Chapter 18: The Power of Two Augmented

At Halliwell Manor Phoebe is sitting on the furniture meditating trying to call a premonition. Prue and Piper are running around looking for stuff.

Buffy comes downstairs.

"Prue, have you seen my purse?" Piper says.

Prue nods, "In the kitchen. Have you seen my keys?"

Piper motions toward the TV, "They're by the T.V. I can't find my plane ticket. Did I give it to you?"

Prue shakes her head, "Maybe you packed it."

"I didn't pack it, I just saw it." Piper says.

Phoebe holds Piper's plane ticket and tries to have a premonition. It works. "I can't believe it. It worked."

"Found it, Piper." Buffy says as she snatches Piper's plane ticket off Phoebe.

Piper smiles, "Thank God. Didn't you hear me looking for this? What are you doing on the furniture?"

Phoebe shakes her head, "No, you don't understand. I've been practicing how to call a premonition and I did it. I saw a future event on command. Oh, and that's the good news, the bad news is I saw you missing your flight."

Piper frowns, " Oh, great. If I don't get to Honolulu for the convention, my boss will fire me."

Prue nods, "Well, we can't let that happen especially since my job is hanging by a thread as it is."

Buffy frowns, "Since when?"

Prue sighs, "Oh, since all the demon hunting time off I've been taking lately."

Piper nods, "I am so behind. I didn't go shopping, or pay the bills, or call the cable guy, or cancel my hair appointment."

Phoebe smiles, "Don't worry about it, sweetie, I'll do it."

"You sure?" Piper asks.

Prue nods, "Yeah, I mean, you've got time right?

Buffy smiles, "I have the day off from school anyways, so I can help her. Though now that I think about it would be easier if I had a car and a license. Prue maybe we can discuss that later after you get home from work?"

Prue looks at Buffy and nods, "Ok." She looks to Piper, "Okay, so listen, we have stopped Phoebe's premonitions from coming true before, hopefully we can do it again. Let's go.""

"Okay, but wait, whoa, whoa! I just realised the three of you haven't really ever been alone together." Piper says.

Phoebe smiles, "Piper, we're big girls now. I don't think we need you as a buffer anymore."

"All right, what about demon stuff, what if something happens and you need the power of three?" Piper asks.

Prue smiles, "Well, then the power of two will just have to do. Plus with Buffy here we can augment it to make it more powerful."

Phoebe nods, "Good one."

"All right, let's go. Um, hey Phoebe, Buffy, will you two pick up my dry cleaning on the way back from the market, please?" Prue says.

Piper nods, "And talk to the gardeners about the weeds."

Prue smiles, "Oh, and light bulbs, we need light bulbs."

"Sure, we'll just add it to the list." Phoebe says.

Piper smiles, "Great, thanks, bye."

"Go, go, go." Prue says as she and Piper leave.

Phoebe sighs, "I'm not even married and already I'm a housewife."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Hey at least I offered to help."

The phone rings and Phoebe answers it, "Hello. Hey, Marianne. Oh, geez, I completely forgot about Alcatraz. I can't go, I have a million errands to run. You know, I, I'll be right over. Oh and you don't mind if I bring Payson along? She's home today from school and never been. Great thanks." She scrunches up the list and throws it away.

"Alcatraz? Wow. Uhm chores or seeing a famous prison. I think I will go see the prison." She and Phoebe head out of the house.

At Alcatraz a group of people including Buffy and Phoebe are touring the prison.

"Twenty-eight inmates died here, nine by attempting to escape, four by execution. Legend has it, that one of them still haunts the prison to this very day. The ghost of Alcatraz, believed to reside in this very cell." The tour guide says.

"The ghost... oh, geez." A man says as he laughs.

"Let's see if he's in, shall we?" The tour guide opens the cell and goes inside and closes the door. "Now if you listen closely, you can actually hear the ghost cries. Shh. There. Hear him?"

Jackson shakes his head, "What an idiot."

