Q/A - Leana - Yes I did skip the Charmed episode "Bite Me". It has no place in this story. In "Bite Me" you see the Charmed version of vampires. Those vampires do not mesh with the BTVS version of vampires which are the ones you see in this story. I decided to skip than to try and rewrite it to make it work.
Chapter 106: Pangs
A young, sweet-faced student-type, Jamie, takes a short-cut through the woods. He looks behind him, sees nothing, and he keeps going. He looks back again, nothing again, and this time when he turns back to keep going, he's face to face with Buffy, her arm up, fireball in hand.
"Looking for me?" Buffy says.
Jamie jumps and yelps. "Holy- What do you want? I've got money—" Buffy backhands Jaimie. His head is thrown back... "Hey!"
Buffy flinches... what if she was wrong? But then his head whips back to face her, and she sees he's in vampface. "Look who's home."
Jamie's innocent demeanor is gone. He snarls at her. "Slayer."
Buffy throws the fireball, but he ducks it. She kicks, sweeping his legs from under him. He goes down, but surprises her by popping back up again fast and throwing a punch which she ducks and returns with brutal speed.
"Why don't you just go back where you came from? Things were great before you came. We ruled this campus. You've ruined everything." Jaimie says.
Buffy punches him again, he absorbs the blow. He punches at her. She ducks it, grabs his shoulder, spins him... "And they say one person can't make a difference." She powers another fireball throwing it and he dusts. Job done, but Buffy seems unsatisfied. She looks around, as if sensing something else, turning curiously in place.
Deep in the shadows something lurks. It moves, and moonlight falls across a face. It's Angel, watching Buffy.
Buffy can't identify what she's feeling. She walks off slowly, unresolved.
The next day Buffy, Willow and Anya stand among a small crowd of college students.
"Of all the duties of a dean, one of the most pleasant is to see a colleague realize a dream..." Dean Guerrero says.
The Dean is speaking from a dais set up in a cleared building site. Other campus officials flank him. A banner across the front of the dais says: U.C. SAN FRANCISCO CULTURAL PARTNERSHIP CENTER. Off to one side, Xander, dressed in work clothes and a hard-hat and leans on a shovel, stands with other construction-type guys, listening idly to the speaker.
"Ladies, gentlemen, students, I present to you, Professor Gerhardt of the Anthropology department." Dean Guerrero says.
Some polite applause as the Dean steps aside next to his wife and the curator, Professor Gerhardt, takes his place.
"When I first realized we were outgrowing the current Cultural Center, I was concerned. Then I realized it was like seeing one's child grow up, and move on to better things. In this case, a spacious new facility to be built on this site..." Professor Gerhardt says.
"Look at him. Have you ever seen anything so masculine?" Anya asks.
"You mean Dean Guerrero, or his wife?" Buffy asks.
"I think she means..." Willow says as she indicates Xander.
"Oh. Right. Very manly. Not at all Village People." Buffy says.
"So much sexier than the outfit from his last job." Anya says.
"I miss the free hot dogs on sticks." Willow says.
"I'm imagining having sex with him right now." Anya says.
Buffy and Willow look at Anya.
Professor Gerhardt finishes her speech and Buffy applauds along with the crowd, but...
"What a load of horse hooey!" Willow says.
"We have a counter point?" Buffy asks.
"Thanksgiving wasn't about blending cultures, it's about one culture wiping out another. Then they make animated specials about the parts with the maize and the big big belt buckles. They don't show you the next scene where all the bison die and Squanto takes a musket ball in the stomach." Willow says.
"Okay, for some of that you were channeling your mom, right?" Buffy asks.
"Well, sort of. That's why she doesn't do Thanksgiving, or Columbus Day. You know, destruction of the indigenous peoples. Which sounds, I know, a little overwrought, but really she's right." Willow says.
"Yeah, I guess so. I never thought about it that way."
Professor Gerhardt steps out from behind the dais, and takes up a small shiny shovel. "And thus... a symbolic beginning!" She turns over the ritual spadeful of dirt.
"What's she doing? Xander said he was going to dig! I want to see Xander dig!" Anya says.
"This part's just ceremonial." Willow says.
"Well it bites. She's not rippling at all." Anya says.
The ritual done, the crowd begins to disperse. Xander and two other construction guys step forward and start to dig in earnest.
"There he is." Buffy says.
"Ooh. Look at him." Anya says.
