Chapter 21: Déjà vu All Over Again

At Inspector Rodriguez's apartment, he's looking at pictures of Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe. Tempus appears in a ball of flame.

"Tempus. I never..." Rodriguez says.

Tempus smiles, "Expected to see me? Of course not. You were not worthy before now. What is the name you are using here?"

Rodriguez nods, "Rodriguez."

Tempus smirks, "Ah, yes. I have been sent to you, Rodriguez. As a gift."

"Sent? By who?" Rodriguez asks.

"I think you know who and why." Tempus says.

Rodriguez nods, "I can defeat the Charmed Ones and the Charmed Slayer on my own. I don't need any help."

Tempus shakes his head, "Really. What makes you think you have actually found the Charmed Ones or the Charmed Slayer?"

Rodriguez smiles, "Are you kidding? After so many of my colleagues have mysteriously vanished in San Francisco this year. It can only be one reason why. I posed as a cop as I believed that one was covering for them. I was right, he was. That's how I found them. Of course, you already know all that, don't you. That's what makes me so worthy now, right?"

"Watch your tongue, Rodriguez, lest I split it for you." Tempus snaps at him. "It's one thing to have found the Charmed Ones and the Charmed Slayer, it's quite another to defeat them as those who have gone before you have already discovered. Tomorrow is Wednesday. I want you to get all four witches together in one place by midnight and give it your best shot. But if you fail..."

Rodriguez shakes his head, "I will not fail."

Tempus nods, "Well, if you do, I'll be there to help you learn by your failures. Trust me. Now, how do you expect to get them together?"

"Trudeau." Rodriguez says.

In Buffy's bedroom at the Manor, Buffy is tossing and turning.

"Yeah, she's out cold." Piper says as she, Phoebe and Buffy see Andy and run over to him. Piper feels his pulse. "Oh my God. He's dead."

Buffy sits up in bed her eyes wide.

Outside a paperboy rides along the road, a car honks and he waves. He throws the paper on the Halliwell's lawn. Inside the manor…

Weather Girl on TV, "Good morning, San Francisco. Well, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful Wednesday."

Phoebe is on the phone, "Piper, what are you doing at Quake? It's 8:00 in the morning."

Buffy and Prue enters the kitchen.

"Morning." Prue says.

"Hey." Buffy says as she debates telling them about her dream.

Phoebe smiles, "Morning. Yes, all right, I'll be there in an hour."

Kit is on the bench and he knocks over a pepper shaker.

"You'll be where in an hour?" Prue asks.

Buffy grabs a coke out of the fridge.

"Ah, Quake. Piper's doing that thing for the Food Network and she needs me to bring her another dress because she spilt marinara sauce over the one she's wearing." Phoebe says.

Prue nods, "Just stay out of my closet."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

Phoebe: Oh, don't worry, I don't think she'd want to ruin another one of yours.

Prue looks at the newspaper, "I don't believe this."

Phoebe shakes her head, "I'm kidding. Don't have an aneurysm."

Buffy looks at her cousin and shakes her head, "I think she's talking about the paper, Pheebs."

Prue nods, "Did you see the front page?" Phoebe shakes her head. They hear a crash outside. "Phoebe, where did you park my car last night?"

"In the driveway... I think." Phoebe says.

They run to the window in the living room.

Prue lets out a sigh of relief. "Mrs. Henderson's car."

Phoebe smiles, "Oh, thank God. I mean, that your car's in the driveway and I'm not in the dog house."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Is she okay?"

Prue nods, "Yeah, just a little fender bender, no big deal. Phoebe, Buffy, Andy's in trouble."

"What? Why?" Phoebe and Buffy say.

Prue shows them the paper. Written on the front page is: Inspector Suspected In I.A. Murder.

"They think that he killed that Internal Affairs cop? No way." Phoebe says.

Prue nods, "Maybe it's a setup, trying to force him to reveal our secret."

Phoebe nods, "Let me see that."

Buffy's eyes go wide, "Uh guys I think I should tell you something."

Phoebe takes the paper off Prue and has a premonition.