Soul Collector nods, "Look at him as your "get out of jail free" card." She does something and the tour guide drops dead.

Buffy looks between the female ghost and Jackson, "Pheebs!"

Phoebe turns to look at Buffy and see Jackson, the Soul Collector and the tour guard on the floor. "Marianne call 911, quick! What did you do?"

"Who are you?" Buffy asks.

Jackson frowns, "You two can see me?"

"Forget them for now. There's your ride off the island. Hop in." The Soul Collector says.

Phoebe shakes her head, "Oh, no. No!"

Jackson goes in the tour guide.

"Hope you enjoyed the tour. See ya." The Soul Collector says.

A short time later the tour guide's body is zipped up in a body bag. The police are questioning Phoebe and Buffy.

At Bucklands.

"In all honesty, Prue, if it weren't for you, I'm not sure the auction house would've been able to stave off bankruptcy." Claire says.

Prue nods, "Thank you."

Claire shakes her head, "No, don't thank me yet. Now, I have tolerated your unexplained absences and the endless family emergencies but no more. Buyers interested in purchasing Bucklands will be visiting in the next two days and it's important that we make a big impression. It's important that you make a big impression if you expect to keep your job. Do I make myself clear?"

"Perfectly." Prue says.

Monique opens the door. "I'm sorry, Prue, but your sister's on the phone."

Prue nods, "Ah, I'll call her back."

Monique shakes her head, "She says it's an emergency."

Prue goes out to the secretaries desk and gets the phone.

"Hey, have you ever heard of the ghost of Alcatraz?" Phoebe asks.

Prue frowns, "Are you kidding me? This is why you pulled me out of a meeting?"

"No, Prue, you don't understand. Buffy and I think the ghost really exists." Phoebe says.

Prue frowns, "Did either of you see it?"

"Ah, no, of course not, I mean how could we? We weren't at Alcatraz. WeI had way too much work around here to do." Phoebe says.

Prue nods, "So, then what makes you think there was a ghost?"

"Uh, my friend saw it. Marianne. You know Marianne. Actually, she thinks she saw two ghosts, or the other one may be something else. She's not really sure." Phoebe says.

Prue sighs, "Phoebe."

"What? Witches aren't the only people that can see ghosts. Normal people can too. Anyway, I did some research and I found out that some evil spirits need a dead body to transport them across water." Phoebe says.

Claire impatiently stands at the doorway.

Prue nods, "Okay, look, I am really sorry that the furnace exploded but you are just gonna have to handle it on your own. Okay?"

"Okay, Prue, if this ghost is on the mainland..." Phoebe says.

Prue sighs, "Don't forget to buy tampons at the market." She hangs up. She looks to Claire. "Just, uh..." She makes an exploding noise. "Singed eyebrows."

In the Kitchen at the Manor Prue walks into the kitchen. "Buffy, Phoebe, I'm home." She sees all the dirty dishes still in the sink and looks in the fridge. It's empty. "Buffy, Phoebe, you two didn't go to the market yet?"

Buffy shakes her head, "Uh, no, we sort of got side tracked with this ghost research. Besides, there isn't enough money in the household account."

Prue shakes her head, "Well, you two should've told me. I would've had some transferred in. What about the dry cleaning?"

Phoebe sighs, "I will go tomorrow, I swear."

"I wanted to wear that suit to work tomorrow." Prue says.

Phoebe nods, "Look, I know that I promised but this just seemed more important. We're not gonna get into a fight already are we? I mean, I wouldn't want to prove Piper right."

Buffy nods in agreement, "I really don't want to get grounded again. Makes patrol difficult."

The doorbell rings. Prue answers it. "Andy, hi."

Andy smiles, "Hi."

"I was wondering if I'd see you again. I thought you might be mad at me." Prue says.

Andy shakes his head, "No, I just needed some space. It's one thing to suspect what your secret was, it's another thing to actually see it with my own eyes."

Prue nods, "So does that mean that you're okay with it?"

