Q/A: Guest (05/17/2013): I don't know when I might give Buffy another power. As it rests now Buffy technically has two. Although Charmed Wikia listed Augmentation more as an ability than a power. Still Prue, Piper and Phoebe only has one at this point. So I think it should be awhile before she gets another power to balance things out.
Author's Notes (8/26/2022): As I mentioned a few chapters back in the 2022 author's notes other powers have already been given to Buffy. The next one is flame teleporting and the final one is telepathy.
Chapter 23: When She Was Bad
August 17, 1997 - Sunday
Restfield Cemetery
"Okay, hold on..." Willow said as she and Xander walked down the street eating their ice cream.
Xander smiled. "It's your turn."
"Okay. Um..." Willow said trying to come with something and then she smiled. "In the few hours that we had together, we loved a lifetimes worth."
"Terminator." Xander answered as they stopped and Willow leaned against the stone wall that surrounded the cemetery.
"Good," she told him. "Right."
"Okay. Let's see..." Xander said as he took a moment to think of a line from a movie. Something that might stump his best friend. "It's a madhouse! A m—"
"Planet of the Apes." Willow interrupted a little to excitedly.
"Can I finish, please?" he asked shaking his head at the interruption.
"Sorry," Willow said apologetically. "Go ahead."
Xander smiled. "Madhouse!"
Willow waited for a moment to make sure he was done this time. "Planet of the Apes," she repeated. "Good. Me now. Um..."
"Well?" Xander asked when it took Willow longer than it had with her other choices..
"I'm thinking," Willow said trying to think of something. Then she inwardly groaned. This one would be too easy but it was all she could think of. "Okay. Use the force, Luke."
"Do I really have to dignify that with a guess?" Xander asked as he agreed with her mental assessment it was too easy of a guess. After all he had seen those movies like her a thousand times over.
Willow sighed as she looked at her best friend. "I didn't think of anything," she told him. "It's a dumb game anyway."
"You got something better to do?" Xander asked remembering the last game they played and how his hand had rebelled against him. "We played rock-paper-scissors long enough, okay? My hand cramped up."
"Well, sure, if you're always scissors, of course your tendons are gonna stretch—" she told him shaking her head.
"You know," Xander interrupted. "I gotta say, this has really been the most boring summer ever."
"For us," Willow reminded him. "Remember Buffy said it was busy for her up till she went to spend the rest of the summer with her bio dad," she said remembering that Buffy considered Prue, Piper and Phoebe's father hers as well since he would have asked Buffy's mom for permission to adopt Buffy if he had still been in his daughters life.
"That's right," Xander said remembering what Buffy had told them before she had left for Los Angeles.
That Buffy, Piper, Prue and Phoebe had faced two demons and something called a Darklighter in that time. And that they had lost an innocent also, A friend of Prue, Piper and Phoebe's since childhood. Xander and Willow had attended the funeral of Andy Trudeau in support of Buffy and her cousins.
"I forgot about that. I wonder how she's doing?" he asked. "I mean first she herself dies briefly and then…"
"I know," Willow sighed.
"So did she when she was getting back, about which I don't care?" Xander wondered.
"All I've gotten since she left for L.A. is a couple of postcards," she told him. "I've not talked to her otherwise. Probably would have to call Prue, Piper or Phoebe to find out."
"She's probably having fun with her bio dad," Xander said, hoping Buffy had put behind her the trauma of both her own death and the death of Andy.
"Which you don't care about," Willow said knowingly, she knew her friend had a crush on the Charmed Slayer.
"I care," Xander objected. "Of course I care. I'm a man, I have certain desires. Certain needs..."
Willow held up her hand to forestall the rest of what he was about to say. "I don't wanna know," she told him. She hated being reminded that her crush on him would never be reciprocated.
"Don't you?" Xander said teasingly. "I got a movie for you." He dabbed his ice cream cone on her nose, leaving a smidge of ice cream behind.
Willow stared at him wryly. "Xander..."
"Come on," he said as he dabbed at her nose again. "You're Amish, you won't fight back because you're Amish, I mock you with my ice cream cone, Amish Guy..."
"Witness," she answered with a slight shiver. "My nose is cold."
"Let me get that -" Xander said as he made as if he was going to lick the ice cream off her nose.
"Xander!" Willow laughed as she started back away from him.
"What can I say?" he asked as he dabbed at her nose with a napkin. "It makes your nose look tasty."
Unknown to the two teenagers a vampire came up from the other side of the wall. He was newly risen as he still wore his funeral tux and was covered in dirt. He stood there for a moment till the two teens finally saw him. Willow clumsily jumped away from the wall as the vampire vaulted over it easily and came swaggering at them.
"Willow, go!" Xander shouted as he moved in front of her to protect her.
"Xander," Willow shouted as the vampire jumped her best friend.
Xander took a step back and threw a punch that didn't even remotely phase the vampire. The vampire grabbed him and pulled him in for the kill as Willow desperately searched for a weapon. Finally she grabbed the vampire's arm trying to wrench him off her friend.
Suddenly out of nowhere someone grabbed the vampire by the shoulder and pulled him back, spinning him right around into the path of a fist. The punch was followed by a roundhouse kick and then another punch.
It was in that moment that Xander and Willow recognized their rescuer…Buffy. "Hi, guys," she said as the vampire lunged at her. She flipped him easily to the ground. She slammed her foot into his chest, sending him flying back into a tree impaling him on a broken branch and exploded into dust.
Buffy turned to her friends and smiled. "Miss me?" she said as she was pulled into their arms, they were obviously excited to see her.
"Buffy!" Willow said excitedly. .
Buffy smiled as she looked her best friends over, checking them for injuries. "Hey, Will."
"Man, your timing really doesn't suck," Xander admitted.
"When did you get back?" Willow wondered.
"About an hour ago," Buffy admitted. "Had to spend time with Prue, Piper and Phoebe. All of whom seemed to miss me more than you guys."
Xander and Willow smiled knowing that was very likely true. After all Buffy was not only the Charmed Slayer who helped the Charmed Ones. She was also Prue, Piper and Phoebe's cousin. They were sure the three women had been counting the days till Buffy returned home.
