Author's Note - For those of you in the U.S. have a happy and safe Independence Day.
Chapter 48: Dead Man's Party
Buffy, looking a little worn from her return journey home, finishes unpacking her duffle. She puts the last of her clothes away, then stops for a long beat as she contemplates her room - in some ways so familiar, yet so strange after two months away. Finally, she grabs her coat - heads out.
Buffy enters Prue's room - unseen by Prue, who is hanging some exotic African art from the gallery in her bedroom. Prue taps a nail into her wall with a hammer-
"Prue-" Buffy says.
Prue looks back at her cousin, "Buffy, what do you think?" She motions towards the mask she just hung up. "Do you like it?"
Buffy shrugs, "It's, um, really... It's okay I guess not really my thing."
Prue nods, "It's from Nigeria. I got it at this new gallery that opened up. I think it kind of cheers up the room.
Buffy shakes her head, "It's angry at the room. It wants the room to suffer."
Prue notices that Buffy is holding her coat. "Oh. You're... going out?"
Buffy nods, "If... if it's okay. I want to find Willow and Xander."
Prue nods, "Alright. But you know we do need to talk."
Buffy nods, "I know."
Prue smiles, "You go - have a good time."
Buffy nods and heads out. Then Buffy pokes her head in again. "Thanks."
Prue looks back and simply nods.
Buffy walks along a quiet street, alert. Things don't feel quite right. Then a loud noise - like someone knocking over a trash can - comes from a nearby alley. Buffy immediately kicks into full slayer mode. Follows the trail into the alley where a menacing figure moves stealthily in the darkness. Buffy approaches. Then she kicks a soda can by accident - sending it skittering noisily across the alley floor.
The figure spins, startled. Buffy sees that it's Xander and he has a stake headed right for Buffy's heart.
Buffy manages to stop it with her hands, just before it plunges into her chest. She smiles at Xander, unable to contain how glad she is to see him. "Didn't anyone tell you about playing with pointy sticks? It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye."
A stunned Xander takes in what just happened. And who it just happened with. "You... shouldn't sneak up on people like that."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "I could have really give you a heart attack and flamed in."
Xander loses the cool, shakes his head. "Jeez, Buff-" He opens his arms and they move to hug each other. Suddenly a pissed off vampire tackles Xander.
Xander wrestles with the vamp, almost has the upper hand... Then Buffy blindsides the vamp and knocks him off Xander.
While the vamp tries to recover, Buffy powers up a fireball. Xander leaps to his feet - also with stake drawn.
The vamp growls, starts to get up. Both Xander and Buffy move to take him. They glance at each other.
"Oh. Go ahead." Buffy says.
Xander shakes his head, "No, you go."
"No, it's-" Buffy says.
Now they are interrupted by a shrill electronic squawk followed by Cordelia's voice, "Come in, Nighthawk. Everything okay?"
Buffy looks down and sees a Fisher Price style walkie talkie affixed to Xander's belt. She glances back at him - dubious. "Nighthawk?"
Embarrassed, Xander fumbles for the walkie. The Vamp takes advantage of their distraction and rushes them- this time plowing into Buffy.
Buffy and the Vamp struggle - as footsteps sound the arrival of three more people. The Vamp is yanked off her.
Willow and Cordelia each have the Vamp by an arm as they slam him into an alley wall. The vamp thrashes madly.
"Hello? This would be dust time!" Cordelia says as she stuggles with the Vamp.
"Let go," Buffy says. Willow and Cordelia look to Buffy and then smile as they do as she says. Buffy throws a fireball at the vamp and he dusts.
Buffy turns - faces Willow, Oz, Cordelia and Xander. "Hey."
Later outside Giles' apartment everyone gathers around Giles' door. Buffy, looking anxious, moves to knock - but stops. "Are you sure it's not too late? Maybe we should come back tomorrow." Everyone just looks at her - not buying it. Buffy goes to knock again. Stops again. "What if he's mad? I already have an appointment with a lecture from Prue."
