"'Young lady.' 'Miss Summers.'" Buffy mocked the professor that had
insulted her in class that day as she fought a vampire. She threw him up
against a backhoe. The vamp snarled and came back at her. "'Take a bow,
Miss Summers.'" She punched the vamp back up against the crypt.
"Who are you talking to?" the vamp asked.
The vamp fought back now. Buffy took a hard blow that sent her staggering back. She regrouped; ready to attack again, when Spike tackled the vamp. He staked the vamp and it dust.
"Spike! Why did you do that?" Buffy asked.
"Not for money, if that's what you think. Your heartfelt gratitude is plenty. 'Spect I'll be getting that any moment now." Spike said.
"Gratitude?! For getting in my way?"
"Getting in your way? I saved you!"
"I was regrouping."
"You were about to be regrouped into separate piles. You needed help."
"I didn't need you. I never need you, Spike."
"Oh, I get it. You just don't like who did the rescuing, that's all. Wishin' I was your boyfriend? The Big bloody Poof."
"Spike, do you like your parts?"
"Why, you gonna help me out with one?"
"You're disgusting! I would never help you out with any of your parts, unless it was to dismember them. And THAT was where I was going with it." Buffy turned on her heel and walked off. She met Angel at the gate of the cemetery and they walked to the Magic Box. She opened the door walked in a little ways, saw Travers, and then spun on her heel and started to walk out the door saying, "Bad day. Bad, bad day."
"Miss Summers! Angelus!" Travers said. Buffy slowly turned and took hold of Angel's hand for precaution. "Good to see you again."
"Mr. Travers." Buffy said. Angel just stared coldly.
"Giles was just telling us about your training regimen. Perhaps you'll favor us with a demonstration while we're here."
"You mean, like, right now? Cause, already had my recommended daily dose of fights tonight."
"Did you then? Very good! Very good. Tell us about it." Giles said.
"A Vampire. Spike dusted him." Giles looked at her disappointed. "I was regrouping!"
"Well, I wouldn't worry about doing anything for us tonight. No need to rush you." Travers said.
Buffy looked at Giles who responded, "They may be staying slightly longer than I anticipated."
"We've already laid out our project for Mr. Giles. Nigel.."
A man with a British I-don't-care-about-you-Americans attitude stepped forward. "It's an exhaustive review of your procedures and abilities. We'll observe your training, talk to your friends.."
"Talk to my friends?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. We understand you're still taking civilians along on your patrols." Travers said.
"You've got to be kidding."
"He's not kidding. He's a very serious man." Nigel said.
"Sorry. Who are you?"
"They're a little tight-lipped with the introductions." Giles said.
"Miss Summers.. Buffy, I can sense your resistance. I don't blame you, but I think your Watcher hasn't reminded you lately of the relative status of the players in our little game. The Council fights evil. The Slayer is the instrument with which we fight. The Council remains. The Slayers change. It's been that way from the beginning." Travers said.
"Yes, that's a very comforting, bloodless way to look at it, isn't it?"
"Giles, let me talk to Buffy. Because I think she's understanding me." Travers turned back to Buffy. "Glory is stronger than you. She's a more powerful instrument, if you will. But we can help you. We have information that will help. Pass the review and we give it to you without reservation. Fail the review, either through incompetence or by
resisting our recommendations.."
"Resisting your recommendations? She fails if we don't do whatever you say? How much under your thumb do you think we are?"
"How much do you want our help?"
"She's not your bloody 'instrument'! You've got no right to do any of this!" Giles got in Travers face and a fairly large man stepped up and stared Giles down.
"Giles.." Buffy said, calming her Watcher.
"And now you're using this bloke to try to shut me up? I knew you were all thugs at heart."
"Calm down. Calm down. I understand that you feel this is unfair." Travers said, waving the big man away. "But there are factors which should motivate you to go along with the
review. I don't want to do this, but obviously, we could shut this place down permanently."
"You can't do that. You don't have that kind of power." Angel said.
"Of course we do. And a great deal more. In fact, if you insist on fighting us we'll arrange to have Mr. Giles deported within the day. Never set foot in this country again."
"What?" Buffy asked dangerously.
"Perhaps you're used to idle threats and sloppy discipline, Ms. Summers, but you're dealing with grown ups now. Am I making myself clear?"