"Anyways," Buffy continued. "I knew you losers would be getting into some kind of trouble. So…"
"I think we had the upper hand," Willow said indicating the vampire dust. "In a subtle way."
"Does either of you even have a cross?" Buffy asked knowing they didn't. She waited for them confirm with a shake of their heads before nodding. "Very sloppy..."
"For me and Willow it hasn't been the most exciting summer," Xander admitted. "Not like it was for you anyways."
"Yeah," Willow agreed. "That was the first vampire we've seen since you killed the Master."
"Prue, Piper and Phoebe said the same thing," Buffy sighed. "I guess the demonic community was waiting for the Power of Three Augmented to be reunited before they started back up."
"So," Xander said as they started down the sidewalk, keeping close to Buffy. "How was the summer with your bio dad?"
"Strictly R&R," Buffy admitted. "Hung out, partied... shopping was also a major theme." adnutted.
"Well, you haven't lost your touch," Xander said looking over his shoulder to where the cemetery was. "That vampire—"
"I did kind of wail on him, didn't I?" Buffy asked. She of course knew why. The demon of fear had indirectly helped her get over her own death at the hands of the Master. While she had vanquished Rodriguez, who had killed Andy, herself. She had truly yet to get over Andy's death.
"I really like your hair," Xander said looking at Buffy hairstyle.
"So, how did you guys fare?" Buffy wondered looking between her friends. "Did you have any fun without me?"
"No," Xander replied instantly.
"Yes," Willow objected as she glared at Xander.
"For us summer was a little yawnworthy," Xander said reminding Buffy of what they said earlier. "Our biggest excitement was burying the Master."
"That's right, you missed it, because you were dealing with the demon of fear!" Willow pointed toward a tree in the cemetery. "Right out by that tree. Giles buried the bones and we poured holy water and chanted and we got to wear robes!"
"Very intense," Xander added. "You shoulda been."
"Have you seen Giles?" Willow asks.
Buffy atared at the tree. "I'll see him at school tomorrow."
"Man," Xander said wrapping an arm around Buffy. "I'm really glad you're back."
"Yeah," Buffy said unconvincingly. "Me too."
Halliwell Manor
Prue stood in Buffy's room unpacking her cousin's clothes and hanging them up in the closet. She heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Hank carrying yet another suitcase into the room. "Uncle Hank, that's not more clothes is it?"
Hank looked at Prue for a moment. Despite the fact he had been divorced now for over a year from Joyce; Prue, Piper and Phoebe continued to think of him as their uncle. He was almost certain it was a result of the fact that the fued between their grandmother and his ex-wife which had kept them from Joyce and himself. "Uh, do shoes count as clothes?" he said guiltly.
"That's shoes?" Prue asked regarding the suitcase. "How much shopping did you let her do?"
"She is my only daughter, Prudence. I am allowed to spoil her, you know," he admitted.
"Yes you are," Prue agreed. "But the problem is we are going to have to deal with the fallout. The…Daddy would let me buy that…argument."
Hank smiled. "I just thought I'd save you, Piper and Phoebe from the big back-to-school clothes nightmare," he told her.
Prue sighed. "My nightmares about Buffy and school have nothing to do with clothes," she admitted. Her nightmares dealt with Buffy dying to a vampire, warlock or demon. She knew at the time that she and Buffy had been only half joking when they had been helping Max Franklin and his father about her being a sort of maternal figure. But the way she looked at Buffy. Was not just as cousin, or a sister or even a witch. It was to a degree as a daughter. And as far as she was concerned that was exactly what Buffy was. "So did everything go alright?" she asked.
"She was, you know... great," he admitted.
Prue stopped unpacking to look at Hank. "I sense a but coming on," she retorted.
"She was just... I don't know," he said looking at his niece. "Distant. Not brooding, or sulking, just... there was no connection. All on the surface. The more time we spent together, the more I felt like she was nowhere to be seen."
Prue sighed. "I had been afraid of that," she admitted as he looked at her with raised eyebrows. "A friend of ours, from mine, Piper and Phoebe's childhood, died recently. Buffy got to know him pretty well, especially when I was dating him. I think it hit her hard when…"
"When he died," Hank said in understanding. "So soon after her mother had passed away."
"Exactly," Prue replied.
"If you want I can…" Hank said offering that he could stick around for a couple days.
"Thanks," Prue said. "But this is something, I think Piper, Phoebe and I will have to deal with ourselves."
August 18, 1997 – Monday
Gateway High School
Buffy led Xander and Willow down the hallways toward Giles and Ms. Calendar.
"Giles!" Willow said excitedly.
"Hey. G-man!" Xander added. "What's up?"
"Nice to see you and don't ever call me that," Giles replied as he glared at Xander for the nickname.
Ms. Calendar smiled. "Hey, kids."
"How are you?" Giles said as he turned his attention to Buffy.
"Alive and kicking," Buffy quipped.
"Buffy killed a vampire last night!" Willow said excitedly. She got several students giving her a look.
"Uh," Buffy said noticing the looks. "I think you can get a little more volume if you speak from the diaphragm."
"Sorry," Willow said as she stared at hre feet in embarrassment.
"We got vampires?" Ms. Calendar said clearly confused. "I thought the Hellmouth was closed."
Buffy sighed and shook her head. "Hellmouth is closed, sure. But demons will always come regardless. Or have you forgotten who Prue, Piper and Phoebe are?"
"The Charmed Ones," Ms. Calendar replied with a nod.
"Buffy is correct," Giles added. "She and her cousins will always be targets. But the Hellmouth itself maybe closed but it is not gone. The mystical energy it emits is still concentrated in this area."
"Which means any way you look at it," Xander said as he looked at his friends and the two teachres. "San Francisco is the demon, or warlock, or vampire's favorite party town."
"This vampire," Giles said looking at Buffy. "Could you tell where he might be from?"
Buffy thought back to last night. "Local talent," she told him. "Fresh. He was still wearing his funeral ensemble."
"Which means there are other vampires about, and they're already killing," Giles admitted with a sigh. "I should have been on top of that. I wonder if they're here for some particular purpose..."
"You know how much I hate research," Buffy whined. At least with her Book of Shadows and her cousins' book it was much more straight forward. Giles books required a lot more.
Giles looked at Buffy and then nodded. "Well, I have to consult my books."