"Actually, I'm here on a case. A kind of case where frankly before, I'd probably be looking for a more logical explanation." Andy says.

Prue nods, "Well, come on in." They go inside. "What's the case?"

Andy smiles, "The son of a former D.A. was brutally murdered. The only quote-unquote evidence points to the last man executed on Alcatraz before it was closed down."

Buffy and Phoebe join Prue and Andy. "Jackson Ward." Buffy says.

Andy nods, "How did you know that?"

Prue glares at Phoebe and Buffy, "Yeah, how did you know that?"

Phoebe smiles, "We told you,we were trying to figure out who the ghost of Alcatraz was, remember? Jackson Ward's name was at the top of the list."

"Ghost?" Andy asks.

Phoebe nods, "Yeah. Hey, what's that?" She points to the picture of the knife.

Andy frowns, "Ultraviolet fingerprint. Although, technically, there's no such thing."

Phoebe nods, "Could be the ghost's ectoplasm. It's outside the visual spectrum. Book of Shadows."

"Ectoplasm." Andy says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah. It's the ghost's skin. Hey, do you have a picture of this Ward guy?"

Andy shows them the picture of Jackson Ward.

"Yep, that's him. Exactly how Marianne described him. Amazing." Phoebe says.

Prue is a little suspicious, "Very."

Phoebe nods, "And what about this former DA's son. Did Ward know him?"

"Ward knew his father. He was the prosecutor who convicted him." Andy says.

Buffy frowns, "Coincidence? I think not."

Phoebe nods, "It's got to be the ghost that got off Alcatraz."

Prue frowns, "You know, speaking of coincidences. Don't you think it's an awfully big one that your friend saw this ghost?"

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Prue, if we've learned anything by now, it's that there aren't any coincidences, right?"

Prue nods, "Right." Andy's staring out the window. "Andy, are you okay?"

"I don't know. Just getting used to the idea of demons and witches. I don't know if I'm ready for ghosts too." Andy says.

Phoebe nods, "You ain't seen nothing yet."

Prue sighs, "Pheebs."

Andy sighs, "But if you're right, if it is the ghost of Jackson Ward who is the killer, how do I stop him from killing again?"

Later Buffy and Phoebe are in the attic looking through both Books.

Prue calls up from downstairs, "Phoebe? Buffy?"

Buffy goes to the door, "Yeah, we're up in the attic.:

Prue enters with Andy behind her.

Andy looks around, "I always wondered what was up here."

Phoebe frowns, "Prue, the Book of Shad-a-ba-bows." She tries to hide it.

Buffy moves to try and hide hers as well.

"No, no, no. It's okay, I already told him about them. Look, Jackson Ward has killed again. We have to figure out a way to stop them. Have you two found anything?" Prue asks.

Phoebe shakes her head, "Not really, I mean, there is so many references in here. There's ghosts, poltergeists, evil spirits, phantasms. We are not dealing with a typical demon."

Buffy nods, "Yeah, same here."

Prue sighs, "Yeah, well, there has to be something in here about vanquishing an evil spirit."

"Well, actually there is one spell but I don't think we're gonna want to use it." Phoebe says.

Prue shakes her head, "Why not? I mean, if it needs the power of three we an always call Piper, right? Or try and have Buffy augment it. She does bring us pretty close to a power of three."

Phoebe shakes her head, "No, that's not the problem. The problem is an evil spirit can't be vanquished on the physical plane. Only the astral plane. His plane."

"Okay, so then how do we say the spell?" Prue asks.

Buffy sighs, "Our spirits would have to say it. Meaning one of us would have to die for it to actually work."

Prue nods, "Keep looking."

Phoebe looks to Buffy who nods, "Right." They turn and start looking through the books again.

Andy sighs, "I've always believed there was another world behind or beyond this one. I even sort of believe in demons. But I have never in my wildest dreams..." He indicates the books. "I could never have imagined that this existed."

