MY SEASON 7
This the way season 7 would work if I had written it and not Joss. Read on
to see how...
s7.2 The Fate Of The Earth Part 2
Disclaimer: Buffy and all other characters and related trademarks are owned by Joss Whedon, Marti Noxon, and everyone else who helps in making the actual show
A/N: Well, this is the second part of the season opener and I'm basically continuing from that. This kicks off just about an hour or so after the first part ended. I'm gonna have a main & a guest cast list from now on except I'll be using character names. This is so it'll be more like a real season and you guys will know who's gonna come in all the "episodes".
Summary: Continuing from last week, the gang receives help from Oz, while Buffy gets hers from a stranger. Finally, Buffy has to make a decision.
Teaser:
Spike's crypt
The stone door burst open and the man's figure only partly blocked out the blazing sun. "Hey!" Spike screamed and ran behind the pillar to shield himself. "You could've killed me!"
"Maybe next time, Spike," said Xander stepping into the crypt. "I see you haven't taken to re-decorating yet," Xander mused looking around. "Haven't found anyone good, 'cause I know a girl who could do wonders with this place."
"Whadda ya want?" Spike grumbled.
"I need a favor."
"A favor? Look, Xander, first you storm into my place, almost kill me - and you still haven't closed the door! - and now you want a favor!?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh, okay then."
Then, Oz walked in carrying a little girl in his arms. "You sure this is okay?" Oz asked Xander.
"Yeah," Xander reassured him. "Spike, you know Oz?"
"Not really."
"We've not got time for introductions, I just want you to look after her."
"Who's she? Your kid?" he addressed Oz.
Oz didn't say anything but Spike took it for a yes.
"Listen, Spike we're gonna be back for her soon. But until then will you just keep an eye on her?"
"Will ya shut the door?" Xander kicked it back and Spike nodded. "Okay, but don't expect me to do this all the time for you. I'm only gonna do it now 'cause I know the girls can't."
"Why can't they?" asked Oz.
"'Cause Tara took Dawn to the hospital to see Wesley and Buffy's gone out someplace."
"Where?" Xander wondered aloud.
"Dunno." By this time Oz had laid the little girl on the couch. "Hey, am I gonna get an explanation for this? I know you don't really like me but I was just wondering if you were gonna tell me what was going on this time? You guys never did when you brought Buffy back?" Oz turned to look at Xander.
"We'll tell you once we get back, we just have to make sure of what we know."
Xander and Oz climbed the few steps to the door of the crypt. "Guys?" Spike called. They turned back. "Does this little birdie have a name?"
"Annie."
MAIN CAST: + Buffy + Xander + Willow + Spike + Wesley + Tara + Dawn + Faith + And Oz
GUEST CAST: + Annie + Jason + William + Balthazar + Giles + Jeremy
ACT 1
Scene: The hospital
Tara sat down next to Dawn and handed her a coke. "They didn't have orange but I got you a coke."
"Thanks, Tara, but I'm not really that thirsty."
"Then, do you want me to get you some food? Downstairs, they sell this really nice food - and it's good for you too. But if you don't want that there's a vending machine over there that's got chocolate. Or I could even go across the street and -"
"I'm fine. I don't really want anything."
"Oh, okay." A second later Tara sat up again in her seat and said, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." The two of them were silent for a while, but Tara hated the silence that screamed at her and felt she had to end it.
"So school starts Monday right?"
"Yeah, but not tomorrow. The next Monday."
"Oh, right. Are you looking forward to it?"
"I'm not quite sure. It was hard enough starting freshman year at my last school. Now they've rebuilt Sunnydale High and I'm going there all the other sophomores will know each other and I won't know anybody."
"There's sure to be other new people there. Aren't any of your friends from your old high school moving?"
"There are a few people from my year who are transferring, but I only know one of them."
"So at least you'll know one person."
"It's Janine."
"You mean that horrible girl who insulted your outfit and called you those names?"
"Yup, the one and the same. Janine Pierson, middle name 'Bitch'."
"Sorry."
"Doesn't matter. Hopefully there'll be someone at Sunnydale High who will be even weirder than me who she can pick on. If I'm lucky."
"Oh, don't be silly. You're not weird."
"Have you checked out my record lately? Family history? Not exactly your average student."
"All you are is different to most people. But, different isn't bad. You're ... special." Dawn laughed. "I'm not kidding. You are special and if these kids at your new can't see that then they're just plain blind."
"But you can see, can't you Tara? You can see my 'special' light glowing around me. Green, isn't it? That's what you said. A green, pretty light. That's what I am."
Before Tara could say anything a young nurse came up to them. "We've finished our checkups on your friend." Dawn got up and walked inside Wesley's hospital room leaving Tara behind.
Scene change: Wesley's room
Tara opened and shut the door silently behind her but she knew that Dawn had heard her come in anyway. "What did they say?" Dawn asked from her chair next to Wesley's bed.
"He's fine. We just have to wait till he wakes up."
"And when will he do that?"
"They're not sure."
"Why not?" Dawn said turning her body round to face Tara.
"Because, you can't always be sure, Dawn. That's just how it is," Tara's voice not coming out quite as gentle as she had intended. Dawn remained silent, turning back to face Wesley.
Before Tara could settle her conscience and say something Dawn spoke. "Are we doing the right thing?"
"The right thing for what, Dawn?"
"In not checking that nothing's happened. To Angel and them, I mean."
"Well, from over here, there's nothing we can do from over here besides phone them. And for all we know, they could have just gone out somewhere for dinner or some show last night." Dawn said nothing, but her manner told Tara something else. "Dawn?"
"I-I sorta called them this morning."
"Oh," Tara said moving away from the door and sitting down on the stool behind Dawn.
"Um...do you think maybe you wouldn't tell Buffy?"
"Okay," Tara sighed. "But you should listen to her Dawn."
"It's not like she ever listens to us."
"But-"
"But what? She doesn't have to listen to us? Just because she's the Chosen One and some sort of leader it doesn't mean she can act like she's the boss or something."
"Dawn-" Tara started.
"No, Tara. Stop sticking up for her. You don't get it. I mean for you guys Buffy just acts all bossy in the demon stuff and yeah, okay then, since she's the one gonna destroy the demon, maybe that is okay sometimes. But after all that she comes home and tries to be Mom. But she's not Mom and Buffy'll never be Mom -"
"Uh, guys?" a voice called.
Tara and Dawn turned around to see Xander and Oz standing at the door.
"Oz?" Dawn asked, surprised, completely forgetting what she was saying only a few moments ago.
"Hey Dawn. Tara," he added almost as an afterthought.
"Uh...Hi!" Tara's voice squeaking a little too much for her liking. "Hey."
"So, um, how's English?" Xander asked.
"He's okay," Tara piped up, glad, for once; she knew the answer to something. "We just have to wait till he gets up."
"Alright."
"What are you doing here?"
"Well," Oz answered Dawn, "I need some help from Buffy."
"You do? How come?" the squeakiness still not depleting, much to Tara's dislike.
"Oz knows about the demon we're hunting," Xander said closing the door behind him first. "And it's a lot more than that one paragraph we got from that book last night. He's gonna help us and we're gonna help him."
"What do you know?" asked Dawn.
"Xander said that all you guys know is that the demon Buffy killed last night is the brother of some other demon who's bringing an apocalypse. Well, I know that the other demon is Showun."
"And he is?"
"Well, I don't know that -"
"Well, what do you know?" Dawn repeated herself, becoming impatient.