Buffy stared at Travers and then looked at Giles. The look of defeat on his face was enough to break Buffy's heart. She turned back to Travers and stared coldly at him, taking a step forward. "I'll go along with your stupid tests. If you so much as look at Giles, Angel, or any of my friends in the wrong way, I'll kill you myself. Don't think I don't remember the way you people turned your backs on us when I asked for help with Angel when he was dying. We found the cure to save him and if we have to, we'll find a way to stop Glory ourselves. I don't like you. I've never liked you. I'm not working for the Council. And his name is Angel. Giles, I'll be back later." Buffy turned on her heel and stormed out. Angel followed her. As he walked out he saw Giles smile proudly at his Slayer.
Buffy stopped at the Espresso Pump and sat down at a table to watch the Magic Box. She wanted to wait for the Council to leave before she went back. Angel took her hand and she looked up at him in surprise. He smiled and kissed her palm.
"I'm proud of you." he said.
"Why? All I did was tell Travers what I thought of him." Buffy said bitterly.
"It took guts."
"No, it took me to finally tell him what everyone thinks of him."
"I'm still proud. I'll always be proud of you. You quit the Council because of me and that took a lot. You're the first Slayer that's ever done that."
"Nah." Angel looked at her. "Really?" He shook his head. "Go me?"
"Go you."
Buffy sighed as Angel kissed her palm again and put her hand back down on the table. She leaned down and laid her head in her arms on the table. Angel stroked her hair and the side of her arm. Buffy looked over at the Magic Box as she heard the tingle of the bell drift over to them on the night air. They watched as the Council people left in their fancy cars and then Giles came out of the shop. Buffy and Angel ran over.
"Giles!" Buffy called. He stopped and turned around to look at them. Opening the door, Giles let them walk into the shop. As he turned on the lights, Buffy and Angel sat at the table.
"What are we going to do about this Giles? I don't want Buffy being put through those tests again." Angel said.
"Neither do I, but it's a power play, is what it is. It's all about who has the power." Giles said.
"I'm guessing they do. Big power outage in Buffy County." Buffy said,
"I should've set you loose on 'em, that's what I should've done. Both of you."
"Giles, that guy Travers, he's like sixty something years old. I can't hit him. Can I?"
"I suppose not. But I bloody well could. Think I will."
"Can they really do the stuff they threatened to do? Kick you out of the country?" Angel asked.
"In a hot second." Giles took off his glasses and started to polish them. "They're all right when it comes to the rough stuff, a little ham-handed but they get it done. But this stuff,
bureaucracy, pulling political strings, paperwork.. this is where they're the best in the world. They can kill you with a stroke of the pen. Poncy buggers." Giles accidentally pops a lens out of his glasses and he put them aside, embarrassed.
"Giles? Am I going to get through this thing? This review?" Buffy asked.
Giles sat down beside Buffy and looked her in the eyes. "Well, they can make it as difficult as they wish, I suppose. The physical tests could be quite a challenge."
"I'm not worried about that. I know I can do that. It's the other stuff. Examining decisions I've made. I mean, twice now I've let myself get within Slaying-distance of Glory and twice she's kicked my ass without ever tensing a muscle. And I haven't been able to figure out what she is or anything about her except that she wants the Key which I have and I can't even figure out if it's okay for me to tell anyone that!"
"Buffy, no one else could have done any better." Angel said.
"She kicked your ass too." Buffy sighed and looked back at Giles. "But no one else is going to be asked all these questions I can't answer. They're going to expect me to be
like.. like a Slayer, like I should know stuff. But I'm just me and I don't know anything. Then they're going to go away and never tell me about how to fight Glory and I won't be able to protect Dawn."
"Buffy, Buffy. Calm down. The scandal here isn't anything you've done wrong. It's the way they're behaving, holding what they know hostage. With a gun pointed at my bleedin' green card no less. It's humiliating." Giles said.
"Also smart. They picked the perfect thing. I can't lose you. I need you."
"Thank you."
"I need to get ready. Tell me what you think it'll be like. How do you think they'll start?"
"I don't know. Honestly, these tests between Council, Slayer, and Watcher have always been unpredictable. That's why they're so blasted hard."
"Do I, and I mentally shudder at this word, study?"
"There's nothing really to study. The test starts tomorrow, I suggest that you and Angel go to the mansion tonight and train. Do your Tai Chi and try to do some sort of physical workout. Beat the hell out of each other if you have to. Just get prepared. These buggers aren't going to pull any punches."