"Very... diggy." Willow says.
"Soon he'll be sweating. I'm imagining having sex with him again." Anya says.
"Imaginary Xander is quite the machine." Buffy says.
Xander plunges his shovel into the dirt and looks up at his little audience... he smiles and waves... then his smile drops, and he goes with it...
BOOM... a six-foot chunk of earth collapses in on itself. Xander falls and finds himself thrown into a dark buried chamber. Adobe walls, a large crucifix on one of them... it's an old Spanish mission.
Xander, dirty and shaken, picks himself up and looks around."Ow. I'm okay! I'm... okay..." He stares at his surroundings.
The next day at the Manor, Willow is talking, but Buffy is distracted. Buffy keeps glancing at the window.
"While they were pulling Xander out, I heard some of the Anthro profs talking about it - man, were they excited. It's the old San Francisco Mission, which everyone thought was lost." Willow says.
"Uh-huh." Buffy says.
Piper walks into the living room from the kitchen, "Tea, Willow?"
"Yes, please. Thank you Piper." Willow says as Buffy's looking at the window. "Is there something out there?"
Buffy shakes her head, "No. Sorry. A lost Mission? I mean, a hairbrush, I can understand, but how do you lose a Mission?"
"Huge earthquake in 1812. Everyone assumed the Mission was leveled but instead they just built over it. It's like what happened in the thirties with that church the Master was in. Doesn't it make you wonder what else is there, right under our feet?" Willow says.
"Well the Manor itself was rebuilt after the 1906 earthquake." Piper says.
"Wow, really?" Willow asks. "I didn't know that."
"Mostly? I've found sewers full of demons." Buffy says.
"Oh, right." Willow says.
"So Willow. You coming to our little get together to celebrate our vanquishing the Source?" Piper asks.
Willow smiles, "Sure. Maybe we can do a triple celebration you know vanquishing the Source, welcoming Phoebe home and defeat of Adam."
Buffy shakes her head, "With how we had to vanquish the Source I don't think adding Phoebe to the mix with a welcome home is the right thing."
"Maybe your right. Just a double celebration. You know you guys and Xander and Tara and Giles…"
"Sounds like fun." Buffy says.
Buffy goes to the window and looks out into the darkness.
"We could not invite Anya!" Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I don't know... She and Xander seem pretty tight lately."
"Grumble grumble." Willow says.
Later at the Old Cultural Center Buffy, Piper and Willow make their way into a crime scene, now abandoned by the police. The lights are out and Piper and Willow carry flashlights.
Buffy starts searching the room, seeing the clean scissors, the floor still stained with blood. "Never get used to this. One day she's at the Friendship Ceremony, the next day she's on the news."
"The coroner's office said she was missing an ear. So, I'm thinking maybe we're looking for a witch. There are some great spells that work much better with an ear in the mix." Willow says.
"A witch?" Piper asks.
"A bad witch?" Willow asks. "I mean no disrespect Piper. But if Phoebe can go evil even temporarily. Couldn't another witch go evil also?"
Piper nods, "You have a point, Willow."
Buffy moves on to looking in the display cases.
"Or... or maybe an ear-harvesting demon. Like, it's building some kind of other demon completely out of ears..." Willow says.
Buffy pictures that, makes a face.
"Ooh. Thought. We're assuming that someone else cut off the ear. What if it was self-inflicted, like Van Gogh?" Willow says.
"So... she viciously stabbed herself to death, dumped the knife, then she cut off her own ear." Buffy says.
"No. She cut off her ear, then she killed herself, then she dumped the... I'm really off my game, aren't I?" Willow asks.
Piper smiles, "It's okay."
"Hey, look. Something's missing from this case." Buffy says looking in one of the display cases. "Early eighteen-hundreds. Chumash knife. There's a picture." She picks up a drawing of the missing knife and looks at it.
"What's it look like?" Willow asks.
Piper looks at the picture, "Definitely no athame. Looks like something caved a hundred years ago."
The next day back at the Manor Giles watches as Buffy unloads groceries in the kitchen.
"Pretty darn scary... I mean, it was more like a riot than a Ralph's. I thought I was going to have to put some Slayer moves on this one lady who was completely hoarding the pumpkin pie filling." Buffy says.
"And, at some point you're going to tell me about the murder. That is why you had me over, remember?" Giles says.
"Oh. Well, the knife was some kind of Indian artifact. Chumash. That's all we've got." Buffy says.
