Chapter 28: Revelations

At the Bronze the Dingoes Ate My Baby finished up a ballad and then took their best rock-star bows. All that is except Oz who just unstrapped his guitar and dropped offstage. He passed a gaggle of wide-eyed groupies and joined Willow, Paige, Dawn and Xander.

Willow sat stuck between Buffy and Xander and looked mighty happy to see Oz. "Oz! Hey. Have a seat. Except, we don't have any seats."

"No problem, I'll just scrunch," Oz said as he scooted in, pressing Willow to Xander.

Xander pushed up close against Paige.

"Not that I'm not happy here, Xander," Paige said. "But why are you giving me a lap dance?"

Xander smiled. "I just like you."

"And that's very beautiful," Willow said. "I think it's great when two people like two people and want to be close to them instead of anyone else."

Xander nodded. "Hear, hear."

"Yeah, well put," Oz said. "Um, can I snag a sip?"

"Sure," Willow said.

"You got it," Xander said.

Willow and Xander reach at the same time for Willow's soda as their hands brushed against each other. Suddenly Willow knocked over the glass and Xander whipped his hand back so fast that he knocked over a passing waitress' tray as several folks began to applaud.

"Thank you, we're here through Saturday, enjoy the veal," Xander said.

"Why are you guys so hyper?" Dawn asked.

"Hey, speaking of people and things they do that are not like usual, anyone notice Buffy acting sort of different?" Willow asked.

"Let's see… killing Zombies, torching sewer monsters, freeing the enslaved populace of a parallel dimension … nope. She's pretty much the same old Buffster," Xander said.

"Maybe not so much as different," Paige said. "But kind of not herself. Dawn and I have both noticed she seems kind of distracted."

"Think maybe she's got a new boyfriend?" Dawn asked as Paige shrugged.

"A boyfriend? Why wouldn't she tell us?" Willow asked.

"I have to agree. She and I used to tell each other everything," Paige said. "Of course that was before she had to kill Angel. Though now that I think about it. She might just be afraid to tell us incase whoever she's seeing her dumps her. That's what Scott did."

"But we're the best of Buffy's bestest buds, she tell us," Xander said before he looked at Paige and Dawn pointedly. "And even she didn't. She'd tell you two."

"Tell Paige and Dawn what?"

They all look up to see Buffy standing there looking at them expectantly.

"About your new boyfriend. Who we made up. Unless we didn't," Willow said.

"This was a topic of discussion?" Buffy asked.

"Raised, never discussed," Oz said.

"So? Are you with somebody or not?" Dawn asked as eyes turned to Buffy.

Buffy smiled to herself. "Well, I wouldn't use the word dating, but I am … going out with somebody. Tonight.

"Really? Who?" Willow said excitedly as Paige stood up.

"She's joking, Will," Paige said as Faith strode over to the table. "Faith, Buffy and I are going out on patrol tonight."

"Yo, what's up," Faith said as she looked to Paige and Buffy. "Time to motorvate."

Paige leaned in and kissed Xander. "See you guys tomorrow. Dawn, see you at home. Tell mom were on patrol and our cellphones are turned on."

Dawn nodded. "Okay," she said as Paige, Buffy and Faith turned and left the Bronze.

Later that night Paige, Buffy and Faith are fighting three vampires as Giles watched anxiously.

Buffy used her attacker's momentum against him as he attacked her, she rolled and came up on top as she drew her stake.

Paige let her vamp make the first move. He lunged and she ducked under him and came up with a well-practiced combination of roundhouse kicks as she drew her stake.

Faith shoved her vamp off her and took the fight to her guy, barraging him with a series of crude, hard shots to the head as she drew her stake.

Giles watched as the three of them staked their respective vamps at the exact same moment, dusting them.

Buffy turned to Giles. "Synchronized slaying."

"New Olympic category," Faith said.

"What do you think?" Paige asked.

"Sloppy."

Huh?

Paige, Buffy, Faith and Giles turned to see Gwendolyn Post emerge from the darkness.

Gwen clicked off her stopwatch and briskly critiqued them. She looked to Faith. "You telegraph punches." She looked to Buffy. "You leave blind sides open." She looked to Paige. "You took entirely too much time. In fact you all did. "Now which one of you is Faith?"

