Author's Note: The scenes for Faith come from the Buffy novel Go Ask Malice by Robert Joseph Levy.


Chapter 23: Becoming Part 2

May 12, 1998 – Tuesday

Sunnydale High School

"Freeze!"

Buffy looked back and saw a police officer pointing his gun at her.

"Back away from the girl! Put your hands up and back away slowly."

Another officer came in behind the first, gun drawn and surveying the scene.

Buffy slowly got to her feet and raised her hands. "But I didn't—"

"Do it! Now!"

As Buffy moved away from Kendra the second officer holstered her gun and crouched down to feel for Kendra's pulse. "This one's dead."

"What about up there?" The first officer nodded toward the mezzanine.

Buffy and the second officer looked up at the stacks and saw Xander lying unconscious on the floor behind the railing.

"Xander!" Buffy cried as she started for him.

The second officer grabbed her and pushed her back. "Get him out of here!"

"Wait! Just see if he's okay! Please!" Buffy begged.

The second officer handed her off to the first and then went to check on Xander. The first officer led Buffy, who offered no resistance, out of the library and turned down the hall. They saw Snyder coming down, followed by two more officers.

"I didn't do anything," Buffy stated.

"Why do I find that so very hard to believe?" Snyder asked.

The officer looked at the other officers. "In there," he said as they went inside, he then turned to Snyder. "You know this boy?"

"Rutherford Summers. If there's trouble, he's behind it," Snyder answered.

"You stupid little troll," Buffy said angrily. "You have no idea!"

"Attitude problem. Serious," Snyder added with a smirk.

Buffy faced the officer. "Please, see if the others are okay."

"That's enough." He spun her back around and got out his handcuffs. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say—"

Buffy reared back and headed butted the cop. He fell to the floor and into unconsciousness.

Snyder shrank back against the wall. "I'm just a civil servant…" he said as Buffy took off, just as the other officers rush out of the library, guns drawn.

Buffy ran through the double doors just as an officer behind her yelled, "Stop!" He fired a warning shot that shattered the window of the door barely missing Buffy. He brought his radio to his lips as the other officers took off after Buffy. "All units, we have a fugitive on foot at the high school, homicide suspect, male, blond, approximately sixteen years old, suspect is very dangerous—"

Cambridge, Massachusetts

"Faith, do you know what's—"

"Don't," Faith said, pulling her hand away from Diana, she could tell that Diana looked hurt, like she'd ruined the big moment. "Sorry. It's just that…I'm really freaked out about it all of a sudden."

"Of course, of course, you must be. This is…well, come, sit down, sit down," she said ushering Faith into the living room to the couch.

Faith planted herself and closed her eyes, letting her head drop between her knees. Diana let Faith sit in silence for a couple minutes.

"How do you feel?" Dianna finally said, sitting down on the couch next to Faith.

Faith wanted to say 'scared' but instead she answered, "Powerful. Alive. Like I could kick some demon ass." She stood up, and tried to explain this new sensation, searcher her racing mind for the right words. "I feel…I don't know…"

"Chosen."

"Yeah. Chosen."

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

Buffy walked into the hall outside the emergency room wearing an overcoat and hat to disguise her appearance. On the wall, she found a slot with a few patient histories and checked the names on them. There were none that she was interested in. She continued down the hall. She checked another series of slots for names on paperwork but found nothing. Further down the hall, she turned down the left passageway. Behind her, Xander walked up and touched her on the back.

Buffy gasped and spun around but was very relieved to see him standing there. "Xander!" She hugged him tightly. "Oh…"

Xander hugged her back, and they held each other for a long moment, then Buffy let go.

"I was so worried; I didn't know if you were okay. The cops—"

"Yeah, I heard them chase you out. I was just coming out of it," Xander said and then held up his arm in a cast. "Souvenir."

"Well, what about the others?" Buffy asked urgently. "Are they—" He grabbed her in another embrace as two officers walked past. "Okay, that was about equal parts protecting me and copping a feel, right?" she asked jokingly. When he didn't smile, she became instantly serious. "What is it?" she asked knowing something was wrong.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow lay unconscious in her hospital bed, hooked up to machines as Buffy approached, obviously distraught.

"The doctor said it was…head trauma…she could wake up any time, but the longer it takes…the less likely it is," Xander informed her sadly.

Buffy was angry with herself. "I shouldn't have let her try to do the curse. Angel must have known." She ran her hand along Willow's forehead. After a moment she looked around her. "Where are her folks?"

"With relatives, in Phoenix. I called them," Xander informed her. "They're getting a plane back."

"Does Oz know?" Buffy wondered.

Xander slapped the side of his head in a 'duh, why didn't I think of that' moment. "Man, I didn't even think. I'll call him."

They heard some footsteps behind them and turned to see who Cordelia walk in.

Xander walked over to Cordelia. "Hey."

"Hey," Cordelia replied as they kissed and held each other close.

"You're not hurt?" Buffy asked looking Cordelia up and down.

Cordelia nodded. "I ran. I think I made it through three counties before I realized nobody was chasing me. Not real brave."

"It was the right thing to do," Buffy informed her.

"Did Giles keep up with you?" Xander asked Cordelia.

Cordelia looked at the two of them. "I didn't see Giles."

"You mean he's not here?" Buffy asked Xander.

Xander shook his head. "No."

Crawford Street Mansion

"Mm..." Giles stirred a bit and exhaled. "Oh…" He lifted his head to find he was lying on the floor.

Angel was lying on the floor, facing Giles and waiting for the Watcher to regain consciousness. "Hi, Rupert."