Xander shakes his head, "Mad? 'Cause you ran away and abandoned your post and your friends and your cousins and made him lie awake every night worrying about you? Maybe we should wait out here."
Buffy gives Xander a look - takes a big breath - and finally raps on the door.
Giles opens the door and sees Buffy. He's clearly taken aback. Nobody says anything. Xander can't stand it.
"Check it out. The watcher is back on the clock. And just when you were thinking career change. Maybe becoming a "Looker" or a "Seer" -" Xander says.
Giles cuts Xander off. "Thank you, Xander." He turns to Buffy - his expression closed, impossible to read. Finally, his features soften and he addresses her - trying hard to keep his composure. "Welcome home, Buffy." He lets everyone in and they make themselves comfortable in the living room.
"Yeah, I just got in a few hours ago. Went to see Prue and Phoebe first..." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Of course. And how did you find them?
Buffy shakes her head, "I pretty much remembered the address."
"I mean, was everything all right between you –" Giles says just as he hears the kettle boiling. "Ah. Excuse me." He walks into the kitchen and proceeds to finish making a pot of tea.
"So where were you? Did you go to Belgium?" Xander asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Why would I go to Belgium?"
"I think the relevant question is "why wouldn't you?" Belgium!" Xander says.
Giles moves to get the sugar - stops when he hears Buffy's laughter ring above the other voices.
"I'm glad to see you haven't changed, Xander..." Buffy says.
Giles is hidden from the others by a cabinet. He fights tears, his relief is palpable. But... he pulls it together. Puts his WASP face back on as he moves back into the living room. "Right, then. Tea's on."
Cordelia grabs a cookie from the tray. Turns to Buffy. "Okay - were you, like, living in a box or what?"
"It's a long story." Buffy says as she pours herself a cup of tea.
"So leave out the heartwarming stuff about kindly old people and saving the farm and get right to the dirt –" Xander says.
Giles shakes his head, "Perhaps Buffy could use a little time to adjust before we grill her on her summer activities."
"What he said." Buffy says.
Xander nods, "Fair enough. In fact - you can leave the slaying to us while you settle in - we got you covered."
Buffy laughs, "I noticed. You guys seemed down with the slayage. All tricked out with the walkies and everything –"
"Yeah, but our outfits suck. That Rambo thing is so over. I'm thinking sporty. Hilfiger, maybe." Cordelia says.
"Still - we're getting good. I mean, we dust, like, 9 out of 10!" Willow says enthusiastically.
"6 out of 10." Oz says.
"6 out of 10!" Willow says with enthusiasm.
Xander nods, "Whatever. We've been kicking a little undead booty."
"Thanks for the offer, but I kind of want to get back to my routine. You know - slaying, school, kid stuff... You guys up for hanging tomorrow? I'm jonesing for some brainless fun." Buffy says.
"I would - but I'm tied up." Xander says as he puts a hand on Cordelia.
Cordelia smiles, "You wish."
"What about you, Will?" Buffy asks.
"Tomorrow? I..." Willow says.
Buffy sighs, "Come on. Friends don't let friends browse alone."
Will glances at Oz - hesitates, "Okay. I had some school stuff, but... I guess I can change my plans."
"As for school, Buffy, you know you'll have to talk with Principal Snyder before…" Giles says.
Buffy nods, "On it. Prue's making an appointment with his ugliness."
"It may be tough going. He's quite emphatic about a Buffy-free Gateway High." Giles says.
"No problem. I'm bringing The Intimidator. One look at Prue and I know he'll break." Buffy says.
The next day in Principal Snyer's Office…
"Absolutely not. Under no circumstances." Snyder says.
Snyder sits behind his desk - completely delighted with himself. Buffy sits next to Prue looking unhappy, but not shocked by Snyder's attitude.
"But... you can't keep her out of school. You don't have the right." Prue says.
Snyder smiles, "I have not only the right but also a nearly physical sensation of pleasure at the thought of keeping her out of school. I'd describe myself as tingly."
"Buffy was never charged." Prue says.
