Chapter 10: Wrestling with Demons Part 1

March 4, 2002

Faith rushed taking a shower, then she hurried from the bathroom. Faith quickly tossed on clothes, not really caring what she put on as it was only going to be coming back off shortly. Grabbing a short, mid-thigh robe, Faith stuffed it in a small backpack and ran out of the house hoping she wouldn't be late. She'd answered an ad she'd seen in the paper, not really sure why, but the extra money would be good, living in a house that included four witches and Buffy meant that the food bill alone had gone through the roof.

Running into the Arts building on Berkley campus, Faith quickly found the room where she was supposed to be, grateful that there were only a few students along with the Art professor there. She was shown to where she could get herself ready for class, and given basic instructions from the professor. Faith hurriedly stripped out of her clothes and put the robe on.

Faith took a deep breath and stepped out into the roomful of students. She kept her eyes off the faces, not wanting to know if there was anyone she knew or recognized amongst them. Faith let the robe slide off her shoulders to drop into her hands. Placing the robe on the stool, Faith took a seat upon it, her back turned towards the class as she stared at the wall in front of her.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

In San Francisco at one of many police stations, Inspector Darryl Morris placed a cup of coffee on the table as he sat opposite from Mr. Chang, who according to Phoebe was supposed to be the victim of a demon attack.

"I don't get it. Who'd want to kill me?" Mr. Chang asked.

"We're not sure, but our sources believe that your life is in danger," Darryl answered. "Protective custody—"

"Our sources?" said Mr. Chang skeptical. "What is this? Government surveillance, you have people watching me?"

"Mr. Chang, your picture was in the Metro section today," Darryl explained.

"Because I planted some trees," Mr. Chang told Darryl.

Darryl sighed. "Mr. Chang, there were four brutal murders in the last week. Where the only common denominator is the victim's picture was in the Metro section the day that they died."

"The mayor's in Metro today," said Mr. Chang. "You guys harassing him?"

"Mr. Chang, I'm trying to help you," said Darryl.

"I don't have any money; I don't have any enemies," Mr. Chang explained. "Why would anyone wanna kill me? This is crazy."

Outside the room Prue, Piper and Phoebe were discussing what they would do if Darryl couldn't protect Mr. Chang.

"Alright, what do we do if Darryl can't convince him to lay low?" Prue asked.

"Oh, well, we follow him and if a demon attacks, we kick some wiccan ass," said Phoebe.

Piper smiled at her baby sister. "Look who's back and badder than ever."

"It feels good to be back," said Phoebe. "It's the best way to put this whole Cole thing behind me."

"Well, that's quite a turn around," said Prue.

"What do you mean?" wondered Phoebe.

"Well, it's just that, I mean, you know, up until last week you were kind of quiet and not really interested in things demonic, and now..." said Prue.

"I am back," said Phoebe as she smiled. "Bad guys beware."

Piper sighed. "And too bad we don't know who the bad guy is."

"Yeah, well, at least we know who his next victim is," Phoebe agreed as Darryl and Mr. Chang walk out of the room.

"Hey," Prue said as Darryl walked over to the girls.

"Hey," he said.

"So, did you get anything out of him?" wondered Prue.

Darryl sighed. "Just a migraine. That's about it."

"So, what, you're just going to let him go?" asked Piper.

"I don't have a choice. He declined protection," said Darryl. "Phoebe, are you sure he's the guy that you saw get attacked in your premonition?"

"Oh, yeah, and it happened at night too, so we can't just let him go," Phoebe said.

"Alright, then we need to split up in teams," said Prue. "First one to see a demon yells vanquish, okay. Come on." She and Darryl followed Mr. Chang out of the police station and into an alley. He walked toward a motorcycle. "Ugh, innocents and alleys. Don't they ever learn?"

"Yeah, I know. Come on," Darryl agreed as Mr. Chang fiddled with something on his bike.

A guy came around the far corner and threw a fireball at Mr. Chang. Prue using her powers deflected the fireball away from Mr. Chang.

"What the hell?" Mr. Chang said looking up suddenly.

Prue went to use her powers on the demon himself. She stopped herself as she recognized the demon who ran away.

"What happened?" Darryl asked. "Why did you let him get away?"

"I know that demon," she explained. "I dated that demon. That's Dawn's father!"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy placed all her supplies within easy reach, lining them up as she'd learned to be able to find what she wanted without looking. Having become more familiar with the process the more classes she attended, Buffy never looked up as the model walked to the front of the class, knowing it would still be another minute or so before they were settled and class would begin. Subconsciously noting the model's choice, Buffy re-adjusted for the fact that the model chose the stool to start off with, as opposed to the futon on the raised platform.

