Chapter 51: Faith, Hope and Trick

At a park across from Gateway High, Buffy is setting up a picnic lunch as Willow, Xander, Cordelia and Oz approach.

"Buffy, banned from campus but not from our hearts, how are you and what's for lunch?" Xander asks.

Buffy smiles, "I just threw together a few things..." She pulls paper towels off a couple of platters revealing a stunning array of cold cuts, sliced fruit, breads, etc.

"When did you become Martha Stewart?" Cordelia asks.

"First of all, Martha Stewart knows jack about hand-cut prosciutto." Buffy says.

"I don't believe she slays, either." Xander says.

"I hear she can, but she doesn't like to." Oz says.

Buffy laughs, "Second of all... way too much time on my hands since I got kicked out of school."

"I know they'll let you back in." Willow says.

Xander nods, "Don't you and Prue have another meeting with Principal Snyder?"

Buffy nods, "We're seeing Snyde-man tomorrow. Maybe I should bring a wheel of my extra runny brie..."

Willow sees Scott Hope, nice guy Senior, heading their way. "Scott Hope at eleven o'clock." Buffy follows Willow's gaze. "He likes you, he wanted to ask you out last year, you weren't ready then but I think you're ready now - or at least in a state of pre-readiness that would allow you to make conversation or do that thing with your mouth chat boys like - I don't mean a bad thing with your mouth, I mean that sort of half smile that you do and…" She looks to Oz. "You're s'posed to stop me when I do that."

Oz smiles, "I like it when you do that."

"Hi Buffy." Scott says as he passes by.

Buffy smiles, "Hi."

And he's gone.

"Oh, I think that went very well." Willow says. "Don't you think that went very well?"

Cordelia nods, "He didn't try to slit our throats or anything, it's progress."

"Did you do the half smile?" Willow asks.

Buffy shakes her head, "I'm not trying to snare Scott Hope, Will. I just want to get my life back, okay? Do normal stuff."

"Like date..." Willow says.

"Well..." Buffy says.

"Oh, you wanna date. I saw that half-smile, you slut." Xander says.

Laughing, Buffy punches Xander in the arm.

Xander laughs as well til he realizes how much that hurt, "Ow."

Buffy nods, "All right, yes. Date. Shop. Go to school, hang out, save the world from unspeakable demons - I wanna do all that girl stuff."

The next morning Buffy bolts up in bed. She takes a moment to get her bearings. Something catches her eye: on the bed post, hung with the scarves and other things, a long silver chain - on it the ring Angel gave her. She reaches out to touch the ring.

"Morning, Sunshine..." Piper says from the doorway.

"Ready to face the beast?" Piper asks.

Later in Principal Snyder's Office, Snyder - the aforementioned beast - faces Buffy and Piper. "Here are the terms of your re-entry, Missy, take 'em or leave 'em."

Buffy flips a silver letter opener off the edge of Snyder's desk, toying with it.

"One: you pass a make-up test for each class you skipped out on last year; two: you provide, in writing, one glowing recommendation from any member of our faculty who is not an English librarian; three: you complete an interview with the school psychologist who must conclude that your violent tendencies..." Snyder says as he quickly but cautiously removes the letter opener from Buffy's grasp. "...are under control."

Piper shakes her head, "I'm not sure I like your attitude, Mr. Snyder. Prue and I spoke to the School Board and according to them –"

Snyder nods, "— I'm required to educate every juvenile who's not in jail where she belongs. Welcome back." He opens the door for them to leave.

Buffy smiles, "So, I'm really back because the School Board overruled you... wow, that's like having your whole ability to do this job called into question when you think about it."

Snyder stares sullenly at the girl.

"I think what my cousin's trying to say is: nyah nyah nyah nyah. Now about those hoops… Forget it." Piper says. "The school board overruled you, you have no say on any such conditions for enrollment."

Piper and Buffy turn and leave.

Later Willow and Buffy enter the library.

"It's so great you're a school girl again." Willow says.

"What did Giles want, was he mad?" Buffy asks.

Willow looks around, "I don't think so, he just needed to see you. Have you ever noticed when he is mad but he's too English to say anything he makes that weird "cluck cluck" sound with his tongue –"

Giles rises from the counter, a pestle and mortar in hand.

"Hi Giles." Buffy says.

Willow turns around, "Oh, hi. Been there long?"

Giles sets the pestle and mortar down next to some herbs on the counter, busying himself with them, "Buffy, good timing, I can use your help. I trust you remember the demon Acathla –"

Buffy nods, "Giles, please, contain yourself. Yes, I'm finally back in school but you know how it embarrasses me when you gush so. Why don't we just skip all that and get right to work."

"Oh, ahhh. Sorry. Of course it's wonderful that you're back. That goes without saying. But you... enjoy making me say it, don't you?" Giles says.

