What's My Line Part 2

Buffy and Kendra walked back to the Summers' house together at a good pace and a good distance apart. Buffy did not like that another slayer was on her turf accusing her of something that wasn't true. At least not completely true. Kendra would look over every so often and the blonde swore those dark russet eyes were scoffing at her.

"So…" Buffy began bitterly. "You were sent here?"

"Yes. By my watcher." Kendra simply answered.

"To do what exactly?"

"To do my duty," The sable haired slayer stated. "I'm here to kill vampires."

"Right…" Buffy trailed, looking away from her.

Before she could ask the new slayer more questions, Buffy felt something dart by and scratch her neck. She winced and immediately pressed a hand to the wound and felt blood begin to seep between her fingers.

"What is it?" Kendra asked, moderately concerned.

"Something just cut my neck!"

"I did not see anything attack you."

"Obviously, Miss Genius, or we'd be fighting it right now." Buffy rolled her eyes as she tried to clean the wound with the end of her sleeve.

Suddenly, the same thing happened to Kendra, only it was her exposed stomach that got lacerated.

"Ah!" Kendra cringed. "What is this?"

"I don't know, but I suggest we get out of here." Buffy said and they both took off running.

Libby sat in her bed trying to do her homework, but it just wasn't happening. Math was kicking her butt and her mind couldn't stray from the thought of Spike getting the drop on her due to her own arrogance. Maybe I shouldn't have given him the cross. She worried to herself. No, I had to so he wouldn't kill me and stay on track. This way I can stop him later. And not be stupid like that again, ever. Everything's fine. He's back on track…right?

A rock smashed through her window at that moment and went so fast that it got stuck in the closet door at the end of her room.

"What the hell?" Libby muttered as she jumped from the bed and peered out of the broken glass. She saw no one, but another rock broke through and sped into the wall.

In an instant, dozens of rocks crashed at her skull and Libby dropped to the floor just in time. She covered her head as pebbles of all sizes and shards of glass fell around her. When the invisible attackers finally stopped, the protector slowly rose to her feet but once again saw no soul in sight.

Pitter! Patter! Pitter! Patter! Pitter! Patter!

What sounded like hundreds of tiny squirrel feet scattered across the rooftop. Libby tried to identify it, but it sounded like no bird or rodent she ever encountered. Then another sound…a snickering crackle.

"What are you?" Libby whispered.

The protector regretted her words the second she heard the soft flapping of wings. There was no time to react. Tiny, blurry creatures whooshed in from the window and encircled her in a tornado of nails, teeth and maniacal laughs. Libby wailed her arms about to get them away from her, but it was no use. They kept scratching and nipping at her wherever they could. Finally, Libby got so desperate that her heart rate was pumping enormous amounts of adrenaline in her body so she struck both hands outward, causing a powerful wave of telekinetic energy to pulse out around her.

The creatures, which Libby was now able to notice, were dark shades of red, orange and black. It looked like flickers of flames splattered against her clean, white walls. They tumbled to the ground with crumpled wings but never ceased moving in a rapid, frantic way. Libby was feeling dizzy just looking at them. Thankfully, once they got their bearings, the creatures rocketed out of the house without going after Libby again.

She stood in the middle of her room completely stupefied. Stones, glass, small pieces of cloth, shreds of her collages, and drops of blood covered the floor. The protector had open patches in her pajama shorts and tears on her shirt. Her curly hair was yanked and frizzed all over the place. Scratches and little bite marks were all over her arms, neck and legs. She looked as though a pack of raccoons ambushed her on the driveway.

"Libby?" Buffy called out to her sister as she ran into the apartment.

"In here." Libby replied.

"Oh my god!" Buffy gasped as she came in the room. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"They threw rocks at my window and then came flying in, claws and teeth first," Libby explained, still stunned. "I couldn't see them. Not until I somehow…propelled them against the walls. There were so many…and tiny. And holy crap were they fast!"

"We have the same kind of markings as you do." Kendra observed.

"Although we weren't attacked like you," Buffy said as she wiped some blood away from her sister's neck and arms. "We just got one scratch each."

"What did they look like?" Kendra inquired.

"Small; like no bigger than a sparrow. Bat-like wings, only more cropped. They were red, orange or black. I didn't see their faces or anything else."

"Do you know what they are? And hopefully why they're after us? My sister in particular?" Buffy demanded of Kendra.

"I'm not sure," she pondered. "I have to refer to the texts."

"Sounds good to me." Libby groaned as she flicked some glass out of the way with her toe. "I'm Libby, by the way," She said holding out her hand to Kendra. "Buffy's protector and sister."

"I am the vampire slayer."

"And as the slayer it is your job to board up the window while I, the protector's sister, go take care Libby's injuries." Buffy ordered as she led Libby toward the bathroom.

"Sister…" Kendra hissed under her breath.

As Giles never returned from doing research, the next day all three girls, now bandaged up, headed to the library to discuss everything with Giles and to find out what attacked them. While Libby's only problem was the mild sting from her wounds, the room was suffocating to be in thanks to Buffy and Kendra. Libby thought that might have been taken care of since they got off to a better start, but in fact it was Libby causing the strain between the slayers.

"Your watcher in Sam Zabuto, you say?" Giles said to Kendra.

"Yes, sir."

"We've never met. He's very well respected."

"I like you best." Libby responded with a smile to Giles, who got embarrassed by her sarcastic but sincere charm.

"And you are called again?" Giles asked Kendra.

"I am the vampire slayer."

"We got that part, honey. He means your name." Buffy instructed with hostile verve.

"Oh," Kendra replied unaffected. "They call me Kendra. I have no last name, sir."

"Can you say stuck in the '80s?" Buffy griped.

"Buffy, come on," Libby hushed as she elbowed her sister. "What's the deal with you two?"

"No deal. Just annoyance." Buffy assured half-heartedly as she sat next to Libby.

"Hey!" Willow greeted the cold room that would only get colder.

Kendra marched over to cut the redhead off and ordered, "Identify yourself!"

"Back off, Pink Ranger!" Buffy defended. "This is my friend."

"Friend?"

"Yeah, Willow is our friend. She helps us with our duty and we have fun together." Libby tried to explain.

"I don't understand."

"Giles, help." Libby asked.

"Kendra, there are a few people – civilians, if you like – who know Buffy and Libby's identities. Willow is one of them. They also spend time together…socially."

"Yes, I believe I understood that part," Kendra explained. "What I don't understand is that you allow this, sir?"

"Well, uh-"

"The slayer must work in secret, for security. As must a protector, if one is foolishly called."

"Hey!" Buffy shouted as Libby yelped, "What?"

"Of course," Giles agreed. "But with Buffy and Libby, however, it's…um…some flexibility is required."

"Can we get back to the protector being "foolishly called" part for a minute?" Libby piped up. "What do you mean by that because I think I should be insulted?"

"Okay! Guys! Not that Libby feeling maybe insulted isn't a valid thing to discuss, but what's goin' on?" Willow burst out in total confusion.

"Kendra's a slayer." Libby answered, still confused.

"Come again?" Willow asked.

"Another slayer has been sent to Sunnydale. Kendra was able to be activated because of Buffy drowning, even though she was revived."

"She died?" Kendra inquired.

"Just a little." Buffy defended herself.

"So there really are two of them." Will marveled.

