Faith and I both roll onto our backs, side by side, each with a vampire on top of us. I backhand punch my attacker while Faith struggles to get control over hers. The vamp on top of me tries to punch me but I redirect his arm to hit the ground next to me.
Giles watches calmly while sitting behind us on a nearby bench, I was still on my back whilst the vamp is now standing over me, throwing punches down at my body. Faith log rolls away from us, taking her attacker with her. Giles takes off his glasses and cleans them.
Faith manages to roll on top of her vampire she yanks him by the lapels of his jacket to a standing position, spins half-way around and throws him into a log roll over a stone bench. He hits the ground and keeps on rolling. I get up and duck a half-spinning, jumping hook kick from the vampire and then sidestep to avoid a punch.
Faith jumps up onto the bench and then back down to the ground. Her attacker aims a punch at her face, but rethinks his maneuver and decides to snap kick her in the gut. Faith grabs his foot and throws it over his head, forcing him to flip over landing hard on his stomach.
I throw a punch at my vamps face but he ducks it; I try for another one, but he blocks it. Then I aim for his stomach with another punch, but I'm blocked yet again "Goddammit!" I growl as the vampire tries to punch me, but I latch onto his arm and yanks him backward, then forwards, and twists his arm, sending him flipping onto his back.
I noticed Giles calmly watching and takes notes. Faith has a firm grip on her attacker, and throws his head backward, sending him flying back onto a bench. His momentum carries him sliding over it, Faith jumps up onto the bench following him over, ready to attack again.
I send my vampire spinning back to the ground with a two-kick combination of a roundhouse followed by a hook kick, I pause for a moment to let him get back up, and then roundhouse kicks him in the gut, followed immediately by a punch to his face as the momentum of my kick carries me around.
Giles picks up his cup of coffee and continues his calm vigilance. Faith jumps down from the bench and roundhouse kicks her vampire in the face. I roundhouse kick mine again in the stomach as Faith punches her vampire in the stomach and takes aim with her stake.
I shove my vamp against Faith's, and they end up back to back as we both expertly both plunge our stakes into our respective demons simultaneously, causing us both to explode into ashes. After the dust settles, we give each other a high-five and Faith throws her arm over my shoulder as we head over to Giles.
"Synchronized slaying" I laugh linking my hand with hers as she hip bumps me "New Olympic category?" she winks as I face Giles "Whadaya think?" Giles lowers his coffee cup but keeps it held at mouth level.
"Sloppy" A voice calls out as we all turn to look at the woman who's just walked into view. Her hair is pulled up in a severe hairstyle, and she has a very serious look on her face "Excuse me?" I growl pissed off, I'd like to see her fight off a vamp.
"You telegraph punches, leave blindsides open and, uh, for a school-night slaying, take entirely too much time. Which one of you is Faith?" She literates as Giles looks back at us as we stand shocked.
"Depends. Who the hell are you?" Faith mumbles as her arms slide off my shoulders, Faith is stoic still, this is her usual go to when meeting new people something we had in common "Gwendolyn Post, Mrs. Your new Watcher"
Faith and I exchange a look, then look over at Giles who is still holding his cup and staring at Mrs. Post, too dumbfounded to speak "What the...?" I start with a raised eyebrow.
Giles had ushered us back to the library after the shock of meeting with Faith's lovely new Watcher. Giles is leaning against the stair railing, cleaning his glasses, I was sitting near the middle of the large central table with several books lying open on it.
Faith is standing by a corner of the table, addressing Mrs. Post, who is looking through some of Giles' collection "I'm telling you, I don't need a new Watcher. No offense, lady" Gwendolyn looks at her "I just have this problem with authority figures. They end up kind of dead" Faith nods sarcastically and takes a seat next to me.
Gwendolyn walks past the table "Duly noted, and fortunately, it's not up to you" Faith gives me a look and I just half smile sympathetically. Gwendolyn walks around the table below the railing of the upper level, looking around at the few stacks there are in the study area of the library, apparently unaware that the main stacks are up the stairs and through a set of French doors, well out of view.
"Mr. Giles, where do you keep the rest of your books?" she questions Giles who had been oddly quiet until now "I-I'm sorry" he slips on his glasses "The rest?" Gwendolyn nods looking around "Yes, the actual library".
Giles gives her a confused look "Oh" Gwendolyn starts as she smiles thinly "I see" I grimace and lean into Faith "Awkward" Giles gives me a look before turning back to the uptight woman "I can assure you, Mrs. Post, this is the finest occult reference collection..."
Gwendolyn interrupts him "... this side of the Atlantic, I'm sure. Do you have Hume's Paranormal Encyclopedia?" Giles looks away, knowing that while his collection is superior, it is still not complete.
"The Labyrinth Maps of Malta?" Gwendolyn questions again as I give Giles a hopeful look knowing we verbally got our asses handed to us "It's on order" He replies meekly as the other Watcher nods knowingly.
"Well, I suppose that you have Sir Robert Kane's Twilight Compendium?" She tries again "Oh! Uh..." Giles looks around "Yes, I..." he spots the book "Yes!" he cheers pulling it out and holding it up for her to see "Yes, I do".
