High School Sweethearts and Second Chances spn/btvs ch 33
Title: High School Sweethearts and Second Chances (SPN/Btvs)
Author: Noturbaby
Fandoms: Supernatural, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rating: PG-13 - R
Warnings: None (eventual het sex between teens)
Pairings: Dean & Buffy Willow & Oz Most BtVS characters make an appearance.
Summary: Adds the Winchesters to Seasons 2 and 3 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy's a junior and Dean's a senior at Sunnydale High. At first, Dean doesn't know Buffy's a Slayer. Story deals with dating when part of life is fighting the supernatural.
Sam hated that his dad treated him like a child. He couldn’t understand why Dean had been allowed to hunt when Dean was this age, but his dad wouldn’t allow him to do the same. Sam hated always moving, he hated always being the new kid, he hated making new friends when it meant he’d leave them a month later. However, Sam had loved being in Sunnydale. He had friends there from the year before. And even better, in his mind, Buffy and her friends never treated him like a kid.
At least this time, when he was forced to leave his friends, he was able to stay with Ryan. Being in San Francisco was way better than Blue Earth, Minnesota. Ryan was cool and Sam liked helping out at the store. But, one of his favorite things about San Francisco was Mickey. She had made a ‘normal’ life for herself, getting married having a baby, even though she and her husband, Scott, were hunters. Watching Danny, Mickey’s baby, allowed Sam the rare chance to feel like a big brother. It was while he was ‘babysitting’ Danny, that he saw a news story that caught his attention. A Professor Wirth, from the University of California - Sunnydale, had been found dead in his office from apparent stab wounds. There was something about that name. Sam knew he had heard it before, just couldn’t remember where.
“Maroon, so not my color,” Cordelia complained as she signed for her graduation gown.
“Though that may be true, it will hide the blood stains,” Xander quipped.
Cordelia raised her brow, “Whatever. If this is the last thing I’m going to wear, can’t it at least be flattering?”
Xander examined his robe, “I can see your point.”
Anya’s head whipped between the two of them as they talked. “Last thing? Blood stains? What are these robes for? Some demon ritual?”
Xander turned to her, “Graduation. Which may as well be a demon ritual since graduation is when the Mayor is planning his ascension.”
Anya’s mouth fell open in dread, “Ascension?”
“Yeah, it’s this whole deal,” Cordelia continued. “Welcome to graduation on the hell mouth.”
“Xander, you have to get out of here! We all have to get out of here!” Anya whined franticly before she hurried away.
“What’s her drama?” Cordelia asked.
Xander shrugged, “Guess she’s not used to life on the hell mouth as a human.” Cordelia nodded.
Anya rushed into the library in full high school girl panic, yelling, “Giles! Giles!”
When the man finally appeared from his office, she grabbed him by the lapels of his tweed blazer, “What are you going to do about this? Why aren’t you evacuating the town? Everyone’s got to get out of here now.”
Giles gently brushed her hands away, “Anya, I assure you, we are..”
“Don’t you get it? There is nothing you can do but run. I’ve seen an ascension before. I can’t see it happen again,” Anya cried.
Suddenly she had the attention of all the men in the room. “You’ve seen an ascension?” Bobby asked as he looked from her to John. If she had seen one, what was she?
“No, not up close and personal, but, I was in the next village,” she said quietly. “It soon became the only village.”
Giles led her to the table where the others were seated. “Tell us everything you know.”
John and Bobby exchange looks, then Bobby looked at Giles. “Uh, no offense, I know you do things a bit differently than we do. But why would we listen to a girl who’s obviously a demon of some sort herself?”
Anya looked over at John with sadness and defeat in her eyes. “I’m not a demon anymore. I lost all my powers and am now stuck in the body of an eighteen year old girl. I’m as mortal as the rest of you.” She paused, as they took in what she had said. “You may not want to trust me, but I want to survive this as much as all of you do.”
Giles didn’t care if the hunters trusted her or not. He wanted her information. “Go ahead, Anya. Tell us about the ascension.”
As Anya told them what happened eight hundred years ago, Bobby Singer paged through an ancient text in front of him. “Miss, do you remember anything about the Box of Gravlocks?”