"Yes, although this is completely unprecedented. I'm still quite flummoxed." Giles closed as he took a seat.

"What's the flum? It's not permanent. She helps us stop Spike, the Tarkas, those crazy, tiny attacker things and then she goes home!" Buffy declared to the two confused people as she turned to face Kendra. "Look, I don't mean this personally, but I'm not dead and I have Libby and, frankly, having you around creeps me out just a little bit."

"I cannot just leave after we do what you deem important." Kendra rebutted. "I was sent here for a reason. Mr. Zabuto said all the signs indicate that a very dark power's about to rise in Sunnydale."

"That's Drusilla, Spike's vampire mate." Libby informed.

"Exactly. So once you help stop the "very dark power" you can leave." Buffy re-stated.

"I'd like to know what you mean by foolishly calling a protector before anything else."

The library fell silent. Buffy was afraid that everyone would be able to hear her heart pounding against her chest. Kendra looked torn. She knew it would be right to tell the protector everything, but she was also still human and didn't want to frighten her.

Giles saw that the secret of Libby's purpose may come to light so he said, "Protectors are incredibly rare so not much is understood about them. I believe this is why they are met with caution. I'm beginning a book specifically about protectors so this can be changed. I have extensive notes on their history and from watching Libby. She is quite remarkable, I think that you would be quite impressed with her."

"Yes, I agree. A book may help with that." Kendra replied.

Libby stared at Kendra and saw the conflict in her eyes. Soon, the feeling of suspicion – that gnawing, ceaseless punch in the gut suspicion – bubbled in her stomach the way her mom taught her to embrace and listen to.

"I forgot!" Buffy exclaimed. "The Order of Tarka-"

"Taraka." Libby corrected.

"Taraka attacked me last night! Libby said Spike sent them after me to keep us out of the way and something – well a lot of somethings – sent an ambush attack on Libby last night."

"Yes, I was going to ask what happened, but we kept speaking of – wait, the Order of Taraka?"

"Yup, the bounty hunters that will never stop…" Buffy said.

"And only care about their bounty…" Libby continued.

"Can look like and be anything in order to kill us…" Buffy went on.

"And won't stop coming until the job is done." Libby finished.

"Libby filled me in last night so we have a handle on that. I promise that we'll be fine." Buffy tried to reassure a pale looking Giles. "What we need to know is what attacked Libby and scratched me and Kendra last night."

"Uh – rrright, right, um, Libby, did you see what they looked like?" Giles stumbled with his thought process.

As Libby opened her mouth, a window shattered on the upper level of the library and dozens of those small, flame colored creatures came funneling through at tremendous speed.

"Like those!" Libby screamed as they all darted under the table.

The creatures circled in around the table, clawed at their clothes, pulled on their hair and knocking objects over everywhere they could. However, the majority was trying to get to Libby.

"Please tell me you know what they are!" Buffy yelled to her watcher as she beat to death as many as she could with a heavy book.

"Imps!" Giles confirmed. "They're imps!"

"You've got to be kidding me!" Libby screamed as more swarmed in around her face.

This sudden burst of anger allowed her to send a similar wave around the library, only this time it was strong enough to knock every single imp out cold. The five humans crawled out from under the table, scratches on all but most on the protector, and surveyed the library.

One window broken, chairs overturned, claw marks on the table, books thrown everywhere and, of course, imps of red, orange and black were scattered all over the floor.

"We need to gather them all in one place," Giles ordered in a pant. "Preferably a crate of some kind."

Giles went and found a container that would house all 60 imps collected by the girls. Kendra had no problem picking them up, but the others were very creeped out. Libby moved them telekinetically so she wouldn't have to touch them.

"Now what do we do?" Willow asked after they all lay unconscious in the case.

Giles picked a deep crimson one out of the pile and without warning his charges, broke its neck like a chicken. He handed it to Libby, who made it float above her hand.

"Why did you do that?" Willow asked, shocked by his action.

"For safe study." Giles answered. "I know what imps are but not enough about what they do and what they are capable of."

"How are we going to kill the rest?" Kendra inquired calmly.

"Burn them." Giles replied as he lit a match and threw it in.

Angel had waited underground for his chance to take Willy off guard. The sleaze was a decent informant and fairly harmless, so the strong vampire thought it was safe enough to see him, especially in the daylight.

As he popped open the hidden door he found that led up into Willy's Bar, Angel couldn't make out any voices. He had heard some people go in and out all day and obviously heard the loudmouth that was Willy, but now everything was silent. Too silent.

"Willy?" Angel called out in his intimidating voice. "Willy!"

"You know I hate being called that." A familiar voice said from the shadows.

Angel turned to see the blonde vampire walk out into the open with a glint in his eyes.

"Spike…what're you doing here?"

"I figured that after one of the bounty hunters attacked your slayer, you'd be gunnin' for information," Spike replied in a subtle, taunting tone. "And word around the street is that Willy is the big man on campus when it comes to gossip."

"What'd you do with him?" Angel asked, now on edge.

"Put him to good use," Spike smirked. "How are your girlfriends, Angel? Talked to them today?"

"They're fine, despite you sending others to do what you can't."

"Oh, Angel. I'm wounded," Spike mocked him with a laugh. "I sent the Order of Taraka after your slayer girlfriend to keep her out of my way and killing her is the way to do it."

"What about Libby? They're after her too, aren't they?" The dark haired vampire pried.

"She's part of a special package deal," Spike clarified as he poured himself a drink. "But the bounty hunters will only get a bonus for her. The real bounty is for the slayer." When Angel didn't respond, Spike grinned and dangled the bait. "I sent something else after your protector girlfriend. Something special."

"What did you do, Spike?" Angel demanded with a growl.

"Oooh, aren't you testy when it comes to the protector?" The younger vampire sneered.

"Don't test me, Spike! What else did you send on them?"

Spike gulped down a shot and answered, "Imps."

"Imps?" Angel yelled as he lunged for a chuckling Spike. "You sent imps? Those are vicious, unpredictable creatures that can barely be controlled! They're beyond dangerous, Spike! Imps are deadly!"

"I know," Spike replied as he kneed Angel in the stomach and punched him to the ground. "That's the fun!"

As Angel got to his feet, Spike's goons showed up and wasted no time in beating the non-needed air out of him.

"She likes screwing with me so I'm going to enjoy screwing with her. I'm going to keep sending them in bigger groups and I'll have those pests finish her off when she's gone mad with them." Spike said once Angel's beating was over. "You should be proud of my plan. Your counterpart inspired it."

"Why are you doing this?" Angel sighed in pain.

"She brought it on herself with her ruining my every move. And I want that bint of a slayer dead. But you, my friend, I need alive until tonight. So my Drusilla can be restored. Let's bring him home, boys."

It didn't take long for Spike and his men to drag Angel through the sewer tunnels and back to the factory. Spike took over once they resurfaced and brought Angel down to where Drusilla lay on the canopy bed. She lay with her back facing them, as still as a porcelain statue. Her dress was white and unwrinkled, her dark hair straight and untangled. Spike stepped over and lightly draped his body over hers. As he caressed her head, she hummed pleasantly as her mind awoke.

"I was dreaming." She said still enveloped in it.

"Of what, pet?" Spike asked as his hand moved down to her arm.

"We were in Paris. You had a branding iron."

"I brought you something." Spike beamed with pride.

"And there were worms in my baguette." Drusilla finished.