"What about these questions that they're asking all her friends? Will I be tested?" Angel asked.
"I don't know. You are the closest to the Slayer. Mentally and physically. I'd say that you'd be the one that they'd want to talk to the most. You've developed Buffy's skills better than me."
"No I haven't. You're her Watcher. No one can train her better."
"Not anymore. I haven't the stamina to keep up with her like you can. She's become quite extraordinary in her abilities and you're the only one I've seen keep up with her."
"Yeah, minus the fact that we both got our asses whooped by Glory." Buffy said.
"You didn't get your 'ass whooped.' You're still alive. When a Slayer is beaten, she is almost always.."
"Dead." Buffy cut Giles off. She sighed and stood. "Will Angel be able to be in the room when I'm being put through these tests?"
"No. But I'll get him in. I know that you won't cooperate without your second trainer."
Buffy chuckled and walked to the door with Giles and Angel in tow. They said their goodnights and Buffy and Angel headed to the mansion. She called her mother and let her know what was going on and where she would be all night. After that, Buffy and Angel changed into more suitable clothes and started with some stretching. They spent two hours on Tai Chi and another four sparring.
The next afternoon, after a little morning rest, Buffy met Giles at the Magic Box. The Council was already there and waiting for her to arrive. Giles had managed with difficulty to get the Council people to let Angel in during the training. They all headed into the back of the Magic Box where the training room had been moved around to make a larger space.
Angel watched as Buffy was blindfolded and Travers continued talking to her. He explained some things about agility and a whole bunch of other crap that Buffy had never even heard before. "The Slayer must posses these qualities to do her job." He finished.
"What came after agility?" Buffy asked nervously.
"If you want her to attack the dummy, I can assure you.." Giles started. Travers cut him off. "Phillip will attack the dummy. The Slayer's job is to protect it. Do you understand?"
"Protect the dummy." Buffy repeated.
"As if it were precious." Buffy nodded. She knew what it was to have something precious to protect. Nigel moved out of the field of play. Phillip moved in, dressed for martial arts. He carried a large battle-ax. Buffy was unarmed. "Getting the best of Phillip will require agility. Listening to my instructions at the same time.. that will demonstrate clarity. Stamina and strength will win the long fight. Good luck."
"Wait! Instructions?"
"I'll be telling you what to do. How to counter Phillip's moves. We assume you're familiar with the Japanese names for Akido and Jujitsu moves."
"Japanese!?"
"And.. go!" A woman said with a stopwatch.
"Just like that? Go? In America we work our way up to 'go.'" Buffy said as Phillip bowed.
"Shomen-ni-rei." Travers said.
Buffy tensed, not knowing what to do. Giles helped out. "He wants you to bow. Take a bow."
Confused, Buffy tried to look toward Giles. Phillip charged the dummy. Buffy sensed him, a little late, and threw herself between him and the dummy. The dummy got shoved a little bit and it rocked but didn't fall. Phillip came at her again.
"Shomen-zuki!" Travers said.
"Punch him!" Giles said as Phillip landed a punch. He had translated a millisecond too late.
"Thanks Giles!" Buffy said.
"Sorry."
Phillip charged Buffy from behind. "Ushiro-geri! Empi-uchi!" Travers said. Buffy spun, trying to sense where Phillip was. Giles translated. "Back- kick! Elbow soup? Elbow strike!"
Travers turned to Giles. "How have you been training her?"
"WE'VE been training her to win." Giles motioned towards Angel.
"Know what? I'm gonna have to do this my way, guys." Buffy said. Angel smiled, knowing she was going to wail on Phillip.
Phillip brought the ax down on top of her. She planted a foot in his side hard and managed to grab the ax and wrench it out of his grasp. It flew and the axe embedded itself in the dummy's head. The force sent the dummy sliding. It hit Nigel and fell over on top of him.
"Oh!" Nigel cried.
Buffy ripped her blindfold off to see Nigel under the dummy. Phillip held his side on the floor.
"I think she broke my rib." Phillip said.
"Well." Travers said.
"I didn't mean to. I can do better. I think I'm getting this inner-ear infection and maybe if I get a note I could try again later?" Buffy asked.
"That's all right. I don't think we need to see any more physical tests for a while. We can move on to the real review. Look into your strategies and plans, figure out what's going on in that head."
"Oh good. Head stuff."
"We start at seven tonight. Give you time to, well, however you prepare."
