Chapter 29: The Dark Age

Loud, thumping dance musice from a portable stereo, drowning out the outside world, as Buffy goes through an intense STEP-AEROBICS routine. Nearby, GILES attempts to read a book- both hands plastered over his ears. He brings one hand down to take a sip of tea, "Must we have such noise during your calisthenics?"

"It's not noise, it's music," Buffy says.

Giles shakes his head, "I know music. Music has notes. This is noise."

"I'm aerobicizing. I must have the beat. Besides Piper wanted me to review the band, she thinking about trying to get them for the club." Buffy said.

Giles sighs, "Wonderful. You work on your muscle tone while my brains dribble out my ears."

The song ends, Buffy finishing her exercise routine and turns off the stereo,.

"Ah. Very good. The rest is silence." Giles said.

"I think they'll be good." Buffy said. "Piper should be happy."

The next morning outside the school; Buffy sits with Willow.

"I'm on a beach. Not an American beach - one of those island beaches where the water is way too blue. It's just before sunset, I'm lying on a towel and Gavin Rossdale is massaging my feet."

Willow laughs, "That's good. Uh, i'm in Florence, Italy. I've rented a scooter which is parked outside. I'm in a little restaurant having ziti and there's no more tables so they have to seat this guy with me and it's John Cusack."

"Very impressive. An eye for detail." Buffy said.

"'Cause, with the ziti." Willow replies excitedly.

Xander wanders over to them, "What are you guys up to?"

Buffy smiles, "Just having a quick game of "Anywhere But Here.""

Xander smiles, "Amy Yip at the waterslide park."

"You never come up with anything new." Willow says.

They start towards the door.

"I'm not fickle like you two, okay?" Xander says. "I'm constant in my affections. Amy Yip at the waterslide park."

They see Giles lecturing a student by the door.

"You think Giles ever played "Anywhere But Here" in school?" Willow asks.

Xander shakes his head, "Giles lived for school. He's still bitter there were only twelve grades."

"He probably sat in math class thinking, "There should be more math! This could be mathier."" Buffy said.

Willow nods, "You don't think he ever got restless when he was little?"

"Are you kidding? His diapers were tweed." Buffy said.

They reach Giles, who falls in step with Buffy. "Ah. There you are," Giles said.

"Morning. Say, is that tweed?" Buffy asks.

"What?" Giles says, "Oh. Well, yes. Now, tonight is a very important -"

"You know, Giles, I realize the Henry Higgins bit may have been the mod look for your generation, but a lot has happened since then. Like the 20th Century, for example." Buffy said.

Giles frowns, "As an educator, it behooves me to set myself apart from you students by my mode of dress and demeanor."

"Is it stuffy in here, or is it just you?" Buffy asks.

Giles shakes his head, "Laugh all you want, but the problem with this culture is its disregard for decorum, which I believe has led to the current pursuit of feel-good nihilism."

"What have I been saying for years?" Xander says.

Willow shakes her head, "That you'll die a virgin? Oh. The nihilism thing. Sorry. Missed the funny there.

They enter the building.

"So, what's on tap tonight that's so important?" Buffy asks. "Uprising? Prophesied ritual? Preordained death-fest? Is it Power of Three or just little ole me deal?"

"Ah, the old standards." Xander says.

Giles nods, "A transport vehicle is delivering a supply of blood to the hospital."

"Aha. Vampire meals-on-wheels. Just little ole me deal." Buffy said.

"Well, hopefully not. We should meet in front of the hospital at 8:30 sharp. I'll bring the weaponry." Giles said.

"And I'll bring the party mix." Buffy said.

Giles gives Buffy a stern look, "Just don't be late."

"Giles, have I ever let you down?" Buffy asks.

"Do you want me to answer that, or shall I just glare?" Giles says.

Ms. Calendar approaches. Giles brightens when he sees her. "Morning, England."

"Hello, Ms... Jenny." Giles says.

"Feel the passion." Willow says.

"Willow-" Ms. Calendar says.

Willow coughs, "Coughing, not speaking."

"-we're still on for tomorrow?" Ms. Calendar asks.

Willow nods.

"What's tomorrow?" Xander asks.

"I'm reviewing some computer basics with a couple of students who have fallen behind. Willow's helping for extra credit." Ms. Calendar says.

Xander smiles, "Hah! Those poor schlubs. Having to give up their Saturday-"

"Nine a.m. okay with you, Xander?" Ms. Calendar asks.