Prue smiles, "Yeah, neither did we. But we've come to believe that there's a reason for why that world was opened up to us. Which means there's probably a very good reason why it was opened up to you."

"Welcome, to our little shop of horrors." Phoebe says.

Both Books starts flipping pages.

"Are you doing that?" Andy asks.

Prue shakes her head, "No, it just sometimes they do it on their own."

Both Books open up to the truth spell.

Andy looks at at both Books and sees them open to the same page, "The truth spell?"

Buffy frowns, "That's weird that it would open up to that page with Andy standing right here."

Prue nods, "There has to be a mistake, Buffy." She turns the pages of one Book and then the other.

Phoebe shakes her head, "Or maybe there's a reason, Prue." She turns the pages in the Charmed Book back to the truth spell.

Prue and Andy leave to talk.

Downstairs a short time later…

Andy frowns, "How much time?"

"A minute... or two." Prue says.

Andy shakes his head, "A minute?"

Prue sighs, "Or two. It, it was a twenty-four hour spell, all right, I was against the clock."

Andy frowns, "And that's what you based your entire decision about us on? Prue, I've had a week to react to it this time. I still don't know how I feel. You should've given me more time, I think I deserve that, I think we deserved that."

Buffy and Phoebe comes down the stairs.

"Hey, you guys, since we don't know how to vanquish the ghost we have to try to stop him from killing his next... victim. Are we interrupting something?" Phoebe says.

Andy shakes his head, "No, we're done. What do you mean stop him killing his next victim? How do we do that?"

Phoebe smiles, "Buffy and I have powers too, you know."

Later in Prue's car out front of the police station Andy gets in. Buffy, Prue and Phoebe are waiting there.

Andy nods, "Okay, I got it. That's what Ward used to kill the judge." He hands Phoebe the letter opener. "How exactly is this going to work again?"

Phoebe smiles, "Well, I've been practicing calling my power, and if the psychic energy is strong enough on this, I should be able to see a future event. Just in case though. Buffy, augment me."

"Hopefully Jackson Ward's next victim." Prue says.

Buffy nods, "Sure Pheebs."

Phoebe nods, "Hopefully. If we're lucky. It doesn't always work."

Buffy rests her hands on Phoebe's shoulders. She closes her eyes. "Here we go." She begins to concentrate on Phoebe.

Phoebe holds the letter opener and has a premonition of Jackson Ward killing an elderly woman. "Oh my God."

"Are you all right?" Prue asks.

Phoebe nods, "I, uh, I didn't just see it, Prue, I felt it. Her pain, her terror. Buffy's augmentation really enhanced the premonition."

Buffy smiles, "I try and do what I can."

"Anyone of these look familiar?" Andy says as he hands Phoebe some pictures. She looks through them and picks one out. "Iris Beiderman. The foreperson on the jury that convicted him."

At Iris Beiderman's place Jackson is just about to stab her when Andy kicks open the door. Phoebe kicks the knife out of Jackson's hand.

"You two again." Jackson says.

Prue frowns, "You two again? What, you three have met?"

Buffy looks to Prue, "Not now."

Andy nods, "Where is he? Is he still here?"

"Yeah, he's right there." Prue says.

Andy looks around, "Point him out, Prue."

Jackson grins evilly, "You can't keep saving her forever."

Buffy goes and grabs the knife.

Andy frowns, "Prue, what's going on?"

"Or the others. Or yourselves." Jackson says.

Andy frowns, "Prue." Jackson leaves.

Back at the Manor Buffy, Prue and Phoebe walk in through the front door.

Prue sighs, "I cannot believe you two lied to me and I cannot believe I had to hear about it from a ghost."

Buffy sighed, "We already apologised for that, okay."

Prue shook her head, "I just don't understand why either of you couldn't tell me the truth, especially about something as stupid as going to Alcatraz."

Phoebe sighs, "We didn't tell you the truth because I knew you'd go ballistic and I thought I'd save ourselves the drama."

Buffy nods.