"I know that for the apocalypse that he's going to start he needs to make a sacrifice. A sacrifice of someone powerful."
"So what kind of powerful? Because he could have chosen anybody, I mean, we wouldn't know."
"He's decided to sacrifice the Slayer."
"The Slayer!?" Tara exclaimed jumping up from her seat. "We have to go find Buffy! We don't know where she is even, I mean, she could be anywhere! They could have even got her by now!"
"Tara, they don't have Buffy," Xander reassured her.
"Are you sure?" she said, nevertheless, calming down a bit.
"Yes."
"But then w-who -" Tara began.
"Faith," Dawn whispered. "They took Faith didn't they?" Oz nodded. "B-but how do you know that?"
"Because ... um, Faith is my girlfriend."
"What?" Dawn exclaimed suddenly. "Faith is your-your...girlfriend!?"
"Yeah."
"Faith was released from prison a while back," Xander explained. "She and Oz ran into each other in San Francisco."
"And now you two are going out ... Whoa," Dawn breathed before falling back into her seat.
___
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2
Scene: The mansion
"Well?" William demanded.
"We have searched, sir, but -"
"How many times do I have to tell you Balthazar, you cannot make excuses!"
"Yes sir."
"You may rise." William walked towards the door. "Showun will not be pleased."
"I know sir, but if you would please just give me another chance -"
"Stop!" he commanded. "Again, Balthazar, do I have to tell you that there will be no pleading? Pleading is for the foolish and the weak. Are you weak Balthazar?"
"N-no, sir." he shook his head.
William grimaced. "That is something you have not yet proven to me. And rise you insolent boy!" he added, noting Balthazar's knelt position. "I have already told you to do so."
"Y-Yes sir," he rushed as he scrambled to his feet.
"Well, Balthazar," William whispered turning around. "I will give you another chance."
"You w-will sir? I won't let you down, sir, I -"
"Shut up, fool. But, there is a condition you must meet."
"Yes sir?" Balthazar asked, now returning to his normal self.
"You must take seek out Pete and take him with you."
"Pete?"
"Yes."
"But sir, Pete is -"
William cut him off, "Pete is the only person other than our leader Showun who I trust. I have not much faith in you Balthazar, I must admit. My thinking that you were the most capable of this task was a lack of judgment on my part. Pete has a lot more faith in people than I," William's expression then grew serious. "By the time you go to him, he will already know of the situation at hand. Now hurry. The fate of the earth hangs in the balance."
"Yes sir," Balthazar bowed. "I will not fail you."
"That is yet to be determined," William muttered under his breath as he spun away from him.
Balthazar was about to make his exit when he felt a presence behind him. "Jeremy."
"Balthazar," Jeremy said amused. "I see you have not made much progress."
"How observant of you," he said through gritted teeth.
Jeremy smiled. "I thought we agreed to but the past behind us. You cannot still be jealous of me for what happened then. It was many years ago."
Balthazar turned round to face his personal enemy whom he was forced to work with. "I was far better than you. It should have been I who was honored as the sorceror."
"You don't honestly believe that do you? Balthazar, please, you are simply a slave. These magicks that I now possess are far beyond your capability to handle. You can't even handle a simple seek-and-destroy mission."
"And you could have done better?"
"Seeing as I already know who was the murderer, I would say definitely."
"You know?" Balthazar asked. Jeremy simply smiled.
"I am the sorceror, of course I know."
Balthazar grabbed Jeremy by the neck and pushed him against the wall. "Tell me," he growled. When Jeremy did not reply Balthazar squeezed his neck harder.
"I c-cannot tell you if y-you kill me," Jeremy gasped.
Balthazar let go and let Jeremy crash to the floor. "Well?" he demanded.
"A g-girl," he panted.
"That's it!?"
"She h-has much power. I could not penetrate into her thoughts and find her identity like I can for the others."
Balthazar growled, and stormed out, his cloak twirling behind him, leaving Jeremy gasping for breath.
___
Scene change: Spike's crypt
Spike put his bottle of blood back into the fridge, slamming the door closed. It had been over an hour and Xander and Oz still hadn't come back. Normally he would have been a little pissed off but the girl hadn't woken up yet so he hadn't minded that much. He sat down next to her on his couch and switched the television on. He was only into a few minutes the program - of a re-run of Friends (he'd watched some of them with Tara when he went over there and discovered it was a suitable replacement for his then favourite show Maybe It's Me) - when Annie rolled over in her sleep and her head landed in his lap. In shock, Spike looked down to see a mop of dark brown curls buried in his lap. Stunned momentarily, he turned her over so that she would face upwards - drool had begun to form on his new leather pants. After he had done that he looked at her for the first time. She looked incredibly cute with her thumb in her mouth. He smiled for a moment seeing how peaceful she was just lying there, but soon shook his head and looked back to the television. He left her on his lap, though.
___
Scene change: underground tunnel
Buffy looked around for vampires as she carefully stepped through the sewer, but she knew there weren't any here - she could feel it. She knew she had to go back, and check on Dawn. She wasn't sure where she or any of the others were - she had come home as late as possible after what had happened and left as early as she could too. She didn't really want to face Dawn and knew since she Tara had spent the night there she would be okay. Lately, she had been spending more time with vampires than her friends. Giles would have told her that it was a bad thing even though in all likelihood it meant more vamps got dusted. But Giles wasn't here, he'd left her and gone leaving her to take care of everyone. And she hadn't done a very good job of it either. She pushed those thoughts aside as she heard a small noise and then turned cautiously into the next tunnel. A man was standing in the shadows hidden from the rays of sunlight and seemed stunned when she came into his view. She kicked him so he fell onto the hard floor and sat on top of his body holding a stake to his heart. Buffy was shocked when he smiled at her. "Hello." She stared at him as if he was mad. He smiled again. "Something bothering you?"
"You're not human."
"But I'm not a vampire either. You can sense that too - 'course you don't really need to sense things over her, what with the entrance being open and sunlight streaming through. A vampire would have turned into flames ages ago."
Once again he surprised her in the way he knew everything and said it so matter-of-factly. "What are you then?"
"I think 'who are you?' would be a politer - and more appropriate - question."
"Same diff," she mused.
"Actually, that's not true," he remarked. "While you can be told just what you are its up to you and you alone to decide just exactly who you are and who you are going to be. It's your choice and one of the few that only you can make for yourself." Buffy stared at him again except this time it was in a different way. "Would you mind terribly to stop sitting on me?" he said almost humorously. Slowly, she tucked the stake into her back pocket and stood up. He did the same and mumbled his thanks before brushing the dust off his coat.
"What - I-I mean who -"
"Who am I? My name is Jason but as for the rest - I'd rather not go through that right now." He was standing directly in the daylight and Buffy could see that he what he looked like. He was seemed to be in his late-20s and was very good-looking. "And you are Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"How'd you know that?" she asked.
"I have friends in high places." Buffy stood contemplating until he spoke again, "The Powers That Be." She nodded. "Well, we're not exactly friends."
"Now, I didn't think anybody could not like you."
"Ha ha, very funny. Didn't think the Buffster could make jokes."
"Don't call me that," she said suddenly.
"Thought that was what you friends called you."
"And since when were you my friend?"
"Jeez, someone's touchy. You don't trust me do you?" he added afterwards.
"I met you less than ten minutes ago, you expect me trust you?"
"No, I don't." She stayed quiet after he said this not knowing how to reply. "Will you let me help you anyway?" he asked.
