May Day - Watchers: The Virtual Series - B:TVS...

Another ApocalypseStory by CN Winters and Susan Carr

Written by CN Winters, Susan Carr, Chris Cook and Gelfling21Directed by CN Winters and Susan Carr

Produced by CN Winters, Susan Carr, Chris Cook and David ZahirSound by Steff

Edits by Kate and AmazonchyckArt Direction by Chris Cook

Artists Chris Cook, David Zahir, Chantal, CN Winters, Libbi, Sarah

Teaser

Fade InExt.Outside Presidium Cavern – Same time

"Ruuuun!" Faith screamed at the very top of her lungs.

Slayers began to run in various directions, all trying to avoid the four-story sea demon that surfaced, causing a tidal wave to move toward them. As the wave splashed down, the momentum took several of the slower Slayers off their feet, while others raced only steps ahead of the approaching surge.

Giving a hideous roar, the monster reared its head back and began to shoot fire at several Slayers near the park, setting them on fire. Faith pulled Kennedy along and tried to keep up with Buffy and Wood, who were a few paces ahead.

"This way," Buffy said as she pointed to an alcove. As the group dashed over to the hiding place, they could hear the monster continuing its rampage.

Catching their breath, they all tucked themselves as far back and out of sight as possible.

Cut to:Ext.Outside Presidium Cavern – Same time

Mia led her team members from Julia's former gang to a drainage ditch and waited as each one jumped down and began to run, making sure she had everyone. When the last one came to take her turn, Mia stopped her.

"Where's Sue?" she asked.

"I haven't seen her, Mia," she answered. "Not since everyone split up."

Mia nodded. "Okay, get going and get everyone in that pipe down there," she pointed.

Mia turned to go and the Slayer grabbed her arm. "You're not going back there, are you?"

Mia motioned her ahead with her head. "Go on. I'll catch up."

The Slayer shook her head as she watched Mia run back the way they came.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Library – Same time

"How goes the search?" Dawn and Skye asked as they brought in more books.

"We need a few more helpers, I think," Willow answered as she motioned to the mountains of various texts that appeared on the table.

"A couple of speed readers wouldn't be out of the question either," Rowena added.

They all looked up as Giles re-entered the room.

"Oh! I know," Willow said to the room and then turned to

face Giles. "We need to get Andrew and Tracey up here. Are they in the kitchen?"

"No," he told her. "I sent them with Xander to deliver some more weapons and Slayers."

"Shoot," Willow sighed.

"Why?" he asked.

Willow wore a ridiculous look on her face and just motioned to all the books on the table.

"I see," he answered. "Well, let's just narrow our search down a bit more. There're several indexes that might help us pinpoint things, but they're in Sumerian. I can start on those."

"I'll help," Dawn offered. "Junior Watcher, remember?"

"Right then," Giles nodded as he handed her a book. "Shall we have at it?"

"We shall," she answered with a grin as she took a seat next to him and began to open the book.

Cut to:Ext.Inside Cavern – Same time

"You okay Slick?" Faith asked.

Kennedy turned her attention to Faith for a brief moment and then looked away again. "Just wondering where Mia and Vi are at right now. I don't like this."

"Well, it's not your typical walk in the park, I gotta admit," Faith told her. "But I'm sure they're okay. They're smart."

"Rona was smart too," Kennedy said quietly.

Faith held her breath for a moment but finally spoke. "Yeah, but this is different."

"How so?" Kennedy asked finally turning to look at Faith and hold her gaze.

"It just is," Faith answered as she got up and tried to see what was happening. "We just have to concentrate on the here and now."

"Well, here we have a huge monster to deal with," Robin said. "And now would be a good time to come up with a plan."

"Drowning it is out of the question," Buffy piped in. "And obviously it doesn't hate fire."

"It's way too big to stab," Kennedy added.

"Yeah, but what if we find a way to crush it?" Faith asked.

Everyone in the group looked at each other.

"That might work," Robin answered.

"Okay," Faith nodded. "But we're not gonna find anything big enough sitting in here. You guys ready?"

"Let's do it," Kennedy nodded.

With that, the foursome left their hiding spot.

Cut to:Ext.City Park Parking Lot – Same time

Xander brought his van to a stop and Tracey, who was following behind in another van, immediately did the same.

The girls jumped out of the back of Tracey's van, and met up with Xander and Andrew between the two vans.

As Andrew began to hand out weapons to the girls, he turned to Xander. "I don't see any of the other teams," he began to ramble. "It's a pretty big park and we could be in the wrong place right now. If we can't find them, how are we going to get them extra weapons and while we're at it," he said pausing and holding up a rocket launcher. "Was this really necessary?"

Xander took the launcher away from Andrew briskly. "Don't touch the firepower,

please. You blow up one of these vans, and I'll never hear the end of it."

The new arrivals turned to the sound of screaming Slayers and charging feet behind them.

"Over there," Vi said pointing trying to catch her breath. They all looked to the location.

"What is it?" Xander asked.

"Something big," she replied, gasping.

"A vutch demon?" Andrew asked. "A pack of vutch demons?"

Vi shook her head, still trying to breath. "Bigger," she muttered.

Hearing what almost sounded like a pre-historic roar, they watched the monster come to its full height, poking above the tree line.

"Oh my god," Andrew whimpered and looked at Xander.

The weapons master simply showed the rocket launcher to Andrew in a pompous 'that's why' manner.

Fade Out

End of Teaser

Another ApocalypseAct One

Guest Starring:Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy

Summers, Michelle Trachtenberg as Dawn Summers, Lindsay Felton

as Skye, Elijah Wood as Jeffrey Lindquist, Carly Schroeder as Marsha, Stephanie March as

Bonnie, Thora Birch as Tracey, Felicia Day as Vi, Norika Fujiwara as Mia, Becky Wahlstrom as Julia,

Brad Dorif as Brell, Brent Spiner as

Tram, Katey Segal as Lily Lindquist and Jason Clarke as the Engineer.


The monster continued to chase down the Slayers, casting fire in their direction. Mia kept one eye on the water demon as she tried to search the area for her lost Slayer. After a few moments, she found Sue lying face down on the soggy ground behind the beast. As a number of Slayers moved in various directions to avoid the flames, Mia dashed ahead and ran between the beast’s legs.

