Q/A: Mega - Only one of the following of Patty, Prue or Joyce will be seen in Necromancing the Stone, but not all three. I'm not telling you which though, I want to leave it a surprise. Grams, Patty, Prue and Joyce will be seen together in Bargaining Pt. 1. On Faith I still haven't decided when I am bringing her back in either season six or season seven. on the new Batman movie with Ben Affleck I have no opinion, it could be good... it could be bad.
Chapter 126: Intervention
Buffy and Giles are sitting in the living room of the Manor talking.
"I'm starting to feel like, like being the Slayer is sort of turning me to stone." Buffy says.
"Turning you to stone? Buffy…?" Giles says.
Piper comes down the stairs and starts towards the kitchen till she hears…
"I'm just… look, think about it. I was never really there for Riley, not like I was for Angel. I was terrible to Dawn up till we found out about the Key…" Buffy says. "My first instincts when I heard demons were after Celia and Wyatt was to go vanquish said demons.
"Buffy…" Giles says.
"Riley left because I was shut down. Though announcing that I was pregnant probably didn't help matters much. He's gone and Prue's gone and I really loved her, but I don't know if I… if I let her know…" Buffy says.
Piper turns and walks into the living room. "She knew, Buffy. Prue knew how much you loved her."
Buffy looks at Piper and sighs, "I don't know. To slay, to kill, you have to be kind of hard inside. Maybe being the perfect Slayer or Charmed One means being too hard to love at all. I already feel like I can hardly say the words."
"Buffy-" Giles and Piper says.
"I love you, Piper. Love love love Piper. Yuck. It feels strange." Buffy says.
"I shouldn't wonder, after everything you've gone through in the last nine months." Giles says. "How serious are you about this?"
"Ten. Serious to the amount of ten." Buffy says.
"There is something. In the Watcher's Diaries. A Quest." Giles says.
"A quest?" Piper asks.
"Like find a grail or something?" Buffy asks.
Giles shakes his head, "Not a grail. Maybe some answers. It would take a day, perhaps two. As your Watcher, I'd be part of it. There's an incantation."
Buffy shakes her head, "What kind of mother would I be if I left my child for two days?"
Piper sighs, "If it helps regain your focus, Phoebe, Paige, Dawn and I can watch after Celia."
"Well, I can't leave Dawn here. Not with Glory looking for her." Buffy says.
"Sure you can." Dawn says from the doorway. "What's the deal?"
"A quest. Some of the Slayers before Buffy found it helpful in regaining their focus, learning more about their role. There's a sacred location in the nearby desert." Giles says.
"A sacred place near the Hellmouth?" Dawn asks.
Giles nods, "That's fairly common, actually. Sort of an equalization of forces."
"But I can't go." Buffy says. "I'm not leaving you or Celia here."
Piper sighs, "Buffy I can watch after two babies and Dawn for two days. If it helps you. Go."
Dawn nods, "If you need to learn… I mean if it'll help you out, I think you should do it." Buffy hesitates. "I'll be okay."
"I love you, Dawn. And you, Piper. You two know that, right?" Buffy says.
Dawn and Piper nods. "And we love you, Buffy." Piper says.
"I love you, guys. Really love you." Buffy says.
"Gettin' weird." Dawn says.
"Sorry. But - it's important that I tell you both. Weird love is better than no love." Buffy says.
Later somewhere in the desert Giles pulls his car to a stop alongside the desert road. He and Buffy gets out and go around to the trunk.
"What's in the trunk?" Buffy asks.
Giles goes around and opens the trunk and leans in… "Supplies."
"I was wondering about that. Food and water, maybe a compass?" Buffy says.
Giles pulls out of the trunk holding a thick book, a gourd and a bundle of twigs. "How about a book, a gourd and a bundle of twigs."
"Don't think I'll be that hungry." Buffy says.
Giles walks away from the car, into the desert. Buffy tags along beside him. "They're for me. You see, the location of the sacred spot is a guarded secret. I can't take you there myself. I have to perform a ritual that will turn over my guardianship of you, temporarily, to a Guide…"
"A Guide, but no water or food. So it leads me to the sacred place and then a week later it leads you to my bleached bones?" Buffy says.