Buffy smiles, "That and chocolate, what else have I got? So, Acathla, what ya' doin'... making him some demon pizza?"

Giles shakes his head, "We need to make sure he remains dormant, and the dimensional vortex stays well shut. So I'm working on a binding spell."

"Ooo, a spell, can I help?" Willow asks.

Giles nods, "Possibly with the research. It's a very sensitive –"

Willow nods, "Who's more sensitive than me?"

Giles sighs, "— and difficult spell."

Buffy shakes her head, "Will is coming along nicely Giles. She could probably handle the spell."

Giles nods, "Anyways it involves creating a protective circle around... I don't want to bore you, but there's a litany that one recites in Aramaic. It's very specific, and I need to know a few things about your experience in defeating Acathla and Angel."

"Sure, fire away." Buffy says.

"I've put the time at around 6:17, about half an hour after Xander rescued me..." Giles says.

Buffy shakes her head, "Less. More like ten minutes."

Giles nods, "And was the vortex already open?"

"Just barely." Buffy says.

Giles nods, "I see. And Angel...?"

"Big fight, Angel got the pointy end of the sword, Acathla sucked him into hell instead of the world. That's about the end of it." Buffy says.

A school bell rings.

"Yes. Well that should be helpful." Giles says.

"Oh and guys." Buffy says.

"Yes?" Giles asks.

"The curse worked. He was my Angel again. But it was too late. I told him I loved him, I kissed him, asked him to close his eyes and then I killed him." Buffy says.

"Oh." Giles says as Buffy turns and walks out of the room.

"I can really help you with the spell." Willow says. "Buffy isn't the only one who thinks I'm doing good. Prue, Piper and Phoebe think I'm making real progress."

"There is no spell." Giles says.

That evening at the Bronze the band is playing something sexy. A wild girl is dancing with an older guy. Xander and Cordelia dance nearby.

Willow and Oz at a table. They are smooching - they break it up as Buffy approaches with drinks.

"Don't let me interrupt..." Buffy says.

Willow nods, "Are you... is she all a glow-y?"

"I suspect happiness." Oz says.

Buffy smiles, "I'm out with my friends, hello my life, how I've missed you."

Willow sees Scott approaching, "Hi, Scott, what are you doing here?"

Scott, looking good, walks up. "You told me if I came after eight I could run into Buffy. I'm a bad liar, it's not good for the soul - or the skin: it makes me blotch."

Buffy smiles, "Hi, Scott."

"Hi. Don't you love this song?" Scott says.

Buffy nods, "Actually... I do."

"Would you like to...?" Scott asks as he motions towards the dance floor.

"Dance? I, uh... I don't know, I mean... I don't know. Thanks for asking but..." Buffy says.

Scott nods, "I'm just going to go stand by the dance floor. If you change your mind you can mosey on over. If not, you don't mosey. No harm, no foul." Scott says as he smiles. He walks towards the dance floor.

Buffy watches him go.

"Come on, Buffy, the guy is charm, and normal which is that thing you want to get back to." Willow says.

Oz nods, "Plus, bonus points for the use of the word "mosey.""

Buffy sighs, "You know after Cupid I was ready to love. Then I was finally feeling ready to date again and well I had to kill Angel after your curse worked. Now I'm kinda back to not being ready."

Willow sighs, "Angel wouldn't want you to mope around Buffy."

"I know." Buffy says.

Cordelia and Xander return from the dance floor. "Check out the Slut-o-rama and her Disco Dave..." Buffy looks at the wild girl dancing with the older guy. "...what was the last thing that guy danced to, K.C. and the Sunshine Band?"

Buffy studies the guy as the wild girl drapes an arm around his shoulder. They head for the exit. "I don't think that guy thrives on sunshine..." She moves off after them.

Scott sees Buffy approaching. His face lights up. "Hi."

"Oh. I didn't come to... I have to..." Buffy says as she nods toward exit.

"Sorry. My bad." Scott says.

Buffy shakes her head, "No. It's mine, it's mine. I really gotta..." She hurries towards the exit.

Outside Buffy looks around for the Wild Girl. Cordelia, Xander, Willow and Oz come out behind her.

"Where is she...?" Buffy asks.

"I bet it's nothing, they're probably just making out –" Cordelia says.

Sounds of a violent confrontation come from around the corner.

"— that's not what making out sounds like - unless I'm doing it wrong..." Willow says.

Buffy is already charging ahead, as the others follow. She powers up a fireball. She arrives in time to see the wild girl up against a wall, her head down in shadow and the guy - he's a vamp all right - moving towards her.

Wild girl brings her head up, into the light: it's not a face full of fear, it's a face full of glee - ready to kick ass.