She turned to see if the monster had spotted her and saw Faith's quartette arrive and try to direct the scared and confused Slayers. Mia watched a few more moments to be sure the closer Slayers occupied the beast's attention. She rolled Sue over to find her badly burned.

"Can you stand?" Mia asked.

"I don't think so," her former gang member said softly. "It's bad isn't it?" she asked. "I got hit bad, didn't I? I'm afraid to look, Mia."

"I gotta get you out of here," Mia said as she tried to lift her.

Sue groaned as Mia lifted her to her feet. "It hurts too bad," Sue said as she started to collapse.

Mia caught her and picked her up in her arms. "Don't you give up on me," she warned.

"You can't run fast enough holding me," Sue argued as Mia tried to distribute the weight in her arms.

"I talked you girls into this. All for one and all that junk, right? I'm not leaving you behind."

Not waiting for another argument, Mia took off into a sprint across the park.

Cut to:Ext.City Park Parking Lot – Same time

"Here," Xander told Vi handing her a crossbow. "Load up girls," he announced louder to the gathering at the back of the van. "No pushing, we've got plenty for everyone," he teased before picking up the rocket launching and motioning to Andrew and Tracy. "We stick together. Got it?"

They both nodded in agreement and Xander began to jog toward the last location he saw the monster stand as Vi motioned the girls to follow him.

Cut to:Ext.Clearing near Presidium Cavern – Same time

Xander came to a stop. He immediately began to ready the launcher as Andrew and Tracey timidly stood by and watched the monster tower over the troops in the distance.

"Is this gonna work?" Andrew asked. "And if it doesn't, then what?"

"It better," Xander told him. "This baby only has one shot."

"And if we goof…?"

Xander paused a beat. "Run like hell."

"Great. Great plan," Tracey answered nervously.

"One of my better ones, actually," Xander said as he hoisted the launcher to his shoulder and took aim at the beast, who was continuing to bob up and down, trying to flame the running Slayers.


"Ooh! Ooh!" Willow exclaimed as she snapped her fingers, her eyes never leaving the page she was reading.

Giles stood up from the table and came closer, reading over Willow's shoulder as she pointed.

"You guys find something?" Rowena asked.

"Perhaps," Giles answered. "According to the Opus, they have reports on a Pancta Demon in this same Vor Dimension. Same dimension as the others you recognized. But this has a bit more information. Not much though."

"What's it say?" Dawn asked.

"Well, i-it appears the dimension was under a tyrant rule for over a millennium until they were overthrown."

"What else?" Rowena asked.

"Nothing," Willow answered. "But if this is the same dimension as the presidium."

"We've got the name of a location?" Dawn asked.

"Right," Willow answered.

Skye was sitting at one of the computer terminals upstairs and turned to the table. "How do you spell that?" she asked.

"V-O-R," Willow answered as Skye typed.

They all waited for a moment until Skye turned back around. "Sorry, guys. Got nothing in the database."

At that moment Becca walked in, "Hey guys. Mind if I help?"

"Where's the Slayerettes?" Willow asked.

"Marsha said she'd look after the young ones so I could give you guys a hand in the search," Becca answered.

"Excellent," Giles answered. "Start looking in the books for Vor Dimension and perhaps do research on the Vutch demon. The names

are similar and maybe there's a connection we overlooked."

"What's a Vutch demon?"

"Ugly buggers," Willow answered.

"Magic users," Dawn piped in.

"And able to regenerate. They're only killed by fire," Rowena added.

Skye pushed the rolling chair backward with a book in her lap and showed Becca a picture. "See? Willow wasn't lying."

"Actually it was because of a Vutch demon that I met you," Giles offered. "One attacked the council and put a hex on Willow."

"Right, the red book," Becca nodded. "I don't have to send one of these guys a thank you note, do I?"

"No," Giles told her before he crossed his arms over his chest. "Since you're sticking around, you might be able to thank them in person. I'm sure more will be visiting us soon."

Becca broke eye contact and looked back at the page. "Give it up Rupert," she replied as if exhausted to be discussing the subject.

"It's just a few days, possibly a week."

"I'm not coming home to find you dead," she answered.

Willow, Dawn, Rowena and Skye all looked at each other unsure of what to say or do.

"I think I'm gonna go get some more coffee," Rowena said holding her side and moving from the table.

"Here, I'll drive you," Willow insisted, motioning her to sit back down in the wheelchair.

"We'll help too," Dawn said as she motioned to Skye.

Quickly all four women dashed from the scene – all of them practically fighting to get out the door first. When all was quiet again, Becca looked up at Giles.

"Way to clear a room Sweetie," the blonde complimented.

Giles moved to his knees and took the book away from her putting his hands in hers. "I don't think you realize how dangerous this truly is, Becca."

"You're wrong. I do. And that's why I'm staying. I'm not a Slayer or a Super Monster Researcher. I know that," Becca said. "But I can't sit somewhere else knowing what's going to happen here. If the terrible does happen…and you don't survive…I'll spend the rest of my life wondering if I made the right choice – that if I was here, I might have made a difference. So please don't remind me anymore. I'm staying and that's that."

"Perhaps we can compromise then," Giles said softly.

"How so?" Becca asked.

"You can stay at your place," he told her.

Becca shook her head. "No."

"Becca, please..."

"How about this?" she offered before he could argue. "I'll stay here. At the council. In your apartment. Agreed?"

Giles gave a heavy sigh. "If that's the best I can get."

"It is, so you better take it," Becca told him as she grinned and grabbed him by the chin.

Despite himself, Giles began to grin too.


Faith, Buffy and Robin were trying to direct girls away from the monster and to a safe place when Kennedy spotted Mia trying to run with someone in her arms. Instead of following Faith's path, she veered off and ran up to Mia.

"Let me help," she said, keeping up the pace next to Mia.

"No. She's mine. But a distraction would be good," Mia said nodding toward the monster as they began to enter its line of sight.

