Disclaimer: I do not own Buffyverse or anything else you may recognize
Chapter 17- She
The next morning, the routine of the Scooby Gang was similar as they ate breakfast with their future selves, had a little chit-chat, and then sat on the couch in the viewing room in the exact same order as the last 2 times.
"I am really hoping these ones aren't as brutal as the previous ones", Dawn said.
"So are we all, Dawnie", Buffy said as she started the recording.
Cordelia was having a party at her place, with many people around including Wesley, who was dancing by himself.
"He is lost in his own world", Willow said about Wesley as all chuckled.
"How does Cordelia know so many people though?" Xander asked randomly.
"Yeah, that's weird", Tara agreed.
Cordelia greeted a guy called Diego and a woman called Laura, asking Diego to behave himself as he gave her a bag of ice. Wesley tried to put food in his mouth while dancing but dropped it.
"He's so bad he's good", Dawn said and all laughed again.
Cordelia walked to Angel who was standing aloof, asking if this was Hell for him, but he said how in Hell one knew a lot of people and that he was having a great time. Cordelia asked if she could get him blood but he was good, when she noticed Steve Paymer, who was David Paymer's brother. Angel just gave her a puzzled look as she walked off to greet him.
"He goes out even less than I do", Giles said about Angel and they chuckled once more.
"So, you're cooler then", Buffy quipped.
Angel saw Wesley trying to dance as he overbalanced one of his moves and fell down before getting back up, looking around, then pointing to Angel danced over to him, grabbing some ice and putting it on his head as he said he needed to cool off, while also saying Cordelia knew how to threw a party. He then ate a Mini-Reuben before suggesting that the two of them, brooding Demon Hunters, could chat with some ladies.
"Wait about 2 years before using 'brooding' on yourself", Willow quipped.
"After seeing him dance, no one is going to talk to him", Xander said, drawing some more chuckles.
A woman walked to them as Wesley choked a little on his Mini-Reuben and coughed while she complimented his sweater and asked if it was hand-knit. He said not by him while she said it was great, an Wesley said he'll pass it along to the one who made it, if he did, which he didn't, so he wouldn't pass it along to anyone, making the woman walk away with an 'oh'.
"Well, someone did talk to him, but he blew it", Xander said.
"Here I thought I was out of touch", Giles muttered.
"We get it, you're cooler than him right now!" Buffy said, making him sigh as everyone laughed again.
Cordelia ran to Diego, telling him to put on his pants while Laura talked to Angel, saying with her Masters Degree in Fine Arts she'd been able to sell sandwiches downtown from a little cart, making Angel chuckle. She said how she honed her eye, and then a different song came on, making her put down her drink.
"He's pretty good at chatting", Tara noted.
"Yeah, he's going out more then", Buffy said. "Good, very good."
Laura made some dance moves with a smile, saying she loved the song, and asked Angel if he wanted to dance too. There was a zoom into Angel's eye as he was shown dancing in his imagination. Angel waved his hands around with a funny expression at a trendy dance tune as Laura just stared with her mouth hanging open. He smiled as he waved his hands and body like that before joining his hands and doing a flowing wave motion while he spun around. He continued waving his hands and body and also clapped like a child with a smile on his face at the music. He then spun around, pointing his fingers at everyone around in a dancing motion, and continued waving his hands and body.
Everyone had pretty much the same expression as Laura. Then everyone burst into hysterics, almost falling off the couch.
"Oh my God! He is worse than Wesley, and me!" Xander said, struggling to control himself.
"I am cooler than both of them combined!" Giles said in between hysterical laughter.
"He is so horrible at that, though if he did that he'd at least provide entertainment", Tara said with a laugh.
"Here I thought he was cool!" Willow said, still laughing.
"Maybe this is why he broke up with you before prom!" Dawn said with a laugh, making Buffy's eyes widen.
"Huh?!" Buffy said, trying to stifle her giggles. "It all makes sense now. This is the truth. And now that I remember, once the music turned trendy, he saw down and had drinks, he didn't dance."
"The truth is out!" Xander laughed. "Angel sucks at dancing."
"A bit too much", Tara said.
"I wanna watch it again!" Dawn said with puppy eyes, making Buffy sigh.
"Fine", she chuckled as she rewound a little.