Giles reared back into a sitting position. As he looked about him, he spotted Spike sitting behind Angel and that two of Angel's minions stood just behind him, flanking him.

Angel hopped to his feet. "I wasn't sure you were going to wake up. You had me worried."

Giles stood up slowly. "What do you want?"

"I want to torture you. I used to love it, and it's been a long time. I mean, the last time I tortured somebody, they didn't even have chainsaws," Angel said as he strolled past Giles, over to Acathla.

Giles turned to watch him and saw the stone demon with the sword protruding from its chest.

"Acathla, he's an even harder guy to wake up than you are," Angel said. "I performed the ritual, said all the right phrases, blood on my hand…Got nothing. Big donut hole for my troubles. I figure you know the ritual; you're pretty up on these things, you could probably tell me what I'm doing wrong. But honestly, I sort of hope you don't…." he turned back toward Giles, "…because I really want to torture you."

Giles looked right at Angel, scared shitless. Then he suddenly slammed his elbow into one of the vampires faces, knocking him back. The other vampire came at him and he hurled him into Angel, taking off for the door. He had just made it to the door as Drusilla stepped into the doorway grabbing him by the throat.

Drusilla easily walked Giles back as he choked from her grasp. She handed him to the two vampires as Angel walked up beside her, smiling. "Okay," Angel said. "Where do we start? Ooh. Fingers."

Summers Home

Dawn stood just behind her mom as they talked with Detective Stein. Behind them an officer came down the stairs holding a picture of Buffy.

"There's been some terrible mistake," Joyce insisted.

"And you have no idea where your son is?" Stein asked.

Joyce glanced at Dawn, who shook her head. She looked back at the detective. "No, I—"

Stein took the picture from the officer and looked at it. "Do you always let your son stay out this late?" he questioned.

"No. He goes out; I can't always keep track, but…" Joyce informed, then something popped into her head. "He said he was going to his friend Willow's house. Maybe he slept over."

"Is that Willow Rosenberg?" Stein asked.

"Yes…" Dawn answered.

Stein looked at the officer. "Second victim."

"What…?" Joyce and Dawn asked in surprise and confusion.

"Does your son have a history of violence, Mrs. Summers?" Stein questioned looking back at Joyce.

"Well…he's had some fights, but…" Joyce said.

"You call us, okay? If he decides to stop by," Stein said handing Joyce his card. "It'd be best if he just comes in." He then turned and followed the officer out the door.

"Rutherford didn't do it, mom," Dawn said as she closed the door.

"I would like to believe your right," Joyce said with a sigh. "But you know your brother, Dawn. He has gotten into fights. While you know I don't like to be reminded of Ted because of what he wanted to do to me. Rutherford did hit him hard enough to make us all think he killed Ted."

Dawn sighed, she understood where her mother was coming from. But she also knew that what had happened with Ted had been an accident till he had revealed he was an evil robot. And she knew all the other supposed fights were not true either.

Giles' Apartment

Buffy thought of Dawn, she wondered if her sister had been called as a Slayer with Kendra's death. She hoped not. Helping her would be one thing, but she didn't want to have what was happening to her to happen to Dawn.

Buffy stopped her musings when she noticed that Giles' apartment was ajar, assuming he was home she walked right in. "Giles! Giles!" she called as she looked around, she didn't see him.

"I don't think he's here."

Buffy pivoted around to face a man with short black hair, with a New York accent and wearing a fedora coming down the stairs from the loft.

Buffy eyed him suspiciously. "Who are you?" she asked him.

"Whistler."

"What are you doing here?"

Whistler reached the base of the stairs and pointed at Buffy. "I'm waiting for you."

"Why?" Buffy asked him.

"Because I need a date to the prom. My mother says I may attend, but no fondling."

Buffy was not in the mood for jokes right now, so she took the two steps over to him, grabbed him by the throat, and shoved him up against the wall. "I have lost friends tonight, and I may lose more. If you have information worth hearing, then I am grateful for it. If you want to make jokes, then I'm will pull out your rib cage and wear it as a hat." She then let him go.

"Hello to the imagery! Very nice." Whistler said. "It wasn't supposed to go down like this. Nobody saw you coming." He moved away from her, straightening his coat. "I figured this for Angel's big day. But I thought he was here to stop Acathla, not to bring him forth. Then you two made with the smoochies...now he's a creep again," he said taking her down a peg.

"We didn't know. . ." Buffy admitted sadly.

"Hey, not here to judge," he informed her. "But it took Angel off the roster. Which puts you on the spot in a big way. What are you going to do? What are you prepared to do?"

"Whatever I have to."

"Maybe I should ask…what are you prepared to give up?"

Buffy stared at him. "You don't have anything useful to tell me, do you? What are you, some immortal demon sent down to even the score between good and evil?"

"Wow. Good guess." Whistler grinned.

Buffy stepped up to him. "Why don't you try getting off your immortal ass and fighting evil once in a while? Because I'm tired of doing this by myself."

"In the end, you're always by yourself," he said seriously. "You're all you got—That's the point."

Buffy wasn't sure that was the truth. After all she had her friends and her sister. But at the same time she didn't have them either. She turned and started to leave.

"The sword isn't enough. You got to be ready. You got to know how to use it!"

Buffy walked out the door and slammed it behind her.

Streets of Sunnydale

Buffy walked down the street, moving quickly and keeping to herself. Suddenly she was nailed by a pair of headlights which proceed the activation of the flashing of police lights. Before she could react, the officer was out of his car, gun drawn. "Hold it! Right there. Hands above your head. Do it!" he said as he started toward her.

The officer suddenly heard something behind him and spun. He is hit by Spike so hard that he flipped over onto the hood of the squad car, unconscious.