Kennedy nodded and picked up a fallen axe as the beast noticed the slow-moving pair. It reared up as if to shoot more flames, but Kennedy threw the axe as hard and as fast as she could toward its eye. Before the Monster could take another breath, it stumbled slightly and let out an agonizing groan. It shook its head with the axe deeply embedded in its cornea.


The monster stopped shaking and reared up to its full height. Xander took aim. Tracey stepped behind Xander to get a better look at the action. Her shift caught Andrew's attention and he turned to see that Tracey now stood in the direct line of the rocket discharge. As Xander's finger closed around the trigger, Andrew dived toward Tracey and tackled her out of the way just seconds before the blinding flash kicked the launcher back and nearly out of Xander's grasp.


All the Slayers saw the rocket streaming through the air and Faith yelled again to the teams as she pointed up, "Take cover! Fall out!"

As the rocket connected with the monster’s head, it rained flaming projectiles of metal and flesh down on the Slayers and they ran to avoid being hit. Headless, the creature bobbled for a moment before falling back on to the beach, dead.


Xander turned with his mouth open to say something to Andrew, but noticed he wasn't there. He looked behind him to find Tracey flat on her back and Andrew sprawled on top of her. "You guys okay?"

Tracey didn't seem to notice Xander was speaking to them as she focused on Andrew. "I almost got toasted…thank you," she said sincerely.

Andrew grinned. "You're welcome."

Tracey licked her lips nervously and noted their position. "Uh, Andrew?"

"Yeah."

"Would you like to move now?"

"No." Realizing he spoke his thoughts out loud, his eyes went wide and he began to ramble as he squirmed trying to get to his feet. "I mean, sure. Here, let me help you up."

After coming to his feet, he pulled Tracey to hers. Xander looked at him and started to shake his head.

"What?" Andrew asked, as if afraid of his answer.

Xander continued shaking his head as he began walking toward the beach. "I'm really slipping. Even nerd-a-licious gets more babes than me."


"Okay, girls," Faith said. "Get everyone into the vans. I don't care how bad the injury is, we gotta move them quick. The demons come back

and it's open house all over again, so time's important gals. Move it out."

Xander walked down to the smoldering corpse of the monster. "Smells like chicken down here," he said as he came over. "Do we have any girls in another location or is this it?"

"This is it - maybe the outlined areas too, but mostly here," she said looking around and assessing the damage.

"You did what you could, Faith," Robin said as he sensed her defeat.

She simply nodded. "Get those vans down here, so we don't have to carry the injured as far. We might need a few body bags too."

"Roger that," Andrew said as Xander handed him the keys. Tracey nodded her agreement before they both began to jog back toward the vehicles.

"So, you're the guy with the big gun, huh?" Faith asked Xander as she pointed to the rocket launcher.

He seemed to recognize her pain, but forced a grin into place. "Call me Mr. Fire Power."

"And not a moment too soon…or late," Buffy added. "Well, whatever the timing, it was well needed."

Xander nodded and motioned behind him. "I'm gonna help the girls," he said.

"Yeah, good idea," Faith agreed, still looking perplexed.

Xander motioned for Robin to follow him and the two men walked away, moving toward the Slayer lying closest on the ground. Buffy closed the distance between herself and Faith.

"You look guilty," the blonde Slayer said softly.

"What?"

"Like this was your fault," Buffy went on.

"Hell, how was I supposed to know this was gonna happen?" Faith asked defensively.

"You didn't. Just try to remember that when you go blaming yourself. But I know, it's easier said than done."

Faith watched Buffy walk away, going to the first van that arrived to help the girls inside. After running her fingers through her hair and letting out a long breath, Faith followed.


Willow, Rowena, Dawn and Skye all returned to the library and gave the information they had compiled another look.

"Giles?" Dawn asked. "You mentioned something about a possible take over of the Vor Dimension, right?"

"Yes, but nothing more."

"Here's another nugget of information I found in the European Council database."

"They have something that we don't?" Rowena asked and Dawn nodded. "Why am I not shocked?" she added rhetorically.

"Okay," Willow said holding her hands up. "So, I haven't been able to check for downloads lately."

"No, Robson should be sending these to you and not the other way around," Rowena explained. "I'll have to add that to my list for when I...I'm sorry. I think it's the pain killers. Getting back on subject now. What did you find Dawn?" Rowena said as she stood up and moved toward Dawn. Willow moved to help her, but Rowena waved her off and was already at Dawn's side before Willow could fully stand up.

"It has information on the last takeover of the Vor Dimension many, many…did I say many years ago?" Dawn teased.

"Many as in how long?" Willow asked.

"Like eons upon eons. But the mystic examiners of the Old Council apparently tracked this dimension and it's been growing in size since that time…well, since the last known record anyway."

"When was that?" Giles asked.

"About 3 years prior to the council explosion," Rowena answered. "There's no other word since then, but there is something else interesting here too."

"Oh, wow," Dawn said as she read along with Rowena.

"What?" Willow asked.

"According to their speculations," Rowena answered as she and Dawn turned around to face Willow, "the first take over was done through magic."

Fade Out

End of Act One

Another ApocalypseAct Two

Fade In:Int.Watchers Council Slayer's Dorm – Same time

The sounds of coughing and wheezing and the quick, sharp grunts of those who could still voice their pain were everywhere. Young girls - some limping, some carried, some leaning on the shoulders of others – hobbled into the Watchers Council, quiet and downcast.

Faith turned her head slowly in both directions, watching as the less-wounded lowered the most-wounded to the floor and into chairs, leaving those in shock standing and staring.

Buffy was busy giving some orders to one of the older slayers, nodding her head quickly.

Robin helped guide a still-shaken Vi to a corner of the room, where he gently eased her into a chair.

Faith saw Kennedy lay one little hurt Slayer down in the arms of another young one. "Ken!"

Kennedy stood as Faith approached.

Faith reached out and grabbed Kennedy's arm, rolling it over until she could clearly see a ragged gash that ran diagonally along the back of it.

Kennedy began to jerk her arm back and then stopped as Faith looked up at her, pulling her arm away slowly.

The older Slayer let her go.

"Faith!" Buffy called, "We have to check in with Giles."