Prue frowns, "What is it?"

Phoebe sighs, "I saw Andy, Prue. He was dead."

"Uhm guys. I hate to say this but I think I had the same vision as Phoebe. I had a Slayer dream last night. In it Andy was dead." Buffy says.

A shorttime later Prue, Phoebe and Buffy are discussing the visions.

"Wait, you said that you didn't see a demon or a warlock in your premonition, right?" Prue asks.

Phoebe shakes her head, "No, but the way he was hurled across the room, there had to have been one."

Buffy nods, "I didn't see one either. But that doesn't mean there wasn't one.""

"This room here?" Prue asks.

Phoebe and Buffy nods.

"Right here, yeah." Phoebe says.

Prue sighs, "Okay, and you're both positive that it was Andy."

Buffy nods.

Phoebe sighs, "Prue."

"I just want to be sure, all right, this isn't just anybody that we're talking about, you know." Prue says.

Buffy nods, "We know, and we care about him too."

Prue nods, "I know you both do. I'm sorry. Um, right, why don't you fill in Piper and Buffy and I will go warn Andy."

Phoebe frowns, "How? He said it was too risky for you to be seen with him."

Prue nods, "Yeah, well, I don't care. Let Internal Affairs find out that we're witches. Andy's life is a lot more important."

Buffy nods in agreement, "I agree with Prue."

Phoebe sighs, "Okay, just please be careful. You don't know what kind of demon we're up against."

Prue nods, "Hence why I'm taking Buffy with me. Between her power and mine…"

Later at the park… Andy, Prue and Buffy are standing near a tree.

"Has Phoebe ever been wrong about her premonitions before? Or Buffy with, what did you call them?"

Buffy smiles, "Slayer dreams, and no neither my dreams or Phoebe's premonitions have been wrong before. Though usually my Slayer dream are far more cryptic."

Prue nods, "But the good news is every other time we've been able to affect the outcome. Stop the demon or warlock before..."

Andy nods, "Before I get killed. Can I get that in writing?"

Prue looks to Buffy and back to Andy, "Andy, you just have to be extra careful until we figure out who this demon is and why he's after you, okay? Andy."

Andy nods, "I was just thinking... what if the demon is Rodriguez?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Why would you say that?"

Andy sighs, "He pulled me in the station house this morning. I thought he was gonna arrest me. What he really wanted was a meeting with you, Prue."

"Meet with me? Why?" Prue asks.

Andy nods, "Because he thinks his partner was killed by a supernatural being and somehow, I don't know how, Prue, he knows you're a witch."

"How would he know that unless..." Buffy says.

Andy nods, "Unless he was the demon."

Prue nods, "Alright, uh, tell Rodriguez to meet me at the manor at 6:00."

Andy shakes his head, "It's too dangerous, Prue."

Prue nods, "I don't have a choice. If I don't meet with him, he'll frame you and try to expose me."

"But if he is a demon and it turns out to be a trap?" Andy asks.

Buffy smiles, "Then she'll have Piper, Phoebe and myself to back her up, the power of three augmented."

Andy nods, "Plus one. Me."

Prue shakes her head, "No. You can't be there, Andy. That's where you were in Phoebe's premonition and Buffy's Slayer dream when ... just promise me you'll stay away."

"I can't do that, Prue." Andy says.

Prue sighs, "I mean it. Don't make me use my magic on you." They smile. "I don't want anything to happen to you, Andy. You know how much I still care for you."

Buffy nods, "So do I Andy. You're a good friend."

Andy nods, "Okay, I promise."

Back at the manor at 5:55 that evening.

"All right, let's go over the plan again." Prue says.

Phoebe frowns, "Yeah, let's, because I wanna know why Buffy and I are the ones answering the door."

"Yeah," Buffy says.

Prue nods, "'Cause Phoebe, Buffy… Phoebe you know martial arts and Buffy is the Slayer, all right, that way if Rodriguez shows up and tries something right off the bat, you two can knock him down."

Piper nods, "And then I can come in from the living room and freeze him."