Gwendolyn just glances at him unimpressed "Of course you do," she paces past him "I have been sent by the council for a very important reason. Faith needs a Watcher. I am to act in that capacity and report back."
Faith leans forward in her chair looking annoyed "Excuse me, Mary Poppins, you don't seem to be listening" Giles interrupts Faith "Faith, if the council feels that you need closer observation, then... we will all, of course, cooperate"
Faith leans back again, not at all happy with the situation as Gwendolyn with a smug smile "The council wishes me to report on the entire situation here" she turns to Giles "including you".
My eyebrows shoot up as Giles looks taken by surprise "Mm! Academic probation's not so funny today, huh, Giles?" I roll her eyes innocently as Giles glares at her but I just give it right back to him.
"The fact is, there is talk in the council that you have become a bit too..." Gwendolyn inhales dramatically "American" she spits out distastefully as Giles looks taken aback "Me?" I grin as I point my finger in my Watchers direction "Him?".
"A demon named Lagos is coming here to the Hellmouth" Gwendolyn starts before looking at Giles condescendingly "Mr. Giles, an illustration of Lagos, if you please" Giles nods a bit flustered "Oh, uh..." he looks at the books on the table "Yes. Uh..."
He sits at the table and begins to look through one of the books as Gwendolyn tuts "Perhaps later" Giles stops looking, very taken aback as he begins to seeth "Lagos seeks the Glove of Myhnegon. No record of this glove's full power exists, but we do know it is highly dangerous and must not fall into the hands of a demon. Lagos must be stopped".
Giles folds his hands over his books and looks up at her "What do you propose?" Faith and I just nod looking at the female Watcher "Well, if it's not too radical a suggestion, I thought we might kill him".
Giles turns his head away from her and takes off his glasses yet again "I suggest all three Slayers at full strength for a coordinated hunt" I turn to look at Faith who is just giving Gwendolyn an even stare.
"We believe the glove to be buried in a tomb somewhere, so Lagos will be headed for the cemetery" Giles turns to Gwendolyn with a heavy sigh "There is more than one in Sunnydale" The older female nods "I see. How many?".
"Uh, twelve, within the city limits" Gwendolyn takes a deep breath looking very put out "Well, we'll just have to take them one at a time" Giles puts his glasses back on and starts to look through his books again.
"Anything in your books that might pinpoint the exact location of the tomb would be useful, but then, we cannot ask for miracles" Giles lets his book drop to the table and makes a point of looking directly away from her, rubbing his fingers, keeping his cool.
"We will begin tomorrow at sunset. Faith... " Faith looks almost startled "With me, please" Gwendolyn gives Faith a thin smile and walks from the library "Good luck" I call to Faith who gives me a begging look then follows her Watcher out.
Giles visibly relaxes when they've gone "That was bracing" He slaps his glasses onto the table and leans his lips into his fist "Interesting lady. Can we kill her?" I question with a grin as Giles lowers his fist "I think the council might frown upon that".
His expression indicates he's considering it anyway, but soon discards the notion "Well..." he starts randomly as he stands up "How do you feel about a spot of training?".
Angel and Buffy are practicing T'ai Chi in front of the great fireplace in Angel's mansion. Angel concentrates on the exercises, but Buffy watches his moves and does her best to mirror them. They each begin with their arms stretched high above and ahead of them, hands together, they lower their arms to waist level with a graceful bend at the elbows.
Buffy glances over at Angel, watching his elegant movements. She turns her attention back to the exercise and crosses her right wrist over her left. They both sweep their crossed arms in a wide arc from left to right and then draw their hands into their waists and make a quarter turn to their left so that Buffy has her back to Angel.
They both extend their arms and slowly raise them, never stopping their fluid movements, until their hands are again held high. Angel takes the two steps over to Buffy and puts his hands over hers.
Buffy looks up at his hands on hers as he pulls her arms down and around her. She slowly turns to face him and angles her face up toward him. their lips almost meet when Buffy suddenly pulls away and walks over to one of the two couches set at right angles to each other to get her things.
"Uhh... I gotta go. Big night for us Slayer types," Angel turns away, a confused expression on his face as Buffy pulls on her backpack "People to see, demons to kill," she starts to leave "Better hurry before somebody figures out what we're doing,".
Angel pulls on his shirt "What are we doing?" he questions as Buffy stops in her tracks "Training" she says aloud before continuing quietly "And almost kissing" Angel looks at her and steps toward her as he buttons his shirt.
Buffy turns to face him "Sorry. It's just..." she smiles weakly "old habit" her smile drops from her face "Bad, bad habit to be broken," she says awkwardly as she looks up to Angel "It's hard" The vampire mutters doing up the last button.
"It's not hard" Buffy disagrees weakly "Cold turkey. That's the key to quitting" she continues with false resolve as they both look at each other for a long moment, knowing it's just not that easy.
"You think they make a patch for this?" Buffy questions desperately as Angel just sighs heavily "You have to go" Buffy agrees knowing what she had to do but also knowing what she wanted to do "I really do".