Buffy lunged at Spike, and started pummeling him. "Slayer," he said as he took a couple of hits then knocked her back with one. "Slayer. Buffy. Stop it." He went limp and let her pin him to the hood of the car.

"What the hell do you want?" Buffy hissed.

"I'm calling in that truce," he said.

Buffy searched his eyes; saw something there. She relaxed and let him go. "It's about damn time," she said. "Finally decide you want Drusilla back?"

"Them shagging I could handle," Spike said. "Angel's got it in his head to destroy the world. Much as I enjoy a spot of violence, an apocalypse is too much. I like the world the way it is. There's a natural order, and I'm on top."

"I'm on top," Buffy said. "But, well. I won't say no to some help. Come on, I need weapons. Lots of weapons."

They made their way to her house, Spike filling her in on the way.

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

Xander sat beside Willow on her bed, waiting for her to wake up. Cordelia who sat had been sitting in a chair got up and walked over to him. "She's going to be okay," she told him.

"Yeah…" Xander agreed.

"Do you want some coffee?" Cordelia questioned.

"I don't want to leave, she might—" Xander informed her.

"I'll get it," Cordelia insisted already knowing he didn't want to leave his friend.

"Thanks—" Xander said as Cordelia left. He then took Willow's hand in his own. "Come on, Will…" he pleaded. "Look, you don't have a choice here. You got to wake up. I need you, Will. How am I going to pass trig? Who am I going to call every night to talk about what we did all day? You're my best friend, you've always…" He leaned in close to her. "I love you." Suddenly he felt Willow's hand squeeze his. He looked at her as her head moved slightly. Her eyes fluttered causing him to lean closer hopefully. "Willow?"

"Oz?" Willow replied.

Xander looked at her dejected that she would think of Oz before her. Then he forgot about himself, this was about Willow who was finally awake.

"Oz…?" Willow repeated.

"I'm here." Oz said as he walked into the room.

Xander stood and made way for Oz to stand beside Willow. "She's just waking up…"

Oz looked at Xander and nodded as he patted the man's back in thanks. He then turned his attention to Willow. "Hey, baby…"

"Hi…" Willow answered. It was then she spotted Xander. "Hi Xander…"

"Hi," Xander said as he smiled at his friend. He then looked at Oz. "I'm going to get a doctor." He then turned and walked out of the room.

"How do you feel?" Oz asked with obvious concern.

"My head feels big," Willow said weakly. "Is it big?"

Oz shook his head. "No, it's head-sized," he answered as he kissed her on her forehead.

"Is everybody else okay?" Willow wondered.

Crawford Street Mansion

Giles was sitting in a chair with his hands bound behind his back and bleeding from rope burns. Angel was sitting in a chair across from him and watching Giles as he cleaned the man's glasses. He breathed on the lenses, polished them clean, and inspected his work.

"Rupert, buddy…I'm here to tell you…I'm impressed." Angel chuckled. He dropped the cleaning cloth as he stood up. He moved closer to Giles. "Hey. Uh…" He slid the glasses onto Giles' face. "How you holding up?"

Giles looked up at him weakly. "Never…better."

"Glad to hear it." Angel kneeled next to him. "Now…" he said as Giles breathed painfully. "Tell me when it hurts." He smirked.

Summers Home

As Buffy and Spike turned onto Revello drive, Buffy said, "You're going to have to protect Giles. That one's non-negotiable."

"Same with Dru," Spike said.

"She killed Kendra!" she cried in outrage.

"Dru got a Slayer?" Spike shook his head. "And how many vampires has Giles killed? I'm serious, Buffy. Non-negotiable, same as Giles."

"Fine. But it's off if Giles dies."

"Fair enough."

They approached the house. Joyce ran out, frantic, and scolded, "Rutherford! Are you okay? The police were here. Are you okay? I went looking for you."

"Rutherford?" Spike mouthed, and Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Mom, let's go inside—" Buffy started.

"Who is this man?" Joyce asked turning on Spike. "Who are you?"

"This is just my friend Spike, we're study partners," Buffy said. "We need to go inside."

"What, to avoid the police? They said you killed someone; you know! I demand you give me an explanation right this—"

Dawn who stood in the doorway of the house frowned when she noticed the bushes that bordered their house rustle. "Hey," she said as she pulled out her stake and threw it at her sister who caught it without looking.

A vampire leapt from the bushes. Instead of going for Buffy or Spike he went straight for Joyce and Dawn. Joyce got a good look at his face and yelped with fear.

Buffy grabbed him before he can untangle himself from Joyce. She hurled him toward Spike, who decked him solidly, knocking him back to Buffy who thrust Dawn's stake into his chest and he exploded to dust.

Spike moved over to Buffy, casually looking at the spot where the vampire was. "He was one of Angelus's minions," he said. "We better get inside, Slayer."

"Yeah," Buffy agreed, scanning the yard. "Come in, Spike. Mom, Dawn, come on, there could be more."

"That man just disintegrated," Joyce sputtered.

"Yeah, vamps tend to do that," Dawn admitted.

"Come on. It's safe inside." Buffy said as she and Dawn tugged their mom's arms until they were safe within the protective walls of their home. "I have to call, Xander. Spike, get my mom a drink and you and Dawn will fill her in. Spike, there's a liquor stand in the living room. Don't touch anything else."

"You're the boss, Slayer."

Buffy was grateful at that moment for both her sister and Spike's calm. She went to the phone and dialed the hospital.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy sat at the kitchen island the phone in her hand. "I'm okay, Buffy, really," Willow said from the other end. "I mean, I don't feel good, but I'm awake and I know my name and who's president and how many fingers so they don't think my brain got mushed at all."