"Yes, and while she may live up to the not-a-murderer requirement for enrollment, she is a troublemaker, destructive to school property and the occasional student and her grade point average alone is..." Snyder says as he smiles, forgetting himself. "I'm sorry. Another tingle moment."
Prue shakes her head, "I don't see how you can be so cavalier about a young girl's entire future."
"I'm quite sure a girl with talents and abilities such as Payson's will land on her feet." Snyder says. "In fact, I noticed on the way in this morning that Hot Dog On A Stick is hiring. You'll look so cute in that hat."
Buffy stands. Grabs her bag. "Let's go, Prue."
"This isn't over. If I have to, I'll go all the way to the mayor." Prue says.
"Wouldn't that be interesting." Snyder says smiling, he opens the door - showing them out.
Prue follows Buffy out into the hall.
Giles, who's been lingering but trying non to look like he's been lingering, approaches. "Well. How did it go?"
"Have you ever noticed his teeth? They're like tiny, little rodent teeth –" Prue says, furious.
Giles frowns, "Oh, dear..."
Prue nods, "Horrible gnashing little teeth. You just want to pull them out with pliers."
"Perhaps there's some way he can be over-ruled..." Giles says.
Prue and Giles move away from Buffy, talking intently about her "situation." The BELL RINGS and the hall is suddenly flooded with students - all moving with purpose from one class to the next.
The kids pass, not seeming to notice Buffy. She looks, and feels, lost - displaced.
Moments later in Prue's car she pulls up to the curb with Buffy in the passenger seat. Both look discouraged, but Prue tries to sound cheery. "Don't worry about school, Buffy. If we can't get you back into Gateway, we may be able to swing private school."
"Like with the jackets and kilts? You want me to get field-hockey-knees?" Buffy says.
Prue shakes her head, "It's not that bad."
Buffy sighs, "How about home schooling? It's not just for scary religious people anymore."
Prue nods, "We'll work something out." Buffy just nods. "Tell Willow I said hi."
Later Buffy waits for Willow outside of a coffee house. It's clear that she's been waiting for a while. She checks her watch... She sits on a bench - decides to give it a few more minutes.
Later Buffy comes up the walk as the front door opens and an unfamiliar woman in her 40's steps out - PAT. She's of the chatty, nervous variety.
"Oh my word, you must be Buffy! Look at you - aren't you a picture?" Pat says.
Buffy smiles, "Thanks..."
Pat shakes Buffy's hand enthusiastically, "I'm Pat – Phoebe and I have a class together. I'm sure she mentioned me."
Buffy shakes her head, "Actually-"
Pat starts heading for the street. "Well, I'm off. We're making empanadas in my Spanish class tonight. You go be with your cousins. You all need to re-bond.
Pat hustles away - leaving Buffy a little dazed.
Prue and Phoebe are in the kitchen. Prue is looking through a cook book when Buffy enters, looking irritated.
"Pat wishes us quality time." Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Oh - I met her in-"
Buffy nods, "She said one of your classes, got it."
Prue looks up from the cookbook, "Before I forget - Willow just called."
"Where was she?" Buffy asks.
"She got held up. But she said she tried to call." Prue says.
Buffy nods, "Was there a message?"
Prue shakes her head, "No... But I had a thought - what if I invited Willow, Xander and Giles for dinner tomorrow night. Don't you think that would be nice?" Buffy's clearly not sure - but... "Since I sort of already did, I'm hoping for a yes."
Buffy nods, "It'll be fun.
"Why don't you run downstairs and get the company plates." Prue says wondering why Piper kept the good dishes in the basement.
"Prue. Willow and everybody aren't company plate people. They're normal plate people." Buffy says.
Prue shakes her head, "Humor me, Buffy."
Buffy nods - goes into the basement, unsure why Piper always kept the good plates there. She gets the china from a shelf and notices a stack of framed photos nearby. She turns one over.
It's a picture of Buffy, Willow and Xander from a year or so back. They are arm in arm, laughing.
Buffy regards it for a long beat - feeling like she's looking at a picture from someone else's life. She moves to put it back on the shelf, but in doing so dislodges an object which nearly falls on her head.
