Out Of the Closet: Out Of the Closet
by Theresa Strike
Disclaimer: Joss is a god. all things belong to him.
Notes: This is a missing scene story. It explains why Willow and Cordy where still stuck in the closet at the end of "School Hard".



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Xander trudged up to the front of the school building. Ms. Calendar and Giles stood at the bottom of the steps, arm in arm. He waved to get their attention. As he drew closer, Ms. Calendar gave him a brief hug, saying, "Thank goodness you're all right, Xander. We were worried when you never turned up with Angel."

"Oh, Angel and I turned up. We did the 'good guys fighting the bad guys' bit, and then Angel took off, leaving me to deliver the explanations."

Giles sighed. "What exactly do those explanations entail, or should I even be asking?"

"Well, we managed to get inside easily enough. But then Angel comes up with this *pathetic* plan -- which reminds me, never let that vamp come up with the plan -- that nearly results in our old buddy, Spike, putting a matching set of holes in my neck. Speaking of which, it turns out Spike and Angel know each other from way back when. And I mean *way* back."

"What, how?" The alarm in Giles' eyes was plainly evident.

"I'll explain later, when Buffy and everyone is here. And where is Buffy?"

"She left," said Ms. Calendar. "Her mom insisted on taking her to the hospital to be checked out. Not a bad idea really, when you consider how much she got banged around tonight."

"What about Willow? She's okay, right?"

Giles looked flustered. "Oh, dear. I knew forgot something."

"Forgot? Wadaya mean 'forgot'?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure where Miss Rosenberg is. Buffy said that she and Cordelia ran in the opposite direction from the rest of us, and that's all I know. I'm afraid I rather forgot about her during all the excitement. However, before you get yourself worked up, the police found only two bodies, neither of which were Willow's."


* * *
Willow was starting to go a little crazy. Being locked in a closet with Cordelia Chase did that to you. Despite the fact that things had been quiet for some time, she continued to pray. Out loud. Apparently close brushes with death caused Cordy to carefully consider her life. In painful detail.

"...and about that incident last week. The one with the pot roast. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.... I'm really, really sorry, and I'll never do it again...."

No one had turned up with any aspirin. Which was too bad, because she could certainly use some. If they ever got out, she was definitely going to have a word with the janitor about the door's faulty lock. Maybe she could borrow one of Buffy's stakes for the occasion.

Then, shockingly, Cordelia shut up. "Willow, please tell me I'm not hearing things. Please tell me that was someone calling your name."

Willow strained her ears to hear. Was that... "Xander!"

The two girls pounded on the closet door, desperate to get his attention. They were rewarded when Xander called out, "Hey, you guys okay in there?"

"We're all right, but we're locked in. You're going to have to break down the door."

"ME?!?" Willow smiled as she imagined the look on Xander's face. "But... I could go get Giles to help... No, wait, forget I even said that. Momentary lapse in my common sense. Just give me a sec, okay?"

Willow waited for a few tense moments, and then, "Okay, stand back from the door."

The two girls moved to the back of the closet. Willow grinned as the wood chips flew. Finally, Xander managed to separate the lock from the rest of the door. He dropped the ax he'd used on the door, and stepped aside so Cordelia and Willow could get out. Cordelia almost immediately went n search of a mirror.

Willow flung her arms around Xander. "My savior."

"Oh, come one, you're exaggerating. It wasn't like you were at a high risk for having some vampire put the bite on you. that was my job tonight."

Willow glared at him. "I just spent lord only knows how much time locked in a closet along with Cordelia. Believe me, I meant what I said."

"That bad, huh?"

"Let's just say, next time, I'm taking my chances with the vampires."


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