"And then I can come down the stairs and send him flying." Prue says.

Phoebe nods, "I still feel like cannon fodder."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Welcome to my world."

The doorbell rings.

"What time is it?" Prue asks.

Piper looks at a clock, "Just before six." He rings the doorbell a couple more times. "That's a little too anxious, that's not a good sign."

Phoebe nods, "Which means if he doesn't want to kill Prue, he wants to date her."

Buffy, Prue and Piper stare at Phoebe.

"Come on, let's get this day over with." Prue says.

Phoebe nods, "Okay." She and Buffy walks towards the door. "All right already." She opens it.

"Inspector Rodriguez. I'm here to see Prue Halliwell." Rodriguez says.

Phoebe nods, "Yeah, no kidding. Prue!"

"Piper!" Buffy calls out.

"Company!" Phoebe says.

Rodriguez's eyes glow red and his power throw's Phoebe and Buffy against the wall and they roll down the stairs.

Piper enters the room from the living room, "Phoebe! Buffy!"

Lightning comes out of Rodriguez's hand towards Piper but she freezes it just in time.

Prue comes running down the stairs. "Phoebe! Buffy!" She uses her power and the lightening hits Rodriguez and he explodes and vanishes.

Piper kneels next to Buffy, "Oh my God."

Prue kneels next to Phoebe, "Oh, God."

Piper looks at Prue, "Prue, is she okay?"

Prue shakes her head, "She's dead. What about Buffy?"

Piper frowns, "What? Phoebe. Phoebe!" She regains her composure for a moment and checks Buffy. "She's dead, Prue."

In Buffy's bedroom at the Manor, Buffy is tossing and turning.

"Yeah, she's out cold." Piper says as she, Phoebe and Buffy see Andy and run over to him. Piper feels his pulse. "Oh my God. He's dead."

Buffy sits up in bed her eyes wide.

Outside a paperboy rides along the road, a car honks and he waves. He throws the paper on the Halliwell's lawn. Inside the manor…

Weather Girl on TV, "Good morning, San Francisco. Well, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful Wednesday."

Phoebe is on the phone, "Piper, what are you doing at Quake? It's 8:00 in the morning."

Buffy and Prue enters the kitchen.

"Morning." Prue says.

"Hey." Buffy says as she debates telling them about her dream.

Phoebe nods, "Morning. Wait a minute." Kit knocks over the pepper and meows. Buffy's eyes go wide. "Whoa. I am freaking out." She speaks into the phone. "Okay. I'll be there in an hour." She hangs up.

Prue shakes he herad, "Be where in an hour?"

Phoebe pauses a little. "Okay. Pinch me."

"What?" Prue asks.

Phoebe nods, "No. I mean it. Pinch me. I want to make sure I'm awake because if I am, I am having one killer déjà vu."

Buffy shakes her head, "If you are so am I?"

Prue rolls her eyes, "So it's just a déjà vu. Everybody gets them."

"Not like this they don't." Phoebe says and then looks at Buffy. "You too?" Buffy nods. Phoebe looks back at Prue. "Look, Prue... something weird is going on here."

Prue sees the front page. "I don't believe this."

Phoebe nods, "No. I'm...trust me. This has happened before. Everything."

Buffy nods, "I think Phoebe's right."

Prue nods, "I'm talking about the paper. Did you see the front page?"

Phoebe nods, "See. Like that. Right there. You said that before. I know it."

Car crashes.

"That has happened before." Buffy says.

"Where did you park my car last night?" Prue asks.

Phoebe nods, "In the driveway and I told you that already the last time you asked me." Prue leaves. Phoebe sighs she looks at Buffy, "Your having a sense of déjà vu also?"

Buffy nods, "Yeah ever since I got up this morning, starting with the Slayer dream I had this morning."

Buffy and Phoebe follow Prue into the living room. Prue looks out the window.

Prue nods, "Mrs. Henderson's car. Just a little fender-bender, no big deal."

Phoebe nods, "Prue, Buffy and I arenot nuts. Okay, maybe I am just a little but that's irrelevant here."

