I smell the blood of a nice ripe girl."

He turned around to find Dawn standing there. He took a sniff, he smelled power but something was off with her blood. Dawn was confident but fear lingered gently in the back of her eyes. She held an ax to her chest and stared at him. Her eyes bore into his.

"You're not the slayer," Spike stated, eyeing Dawn.

Dawn nodded.

"You do realize then, that I could snap you like a twig?" He smirked, stepping closer. He was pleasantly surprised when Dawn stood still. And it wasn't out of fear. Her head titled to the side as she watched him, like a wolf or a puppy.

"But you won't," Dawn finally said.

Spike raised his eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Oh?"

"Exhibit A: An angry Slayer fights better. Exhibit B: That's no fun anyway." She looked into his eyes. "You don't strike me as the feed and run type. More like the 'I'm going to make you beg for your life' kind."

Spike tilted his head, interested. "How old are you lil' girl?" he asked, stepping closer.

"Eleven," Dawn said. "And I'm guessing you're… a hundred?" she guessed, not budging.

Spike nodded. "Thereabouts." He slammed his hand against the wall by her head. She didn't even jump. "So, tell me, how do you know the Slayer?"

"Well that's because I'm her sister," came Buffy's voice off to the right. "Dawn, library, go. It's down the hall behind me." She looked at Spike as Dawn ran the way she Buffy had indicated.

"So, Slayer, waiting for me, were you?" Spike questioned.

Buffy rolled her head on her neck, popping it. "I never stand up a date, Spike," she said as she glared at the vampire.

"Ah! You found me out. Clever girl." Spike said as he twirled his weapon in his hands, grinning at her. "That eager for death, are you?"

"Yours, yeah," Buffy said. She stood and stretched. "So, what do you say we do this without weapons?"

"I like 'em. Make me feel all manly." Spike admitted before he and Buffy dropped their weapons. He then then hurled himself at Buffy. Everything went full tilt as the punches flew, fast and furious. He closed in on Buffy with a vicious combination of punches and kicks.

Buffy pretended like the last attack hurt more than it did as she doubled over. Spike went in for the kill as Buffy suddenly moved aside so that his hand went through the wall behind her. She locked her hands and hammered him on the back of the neck.

"Now that hurt." Spike said as he ripped a two by four stud from the wall. "Not as much as this will." He hit Buffy with the lumber knocking her off her feet. Winded with nowhere to turn. She looked up at him, standing over her victorious. "You know," he said, "you're going to die tonight, one way or another. But you don't have to stay dead."

"Rot in hell," Buffy managed.

He raised the stud over his head and as he went in for a killing blow.

Buffy saw the glint of the fire axe that Dawn had been wielding moments earlier and was now in her mother's hands. "You know, I don't think I'm the one dying tonight," she stated with a grin.

Spike blinked he was blindsided by the axe. He looked up and saw Joyce. He glanced past the Summers matriarch and saw Dawn moving to her sister.

"You get the hell away from my son!" Joyce cried, and for a second Buffy marveled that even now, in the midst of all this, she still heard the pronoun, and it still stung.

Spike shook it off and looked at the three of them as Dawn helped Buffy to her feet. He glanced out the broken window as the sisters moved next to their mother. He knew it was time to run and fight another day. "Women," he said bitterly as he leapt out the window, disappearing into the night.

The sisters turned to their mother. "Mom…you…" Buffy started.

"No one…lays a finger…on my little children," Joyce informed them as she dropped the axe before pulling both her son and daughter into her arms.

Buffy managed a smile. "Come on. Let's go home."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The sisters walk with their mother toward Joyce's car. "So, uh…what did you and principal Snyder talk about anyway?" Buffy asked fearing the answer.

"Principal Snyder told me you were a troublemaker. And I could care less," Joyce answered as she turned to her children. "I have a son who can take care of himself. Who's brave and resourceful and thinks of others when there's a crisis. No matter who you hang out with or what dumb teenage stuff you think you have to do, I'm going to sleep better knowing all that."

"About how long till this wears off and you start ragging me and Dawn again?" Buffy wondered.

"At least a week and a half," Joyce answered.

"That is so cool…" Buffy and Dawn said in unison.