Xander glanced down at his watch and smirked. "Eight minutes and thirty three seconds." He looked at Willow as he held out his hand. "Pay up." He looked back at Buffy and the two teachers as Willow dug a dollar out of her pocket. "I called ten minutes before you had to consult your books about something."
"We better get to class," Willow said handing over the dollar bill. She turned and led Xander away.
Buffy was about to follow them when Giles stopped her. "Buffy," he said "I realize you've only just returned, but when you're ready, I think we should start your training again."
"I'm ready," Buffy told him. "I'll see you after school."
"Well, I understand if you need a few days to—" he told her.
"I'm ready." Buffy repeated
Halliwell Manor.
Piper shook her head as she looked at her siblings. "You are sure that Andy's death has reawakened what she was feeling after drowning in the Master's cave?" she asked her big sister.
"Am I one hundred percent sure, no," Prue said. "But given what Hank said when we were unpacking her things last night. That's what it sounds like."
"So what do we do?" Phoebe wondered with a sigh. "We can't summon the Demon of Fear just to force Buffy to face…"
"I know," Prue sighed. "I don't know how to help her this time. In a way I wish we could ask Grams, mom or Aunt Joyce for advice. The three of us are basically parents to a sixteen year old girl who is going through things none of us went through when we were her age."
Gateway High School
Buffy stood in the library raining blows on a training post as Giles watched her with growing concern. "Buffy..." he said. "I think that's enough." He watched Buffy continued to hit and kick the training post for a moment before trying to get her attention again. "Buffy!"
Buffy jerked back from the post and with a snap kick, she easily broke the training post in half. She turned her attention to her Watcher, breathing heavily, a trickle of sweat on her forehead.
"Safe to say," Giles admitted. "You've stayed in shape."
Buffy smiled. "Well, I'm ready for anything those vampires want to throw at me," she replied.
"That's it for tonight," he told her and Buffy nodded heading out of the library. He moved into his office and picked up his phone and dialed. "Hello, Prue. It's Rupert."
"Is everthing alright?" Prue said and he could hear the tone of concern in her voice.
"I'm not sure," Giles admitted. "Buffy's training tonight was shall we say intense. I believe your concerns in regards to Buffy with Inspector Trudeau's death may be warranted."
Halliwell Manor
Buffy woke with a start, gasping and sweating. She sat up in bed completely freaked out. She ran her hand through her hair as she took a look around her darkened room. It was then she heard a noise come from her bedroom window. Shelooked over and saw Angel crouched outside the window.
"Hello," she told him.
"Mind if I come in?" he asked politely.
"Be my guest," she returned.
Angel stepped gracefully through the open window and moved to stand near her bed. "How are you?" he asked.
"Peachy," Buffy replied. For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence before she finally said, "So, is this a social call? It's kind of late. Or, it is for me. For you this is, what, lunch hour?"
"It's not a social call," Angel said trying to control his emotions.
"And that means grave danger," Buffy retorted with a sigh. "Gosh, it's so good to be home."
"I'm sorry," Angel said apologetically. "I wish I had better news."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Let me guess," she told him. "Some of your cousins have come for a family barbecue, and we're all on the menu."
"The Anointed One," Angel corrected her. "He's been gathering forces somewhere in town. I'm not sure why."
"Buffy? Are you up?" came Prue's voice from the hallway.
"I am, Prue," Buffy returned. "Angel came to pass on some stuff."
The door to the bedroom opened and Prue stepped inside. "What is it?" she asked looking at Angel.
"As I was telling Buffy, the Anointed One is gathering forces," Angel repeated.
"That's the kid isn't it that led Buffy to the Master?" Prue asked as Angel nodded.
"Yes," Angel replied before looking back at Buffy. "Don't underestimate him just because he looks a child. He has power over the rest of them. Its source is deep, and old. They'll do anything for him."
"Is that it?" Buffy asked. "Is that everything? Because you woke me up from a really nice dream."
"Payson Patricia Halliwell," Prue admonished spinning on her cousin. "Apologize, this instant."
"It's alright, Prue," Angel said looking at the eldest Halliwell. "I'll go." He turned and headed for the window. He stopped just as he was about to exit out it and called over his shoulder. "I missed you."
Buffy and Prue watched as he left the way he came through the window. After a moment her emotions spill out as she blurted out, "I missed…" She didn't get to finish as they watched him drop to the ground below.
August 19, 1997 – Tuesday
Buffy walked into the kitchen to find Prue, Piper and Phoebe waiting for her.
"Buffy?" Prue said from her place at the kitchen table as she laid down the newspaper.
"Yeah?" Buffy replied looking at her eldest cousin.
"What is wrong?" Prue asked staring at Buffy. "I have had reports from your father, who said you were distant during your visit. Rupert called yesterday and said your training session was especially intense. And the way you treated Angel last night…"
"I'm fine," Buffy retorted as she moved to the coffee pot and filled a mug with coffee.
Piper watched Buffy, it was unusual for Buffy to drink coffee, especially this early in the day. She looked at her sisters shaking her head before looking back at her cousin. "Buffy this is us. You don't have to hide what you're feeling."
Buffy turned and glared at Piper and then sighed in resigned defeat. "I've been having some bad dreams since Andy died."
Prue stood and moved to the blonde Slayer and pulled Buffy into her arms. "Buffy, you are not the only one, you know. I've had some bad dreams since he died. Couple it with your drowning just a little under two months before. It's understandable."
"Prue's right," Piper said as she moved and wrapped her arms around Buffy.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Phoebe asked as she moved beside her sisters and she too wrapped her arms around Buffy.
"I'm not ready," Buffy admitted. "Soon I promise, just not now."
Phoebe, Prue and Piper looked at each other and nodded as they looked back at Buffy.
"We're here, you know that," Prue told Buffy who nodded.
"I know, thanks guys," Buffy replied as she returned their embrace.
Gateway High
"Angel came by?" Willow asked as she, Buffy and Xander headed down the hallway "Wow. Was there, I mean, was it having to do with kissing?"
"With Prue there?" Buffy rolled her eyes. "Not everything is about kissing."
"Yeah!" Xander agreed. "Some stuff is about groping." He looked at Buffy with a worried expression. "It wasn't about groping?"