Anya scrunched up her face, “Doesn’t ring a bell.”
“What about a ritual with new born babies?” he asked.
Anya looked horrified.
Bobby closed the book, “Well fellas, whatever the Mayor is turning into, it ain’t Lohash. The rituals he’s doing are all different.”
Anya nodded, “Yes. He’s becoming a much more violent demon. And much larger.”
Dean sat in the Summers kitchen, drinking a coke as he waited for Buffy. “I’m home!” Joyce called from the back door. She smiled at Dean as she put her purse on the island by him. “Hi, Dean,” she put her hand on his arm. “This is a pleasant surprise. Are you staying for dinner.”
“Uh, no, Mrs. Summers. Buffy’s upstairs and wants to see you,” Dean replied trying to avoid telling Mrs. Summers why he was there.
“Okay.” Joyce left Dean and went up to the bedrooms. “Buffy, did you want--” she paused as she took in what Buffy was doing. “You’re running away again? You’re taking my clothes?” She asked as Buffy stuffed more clothes in a small case.
Buffy turned to her mom, “Mom, I need you to leave town. Tonight.”
Joyce wrinkled her brow in confusion, “Buffy, I'd miss your graduation.”
Buffy ignored her mom’s sad expression, “Mom, graduation is a pointless ceremony where you sit around and listen to a bunch of boring speeches until someone hands you a piece of paper that says you graduated which you already know and maroon does nothing for my complexion, so don't argue, okay?”
Joyce nodded, then asked sarcastically, “What, is some terrible demon going to attack the school?” Buffy glare, kept packing. “Oh, I see. I'm not leaving you to face an awful monster. If I go anywhere, you're going with me.”
“You know that I can't,” Buffy said in sadness.
Joyce crossed her arms, “Well, then I can't either.”
“Mom, I'm gonna fight this thing, but I can't do it and worry about you,” Buffy pleaded. “You stay, you'll get me killed. You'll have to trust me on this. Can you do that?” Joyce relented. “Thank you. Dean’s gonna take you someplace safe.” Buffy hugged her mom.
That evening, in the Sunnydale library, Giles, Wesley, Bobby Singer and John Winchester poured over the volumes of demon lore and the few pages of the ascension texts, praying they’d find some clue to the method of the Mayor’s destruction.
John’s cell phone chiming broke the silence. “Hey, Sam. Now’s not really a good time.”
“Dad, did you see the news report about a Professor Wirth?” Sam asked hurriedly before his dad could dismiss him.
“No, Sam. We’ve been busy researching the ascension. I don’t have time for another case right now.”
“Dad, this is about the ascension. That professor from Sunnydale. He found some really large strange bones near a volcano in Hawaii. I did my report on him. Dad, think about it. He gets murdered right before the mayor turns into a really large demon? There’s got to be a connection,” Sam’s voice was filled with urgency.
John was quiet for a minute as he mulled over Sam’s information. “Do you have anyway of getting me that report?”
“Yeah, I can e-mail it to Giles,” Sam answered.
“Good, do that. What’s the professor’s name again?”
After listening to Sam repeat the vital information, John turned to the other men. “I think we just caught a break. Sam said there was a professor found murdered. The guy was a volcano specialist or something. Said the guy found some really large really strange bones near a volcano in Hawaii. He’s emailing the report.”
Moments later Wesley read the email. “It seems our Mr. Wirth headed an expedition in Hawaii, digging in old lava beds near a dormant volcano. He found something underneath. A carcass, buried by an eruption. A very large one. Mr. Wirth posits that it might be some heretofore undiscovered dinosaur.”
John looked at the watcher attempting to connect the dots in his mind. “A demon?”
Giles nodded in understanding, “That would be something that the Mayor would want to keep a secret. If it's the same kind of demon he's turning into and it's dead, it means that, well, he's only impervious to harm until the Ascension. In his demon form, he can be killed.”
The group of men seemed to feel a glimmer of hope until Bobby said, “Great. So all we need is a million tons of burning lava.”
Buffy kissed Dean, then hugged him for a minute. Looking up into his eyes, “You’ll make sure she’s safe, right?”
“Of course,” Dean promised before climbing into the Impala. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
Buffy nodded and watched them drive off.
