Title: Life Saver 7/10
Author: David A. Knapton
E-mail: If you want, but it is polite to let the author know you are doing so.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters belong to the owners of BtVS and the Gilmore Girls. Nerf Herder sung Rock City News in episode 7.19.
Spoiler: Season 7 of Buffy and mid to late season 1 of Gilmore Girls, so GG timeline is moved a few years.
Rating: 12A/PG-13.
Pairing: Lorelai/Luke eventually plus Buffy canon pairings.
Summery: Set around Empty Places Ep. 7.19 and a little of Touched Ep. 7.20.
Notes: This was inspired by reading a couple of Buffy-Gilmore Girls crossovers and the fact that Hallmark (in the UK) have started showing GG from the first season.
It should also be noted that although a lot of the dialogue in this story comes from the scripts posted on BuffyWorld some of it is changed or even spoken by different people.
This part is going out unbetad like the last part.
'' Thought.
Feedback: If you wish.
Please note I am English, so is my spelling. Live with it.
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Buffy came into the dining room carrying a file Willow and Giles had obtained from the police.
Dawn walked in from the kitchen, "Hey Buffy how's Xander?" she asked concern in her voice.
Faith, Kennedy, and Lorelai followed the teenager in and took their seats.
"He's doing really well. He's ready to come home, I think," Buffy smiled, putting down the file on the table and opening it.
"Whatcha got?" asked Faith.
"Info that Giles and Willow were able to pull off the police database. We figured with Caleb's, you know, overt religiosity thing if we wanna learn more about him, let's find out where he's been," explained Buffy.
"Good point," said Lorelai glancing at the file in front of Faith the Slayer had begun reading.
"Hmm," mused Faith, "Incidents of violence and vandalism connected to California religious institutions in the last 10 years. Looks like this gives us a place to start," she said looking up.
Buffy nodded, "Yeah. I figure we start with California. We don't find anything there, we'll expand the search. But a guy like Caleb didn't just get in the game. He's been playing for a while, and I wanna know where. Whatever it takes." She looked at Dawn, "You good to help?"
"Well, I was gonna do lots and lots of homework, but darn the luck, they went and cancelled school," Dawn smirked as Buffy handed her some of the papers, "So looks like I got the time."
"Good," said Buffy.
"Hey, Buffy... How was Xander's mood, you know, exactly?" asked Dawn, Buffy did not look at her, "And did you get a chance to talk to the doctor about the meds? Because it seemed like..."
"Hey pipsqueak, why don't you go get some of the stuff you've already gotten from Giles?" interrupted Faith.
"Or, um, we can talk about this later, maybe," said Dawn weakly.
"OK," said Buffy still not looking at Dawn.
"Yeah. I'll be right back," nodded Dawn leaving the room.
Lorelai waited until she was sure Dawn would not hear before turning to Buffy, "It wasn't your fault Buffy. And no one, especially Xander, blames you hon."
Buffy looked up, "Anya does... So do some of the girls."
"Anya blames everyone, including herself," smiled Lorelai. "As for the girls, they are upset and frightened, they are beginning to realise that they could die. Just give them time."
Buffy smiled a little, "Try to find anything that looks like Caleb, his church, his ring..."
"His ability to render a Slayer useless in just one punch..." Buffy looked at Kennedy hurt, while Faith frowned. "I didn't... that was stupid. I don't know why I said that," said Kennedy.
Buffy stifled some tears as she stood, "Uh, it's OK. Um...you know, I—I have to go to the school to pick up the rest of my stuff," she said beginning to head for the door.
Kennedy stood looking at the blonde Slayer, "I really didn't mean..."
"It's fine. Really, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Hey, uh... isn't Anya doing that thing for you guys today?"
"Yeah. We were. We probably should head down there now," agreed Lorelai.
Buffy smiled, "OK. I'll be back soon," she said as Kennedy and Lorelai headed for the basement, "See that everyone else gets started on this," she said to Faith before leaving.
"Yeah," said Faith as she started reading through the files.
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While Luke and Robin hosed down the rather ripe Bringer they had captured in the garden, Anya was standing in front of the potentials lecturing while Andrew stood to her side writing key words on an easel-pad, Dawn watched from the stairs.