"Buffy, really. It takes more than a week to bleach bones." Giles says as he smiles at her.
Buffy smiles back. "I know that. But I was trying to illustrate a point." Giles stops walking and starts arranging the twigs on the ground to form a circle. He steps into the circle. "So, how does it start?"
"I… jump out of the circle, jump back in, and, and, shake my gourd." Giles says, embarrassed.
"Hey, I think I know this ritual. The ancient shamans were next called upon to do the Hokey-Pokey and to turn themselves around-" Buffy says.
"Go. Quest." Giles says.
Buffy doesn't move. Giles jumps out of the circle. Jumps back in and shakes his gourd. It rattles. Buffy tries to look serious. "And that's what it's all about." A clap of thunder startles Buffy. "Questing."
Buffy walks off into the shimmering heat of the desert. She sees something out of the corner of her eye and turns to look. Nothing. When she looks ahead again there is a mountain lion ahead of her. Startled, Buffy freezes. Then she realizes this must be the Guide. She steps forward carefully. "Well. Hello kitty."
The mountain lion walks slowly. Buffy follows the cat.
The mountain lion stops. Buffy looks around. "I know this place…" She turns to the mountain lion. But it has vanished. Buffy sits on the ground and waits.
Spike and the Buffybot are on the floor of the crypt. They're naked under a blanket, Buffybot spooned around Spike.
"You're evil." Buffybot says.
"And that excites you?" Spike asks.
Buffybot nods, "It excites me. It terrifies me. I try so hard to resist you, and I can't."
"Yeah?" Spike asks.
"Darn your sinister attraction!" Buffybot says.
"For how long? How long have you felt it?" Spike asks.
Buffybot smiles, "Since the beginning. I always trembled when I heard your voice."
"Are you afraid of me?" Spike asks.
Buffybot nods, "Yes."
"You know I can't bite you." Spike says.
"I think you can. I think you can if I let you. And I want to let you. I want you to bite me and devour me until there's no more." Buffybot says.
Spike bites gently at her neck. "Like this?"
"Oh! Spike! Devour me." Buffybot says, grinning.
Spike smiles, "All right." He turns her in his arms and moves on top of her.
"Spike! I can't help myself! I love you!" Buffybot says.
"You're mine, Buffy." Spike says.
"Should I start this program over?" Buffybot asks.
Spike frowns, "Shh. No programs. Don't use that word. Just be Buffy."
Later Spike, exhausted, has fallen asleep on his bier.
Buffybot finishes getting dressed as she picks up a stake. "Time to Slay."
"Yeah, mmmppphm." Spike says.
"Okay! Vampires beware!" Buffybot says as she heads for the door.
Buffy, sits somewhere in the desert, hugging herself for warmth. She starts to fall asleep, her head nodding. She jolts herself back awake.
In a Cemetery Xander and Anya patrol carefully, stakes out, alert.
Buffybot walks jauntily through the cemetery, humming and twirling her stake in her fingers. She sees Xander and Anya. She trots over to join them, her little flouncy skirt flouncing. "Hey there!"
"Buffy?" Xander asks.
"Xander! And…" Buffybot says. "…Anya! How's your money?"
Xander looks confused, but Anya doesn't notice anything wrong.
"Fine! Thank you for asking." Anya says.
"Isn't it a beautiful night for killing evil things?" Buffybot says.
"I guess." Xander says.
"You're back very early." Anya says.
"Yeah, how was the whole vision quest experience?" Xander asks.
"I don't understand that question, but thank you for asking! You're my friend and a carpenter." Buffybot says.
"Are you all right? You're all… I'm liking the skirt, by the way… but what happened to the quest?" Xander says.
Spike runs up and joins them, out of breath. "Hey there! Wait up!"
"Spike! It's Spike! And he's wearing the coat!" Buffybot says, delighted.
"Yes. Um… hallo all. Buffy came back early, I see. Lots of patrolling all 'round tonight then, is it?" Spike says as Buffybot tries to cling to Spike's shoulder. He shrugs her off. Buffybot holds his arm. He winces, miming pain, pulls away. "Ow! Hey! Give a fella a break, Slayer. But I'm glad you're all here, 'cause… 'cause the place is crawling with vamps tonight. Tons of 'em. We really oughta split up."