Angel waved his hands around with a funny expression at a trendy dance tune as Laura just stared with her mouth hanging open. He smiled as he waved his hands and body like that before joining his hands and doing a flowing wave motion while he spun around. He continued waving his hands and body and also clapped like a child with a smile on his face at the music. He then spun around, pointing his fingers at everyone around in a dancing motion, and continued waving his hands and body.
Everyone laughed hysterically again, trying to control themselves, which was near impossible.
"This is never gonna get old", Willow said.
"Yes, but nightmares are upcoming", Xander muttered.
"Thank you, Buffy!" Dawn said, laughing again.
"No problem", Buffy said, laughing herself as the scene finally ended.
Flash back to Angel's face as he said to Laura. "I don't dance."
That drew chuckles again as Giles said. "Sure you don't."
Laura walked off with a shrug as Angel went into the empty kitchen, leaning back against the doorframe as the chair moved out by itself. Angel sat down, greeting Dennis as a can of beer floated out of the bowl of ice on the kitchen table. Angel asked if he was still dead when the can popped open and slid into his hands, Angel taking a drink as he said he knew the feeling.
"He is still a great friend", Buffy said about Dennis.
"Yes, model roommate", Willow agreed.
"We should have him over sometime", Tara joked, making all laugh.
A guy picked an open can of beer out of a box filled with ice and took a drink. He looked at a coffin-like box. The label on the side said 'Danger – Hazardous material – Do not open.' He finished his beer as he walked out of the cooler through some strip of plastic. As he smashed the empty can he heard a strange noise coming from the direction of the cooler. It was coming from the coffin-like box. He picked up a crow bar and opened it. There was steam and light coming from it as he looked down into it. "Holy God."
"And trouble is here finally", Dawn said as they all groaned.
"As expected", Xander added.
Next morning, Angel walked into the office, greeting Cordelia as he asked about coffee but she said she only had the beans, suggesting Angel could crush the bag with his Vamp strength, telling him to mush, but Angel put the bag down with a grimace and said the party was fun, and she thanked him for coming before saying how he was like a black hole who had sucked all the energy, surprising him as she asked if he ever partied, and he said he had talked to Laura.
"Then refused to dance with her", Willow reminded.
"Would you prefer it if he did?" Tara asked.
"No", Willow said lamely.
Cordelia said Laura had thought he hated her so she'd told Laura he was challenged. Angel said he didn't hate her, he just had 2 modes with people- bite or avoid.
"Oh really?" Buffy asked.
Angel said he couldn't get too close with women as Cordelia started how Laura wouldn't throw him to the floor and tear off his clothes, before realizing she would.
"Yeah, she was giving those kind of vibes", Dawn said.
"I knew it!" Xander said too.
Angel said the reserved thing made him cool, and then Wesley arrived, greeting them as Cordelia said he was cooler, making Angel say he's depressed as Wesley said he was chipper now, complementing the party as Cordelia said he'd enjoyed it, but Angel protested he had too.
"If he had actually danced, he wouldn't have", Buffy quipped as all laughed again.
Wesley said how he'd enjoyed the food last night and asked if there were leftovers, Angel realizing he was broke, and offered him a job, Wesley immediately accepting. Angel said he didn't have much but as long as Wesley made himself useful, he was entitled to a cut. Wesley was near speechless as Cordelia wondered if she'd have to take a pay cut, but Angel shook his head, so she said now the three were a team. Wesley tried to hug Angel but he warded him off with a slight grimace.
"Finally!" Buffy said as all smiled.
"So he still didn't ask for it, it had to be given to him", Giles commented.
"At least he got a job there, he can fit", Tara told everyone.
"Yeah, he already is", Dawn agreed.
"Go Wes", Xander said.
"So Team Angel is officially 3 members again", Willow said.
Wesley assured he wouldn't disappoint and said there was something in his eye, making Angel give him his handkerchief when Cordelia had a vision as Angel caught her on her request. It flashed to the guy and the box from earlier. He screamed, his face blistered, then his eyeballs exploded as Cordelia recovered, saying she didn't just see but felt too, sarcastically thanking Doyle.
"So time for a new job then", Willow said.
"Yeah, not the savory kind", Buffy muttered.
Wesley noted down the address Cordelia gave while saying they were going to find a corpse, and Wesley later looked at a map, noting there won't be access via tunnels so Angel decided to drive, and Wesley wanted to go with him to earn his keep. Angel told him there was no dental so he said he'd floss.
All chuckled.