Xander's face falls.

"You've got a bit of schlub on your shoe, there." Buffy says.

"Cordelia is going to meet us." Ms. Calendar says.

Xander nods, "Hey, gang, did you hear that? A bonus day of class, plus Cordelia! A little rectal surgery and it would be the best day ever!"

Ms. Calendar looks to Giles, "Walk me to class?"

"Pleasure." Giles said.

Ms. Calendar smiles, "Nice coat."

"Tweed, you know." Giles said for Buffy's benefit.

A BELL RINGS. Ms. Calendar and Giles head down the hall which begins to empty as students enter classrooms.

Buffy smiles after them. "Look at them."

"A twosome of cuteness." Xander says.

Willow nods, "Can't you just imagine them getting together?"

The three watch Ms. Calendar and Giles for a beat. Then, as the image sinks in: they shudder.

That night Buffy and Phoebe waits.

Buffy Checks her watch and looks around, concerned: no Giles. "Don't be late. Sheesh."

Phoebe sighs, "Why don't you try him, Buffy. I'll keep watch just in case."

Buffy nods and moves to a pay phone, drops in a quarter, dials. Gets a busy signal. "Giles, why is your phone busy when you're supposed to be here?" She punches 0. "Operator, can you check a line for me..."

Then headlights wash across her face.

"Buffy," Phoebe says.

"Never mind. Sorry." Buffy says and hangs up

She moves back into the shadows next to Phoebe as they watch.

A van with "Medical Transport" stencilled on the side pulls to a stop at the loading dock. The DRIVER gets out, moves to a couple of intertns. One of the interns signs a clipboard the Driver holds for him, the other hefts a large ice chest out of the van.

The Driver gets in his car and drives away. Buffy and Phoebe watches the interns head for the hospital back door.

"All's well that ends with cute E.R. doctors I always say." Buffy says as she turns and starts away.

Phoebe doesn't follow her, "Buffy, since when do doctors take deliveries?"

Buffy frowns and turns to see the interns move past the back door and pick up their pace, heading down the side of the building. They moves into action, vaulting off the wall and closing the gap.

One of the "Interns" rips off his stethoscope and pulls a blood bag out of the ice chest the other one carries. They're heading towards a muscle car parked nearby. The driver of that car steps out. He is a vampire.

"Hey, no sampling the product," says the driver.

The "intern" ignores the driver, bites into the bag. The other intern, growls at him.

Then a shadowy figure leaps on the first intern from behind.

Phoebe runs runs, pulling out a stake.

Buffy powers up a fireball and leaps into the air, coming down on the shadowy figure's back, about to throw the fireball, when he turns, "Angel!" She holds up just in time.

"Buffy! Look out!" Angel and Phoebe say at once.

The driver rans shoulder-first into Buffy, taking her to the ground. He turns on Angel who hits him real darn hard.

The first intern dives for Buffy who holds up her fireball as the vamp falls on it dusting.

The second intern comes at Angel who uses the second intern's velocity to whip him around and send him towards Phoebe who has her stake ready. "Incoming!"

Phoebe stakes him. A roaring engine causes them to look over at the muscle car as vamp-driver roars away.

"How did you know about this?" Buffy asks.

"It's delivery day. Everybody knows about this." Angel says. "They only ruined one bag."

"Can you make sure the hospital gets the rest?" Buffy asks. Angel nods. Buffy looks to Phoebe, "I'm worried about Giles. He was supposed to meet us here."

"Maybe he's late." Angel says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Giles? Who counts tardiness as the eighth deadly sin?"

"Right. Go." Angel says.

Buffy and Phoebe 10 minutes later come up to Giles door. Buffy listens at the door for a moment. Hears Giles' muffled voice, "Are you certain she didn't leave a forwarding number? I've been on the phone for hours, this is a matter of life and –"

Buffy knocks. A couple of beats, then Giles opens the door a CRACK, stares out at Buffy and Phoebe.

"Buffy, Phoebe. It's late, are you both all right?" Giles asks.

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Buffy said.

Giles nods, "Yes, fine. I'm afraid I'm rather busy. I'll see you Monday at school -" He tries to shut the door. She stops it.

"Giles, did you forget about the hospital? Vampires? Bags of blood in handy carry out packets?" Buffy asks.

"Oh. Are you all right? Were you hurt?" Giles asks.

"We're fine," Phoebe says.