Spike yanked Angel up on his feet from the staircase and threw him down across the room after presenting, "Your sire, my sweet."

"Angel?"

"The one and only," Spike confirmed. "Now all we need is the full moon tonight and he will die and you will be fully restored, my black goddess."

Drusilla lifted herself up and offered her hand to him, which Spike took in his own and ravished with his lips.

"My ripe," Spike growled seductively as his lips and hands moved up her slender arm. "Wicked plum. It's been –"

"Forever." Drusilla finished with desire as she pulled his mouth to hers in a passionate kiss.

Angel was forced to stay slumped over near the end of the bed and all he could do was hope that they would decide not to have sex in front of him. Thankfully, Drusilla pulled away and asked Spike for something else.

"Spike, let me have him? Mmm? Until the moon."

The blonde vampire smirked at what she meant and replied, "All right. You can play, but don't kill him. He mustn't die till the ritual."

"Bring him to me." She purred in sadistic delight.

Spike did as she requested and Dru wasted no time in looking him over and declared, "You've been a very bad daddy." She then slapped her sire across the face, aiming for the cut Spike caused on his cheekbone.

"Slayer can't save you." Dru taunted.

"Neither can her protector." Spike added.

"Ah wooh eh eee saoh shuh." Angel tried and failed to say.

"What's that old boy?" Spike mocked.

"Time for little lamb to bite the shepherd." Drusilla sneered and dug her nails into his neck. Angel screamed so loudly, he hoped it would echo off so Buffy or Libby could hear.

Libby checked her watch and realized that Xander and Cordelia would be trapped in the basement by now and knew that she would have to start heading over.

"Kendra, I've conferred with your watcher, Mr. Zabuto and we both agree that until this matter with Spike and Drusilla has been resolved, that you three should work together." Giles informed the two slayers and protector as well as Willow.

"Oh, that'll be a treat." Buffy huffed.

"So you believe that Spike is attempted to revive this Drusilla to health." Kendra said to gain confirmation and explanation.

"Yes. Spike's evil and his weak girlfriend, Drusilla, is evil and insane. They equal the dark power you were told about." Libby answered.

"Then we will stop Spike." Kendra stated.

"Oh! Good plan! Let's go! Charge!" Buffy stuck her head in between the new girl and Giles.

"Buffy…" Giles groaned.

"It's a little more complicated that that, John Wayne."

"Yes, I'm afraid it is. Spike has also called out the Order of Taraka and a pack of imps to keep Buffy and Libby out of the way."

"The assassins?" Kendra was astounded. "I read of them in the writing of Dramius."

"Oh, really? Which volume?" Giles curiously inquired.

"I believe it was six, sir."

"Um…How do you know all this? Libby didn't mention any of this." Buffy cut in from the back.

"It doesn't help you kill them so I figured why mention the book." Libby defended her decision.

"I know from my studies." Kendra answered.

"Okay, so obviously Kendra has a lot of free time." Buffy said.

"I study because it is required. The Slayer Handbook insists on it."

"There's a slayer handbook?" Willow said amazed.

"Handbook? What handbook? How come I don't have a handbook? Does Libby have a handbook?"

"Is there a T-shirt too?" Willow was getting excited.

"No." Libby answered.

"Too bad, maybe we could make one?"

Buffy shot her redhead friend a look. "It would be cool." Willow concluded.

"After meeting you, Buffy, I realized that the handbook would be of no use in your case." Giles replied truthfully. "And no, Libby does not have one."

"What do you mean it would be "of no use in my case"? What's wrong with my case?"

"Okay! Before this gets to be way too much fun, I have to go get Xander and Cordelia," Libby announced to the group. "I'll be back in time for the career fair."

The protector ran for the house and she was surprised at how fast she was able to run. It wasn't like she was super fast but the agility boosted her endurance up. Once the house was in sight, Libby didn't slow down. She flew through the door and watched the ceiling. The bug worms fell the moment she entered the kitchen, but they fell on her telekinetic shield bubble. Disgusted, Libby forced herself to focus and gathered them all into a floating ball of squirmy bugs.

For the first time, the protector was able to slowly move and manipulate her power in a clam manner. Libby brought her hands closer and closer together in order to apply enormous pressure and finally the yellow worms burst like puss from a zit. Libby lost her composure and the guts splattered on the floor as she tried her best not to vomit. After inhaling gallons of air, the young brunette opened the door and telekinetically flung the dead bug assassin out into the grass. She then went to the basement door and could hear Xander and Cordelia arguing something fierce. Libby smiled to herself.

"I can't believe that I'm stuck spending what will probably be my last moments on earth here with you!" Cordelia screamed.

"I hope these are my last moments. Three more seconds with you and I'm gonna…"

"I'm gonna what, coward?" Cordy challenged.

"Moron." Xander retaliated.

"I hate you!"

"I hate you!"

Xander and Cordelia embraced each other in a spontaneous and zealous kiss. What was strange to them was how natural it felt, like that moment was emotionally building up inside them. However, it was also freaking them out.

Even though Libby knew that they weren't meant to be, she knew that the time they would spend together was happy and should end that way so the protector was determined to help and nurture their relationship until the inevitable end.

"We so need to get out of here." Xander stated after they parted lips.

"Uh huh." Cordy agreed.

As they ran for the door, Libby opened it and greeted them with a giddy smile. "Hi guys! How was the kiss? Good? Of course it was. How could it not be?"

"You know?" Cordy screamed in humiliation.

"Do you still not understand that it's my job to know things?" Libby giggled at the bright red blush on Cordelia's cheeks.

"Wait, is this what you meant by that sexual tension thing the other day?" Xander asked.

"Yes." Libby smirked.

"Huh."

"Okay, well, besides the kiss that from this moment on never happened, please tell me that you killed that creepy bug man?" Cordelia demanded in a slight panic.

"I sure did," Libby answered in excitement. "I collected his buggy parts in a floating ball and squished them together. It was repulsive."

"But it's dead?" Cordy asked again.

"Can't get deader."

"Thank god!"

"And thank you." Xander said as he gave Libby a smothering hug.

"Anytime Xander," Libby groaned as his grip tightened. "We have to get back to school. Or I have to since Buffy gets attacked soon. You guys can take some time to deal and change if you want."

"Yes! Time and change for me." Cordelia said as she headed for her car.

"I can come with you, please." Xander replied.

"Actually, you have to go with Cordelia since I have to run back to school and you can't keep up." At his look of total insult, Libby explained, "It's supernatural speed. I don't mean that you're a slow runner. Plus, I go diagonal so I'd probably beat a car."

"Don't make me go with her."

"And you two should probably talk anyway," Libby said as she smiled and headed out the door. "Especially if you want your secret relationship to go smoothly."

"I don't –"

"See you soon, Xander!" Libby cheerfully shouted as she made her run back to the school.

Buffy and Willow headed inside to the second day of the career fair. They waited a little for Libby to come back, but Willow convinced Buffy that she could wait at her chosen station. Buffy reluctantly gave in.

"So my tests say that I should look into law enforcement…duh," Buffy told her best friend. "And exercise science. Libby saved me from environmental design by having me not check the shrub box."

"That's a good thing," Willow giggled at the thought of Buffy doing landscaping. "Exercise science, that's like physical therapy right?"