"All right class, let's begin. I want to see forms taking shape, muscle tone…" The professor droned on as Buffy subconsciously tuned out the talk, having listened to the professor saying the same thing every week, and chose a charcoal to start with before looking up at the model. She quickly scrutinized the… woman, deciding on where to start, she brought charcoal to paper.

Buffy sat at the easel, charcoal streaking her cheek where she'd brushed her hair back off her face. She glanced up at the live model again before placing charcoal back to paper. She'd already drawn a few different poses before looking at the clock, realizing that class was half over and she'd still yet to draw the model's face having been somewhat entranced by the body.

Looking up to the face of the model Buffy gasped. "Faith!"

Faith's eyes snapped open upon hearing a familiar voice. Her eyes searching the faces until they locked on wide shocked green ones. Faith smiled at her girlfriend. "Hey, Buffy, I didn't know you were in this class."

An hour later Buffy had been drawing Faith with fervor when the professor said, "That's it for tonight class. I want to see this week's drawings fleshed out a bit next week, they look good so far from what I've seen. See you next week." The professor headed back towards Faith, thanking her for coming in and offering her more sittings if she wanted them as she handed her the envelope with the money for sitting tonight.

Faith grabbed her robe and put it on, then she walked to Buffy. "Miss me?"

"Like you wouldn't know," said Buffy as she leaned over and kissed Faith. "This was a surprise. So, what are you doing here? I mean…"

"Why am I posing nude for your art class?" said Faith. "Making a little side money to throw in to the food bill at home. After all there are six of us living in the Manor. And since they are renovating the basement for us. I thought I would try and make some extra money to help out."

Buffy smiled as she kissed Faith again.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

In the conservatory of the Manor Phoebe and Darryl at the table while Phoebe looked through the Book of Shadows.

"I think they're lost, Piper," said Darryl having noticed that Piper was watering some plants. "Dead."

"No, they're not completely," Piper objected.

"Piper waters when she's nervous," explained Phoebe.

"There's nothing to be nervous about," explained Darryl. "Mr. Chang's in protective custody."

"No, it-it's not him. It's the whole 'Dawn's father is a demon' thing," said Piper. "It kind of hits a nerve with all of us, and obviously I'm not that upset because I'm with Leo, who obviously is not..."

"Piper also babbles when she's nervous," admitted Phoebe.

Piper glared at Phoebe. "I resent that," she said. "I am expressing a valid concern about this continuing issue in our lives."

Prue joined them carrying a year book. "What are you babbling about?" she asked as Phoebe laughed.

"You know, if I could freeze the two of you, I would, often," said Piper.

Prue opened the year book to a picture of the demon. "Alright, so here's the demon that we're looking for, or at least who he used to be. Tom Peters."

"Wait, I didn't know you dated the captain of the college football team. How suburban," said Phoebe.

"Yeah, he was a great guy," said Prue. "If he hadn't been…"

"Dawn would be here now," said Phoebe in understanding.

"I remember Peters. He blew out his knee three weeks into his rookie year," Darryl said. "About five, six years ago."

"Leo!" Prue called out.

"Rumors about gambling debts and that whole scene," said Darryl. "He's also a missing person. It never got closed. He just kind of disappeared."

"More like went underground," said Phoebe.

"I wonder if his mom still lives in town. Leo!" said Prue as she walked out of the room toward the kitchen.

"A woman on a mission?" Darryl asked.

"Mmm hmm," agreed Phoebe.

"I guess the captain of the football team was a bigger deal than we ever knew," said Piper as she, Phoebe and Darryl followed Prue. "Uh, Prue, are you sure we should pursue this?"

"You mean saving Dawn's father?" asked Prue.

"Are you sure he's her father?" Piper asked.

"Yeah I'm sure. Andy and I broke up not long after graduation. I hadn't been with anyone else till Tom," answered Prue. "Where on earth is..." it was then that Leo orbed in. "Leo, what took you so long?"

"Hi," Leo said as he kissed Piper. "I had... have a situation."

"Uh-oh, you mean an us situation or a you situation?" asked Piper. "Oh, don't tell me they've changed their minds about us getting married because if that is the case, then you can just orb me up there right now and..."

"Babbling," said Phoebe.

"It has nothing to do with them. It has to do with me. I sort of, kind of, lost the wedding ring," explained Leo.

"Got a great ring guy down town if you need one," Darryl offered.

"Mom!" called Buffy from the front door.

"Kitchen, Buffy," Prue called back.

"He doesn't need one, he has a ring," said Piper. "Mom's ring. I gave it to him so he could give it back to me at the perfect romantic moment."

"Wow, Leo, you lost mom's ring," said Phoebe as Buffy and Faith walked into the kitchen. "It's a good thing you're dead already."

