Authors Note: This chapter is actually a combination of two different episodes. Charmed: Primrose Empath and BTVS: Earshot.
Also I'm now working on season 4 which places me about 20 chapters ahead.
Chapter 56: Empaths and Telepaths
Phoebe and Buffy runs, flat out, chased by a horrible, demon with no mouth. Then Buffy stumbles and falls. Phoebe runs on not noticing Buffy has fallen till she is several feet away.
One of the demons steps up to Buffy. She smiles and rolls suddenly and sweeps the demon's feet and draws a knife, towering over the demon, still on the ground. "You demons just can't resist a run-and-stumble, can you?"
Buffy shudders and moves closer to the demon with the knife when... it's kicked out of her hand and caught by the demon on the ground! She whirls and faces the kicker: a second demon, identical to the first. Phoebe starts towards her and Buffy shakes her head, "I got it."
"You sure?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy simply nods as she and demon two circle each other... she's positioning it between herself and the first demon, who now has the knife. Just when the second demon is between her and the first, the first demon throws the knife... right at the back of its partner's head. Incredibly, without looking, the second demon ducks... the knife sails over his head, right at Buffy. She grabs it out of the air in one quick move and faces the second demon. "Say "Uncle". Oops. No mouth."
Buffy lunges forward and stabs it. She has to wrench the knife free, and as she pulls her left hand away, a smear of thick liquid glistens on Buffy's skin. She doesn't notice it, and the liquid starts to glow. Buffy straightens her clothes, brushes off dirt, unaware, as the glowing liquid soaks into her skin, leaves no trace.
"Buffy!" Phoebe says as the other demon runs off.
Buffy turns and frowns, "Great"
The next morning in kitchen of the manor Prue is there trying to move a fork using her power but it's not moving. Buffy and Phoebe comes in.
"Look at me. I am a fashion blunder. A mademoiselle don't. Oh my god, you lost your powers?" Phoebe says.
Prue shakes her head, "Can't lose what you never had."
"Astral?" Buffy asks
Prue nods before she astral projects out of the room.
"I hate when she plays astral games. Marco." Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "Well it can come in handy, like the other day with Lurconis."
Prue calls down from the attic, "Polo."
Phoebe nods, "Guess so."
They head up to the attic where Prue is sitting in a chair reading a book on telekinesis.
"What were you doing down there?" Phoebe asks.
"Practicing. Trying to use telekinesis in astral mode." Prue says.
Buffy nods, "Thought so."
"Hmm, witch exercises. Since when?" Phoebe asks.
"Since I studied up on Belthazor," Prue says. "The triad couldn't have sent us a worse demon."
Phoebe looks at the picture in the book, "Or one with worse skin. I would hate to find myself alone with this guy."
Buffy looks in the book, "The ones we face last night, Pheebs looked worse than that."
Phoebe thinks about it and nods in agreement. "Yeah they did look worse than him."
"Yeah, well, none of us would last long against him. That's why I'm trying to teach my astral self how to fight." Prue says.
Phoebe flops down into a chair. "I have a date with Cole."
Buffy looks at her watch, "I better get to school."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Prue says. "See you later, Buffy."
Phoebe nods, "It's a lunch date. Bye Buffy."
Buffy flames out.
"So?" Prue asks.
"So, it's not a good sign. Lunch is a cheap imitation of dinner. That's why it has it's own special menu. And, you know, we kissed last week. We should be onto dinner and candlelight by now." Phoebe says.
"Well, may- ohh!" Prue says as she holds her hand against her jaw.
"I can't believe you haven't taken care of that tooth." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yeah, well, I have a dentist appointment in an hour."
Phoebe smiles, "Good. I hate to see you so miserable."
Prue nods, "Me too."
At Gateway High Buffy and Willow enter the library, where Oz, Xander and Giles are discussing the Ascension.
"Scabby Demon got away?" Willow asks.
"Scabby Demon number two got away. Scabby Demon one, big check in the "Slay" column." Buffy says.
"I don't like this "no mouth" thing. It's disquieting." Willow says. "Unless they have them somewhere else..."
Buffy scratches her hand... where the demon goo got on it.
Elsewhere Prue is driving in her car. She approaches road construction.
Construction Worker calls out, "Stop right there please." Prue stops her car. Cole appears near by. "Come ahead." A bus drives past Prue's car. A "save the innocent" sign is painted on the side of it. An arrow lights up pointing left, but suddenly changes right. "That way."
The construction worker points and Prue drives on to the right.
Prue pulls out her cell phone and dials Phoebe.
"Hello?" Phoebe says.
"Hey, did you cast any give me a sign spells lately?" Prue asks.
"No, why?" Phoebe asks.
"I don't know, it just seems like somebody's dropping signs right in front of me... literally." Prue says.
"Prue, you need to ignore the signs and get yourself into a dentist." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yeah, I know." She approaches a construction worker holding a stop sign.
"Uh, hello, Prue?" Phoebe says.
"Uh, I'll call you back." Prue says as she hangs up. She notices "Final Stop" painted on a building. She gets out walks up to a construction worker. "Excuse me."
"You're with social services, right?" Construction worker asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No, why?"
"The guy won't come out of his loft up there and we're supposed to start demolition today." The Construction worker says.
Prue looks up at the building, "Someone still lives here?"
Construction Worker nods, "Well, if you can call it that. Poor guy says he hasn't stepped outside in four years." He walks away.
Prue goes inside the building. She walks up some stairs and approaches a door. She knocks on it. "Hello?" She opens the door but there is a door chain on it.
"Close the door. G-go away." Vince says.
Prue shakes her head, "I just wanna talk."
"Please, go away." Vince says.
Prue closes the door and uses her power to remove the chain. She opens the door and sees Vince crouched down across the room.
Vince sees Prue and runs to the other side of the room. "No! Don't, don't, don't come any closer."
"Are you hurt?" Prue asks.
Guy nods, "My head, it's exploding. The pain, you're letting it in."
"What pain?" Prue asks.
"Everyone's pain, from the city, the streets. I feel it, I feel all of it." Vince says.
Prue frowns, "I won't hurt you."
"You are hurting me. Your pity. It's like razors inside." Vince says.
"Please..." Prue says as she walks closer and he grabs his jaw. "I can..."
"Ohh, your tooth. I feel your tooth." Vince says, "All your pain. I can't stand it. Why didn't you just go when I asked?:
At Gateway High in Giles office Buffy is studying her irritated hand while Giles looks through his books.
"You touched one of the demons." Giles said.
Buffy nods, "A "good touch," not a "bad touch." Anyway, it's been itching like crazy. No big. Just another problem for the good people at Lubriderm, right?"