Angel looks away as Buffy turns again to go she only gets two steps when she sighs and turns to face Angel again "I'm gonna try and vent a little hormonal angst by going out there and killing a Lagos, whatever that is".
Angel faces her again upon hearing that demon's name "Lagos?" he questions interested as the Slayer nods "Yeah Nikki said it's some demon looking for some all-powerful thingamabob" Angel sits suddenly looking worried "and I gotta stop him before he unleashes unholy havoc" Buffy sees Angel's worried look "and it's another Tuesday night in Sunnydale".
Angel can't bring himself to look at her again, and so just stares off into space "Be careful" Buffy nods with a gentle smile "your sister too" Angel adds after a second as Buffy turns and heads out of the mansion. Angel watches her back as she goes, and when she's gone, he gets up to start some work of his own.
Faith, Buffy and I walk along the street on patrol as people and cars go by "Ronnie, deadbeat. Steve, klepto. Kenny... drummer. Eventually, I just had to face up to my destiny as a loser magnet. Now it's strictly get some, get gone. You can't trust guys," Faith huffs with a shrug.
"You can trust some guys" Buffy retaliates as Faith and I give her a look "Really, I've read about them" she adds making me laugh "So, what about you?" Faith questions my older sister, the two of them rarely talk or patrol with each other and Faith likes to dig into peoples business so this is to be expected.
"You mean like, me and guys me?" Buffy asks with a surprised look as Faith nods "Not much to tell these days" my sister says quietly and I look past Faith to see Buffy's face has changed she now looked somber.
"Yeah, but you gotta have stories. I mean, I've had my share of losers, but you... you boinked the undead. What was that like?" frowning I started to wonder why Faith wanted to know so much about Angel "Life with Angel's... was complicated. It's still a little hard for me to talk about," Buffy told Faith trying to steer away from the conversation.
Whether Buffy wanted to talk about something other than her murderous ex-boyfriend who no longer inhabited this planet or she wanted to avoid the question because I was around I had no idea but Faith wasn't going to let it go.
"Well, try" Faith pushed as I let out a sigh, faith's hand brushed mine slightly and her fingers grabbed mine squeezing a little when I suddenly realized she didn't care about my sisters love life, she was interrogating him about Angel because of what he did to me.
Buffy stop walking causing Faith and me to stop too "Look, Faith, all the Angel issues are still kind of with me, so if you don't mind, I'd rather not" hearing my sister's tone I let go of Faith's fingers as she shrugged "Yeah. Yeah, whatever".
Buffy looks away upset and my heart tightened knowing she was thinking about Angel before he became murderey "You know what? We're oh for six tonight. Why don't we just blow this off?".
My sister looked at me surprise "Yeah. I am kinda beat. But-but Shady Hill's pretty close" she mumbled as Faith shrugs again "We'll swing through it. It's on my way anyway" Buffy nods but still glances at us unsure.
"I've already got Miss. Priss on my back we don't need a babysitter right now. I'll holler if we're having any fun," Faith adds throwing her arm over me like she had done many times before as Buffy smiles thinly "Okay,".
"Thanks" Buffy whispers to me as I walk away with Faith "What the hell was that?" I question my fellow Slayer as she shoves her hands in her pockets "What?" she retorts trying to look innocent "I just wanted to know about Angel".
Opening the cemetery gate I gave her an annoyed look "you know about Angel but Buffy doesn't know about Angel so stop," Faith steps closer to me looking sorry "I just... he hurt you and she's still in love with him, it's annoying," Faith admitted before seeing the look on my face "I'm sorry okay?".
Nodding I let out a heavy sigh "Alright, I'll take this side you go that side" Faith nodded at my delegations and began to walk away with me watching her knowing she was just trying to help me in some weird Faith way.
Walks around a hedge I scanned the graveyard as I quickly walked through it, nothing seemed out of place and there were no demons or vampires in sight. Hearing a loud noise I stopped for a second until I heard a familiar female grunting noise.
Running over in the direction of the sounds of fighting I saw Faith fighting Lagos, she tries to grab his neck, but he blocks her arm and does an uppercut to Faith's diaphragm, which makes her airborne.
"Faith!" I shout lifting up my hands in instincts shocked when my telekinesis lessens the blow of her body crashing into mine "shit" I call holding Faith as she starts to struggle for breath "get him" she croaks as I lift up my arm but nothing happens.
Lagos wastes no time getting out of there, stomping right past us, not giving us even so much as another glance, lowering my arm slowly I just held onto Faith not knowing what to do or how to feel.
Xander finds his way through the gravestones to the Von Hauptman family crypt in the Restfield cemetery, his breathing is heavy and nervous. He finds the crypt and peeks at it from behind a bush, making sure no one and nothing else is around.
Stepping out from behind the bush he nervously looking around while he makes his way toward the crypt "Hey, Giles, here's a nifty idea: why don't I alleviate my guilt by goin' out and gettin' myself really, really killed?" he whispers to himself his voice covered with sarcasm.