Cordelia held a glass of ice to her head, telling them to be careful as the thing that did it could still be there, and she'd only felt fear and exploding eyeballs, mentioning she hated the gig. Angel and Wesley walked out, assuring they'd be in touch. Wesley then drove Angel's car up to the Jerico Ice Factory. Wesley offered to go but Angel decided to go, so Wesley had to stay put and wait.
"What could go wrong?" Xander asked sarcastically.
"Everything", Tara said.
Angel found the burnt body, finding the wallet and his business card, which he took while keeping the wallet back, and walked into the cooler to see the open box which was half full of ice. Wesley was standing next to the car, fiddling with his ax while Angel turned as someone ran past on the other side of the plastic strips hanging in the doorway. Angel slowly walked out.
"Oooh! So the thing is there", Willow said.
A guy with a ridge of small spines running up the middle of his forehead reached for a crowbar. Angel put one foot on the bar. "Captain Inferno I presume?" The demon straightened up and Angel stepped on the piece of the crow bar sticking out over the edge of the box to flip it into his hand, and pushed it up against the other guy's chest. "Close enough. I don't do well near an open flame." He noticed a rip in the guy's sleeve and pushed it open using the crowbar to reveal burnt skin. "Only – you didn't burn him, did you?" He moved the crowbar back against the guy's chest. "Who are you? - - I'm not a big talker. I usually let others carry the conversation. I am pretty good at putting these", he motioned with the crowbar, "through heads though."
"I think that is good enough conversation in the scenario", Giles said.
The guy introduced himself as Tay and said he wasn't from this Dimension, having been sent here by his people to stop a Bringer of Chaos, calling it more than a mere Demon, a vessel of pure rage. It had almost destroyed his world and was now lose in this one. Angel asked how to kill it and Tay said he couldn't as it was stronger than one man, telling Angel to stay away.
"Must be really powerful then", Buffy said, everyone interested to see just what this was.
Angel later handed Wesley a drawing of Tay he'd made, telling him about the Demon as Wesley said it could be a Kovitch Demon from Caucasus. Angel pointed out Tay was from a different Dimension so portals would have been used. Cordelia was even more annoyed now due to portals as Wesley assured they'll figure it out, calling Angel boss. Cordelia told Wesley to stop kissing butt as they wouldn't get overtime but Angel looked at her, making her get on it.
There were chuckles again as Giles said. "A Watcher calling a Vampire 'boss'. Something funny about that."
Cordelia then checked to see other recent deaths by incineration before Angel could finish his sentence about it, and Angel decided to go to the victim's office since the guy was private security and Angel needed to know who had hired him.
"That would be the first clue, yeah", Buffy said.
Angel pulled up in front of a brick building, trying a door with 635 over it but it was locked so he walked to the side of the building, pulled out 2 grappling hooks and shot them over the edge of the building, walking to the side with their help. He jumped onto an open ladder beside an open window and scaled the roof.
"And there they are again, so that he can show he is Vampire Batman", Xander said, all shaking their heads.
Angel arrived in the office of Peter Wilker, who was the dead security guy. In a locked drawer he found a shipping order from Jerico Ice stuck in an envelope with a bunch of twenties. He put the money back but kept the invoice. He looked up as he heard a noise. The next moment he was sent flying across the room, smoke rising from a singed arm. There was a glimpse of a woman with a black tattoo crossing her left eye.
"Now who is this?" Tara said, everyone tense suddenly.
"Is she the Chaos thing?" Dawn asked, but got no response, since the scene had just gotten intense.
She asked why he was here, Angel asking her back as she asked how much he was paid to hunt them all. Angel straightened, saying he worked for himself and was here to look for the killer. He put his hand on the back of a chair, asking if she knew anyone who burnt people alive. She charged him and he picked up the chair to hold her off. She ducked underneath it and hit him in the chest, sending him crashing through the door.
"She's really good", Buffy said, impressed by her skills, and the others were as well.
"Remind me never to get in her way", Xander said.
She then got a call and after asking some questions, left, walking to a car parked beside the building. As she drove off Angel dropped down from the building behind the car and then tailed her in his own car, dialing a number but the call didn't go. He tried again when the low battery alarm went off, making him fumble for a cable, plugging the phone into the cigarette lighter with it as he almost ran into another car, making a last minute right to follow her.
"Don't look away from the road", Willow warned from her own experience.
