Q/A: Randyzoopurple - Sorry Randy, Riley is not being skipped. Even if I wanted to I'm already writing season 5. I would have to go and rewrite everything in season 4 to exclude Riley. So the season 4/5 pairing of Buffy/Riley is still happening. As I posted in my previous Q/A he won't be staying. In fact I have his leaving tied partially into a plot point that involves Buffy herself.
Chapter 71: Exit Strategy
Buffy flames in with Prue into the Mausoleum.
"Phoebe? Phoebe, are you in here?" Prue asks and they see Phoebe asleep next to a crypt. "Hey, sweetie, wake up."
Phoebe wakes up. "Cole?"
Buffy shakes her head, "No, it's just us."
Prue nods, "Come on, let's go home."
"No, I have to wait here for Cole." Phoebe says.
Prue sighs, "Phoebe, you can't just wait here, alright. He will know where to find you. Come on."
Phoebe stands up. "I don't understand. He was supposed to go back under so that they wouldn't be suspicious of him, but it's been over a week."
Buffy nods, "He probably just hasn't found a safe way out yet, that's all."
"But what if he can't? What is the brotherhood found him out?" Phoebe asks.
"Look, even if they did, he would put some sort of a spin on it to, you know, get out of it. Come on, you know Cole, he knows what he's doing. You don't make demon of the century without having a few tricks up your sleeve." Prue says.
"I just hope he's okay." Phoebe says.
Buffy holds out her hands and Phoebe and Prue latch on before she flames out.
In the kitchen at the Manor Piper is sitting at the table. She pours dozens of books and and papers from a box onto the table, and starts looking through them. "Okay."
Leo walks in holding a French/English dictionary. "Oú est l' tour Eiffel. That is 'Where is the Eiffel Tower?'"
"In my dreams if we don't get you a passport." Piper says.
"Honey, we don't need a passport to honeymoon in Paris. With a blink of an orb, we can be sipping champagne at the Champs Sel Seasay." Leo says.
Piper giggles. "Yes, as romantic as you make that sound, I would rather fly Air France, than Air Leo. Just like every other normal newlywed."
"Well, great, except that we're not." Leo says.
"Well, a passport for you could change all that, if I could just find... voila! Birth certificate." Piper says and she holds it up.
Leo frowns, "Where did you get that?"
"From Dan's old file, the one he put together when he was suspicious of you. You remember him, don't ya?" Piper says.
"Let's see, perfect hair, cleft chin, tried to steal you away from me? Vaguely, vaguely." Leo says and snatches the birth certificate off of Piper. "This isn't gonna work, I was born in 1924."
Piper shakes her head, "No, you weren't." She snatches it back. "Okay, off-white background, black ink... Little trick I learned in high school."
"You're gonna forge my birth certificate." Leo says.
"No. Just going to change one little number." Piper says as she white outs the number. "So, 1924 becomes 1974. And just like that, you are fifty years younger." She writes in the seven. "Wait a minute, that makes you 25. That's younger than me. Maybe I should change another number."
"Piper, this is completely illegal." Leo says.
Piper sighs, "Yeah? Well, so is marrying a dead guy, okay?" She holds up his death certificate. "Let's not get technical now."
Buffy and Prue walks in.
"Morning. What's up?" Prue asks.
"Well, probably three to five years jail if we're lucky." Leo says.
Buffy and Prue look at each other, confused.
"Never mind. Were you up late working again?" Piper says.
Prue shakes her head, "No, we were looking for Phoebe. Three guesses where she was."
"Hmm, the mausoleum?" Piper asks.
Buffy nods, "Yeah, it's become like her second home."
"Still no word from Cole?" Leo asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No, and you know what? You would think he could take three lousy seconds just to shimmer and let all of us know that he's okay."
"Maybe he can't, maybe he's afraid he'll get caught." Leo says.
"Maybe he already has." Piper says.
Later Phoebe runs down the stairs. "Prue? Buffy?
Buffy and Prue runs in.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Prue asks.
"Cole's in trouble, I need your help." Phoebe says.
Buffy nods, "Anything."
"We need to scry for a witch, fast." Phoebe says.