He stops in his tracks when he thinks he hears a noise and sure enough, a second later he can hear the sound of stone grinding against stone coming from inside the crypt. He swiftly ducks behind a group of bushes, crouches down and waits to see who will come out.
A figure soon comes out of the crypt and pulls the door closed in its arms it holds something wrapped in a bunch of rags. The figure turns its back to Xander as it grabs the outer iron gate and swings it closed as well. Xander rises up just a bit so he can better see who it is.
The figure turns around again and begins to cautiously make its way out of the graveyard, As it nears Xander, he sees that it's Angel. Xander doesn't take his eyes off of him as he walks past.
When Angel is far enough ahead of him, Xander comes out from behind the bushes, pulls out his stake and starts to follow wanting to know exactly why Angel was back but more than that he wanted to finally be the one to shove a stake through him like he should have done a long time ago.
Xander sneaks down the stairs to the main gallery and tiptoes over to a window where he can see inside but there, to his shock, he sees Buffy with Angel, kissing passionately.
Inside the library, Giles paces slowly in the main area behind him the door opens, and he hears someone walk in. He turns to see it's Buffy without Nikki and he inwardly praises his luck that the younger Summers girl has gone AWOL again especially because of the conversation they were about to have.
"Lagos is out of luck. I got the magic mitten thingy" Buffy says aloud as she stops to see that Xander, Cordelia, Oz, and Willow are all sitting at the center table looking as glum as Giles does "What's with all the tragedy masks?"
Giles indicates a chair "Better take a seat, Buffy" Xander gets up out of his chair, nudges it over a bit so it's at the head of the table, and steps away to stand next to Cordelia. Buffy slowly steps over to the chair "What's going on?" she questions nervously sitting down "is it Nikki, where is she?".
Giles just shakes his head "We know Angel is alive," Buffy looks shocked "Xander saw you with him. It would appear that you've been hiding him and that you lied to us," Buffy looks away, trying to absorb this new turn of events.
"Buffy. But this is serious. You need help," Willow gently says to her best friend who looks back at her desperately "It's not what you think," Xander huffs "Hope not. Because I think you're harboring a vicious killer,"
Buffy can't believe Xander's callousness and opens her mouth to retort when Willow cuts in trying to mediate "This isn't about attacking Buffy. Remember, 'I' statements only. 'I feel angry.' 'I feel worried.'"
"Fine. Here's one: I feel worried... about me! Last time around, Angel barely laid a hand on Buffy. He was way more interested in killing her friends and hunting down her sister obsessively," Cordelia shot at Buffy who frowned remembering how Angel had tortured her twin.
"But he's better now" she defended weakly, Nikki would understand that Angel is back to be Angel now right? "Better for how long, Buffy? I mean, did you even think about that?" Xander hissed angrily.
Buffy stands up "What is this, Demons Anonymous?" she turns to leave "I don't need an intervention, here," Giles finally steps in "Oh, don't you?" Buffy stops and faces him in shock "You must've known it was wrong seeing Angel or you wouldn't have hidden it from all of us"
Buffy looks at everyone desperate and defensive "I was going to tell you, I was. I-it was just that I... I didn't know why he came back. I just wanted to wait and... and Nikki..." Buffy stuttered not knowing how to explain how she felt.
"For what? For Angel to go psycho again the next time you give him a happy?" Xander shouts viciously as Buffy turns to him raising her voice defensively "I'm not going to..." she raises her hand to him "We're not together like that,".
"But you were kissing him" Oz calls out as Willow gives Oz a quick look, then looks at Buffy, worried. Buffy thinks about the implication of Oz's accusation and looks at Xander "You were spying on me?" she steps toward him "What gives you the right?"
"What gives you the right to suck face with your demon lover again?" Cordelia calls out what everyone was thinking "It was an accident," Buffy hisses back defensively "What, you just tripped and fell on his lips?" Xander jumps in.
"It was wrong, okay? I know that, and I know that it can't happen again. But you guys have to believe me. I would never put you in any danger. If I thought for a second that Angel was going to hurt anyone..."
"... you would stop him. Like you did last time with Ms. Calendar, or even after everything he did to your sister" Buffy is completely taken aback by Xander's totally insensitive and unfair attack, and can't utter a word in response.
Willow senses that it's time to intercede before Xander spills the secret they've all been trying to keep from Buffy "Buffy, I feel that when it comes to Angel, you can't see straight. And that's why we're, we're all gonna help you face this,".
"But he's better now. I swear. Look, you guys, he's the one that found the Glove of Myhnegon. H-he's keeping it safe for us in the mansion," Buffy stutters desperately trying to show everyone that the vampire had changed.
Xander spreads his arms "Right! Great plan. Leave tons of firepower with the Scary Guy, and leave us to clean up the mess" He makes tracks to leave the library, intent on doing something about this.
Buffy takes him by the arm and spins him around to face her "You would just love an excuse to hurt him, wouldn't you?" Xander just looks at her annoyed "I don't need an excuse. I think lots of dead people actually constitutes a reason,".