"Yeah, but actually there's a lot of stuff," Buffy continued. "There're personal trainers, athletic enhancement programs, strength and conditioning specialists and even full blown doctors."

"Wow, it's like teaching your slayer skills only for wellness instead of fighting." Willow smiled, happy for her best friend.

"Right? Once again, Libby helped improve my life. I don't know if I'll end up doing any of those things, but it's nice to know that those options are there. Plus, it means I don't have to go to the law enforcement table."

Buffy turned to start looking for her designated place, but caught a guy gazing at Willow. "Hey, Will, don't look, okay?" The computer wiz ignored her without meaning to and had her eyes search. "No, don't look. That guy over there is totally checking you out."

Willow was then allowed to look and saw Oz smiling sweetly over at her from the lounge. "Oh, that's Oz. He's expressing computer-nerd solidarity." Will replied completely unaware of how wrong she was.

"Really?" Buffy countered. "Then why is he on his way over here right now? Whoa!"

Libby was behind her and grabbing the collar of the slayer's shirt, making Buffy stumble backwards so Oz would have a clear shot at Willow.

"Hey, what is this about?" Buffy grumbled in surprise. "And why are you panting?"

"I'm apparently not in a subtle mood today," Libby lightly laughed. "And amazing side effect, agility makes me run extra fast. I saved Xander and Cordelia from an assassin who was made of bugs."

"Gross."

"Yeah, he infested your house and they got trapped."

"Why were they in my house anyway?"

Libby looked suddenly guilty. "I may or may not have told Xander to make Cordelia drive over there this morning to make sure that you were okay since you took off last night."

"I didn't take off last night." Buffy stared in suspicion.

"I know, but I needed them to be trapped in the basement so they could kiss."

"WHAT?"

"I promise that this helps things," Libby calmed her slayer down. "The tension and arguing between those two will simmer like you won't believe! Cordy actually gets a little quieter and more helpful. Plus, Xander will stare at you less."

"Oh, okay, that might be okay – wait – he stares at me?"

"Only a little," Libby shrugged it off. "So where are you off to for the career tables?"

"Exercise science." Buffy smiled.

"Oh my god that's perfect," Libby beamed. "You know all there is about training your body to be strong and healthy."

"And anything is better than law enforcement and environmental design." Buffy laughed.

"Very true." Libby responded with a congratulatory hug. "I missed archaeology so I'm off to psychiatry."

"Where's yours? Mine's actually near the police one."

"Really? That's good because that police lady is an assassin."

"Great." Buffy huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Be careful when you walk over because she will try to shoot you and won't care if she hurts anyone else. I'll be a little farther away, but I'll be watching."

"Head over if I can't take her down."

"Will do."

They parted ways and casually walked over to their separate booths. Buffy looked around her booth and was pleasantly surprised that it was pretty even between boys and girls. It felt nice to be a part of something that wasn't law or something she was the complete opposite of. She could actually have a future in this. She could have flexible hours but still make decent money. Or she could even be a doctor if she wanted. This gave her hope.

Libby was over in psychiatry, but she couldn't focus. The protector kept looking back to make sure that Patricia…Patrice…P assassin whoever hadn't attacked yet.

"Buffy Summers?" the exercise science professional called out from behind the table.

As Buffy raised her hand, the policewomen at the next station pulled out her 9MM and aimed it at Buffy. Thankfully, Buffy saw this coming and was able to block the gun upward so the bullet flew into the ceiling.

The slayer kicked the bounty hunter in the stomach and tossed the gun away but the policewoman immediately pulled another one out from behind her back. As Buffy ran for cover, Libby rushed in and used her powers to make the assassin drop her gun so Oz wouldn't get shot. This took the bounty hunter off guard so she decided to bolt. However, Libby couldn't have that so the protector ran after her. Buffy was on her tail and soon Kendra was as well.

"What happened?" Kendra asked as she ran beside Buffy.

"Another assassin trying to kill me."

Libby got close enough to telekinetically trip the women and thankfully the area was empty. They were on the side of the school where the storage was kept so it was never populated with many students. What caught Libby off guard was that before the assassin attempted to fully pick herself up, she spun her body in the protector's direction and pulled out another gun from her boot and aimed it at the young girl's heart. Libby was so startled by this that she reacted on instinct and deflected the bullet. Right as Buffy and Kendra arrived at the scene, the bullet pierced the woman's chest and she dropped to the ground, eyes open and void of life.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked as she went over and held Libby.

"Yeah, I just never…I never killed a – a human before with my powers. I wasn't even thinking. It was just, bullet! So I shielded myself and it – it just…" Libby could barely talk she was so in shock.

"It was self defense," Buffy comforted her sister with conviction. "She was here to kill me and anyone who got in her way. You saved yourself and me. You did nothing wrong, Libby."

"She is right," Kendra agreed as she placed a hand on Libby's shoulder. "You did very well. I am impressed."

"Thanks," Libby slightly smiled to both of them. "That helps."

"We should go tell Giles." Buffy said.

"Yes, we should go now." Kendra concurred and took the lead. "It will be all right Libby." She added kindly as she slowed to walk with Libby. Making Buffy apprehensive and jealous.

The three girls made it back to the library where Giles was asking numerous questions about the attack and every aspect of how Libby handled it.

"I deflected the bullet so it went into reverse and shot her instead." Libby said again for the third time.

Giles scribbled quickly in his notebook with great concentration. "And did you mean for that to happen?"

"No, all I was thinking was that I didn't want it to hit me so I raised my hands."

"Fascinating!" Giles marveled at the new skill the protector discovered in herself.

"It's not that far of a stretch in my powers, Giles." Libby said as he recorded more.

"You caused an outcome you weren't thinking about." The watcher informed. "Every detail matters, Libby."

Willow, followed by Xander and Cordelia entered the library, which made Kendra go on full alert again. Buffy saw this and ordered, "Down, girl!"

"Who sponsored career day today? The British soccer fan association?" Xander asked with sarcasm.

"We had a rather violent visit from the Order of Taraka." Giles answered as he finally put his notebook away.

"You wanna talk Order of Taraka? Did Libby tell you about the king freak of the…hello!" Xander finished when he caught sight of Kendra.

"Oh, forgive me," Giles responded from the large table. "Xander, Cordelia, this is Kendra."

"She's a slayer too." Libby joined in from the countertop next to Buffy. "She was called after Buffy drowned last year."

"Hi. Nice to meet you." Cordy said, not really caring.

"A slayer, huh?" Xander acknowledged with some zest. "I knew this "I'm the only one, I'm the only one" thing was just an attention-getter."

Hopping off the counter, Buffy smirked, "Just say hello, Xander."

"Welcome," The only teenage boy in the group tried to greet the newly timid girl. "So, you're a slayer, huh? I like that in a woman."

"I hope…I tank you…I mean ,sir, um…" Kendra stuttered as she looked at the floor. "I will be of service."

"Great! Good. It's good to be a giver." Xander finished as he walked over to his group of friends who would speak full sentences to him.

Libby jumped down next to Kendra and said, "Don't worry about Xander, he doesn't qualify as a 'guy.' He's a helper." At the reassuring and teasing grin the protector was giving her, Kendra let loose a small smile and a sigh of relief that let out her former confidence.

"Xander, this assassin you encountered, what did he look like?" Giles inquired over his pile of books.

"Overweight, brown hair, round glasses and was made entirely out of yellow worm bug things." Libby answered for him and she walked over to her dummy.