"Hello," Buffy said exasperated. "Hormones on Parade... it was pure shop talk. You know, vampires? Ring a bell? Pointy teeth, they walk by night..."
"What'd he say?" Willow wondered. .
Buffy shrugged. "Something's up. Nothing Prue, Piper, Phoebe or I can't handle."
"Oh! Hey!" Xander said changing the subject. "Did you guys know? Cibo Matto is gonna be at The Bronze tonight."
"Cibo Matto?" Willow asked looking at Xander. "They're playing?"
Xander rolled his eyes as he replied, "No, Willow, they'll be clog-dancing."
"Cibo Matto can clog-dance?" Willow said excitedly before she realized he was being sarcastic. "Oh, sarcasm. Right."
"We should attend, no?" Xander asked looking back at Buffy. "If you're not busy with fighting or anything."
"Sounds like fun," Buffy admitted.
"Oh, look. It's the Three Musketeers," Cordelia said as she walked up to them a jock in tow behind her.
Brief confusion crosses the Willow, Buffy and Xanders faces.
"Was that an insult?" Buffy asked with confusion. She looked at her friends who also showed signs of confusion.
"Kinda lacked punch," Xander replied.
"The Three Musketeers were cool." Willow told Cordelia.
Cordelia looked at Willow pondering that implication. "I see your point..."
"I would have gone with 'Stooges,'" Xander said looking at his friends.
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Well, I just meant you all hang out together. So, did you guys fight demons all summer?"
Buffy, Willow and Xander looked at each other panic etched on their faces.
"Yes! Our own personal demons!" Willow said a little excitedly.
"Such as lust... and, uh... thrift," Xander agreed.
Buffy looked at her friends, her mind still on the Three Musketeer's comment. "I think I would have to go with 'Stooges' also," she admitted.
"What are you guys talking about?" Cordelia asked looking between the three of them. "I'm talking about big squiggly demons that come from the ground. Remember, on prom night, with all the vampires?"
Buffy sighed. "Cordelia. Your mouth is open. Sound is coming from it. This is never good," she said as they drew Cordelia away from the jock, who really wasn't paying attention anyway.
"You see, we can't mention that stuff in front of other people," Xander said. "Buffy being the Cha…" He noticed Buffy's look and nodded. "…Slayer and all."
"You haven't been talking about your little adventure all summer, have you?" Willow hoped.
"Are you nuts?" Cordelia said as if the question was a complete surprise. "You think I would tell anyone that I spent the evening with you guys? Besides, it was all so creepy. That Master guy, screaming. I don't even like to think about it. Your secret is safe with me."
"That works out great," Buffy replied. "You don't tell anyone I'm the Slayer, and I won't tell anyone that you're a moron." She turned and walked away leaving Cordelia a little hurt by her barb. She didn't notice Xander and Willow sharing looks of concern. Looks she had seen mirrored earlier that day on Prue, Piper and Phoebe's faces.
Bronze
Buffy entered the club, she instantly spotted her friends and walked toward them, making her way through the crowd. She was half way to them when Angel appeared suddenly in her path. It took her a moment to throw up her defenses. "Oh. Hi again," she told him.
Angel smiled. "Hi," he returned.
"Is there danger at the Bronze?" Buffy queried.
"I can't help thinking I've done something to make you angry," Angel admitted looking at Buffy with concern. "That bothers me more than I'd like."
Buffy shrugged. "I'm not angry," she admitted. "I have no idea where that comes from."
"What are you afraid of? Me? Us?" he wondered.
"Uh, could you contemplate getting over yourself? There's no 'us'." Buffy said a little put off. "I'm sorry if I was supposed to spend the summer mooning over you, but I didn't. I moved on. To the living." She walked around him heading for Xander and Willow, passing Cordelia who had overheard the exchange.
"What's wrong with Angel?" Willow wondered with Buffy sat next to her.
Buffy shrugged. "Beats me," she said as the band started playing. She glanced over at Angel, who was hovering nearby watching her. She grabbed Xander's hand. "Let's dance."
Xander glanced at Willow clearly surprised by this change in Buffy. "Uh, uh..." he said as Buffy led him onto the dance floor.
As they started to dance, Buffy moved in a little closer than she normally. Her dancing was hot and wild, pure bad girl. If Xander hadn't known better he could have sworn he was in the movie 'Dirty Dancing'. As he danced with Buffy he wasn't sure whether he should be suspicious, aroused, or panicked of what was going on with his friend.
Buffy smiled at him. "Xander, did I ever thank you for saving my life?" she asked coyly.
"No," he replied confused on the question. He thought that Buffy had put her death at the Master's hands behind her when she faced the Demon of Fear.
Buffy got even closer to him, pressing her body up to his. She leaned in as if she was going to kiss him before whispering in his ear, "Don't you wish I would?" She spun on her heal and headed for the door. She didn't notice she was followed by Cordelia as she exited the building.
"Buffy," Cordelia called out to the blonde Slayer when they were about twenty feet from the door. Buffy stopped, turning to face her. "You're really campaigning for bitch of the year, aren't you?"
Buffy smirked. "As defending champion, are you nervous?"
Cordelia shook her head. "I can hold my own," she retorted as she stepped toward Buffy. "We've never been close, Buffy, which is nice, 'cause I don't like you very much. But you have, on occasion, saved the world and all that stuff, so I'm gonna do you a favor."
"Joyous me." Buffy said sarcastically.
"Your friends can't do it," Cordelia said waving her hand back at the Bronze. "Because they like you. And they're sort of afraid of you."
Buffy rolled her eyes, "What's the favor?"
"I'm going to give you some advice. Get over it," Cordelia told her. "Whatever's causing the Joan Collins 'tude, deal with it, embrace the pain, spank your inner moppet; but get over it, because pretty soon you won't even have the loser friends you've got now."
"I'd say it's about time for you to mind your own business," Buffy said as she subconsciously caused a fireball to form in her hand. .
Cordelia noticed the fireball and knew that she needed to get out of their quick before the witch part of Buffy did something Buffy would come to regret. "It's long past. Nighty night," she told Buffy as the fireball fizzled out. Buffy turned and began walking away from her. "I'll just go see if Angel feels like dancing."