As Buffy is about to throw her fireball at the Vamp, Faith leaps in the air, spin kicks over Buffy's head and connects with the vamp's face, sending him reeling back and down.

Wild girl turns to Buffy. "S'okay, I got it. You're Buffy, right?" The vamp rises behind her. "I'm Faith."

Without turning around, Faith back-head butts the vamp, smashing him back.

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say we've got a new slayer in town." Oz says.

Faith delivers several impressive kicks and punches to the Vamp as the others watch, then turns back to Buffy. "You mind?" She motions towards the fireball still in Buffy's hand.

Buffy looks down as Faith ducks and she throws the fireball dusting the vamp.

"Thanks, B. Couldn't a done it without ya'." Faith says as she grins. She walks by Buffy.

Later back inside the Bronze Faith devours a huge muffin, in the middle of a story; Xander, Oz and Willow are charmed and amused by Faith - Buffy feels a little left out.

"- it was about a hundred and eighteen degrees, I'm sleepin' without a stitch on, suddenly I hear all this screamin'. I go tearin' outside - stark nude - this church bus has broke down and three vamps are feasting on half the Baptists in South Boston. So I waste the vamps and the preacher is hugging me like there's no tomorrow when the cops pull up. They arrested us both." Faith says.

"They should film that story and show it every Christmas." Xander says.

Faith grabs another muffin. "God, I could eat a horse! Isn't it crazy? Slayin' always makes you just hungry and horny."

The others look at Buffy, frankly curious. "Well... sometimes I crave a non-fat yogurt afterwards..."

Cordelia nods, "I get it. Not the horny thing - yuck – the two slayer thing: there was only one, but then Buffy died for like two minutes so Kendra was called, then Kendra died so Faith was called."

Buffy rolls her eyes.

"But why were you called here?" Willow asks.

Faith shakes her head, "I wasn't. My watcher went to some retreat thing in England, so I skipped out. I thought, this is my big chance to meet the infamous Buff and compare notes - So B, did you really use a rocket launcher one time?"

"Well, it's actually funny –" Buffy says.

"What was that about the alligator? You said something before –" Xander says interrupting Buffy.

Faith smiels, "Oh, this big daddy vampire out of Missouri kept 'em as pets. He's got me rasslin' one of 'em, must have been twelve feet long –"

"Now, was this also naked?" Xander asks.

Faith smiles, "Well, the alligator was..."

"Xander, find a new theme." Cordelia says.

"Did the alligator get hurt?" Willow asks.

Faith shrugs, "Only a little. Then it was dead."

"Oh. No..." Willow says.

Faith nods, "I never had more trouble than that damn vamp." She looks to Buffy. "What about you? What was your toughest kill?"

Buffy shrugs, "There have been just so many between being Charmed and a Slayer. Oh, but, do you guys remember the Three? Or, you never met the Three... But anyway –"

Oz nods, "Something occurring: you both kill the vamps and who could argue with that, but – I'm wondering about your position on werewolves."

"Oz is a werewolf." Willow says proudly.

"Long story." Buffy says.

"Got bit." Oz says.

Buffy sighs, "Apparently not that long."

Faith nods, "Hey, long as you don't go scratchin' at me or humpin' my leg, we're five by five."

"Fair enough." Oz says.

Faith smiles, "Now the vamps, they better get their asses to defcon one, the two of us around. We're gonna have some fun you and me, watcher-less and fancy free."

Buffy frowns, "Watcher-less?"

"Didn't yours go to England, too?" Faith asks.

The next day in the library…

"There is a watcher retreat every year in the Cotswalds..." Giles says. "...lovely spot, very serene. They have horseback riding, river rafting, lectures and discussions. Quite an honor to be invited; they're very stimulating events. So I'm told..."

Faith smiles, "Ah, it's boring. Way too stuffy for a guy like you."

"Um, maybe I should introduce you again. Faith, this is Giles." Buffy says.

Faith nods, "I seen him. If I'd a known they came this young and cute I'd've requested a transfer."

"Okay, raise your hand if "ew."" Buffy says.

Giles tries not to be flustered, "Well, leaving for the moment the question of my youth and beauty, I would say it's fortuitous that Faith arrived when she did."

"Ah-hah!" Willow says. "Sorry, I just meant – ah-hah! There's a big evil brewing - you'll never be bored here, Faith, 'cause this is San Francisco, home of the big brewing evil."

"I don't know how big an evil it is at this point but two people have disappeared in the Sunset Ridge district." Giles says.

"Ah hah!" Xander says. "Fun."

Giles shoots Xander a look, "One of them, a fast food worker, was pulled right out of his order window."

"I'm good to patrol. Late-ish, though; I promised Piper I'd be home for dinner." Buffy says. "To which you're invited, of course. Dinner. With us."