"Thank God…" Buffy said in relief. "I'm sorry I can't be there."

"I know," Willow said. "I'm sorry I didn't get to cure Angel."

"Don't be. I just think it wasn't meant to happen," Buffy informed her. "I know I'm never going to get Angel back the way he was and, you know, it makes it easier."

"I guess…Any luck finding Giles?" Willow asked hopeful.

"Yes," Buffy answered as she got up and moved to the door to the living room. She smiled at her sister when Dawn looked in her direction. "Can you put Xander on?"

"Sure," Willow answered.

"I'm here, Buffy," Xander said a second later.

"Xander," Buffy said. "Angel and the others are holed up outside town. You know that funky looking mansion you showed me one time?"

"On Crawford street. Sure," Xander answered. "That makes sense. What's the drill?"

"I'm going to hit the place come daybreak," Buffy informed him. "I just need to get something first."

"You'll need backup," Xander informed her.

"No. You stay there. I'm covered," she replied.

"Do you—" Xander started as he lowered his voice so that only she could hear him, "—do you think Giles is still alive?"

"I think so," Buffy said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy walked into the living room with her arms crossed. Joyce sat nervously next to Dawn on the couch. Spike was sitting in an adjacent wicker chair. Joyce lifted her glass, took a sip of her drink, and winced at its strength. Upon seeing the Buffy, they all stood up.

"Is Willow all right?" Dawn asked worriedly.

"She's fine," Buffy reassured her sister. She turned to Spike. "Are there any more details I should know?"

"I think we covered it," Spike said. "You should bring a few stakes, maybe an axe or a sword. And remember, dead girl or not, Drusilla's with me."

"I know," Buffy said. "Get back to your lair and make sure Giles is alive. I'll catch up with you there."

"Are you sure you're a vampire Slayer?" Joyce burst out. Could she not see that Buffy was busy? How important this conversation was? "I mean," she continued, "Have you tried not being a Slayer?"

"Mom," Dawn said shaking her head. "Later."

Buffy smiled at her sister in thanks for the support before looking back at Spike. "Be ready to back me up when I make my move," she told Spike, who nodded. As he was heading out the door, she threw out a warning, "If Giles dies—she dies."

"It's because you didn't have a strong father figure, isn't it?" Joyce said, sounding nearly frantic.

"I don't have time for this," Buffy groaned.

"Mom," Dawn interjected. "Rutherford is the Slayer, just as I have the potential to be called as the next Slayer sometime in the future. From what he has told me it's not something we can truly fight. It chooses us not the other way around."

Buffy glanced at her sister for a moment. "So, you weren't called with Kendra's death?" she asked.

"No," Dawn answered her sister. "No added strength or anything. I feel normal."

Buffy nodded with a small sigh of relief that it wasn't her sister. "Angel is going to open Acathla, so I have to go," she told them.

"What's Acathla?" Joyce questioned.

"World-ending statue thing," Buffy answered. "I have to go, Mom."

"I'll explain everything while you're gone," Dawn assured Buffy.

"Let's call the police," Joyce countered. "They can take care of this, and now that we know you're innocent…"

"You thought I was guilty?" Buffy asked in surprise.

"Well…" Joyce started unsure how to actually answer the question.

But Buffy could see that she had. "Look, Mom. I'm sorry. But if I don't go now, the world will literally end. Giles will die, Willow will die, you and Dawn will die. Unless I stop it. Bullets won't stop demons. I have to do it."

Joyce let out a long, noisy breath. "You're sure?"

"Yeah," Buffy said. "I'm sure. I love you, Mom, but I have to go."

"I love you too," Joyce said. "Be safe, Rutherford."

Buffy winced at the name, but sprinted out the door.

"Come on, mom," Dawn said as she led her mother back to the couch. "It's a long story."

May 13, 1998 – Wednesday

Cambridge, Massachusetts

It was just after midnight when Diana drove herself and Faith down Brattle Street; Faith wasn't sure exactly where they were going. She had gotten worried for a moment, because that was the way back to Belmont, until, halfway down a darkened block, Diana cut the engine.

"This is the north entrance of Mount Auburn Cemetery," Diana said pointing at a long black gate on the other side of the street.

Faith could just make out, through and over the bars, the tips of crooked gravestones jutting out from a landscaped hilltop.

"It's the final resting place of some of the most prominent of your countrymen: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Winslow Homer, Longfellow..."

"Heh," Faith chuckled. "Those sound like porn names."

"The cemetery," Diana said after making a disapproving face, "is also the epicenter for vampire risings and sightings in the greater Boston area. It will become your second home, requiring that you inspect the grounds, nightly if possible, keeping a watchful eye on freshly dug graves and any disturbances that may indicate demonic activity, vampire or otherwise. Tonight, your lifelong war on the undead truly begins. Are you ready, Faith, to accept your destiny?"

"Yeah," Faith said, opening the glove compartment and pulling out a stake. "Let's go find shit to kill."

It didn't take long. One of the iron bars on the fence was loose, and Faith popped it out from where the post met the crossbar and bent it up, so she and Diana could slip through. They weren't in the cemetery five minutes before they saw a lone figure passing through the gravestones about a hundred yards ahead of them, his pale face shining in the moonlight; he turned in their direction for just a second, but it was all that Faith needed to see his bloodsucking fangs.

"Bingo," Faith said, moving to cut him off before they lost him.

"Faith, wait," Diana hissed.

Faith ran ahead, anyway. The thrill of the chase, along with the new hum in her blood, the new strength and speed, all of it making her feel warm, high, alive.