Buffy nods, "Well my feelings a little. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong, I'm in the middle of an extremely important matter and I'm sorry but I'm just going to have to say good night now." Giles said and he forces the door closed. They hear him LOCK it from inside. Then footsteps. Then his MUFFLED VOICE again on the phone. "Are you still there? Yes, any number, a relative, anything..."

Buffy stares at the door for a beat.

"Come on Buffy," Phoebe says. "There is obviously nothing we can do tonight."

Buffy nods as she and Phoebe turns and leaves.

The next day at the high school in the computer lab. Ms. Calender is talking to the assembled group for their Saturday make-up session. "All right, the first thing we want to do is..." She sees Buffy and Piper at the door. "Payson, Ms. Hallwell."

"Huh? Did I fall asleep already?" Xander asks then he sees Buffy as the door.

"Ahhh. You miss your friends," Willow says.

"Sit here, Buffs. De-militarize the zone between me and Cordelia." Xander says.

"And de-lice him while you're at it." Cordelia says sarcastically.

"Actually I wanted to talk to you for a second." Buffy says to Ms. Calendar.

"Is something wrong?" Ms. Calendar asks.

Piper shrugs, "Buffy just asked me to drive her over this morning."

"Is it some crisis that requires instant action - very far from here?" Xander asks.

"I'm not sure..." Buffy says.

"Think, dammit! Buffy, don't make me beg." Xander says.

"Well, it's Giles," Buffy says.

Piper looks at Buffy and then remembers the conversation she had with Phoebe the night before.

"A loved one, good..." Xander says.

"He's all right, isn't he?" Willow asks.

Buffy sighs, "I don't know. He didn't show up last night when he was supposed to, and then Phoebe and I went by his place and he was acting... well, very Anti-Giles."

"You went by his place? He has a place?" Willow asks. "Of course he has a... I just never think of him living anywhere outside the library. So there was weirdness?"

Buffy nods, "He wouldn't let me in. He looked terrible. And I think he might have been... uh, I think he was drinking."

"He was home alone drinking?" Piper asks finally understanding Buffy's concern.

Willow shakes her head, "But... tea, right?"

"It wasn't tea, Will." Buffy says.

"Yup. I knew this would happen. Nobody can be wound as straight and narrow as Giles without a dark side erupting. My Uncle Roary was the stodgiest taxidermist you ever met - by day - by night it was booze and whores and fur flying... were there any whores?" Xander asks.

"Xander." Willow says.

"He was alone." Buffy says.

"Give it time." Xander says.

Buffy shakes her head, "None of you have noticed anything different about him lately?"

"No." Willow says.

Ms. Calendar shakes her head, "Not really."

"Sorry," Piper says. "Haven't seen him since Parent/Teacher's night. Might ask Prue I think she talked to him at Halloween during that whole costume episode."

Buffy nods, "Haven't seen anything weird?"

Xander shakes his head, "No."

Cordelia nods, "He was perfectly normal yesterday when I saw him talking to the police."

They all look at her.

"And you waited until now to tell us because...?" Buffy asks.

"I didn't think it was important." Cordelia says.

"We understand. It wasn't about you." Xander says sarcastically.

"What were the police talking to him about?" Piper asks.

Cordelia shrugs, "Don't tell me, I know this one... something about a... homicide."

Buffy frowns, "I'm calling him right now." She and Piper leave the classroom and head to the library. Buffy heads for Giles' office.

Piper suddenly hears a noise, "Buffy," she mutters under her breath.

Buffy nods indicating she's heard it.

They run up the stairs and move in and out of the shadows peering down one row. They pin themselves against a bookcase and move to the end of the shelves, and checks another row. Again, nothing. Buffy turns and looks through a rack. Someone stares back at her from the other side.

Buffy jumps back, startled.

The the bookcase starts to come down on top of Buffy when Piper raises her hands freezing it. "Thanks, Piper," Buffy says. She runs around the frozen book case and grabs the man spinning him around. "I know you, you ran that costume shop."

Piper frowns, "The one that cast the spell?"

Buffy nods, "What Giles said."

"I'm pleased you remember. Though I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting a Charmed One before." Ethan said.

"You sold me that dress for Halloween and nearly got us all killed." Buffy said.

"But you looked great." Ethan said.

Piper agrees that Buffy did look great in the dress. "You better start talking. What are you doing here? And before you try and weasel out if you know I'm a Charmed One then you know who Buffy is. And I think she might like to pummel you for what happened at Halloween."