"Why would I go ballistic over that?" Prue asks.

Phoebe frowns, "Come on, Prue, give me a break. Just admit it. Why are you really mad at me? At us?"

Prue frowns, "Because you both lied to me."

Phoebe shakes her head, "No. You're really mad at us because as far as you're concerned, we were slacking off yesterday. Which is pretty much what I do every day, right?"

"Where is this coming from?" Prue says.

Phoebe shakes her head, "It's coming from the fact that I know you're really pissed because neither of us did the grocery shopping or pick up your dry cleaning, or whatever else that you put on that stupid list."

Buffy nods in agreement, "Yeah, Prue."

Prue shakes her head, "I am sorry that I asked you both to do things around the house because I have to work."

Phoebe sighs, "See? Time it, ladies and gentlemen, it took a whole sixty seconds before the 'W' word reared its ugly head."

Prue frowns, "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about how you and Piper just automatically assume that Buffy or I will take care of the house because we don't have a real job." Phoebe says.

Prue shakes her head, "Now that's not true."

Phoebe sighs, "Oh no? Prue, when was the last time you went grocery shopping, or vacuumed the house, or waited all day for the cable guy to show up, which by the way if I were paid by the hour I'd be a millionaire by now. Or better yet, Buffy how many times has she asked you to go to the store on the way home from school?"

Buffy sighs, "Too many."

Prue shakes her head, "I cannot believe how you two are turning this around.

"I cannot believe you're pretending that you don't have a problem." Pheobe says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah Prue."

Prue sighs, "I don't."

Phoebe nods, "Okay, well, you know what? You just proved our point... our other point, which is neither Buffy or I get absolutely any credit for all that we do around here. It's just assumed that we'll do it. Like that crack that you made to Piper yesterday morning. Don't worry, Piper, Phoebe'll do it she's got time."

Prue sighs, "You do."

Phoebe nods, "Yes, and that's exactly my point, my main point. You are mad at me because I don't work."

Buffy nods, "Your mad at me at me not really because I don't work but because being the Slayer takes up a lot of my time and I don't help out around the house as much. So you try and make up for it by giving me even more chores to do."

"Okay, maybe you are both right." Prue says.

Phoebe nods, "And that's why we lied to you." The phone rings, Phoebe goes to answer it. "Hello."

"Hey, Phoebe, how's it going?" Piper says.

"Hey, Piper, how's Hawaii?" Phoebe says.

"Hey Piper," Buffy says loud enough for Piper to hear.

"I don't know, I haven't stopped working since I got off the plane. Hey Buffy." Piper says.

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "Sure, rub it in."

"Excuse me?" Piper says.

Phoebe shakes her head, "Nothing. Hey, can I call you back? I'm sort of in the middle of something right now."

"Sure, I just wanted to make sure you guys were all right. Do you miss me?" Piper says.

Phoebe nods, "More than you know, sweetie."

"Good. I love you. Tell Prue and Buffy I love them, too." Piper says.

Phoebe smiles, "I will. I love you too."

"Bye." Piper says.

"Bye." Phoebe says as she hangs up.

Prue frowns, "Why didn't you tell her about Jackson Ward?"

Phoebe shakes her head, "Why worry her? The power of three can't vanquish him. It's up to us."

Buffy nods, "Besides what is Piper going to do from Hawaii anyways?"

Prue sighs, "Look, Phoebe, Buffy, obviously we have some issues to deal with and they're not gonna be resolved overnight. So, in the mean time we need to figure out a way to stop Jackson Ward before he hurts anymore innocent people, okay?"

"I agree." Phoebe and Buffy say.

Prue nods, "Okay. So, did we actually just reach a compromise?"

Buffy and Phoebe rolls their eyes.

Later in the kitchen Phoebe and Prue are looking through the Charmed Book. Buffy is looking through her Book.

"It's the same story. One of us would have to literally die on order to vanquish the evil spirit. Any volunteers?" Phoebe says.