"Why do you want to?" she countered.
"I like to do what I can. I'm not very good at fighting - hell, if I was the cavalry you'd definitely lose the battle - but I can get information. I've got my sources."
"Are they one of them?" she asked.
Catching her drift, he asked, "You mean the Powers That Be? Well, yes - and no. It's a little more complicated than that."
"Isn't it always?" she mused.
He smiled. "Look, what I'm saying is that I know about this upcoming apocalypse. So do you, right?" She nodded remembering the open books that laid all over the floor when she came home. That pang of guilt she had felt then came back but she quickly tried to dismiss it. "Well, I can help you stop it."
"Why don't you stop it yourself?"
"Told you that already, I can't fight."
"And what if I can't?" she said looking straight into his eyes.
"Then you definitely fooled me back there. Also, that would mean that all they say about you is wrong."
"W-what do they say?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, only that you're one of the best slayers," he said.
"I'm not," she shook her head.
Jason smiled. "You've lived far longer than so many of the others."
"In what sense do you mean I've actually lived?" she asked, stressing her point.
This time it was Jason who shook his head. "You're different to all the other slayers, Buffy. You've lived longer than just about all the other slayers and have killed demons that were deemed undefeatable. You don't have to slay anymore but you still do. You think you don't know but inside you can feel it - it's you who's gonna save the day."
This time, her head nodded slightly as she softly whispered, "Again."
___
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3
Scene: Giles's house, England
"Is that it?" Giles asked.
"Yep, that's the last of my stuff," Willow replied zipping her bag closed. She started to lift her suitcase when Giles moved to help her. "It's okay. I've got it," she said putting it straight.
"Alright then. When does the plane leave?"
Willow checked her watch. "I've got another two hours before I need to be at the airport but I've got to wait some after that." Giles and Willow both remained silent, before she made the first move. "Thanks for everything Giles," she hugged him.
"That's perfectly alright Willow. Just remember if you ever need anything you can always call."
"Yeah. And email, now I've taught you the main things on the computer."
"I don't think I'll be touching that thing anytime soon. I didn't even want it," he indicated the laptop on the desk.
Willow smiled. "Its practical. Good thing Olivia it to you. You need to be forced to do things sometimes."
"And with you going away who is going to force me to use it?"
"What are you gonna tell her when she asks you how you liked it once she returns from Spain?" Giles frowned contemplating, making Willow laugh and she released from his embrace.
"Who is meeting you at the airport?" Giles pondered changing the subject.
"My mom said she'd come. She's not to pleased about me missing most of my third semester especially now I'm onto my fourth and final year but she'll be there."
"You didn't tell Buffy, did you?" Giles frowned again, this time more seriously.
"I'll go see them Giles, I swear. I just I dunno...I know surprise isn't the best approach to this stuff, but...I am a little scared. I gotta admit that."
"It'll go fine, just try not to worry."
"That's all I seem to be doing," she sighed. "Are you gonna come back there?" she asked popping the question she'd been afraid to in the past few months.
Giles didn't say anything at first. "I'm not quite sure, Willow. I've been here for about a year now and the longer I stay the harder it seems to go back."
"Now who's not facing their demons?"
___
Scene change: Pavement, Sunnydale
"Where are we going?" Buffy shouted as she ran down the road behind Jason. It had been over fifteen minutes and they were still running down the same road.
"It's alright, we're almost there," he called. Soon she managed to catch up with him and pulled him aside when was there.
"Where are we going!?" she repeated. "Tell me!"
Jason breathed heavily and nodded. "I'm going to show you something."
"Show me what?" she demanded. She wasn't prepared to move before she got a proper answer. "There's this person..." he stopped and panted again.
She sighed. "Somebody who's gonna give me answers?" she suggested.
He shook his head and answered when he had finally regained his breath. "Well, he can but not in that way and that's not why we're looking for him."
"Then why are we?"
"He knows the people who are starting the apocalypse. We can probably convince him to take you the source."
"Then let's go," Buffy said, tired of asking questions and glad that Jason understood that although he was helping her now he wasn't exactly going to be coming with her.
Jason smiled and pointed across the road. "We're already there."
Buffy looked on shock. "A church!?" ___
Scene change: Xander's apartment
Oz sat down on the sofa with the books Dawn had given him. She was in the kitchen with Xander while he called Spike to bring Annie and come over. "Tara?" he called across to her. She had seemed extremely interested in her book ever since he had entered the room. Her head jerked sharply upwards. "Are you okay sitting over there on the floor? Because I don't mind sharing."
She shook her head and quickly got back to her book. Silence followed in the minutes that seemed to take eternities to pass by. "Tara?" Oz called again
"Yes?" she whispered avoiding his gaze.
"I know things between us didn't exactly end on that great terms. You don't have to be scared of me." She finally looked at him. "Tonight's the full moon," she said slowly.
"I know. But I don't change anymore, not at all. I swear," he spoke gently and kindly to her. She tried to seem more at ease than she was and nodded. "And also..."
"Yeah?" she breathed.
"You know ... I mean, with you and Willow, I hope you don't think I'm here for what I came before or anything," he rushed. "I'm not here for Willow. Well, Xander said she was with Giles in England anyway," he added. Tara nodded again. "Look," he said finally. "What I'm trying to say is I'm with Faith now and you don't need to worry about me trying to get back together with her or anything like that. It's over with me and her. I know she's not mine anymore." There was a slight hesitant pause after this. "She's yours."
Oz got up from his seat and left the room. Tara hugged her body close and whispered to herself, "I'm not sure of that. I'm not sure of anything anymore." ___
Scene change: Church
"Funny," Buffy muttered. "I never figured you much for the religious type."
Jason smirked before shushing Buffy. "Don't raise your voice so much."
Buffy shook her head and mocked him from behind his back. As they walked behind the chairs the back door suddenly opened and a man in a robe walked in. "Wow, y'all take worship really seriously here," she said as she turned back to face Jason
"What do you mean?" asked Jason looking at her. Buffy pointed over her shoulder to the man who had entered. Jason looked at him and his expression suddenly changed serious. He pulled Buffy by her jacket and ducked under the seat. He put a finger to his lips and stayed silent, all the while looking at the man who had just come in.
Once he had disappeared behind the curtain at the side of the hall, Buffy pulled Jason back to face her and demanded, "What the hell was that?"
"Balthazar."
"Baltha-who?"
"Balthazar!" he whispered sternly.
"And just who is that!?" Buffy said, whispering as loud as she could in return, starting to get annoyed. Jason calmed down. "He worships Showun."
"The demon," Buffy breathed. Jason nodded. They turned to look at the black curtain he had gone behind. "So what's behind door number one?"
"I don't know," Jason said.
"So what do we do now?"
"I don't know," Jason realised.
By this time Buffy was fed up. "Well, what do you expect me to do - follow the goddamn Yellow Brick Road!?"
A loud gasp was heard behind them and they stood up and turned round to see a nun standing there wide-eyed. Jason opened his mouth to speak to her but she moved away from them soon, clutching her cross necklace in her palms and started praying to the Lord. Jason looked back at Buffy with an accusing look. She held up her hands innocently, "What? It was an accident!"
He shook his head and murmured, "We should get moving."
Buffy walked behind him as he went up the aisle. "You know," she said, "I didn't think I was ever gonna make it up here. Least of all with someone I'd only known for about an hour."
"Ssh," he warned. "He might hear us." He stopped when he reached the black curtain and, carefully the two nuns praying at the front, he moved beside it. Buffy did the same.