Ethan nods, "I know… I was snooping around."

"Honesty. Nice touch." Buffy said.

"It's one of my virtues." Ethan says smiling. "Not really."

"I got a great idea..." Buffy says as she grabs Ethan. "...why don't I just call the police and have you arrested for breaking and entering and get back to my fun Saturday."

Ethan frowns, "Yes, the police. They'll have so many questions - they'll really need Rupert to answer them all."

"You know Giles?" Piper asks.

Ethan nods, "We go back. Way back. You wouldn't happen to know where he is, would you?"

A few moment later Buffy has the phone in one hand.

Ethan's shirt sleeve is rolled up, revealing the tattoo we've been seeing.

"Giles, it's me." Buffy says.

"Buffy. Unless this is an emergency, I'll see you in school on Monday -" Giles says.

Buffy frowns, "What's the Mark of Eyghon?" There is no answer from Giles. "Giles?"

"Cat got his tongue?" Ethan asks.

"I'm in your office with Piper and someone who claims to be an old friend of yours: Ethan Rayne." Buffy said.

"He's there with you and Piper?" Giles asks. "Buffy, listen to me. You and Piper are in great danger with Ethan there. I want you to put down the phone and you and Piper get out of the library as quickly as possible."

"Piper can freeze him if tries anything. And I'm not going anywhere until you start giving me some answers -"

A man, Philip, who is obviously dead crashes through a window in Giles' office. Glass shatters and flies everywhere. Philip comes for Ethan. Ethan puts Buffy between himself and Philip.

Piper holds up her hands and tries to freeze Philip, "He's not freezing."

Buffy roundhouse kicks Philip. It doesn't have much more effect on Philip than Piper freezing him. He turns his wrath on Buffy. She "lets" Philip back her towards the book cage - actually setting him up.

Piper watches Ethan who tries to jump the front desk.

Xander, Cordelia, Willow and Jenny enter.

Piper raises her hands and freezes Ethan.

Philip lunges at Buffy, she ducks under his big arms and boots him into the cage, slamming and locking the cage door on him.

Philip paces in the cage, looking very dead and scary. Willow watches him from a safe distance. As do Xander, Cordelia, Jenny and Ethan (who Piper unfroze). Piper watches Ethan.

Willow shakes her head, "I'm not getting close enough to feel his pulse, but I've gotta say he looks pretty dead."

"Except for the walking around and attacking Buffy part." Xander says.

Ethan nods, "He's dead. Sorry, Philip. Really I am."

"You know him?" Piper asks.

Ethan nods, "Knew him."

"Hey, you don't speak until we tell you to speak." Cordelia says.

"Uh, Cordelia, Piper did tell him to speak." Buffy said.

Giles rushes in. "Is everyone all right?"

Cordelia nods, "Super."

Ms. Calendar nods, "We're okay."

"Dead guy there interrupted our tutorial. Been meaning to thank you for that." Xander says.

Philip makes a terrible sound in his throat. Xander takes a giant step back.

Giles studies Philip. "It... can't be."

"Oh yes it can. Hello, Ripper." Ethan says.

"I thought I told you to leave town." Giles said.

Piper frowns, "If he told you to leave why didn't you?"

"You did." Ethan said. "I didn't. Shop's lease is paid through the end of the month."

Cordelia turns to Xander. "Why'd he call him Ripper?"

Giles grabs Ethan. Pretty roughly. The gang's never seen him like this before. "You should have left when I told you!"

"Oh." Cordelia says.

"You've put these people in danger. These are people I care about." Giles said.

Cordelia turns to Xander. "Wow, even me?"

Xander gives a quick shake of his head: "no".

"If you care so much about them why didn't you leave town. I know you've been having the dreams, I have, we both know what's coming." Ethan says. "This isn't even something they can take care of." He indicates Piper. "And you know it."

Giles glares at Ethan, then lets him go.

Buffy moves next to him. "What dreams, what's going on?"

Giles frowns, "I..."

Ethan smiles, "Tell her, Ripper."

Buffy looks from Ethan to Giles. "Giles?"

Philip kicks open the cage door. He hurls Ms. Calendar into the wall. She hits her head and falls to the ground, unconscious.

"Jenny!" Giles said.

"I can't freeze it!" Piper said.

Ethan looks truly frightened of Philip and runs for the door. "Nooo!"