At AI, the phone rang as Cordelia picked up, Angel saying he hated the cellphone she'd given him. Cordelia then said there had been 4 similar killings in the last 11 months, all guys burnt from the inside out, Angel telling her the 'it' was a 'she'. Cordelia then asked if she had 'Carrie' the movie him, but Angel couldn't hear her, before coming back on, and asked her and Wesley to find Tay as he knew a lot more than he was telling while this woman was on a mission. Wesley then did a circular motion on his face as Cordelia asked for a description which he gave, saying she was attractive for a Demon as Cordelia called her a hottie.
"Jealous much?" Tara asked as everyone chuckled.
Eventually, there was interference in the call so Angel cut it and threw his phone in the backseat. The woman parked her car next to a museum like place as Angel tailed her. She walked to a security guard, saying a man wanted to hurt her, and then pointed out Angel. The guard walked after him, tapping into his com-link while Angel took off his coat and paralleled the woman through the crowd. 3 security people came out the door, almost running into her as Angel saw them almost upon him, so he pointed at a picture hanging next to him and started playing tour guide, explaining it.
"Think he can do it?" Dawn asked.
"He is a very old Vampire, I am sure he would have been around when the painting was first made", Giles said.
The woman walked through a dimly lit corridor, walking into a room with Art Restoration on the door and looked at a row of windows. Angel was pointing at the painting as the security people searched for him, describing the poet in the painting Baudelaire who had written a poem speculated to be about a real Vampire, and laughed, while saying he was also a little taller and drunker than depicted here. He then saw the officers moving off and walked off through the door the woman had gone through as the people in front of the painting applauded him.
"Well played", Buffy said, everyone impressed again.
"So he knew the poet then", Willow realized.
"Knowledge always comes in handy", Tara said.
At the office, Cordelia was asleep on the desk, an open stack of books nearby as Wesley exclaimed on seeing a book, jerking her awake, saying he had located the people- they were Vigories of Oden Tal, having 4 distinct ridges on their foreheads and were said to be fierce warriors, women being enslaved to them as Cordelia hit his arm in congratulations, asking if they could track them. Wesley said they were herbivores and ate a thick stew made from rotting plants and flowers, and needed to consume half their body weight in a day, Cordelia realizing they were looking for the biggest compost heap in LA.
"So, they enslave their women?" Dawn asked, everyone feeling chilled on hearing that.
"Which means they are up to no good either", Buffy snarled.
"And consuming half the body weight? No one here can do that", Willow said.
"Even if we could, we wouldn't", Xander said.
The woman stood with her hand held out when Angel arrived, her being surprised that he was up, and realized he was a Vampire. Angel asked about Tay and who had killed the guy at the ice factory if not her, saying he couldn't allow tourists to torch locals. She looked at the windows and then at Angel, warning him to leave. Then a circular distortion formed in the air in front of a window. A bright light emanated from it as they looked over at it, and the woman held out her hands as a naked girl fell out. She crouched over the girl, telling Angel to stay back. He pulled a wall-hanging down and over the naked girl, asking what they were running from but the woman wasn't interested in his help.
"You are alone, have someone to take care of, and being followed, you need a lot of help", Tara said.
"She is just too proud to admit it", Giles told them all.
"So they said right. Pride does lead to fall", Buffy said.
The door opened as Tay arrived with more of his kind. He told Angel this wasn't his concern. "If you know what's good for you, you won't..." Angel kicked his face. "Do that?"
"Fight begins", Willow said.
The others attacked as Angel dodged their blows, the woman sending one flying off. Angel beat one up and kicked him away as the woman sent two more flying off, but Tay and two other guts hurried the naked girl out the back door and pulled away in their car as the fight finished, the woman saying she'd be unmade.
"Unmade?" Xander asked as all gulped. "Does that mean what I think it means?"
"Maybe", Buffy said. "They did say they enslave the women."
"The bastards", Giles snarled.
Tay's goons dragged the screaming girl through a flour warehouse, begging to let her go, but Tay wasn't concerned, calling her 'it', and they lead her to the backroom. Another guy handed Tay a pair of strange pliers and he got ready to clip off the ridges protruding along her neck and upper back. She protested as he said she'd feel better after this, then clipped off the first ridge as she screamed.
Everyone cringed at the painful scene, finding it very disturbing and macabre.
"What in the world?" Willow said out loud.