"The Chumash Indians? They were the original inhabitants of this whole area. Interesting. Of course, maybe the murder weapon was simply a convenient choice—" Giles says.
Buffy starts rummaging around in the cupboards. "Guy had a big ol' scissors right there. The knife was picked out for a reason. Piper where's the turkey pan."
Piper comes into the kitchen and goes to a cabinet opposite the one Buffy was looking in. "You know you don't have to do this by yourself, Buffy."
Buffy looks at Piper and then sighs, "Sure why not. I'm over my head anyways. Where's the harm in having a chef help ya." She looks back at Giles. "How 'bout that ceremonial knife, huh? Pretty juicy piece of clueage, don't you think?"
Giles nods. "Yes, all right. I'll look into the Chumash connection. See if there's some ritual significance to the ear removal."
That evening Buffy and Willow walk near the Espresso Pump.
"But you have whipped cream. I saw it in your fridge." Willow says.
"That was the whipped cream in the canister. You know..." Buffy says as she imitates aerosol whipped cream sound. "It's only right if you whip it yourself."
"Yay. And then we can churn our own butter and make sweaters out of sheep!" Willow says.
Buffy looks at her, recognizes the teasing. "I swear, this'll be the last thing. Anyway, I have an appointment to go see this priest Giles called me about. He thinks he might have some information—"
"Buffy? Hey! Buffy!" Riley calls out.
They look up to see Riley trotting across the street.
"Hi. I didn't see you at all. Where'd you come from?" Buffy asks.
"Oh, just across the street, and... and a couple blocks down. Hey, Willow." Riley says.
Willow smiles, "Hi. You know, I think I'll just let you two... Hey, look, they're selling coffee in the... coffee shop. Yum." She ducks into the Espresso Pump.
Willow ducks around the corner into the shop, and slams into someone standing and looking out at the street.
"Ow."
Willow steps back, sees who she hit. "Ang—" Angel presses his hand over her mouth. "Evil. You're all evil again."
Angel lets her go. "I'm not evil. I'm here to help Buffy."
"What's going on?" Willow asks.
"My friend had a vision. Buffy's in danger." Angel says.
Alarmed, Willow glances back at Buffy, who is happily chatting with Riley - no obvious danger there.
"So tell her. Help her." Willow says.
"If she sees me it'll be worse." Angel says. "You know how I feel about her. If there was any way..."
Willow nods, "Sorry. Yeah. I know."
"It's just, everything's different now." Angel says.
"So I've heard. Hey, is Cordelia really working for you? That's gotta be... a special experience. Of all the people you could've hired—" Willow says.
"Will. I'm here to protect Buffy. I don't have a whole lotta time for personal stuff." Angel says.
Willow nods, "Right. How can I help?"
"Well, if you can just tell me..." Angel says. "Who's that guy?"
Buffy and Riley continue to talk outside.
"...it'll be just like it was when I was a kid. Only without me building a fort out of my mashed potatoes." Buffy says.
"Sounds like fun." Riley says.
"Hey, you know what? If you're around, you know, and you don't have anywhere to go... Well, you should come. I'm a great cook. Well actually Piper's the great cook and while I want to do it myself. She'll probably be doing it all."
"That sounds so great. But I'm out of here tonight, I'm catching flight back to Iowa." Riley says.
"Iowa. That's one of the ones in the middle." Buffy says.
Riley laughs. "My folks are there. My sister's getting married."
"Wow, congratulations. For your sister that is."
"Thanks." Riley says.
"Well, you have fun at the homestead." Buffy says.
"Always do. What's the line - "Home's the place that, when you have to go there –"
"- they have to take you in. That's what they say." Buffy says.
Riley smiles and leans down and kisses Buffy. "I'll see you when you get back."
Later Buffy walks through an empty church. Carved images, stained-glass images of angels look down at her as she walks. "Hello? Father Gabriel?" She sees an open side door. She exits into a courtyard, full of arches and vines. "Father? Are you out here?"
Buffy rounds a corner to see the priest, dead, hanged, dangling from an archway. Hus stands beside the body. He reaches up, knife glinting... "Goddess…"
Hus severs the ear from the man with a brutal stroke of his knife. He tucks the ear into a pouch tied at his waist. Buffy delivers a spinning kick that throws him away from the body. He brings up the knife.
"You can't stop me." Hus says.