Willow and Cordelia scramble out of the way as Buffy punches and kicks Philip.

Xander slides a book cart behind Philip. Buffy stomps Philip into it. He goes over the book cart and lands on the floor. He starts to get up. Buffy moves in for further carnage, but Philip's body begins to shake.

Philip collapses on the floor and liquefies.

"That's something you don't see every day." Willow says.

"Oh my god! I'll be in therapy till I'm thirty!" Cordelia says.

Piper rolls her eyes, "Ms. Chase believe me what little you've seen is nothing since you've known Buffy is nothing."

The liquid moves across the floor. Eerie. Giles has knelt down, the unconscious Ms. Calendar cradled in his arms.

No one notices Ms. Calendar's hand on the floor as a tiny trickle of the liquid touches it. Her hand twitches. She starts to come to.

"Jenny?" Giles asks.

Ms. Calendar holds her head, "Ow..."

"Careful, careful. Can you stand?" Giles asks.

Ms. Calendar nods, "I think so."

Giles helps her to her feet.

"This is what happens when you have school on Saturday." Cordelia says to Xander.

Ms. Calendar gets her balance.

"Here, lean on me." Giles says as she does, her arms go around him. "It'll be all right..."

"Promise?" Ms. Calendar asks.

Giles nods, "I promise."

"I believe you." Ms. Calendar says.

"How's your head?" Piper asks.

"Throbbing." Jenny says.

Buffy moves near Giles. He looks at her, uncomfortable, tense. "Giles, what's going on?"

"It's... complicated, Buffy, and frankly it's private." Giles said.

Piper frowns, "What demon attacked us? We need to find out."

Buffy frowns, "I don't care from private, I care from dead guys attacking us, I care from you Lost Weekending in your apartment."

"I wasn't... I just had to work out a solution." Giles said.

Buffy nods, "Solution is good. Why don't we share? What's the mark of Eyghon?"

Ms. Calendar moans a little, rubs her head with the washcloth.

"This is not your battle, and as your watcher, I'm telling you in no uncertain terms: stay out of it. Piper this is not a Charmed problem, I don't need your help either. I've got to get Jenny home." Giles said.

"Home. That sounds so good right now." Ms. Calendar says.

Giles takes Ms. Calendar's arm and walks her to the door. They head out, Buffy staring hard after them.

Buffy takes control, handing out orders, "We have work to do. Willow, I want you to find out anything and everything you can about the mark of Eyghon. Piper get Prue to either bring over one of our Books or have her look in it there. See if it has anything."

"So what Giles just said about staying out of it –" Willow says.

"Thrill, as I ignore it completely. He needs our help and he's going to get it." Buffy said.

Willow nods, "I can try the net, but the mark of Eyghon sounds like a Giles and his books kind of deal."

"So we hit the books." Buffy says as she follows Willow, as she heads for the books. "Xander, how do you feel about rifling through Giles' personal files, see if you can shed some light."

"I feel pretty good about it. Does that make me a sociopath?" Xander says.

Buffy hits the books herself. Cordelia moves next to her, impatient. Buffy finally notices her. "What?"

"What about me? I care about Giles." Cordelia says.

"Work with Xander." Buffy says.

"Well, when I say "care", I mean -" Cordelia says.

"Ms. Chase," Piper says.

"Okay, okay." Cordelia says.

Piper walks into Giles office and dials the Manor, "Prue."

30 minutes later Prue walks in with the Charmed Book. "I've got something." She lays the Book down and opens it to a page, "Eyghon, also called the Sleepwalker, can only exist in this reality by possessing an unconscious host. Temporary possession imbues the host with a euphoric feeling of power."

"What about not temporary?" Buffy asks.

"Unless the proper rituals are observed, the possession is permanent, and Eyghon will be born from within the host." Prue says.

"I'm guessing, Eew." Cordelia says.

"Once called, Eyghon can also take possession of the dead, but its demonic energy soon disintegrates the host and it must jump to the nearest dead or unconscious person to continue living." Prue says.

"I still don't understand what this has to do with Giles." Buffy says.

"Well, I don't know about Giles, but ancient sects used to induce possession for bacchanals and orgies." Willow says.

Xander shakes his head, "Okay, "Giles" and "orgies" in the same sentence. Coulda lived without that."

"Wait a minute. The dead guy. He's all puddly now." Buffy said.