"Now what?" she whispered. He didn't say anything, instead he pushed the curtain open a little bit so they could see better. They looked through the small gap and saw the cloaked man. He was speaking to someone but they couldn't see any further inside so they did not know whom. Jason didn't want to open it any further in case they were seen.
It was then that Buffy realised they were standing in front of a door that had a clear glass window on it. She looked through and gulped hard at what she saw. "Jason," she whispered as she tugged his sleeve slightly. He looked at her and she pointed to the window. He peered through to see many people surrounding the church, all in hooded cloaks, just like the man who had entered. They moved to the side and opened the door slightly so they could see well. They could, and saw many dozens of them - all with torches in their hands. Buffy and Jason looked at each other. "We have to get out here." ___
END OF ACT 3
ACT 4
Scene: An alleyway
"Alright then, what do we do now that your source is a dud!?" Buffy demanded.
"He's not a dud," Jason panted
"Well, we can't go back there!"
"I know, I know."
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do!?"
"I'm thinking! And it would be nice if you helped out too. You can't just expect me to come up with all the ideas for this. You're the Slayer, after all."
"Oh, right and that means everything is up to me huh? I have to sort out everything, I have to be the one who's in charge? Well, I'm fed up with all that crap and you can't expect me to deal with everything that's going on. I can't take it."
Jason looked at her slowly. "Then you're not the girl I thought you were."
Buffy stared at her feet for a few seconds then she looked up and, purposely avoiding his gaze, walked away. ___
Scene change: Xander's apartment - living room, up front
"Tara?" Xander called
"Yes?" she replied.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you sitting on the floor?" She scrambled to her feet and sat on the sofa. She pulled the book off the floor and placed it on her lap before wrapping her arms around herself. "Cold?" he asked. She didn't say anything so he sat down next to her. "Look, It's a bit tense now with things between you and Oz, I'm sorry. When he started talking about demons and apocalypses I forgot to tell him about you and Willow."
Tara shook her head. "It's not just that." Xander waited for her to continue. "Are you sure this is right?" she said after a while.
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"Are you sure I should be here?"
"Here as in..."
"Here."
"Oh," Xander realised. "This isn't about what your uncle said is it?" He asked remembering what had happened last month when Tara's uncle Greg had come to Sunnydale.
"A little."
"Tara, do you really want to go back there?"
"No -"
"Then what's to think about? You can't let anything he said get to you."
"You're sure?"
He sighed. "Tara, where do you want to be - here with us or back there with them?"
"Here. With you guys," she said almost immediately.
"And as long as you want to stay here with us, you will. Don't even think that we only let you in the gang 'cause of Will. That's just how we got to know you. Okay?"
"Okay?"
He smiled. "After all, Dawn would definitely kill me if I let you go back there." Tara smiled back at him.
"Come on," he said closing her book. "Let's get something to eat."
One-Two hours later..... (same place)
On hearing the doorbell ring, Xander hopped through the living room to open the door, only to be face-to-face with the person he had been trying to contact the whole day. "Buffy."
"Hey."
Wordlessly, Xander stepped back to allow her to enter. "Where've you been?"
"Out," she said and walked inside.
"Figures," he mumbled under his breath when he closed the door. Then, Oz walked into the room. He stopped when he saw Buffy.
"Oz?" He just nodded.
"Oz came for help," Xander told her. Buffy looked at Xander waiting for more, but he just motioned to Oz who continued for him.
"The apocalypse?"
"Yeah?" she said.
"It needs a sacrifice to take place."
"What kind of sacrifice?"
"The slayer."
Horror struck, Buffy stared at the floor. "Buffy," Xander started, but before he could say anything else Buffy had dropped to the floor and started crying. ___
Scene change: still Xander's apartment, bedroom
"Dawn?" Buffy called as she poked her head out from the door.
"Over here," she answered.
Buffy entered and softly closed the door behind her. They stood silently facing each other on the opposite sides of the bed. Dawn was simply watching Anne sleep and after a while Buffy did the same. Finally Dawn decided to face her sister. "Are you going?"
"Huh?" Buffy asked looking up.
"To save Faith? Are you going?" When Buffy didn't stared blankly at her Dawn added, "They did tell you about it right?"
"Yeah," Buffy said nodding. "They did."
"Well?" Buffy didn't say anything. She couldn't look at Dawn and looking at nothing was a struggle due to Annie lying on the bed. And, with what she was about to do, looking at Annie right now impossible. Dawn's voice interrupted Buffy's thoughts. "I am."
"Huh?" Buffy repeated.
"I am. I'm going to go with to save Faith."
"What? Dawn, do you remember everything Faith to all of us, not to mention what she did to you?"
Dawn shook her head. "Yeah, I do."
"Then how can you seriously want to endanger yourself to save her?"
Dawn gestured towards the girl lying in between them. "Annie."
"Annie?"
Dawn sat down and sighed. "Well, I guess there is the whole apocalypse reason, but it's Annie mainly."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked trying to be calm.
Dawn looked at Annie. "Buffy, when mom died it was really hard for me and I know it was hard for you, even though you tried to pretend sometimes that you could deal. If we let Faith die - even if we stop the apocalypse anyway - that means Annie won't have a mom." Dawn struggled to go on. "And if I can do something so that there will be one less person like me, one less person who has to feel that, then I want to do it. Because I don't think there is anyone who has to go through that. Especially not a three year old girl." ____
Scene: Back to Xander's living room
"Hey Buffy," Spike said, looking up from the table after Buffy came out of the room.
"Hey Spike."
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
"As okay as I can be, I guess." Spike nodded, understandingly. "Dawn told you about her plan, huh?"
"Yup."
"Did she tell you why?" Buffy asked curiously. Dawn didn't share much feelings, what had just happened was the first time in ages that Dawn had told Buffy how she felt. But she knew sometimes, Dawn told Tara stuff. She just wasn't sure about Spike - but she knew they were close.
"Didn't ask." Buffy didn't expect Spike to explain further but he did. "It's a Summers women thing. Ya'll have your reasons, just don't want to share. I didn't wanna pry, so I didn't ask." Buffy nodded. "Are you going?" Spike couldn't help asking.
"I don't know," Buffy breathed. "Are you?" she asked him.
"Well, I don't know."
"How come?"
"'Cause you don't. I go with you Buffy."
"Oh..."
"Look, Buffy you need some time to think this shit over. That's okay. But unfortunately you've got less than twenty-four hours. The apocalypse is happenin' tomorrow at midnight and maybe you'll be there, maybe you won't. But it's down to you."
Buffy knew he had sensed she was about to ask him what would he do. "I'm really confused," she said sitting down on the sofa.
"D'you think she'd do it for you?"
Buffy considered this for a minute. "A Faith I once knew would have. And I would have gone for her. But the Faith I last met, I don't think so. She- she'd have been scared. And that is what really scares me. Because when Faith is scared - it's bad. Thing is, I don't know who this Faith is. And I'm not completely sure I want to..." Buffy trailed off and Spike nodded.
Spike sat down next to her and gently patted her back, brushing away some hair. "It's okay," he whispered. Buffy turned to look at Spike who gazed back at her sincerely. Buffy sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. ____
To Be Continued...