"Depends," Faith asked. "Who the hell are you?"

Gwen smiled. "Gwendolyn Post. Mrs. Your new Watcher."

They then proceed to return to the library as Paige drove herself, Buffy and Faith. Giles was in his car with Gwen. Buffy was on the phone with her mom.

"Yes, mom," Buffy said. "We're fine. We'll just be a tad bit late getting home. Seems Faith is getting a new Watcher and we're heading over to the library now. We'll be home after we drop Faith off at her place."

When they arrived at the library they watched as Gwen rummaged through Giles' book collection. He was less than impressed.

"I'm telling you, I don't need a new Watcher!" Faith said. "No offense, lady, I just have this problem with authority figures. They end up kinda dead."

Gwen nodded. "Duly noted, and fortunately, it's not up to you," she said as she looked Giles. "Mr. Giles, where do you keep the rest of your books?"

"I'm sorry, the … rest?" Giles asked.

Gwen nodded. "Yes, the actual library," she said as she noted the look on Giles face. "Oh. I see."

"I assure you, Mrs. Post, this is the finest occult reference collection…" Giles said.

"…this side of the Atlantic, I'm sure," Gwen replied. "Do you have Hume's Paranormal Encyclopedia?" Giles shook his head. "The Labyrinth maps of Malta?" He sighed. "I suppose you have Sir Robert Kane's Twilight Compendium?"

Giles smiled. "Yes, I, I do have that."

"Yes, of course you do," Gwen said with disdain. "I've been sent by the council for a very important reason. Faith needs a Watcher. I am to act in that capacity, and report back."

"Excuse me, Mary Poppins, you're not listening…" Faith said.

"Now, Faith, if the council feels you need closer observations, well of course we'll all cooperate –" Giles said.

"The council wishes me to report on the entire situation here. Including you," Gwen said. "As well as Ms. Summers' sisters."

Buffy looked at Paige and then back at Gwen. "My sisters?"

"Yes," Gwen said with a nod. "The Council believes that they are hindering you in you duties." She looked at Giles. "There is even talk in the council that you've become a bit too … American."

"Me?" Giles asked.

"Him?" Buffy and Paige asked.

"Operations here seem somewhat haphazard. Sloppy. Faith. Sit up straight and pay attention," Gwen said.

Faith, surprised, does exactly as she's told.

Giles urgently motions for Buffy and Paige to do the same, but they just glared at him.

"A demon named Lagos is coming here, to the Hellmouth. Mr. Giles, an illustration of Lagos, if you please," Gwen said as Giles scrambled to find the right book. "Perhaps later. Lagos seeks the Glove of Myhnegon. No record of this glove's full power exists. We do know it is highly dangerous, and cannot fall in the hands of a demon. Lagos must be stopped."

"What do you propose?" Giles asked.

"If it's not too radical a suggestion, I thought we might kill him. I suggest two slayers at full strength for a coordinated hunt," Gwen said.

"Dawn or I will be going with them," Paige said.

"No you will not," Gwen said.

"This is not up for discussion," Paige said. "Our mom wants someone with Buffy when she is out on patrol, beyond just Faith."

"Your mother has no jurisdiction when it comes to the Slayer," Gwen said. "This discussion is over."

Buffy looked to Paige, knowing the reason that their mom wanted two people when they patrolled with Faith. But it seemed it would all be for naught with this new Watcher. She silently begged Paige to drop it. That they would talk to Giles about it later. Paige reluctantly nodded.

"Now we believe the glove to be buried in a tomb somewhere, so Lagos will be headed for the cemetery," Gwen said.

"Well, there is more than one in Sunnydale," Giles said.

"I see," Gwen said. "How many?"

"Twelve. Within city limits," Giles said.

"Ah. Well, we shall have to take them one at a time," Gwen said. "Anything in your books that might pinpoint the exact location of the tomb would be useful but then, we cannot ask for miracles. We'll begin tomorrow at sunset. Faith! With me, please." She turned and left with Faith trailing along.

"Well," Giles said. "That was bracing."

"She's an interesting lady. Can we kill her?" Buffy asked.

Giles sighed. "I think the council would tend to frown on that."