"They are cutting out those ridges in the back? Why?" Buffy wondered.
"So this is the unmaking thing", Xander said grimly.
In Angel's office in daylight, the woman took off her coat and looked around, Angel telling her to dress her wound. The woman said she thought Vampires were killers, and Angel said he'd been cursed. The woman asked if he was cursed to help people, and Angel said gypsies had a weird sense of humor, laying a napkin and some bandages on the chair between them, as she applied a bandage to her wound.
"Cursed to help people", Tara said. "Helping people isn't a curse. But the way he was sent to it was one."
"Especially with the happiness clause", Buffy said. "I mean, the gypsies were pretty stupid to add it."
"I know right? Like, imagine if Angel is watching football, a team he loves wins, and he suddenly gets perfectly happy, then Angelus is back", Xander said. "Granted football wasn't a popular thing when he was cursed, but the point stands."
"Football started about a few decades before Angel was cursed, but yeah, your point is right", Willow agreed. "So the gypsies were stupid. The ones that cursed him back then that is. I couldn't figure out a way to remove the happiness clause, unfortunately."
The woman said the girl was a runaway she was trying to help but Angel had distracted them, though Angel pointed out without his help both would be captured. Angel asked why the girl was running, the woman repeating she would be unmade, which was in a sense killing her. Angel asked her to explain so she said in Oden Tal, the personality and passions were in an area of body called the Ko. She put her hands up on her shoulders, took a step closer and turned around to show him the ridges on her upper back and neck. Angel leaned in closer, realizing they wanted to take it.
"So what I originally said was right in a way", Xander realized, making all gulp again. This was clearly Oden Tal's version of Female Genital Mutilation.
"Those sick people", Buffy snarled, clutching her fists in righteous anger, speaking for everyone.
The woman turned to face him, saying they wanted to take this Ko from the women, as when they came of age it controlled their physical and sexual power. It even signaled when they were aroused and found a desirable mate, but without it they were more easily controlled. She looked at him and circled him, saying they married as commanded, served without questioning. "We leave behind dreaming."
"There is no worse way to live", Tara said sadly, all feeling their anger, disgust and sympathy rise.
"How would they feel if someone takes away theirs?" Xander asked randomly.
"I would love to find out", Dawn said with a dark look in her eyes, the same one she had when she threatened to burn Spike in his sleep.
Angel said she had escaped and she said she was the first, introducing herself as Jhiera of Oden Tal. Her family ruled the dimension, and Angel realized they weren't on good terms with her due to her actions. Jhiera said they told people she was dead, but the women knew, and here they all had a chance, they came to this world in a fever. Angel then realized the importance of ice. Jhiera told her story, saying she had almost died from the heat under her skin, and some men had responded to the Ko involuntarily, trying to force themselves on her, so she had to go in frozen water till it passed and she learnt to control her power. During this time, she had come close to Angel, her ridges glowing a fiery red before she sat down on the chair.
"So her own family doesn't want her to be free either, horrible people", Buffy said.
"I can relate", Tara pointed out with a sad sigh, sympathizing with Jhiera, whose situation was like her own, but even worse.
"Looks like the Ko is affecting Angel", Dawn pointed out.
Angel remembered her burning him as she said she'd thought him to be her enemy. Angel asked about the guard and she said he'd tried to touch one of her girls so it was his fault. Angel said he hadn't meant to hurt her but Jhiera said she hadn't meant to kill him so it was accidental. Angel pointed out about the other 4 guys who'd died this way, saying she couldn't go around hurting men in his dimension. Jhiera said she had promised to protect the women in her dimension so a few had to die, but Angel said they were his people who died and he'd promised to protect them. Jhiera asked him to tell them to stay out of her way and started walking out when Angel cut her off.
"Easier said than done, Jhiera", Buffy said.
"What is happening to the women in her world is horrible, but it doesn't justify killing the men here", Willow agreed.
"So they need to be saved and kicked out of this dimension as soon as possible", Xander summed up.
Jhiera held her left hand inches away from his chest. It was glowing a fiery red. She was breathing hard. She leaned her head against him for a moment then moved back, lowering her hand, and straightened up. She told him she didn't need his help and walked out, leaving him standing.
"He resisted it a bit better than most would", Giles noted.
"Maybe it's because he's a Vamp", Buffy said.