"We haven't seen any vamps… are you sure there's-" Xander says.
A twig snaps and they all look to see a vampire stepping out from behind a tree. Two other vamps flank him.
"You were right." Anya says.
"Yeah, guess so." Spike says, surprised.
The vampires charge at Buffybot, Spike, Xander and Anya. Buffybot immediately steps in front of Spike, protecting him.
One of the vamps lunges at Xander, and they exchange blows as Anya circles around behind the vamp, trying to get into staking position.
The other two vampires come at Buffybot and Spike. Spike takes on one of them, and Buffybot the other.
"Spike! Be careful!" Buffybot says as she stakes her vamp, then turns to see Spike, still battling with other one. "No! Get away from him!"
Anya stakes the vampire who's fighting with Xander. It DUSTS.
Buffybot tosses Spike a stake, and he stakes his vamp. It DUSTS. "He fights his own kind 'cause he has no other choice. It's part of his sinister attrac-"
Spike talks right over her, drowning her out. "I think that was probably the big action for tonight. You two can toddle on home if you want."
"Um… Buffy?" Xander asks.
Buffybot nods, "Yes! Spike and I will do it alone. You guys head home."
Confused and reluctant, Xander takes Anya's hand and they walk away.
Buffybot turns to Spike. She wriggles a little, like her skin's too tight. "Mmmm. I don't understand this. I did the Slaying. I should be…"
"Satisfied." Spike says.
"But I'm not. I'm all… my skin is all hot. Do I look hot to you?" Buffybot says.
"Always." Spike says.
"You better feel me to make sure." Buffybot says.
"I can do that." Spike says as he grabs Buffybot, pulls her close to him. Kisses her.
At the Manor Willow, Tara, Piper, Phoebe and Paige are watching the History Channel. Dawn is upstairs asleep in hers and Buffy's room. Celia and Wyatt are in their bassinets nearby.
"Those darn Salem judges! With their less-Satanic-than-thou attitudes…" Willow says.
"Oh. Honey." Tara says.
Piper nods, "Let's change it. The Discovery channel has a special on koala bears."
Xander and Anya burst in. "Where's Dawn?"
Piper turns off the TV with the remote. "She's in her and Buffy's room. She fell asleep."
"Good." Xander says.
"What's going on?" Willow asks.
"Buffy's gone insane." Xander says.
"What? What did she do?" Phoebe asks.
"Brace yourselves, you're not gonna believe it." Xander says.
"Buffy's boinking Spike." Anya says.
"Between Riley leaving her, Celia, Dawn and Glory. We shouldn't judge –" Willow says.
"What are you, kidding? She's nuts!" Tara says.
"I think that's a little harsh, Tara." Piper says. "Now we all agree that it's not healthy."
"What can we do?" Paige asks.
"In the movies, when someone goes crazy, they slap 'em." Anya says.
"I'm gonna go find her, talk to her. If she's losing it, we need to help her before she gets herself hurt." Xander says.
"You aren't really going to slap her, are you?" Tara asks.
Xander shakes his head, "No, but if I have to see her straddle Spike again I will definitely knock myself unconscious."
Paige stands up, "I'll go with Xander. No objections Piper, Phoebe. I'm the least likely of the three of us to yell at her."
Piper nods, "Okay."
Paige grabs Xander's hand and orbs out.
In the desert Buffy wakes up slowly to find herself lying beside a large blazing fire. She sits up. She looks out, beyond the fire it's still the dark cold empty desert.
Slowly she becomes aware of a figure on the other side of the fire, barely visible through the flames. Buffy strains to see who it is. "Hello? Who's there?"
A wind blows the flames and the figure is made visible, distorted through the waves of heat. It's the First Slayer.
Spike is leaning back in his crypt, enjoying a cigarette. There is the sound of someone approaching the crypt.
Buffybot stands up. "Who's that?"
Spike stands up, arranging his clothing. He points Buffybot toward the tunnel. "Down there. And no matter what, don't come out 'til I get you, okay?"