"Dying to meet the fam. I'm in." Faith says.

"Great. Then we'll patrol. Also together. Try to get a bead on these new vamps." Buffy says.

"We'll hunt 'em down and kill 'em where they stand. Come to momma, unh!" Faith says as she mimes punching a head.

"She doesn't make it sound like work at all." Xander says.

"Don't you have a health science make-up?" Willow asks.

Buffy sighs and nods. Piper and Prue had said she didn't have to jump through Snyder's hoops. But Buffy had said it would be better to take the make-ups anyways so she could be sure to be caught up. "Yeah, I could use a little coaching."

"You can hang with us while she's testing. You wanta?" Willow says to Faith.

"Say yes and bring your stories." Xander says.

Buffy nods, "Yeah, you guys run along, I'll be fine, really, I'll just sit here..."

"Okay, have fun." Faith says. "Later on. We'll talk weapons."

The three take off, leaving Buffy with Giles.

"This new girl has rather a lot of zest." Giles says.

"So how's your spell?" Buffy asks.

Giles shakes his head, "There wasn't a spell Buffy. I thought you might have been repressing what actually happened."

Buffy nods, "Thanks for caring. I had actually talked to Piper a couple days ago. Before that I was repressing, it was why I ran. I had him back for oh a few moments and then I had to kill him. Took me two months and talking to Piper to finally put it behind me."

"Ok." Giles says.

Later Willow, Xander and Faith head down the hall past the cafeteria towards the lounge. They're having a good time.

"And here we have the cafeteria, where we were mauled by snakes..." Willow says.

"This is the spot where Angel tried to kill Willow." Xander says.

"Over there in the lounge is where Spike and his gang nearly massacred us all on parent-teacher night. Oh, and up those stairs, I was sucked into a muddy grave..." Willow says.

"They say young people don't learn anything in high school nowadays but, I've learned to be afraid." Xander says.

"You guys are a hoot 'n a half. If I'd had friends like you in high school, I'd've still dropped out but I mighta been sad about it." Faith says. "What's up with B? She seems wound kinda tight - needs to find the fun a little, like you two. Water." She heads for a fountain.

"Then the alligator story!" Xander says.

Xander and Willow watch Faith as Cordelia moves up behind Xander.

"She's got something, doesn't she?" Xander asks.

"What is it with you and slayers?" Cordelia asks startling Xander. "Maybe I should dress up like one and hold a stake to your throat."

Xander regards her hungrily for a moment, "Please, God, don't let that be sarcasm."

Faith straightens up from the water fountain, almost bumps into Scott.

"Excuse me." Scott says.

Faith smiles, "Sorry. Hey, I seen you before."

"At the Bronze? You're friends with Buffy, right?" Scott asks.

Faith nods, "Yeah. I'm Faith."

"Scott, nice to meet you." Scott says.

Buffy moves up besides Willow, Cordelia and Xander.

"I'm two for two with the make-up tests. Proud, yes, but also humble in this time of – What are we looking at?" Buffy says.

"Does anyone believe that's her actual hair color?" Cordelia asks.

Buffy follows Cordelia's gaze to Faith and Scott at the water fountain, Scott is laughing.

"Boy I haven't seen him laugh like that... maybe Faith and Scott could hit it off. I mean, if you're done with him - not that you used him or anything." Willow says.

"I hadn't definitely, one hundred per cent said no to him for all time... it's just, you don't enter into these things lightly, there's repercussions to consider and..." Buffy says.

Willow and Xander exchange a knowing look.

"Why am I seeing a look?" Buffy asks.

"You really do need to find the fun a little, "B"... uffy." Willow says.

Buffy moves to Scott.

"Buffy, Faith is telling me tall tales." Scott says spotting Buffy.

Buffy nods, "She's funny. And leaving. We have to go."

"Oh." Scott says. "Nice talking to you."

"Likewise." Faith says as she and Buffy move away from Scott. "Cute guy. He seeing anybody?"

That evening at the manor Faith is over for dinner.

Prue smiles at Faith, "So you're a slayer, too."

Piper is piling Faith's plate with food. Buffy sits nearby, her own plate empty.

"Isn't that interesting. Do you like it?" Phoebe asks.

Faith smiles, "I love it."

Buffy gestures with her own empty plate, "Piper..."

"Just a sec, Buffy." Piper says. "So, why do you love it? Just out of curiosity."

"When I'm fighting, the whole world goes away and I only know one thing: I'm gonna win and they're gonna lose. I like that feeling." Faith says.

Buffy finally starts dishing up her own supper, "Well sure, it's better than that dead feeling you get when they win and you lose."

"I don't let that kind of negative thinking in." Faith says.

Prue nods, "Right, that could get you hurt."