Wesley and Cordelia were in the California Flower Mart, the two arguing and messing around a little before sneaking into the dimly lit back room, Cordelia commenting it smelled like flower poop as they heard Tay speak, ducking behind some barrels. Tay said the portal would open soon and they needed to go with the girl they had gotten called Gi, Tay calling her 'it' and asking if it was happy to go home, and Gi obediently said she was, even agreeing she felt better now. There were open wounds where her spine ridges used to be.
Everyone clutched their fists, shaking in pure, righteous rage.
A Vigory told Tay they had gotten 2 this month while Tay said they needed to find Jhiera and during this time, Cordelia frantically pulled on Wesley's shirt to make him get down as well. At a Palm Ridge Spa, a guy was contemplating a Japanese sand garden when Jhiera arrived, asking about the girls as he led her to a room where several scantily clad girls lay on steaming beds of ice, the guy assuring they were fine as Jhiera said they'd taken the girl she'd wanted, bumming the guy out. The guy then told her the girls weren't ready and said his shaman in the desert could help, Jhiera saying she'd go to him if he was as trustworthy as him, so he agreed to call him as Jhiera applied ice on herself.
"Well, at least she has someone who is helping her cause", Buffy said.
"Yeah, but it's about to get ugly", Willow said grimly.
Wesley and Cordelia hid behind the barrels as the Vigories talked, Wesley holding his cell phone and telling Cordelia there was no answer as she said he'd probably forgotten to turn it on, making a sarcastic quip while they head, and Tay was informed by a Vigory that Jhiera and the rest had been found, so they decided to gather and get them.
"Now they need to work quickly", Dawn said.
Cordelia and Wesley later ran down the stairs to Angel's apartment, and he was wearing his pants, toweling off his hair, to Cordelia's agitation as he said he had to take a shower, asking about the situation, which Cordelia told him. Angel put on his sweater, saying they needed to find her first, while Cordelia also mentioned the ice delivery, and Angel pulled a paper out of his coat, having an address, the plan being he'd hit people. They headed out, Angel putting on his coat.
"I think they need a bit more to the plan than that", Tara said.
At night, Angel drove to the Spa with Wesley on the backseat, asking him to wait as he needed a warning when the Demons arrived, Wesley agreeing. He jumped to the passenger side door but his foot got caught so he tumbled indignantly, to Cordelia's annoyance as he popped up with a grimace.
Everyone laughed a little again.
Angel walked inside, meeting the guy and getting to business, though he didn't tell where Jhiera was, but Angel grabbed him by the lapels, saying the men were coming for her. The guy inquired which Dimension he was from but Angel told him he didn't want to know, so the guy motioned with his head as Angel walked off, walking to the room as he met Jhiera, telling her the men were on their way already. Cordelia and Wesley then ran into the room, saying they were here. Angel told Wesley to get the girls out, asked the spa guy to stall them, and told Jhiera he'd help her.
"You do need it, lady", Buffy said.
Wesley started leading the girls out, affected by their beauty so Cordelia had to kick him. The spa guy tried to distract Tay but was knocked out. The Vigories moved to the empty tub room when Angel swung down from the ceiling and kicked 2 in the face. Jhiera dropped down too, using her powers to send two flying as Angel battled two of them one by one and beat them down. They continued battling while Wesley and Cordelia were laying the girls in ice boxes, though Wesley was still affected and propositioned one girl, making Cordelia call him pathetic as she sent the girl into ice.
"Too bad he isn't resistant", Willow muttered.
Angel rolled and kicked another away before beating more down as Jhiera sent more flying off. Wesley and Cordelia arrived, trying to fight, but were easily taken hostage, making Angel and Jhiera stop. Tay threatened their lives for the women but Jhiera was unconcerned, walking off.
"Seriously?" Dawn said, now all angry at Jhiera.
"As much as I understand her situation, at least she can show some gratitude", Buffy muttered.
"Guess the war mentality got into her head a little too much", Xander said.
Cordelia and Wesley elbowed their captors, freeing themselves as Angel fired his grapple hook in a spin motion, sending another down.
"That was cool!" Willow said excitedly, all nodding.
Wesley took some down too with Angel as the Vigories ran after Jhiera, who walked to the truck where the girls were loaded in the back, but a Vigory grabbed her, restraining her hands as Tay arrived with the pliers, about to cut her top ridge when Angel wrapped an arm around his neck, pulling him off of her.
All sighed in relief as Tara said. "Now they will get theirs."