Prue nods, "Phoebe, Buffy, Andy's in trouble."

"What?" Phoebe and Buffy say.

Prue shows them the paper.

Phoebe nods, "Let me see that." She takes the paper off Prue and has a premonition. "Now, that was the premonition which I've had before."

Buffy nods, "Of Andy dead right?"

Phoebe nods, "Yeah, Buffy. Of Andy, here, being killed by a demon."

Later Buffy, Prue and Andy are at the park.

Andy nods, "What if he is a demon and it turns out to be a trap?"

Prue nods, "I'll have Piper, Phoebe and Buffy there to back me up. The power of three augmented.

Buffy nods.

"Plus one. Me." Andy says as he sees Prue thinking about something. "What is it?"

Prue looks to Buffy, "This seems a little familiar to me that's all, kinda like deja vu. Never mind. Um, Andy, you can't be at the meeting and Phoebe's premonition and Buffy's Slayer dream, that's where you were when... Just promise me that you'll stay away."

"Prue, I can't do that." Andy says.

Prue sighs, "I mean it. Don't make me use my magic on you." They smile. "Andy, I don't want anything bad to happen to you. You know how much I still love you."

Andy shakes his head, "No, I didn't."

They hug.

At 5:55 that evening inside the manor. Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe are looking at both Books.

"Is there anything in there about time loops?" Piper asks.

Phoebe shakes her head, "There's a spell to accelerate time but that's about it. I'm telling you, this is all part of his evil plan. I just haven't had enough time to figure it out yet."

Buffy nods, "Neither have I."

The doorbell rings.

"What time is it?" Prue asks.

Piper nods, "Just before six."

Phoebe nods, "I'll get it. The doorbell rings a couple more times. "All right already."

The door flies open and the lightening out of Rodriguez's hand hits Buffy and Phoebe and they hits the wall.

"Phoebe! Buffy!" Piper says.

The lightning then hits Piper and she crashes through the glass door. Rodriguez then tries to get Prue but her power makes the lightning fly back into him. He explodes and vanishes.

Prue rushes to check Phoebe and Buffy, finds them both dead. "Oh my God, no." She then runs over to Piper. "Piper." Piper too is dead. Prue starts crying.

In Buffy's bedroom at the Manor, Buffy is tossing and turning.

"Yeah, she's out cold." Piper says as she, Phoebe and Buffy see Andy and run over to him. Piper feels his pulse. "Oh my God. He's dead."

Buffy sits up in bed her eyes wide. She gets out of bed and goes into Phoebe's room. "Phoebe."

Outside a paperboy rides along the road, a car honks and he waves. He throws the paper on the Halliwell's lawn. Inside the manor…

Weather Girl on TV, "Good morning, San Francisco. Well, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful Wednesday."

Phoebe's on the phone.

Buffy is drinking a coke, she turns off the TV.

"Don't tell me. I already know. You spilt marinara sauce on your dress, right? Am I right? Think Piper, think. Doesn't all of this seem awfully familiar to you?" Phoebe says.

Prue enters the kitchen, "Morning."

Phoebe nods, "Freeze. No, not you, Piper." Kit's on the bench. "Kit knocks over pepper. Meows." Kit does so. Prue looks at Phoebe as if to say how'd you know that? "Hold that thought. Okay, Piper, you need to get home as soon as you can, okay, we've got major demon hunting to do. Oh, and if you run into someone named Joanne from high school, just tell her to go stick it. I will explain later, just hurry."

Prue frowns, "Okay, what's going on?"

Buffy nods, "Quick, follow us. They go to the window in the living room. "5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Car honks..." a car honks "…skids..." a car skids "…crashes..." a car crashes "…Mrs. Henderson's car. A little fender bender. Good thing Phoebe parked your car in the driveway last night, huh?"

Prue frowns, "How did you know that?"

Phoebe nods, "Because this has all happened once before, Prue, maybe even more than once. The day keeps repeating itself. Buffy and I know it and every time it happens I think we figure it out just a little faster. It must be my power of premonition and Buffy's Slayer dreams. Premonition... I'm supposed to be having a premonition right about now."