"Right," Faith answered and turned back to Kennedy. "I need you to stay here and take care of the…"

"Survivors," Kennedy finished, ruefully.

Faith's eyes narrowed. "Wounded."

Kennedy nodded.

"Keep them here and keep 'em calm."

"Don't think I'll have much trouble there…" Kennedy muttered, surveying the subdued slayers.

"Hey!" Faith said edgily. "We need every one of them who can stand to be able to fight. And soon. Keep 'em on their feet. And on their toes."

She looked Kennedy in the eyes. Kennedy looked back at her, grimly at first, then with simple resolve, and nodded.

"I'm glad you're back," she told Faith.

"Yeah," Faith smirked, embarrassed by Kennedy's sudden admission. "Well, I'm glad you decided to stick around after all. So we're even."

A large hand came to rest on Faith's arm. "We have to go," Robin told her, nodding toward Buffy, who was already making her way out of the room. Faith nodded and turned to leave.

"So, Giles told you I thought about leaving," Kennedy snapped. "He said he wouldn't say –"

Faith swung back around and saw Kennedy blinking in surprise and annoyance.

Faith held her breath a moment and then gave a little laugh. "Nah, that's B's gig – runnin' to Giles for everything. I never asked and he never told – I just knew. And I knew you had to work it out for yourself. That's just the way some slayers are made…"

Kennedy blinked and looked away. One of the wounded slayers coughed raggedly from across the room, arresting Kennedy's attention.

Faith turned to Kennedy suddenly, flippantly adding, "And, if you did go, you know I'd only drag you back here so I didn't have to mention it."

She grinned at Kennedy for a moment until the younger Slayer broke into a grin of her own. Without another word, Faith left the room and Kennedy turned to her charges.

Cut To:Int.Watchers Council Library – Same time

Giles opened the folder Ethan had given him at Thanksgiving and regarded a particular document. It was all there in black and white. And red. And blue. A mass of lines – obviously a diagram –for a positional spell of some sort.

"What in bloody hell kind of magic is this?" Giles wondered aloud.

"Any luck?" Becca peered over his shoulder at the diagram. "Shouldn't that be a pentagram or something?" she asked.

Willow approached and stood looking at the diagram from the top down. "Giles, this is weird."

"It appears this spell calls for a-a-a certain layout…" Giles replied. "A pattern is required, that much is clear. But how it's supposed to work – I haven't the least notion."

"I'm sure we'll figure it out," Becca said.

"Ah. Yes. And that would be my cue to say, 'We are not doing anything of the sort. I will figure it out and you will get yourself safely to another location.' "

"And that would be my cue," Becca smiled, "to say, no way, buddy. We made an agreement already."

"So it would seem," he replied, returning her smile resignedly.

"Agreement?" Willow asked.

"I'm staying in Rupert's apartment until the end of the world," Becca teased.

"Now according to Tram, the world itself won't end," Willow corrected with a grin that matched Becca's. "Just the world as we know it."

"Accentuating the positive?" Becca asked.

"Oh, absolutely. It's not a apocalypse without a little humor now and then," Willow replied.

Rowena breezed past them, preoccupied with a large book open to a disturbing picture.

"What's that?" Becca asked, distracted by it.

Rowena stopped and looked at her. "Wha – oh, this? It's the Vutch Demon. We should look up how to make some Molotov Cocktails just in case the flame throwers aren't handy."

Becca scrunched her eyes as she examined the picture again. "That's easy," she said. "One third oil, two thirds gasoline and a soaked rag to light it. Boom."

Rowena did a double take and everyone else in the room stopped what they were doing and looked at Becca.

"What?" she asked nervously. "Nobody here's never constructed a home-made bomb?"

Everyone except Giles shook their heads no.

"I learned from my sister. She was a big anti-establishment, anti-hippie…okay anti-everything person. Anyway, she taught me. About gave my dad a heart attack."

"She didn't hang out with the Manson family or the Symbionese Liberation Army did she?" Rowena asked.

Becca chuckled and heard Giles sigh from where he and Willow looked back down at the spell diagram in his hands.

"Hey Giles."

All turned to see Faith, Robin and Buffy stride into the library.

"Are you all right?" Giles asked Faith.

"You guys look terrible," Willow said.

"Speak for yourself," Buffy told her.

"We're all right," Robin began, "but Faith's in bad sha – "

"It's just a couple of ribs," Faith waved him off. "I know they're broke, but they'll be fine in a few hours."

Rowena, nose buried in her book, grumbled and the words "damn slayer healing" came through.

"Hey," Faith sniped back, "don't get your Watcher-undies in a twi – "

Willow caught her by the arm.

"It's not you," she told Faith quietly. "She's got broken ribs, too, but it's kinda gonna be longer than a few hours before they get any better."

http://thewatcherscouncil.net/sounds/seasonone/aa/heartattack.mp3

http://thewatcherscouncil.net/sounds/seasonone/aa/heartattack.mp3

Faith snorted, but nodded understanding at the Witch.

"Tell us what happened out there," Rowena said, all business.

"After they got me out, the baddies regrouped and came after us again. But apparently, the Presidium didn't think that was enough and summoned some kinda monster out of the lake."

"You mean like Bessie?" Willow asked.

"No, I mean like Puff the Magic Dragon on a bad day," Faith answered. "That thing did some serious damage to the girls until Xander and his rocket launcher got there. Where the hell did he learn to shoot that thing anyway?"

"Good ol' Army-Guy-Xander…" she said with a quick glance at Buffy, also smiling.

"Long story," Buffy said to Faith. "He just knows and leave it at that."

"Fair enough," Faith answered.

But then Willow's smile faded and she looked at the ground uncertainly.

"Will?" Buffy called.

She looked up. "But – everyone – got out, right? I mean…no serious – no – no 'left-behinds'…right?"

Faith, Buffy and Robin all looked at each other but didn't said anything.

"Marsha, Kennedy – are they – they're okay, aren't they?" Willow asked.

"They're fine," Faith answered quickly. "Ken's tending to the wounded. But we did lose some girls out there."

"Well, we should have her here, now," Giles said. "We still have planning to do and Kennedy, as your second, should be with us. Have Vi or-or-or Rona oversee the injured."