"You're very wrong about that." Buffy says as she throws a punch, but he blocks it with his free hand. Throws her and they tumble, come up facing each other again.
"I am vengeance. I am my people's cry. They call for…" Hus says pointing to himself, "…Hus, for the avenging spirit, to carve out justice."
"They tell you start an ear collection?" Buffy asks.
Furious, he lunges. They spar, end up on the ground.
Buffy gets the upper hand, taking Hus' knife as they grip each other, Hus just holding the knife away. He looks at it with concealed fear.
"You slaughtered my people. Now you kill their spirit. This is a great day for you." Hus says.
Buffy hesitates, weakens, and Hus breaks free, wrenching his knife from her and rolling away. He comes up, stands before her silhouetted and turns into a flock of birds, which fly off into the sky. Buffy looks up after them, startled. She stands alone and empty-handed.
Back at the Manor Piper is putting the turkey into the oven while Buffy peels potatoes. Giles stands in the doorway listening to Buffy's exploits at the church.
"We're clearly dealing with a spirit of some kind. It's very common for Indian spirits to change to animal form." Giles says.
"Well it's plenty uncommon for me to freeze up during a fight. I had the guy, I was ready for the takedown and I stopped! And "Native American"." Buffy says.
"Sorry?" Giles asks.
"We don't say Indian." Piper says as she puts four yams in the oven as well.
"Yes! Right. Always behind on the terms. Still trying not to refer to you lot as 'bloody colonials'." Giles says.
"The thing is, I like my evil like my men: evil. You know, straight up, black hat, tie you to the railroad tracks, soon my electro ray will destroy metropolis BAD. Not all mixed up with guilt and the destruction of an indigenous culture." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "This spirit warrior - Hus, you called him? - has killed innocent people."
Buffy nods, "We need to boil these and put them through a ricer, Piper?"
Piper nods, "Right, Buffy."
Buffy looks back to Giles, "I want to stop this guy. I just wish there was a non-slayee and non-Charmed way to do it.
They hear the doorbell.
"I've got it." Paige says.
"Thanks, Paige." Buffy says.
In the foyer Paige opens the door. She sees Willow laden down with books. On top of the books are two packages of frozen peas. On top of the peas is a determined scowl.
"Hey." Willow says.
"Hey! Peas?" Paige asks.
Willow indicates her head, "Peas."
Paige takes the peas as Willow dumps books onto coffee table in the living room.
Giles comes out of the kitchen and sees the books, "What's all that?"
"Atrocities! I got the full poop on the Chumash Indians and our fabulous buried Mission." Willow says as they walk back into the kitchen.
"These are frozen." Paige says as she hands the can of peas to Buffy.
Buffy sighs, "You said you were gonna get fresh ones."
"Atrocities?" Willow asks.
"Peas. You know, in the little pods... you were gonna shell them." Buffy says.
"I didn't have time. I was busy reading about the Chumash war." Willow says.
"The Chumash were peaceful." Giles says.
Willow nods, "Oh, they were peaceful, all right. They were fluffy indigenous kittens! 'Til we came along."
"They're gonna be mushy." Buffy says.
Piper shakes her head, "Buffy they'll be fine. We can make do."
"What happened to the Chumash?" Buffy asks as she hands the can of peas to Piper.
"How about imprisonment? Forced labor? Herded like animals into a mission full of bad European diseases?" Willow asks.
"Boy, the Cultural Partnership center really didn't stress any of that stuff." Buffy says.
"Not even a diorama. And it gets better. The few Chumash who tried to rebel were hanged, AND, when a group was accused of stealing cattle, they were killed, men women and children, and for proof to bring back to their accusers..." Willow says.
Paige shakes her head, "Those poor people."
"They cut off their ears." Giles says.
"So Hus wasn't kidding with that "rightful vengeance" routine. He's recreating all the wrongs that were done his people." Buffy says.
Giles shakes his head, "And he's not likely to stop."
Piper nods, "So it's up to us to stop him."
"What's up to us?" Phoebe asks.
"Hus." Buffy says. "Chumash spirit who's out for revenge for his people. But we'll wait till after dinner, right?"
"You sure we shouldn't be helping him?" Willow asks.
Giles shakes his head, "No, I think perhaps we WON'T be helping the angry spirit with his rape and pillage and murder."
"Well, okay, no, but we should be helping him redress his wrongs. Bringing the atrocities to light!" Willow says.
