Standard Disclaimer: They aren't mine. Nothing is. I just do this because I have nothing better to do with my time (yeah, right).
Summary: This is yet another take on how season 2 *could* have ended, "if she only had a brain." (yes, I know, "way harsh".)
Spoilers: Becoming 1&2
Rating: PG-13 - implied violence -- though I would rate it higher if that would make you more interested in reading it ;-)

Buffy looked around the room at the rest of the students taking the final. Surprisingly, she knew quite a few of the answers on this test. Those study sessions with Willow at the last moment had paid off. Not that she'd get an 'A' or anything, but Buffy was pretty sure she'd pass. She turned back to the last few questions of the exam.

The figure moved slowly down the hall. It had a very specific destination in mind, a very special assignment to carry out. It turned to the classroom where Buffy was taking her final. As it entered the door, the students all looked up. The single adult in the room started to protest, but the figure continued with purpose.

She removed the veil from her head, and the dimmed sunlight immediately began to take effect. As the vampire began to smolder, she looked at Buffy with malice.

"Tonight ... sundown ... at the graveyard... You will come to him. You will come to him or more will die."

Buffy watched as the vampire burst into flames. It gave one last message before turning into ash.

"Tonight!"

The rest of the students had panicked, not understanding what they had seen. They were milling toward the back of the room, as far from the vampire as they could get. But Buffy just sat, staring at the spot where the fiend had been. He had issued a challenge. Angel wanted to fight her. Finally. It would be over, one way or another, tonight.

Buffy looked around and noticed the other students were sitting down again under the teacher's rather shaky orders. Buffy's eyes wandered back to her own paper. Heaving a sigh, she bent back to the task of passing Chemistry.

Buffy walked to the library in a subdued mood. She knew she should be eager with anticipation. But there was something that was niggling at the back of her head. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something ... *fishy* about this whole thing.

She walked into the library quietly. Xander, Cordelia, Oz, and Willow were at the table looking through some of Giles' musty books. Giles and Kendra were talking quietly, yet anxiously, in his office.

All in the room looked up as Buffy walked in. The group gathered around the table where the Slayerettes had been researching. Giles was the first to speak.

"Buffy, I understand that Angelus has issued you an ultimatum. It would be the perfect opportunity to return his soul and use him to our advantage concerning the demon Acathla."

Kendra nodded in agreement. "Ya. I ken go wit you, and de two of us can dispatch de vampire more easily should the spell fail."

Buffy looked around at each of her friends and tried to formulate her thoughts into words.

"I don't think so. I mean, that's exactly what Angelus expects me to do, knowing me as he does. So why should I do what he wants?"

"Buffy, this isn't just between the two of you. If you don't go, he could go right back to Acathla and release the demon. If you go, you buy us time." Giles remonstrated.

Buffy held up her hand. "Ok, guys. I want to say something, and I don't want to be interrupted. I'm not usually Brain-Girl, but I've got some thoughts here, and I need to get some input on them." She looked around, and Giles nodded.

"Go ahead, Buffy."

"From what we know of Angelus, he likes to play with his victims. Especially someone like me. He's not just going to go killing me. It's like ... eating the entire pint of Ben & Jerry's in one sitting. Not his style at all."

"So, why's he Ultimate Challenge Boy all of the sudden? I mean, that vamp-o-gram was pretty un-subtle," Xander asked.

"Okay, imagine I'm Angelus. I've got this babe that I want to torture. The most fun thing, I've always found, is to kill all her friends and drive her crazy with guilt before finishing the deed. But this chick has a bit of an advantage in that she can protect her friends. So, what am I going to do? Make it so she *can't* protect her friends. If he knows exactly where I am, then he can send his henchmen and do some pretty major damage. Just like the anointed one did back in the day."

Willow paled visibly at this, and Giles pulled off his glasses, cleaning them thoughtfully.

"Y-yes, Buffy. That makes perfect sense." He was about to say more when she interrupted.

"Hold the phone, Giles. I'm not done. Let's take this one step further."

"Ooh, there's more? Like being the main course at a vamp-fest isn't enough?" Xander quipped.

Buffy looked at him sternly. "Yeah, there's more. I mean, why would Angelus do this now?"

"Perhaps he wants to finish his ... dealings with you before ending the world." Giles stated.

"Not likely. He wasn't much into that when the Judge was around. No, I think there's more here.

"Now, I'm Angelus and I have a new toy. This toy can end the world, totally destroying all humanity. And, I stole my new toy right out from under the slayer's nose. Why would I stop playing with my toy to taunt a measly human?"

Giles looked at Buffy sharply.

"Giles, don't interrupt. Yes, I'm the slayer. But compared to Acathla, I'm Strawberry Shortcake. So, we know that Angelus is gonna open that portal ASAP. "

"And we know it hasn't opened yet, 'cause ... look," Oz looked around.

Cordelia snorted. "Yeah, well, libraries and curses and demons kinda make up my personal vision of hell, but that's just me ..."

"Anyway," Buffy interrupted, glaring at the others. "He hasn't opened the portal, either because he hasn't had time to do the ritual or because he can't figure it out.

"If he needed time, he wouldn't be bothering with me. But if he can't figure it out, where's he gonna go? We all know that vamps aren't the brightest bunch on average. They tend to axe anyone who even looks like they can think. So what's a poor demon to do?"

Willow saw where Buffy was going. "How about borrowing the smart-guy-in-residence?" she finished for Buffy. Buffy nodded.

With this, all attention turned to Giles, who began to look extremely uncomfortable.

"Dat makes a lot of sense. Glad to see you *can* tink, Slayer." Kendra looked at Buffy.

"T-that's very logical, Buffy. I'm quite proud of you," Giles stated. He was clearly distracted.

Xander turned back to Buffy. "Okay, Brain Girl, what do we do now?"

"I was kinda thinking that we should go to your house, Giles. The vamps can't get in there. We'll take as many of your books there as we can transport. Then you can work on a plan."

"What do you mean, 'you'?" Giles asked, raising an eyebrow.

Buffy shrugged. "Well, I figure between passing chemistry and debunking the vamps' plans, I've done my quota of thinking for at least a week!" She smiled and winked at him.

-fin

Author's note: (I know she's got a brain in there somewhere. I wish she'd use it more often.) Feedback: Please send some.

Become