Neither Buffy or Cordelia noticed that two vampires had emerged from the shadows behind Cordelia. They moved toward the brunette cheerleader slowly. As Buffy turned the corner Cordelia turned to head back inside just as the vampires grab her, dragging her off into the night.
Abandoned Factory
The vampires brought Cordelia down a set of stairs into the basement of the building. The shoved her into the dark - near pitch dark - room. They turned and headed back out through the door closing it behind them.
Terrified Cordelia looked at the door and then looked around the room as her eyes slowly adjust. She stepped forward slowly until she nudged a hand with her foot. She jumped back, then looked down at the figure on the floor. Kneeling down she pulled the figure into her lap and found the person the hand belonged to was Ms. Calendar.
"Ms. Calendar?" Cordelia said in clear surprise seeing Ms. Calendar's bruised and bloody face. "Oh God..." She looked around as the teacher groaned. She then turned her attention to the door. "What do they want?" As her eyes further adjust she noticed another woman was there also. She set Ms. Calendar down gently and moves over to the other woman. She blinked in realization as she recognized the woman as Buffy's youngest cousin…Phoebe Halliwell. "Ms. Halliwell?"
Restfield Cemetery
Buffy slowly made her way through the cemetery, lost in thought, wandering seemingly aimlessly. She noticed the tree that Willow said the Master was buried under. As she approached it she slowed down. She began to frown at what she saw ahead of her…the Master's grave was empty.
Buffy tried very hard to stay in control of her emotions. Andy's death and her own playing back in her mind almost simultaneously. She took a faltering step back as she looked at the grave, shaking, whispering to herself. "He's dead, he's dead... he's dead..."
August 20, 1997 – Wednesday
Halliwell Manor
Buffy came downstairs heading for the kitchen. She found Prue and Piper standing at the base of the stairs. "Buffy, have you seen Phoebe?" Prue asked.
Buffy looked at her cousins as concern entered her face. Her own problems suddenly forgotten. "No," she said. "Did she not come home last night?"
"No." Piper answered as she and Prue shook their heads. .
Buffy glanced at the door. She had to tell them, something larger was going on here. Angel's warning. Her dreams about Andy's death. The Master's grave being dug up. "Something might be up, I don't know," she said looking back at her cousins. "The Master's grave was dug up, he's gone."
Prue was suddenly moving toward her purse and her car keys. "Your sure?" she asked.
Buffy nodded. "Very," she replied.
"Then we better go see Rupert," Prue said as Buffy and Piper nodded in agreement.
"I think I am ready to talk," Buffy whispered as they headed out the door.
Prue and Piper glanced at her as they got into the car; Prue and Piper in the front seat and Buffy in the back.
"It's been too much," Buffy admitted. "Mom being killed by a warlock. Me technically dying not once but twice in the spen of a few months. Then we lose Andy. It's just been too much."
"We know how you feel," Piper said as she reached over the front seat and Buffy took hold of her hand. "But remember we're in this together."
"Piper's right," Prue said gazing at her cousin in the rearview mirror. "We have your back."
Gateway High
Buffy led Prue and Piper through the hallways of the school and into the school lounge where they found Giles, Xander and Willow.
"That's a very interesting point about trout!" Xander said glancing past Giles and seeing the eldest two Halliwells alongside Buffy. "That you made just now."
Giles looked at Xander with confusion. "Trout?" he asked, then he saw Buffy and her cousins. "Trout! Yes! The trout... is a fish. Good morning! Did you sleep well, Buffy?"
"Like a rock," Buffy lied glancing at Prue and Piper. She looked back at Giles. "The Master's gone."
"I'm sorry?" Giles asked in confusion.
Buffy looked at Prue and Piper, both of whom nodded in encouragement. "The Master," she told Giles as she looked back at him. "I went by his grave last night and they have a vacancy."
"Good god," Giles said in clear surprise.
"That's not the worst of it either," Prue added. "Phoebe's missing."
"Outside a warlock or a demon," Willow said looking at the eldest Halliwells. "Why would anyone take Phoebe?" She then looked at Giles. "And what would somebody want with Master bones?"
"Both are very good questions, Willow," Piper admitted. "And outside a warlock or a demon I can think of no one offhand that would want Phoebe." She looked at Giles for a moment. "As far as the bones are concerned. Since he didn't dust like a normal vampire. Is it possible to bring him back?"
"It is. But I've never heard of a revivification ritual being successful—" Giles replied.
"But you knew of the ritual," Piper said shaking her head.
"Thanks for the warning." Buffy added.
"Giles did bury him in hallowed—" Willow stated as Snyder walked over to the group.
"I believe that some of us have classes," Snyder said looking at the teenagers. He then turned his attention to Giles. "Some of us have jobs." He finally looked at Prue and Piper. "And some of us don't need to be on campus."
Prue glared at Snyder. "This is a family emergency. Our sister, Phoebe, Payson's youngest cousin, is missing. Payson and I were just asking her friends if they had seen them."
Snyder returned Prue's glare. "Make it quick this is a school and these three need to be in class," he replied before walking away.
"Prue, Piper, maybe you two and I should take this into the library," Giles suggested as Prue and Piper nodded in agreement. He then looked at Buffy, Willow and Xander. "Principal Snyder's right though you three should be in class. We'll find out what's going on."
The two groups headed off in different directions. The adults to the library, the teenagers to class.
"When was the last time you saw Phoebe?" Giles asks as the three of them entered the library.
"Last night," Prue replied.
"Phoebe had a date, she never came home," Piper added.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Giles walked through the library and stopped at the table that held the computer. Around it sat Buffy, Willow, Xander, Prue and Piper. "All right, I've got something," Giles said indicating the book in his hands. "It's latin, so bear with me. Um, to revive the vampire, they need his bones," he looked sheepishly at Buffy, "which they have... and, uh, the blood... this is very unclear... of the closest person, someone connected to the vampire."
"That'd be me," Buffy admitted. .
Piper thought about it and then looked at Prue. "That would explain Phoebe's disappearance," she admitted. "They might have kidnapped her to force Buffy to come to them."
"Perhaps," Prue agreed.