"Well, if the history books are filled with them, I'd say they already are –" Giles says.
"Giving his land back!" Willow says.
"Well, maybe we could do that –" Buffy says.
"It's not exactly ours to give." Giles says.
"I don't think you want to help. I think you just want to slay the demon and then go la la la." Willow says.
"Of course we don't, Willow." Piper says. "They suffered unjustly. If we can make this right we should try. But were not going to let him kill anymore innocents either." She kneels down, opens the oven door and bastes the turkey. She closes the oven door again.
Giles pulls Willow aside, speaking so Buffy, Piper, Phoebe and Paige won't hear.
"Willow, I have reason to believe Buffy herself may be in particular danger from this menace." Giles says.
"Oh. You mean" Willow says as she mouths the next part. "Angel." She nods speaking again, "I saw him too."
"Not terribly stealthy of him." Giles says.
"I think he's lost his edge." Willow says.
"But Buffy doesn't know –" Giles says.
"No no! Not a peep." Willow says.
Giles nods, "Well, good, but this is why we need to keep a level head about this menace."
"And I happen to think mine is the level head and yours is the one that things would roll off of." Willow says.
Giles is about to reply when there is a knock at the door.
Phoebe goes to the front door and opens it to reveal Xander and Anya.
Xander looks weak and sweaty. "Hi."
Phoebe stares at Xander, looking concerned. "Xander. You look like death. Are you okay?"
Buffy walks into the foyer, "You didn't bring rolls?"
Moments later Xander is on the couch with a blanket. Willow pores through books, many of which are open on the coffee table. Buffy sits facing Xander, stirring pumpkin pie mix with a whisk. Phoebe and Paige sit on either side of Buffy. Anya sits beside Xander, tending his brow. Giles hovers.
"The doctor couldn't figure out what was up with me. Said I had a lot of symptoms that didn't connect." Xander says.
"I think they connect." Buffy says.
"What, to this Chumash spirit vengeance guy?" Xander asks.
"Didn't you say the Chumash got all diseased, holed up in the mission?" Buffy asks.
Willow nods, "Yeah. This has a better account of everything. Lists the various..."
"Various? As in..." Xander says.
"Well, the important thing is not to panic." Paige says.
Phoebe looks at Buffy, "Maybe we should call Leo?"
Buffy nods, "Yeah."
"Leo!" Phoebe calls as Leo orbs in.
"Well, you just recited the mystical panic-causing incantation so little hope there. Tell me about the various." Xander says.
"Yeah?" Leo asks.
"Well, they did suffer from malaria, some smallpox." Willow says.
Phoebe motions towards Xander, "We think Xander may have been infected by a Native American spirit from the Chumash tribe. You think you can try and heal him?"
Leo nods, "I can try."
"I was gonna say smallpox –" Anya says.
Leo moves over to Xander and kneels down next to him. He holds out his hands and tries to heal Xander.
"Plus, you know, a little Syphilis, basically standard sort of –" Willow says.
"Syphilis?" Xander asks.
Leo shakes his head, "Sorry Xander. Whatever it is, it's not healing."
"Thanks for trying, man." Xander says.
"But this is probably mystical, and it'll all go away as soon as –" Willow says.
Leo smiles, "No problem."
"As soon as what? We still don't know what we're gonna do." Buffy says.
"Maybe I can find something." Willow says as she flips through books. Anya takes the first book Willow was looking through.
"Well let's give him some land, I'm sure that will clear everything right up." Giles says.
"Giles, the sarcasm accomplishes nothing." Buffy says.
"Well, it was sort of an end in itself." Giles says.
"Can we come rocketing back to the part about me and my new syphilis?" Xander asks.
"Oh, that'll make you blind and insane, but it won't kill you. The smallpox will." Anya says.
"Sweetie... not helping." Xander says.
"There might be a wiccan spell that could cure it, something regular medicine doesn't know about. I think there was a potion..." Willow says.
Phoebe shakes her head, "Willow remember that time Buffy and Piper had the Arroyo fever?"
Willow nods, "Yeah."
"We tried casting a spell. It had personal gain issues. There is no potion or spell that will work without personal gain. Don't bother trying." Phoebe says.
"You're going to get vesicles. Then pustules. They have pictures." Anya says looking at the book in her lap.
"I hate this guy." Xander says.
"He's just doing what was done to him." Willow says.
"I didn't give him syphilis!" Xander says.