"Alright." Prue says and they run up the stairs.
An hour later Prue, Buffy and Phoebe walk in to a Wicca shop. They look around.
"Anything?" Phoebe asks.
Prue shakes her head, "No."
"Ditto." Buffy says.
"Do you think maybe we scryed for the wrong witch?" Phoebe asks.
"I don't think so." Prue says.
Buffy sees burnt curtains and black marks on the wall. "Guys."
Phoebe frowns, "Scorch marks. Oh my god, do you think she's dead?"
"Unfortunately, I don't know what else to think." Phoebe says.
"That doesn't make any sense. Cole said she wouldn't get hurt." Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "Yeah, well, somebody sure fired an energy ball in here."
"Somebody like Cole, you mean?" Phoebe asks.
Prue shakes her head, "Phoebe, we're not saying that it was Cole, okay? All that we're telling you is what we see, what we all see. For what it's worth, I don't think it was Cole."
"I don't think it was either," Buffy says.
Phoebe smiles, "Thank you."
"Alright, but if he didn't do it, who did?" Prue asks.
"Well, Cole said that he thought he was being set up by his mentor. So maybe he is, maybe they're trying to frame him." Phoebe says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Why?"
"I don't know, but if it's true, that means his cover's blown and we gotta get him outta there." Phoebe says.
Prue nods, "Yeah."
Leo orbs in.
"What are you doing here?" Phoebe asks.
"Looking for you. The Elders called me because a powerful amulet has been stolen." Leo says.
Buffy nods, "Yeah, we know."
"You do?" Leo asks.
Prue nods, "Yes, and the witch that had it has been killed."
"It's supposed to protect her, that's why they gave it to her. Only the most evil of demons could have had the power to take it away." Leo says.
"And why would a demon want that amulet so bad?" Phoebe asks.
"Because it's one half of an ancient charm. Whoever connects the two amulets together, more than doubles, it protects your power. With it they become invincible." Leo says.
"Oh, that certainly explains why the brotherhood wanted Cole to get it." Buffy says.
"Cole?" Leo asks.
"Forget it. Who's got the other half?" Phoebe asks.
Leo sighs, "Another witch. The amulets were divided between two local covens for safe keeping, but the bearers have always been kept secret, guarded even from them."
"Well, obviously that's why the brotherhood wants them both." Buffy says.
"Only to destroy them so good can never use them. The amulet won't protect anyone evil." Leo says.
"Alright, we need to find that other witch before they do." Prue says.
"Okay, well, Prue you go with Piper and Buffy and I can work on Cole's potion." Phoebe says.
"Yeah. Speaking of, where's Piper?" Buffy asks.
"Uh, she's at the manor recovering from a little problem we had at the passport office." Leo says.
"What problem?" Prue asks.
Leo sighs, "Uh, well, she sorta blew some of it up."
Buffy grabs Prue and Phoebes hands and flame out as Leo orbs behind them.
"Alright, I'll start scrying." Prue says as they flame into the Manor.
"I don't think it'll work. The amulet wards off magic, all magic." Leo says.
"That must be why we didn't find the first witch in time. We didn't get a read on her until after the amulet was stolen." Phoebe says.
"Okay, but what happens if we don't find her before..." Buffy says.
They hear a loud noise coming from the kitchen.
Piper is in the kitchen covered in pieces of watermelon. Prue, Phoebe, Buffy and Leo walk in.
"Piper?" Phoebe asks.
"Uh, okay, was it a demon?" Prue asks.
Piper shakes her head, "No, it was watermelon!"
"Why did you vanquish watermelon?" Buffy asks.
"I didn't vanquish watermelon. I threw it up in the air and I tried to freeze it and it exploded." Piper says and she throws her hands up in the air and a pot plant explodes. She panics and the glass on the cupboards smash.
"This is the little problem I was telling you about." Leo says.
Phoebe nods, "Okay, Piper, slowly put your hands down and no one will get hurt."
Piper puts her hands down. "Honey!"
"Sweetie, it's gonna be okay, we're gonna figure it out." Leo says and walks over to her.
"No-no-no! Don't come near me, I don't want anybody to get hurt." Piper says.
