It was later when Buffy remembered that King Laoghiare had asked about Teal'c. She had Jack call and get him to return to Cleveland as soon as possible.

After he hung up he looked at her, "Why?" though he thought he knew.

Buffy stood up to pace, "I'd feel better with someone familiar with the way that the Jaffa think."

Jack eyed her thoughtfully, "A pretty good reason."

Willow was relaxing in the kitchen, placing two pans of chicken into the oven to bake. Daniel was in there as well and they were talking quietly about the coming battle.

"So, are you scared?" He asked, watching as she competently moved around the kitchen.

She looked at him thoughtfully, "I'm always scared at the beginning but then I settle down and do what I need to do."

Daniel nodded, "Me too."

Willow sighed, "I'll bet Jack is like Buffy. They go in knowing instinctively what to do and don't let anything get in the way of the mission."

"It makes them good at command."

"It makes me wish that I was the same way." She smiled wryly.

Daniel leaned against the counter and crossed his arms, stretching his blue t-shirt across his chest in a way that made Willow appreciate despite her preferences for female companionship.

"If I remember correctly," Daniel began, "when someone is hurt you are the person I want to be there."

Struck by a sudden memory Willow looked down, "I couldn't save my girlfriend."

Daniel's blue eyes softened, "I couldn't save my wife. Jack couldn't save his son. Love doesn't conquer all and fairy tales are just that. You can't change the past but you can live your life in honor of the ones you lost. It's a lesson I struggle with every day. As does Jack." His face was understanding and Willow actually felt a little of her old grief at her own helplessness slip away.

"Thanks Daniel."

"You're welcome."

The group was eating dinner when there was a knock at the door. Sam half stood, grabbing her napkin and Giles nodded, "It's probably for you." She went to the door and opened it to see Teal'c on the front steps.

"Major Carter."

"Teal'c come in. We're just eating, are you hungry?"

"I am not. I would however enjoy sitting down to converse."

Sam laughed and clapped him on the back as they entered the dining room to cheerful greetings. Later as everyone was finishing up, and conversations were winding down Jack looked over at Buffy and she returned his look curiously.

"What's up Jack?"

"Um, do we have a plan?" He asked.

Buffy grinned, "Plan? We don't need no stinkin' plan!"

There was good natured laughter around the table, Xander practically falling out of his seat, and Jack shaking his head, a half grin on his face.

"You could be my twin. So stop it, it's freaking me out." Jack complained and Daniel choked with laughter, almost spitting his coke all over Willow.

"Indeed O'Neill. I find her tactical abilities rival yours in the 'seat of your pants' area." Teal'c's face was straight and everyone collapsed into laughter.

Buffy wiped her eyes and snickered, "I have a sort of a plan, you wanna hear it?"

"That's my girl." Jay grinned.

She waved a hand, "Don't get all excited until I figure it out." She looked down the table, "Teal'c, how upset do you think this 'Nerdy' woman will be about them not having bagged me yet?" She missed the look that Daniel gave Jack at her mispronunciation of Nirrti's name.

"Nirrti is known for her careful planning. She will be very upset and her Jaffa will double their efforts to locate you." Teal'c's brown eyes were calm.

Buffy nodded, thinking for a moment, "The Jaffa that I saw only had a tattoo on his forehead, what does the gold on yours mean?"

"I was First Prime of Apophis. I trained all of the Jaffa under me."

"So since her boys have failed, do you think her First Prime will show?"

Eyeing her thoughtfully, Teal'c nodded, "He will."

"Good, I say zat 'em all and separate him out."

Jay frowned in thought, "Could work."

"It's a start." Jack corrected.

Buffy sighed, "Well, if we can use him somehow…" she trailed off, "until we see the demon situation we won't know what to do." Her face was troubled, "Demons are very strong, and the different ones die different ways. I don't know if zats will even work."

"They do indeed Buffy Summers. I used my zatnicatel to great effect on a demon in Los Angeles."

"Good." Buffy said, "That's one more thing to use."

Jack picked up a notepad, "So, we take our zats, Teal'c you have your staff weapon, Buffy's taking her sword and shield, Willow's taking her magical beans," Xander grinned at Willow who rolled her eyes in return, "Xander, what are you taking? Do you need a zat?"

"I carry a battle axe but I wouldn't say no to a zat." Xander replied. Jack nodded and wrote it down.

"Faith?" His eyes went to the other slayer.

She looked at Buffy, "Can I take the scythe?"

"It's yours. Giles, is it still in the attic?" Buffy asked, looking around at her watcher.

"No, I didn't want someone to stumble upon it, it's in a case underneath my bed." Faith nodded and Giles stood to go get it when the doorbell rang.

Buffy walked over and opened the door to find Angel, hands in his pockets as he stared at her soberly, not sure of his welcome.

"Hi, come in, we're discussing tonight."

Angel stepped inside uncomfortably, "Hello."

Various voices said hello and Xander got another chair from the dining room, "Take a load off."

Jack nodded at Angel and spoke, "So, we don't have a thing like the Lord of the Rings where the demons keep coming and coming etc."

Angel smiled, "Not really. There's a steady population of demons in Cleveland. They marry, have children, or lay eggs, move from place to place, stuff like that. The Slayers keep the population low pretty much."