Buffy tried not to look terrified as the Council left. She looked at Angel who smiled weakly at her. Giles shrugged and gave her small thumbs up. Buffy rolled her eyes and went to get her bag to change.
"Who are you talking to?" the vamp asked.
The vamp fought back now. Buffy took a hard blow that sent her staggering back. She regrouped; ready to attack again, when Spike tackled the vamp. He staked the vamp and it dust.
"Spike! Why did you do that?" Buffy asked.
"Not for money, if that's what you think. Your heartfelt gratitude is plenty. 'Spect I'll be getting that any moment now." Spike said.
"Gratitude?! For getting in my way?"
"Getting in your way? I saved you!"
"I was regrouping."
"You were about to be regrouped into separate piles. You needed help."
"I didn't need you. I never need you, Spike."
"Oh, I get it. You just don't like who did the rescuing, that's all. Wishin' I was your boyfriend? The Big bloody Poof."
"Spike, do you like your parts?"
"Why, you gonna help me out with one?"
"You're disgusting! I would never help you out with any of your parts, unless it was to dismember them. And THAT was where I was going with it." Buffy turned on her heel and walked off. She met Angel at the gate of the cemetery and they walked to the Magic Box. She opened the door walked in a little ways, saw Travers, and then spun on her heel and started to walk out the door saying, "Bad day. Bad, bad day."
"Miss Summers! Angelus!" Travers said. Buffy slowly turned and took hold of Angel's hand for precaution. "Good to see you again."
"Mr. Travers." Buffy said. Angel just stared coldly.
"Giles was just telling us about your training regimen. Perhaps you'll favor us with a demonstration while we're here."
"You mean, like, right now? Cause, already had my recommended daily dose of fights tonight."
"Did you then? Very good! Very good. Tell us about it." Giles said.
"A Vampire. Spike dusted him." Giles looked at her disappointed. "I was regrouping!"
"Well, I wouldn't worry about doing anything for us tonight. No need to rush you." Travers said.
Buffy looked at Giles who responded, "They may be staying slightly longer than I anticipated."
"We've already laid out our project for Mr. Giles. Nigel.."
A man with a British I-don't-care-about-you-Americans attitude stepped forward. "It's an exhaustive review of your procedures and abilities. We'll observe your training, talk to your friends.."
"Talk to my friends?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. We understand you're still taking civilians along on your patrols." Travers said.
"You've got to be kidding."
"He's not kidding. He's a very serious man." Nigel said.
"Sorry. Who are you?"
"They're a little tight-lipped with the introductions." Giles said.
"Miss Summers.. Buffy, I can sense your resistance. I don't blame you, but I think your Watcher hasn't reminded you lately of the relative status of the players in our little game. The Council fights evil. The Slayer is the instrument with which we fight. The Council remains. The Slayers change. It's been that way from the beginning." Travers said.
"Yes, that's a very comforting, bloodless way to look at it, isn't it?"
"Giles, let me talk to Buffy. Because I think she's understanding me." Travers turned back to Buffy. "Glory is stronger than you. She's a more powerful instrument, if you will. But we can help you. We have information that will help. Pass the review and we give it to you without reservation. Fail the review, either through incompetence or by
resisting our recommendations.."
"Resisting your recommendations? She fails if we don't do whatever you say? How much under your thumb do you think we are?"
"How much do you want our help?"
"She's not your bloody 'instrument'! You've got no right to do any of this!" Giles got in Travers face and a fairly large man stepped up and stared Giles down.
"Giles.." Buffy said, calming her Watcher.
"And now you're using this bloke to try to shut me up? I knew you were all thugs at heart."
"Calm down. Calm down. I understand that you feel this is unfair." Travers said, waving the big man away. "But there are factors which should motivate you to go along with the
review. I don't want to do this, but obviously, we could shut this place down permanently."
"You can't do that. You don't have that kind of power." Angel said.
"Of course we do. And a great deal more. In fact, if you insist on fighting us we'll arrange to have Mr. Giles deported within the day. Never set foot in this country again."
"What?" Buffy asked dangerously.
"Perhaps you're used to idle threats and sloppy discipline, Ms. Summers, but you're dealing with grown ups now. Am I making myself clear?"