"Right. This is all nobility. This has nothing to do with jealousy" Xander gives her a haughty grin but is interrupted by Cordelia before he can continue "Hello? Miss Not-Over-Yourself-Yet?" Buffy shakes her head in warning "Don't you start with me" Cordelia looks to Giles for support.
Giles looked between the teenagers deep in thought as Buffy and Xander continued to fight "did you even think about how this would upset your sister or do you just no care" Cordelia called out remembering Nikki's broken look at the hospital.
"She'll understand, even Giles is over the whole torture thing," Buffy said offhandedly as the teenagers all exchanged looks as Xander let out a scathing laugh "we're not talking about the torture, we're talking about when you're little boyfriend just wouldn't take no for an answer!".
Willow turns to Giles quickly knowing she had to stop this "Giles!" Giles walks forward with his hands in his pockets having finished his thoughts "That's enough! Everybody. Now, Buffy knows our concerns, and her actions, however ill-advised, can be understood" Cordelia shakes her head wanting Xander to finish what he started.
"Giles she needs to know now, especially if she wants to bump uglies with the guy that..." Giles shots Cordelia a look but the girl doesn't stop even when she sees Buffy's confused look "tried to force himself on her twin sister,".
The room goes quiet as each person waits with bated breath to see what the Slayer would say "Angel didn't... he wouldn't..." Buffy tried to spit out but the words would pass her lips as she tried to make sense of what Cordelia had just told her "I think the word is rape Buffy".
"Cordelia enough!" Giles shouted taking off his glasses and pinching his nose "all of you, back to classes" One after the other they all get up, gather their things and go. Giles goes into his office, his hands firmly stuffed into his pockets. Once there, he takes off his jacket and hangs it around the back of his chair.
Buffy follows him and stops by the office door "what are they talking about Giles?" she questions uneasily, Giles doesn't face her, and instead unbuttons his vest "Giles is it.." Giles interrupts with a gruff "Be quiet".
He slowly turns to face her "true? Yes, Buffy, it's true" tears well up in the Slayers eyes as she tries to digest the words her Watcher just said "did he?" she whispered as Giles shook his head "Angel wouldn't do that to her Giles, he cares about her, he asks about her all the time".
Giles eyes the Slayer sharply "and why do you think he asks about her Buffy? Guilty conscious?" the two remain still for a few minutes before Giles speaks up again "I won't remind you that the fate of the world often lies with the Slayer. What would be the point? Nor shall I remind you that you've jeopardized the lives of all that you hold dear by harboring a known murderer,".
Buffy tries to argue but Giles holds his hands up "But sadly, I must remind you that Angel tortured me... for hours... for pleasure and I wouldn't have thought your sister or myself we're 'over it'. You should have told me he was alive. You didn't. You have no respect for me, or the job I perform,".
Buffy averts her eyes in shame as Giles turns back to his desk, sits down and leans back in thought "I wouldn't ask Nicola about it she's just beginning to feel more herself, you'll only make her worse again" Buffy just stands in the doorway for a long moment before leaving quietly.
Sitting in the chair in Faith's motel room we were talking about my powers not working when there is a knock at the door, Faith looks at me confused "people usually answer that when it knocks" I jested as she pushed me jokingly.
Faith opens the door stake raised and ready only to jump a little when she sees Gwendolyn standing there she lowers the stake as Mrs. Post enters "A word of advice? Vampires rarely knock. Especially in daylight" she closes the door behind her with a smile.
"Oh, right" Faith nods hitting my arm when she notices me laughing at her "Ah Miss Summers you're here" I just nod at the Watchers as she looks around the motel room "Faith and I hang out a lot I guess".
Faith raised her eyebrow at me as I shrugged "she makes me nervous when she's in 'mistress post' mode" I whispered leaning into Faith until Gwendolyn turns to us expressionless "So... this is your home".
"Yeah" Faith gestures around the room "The decorator actually just left" she smirks as I let out a small snort "girls, do you know who the Spartans were?" Gwendolyn leans against the dresser.
"Wild stab: a bunch of guys from Spart?" Faith answers as she sits on the bed eyeing her Watcher "They were the fiercest warriors known to Ancient Greece. And they lived in quarters very much like these. Do you know why? Because a true fighter needs nothing else. I'm going to be very hard on you, Faith. I will not brook insolence or laziness. And I will not allow blunders like last night's attack. You will probably hate me a great deal of the time,".
Faith smiles sardonically "You think?" Gwendolyn steps over to the bed "But I will make you a better Slayer," she sits next to Faith as I watch her carefully "and that will keep you alive. You have to trust that I am right. God only knows what Mr. Giles has been filling your head with,".
"Giles is okay," I defended my Watcher as Gwendolyn stands to look at me in pity "His methods are unfathomable to me. I find him entirely confounding. But that is not important. Let him have his games and secret meetings".
"What meetings?" I question as the older woman glances at me again "Oh, I don't know. Something with Buffy and her friends" I frown to myself wondering what meeting they were having "they've just finished one, actually".
"I wasn't told about a meeting" I turned to Faith feeling hurt and I noticed the hurt look on her face "why weren't we at any meeting?" I questioned as the older brunette shrugged trying to look like she didn't care.