"Good, so the ones that you and Faith took out last night dented the population, how many for us tonight?"

The vampire shrugged, "Depends. Do they think the Slayer will win?"

"Hmm."

Buffy stood, " Of course I'll win. For now though, I need to workout. Teal'c, do you spar?"

"I do indeed. I will change." And he stood and strode to the guest room.

"Outstanding. Is he very strong?" she asked Jack.

Jack just smiled, "You're toast Blondie."

"We'll see."

SG-1 and Jay were curious and they followed Teal'c and Buffy into the spacious basement that had gym mats on the floor. They watched as Buffy and Teal'c warmed up and began to spar. It was apparent that they were testing each other's strengths first, then they began to fight in earnest.

It was like watching a violent ballet. It was graceful and deadly, the two warriors, one tall and dark, the other small and light.

After a fast and furious 20 minutes Teal'c stepped back, his face glowing with sweat, "You are a worthy opponent Buffy Summers. I believe that you would have vanquished me."

Buffy laughed, tossing her hair out of her eyes with a careless hand, "It was great sparring with someone as strong as me."

"I must disagree Buffy Summers. You were not utilizing your full strength." Teal'c's voice was disapproving.

She shrugged and blushed, "I was trying to be nice."

Jack stood up, "You're kidding, right T?"

Teal'c raised an eyebrow, "Why would I 'kid' you O'Neill?"

"Never mind." Jack rolled his eyes at Daniel.

Buffy grinned, "I'm going to shower, we leave in 20 minutes."

As she left Jack whistled, "We definitely need her at the SGC."

Teal'c wiped his face with a towel, "Indeed. And she will make Colonel Coburn fine strong children." He smiled slightly and watched as Jack and Daniel gasped with laughter and Jay's face turned pink.

It was dark with only the hint of the moon through the clouds. The group headed back to where they had seen the Jaffa when the hordes of demons attacked. As the fight began Buffy could hear Angel calling out advice to the others, "The green ones spit acid, let me or Faith handle them," a grunt as he beheaded a red one, "and the purple's claws are semi poisonous, be careful."

Then she heard Jack, "How semi is semi?" he asked, zatting two demons.

"It's burns like shit." Was Angel's elegant answer, making Buffy snicker.

Sam was using her zat and ducking when a red one zipped out what looked like to be a mile of tongue and tried to grab her with it. It collapsed as Buffy beheaded it and Sam smiled, "Thanks. That was disgusting."

"Yeah, the six foot tongue grosses me out too." Buffy grinned, turned sideways to use her shield on an unsuspecting vamp, making him scream until she dusted him.

Shaddal was keeping to the shadows, watching the fighting and gnashing his teeth in fury. This was NOT the way he thought this would be. It was supposed to be the Slayer, where did the rest of these people come from? Spotting the Slayer he began to circle around the battle.

Jack, Sam and Daniel used their zats, keeping cool under pressure and watching each other's backs. Jack would wisecrack about the demon being ugly, enrage it and then zat it, leaving it for Xander to decapitate or Faith to stab in the heart. Teal'c was an artist with his staff weapon, frying demons in front and behind with deadly accuracy.

It was in the thick of the battle when the rings came down and a half a dozen Jaffa appeared. Jack looked over at Teal'c incredulously and they both grinned at the looks of sheer panic on the faces of the Jaffa as the demons attacked them.

The First Prime was desperately trying to get the rings back down but the orders were that they stay until they got the Taur'e. As his Jaffa fell to the mysterious demon like creatures he looked across and found the fire haired Taur'e. Barking orders at his remaining Jaffa he slowly fought his way over to her and was about to zat her when another Jaffa stepped in front of him.

"You will not take her." Teal'c boomed.

"Sho-vá!" The First Prime spat and swung his zat up to fire when suddenly his eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed. Behind him was Willow and Teal'c bowed his head, "Well done Willow Rosenberg."

"Thanks." She dimpled.

Teal'c knelt down and took the First Prime's zat and communication device then stood, looking for Buffy. He used his staff on a purple demon that had just swiped its claws at Jack, causing him to curse and to fall on one knee.

Jack looked up, "Thanks T."

Teal'c nodded and Buffy ran up, "You ok Jack?"

"Hurts like hell."

She knelt and looked at it quickly, "Purple demon?"

"Yep."

"Pour water on it and flush it out." She advised and was about to go back to fighting when Teal'c stopped her, "I have the First Primes communication device Buffy Summers."

She lit up, "That's great." She was about to speak when Jack's radio crackled to life.

"SG-1 come in."

Jack grinned, "Go ahead Jacob."

"Hi Jack, I'm in orbit, cloaked and not far from Nirrti's ship."

Buffy was thinking rapidly, "We should be able to use him. Tell him stay hidden. Teal'c, stay sharp, I think I'll need you." And she dashed off, ducking underneath another demon and swinging back to kill it easily.

"You have a plan?" Jack called to her.

"Give it a minute." She called back, dusting a vamp beside Jay.

Jack nodded then pressed the radio button, "Jacob, stand by."

"Understood."

Buffy and Jay were back to back taking out more demons when suddenly Shaddal was standing in front of her.