Prue nods, "Okay, put these on." Prue puts oven mitts on Piper's hands. "Maybe this will help. Put these on and... Okay, now try the teapot. Try the teapot." Piper blows up the teapot. "Whoa!" Prue quickly pushes her hands down. "Okay, okay, it wasn't that bad."
"Alright, just relax, okay, just calm down because I think your emotions are making this worse." Buffy says.
"I'm gonna go check with the Elders, and see if they know what happened to your powers." Leo says.
"Hurry!" Piper says.
Prue nods, "Hey, and ask them how we're supposed to..." Leo orbs out. "…find the second witch."
Cole shimmers in. "I know where to find her."
Phoebe smiles, "Cole."
"I didn't kill her, Phoebe. I swear." Cole says.
Phoebe goes over to him. "It's okay, I know. We believe you. You don't look so good. Are you okay?" She touches his face and he pulls her hand away.
"I'm not sure." Cole says.
"Come on." Phoebe says.
Cole and Phoebe walk into another room.
At a park seven witches are sitting in a circle, around a small fire.
"The birth and rebirth of all nature. The passing of winter and spring, we share in the life universal. Rejoice in the magical ring. I'll see you all next week. Blessed be." Jenna says.
"Blessed be." The others reply.
They all stand up. Cole looks on from the bushes near by. Tarkin shimmers in beside him. "What are you doing here?"
"Just watching your back." Tarkin says.
"Yeah, well, watching it's one thing, stabbing it's another." Cole says.
"What's the matter? Don't you trust me?" Tarkin asks.
Cole shakes his head, "I don't trust anyone."
Tarkin nods, "Never did. That's probably what made you so great. No legences, no conscience, no hesitation." All the witches leave, except one. "You know what Raynor wants. Just give it to him. You'll feel better after you kill the witch."
Jenna kneels down and starts to pack up her stuff. She hears a noise. "Who's there?" Cole comes out and changes into Belthazor. The witch stands up and holds out the amulet. "You can't hurt me."
Belthazor walks towards the witch and the protective shield from the amulet surrounds her. Belthazor reaches through the shield. Buffy, Prue, Piper and Phoebe arrive.
"Cole, don't!" Phoebe says.
"Piper, freeze him." Prue says.
Piper shakes her head, "I might blow him up."
Prue uses her power on Belthazor.
Buffy runs over to Jenna. "It's okay, we're witches too." Tarkin gets ready to throw an energy bolt. "Piper!"
Piper blows up a tree.
"Okay, that was good, that was, that-that was fine." Prue says.
"Kill them." Tarkin says.
Phoebe frowns, "No."
Belthazor throws an energy bolt at Buffy and Jenna. The amulet protects them and they are thrown into the bushes. Prue uses her power on Belthazor and he flies against a rock. Tarkin gets ready to throw an energy bolt and Prue uses her power on him. They stand up. Belthazor looks at Phoebe and then he and Tarkin shimmer out.
Back at the Manor. Prue, Piper, Phoebe and the witch walk in the living room.
"Leo!" Piper says.
"Uh, he's our Whitelighter." Prue says.
"And our brother-in-law." Phoebe says.
"Well technically cousin-in-law for me. But none of us think of me as a cousin just the littlest sister." Buffy says.
"I don't know what is up with me. Every time I try to freeze, I flame." Piper says.
"Uh, Leo!" Prue says.
Phoebe is holding her wounded arm, "I'm fine, really, it's no big deal."
"As much as I hate to say it. Phoebe, it's a huge deal, Cole tried to kill you." Buffy says.
Prue nods, "He's the demon."
Jenna nods.
"And her boyfriend." Piper says.
"We have very complicated lives." Phoebe says. "Just ask Buffy who she's dating."
Buffy rolls her eyes, "Vampire."
Jenna nods, "I'm just thrilled to meet you. I mean, I've heard of the Charmed Ones and the Charmed Slayer, of course, but I just thought I'd never dream I'd..."
"Nearly die with us? Yes, well, welcome to our lives." Phoebe says.