After driving a few minutes in silence, Joyce blew out a deep breath. “So this is what you do? You slay monsters, too?”
“No, ma’am. I’m not a slayer. Uh, only girls like Buffy and Faith are slayers. She’s got super strength and stuff. I’m just a hunter.”
“A hunter?”
“Yeah. Uh, I’m just a regular guy, but I know what’s out there and I,” he shrugged, “fight it.”
Joyce raised a brow, “Regular guy. And your dad? Does he know? What does he think--”
“My dad is a hunter, too.” Dean saw her nod. “My mom, when Sam was a baby, a demon, uh, tried to get Sammy. But, my mom, she stopped it and uh,” Dean struggled with sharing the truth of his family’s history.
Joyce covered her mouth for a second, “Oh my god.” She closed her eyes as she thought about what Dean was explaining. “Your whole life. You’ve done this your whole life?”
“Yes, ma’am. We--”
“Is that why you move around? That’s why you knew..” she paused.
Dean sighed, “Yeah.” He felt extremely uncomfortable as he felt her eyes on him. “Uh, this is it,” Dean said as they pulled into a motel lot near the interstate.
Joyce looked around confused. “I thought Buffy said you were taking me out of town.”
Dean smiled a little. “Look, I know Buffy wants you safe. And, I know you want to be near Buffy. Here, you won’t be close to graduation, but close enough, if she needs you.” He led her to the room and opened the door for her. “Xander and I will bring your car by later. Watch the news. You’ll know if you need to leave town.” He saw her worried expression. “I’ll call you the minute I can give you the all clear. I promise.”
Joyce grabbed him and hugged him. “Thank you, Dean.”
Dean reddened under her attention, “It’s no problem, Mrs. Summers. Just stay put so she doesn’t find out you’re not really gone.”
Joyce held onto his arms. “You’ll look after her, right? You’ll try to keep her safe for me?”
Dean smiled slightly, “Of course, Mrs. Summers. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s careful.”
It was late by the time Giles had called Willow for help hacking into the professor’s files. But when she did, they finally found the name Olvikan. Giles eyes lit up. “Right. Right.” he mumbled as he headed for a bookshelf.
John looked at him, “You find something about the demon? “
Giles leafed through a book before looking at him. “The local villagers near the volcano site made reference to the legend of Ollokai. Might be a bastardization of Olvikan.”
“Who's Olvikan?” Bobby asked.
“I know it's a demon, a very old one. Might have a picture in one of these books,” Giles replied as he carried the book to the table where the hunters were gathered. He flipped a few pages before coming to a halt and unfolding the pages, like a centerfold.
Bobby’s and John’s eyes widened. Bobby sat back and pushed his hat up with his thumb. “We're going to need a bigger boat.”
Outside, Buffy had finished patrolling and was on her way to meet with the others in the library. Angel could see that she was upset and cautiously approached her. “Buffy, are you okay?”
She shook her head. “No, but I will be.”
“Is there anything I can do?” his voice full of concern.
Before she could answer, the Mayor made his presence known. “It’s a lovely evening for a walk isn’t it?” He looked at them. “Enjoy the few you have left. This most certainly is one of your last.” He made to walk away, but Buffy moved in front of him.
“I’m going to end you,” Buffy glared, her hands curling into fists at her side.
Angel reached out for her arm to pull her back. “Buffy,” he cautioned.
Buffy turned her glare on Angel and pulled her arm free. “I will find a way to stop you.” She began to grin as she saw Dean approach them. “We are going to wipe the floor with you.” Dean smirked at her cocky attitude and stood next to her.
The Mayor smiled condescendingly at her. “Well, I wish you kids the best, I really do. But if you don't mind a bit of fatherly advice, I, uh, I-I just don't see much of a future for you. I don't sense a lasting relationship. And not just because I plan to kill you.”
Buffy rolled her eyes, “I don't think we need to hear this.”
The Mayor shook his head. “God, you really have made a mess of things haven’t you? Stringing these two along like you have. I must say, I don’t approve of your choices. A slayer with a monster? Now that doesn’t make a lick of sense. A slayer with a hunter, well that’s more reasonable, I guess. But, you, you want it all my dear, to be the slayer and have a ‘normal life’. Neither of them can give it to you.”