NEXT EPISODE: S7.3 "TFTOE Part 3" Xander, Dawn, Oz and Spike go to save Faith without Buffy, but when she makes a discovery she knows it's up to her to save the day. But will she?
s7.2 The Fate Of The Earth Part 2
Disclaimer: Buffy and all other characters and related trademarks are owned by Joss Whedon, Marti Noxon, and everyone else who helps in making the actual show
A/N: Well, this is the second part of the season opener and I'm basically continuing from that. This kicks off just about an hour or so after the first part ended. I'm gonna have a main & a guest cast list from now on except I'll be using character names. This is so it'll be more like a real season and you guys will know who's gonna come in all the "episodes".
Summary: Continuing from last week, the gang receives help from Oz, while Buffy gets hers from a stranger. Finally, Buffy has to make a decision.
Teaser:
Spike's crypt
The stone door burst open and the man's figure only partly blocked out the blazing sun. "Hey!" Spike screamed and ran behind the pillar to shield himself. "You could've killed me!"
"Maybe next time, Spike," said Xander stepping into the crypt. "I see you haven't taken to re-decorating yet," Xander mused looking around. "Haven't found anyone good, 'cause I know a girl who could do wonders with this place."
"Whadda ya want?" Spike grumbled.
"I need a favor."
"A favor? Look, Xander, first you storm into my place, almost kill me - and you still haven't closed the door! - and now you want a favor!?"
"Uh, yeah."
"Oh, okay then."
Then, Oz walked in carrying a little girl in his arms. "You sure this is okay?" Oz asked Xander.
"Yeah," Xander reassured him. "Spike, you know Oz?"
"Not really."
"We've not got time for introductions, I just want you to look after her."
"Who's she? Your kid?" he addressed Oz.
Oz didn't say anything but Spike took it for a yes.
"Listen, Spike we're gonna be back for her soon. But until then will you just keep an eye on her?"
"Will ya shut the door?" Xander kicked it back and Spike nodded. "Okay, but don't expect me to do this all the time for you. I'm only gonna do it now 'cause I know the girls can't."
"Why can't they?" asked Oz.
"'Cause Tara took Dawn to the hospital to see Wesley and Buffy's gone out someplace."
"Where?" Xander wondered aloud.
"Dunno." By this time Oz had laid the little girl on the couch. "Hey, am I gonna get an explanation for this? I know you don't really like me but I was just wondering if you were gonna tell me what was going on this time? You guys never did when you brought Buffy back?" Oz turned to look at Xander.
"We'll tell you once we get back, we just have to make sure of what we know."
Xander and Oz climbed the few steps to the door of the crypt. "Guys?" Spike called. They turned back. "Does this little birdie have a name?"
"Annie."
MAIN CAST: + Buffy + Xander + Willow + Spike + Wesley + Tara + Dawn + Faith + And Oz
GUEST CAST: + Annie + Jason + William + Balthazar + Giles + Jeremy
ACT 1
Scene: The hospital
Tara sat down next to Dawn and handed her a coke. "They didn't have orange but I got you a coke."
"Thanks, Tara, but I'm not really that thirsty."
"Then, do you want me to get you some food? Downstairs, they sell this really nice food - and it's good for you too. But if you don't want that there's a vending machine over there that's got chocolate. Or I could even go across the street and -"
"I'm fine. I don't really want anything."
"Oh, okay." A second later Tara sat up again in her seat and said, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah." The two of them were silent for a while, but Tara hated the silence that screamed at her and felt she had to end it.
"So school starts Monday right?"
"Yeah, but not tomorrow. The next Monday."
"Oh, right. Are you looking forward to it?"
"I'm not quite sure. It was hard enough starting freshman year at my last school. Now they've rebuilt Sunnydale High and I'm going there all the other sophomores will know each other and I won't know anybody."
"There's sure to be other new people there. Aren't any of your friends from your old high school moving?"
"There are a few people from my year who are transferring, but I only know one of them."
"So at least you'll know one person."
"It's Janine."
"You mean that horrible girl who insulted your outfit and called you those names?"
"Yup, the one and the same. Janine Pierson, middle name 'Bitch'."
"Sorry."
"Doesn't matter. Hopefully there'll be someone at Sunnydale High who will be even weirder than me who she can pick on. If I'm lucky."
"Oh, don't be silly. You're not weird."
"Have you checked out my record lately? Family history? Not exactly your average student."
"All you are is different to most people. But, different isn't bad. You're ... special." Dawn laughed. "I'm not kidding. You are special and if these kids at your new can't see that then they're just plain blind."
"But you can see, can't you Tara? You can see my 'special' light glowing around me. Green, isn't it? That's what you said. A green, pretty light. That's what I am."
Before Tara could say anything a young nurse came up to them. "We've finished our checkups on your friend." Dawn got up and walked inside Wesley's hospital room leaving Tara behind.
Scene change: Wesley's room
Tara opened and shut the door silently behind her but she knew that Dawn had heard her come in anyway. "What did they say?" Dawn asked from her chair next to Wesley's bed.
"He's fine. We just have to wait till he wakes up."
"And when will he do that?"
"They're not sure."
"Why not?" Dawn said turning her body round to face Tara.
"Because, you can't always be sure, Dawn. That's just how it is," Tara's voice not coming out quite as gentle as she had intended. Dawn remained silent, turning back to face Wesley.
Before Tara could settle her conscience and say something Dawn spoke. "Are we doing the right thing?"
"The right thing for what, Dawn?"
"In not checking that nothing's happened. To Angel and them, I mean."
"Well, from over here, there's nothing we can do from over here besides phone them. And for all we know, they could have just gone out somewhere for dinner or some show last night." Dawn said nothing, but her manner told Tara something else. "Dawn?"
"I-I sorta called them this morning."
"Oh," Tara said moving away from the door and sitting down on the stool behind Dawn.
"Um...do you think maybe you wouldn't tell Buffy?"
"Okay," Tara sighed. "But you should listen to her Dawn."
"It's not like she ever listens to us."
"But-"
"But what? She doesn't have to listen to us? Just because she's the Chosen One and some sort of leader it doesn't mean she can act like she's the boss or something."
"Dawn-" Tara started.
"No, Tara. Stop sticking up for her. You don't get it. I mean for you guys Buffy just acts all bossy in the demon stuff and yeah, okay then, since she's the one gonna destroy the demon, maybe that is okay sometimes. But after all that she comes home and tries to be Mom. But she's not Mom and Buffy'll never be Mom -"
"Uh, guys?" a voice called.
Tara and Dawn turned around to see Xander and Oz standing at the door.
"Oz?" Dawn asked, surprised, completely forgetting what she was saying only a few moments ago.
"Hey Dawn. Tara," he added almost as an afterthought.
"Uh...Hi!" Tara's voice squeaking a little too much for her liking. "Hey."
"So, um, how's English?" Xander asked.
"He's okay," Tara piped up, glad, for once; she knew the answer to something. "We just have to wait till he gets up."
"Alright."
"What are you doing here?"
"Well," Oz answered Dawn, "I need some help from Buffy."
"You do? How come?" the squeakiness still not depleting, much to Tara's dislike.
"Oz knows about the demon we're hunting," Xander said closing the door behind him first. "And it's a lot more than that one paragraph we got from that book last night. He's gonna help us and we're gonna help him."
"What do you know?" asked Dawn.
"Xander said that all you guys know is that the demon Buffy killed last night is the brother of some other demon who's bringing an apocalypse. Well, I know that the other demon is Showun."
"And he is?"
"Well, I don't know that -"
"Well, what do you know?" Dawn repeated herself, becoming impatient.
"I know that for the apocalypse that he's going to start he needs to make a sacrifice. A sacrifice of someone powerful."
