"Look, I know what you guys are trying to do, but it isn't going to work. I don't really feel like partying tonight," Buffy said, sitting down at one of the Bronze's empty tables.

"Sure you do!" Xander wasn't going to take "no" for an answer. Buffy was down in the dumps and it was his and Willow's job as her best friends to make sure she got Angel off her mind.

"Xander, maybe she's right-" Willow began, but he wouldn't hear of it.

"Come on, guys. We're at the Bronze. We're Bronzin'. The band is hot and we're gonna have a good time."

The band, led by a good-looking young woman named Poe, geared up to start another song and he sat down at the table next to the two girls. Moments later, the song began, a funky, alternative kind of tune entitled "Dolphin."

There's a broken beam inside
Of the big, big bridge
I guess that whole thing is caving in
Maybe it is time I learned how to swim
I'll be a dolphin, I'll be a dolphin

Sometimes I think I'm breaking down
And other times I think that I'm fine
But something got into my engine
It slowed me down
Now I gotta turn this whole thing around
I gotta be a dolphin, I gotta be a dolphin

Sometimes I think that you're crazy and sick
And other times I think you're so fine
But I know I'm in danger 'cause you feel like a stranger
And I know that something's going to give

Buffy sat, memorized by the woman's words. Did everything have to remind her of Angel? She wasn't sure she could take much more.

When I dive into that ocean
God, I hope I don't sink like stone, no
I'm gonna move like a dolphin
There may be a lot I don't know about you
But I know if I don't swim I'm already drowning

'Cause a broken bridge is a broken bridge
So I swim to you now
Here I come, Here I come...

"Excuse me," Buffy said abruptly as the band was playing the ending notes on their instruments. Grabbing her purse, she quickly got up and headed out the door.

"Xander!" Willow scolded him. "Look what you did!"

Taking a deep breath, Xander shook his head. So maybe coming to the Bronze wasn't such a good idea after all...

"Come on!" he urged her, and together they chased after their friend...

"Well, well. Look what we have here." Spike clicked his tongue and two burly vamps grabbed Xander and Willow as they tried to leave the club. "Things seem to be falling right into my lap," he told them as their captors led them into a deserted alley behind the building.

He held Buffy by the throat, obviously he had gotten her too as she was leaving, and two others backed him as they watched over the slayer and her friends. Buffy hadn't even thought that his 'injured man' ploy was an act, and he was able to fool her just like Angelus and Dru. His plan was going so well!

That was, until...

"Let her go."

Xander let out a loud gulp when he heard that voice. He knew its owner very well. Too well.

"Angel," Spike greeted him, smiling as his vampiric face now became evident. This would certainly be a treat...