"But you freed his spirit, and after a century of unrest he saw you as one of his oppressors." Giles says.
"So he rises up and infects the first guy he sees? That's not fair." Xander says.
Willow sighs, "Like you've never woken up cranky."
"But why the others? Why them particularly?" Paige asks.
"So let's take this guy out! It is for to be slaying sometime soon, yeah?" Xander asks.
"Well, that's sort of the question before the court." Buffy says.
"Question?" Xander asks.
"There's two sides to it." Willow says.
"To slaying him? Well, the representative from syphilis votes "yea"." Xander says.
Leo shakes his head, "It's not that simple, Xander."
"He's a vengeance demon! You don't talk to vengeance demons, you kill them!" Xander says.
"I didn't know you felt that way." Anya says, quietly.
"What? I didn't mean - you're an EX-vengeance demon, it's totally different..." Xander says.
"Sure. It's okay." Anya says, hurt.
Xander sighs, "Anya..."
"Anyway, he's a spirit, not a demon." Willow says.
"Yes, we've never faced this exact sort of spirit. We really don't know what will kill it."
"Uhm I think the Spirit spell would work." Paige says. "Problem is you have to be dead to say it. None of the others would work as they require potions."
"Again with the killing!" Willow says.
"Yes, Willow, we all appreciate your perspective –" Giles says.
"Some vengeance is justified, you know..." Anya says.
"I don't think anyone "appreciates" the truth of this situation..." Willow says.
"You know I didn't mean you..." Xander says.
"I think we do..." Giles says.
Buffy stands. "This is no good." Everyone stops. "It needs more condensed milk." She walks into the kitchen as Giles follows her.
"Buffy, Xander is in real danger. Are you sure the solution is pie?" Giles says.
Piper looks back at Buffy and Giles, "Something going on? I heard a lot of yelling in there."
"Over bickering and confusion? I'll take pie." Buffy says.
Giles sighs, "We will find a solution –"
"And we will have a nice dinner. Okay? Both. End of story. Everything is going to be perfect."
"Hus won't stop. Vengeance is never sated, Buffy. Hatred is a cycle. All he will do is kill." Giles says.
Piper sighs and turns to Giles, "This spirit is a Charmed matter. This is not something Buffy can handle as a Slayer. We have pretty much two options. Either help it to move on. Or try and vanquish it. Since it has no bones. Only thing that will vanquish it is the spirit to spirit spell. And that requires someone to die to say it. So the only recourse is to try and appease it somehow. So it can move on."
Suddenly Giles thinks of something. "Apart from Xander, Hus has targeted authority figures - Father Gabriel, the curator of the Cultural Center... who fits this pattern?"
"The Dean. Dean Guerrero, he's the king of us - and he was at the ceremony..." Buffy says.
Giles nods, "Likely candidate. We'll need to warn him."
Buffy looks at Piper, "I understand your reasoning, Piper. But as long as this spirit is killing innocents. He has to be vanquished. And since we can't do spirit to spirit we will have to find another way."
Buffy and Giles goes back into the living room.
"Will, isn't there anything in there about how to stop a Native American spirit guy? Some nice, non judgemental way to, you know, kill him?" Buffy says.
"I'm not helping you kill him! I'm not on board." Willow says as she gathers up her books, holds them to her.
"Will, what choice do we have?" Buffy asks.
Will stands. "This isn't a Western, Buffy! We're not at Fort... Halliwell, with the cavalry coming to save us! It's one lonely and oppressed warrior guy who's just trying to –"
"— kill a lot of people?" Buffy says.
"I didn't say he was right..." Willow says.
"Will, you know how bad I feel. This is eating me up but even though it's hard, we have to end this. Yes, he's been wronged, and I personally would be ready to apologize..." Buffy says.
"If we could talk to him –" Willow says.
Buffy sighs, "All right. Whatever happens, someone should go warn the Dean."
"I'll go. I need the air.' Willow says.
"Not alone." Buffy says.
"I'll go." Anya says.
"Me too." Xander says.
"You sure you're up to it?" Phoebe asks.
Xander nods, "I'm up to it."
"We'll keep looking for a... solution." Giles says.
Buffy nods, "His house is up past the gym. And guys... hurry. Dinner's in an hour."
Later Buffy is setting the table with probably more energy than she needs. Giles, Phoebe and Paige are researching. Piper is in the kitchen finishing up on the last minute details.
"I hope the others are okay..." Buffy says.