Buffy stared at Travers and then looked at Giles. The look of defeat on his face was enough to break Buffy's heart. She turned back to Travers and stared coldly at him, taking a step forward. "I'll go along with your stupid tests. If you so much as look at Giles, Angel, or any of my friends in the wrong way, I'll kill you myself. Don't think I don't remember the way you people turned your backs on us when I asked for help with Angel when he was dying. We found the cure to save him and if we have to, we'll find a way to stop Glory ourselves. I don't like you. I've never liked you. I'm not working for the Council. And his name is Angel. Giles, I'll be back later." Buffy turned on her heel and stormed out. Angel followed her. As he walked out he saw Giles smile proudly at his Slayer.
Buffy stopped at the Espresso Pump and sat down at a table to watch the Magic Box. She wanted to wait for the Council to leave before she went back. Angel took her hand and she looked up at him in surprise. He smiled and kissed her palm.
"I'm proud of you." he said.
"Why? All I did was tell Travers what I thought of him." Buffy said bitterly.
"It took guts."
"No, it took me to finally tell him what everyone thinks of him."
"I'm still proud. I'll always be proud of you. You quit the Council because of me and that took a lot. You're the first Slayer that's ever done that."
"Nah." Angel looked at her. "Really?" He shook his head. "Go me?"
"Go you."
Buffy sighed as Angel kissed her palm again and put her hand back down on the table. She leaned down and laid her head in her arms on the table. Angel stroked her hair and the side of her arm. Buffy looked over at the Magic Box as she heard the tingle of the bell drift over to them on the night air. They watched as the Council people left in their fancy cars and then Giles came out of the shop. Buffy and Angel ran over.
"Giles!" Buffy called. He stopped and turned around to look at them. Opening the door, Giles let them walk into the shop. As he turned on the lights, Buffy and Angel sat at the table.
"What are we going to do about this Giles? I don't want Buffy being put through those tests again." Angel said.
"Neither do I, but it's a power play, is what it is. It's all about who has the power." Giles said.
"I'm guessing they do. Big power outage in Buffy County." Buffy said,
"I should've set you loose on 'em, that's what I should've done. Both of you."
"Giles, that guy Travers, he's like sixty something years old. I can't hit him. Can I?"
"I suppose not. But I bloody well could. Think I will."
"Can they really do the stuff they threatened to do? Kick you out of the country?" Angel asked.
"In a hot second." Giles took off his glasses and started to polish them. "They're all right when it comes to the rough stuff, a little ham-handed but they get it done. But this stuff,
bureaucracy, pulling political strings, paperwork.. this is where they're the best in the world. They can kill you with a stroke of the pen. Poncy buggers." Giles accidentally pops a lens out of his glasses and he put them aside, embarrassed.
"Giles? Am I going to get through this thing? This review?" Buffy asked.
Giles sat down beside Buffy and looked her in the eyes. "Well, they can make it as difficult as they wish, I suppose. The physical tests could be quite a challenge."
"I'm not worried about that. I know I can do that. It's the other stuff. Examining decisions I've made. I mean, twice now I've let myself get within Slaying-distance of Glory and twice she's kicked my ass without ever tensing a muscle. And I haven't been able to figure out what she is or anything about her except that she wants the Key which I have and I can't even figure out if it's okay for me to tell anyone that!"
"Buffy, no one else could have done any better." Angel said.
"She kicked your ass too." Buffy sighed and looked back at Giles. "But no one else is going to be asked all these questions I can't answer. They're going to expect me to be
like.. like a Slayer, like I should know stuff. But I'm just me and I don't know anything. Then they're going to go away and never tell me about how to fight Glory and I won't be able to protect Dawn."
"Buffy, Buffy. Calm down. The scandal here isn't anything you've done wrong. It's the way they're behaving, holding what they know hostage. With a gun pointed at my bleedin' green card no less. It's humiliating." Giles said.
"Also smart. They picked the perfect thing. I can't lose you. I need you."
"Thank you."
"I need to get ready. Tell me what you think it'll be like. How do you think they'll start?"
"I don't know. Honestly, these tests between Council, Slayer, and Watcher have always been unpredictable. That's why they're so blasted hard."
"Do I, and I mentally shudder at this word, study?"
"There's nothing really to study. The test starts tomorrow, I suggest that you and Angel go to the mansion tonight and train. Do your Tai Chi and try to do some sort of physical workout. Beat the hell out of each other if you have to. Just get prepared. These buggers aren't going to pull any punches."
"What about these questions that they're asking all her friends? Will I be tested?" Angel asked.
"I don't know. You are the closest to the Slayer. Mentally and physically. I'd say that you'd be the one that they'd want to talk to the most. You've developed Buffy's skills better than me."