"Okay!" Buffybot says before she climbs down into the tunnel as Spike poses casually. Xander and Paige enters.
"Oh, it's you two." Spike says.
"I saw you. In the cemetery, with Buffy." Xander says.
"Yeah? Can't see how it's any business of yours-" Spike says.
"It's my business because Buffy is my sister." Paige says. "And she's been through some stuff lately that's… well it's affected her and you're taking advantage of her."
"If she's upset, and if she turns to me for comfort… well I'm not gonna deny it to her, I'm not a monster." Spike says.
"Yes! You are a monster. Vampires are monsters! They make monster movies about them!" Xander says.
"Well, yeah. Got me there." Spike says.
Xander grabs Spike by the collar, threateningly. "Spike, Buffy has lots of friends and family and we all love her. We're ready to do whatever it takes to protect her and if it means killing you, then, well, that's just a bonus…"
"Gentlemen… And Ms." Jink says from behind them as Paige, Spike and Xander look over. Jinx is standing just inside the entrance. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but I wondered if I could beg a minute of your time?"
Murk and the other Minions file in behind Jinx. Jinx has continued to approach and is quite close to Paige, Xander and Spike by now. Xander, confused, lets go of Spike.
"Friends of yours?" Spike asks.
Jinx slams Xander with a powerful blow.
"Guess not." Spike says as Spike spin-kicks Jinx, who is driven back.
Paige looks around not liking the odds. On one hand if she stays she could very well end up like Xander. On the other she could go get help. But the choice is invariably made for her as one of the minions comes up from behind and hits Paige over the head before she can do anything about it.
The other Minions close in around Spike. Spike lands a few blows, but there are too many of them and they pin his arms to his sides.
"Tie his hands. Glory will want him restrained." Jinx says.
Xander, recovered, tries to charge the Minions and again one of them sends him flying, to land unconscious behind Spike's bier.
"Hey! Let go!" Spike says.
"Careful with him. She will want the Key intact." Jinx says.
"Key? Who's a Key? I'm not the f-" Spike says as Murk forces a gag into Spike's mouth and they drag him away.
Out in the desert Buffy and the First Slayer face each other across the fire. The First Slayer is only sporadically seen clearly through the heat and flame.
"I know you. You're the First Slayer." Buffy says.
"This is a form. I am the Guide." First Slayer says.
"I… um… Okay. I have a question. This Slayer thing. What about… love? Not just boyfriend love-" Buffy says.
"You think you're losing your ability to love." First Slayer says.
"I didn't say that." Buffy says. "Yes."
"You're afraid that being the Slayer means losing your humanity." First Slayer says.
"Does it?" Buffy asks.
"You are full of love. You love with all of your soul. It's brighter than the fire, blinding. That's why you pull away from it." First Slayer says.
"I'm full of love? I'm not losing it?" Buffy asks.
"Only if you reject it. Love is pain and the Slayer forges strength from pain." First Slayer says.
Buffy nods, "Yes."
"Love. Give. Forgive. Risk the pain. It is your nature. Love will bring you to your gift." First Slayer says.
Buffy stops nodding. She just reached her tolerance for cryptic. "My what? Sorry… It's just; I got a little lost when we got to the gift department…"
"Love will bring you to your gift." First Slayer says.
"Yeah, that's what you said, alright." Buffy says.
In Spike's crypt Buffybot climbs up from the tunnel. She doesn't see Xander crumpled behind the bier.
"Spike? I waited like you said, but then I missed you!" Buffybot says and then she spots Paige. "Paige, sister of mine."
At the Manor Tara is asleep on the living room floor. Anya sleeps on the sofa. Phoebe is upstairs with Wyatt and Celia in her room asleep.
Willow and Piper are the only ones up as Paige orbs in with Buffybot.
"Spike's gone." Buffybot says as they move into the conservatory.
"Buffy?" Piper asks. "Paige what's going on where's Xander?"
Paige looks to Piper, "First off she can't flame. She's lost her powers. Second of all Spike is missing. Third off I don't know where Xander is. I didn't see him when I came to from being knocked out."