"That's pretty much the gist." Xander confirmed.

"It was awful!" Cordy squealed. "They could've gotten in my hair!"

"Yes, that was the biggest problem. Not death or anything." Xander rolled his eyes and slumped down in the seat across from her and next to Buffy.

"The important thing is everybody's all right. Still it's quite apparent that we're under serious attack." Giles said.

And, of course, the imps would decide to ambush all of them at that moment. Their evil laughs echoed around the shelves and walls of the room as they swooped down around the Scooby gang. Cordelia wouldn't stop screaming as they pulled her hair and ripped her skirt. Xander kept failing his arms as they tried to get through his jacket. Willow made it under the table with Giles but they were still being nipped at.

Buffy was grabbing them as they came to her and broke one neck after the other. Kendra saw what the blonde slayer was doing and repeated the act. Unfortunately, Libby was going through much worse. Three quarters of the imps were attacking her mercilessly. They clawed her entire body, gnawed at her exposed skin and tore at her hair.

The protector tried to free herself from their tornado of dark colored bodies but she had no room to move without giving them full access to her body. Her arms were stinging like lemon juice on a paper cut and she could feel the nerves in her legs igniting. Blood was warm and wet on her face and her head was throbbing worse than a migraine. The imps' screams and sniggers were piercing and the pain was taking over. For such small creatures, they were absolute terrors.

"BUFFY!" Libby shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Everyone looked her way and was speechless at the sight. They would have had an easier time seeing her if an entire wasps nest enveloped her. So many imps. Almost all of them were now trying to slowly kill her. Buffy sprang to her feet and headed for Giles' office. She found his matches and slid to Cordelia's purse. Jackpot! She had hairspray in there.

Buffy ran to the edge of the swarm and shouted, "Cover your eyes and then get down!"

The young blonde lit the match and triggered the hair spray. An explosion of fire burst out toward the imps and as soon as one started to burn the rest caught fire. Libby dropped to the floor as the flames traveled from imp to imp. Less than half were killed and the rest flew away, but thankfully Libby was still alive.

Buffy fell to her knees to help her sister. Libby was covered in blood. She wasn't bleeding profusely but there were so many wounds that all the blood trickled together and stained her skin and clothes. Dozens of scratches and lots of deep bites covered her torso and legs, but Libby's face was a victim too. She had a long, jagged scrape that cut across her left cheek and a pretty bad bite on her jaw. There was also a deep cut on her forehead bleeding over her eye.

"Libs, are you all right?" Xander asked as he sat behind her, letting her relax against him.

"It hurts," Libby answered as she tried to ease back against her best guy friend. "A lot. Everything is stinging and throbbing."

"Yes, I read that it's a side effect from the venom in their teeth," Giles informed. "Aloe will take care of it. Xander, sit her down. Buffy, help stop the bleeding. I'll get my aloe plant."

"You have an aloe plant?" Libby asked.

"Indeed. I got it a few days ago actually." Giles replied as he brought the plant in and began cutting it into pieces to put on Libby.

"So, what the hell were those?" Cordelia demanded with a short scream.

"Imps." Willow answered and she gently brushed Libby's damaged hair with her fingers.

"What?" Cordy whined.

"We need to research them more to learn their patterns and we only have five hours until the new moon." Giles declared. "Spike needs the new moon for the ritual, is that correct Libby?"

"Yes."

"Have you heard from Angel, Buffy?" the watcher inquired. "Since he's part of the ritual it is a good idea to keep tabs on him."

"No, actually, I haven't heard from him today." She looked at Libby. "I'm sure he's okay though."

Drusilla tied Angel's wrists to the posts of the bed. He continued to struggle even though his strength was depleted. The torture was simple and excruciating. Just how Drusilla liked it.

"Little lamb is caught in the blackberry patch." Drusilla sang as she gingerly lifted the holy water like it was a blooming flower. "My mommy ate lemons…raw." She told Angel. "She said she loved the way they made her mouth…tingle."

Dru ran her hand down Angel's chest and tapped her fingers back up. She had touched him in every way possible over the last hundred years, but this was becoming one of her favorite moments.

"Little lamb…" She hummed as she poured a splash of holy water over where her hand just grazed him. His skin sizzled and smoked. "Her favorite was custard, brandied pears."

"Dru –" Angel attempted to plea.

"Shh! And pomegranates. They used to make her face and fingers all red." More holy water and Angel couldn't help but cry out the pain was so severe. "Remember, hm?" Drusilla asked him from behind on the bed. "Little fingers, little hands. Do you?"

"If I could…" Angel did remember and he was disgusted with himself.

"Bite your tongue. They used to eat cake and eggs and honey. Until you came and ripped their throats out." The rest of the holy water and a bloodcurdling scream. Perfect. Drusilla smiled. "Say "uncle." Oh, that's right! You killed my uncle." She was about to pour another glass of the poisonously pure water over his torso when Spike came to join the party.

"That's it then. Off to church." He announced.

"It makes pretty colors." Drusilla told her lover as she gazed at the burns on Angel.

"I'll see him die soon enough. I've never been much for the preshow."

"Too bad." Angel plotted as he was being freed in order to be transferred. "That's what Drusilla likes best, as I recall."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Ask her. She knows what I mean." Angel hated pretending to let his Angelus side out but he had to try to get Spike to kill him so Drusilla couldn't be cured.

"Well?" Spike pried as Dru came up to his shoulder.

"Shh…" She growled. "Bad dog."

"You should let me talk to him, Dru." Angel continued to taunt. "Sounds like your boy could use some pointers. She likes to be teased."

"Keep your hole shut!" Spike ordered in a bellow.

"Take care of her Spike. The way she touched me just now…I can tell when she's not satisfied."

"I said shut up!" Spike clutched his throat and lifted Angel up against a bedpost in a fury.

"Or maybe you two just don't have the fire we had."

"That's enough." Spike broke off a piece of the wooden bed and was ready to stab it through to his heart.

"Spike, no!" Drusilla begged him.

Spike stopped just in time and as Dru tenderly placed a hand on his shoulder, he came to his senses. "Oh, right…right, you almost got me." Spike said triumphantly. "Aren't you a "throw himself to the lions" sort of sap these days? Well, the lions are onto you, baby. If I kill you know, you go quick and Dru hasn't got a chance. And if Dru dies, your little Rebecca of Sunnyhell Farm and her brunette and the rest of her mates are spared her coming-out party."

"Spike, the moon is rising. It's time." Drusilla whispered.

"Too bad, Angelus. Looks like you go the hard way. Along with the rest of this miserable town. Especially that slayer and her protector."

"They'll stop you and you know it." Angel choked out.

"That's the thing! They won't." Spike explained. "You see I changed my original plan. That little protector bitch knew every move I made until I showed up at her window and took the cross back. She was surprised to see me." Spike sneered as he tightened his grip on Angel's throat. "So, I changed the church location, invited all of my lackeys and added on a few surprise guests. If the protector does find us and that slayer comes to your rescue with her, then they'll die along with you."

Fear pooled in Angel's eyes and the vampire lovers chuckled at the sight.

"So what are you hoping for now, Angel?" Spike leered. "That they come and you watch them die as you're slowly drained or that you'll die alone?"

Libby, Buffy and Kendra were working on the weapons in Giles' office while the rest of the gang was looking up possible churches for the ritual and insight to the imps.