"What about the fact she wants to go against our mother's wishes?" Paige asked.

"For the time being," Giles said. "We'll have to bide our time till she sees for herself that without you or Dawn as backup that Buffy and Faith's lives are at risk."

"And hopefully before I get killed again," Buffy said.

"Yes," Giles said. "Well. What do you say to some training?"

The next night Paige orbed Buffy to the cemetery where Buffy was to meet Faith and then orbed to the library to await Buffy's call.

"This is intolerable," Giles said as he reviewed some books Willow and Xander have outlined for him. He tossed them aside. "There's not a word here about Lagos or the Glove. We don't have time for this near-missing. Find all you can about the demon: His strengths, weaknesses, place of origin, and most importantly, how he plans to use that glove." He noticed Paige coming out of the stacks. "Hello, Paige. Did Buffy meet up with Faith alright?"

"Probably," Paige said. "Buffy said she was fine to wait by herself for a few minutes. She's got her cell. She'll call when she's found the glove or when she and Faith are done for the night."

"I have some books," Giles said. "If you want to look through them."

"Of course," Paige said as she and Giles left Willow and Xander alone.

It didn't take Paige long to find what the others had missed. "Giles! Willow! Xander!" she yelled as the three of them came running. "I think I've found where it might be."

Giles looked at the book Paige had opened and nodded. "House right here in Sunnydale, in the Von Hauptman family crypt."

"The big one in the Restfield cemetery," Xander said. "I know it well. Where's Buffy at?"

They turned and looked at Paige. "I don't know. Xander and I'll stake out the crypt," she said as she grabbed Xander's hand and orbed out. They orb into the cemetery and make their way over to the Von Hauptman crypt. They notice that the door is open.

"If Lagos is here," Paige said. "And without Buffy or even Faith as backup."

Xander nodded in agreement and they scooted behind a tree and watched as Angel walked out of the tomb carrying a bundle.

"Tell me I'm seeing things," Paige said.

"If you are so am I," Xander said.

"Let's follow him," Paige said as Xander nodded. "See if he has the glove."

They waited till Angel was almost out of sight and then turned and followed him. They follow Angel to the mansion where Buffy had killed him. They look through one of the windows and watched as Buffy and Angel kissed each other.

"Not good," Paige said. "Very not good." She moved to walk in the door and confront her sister as Xander grabbed.

"No," Xander said. "We have to tell the others. If Angel is back he might be evil. And if Buffy is with him …"

Paige nodded as she grabbed Xander's hand and orbed out.

At Giles apartment he was looking at volume III of Tobin's Spirit Guide. He placed the book for Gwen to see, spreading the pages. "There! The wood engraving, see? The Glove of Myhnegon."

Gwen, keeping her distance, looked down on the picture. "Yes, engraved by Father Theodore of Wolsham, based I believe on very sketchy and unreliable folk legends. The pictures are fun to look at, Mr. Giles, but one ought to read the nice words as well."

"Ah, yes … Well," Giles said. "Some tea, perhaps?"

Gwen smiled at Giles discomfort and nodded as he headed into the kitchen. "I know you must find me tiresome—but it's insidious, really. A person slips up on the little things …" she said as Giles returned with everything he needed to make the tea.. "And soon everything's gone to hell in a handbasket." She reached into her purse and pulled out a tin of loose tea. "For example, Buffy, your slayer—"

"Is nowhere near either hell or a handbasket, thank you," Giles said.

"Not yet. But the signs are daunting," Gwen said.

"While we are on the subject of Buffy," Giles interrupted. "Paige and Dawn along with their friends have been what has kept Buffy alive this long. If not for their friends. Buffy along with Paige would be dead now."

"And yet," Gwen said. "Her sisters, their friends, distract her from her calling. In fact your ability to influence her seems - negligible. I can see why the Council of Watchers is concerned."

"Mrs. Post. I assure you – Buffy, Paige and Dawn are all dedicated and industrious young women. And I am in complete control of my slayer. No my team. For that is what they are a team that works better than the Slayer alone."

Just then Paige and Xander orbed in.

"Giles. We have a big problem," Xander said. "It's Buffy."

Giles whisked Xander and Paige aside and motioned for them to lower their voices. Xander looked to Paige who nodded reluctantly and he turned back to Giles and whispered, "Angel is alive."