"and why does he let her socialize so much? It hardly seems... No matter. Would you like to do some training?" Gwendolyn questions as Faith stands up looking excited "Training? As in kicking and punching and stabbing?".
Gwendolyn smiles at Faith "Yes, that's the idea" Faith nods and cracks her knuckles with a grin "I'm your girl" she suddenly stops and turns to me "Nikki?" she mumbles putting a hand on my shoulder but I was lost in thought about a secret meeting I wasn't part of.
"Now I know I am not your watcher Nicola but you may join us if you wish?" I looked up to see Faith's hopeful look and Gwendolyn just smiling at me like a cat "How about it Nicola, would you like to join us?".
Walking into the library after training with Faith and Gwendolyn who was very interested in my telekinesis I decided to see what Giles and the gang were up to especially since I didn't want to get into trouble for skipping school.
Looking around the empty library I frowned at the quietness, not that it wasn't nice for the usual silence but it was just that, unusual. I was expecting at least Willow sitting at the table with her nose in some kind of book.
"Giles?" I called out walking over to the counter as said man slowly makes his way out of the office with a weirdly calm look on his face "Hey G, what's up" I question leaning against the counter flipping open a random book.
"where is everyone?" I ask another question as my last went unanswered "Nicola, there's something you should know" Giles began as he looked at me seriously "Oh god, did someone die?" I instantly panicked, no wonder there was no one here, "Oh no, who was it?".
Giles shushed me and put his hand on my shoulder "breath, remember your breathing" slowing down my breathing I glanced at Giles saddened face "tell me, please" Giles steered, me into his office and sat me down on the couch he had in there "no one is dead".
I nod wondering what could be so bad that Giles had that expression "There's no easy way to say this, so I'm going to just say it. Angel is back" my heart stopped dead in my chest as Giles slowly lowered down next to me.
Once again I began to feel numb, all the panic attack reducing training gone, the times I've spent with Giles trying to build myself back up and patching myself together again, disappearing. I just felt, nothing.
"Nicola?" Giles gently whispered as my eyes gazed down at my clasped hands until Giles placed his over mine and that's when the room came back, the sounds of blood rushes through my ears stopped "he's back?".
Giles nodded silently obviously just sitting back and letting me come to terms with this "How... uh, how do you know that?" I wondered rubbing my hands together meticulously trying to rid them of the dirt I could see there.
"It seems your sister has been sneak off to see him for the past few weeks" if my heart could literally and truly break it would be from those words "My sister did what?" I repeated rhetorically trying to get my head around it.
Giles, however, was silent, and I knew Angel being back wasn't the only thing wrong here "What is it, Giles?" I whisper not really wanting any more bad news but I knew this was something I needed to hear, Giles had never steered me wrong before.
"Cordelia told Buffy the truth about what happened between Angel and yourself," I let out an angry sob "God, can this day get any worse," I laughed when Giles handed me his handkerchief "don't answer that,".
The phone rings out and Giles quickly stands stuttering about having to answer it "it's okay G, I'm fine" Giles nods and moves over to the desk and picks up the receiver "Hello?" Giles goes silent for a moment "Oh Buffy..." my head shoots up wondering what my sister could want "Nikki she's..." realizing she wanted to find me I quickly and quietly crept out of the room, and out of the library.
Walking into the Bronze Faith notices Xander breaking shot at a pool table and approaches the table "You look pissed" she acknowledged as Xander doesn't even glance up at her "Rough day" he lines up his shot as she leans on the table "Tell me about it" she mutters as Xander replaces the cue ball.
"Rather just shoot," He shrugs as he aims his cue stick "Don't think I don't know what you and your pals were talking about behind mine and Nikki's back today," The dark hair girl huffed as Xander froze.
"Yeah? And what was that?" he questions as he looks for his next shot "More about this glove deal than you're saying," Faith shrugged looking at the boy for any more clues "The Glove of Myhnegon? Right," she nods at his words as he aims his cue stick "How d'you like a hit of some real news: Angel's still alive,".
He takes his shot and starts walking around the table again, looking for his next shot. Faith looks at him in wide-eyed surprise "The vampire" she clucked sucking her teeth wondering if her best friend had any knowledge that the vampire was back.
"Back in town. Saw him myself. Toting the popular and famous glove" Xander explains as he bends down again to take aim for his shot "Angel" Faith repeats as Xander nods "Does Nikki know?" she questions as Xander looks at her frowning "No".
Faith sighs before Xander continues "but Buffy knows what he did now" Faith once again looks at him wide-eyed as Xander makes another shot and watches the balls ricochet, Faith gives herself a mental to-do list and checking on Nikki was a top priority along with finding the glove.
"Guy like that, with that kind of glove, could kill a whole mess of people. Not to mention what he might do when he sees a certain blonde Slayer," Xander nods quickly looking please someone understood him "Said the same thing to Buffy myself. Weird how she didn't seem to care," he aims for his next shot.