He then turned to Angel. “Let's not forget the fact that any moment of true happiness will turn you evil. I mean, come on. What kind of a life can you offer her? I don't see a lot of Sunday picnics in the offing. I see skulking in the shadows, hiding from the sun. My God! I think that's a little selfish. Is that what you came back from Hell for? Is that your greater purpose?”
Then he returned his attention to Buffy. “This one,” he said as he pointed at Dean, “has an overdeveloped sense of family loyalty and vengeance. You will never match the devotion he has for them and the mother he lost.”
Finally he faced Dean. “And you. Just a poor, pathetic human. You offer nothing to the relationship whatsoever. No super human strength, no education, and no money to make up for everything you lack. She’s a blossoming young girl, you want to keep her from the life she should have until it has passed her by. That’s just awful.”
He turned his back to them, letting his words do their work. After taking a deep breath he faced them again. “Now my Faith is quite upset about her puppies being killed. They were a gift, you see. So right now, she’s making a choice. Which one of you lives to die another day, and which one of you has seen his last day.” The mayor paused and looked around. He grinned menacingly at them. “Anytime you’re ready, dear.”
Without any other warning, an arrow pierced Angel’s back.
“Hm, well, there you have it,” the Mayor bowed to them and walked off.
Dean narrowed his eyes and looked to where the shot was fired. As he was about to go after Faith, Buffy held his arm. “Dean, please, help me get him home.”
Dean sighed and nodded while he put Angel’s arm around his own shoulders to help carry him to the car.
Once at Angel’s, Dean and Buffy helped him inside. “There,” Dean said as he dumped him on the couch.
Buffy looked into Angel’s eyes. “Okay, ready?” She asked as she grasped the arrow's point.
Angel nodded slowly, “Yeah.”
Buffy offered a small smile. “On three. One.” She pulled the arrow out.
Angel groaned in pain, “I knew you were going to do that.”
Dean wasn’t successful hiding his smirk but noted, “Not too much blood here.”
Angel leaned back. “I heal pretty fast. I should be alright.”
“I'm just glad Faith's such a suck shot,” Buffy said while she swabbed the exit wound.
Dean thought for a moment. “That’s not really like her, though, normally, she’d…” his thought was cut off by Angel sliding down the couch nearly unconscious.
Buffy put her hand on Angel’s forehead, “You're burning up.”
“It's poison. I can feel it,” Angel mumbled.
Dean grabbed the arrow. “I’ll take this to Giles. Maybe they can test it.” Buffy smiled her gratitude at him. “Why don’t you stay here, with him. I’ll be back.” He kissed her on the forehead.
“You sure?” Buffy asked standing to hug him.
“Yeah,” Dean wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll be back as soon as we have answers.”
Buffy caressed his face. “Thank you.” Dean smiled at her. “I love you, you know.”
Dean’s smile widened and he kissed her again. “I know.”
Angel watched as Dean left. “Do you think he’s really going to help me?” He asked when Buffy returned to him.
“Why wouldn’t he?” Buffy got a cold wet cloth and placed on Angel’s forehead.
“I’m not his favorite person,” Angel coughed. “He more than kinda hates me.”
Buffy patted Angel’s hand in reassurance. “Yeah, but he loves me. So, he’ll help.”
Angel sighed. He did not share the same confidence.
Dean arrived at the school just as Giles and Wesley were leaving. “Mr. Giles! Wait!” he called as he raced to the man’s car.
Giles rubbed his tired eyes. “Yes, Dean? Your father and Mr. Singer left --”
“Faith shot Angel with this arrow,” he said as he handed it to Giles. “It has some kind of poison on it. Will you be able to find out what this is?”
Wesley nodded. “The Council has all the known toxins on file, mystical or otherwise. I'll contact them immediately.”
Giles took a moment to study Dean. “We’ll call you in the morning. As soon as we learn something.”
“Thanks,” Dean sighed, visibly relieved. “I’ll let Buffy know.”
Minutes later, Dean returned to Angel’s. He sat in the car, suddenly wary of what he might find inside the mansion. He braced himself for the worst possible scenario and decided to make as much noise as possible figuring that warning them he was there, would be better than walking in and finding them acting out his worst nightmare.