"Would you like some assistance?" Gwen asked.

Giles smiled through gritted teeth. "Thank you, that won't be necessary."

"Dawn," Joyce said the next morning. "Buffy, where is Paige?"

"She said she had something to do at school and that we'll her there," Dawn said.

When they got to school Buffy and Dawn made their way to the library. They stopped dead when they saw Giles, Willow, Xander, Paige and Oz waiting with grim expressions on their faces.

"Hey, enough with the tragedy masks. Lagos is outta luck - I found the magic mitten thingy!" Buffy said as they just looked at her. She looked at Dawn. "I thought that would …"

"You'd better have a seat, Buffy," Giles interrupted as Buffy sat down. "Dawn, you might as well also."

Dawn nodded as she too sat down.

"What? Is somebody hurt?" Buffy asked.

"Not yet. But it's only a matter of time," Xander said.

"Buffy," Paige said. "When did you start lying to me or Dawn?"

"Lying?" Dawn asked as she looked between her sisters.

Paige looked towards her baby sister and sighed. "Dawn, Angel is alive. Xander and I saw Buffy with him last night."

Buffy closed her eyes.

"It appears that you've been hiding him. And that you lied not just to Paige and Dawn, but to all of us," Giles said.

"Nobody's here to blame you, Buffy," Willow said. "We all do things we're not proud of—but this is serious. You need help."

"It's … It's not what you think," Buffy said.

"Hope not - because I think you're harboring a vicious killer –" Xander said.

"Hey. This isn't about attacking Buffy," Willow said. "Remember - I statements only? I feel angry. I feel worried…"

"Hey," Dawn said. "I got one for you Willow. I'm worried about me. Do you remember what happened when we found out he turned. He came to the school and nearly killed me. In fact if I remember right Giles said he would go through my family to get at Buffy."

Buffy looked at Dawn. She so wanted to try and allay her sister's fears. "But he's better now. You and Willow cured him and—somehow—he came back."

"Better for how long, Buffy? Have you even thought about that?" Xander asked.

"What is this? Demons Anonymous? I mean, I don't need an intervention here –" Buffy said.

"Don't you? To hide this - to take into your own hands…" Giles said.

Buffy sighed. "I was going to tell you! But I didn't know why he was back or anything. I wanted to wait –"

"For what?" Paige said angrily. "For Angel to go psycho again the next time you get him into bed with you?"

"Paige," Buffy said, hurt that her sister didn't understand. "I'm not going to - We're not together like that!"

"But you were kissing him," Oz said.

Buffy nailed by Oz's statement, can't deal. Everyone is silent for a moment before Buffy finally spoke up as she looked at her elder sister and Xander. "You two were spying on me? What gives either of you the right?"

"You did," Dawn said. "The day you became the Slayer. Remember you wanted Paige as your backup. Merrick fought it, but eventually relented because you wanted Paige and I in this fight."

"Buffy," Paige said with a sigh. "I didn't know where Angel was going. All I knew was he had a bundle and was coming out of the crypt we thought the glove might be. So we followed him. We looked through the window only to gain intel when we saw you. I'm more hurt right now that you didn't tell me. Ever since you came back from L.A. you have been keeping secrets. You don't tell me nothing anymore."

"I … I … It was wrong, Paige," Buffy said. "I didn't mean to lie to you. Nor did I mean to kiss Angel. It can't happen again. But I—I'd never put you guys in danger. If I thought Angel was going to hurt anyone –"

"You'd stop him. Like you did last time with Ms. Calendar," Xander said.

Xander's statement hit Buffy hard.

"Xander," Paige said as she saw tears come to her sister's eyes. "You just hit below the belt."

"What?" Xander asked.

"Did you forget," Dawn said. "Matusa Janna is our aunt?" She put an arm around Buffy.

Willow sighed as she looked at everyone and tried to defuse the situation. "Buffy—when it comes to Angel—you can't see straight. That's why we're all going to help you face this."

"But—he's good again. I swear. He even found the Glove of Myhnegon for us. It's at the mansion," Buffy said.