"These are the demons in question?" Giles asks as he shows her a drawing of the two demons she fought the night before.
Buffy nods, "In the disgusting flesh."
"Hmm." Giles says.
Buffy frowns, "What?"
"Oh, it says that they can infect a host –" Giles says.
"Infect? Infect?... Infect?" Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Infect a host with "an aspect of the demon." That's all it says. I say, that's rather terse, isn't it?"
"I'm going to get an aspect of them? Like, a part of them?" Buffy asks.
Giles nods, "Of course, there are many other explanations for your hand. A new fabric softener can cause irritation. But just in case, I'd advise you not to try to track the one that got away. Let's minimize your exposure."
Buffy is staring at the picture. These demons have no appealing aspects. "A part of the demon. I hope it's not the outside part."
At the Manor Prue and Cole walk in the living room.
"Hey." Prue says.
"What are you two doing together?" Piper asks.
Prue nods, "Uh, Cole pulled up behind me."
"Good timing." Cole says.
Phoebe walks in. "Hey, look, my lunch date."
Cole nods, "Sorry I'm late but I got held up on a case. You look amazing."
"It's all part of my master plan." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Uh, Phoebe, I wanted to talk to you about the signs... uh, the assignment that we were talking about on the phone."
"Where did it lead?" Phoebe asks.
Prue sighs, "To this incredibly tragic guy who's scared to leave his own home, which might be okay if it weren't about to be torn down."
"Was there a social worker there?" Cole asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No, but I was told that a deputy was going over there this afternoon to evict him and he has no place to go."
"Let me, um, make a call, see what I can do." Cole says.
Piper nods, "Kitchen."
"Thank you." Cole says.
Leo nods, "Based on everything you said, Prue, it sounds like your shut-in's a future empath."
"An empath? And me without my dictionary." Prue says.
"They're mortals who can actually feel what other people feel. It's a rare gift. When they die they often return to earth as empaths. Where they blend into society as counselors, elders, teachers. They use their sensitivity to guide mortals, ease their pain, even heal them." Leo says.
Prue shakes her head, "No, I don't think this guy would look at it as a gift. He's one big raw nerve ending. You should've seen how he reacted to my toothache."
"Well, it could be he's rejecting his gift. Fighting the emotions he feels instead of embracing them." Leo says.
"Well, he sure sounds like an innocent to me." Piper says.
Leo nods, "It'd be a shame to lose a future empath and all the good he'll do."
"I care less about his afterlife than his current one. I know what it's like to receive a power that you just do not understand." Prue says.
"What I don't understand is who sent the signs that you followed." Phoebe says.
Leo shrugs, "It's hard to say. Could be them, could be..."
"Cole." Piper says.
Cole walks in. "I got a guy at Housing Authority who will relocate your shut-in, if he leaves voluntarily." He writes a number on a card and hands it to Prue. "Here's my card. Have him page me."
Prue nods, "Thanks. Alright."
"Uh, Prue, do you want us to go with you?" Piper asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No, this guy can barely deal with one person let alone three, but thank you." She leaves.
At Gateway High there is a Pep rally in the quad. The Cheerleaders are doing little routines and chants in honor of each of the players on the team. Buffy, Willow, Xander and Oz look on from the crowd.
"H-O-G-A-N. IT'S HOGAN! GO HOGAN!"
The cheerleaders wave their pompoms around the star player. He waves. The crowd yells and applauds.
Buffy absently runs a hand over her hair. "Is it just me or is this really lame?"
"I don't know. Usually I enjoy lameness, and this is leaving me cold." Oz says.
Willow is idly flipping through the school newspaper, "Well, according to Freddy's latest editorial the pep rally is a place for "pseudo-prostitutes to provoke men into a sexual frenzy, which, when thwarted, results in pointless athletic competition"."
They all watch the cheerleaders bounce.
"GET THE BALL AND STUFF IT! STUFF IT!"
"The downside being..." Xander says.
"The school paper is edging towards depressing lately. Have you guys noticed that?" Willow says.
Oz shakes his head, "I don't know; I always go straight to the obits."
Buffy runs her hand over her hair again. Willow gently nudges her over to the edge of the crowd where they can talk.
"Buffy? What are you doing?" Willow asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "Nothing." She sighs, "Checking for horns."
"Oh, Buffy. You know, I don't even think Giles is right about you becoming like a demon. Between you and me, he's not doing his best work." Willow says.
Buffy nods, "But what if he's right? I'm suddenly gonna grow a demon part and I don't even know which one. It could be scales, or claws, or – what?"
"Was it a boy demon?" Willow asks.
Buffy grimaces with that thought, "I'm just... I'm really scared, Will. There's something in me and I can't stop it, I can't find it, and what if it changes me, not just the way I look, but... I could be something that's not me anymore."
"I understand. I would be frightened too. But—" Willow says.
The rally is breaking up. The opportunity for private talk is over. Xander and Oz join the girls.
"Let's keep it between us for now, okay?" Buffy asks.
Willow nods, "Okay."
Elsewhere back at the building. Prue is there, a deputy won't let her back in.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I know he's scared but I personally handed him a final eviction notice two weeks ago." Deputy says.
Prue nods, "Officer, please. Cole Turner, assistant district attorney, he knows the case and he wants to help but only if I can keep this guy out of jail."
The Deputy sighs, "You've got three minutes."
Prue smiles, "Thank you." She walks inside. She uses her power and removes the door chain. She walks in. "Hello?" Vince is sitting on a mattress on the floor. "Hey. It's me again, Prue. Took a pain reliever for my tooth. The deputy downstairs told me that your name's Vince. What's your last name?"
"Misery." Vince says.
"Well, in that case would you like some company?" Prue asks.
Vince shakes his head, "That's not funny."
Prue nods, "Yeah, neither is your situation. Vince, you know that deputy's here to arrest you for civil disobedience."
"I'll die. If they put me in jail." Vince says.
"I believe you. That's why I came back, to find you a new home. But you have to leave here with me now." Prue says.
"I can't, I can't go outside." Vince says.
Prue sighs, "Vince, I know what it's like. I know what it's like to have a gift that you can't control, that you never asked for. And living with that is hard, really hard."
Vince shakes his head, "Don't tell me what's hard. You avoided your pain and I feel it."
"Right, then let's talk about the blessings, three words that come with having that gift. I mean, you can't even begin to..." Prue says.
Vince shakes his head, "Words, just empty words. You don't feel them in your heart, I know. You feel fear, panic, 'cause something's coming for you, something you're afraid you can't stop. Are these the blessings you want me to be thankful for?"
"I'm sorry." Prue says.
Vince nods, "Yes, you are. You are sorry. And confused and afraid and it's drowning me alive."
The deputy bangs on the door. "Deputy, time's up, open the door."