"Yeah, well, that's a problem, chief," Faith answered, casually tossing her head, her long hair falling back off her shoulders. "Cause, see, Rona's dead. And Vi's head ain't really back in the game just yet."

Silence stung the room as everyone stared at her.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Library – Moments later

The sound of excited chattering and heavy clomping of feet filtered into the library from down the hall. The sounds grew and grew in the stillness until the door flew open and Jeff, Dawn and Skye walked through, each loaded with heavy books, folders, and piles of ancient parchments as well as reams of copier paper printed on both sides.

Faith couldn't see Jeff from behind the stack of tomes he carried. He was bent back from their weight. She moved to help him and accidentally bumped into Skye, toppling the girl's armful. Books fell to the ground and folders fluttered open-faced, their contents scattering about the floor.

Skye gave Faith an irritated look and said " 'Scuse me."

"Hey," Faith said, "we're slayers." She began picking up the stray papers. "You want graceful, get a ticket to the Bolshoi…"

Faith's voice trailed off as she stared at the page she held in her hand.

"Faith? Faith what is it?" Giles asked, moving forward.

Faith stood and held the page aloft. "What is this?"

Jeff blinked. "I know exactly what that is. All too well. That's the – the thing – the device they put me in when they drained my magical energy from me. Some of the girls did a sketch."

"Yeah, well it's still operational," Faith said lowering the picture, "hummin' away and lightin' up like nobody's business. It's still there. I saw it." She held the picture in front of her for a moment. "But not like this," she continued.

"What do you mean?" Giles asked stepping over to look at the paper.

"They've tagged on a few upgrades since then. There's more stuff on it, and in it, too, I think."

"Faith are you certain?" Giles asked.

"I'm telling you – this is what I saw, only, I don't know, enhanced."

"Was someone else in it?" Rowena asked. "Who – "

"No one was in it," Faith replied. "But it looked like it was pullin' down some serious energy from all the lights I saw."

"Well if that's the case," Robin said, "then where exactly is it pulling its energy from?"

"Willow."

There was a confused silence as all eyes turned to Buffy's one word answer and then to Willow.

"Huh?" Willow asked, more confused than anyone.

"No offense, oh Wicc-y -Watcher," Buffy said without humor, "but like I told you earlier, you look ready to fall over."

"Well. Gee. Thanks for making our private conversation non-private now."

"I did say 'no offense.' "

"And that makes it so much better because...?"

"Will – look at the circles you have under your eyes. And you're walking around half-dead, like you've been sucked by a vamp."

"Well…I – I haven't been feeling particularly …perky, lately. But, but that's just – "

"Just my point," Buffy finished for her. "Maybe these presbyterian guys found a way to pull magical energy from someone without putting them in their jungle-gym."

"The Presidium," Giles corrected. "To my knowledge the Presbyterians have nothing against us."

"Where was he on May Day?" Rowena muttered.

Giles bit his lip and began to nod, "I have to give you that. The point however, remains the same."

"Yeah and the point is you folks haven't notice how awful she looks," Buffy said pointing at Willow. "You see her everyday and it's probably been gradual, but I noticed it as soon as I walked in."

"Okay," Willow sighed. "Come on gang, do I really look that bad?"

The group began to examine Willow and they began to agree with various nods and shrugs of affirmation.

"I really am a ghoul."

"No," Rowena spoke up first. "You're beautiful, but Buffy is right. You do seem worn out. Perhaps there is a connection if you consider everything."

"Such as?"

"I had to break the barrier today," Wood piped in.

"Julia's gang," Faith added quickly to which Robin nodded in agreement.

"Sleeping for ten hour stretches," Giles also put in.

"Enough already," Willow said holding up her hands. "We officially have a connection but where do we go from here?"

Cut To:Int.Watchers Council Holding Cell – Same time

Bonnie stared, wide-eyed, at the legion before her. She couldn't do much else while she was in the holding spell they'd put on her. Her toes floated two inches off the ground, her body held in near-perfect stasis.

Kennedy and Faith stood by either side of her, while Buffy faced her head-on. Interspersed between them and at varying distances were Willow, Robin, and Rowena.

Giles stood just behind from Buffy and watched from over her right shoulder.

Bonnie began to smirk at the Watcher hiding behind his Slayer.

"I wouldn't smile if I were you," Buffy said, offhandedly, "unless you want to loose your front teeth."

"Tell us!" Faith continued her questioning. "Tell us what this machine does!"

Bonnie merely shrugged, but her eyes didn't leave Buffy.

"Look, we're gonna figure it out anyway," Willow said, in her best imitation of a threatening tone. "It'll just be a lot easier on you if you tell us what we need to know now."

No one said anything and Buffy rolled her eyes. "You kinda need the vein-y thing goin' on to make that work, Will," she said.

"Well I don't," Giles stepped forward. He placed a hand on Buffy's shoulder, gently guiding her out of his way. He passed her and loomed toward Bonnie, coming nose to nose with her.

"Tell us where the device is." Giles hand shot to her throat so fast that she didn't have time to even gasp for air before it was cut off by a one-handed choke-hold. "Tell us," he said smoothly, "or I will snap your neck."

His grip tightened and he tilted her head to the side. She felt the stress at the wrong place on her neck. One quick move of his hand and she'd hear the snap.

Her lips moved.

No sound escaped her and she began to blink compulsively.

"Uh, Giles. She needs air to speak," Buffy pointed out. "But not too much."

Giles loosened his hold and Bonnie gasped for air. She shook a little.

"Speak!" he roared at her.

"If I – " she glanced all about her at her captors. "If I – tell you anything – anything at all – they'll kill me. The Presidium doesn't take kindly to being…tattled on. They will kill me."

"We've discussed this already. The Presidium isn't here now," Ripper glared back at her.

"You're wrong," she shot back angrily.

Giles tightened his grip on her neck again and narrowed his eyes at her.

She swallowed against his fingers and he loosened his grip just enough, once more.

"They are here," she said nervously. "They've always been here. Hundreds of them. Waiting for the right moment, all of them, all waiting to break through. They'll break the barrier between this dimension and theirs."