"We were very close. Way close. We killed each other, okay?" Buffy added. "It really promotes togetherness. Besides Piper is right what better way to lure me than to kidnap someone I love. And I love my cousin's more than anything in this world."
"Well, is there anything on when the ceremony might take—" Xander wondered as a rock came hurtling through window behind Xander. He ducked out of the way.
Buffy spun and with her Slayer enhanced reflexes she caught rock. Wrapped around it was Phoebe's Carolingian cross, and a note.
"This is Phoebe's," Prue said looking at the cross. She turned and looked at her cousin and sister and saw mirrored looks of concern.
Buffy unwrapped the note from the rock and read what it said. "Come to the Bronze before it opens, or we make her a meal."
"They're gonna cook her dinner?" Xander asked before realization set in. "Please pretend I didn't ask that."
"What do we do?" Willow wondered.
"I go to the Bronze and save the day," Buffy answered.
"I don't like this." Xander objected, completely against Buffy's plan.
"Nor I," Prue, Piper and Giles said in unison. .
"Well, you guys aren't going," Buffy told them.
"Buffy?" Prue said confused. Did her cousin have a death wish?
"Prue," Buffy said. "I got Phoebe into this, let me get her out. Please?" She looked at Giles, Xander and Willow. "And I don't want to risk you guys."
"What about the rest of the note?" Piper wondered indicating the subtext.
Buffy looked back over the note in confusion. "What rest?" she asked Piper.
"The subtext," Prue answered. "That it's a trap. You'll be playing right into their hands."
"And their hands are gonna get slapped," Buffy told Prue. .
"We should at least go in force," Xander argued. "Stock up on stakes."
Buffy sighed. "Guys! Look. I know you all want to help. And I appreciate it. But they already have Phoebe. Someone I love dearly. I don't know if I can take it if they took you all as well."
"As much as I don't want to say this, Buffy," Xander admitted. "Phoebe could be dead."
"If she is," Buffy said as a fireball formed in her hand. "This will be their reward." She looked at Prue and Piper. "In case Giles is wrong about the translation."
"We'll make sure their safe," Pipre said with a nod. "You just bring Phoebe back."
"Promise," Buffy said as she wrapped her arms around Prue and Piper, both of whom returned the embrace.
Bronze
Buffy was almost at the Bronze when Angel approached her. "I was hoping you would show," she told him without turning around. "Before we go in there I just want to apologize."
"There is no need, Buffy," Angel said as she laid a hand on her shoulder. "Prue called after you left the library. Filled me in on everything the last few months. Its understandable."
"Thanks," Buffy admitted finally looking at Angel.
"Your welcome," Angel said as he leaned down and kissed Buffy.
When they broked the kiss they walked into the club looking for Phoebe.
"Phoebe?" Buffy called out. She looked at Angel. "Kind of wish I had Piper with me. She could have frozen the room." As they searched the room a fireball formed in Buffy's hand as a precaution.
As they searched they heard the sounds of crying coming from near the stage. There they found a girl huddled on her knees, her back to Buffy and Angel, and wearing Phoebe's coat.
Buffy's eyes narrow suspiciously as she took a slow step forward. "That's not Phoebe," she told Angel. "She's not so weak she would be crying, not with vampires around. Not after everything we've seen."
The girl stood and turned toward Buffy. "Phoebe..." she said laughing, "she didn't come..."
"Where is she?" Buffy growled as she bounced the fireball from one hand to the other. .
"I'm not supposed to tell..." the vampire replied. .
"I don't like this," Angel told Buffy who glanced at him. "There's the bait. Where's the hook?"
Buffy realized Angel was right. It was a trap, it was just wasn't a trap for her. "Giles did translate it wrong," she realized as the vampire lunged at her. She instinctively rolled, flipping the vampire over. She rolled to her feet and stepped on the vampire's neck. She looked around some more. "You're right. It is a trap, it was just never for me."
Gateway High
"I still think we should have gone with her." Willow said looking at Piper and Prue. She saw that Giles was in the midst of researching the book he found.
Prue sighed as she looked at Piper. "Willow is right we should have."
"I know," Piper agreed. "She's walking into a trap. And for all we know the vampires could have made a deal with a Power of Three demon or a warlock or…" She sighed.
"Aha!" Giles said excitedly as he looked up from the book. "This Latin is translated from the Sumerian, and rather badly, which makes it difficult. But the person closest to the Master actually translates as the nearest—physically. The person or persons who..." he looked at Piper and Willow in realization. The only two beside himself the vampires needed to complete the set for the ritual, "...were with him when..."
"When what?" Willow wondered suddenly worried at his pause.
Giles looked at Willow and Piper, dead certainty on his face. "It IS a trap..." he said as he and Piper noticed too late that they were surrounded. He saw Piper raise her hands and to freeze the room as Prue stopped her, "...it just isn't for her." Giles says.
"We have to get them out. If you freeze the room you freeze Willow, Giles and Xander," Prue reminded her sister. "That makes them easy targets."
Piper nodded as she lowered her hands. "I wish one of us had a power like Buffy's," she told her sister.
Bronze
Buffy finished tying the vampire's hands behind her back with Angel's belt. She handed her off to him. "Watch her. Don't kill her if you don't have to."
"Buffy, what's going on?" Angel wondered.
"Giles translated the book wrong," Buffy told him. "The translation said the person closest to him. Since I killed him and him me, we thought they wanted me. They don't. The want the people physically close the Master when he dusted."
"Of course," Angel said with realization.
"And I hazard to guess they are only three shy of having a complete set," Buffy said. "So, watch her. I'll be back after I make sure Giles, my friends and my cousins are safe."
Angel nodded as he watched Buffy race out of the Bronze at top speed.
Gateway High
Buffy ran in to the library, frowning at what she saw. Everything was overturned and the only people still in the room were Xander and Prue. "PRUE!" she yelled as she ran to her cousin, who was struggling to get up. She noticed that Prue was beaten and bloody. "It was a trap, I know," she told her eldest cousin. "Hence why I thought leaving you and Piper behind…"
"I kow," Prue replied as Xander struggled to get up as well. They noticed he was just as beaten and bloody as she was. "They got Piper, Rupert and Willow."
"Do you know where?" Buffy asked as Prue shook her head.