Xander stood, having finally had enough. "Right. Good plan. Leave tons of firepower with the scary guy," he said as he pointed at Buffy. "And leave us to clean up the mess." He then moved toward the weapons cabinet.

Buffy grabbed Xander by the arm, stopping him. "You'd love an excuse to hurt him, wouldn't you?"

Xander yanked his arm away as he backed away from Buffy, appalled. "I don't need an excuse. I think lots of dead people actually constitutes a reason."

"Right, this is all nobility, you're not jealous or anything –" Buffy said.

"Hey," Paige said. "He's my boyfriend, remember? Why would he be …" Then she remembered a conversation two years previous and nodded in understanding.

"Giles, no one's doing the I statements!" Willow said.

"That's enough!" Giles said as he stood up. "Everybody. Buffy's heard our concerns. And her actions, while ill-advised, were understandable … and the question of Angel … It can't be solved while tempers run this hot. Our priority right now is retrieving the Glove of Myhnegon from the mansion and finding a way to destroy it. Now—all of you—to your classes."

Everyone except Giles and Buffy filed out of the library.

"Why didn't you tell me, Paige," Dawn said. "Before you left."

"I …" Paige said near tears.

Dawn sighed and nodded as she wrapped an arm around Paige.

At the end of school Buffy walked up to Paige and Dawn. "Hey," she said tentatively.

"Hey!" Paige and Dawn said.

"So, on a scale of one to a million, how much are you two hating me right now?" Buffy asked.

"We don't hate you," Dawn said as Paige nodded. "We're disappointed. Mostly because you didn't tell us. You said mine and Willow's spell worked. Which means he should be good again, right? We would have helped find out why he was back."

"I wouldn't have," Paige said as Buffy stared at her. "I'm sorry Buffy. But he nearly killed Dawn to get at you when we first found out he turned. Then he sent Drusilla to get Giles and in the process nearly killed our baby sister again. I'm sorry, Buffy. But don't ask me to like him. I can't not after everything we went through last year."

Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry," she said as she turned around and walked away.

"You idiot," Dawn said. "She needs us."

Paige sighed. "I know. I just need time, Dawnie."

That night Paige sat at the dining room table across from Joyce, they were alone. "Did Buffy and Dawn say they were patrolling tonight?" Joyce asked.

Paige shrugged. "I don't know."

"What's wrong," Joyce said.

"Angel's alive," Paige said as Joyce's eyes went wide. "Buffy said just before she killed him that Dawn and Willow's spell worked. He got his soul back. Yet for I don't know how long she didn't tell us he had come back."

Joyce nodded. "You're having trouble forgiving Buffy for not telling you."

"That," Paige said. "And I have this nagging feeling that something bad is going to happen and …"

"Angel will go bad again," Joyce said in understanding. "I've been going over Janna's notes on the spell. I believe I can rework it to make his soul permanent. We'll see as that is going to take time. Right now, you're sister needs you, to forgive her."

Paige sighed and nodded. Her mother was right she knew. She excused herself from the table and then orbed out. She orbed into the library hoping that Buffy would be there.

"I also have the glove," Giles said from is office. "It's not on me, but I believe it's safe for now. There's a mansion on Crawford Street, a … friend of Buffy's is keeping it there."

"We have to get to it. Immediately. Hide it before someone else finds it," Gwen said.

Paige frowned. Surely Faith's Watcher would want it destroyed.

"Or better still. Destroy it," Giles said.

"Destroy it?" Gwen asked.

"I know. I didn't realize it could be done either. It requires transforming fire into Living Flame and burning the glove … It's complex, but I believe I have all the necessary materials. We can drive over there now and be done with it," Giles said.

"I must say, Mr. Giles - good show," Gwen said and then Paige heard something crash to the floor. "Good show indeed."

Paige orbed out seconds before Gwen came out of the office. She orbed in, in a cemetery and smiled. "Buffy!" she said as she spotted her sisters with Willow.

"Paige!" Buffy said as she stood up. "I'm sorry."

"I know, Buffy," Paige said as she embraced her sister. "I'm sorry, too. I still don't know if I can forgive Angel. I'm willing to try though."

"That's all I ask," Buffy said. "If you can't, you can't. And I'll live with that. But Angel and I are not back together, okay?"