"You mean the Presidium is going to cross into our dimension?" Willow asked.

"No. Not just the Presidium. All of them. Hundreds of them, waiting to release thousands more. All here."

"The caves," Kennedy cried out.

"What?" Giles asked.

"They're under the Council! The device has gotta be under the – us!"

Bonnie, still registering fear and nervousness on her face, managed to smile mockingly at the Slayer. Then she brought her eyes round to Giles and mustered one more ounce of bravado against him.

"I told you this place was a steal."

Fade Out

End of Act Two

Another Apocalypse

Act Three

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Basement – Same time

Xander stood in the basement, holding the building blueprints as Giles looked over his shoulder. "Well this is a first."

"Meaning?" Giles asked.

"I usually put our houses back together, not tear them apart."

"We need the house to stay standing and just part of it blown up. Do you think you can handle that?"

"Sure I just need to make sure the charges are going the right way. According to the blueprint, it should be simple as long as we brace the surrounding area."

"And if the charges are the wrong way or the braces refuse to hold?" Giles asked.

Xander paused a beat. "We fall down like house of cards."

Giles pinched the bridge of his nose to relieve the tension. "That's reassuring."

"From what Faith described, we won't have to blast very far to come to an opening. She said she didn't go that far down and the rest of the slayers there agreed there were no sharp inclines. And Jeff's locator spell on the gage they used says this is Presidium central. If we're going in anywhere – it's here."

"I'm still not sure about this," Giles answered.

"I gotta admit, the element of surprise won't be in our favor. They're gonna hear and feel the blast below and even then we might not be able to clear a path instantly."

"I know but Faith wants it this way and Willow agreed."

"Outvoted?" Xander grinned.

"I'm just not sure if we're prepared for an all out battle," Giles remarked. "They're both convinced we move now. So I'll pray the plan they've put together works."

"Crazier things have happened," Xander told Giles, tapping his shoulder with the rolled up blueprint.

Cut to:Int.Weapons Storage Room – Same time

"Hey," Buffy said softly as she entered the room.

Faith closed the cabinet that was open in front of her and turned around slowly. "Hey."

Buffy took a few more steps inside and looked around. "This is much bigger than the chest Xander made for me," she teased.

"Yeah, the guy's pretty handy. Him and the Slayers put it together."

"Xander made all of this?" Buffy said motioning around the room to the various drawers and cabinets.

"Yep. Just told him what I had in mind and by the end of the week he came back with a bunch of drawings I had to pick through, and two days later I had this room."

Buffy looked around again as she nodded. "Nice choice."

"So, something else terrible happen or did you just stop in to chit-chat?" Faith asked, folding her hands across her chest.

"I came to see how you were doing," Buffy answered.

"Since when do you care about me B?" The dark haired Slayer smirked at the Buffy.

"I always cared Faith."

"Even when you stuck that knife in my gut and put me in a coma?" she asked sarcastically. "Cause as they say, with friends like that…"

Buffy considered the question. "Yeah, even then because…I failed you. You needed someone to trust, but I failed you."

Faith dropped her arms, giving up her defensive stance. "Damn, can we just stop all this?"

"Stop what? The fighting, the bickering, the backbiting?"

"For starters," Faith nodded.

Buffy closed the distance coming about 3 feet away. "I saw you out there today." Faith looked away and to the floor. "No," Buffy said getting her attention. "Hear me out first, okay?" Buffy waited a moment and Faith nodded. "I watched a Slayer in top form organizing her girls, motivating them to make sure they all got home and something else too. Desire."

"Desire?" Faith asked as her eyebrows reached up in surprise.

"Yeah, you had a passion for it. Not for the kill, but for the duty - for what it meant to be there. You fought with everything you had and you've got lots of fight in you Faith."

"Yeah that's me alright. Always looking for a fight."

"I don't mean that as a put-down at all. As a matter of fact, if I still had that spirit I'd be here, at the council. But after seven years, day in and day out, somewhere I just stopped feeling. I went numb. And who's to say…maybe someday I'll pick up the stake again full time. Maybe I'll teach the younger girls a thing or two like you have here. But I know if I go out there now, if I fall into that routine…I don't think I'd survive and I want to see this world I defended for sooo long. I know that sounds selfish and I know that probably doesn't make any sense to you," Buffy concluded.

Faith bit her lip before she spoke as if trying to say the right thing.

"I was pissed when you decided to bail. Hell, I was pissed when you came back," Faith said with a slight chuckle. "But you're not the only one that noticed something today. You look happier now than the last time I saw you. I mean, yeah you had the Evil First hanging over your head when we caught up again but…even after that? When it was all said and done you just looked…I don't know, tired? Spent? You pick the

word. Point is, I remember all of us sitting in the kitchen in L.A. and everyone was howling about some stupid comment Andrew made. We were all laughing, even Xander chuckled. But when I looked at you, there was barely a grin. So I get it B, and I think you made the right choice as much as I hate to admit it."

Buffy gave a short laugh. "Who knows? Maybe in seven years, you'll be ready to see some vineyards in France and you'll need a breather."

"Maybe? Faith answered. "You got any to recommend now?"

Buffy smiled. "Heck, I'll probably take you there myself if you don't mind the company."

Faith grinned back at her. "No, I wouldn't mind. We used to have fun together, remember? I mean back before things got all screwed up. Hey!" Faith said starting to chuckle. "Remember that goth couple we found in the graveyard screwing that one night?"

Buffy paused like she was trying to remember. Soon, Faith watched as Buffy's eyes widened and she then started laughing. "Oh man, I forgot about them," she said wiping her eyes.

Faith continued to laugh too and tried to talk as she did, "He came running…around the tombstone…and he…" Faith trailed off and couldn't continue because she was laughing too hard. Instead her hands made a bizarre gesture and Buffy began to laugh so hard that she made no sound whatsoever. She tried to get Faith to stop by waving her hands so she could catch her breath.

Finally, they both began to quiet down and Faith said, "It wasn't always doom and gloom, B. And maybe that's part of why I got so mad. I wanted more good times with you. But I think if I told you that story last year, you'd barely crack a smile. So I can see it, I'm not the only one that's changed here."