"Can't you see this is not a gift. This is a curse, I am cursed. To feel everything all the time from everyone. I can't go outside that door. Not now, not ever." Vince says.
"I'm coming in." The deputy says as Prue holds the door closed with her power. "Hey!"
"How'd you do that?" Vince asks.
Prue shakes her head, "I was sent here to help you and that's what I'm gonna do. "Free the empath release his gift, (he holds her hand) let his pain be cast adrift."" She stops using her power and the door opens.
"What's the hell's the matter with you people?" The deputy asks.
Prue shakes her head, "Sorry, deputy, that door stuck on me too. He's ready now."
"But how?" Vince asks.
Prue smiles, "We'll talk later. Um, this is the DA." She hands him the card. "Page him. He'll find a place for you to go."
Vince nods, "Thank you. You don't know what you just did for me."
Prue leaves.
At Gateway High Buffy walks slowly toward the library. Teachers and other students pass her. She turns a corner and almost runs into Mr. Beach, a teacher.
"Whoa there. You watch where you're going now." Mr. Beach says pleasantly.
Buffy nods, "Sorry, Mr. Beach. I will."
Mr. Beach moves past her, 'Students. If we could just get rid of all the students...'
Buffy stops and stares at his retreating figure. Starts walking again, looking more carefully about her.
A nerdy boy walks by. 'And when I'm a software jillionaire and you're all working at Arby's, who's the loser then?'
A harassed looking girl goes by. 'Maybe I'll take French, I said. How hard can it be? French babies learn it. Idiot.'
'I swear, some day my pants are gonna fall right off.'
Buffy looks over, sees a group of baggy trousers guys lounging by a locker. One of them hitches up his pants uncomfortably. Buffy stifles a laugh.
'God, Buffy's so beautiful.'
Buffy is passing a cute guy, she sees him glancing at her. Pleased, she stops and comes back a step, pretending to dig in her purse.
'She has the sweetest face I ever saw. And that body... Man I'd love to –'
Buffy hurries away not wanting to hear the end of what cute guy was thinking. She hurries, arms crossed protectively over her body, and enters the library.
Moment later Buffy follows Giles around as he selects and pulls books. "Is this the thing? The aspect-thing? Because, I've got to say, it's better than a tail. I mean, it's hard enough getting jeans that fit right anyway..."
"Buffy. Slow down. I'm not even convinced that you're experiencing genuine mind-reading. Most likely, you're projecting..." Giles says.
"When I came in, a minute ago, you thought, "Look at those shoes. If the fashion magazines told her to, she'd wear cats strapped to her feet."" Buffy says.
Giles stares at her, stunned. "I... that..."
"And by the way, cat-shoes? I mean, what is that?" Buffy asks.
"Of course. 'Aspect of the demon'. The demons are telepathic. That's why they don't need mouths. I should have known." Giles thinks.
"Of course. The demons are telepathic." Giles says.
Buffy miles, "I know. You just told me. That's why they don't need mouths. And you should have known."
"I... this is astounding." Giles says.
Buffy nods, "It was happening in the hall. Principal Snyder has "Walk Like an Egyptian" stuck in his head. And the boys in this school are seriously disturbed. It was strange, but, Giles, it's like this whole secret world is open to me. Think what I can do."
Giles nods, "It would be useful. You can anticipate an opponent's moves, turn their plans against them..."
"Oh, way better than that." Buffy says.
Later Buffy is in class, cheating using her newfound telepathy, "Jealousy!"
"Buffy. Right. Very good." Ms. Murray says surprised.
Willow and Xander look at Buffy with surprise.
'I knew that.' Nancy thought. Shefrowns at Buffy. Buffy looks at her innocently.
"Jealousy, clearly, is the tool that Iago used to undo Othello. But what's his motivation? What reason does Iago give for destroying his superior officer?" Ms. Murray says.
'Cassio has my place...Twixt my sheets he's done my office..' Ms. Murray thinks.
"Well, he was passed over for promotion, Cassio was picked instead... and people were saying Othello slept with his wife." Buffy says.
Everyone looks at her.
'Buffy did the reading. Buffy understood the reading.' Willow thinks.
'When did she study? Was I supposed to study? Ms. Murray's kind of hot.' Xander thinks.
'I was going to say Cassio. I hate her.' Nancy thinks.
Buffy looks sweetly at Nancy.
"Any other reason?" Ms. Murray asks.
Nancy jumps in fast, before Buffy can talk, "Race!"
"Uh... good, Nancy. Can't overlook that." Ms. Murray says.
Nancy smirks.
'Look at them, scrambling for the teacher's praise like pigeons for old bread crusts.' Freddy thinks.
Buffy looks around... sees Freddy, dressed in black, slumped in his desk with a dark and brooding look.
Buffy whispers to Willow, "Who's that guy?"
"Freddy Munson. He writes those editorials for the school paper. He's sardonic." Willow says.
'Bread crusts. That's deep. I should write that down.' Freddy thinks.
"Iago makes a lot of references to Othello's color, but he never specifically cites race as a motive. Is there something else at work here?" Ms. Murray says.
Buffy listens intently as she speaks, translating the teacher's thoughts into her words... "Well, he sort of admits himself that his motives are... spurious, he just does things because he enjoys them... sort of... Well it's almost like he's not a person, like he's a force of nature - the dark half of Othello himself, Othello's fear and rage sort of... embodied..."
Everyone stares at Buffy.
Ms. Murray smiles, "Buffy. Really. Very astute. I said something quite like that in my dissertation."
Buffy nods, "I know. I mean, I agree. With that."
"Yes, and doesn't that also explain Othello's readiness to believe Iago? Within seconds he turns on Desdemona, belies that she's unfaithful. And we're all like that; we all have little internal Iagos telling us our husbands or our girlfriends or whatever don't really love us. We can never see what's in their hearts. We doubt. We worry." Ms. Murray says. Buffy's smiles fades, as she's reminded of another part of her life. "Most of us don't go to as extreme measures as Othello, thank goodness..."
At the Dentist Prue is talking to the receptionist. There is a couple standing behind her cuddling and making googly eyes at each other.
"Look, I am really sorry that I missed my appointment this morning, okay, but-but I-I couldn't get out of work. Is there any way that Dr. Timmons can fit me in?" Prue asks.
"We are pretty booked up." Receptionist says.
"Alright, but my tooth kills. I really need to-" Prue says.
The guy pinches the girls butt and Prue feels it. She gasps and turns around.
"Are you okay, Miss Halliwell?" Receptionist asks.
Prue nods, "Yeah, uh, that was my tooth. I'm having a really, really bad day because it hurts a lot."
"Let me see if I can do anything." Receptionist says.