"When I came up from the tunnel, Spike was gone! Oh…" Buffybot says. "Piper, I need to find him."
"Um… Buffy? This thing with Spike. It isn't true, is it? You didn't really, you know, sleep with Spike." Willow says.
"No. But I had sex with Spike. I'm sorry if it bothers you. You're my best friend." Buffybot says.
"I am. I always will be, too, no matter what you do. And I'm trying to figure out why this happened. And I think I might have an idea." Willow says.
"Do tell." Paige says.
"I think maybe, with everything that has gone on lately, everyone was being all sympathetic, making you feel weak. But Spike wasn't like that. So, just one time, you kind of did something crazy-" Willow says.
"It wasn't one time. It was lots of times. And lots of different ways. I could make sketches." Buffybot says.
"This doesn't seem right." Piper says. "First off Willow, while Buffy was having some problems. I think it stems from more overload than anything. Riley leaving her, Glory, Celia. I think that's why she wanted to do this quest. Second this isn't like you Buffy. Spike is vampire. You would never ever do that again. Especially after you slept with Angel."
"Angel's lame. His hair goes straight up and he's bloody stupid." Buffybot says.
Paige frowns, "This is weird. How could you say that about your own, daughter's father?"
"You're my sister." Buffybot says.
"Yes, I am." Paige says.
"Guys, guys! Wake up!" Xander says.
Piper, Paige, Buffybot and Willow look into the living room. Xander has entered, turned on the lights. He stands with his hand to his head.
Anya gets up and runs to Xander. Tara sits up. Piper, Paige, Buffybot and Willow come in from the conservatory.
"Xander! I was scared. Are you hurt? What happened?" Anya says.
"Guys. Demon-y kinds of guys." Xander says. "Why did you leave me there, Paige?"
"Where?" Paige asks. "The crypt? When I came to Buffy was standing over me. And I didn't see you anywhere. So I orbed Buffy back to the Manor. Seems her powers are out."
Xander nods, "Buffy?"
"Yes? That's me!" Buffybot says.
"The guys that work for Glory? You said they were kinda like Hobbits with leprosy? Well, this was a whole flock of Hobbits and they grabbed Spike. I think they're taking him to Glory." Xander says.
Paige notices Piper glaring at her, "I was getting there, Piper. Really I was."
"But he knows about Dawn!" Willow says.
"We have to get him back." Buffybot says.
"So how do we find him?" Xander asks.
"I fight with weapons!" Buffybot says.
Piper shakes her head as she looks to Paige, "Does she seem too cheerful?"
Paige nods, "Yeah she does. What do you think? Spell?"
Piper nods, "I think so. We'll worry about it later. Along with why her powers aren't working."
In the desert Buffy and the First Slayer talk across the fire. "What? I'm sorry, but I'm just not getting this. I'm full of love. Which is nice to know. And then… love will lead me to my gift?"
"Yes." First Slayer says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I'm getting a gift? Or do you mean I have a gift to give to someone else?"
"Death is your gift." First Slayer says.
"Death is my gift." Buffy says.
First Slayer nods, "Death is your gift."
"Okay. No. Death is not a gift. Prue died a little over a year and a half ago and I know about this. It's not a gift I want and it's not a gift I want to give to anyone else. If I have to kill demons because it helps the world, then I kill demons, but it's not a gift to anybody."
"Your question has been answered." First Slayer says as she and the fire disappear. Buffy stands alone in the middle of the big cold desert.
Back at the Manor, Xander opens Buffy's weapons chest in the foyer. "If we're going to stop Spike from blabbing about Dawn, we're going to need these." He pulls out weapons and hands them to everyone.
Piper looks to Tara, "Would you mind staying here with Phoebe?"
Tara shakes her head, "No Piper, I would be happy to."
Piper nods, "Paige go wake Phoebe and tell her what's going on while we get everything sorted. Let her know Tara is staying here with her."
"Sure," Paige says as she heads up the stairs.
"Wow. The big guns. Only not guns." Anya says. "Shouldn't we have guns?"
"Those are my weapons. Give me something big and sharp." Buffybot says.