"Buffy knew he was alive?" Faith asks sounding pissed as Xander takes his shot nodding in affirmative "I can't believe her" Faith seethed at the elder Summers girl "She says he's clean" Xander relays as he walks around the table.
"Yeah, well, I say we can't afford to find out," She tells him sucking on her cheek in annoyance but now she has Xander's full attention, "I say I deal with this problem right now. I say I slay" she tells him already thinking of all the ways she could kill the vampire.
"Can I come?" Xander questions as the brunette girl looks at him in shock before nodding making him put down his cue stick and they head out determined to end Angel before he can cause more trouble than he left behind last time.
Buffy watches in horror as the paramedics slam the library doors open with the gurney and turn down the hall. Willow looks at Xander, worried and wanting to know what went down.
Buffy watches until the gurney has disappeared, then also turns to Xander for an explanation. He just gives her a blank stare "What happened?" Xander just sneers at her "Your boyfriend's not as cured as you thought".
"What makes you think that Angel had anything to do with this?" Buffy questioned shocked "We saw what you saw" Xander shrugged as Buffy hisses annoyed "So you just assume?".
Feeling like a scolded schoolboy Xander just lifts one shoulder defiantly "I didn't. Faith did" Willow gives Buffy a concerned look "What did you tell her?" Buffy asks sounding very worried.
"Only what everyone knows. She's a big girl. Came to her own conclusions" Buffy clenches her fists trying to control her anger at her friend "How much of a head start does she have?" she questions but Xander doesn't answer her question.
"You know now, everything that he did but you're still going to run in and save him" Buffy just continues to glare "even at the expense of your own sister?" Buffy finally stops glaring but Xander knew she still wanted to know "Ten minutes".
Buffy steps over to Willow "Go through Giles' research. Figure out how to destroy the glove" She glares at Xander for a second, not believing that he could actually
do such a thing, and then runs from the library.
Running out of the school she began to wonder about everything she had heard today and what to do with that piece of information, how would she act in front of Angel now? How can she even show her face around her own sister anymore?
But what made Buffy feel worse was the feeling of still wanting to be around Angel, despite what she was told he did to her sister, why can't they all see that it was Angelus that did those things, not Angel.
Looking up to Angel's mansion all that was missing right now was a really sad soundtrack and rain pouring down as I stood by the gate wondering if I should go in and confront my nightmares, the thing that has me screaming myself awake.
Despite my inner voice literally screaming at me to run away I decided to push forward and get to the root of my problem and get it over with once and for all, I wanted to get back to the bad-ass in control of her power Slayer not what I am right now, a mess.
Walking into the mansion I frown hearing shouting and screaming, getting closer to the noises I frown at the sight in front of me, both Angel and Miss. Post was on the ground and my two fellow Slayers were fighting viciously.
Seeing Angel again had me so frozen I could do nothing but watch my sister and Faith beat each other down. Buffy is able to throw Faith off with a twist of her body, and both girls end up on the floor.
Faith rolls into a wall, hitting her back against a corner. Buffy scrambles to her feet and runs at Faith, but she snaps out her leg and trips Buffy, making her fall again. Buffy rolls over her back and to her knees.
While she is still crouched, Faith comes in for an axe kick, trying to hit her on the way down. Buffy cross blocks her leg, grabs her ankle and raises her arms, throwing Faith off balance and to the floor.
Faith quickly gets to her feet, and the two Slayers face off once again. Buffy rushes Faith and grabs her by the waist. The two of them go crashing through the French doors out into the atrium.
"The glove! It's in the trunk" Gwendolyn calls out and I look over to see Xander and Willow running into the room "We'll get it" Xander tells her reassuringly but she shakes her head "Help Faith" Xander grabs Willow and they run out the broken door.
Helps Gwendolyn to her feet my eyes darting around looking for Angel but he was still down and out, Gwendolyn makes a beeline for the trunk with the glove with me following her. She throws the lid open and unfolds the rags wrapped around the glove.
Reverently she takes the glove out of the trunk and cradles it in her hands, frowning I watch as she holds into her chest like a baby when she swings the glove around in a wide arc, hitting her me in the face.
Opening my eyes wide I try to get back some of the sense Gwendolyn had just knocked out of me, rolling onto my side I watch as Cut inside. Gwendolyn holds the glove in her left hand and looks down at it.
"Wait!" I call out as she slowly she slides her right arm into the glove. Once it's inside, she makes a fist with the clawed fingers. Suddenly the metal claws surrounding the glove's opening begin closing, puncturing her arm one at a time until all ten have become permanently embedded in her forearm's flesh.
She holds up her gloved arm and smiles maniacally at the sight, seemingly oblivious to the pain. She extends her arm above her, up toward the huge skylight and recites the Gaelic spell that will invoke the power of the glove "Taou huogan maqachte milegaing!"
Gwendolyn stares intently up at the sky, awaiting her reward for being the new wearer of the Glove of Myhnegon. Outside the two Slayers realize their fight is no longer with each other, and let go.
"What's going on?" Faith calls in as I just groan slouching back down with a huff, my head was pounding, Gwendolyn lowers her gloved arm and looks over at Faith as she smiles maliciously "Faith! A word of advice: you're an idiot".