Prue smiles, "Thanks. I mean, I really appreciate it." Prue starts to laugh. "I think that it's abscessed. I'm so sorry, I don't... My tooth has been hurting for a long..." she bursts out laughing. "Who of you guys is laughing?"
Another receptionist opens the door to a room and a woman is in there laughing her head off.
"That's just the nitrous oxide at work, Mrs. Freeman." Dentist says.
"Nitrous oxide, laughing gas? Uhh." Prue says still laughing.
Receptionist nods, "The best I can do is fit you in at 4:15."
Prue shakes her head, "No, no, no, no, that's okay. I have to go." She walks past the guy and pinches his butt. The girl pushes him.
At the mansion Angel, sleepy-eyed and tousled, opens the door. Buffy is there. He flinches at the indirect sunlight and steps back.
"Hi. Sorry about the daytime. I just ducked out of school and that's when they have it." Buffy says as she enters and sits on the sofa. "You look good. I mean, I saw you last night, but sometimes things change real quick. I mean, really quickly. Listen to me, I'm talking like Faith."
Buffy concentrates, trying to hear Angel's thoughts. "Not that she's bad to have around." She listens... nothing.
Angel looks Buffy right in the eyes, "You can't get into my mind."
"How did you-? And why not?" Buffy asks.
"It's like the mirror. The thoughts are there, but they create no reflection in you." Angel says. "You got your "aspect of the demon.""
Buffy nods, "Yeah. Giles doesn't know how long it's going to last, but it's okay. A little headachy, but..."
Angel nods, "Buffy, be careful with this gift. A lot of things that seem good and strong and powerful... they can be painful."
"Like, say, immortality?" Buffy asks.
Angel nods, "Exactly. I'm dying to get rid of that."
Buffy laughs, "Funny."
"I'm a funny guy." Angel says.
At the Manor Cole opens the door and Prue comes in the front door. Cole walks past her and she stops.
"Ohh..." Prue says as she closes the door.
"Are you okay?" Phoebe asks.
Prue nods, "Whoa, I haven't felt anything like that since Andy was alive."
"Anything like what?" Phoebe asks.
Prue smiles, "Spinning into infinity. You know, that headlong spiral that steals your breath and stops your heart."
"Prue, what the hell are you talking about?" Phoebe asks.
"Falling in love." Prue says.
Phoebe frowns, "Falling in love? Prue, I just got dumped, okay, I'm trying to experience a break up here. Who's falling in love?"
"Cole." Prue says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Okay, you're so off track."
Prue smiles, "Oh! Oh! Wait, I felt that too. Your heart just jumped, and I felt it. You're falling in love too." She grins as she and Phoebe walk into the kitchen where Leo and Piper are.
"We've got a problem. Prue cast a spell to remove Vince's pain." Phoebe says.
"Who's Vince?" Piper asks.
"The shut-in. But I think, and call it a hunch, that it backfired and made Prue an empath." Phoebe says.
"What kind of hunch?" Leo asks.
Phoebe pinches Piper and Prue feels it too.
"Ow!" Prue and Piper says.
Piper pinches Phoebe.
"Ooh!" Prue and Phoebe says.
"Uh-oh." Piper says.
Prue nods, "Oh, okay, I don't really know how it happened. Alright, all I was trying to do was help an innocent. What is that I'm feeling?" She looks to Leo. "You. You're feeling fear. Spill it."
Leo sighs, "I-I'm afraid that you're in danger. You weren't meant to receive this gift, you can't handle it."
Prue shakes her head, "No, okay, you're looking at it all wrong. Okay, I was guided to Vince, remember? Maybe I was meant to have this gift."
"But Prue, you're not an empath, you're just a witch." Piper says.
Prue nods, "Right, a witch who's power comes from her emotions. Alright, look. I-I-I was looking for a power boost to fight Belthazor, maybe this is it. Will you guys please stop being so negative?"
"We didn't say anything." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yeah, but I can feel all of your-"
The TV in the kitchen blows up. Piper screams.
"What was that?" Leo asks.
Prue sighs, "I think I did it. It's just all your doubts are screaming in my head. I-I've gotta get control of this."
"In the Book Of Shadows, maybe there's something about empaths." Pheobe says as she starts to head upstairs.
"Where are you going?" Prue asks.
"To help you." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yeah, but you're dying to see Cole."
"Stop that. I did not say that." Phoebe says.
Prue sighs, "Phoebe, go to him. Alright, tell him what's in your heart. I think you'll find him receptive."
Phoebe shakes her head, "Prue, I can't, I need to stay here with you. Do you really think he'll be receptive?"
Prue smiles, "Yes. Now go get your man. He wants you."
Phoebe hugs Prue and leaves. Prue, Piper and Leo walk out of the kitchen.
"We'll help you out." Leo says.
Prue shakes her head, "No, no, no, I'll hit the book alone. Your guys' couple issues are really starting to hurt my head."
"Wait, we have couple issues?" Piper asks.
Prue points to Leo, "Resentment," she points to Piper, "denial. Be nice." She goes upstairs.
At Gateway High in the library the whole group is there. Trying to absorb new info.
"She can read our mind? Our every impulse and fantasy?" Xander asks.
Buffy nods, "Every one."
'Oh god.' Xander thinks.
'I don't see what this has to do with me.' Cordelia thinks.
"I don't see what this has to do with me." Cordelia says.
Willow nods, "Well, I think it's good. Right? I mean, you enjoy your other Slayer and Charmed powers."
"Yeah! It'll be fun. Did you see Nancy Doyle's face in English class?" Buffy says.
'She's hardly even human any more. How can I be her friend now? She doesn't need me.' Willow thinks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, I need you! I do."
"Okay, who are you talking to? Because you are just so creepy right now." Cordelia says.
"Well, there must be some precedent for this sort of occurrence. I'll start researching it." Giles says.
'I am my thoughts. If they exist in her, Buffy contains everything that is me and she becomes me. I cease to exist.' Oz thinks.
"Huh." Oz says.
'What am I going to do? I think about sex all the time. Sex. Help. Four times five is thirty. Five times six is thirty-two... Naked girls. Naked women. Naked Buffy. Oh, stop me.' Xander thinks.
Buffy frowns, "Xander, is that all you think about?"
"Actually...? Bye." Xander says as he almost runs out of the room.
Giles nods, "Xander has just illustrated something. Chances are, you're all going to find yourself thinking whatever you least want Buffy to hear. It's a matter, of course, of mental discipline..."
"What's it like, Buffy?" Willow asks.
Buffy shrugs, "Oh, Will, it's... weird. And please, don't think I don't need you, because I really want to share this. It's... like all these doors opening into all these little worlds and I can just walk in."