Dean cleared his throat as he entered. “Hey.”
Buffy looked up from her place next to Angel on the couch and smiled tiredly, “Hey, what did they say?”
Angel opened his eyes but could barely focus. Dean blew out a breath, “They’re gonna look into it. Wes is calling the Council and everything.”
Buffy bounced up and hugged Dean tightly, “Thank you. Thank you for asking them for me.”
Dean met Angel’s eyes over Buffy’s shoulders; Angel nodded his thanks.
Dean rubbed Buffy’s back. “No problem, babe. I’m gonna go. Do you want to stay? Or do you want a ride home?” Dean asked while inside his head he prayed ‘ride home, ride home’. However, seeing the anxiety on Buffy’s face, he caved in. “Why don’t you stay? I’ll come by first thing in the morning.”
“So,” Dean began as he munched on his toast the next morning, “did Sammy really find a way to kill this guy? Cuz after last night, I really want this guy dead.”
John nodded. “Well, sort of. But, he has to become the demon first.”
Dean’s eyes bugged out. “That doesn’t sound like the best plan.”
Bobby put his napkin on his plate and acknowledged Dean’s sentiment. “Yeah,” he shrugged, “but it’s all we’ve got.”
“What happened last night?” John asked studying Dean’s expression.
Dean told them about the Mayor confronting them and Faith shooting Angel with the poisoned dart.
“Do they know what kind of poison was used?” Bobby asked.
“Mr. Giles and Wes are gonna look into it,” Dean said as they left the diner. “I guess I should go pick her up and …”
“Hey, let them worry about Angel,” John said as they reached the truck. “We’re gonna figure out how to take down the Mayor.” Seeing Dean’s reaction, John went on, “The Mayor is just trying to distract Buffy.”
“Right,” Dean nodded, “alright, I’ll just pick her up and meet you at the school.”
Giles and Wesley were already at Angel’s when Dean arrived. “Did you reach the Council?” Dean asked as soon as he arrived. “Is Angel going to be okay?”
Wesley shifted his gaze around the room. “They, they couldn't help.”
Buffy glared at him, “Couldn't?”
“Wouldn't. It's not Council policy to cure the evil we fight,” Wesley relented.
“Did you explain that these were special circumstances?” Buffy pleaded.
“Yes, of course, Buffy. But they said not under any circumstances, and yes, I did try to convince them,” Wesley asserted.
Dean looked at Buffy then at the watcher. “Try again,” he demanded.
Wesley didn’t like Dean giving him orders. “They're very firm. We're talking about laws that have existed longer than civilization.”
Buffy struggled to control her tears. “I'm talking about watching Angel die. I don't have a clue what you're talking about and I don't care.”
Giles put a hand on Buffy’s shoulder to reassure her, “Buffy, we'll find a cure.”
Wesley shook his head, “The Council's orders are to concentrate on ... “
Buffy was furious, “Orders? I don't think I'm gonna be taking any more orders. Not from you, not from them. Go back to your Council and tell them, until the next Slayer comes along, they can close up shop. I'm not working for them anymore.”
“Don't you see what's happening? Faith poisoned Angel to distract you, to keep you out of the Mayor's way, and it's working. You need a strategy,” Wesley’s voice was tinged with panic.
Buffy took a deep breath, “I have a strategy. You're not in it.” She glared at Wesley before turning to Giles. “Giles, I can't stay here any longer. You'll watch him?”
Giles nodded, “Of course, I'll call if there's any change.”
Wesley was in shock. “Buffy, you don't know what you're doing.”
“Get a job,” Buffy sneered as she walked out of the room.
“Wes is right you know,” Dean said quietly as they walked to the car.
“You would take his side! You wanted Angel dead from the minute he returned,” Buffy screeched at him.
“Buffy!” Dean shouted to get her attention, “dammit, this isn’t about that.” He sighed. “Yeah, you’re right okay? I don’t give a shit about Angel.” Buffy glowered at him and began to walk off. “But you know I care about you.” Dean raced to be in front of her. “Let me finish.” She paused and sucked in her cheeks. “He’s right about the mayor trying to distract you.” Buffy looked furiously at him. “But my dad and Sam think they figured out a way to fight the mayor. So, don’t worry about that. We’ll take care of that,” he put his hand on her arm to usher her back to the car, “and you take care of Angel.”