"Supposed to? What do you mean?" Prue asks.

Buffy nods, "The paper. Look at the front page."

Prue does so. "Andy."

Phoebe nods, "Is in trouble. More than you know, Prue."

Buffy nods, "If Phoebe touches that paper, she will have a premonition."

"The same one that I've had before. Where Andy gets killed here by a demon. Uhm Buffy isn't this where you mention having the Slayer dream? Saying you saw the same thing I just did."

"Yeah." Buffy says.

Phoebe nods, "Prue, you have got to believe us."

Prue nods, "No, I believe you both. The question is what do we do about it?"

Phoebe nods, "Well, you've got to go warn Andy. Keep him away from our house at all costs. Meanwhile, I've got to dig through the Book Of Shadows, find a way to vanquish this time demon before he can kill Andy. I could use your help Buffy. It'll go twice as fast if were looking through both books."

At 5:55 that evening inside the manor Buffy and Phoebe's reading both Book of Shadows.

"The devil's sorcerer, Tempus." Phoebe says.

Buffy nods, "He can manipulate time anyway he chooses."

"Does it say how to vanquish him?" Piper asks.

Phoebe sighs, "Uh, take him out of the time that he's in."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "What ever that means."

Rodriguez kicks open the door and throws lightning at Prue, but Piper pushes her out of the way just in time and they fall to the floor.

Andy runs in. "No!" He shoots at Rodriguez and Rodriguez throws lightning at him.

"Andy!" Phoebe and Buffy say.

Andy flies through the air and hits a glass cabinet.

Piper freezes Rodriguez. "Are you both okay?"

Phoebe nods, "Yeah, is Prue okay?"

Buffy kneels next to Prue, "Yeah, she's out cold."

They see Andy and run over to him. Piper feels his pulse. "Oh my God. He's dead." Piper says.

It is now 6:15 and Rodriguez is tied to a chair.

"The only reason you're still alive is because I haven't figured out how to kill you yet." Phoebe says.

Rodriguez smiles, "Go ahead. Kill me witch. I don't care."

Piper shakes her head, "Phoebe, what are you doing?"

"I'm trying to save Andy." Phoebe says.

Buffy nods in agreement.

Piper frowns, "Andy, Andy's dead, you can't save him, Phoebe, Buffy."

"No? We're in a time loop, aren't we?" Buffy says.

Phoebe nods, "All we have to do is start this day over and Andy lives. And I'm willing to bet that his death somehow triggers the time loop?"

Rodriguez smiles, "I'm impressed. I was told you wouldn't know that."

Phoebe shakes her head, "Really? By who? Tempus? Yeah, we know about him too. And we also know you're not him otherwise you would've restarted the day by now. So, where do we find him?"

"In your nightmares. Kill me. I dare you." Rodriguez says.

Piper pulls Phoebe and Buffy away.

Piper frowns, "Why is he so willing to let us kill him?"

Buffy shrugs, "Who cares. If he dies, Andy lives. End of story."

Piper sighs, "What if that's exactly his plan? To reset the day and he can kill us all next."

:It doesn't matter. The day's gonna reset itself anyway, there's not a damn thing to do about." Rodriguez says.

Piper frowns, "Shut up. Come on, we have to wake Prue."

They bend now next to Prue.

Phoebe shakes Prue, "Prue. Prue. Come on, we need your help. Prue, come on, honey. Prue. Prue."

Buffy nods, "Prue, come on, wake up, sweetie."

Prue wakes up. They help her off the floor.

"Easy, easy." Phoebe says.

Prue nods, "Where is Andy?"

Buffy sighs, "Prue, something terrible has happened."

Prue sees Andy lying on the floor with a blanket covering him. "Oh my God."

"It all happened so fast, Prue. He ran in the door when Rodriguez attacked. He was trying to save us." Piper says.

Prue nods, "And he'll succeed. Where's the Book of Shadows? Either one."

Buffy nods, "Their both right here. Why?"