Angel told them to let Jhiera go if they wanted Tay alive, so they did as she went into the truck and drove off on Angel's command. When she was far enough, Angel pushed Tay into the others and told them to not bring this war here. Tay insisted their society would crumble if this enemy persisted but Angel warned if they did this on his turf, they would have another enemy.
"The only enemy to society is you", Giles said to Tay, speaking for everyone.
"You don't understand our ways, human", Tay said. "No, I don't", Angel morphed into Vamp face. "And I'm not human. - Now, if I were you, I'd grab the next portal out of here. Got it?" They left without a word.
"Now that was satisfying", Dawn said. "Though I wish they got worse."
"Not all get what they deserve", Buffy sighed sadly.
Next morning, Angel tried to crush the beans in his office but spilled them as Wesley and Cordelia arrived, Wesley slipping on them and landing on his butt, Cordelia commenting mushing didn't work out so great.
"Doesn't look like it", Willow said as they all laughed.
Wesley said it was his fault as he started sweeping them with his hands, Angel telling him to stop as Cordelia told him he didn't need to grovel, and Wesley said he didn't do it before asking Angel not to fire him, as he was rarely taken hostage, Angel assuring he wasn't fired, telling him it wasn't his fault and that he had handled himself well, Wesley calling himself Angel's faithful servant.
There was some more laughter as Giles then asked. "Never taken hostage, huh?"
"I remember", Buffy said, and there were more chuckles.
Then Jhiera arrived as Cordelia sarcastically said she could get her a knife to make her run away, and then she walked off as Angel told her to come in. They walked to his office as Jhiera said the girls were safe, and Angel reprimanded her for nearly getting Wesley and Cordelia killed, but she said she had no choice. Angel said if she wanted to protect innocents, dimensions shouldn't matter, and Jhiera turned away with a sigh, saying it was an easy sentiment when everyone was free. Angel told her she could fight but he'd stop her if she crossed the line. Jhiera said she'd do what she thought right, and Angel would do the same. They understood each other now before Jhiera walked off, Angel seeing the ridges above her jacket which were glowing a bright, fiery red.
"Well, so ends another adventure for them", Xander said. "And it went mostly well, as well as expected."
"Yeah, though I hope this dimensional war didn't get too bad", Buffy muttered. "And I really hope Tay and the rest get theirs one day."
"Maybe they will", Willow pointed out.
"It's not finished yet", Tara pointed about the recording.
"What more could be there?" Dawn wondered as they watched.
Angel was shown dancing happily to the music, waving himself hysterically with Laura watching while Wesley also shook and put food in his mouth. The two continued like that, Angel making a funny face as he did a wave motion while Wesley rocked back and forth. Angel waved even more hysterically as Wesley rocked too, and then pushed himself into a crowd as Angel clapped like a happy child, the screen going black.
Everyone was in hysterics again, trying not to fall off the couch.
"This was a much needed gift!" Xander said happily.
"For all of us", Dawn added.
"So Angel was imagining a dance-off with Wesley then", Tara realized.
"Wesley won!" Willow said firmly.
"No arguments from me", Buffy said.
"Me neither", Giles said.
Dawn started. "Can we wa-"
"Hell yeah!" Buffy said, rewinding again.
Angel was shown dancing happily to the music, waving himself hysterically with Laura watching while Wesley also shook and put food in his mouth. The two continued like that, Angel making a funny face as he did a wave motion while Wesley rocked back and forth. Angel waved even more hysterically as Wesley rocked too, and then pushed himself into a crowd as Angel clapped like a happy child, the screen going black.
They were in hysterics again as Giles said. "So Wesley is cooler than Angel then, in this case."
"Poor Angel", Buffy muttered.
"Thanks", Dawn said again with a smile.
"Now, with all the laughing done, I think we can move forward", Willow said.
"Yep, time for it", Xander nodded.
"Yes, let's go, and hopefully that has some dancing too", Tara said as they laughed again.
"Yeah, let's go", Buffy said as they came to the next one.
The previous episode and this one weren't very subtle about casual sex being bad and FGM respectively, but this one had Angel dancing! And then a dance-off between him and Wesley! AHAHAHAHAHA!
And Bai Ling as Jhiera did make an impression IMO. She deserved to be in a better-written episode than this crappy one, worst one of this Season for sure.
Anyway, hope everyone enjoyed and see you all next time with another chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!