Andrew wrote UBERVAMP.
"And so we know that a battle is coming. Ubervamps galore. We also know that the Ubervamps are hard to kill..." said Anya as Kennedy and Lorelai came down the stairs. "So nice of you to join us," said the ex demon.
Andrew wrote in red HARD TO KILL.
"But I have been out talking to some of my old contacts, and they've provided some surprising bits of news. Yay for them," said Anya enthusiastically.
Andrew drew a picture of an Ubervamp.
"Uh...OK. For example, Ubervamps can be staked... right through the heart. Zing—poof."
Andrew wrote steak then crosses it out and wrote stake beside it. Rory exchanged a smirk with Lorelai.
"Just like regular vamps. Um...we didn't know this. Of course, these guys have incredibly strong sternums, so it's a lot like driving a wooden stake through solid steel. But you guys are all super-strong, right?" said Anya.
Kennedy scoffed, "Um...no."
Anya nodded, "Right. OK. Um... but still, heart information, still good to know since holy water seems to run off these guys like they've been scotch-guarded. And, well, sunlight would work, but guess what... they're not coming out during the daytime. Uh, also, beware of their, uh, teeth and the claws they use to shred flesh," she said holding up her hand, fingers spread, like she was clawing and shredding with her hand.
"OK, you know what? I used to be really afraid of these Ubervamp guys. But then the scary Preacher blew into town, and now I'm mostly terrified of him," said Rona.
Anya flipped her note cards, "Right, well, um... we're working on getting info on that guy."
"Why bother? Nothing works. Nothing will," sighed Amanda thinking of the friends she had lost last night.
Lorelai reached over and squeezed Amanda's should, "We'll get through this honey," she said softly.
Anya shuffled her note cards not sure how to react, "OK... I know you're all upset... and I, myself, would much rather be sitting at the bedside of my one-eyed ex-fiancé than killing time here with you people in this over-crowded and might I add increasingly ripe-smelling basement. And I would be, too, if not for a certain awkward discussion he and I recently had right over there on that cot immediately following some exciting and unexpected break-up sex."
Some of the girls seemed grossed out and moved from the cot; Madeline and Louise could not help giggling. Andrew had continued writing on the board while Anya was talking had written break-up sex, underlining it. Some of the others potentials also started laughing lightly. "But...I need to give him some space... so I'm doing what I can do, contributing anyway I can... and so will all of you. You still need to know this information. We can't stop just because something else is trying to kill you, too," finished the ex vengeance demon.
"Anya's right," said Lorelai getting up with the others, "Caleb is just another thing that wants us dead, we need all the info we can get. And..." she sniffed the air, "She's right this basement does smell ripe! Rory, Rona, Amanda, go get all the cleaning materials you can. Kennedy, Molly, get some bowls of water we are spring-cleaning. We will all sit down later and workout a fair cleaning roster. Now the rest of you shoo," she said flipping her hands at the other potentials.
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Dawn and Giles were reviewing the police files in the kitchen. "OK, well, here's the one that stood out. It's, um, a mission up north in Gilroy," said the teenager handing Giles some of the papers.
Andrew walked in and up to the counter, "Um, Mr. Giles, Faith stole the last meatball-and-mozzarella-flavoured hot pocket out of the freezer even though I had called dibs on it," he pouted.
Giles looked at a picture pointedly ignoring Andrew, "I don't see anything."
Dawn nodded, "Exactly. No vandalism at all."
"Then why is it in the file?" frowned Giles.
"The place was abandoned," explained Dawn as Andrew walked to the freezer in a huff. "Um... locals started noticing after a few days that no one was going in or out. Six members of the order lived there, but when the cops showed up... all gone. Unsolved."
Andrew grabbed a box from the freezer, "Yup. See, the post-it's still here: Andrew's. Please do not eat. But the box is empty now, he shook the box and Dawn rolled her eyes.
"Oh," exclaimed Giles.
"Oh? Oh, good?" asked Dawn.
"Not sure. Here..." said Giles as he and Dawn walked into the living room; Andrew following. The Watcher walked to the desk and pulled a magnifying glass out of the drawer.