Buffy leaned her head against him and sighed heavily. “I’m sorry. I just…”
“I know. You didn’t get much sleep and you’re tired. It’s okay, babe. Let me take you home.” Dean wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.
“No,” she yawned. “I should get to school. Ask Willow to help research a cure.”
“I’ll call her,” Dean said as he held her. “You should get some rest.”
Buffy pulled out of the embrace and nodded as he opened the door for her. Once Dean was in the car, Buffy asked in surprise, “Sam found a way to stop the Mayor?”
Dean nearly laughed, “So you did hear that. Yeah, kinda. We might need lava, though.”
“Lava?”
“Yeah, well, we’re working on it,” he shrugged.
In the Sunnydale high library, Willow and Oz researched a cure for the poison that is killing Angel, while the Winchesters and Bobby Singer devise a plan to destroy the demon the mayor will become.
A layout of the school grounds was spread on the table before them. The stages and stands that were set up for graduation clearly marked on the far left and the library on the right.
“If we can lead him here,” Bobby pointed to the library, “it should be far enough away from the stands.”
“Right, minimize casualties and still wipe him from the face of the earth,” John nodded as he compiled a list. “Dean, here are the supplies I’m going to need you to get.”
Bobby and John reviewed the plan. “If only we had a way of getting our hands on more weapons,” Bobby lamented.
“Harris can get ‘em,” Dean said as he looked to where Xander was sitting.
“Harris?! I don’t think we should trust our survival to a half wit goofball like him,” John grumbled.
Dean shook his head. “Xander’s a soldier. When Halloween turned everyone into their costumes, he became an army guy.” John and Bobby exchanged skeptical looks. “He can actually be quite tactical and, best of all, he can get his hands on some rocket launchers.”
Both Bobby’s and John’s eyebrows raised at that statement. Bobby pointed at Xander, who was currently stuffing his mouth with mini powdered donuts. “That kid? Hawaiian shirt boy?”
Dean nodded.
“Harris get over here,” John barked making Xander jump and drop a donut.
Xander stood next to Dean. “All right, Mr. Harris, it’s time for you to step up. We need your skills in a major way,” Dean said with a slap on Xander’s shoulder.
“I’m your man. Just tell me what you need,” Xander replied with a curt nod.
Bobby and John exchanged looks, maybe the kid wasn’t always the goofball he appeared. John pursed his lips for a second, “Dean tells me you can get your hands on weapons. Like rocket launchers, grenades?”
“Yes, sir,” Xander nodded.
“Good. You and Dean are on weapons detail.” John said while indicating the list he gave Dean. “Next step of the plan, weapon distribution.” John looked Xander in the eye. “You know enough kids that can handle a weapon?”
“Yes, sir, I can make sure the weapons get into the proper hands,” Xander said without any of the humor John was used to.
By the time Buffy entered the library, Oz and Willow had been working for hours. “Did you find anything out about the poison or a cure?” she pleaded.
Oz nodded, “It translates roughly to Killer of the Dead. Used on vampires.”
“And the cure?” Buffy asked hopefully.
Willow looked away from her. “There aren't a lot of instances of it being cured.”
“But there are some?” Buffy’s hope was beginning to rise.
Willow nodded, “One or two. Pretty vague accounts. How is he?”
“Hold it,” Oz interrupted them as he read an entry in one of Giles’ books.
Buffy looked at him, “You got something?”
“I'm not sure..” Oz began, “Okay. Killer of the Dead. That's our boy, and here's a vamp that walked away from it.”
Willow looked at Buffy suddenly feeling hopeful. “Does it talk about the cure?”
“Damn,” Oz looked at the girls then back to the book. “The only way to cure this thing is to drain the blood of a Slayer.”
Buffy was silent for a minute, “Good.”
Willow was shocked, “Good? What did I miss?”
Buffy looked at her friends, “No, it's perfect. Angel needs to drain a Slayer, then I'll bring him one.”