When it lands on the floor she sees that it's a dead cat. Buffy shrieks with surprise, jumps.
Later Buffy digs a hole in a flower bed. She puts her spade aside and Prue drops the cat (now in a plastic hefty bag) into the hole.
"Next time? I get to pick the bonding activity..." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "At least it wasn't, Kit."
Buffy nods in agreement, "Your right."
Buffy starts to shovel the dirt back into the grave.
That night Buffy gets into bed and turns out the light - but she just lies there with her eyes open. She looks toward the window and the night shadows playing on the wall.
The next morning Prue is pouring herself some coffee as Buffy looks in the fridge.
"I've been on the phone with the superintendent of schools. He seems more reasonable than that nasty little horrid bigoted rodent man." Prue says.
Buffy laughs, "Prue."
Prue nods, "Anyway, I'm going in to speak with him this afternoon. As for private schools-" she pushes some papers toward Buffy. "Miss Porter's accepts late admissions. I wrote down the information for you-"
Buffy sighs, "A girl's school? Okay - so now it's jackets, kilts and no boys? Care to throw in a little foot binding?"
"Buffy. You made some bad choices. You may just have to live with some consequences." Prue says harshly. She relents though, "Nothing's settled yet. I'm sorry really, Buffy. I know what you went through was difficult. It's just running away like you did…"
"I know, Prue." Buffy says.
Prue carries some trash to the kitchen door, opens it. The dead cat zips through the open door and into the house.
Later a grim looking Buffy opens the door for Giles, who carries a small animal cage. "Welcome to the Hellmouth petting zoo."
In Prue's bedroom the dead cat screeches horribly as Giles catches it. He holds the creature far away from his body as he deposits it in the cage, reacting visibly to its bad smell. "My lord - what a stench."
Buffy nods, "I told Prue, get the Forest Pine or the April Fresh - but she wanted dead cat."
Giles looks to Prue, who stands nearby. "I'll take it back to the library and we'll try to determine its exact origin." As he's leaving, Giles notices the mask on Prue's wall. "This is striking. Nigerian?"
Prue nods, "Yes, I bought it at this new gallery that opened up."
They'd go on but Buffy jumps in, eager for some distraction.
"You know I love art talk as much as the next very dull person - but Giles, shouldn't we go? We're in research mode." Buffy says. She starts for the door, but Giles hesitates.
"You ought to stay here with Prue, Buffy. I'm sure you have lots of-"
Buffy sighs, "So besides not being allowed back in school. I'm also not allowed on school property."
Giles, "Yes."
Buffy sighs, "This marks a first. I want to go to school - but school doesn't want me."
Giles nods, "I'm sorry. I'll call as soon as I know something."
Prue nods, "And we'll see you tonight. Dinner?"
"Ah - of course. Tonight, then." Giles says.
Later Buffy is setting the table when the doorbell rings. She goes to the door, expecting her buddies - but instead is confronted by her Phoebe's friend Pat.
"There you are. Not thinking about any more flights of fancy, I hope?" Pat says. "Phoebe said there was room for one more - so I said "forget facial night - let's party!" I bet you like empanadas." She thrusts a tupperware container into Buffy's hands.
"You want to see Phoebe?" Buffy asks.
Pat nods, "Please."
"PHOEBE!" Buffy yells.
Phoebe comes down the stairs, just finishing dressing - sees Pat. "Oh, Pat. Good. Buffy, I hope you don't mind-"
The doorbell rings again. Buffy answers it and is more than a little surprised to see Devan from Oz's band and a bunch of groupie types.
"Hey, Buffy." Devon says.
"Uh, hey." Buffy says.
"So - where do you want the band to set up?" Devon asks.
"The band?" Buffy asks.
Later that evening Dingoes Ate My Baby jam in the living room. There are too many people - most of whom Buffy doesn't even know - crammed into the room.
Buffy wanders, not knowing what to do with herself. She spots Willow across the room watching Oz play. Buffy moves to her and they yell over the band. "Hey!"