'She knows so much. She knows what Oz is thinking. I never know that. Before long she'll know him better than I do...' Willow thinks.
Buffy sighs, "Willow... don't think that."
"I can't help it!" Willow says.
'No one else exists either. Buffy is all of us. We think, therefore she is.' Oz thnks.
"I'm sorry, Buffy. I just can't..." Willow says as gets up to go.
Oz rises also, focused on Willow. "If you don't need me, I'm gonna follow the redhead."
Buffy nods, "Okay."
Willow and Oz head out the library door leaving Buffy alone with Giles and Cordelia.
"Well, I guess I won't write that book "Win Friends Through Telepathy."" Buffy says.
'Whatever. I wonder when I can go.' Cordelia thinks.
Cordelia nods, "Whatever. Can I go?"
Buffy sighs, "You know what? You stay. I'll go. I'm getting a headache." She turns and walks out of the library toward the cafeteria. Among others heading to the cafeteria: Mrs. Beach, Freddy, Nancy. The hallway is full of people doing completely ordinary things. Some look happy. Most look blank. It's impossible to pair the thoughts with their owners... it's as if the thoughts are in the air.
'She is so hot.'
'I swear I will scream from boredom.'
'No one's ever going to love me.'
'What if I never get breasts?'
'I can't believe the test is today.'
'Get rid of the students, it's that easy.'
'What if I'm the last virgin in the world?'
Buffy's face reflects the building confusion and pain. She rubs her forehead, and actually stumbles as she walks.
At the Manor Prue is crouched down in the basement holding her head. She can feel everyone's pain. Piper and Leo come down the stairs.
"Prue? What's the matter? What are you doing in the basement?" Piper says.
Prue stands up. She has tears in her eyes. "I'm just trying to escape the emotions, they're-they're-they're everywhere. I can't get away."
Leo frowns, "What do you mean?"
Prue shakes her head, "It's not just you and Piper, I-I-I'm picking up things from other people's houses. They're, this people and they're in my head and they're in my heart and it just hurts." Piper moves towards her and Prue backs into a corner. "No, just stay away, Piper, no contact."
"Okay." Piper says
Prue sits in the corner and cries. "God, it is just so hard to concentrate, to even talk, I just want it to go away. I feel like it's gonna-"
The light breaks and the roof of the basement cracks.
"What was that?" Piper asks.
Leo nods, "Empathic ability. The more she feels, the more powerful she becomes."
Piper frowns, "Alright, this is a gift, we are returning it. It was not meant for you. Come on, we're gonna find this Vince guy. Come on." They help her up. "I know, I know, you're gonna be okay."
At Gateway High Buffy stands a little unsteadily in line as the lunch lady plops unappetizing food onto students' plates.
'I hate my body.'
'He is so cute I can't even look at him.'
'Am I normal?'
'When am I ever going to need to know algebra?'
Buffy stands there. Eventually Jonathan addresses her, "Are you through with the potatoes?"
Startled, Buffy looks at him.
'She doesn't even know I'm here.' Jonathon thinks.
Buffy moves away.
'They're all just like rats in a maze.'
'Look at everyone, they think this matters.'
'If I stand in just the right place I can sort of see into the armhole of her top.'
Buffy moves automatically down the line to get her dessert.
'He has the cutest butt.'
'If I'm not valedictorian I'm going to die.'
'I want her, I can't have her, I hate her.'
Buffy, dazed, walks toward a table. It's impossible to pick out any one thought anymore... it's cacophony. Buffy sways. Then the cacophony fades. All the noise of the room fades away, and one voice sounds alone. It's whispery, harsh and distorted. It could be male or female, and it's definitely crazy.
'This time tomorrow, I kill you all.'
Buffy stands in the middle of the room, holding her tray, looking around. People move and talk. Buffy sways and drops her tray. It lands with a crash and food spatters. Students begin to applaud and hoot. Buffy reaches out, grabs the nearest arm, swings a student around, face-to-face.
"Hey!" Student says. 'She's gone nuts." He thinks.
Buffy lets him go, grabs someone else.
'Wow, she DOES have a violent streak.'
Buffy spins, grabs Jonathon.
'She touched me.' Jonathon thinks.
'I hate being here.'
'I bet she's done it lots of times.'
'He's such a show-off.'
'Everyone's staring at my hair.'
'I hate him.'
'Didn't she wear that skirt yesterday?'
Buffy pushes Jonathan away, but keeps turning in place, searching with her eyes.
Most of the faces are staring back at her, swim in the front of her.
Buffy eyes close and she drops to the floor. She's out cold.
The building where Vince lived, Police are there. Piper and Leo wait outside for Phoebe. A cab pulls up and Phoebe gets out.
"Phoebe, where were you when we called?" Piper asks.
"Cole's." Phoebe says.
Piper nods, "You could've changed. Did you...?"
Phoebe smiles, "Uh-huh."
"Was he...?" Piper asks.
Phoebe smiles, "Uh-huh!"
"Okay, can we talk about this later?" Leo asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, where's Prue?"
Piper sighs, "Waiting in the car."
The paramedics push a stretcher with a body on it past them.
"Oh, this does not look good." Phoebe says.
At Gateway High Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander. Cordelia looking down at Buffy.
'I think she's waking up.'
'She's okay.'
'Thank goodness.'
'Her eyes are opening.'
'I'm cold.'
Buffy sits up with Giles' help. She notices she's outside.
"Are you all right?" Giles asks.
"I told them not to move you. They probably severed your spinal cord." Cordelia says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I'm okay."
Giles nods, "Buffy—"
"Really, I am. Listen. There's a killer in the cafeteria." Buffy says.
Xander nods, "I've been saying for years that the lunch lady's going to do us all in with that mulligan stew. I mean, what the hell is a mulligan?"
"Someone was thinking it. "This time tomorrow, I kill you all." I have to find them." Buffy says.
"You didn't recognize the voice?" Giles asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No."
Willow nods, "Boy or girl?"
"I don't know. It was so full of... anger and pain, it was hardly human." Buffy says.
Buffy gets up and starts walking toward the school. As she gets closer to the building, the cacophony starts building in her head. She stumbles.
Giles catches her, steers her farther away. The noise fades. "You can't."
"I have to find them." Buffy says.
"Are you sure they meant it?" Oz asks.
Xander nods, "Yeah. I mean, who hasn't just idly thought about taking out the whole place with a semi-automatic? I said idly."
Buffy nods, "I know the difference. He, she, whoever, they meant it. They're going to do it."
'How horrible.'
'Who could it be?'
'She looks so tired.'
'I bet it was Hogan.'
'I'm not getting any warmer.'