"So what kind of powerful? Because he could have chosen anybody, I mean, we wouldn't know."
"He's decided to sacrifice the Slayer."
"The Slayer!?" Tara exclaimed jumping up from her seat. "We have to go find Buffy! We don't know where she is even, I mean, she could be anywhere! They could have even got her by now!"
"Tara, they don't have Buffy," Xander reassured her.
"Are you sure?" she said, nevertheless, calming down a bit.
"Yes."
"But then w-who -" Tara began.
"Faith," Dawn whispered. "They took Faith didn't they?" Oz nodded. "B-but how do you know that?"
"Because ... um, Faith is my girlfriend."
"What?" Dawn exclaimed suddenly. "Faith is your-your...girlfriend!?"
"Yeah."
"Faith was released from prison a while back," Xander explained. "She and Oz ran into each other in San Francisco."
"And now you two are going out ... Whoa," Dawn breathed before falling back into her seat.
___
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2
Scene: The mansion
"Well?" William demanded.
"We have searched, sir, but -"
"How many times do I have to tell you Balthazar, you cannot make excuses!"
"Yes sir."
"You may rise." William walked towards the door. "Showun will not be pleased."
"I know sir, but if you would please just give me another chance -"
"Stop!" he commanded. "Again, Balthazar, do I have to tell you that there will be no pleading? Pleading is for the foolish and the weak. Are you weak Balthazar?"
"N-no, sir." he shook his head.
William grimaced. "That is something you have not yet proven to me. And rise you insolent boy!" he added, noting Balthazar's knelt position. "I have already told you to do so."
"Y-Yes sir," he rushed as he scrambled to his feet.
"Well, Balthazar," William whispered turning around. "I will give you another chance."
"You w-will sir? I won't let you down, sir, I -"
"Shut up, fool. But, there is a condition you must meet."
"Yes sir?" Balthazar asked, now returning to his normal self.
"You must take seek out Pete and take him with you."
"Pete?"
"Yes."
"But sir, Pete is -"
William cut him off, "Pete is the only person other than our leader Showun who I trust. I have not much faith in you Balthazar, I must admit. My thinking that you were the most capable of this task was a lack of judgment on my part. Pete has a lot more faith in people than I," William's expression then grew serious. "By the time you go to him, he will already know of the situation at hand. Now hurry. The fate of the earth hangs in the balance."
"Yes sir," Balthazar bowed. "I will not fail you."
"That is yet to be determined," William muttered under his breath as he spun away from him.
Balthazar was about to make his exit when he felt a presence behind him. "Jeremy."
"Balthazar," Jeremy said amused. "I see you have not made much progress."
"How observant of you," he said through gritted teeth.
Jeremy smiled. "I thought we agreed to but the past behind us. You cannot still be jealous of me for what happened then. It was many years ago."
Balthazar turned round to face his personal enemy whom he was forced to work with. "I was far better than you. It should have been I who was honored as the sorceror."
"You don't honestly believe that do you? Balthazar, please, you are simply a slave. These magicks that I now possess are far beyond your capability to handle. You can't even handle a simple seek-and-destroy mission."
"And you could have done better?"
"Seeing as I already know who was the murderer, I would say definitely."
"You know?" Balthazar asked. Jeremy simply smiled.
"I am the sorceror, of course I know."
Balthazar grabbed Jeremy by the neck and pushed him against the wall. "Tell me," he growled. When Jeremy did not reply Balthazar squeezed his neck harder.
"I c-cannot tell you if y-you kill me," Jeremy gasped.
Balthazar let go and let Jeremy crash to the floor. "Well?" he demanded.
"A g-girl," he panted.
"That's it!?"
"She h-has much power. I could not penetrate into her thoughts and find her identity like I can for the others."
Balthazar growled, and stormed out, his cloak twirling behind him, leaving Jeremy gasping for breath.
___
Scene change: Spike's crypt
Spike put his bottle of blood back into the fridge, slamming the door closed. It had been over an hour and Xander and Oz still hadn't come back. Normally he would have been a little pissed off but the girl hadn't woken up yet so he hadn't minded that much. He sat down next to her on his couch and switched the television on. He was only into a few minutes the program - of a re-run of Friends (he'd watched some of them with Tara when he went over there and discovered it was a suitable replacement for his then favourite show Maybe It's Me) - when Annie rolled over in her sleep and her head landed in his lap. In shock, Spike looked down to see a mop of dark brown curls buried in his lap. Stunned momentarily, he turned her over so that she would face upwards - drool had begun to form on his new leather pants. After he had done that he looked at her for the first time. She looked incredibly cute with her thumb in her mouth. He smiled for a moment seeing how peaceful she was just lying there, but soon shook his head and looked back to the television. He left her on his lap, though.
___
Scene change: underground tunnel
Buffy looked around for vampires as she carefully stepped through the sewer, but she knew there weren't any here - she could feel it. She knew she had to go back, and check on Dawn. She wasn't sure where she or any of the others were - she had come home as late as possible after what had happened and left as early as she could too. She didn't really want to face Dawn and knew since she Tara had spent the night there she would be okay. Lately, she had been spending more time with vampires than her friends. Giles would have told her that it was a bad thing even though in all likelihood it meant more vamps got dusted. But Giles wasn't here, he'd left her and gone leaving her to take care of everyone. And she hadn't done a very good job of it either. She pushed those thoughts aside as she heard a small noise and then turned cautiously into the next tunnel. A man was standing in the shadows hidden from the rays of sunlight and seemed stunned when she came into his view. She kicked him so he fell onto the hard floor and sat on top of his body holding a stake to his heart. Buffy was shocked when he smiled at her. "Hello." She stared at him as if he was mad. He smiled again. "Something bothering you?"
"You're not human."
"But I'm not a vampire either. You can sense that too - 'course you don't really need to sense things over her, what with the entrance being open and sunlight streaming through. A vampire would have turned into flames ages ago."
Once again he surprised her in the way he knew everything and said it so matter-of-factly. "What are you then?"
"I think 'who are you?' would be a politer - and more appropriate - question."
"Same diff," she mused.
"Actually, that's not true," he remarked. "While you can be told just what you are its up to you and you alone to decide just exactly who you are and who you are going to be. It's your choice and one of the few that only you can make for yourself." Buffy stared at him again except this time it was in a different way. "Would you mind terribly to stop sitting on me?" he said almost humorously. Slowly, she tucked the stake into her back pocket and stood up. He did the same and mumbled his thanks before brushing the dust off his coat.
"What - I-I mean who -"
"Who am I? My name is Jason but as for the rest - I'd rather not go through that right now." He was standing directly in the daylight and Buffy could see that he what he looked like. He was seemed to be in his late-20s and was very good-looking. "And you are Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
"How'd you know that?" she asked.
"I have friends in high places." Buffy stood contemplating until he spoke again, "The Powers That Be." She nodded. "Well, we're not exactly friends."
"Now, I didn't think anybody could not like you."
"Ha ha, very funny. Didn't think the Buffster could make jokes."
"Don't call me that," she said suddenly.
"Thought that was what you friends called you."
"And since when were you my friend?"
"Jeez, someone's touchy. You don't trust me do you?" he added afterwards.
"I met you less than ten minutes ago, you expect me trust you?"
"No, I don't." She stayed quiet after he said this not knowing how to reply. "Will you let me help you anyway?" he asked.
"Why do you want to?" she countered.
