Quentin sat in the beanbag chair with his hands and feet bound in duck tape. He watched Mrs. Summers move around the small apartment and kept his mouth shut. He had tried to cow her when he had regained himself the first time only to discover she could kick like a mule. Then as he gasped for breath she had struck him down again. He had come to tied and sprawled in this ridiculous excuse for a chair. There was no regard for his dignity or comfort. He fumed and watched as they all researched and watched the door.
Angel and Spike arrived shoving through the door at the same time. Angel was perfectly clean, but Spike looked like he'd been dragged through a muddy field. Joyce rushed toward him, but he held his hand up.
"It's nothing a shower and a pint won't fix, Luv. Buffy needed to make a point and I enjoyed helping her make it." He grinned at her.
"Buffy did this to you?" Joyce looked stricken.
"I enjoyed it, Joyce. She's an amazing fighter, a real challenge. She didn't do anything to me I haven't done to her in the past. She even pulled some of her punches. Pissed me off a bit, if you must know." He smiled at her and traced a finger along her jaw line.
"So, you don't think it had anything to do with us?" Joyce looked into his eyes searchingly.
"No, Buffy doesn't need a reason to spar with me. She knows I'm always ready. You have to keep your skills sharp to survive. We just put on a bit of a show for our visitors. Now, I'm going to grab a shower and clean this mud off." He dropped a quick kiss on her lips and darted down the hall.
"He really does love fighting Buffy. They are both finesse players. It's fun to watch." Angel smiled at her.
"Maybe for vampires, but that's my daughter and my fiancé you are talking about. I'll never really get your world." Joyce grumbled.
"You handled Quentin pretty well." Angel smiled at her.
"He got what he deserved. I'm tired of him and his sheep." She glared at the remaining watchers. "If you don't roll up your sleeves and help fight what good are you?"
"We all have our niche. Buffy needs you as much as any of the rest of us. She isn't a war machine. She's a real woman." Angel smiled at her. "You've done so much for her, been so brave. You've protected her from me, talked me into going. She has a real life now, and I'm working on getting one."
"Let me heat you up some blood." Joyce smiled and patted his hand.
Quentin wished he'd sent a wet team after Buffy when she quit. His life would have been so much simpler, no renegade slayer, no tame vampires, no fired watchers looking down their noses at him.
Buffy bounded through the door with Giles and Oz trailing behind. She smiled and stared at Quentin, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.
"So, you pissed Mom off. Not really surprising." She smiled and ripped the tape from his wrists enjoying his gasp of pain. "You're down to three active slayers."
"You killed two of the girls?" He shoved himself away from her.
"No. I tested them. Ellen failed, Mai passed, and Fee resigned. Fee's watcher will continue on as her guardian and will be serving as Mai's watcher. I took back the power from Ellen and Fee. It's my prerogative."
"You took back their power?" Quentin stared at her in awe.
"I am the Chosen One. It's my power. Are you ready to negotiate with me as equals?" She narrowed her gaze and waited for his answer.
"Will I walk out that door if I am not?" He sneered at her.
"You can leave anytime, but I'm willing to let you back in on the slayer gig if you and I can come to some sort of accord.
Quentin looked at the woman in front of him, truly seeing her for the first time. She was more than a weapon, more than a replaceable part in his war machine. He looked down at his bound feet and nodded his head.