Disclaimer: The following story is intended for entertainment purposes only. This document can be freely distributed with the condition that no part of the text is modified, and this notice is included with all copies.
Some characters and elements of this story are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy and are used without authorization. No copyright infringement is intended. The author receives no compensation from the distribution of this work. Any comments or criticism would be welcome.
Note: This story follows on from "No Longer Looking", and should only be read after that one.
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"Xander!" I gasped, seeing him lying motionless on the floor of the biology lab.
I don't know how long I waited, as still as he was, at his side before I went to get help. It seemed like an eternity. I ran for Giles. Only Giles was dead, so I found Francis.
Francis frantically phoned for an ambulance, and the police, I saw him. But Snyder cut him off. The next thing I remember, they were arguing ferociously. Snyder said he would make it all Buffy's fault. Snyder.... He looked....
I don't remember what happened after that. It was then that Xander's lifeless body caught up with me. Then reality and nightmare combined. He was dead.
* * *
"Hey, Will," called Xander cheerfully, as he saw Willow approaching the school. "How's it going?"
"Hey," she replied, "I'm good."
"That's what I like to hear," he grinned back. "A good Willow, which you are. Planning on frying anything today? Coz I could use a small inferno in biology, preferably before I get asked for the homework."
"Xander!"
"C'mon, Will, just a little fire. No one'll notice."
"But I don't do fire, j-just sun. And we have that already. I'm of no use."
"That's OK, Will." Xander paused dramatically, teasing her for a moment, then reached into his pocket. "I came prepared!"
Willow giggled as she recognised his prized magnifying glass, given to him by his Dad when they were at junior high.
"So, whaddaya think? Do-able? Am I off the hook here or what?"
Willow rolled her eyes at him, unable to think of an appropriate response. "Better get to the library, see Francis," she pointed out, tugging at his sleeve.
"Oooo, yeah. Coz I was wondering whether the earth was doomed again yet or not." He paused. "Do you think I can get a grade in looking stuff up for Francis and averting major disasters? I could drop biology for it."
"Library?" Willow reminded him.
"Nah, better go do stuff, seeing as you can't manage even one iddy biddy little fire for me."
Willow smiled. "See ya then," she called as she turned to enter the library, where Buffy and Francis were training.
"Hey, Will," called Buffy, distracting Francis just long enough to get in a punch to his chest.
"Ooof. I think perhaps we'll call that a day?" suggested Francis, hurriedly backing away before removing his pads.
"No stamina these new fangled watchers," quipped Buffy, smiling at Willow. "You just can't get the help these days."
"Do I need to remind you that I am not officially your watcher?"
"No, I don't think we need reminding about that at all," responded Buffy.
"But, practice," offered Willow. "Is good."
"I suppose," conceded Buffy. "What're you doin', Will?" she asked, noting Willow's position at the computer.
"Oh, nothing much, umm, casual research," smiled Willow.
* * *
"Where's Xander?" Willow asked Buffy, noting the empty seat beside her. "Didn't you guys just have the same class?"
"Yeah, he didn't make it to that one either though, we're talking serious cutting here."
"Do you think he's OK?"
"Will, it's only a couple of classes, I'm sure he's fine. It's probably homework avoidance or something."
"Oh, yeah. Maybe." Willow remembered Xander's biology quandary.
"Besides, maybe he's just late boy."
* * *
Willow made her way to the biology lab, hoping to find Xander had been kept behind for some reason. "He's gonna be find," she tried to reassure herself, "he's always late." But the little voice in her head was persistent. She could smell trouble.
Almost reluctantly, she looked round the door to the biology lab, finally killing her last shred of hope. Xander was nowhere to be seen. She was about to leave, when the sun reflected off something on a desk. Curious, she went to investigate. It was the magnifying glass Xander had shown her earlier.
Willow frowned, the magnifying glass had been a gift. Although it might no longer be a favourite possession, she was sure he would never leave it behind.
An image flashed before her eyes as she picked up the magnifying glass. Xander lay on the floor before her, dead. She blinked, and the image was gone, leaving her once more alone in the biology lab.