Lorelai sat with many of the potentials going over the cleaning roster she had drawn up.
"See, it's not the hot pocket itself," said Andrew, "Even though it did have that new, and improved thicker tomato sauce. It's just the fundamental lack of respect."
Giles turned to Andrew, "Shut up. Pay attention," he held the magnifying glass over the photo, "Dawn, what do you see?"
"What am I looking for?" asked Dawn studying the picture.
"On the back wall, A... knothole," said Giles.
Through the magnifying glass, Dawn could see an imprint of, what looked like Caleb's ring, in the wood on a wall next to a statue of Mary. "That's not a knothole, it looks like Caleb's ring," she said.
Giles looked over at the potentials; they had stopped their discussion when they heard the name Caleb. "Amanda, would you go down to the basement and get Spike."
"Maybe this'll help...if this does bring us closer to Caleb," mused Dawn.
Faith walked into the room eating a pastry, "Sounded like there was news." She smirked a little when she saw Andrew glaring at her.
Spike walked into the room, "What's up... Rupert."
"Spike, I have a mission for you," said Giles.
"Oh, really," sneered Spike, "'Cause, you know, sometimes our missions end up with you trying to kill me. I'm not fond of those."
"This is bona fide... with real ramifications. Take a look at this," said Giles handing Spike the picture and the magnifying glass.
"Looks like our boy's been here. You want me to go check it out?" asked Spike.
"I need someone who can take care of themselves in case Caleb has... left some souvenirs," said the Watcher. Spike shrugged and headed for the door.
"Are we gonna get to the food-stealing issue soon?" whined Andrew.
"Take Andrew," Giles called after the Vampire.
"What?" exclaimed Andrew and Spike.
"Well, you are always saying you wanna get out of the house more," pointed out Dawn.
"Yeah, but..." began Andrew.
"There may be demons... lurking about. You never know. He's a demon expert. He can help," added Giles with a straight face.
"Oh, please," said Spike rolling his eyes.
"Well, he can bring his pan flute thing along," smirked Giles, "Excellent. Off you go," he pushed Andrew towards Spike.
Dawn turned to the potentials, "So, see. That's something, right? We'll have some news soon."
"Sure. Maybe that'll get us somewhere," said Amanda.
Faith looked at them, "Maybe. In the meantime, the troops here gotta sit and stew, feeling crappier by the minute."
"We should keep everyone occupied," smirked Lorelai catching on.
"Yeah. I know how to keep them occupied," Faith smirked back at Lorelai.
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Lorelai sat with Rory, nursing her drink as she watched Faith and many of the potentials crowding the dance floor of the Bronze. She smiled as many of the high school and college students hovered around them like bees around the honey pot.
"This is great," said Rory as she listened to Nerf Herder play Rock City News on stage.
Living on a wing and a prayer, out on the strip nobody cares.
Scabbing off a valley chick, sleeping on the practice room floor.
Pretty soon the record company will be banging on your door.
Rory saw Faith dancing with a group of four guys and Madeline and Louise seem to pass each other the various guys they were dancing with when they tired of them, while Amanda and a bunch of the potentials danced together. She raised her eyebrow as she spotted Dawn and Kennedy dancing together. She nudged her mother and jerked her head towards the dance floor, "Think we should tell Buffy and Willow?" she smirked.
"Eww Rory," laughed Lorelai. "We'll tease them later."
"What kind of band plays during an apocalypse?" asked Kennedy.
Dawn smiled, "I think this band might actually be one of the signs."
Rock city news.
You gotta pay your dues...
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Buffy walked into the house. "Hey. Guys, how's it..." she looked around, realizing everyone was gone, "Going?"
Giles got up from the dining room table, "Buffy. Are you hurt?" he asked seeing the plaster dust on her clothes.
Buffy turned, "Oh... Caleb came back looking for seconds."
"My God, is h-he..."
"Still able to make me see cartoon birdies all around my head. You betcha," said Buffy. "The short lack of consciousness was nice. I feel rested," she said sitting with a groan, "So...how did those police files work out? Were they helpful?"