"Buffy? Where should we go? Where should we look for Glory?" Willow asks as everyone looks at Buffybot.
"She's a God! She wants the Key!" Buffybot says.
"Yeah. So we should look…?" Xander asks.
"I don't know! Why are you all looking at me?" Buffybot says.
"Okay, Buff, it's okay. You're right. You shouldn't have to know everything." Xander says.
"We need to rescue Spike!" Buffybot says.
"Buffy why don't you go change your clothes. Try not to wake Dawn okay?" Piper says.
"I can do that! I'll be right back." Buffybot says heading upstairs.
"Okay. This has gone way too far. She thinks we're going to rescue Spike!" Xander says.
Piper sighs, "Paige and I believe Buffy maybe under a spell."
"A spell?" Xander asks. "You think Spike put her under a spell to make her love him or something?"
Piper nods, "It would make sense on why she is acting this way. Though it doesn't explain her loss of powers."
"So, what are we going to do?" Willow says.
"Find him. Stop him from talking. Whatever it takes." Xander says.
"And what do we do with Glory?" Paige asks coming back down the stairs. "We have yet to come up with a way of vanquishing her. And the times Buffy went up against her, even she couldn't defeat her."
Willow sighs, "Whatever we do, we're going to need Buffy's help."
Xander nods, "Then we're gonna have to talk to her."
Buffy flames into the Manor and is startled to see all her friends and Piper assembled in the foyer. "Whoa. Group play time."
"That was quick. And you got your powers back." Willow says.
"Didn't seem like it to me. Death is my gift. Pffah!" Buffy says. "And I never lost my powers, Will."
The others exchange looks, now Buffy isn't even making sense.
"Buffy. We have to talk." Xander says.
"What happened? Is Dawn okay?" Buffy asks.
Piper shakes her head, "She's fine. She's upstairs in your room sleeping. Please tell me you didn't wake her."
Buffy looks at Piper with confusion, "I haven't seen her to wake her."
"Buffy, we care about you. And we're worried about you. The way you're acting, the things you're doing…" Xander says.
"Is part of a spell," Anya says.
"What are you guys talking about?" Buffy asks.
"We're just kinda thrown by the, you having sex with Spike." Anya says.
"The who whatting how with huh?" Buffy says.
"Okay that's denial. That comes before anger." Anya says.
Buffy shakes her head, "I am not having sex with Spike!"
"Anger." Anya says.
"Must be some memory loss because of the spell," Piper says.
"I'm not under a spell guys." Buffy said.
"Buffy. I saw you. Anya too. We saw you and Spike. With the straddling." Xander says.
Buffybot enters, having changed into another flouncy-skirt outfit and carrying a huge battle-ax. "Spike is mine! Who's straddling Spike?"
Everyone turns to stare at Buffybot.
"Oh my Goddess." Buffy says.
"And so say all of us." Xander says.
"Say, look at you! You look like me!" Buffybot says. "We're very pretty."
"Two of them!" Willow says.
"Hey! I know this! They're both Buffy!" Xander says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No. That's a robot. She acts just like that girlfriend-bot that Warren guy made! You couldn't tell me apart from a robot?!"
"Oh, I don't think I'm a robot." Buffybot says, skeptical.
Paige nods, "She's very well done."
"We did have a reason to think you might be under a spell." Willow said.
"I get it. Fine. Robot. Fine." Buffy says.
Piper sighs, "Spike must have had her built so he could program her to…"
"Oh Goddess." Buffy says.
"Yikes. Imagine the things-" Willow says.
"No! Stop imagining! All of you!" Buffy says.
Xander raises his hand, "Already got the visual."
"People! Friends and family of mine! You're forgetting the important thing! Glory has Spike and she's going to harm him!" Buffybot says.
Buffy freezes and looks at Buffybot. "Glory has Spike?"
"We were gonna bring that up." Xander says.
"We were getting weapons." Anya says.
"Grab 'em. We're going now. I have to kill him." Buffy says. "Piper?"
"Already set. Tara and Phoebe are staying to watch after Celia, Wyatt and Dawn." Piper says as Paige comes down the stairs.
"We figured, any way we could stop him from talking…" Xander says.