"Shut up!" Buffy says as her friends recoil. Buffy holds her head. "I'm sorry. I just mean... stop thinking so loud... or so much..."
Giles nods, "You have to go home, Buffy. I'll take you home."
Buffy nods, "Yeah, okay. But, you guys, you have to do this. Go back in there, make a list, everyone in the cafeteria. We've got to find the killer before lunch tomorrow!"
Willow nods, "We'll do it, Buffy. A list of all the students."
"Nancy was there. She's scary. Teachers too. Mr. Beach thought something about getting rid of us..." Buffy says.
"Come on." Giles says.
Willow leads the others back to the school as Buffy and Giles walk slowly toward his car parked at the edge of the triangle. She leans on his arm slightly.
"I can't shut it out, Giles. I mean, it's like this... invasion of my head - strangers walking around in there. Look at this, I can't even be around people. Not that they're clamoring to be near me now anyway. Even you." Buffy says.
Giles sighs, "I'm sorry, Buffy. It's hard for all of us. But I am looking for a way to help."
Buffy nods, "I'm going to be okay, aren't I? You know, even if you can't get rid of it?"
"You'll be fine. I promise." Giles says.
'If it doesn't go away, she'll go insane.' Giles thinks.
Buffy stops and stares at him.
At the building where Prue found vince Piper, Phoebe and Leo are walking up the stairs.
"Cole said that Vince never called." Phoebe says.
"I'm starting to smell a demon." Piper says.
Leo nods, "If you're right, it would explain why the empathic gift didn't kill him."
Piper nods, "I think we should stop calling this a gift."
"Okay, so how did the demon, formally known as Vince, become empathic anyway?" Phoebe asks.
"Well, I'm guessing he got the power from a true empath. It would act like a curse on the demon, make him feel the pain that he inflicts." Leo says.
They walk in the room and Phoebe has a premonition of Vince killing people.
"Phoebe? Okay, come on." Piper says.
They walk back outside.
"Okay, we're definitely right about the demon theory." Phoebe says.
Piper frowns, "That was a premonition? But you didn't touch anything."
"This room must be dripping with psychic remnants." Leo says.
"Well, what did you see?" Piper asks.
Phoebe nods, "Uh, murders and lots of them. Like a big demon killing spree."
"Just random?" Piper asks.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, more like a mission."
Leo nods, "Could be he's looking for revenge on the empath who cursed him."
"Well, if we're gonna help Prue, then we gotta get there first. What was the last murder you saw?" Piper says.
"A man at a mental hospital. Crest Hills. But I don't know if it happened already." Phoebe says.
Piper nods, "Well, there's only one way to find out."
At Crest Hills Psychiatric Hospital. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and Leo are there. Phoebe is signing in.
"And who are you here to visit today?" Nurse asks.
Phoebe smiles, "Um, we came to visit our father."
"What's his name?" Nurse asks.
"Dad?" Phoebe says.
Nurse frowns, "This is a psychiatric facility. We can't very well let every-"
Piper nods, "Okay." She freezes the nurse.
"This place is a mine field for you, you should wait here." Leo says to Prue.
Prue shakes her head, "No, if Vince comes in I need to be there to reverse the spell."
They walk into a room where all the patients are.
"That looks like the guy from my premonition." Phoebe says as Leo sits Prue down on a chair. Phoebe and Piper go over to Father Thomas. "Hi, excuse me, um, I know this is probably gonna sound crazy but are you an empath?"
Father Thomas shakes his head, "You people don't have to humour me, you know. I know you don't believe me."
Piper smiles, "No, uh, we're not doctors or patients, we're, we're witches. And we're looking for the empath who cursed a demon."
"I was working as a priest, helping people when it came after me." Father Thomas says.
Piper nods, "You mean Vince?"
Father Thomas nods, "Is that what it calls itself? Vinceres is a demonic assassin. Timeless, unstoppable."
"But you stopped him. How?" Piper says.
"When the demon took my throat to kill me, I laid my hands on him as if to heal him." Father Thomas says.
Phoebe nods, "And you gave him your power."
Father Thomas nods, "Yes, I didn't know if I could but I did. I cursed Vinceres and myself."
"How did you curse yourself?" Piper asks.
"I'm staring at eternity on earth with no gift and no reason to be." Father Thomas says.
Piper nods, "Well, I can't help you with the eternity part but I can give you a reason to be now."
Father Thomas nods, "Yeah, I know, I know, I read the paper. We have to get to that building and safely relocate the demon."
Phoebe shakes her head, "Uh, it's funny you should mention that because when Prue met Vinceres she thought that he was a shut-in and..."
"You didn't cast a spell?" Father Thomas asks.
Piper sighs, "She did but..."
Father Thomas shakes his head, "I gave up everything to prevent that beast from killing again. If it's free you can't stop it." Prue feels his anger and furniture starts to move. "Nobody can."
The whole room starts shaking and the patients run around.
"I can't take it!" A patient says.
"In the walls! Can't you hear it?" Another patient says.
Prue grabs her head in pain.
At the Manor Buffy stands at her bedroom window, looking out. She is hearing what people are thinking from clear across the street now.
"Look at him smiling, like he thinks I don't know about her..."
"She doesn't know a thing. I can't believe I'm getting away with this."
"I should've just quit. No job's worth that crap."
"One more drink. That'll do it. Just one more and I can sleep..."
Buffy shudders. She closes the window and the curtain.
"Twenty years with that company."
"Does he think I can't smell her perfume?"
"It's just a little drink."
"He shouldn't even be the boss."
"The bottle's almost empty anyway..."
Buffy curls up on the bed, pulls the pillow over her head.
"Please make it stop."
Buffy sits up suddenly, "Prue?"
In the basement Prue's crouched down in the corner shaking.
Buffy walks down the steps her head pounding from all of the voices. "Prue?"
"Go away!" Prue says.
"Prue, I know how you feel." Buffy says.
Father Thomas and Leo walk down the stairs.
"Go away!" Prue says again.
Father Thomas nods, "I know how you feel. Your instinct is to pull away. Don't. Try to find an inner calm." He looks to Buffy. "I don't know much about Telepathy but I would say the feeling quite similar."
Buffy simply nods.
Prue shakes her head, "I can't. The pain."
Father Thomas nods, "You both are carrying a cross either of you were never meant to bear. I'm sorry for the both of you."
Prue shakes her head, "Your sorrow, I can't, I can't take it. Please..."
Buffy sits down all the thoughts entering her mind. She closes her eyes and tries to find her inner calm, it's difficult.
"You both have been fighting what you feel and hear, that's natural and it's wrong. To find your strength as an empath, you must embrace your emotion." Father Thomas looks at Buffy. "And as a telepath you likely have to embrace your emotion. Focus on me, the feelings and thoughts are ripping you both apart because you're fighting them like the demon did. A demon can't handle human emotions, you can. Only some demons are even telepathic."