"Uh...uh... yes," said Giles sitting in the armchair, "Very much so, I think. Um... there's evidence that Caleb may have established a foothold up north."
"That's great. That's..."
"I, um... I sent Spike to look into it," finished Giles sipping from his mug.
"Spike. Is this a mission from which you intend Spike to return alive?" asked Buffy her eyes flashing.
"Yes," said Giles setting down his mug, "I sent Andrew with him."
"Again I ask the question," said Buffy.
"Buffy, you weren't here. Decisions have to be made in your absence."
"Yeah, well, those are the ones that have been scaring me," snapped Buffy.
"I did what I thought was right."
"You sent away one of the people that's been watching my back, again," countered Buffy standing and heading out the room.
"Buffy..."
"Where did everybody go?" asked the Slayer turning around.
"What?"
"Faith, Lorelai. The girls. Where are they?"
"Um...Faith and Lorelai thought that the girls could do with some time off their studies. I—I thought...They took them to the Bronze."
Buffy shook her head, rolling her eyes; she walked out the front door.
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Amanda came over, and sat down with Lorelai and Rory, drinking a red coloured drink. Faith walked over picking her beer up from the same table.
Amanda looked around excited, "This is so cool. Buffy would never let us do this. You are so cool," she slurred touching Faith's leg, she turned to Lorelai and Rory, "This woman is so cool."
"Hey, hey, how old are you?" asked Lorelai.
"17," smiled Amanda.
Lorelai took Amanda's drink from her and smelt it, "Yeah, Rory's gonna get you a real nice 7-up, OK," she said.
Rory smiled at her tipsy friend as she got up and headed for the bar.
Faith exchanged a smile with Lorelai before heading back to the dance floor.
Lorelai looked worried as three police officers walked up to Faith.
Faith turned, having sensed the police, she smiled, "Hey, I was wondering what was taking you boys so long. Where you been?"
"We're gonna have to ask you to come with us, miss. Outstanding warrants," said one of the officers.
Faith continued to sway to the music, "Yeah, or we could try this one on instead. How 'bout you guys buy me another drink," she handed them her beer, "And we see where the evening takes us."
One of the police officers grabbed Faith's hands roughly, putting them behind her back and started walking her out.
"Hey," said Lorelai walking up to the police officers.
Kennedy followed Dawn over to where the police were escorting Faith out, "What's going on?" she asked.
"It's cool. I got it," Faith reassured the others, one of the officers took out his shotgun. "It's nothin'. Get—get off me."
"Shut up," said the officer holding her wrists.
There were five officers around Faith by now, some with their guns drawn, as they escorted Faith through the crowd, as the other girls followed them to the door, where the officers exited with the Slayer.
As they got outside Faith gently wrestled herself free of the officers' grip, "I tell you right now, I'm not goin' back to jail." She started walking back toward the door to the Bronze, but the officer on the door, preventing anyone else leaving, pulled the door shut from the inside.
"Who said anything about jail?" the officer that had first confronted Faith sneered.
The Slayer turned around to look at them, only to see all four officers pointing handguns at her. She took stock of her position, without warning, she grabbed the two nearest guns, knocking one officer down and punching two others causing them to stagger back.
Dawn joined Lorelai, Kennedy and the other potentials gathered around the back door to the Bronze. The police officer held his shotgun resting casually against his chest as he prevented any of them from following Faith outside. "Stay back. This doesn't concern you," he said.
Dawn approached him confidently, her arms crossed, "You can't keep us in here," she told him.
"It'll be over before you know it," the officer said. "Trust me, the best thing you can do is wait here."
"Don't listen to him," said Dawn confidently, "He won't hurt us. You know what? I'm just gonna go borrow the phone," she said starting to walk away.
The officer pumped a cartridge into the chamber and shoot at the lights, frightening some of the girls, who screamed and duck for cover. "Best thing you can do is wait... here," he said.
Kennedy stood right in the officer's face, "You're gonna have to shoot us all to stop us."
The officer smirked, "It doesn't really bother me."
"These cops are really gettin' Hellmouth," observed Rona,
"Back up," ordered the officer.
"No," shouted Lorelai.
The officer looked at Lorelai a little confused, "What?"