Piper smiles, "Faith, can I get you another soft drink?"

"You bet, thanks." Faith says.

Piper heads for the kitchen.

"You guys are cool." Faith says.

"Best cousins ever. Excuse me." Buffy says before she heads for the kitchen followed by Prue and Phoebe.

Piper re-fills Faith's soda. "I like this girl, Buffy."

"Yeah, she's personable. Gets along with my friends, my watcher, my cousins - look! Now she's getting along with my fries!" Buffy says looking back in the dining room as Faith is in fact reaching over and snagging some of Buffy's fries.

"Now, Buffy –" Prue says.

"Plus, in school today, she was making eyes at MY not-boyfriend. It's creepy." Buffy says.

"Does anybody else think Faith is creepy?" Prue asks.

Buffy shakes her head, "No, but I'm the one getting Single White Femaled here."

"It's probably good you were an only child." Phoebe says.

"Hey, I... I'm just getting my life back. I'm not looking to go halfsies on it." Buffy says.

"Buffy it would be good to have another Slayer you know. Were all stretched thin here. While we do love helping out. It would just be easier…" Prue says.

"Yeah, I guess..." Buffy says.

Phoebe nods, "You heard her, she loves slaying. You know we don't want you to die, Buffy. Three times was really enough."

Buffy hugs Prue, Piper and Phoebe. "It's okay, I'm not going to die. I know how to do this job. Besides, I guess your right one extra person helping with patrols isn't a bad thing."

Later Buffy and Faith are out on patrol.

"Didn't we already do this street?" Faith asks.

Buffy smiles, "Weird thing about vampires, they'll hit a place even after you've been there. It's like they have no manners."

Faith shrugs, "You're the one who's been doing this the longest."

Buffy nods, "I have."

"...maybe too long..." Faith says.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy asks.

"Nothing." Faith says.

"You got a problem?" Buffy asks.

Faith shakes her head, "I'm five by five, B. Living entirely large and wondering 'bout your problem."

Buffy frowns, "I may not sleep in the nude and wrestle alligators –"

"Well maybe it's time you started. Something in your bottle needs uncorking. Is it this Angel thing?" Faith says.

Buffy frowns, "What do you know about Angel?"

"What your friends tell me: big love, big loss, you oughta deal and move on but you're not." Faith says.

Buffy stops, gets in Faith's face. "First off I'm over Angel. Okay. I moved on sometime ago. Yes it was hard when he came back and I had to kill him. But you know what that is my business. I don't ask you about your personal business, I would appreciate it if you didn't ask me about mine."

"What are you getting so strung out for, B?" Faith asks.

"Why are your lips still moving, "F"?" Buffy says sarcastically.

"Did I just hear a threat?" Faith asks.

Buffy powers up a fireball, "Would you like to?"

Faith looks at the fireball and smiles, "Wow. Think you can take me?"

"Yeah –" Buffy says before seeing some vamps behind Faith. "I just hope they can't." She shoves Faith hard out of the way as she throws the fireball at one of the vamps dusting it.

Vamps 2, 3, & 4 attack!

Buffy punches 2, sidesteps an onslaught from 3 and spin kicks 4 - who blocks the kick and smashes her in the face. Buffy stumbles back, momentarily stunned.

Faith gets her wits, barrels at 4. She hits him hard in the mid-section and they crash back into the wall.

Buffy punches and kicks 3 as 2 grabs a two by four from the building site and wallops her with it. Buffy goes down.

Faith and 4 trade punches. "Come on! My dead mother hits harder than that!"

Buffy looks up from the ground, rolls as the two by four misses her face by inches, sweeps 3's legs out from under him, wrenches the two by four out of 2's hands and gut punches 2 with it. She glances over at:

Faith - crazed, knocks 4 to the ground, leaps on him, punching the shit out of him. "YEAH, THIS IS ME, YOU UNDEAD BASTARD!"

"Faith! You want to stake him already and give me a hand?" Buffy says.

But Faith is in her own rage-filled world, as 3 leaps on Buffy from behind and 2 punches her in the side of the head. Buffy falls to the ground, 2 and 3 on her, each pinning a shoulder to the ground.

3 bends down to bite her neck. "For Kakistos we live... for Kakistos, you die."

"FAITH!" Buffy says as she flames out.

Faith, oblivious to Buffy and everything else, hitting the vamp over and over...

Buffy flames back in behind 2 and powers up a fireball. She throws it dusting 2. Buffy grabs her stake out of it's holster and back-stakes 3 without even looking. She marches to Faith.

Faith is still punching away at 4, angry and incoherent. "You... can't... touch... me...!"

Buffy yanks Faith off the unconscious vamp with one hand, stakes the vamp with her other. Then she turns to Faith who is breathing hard, high on adrenaline, rubbing her fists. "What is wrong with you?"