Father Thomas nods, "Prue, Buffy take my hands." Prue and Buffy slowly take his hands. "My power to ease human suffering lay in my hands. That's how I cursed the demon. You must channel the empathic and telepathic gifts into your powers."
"I can't. I can't control my power." Prue says.
"I don't think I can not right now." Buffy says.
Father Thomas nods, "Prue, Buffy, you can do it. You both have a once in a life time opportunity to feel the world's emotions and thoughts. All it means to be human. The good and the bad. Don't be afraid."
Upstairs Vinceres has Phoebe by the throat. "Just tell me where the empath is and I won't kill you."
Buffy, Prue, Leo and Father Thomas walk in.
"You want him? Come and get him." Prue says.
Buffy closes her eyes and concentrates on Prue channeling the telepathic thoughts through her augmentation power.
Prue uses her power and he flies against the wall.
"How'd you do that?" Vinceres asks
Prue smiles, "If you want the empath, you're gonna have to go through us." She looks to Piper and Phoebe, "Stay back. This is our fight. You ready Buffy?"
Buffy nods, "Ready, Prue." She concentrates on Prue.
Prue can feel the power boost from Buffy as she jumps up and kicks Vince. She blocks his punches. She holds onto the stair railing, walks on the wall and jumps over the railing, kicking Vince in the face.
"You can't hurt me, witch. I can handle your powers." Vince says as he grabs Prue around the neck and lifts her off the ground. She forces his hand away from her neck and flips over him. She blocks his punches and pushes him on the floor. "I can handle your powers."
Prue smiles, "What about pain? Human pain. Or thoughts? Human thoughts." She looks to Buffy who nods. She astral projects and astral Prue jumps into him.
Buffy projects all the telepathic thoughts at Prue who uses them to fuel her astral form along with all the empathic feelings she's receiving.
Vinceres starts yelling and then explodes.
Prue looks at astral Prue and astral Prue smiles. She is no longer an empath.
Piper and Phoebe go over to her.
"So you're not an empath anymore." Piper says.
Prue nods, "I'm sorry. I was hoping that we could return your gift."
Father Thomas smiles, "But you did. It appears I have the ability to understand what people are feeling even without a magic assist."
"You two kicked ass." Phoebe says.
Prue smiles as she looks at Buffy, "We did, didn't we?"
Just then Buffy collapses.
The next morning Buffy is curled on the bed, hands clamped over her ears, every muscle tense and tortured. Prue, Phoebe and Giles look in on her from the doorway. Buffy moans.
"I can't stand this. I keep wondering if I'm hurting her, with my thoughts." Prue says.
Giles shakes his head, "You're not. Not anymore. She can't pick one thought out of the... din."
Phoebe nods, "I'd like to know why the telepathy didn't leave her when the empathy left Prue."
Giles sighs, "Because she received the telepathy a different way than Prue received the empathy. She was infected, Prue you were cursed. When you both vanquished the demon you were able to remove the curse. Buffy is still infected. It surprises me she was able to hold out long enough to help you with the demon."
Downstairs Piper runs in through the front door. She holds a vial, the liquid inside glows. "I got it."
A moment later Piper tries to lift Buffy into a sitting position on the bed.
Buffy fights Piper, weakly. "No. No!"
"It's going to help, Buffy." Piper says.
Buffy opens her eyes. "Who?" She doesn't know seem to recognize her cousin.
Piper holds the glowing vial of liquid to Buffy's mouth, forces some into her. Then she settles her in the bed and kisses her lightly on the forehead. But as she stands up, Buffy gasps and convulses. Piper grabs her, holds her, trying to control her flailing limbs. "Prue!"
Sometime later Piper sits beside the motionless Buffy, holding her hand. Prue, Phoebe and Giles stand nearby. Buffy opens her eyes.
"Thank God." Prue, Piper and Phoebe says.
"Buffy?" Prue asks. Buffy looks at Prue. Absolutely blank. Until... "Prue?"
"Are you all right? Do you hear thoughts?" Phoebe asks.
Buffy tries to read their thoughts and then smiles, "No..." She looks to Giles, "Did you find the killer?"
At Gateway High in the school newspaper office Freddy sits at his desk, writing. The door opens. Willow, Xander, Oz and Cordelia enter.
Freddy starts to stand up, then drops back into his chair - caught. "Okay, Oz. You got me. What are your friends going to do? Hold me down?"
"You better believe it, Buster. You can't threaten a big murder without getting us pretty darn ticked." Willow says.
Freddy frowns, "Murder? What murder? You're not here about the review?"
"The review?" Oz asks.
Freddy hands a paper to Oz. "Last Thursday."
"'Dingoes Ate My Baby' play their instruments as if they had plump Polish sausages taped to their fingers..." Oz reads.
"Sorry, man." Freddy says.
Oz shakes his head, "No. It's fair."
"I get a lot of hate mail. I sorta figured you were bringing yours personally." Freddy says as he indicates a box.
Cordelia perches on the edge of the desk and starts idly opening and reading the mail from the in-box.
"Hey, if you happen to find a tasteful announcement about me from Larry –" Xander says.
Willow frowns, "Xander. We have to figure this out."
"Oh, we have no shot. The killer could be anyone. We lose." Cordelia says.
"We still have a few minutes." Buffy says from the doorway.
"Buffy!" Willow says excited.
"You're okay! Can you hear thoughts?" Xander asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "No."
Xander nods, "And just when I wasn't thinking about sex."
"Okay. Here's the new plan. We try to get Snyder to evacuate the school and just hope our bad guy isn't waiting outside with—" Buffy says.
"By this time tomorrow, you'll all know what I've done." Cordelia reads. Slowly, everyone turns and stares at Cordelia. "...I'm sure you understand that I had to do it, and that although death is never easy, it is the only way." She tosses the letter aside. "God, doesn't anyone write in to praise the cheerleaders? We are so unsung."
Willow scrambles for the discarded letter. Looks at the signature. "Jonathan. Ooh. I had him in my grasps, the slippery weasel."
Buffy nods, "Split up. Find him."
Moments later out in the fountain courtyard Buffy pushes her way through the between-class crowd. She looks around frantically. She looks up and sees the glint of sunlight off metal, a gun muzzle in the tower! She runs up the exterior staircase. Buffy reaches the second level and she jumps up, grabs the eaves and, using super-human Slayer strength and dexterity, she flips herself over onto the roof.
Inside the tower Jonathan is putting the rifle together. The muzzle protrudes over the edge of the tower.