Kendra looked out the window at the people hard at work and asked, "And those two, they also know you are the slayer and protector?"

"Yep." Buffy replied.

"Did anyone explain to you what "secret identity" means?"

"Nope. Must be in the handbook, after the chapter on personality removal. Be careful with that thing!" Buffy ended up yelling as Kendra picked up a crossbow.

"Please, I'm an expert in all weapons."

Right as Kendra put her finger on the triggering mechanism, Libby held out her hand and stopped the arrow from hitting the lamp.

"We're good." The protector said and she let it fall to the desk.

"Thank you," Kendra said. "The triggering mechanism is different. Perhaps when this is over, one of you can show me how to work it."

"Sure." Libby smiled.

"When this is over, I'm thinking pineapple pizza and teen video movie fest." Buffy countered as she went back to sharpening her knife. "Possibly something from the Ringwald oeuvre."

"Your lives are very different than mine." Kendra stated as she handled a newly whittled stake.

"You mean the part where we occasionally have one? Yeah, I guess they are." Buffy answered.

"Try being from another reality." Libby added. "That'll make life interesting."

"You are from another reality?" Kendra queried.

"Not only that, but ten years into the future too." Libby responded and raised her eyebrows in emphasis.

"Incredible," Kendra shook her head in disbelief. "The things you do and have, I was taught, distract from my calling. Friends, school…even family. I can't imagine what it must be like from another reality."

"Do you wish you had your family?" Libby asked, which got Buffy interested and sympathetic.

"I never met them so it's hard to miss and want them…I've seen pictures though. My parents, they sent me to my watcher when I was very young." Kendra tried to make it so they could understand. "That's how seriously the calling is taken by my people. My mother and father gave me to my watcher because they believed they were doing the right thing for me…and for the world."

"Regardless of your culture, I bet that it was very hard for them to give you up." Libby confessed.

"I doubt it."

"I don't. You were their child, it would be hard for any parent who loves their baby."

Kendra looked down and gave a soft smile and a hushed, "Tank you."

"And hey, if you ever get lonely you can summon a protector." Libby brightly said, wanting to learn more about why Kendra had a thing against it.

"No, I am forbidden to do that."

"Why?"

"Because according to her people a slayer is more than enough." Buffy answered for Kendra.

"Actually, we don't believe that it is right to put another person at risk." Kendra corrected with a glare at Buffy, who shot it right back.

"Risk?" Libby asked forcefully.

"The work a slayer does is dangerous and my people believe that the slayer alone should deal with the consequences of those dangers." Kendra responded calmly even though Buffy was trying to make her head explode with the power of her mind.

"You mean like getting injured or captured?" the protector pried further.

"Other tings as well."

Libby was getting fed up and decided to not beat around the bush when Xander stuck his head in and said, "We found the imps galore book. Giles wants to inform us all at once."

Everyone gathered around the table and prepared their ears to learn of the pesky, deadly imps that have been attacking Libby.

"All right, the myth is that imps are hellish creatures that are actually the spawn of the devil. In fact, they are creatures bred in hell dimensions by demons as a sort of pet."

"Pet?" Buffy groaned.

"I'd rather have a dog." Libby muttered.

"I second that." Xander agreed.

"Anyway," Giles continued. "They were meant to be mischievous and cause trouble for others on their masters request, but they were far too intelligent for that. They evolved into their own classification of demon and are extremely lethal. They kill by slowly bleeding out their victim and eating away their flesh."

At the gaping expression plastered on Libby's face, the Watcher tried to hurry up the boatload of information.

"However, they like to not only take their time but to have fun with their victim by irritation. They'll do things like pull your hair or trip you or go after the people in your life. They'll even hide your keys if they think it's funny. Imps also travel in groups that range from 12 to 300 and have no leader so they are very chaotic and unpredictable. The big thing for the imps that are hell bent on attacking Libby is that they can still be controlled if you offer them a beneficial bargain."

"So Spike must have offered them something so they'd come after me." Libby realized with a frustrated grunt and scowl.

"I believe so, yes." Giles confirmed. "However, they are only as loyal as their master's bargaining chip and even then some imps may go off on their own."

"What kind of things do they want?" Willow asked.

"Various things. Jewels, magicks, food, sometimes the target itself is enough. It all depends on the group."

"Right, so how do we make them leave us alone?" Buffy asked before leaving the room to call Angel.

"So far, all I've found is removing the possibility of the bargain so they attack their master or kill them." Giles answered.

"And how do we kill them?" Xander peeked in.

"Destroy their bodies." Giles stated. "Whether you're breaking or burning them. Just like any living creature, thankfully."

"It's just they're so fast so it's a lot harder." Libby said discouragingly.

"We will defeat them." Kendra declared over to Libby. "As well as the assassins and the vampires."

"Yes we will." Libby whole-heartedly agreed.

"Okay, that's the third time I've called Angel and he's not answering." Buffy announced in total worry. "Do you think Spike got him?"

"I don't know," Libby shrugged. "We warned him of what not to do so Spike shouldn't have been able to find him unless he –"

"Completely ignored us." Buffy rubbed her forehead. "He wanted to find out about the Order of Taraka so he probably went somewhere Spike could capture him."

"Willy's. That annoying sleaze ball that owns the demon bar." Libby said with confidence.

"Let's go." Buffy commanded. "Libby, Kendra you're with me and everyone else keep looking for a possible church."

Buffy slammed Willy up against the wall of liquor and held him there violently.

"Honest! I don't know where Angel is!" He voice wheezed in pain.

"He's lying." Libby told her slayer.

"How very bad for him." Buffy said, giving Willy another shove. "What about this ritual? What have you heard?"

"Nothing. It's all hush-hush."

"Just hit him, Buffy!" Kendra yelled completely exasperated.

Buffy smiled from Kendra to Willy and said, "She likes to hit."

"You know…maybe I did hear something about this ritual."

"We need more than that Willy." Libby urged with a frown.

"It's coming back to me, but uh-I'd have to take you there."

"Let's go." Buffy moaned as she dragged the bar hound by the collar toward the door.

"First we must return to the watcher." Kendra instructed.

"Excuse me?" Buffy was appalled. "While we run to Giles this whole thing could go down."

"It actually will go down." Libby piped up.

"But it is procedure."

"It's brainless, you mean!" Buffy shouted. "If we don't go now, Angel could die."

"Is that all you're worried about?" Kendra asked to stop her from going through the door. "Your boyfriend?"

"No, it's not all, but it's enough."

"It's as I feared. He clouds your judgment. We can't stop this ritual alone."

"Are you listening to me?" Buffy was close to shrieking now. "He could die!"

"He's a vampire. He should die! And have you even thought of Libby in all of this? Of her safety?"

The horror and betrayal on Buffy's face was like nothing Libby had ever seen before. It was ten times worse than what it was on the show and Libby wanted more than anything to understand why. Instead, she decided to smooth things over.

"She does think of me, but right now we have to save Angel. Kendra," Libby led her away from Buffy and an awkward Willy. "You need to hurry and get everyone so you can track us to the church. I don't know how to get there so we need Willy to lead us but we need a lot of back up to win the fight. Can you do that for me?"

Kendra took a deep breath and replied with a strong, "I can, but be careful. She is not in her right mind."