Cordelia nods, "So the demon is gone. There was no one dead to jump into. I mean, we're all not dead, right?"

"No one dead..." Buffy says. "But someone unconscious." She looks to Prue. "Vanquish?"

Prue shakes her head, "The Book doesn't list one and I looked in yours and ours. So I'm guessing this isn't something we can vanquish with the Power of Three."

Buffy runs into the office and tries both Ms. Calendar's phone number and Giles. Then she tries the operator. "Thank you, operator." She slams the phone down. "No answer at Ms. Calendar's and Giles' line is out of order. I'm getting over there. Prue, Piper find anything you can on how to vanquish this thing."

"Were on it, Buffy." Piper says.

Buffy heads out the door and and out of the school. She makes her way to Giles apartment. She tries the door but it's locked. She leans back and kicks it in.

Demon Jenny turns and hisses as Buffy comes flying in. Buffy takes a moment to absorb the hideousness of what she's seeing, then sends Demon Jenny sprawling backwards with a kick to the midsection.

Buffy stands in front of Giles, blocking Demon Jenny's way to him. "Back off. Just stay back."

Demon Jenny looks at Buffy, then at Giles and laughs, "Three down, two to go! Be seeing you." She dives through a window.

Buffy kneels down to Giles, who is badly injured. Blood runs down his forehead, and his arm is useless. "Are you all right?"

"Jenny... Oh, God..." Giles says.

Buffy frowns, "Giles, how do we stop this thing?"

"God, what have I done?" Giles asks.

"Talk to me! Giles, you're scaring me." Buffy says.

"I'm sorry..." Giles says.

"Don't be sorry! Be Giles! Come on, we fight demons. They show up, they scare us, I beat them up or vanquish them with Prue, Piper and Phoebe. Then they leave. This isn't any different." Buffy says.

"It is different." Giles said.

"Because you don't know how to stop it." Buffy says.

"Because I created it." Giles says. "I was twenty-one... Studying history at Oxford and of course the occult by night. I hated it. The boring grind of school, the pressure of my "destiny". So I dropped out. I went to London, fell in with the worst crowd that would have me. We practiced magicks. Small stuff, for pleasure or gain. And then Ethan and I discovered something a little bigger."

"Eyghon." Buffy said.

"Yes. We put one of us into a deep sleep and the others would summon him. It was an extraordinary high. God, we were fools." Giles said.

Buffy nods, "You couldn't control it."

"One of us, Randall, he lost control. Eyghon took him whole. We tried to exorcise the demon from Randall, but it killed him. We killed him." Giles said.

Buffy looks at Giles in shock, "Goddess..."

Giles nods, "We thought we were free of the demon after that. But it's back. And one by one it will kill us all."

"Three down, two to go." Buffy said and Giles nods. "Then it's going after Ethan. I better beat it there."

"We better." Giles said.

"You're barely mobile and speed is of the serious essence." Buffy said.

Giles shakes his head, "Buffy, I don't know how to stop it without... without killing Jenny."

"I got the guys, Prue and Piper working on it. I'll try to contain her till we can figure something." Buffy says as she starts out.

"Buffy!" Giles says and she stops. "I'm sorry."

Buffy smiles, "I know." She heads out the door and heads for the costume shop. She goes inside and looks around. The place is dark, and. "Ethan..."

Buffy cautiously moves further in. She hears a noise and spins around. Nothing. Or did something move behind one of the mannequins? "I'm not here to hurt you... I'm sorry to say. Giles told me everything. It's coming for you. We've got to stop it."

Ethan appears behind her. "And you came to protect me. I'm touched."

Buffy spins around. "Don't worry, it's nothing personal: to protect Giles I have to protect you."

"How does Ripper inspire such goodness?" Ethan asks.

"Because he's Giles. Besides I'm Charmed. It's in my job description." Buffy says.

"And I'm not. Still, lucky me." Ethan says.

Buffy nods, "Lucky you."

"Well, we can't run. Eyghon will find us. This mark might as well be a homing beacon." Ethan says.

"That's all right. I'm not big on running anyway." Buffy says.

"Aren't we manly." Ethan says.

Buffy sighs, "One of us is. You're gonna hide till it's over."

"Excellent plan." Ethan says.

"Is there a way in through the back?" Buffy asks.

Ethan nods, "There's a door, but it's locked. I think it's solid."

"Well, we can set you up back there. Come on." Buffy says.