She jumped up onto a gravestone and used it as a springboard to launch herself the last few yards toward the vampire, landing on his back hard, knocking him to the ground. She raised her stake, but, as she went to stick it deep in his back, he flipped over and was now on top of her, pinning her arms over her head and leaning in to bite her. She started panicking, forgetting her training, dropping her stake as he held her wrists.

Fortunately, Diana saved her, driving a stake of her own into him and killing him.

Faith got up and spat out what was left of him. "Great," she said dusting herself off. "Always wondered what a cremation tasted like."

"You'll get the hang of it. Just try not to freeze up. Go forward with the knowledge that everything you need is inside of you: the agility, the clarity, the stamina, and the strength. It's all there; just trust in that. Allow your instincts to move you through combat. Remember who has the power." Diana looked over Faith's shoulder then, who turned: Two more vampires, having spotted them, were approaching fast. "And here's your chance to use it."

Faith nodded and, retrieving her stake, assumed the formal battle stance that her Sensei had taught her as Diana stepped back and flattened herself against the side of an old mausoleum. She held her stake back in one hand, her other forearm crossing her and facing forward, ready to push back a frontal attack. "Okay, gents," she said under her breath. "Time to get some wood."

The first one lunged at Faith but she sidestepped him, she spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick right to the jaw just as he was turning back in her direction; she could hear a snapping sound as he went down. The next one managed to tackle her, but she rolled with it, using his momentum to right herself before sending him over her back and his head into a gravestone, which split right down the middle. The first one barely had time to get up before she punched him in the chest, hard, then grabbed his skull and drove it into her raised knee. He pulled back, and an arc of blood sprayed from his nose, spattering across her face. She didn't flinch, though, instead surging forward, she thrust the stake into him with all of her strength, so hard that it went all of the way through him, the tip coming out the other end.

They were now face to face, practically kissing. His eyes, wide with shock, looked at the fresh hole in his chest, then back at her. She laughed and shoved him off the stake, and he fell to the ground as he exploded to dust. Now, the second one was up and running, but she ran after him, cutting through the rows of tombstones before catching him against the fence as he tried to scale it. She grabbed him by the back of his suit jacket and yanked him down, staking him in the back. He fell to the ground, dead.

Faith leaned against the fence and caught her breath while Diana made her way over to her. "Congratulations," Diana said, a little smiled on her face. "It seems you're a natural, as they say."

"That's me," Faith said, sliding her stake into the inside pocket of her leather jacket.

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

"So, Buffy's going for the big showdown, huh?" Cordelia asked after a nurse had left the room. "I wish we could help. You know, without dying…"

"I don't see how," Xander admitted.

"I want to try again," Willow insisted.

"Try what?" Oz wondered.

"The curse," Willow told him. "We never got to finish it. Maybe we can restore Angel's soul."

"I don't like it," Xander immediately objected. "You're talking about messing with powerful magic, and you're weak."

"I'm okay," Willow countered.

"You don't look okay. Does she?" Xander asked looking at Cordelia.

"Listen to him," Cordelia said backing Xander up. "The hair is so flat, and, do you even use base?"

"Try to stay on topic here, honey," Xander told his girlfriend, who looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"There's no use arguing with me," Willow said as she looked at Xander what had been come to be termed her resolve face. "Do you see my resolve face? You've seen it before and you know what it means." She turned toward Cordelia. "Just help me cast the spell and you can give me a complete makeover."

"You're not just saying that?" Cordelia asked hopeful.

"We can help Buffy—if we turn Angel back soon enough, we can stop him from ever awakening Acathla," Willow informed them.

"I pretty much missed out on some stuff, didn't I?" Oz questioned. "Because this is all making the kind of sense that's not."

"Go with Cordy to the library and get my things," Willow instructed him. "She'll fill you in."

"Sure. I'll drive," Oz agreed as he led Cordelia out of the room.

"Xander, you go to Buffy," Willow instructed as she looked toward her friend. "Tell her what we're doing. Maybe she can stall."

"But—" Xander started.

"Resolve face," Willow reminded him.

"Be careful," he pleaded before he left the room.

Crawford Street Mansion

Giles was still tied to his chair and hung his head weakly.

"You know, I can stop the pain. You've been very brave…" Angel put his hand on Giles' shoulder, "…but it's over." He walked behind him. "You've given enough." He leaned down to Giles' ear. "Now, let me make it stop."

Giles was panting and shaking with pain. "Please!"

Angel kneeled to face him. "Just tell me what I need to know."

"In order…to be worthy…"

"Yeah?"

"You must perform the ritual…in a tutu," Giles said as Angel glared at him. He didn't back down. "Pillock!"

Angel stood up. "All right. Someone get the chainsaw."

Spike wheeled himself into the room in his wheelchair. "Now, now, don't let's lose our temper."

"Keep out of it, sit 'n' spin."

"Look, you cut him up, you'll never get your answers."

"Since when did you become so levelheaded?"

"Right about the time you became so pig-headed. You have your way with him, you'll never get to destroy the world. And I don't fancy spending the next month trying to get librarian out of the carpet. There are other ways."

"Enlighten me."

"Hmm." Spike looked behind himself. "Drusilla? Sweetheart?" he called as Drusilla came up behind him. "Do you want to play a game?" he asked her.

Drusilla put her arm on Spike's shoulder, and they both looked over at Angel.

Sunnydale High School

The main area of the library was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Buffy walked in and just grabbed and pulled down the tape. As she headed toward the table, she looked down at the chalk outline of Kendra on the floor and passed it slowly, careful not to step on it. When she reached the table, she looked for a moment, and then she reached under the table, pulled out Kendra's large duffel bag, and set it on the table. She went through it.