"Hey!" Willow says.
"This is... large!" Buffy says.
Willow nods, "You like?"
Buffy sighs, "It's great. It's just - I was thinking more, just us. The gang?"
Willow shakes her head. Can't hear Buffy over the music. "Sorry - what!?"
"This is amazing. But I still want to hang with just-" Buffy says.
Willow smiles - but mouths the words "I Can't Hear You." Turns back to the band.
Buffy starts to move away - but changes her mind and pulls Willow aside, where they can hear one another. "Is everything okay? You seem to be... I don't know - avoiding me. In the one-on-one sense."
Willow smiles - but she's clearly uncomfortable. "What? This isn't avoiding. See? Here you are. Here I am."
"So - we're cool?" Buffy asks.
"Way. That's why - with the party. 'Cause we're all glad you're back." Willow says.
Buffy nods. "Okay."
"Okay. Good." Willow says and moves back toward the band.
The party is verging on WILD. People dance. The ubiquitous JONATHAN chats up a cute girl, who looks like she'd rather be anywhere else. "...I think you'll be impressed. It's the Cadillac of mopeds..."
The girl walks away. Jonathan plays it off like it's all good. No problemo...
Buffy moves among the guests. She nods her head to the music - trying to look cool, passes two stoner types who stand surveying the crowd.
"This party? I heard it's for some chick who just got out of rehab."
The other stoner just nods.
Buffy overhears this - decides to make herself scarce. Exits the living room and runs right into Xander and Cordelia, who are in heavy-petting mode. She does an about-face, but Xander sees her.
Xander continues to hold and caress Cordelia while he addresses Buffy. "Hey, Buff. What you doing?"
Buffy turns back - caught. "Don't mind me. I was just – taking a break from all that wacky fun."
"Some party, huh? Guess a lot of people are glad you're back." Xander says.
Buffy nods, "Yeah. Seems like people I don't even know missed me. Did Giles say if he was going to be late?"
"He was library man last time I saw him. But he'll be here. He wants to celebrate your homecoming. We all do. I mean, it's great having the Buffster back." Xander says. "Isn't it?"
Cordelia nods, "Totally. Except - you were kinda turning me on with that whole "boy slayer" look."
"Was I now?" Xander asks.
Cordelia nods, "You bet – 'Nighthawk...'" She giggles. And that's it - they're lost in touch town again.
"Okay. So. I'll just..." Buffy says but she's totally forgotten by the couple.
Buffy makes her way upstairs to her room. She grabs her duffle from her closet. Starts packing.
Willow comes up the stairs, heads toward the bathroom. She notices that the door to Buffy's room is open a crack - and sees Buffy moving around inside.
Willow stops - feeling remorseful about her earlier snub - and moves to the door. Reacts when she sees that Buffy is packing her stuff. "You're leaving again? What, you just stopped by to pick up your lint brush and now you're ready to go?"
Buffy sighs, "It's not like anyone'll mind."
"Oh, no, go ahead. Have a great time, don't forget to not write." Willow says.
Buffy frowns, "Why are you attacking me? I'm trying –"
"Wow, and it looks so much like giving up!" Willow says.
"I'm just trying to make things easier." Buffy says.
"For who?" Willow asks.
"You guys seemed to be doing fine without me." Buffy says. "Even my own cousins seemed to be doing fine without me."
"We did the best we could! We didn't have much choice in the matter." Willow says.
"Look, I'm sorry I had to leave, okay? You don't know what I was going through." Buffy says.
Willow sighs, "Well, I'd like to."
"You wouldn't understand." Buffy says.
Willow nods, "Maybe I don't need to understand. Maybe I just need you to talk to me."
"While you're avoiding me like a virulent ebola strain?" Buffy asks.
Willow shakes her head, "This isn't easy, Buffy. I know you're going through stuff but so am I."
"Willow, I know you were worried, but –" Buffy says.
"I don't just mean that. I mean my life. I have all sorts of - I'm dating, I'm having serious dating... with a werewolf, and I've been studying witchcraft and killing vampires, and you were my best friend, I didn't have anyone to talk to about all this scary life stuff. Then you come back and you didn't even ask about me. You just worried about whether I was mad at you." Willow says.