Libby smiled. "It's Angel. He's got his own portion of her brain."

As they came upon the church, Libby noticed that is was very different. It was deeper into the woods and surrounded by an old cemetery. The church itself was smaller and looked like no one had stepped inside of it for at least a decade.

The protector leaned closer to her slayer and whispered, "This isn't the right church."

"What? He brought us here for nothing?" Buffy asked confused.

"No, I think Spike changed his plan, which means there could be more surprises inside that I have no idea about."

"Not good."

"Not at all." Libby agreed. "I'm going to hang back and scope the place. I'll come in when I know more or when things start happening. Whichever comes first. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, go."

Libby nodded and walked backwards into the shadows.

"Where'd your friend go?" Willy asked a few moments later.

"Said she'd meet us inside."

"Okie dokie." He replied as he opened the doors to reveal a run-down but not so creepy church interior.

The walls were a dirty white and the wall hangings of Jesus and Mary and other biblical figures weren't in the best shape, but the architecture seemed sturdy and traditional. The floors must have been cleaned and the candles that were lit made the church look like it could be renovated down the line.

"Here you go. Don't ever say your friend Willy don't come through in a pinch."

And just around the corner, five vampires of Spike's greeted Buffy. "Here you go. Don't ever say your friend Willy don't come through in a pinch." Willy said again, only this time to the vampires.

Buffy turned around to see three more show up only these were different, scarier and tortured. Buffy had never seen anything like them. Their faces were ghostly pale and had black shadows under their insipid yellow eyes. They were emaciated yet there was muscle on their bones. When Buffy looked down she saw that their hands were rough and every nail was carved into a point as sharp as a knife. One smiled at her and the slayer saw that every tooth was a fang. Something was terribly wrong. These vampires were wrong.

Buffy was grabbed by two of the three and her skin began to crawl at the coldness and roughness of their hands. These vampires were strong, stronger than Buffy was used to. How could this be?

"Eligor, I name thee," Spike chanted in the auditorium of the church. "Bringer of war, poisoners, pariahs, grand obscenity." He returned to a tied up Drusilla and Angel who were in position to have the ritual take effect. "Eligor, wretched master of decay, bring your black medicine."

"Black medicine." Dru whispered with a weak smile.

"Come. Restore your most impious, murderous child." Spike continued as he held the cross up.

"Murderous child." The sick vampire breathed.

Removing a knife from inside the cross, Spike closed, "From the blood of the sire she is risen. From blood from of the sire, she shall rise again." He put Angel and Drusilla's hands together and stabbed the knife through, causing enormous pain for Angel, but giving life back to Drusilla. A light flashed throughout the room and then flowed from sire to sired.

"Right, then. Now we just let them come to a simmering boil, then remove to a low flame." Spike grinned in his demon form.

Willy opened the doors and barged in with the goons and Buffy struggling behind him. "Payday, pal. I got your slayer and your protector should be arriving shortly."

"Are you tripping? You bring her here…now?" Spike scolded in anger.

"You said you wanted them?" Willy defended.

"In the ground, pinhead! I wanted them dead! And where exactly is the protector?"

"Don't know, said she'd catch up." Willy blinked. "And that's not what I was told. Word was there was a bounty on them dead or alive."

"You heard wrong, Willy, and you better find that protector who's probably scoping the place – you idiot – and kill her before she steps foot in this church or I'll have your head!"

"Angel…" Buffy whimpered as she caught sight of him being drained of life.

"Yeah. It bugs me too, seeing 'im like that." Spike responded, turning to Buffy. "Another five minutes, though, and Angel will be dead, so I forbear."

By this point, Libby had circled the whole church and found no scouts. She had an eerie feeling though so she went inside and found no one in the hallways. It was way too empty. The protector figured that everyone must be keeping guard in the ritual room itself. Once she found it, she lowered herself to the floor and army crawled her way behind an old chair.

She saw Angel connected to a rejuvenating Drusilla and Buffy being held tightly by vampires, some she had never seen before. As Spike was threatening Buffy, Libby caught eye of something: two shadows in the front corners of the room. They were hidden well, but their tall, lengthy bodies were protruding out from the walls. Libby could tell that they definitely weren't vampires, but she had no idea what they really were.

"Don't feel too bad for Angel though," Spike continued to Buffy. "He's got something you don't have."

Libby used all of her focus to silently remove the knife from Angel and Dru's hands as Buffy asked in hatred, "What's that?"

"Five minutes. Boys." He indicated to the strange vampires. Just as they began to cut Buffy with their nails, Spike said, "Do you like my new guard?"

Libby stopped moving the knife about half way through, which seemed to be slowing down the process so she could hear what Spike was about to share.

"Not particularly." Buffy spat.

"They're called Lampir."

"What? Those vampire wolf things?" the slayer insulted as she kicked one in the gut, which made them cut her arms deeper and then lick the blood away, causing a burning sensation on her skin.

As Buffy screamed, Spike replied, "No, that's just a story. The wolf thing came into play because they have this howl-like way of communicating over distances. Lampirs are actually tortured vampires. Trained to be soldiers for the real vampires."

Spike circled them and they all crouched down, indicating that they all still saw him as superior. "The only issue is that they went insane with blood thirst. All they wanted to do was kill and kill and kill, not caring about orders. There's only a handful now since most Lampirs had to be destroyed 'cause they got so out of hand."

"How did you get them?" Buffy asked, hoping to stall him so Libby would have time to come to her rescue.

"I have connections." Spike smiled evilly.

Libby chose that moment to remove the knife the rest of the way and leaped over the chair. She hurled Spike against the far wall and pushed the rest of the vampires back and away from Buffy.

"Sorry I had to wait, but I needed to know what we're up against." Libby apologized as she sprang over to her slayer.

"It's okay, I'm okay." Buffy replied. "We have to get Angel."

"I removed the knife while I was hi-"

Not only did all the vampires get to their feet, but the two shadows made themselves known. They were monstrous, about seven feet tall and gangly. Their bodies were a dead, ashy gray and you could see their bones fighting to burst through their skin. Their arms were long and legs were sturdy. And again, the creatures had knives for nails, only these looked more natural…as if they needed them to dig. The creature's eyes were pitch black and their teeth were flat with serrated edges. They were bald and their ears went down sideways and back. It was the nastiest thing either girl had ever seen.

As it made a rumbling, snarling noise, Spike stated simply, "Ghouls. Surprise."

Suddenly, Kendra crashed through the door and with a series of back flips, she knocked the group of vampires to the ground.

"Good timing." Libby smiled as they surrounded Spike.

"Who the hell is this?" He ranted.

"It's your lucky day, Spike." Buffy answered.

"Two slayers." Kendra said and punched him.

"No waiting." Buffy added as she punched him too.

"And of course there's still me." Libby smiled and kicked him in the gut.

Buffy left Spike to Kendra as she went to fight the many vampires. Libby backed away as well in order to gain some ground as both ghouls came after her.

She tried to remember what ghouls were. Didn't they eat dead people? Not the biggest issue since they came towering over her with their arms swinging. Libby was thanking god for her super agility as it was the only reason they hadn't sliced her head off yet. The protector tried to send them flying but they were too big and strong.

Thankfully, Giles entered the scene and sent an arrow from the crossbow into one of the ghoul's eyes. He howled and stumbled back. This made the other, slightly smaller one, furious. At this point, Buffy guessed they were mates because the leaner one went after Giles. Libby took the opportunity of its back being turned and jumped onto it.