"You do know this is a crime scene, don't you?" a voice called from behind her. She looked up and watched as Principal Snyder approached. "But then…you're a criminal, so that pretty much works out."

"You know I didn't do it," Buffy replied. "The police will figure it out."

"In case you didn't notice, the police of Sunnydale are deeply stupid." Snyder took a few steps closer. "It doesn't matter, anyway. You've proved too much of a liability for this school." He took a breath. "These are the moments you want to savor. You wish time would stop, so that you could live them over and over again." He smiled smugly. "You're expelled."

Buffy reached into the bag and pulled out the sword blessed by the knight that first slew Acathla. She held it up and turned it in her hand. Snyder looked at it, looked at her, and gulped. Buffy gazed at the polished blade as she started out of the library. "You never ever got a single date when you were in high school, did you?" she asked.

"Your point being…" Snyder said as leaned the blade into his face as she passed him. He bent back nervously and watched her go. This time, she made no attempt to avoid the chalk markings on the floor.

Crawford Street Mansion

Drusilla kneeled behind Giles, patting the sweat from his forehead. "Is that better? Hmm?" she asked as she pulled away the cloth. "Poor thing." She ran her finger down his cheek. "Let's see what's inside." She ran her hand up the back of Giles' head and over the top. She closed her eyes and then gasped. As she removed her hand she leaned over to Giles' ear. "Of course." She stood up and went around to his other side and held up two fingers to hypnotize him. "Look at me."

Giles turned his head weakly to look away, trying to resist.

Drusilla came around the rest of the way in front of him, waving her fingers. "Mm-mm-mm-mm."

Finally, Giles could no longer resist and looked at her.

Drusilla waved her fingers around some more and drew them in toward her own eyes. "Be…in me."

In his weakened state, Giles quickly fell under her spell.

Drusilla looked into his eyes and smiled. "Hmm. See with your heart." She covered his eyes with her hand; when she took it away, he saw Jenny Calendar kneeling before him.

Giles smiled. "Jenny!"

"Shh."

Giles tried to get up. "We have to get out of here."

"No-no-no-no-no. Slowly." She brushed her hand over his temple, down his cheek, and over his lips. "Did you tell Angel? About the ritual?"

"No," Giles said breathing erratically. ""We have to get…him away from Acathla."

"Why? Is he close to figuring it out?"

Giles nodded, anxious to go. "Later."

"Tell me what to do," she said as Giles looked at her, helpless and confused. "It's all right. Just tell me what to do."

"We have to get Angel away from Acathla."

"Angel himself? He's the key?"

"H-H-His - His blood..." Giles paused. "H-He mustn't-"

"Shh." She kissed him passionately. "Mm."

Giles opened his eyes and saw Drusilla, Angel, and Spike. He realized he'd been tricked.

"The blood," Angel said. "Of course. The blood on my hands must be my own. I am the key that will open the door. My blood. My life. Okay, kill him."

"What if he's lying?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, good point," Angel agreed. "All right, don't kill him. You know, I like having you watch my back, kind of like old times…"

Giles' Apartment

Buffy walked into Giles' apartment and looked around. She entered the kitchen and saw Whistler there, checking out the refrigerator. "What did you mean, the sword isn't enough?" she asked him.

"You know, raiding an Englishman's fridge is like dating a nun," Whistler said when he found a bottle of Woodpecker cider. "You're never going to get the good stuff."

"Tell me how to use it."

"Angel's the key," Whistler answered as he closed the fridge. "His blood will open the door to Hell. Acathla opens his big mouth, creates a vortex. Then only Angel's blood will close it. One blow will send 'em both back to Hell. But I strongly suggest that you get there before that happens, because the faster you kill Angel, the easier it's going to be for you."

"Don't worry about me."

"It's all on the line here, kid."

"I can deal," Buffy said as she looked at the sword. She turned and walked out of the apartment.

Crawford Street Mansion

Buffy walked toward the mansion at a determined pace with the sword wrapped in a cloth. Suddenly, Xander ran up to her. "Xander!" she exclaimed.

"Calvary's here. Cavalry's a frightened guy with a rock, but it's here," Xander said as he showed her the rock he was holding. She held out a stake that he gratefully took. "This is better," he said as he tossed the rock.

"You're not here to fight." Buffy told him. "You get Giles out, and you run like fucking hell, understood? I can't protect you. I'm going to be too busy killing." She unwrapped the sword and discarded the cloth.

Xander looked at the sword. "That's a new look for you."

"It's a present for Angel. This ends it, Xander. I'm ready."

Xander looked down, trying to decide what to do. "Willow…she said to tell you…"

"Tell me what?" Buffy asked when he hesitated.

"…kick his ass," he finished.

"I'm going to do a lot more than that," Buffy informed him.

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

In Willow's hospital room, they had everything set up on the Willow's bed. Cordelia stood on one side and waved burning herbs and incense over the Orb. Oz stood on the other side, holding the book.

"Are we ready?" Willow asked them.

Cordelia nodded. "Stinky herbs are a go."

"Did I mention that I didn't take Latin?" Oz asked.

"You don't have to understand it. You just have to say it," Willow said. "I hope."

"Right," Oz agreed as he looked at the book. "Quod perditum est, invenietur," he read, speaking in Latin.

"Not dead, nor not of the living…" Willow said.

Crawford Street Mansion

Drusilla stepped up to Angel and handed him a knife while Spike sat a bit behind, watching with a cold eye.

"Now, Acathla…you will be free." Angel drew the blade across the palm of his hand and winced in pain but didn't take his stare off the demon. "And so, will we all."