“Buffy, if Angel drains Faith's blood, it'll kill her,” Willow said quietly with sadness in her voice.
“Not if she's already dead,” Buffy replied.
Cordelia listened completely engrossed with everything Dean said. When he finished speaking, Dean noticed that she had moved much closer to him. She quirked a brow as her eyes roamed his face before stopping on his lips. Suddenly, she had him pinned to the wall in a fierce kiss.
At first, Dean was stunned, but quickly he began to kiss her back. After a minute of one of the most intense kisses of her life, Cordelia pulled back. She smiled at him, wiped the lip gloss off his lip with her thumb. “Didn’t want to die without having done that,” she grinned, “at least once.”
Dean swallowed to regain his composure, “Okay then.” He took a deep breath.
“Don’t worry. I’ll get everyone on board with your plan,” Cordelia assured him with a pat on his chest, then she strutted away feeling quite confident in her ability to reduce any man to jell-o.
Dean gathered himself and met Xander in the parking lot where he waited with a truck John had rented. “You were right. Cordelia’s going to meet us later and help distribute the weapons. So, let’s go get us some explosives.”
Xander chuckled, “You make that sound like something you do everyday.” Dean just laughed as he pulled the truck into traffic.
Buffy was unnervingly calm. “Someone should take over for Giles after a while. Watch Angel.”
Oz nodded, “I don't mean to play devil's advocate here, but are you sure you're up to this?”
“It's time,” Buffy said briskly.
“We're talking to the death,” Oz reminded her.
Buffy looked at him an slowly nodded. “I can't play kid games anymore. This is how she wants it.”
Willow looked at her best friend without hiding her concern, “I just don't want to lose you.”
“I won't get hurt,” Buffy assured as she reached into a weapons cabinet.
“That's not what I mean,” Willow voice cracked.
“Just get me an address,” Buffy swung a sword.
By dusk, Dean and Xander had returned. Together with John and Bobby, they unloaded the weapons, the diesel fuel, and the fertilizer for the bombs. Cordelia and Xander reviewed a list of students that were being assigned weapons.
John studied the layout of the graduation stage. “Harris, can you make sure this side is covered?” he asked point to the side nearest the street. “That way, if anything goes wrong, you get as many of them out of there as you can.”
“Yes, sir. I got it,” Xander nodded.
“We need more help,” Bobby began, only to be interrupted by the arrival of Wesley.
“What can I do?” Wesley asked. “I may not be the watcher anymore, but I have my own reasons for fighting.” His eyes darted over to Cordelia, then back to the group.
Dean noticed the looked and nudged Cordelia. “Wesley?” he whispered. She shrugged. “‘Gotta do that before I die’ line worked on him, too?” Cordelia smiled. “I’m so gonna hafta use that.”
“You guys are easy,” she whispered.
Dean began to chuckle until he got an angry look from his father.
Meanwhile, at Faith’s apartment, Buffy walked in while Faith was distracted by her loud music. Buffy shut off the stereo, getting Faith’s attention. “Thought I'd stop by,” she said with a coldness in her voice.
“Is he dead yet?” Faith smirked.
Buffy shook hr head. “He's not gonna die. It was a good try, though. Your plan?”
“Uh-huh,” Faith grinned sadistically. “You know. Split up the opponent, divide and conquer. There’s no way Deano’s gonna be on board with saving ol’ fang face.” Faith got up to face Buffy. “The Mayor got me the poison. Said it was wicked painful.”
“There's a cure.”
“Damn. What is it?” Faith asked completely uninterested. She began to circle Buffy.
“Your blood.”
Faith smirked, “Come to get me? You gonna feed me to Angel? You know you're not going to take me alive.”
Buffy nodded, “Not a problem.” Buffy pulled out Faith's knife.
“That's mine,” Faith sneered
“You're about to get it back.”
They exchanged blows, Faith dodging the knife. They moved to the edge of the terrace and Faith held Buffy at the edge.
“Man, I'm going to miss this,” Faith said with eyes narrowed as she held Buffy closer to the edge.
Buffy broke Faith's grip and plunged the knife into Faith's abdomen. Both of them looked stunned for a moment.