She shuddered. "There's definitely something going on here," she concluded.
* * *
Francis looked up from his book to observe Willow at the computer once again. The worry was apparent in the slightest movement she made, and even after only one day she was beginning to show serious signs of wear.
"Any luck?" he asked her.
"Nothing," she sighed. "Why would anybody take Xander? I don't understand. It's so unfair."
* * *
Buffy glared at Willie. "Look, I don't care what you think you're telling me, I want everything, right now, or you leave here in a box."
"Hey, I'm perfectly reasonable, no need for that sort of thing," protested Willie, glancing round for any means of escape.
"Don't even think it. I've had a really bad day, and I'm so in the mood for some mindless violence." Buffy continued to glare at him.
"Oh yeah, I heard. Shame about the kid."
"What do you mean?" Buffy grabbed Willie's throat.
"That he's disappeared?" croaked Willie.
"Wrong answer, try again," replied Buffy, pressing him harder against the wall.
"I-I just heard they was gonna take him, I don't know where, I swear."
"That's what the others said, right before I staked them."
"But you wouldn't do that to old Willie now, would you? All those times I came through for you."
"So give me this one, and I'll call it even."
"Right. Well I would, but I don't know where they took him."
"Who?"
"I tell you, I'm not in on this one. It was some guys I didn't know."
"You're sure now?"
"Positive. Would I lie to you?"
"Not twice," growled Buffy.
"Exactly," said Willie, nervously. "And I value my life surprisingly highly."
"I'll be back later," muttered Buffy.
"See ya then," called Willie, rubbing at his neck.
* * *
"Perhaps I should call Buffy again, see if she had any luck," suggested Francis.
An image of Francis on the telephone leaped into Willow's mind. She blinked it away. "What? Oh, yes. I-in case Willie knew something. Or maybe a vampire...."
"Yes."
Francis moved to the phone. The image returned. This time, Willow saw Snyder with his hand over the mouth piece.
"Francis. I think I know what's going on. You see, I keep having this dream about it, in the biology lab. And I saw Xander's body." Willow paused, unable to continue for a moment.
"I'm sorry, Willow, but they're just dreams. It's to be expected, under the circumstances."
"I suppose," conceded Willow.
Francis patted her shoulder. "Try to get some rest, there's nothing more you can do this evening, not until we have something more to go on."
"I can't..." began Willow.
"... I'll contact Buffy, and let you know as soon as we have further information, I promise." Francis removed his glasses and deliberately began to wipe the frames in a gesture very reminiscent of Giles.
Willow saw the biology lab again, the version from her dream. At the side of Xander's body lay the magnifying glass.
"The magnifying glass!" she blurted out.
"I'm sorry?"
"I saw the magnifying glass in my dream," explained Willow, withdrawing it from her pocket. "It was in the biology lab, just like when I found it."
"Happily, without Xander's body," observed Francis.
"Well, yes. But it is real, it is, I'm sure. I-I think Snyder's involved somehow too."
"Principal Snyder? I have to admit, I have no great affection for the man, but kidnapping Xander? It seems a little unlikely."
"Magnifying glass," repeated Willow, holding it determinedly in front of him.
"True. It is an alarming coincidence. Perhaps it is no longer just the slayer whose dreams should be paid notice. You are, after all, the ghrian." Francis digested the information. "Wait here, I'm going to find Buffy."
"All Buffy's fault," remembered Willow. She turned to Francis, placing a hand on his arm. Francis collapsed. "No heat resistance," smiled Willow. "This time I have to deal." She tried to make sure Francis was comfortable, then left the library.
* * *
"I hope I'm right about this," murmured Willow to herself, trying to focus on her mission rather than the stakes. "No, that's no way to think," she scolded herself. "I know what I saw, I have to be right."
Slowly and deliberately, Willow walked over the widest bridge in Sunnydale. Outwardly, she maintained a bold, determined look, but inside she was shaking like a leaf. Xander had to be here.
As she reached the opposite side, she turned and began to slowly descend the steep, muddy sides, leading to a disused railway track underneath. The gloom beneath the bridge was so deep, Willow could barely see 3 feet in, but she knew what had to be done. So she entered.