"I like to do what I can. I'm not very good at fighting - hell, if I was the cavalry you'd definitely lose the battle - but I can get information. I've got my sources."
"Are they one of them?" she asked.
Catching her drift, he asked, "You mean the Powers That Be? Well, yes - and no. It's a little more complicated than that."
"Isn't it always?" she mused.
He smiled. "Look, what I'm saying is that I know about this upcoming apocalypse. So do you, right?" She nodded remembering the open books that laid all over the floor when she came home. That pang of guilt she had felt then came back but she quickly tried to dismiss it. "Well, I can help you stop it."
"Why don't you stop it yourself?"
"Told you that already, I can't fight."
"And what if I can't?" she said looking straight into his eyes.
"Then you definitely fooled me back there. Also, that would mean that all they say about you is wrong."
"W-what do they say?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, only that you're one of the best slayers," he said.
"I'm not," she shook her head.
Jason smiled. "You've lived far longer than so many of the others."
"In what sense do you mean I've actually lived?" she asked, stressing her point.
This time it was Jason who shook his head. "You're different to all the other slayers, Buffy. You've lived longer than just about all the other slayers and have killed demons that were deemed undefeatable. You don't have to slay anymore but you still do. You think you don't know but inside you can feel it - it's you who's gonna save the day."
This time, her head nodded slightly as she softly whispered, "Again."
___
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3
Scene: Giles's house, England
"Is that it?" Giles asked.
"Yep, that's the last of my stuff," Willow replied zipping her bag closed. She started to lift her suitcase when Giles moved to help her. "It's okay. I've got it," she said putting it straight.
"Alright then. When does the plane leave?"
Willow checked her watch. "I've got another two hours before I need to be at the airport but I've got to wait some after that." Giles and Willow both remained silent, before she made the first move. "Thanks for everything Giles," she hugged him.
"That's perfectly alright Willow. Just remember if you ever need anything you can always call."
"Yeah. And email, now I've taught you the main things on the computer."
"I don't think I'll be touching that thing anytime soon. I didn't even want it," he indicated the laptop on the desk.
Willow smiled. "Its practical. Good thing Olivia it to you. You need to be forced to do things sometimes."
"And with you going away who is going to force me to use it?"
"What are you gonna tell her when she asks you how you liked it once she returns from Spain?" Giles frowned contemplating, making Willow laugh and she released from his embrace.
"Who is meeting you at the airport?" Giles pondered changing the subject.
"My mom said she'd come. She's not to pleased about me missing most of my third semester especially now I'm onto my fourth and final year but she'll be there."
"You didn't tell Buffy, did you?" Giles frowned again, this time more seriously.
"I'll go see them Giles, I swear. I just I dunno...I know surprise isn't the best approach to this stuff, but...I am a little scared. I gotta admit that."
"It'll go fine, just try not to worry."
"That's all I seem to be doing," she sighed. "Are you gonna come back there?" she asked popping the question she'd been afraid to in the past few months.
Giles didn't say anything at first. "I'm not quite sure, Willow. I've been here for about a year now and the longer I stay the harder it seems to go back."
"Now who's not facing their demons?"
___
Scene change: Pavement, Sunnydale
"Where are we going?" Buffy shouted as she ran down the road behind Jason. It had been over fifteen minutes and they were still running down the same road.
"It's alright, we're almost there," he called. Soon she managed to catch up with him and pulled him aside when was there.
"Where are we going!?" she repeated. "Tell me!"
Jason breathed heavily and nodded. "I'm going to show you something."
"Show me what?" she demanded. She wasn't prepared to move before she got a proper answer. "There's this person..." he stopped and panted again.
She sighed. "Somebody who's gonna give me answers?" she suggested.
He shook his head and answered when he had finally regained his breath. "Well, he can but not in that way and that's not why we're looking for him."
"Then why are we?"
"He knows the people who are starting the apocalypse. We can probably convince him to take you the source."
"Then let's go," Buffy said, tired of asking questions and glad that Jason understood that although he was helping her now he wasn't exactly going to be coming with her.
Jason smiled and pointed across the road. "We're already there."
Buffy looked on shock. "A church!?" ___
Scene change: Xander's apartment
Oz sat down on the sofa with the books Dawn had given him. She was in the kitchen with Xander while he called Spike to bring Annie and come over. "Tara?" he called across to her. She had seemed extremely interested in her book ever since he had entered the room. Her head jerked sharply upwards. "Are you okay sitting over there on the floor? Because I don't mind sharing."
She shook her head and quickly got back to her book. Silence followed in the minutes that seemed to take eternities to pass by. "Tara?" Oz called again
"Yes?" she whispered avoiding his gaze.
"I know things between us didn't exactly end on that great terms. You don't have to be scared of me." She finally looked at him. "Tonight's the full moon," she said slowly.
"I know. But I don't change anymore, not at all. I swear," he spoke gently and kindly to her. She tried to seem more at ease than she was and nodded. "And also..."
"Yeah?" she breathed.
"You know ... I mean, with you and Willow, I hope you don't think I'm here for what I came before or anything," he rushed. "I'm not here for Willow. Well, Xander said she was with Giles in England anyway," he added. Tara nodded again. "Look," he said finally. "What I'm trying to say is I'm with Faith now and you don't need to worry about me trying to get back together with her or anything like that. It's over with me and her. I know she's not mine anymore." There was a slight hesitant pause after this. "She's yours."
Oz got up from his seat and left the room. Tara hugged her body close and whispered to herself, "I'm not sure of that. I'm not sure of anything anymore." ___
Scene change: Church
"Funny," Buffy muttered. "I never figured you much for the religious type."
Jason smirked before shushing Buffy. "Don't raise your voice so much."
Buffy shook her head and mocked him from behind his back. As they walked behind the chairs the back door suddenly opened and a man in a robe walked in. "Wow, y'all take worship really seriously here," she said as she turned back to face Jason
"What do you mean?" asked Jason looking at her. Buffy pointed over her shoulder to the man who had entered. Jason looked at him and his expression suddenly changed serious. He pulled Buffy by her jacket and ducked under the seat. He put a finger to his lips and stayed silent, all the while looking at the man who had just come in.
Once he had disappeared behind the curtain at the side of the hall, Buffy pulled Jason back to face her and demanded, "What the hell was that?"
"Balthazar."
"Baltha-who?"
"Balthazar!" he whispered sternly.
"And just who is that!?" Buffy said, whispering as loud as she could in return, starting to get annoyed. Jason calmed down. "He worships Showun."
"The demon," Buffy breathed. Jason nodded. They turned to look at the black curtain he had gone behind. "So what's behind door number one?"
"I don't know," Jason said.
"So what do we do now?"
"I don't know," Jason realised.
By this time Buffy was fed up. "Well, what do you expect me to do - follow the goddamn Yellow Brick Road!?"
A loud gasp was heard behind them and they stood up and turned round to see a nun standing there wide-eyed. Jason opened his mouth to speak to her but she moved away from them soon, clutching her cross necklace in her palms and started praying to the Lord. Jason looked back at Buffy with an accusing look. She held up her hands innocently, "What? It was an accident!"
He shook his head and murmured, "We should get moving."
Buffy walked behind him as he went up the aisle. "You know," she said, "I didn't think I was ever gonna make it up here. Least of all with someone I'd only known for about an hour."
"Ssh," he warned. "He might hear us." He stopped when he reached the black curtain and, carefully the two nuns praying at the front, he moved beside it. Buffy did the same.