"What are you talking about?" Faith asks.

"I'm talking about you living large on the great undead here." Buffy says.

"Gee, if doing violence to vampires upsets you, I'm pretty sure you're in the wrong line a work..." Faith says.

"Or maybe you like it just a little too much." Buffy says.

"I was getting the job done." Faith says.

Buffy shakes her head, "The job is to slay demons. Not mash them into sloppy joes while their friends are cornering me."

Faith shakes her head, "I thought you could handle yourself. You are after all supposed to be this superpowerful witch on top of being the Slayer.

The next day Buffy walks with Giles down the halls of the school.

"Well, Buffy, you have to realize you and Faith have very different temperaments..." Giles says.

Buffy sighs, "I know, mine would be the sane one. Giles, she's not playing with a full deck. She has almost no deck. She has a three."

Giles nods, "You said yourself she killed one of them, she's a plucky fighter who got a little carried away. Which is natural, she's focussed on Slaying, she doesn't have a whole other life here like you –"

"— she doesn't need a whole other life here, she's got mine." Buffy says.

"I think you're being a little..." Giles says.

"No, I'm being a lot. I know that. But I'm telling you, she nearly got us both killed, she needs help." Buffy says.

"I'll see if I can get word to her watcher at the retreat..." Giles says as he checks his watch. "Eight hours later, they're probably enjoying a nightcap... I wonder if they still kayak. I was an excellent kayaker in my day, do they even consider that...? Sorry. Now these vampires that attacked you, did you notice any details that might help me trace their lineage: modern or ancient dress, amulets, cultish tattoos...?"

"No tats, crappy dressers, oh, the one who nearly bit me said something about... kissing toast, he lived for kissing toast." Buffy says.

"You mean Kakistos?" Giles says alarmed.

Buffy thinks about it, "Or, it could have been taquitos, maybe he lived for taquitos... what'd you say?"

"Kakistos." Giles says as he heads into the library with purpose.

Buffy follows right behind him, "Is that bad?"

"Kakistos is Greek, it means the worst of the worst. It's also the name of a vampire, so old his hands and feet are cloven. He must be here for some reason." Giles says.

Buffy nods, "This guy shows up when, two days ago? Right around the time my bestest new little sister makes the scene."

"You think Faith is connected to Kakistos somehow?" Giles asks.

Buffy nods, "There's two things I do not believe in. Coincidence and leprechauns. Everything happens for a reason. If being a witch has taught me anything it's that."

"Buffy, it's entirely possible they happened by chance to arrive simultaneously." Giles says.

Buffy nods, "Okay, but I'm right about leprechauns, right?"

Giles nods, "As far as I know."

"Good. Get England on the phone. I'm gonna talk to Faith. See if Kakistos rings a bell. Or an alarm." Buffy says before she heads out of the library. She heads for her normal flame out spot when she runs into Scott.

"Hi." Scott says.

"Scott ..." Buffy says.

Scott smiles, "How are you?"

Buffy nods, "Okay. I've gotta..."

"I know, be somewhere else. Think of this as my last ditch effort, I realize one more will qualify as stalking." Scott says. "I've given a lot of thought, some might say too much thought, to how I might be a part of your life. It begins with conversation, we all know this. Maybe over a cup of coffee, maybe at the Buster Keaton festival - playing on State Street all this weekend..."

Buffy nods, "Looking back now I see I haven't really been fair to... Buster Keaton. I like what I've seen of him so far, I think it's time to see a little more."

"Keaton is key." Scott says. Giles, looking concerned, hurries down the hall towards Buffy. "Scott pulls out a small white box. "I got you a little present, guy in a retro shop said it represents friendship - that's something I'd very much like to have with you."

Buffy smiles, he's charmed and relaxed her. Scott hands her the box. She looks in, her smile fades. In the box is a Claddagh ring, just like the one Angel gave her.

"You like?" Scott asks.

Buffy steps back towards Giles, dropping the box. The ring clatters to the floor.

Scott picks up the ring.

Buffy shakes her head, "I can't accept it. I'm sorry. It's just it's a reminder of my last boyfriend. He passed away a couple months ago. He gave me a ring like that one and explained what it represents."

"Oh I'm sorry." Scott says. "I didn't know."

Buffy smiles, "Thanks though."

Scott nods, "No problem, maybe another time then." He turns and leaves.

Buffy sighs, "I didn't mean it like that."

"Are you all right?" Giles asks.

Buffy nods, "Yeah. I'm fine. He wanted to give me a claddagh ring and after Angel… Did you reach the retreat?"

Giles nods, "I did."

"What'd her watcher say?" Buffy asks.

"Her watcher is dead." Giles says.

Later at a motel the door to the hall is open. Faith faces the hefty Manager.