Buffy shakes her head, "No. I have to kill him."
"But we don't even know where to look." Willow says.
Buffy thinks, then… "I know where to start."
30 minutes later Piper, Paige, Buffy, Buffybot, Xander, Willow, Anya and Giles are gathered in a park. They're armed with large bladed weapons or with bows.
Buffy carries an especially lethal-looking crossbow. "Okay, Glory's Key-sniffing snake was about here when I killed it, and it was headed back to her."
"So you think she lives near here?" Willow asks.
Piper shakes her head, "That's not a lot to go on."
"It's all we have." Buffy says.
Giles is looking at the Buffybot. "Quite extraordinary, really."
"Thank you, but I think we should be listening to the other Buffy," Buffybot says. "Guyles. She's very smart and she's going to save Spike!"
Giles frowns, "Guyles? Spike didn't even bother to program my name properly?!"
"Listen, skirt-girl, we're not going to "save" him, we're going to "kill" him. He knows who the Key is and there's no way he's not telling Glory." Buffy says.
"You're right. He's evil. Killing him is the only way. We're the Slayer and that's what we do." Buffybot says. "But you should see him naked. I mean, really. Can we save him now, please?"
Buffy turns away from Buffybot, disgusted. "Split up, spread out. Check out the priciest-looking places first. Xander, Piper, come with me. Paige, Willow and Anya, go together. And-Guyles, dyeh… Giles, you can watch… it."
In the lobby of Glory's apartment building Five of Glory's minions are standing in front of the elevator waiting for it to open.
The elevator dings and the doors open to reveal Spike, he braces himself.
"You do not insult Glory by escaping!" Murk says.
Buffy, Piper and Xander enter the lobby from outside. Buffy has her crossbow, Xander has an axe. Piper has her hands poised to use her exploding power. The Minions see them and freeze, alarmed.
"Slayer!" Murk says.
Spike, saved, drops his last defenses. He collapses onto the floor of the elevator.
A minion charges Xander. Xander blocks him with his axe-handle.
Piper uses her exploding power on the minion attacking Xander. The minion falls dead.
Another Minion attacks Buffy from behind, and knocks her crossbow away. Buffy engages him in fist-fighting, knocking him back as she powers up a fireball throwing it and another minion falls dead.
Xander is swinging his axe, keeping another Minion and Jinx at bay.
Giles and Buffybot enter, running! Giles carries a bow. "Buffy! We're here!"
Giles immediately runs to help Xander, pulling Jinx off him and battling him himself
"Spike! Spike's in there!" Buffybot says.
Murk attacks Buffy, keeping her busy, raining down blows she blocks…
Buffybot makes a run for the elevator, but before she gets there…
Giles in trouble. Jinx has taken his crossbow and is using it to crush Giles against the wall… bow pressed lengthwise across the Watcher's throat. "Buffy! Piper!"
Piper, Buffy and Buffybot respond to their names. Buffy shoves Murk away from her, leaving him exhausted from the fight.
Buffy and Buffybot hurry over to Giles. They work together to pull Jinx off him. Jinx strikes out with the bow, using it as a club. It hits Buffybot.
Buffybot is thrown back against a wall. A sparking effect of blue fire courses over her. And she slumps against the wall.
Piper raises her hands uses her exploding power on the minion attacking Xander.
Buffy wheels to attack Jinx, but he's gone and so is Murk.
The next day at the Magic Box Willow has the damaged and non-functional Buffybot open, and is working on the damage, with Tara at her side handing her tools as she needs them. Anya and Dawn are sitting at the table. Piper and Buffy stands.
Buffy goes over to the Buffybot, looks at her face-to-face.
"Is it weird?" Tara asks.
Buffy nods, "Oh yeah. At least it's not a very good copy. I mean, look at it."
Piper, Willow and Tara exchange a look. It's a perfect copy.
"Uh… yeah." Willow says.
Xander and Giles enter.
"What did you do with Spike? And please let the story have a dusty ending." Buffy says.
Xander shakes his head, "We dumped him back in his crypt."
"We tried to find out if he told her about… anything… He was too badly beaten to make any sense." Giles said.