"You saved me, and the amulet. That's enough." Jenna says. "May I?" She looks at Phoebe's arm. "Well, the wound isn't deep. A salve would cleanse it and ease the pain. Would you allow me entrance to your herb cupboard?"
"Kitchen, she means kitchen." Prue says.
"Hmm? Oh, right, sure, follow me." Piper says as she points.
"Oh, hands down, hands down." Buffy says.
Piper and Jenna go into the kitchen.
"Come on, sit down, take it easy." Prue says.
Prue and Phoebe sit on the couch. Buffy sits on the coffee table opposite them.
"I'm fine, Prue, Buffy, really. And Cole would not try to kill anyone. He knew that the amulet would protect Buffy. He could've fired at you Prue, me or Piper but he didn't. With the other demon there, he made the only choice he could."
"And you really believe that, right?" Buffy asks.
Phoebe nods, "Yeah, I know it. I saw his eyes. They were filled with pain, not evil. Buffy, Prue, we've gotta get him outta there before it's too late."
"Alright, then we better figure out a way to finish that power stripping potion fast. Come on." Prue says.
Buffy, Prue and Phoebe walk into the kitchen. Jenna is mixing ingredients in a bowl.
"Check her out. Whipping it up like it's Tollhouse Cookies. Maybe after she fixes Phoebe she can fix me." Piper says.
"Piper, you don't need fixing." Buffy says.
"Uh, if it's taking the Elders this long to tell Leo what's wrong with me, then I definitely need fixing." Piper says.
"This will feel a little warm." Jenna says and she spreads a paste on Phoebe's wound.
"That is amazing. It doesn't hurt at all. Hey, how are you at making potions?" Phoebe asks.
"Well, what do you need?" The witch asks.
"We need to de-tox a demon." Prue says.
"Yeah, we need something called billings root." Phoebe says.
"Well, you have that. It's on the bottom shelf." Jenna says and she takes a jar out of their cupboard.
"No, that's ginger." Buffy says.
Jenna nods, "Now that's what it's called. In the old covens they called it billings root."
"Jenna, you have healed me twice." Phoebe says and hugs Jenna. "Piper, do you think you can help Jenna with the potion? Just not point at anything."
"Only one way to find out." Piper says.
Phoebe looks to Buffy, "Can I get you to flame me?"
Buffy nods, "Sure where?"
"Were going to get Cole back here. If I'm right about what I saw in his eyes, he'll go to the mausoleum." Phoebe says.
"And what if you're wrong?" Phoebe says.
"Well, then he'll be back here with his buddy to get the amulet." Piper says.
"I'm not wrong. Cole's not the enemy. He's the victim. And I'm gonna save him." Phoebe says as she takes Buffy's hand and they flame out.
Later at the mausoleum. Phoebe is pacing up and down. Buffy lays back on one of the tombs. Cole shimmers in.
"Cole. Surprised to see me?" Phoebe says.
Cole shakes his head, "I hoped but why'd you come after what I did?"
Buffy sits up, "Because you need us. Besides, it's not like you haven't tried to kill us before. A little energy ball isn't going to stop me, or Phoebe, or Prue, or…"
Cole nods, "You know, I didn't have a choice, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I know, I know, I know, it's okay. I just need to get you back to the house, get that potion and you will be safe." Phoebe says.
"It's too late for that." Cole says as he coughs.
"What do you mean?" Buffy asks.
Cole's hand changes into Belthazor's hand. His face starts to change.
"We have to hurry." Phoebe says.
"Maybe I should shimmer us there." Cole says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "You can't use your demonic powers, it's too much temptation. Buffy will flame us there."
Buffy takes Cole and Phoebe's hands and flames over to the attic in the manor.
"Hey." Phoebe says.
Cole sits in a chair.
"You look like hell." Prue says.
"You have no idea." Cole says.
"Is the potion done?" Buffy asks.
"It still has to cool and turn blood red." Jenna says.
"I'll get some ice." Piper says.
"Oh, uh, I'll help. So you don't melt it." Prue says and she and Piper walk out of the attic and down the stairs. "Well, look on the bright side, at least you got a new power. I mean, you've been bitching about it long enough."