"Now what?" she whispered. He didn't say anything, instead he pushed the curtain open a little bit so they could see better. They looked through the small gap and saw the cloaked man. He was speaking to someone but they couldn't see any further inside so they did not know whom. Jason didn't want to open it any further in case they were seen.
It was then that Buffy realised they were standing in front of a door that had a clear glass window on it. She looked through and gulped hard at what she saw. "Jason," she whispered as she tugged his sleeve slightly. He looked at her and she pointed to the window. He peered through to see many people surrounding the church, all in hooded cloaks, just like the man who had entered. They moved to the side and opened the door slightly so they could see well. They could, and saw many dozens of them - all with torches in their hands. Buffy and Jason looked at each other. "We have to get out here." ___
END OF ACT 3
ACT 4
Scene: An alleyway
"Alright then, what do we do now that your source is a dud!?" Buffy demanded.
"He's not a dud," Jason panted
"Well, we can't go back there!"
"I know, I know."
"Then what the hell are we supposed to do!?"
"I'm thinking! And it would be nice if you helped out too. You can't just expect me to come up with all the ideas for this. You're the Slayer, after all."
"Oh, right and that means everything is up to me huh? I have to sort out everything, I have to be the one who's in charge? Well, I'm fed up with all that crap and you can't expect me to deal with everything that's going on. I can't take it."
Jason looked at her slowly. "Then you're not the girl I thought you were."
Buffy stared at her feet for a few seconds then she looked up and, purposely avoiding his gaze, walked away. ___
Scene change: Xander's apartment - living room, up front
"Tara?" Xander called
"Yes?" she replied.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes."
"Then why are you sitting on the floor?" She scrambled to her feet and sat on the sofa. She pulled the book off the floor and placed it on her lap before wrapping her arms around herself. "Cold?" he asked. She didn't say anything so he sat down next to her. "Look, It's a bit tense now with things between you and Oz, I'm sorry. When he started talking about demons and apocalypses I forgot to tell him about you and Willow."
Tara shook her head. "It's not just that." Xander waited for her to continue. "Are you sure this is right?" she said after a while.
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"Are you sure I should be here?"
"Here as in..."
"Here."
"Oh," Xander realised. "This isn't about what your uncle said is it?" He asked remembering what had happened last month when Tara's uncle Greg had come to Sunnydale.
"A little."
"Tara, do you really want to go back there?"
"No -"
"Then what's to think about? You can't let anything he said get to you."
"You're sure?"
He sighed. "Tara, where do you want to be - here with us or back there with them?"
"Here. With you guys," she said almost immediately.
"And as long as you want to stay here with us, you will. Don't even think that we only let you in the gang 'cause of Will. That's just how we got to know you. Okay?"
"Okay?"
He smiled. "After all, Dawn would definitely kill me if I let you go back there." Tara smiled back at him.
"Come on," he said closing her book. "Let's get something to eat."
One-Two hours later..... (same place)
On hearing the doorbell ring, Xander hopped through the living room to open the door, only to be face-to-face with the person he had been trying to contact the whole day. "Buffy."
"Hey."
Wordlessly, Xander stepped back to allow her to enter. "Where've you been?"
"Out," she said and walked inside.
"Figures," he mumbled under his breath when he closed the door. Then, Oz walked into the room. He stopped when he saw Buffy.
"Oz?" He just nodded.
"Oz came for help," Xander told her. Buffy looked at Xander waiting for more, but he just motioned to Oz who continued for him.
"The apocalypse?"
"Yeah?" she said.
"It needs a sacrifice to take place."
"What kind of sacrifice?"
"The slayer."
Horror struck, Buffy stared at the floor. "Buffy," Xander started, but before he could say anything else Buffy had dropped to the floor and started crying. ___
Scene change: still Xander's apartment, bedroom
"Dawn?" Buffy called as she poked her head out from the door.
"Over here," she answered.
Buffy entered and softly closed the door behind her. They stood silently facing each other on the opposite sides of the bed. Dawn was simply watching Anne sleep and after a while Buffy did the same. Finally Dawn decided to face her sister. "Are you going?"
"Huh?" Buffy asked looking up.
"To save Faith? Are you going?" When Buffy didn't stared blankly at her Dawn added, "They did tell you about it right?"
"Yeah," Buffy said nodding. "They did."
"Well?" Buffy didn't say anything. She couldn't look at Dawn and looking at nothing was a struggle due to Annie lying on the bed. And, with what she was about to do, looking at Annie right now impossible. Dawn's voice interrupted Buffy's thoughts. "I am."
"Huh?" Buffy repeated.
"I am. I'm going to go with to save Faith."
"What? Dawn, do you remember everything Faith to all of us, not to mention what she did to you?"
Dawn shook her head. "Yeah, I do."
"Then how can you seriously want to endanger yourself to save her?"
Dawn gestured towards the girl lying in between them. "Annie."
"Annie?"
Dawn sat down and sighed. "Well, I guess there is the whole apocalypse reason, but it's Annie mainly."
"What do you mean?" Buffy asked trying to be calm.
Dawn looked at Annie. "Buffy, when mom died it was really hard for me and I know it was hard for you, even though you tried to pretend sometimes that you could deal. If we let Faith die - even if we stop the apocalypse anyway - that means Annie won't have a mom." Dawn struggled to go on. "And if I can do something so that there will be one less person like me, one less person who has to feel that, then I want to do it. Because I don't think there is anyone who has to go through that. Especially not a three year old girl." ____
Scene: Back to Xander's living room
"Hey Buffy," Spike said, looking up from the table after Buffy came out of the room.
"Hey Spike."
"You okay?" he asked, concerned.
"As okay as I can be, I guess." Spike nodded, understandingly. "Dawn told you about her plan, huh?"
"Yup."
"Did she tell you why?" Buffy asked curiously. Dawn didn't share much feelings, what had just happened was the first time in ages that Dawn had told Buffy how she felt. But she knew sometimes, Dawn told Tara stuff. She just wasn't sure about Spike - but she knew they were close.
"Didn't ask." Buffy didn't expect Spike to explain further but he did. "It's a Summers women thing. Ya'll have your reasons, just don't want to share. I didn't wanna pry, so I didn't ask." Buffy nodded. "Are you going?" Spike couldn't help asking.
"I don't know," Buffy breathed. "Are you?" she asked him.
"Well, I don't know."
"How come?"
"'Cause you don't. I go with you Buffy."
"Oh..."
"Look, Buffy you need some time to think this shit over. That's okay. But unfortunately you've got less than twenty-four hours. The apocalypse is happenin' tomorrow at midnight and maybe you'll be there, maybe you won't. But it's down to you."
Buffy knew he had sensed she was about to ask him what would he do. "I'm really confused," she said sitting down on the sofa.
"D'you think she'd do it for you?"
Buffy considered this for a minute. "A Faith I once knew would have. And I would have gone for her. But the Faith I last met, I don't think so. She- she'd have been scared. And that is what really scares me. Because when Faith is scared - it's bad. Thing is, I don't know who this Faith is. And I'm not completely sure I want to..." Buffy trailed off and Spike nodded.
Spike sat down next to her and gently patted her back, brushing away some hair. "It's okay," he whispered. Buffy turned to look at Spike who gazed back at her sincerely. Buffy sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. ____
To Be Continued...
NEXT EPISODE: S7.3 "TFTOE Part 3" Xander, Dawn, Oz and Spike go to save Faith without Buffy, but when she makes a discovery she knows it's up to her to save the day. But will she?