"Oh, no..." Ethan says smiling and gestures gestures for her to go. Buffy moves towards the back. He steps behind her with a board in his hands. He brings it up sharply and cracks her on the head with. Hard. She falls to the ground. He stares down at her. "...ladies first."

Short time later Buffy is lying face down on a long, narrow table. Her ankles are tied together, and her arms are wrapped around the table with her wrists tied together underneath it. Ethan finishes tying her as she comes to, "Wakey, wakey. You don't want to miss the fun."

"What fun?" Buffy asks.

"Your initiation. And don't try using your power on the ropes. I would hate to hit you again and start over." Ethan says.

"You know what? I'm not real interested in joining your club." Buffy says as she tries to power up a fireball. But her hands are tied to close together for her to produce one.

"Too late. I already voted you in. I hope you appreciate this is nothing personal, Buffy. I actually kind of like you. It's just..." Ethan says as he grabs a large needle off a tray and dips it in ink. "I like myself more. You know, if you look at it karmically, this is very big for your soul: you're taking my place with the demon, giving so that others may live."

Ethan pulls Buffy's hair away, revealing the back of her neck. "Now, you might feel a slight sting at first. But that'll go away once the searing pain kicks in." He begins carving the tattoo into the back of Buffy's neck.

Buffy grimaces and grits her teeth.

"You can go ahead and scream." Ethan says.

Ethan wipes the back of Buffy's neck with a cloth after he finishes the completed tattoo, the now familiar mark of Eyghon. "Perhaps I missed my calling as an artist."

"Listen to me, Ethan. This is a BAD IDEA. You're dealing with something very dangerous." Buffy says.

"But this'll throw Eyghon off my scent." Ethan says.

"I'm not talking about Eyghon." Buffy says.

Ethan reaches towards the tray and grabs a bottle of ACID. Buffy looks alarmed, struggles with her bonds. "Gosh, you are spunky. Relax, I'm done with you. It's my turn now..." He smiles at her, then pours acid on his own tattoo.

Buffy searches around with her fingers. She feels a nail protruding slightly from the inside edge. She begins to dig her fingernail into the wood, trying to jar the nail loose.

Ethan finishes burning the tattoo off of his arm.

Buffy has the nail out and is using it to cut the rope that binds her wrists. If she can cut them enough she should be able to power up a fireball to free them the rest of the way.

Ethan wraps a bandage around his arm. "I hate to mutilate and run but..." He heads for the door, stops, seeing Demon Jenny.

Ethan backs away. Fast.

The door shoots open, seemingly on its own. Demon Jenny steps inside. The door shuts behind her as she moves towards Ethan. "It is your time."

Ethan stands frozen. Demon Jenny gets nose-to-nose with him. Then jerks her head and stares right at Buffy. And leaps.

Buffy has her hands freed enough that she quickly powers a fireball and burns the rest of the way through the ropes. She rolls off the table as Demon Jenny lands on it. Buffy rocks onto her back and upends the table by kicking it with her still-bound feet. Demon Calendar falls away.

Buffy rips the rope off her ankles and stands to face Demon Jenny, with the table between them. Demon Jenny picks up the table and uses it to push Buffy back, pinning her against the wall. Buffy strains to escape. She's trapped for only an instant as suddenly she is engulfed in flames.

"Eyghon!" Giles says as he sees Buffy engulfed in the flames and then she is gone. "Take me."

Demon Jenny heaves the table aside. It crashes and splinters near Ethan, who now crouches in a corner.

Buffy flames back in where she was pinned a moment before. "What happened?"

"Buffy, get out of here!" Giles says.

Demon Jenny goes for Giles.

"No!" Buffy says as she flames out again, flaming in this time between Giles and Demon Jenny.

Demon Jenny raises her hand and touches her finger to Buffy's face. A surge of energy rushes through the touch, and Buffy is thrown across the room away from Giles.

Demon Jenny tosses Giles to the ground and straddles him. "I've been waiting a long time to do this."

Suddenly, Demon Jenny is tackled off Giles by Angel.

Prue, Piper, Phoebe, Willow, Xander, and Cordelia run in just in time to see Angel strangling the life out of Demon Jenny. Giles starts toward her, but Prue stops him.

"He's killing her." Giles says.

"Trust me. This is going to work..." Piper says.

Prue and Phoebe go over to Buffy and help her up. "Are you okay?" Prue asks.