Kennedy took the opportunity to grab the barrel of the gun in one hand and doing a quick jerk brought her other hand up under the stock hitting him in the face with it before turning it on him. The officer knocked the gun out of Kennedy's hands but could not grab it as Amanda knocked him on the head with a broom handle she had grabbed from the wall.
As the officer staggered, Lorelai kicked him in the side, sending him to the floor where he tried to crawl away, but Rory, Rona and Chao-Ahn kick him and Dawn jumped on his back, kicking and screaming at him, while Kennedy, Madeline and Louise lead the rush out the back door.
The girls rushed outside to find Faith lying on her back on the ground, shielding herself with her arms over her face as the police surrounded her, beating her with Billy clubs. Madeline, Louise, Kennedy and Amanda rushed over to them. While Kennedy and Amanda throw two of the officers off Faith, the Bi-potentials wailed on the other two, continually tag teaming each other as they beat them back.
Faith used the time to get to her feet now and joined in the fight against the police. She kicked the one Kennedy was fighting against the hood of his car, and grabbed the club from the one Amanda was facing, pressing it against his throat, and knocked him into a wall where he slid to the ground.
"Faith. What are you doing?" came Buffy's voice from the end of the alley.
"Just blowing off steam," explained Faith, "Well, it started that way. Changed when the cops went evil on us," she clarified.
Dawn and the potentials that had fought the officer on the door joined the others outside of the club, they all gathered around Buffy and Faith.
"Girls, go home," ordered Buffy while glaring at Faith, "I need to talk to Faith for a minute."
"Buffy, we weren't..." Dawn tried to explain.
"Dawn... you too. Go," said Buffy still looking at Faith, "What is this?" she asked the other Slayer.
"They needed a break, all right. They've been running themselves into the ground. Things just got a little out of hand," explained Faith.
"Taking a break is one thing... I get blowing off steam," sighed Buffy, "But they were fighting. And those girls were drunk. What were you thinking?" she asked exasperated.
"Seemed like a good idea at the time," Lorelai said from behind Buffy.
"Yeah, what if someone had gotten hurt?" asked Buffy looking at Lorelai.
"They didn't," said Faith.
"Faith, I need to know that these girls are gonna be safe when I'm not around," sighed Buffy.
"No one got hurt Buffy," said Lorelai, "Well except the cops!" she exchanged a smirk with Faith, giving the blonde Slayer the feeling that she was being tag-teamed. "Maybe you should have a little more confidence in us, let the girls mess up sometimes. Buffy do you really think I would put Rory in anymore danger than we are all in now?"
"B, you gotta let them do things like this, you know, get down and dirty. How the hell else are they gonna learn," added Faith.
Buffy looked at Faith, "Learning from your mistakes is one thing. But you don't throw children into..."
"They're not children, and I'm certainly not one," pointed out Lorelai.
"That really isn't the point," huffed Buffy beginning to walk off.
"Buffy, you can't save us all," said Lorelai, "I know you are still hurting about the vineyard, but in war people die. Buffy you're the leader, but we choose to follow you, we just need a little fun now and then."
"What?" asked Buffy confused at how the conversation had suddenly turned to the vineyard and the deaths.
"Buffy, what I'm trying to say is that one moment you are pushing us into a battle, which you know will see some of us hurt or killed, and the next you want to treat us like we're some kind of china doll." Lorelai sighed as she looked at the blonde Slayer, "You know I had a similar conversation with Giles after that demon girl tried sacrificing Xander. I pointed out that you, Willow and Xander had faced dangers no one should have too. But that you needed the normality of screwing up sometimes, of dating, or just hanging out, even though you know normal is never going to be your thing," Lorelai exchanged a brief smirk with the slayers.
"Look Buffy, you are in danger of making the same mistake as Giles," explained Lorelai, "You put too much pressure on yourself... most of us know the danger we are in, and we are at least capable of keeping the girls that don't from making too many mistakes and getting themselves killed or hurt. Buffy do you know what really makes us strong, we don't all have Slayer strength but we are all willing to fight as hard as we can to protect everyone else. The bringers may have numbers but we have each other and the drive to fight for each other."