"Yeah, well, careful what you bitch for." Piper says.
Tarkin shimmers in. Piper uses her power and breaks the pot plant.
"Uh..." Tarkin throws an energy ball at them and Prue deflects it with her power. She goes over and kicks him in the stomach, then his head, then his stomach. He flies against the wall. "Try again!"
Piper uses her power and a shelf falls on top of Prue, knocking her unconscious.
"Oops." Piper says as Tarkin gets up. "Phoebe, Buffy, help!" She hits Tarkin over the head with a vase. "Phoebe! Buffy! Phoebe, Buffy, help!" Buffy and Phoebe stands at the top of the stairs. "Watch out!" Tarkin throws an energy ball at Phoebe as Buffy throws an fireball at Tarkin and they collide in mid-air exploding. "Oh, please, please, please." She uses her power and Tarkin explodes. "I did it! I did it!"
Buffy smiles, "Very good."
"Of course I meant to freeze him." Piper says as she looks to Prue, "I don't think Prue's gonna be grateful."
Phoebe nods, "Wake her up, I've gotta get back to Cole." She turns and goes upstairs.
"Um..." Piper says.
In the attic the potion, sitting in a chalice, turns blood red.
"It's ready." Jenna says to Leo.
Raynor shimmers in and throws an energy ball at Leo. He is knocked unconscious. Jenna gasps. She turns to Raynor and holds her amulet.
"Leave her out of this, Raynor." Cole says.
"I serve with every breath, even my last." Jenna says.
"I'll have to take you up on that. But I think I'll save that pleasure for my brother." Raynor says as he throws an energy ball at Jenna. The amulet protects her, but she still gets thrown back into some boxes. She falls to the floor and the amulet falls off her neck.
Phoebe gets to the top of the stairs and tries to open the door but Raynor has blocked it. "Cole?" She bangs on the door.
"I've come to take you home." Raynor says.
"I am home." Cole says.
"Cole!" Phoebe says.
"You will be when you kill the witch. Stop fighting it, Belthazor. You're a demon. Embrace it. Let evil make you strong again, give into it." Raynor says.
"Cole? Leo?" Phoebe says before she turns and hurries back down the stairs, "Buffy!"
Buffy looks to Phoebe as she comes running down the stairs. "What?"
"Flame, attic. Now!" Phoebe says.
Buffy takes Phoebe's hands and flames out and into the attic.
"Is she really worth sacrificing your father's soul for?" Raynor asks.
"Cole, no, don't do it." Phoebe says.
Cole yells and he changes into Belthazor. He throws an energy ball at Jenna. She disappears. Raynor shimmers out.
Prue outside is awake and uses her power to open the door. She and Piper run over to Leo. Buffy and Phoebe stares at Belthazor.
"Phoebe." Belthazor says.
"What did you do to him?" Piper says.
Belthazor changes back into Cole.
"We saw what you did." Phoebe says.
Cole shakes his head, "It's not what it looks like. It wasn't..."
"Jenna is dead, and Leo is unconscious. What else could it be?" Buffy says.
"Raynor forced me, I had no choice." Cole says.
"There's always a choice, Cole." Phoebe says.
Cole sees the potion. "The potion." He reaches for it but Phoebe grabs if before he can. "Before it's too late."
"It's already too late. You killed an innocent woman. There is no turning back from that." Phoebe says.
Cole shakes his head, "I didn't wanna kill her. You've gotta understand that, I can still be good."
"There's nothing good in you anymore." Phoebe says.
Buffy sighs, "Maybe there never was. You have to read the spell to activate the amulets, right? I mean, Cole, maybe that was your plan all along, to get the book."
"But evil can't use the amulets or the book." Piper says.
"He could've if we'd stripped his powers. Is that why you wanted the potion, Cole? So you could get the spell and use the amulets against us?" Phoebe says.
"Phoebe, you've gotta believe me." Cole says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I think she's believed you one too many times. I think we all have."
Cole frowns, "Stay out of this! This is between me and her."
Buffy steps in front of Phoebe and powers up a fireball, "Shall we go at it, Cole?"
Phoebe steps from behind Buffy, "There's nothing between us anymore."