"So you don't hold it against me?"

Faith paused and took a step closer. "I can see now you needed a break. But if you do get the urge to slay full time…you're welcome here."

"Hot chicks with Super powers?" Buffy teased.

"You know it Baby."

The two Slayers smiled at each other in the quiet of the room.

"Knock, knock," another voice said.

"Hey Xan, what's up?" Faith said. Both women turned to face him.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" he asked.

"Nope, whatcha got?" she retorted, nodding to what he held in his hands.

"This is a prototype, but I thought I'd give it to you for the battle. If it works, great, but if it doesn't then you got the reflexes to do without."

"What is it?" Buffy asked inspecting it too.

"Here," he said handing it over to Faith.

She examined it closely for a moment. It looked like a crossbow pistol. She took aim at the far wall and pulled the trigger sending the bolt along. "That's co –." She stopped in mid-sentence as the pistol reloaded itself putting another shot in place. "Wow that's really, really cool."

"I figure if it works out for you, we'll start producing them. Make them standard issues for all the girls on patrol. It's small enough that it can be carried in a holster."

"Ooh, can I try?" Buffy asked. Faith handed it over and as soon as Buffy shot, another bolt was loaded in it's place. "That is neat," Buffy added as she handed it back.

"Keep in mind it's only a three shooter right now. I'm working on a six."

"No automatic," Faith teased.

"Give me another year," Xander shot back.

Faith gave a chuckle and slapped his arm. "This is pretty fine. Thanks Xan-man."

"You're welcome. Just remember," he told her, "if it doesn't work, instantly get rid of it. I'll have to go back to the drawing board anyway. I'm afraid to give it to the other girls. They're a little wet behind the ears and might try to rely on it too much, but I know you. You can improvise," he said with a smile.

Cut to:Int.Slayer's Rec Room – Same time

Kennedy sat cleaning her crossbow, which lay in various parts, as Mia walked up to her.

"How's the hand?" the Asian Slayer asked.

Kennedy looked up and smiled as she patted the seat beside her. "Not too bad. How's your friend? Sue was it?"

Mia nodded. "Not so good. They're trying to save her legs but…well they said they might have to amputate if it gets to that, but they're waiting for the moment. Slayer healing and all that I guess."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Kennedy answered as she put a piece into place and continued to clean the next.

"Yeah. I hope she pulls through. She was pretty gung-ho about joining the council and now some of the girls…"

When she trailed off Kennedy looked over to her. "What?"

"It feels like my fault. They're talking about how Sue wanted to join and what's happened to her and now…are we all gonna die here?"

"No, not all of us," Kennedy said flatly.

"But some, right, or most of us? I mean you won't 'cause you've been through this already. But the new girls –."

Kennedy stopped cleaning again and faced Mia. "I'm not gonna go in with any notions. Anything can happen and usually does. Tell 'em to chill. We're not going to be putting them on the front line. The experienced girls will go first."

"Meaning you?"

"Meaning me," Kennedy nodded.

"Then I hope we make it out, for both our sakes" Mia began, "but if not…" Mia closed the distance between them and kissed Kennedy tenderly, yet passionately on the lips. As she pulled away, she stroked Kennedy's cheek and stood up. "I wanna go keep an eye on them," she nodded toward the door to the dorms.

Mia was already in motion when Kennedy was finally able to form a response. "Uh, yeah. If you need me…"

"I'll find you," Mia answered with a grin and walked out.

Kennedy blew out a breath and finished putting the last two components together when she looked over to see Vi staring out the window, alone in a corner.

She stood and walked over. Vi didn't acknowledge her presence, so Kennedy gave a small cough. Not getting a response, her fingertips grazed Vi's shoulder and the young woman startled at the touch.

"Hey," Kennedy said softly taking a seat.

Vi looked at Kennedy a moment. "It's just us now," she said softly. "…All that's left from Sunnydale."

"Not true. Buffy and Faith are still –."

"That's not what I meant," Vi said.

Kennedy gave up the pretense and sighed. Finally she answered, "Yeah I know." Vi started to look out the window and Kennedy put her hand on her knee. "Maybe you should sit this one out."

"No," Vi insisted.

"I don't think you're ready to –," Kennedy answered.

"I can't bring back Rona, but I can take down a few bastards that killed her. When the time comes, I'll be ready, more than ready."

Seeing the Vi was determined, Kennedy nodded her head firmly. "So be it then."


Rowena agitatedly wheeled her chair in front of Willow as the witch went over various notes on the table in front of her. "Have I mentioned how much I hate this plan?"

"Several times already," Willow answered absently, not looking up. She began to write something on the notepad.

"We really should research more and –."

"What?" Willow challenged, putting the tablet down. "Wait to see how many more Slayers they can injure or kill?"

"30% are gone or can't fight," Rowena retorted.

"Which means 70% still can," Willow pointed out. "We'd rather do it now before that number is reversed in the Presidium's favor."

"But why blast through? They're going to hear it and know we're coming."

"What's the alternative Rowena?" Willow countered, growing angry. "Sending those girls down into the cave again filled with alcoves and caverns where the Presidium can hide tens, perhaps even hundreds, of demons a-and ambush them at every turn? Lose another 30% and never reach the objective."

"It's a hell of a lot better than ringing the doorbell," Rowena answered, her voice rising. "Yoohoo, we're here to kill you!" she added sarcastically.

"I realize that you and Giles voted against this," Willow started again, trying to be diplomatic.

"Yes, because it's stupid to put those girls at risk by just walking in there. And not just walking in actually, but letting them know we're arriving. They could set up a host of traps before we even get there."

"According to Faith, that control room wasn't that big. And how is that any different than walking through the cave giving the Presidium time and space to coordinate a counter-strike. By doing it this way, we're right inside – one entrance, one exit – and less opportunities for them on the whole," Willow told her.

"Opportunity for who – the Slayers or the Presidium?" Rowena asked flippantly as she started to wheel around again.

"Look at me," Willow told her. Rowena stopped and turned around. "I've made up my mind. Faith has made up hers. The Council voted in favor and we're doing this."

Rowena looked away again and pursed her lips. "It's not only that," she said softly.