She put it in a chokehold and as it slashed to get her off, Libby yelled, "Shoot it!"

Giles reloaded and shot it five times in the chest. After Libby fell off at its thrashing, the watcher shot it twice more in it's eyes and it finally went down. The larger one let out a wail that almost made the walls vibrate and charged for the protector and her watcher. Taking control, Libby gathered the rest of the arrows and telekinetically sent them flying deep into ghoul's other eye and torso. It crashed on top of the other one, dead.

"Thank you, Giles." Libby panted.

"Of course." Giles smiled.

Buffy was having a hard time with the Lampirs. The Scooby gang was able to help out a great deal with fighting and killing the normal vampires, but those three Lampirs just wouldn't die. Buffy didn't have a stake and beating them to death wasn't working. They weren't even fazed by her blows. They just came coming back for more like it was a treat.

Buffy kicked one to the ground and tripped the other two. As she got up, she saw Drusilla lean far backwards and pick up the knife that Libby removed only a minute or two ago. Right as Dru re-stabbed their hands, she looked to Kendra and called out, "Switch!"

Kendra understood and in one fluid movement, Buffy was in front of Spike and Kendra was ready to take on the Lampirs.

"I'd rather be fightin' you anyway." Spike smirked.

"Mutual." Buffy agreed with venom.

The big bad vampire and older slayer went at it, but it wasn't long before Spike saw Libby make a b-line for Angel and Drusilla.

"Actually," Spike said as he struck Buffy in the face. "Not that this isn't fun," He struck her again. "But I need to be fighting your protector right now."

Spike dodged one of Buffy's kicks and ran passed her, grabbing Libby's shoulders right as she was about to pull the knife out. She tumbled down the few stairs and over the floor where fights reigned all around her. Spike hopped down as Buffy sneaked behind him and finished what Libby started.

"You know, I love fighting slayers and killing them is a pleasure that has no equal." Spike growled as he plummeted his boot into Libby's abdomen. "I haven't killed one in a couple decades and I was looking forward to killing a third." He kicked her in the face, sending her rolling backwards. "But you, you! Miss Slayer's Protector have made my time here unbearable!"

The British vampire lifted her up by the throat and threw her into the organ. The sound echoed around the room and it attracted the largest faction of imps yet. Hundreds pooled in and went straight for Libby.

Snickering at her screams, Spike decided to take a moment to go over to Willy and kill him for his insolence, but before he reached the little weasel, Drusilla was calling out to him. Spike saw Buffy untying Angel from a disconnected Drusilla and was infuriated. He ran over and violently heaved Buffy to the ground and punched her back down when she tried to get up.

Kendra wasn't having the best time with the Lampirs, even now that the whole Scooby gang was helping her. They refused to slow down or stop their attack. However, they finally made a mistake. One ripped the sleeve of Kendra's shirt.

"That's me favorite shirt! That's me only shirt!"

Anger boiled in her heart and Kendra lifted one of the torches that was displayed on the walls and set them all ablaze. The Lampirs tried to continue to fight, but the flames were eating away at their flesh. Within moments, they fell into a pile on the floor and burned away.

The imps were still torturing Libby and there was nothing she could do. The others tried to use fire but every time they tried, the imps would attack them to. In a panic for her life, Libby called on the fire and pulled the growing flames over to her. This called the imps to spread out enough for her to use her powers and she sent the rest of them into the flames. It took all the energy and power she had and Libby felt extremely weak because of it.

As everyone came over to check on her, Libby saw Spike gather Drusilla into his arms and make a run for it. Now royally pissed, hurt and exhausted, the protector got to her feet and spent her one drop of strength left to thrust Spike and his vampire love through the organ and into the hall where it all collapsed on top of them.

"Imp that." Libby groaned under the cracking of the wall and flames.

Buffy looked up from where she was cradling a hurt Angel and smiled at her protector's growing skill and strength. She was so proud of her sister. Buffy looked back down at Angel and caressed his face.

"Hi." She smiled at the man she loved.

Kendra saw this and decided to be understanding. She walked around the flames and said, "Let's get him out," as she helped Buffy lift him to his feet.

Xander draped one of Libby's arms around his neck as he wrapped a hand around her waste as everyone left the destroyed church victorious.

The next day was still a school day, no matter how much they all deserved time off. Buffy was bruised but all right and Libby was severely cut and even swollen. Still, everyone would be good as new in another day's time.

Buffy and Libby walked Kendra out of the school and to a cab in an awkward walk of not knowing exactly what to say.

"Tank you for de shirt. It was very generous of you." Kendra said to Buffy.

"Hey, it looks better on…well, me, but no worries." Buffy teased in a friendly way. "Now, when you get to the airport?"

"I get on the plane with me ticket and sit in a seat, not the cargo hold." Kendra answered with a grin.

"Very good."

"That is not traveling under cover." Kendra stated.

"That's the point. It's a good thing. You get to relax and eat the peanuts and watch a movie." Libby replied. "You more than earned some down time so enjoy it."

"I'll try." Kendra smiled as she got to the cab and opened the door.

"I – um…" Buffy tried to say. "I just wanted to thank you for helping us save Angel."

"I'm not telling me watcher about that." Kendra said with friendly eyes. "It is too strange that a slayer loves a vampire."

"Tell me about it." Buffy softly grinned.

"Still, he is pretty cute." Kendra complimented.

"You can say that again." Libby mumbled loudly and got a sarcastic bump on the shoulder from Buffy.

"Well, maybe they won't fire me for dating him."

"You always do that." Kendra observed.

"Do what?"

"You talk about slaying like it's a job. It's not. It's who you are."

"Did you get that from your handbook?" Buffy asked.

"From you and Libby. I was wrong about you. You both have a solid partnership." Kendra smiled at Buffy and then Libby.

"Thanks," Buffy linked arms with Libby. "I think we have a solid sisterhood going too."

"I'd say so." Libby smiled in agreement.

"I guess it's something I really can't fight. I'm a freak." Buffy admitted.

"Not the only freak." Kendra reassured.

"Not anymore." Libby added with a squeeze of her arm.

Buffy gave a big side hug to her sister with a loving smile and when the went in to have Kendra join, she backed away stating, "I don't hug."

"Come on," Libby tempted. "Just this once."

"No."

"You know you want to." Libby teased.

"I'm leaving now." Kendra smirked as she got in the cab.

"We'll miss you." Libby called out.

Kendra waved goodbye and the sisters waved back.

"She wasn't so bad." Buffy confessed as they walked back inside the school.

"No she wasn't." Libby agreed. "I have to go to the bathroom so I'll meet up with you in class okay?"

"Sure."

Buffy continued down the hall and after she turned the corner, Libby doubled back and headed for the library. Once she entered, the protector called for Giles. When she got no answer, Libby went into his office and searched his desk for the notebook he was writing in. It didn't take her long to find it in one of the cabinets on the bottom part of the desk.

It was lying on top of a book that was marked only a few times. Libby thought this was strange since it was a fairly large book. She opened it to the first tab and read the sentence that was directly under where the yellow sticky mark ended.

The core purpose of the protector is to keep the Chosen One alive longer than her expected lifespan. Consequently, the protector will never outlive the slayer.

Libby closed her eyes. Happy birthday to me…