"Let's get back to the house we need to work out what we are going to do next?" said Buffy, seemly letting the matter drop.
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Giles came up from the basement, looking around the gang assembled in the kitchen.
"Oh, hey. So?" asked Dawn spotting the Watcher.
"Uh, the Bringer's dumb," sighed Giles putting his glasses on.
Anya scoffed, "You were expecting, what, a Rhodes Scholar?"
"Dumb as in mute," clarified Giles.
"Someone ripped out its tongue," asked Faith.
"Oh, gross," said Lorelai.
"Hey...I've been reading this old Turkish spell book," said Dawn a little enthusiastically, "There's an old conjuration that the ancient Turks used to communicate with the dying."
"Oh yeah. I think I've read a translation of it," put in Willow.
Dawn's eyes went wide, "There's a translation of it?" Lorelai laughed as Dawn sighed, "I'm over it. Um, so the spell is used to communicate with people who can't talk. Um, like if a person was dying, this spell would let them say their good-byes or, you know, gripe about how nobody came to visit them. Would this help us with Mr. No-Tongue?"
Willow frowned, "Yeah, I think so. I just need to get together a few ingredients. But let's wait until morning, I'm pooped."
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The next morning all the leaders were gathered in the Summers basement, watching as Willow did yet another spell on the Bringer they had captured.
"Speak to us," commanded Willow.
"Maybe I should rough him up a little," said Anya enthusiastically.
"Anya," groaned Xander.
"Quiet," ordered Buffy.
Willow sighed, "I don't know, guys. That should have worked," she said staring at the Bringer.
Anya's eyes took on a dull look and his face went blank, "I am a drone in the mind that is evil."
"Could you just shut up," said Xander.
"I say I'm part of the great darkness," said Anya ignoring the others.
Kennedy rolled her eyes, "Somebody needs a reality check."
"Or a muzzle," suggested Faith.
"No guys, wait..." said Lorelai, "I don't think it's Anya.
"I'm only a fragment of the we. We work as one to serve the First," Anya told them.
Xander, Lorelai and Kennedy stood and backed away from the table where Anya was sitting. All staring at her.
"OK, what do you, the we, do for the First?" asked Willow.
"We work to prepare for the inevitable battle," said Anya in the same monotone voice.
Kennedy grabbed the Bringer's knife off the table and held it to the Bringer's throat, "How? Tell me exactly what the bringers are doing."
"Kennedy, Honey, he can't see the knife," pointed out Lorelai.
"We can feel the knife," said Anya.
"Kennedy," said Giles holding his hand out to her; she stood and handed him the knife.
"We attend to the needs of the infinite evil. We exterminate girls and destroy the legacy of the Slayer. We build an arsenal beneath the dirt. We obey the commands of our teacher Caleb," said Anya.
"Wait. Could we go back to the dirt thing," asked Xander.
"We build weapons to prepare for the coming war... at the farthest edge of town. We are everywhere. We are like the ocean's waves. We watch your efforts and are not scared. We will laugh at you as you die," said Anya.
Giles walked over to the Bringer and slit its throat. The Bringer's body fell sideways.
Anya stood up looking around, very upset, "Are you crazy! You are so lucky that you did not just... magickally decapitate me."
"We've got enough here. Xander, gather some maps. We need to find a subterranean space large enough to house an armoury.
Everyone except Buffy and Giles left the room heading upstairs.
"I feel used and violated, and..." said Anya holding her throat, "I need a lozenge."
"I'm going back to the vineyard," announced Buffy after the others had left.
Giles looked intensely at his Slayer, "Why? If Caleb should catch you you'll die."
"I know... Look I know we need to check out this lead, but my gut is telling me there is something important there. Faith can lead the search for the armoury... Giles I got those four girls killed..."
"No you didn't. If we had not gone, as Lorelai pointed out, Caleb would more than likely had come here, yes four girls died but how many more would have died here. And we must have killed fifty bringers. No it was the right thing to do," said Giles.
"I'll leave at the same time as the others, if Caleb is there at least I can keep him occupied," said Buffy heading for the stairs, leaving her Watcher to worry if his Slayer would ever forgive herself for each potential they lost!
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