"Leo lost Grandma Patty's ring?" said Buffy as Piper nodded.

"I had it in my pocket, Piper," Leo explained. "All the orbing in and out..."

"Your orbs are grass if you do not find that ring," Piper told him.

"I'm glad I am not you, Leo," said Faith.

"Alright, hi. Before blood is spilled, can I just ask a business question?" asked Prue. "Is it possible to turn a human into a demon?"

"Well, there are rumors, stories about demons recruiting humans," answered Leo.

"So, join the evil and see the underworld?" asked Phoebe.

"Kind of," Leo answered. "Apparently, the demons go after humans in need and strike your classic Faustian deal, but then the humans are forced into this training academy. A program that destroys their humanity."

"And turns them into demons," said Piper.

"Right, and when the recruits graduate, they have to kill an innocent to seal the demonic conversion permanently," explained Leo.

"It's like gang initiation," Darryl said in understanding. "You go out and kill the first person that you see and you're in the gang."

"Well, that explains your four random killings," said Phoebe. "Maybe it's graduation time at the academy."

"Well, if it is, Tom is one human they're not going to demonize," Prue said.

"Prue, how do you know we're not too late?" asked Phoebe. "I mean, if we didn't get there on time and stop him..."

"He would have killed an innocent and then it would have been too late, but we did stop him, so now we still have time to save him," Prue said. "Alright, I'm going to talk to Tom's mother, see if she knows anything. Maybe you two could come up with, like, a spell to find him or something."

"Who's Tom?" Buffy wondered.

"You tell her," said Prue as she left.

"It appears that Tom is Dawn's biological father," answered Piper.

"That explains the conversation," said Faith. "She's trying to save him for Dawn's sake."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

At Kellman's office, Tom Peters watched as Kellman interrogated another recruit.

"Mr. Kellman, I swear I can make this right, I swear it," said the recruit.

"I was clear, wasn't I?" Kellman asked. "I make your problems go away and you owe me. Now, did you forget about the last part of the deal?"

"I-I can pay you back. I just need more time."

"More time?" Kellman said shaking his head. "You don't have any more time. Your debt is due and payable now."

"Please, I'll do anything."

Kellman waved his hand and elevator doors appeared on a wall that had been blank moments before. "Oh, yes, you will. Come on," he said as he pushed the recruit into the elevator which closed behind him. Kellman turned and looked at Tom. "Now I don't have to go over all this again with you too, Tom, do I?"

"Temporary setback, Mr. Kellman. It won't happen again," Tom admitted.

Kellman sighed. "You know, you're not the only one exposed here. You got a contract with me and I got a contract with the Source. Five full graduates by tomorrow night. Now, all the others have made their kills. What's the problem?"

"A witch intervened," said Tom.

Kellman frowned as he looked at Tom. "What? A witch? How the hell did that happen?"

"I don't know, but I wasn't followed," admitted Tom. "I used every safeguard I learned in the academy."

"Well, she must be tracking the innocent. We'll have to get you another one, but we're running out of time here," Kellman said as he picked a newspaper. "Just kill this one, but do it fast or else there'll be hell to pay."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Across town in the Peters' residence Prue was talking to Mrs. Peters.

"He was so fast," Mrs. Peters said. "His coach said he could have run track too, but all Tom cares about is football."

"I am sorry that we lost touch but, um, what happened after he got hurt?" said Prue.

"He was depressed. I understood."

"So, the stories that I heard about his being in trouble..." asked Prue.

Mrs. Peters sighed. "The gambling rumors? Don't believe a word of it. No one over came to me looking for money and Mr. Kellman would have told me if there was a problem."

"Mr. Kellman?" Prue asked.

"His business manager," Mrs. Peters explained. "He took such good care of Tom, and he was a wonderful help to me after Tom went away."

"Mrs. Peters, what do you think happened?" wondered Prue.

"I think Tom has some things to take care of and he'll be home when he can," answered Mrs. Peters. "I know it in my heart. My son's a good man."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy and Faith watched as Phoebe lit candles on the table between her and Piper.

"Guiding spirits I ask your charity, lend me your focus and clarity," Phoebe and Piper chanted as Prue walked in, "lead me to the one I cannot find, restore that and my peace of mind."

"Hey, what's all this?" Prue asked.

Phoebe blew out the candle. "Oh, we were just looking for Tom. You know, with a little spell that we created."

"You created," Piper corrected.

"Wow, you came up with the whole ritual that fast?" Prue asked shocked.

"Actually, not as fast as you would think," Piper said as Phoebe kicked Piper under the table.

"Well, thank you," said Prue as she smiled at her sisters. "I really appreciate you guys doing this for me and for Dawn."