Paige nodded. "Okay. Before I forget there is something I need to tell you."

"Buffy! Paige!," Dawn said. "Behind you."

Paige and Buffy spun just in time to see Lagos rushing them, his arms spread like an NFL linebacker.

Paige orbed out as Buffy nimbly leap-frogged over Lagos's rush.

"We'll pick up in a minute," Buffy said to Paige as she stood between Lagos and the tomb entrance, ready to rock.

Lagos lumbered forward as Buffy and Paige tried taking him on, Faith-style. They slugged him hard again and again. And just kept on coming. He swung at them and they barely ducked under his punch in time.

"Okay. A plan B would be nice," Buffy said.

"Stupify!" Dawn yelled as Lagos slid to the ground unconscious. "How's that?"

Buffy smiled at her baby sister as she staked Lagos and he dusted. "So what were you going to tell me?" she asked as she turned back to Paige.

"I think Faith's new Watcher is after the glove," Paige said. "I think she either knocked Giles out or killed him. I don't know. I orbed out to keep her from seeing me. I didn't even know where I was orbing to till I saw you three."

"Okay," Buffy said. "You take Willow back to the library and check on him. Dawn and I'll go to the mansion and try and head her off if your right."

Paige took Willow's hand and orbed out.

In the library Xander pulled the phone on the counter to him while cradling Giles head. "Giles - can you hear me? What happened?" he asked.

"Gee, let me guess," Faith said.

Xander shook his head as he dialed Paige's cellphone. "Hold it - stop - think a minute."

"Yeah, I'm thinking. Thinking Buffy's ex-meat did this," Faith said.

Xander shook his head. "This isn't Angel's style."

"The guy's a demon! How much more proof do you need?" Faith asked.

"Bite marks would be nice…" Xander said as he turned his attention to the phone. "Paige isn't answering." He hung up and dialed again.

"Screw this waiting crap," Faith said.

"Faith - we don't help, Giles could die!" Xander said.

"Yeah - and he's gonna have a whole lot of company, unless I do something permanent," Faith said as she stormed out of the library.

"Wait!" Xander yelled.

"For what? You to grow a pair? You handle the baby-sit. I'm going to kill Angel," Faith said as she ran out the door.

Just then Willow and Paige orbed in.

"Paige," Xander said. "Giles is hurt!"

Paige looked at Willow as if to say this is my fault.

"It's alright, Paige," Willow said understandingly.

"What?" Xander asked as Paige held her hands over Giles.

"I was here when this happened," Paige said. "I heard Giles and Mrs. Post talking. Then I heard something hit the floor followed by footsteps. I panicked and orbed out."

"You're saying Faith's new Watcher did this?" Xander asked as Paige nodded. "Did you go to Buffy?"

"Yeah," Paige said as tears fell from her eyes. "I had to warn her, let her know that Mrs. Post might be after the glove. I would have been right back but we were attacked by Lagos."

"If Mrs. Post did this, that means Angel is in the clear," Xander said.

"What happened," Willow asked.

"Faith," Xander said. "She was with me when we found Giles. She made the connection that Angel did this. She's gone to slay him."

Paige stood up as she finished healing Giles, who opened his eyes and looked up at her. "I've got to warn Buffy."

"Paige," Giles said. "Living Flame …"

"I know," Paige said. "I was here when she hit you. I'm sorry I panicked."

Giles slowly stood up and put his hands on Paige's shoulders. "It's alright. You did the right thing. If you had been here you would have been hurt also. Now find Buffy and destroy the glove before Mrs. Post gets her hands on it."

Paige nodded and orbed out.

At Angel's mansion Faith attacked Angel as he threw a strong right. Faith blocked it and landed one of her own. She kicked him across the room, toward the couch. She quickly moved and really began to pummel him. She raised her stake high for the kill before bringing it whistling down.

Suddenly someone grabbed Faith's arm. "What?" Faith asked as she turned to see Paige. "Never stop a slayer when the blood is up. Didn't your sister tell you that?"

"Can't let you do it, Faith," Paige said.

"You're confused, Twinkie. Let me clear you up," Faith said pointing between her and Angel. "Vampire. Slayer. Dead vampire."