Buffy runs on the roof. She reaches the edge of the tower and jumps crashing through into the tower. Buffy lands and rolls right into the line of fire of the rifle.
"Get away from me!" Jonathan says.
Buffy comes up slow, eyes on him. "Okay, Jonathan, you wanna point that somewhere else?"
"You better not try and stop me." Jonathan says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No. No stopping. I'm just here for the view. Hey look, city hall."
"Go away." Jonathan says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Never gonna happen."
"You think I won't use this?" Jonathan asks.
Buffy shrugs, "I don't know, Jonathan, I'm just –"
"Stop doing that!" Jonathan says.
"Doing what?" Buffy asks.
Stop saying my name like we're friends. We're not friends. You all think I'm an idiot. A short idiot." Jonathan says.
Buffy sighs, "I don't." Jonathan's hands tighten on the gun. He's getting angry. "I don't think about you much at all. Most people here don't. Bugs you, doesn't it? You've got all this pain, all these feelings and nobody's paying attention."
"You think I just want attention?" Jonathan says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No, I think you're in the bell tower with a high powered rifle because you want to blend in. Believe it or not, Jonathan, I understand. About the pain."
"Oh, right. 'Cause the burden of being beautiful and athletic, that's a crippler." Jonathan says.
Buffy nods, "I'm sorry, I was wrong. You are an idiot." This stops him. "My life happens very occasionally to suck beyond the telling of it. More than I can stand sometimes. And not just me. Every single person down there is ignoring your pain because they're way too busy with their own. The beautiful ones, the popular ones, the guys that pick on you... everyone."
Buffy comes around to look down at the courtyard. He looks as well, his grip on the gun loosening. "If you could hear what they're feeling - the confusion, the loneliness... It looks quiet down there. It's not. It's deafening." They stand side by side for a moment, looking down. "You know I could have taken the gun by now."
"I know." Jonathan says.
Buffy holds out her hand, "Rather do it this way."
Slowly, Jonathon hands her the gun. Her hand is shaking a little as she takes it and unloads it. "I just wanted it to stop."
Buffy nods, "Well, mass murder is not actually doctor recommended for this kind of pain. And by the way, prison? A lot like high school, only instead of noogies –"
Jonathan frowns, "What are you talking about?"
"Actions having consequences, stuff like that –" Buffy says.
"I wouldn't ever hurt anybody. I came up here to kill myself." Jonathan says.
In the kitchen Xander sneaks in, heads right for the Jell-O. He's just scooping out a big wobbly spoonful when he glances to one side and sees the Lunch Lady, pouring powder from an enormous container marked "RAT POISON" into the mulligan stew. They stand there for a second and stare at each other. Boy with Jell-O. Woman with rat poison. Both caught. Finally it occurs to both of them that the thing she was caught doing was worse than what he was caught doing. She lunges for Xander and he bolts back into the cafeteria.
By now the place is filling with people. Some of them have already loaded their trays with stew.
"Rat poison! Rat poison!" Xander says and everyone stares at him. At one table, diners are already dipping their utensils into the stew. Xander overturns the table. Stew flies! "Drop your spoons! Step away from the spoons!"
The Lunch Lady screams out of the kitchen, holding a huge cleaver and lunging for Xander. He yelps and runs, his feet slipping in the spilled stew. He falls. The Lunch Lady is closing in on him when Buffy steps right in front of her.
"Okay, let's calm down." Buffy says.
"Vermin you're all vermin... you come in and you eat and you eat! Filth!" Lunch Lady says.
Buffy nods, "I don't see this being settled with logic."
The Lunch Lady lunges at her with the cleaver. Buffy knocks it aside with her bare hand, hitting the flat of the blade. The woman strikes again and Buffy kicks-and-punches, knocking the Lunch Lady backwards into tables and chairs and unconsciousness.
That evening at Payson's. Buffy, Prue and Phoebe walk up to the bar.
"Hey." Prue says.
Piper smiles, "Hey."
"You know, I can not wait for this Novocain to wear off." Prue says as she sticks out her tongue. "Can you unfreeze my tongue?"
"You're lucky that dentist even saw you." Piper says.
Phoebe nods, "Okay, there's one thing I don't get. How did you and Buffy vanquish Vinceres?"
Prue smiles, "Well, it was something that Father Thomas said to us. Vinceres was trying to fight off the feelings of an empath because demons can not handle human emotion."
Buffy nods, "And so I channeled all the telepathic thoughts into my augmentation power. And then augmented Prue."
"And so Prue, you astral projected into his body." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yes, carrying the emotional baggage of half of the city as well as all the telepathic thoughts Buffy was receiving. We forced him to feel and hear everything and he couldn't take it."
Leo comes up to them. "Hey."
"Hey." Buffy says.
Leo nods, "I just left Father Thomas. I got the connections at the archdiocese. They're gonna let him return to his church."
Piper smiles, "Thank you. You're an angel."
"Well, not technically." Leo says.
"Eww." Prue and Buffy says.
"So I guess the only other question is who sent the signs that lead Prue to the demon? And who sent the demons after Buffy?" Phoebe asks.
Prue nods, "Well, probably the triad. Or Belthazor, which means we have to be careful the next time we get a sign."
Buffy nods in agreement.
Piper nods, "Yeah, but Prue, Buffy, you two got quite a power boost there. Are you gonna miss it?"
Buffy nods, "A little. Makes me want to work for it though."
Prue nods, "Yeah, but we did get to stop an unstoppable demon. Got a little taste of what my future powers are gonna be like. I'm on the right path. Ooh, speaking of paths... what's up with you and your Cole dependency? Where do you guys stand?"
"Ohh, I have no idea. I think I'm gonna go find out right now. Yeah." Phoebe says.
Two days later Students stream toward the school. Among them, Willow and Buffy, carrying books.
Giles falls into step with them. "Good morning."
"Hi, Giles. Oh, I should get to the yearbook office. I'm going to give them the murderer questionnaires. They really are good reading." Willow says and she heads off.
Buffy and Giles walk on together. "How are you?" Giles asks.
Buffy smiles, "Lovin' the quiet. Nobody in here but me."
"And Jonathan? How is he doing?" Giles asks.
Buffy sighs, "Pretty crappy. His parents are freaking, he's suspended, and toting a piece to school not exactly earning him a place with the 'in' crowd. But I think he's dealing."
Giles nods, "It's good of you to check up on him."
"It's nice to be able to help someone in a non-slaying or Charmed capacity. But he's starting to get that look, like he's gonna ask me to the prom." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Well, you know, it would probably help his self esteem if –"
"What am I, Saint Buffy? He's like three feet tall." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Good to see you've emerged from your psychic adventure more or less intact. How's Prue?"
Buffy smiles, "She's doing good."