Buffy nods, "Yeah I'm fine. Remind later to try and show you my new power."

Demon Jenny claws at Angel's hands as she gasps for breath. She looks up at Angel. Their eyes lock. She howls out in pain as Angel is thrown off her. She rolls away, coughing – Eyghon having left her.

"Did we kill it?" Cordelia asks.

Angel cries out as his eyes glow.

"It's in Angel!" Buffy says.

"This is going to work." Piper says looking over at her cousin.

They watch as Angel's face morphs between; demon, vampire and Angel. Alternating between the three as an internal battle takes place.

Finally, the demon screams and fades away.

Angel falls to the ground. Buffy breaks away from her cousins as she and Willow rush over to him. Ethan takes the opportunity to sneak out.

Giles has recovered and struggles to his feet. He goes to Ms. Calendar and takes her in his arms. "Jenny...?"

"Rupert." Jenny says.

Giles nods, "It's okay. I've got you."

Buffy and Willow help Angel to his feet, Buffy putting it together as she looks between her cousins and Willow, "You guys knew that if the demon was in danger it would jump into the nearest dead guy."

Piper and Willow nods and smiles.

"I put it in danger." Angel says.

"And it jumped." Piper says.

"But I've had a demon inside me for a couple hundred years just waiting for a good fight." Angel says.

Buffy smiles, "Winner and still champion."

"Uh, I think that Ethan guy disappeared." Xander says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Darn. I really wanted to hit him till he bled."

Cordelia nods, "Well, at least it's over."

Buffy looks at Giles and Jenny as he helps her to the door. It's not over for him.

Prue looks to Buffy's neck, "We're going to have to get that removed."

"I know," Buffy says. "Besides the only tattoo I probably would want is on the cover of the Books."

Prue, Piper and Phoebe look at each other and nod.

"Well I think you can wait till your eighteen, for that." Prue says. "So what's this new power?"

"I wonder if I can do it," Buffy says thinking to herself. "Hold on." She smiles to her cousins as they grab her hands and she flames out.

The next morning at school Xander, Buffy, and Willow walk along.

"The worst thing is, I was saving up for some very important shoes. Now I gotta blow my allowance repaying Prue for getting that stupid tattoo removed." Buffy says.

"Putting the demon into Angel was pretty brill, Will." Xander says.

Willow smiles, "Actually it was more Piper's idea. But I wasn't sure it would work."

"But it did." Buffy said.

Xander nods, "Like a charm."

"Maybe you should consider a career as a Watcher." Buffy says.

"Oh no, I don't think I could take the stress." Willow says.

Xander laughs, "And the dental plan is crap."

"I don't know how Giles does it." Willow says.

Buffy nods, "I don't think he has a choice." She looks off at Giles as he hurries to enter a school building. She follows him inside at a distance. When Jenny moves up the stairs she approaches him. "How is she?"

"The hills are not alive." Giles said.

Buffy sighs, "I'm sorry to hear that... I think..."

Giles nods, "I don't imagine she'll ever really forgive me. Maybe she shouldn't."

Buffy shakes her head, "Maybe you should."

"I never wanted you to see that side of me." Giles said.

Buffy sighs, "I'm not gonna lie. It was scary. I'm used to you being, you know, The Grown-up. And then I find out that you're a person."

"Most grown-ups are." Giles says.

Buffy laughs, "Who would've thought?"

Giles nods, "Some of them are even very short- sighted, foolish people."

"So after all this time it turns out we do have something in common. Which, apart from being a little weird... is kind of okay." Buffy says. Giles is quiet - too grateful to say anything just yet. "I think we're supposed to be training, right?"

Giles nods, "Uh, yes. Need to concentrate on your flexibility. And I think Prue wanted me help train you on your new power."

Buffy holds up a CD, "I got the perfect music. Another band Piper wants me to check out." He eyes the CD. "Go on, you know you want to say it."

"That isn't music, it's just meaningless sounds." Giles said.

Buffy smiles, "There. Feel better?"

Giles nods, "Yes, thank you." The head towards the library. "The Bay City Rollers, now that's music."

"Oh, goddess..." Buffy says.

Giles smiles, "About this new power?"

Buffy looks around and makes sure no one is watching. She smiles and grabs Giles hands, "Let's hope I get it right this time. I missed the Manor by about three blocks last night." She flames out with Giles.

"Buffffyyyy!"


Author's Note: Yes I changed my mind on flame teleport.