Buffy walked in quietly behind another vampire. She raised her sword and decapitated him with a single swing. His body and his head exploding to ash. Drusilla and Angel turned their heads to look at her.

Buffy met their gazes. "Hello, lover."

"I don't have time for you." Angel seemed bored.

"You don't have a lot of time left."

"Coming on kind of strong, don't you think? You're playing some deep odds here. Do you really think you can take us all on?"

"No. I don't."

Spike got up out of his wheelchair behind Angel with a determined look on his face and whipped him hard across the back with an iron poker. Angel cried out in pain and collapsed to the floor. Drusilla twisted her head to look at Spike as he continued to whale on Angel as hard as he could.

Buffy started for Angel, but another vampire attacked her. She spun around to face him, but he punched her, and she fell to the floor. She tripped him when he came at her again and maneuvered to her feet, ready to fight. He came at her again with a series of punches, all of which she easily blocked.

Spike kept pounding on Angel. "Painful, isn't it?"

Drusilla began to freak and jumped on Spike, taking him down to the floor with her.

Buffy's assailant backhand-punched her in the face, and she went staggering into a chair by the wall. She quickly recovered to block another swing, brought her knee up into his gut, and kicked him in the face, knocking him to the floor. The vampire got to his feet just as Xander walked into the room and made for a side room. Buffy pulled out Dawn's stake as she sent a roundhouse kick to the vampire, which he ducked.

Spike and Drusilla got up from the floor and faced each other off. "I don't want to hurt you, baby," he said as she grabbed him by the throat and shoved him into the wall. Spike slapped her arm aside and punched her in the face. "Doesn't mean I won't."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Xander found Giles tied to the chair and rushed over to him. "Giles. Giles!"

"Xander?" Giles asked, he's not sure if he can believe his eyes.

"Can you walk?" Xander asked.

"You're not real…" Giles muttered.

"I am too real!" Xander countered. "Let's go!"

"It's a trick!" Giles informed him. "They get inside my head, make me see what I want."

"Then why would they make you see me?" Xander asked.

Giles looked up at Xander and knew the boy was right. "Right. Let's go."

They made their way through the main hall as fast as they could and out the door past Buffy and the vampire.

Drusilla swiped at Spike with her hand and left four parallel scratches across his cheek. She followed up with a punch that knocked him to the floor.

Buffy blocked a kick from the vampire and then punched him. She spun around and punched again knocking him onto his back. She quickly followed him down with her stake and jammed it into his chest as he exploded to dust.

Angel pulled himself painfully up and stumbled toward Acathla. Suddenly, a blindingly bright light emanated from Acathla, and Buffy looked up from her kill in time to witness Angel pulling the sword from the demon's heart. With a few telltale sparks, the light was suddenly gone. Angel whipped the sword around in his hand and held it up to look at it.

Buffy dove for her sword and the scrambled toward Angel.

Drusilla looked up from her fight and gazed at Acathla with a smile. "Oh…here he comes."

Spike came up behind her and grabbed her around the throat with his arm, choking her.

Buffy held up her sword and faced off with Angel. "You almost made it, Rutherford."

"It's not over yet," Buffy countered.

"My boy Acathla here is about to wake up. You're going to Hell."

"Save me a seat."

Buffy thrust her sword at him, which he parried, He swung around with a thrust of his own, which she also parried. They clashed blades several times, and Buffy ducked a wide arcing swing from him. They faced off again and traded one thrust and parry after another. Angel tried another arcing swing from above, but she easily ducked and sidestepped out of the way.

They faced off again in front of Acathla and traded a few more blows. Angel tried a swing from above a third time, and again Buffy ducked it and escaped to the side. She jumped up on a low table and swung at him again. He parried and swung at her legs. She jumped up and over his blade and landed on the floor. He tried for her legs again, but she blocked his attempt with her blade.

Again, they traded several swings, and Angel tried a wide swing again and this time cut her superficially on the arm. He tried to take advantage of her distraction and came at her with his sword held high, intending to swing from above. She dropped to the floor and rolled out of the way, so he only managed to smash a bowl on a table behind her. Buffy kicked his legs out from under him and scrambled back up.

He turned to face her, still on his knees, and swung three times in rapid succession, all of which she parried. Angel swung a fourth time, and this time Buffy knocked his sword into the table with her parry and pinned it there. He backhand-punched her in the face, and she spun away. He pulled the sword from the table and swung it hard at her.

Buffy blocked it with hers and kicked him in the gut, making him double over. She jumped over him, into the clear, and raised her sword to continue the fight. He thrust, and she parried. Then he kicked her in her sword arm, and she stumbled back a step.

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

"Gods, bind him, cast his heart from the demon…realm…return his…" Willow chanted. She was breathing heavily, the words coming slowly and with difficulty. "I call on…I…"

Oz was worried. "Willow?"

Cordelia was worried as well. "Are you okay?"

Without warning, Willow's head snapped back, and she looked up with her eyes wide open. Her head snapped back down, and her eyes stared into the Orb. "Te implor Doamne, nu ignora accasta rugaminte! Lasa orbita sa fie vasul care-I va transporta sufletul la el!" she chanted in Rumanian as though possessed.

Oz looked at Cordelia. "Is this a good thing?"

"Hey! Speak English!" Cordelia said, seriously freaked out.

"Este scris, aceasta putere este dreptul poporuil meu de a conduce…" Willow chanted as the Orb began to glow.