"I don't know what your problem is—what your 'issues' are, and as of now I officially don't care!" Xander said as he glared at his friend. "If you'd worked with us for five seconds you could have stopped this."
"Xander," Prue said looked at the teenager. "Buffy's plan may not have been the best but it was sound at the time that she had left. If we had the correct translation, before hand then we could have been ready for them with her help. The translation is to blame not Buffy."
"No offense, Prue," Xander said as he glared at her. "But I knew you would side with her. After all the Power of Three Augmented, right? She hasn't been herself since she got back…"
"No I haven't," Buffy admitted with a sigh. "You have to remember Xander what I have gone through since the beginning of the year. My mom, dying. I have now died twice. Once against Jackson Ward, then against the Master. Then I watched a friend die. A friend I couldn't save, Xander. Despite who knows how many time loops, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and I lived through trying. I admit all of that, Xander. I admit this is my fault. Now I am asking for your help to get our friends and my family back."
Xander looked at Buffy for a long moment and then nodded. She hadn't framed what she said as an apology but he knew she meant it to be one. "How do we save them?"
"We need to find out where they were taken," Prue said. "The question is how."
"I think I know," Buffy said as she smiled. "The trap. They lured me to a Bronze where Angel and I found a vampire waiting."
"The vampire might know," Prue said. She grabbed her purse and car keys. "Let's go."
Bronze
Prue, Xander and Angel stood watching as Buffy used the vampire as a punching bag. "One more time," Buffy said as she hauled the vampire up. "Where are they?"
The vampire smirked. "You're too late. Your friends are dead."
"They better not be!" Buffy growled. "Now tell me where they are."
The vampire laughed. "What are you gonna do, kill me?" she asked.
"As a matter of fact, yes," Buffy replied as she punched the vampire in the face, sending her flying back and landing on the pool table. "Prue?" she held out her hand and Prue removed her Carolingian cross knowing exactly what her cousin intended and handed it to Buffy. Buffy moved to the pool table and dangled the cross over the vampire's face. She dropped the cross into the vampire's mouth and clamped it shut.
The vampire writhed as smoke poured out of her mouth.
"But since I'm not gonna kill you any time soon," Buffy explained with a smirk, "the question becomes, how do we pass the time till then?"
Prue looked at Xander and Angel. She could tell they were uncomfortable with Buffy's methods. "If we didn't need the information I wouldn'condone this one bit," she told them.
Buffy pulled the cross out of the vampire's mouth and smiled. "So. One more time."
Abandoned Factory
Cordelia sat tending to a still unconscious Ms. Calendar and Phoebe just as the door opened. She started back away from the vampire as he came near her. "Please... go away... what do you—" she begged as the vampire slugged her, knocking her out cold. He and two other vampires started dragging all three women up the stairs.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
The Anointed One walked past the old, rusted surgical table that held the Master's bones. In his hands he held a goblet. He came came to a stop at the head of the table next to the vampire known as Absalom, who wore a black ceremonial robe. He looked at the table and noticed the torches standing beside the table. He handed Absalom the goblet as Absalom looked up at the balcony signalling two vampires.
The two vampires began hauling on the chain and Willow, Giles, Ms. Calendar, Cordelia, Phoebe and Piper, who were hung upside down on meathooks were slid into position over the Master's bones.
Absalom dipped his finger into the goblet as he walked over to Willow and made a small 'x' on her forehead. Out of the corner of his eye he saw several other vampires who formed a semi-circle around the table as he moved on to the next victim.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Under the balcony Buffy led Prue, Xander and Angel through the door. They crept along in the dark until could see the center of the room.
Buffy stood there for a second looking at her friends and family hung upside down, fear and remorse flooding her.
"Buffy?" Prue whispered seeing the reaction in Buffy's eyes.
"It's my fault, Prue," Buffy whispered.
"It's not," Prue returned.
The Anointed One produced a curved knif and handed it to Absalom, who said a silent prayer over it.
"We gotta do something now." Xander told his friends and Angel. .
Buffy nodded. "You three get the others out of here," she told them. She noticed that Prue was about to object as Buffy brought a finger up to Prue's lips silencing her. "Please just do it my way, Prue. I would feel much better knowing your looking after our family."
"Okay, Buffy," Prue replied. "But I will keep an eye on you…"
"I would hope so," Buffy said as she smiled at Prue. "After all you might need to throw one off me, who knows."
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Absalom finished his prayer as he kissed the knife. "For the Old Ones, for his pain. For the Dark."
"For the Old Ones, for his pain. For the Dark," the other vampires repeated solemnly, one after another.
As Absalom brought the knife to Willow's throat one of the vampire's exploded into dust distracting him. He screamed, an inhuman shriek that galvanizes the vampires into action. They effectively flank Buffy, and two of the vampires rush her simultaneously.
Buffy spun into a roundhouse and struck both vampires in the jaw, staggering them back as third rushed her from behind. She flung a fireball behind her and the third one caught fire and exploded to dust.
A fourth one closed in on Buffy causing her to dodge the three pronged attack, darting between boxes and machines.
Absalom noticing Buffy was occupied. Roughly grabbed Willow's face and brought the knife to her throat. As he was about to slice her open, Willow, Cordelia, Piper, Phoebe, Giles and Ms. Calendar began to move toward the balcony. He looked up and saw that Prue was using her power to haul the victims toward her.
"A Witch!" Absalom screamed as one of the vampires attacking Buffy broke off from the fight heading for the balcony. "The sacrifices! Stop her!"
Buffy kicked one of the remaining two vampires. She then jumped, grabbing a box as she flipped over the pile,. As she landed on her feet she brought the box down over the other vampire's head smashing it with the box. She sent a side kick to the vampire and it flew backward into a corner.
The other vampire slammed into Buffy and they both tumbled to the floor.
As Prue used her power to bring everyone closer. Angel and Xander pulled them off the meathooks and set them safely on the balcony.
At that moment the last vampire crested the stairs. Angel having spotted him, turned toward the vampire, his vampiric visage showing. The vampire charged him and Angel lunged forward grappling with the vampire. As they stepped onto some rotten boards, they broke through them following to the floor below.
Buffy, who was still under a vampire, struggled to keep the vampire from biting her. Her hand swept the floor, coming up with a box shard. She slammed it into the vampire's back, pushing her off before the vampire exploded into dust.