Paige sighed as she spotted Buffy running into the room. "Faith, Angel didn't hurt Giles. Your brand spanking new Watcher did."

"Faith…" Gwen said. "She's lying. She's blinded by love for her sister who is blinded by love for him."

Buffy moved next to Paige. "Faith, no …"

"Faith … trust me …" Gwen said as a look passed between her and Faith.

Buffy stepped toward Faith. "We can figure this out –"

Faith whirled and punched Buffy with a left hook that nearly took her head off. Buffy snapped back and the two slayers squared off. They go at it, no holds barred. They explode through the glass doors, sending shards everywhere. They are on their feet in a moment and the fight continued, neither girl making much headway.

Paige turned to Gwen. "You're not getting the glove. How are you going to stop me, witch?"

"Angel," Paige said. "Is the glove still wrapped up?"

"Yeah," Angel said. "But if you touch it."

"I know," Paige said. "Glove of Myneghon!"

The glove, still wrapped up, orbed into her hands.

"Ah, you're a natural born," Gwen said. "This will prove interesting."

Just then Willow and Xander ran into the Mansion from the double doors, breathless.

"Willow," Paige said. "Get the living flame setup. Angel, think you can handle the glove for a minute? Xander go stop Faith and Buffy and tell them I need their help."

Angel nodded as he took the glove from Paige.

Xander spun on his heels and ran out the door after Faith and Buffy.

"Now it's just you and me," Paige said as she looked at Gwen.

Gwen smiled as she backhanded Paige. "I trained with some of the masters in the world."

Paige smiled as she decked Gwen. "And I trained with the Slayer."

And Paige and Gwen go at it. Throwing punches and kicking each other with expertise. Paige smiled as she round house kicked Gwen in the stomach causing her to double over.

"What are you doing?" Faith yelled as she ran into the room with Buffy and Xander.

"Making sure Gwen here doesn't get her hands on the glove. Faith I wasn't lying. I was in the library when I overheard Giles tell her how to destroy the glove. She hit him over the head. I panicked and orbed out seconds before she saw me," Paige said as Gwen punched her hard. "Angel didn't attack Giles, Faith. He's innocent she wanted you to believe it was Angel so that when she got her hands on the glove you wouldn't question."

"She's right," Gwen said. "Faith, a word of advice. You're an idiot."

Buffy and Faith looked at each other and then they both hit Gwen knocking her down and out.

Two days later Paige and Xander sat in the student lounge with Oz and Willow.

"So the glove gone?" Oz asked.

Xander nodded. "A little Living Flame, a little mesquite … gone for good."

"Sounds like I missed a lot of fun," Oz said.

Paige shook her head. "Then we're telling it wrong."

"What do you think Buffy and Angel are gonna do?" Willow asked.

Xander sighed. "Boy do I don't know."

"He," Paige said. "When my back was too the wall. Somehow I knew I could trust him. So I guess I kind of like him again."

"If Paige likes him," Willow said. "Then that's good enough for me."

"Well, as long as he and Buffy don't get pelvic, we'll be okay. I guess," Xander said as Buffy and Dawn approached.

"What are you guys talking about?" Buffy asked.

"Oddly enough, your boyfriend. Again," Oz said.

Buffy looked directly at Paige. "He's not my boyfriend. Really and truly. He's … I don't know."

"It's alright," Paige said. "I understand."

Buffy nodded in understanding at what Paige was not saying. She looked to Xander. "What about you? Are we okay?"

Xander nodded. "Yeah. Seeing you kissing him, after everything that happened … leaned me toward the postal. But I trust you."

"So do I," Dawn said as she wrapped her arm around Buffy.

Just then Giles approached them.

"Let me guess. Gwendolyn Post, not a watcher," Buffy said.

After they had destroyed the glove, Giles had called the Watcher's Council. He had Gwen picked up by them.

"She was kicked out by the council two years ago for misuses of dark power. They swear there was a memo…" Giles said.

"I'd better go. Little more damage control," Buffy said.

"You want us to come along?" Dawn and Paige asked.

Buffy shook her head. "No, thanks. This I have to do myself," she said as she turned and walked away.

"The whole Angel thing is so weird," Willow said.

Giles nodded. "Yes, well, we'll have to let that one unfold, won't we?"