Crawford Street Mansion

The fight had moved out into the atrium. Buffy hit the ground and scrambled back to her feet as Angel slowly advanced. She thrust, and he parried. She spun around and swung at him, and he blocked her. Her sword bounced off his and fell with the tip onto the low wall of a planting bed.

Angel stomped on the blade before Buffy could raise it again and knocked it from her grip. He spun around and elbowed her in the face, knocking her back into a stone table, which collapsed and fell with her.

Deep thundering growls and noises came from inside as Acathla began to wake.

Buffy was backing up against the wall without her sword while Angel slowly and deliberately advanced on her, holding his.

Spike was hurrying toward his car, carrying Drusilla, when he spotted Angel and Buffy. "God, he's going to kill her…" he said looking at her with intense worry. He shrugged and then took off.

Angel played with his sword, idly pointing it at Buffy. She looked up at him, frightened. "Now that's everything, huh?" he asked her. "No weapons…no friends…no hope. Take all that away and what's left?"

Buffy stared at him, his words hitting home. He drew the sword back and thrust it directly at her face. With lightning-fast reflexes, she swung up with both arms and caught the blade between the palms of her hands. "Me."

She shoved the blade away from her, and the hilt of the sword hit Angel in the face. He staggered back, and she hopped to her feet and kicked him in the chest. He stumbled back even more, and she reached down and picked up her sword. She swung it around, and thrust at him, but he managed to parry. They exchanged several blows, blocking each other. She spun around and swung her sword down at him from above. He held up his own to block, but she hit it hard, and he fell to one knee. She swung again, and he blocked. She spun around with a roundhouse kick to his side, and he collapsed to the ground.

Buffy kicked Angel, and he went flying through the door. He hit the floor, and rolled to a stop. Before he could get all of the way back to his feet, she leaped in and swung her sword at him. He almost missed parrying her blow, and he stepped back to get his footing. They exchanged a few more swings. Angel missed a block and got sliced on his hand.

Sunnydale Memorial Hospital

"Asa sa fie! Acum!" Willow chanted.

The Orb glowed brightly for a brief moment and then vanished. Willow suddenly relaxed and looked around blankly.

Crawford Street Mansion

Buffy raised her sword to dispatch Angel but stayed herself when he suddenly gasped loudly and groaned in pain. She saw his eyes glow bright red for an instant and go back dark. He looked up at her but quickly collapsed to the floor, crying. She stared down at him but still held her sword raised behind her.

Angel raised himself back up, his eyes heavy with tears, and looked into her eyes. "Buffy?" He started sobbing. "What's going on?"

She just looked at him, confused but not yet ready to lower the sword.

Angel looked around a bit and got to his feet. "Where are we? I don't remember."

Finally, Buffy slowly lowered her sword. "Angel?"

"You're hurt," Angel said when he saw her wound.

She looked down at her wound and felt his gentle touch on her arm. She ignored her cut, looked back up at him.

Angel moved to her and took her arm. He embraced her tightly. "Oh, Buffy."

She still wasn't completely sure that it was true but accepted the hug.

"God, I feel like I haven't seen you in months…"

Finally, she accepted it, closed her eyes, and breathed out a deep sigh.

"Buffy, everything's so muddled. I..." Angel held her even more closely. "Oh..." He sighed deeply and kissed her on the shoulder. "Oh, Buffy…"

Buffy cried into his shoulder and hugged him back. Behind him, Acathla let out a low rumble. She stared over Angel's shoulder in shock as Acathla's face contorted. His brows angled down, his eyes glowed red, his mouth opened grotesquely, and the swirling vortex to Hell opened, small at first, but growing steadily in size and emanating a deep, red glow.

Buffy gripped Angel tighter, despair gutting her.

"What's happening, Buffy?" Angel asked her, confused.

"Shh…it doesn't matter." Buffy brushed her fingers over his lips and across his cheek. She laid her hand on his cheek and kissed him softly.

He returned the kiss, and it became more passionate. Behind him, the vortex had grown to about five feet across and continued to get larger.

Buffy broke off the kiss and looked deeply into Angel's eyes. "I love you."

"I love you."

Buffy touched his lips with her fingers again. "Close your eyes."

She nodded reassuringly, and he closed his eyes. She tried hard not to start crying and kissed him again gently. She stepped back, drew back her sword, and thrust it into his chest. His eyes whipped open in surprise and pain, and a bright light emanated from the sword. She stepped away from him. He reached out to her and looked down at the sword thrust completely through him. He looked at her imploringly, completely bewildered by this turn of events. She could only stare at the sword protruding from his chest and slowly stepped further back.

"Buffy…"

Behind him, the power of the sword began to swirl into the vortex. Buffy stepped further back, still looking only at the sword in his chest and not at his face. The vortex had enlarged to about twelve feet across, and the two energies began to interact. Angel still held out his hand to Buffy. When the vortex finally met him, it suddenly closed into Acathla's mouth without so much as a spark, taking him with it.

Buffy stared at the stone demon for a long moment, a light of awareness dawning in her eyes as she truly realized what she had done, what she had lost. She began to sob, her heart breaking.

Summers Home

Dawn walked into her sister's room and found the window open, the curtains blowing in the breeze. She looked around the room and saw some of the drawers had been left open, clothes hanging out.

Then she spotted it…

A note on the bed.

Dawn walked to the bed and picked it up and began to read.

Dear Dawn,

I am so sorry for leaving like this…

The more Dawn read the angrier she became. She wadded up the paper and threw it across the room. "Buffy!" she screamed.

Streets of Sunnydale

Buffy was seated on a bus heading down a two-lane road leading out of town. The bus rolled past a sign that read: 'NOW LEAVING SUNNYDALE' and, underneath that, 'COME BACK SOON!'