"She didn't exactly do it for you," Piper said. "Or for Dawn."

"Okay, what did Tom's mother say?" Phoebe asked changing the subject.

"Poor lady," Prue sighed. "She talks about him like he's been gone a week as opposed to six years and she actually think he's coming back."

"Based on..." Faith said.

"Faith, you know the religious type of faith, not you know you, Faith," said Prue. "Anyways I would like to prove her right. For hers and Dawn's sakes."

"Well, we're doing everything we can," Phoebe said.

"Yeah, and you know what?" said Prue. "We have saved bad boys before. I mean, what about the priest with the warlock brothers?"

"Yeah, but Prue, he wanted to be saved," said Piper. "Can you guarantee that about Tom or any other demon-human mix..."

"This is not about Cole, okay?" said Phoebe. "That's a whole other subject."

Buffy looked at Piper as she realized that Piper knew the truth that Phoebe hadn't really vanquished Cole.

"One worth discussing," said Piper.

"Am I missing something here?" asked Prue.

"Yes..." Piper said.

"Yes, actually, we are missing Tom and he's someone we should probably continue talking about," said Phoebe. "So, if this spell works and we actually find him, what do we do? Do we vanquish him?"

"If he is Dawn's father," said Buffy. "We can't. We have to save him for her sake."

They heard a bang at the door.

"I'll get it," said Faith as she walked into the foyer and opened the front door. She picked up a newspaper. She closed the door and returned to the others. She handed the paper to Prue.

Prue looked at the newspaper and frowned. "Since when do they deliver newspapers in the afternoon?" She flipped through the paper and noticed all the pictures are missing.

"Since they started taking out all the pictures," said Buffy as she looked over her mother's shoulder.

"Wow, it's a pretty cool spell if I do say so myself," said Phoebe.

"Yeah, except what is it telling us?" Prue asked as Buffy took the newspaper from her.

Buffy continued to flip through the newspaper till she found a picture of a woman in the Metro section. How about this? Claudia Gibson will discuss the mayor's position on Net News Live today at 2:00. Which is ten minutes ago."

"Hmm? Our next innocent?" Piper asked.

"As in Tom's next victim," Prue said. "Okay, come on." They head out the front door Buffy and Prue each grab their car keys.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy drove behind Prue as they pulled up outside a building. They quickly got out as they spot Tom following Claudia toward her car.

A fireball formed in Tom's hand and he threw it at Claudia.

Piper held up her hands and froze the Tom, Claudia and the fireball. "Well, we didn't bring a vanquish, but if we throw him into the street that might do the trick," she said.

"Aunt Piper," said Buffy. "We are not vanquishing him."

"Buffy, he almost killed that woman," argued Piper.

"Almost, but didn't," Prue said as she telekinetically sent the fireball into a nearby car. "Alright, we need to get him home."

"Wha- our home?" said Phoebe shocked. "You're voluntarily bringing a demon back to our home?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later back at the Manor in the attic, Buffy and Prue looked through the Book of Shadows while Faith stood guard over Tom, who was tied to a chair.

"Did you two find anything yet?" Piper asked freezing Tom who was struggling against his bonds.

"Not yet," answered Prue.

"Well, while we're waiting this would be a good time to discuss something," said Piper as the phone rang.

"Oh, phone," said Phoebe. "Piper will get it."

"Nope," Piper objected. "Machine, remember?"

"Leo was right," said Buffy.

"About what?" asked Phoebe.

"About the demonic training academy," said Prue. "It's right here in the Book."

"Oh, really?" Phoebe said surprised.

Prue nodded. "A brutal training program which destroys humanity and renders the subject demonic. Alright, so if Tom is completely demonic, he'll have a brand on his arm with six chevrons."

Piper pulled up Tom's sleeve and revealed five chevrons. "He's only got five."

"Good, that means he's not fully converted," said Buffy.

"We better vanquish him while we can," said Phoebe.

"Aunt Phoebe, no," said Buffy.

"You know, when Cole was the hybrid in question, you were all about saving him," Prue told Phoebe.

"Excellent point," agreed Piper.

"Yes, well, I learned from my mistake," said Phoebe.

"And which mistake was that?" wondered Buffy.

"Believing that I could save a demon," answered Phoebe.

"Hmm. Well, like I said before, this is different," Prue said as Tom unfroze. She walked over to him. "Tom, look at me. Do you remember me from college?"

"Hmm, does that mean he remembers you or he doesn't?" Piper asked when Tom threw a fireball. They heard the doorbell ring downstairs. "What is going on down there?"

"Why don't you guys go and find out?" suggested Prue. "Buffy and I can handle him." She and Buffy watched as Faith, Piper and Phoebe walked out of the attic and down the stairs.