The other vampire climbed swiftly to the ramp above Buffy's head, trying to escape. She instantly saw him as she ran and jumped. Grabbing a pipe she swung her legs up and through the wooden slats, tripping him up, sending him flying to the ground, landing hard.
The vampire facing Angel shoved a shard of wood straight at Angel's heart. Angel grabbed and shoved it harder back toward the vampire into the vampire's heart as he exploded into dust.
On the balcony Xander helped Willow off the meathook.
"Are you all right?" Giles asked Ms. Calendar helping her to her feet.
Ms. Calendar nodded. "I think so. My head..."
"Are you both okay?" Prue asked looking over both of her sisters for any injuries.
"Yeah I'm fine," Piper said as she smiled at Prue. She then turned to her baby sister. "Pheobe?"
"I'm good," Phoebe replied looking around for their cousin. "Where's Buffy?"
Xander and Prue looked at each other knowing exactly what was going on below them. Buffy was putting the trauma behind her by working out her issues on the vampires. "She's working through some stuff," Prue told them motioning toward where Buffy stood. "That said I think Buffy could use a little Charmed help."
"The Augmented version or the regular version?" Phoebe questioned.
"Augmented," Prue and Piper answered in unison.
Piper nodded as she and her sisters began to chant. "The Power of Three and the Charmed Slayer will set us free."
Buffy felt something building within her and as she looked up at her cousins she knew exactly what she was feeling. Instead of her augmenting them, they were augmenting her. She returned her attention the vampire in front of her. She spun into a roundhouse kick so powerful that it sent the vampire flying backwards into a corner.
"Enough!" Absalom called out as he stepped out of the shadows. In his hands he held a sledgehammer. "Your day is done, girl. I'll grind you into a sticky paste. And I'll hear you beg before I smash in your face."
"So, are you gonna kill me? Or are you just making small talk?" Buffy asked the power from her cousins spell flowing through her. "The Power of Three and the Charmed Slayer will set us free," she said joining Prue, Piper and Phoebe in on their chant. She held her hands above her head as the largest fireball she had ever created formed between them.
Absalom rushed Buffy, swinging back the hammer. At the same time, the other vampire rushed her from behind. She flung the giant fireball at Absalom and as he caught on fire he exploded to dust. She spun powering up another fireball and flung it at the last vampire and as he too caught on fire, he exploded to dust.
Buffy spun around catching the sledgehammer before it hit the ground. She took a moment looking at the bones and then smiled as she looked at her cousins. "This is for Andy and for me," she said loud enough for Prue, Piper and Phoebe to hear.
Prue, Piper and Phoebe all nodded.
"It's over," Willow said as Xander helped her to her feet.
"No it's not," Prue, Piper and Phoebe said in unison. They glanced at each other knowing that Buffy intended to do needed to happen for their cousin to finally put the last half a year behind her.
Buffy turned her attention back to the Master's bones as she brough the sledgehammer up. She brought it down again and again starting with the skull, smashing the bones to a powder.
When she is finally finished Angel approached Buffy, slowly. He touched her shoulder and she dropped the hammer, shaking. She started crying just as he folded her into his arms. "It's okay... it's okay..." he told her.
Out of the corner of his eye, Angel saw Prue, Piper and Phoebe come down from the balcony and walk over to them. He nodded as he pulled away from the woman he loved to let her family comfort her.
Prue, Piper and Phoebe pulled Buffy into their arms and held onto her tightly, comforting her. Letting her know they were going no where and neither was she.
August 21, 1997 – Thursday
Gateway High
Giles and Prue walked with Buffy toward the entrance to the school. Prue had noticed that morning that some of the swagger in her cousin had disappeared. She understood why, Buffy was in the midst of grieving, finally truly grieving. Not only for Joyce, but for herself and for Andy.
"I don't think I can face them," Buffy told them.
Prue smiled at Buffy as she ran a hand through Buffy's hair. "Of course you can," she told her cousin.
Buffy looked at Prue for a long moment. "I can't! What am I gonna say? 'Sorry I almost got your throats cut. What's the homework?'"
Giles looked at Prue who nodded. "Punishing yourself like this is pointless."
"He's right, Buffy," Prue agreed. "After all its not your fault that happened to your friends, Rupert or our family."
"You and I both know, Prue, that is not the only reason for how I felt," Buffy admitted looking at her cousin.
"Your right it's not," Prue agreed. "But that doesn't change the facts. It is still not your fault. Jeremy is to fault for Aunt Joyce. Jackson Ward is to fault for your first death. The Master for your second. And Rodriguez, or whatever is actual name was, is responsible for of those you yourself avenged or helped to avenge." She placed a hand on her cousin's shoulder. "Would you like me me to come with you?"
Buffy smiled at Prue as she patted Prue's hand in thanks for the offer. "This is something I have to do alone," she told Prue. "Just like I will have to do it again when I get home from school."
Prue nodded. "I understand. And Buffy I'm proud of you."
Buffy smiled. "Thanks, Prue," she called over her shoulder.
0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0
Buffy walked into the classroom, slowly making her way to the back row where Willow and Xander sat, talking. She noticed that Willow had saved her a seat and she smiled.
"Buffy," Willow said excitedly.
"Hey," Buffy returned.
Willow motioned toward the empty seat, "We saved you a seat..." she told her friend who smiled gratefully at her before sitting.
"There's a rumor going around that Mr. Cox is the most boring teacher in the entire world," Xander said as he leaned toward Buffy and Willow. "Like I think he won a belt or something."
"Lucky us." Buffy quipped.
"Well, I hear he nods off a lot, so that's a plus," Willow told them.
"So, are we bronzing tonight?" Xander wondered.
"Thursdays it's kind of beat," Willow reminded Xander. .
"Well, we could grind our enemies into talcum powder with a sledgehammer, but, gosh, we did that last night," Xander joked.
Buffy laughed as she relaxed al little. "Normally I would love to, but there is something else I have to do tonight."
"Don't tell me Giles has you patroling?" Willow asked looking at her friend with worry.
Buffy shook her head. "No. Apologizing to my family. But you know what you guys can come along and watch me embarrass myself."