"No I haven't. You're her Watcher. No one can train her better."
"Not anymore. I haven't the stamina to keep up with her like you can. She's become quite extraordinary in her abilities and you're the only one I've seen keep up with her."
"Yeah, minus the fact that we both got our asses whooped by Glory." Buffy said.
"You didn't get your 'ass whooped.' You're still alive. When a Slayer is beaten, she is almost always.."
"Dead." Buffy cut Giles off. She sighed and stood. "Will Angel be able to be in the room when I'm being put through these tests?"
"No. But I'll get him in. I know that you won't cooperate without your second trainer."
Buffy chuckled and walked to the door with Giles and Angel in tow. They said their goodnights and Buffy and Angel headed to the mansion. She called her mother and let her know what was going on and where she would be all night. After that, Buffy and Angel changed into more suitable clothes and started with some stretching. They spent two hours on Tai Chi and another four sparring.
The next afternoon, after a little morning rest, Buffy met Giles at the Magic Box. The Council was already there and waiting for her to arrive. Giles had managed with difficulty to get the Council people to let Angel in during the training. They all headed into the back of the Magic Box where the training room had been moved around to make a larger space.
Angel watched as Buffy was blindfolded and Travers continued talking to her. He explained some things about agility and a whole bunch of other crap that Buffy had never even heard before. "The Slayer must posses these qualities to do her job." He finished.
"What came after agility?" Buffy asked nervously.
"If you want her to attack the dummy, I can assure you.." Giles started. Travers cut him off. "Phillip will attack the dummy. The Slayer's job is to protect it. Do you understand?"
"Protect the dummy." Buffy repeated.
"As if it were precious." Buffy nodded. She knew what it was to have something precious to protect. Nigel moved out of the field of play. Phillip moved in, dressed for martial arts. He carried a large battle-ax. Buffy was unarmed. "Getting the best of Phillip will require agility. Listening to my instructions at the same time.. that will demonstrate clarity. Stamina and strength will win the long fight. Good luck."
"Wait! Instructions?"
"I'll be telling you what to do. How to counter Phillip's moves. We assume you're familiar with the Japanese names for Akido and Jujitsu moves."
"Japanese!?"
"And.. go!" A woman said with a stopwatch.
"Just like that? Go? In America we work our way up to 'go.'" Buffy said as Phillip bowed.
"Shomen-ni-rei." Travers said.
Buffy tensed, not knowing what to do. Giles helped out. "He wants you to bow. Take a bow."
Confused, Buffy tried to look toward Giles. Phillip charged the dummy. Buffy sensed him, a little late, and threw herself between him and the dummy. The dummy got shoved a little bit and it rocked but didn't fall. Phillip came at her again.
"Shomen-zuki!" Travers said.
"Punch him!" Giles said as Phillip landed a punch. He had translated a millisecond too late.
"Thanks Giles!" Buffy said.
"Sorry."
Phillip charged Buffy from behind. "Ushiro-geri! Empi-uchi!" Travers said. Buffy spun, trying to sense where Phillip was. Giles translated. "Back- kick! Elbow soup? Elbow strike!"
Travers turned to Giles. "How have you been training her?"
"WE'VE been training her to win." Giles motioned towards Angel.
"Know what? I'm gonna have to do this my way, guys." Buffy said. Angel smiled, knowing she was going to wail on Phillip.
Phillip brought the ax down on top of her. She planted a foot in his side hard and managed to grab the ax and wrench it out of his grasp. It flew and the axe embedded itself in the dummy's head. The force sent the dummy sliding. It hit Nigel and fell over on top of him.
"Oh!" Nigel cried.
Buffy ripped her blindfold off to see Nigel under the dummy. Phillip held his side on the floor.
"I think she broke my rib." Phillip said.
"Well." Travers said.
"I didn't mean to. I can do better. I think I'm getting this inner-ear infection and maybe if I get a note I could try again later?" Buffy asked.
"That's all right. I don't think we need to see any more physical tests for a while. We can move on to the real review. Look into your strategies and plans, figure out what's going on in that head."
"Oh good. Head stuff."
"We start at seven tonight. Give you time to, well, however you prepare."
Buffy tried not to look terrified as the Council left. She looked at Angel who smiled weakly at her. Giles shrugged and gave her small thumbs up. Buffy rolled her eyes and went to get her bag to change.