Buffy is stunned and shamed by Willow's words.
Prue and Phoebe comes up the stairs looking for Buffy.
"...how much I missed you, and everyone! I wanted to call every day-" Buffy says.
"It doesn't matter, Buffy! It still doesn't make it okay that you-" Willow says.
Prue and Phoebe move into Buffy's room. They see the half-packed bag and clothes littered around.
"This is a joke - right?" Phoebe asks.
"Phoebe - can you just - Willow and I are talking-" Buffy says.
Prue shakes her head, "No - we can't "just!" What is this, Buffy?"
"She was running away again." Willow says.
Buffy's getting overwhelmed. "I wasn't. I mean, I'm not sure what-"
"Well you better get sure and explain…" Prue starts.
Phoebe holds up her hand, "Buffy talk to us."
Buffy shakes her head, "Ok let's start with Pat."
Phoebe sighs, "I'm sorry. She heard me talking on the phone to Giles about the party. What was I going to do tell her no?"
Buffy sighs, "I guess, not."
Prue nods, "What else is bothering you Buffy."
"I know I put everyone through the worst two months of their lives. But I had hoped I guess that everyone would I don't know be okay." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "Buffy we've all been through the rollercoaster with you being gone. Phoebe and I didn't know if you were alive or dead, especially with Piper still with Leo."
Buffy's eyes go wide, "Oh!" She had forgotten about Piper had left with Leo. She sits on her bed as tears begin to fall.
Phoebe looks to Prue and they sit next to Buffy. "Buffy, we don't know what happened that night. Why you felt you needed to run. And I will be the first to admit it was handled badly on both sides."
Prue nods, "Phoebe's right. I think we've all been hard on each other. Maybe having a get together this early after you got back was bad idea for all of us. Willow why don't you go downstairs and let everyone know the party is over."
"Sure." Willow says.
"We'll have you all over for dinner later this week." Prue says. "No party though this time."
Willow smiles, "I think that's a good idea."
Downstairs they hear something crashing through a living room window.
"What now?" Prue asks as they rush down stairs.
Outside a zombie army pounds at the door and windows, also trying to get inside.
Party guests scream and scatter, a few making it out the front door.
In the kitchen zombies noisily smash through the windows and door.
Everyone reacts to the sound in the kitchen. Without even thinking – Prue, Phoebe, Willow, Xander, Buffy, Oz and Cordelia respond to the crisis by coming together. Buffy grabs a fireplace poker - tosses it to Xander. "Xander! Prue! The kitchen!
With cool precision, Xander snatches the poker from the air. "Got your back." He, Prue and Cordelia head for the kitchen.
Buffy fights a zombie with all her might - but no matter how hard she hits it - it just keeps coming.
Willow runs and grabs a piece of broken window frame, breaks off a makeshift stake. She calls to Buffy, "Buffy! Heads up!" She throws the stake to Buffy.
Buffy grabs catches the stake and slames it into the Zombie's heart. Nothing happens. "Not vampires."
Pat, terrified, inches for the front door. She doesn't see the Zombie emerging from the dining room until it's too late. He grabs her - silencing her with a rotting hand over her mouth.
Prue, Xander and Cordelia battle a zombie who has made it all the way into the kitchen. Xander conks it repeatedly with a bottle while Cordelia grabs a barbecue fork and skewers. Prue is using her telekinetic power to try and keep other zombies outside. All to no avail.
"Man, this sucker wobbles but he won't fall down!" Xander says.
More zombies try to get inside the house - but Buffy and the others keep beating them back.
Jonathan grabs one of the band's guitars to beat zombies with.
"Not my guitar! Use the bass." Devon says.
Buffy, Willow and Phoebe still battle the zombie that Buffy staked earlier.
"He just keeps coming!" Willow says.
"I know. Try to get him back outside-" Buffy says.
Willow and Phoebe wrestle the nasty looking dude toward the front door. Oz grabs the door handle.