"Phoebe, don't let Raynor take this away from us, don't let him win." Cole says.
"Raynor didn't set you up, you set me up. What am I supposed to do?" Phoebe says.
"Please, save me." Cole says.
"Save yourself." Phoebe says and throws the potion on the floor.
Cole shimmers out.
Later in the living room Piper is repotting the plant.
Buffy and Prue walks in.
"Sorry about knocking you out. Nothing personal." Piper says.
Prue picks up some books. "Yeah, well, at least you didn't blow me up."
"Yeah, I was kinda relieved too." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "Piper, the control will come."
"Mm-hmm. Yeah, tell that to the Ficus." Piper says.
"Well, you sure told it to Tarkin." Prue says.
Piper smiles, "That was kinda cool."
Buffy nods, "So, see, we can celebrate. You know, I mean, you got a new power and you beat a demon with it."
Piper sighs, "I wish I could've done more. For Jenna, and Cole. I mean, vanquishing one bad guy and losing three good guys is not exactly a winning score."
"Yeah, so we are still counting Cole as good, right?" Prue says.
Piper nods, "Yeah, I mean, I actually finally understand how he feels, having something inside of you that you can't control, which is capable of hurting the people that you love even if you don't want it to."
Phoebe walks in holding three candles. "Oh, I'm sorry guys. I didn't mean to stick you with the morning after clean up."
"How you doing?" Buffy asks.
"I'm not sure." Phoebe says as she sits down on the couch and places the candles on the coffee table.
"Well, you have a lot to sort out." Prue says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, not really. I lost my soul mate to evil, end of story."
Piper sighs, "Pheebs, I think he really tried but..."
Phoebe nods, "It wasn't enough. I wasn't enough. I thought we could do a blessing for our two fallen witches, and for Cole."
Buffy, Prue and Piper kneel in front of the table. Phoebe lights a match and hands it to Prue.
"For Liza, a lost sister, may her spirit sore." Prue says and she lights a candle, then hands the match to Piper.
"For Jenna, our lost friend, may we meet again." Piper says and she lights a candle and hands the match to Phoebe.
"For Cole, a lost love." Phoebe says as she lights the candle. "May he find peace." She blows out the match.
Leo walks in. "Piper, we're going..." He sees what they're doing. "…to have plenty of time to talk later."
Phoebe shakes her head, "No, that's okay, Leo. We could actually use some good news, and it seems like you have some."
"Well, I don't have news but I do have a passport." Leo says and he shows it to them.
Piper gasps as Prue holds Piper's hands down. "You went back?"
Leo nods, "Yeah, well, I was thinking with everything that's happened and you're new power, making life a little crazy, alright, crazier, I figured the least I could do is make it somewhat normal."
"Are you sure?" Piper asks.
Leo nods, "Anything that it takes to get you on a plane to Paris."
"Ah, you know what? I think we should wait on that." Piper says as she goes over to him. "I wouldn't want to sneeze at 40,000 feet and have a whole bunch of people explode, that would be bad." She kisses him.
In a cave in the underworld. Cole shimmers in.
"I knew you'd come back, I've been waiting for you." Raynor says.
"My father's soul, where is it?" Cole asks.
A bright glowing ball appears in Raynor's hand. Cole carefully takes if off him.
"Of course, now that you're evil, what can you do with it?" Raynor asks.
"That's not your concern." Cole says.
"True. You're my only concern." Raynor says.
"How'd you get me to do it? A spell?" Cole asks.
"Does it really matter? But you enjoyed it, didn't you, killing the witch?" Raynor says.
Cole shakes his head, " Not as much as I'm going to enjoy this." He stabs Raynor in the stomach. "You killed Phoebe's love for me. Now I'm gonna watch you die."
"I feel your heart, it's racing even as mine slows. You're enjoying this, I can feel it." Raynor says as Cole digs the knife in deeper. "This is what I hoped for. Your inner-demonic nature finally showing itself for all its glory." Cole pushes him away. "You're truly evil now, Belthazor. Welcome home."
Raynor falls to his knees. Fire surrounds him and he disappears. Cole kneels on the ground.