Prue nods, "Actually maybe. But before that we need to figure out a way to find Ward first. I mean, we can't count on you seeing his next victim even though Andy left us the letter opener to try."

Buffy nods, "Wait a minute. I think that there's something in here about luring evil spirits. A potion." She finds the page in her Book. "To lure an evil spirit. Mix equal parts of mercury and acid with the blood of one of the spirit's victims, pour it over his grave."

"Okay, that's disgusting," Phoebe says.

Prue sighs, "Yeah, alright, we can get the blood from the letter opener but how are we gonna find Ward's grave?"

Phoebe smiles, "You know what? I read on the web, his ashes were interred at his family mausoleum in Palo Alto."

"Great, just might work." Prue says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah, if it does work, he'll be coming after us."

Later in the Mausoleum Prue, Phoebe and Piper are walking around.

Prue sighs, "Oh, I hate cemeteries at night."

Phoebe nods, "I hate cemeteries at day."

Buffy rolls her eyes, "Just be glad there is no vampire."

They hear a noise.

Phoebe frowns, "What was that?"

Prue frowns, "Ah, probably a zombie or vampire."

Buffy shakes her head, "Just what we don't need tonight. Me Slaying while you two are trying to summon Ward's ghost."

Prue smiles, "Okay, perfect, there it is, Jackson Ward. Do you have the picture?" Prue looks at the picture and Phoebe's written on it. "Hey, Jackson, let's party?"

Phoebe smiles, "Okay, well, I couldn't think of anything else to write. Can we just do this and hurry?"

"Okay." Prue says as she throws the potion on and the plaque starts to melt. "Okay, okay, all right, let's go."

Back at the Manor in the kitchen Prue's making a potion.

Phoebe sighs, "Maybe it didn't work, maybe he's not coming."

Prue nods, "Well, at least if he is coming, we are definitely ready for him."

"What exactly is that?" Buffy asks.

"One killer cocktail. Literally. Little bit of oleander, some jimsonweed, bloodwort, among other things. Stops the heart immediately." Prue says.

Phoebe frowns, "Okay, you're scaring me. Where did you learn to do that?"

Prue sighs, "Book of Shadows."

Buffy frowns, "Which? That better not have been in mine or I'm ripping the page out of it is."

Phoebe nods, "Where? Under Dr. Kevorkian?"

"Whoever takes it can be revived by C.P.R. The only catch is it has to be done within four minutes to avoid brain damage." Prue says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Okay, Prue, that's a pretty big catch."

Prue nods, "Yeah, well, it's the only way to say the spell. It's the only chance we have of sending Ward where he belongs."

Phoebe nods, "But who does it? How do we decide that?"

"I'll do it." Prue says.

Phoebe shakes her head, "No." She gets a coin. "Call it heads or tails and no fair using your power."

Prue smiles, "Tails." Phoebe tosses the coin and it lands on tails. "I win."

Buffy shakes her head, "Toss it again."

Prue glares at Buffy, "No."

"Yes. Prue I have a greater chance of being revived than you do. I'm younger, plus I'm the Slayer."

Phoebe sighs and tosses the coin, "Call it."

"Heads." Buffy says.

The coin lands on heads.

Buffy sighs, "I'm counting on you guys."

Phoebe sighs, "I'm scared. I mean, I'm really scared. I think we've gone too far this time."

Prue nods, "We're doing what we have to do."

Buffy nods, "Yeah."

"I wish Piper were here. The swing vote, the voice of reason." Phoebe says.

Prue sighs, "Phoebe, Buffy, I never realised how much I probably do take you both for granted and not just for what either of you do around the house either."

Phoebe sighs, "Sure. You're just saying that 'cause Buffy's about to die."

Prue shakes her head, "No, you both were right about last night, I was upset because I thought you both were slacking off but the truth is you both weren't. You both were trying to find out who the ghost was and thank God you did."

"Yeah, but I totally over reacted. I mean, I'm the one that's upset with myself for not working for a living." Phoebe says.