"On three!" Phoebe says. "One... Two... THREE!"
Oz swings the door open and beats the zombies who try to enter back with a heavy brass candle stick. Phoebe and Willow herd the zombie out the door. Then they all lean on the door until it closes.
Buffy marshals Devon, Jonathan and some terrified party guests. "Help me barricade. Come on!"
The guests starts piling furniture, etc., against the broken windows.
Prue Xander and Cordelia have pinned Mr. Zombie on the floor and are tying his hands and legs together with phone cord.
"I got it - go help Buffy!" Xander says and Prue takes off heading back in to the living room.
Prue enters as the others finish with the barricade. Their fortress seems to be holding and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
"Great. Good job every-"
SMASH! The barricade comes tumbling down and it's zombie-rama again. Everyone freaks, scatters.
Buffy sees Xander and Cordelia returning from the kitchen. She grabs Xander as she calls to the others. "Upstairs!"
Oz, Phoebe, Prue and Cordy head for the stairs - and end up running right into a zombie who comes crashing through the front door, forcing them to change directions.
"This way!" Oz says.
Buffy, Prue, Phoebe and Willow encounter Pat's unconscious body on the stairs as they race for safety. She moans, barely alive. They collect her and run into Prue's bedroom.
Where they barricade themselves anew, shoving the dresser, the bed - anything they can get their hands on - in front of the door. Phoebe and Willow move to a corner with Pat.
Willow checks Pat's pulse. She looks at Phoebe - alarmed. "She's..."
"Oh my God." Phoebe says.
But they have no time to deal because they see that Buffy and Xander are struggling with a zombie who has weakened the barricade. Xander gets thrown back and into the opposite wall - knocking the ceremonial mask to the floor.
Willow and Phoebe reluctantly leave Pat and go once more into the fray.
They are all so zombie-occupied that they don't notice Pat as her eyes snap open.
Buffy, Prue, Phoebe, Willow and Xander fend off a zombie who has now broken through the barricade.
Pat rises - slowly. Deliberately.
Phoebe frowns as she sees Pat. "Willow I thought…"
"She was," Willow says.
Pat picks up the mask and raises it to her face and her eyes instantly flash red. The mask now melds into Pat's face and becomes her demonic visage.
The other zombie in the room hits the floor, cowering and bowing to Pat.
"Generally speaking? When the scary things get scared? Not good." Xander says.
Pat stands - surging with newfound power. She speaks in a creepy, garbled tone. "I live. You die."
Pat's eyes begin to glow. Buffy starts toward her - but Pat immediately turns her gaze on her and her eyes flash an even brighter red. This has a paralyzing effect, stopping a perplexed Buffy in her tracks.
BOOM! Pat brutally backhands a defenseless Buffy - who goes sprawling. Now Pat turns toward a cowering Willow.
Buffy recovers, "Don't look, Willow!"
But it's too late. Pat looks at Willow, eyes flashing again, and Willow is caught like a deer in Pat's headlights. Pat snatches Willow from her hiding place - moves to snap her neck.
"No!" Buffy says and lowers her head, turns her eyes away - and powers into Pat. Willow falls to the floor as Buffy plows Pat through one of the windows.
Buffy and Pat roll off the roof and land in the yard with a horrible thud.
Buffy and Pat recover from their plunge. Pat's eyes flash, trying to hit Buffy again with her paralyzing power, but Buffy scrambles away from her - covering her eyes with her arm. "Not looking. Not looking..."
Buffy's regained her footing when Pat tackles her, sending her back to the ground. Still, even with her eyes squeezed shut, Buffy gets her feet under Pat and heaves Pat off of her.
Pat is coming back from the blow Buffy dealt her, as Buffy crawls across the ground searching wildly for something. Buffy seizes a digging spade.
Buffy looks up - and right into the flashing eyes of Pat, who now stands over her. Buffy is stuck, and motionless...
Oz comes out the back door, "Buffy!
Pat spins at the sound of Oz's voice.