Seconds after she entered the darkness, Willow found herself surrounded. Ten, or maybe twenty, vampires stood poised around her, ready to pounce. She smiled.
"Sorry, not today," she whispered. "I-I have to rescue my friend first." Quickly, she raised her arms, bathing the vampires in sunlight.
"Kids," muttered Snyder. "Nasty brats. Won't even let a decent plan come off. Especially that Buffy... Rosenberg?" He registered the presence of Willow in front of him. "Where's Buffy?"
"She..." began Willow, suddenly finding herself under the scrutiny of Snyder, and struggling to remember that his authority over her in this situation was minimal.
"Run, Will! Get out of here!" yelled Xander from somewhere in the blackness.
"That's enough, Harris, or I'll have to silence you. Permanently." Snyder glared to his left briefly, before turning to the history teacher, who stood at his side. "Deal with her."
The teacher advanced on Willow confidently. Her small frame apparently posing no threat to him.
"Willow! Go! I'll be OK. Get Buffy," yelled Xander again.
"Well, Jackson, get on with it," ordered Snyder impatiently.
Mr Jackson, social science teacher, reached out to grab Willow, only to discover that she burnt him at the slightest touch. He fancied he could even smell his own flesh cooking slightly. Alarmed, he backed off. "She's hot!"
"Don't tell me you've turned into a blithering idiot at the sight of a pretty girl now," growled Snyder.
"No, I mean she's really hot," whined Mr Jackson.
"Good grief," muttered Snyder. "If you want a job doing, you might as well do it yourself." He walked towards Willow himself, grabbing her arm roughly.
"Willow!" called Xander. "Get off her, Snyder!"
"Ah, so you think you can boss me about now do you, Harris. Fascinating." He turned to Willow. "And now, Miss Summers has even more reason to come down here. I like it. Definitely a moment to savour."
Snyder roughly tied Willow to a pipe beside Xander, who looked more annoyed at the situation than anything.
"What're you doing here alone, Will?" he asked her. "I didn't want you to get into trouble coz of me."
"It's OK, Xander," replied Willow. "I-I'll get us out of here, just give me a minute."
"Will, you're tied to a pipe. I'm thinking this is when we wish really hard that Buffy was here and hope the Hellmouth works for us for a change. Which, of course, will never happen. But I like to hope. Especially in situations like this. Or maybe you told someone where you were going?"
"I, umm, didn't, no," admitted Willow.
"Such a shame. Now we have to wait for lame-brain Summers to work it out. You two could be in for a really long stay. You should try to get comfortable," sneered Snyder. "I'll be back later."
Willow closed her eyes in concentration as she slid the magnifying glass down her sleeve and began to channel her energy carefully.
"Ow," complained Xander. "Ya think you could aim a little better, Will? I'm gonna be applying suntan cream for weeks after this."
"Sorry, I'm kinda new at this," replied Willow sheepishly.
"What? You don't get kidnapped with your best friend and burn through ropes every week? You gotta get more practice in."
* * *
"Will, you are the best person ever," exclaimed Xander. "I SO wish I could see Snyder's face when he gets back here."
"I'm thinking I might not want to see that face so much," said Willow quietly, remembering an image from her dream. "A-and besides, I think I'm in enough trouble with Francis... I kind of knocked him out."
* * *
"Yes, and that behaviour was quite inappropriate," Francis scolded Willow. "As the ghrian you have responsibilities it is true, but they are largely less, err, well used that the slayer's. Your duties lay in coping with freak events, not in the regular, umm, slaying of vampires and the like. You are not as well equipped."
"But I know what Snyder was doing," began Willow. "A-and he was after Buffy. So, I thought, if he didn't get Buffy then he'd lose. Which is good."
"Except for the part where you get hurt," put in Buffy.
"W-well I was careful. And I had to do something, Xander was in trouble."
"And you did a great job," grinned Xander.
Willow beamed.
"Well, yes, it did work out this time. A-and as you did know what he was doing... but in future, if you could simply inform me?"
Willow nodded, murmuring under her breath. "I know what he is too."
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