There is a WHINE of arrows overhead. Two of them embed in the wall beside the stairs, two more go deep into the sofa.
Willow, Xander and Anya walk away from the Dean's Residence. They stop near a bike rack.
"Well, that was a waste of time." Xander says.
"I think he thought we were crazy." Willow says.
"Maybe Anya shouldn't have opened the conversation with "Everybody got both ears?"" Xander says.
"I liked his wife." Anya says.
"So what do we do now?" Xander asks.
"We could stay, and stand watch, but I don't know—" Willow says.
Angel steps out of the dark next to them. "Willow—"
Xander and Willow jump.
"Angel!" Xander says.
Anya is not flustered. "This is Angel. He's large and glowery, isn't he?"
Xander steps between Anya and Angel.
"I'm not evil again! Why does everyone think that?" Angel says.
"Angel's here to protect Buffy." Willow says.
"I haven't been evil for a long time." Angel says.
"She's not supposed to know he's here. Angel, you have something new?" Willow says.
Angel nods, "Yeah. All the Chumash weapons are missing from the cultural center. Something's up. Where's Buffy?"
"At the Manor. She just sent us out to check on Dean Guerrero." Willow says.
"He's fine. Lots of ears." Anya says.
"Why the Dean?" Angel asks.
"We think he's going after someone in charge. A leader." Willow says.
"He's a warrior. To a warrior the leader means the strongest fighter." Angel says.
"Buffy." Xander says.
Angel nods, "He's formed a raiding party."
"We've got to get back there!" Willow says.
"I'll call her. You get back fast." Angel says.
"How can we –" Xander says.
Angel strides to the bike rack. He pulls a lock, snaps it.
At the Manor Phoebe, Paige, Buffy and Giles move behind the sofa.
The phone rings.
Giles reaches up and grabs it. "Hello... Yes... Yes we're well aware of that, we're under siege now. Thank you." He hangs up.
"Who was that?" Phoebe asks.
"A... Someone. We need a plan." Giles says.
"I could go get you guys weapons?" Buffy says.
Phoebe nods, "Might be a good idea."
"I have a better idea." Paige says. "Call for them."
Piper walks into the living room from the kitchen. "Well dinner is ready." An arrow comes flying at Piper hitting her in the shoulder.
"Piper!" Phoebe says.
Piper dives for cover.
Paige orbs over to Piper. "You okay?"
Piper nods, "Hurts like heck but yeah. What's going on?"
"Our Chumash friends are attacking us." Paige says.
"Oh." Piper says.
"How many?" Buffy says.
"There's the leader, upstairs, and another one with him. And three at the living room windows." Giles says.
Buffy frowns, "Five total. Too many. Paige get Piper upstairs and call for Leo. Then go get Willow, Xander and Anya and orb them back."
Paige nods as she orbs Piper upstairs.
Buffy sighs, "I hope this works. I've only done this twice. And the first time was an accident. Crossbow!" A crossbow flames into her waiting hand. "Good." She hands the crossbow to Giles.
Buffy and Giles stand up. She faces toward Hus, he faces into the living room. She throws a fireball at Hus, who ducks out of the way. Giles fires through one of the living room windows.
Xander, Willow and Anya are coming up the front steps of the Manor. They see the Chumash are there. Xander moves instantly across the yard to one of the Chumash in front of the living room window. Along the way he picks up a heavy flowerpot. He brings it down, with a crash, on the warrior's head - the warrior falls aside.
Willow and Anya each grab garden tools, rushing to join Xander. Another warrior dives at Willow and Anya, knife in hand. They fight back, flailing at his head.
Inside Hus, still at the window over the stairs, utters a war-cry and jumps into the room, crashing through the window. He ends up at the base of the stairs. Buffy holds out hand, "Athame!" An athame flames into her hand as she jump to meet Hus. They engage. The knives flash and clash.
Paige orbs to Giles, "Willow, Xander and Anya are outside. Their fighting two of the Chumash warriors."
"I could use something other than this crossbow." Giles says.
Paige nods, "Knife!" A knife orbs into her hand and she hands it to Giles. The remaining two warriors jump inside through their windows. Giles grabs a heavy object off a table and clobbers one of them over the head. He falls aside.
The remaining warrior charges Giles, they end up fighting near the doorway by the kitchen.
Hus' knife slashes Buffy's arm, making a cut. She strikes back. He is uncut. "Giles! These guys! They don't die!"