Buffy sighs, "I over reacted also. I don't do as much around here as I should be. I use being the Slayer as an excuse."

Prue nods, "Phoebe, you do work. Buffy being the Slayer is important. Just as important as being a witch is."

Phoebe nods, "I know, Prue, I work around the house, but I want a job, a real job."

Buffy nods, "And I would like to have a life outside of being the Slayer, or even a witch."

Prue nods, "And you will find one, Phoebe. And you will have a life, Buffy. When you're both ready."

Phoebe smiles, "I can't remember the last time we talked like this."

Prue and Phoebe hug. A moment later Buffy joins them. Then phone rings.

"Prue, it's Claire, you're late, you're fired." Claire says into the answering machine.

Jackson walks through the wall and smashes something. He throws it.

Prue frowns, "Phoebe, duck!"

"Okay, Buffy, I got him, hurry." Phoebe says

Buffy drinks the cocktail while Prue and Phoebe fights Jackson. Jackson hits Phoebe over the head and is knocked unconscious. He then slaps Prue a way sending her across the kitchen. Buffy collapses to the floor.

Jackson smiles, "You're making this too easy, girl." He gets a metal cake server. Buffy's spirit floats out of her body. "What the hell's going on?"

"Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit, take his soul, banish this evil." Buffy says.

Jackson frowns, "No!"

Andy calls from the living room, "Prue, you home?" He sees Phoebe lying on the floor.

"Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit, take his soul, banish this evil." Buffy says.

Jackson starts fading away. "No! No!"

Andy goes in the kitchen he sees Prue first and checks her and sees she's okay, just unconscious. He then checks Buffy. "Buffy!" He starts giving her C.P.R.

"Andy, don't. Not yet." Buffy says.

Jackson smiles, "It's even better, I get to kill a cop too."

Buffy calls out, "Andy, behind you." Andy looks behind him and grabs the cake server. "Ashes to ashes, spirit to spirit, take his soul, banish this evil." Jackson yells and disappears. The soul collector appears. "Who are you?"

Soul collector smiles, "I was hoping to take you or your cousins. But it looks like you soul is safe. For now." She disappears.

Buffy's spirit enters back in her body. She wakes up.

Andy smiles, "Slow breaths."

"Am I alive?" Buffy asks.

Andy nods, "Yeah, you are. Thank God."

Prue and Phoebe wake up. "What happened? Is the ghost toast?" Phoebe asks.

Buffy nods, "Yeah."

Prue smiles at Buffy.

The next day in the kitchen Buffy, Phoebe and Prue are bringing the groceries in.

"So did you burn Andy's file like he suggested?" Buffy asks.

Prue nods, "Yeah, you should have seen it. It turns out he knew a lot more about us then he was letting on."

Phoebe nods, "Still doesn't explain how he could hear a ghost."

Prue frowns, "What do you mean?"

Phoebe sighs, "Well, when Buffy was a spirit." She looks at Buffy. "You said you yelled out to him and that's what made him turn around in time." She looks back at Prue. "How could he hear Buffy?"

Prue shrugs, "I don't know."

Buffy sighs, "Neither do I. I'm glad he did though. That's as close as I ever want to come to dying."

"Agreed." Prue and Phoebe say.

Piper enters the room. "Hi."

Pheobe smiles, "Piper, yay, I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow."

Piper nods, "I took an earlier flight. I had this terrible feeling you guys were um..."

"What?" Prue asks.

"Oh, I don't know, at each other's throats maybe." Piper says.

Buffy laughs, "Us?"

Phoebe nods, "Are you kidding?"

Prue shakes her head, "Never."

"So nothing happened while I was gone?" Piper asks.

Phoebe shakes her head, "No, just the same old boring stuff. Hey, you need a hand?"

Buffy nods in agreement. "Yeah, need a hand?"

Prue smiles, "Uh, yeah, that would be great, thanks, Pheebs, Buffy."

They start putting the groceries away.