Faith smiled weakly. “You did it.” She threw Buffy away from her. “You killed me.” Faith climbed onto the low wall at the edge of the terrace and looked down. “Still won't help your boy, though. Shoulda been there, B, quite a ride.”
Faith fell backward off the wall and landed in the bed of a moving truck. Buffy scrambled to the wall and saw Faiths body, unmoving, ride away.
Willow and Oz rushed into the library. “Have you heard from Buffy?” Willow asked Dean unable to hide the worry in her voice.
Dean paused, stared at her. “No, why?” He followed Willow’s concerned look at Oz. “What’s going on?”
“We found a cure,” Oz began, “You’re not gonna like it.”
Dean could feel the tension rising in him. “What is it?”
Willow wrung her hands about to speak when Oz stepped up, “The blood of a Slayer. Buffy went to face Faith.”
Dean stepped away from the group, about to leave, but Xander stopped him. “What are you going to do?”
Dean looked at him. “I gotta stop her. She can’t kill Faith. That’ll..” he was unable to go on.
Xander looked at Willow, “Is there another cure?”
Willow shook her head, “Not one we could find.”
“Keep looking,” Xander ordered. “C’mon Dean. I’ll go with you. Hopefully, we’re in time.”
As they drove to the address Willow gave them, Xander could see the anxiety building in Dean. “Don’t worry, man, we’ll get there. Buffy’ll be fine.”
“There’s no way she’ll be fine, Xander. Either Faith kills her, or she kills Faith. Neither one’s a good option,” Dean’s voice sounded pained. “I didn’t tell you guys, but Faith helped me the day the mayor took Sammy. She was willing to help us escape.”
Xander looked shocked. “She was?”
“She’s not all evil, not yet anyway. Killing Buffy’ll probably do it.”
“Dean, she’s not killing Buffy.”
Dean blew out a huge breath. “God, I hope not, or we’re gonna hafta kill her.”
Arriving at Faith’s apartment they saw the obvious signs of the fight. “No one’s here,” Xander said coming from the bedroom.
Dean was looking through the broken window. “We better get to Angel’s.”
"Buffy?" Angel whispered as Buffy placed her right hand against the side of his face "Is that you?"
Buffy gave him a slight smile, "It's me."
Angel tried to smile in return, "I didn't want to go, without seeing you."
Buffy puts a finger on his lips to stop him from talking. "Angel, I can cure you."
Angel shook his head, "It's okay. - I'm ready."
"Angel listen to me," she took a hold of his shoulders, "Sit up." Angel moved up a little higher, but he is weak and moving clearly hurts a great deal. "You're gonna live. You have to live."
Angel frowned. "There is no way."
Buffy took a deep breath to steady her nerves, "Drink…" Angel frowned at her, but Buffy took off her jacket, a determined expression on her face. "Drink me."
Angel stared at her in shock. he shook his head rejecting the idea. "No."
"It's the only way," Buffy pleaded.
Angel looked down at the floor, "It'll kill you."
"Maybe not. -. Not if you don't take it all."
Angel shook his head, still not looking at her, "You can't ask me to do that."
Buffy took his face in her hands, "I won't let you die. I can't. Angel the blood of a Slayer is the only cure."
Angel finally meets Buffy’s eyes, "Faith…"
Buffy swallowed and answered quietly, "I tired. - I killed her."
Angel shook his head and lurched away from Buffy: "Then it's over." Angel stumbled into the main room.
"It is never over! I won't let you die. Drink!"
Buffy pulled back her right fist and hit his left temple. His head snapped around. When Angel spun back with a growl, he vamped out. Buffy pulled down the shoulder strap of her shirt, then grabbed him by the hair at the back of his head. She looked at him for a moment then firmly pulled his head down against her neck and held him there. Suddenly Angel bit down. Buffy gasped with the pain, but remained motionless. Slowly, Buffy fell backwards to the floor, with Angel lying on top of her still drinking. Buffy's left hand reached out and found a pewter pitcher. She crushed it in her hand. Then she put her hands against his sides as if she was going to push him off, but kicked out with her left leg instead, breaking the coffee table in half. Then her eyes drifted shut and her head fell to the side. Angel finally took his mouth from her neck and his face morphed back to human, just as Dean and Xander stormed in.