"But you found out something, right? Now you know where Glory lives." Dawn says.
"We know where she lived. She's gotta be long gone by now. Did he tell Glory –" Buffy says.
"We don't know. He was barely conscious." Xander says.
"If he told her he'd just lie to us about it anyway, right?" Anya asks.
"Oh, you can count on that. But we gotta know. Now. If he did give us up, Dawn and I are gonna have to get out of town, or… I mean, she could be on her way." Buffy says.
Dawn looks scared.
"But there's no need to worry. I'm sure we're all perfectly safe." Giles says when he notices the look on Dawn's face.
"We're safe. Right. And Spike built a robot Buffy to play checkers with." Dawn says, sarcastically.
Piper looks to Dawn, "It'll be alright, Dawnie. I promise. We're family remember." Dawn nods. "And we're not losing another member of our family."
Dawn nods as she steps into Piper's arms, drawing comfort from her eldest cousin.
"It sounded convincing when I thought it…" Tara said.
Willow looks up from her work. "Hey! I think I found something."
Anya looks over Willow's shoulder. "Bleah. It's very complicated in there. Personally, I'd rather look at guts."
"I found where she's broken. There's some wiring that got fried extra crispy. That's an easy fix - I mean, not that I would." Willow says.
"God, I feel kinda bad for the guy. Gets all whupped, and then his best toy gets taken away…" Xander says.
"Xander, please don't be suggesting what I'd have to kill you for suggesting." Buffy says.
"No, no! Travesty! Completely on board. It's just… guy was so thrashed… just not his day." Xander says.
Piper looks to Buffy, "Willow your sure you can fix it?"
"Yeah why?" Willow asks.
"I'm thinking it could be useful Buffy, you know as a distraction. Don't give it back to Spike, I'm onboard with that. But if we can reprogram it to be more like you. Maybe we could confuse Glory when we finally fight her."
Buffy smiles, "That sounds like a good idea, Piper. Now I need to go do some acting and see if I can find out if Spike blabbed."
Later in Spike's Crypt he lies on his bier. Buffy pretending to be the robot enters and goes to him. She pretends to be startled by how horrible he looks. One eye is swollen shut and he's lividly bruised.
"Spike! You're covered in sexy wounds!" Buffy says.
Spike sits up painfully, swinging his legs over the side and facing her. "Yeah, they feel real sexy. Where ya been?"
"I fell down and got confused but Willow fixed me. She's gay! And then I felt the pull of your sinister attraction." Buffy says as she pets his head and he flinches in pain. "I'll nurse you back to health. I'll wear the nurse outfit!"
"Will fixed you? I'd a thought they'd melt you into scrap."
Buffy rolls her eyes as she thinks, 'That robot was programmed to be stupid if it actually talked like this.' She then spoke out loud, "They were confused, too. Do you want to ravage me?"
"Give us a minute. I got some bones need mending." Spike says.
"Why did you let that Glory hurt you?" Buffy asks.
"She wanted to know who the Key was." Spike says.
"I can tell her! Then you won't –" Buffy says as she starts to turn away.
"No!" Spike says as Buffy stops and turns back to him. He coughs, very painfully. "You can't ever… Glory never finds out."
"Why?" Buffy asks.
"Buffy - the other… the not-as-pleasant Buffy. Something happened to Dawn it'd destroy her. Shoot it probably would destroy her whole family. I couldn't live, Buffy being in that much pain. I'd let Glory kill me first. Nearly bloody did."
Buffy thinks about that. Then she leans in and kisses him on the mouth, gently and sweetly. After a moment, he pulls back, startled. There is a long beat as Spike realizes the several ramifications of what has happened. Finally he asks… "And my robot?"
"The robot was gross and obscene. But Piper came up with a way it could be useful for when we finally fight Glory." Buffy says.
Spike looks down, ashamed. He really never meant for Buffy to know about the Buffybot. "It wasn't supposed to be –"
"Don't. That thing… it's not even real." Buffy says as she starts to go. She stops at the door. Not sure how to say it, not even looking back, "What you did for me, Dawn, my family, that was real." She turns to him. "And I'll never forget it."