"Room's eighteen dollars a day, that's every day." Manager says.

Faith nods, "I know. I'll get it to you tomorrow, I swear."

"It's not like I own the place." Manager says.

"Bet you will some day." Faith says sexy.

"Not if I listen to broads like you." Manager says and he turns to go. Buffy is standing in the doorway. "Roommates are extra."

Buffy shakes her head, "Just visiting." Manager gives her a look, goes. She shuts the door.

"What brings you to the po' side of town?" Faith asks.

"Cloven guy, goes by the name of Kakistos." Buffy says.

Faith goes very cold and hard. "...what do you know about Kakistos?"

"That he's here." Buffy says.

Faith just stares.

"So we're not happy to see old friends. What'd he do to you?" Buffy asks.

Faith shakes her head, "It's what I did to him..." She grabs a bag, starts throwing her few belongings in.

"What would that be?" Buffy asks. "You came here for a reason, Faith, I can help—"

Faith shakes her head, "You can mind your own business. I'm the one can handle this."

Buffy nods, "Yeah, you're a real badass when it comes to packing. What'd you say about my problem, gotta deal and move on...?" Faith picks up her bag, turns to face Buffy. "Here we have the moving on part, I get that - and dealing, that's something you just gonna dump on my doorstep?"

Faith sighs, "You don't know me, you don't know what I've been through. I'll take care of it." She heads for the door.

"Like he took care or your watcher?" Buffy asks as Faith stops. "He killed her, didn't he."

Faith looks back at Buffy, dropping the tough girl act, "They don't have a word for what he did to her." She reaches for the door - someone KNOCKS, scaring the hell out of her. She looks through the peephole at the Manager. "What now..."

"Faith, you run, he runs after." Buffy says.

Faith nods, "Yeah, that's where the head start comes in so handy." She opens the door. The manager teeters there, just as dead as a man can be. Kakistos stands behind him, holding his neck.

Faith goes stone cold with fear. Mr. Trick and a Vamp flank Kakistos who lets go of the manager's neck. The manager falls to the floor.

"Faith..." Kakistos says.

Kakistos reaches out and grabs Faith. Buffy runs at the door, hits it with her shoulder, slamming it on Kakistos' arm, ramming it against the door jam. His hand holds fast to Faith's neck. Buffy whips out a stake, stabs Kakistos' forearm. Kakistos howl in pain, he lets go of Faith's neck.

Buffy stabs it some more, driving it back - she slams and locks the door.

Faith is just crazy with fear. "No... no..."

Buffy nods, "It's okay, I just bought us a little –" Kakistos' fist comes smashing through the door, nearly taking Faith's head off. "— time."

Faith starts screaming.

Buffy slaps her hard across the face. "Scream later, escape now. Take my hand."

Faith looks at Buffy for a moment and then does as she is told. They flame out.

They flame in a block away from the motel.

Buffy frowns, "Weird they must have had a spell on the motel. I should have been able to flame us straight to the Manor. Run."

Faith doesn't need no urging as she and Buffy takes off. Down the street they see two vamps rounding a corner.

Buffy and Faith turn and run the other way as they see Trick and another vamp coming from that direction.

Buffy and Faith tear down an alley, turn a corner. A few feet from the corner, they turn into an abandoned firehouse.

"We're okay." Buffy says looking around.

Faith glances out the window herself, badly shaken.

"What happened?" Buffy asks.

"I..." Faith says as she starts to cry.

"It's okay." Buffy says.

Faith sighs, "I was there when he killed my watcher. I saw what he did to her, what he was going to do to me... I tried to stop him, but I couldn't... I ran..."

"Faith, listen to me. First rule of slaying: don't die. You did the right thing, you didn't die. Now do the math: one of him, two of us..." Buffy says.

"No..." Faith says.

"Yes." Buffy says.

"No..." Faith says terror-stricken. Buffy follows her gaze. In the corner, a gruesome pile of bodies. "This is his place."

"That's why I couldn't flame back to the manor, it was a trap. They expected me to flame out and set it up to redirect me where they wanted us." Buffy says as she spins around.

Trick and Vamp 1 come through a back entrance, Kakistos comes through the side, Vamps 2 & 3 behind him.

Buffy kicks Vamp 2 in the face, punches 3.

Faith can't take her eyes off Kakistos; she backs away in terror.

Buffy sees this, grabs a metal bar. "Don't die." She hurls the metal bar into Faith's arms.

Buffy powers up a fireball and whips out a stake in the other hand. She dives for Kakistos who catches her with one hand - and hurls her against a wall.

Faith looks at the bar in her hands, up at Kakistos. She is not doing well here. She tries to swing it - Kakistos stops it and punches her right through a support beam.