Buffy jumps to her feet. "Hey - Pat!" Pat turns back to Buffy. Buffy looks away as she drives the spaded into Pat's eyes. "Made you look."
Buffy's action causes an intense white flash that vaporizes Pat.
Pat is gone. It's over. No zombies. Nothing.
"Never mind." Oz says.
Oz and Buffy come back into the house. Buffy is shaken and looking a little worse for the wear.
Prue, Phoebe, Willow, Giles, Xander and Cordelia move to them, concerned.
"Buffy - Are you alright?" Prue asks.
Buffy reaches for Prue. "Prue-" She hugs Prue.
Xander moves to Buffy - his tone conciliatory. "Nice moves."
Buffy smiles, "You too."
They slap hands, low and casual, sealing an unspoken truce. Now Willow, Cordelia and Oz also crowd around for more hugs and words of encouragement.
Giles stands slightly apart from the others. Watching the group come together and enfold Buffy. He's clearly moved, but something else crosses his features - resolve.
The next day Giles knocks on Principal Snyder's office door - looks in.
Snyder looks up from his desk - annoyed. "Did we have an appointment?"
Giles closes the door. Steps inside. "I'd like to have a word with you."
Snyder moves from behind his desk - grabs a folder. "If that word is "Payson" - then I have two words for you. Good riddance. Now. If you don't mind. I have an appointment with the mayor..."
Giles smiles, "You can't keep her out of this school."
Snyder smirks, "I think you'll find I can."
"You had no grounds for expelling her." Giles says.
Snyder nods, "I have grounds, I have precedent, and this tingly kind of –"
Giles shakes his head, "It won't hold. Payson Halliwell is a minor and entitled to a public education. Your personal distaste for the girl does not legally enable you –"
Snyder shakes his head, "Why don't you take it up with the city council?" He starts out of the office, stopping right between Giles and the wall.
"I thought I'd start with the State supreme court. You may be powerful in local circles, but I believe I can make life very uncomfortable for you. Professionally speaking. And Payson Halliwell will be allowed back in." Giles says.
Snyder regains an appearance of superiority. "Sorry. I'm not convinced."
Giles puts his hand to Snyder's chest and slams him against the wall with one violent, swift motion. He looks coldly down at the man, all Ripper. "Do you want me to convince you?"
Snyder is stunned, about to backtrack massively...
At the coffee house Buffy and Willow sit at a table, scraping up the last of a shared dessert. Totally oblivious to the world around them.
"I mean I'm not like a full fledged witch, that takes years." Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "It doesn't take years."
Willow shakes her head, "You were born with it Buffy. I wasn't. It will take me longer."
"No it won't." Buffy says. "You want to know why?" Willow nods. "Because I'm going to teach you."
"You will?" Willow asks.
Buffy smiles and nods, "Yes, Willow I will. You will have it easier that Prue, Piper, Phoebe and I did. We had no one to teach us when we came into our powers."
Willow nods, "That's good, because I tried to communicate with the spirit world and I so wasn't ready for that. It was like being pulled apart inside. Plus I blew the power for our whole block. Big scare."
Buffy nods, "Oh, I wish I coulda been there with you."
Willow nods, "Me too. I really freaked out."
Buffy sighs, "I'm sorry..."
Willow shakes her head, "It's okay. Really, I understand you having to bail and I can forgive that. I have to make allowances for what you're going through and just be a grown up about it."
Buffy shakes her head, "You're loving this moral superiority thing."
Willow nods, "It's like a drug."
"Fine. I'm the bad, I can take my lumps. For a while." Buffy says.
Willow smiles, "All right, I'll stop giving you a hard time. Runaway."
"Will..." Buffy says.
"I'm sorry." Willow says, "Quitter."
"Whiner." Buffy says.
"Bailer." Willow says.
Buffy laughs, "Harpy."
Willow laughs, "Delinquent."
"Tramp." Buffy says.
"Bad seed." Willow says.
"Witch." Buffy says.
Willow smiles, "Well that is a given but so are you."
"That is true," Buffy says. "I'm Charmed whether I like it or not."