"Where's the spell that you saw to accelerate time?" Prue asks.

"What are you doing?" Rodriguez asks.

Phoebe flips through the Charmed Book, "There."

Rodriguez frowns, "What's going on?"

Piper shakes her head, "But we don't want to accelerate time, we want to reverse it."

Prue sighs, "No, we don't, trust me. The only chance that we have to get rid of Tempus is to do this by breaking the time loop, okay."

Buffy frowns, "But if we break the time loop we won't be able to save Andy."

Prue nods, "I know."

"Prue, are you sure?" Piper asks.

Prue shakes her head, "No, I'm not." She starts reading the spell. "Winds of time gather 'round, Give me wings to speed my way..."

"Wait a minute..." Rodriguez says.

"Rush me on my journey forward, let tomorrow be today." Prue says.

Rodriguez frowns, "What's happening?"

The hands on the clock speed around the clock face.

"Prue..." Piper and Buffy say.

Prue nods, "You know what, just untie him get him outta here."

"What?" Phoebe asks.

Piper nods, "He'll kill us."

Buffy nods in agreement, "Yeah, Prue."

Prue shakes her head, "No, he won't. He doesn't have the power to kill us, otherwise he wouldn't have needed Tempus."

"I will not untie him, Prue." Phoebe says.

Prue uses her power and the ropes untie. "Get outta here before I change my mind."

"You stupid witch." Rodriguez says as he walks towards the door but stops. He turns around, his eyes glow red, he throws an energy ball and Prue uses her powers and reflects it back to him. He explodes and turns into dust.

"We may not be murderers but we're no angels either." Prue says. She walks over to Andy, kneels next to him and starts crying.

Buffy looks to Piper and Phoebe and then walks over to Prue. She kneels down and turns Prue towards her holding her close. Prue buries her face in Buffy's shoulder as she continues to cry.

A couple days later Prue, Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Darryl are in a cemetery. Prue lays a rose on top of Andy's coffin.

The next day the Weather Girl on the TV is talking, "Good morning, San Francisco, well, it looks like it's going to be a gorgeous Monday morning here in the Bay area."

Phoebe turns off the TV. "She really needs another shtick. That one's getting boring."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

Piper nods, "Maybe she should hire Joanne Hertz, boost the ratings."

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "Speaking of the she-devil herself, did you ever call to reschedule your segment?"

"No, and I'm not going to." Piper says.

"Why?" Buffy asks.

Piper smiles, "I've decided to quit my job."

Phoebe blinks, "What?"

Piper nods, "And actually, I owe it all to Joanne. She made me realize that somehow I had forgotten what my dreams were, still are. I always wanted to be a chef and have my own restaurant not manage one. It's a good job and the pay's okay but it's not my dream job."

Buffy smiles, "I think that's great."

Phoebe nods, "I think that's great also. I really do. And don't worry, if you need any help trolling the classifieds, I am an expert."

They walk outside where Prue is sitting on the steps.

"Prue, are you all right?" Piper asks.

Prue nods, "Actually, I am. Andy's been exonerated, they are now looking for Rodriguez."

"Good luck." Buffy says.

"Hey, are you sure you're all right?" Phoebe asks.

Prue nods, "Yeah. I was just thinking all that we've been through since we became witches."

Piper nods, "Give you a headache?"

Prue shakes her head, "No actually, it gave me a good feeling. I mean, look, it's a hassle and can sometimes screw up our personal lives."

Buffy nods in agreement, "You got that right."

Prue smiles, "And we do good things together. Helps offset the bad things."

Phoebe nods, "I'm gonna really miss Andy."

"It's gonna be very sad without him." Piper says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah, I'll miss him, too."

Prue nods, "Something tells me that he'll always be with us. We better get ready for work." She looks to Buffy. "And you need to get ready for school."

Piper smiles, "I'll tell her later."

"Tell me what?" Prue asks.

Piper shakes her head, "Nothing. It's not important."

Buffy nods, "Nothing. Nothing."

They walk inside and Prue points at the door and it swings shut.