Gwendolyn once again raises her arm to the sky and utters the words that will call forth the power of the glove "Tauo freim!" looking up I saw a blindingly bright bolt of lightning smash through the skylight and strike the glove.
Shards of shattered glass fall everywhere, but Gwendolyn ignores them and rejoices in her new-found power. She turns to face the Slayers and extends the glove toward them "Tauo freim!"
Jumping up I pushes Gwendolyn's arm so the bolt of lightning missed the girls as they scramble out of the way, and the bolt hits a tree in the atrium, instantly setting it ablaze.
Buffy and Faith look at it in amazement, then turn their attention back to me as I start to back away stiff with fear when the would-be Watcher spins around and aims the glove at me "Tauo freim!".
Closing my eyes tight I gasp feeling a body hit mine and throwing us both out of the way of the lightning bolt, opening my eyes I feel my chest tighten when Angel's guilt-stricken face looms over me "I'm sorry" he mumbled to me as I try to move away from him "Don't touch me".
Suddenly I'm hit with bad nostalgia saying those exact words and by the look on Angel's face he was remembering the same thing too "Nikki..." he began as he moved my hair away from my face.
"Please... just leave me alone," I whispered broken trying not to cry "You're safe with me now, I will do everything to keep you safe," Angel promises but I didn't care "leaving me alone will keep me safe," I hissed pushing him away.
Another lightning bolt strikes the glove and is sent in the direction of the hallway just as Faith comes running out, her eyes flickered over to me and Angel as she dives behind the couch, avoiding the blast from the glove.
Gwendolyn holds the glove up before her, staring at it with lustful desire in her eyes "There's nothing you can do to me now, I have the glove. With the glove comes the power".
Buffy runs in behind Gwendolyn who was too busy looking at the glove to notice "I'm getting that" Gwendolyn looks over at Buffy in surprise, Buffy throws the shard of glass end over end.
It flies like a spinning blade at Gwendolyn and slices cleanly through her upper arm, severing it and the glove from her body. With nothing to control it now, the power of the glove becomes erratic, and small bolts and sparks leap from it in random directions.
Another bolt of lightning strikes through the skylight, and not having a target this time, hits Gwendolyn in the chest, with a few small tendrils going in through her eyes she screams at the top of her lungs as her body begins to writhe in pain.
We all watch helplessly as she keeps screaming and the lightning bolts keep coming, a moment later, with one final bright lightning strike, what's left of a one-armed Gwendolyn vanishes in a bright flash of light and energy.
A few small arcs of electricity are all that remain as the last of the energy dissipates, and the mansion is again in relative darkness. Angel and I get to our feet as a cloud of smoke slowly rising upward and the Glove of Myhnegon with Gwendolyn's severed arm still firmly in its grip. One by one the ten claws open up, releasing it.
Backing away from Angel who was stood too close to me I noticed my sister looking over at us as well as everyone else, she opens her mouth to speak to me but I didn't... I couldn't speak to her right now "save it" I hiss walking away leaving the mansion behind.
A knock on Faith's door the next day ring out in the small motel room "Come in" she calls out awkwardly with her swollen mouth. "Hey" Buffy greets as she walks into the room.
"The place looks nice" Buffy compliments, but the sincerity isn't entirely there "Yeah, it's real Spartan" Faith replies sarcastically as the two of them go silent for a moment.
"How are you?" Buffy asks as Faith just huffs "Five-by-five" her usual defensive answer "I'll interpret that as good" Faith doesn't respond, but just continues paging through her magazine.
"Look, Gwendolyn Post, or whoever she may be, had us all fooled. Even Giles." Buffy explains but Faith already had a scathing reply lined up "Yeah, well, you can't trust people. I should've learned that by now,".
"I realize this is gonna sound funny coming from someone that just spent a lot of time kicking your face... but you can trust me," Buffy confesses to the brunette Slayer.
"Is that right?" she replies sounding amused "I know I kept secrets, but I didn't have a choice. I'm on your side," Buffy expressed now sounding truthful "I'm on my side and that's enough," Faith fights back.
"Not always," Buffy retorts sounding like she knew better "we all need to have each other's backs. Like Nikki has my back and I have hers, even with all this Angel stuff," she admits a sad tone covering her voice.
"Is that it?" Faith questions simply "Yeah, I guess" Buffy lets out a loud sigh "Alright. Well, then, I'll see you" the only sound in the room now was the door opening and closing as Buffy leaves.
Another moment of silence happens before Faith's voice rings out "You can come out now" opening the bathroom door I peeked out to see only Faith in the room "You okay?" she questions as I stand in the doorway looking at the door to Faith's room.
"5 by 5" I joked flatly as Faith pats the bed next to her, smiling at her I lay down on the bed next to her sighing when I felt her curl around me "I've got your back Faith" I whisper as she strokes my hair.
"I got yours too Nikki" Faith affirmed as we lay in silence, neither commenting on the hot tears that were making their way down my face and over Faith's arm that was cushioned under my head "I've got you".