"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it." Piper said nervously.

"What's wrong?" Paige asked as Buffy stared at her arm curiously.

"Nothing, it's just been bothering me." Buffy replied. "We need a plan."

"I vote for not dying." Phoebe replied.

"Ok, let's think this through, why would the first be working with Gideon, what could he offer? I mean, is he a ghost, or something else?" Leo began.

"I think I can explain that one." Cole replied. "It's an ancient ritual, to invoke the first. As you said, it can take on the form of the dead, but not corporally but, by merging with a truly evil spirt, it can gain a solid form by enacting the revenge the spirt seeks."

"And once he has that form, it'll become the next source and be unstoppable." Leo added thinking.

"Not necessarily, the first will be very powerful, but not unstoppable. By gaining a solid form, it becomes vulnerable." Cole replied. "It could probably be killed by the power of three."

"Ok, it has to know this, then why would it take the risk?" Paige asked.

"Well, because the revenge entails killing the power of three." Piper replied.

"No, not really. Gideon wants revenge for his death, that means me and Chris." Buffy replied. "Maybe Leo too, you three weren't there."

"But, Chris wasn't there, he was,...well he was already dead." Paige began confused.

"That would be my fault to." Buffy sighed "But, there has to be something else, something were missing. The first has something up it's sleeve so to speak."

"But what?" Cole asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Buffy replied "Dam it." She said punching the wall. "Damn it." She cried again painfully looking down at her hand and then back to the unmarked wall.

"What's going on?" Chris asked curiously.

"I'm not sure." Buffy said rubbing her hand, she glanced from her hand to her sore arm. "Oh crap." She moaned.

"What?" Piper said confused.

"Attack me." Buffy said ignoring her and turning to Cole.

"What?" Cole asked confused.

"I'm serious, attack me, don't hold back." Buffy insisted.

"She's lost it." Paige said stunned.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked.

"I'm not going to attack you." Cole replied.

"I'm not crazy, I need to see something and you're the only one strong enough. Just attack me." Buffy demanded.

"I..." cole trailed off glancing around the room for help but was only met with confused shrugs. "If you say so." He said shimmering out.

"What's going on." Piper began only to have Buffy hold up a hand silencing her as she concentrated.

Cole reappeared suddenly behind her and with one punch knocked her across the room before she had a chance to react. They all winced as a loud thud echoed through the room as she hit the floor struggling to her feet.

"Buffy." Chris said rushing over and helping her up.

"Damn, damn, damn." She mumbled frustrated. "I couldn't sense you."

"What do you mean?" Cole asked.

"I mean this." Buffy said punching him and watching as he stood there stunned by the lack of affect the blow had.

"Your Powers." He began shocked.

"Yup." She nodded carefully cradling her fractured ribs. "There gone."