Buffy is on her back on the floor; Vamp 2 dives for her. She throws the fireball and Vamp 2 dusts.

Buffy pops up to her feet out of it, stake in hand; she spins to see Faith crawling painfully away from where she landed, Kakistos moving towards her.

Buffy is about to go for Kakistos when Mr. Trick grabs her from behind.

"I believe this dance is mine." Mr. Trick says.

Buffy slams him back against the wall, bends forward and flips him over onto his back, whips out her stake as she powers up another fireball. "The music stopped." She drives the stake down - but he rolls away, comes back up to face her.

"But the beat goes on. Gimmie whatcha got." Mr. Trick says.

Buffy comes at him, and they punches so we know they're a good match. Vamp 3 comes up behind Buffy and she throws the fireball and Vamp 3 dusts.

Kakistos towers over Faith. Grabs her hair, drags her to her feet. She looks at him beyond terror now...

Buffy and Trick are Going at it. Trick comes for her, she rears back, kicks him in the face, Buffy sees Kakistos hit Faith really hard knocking her unconscious.

Buffy runs like hell, diving, hitting Kakistos in the mid-section, she starts raining kicks and blows upon him.

Mr. Trick gets up, watching this as Vamp 2 gets up next to him.

"Spirited girl. We don't do something, she just might kill him." Mr. Trick says. Vamp 2 moves to help - Trick stops him. "I don't think I have a problem with that. Incense, candles, missing the Bulls games 'cause he's too cheap to pop for cable - who's had enough here?"

Vamp 2 tentatively raises his hand.

Mr. Trick and Vamp 2 slip out the door as Buffy comes up with a stake, ducks a giant swing from Kakistos and sinks the stake deep and true into his chest.

Nothing happens.

Buffy pounds on the stake, trying to sink it deeper. Still nothing - and now Kakistos starts laughing.

"Guess you need a bigger stake, slayer." Kakistos says.

Kakistos is still laughing as Faith rises from the ashes, the broken support beam in hand. He just has time to register this as she rams it through his chest. Oh yeah, he's dust now.

Buffy and Faith stand there, breathing hard, looking around: the others are gone, it's over. They look at each other.

"You hungry?" Buffy asks.

Faith nods, "Starved."

The next day in the library Buffy is with Giles and Willow.

"The Council approved our request, Faith can stay here indefinitely, I'm to look after you both until they assign a new watcher." Giles says.

Buffy nods, "Good. She came through, you know. She had a lot to deal with, but she did it. Got it behind her."

"That's good to hear." Giles says.

Later Between classes. Scott exits a class. Rounds a corner, finds Buffy waiting.

"Hi." Buffy says.

"Hello." Scott says.

Buffy smiles, "So I was just... waiting here for you to get out of your class."

"Why?" Scott asks.

Buffy sighs, "Look here's the deal. The ring as I told you was given to me by someone else. It's a reminder of him. It was in no way a reflection on you. I liked what you said about friendship, I liked it a lot. Also, Buster Keaton, big fun. And I'm capable of the big fun even though there's no earthly way you could possibly know that about me lately. Wow, if I'd known I was going to go on this long I'd have brought water. So, if you were still up for the film festival - and I'd understand if you weren't - I'd pretty much love to go with you."

"I don't know, Buffy, I'm really gonna have to think this over." Scott says as he turns, walks away. She barely has time to deflate before he turns and comes right back. "Okay, thought it over. I'm in. When do you want to go?"

Buffy smiles, "I have one thing I have to do tonight, after that I'm good."

Scott smiles, "Good."

That evening at Angel's mansion Buffy and Piper enters, moves through the darkened rooms.

"You don't have to do this, Buffy." Piper says.

Buffy nods, "If I don't, Piper. I will be reminded of him everyday. This ring is a reminder. As is this…" She holds up her wrist and shows Piper the triquetra tattoo. "But at least the tattoo reminds me of you guys. The ring reminds me of Angel and what I lost. To truly move on I need to let go of everything that reminds me of him."

"Okay." Piper says.

Buffy walks to where she stabbed Angel. She closes her hand around the ring, kneels down, where Angel was cast into hell. Holding the ring tightly. "Goodbye."

Buffy opens her hand, lets go of the ring. It slips to the ground. She stays there very still, as if in prayer. She rises and walks back over to Piper, "Want me to flame you back to the Manor before I go meet Scott?"

Piper nods, "That be good, Buffy."

Buffy nods and takes Piper's hand and they flame out.

The ring starts to glow and then there's a low rumbling tremor which builds to a frightening crescendo culminating in a blinding flash of light.

Something dark and large hurtles out of the lights and lands on the cold stone floor. Naked and shivering, virtually mad, something huddles there - something fresh out of hell - his own hand inches away from the ring: Angel.