Giles is on the ground, trying to keep his opponent's hands from his throat. "Bit busy over here..."
"Paige!" Buffy says. "We have to find a way to vanquish these guys."
Outside Xander is trying to help Willow and Anya. He has picked up a long-handled something of his own and is joining the fight... "Get away from them!" ...when he realizes there's nothing at the end of his handle. He stares at it. A beat later, he is plucked out of the fight entirely, from behind. "Hey!"
It's the warrior whom he hit with the flowerpot, dirt still marking his face. He picks up Xander and throws him through a living room window and Xander lands on the living room floor. The warrior launches in after him and they struggle on the ground.
Angel comes up the walk and sees Willow and Anya, still fighting: garden implements vs. knife.
Willow has gotten over her reluctance and is hitting the warrior hard in the head with her hoe. "Why. Won't. You. Die?"
Angel grabs the warrior and twists his neck. The warrior drops, his knife clattering to the courtyard floor beside him. Willow and Anya look at Angel gratefully.
"What's he like when he is evil?" Anya asks.
Inside the dazed warrior whom Giles hit with the object, gets up. He steps around the back of the sofa, closing in behind Buffy, who is still fighting Hus, knife drawn and raised...
Piper comes down the stairs and raises her hands causing the warrior attacking Giles to fly back from the force of exploding power.
Outside the warrior who got his neck snapped by Angel suddenly grabs him from behind.
Angel struggles with him and yells to Willow and Anya, "Help the others!"
Willow and Anya enter through the door, arriving at the Xander-vs.-warrior tussle. Together they try to pull the warrior off Xander, hold him.
Buffy and Hus continue their knife fight. In an exchange of kicks and blows, both knives are knocked out of their hands. They fall. Buffy and Hus pick them up. She slashes at him. She cuts his arm, leaving it bloodied. Confused she looks at her knife - sees that it's his stone one - they traded knives.
"Your knife. It can kill you." Buffy says.
Hus yells... an angry scream that deepens, and roughens and turns into an ursine growl as, incredibly, he morphs into a giant real live bear!
The bear towers on it hind legs and roars, seeming to fill the space.
Buffy fights the bear! It slashes at her with its massive claws.
The bear roars and knocks Buffy across the room.
Xander is helping Anya and Willow restrain their captive warrior. But, seeing Buffy's sitch, he waves and shouts, trying to draw the bear's attention away from Buffy. "Hey! Gentle Ben! Over here!"
Buffy moves in close, within range of the huge paws, and plunges the knife into the beast's heart. It roars and collapses to the floor. It turns briefly into the Chumash man, and then into the mist, which dissipates... gone forever.
The four other warriors all wisp away too.
Piper, Paige, Phoebe, Buffy, Willow, Anya, Xander and Giles move together, still looking at where Hus' body briefly lay.
Outside Angel stands alone now... the warriors have disappeared. He looks in the window, sees Buffy as she looks around at her family and friends... she's all right.
Angel hesitates for a second - drawn to her. But he turns and walks away.
Inside Buffy glances toward the window - was something there? No.
Later Piper, Paige, Phoebe, Leo, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, and Anya, all sit around the dining room table. The turkey, half-carved, is on the table, as well as the other food. Everyone eats and looks tired.
"I feel lousy." Willow says.
"I thought the turkey came out rather splendidly." Giles says.
"Well thank you Giles." Piper says.
Willow nods, "It was yummy, I just... did you see me? Two seconds of conflict with an indigenous person and I turn into General Custer."
"Violence does that. Instinct takes over." Giles says. "Well, good work, everyone."
Buffy sighs, "Thanks."
"Come on, you should be very pleased." Giles says.
"It wasn't exactly a perfect get together." Buffy says.
"I don't know. It kinda seemed right to me. A bunch of anticipation, a big fight and now we're all sleepy." Xander says.
Giles nods, "And we did all survive."
"Well. I guess that much is true." Buffy says.
"And you know what?" Xander asks. "I think my syphilis is clearing right up."
"That's nice..." Anya says.
"And they say romance is dead. Or maybe they just wish it." Buffy says.
"And maybe we started a new tradition this year." Willow says. "Maybe not. But anyway, we all worked together, that was like old times."
"Yeah. Especially with Angel here and everything." Xander says.
"What?" Piper, Phoebe and Paige asks.
"Angel?" Buffy says.