"Then what else?" Willow asked annoyed.

She glanced at Willow before turning away again as she spoke. "I don't want you going down there," the blonde confessed in a timid voice. "Maybe I'm being selfish. Okay, I am being selfish," she corrected herself quickly. "I don't want to see you in the middle of it all."

"I'll be fine," Willow told her as she walked over, coming within a foot of the other woman.

Rowena finally looked up. "You don't know that."

"But I know I'll survive," Willow admitted.

"How can you say –?"

"Because I have something waiting for me when I get back."

"You promise?"

Willow nodded as her hand cupped Rowena's left cheek. The blonde Watcher closed her eyes and looked like she might cry. Slowly Willow's hand slipped away, stroking Rowena's soft skin as it left. The Watcher

http://thewatcherscouncil.net/sounds/seasonone/aa/promise.mp3

opened her eyes and looked at the witch who began to grin. "I need to find Giles," she said softly.

Unable to speak Rowena, simply nodded and watched Willow leave the room.

Cut to:Int.Presidium Lair – Ten Minutes Later

Larmin stood by as more demons began to stand in formation in the control room and he gave a glance to the Engineer seated at the control panel. He walked over and gave a slight bow of respect.

"We're ready sire," Larmin announced. "But I am concerned that Bonnie will disclose our intentions. With that said –."

A huge explosion shook the inside of the Presidium walls. The demons looked at each other and toward the walls around them, as if ready for a cave in. A few rocks fell from the ceiling, but after a few moments it still appeared intact and they relaxed.

Larmin turned to the Engineer. "You realize there is no guarantee the witch will come."

The Engineer gave a ghost of a grin. "She will come."

"Not that I'm doubting you sire, or your wisdom but how do you know –?"

"Her magic is prized above all else she owns and her overconfidence will kill her."

Larmin simply nodded.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Lobby – Moments later

Everyone began to file back inside the building and Giles took Willow to the side as everyone else went back to preparing.

"Willow," he began. "I realize you want to be with the Slayers but perhaps it would be best if you stayed up top with Rowena and myself."

"Ohhh, not you too," Willow sighed.

"If Bonnie is telling the truth, we are seriously outnumbered and I can't promise your safety."

"As opposed to what? All the other apocalypses?"

"Please don't be flippant with me," Giles remarked.

"Look," Willow insisted, "this thing is feeding off my magic and it's built with magic – I have to stop it. It's already taking its toll by manipulating what I can and can't feel. I totally missed Julia's gang and I'm constantly tired. I'm not about to let it continue to drain me until they get all the magic I have and open the dimensional door."

"I think that perhaps we should wait until we know more."

"Forget it Giles. There's no use arguing with me. I've made up my mind. I'm going down there."

Fade Out

End of Act Three

Another ApocalypseAct Four

Fade InInt.Watchers Council Lobby – Same time

http://thewatcherscouncil.net/sounds/seasonone/aa/willow_nousearguingwithme.mp3

Giles glared at Willow, as if bracing himself to take on her infamous resolve, but a noise from the entrance interrupted him and both Watchers turned to the door.

Willow's eyes widened in surprise as the doors closed behind Julia.

The Slayer was dressed somewhat better than she had been the last time she visited the Council. Her jeans and jacket were new and her boots, though broken in, retained their shine.

"Hello, Julia," Giles said after he got over his shock. "Welcome back. We can certainly use your assistance…a-as well as your followers."

Julia let out a short bark of sarcastic laughter. "Not bloody likely, mate," she said mocking his accent. "I'm here to see Mia."

"Ah, I see," Giles said, moving towards the reception desk.

Willow continued to gaze at Julia, causing the Slayer to shift uncomfortably and thrust her hands deep in her jacket pockets.

"You're looking ragged," Julia said.

"Thanks," Willow said. "And you're looking prosperous. Mug any old ladies lately?"

Julia just snorted her laughter.

Cut to:Int.Slayers Training Room – Same time

Kennedy and Mia both wore boxing gloves as they circled each other in the sparring area. A couple of other girls sat on the sidelines watching the two girls exchange blows. While their attacks appeared to hold nothing back, the padded gloves and face masks seemed to absorb the full force and both women obviously were enjoying themselves. However, they both quickly broke off when Giles's voice came over the PA system.

"Giles to Kennedy," his voice said.

The brunette's teeth fought with the string until finally she pulled off one glove on her way to the intercom on the wall. "Yeah, Giles?" she said, pressing the button.

"Is Mia with you?" Giles asked.

"Yeah, we're warming up," she replied.

"Julia is here to see her," Giles announced. "She's waiting in the lobby."

Kennedy glanced over at Mia, who had just been about to take a drink of water from the sports bottle. The Asian-American Slayer's face was pale and reflected her worry.

"Okay, Giles," Kennedy said. "We'll be there in a few."

Kennedy flipped off the intercom and returned to Mia. The other Slayers moved off to continue their own training now that the show was over.

"You all right?" Kennedy asked.

Mia nodded and then shook her head. "Why is she here?" she asked.

Kennedy shrugged. "Maybe she wants to apologize," she said with a smirk.

"Ha!" Mia said, laughing as if Kennedy's joke had relieved the tension. "That'll be the day."

"Right," Kennedy said. "Come on then, we'll go see what she wants."

"We?" Mia asked, her head tilting in question.

"Yeah," Kennedy said. "Haven't you learned anything Rookie? Slayers stick together."

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Lobby – Same time

Buffy and Marsha walked into the lobby side by side. They paused when they noticed Julia glaring defiantly at Willow and Giles, a lit cigarette dangling from her mouth. The two Slayers strolled up to Julia, their hands defiantly on their hips in a similar stance.

"Who are you?" Buffy asked, with a nod.

"Her name’s Julia," Marsha said. "There’s no smoking inside the Council."

"And who are you supposed to be?" Julia sneered at Buffy, totally ignoring Marsha. "Another one of the goody Slayers around here?"

Buffy leaned forward. "Yes, I’m a Slayer," she said.

"She’s the Slayer," Marsha boasted while coming off somewhat as a threat.

Willow glanced at the two blondes and did a double take as she noted their posture. Her mouth dropped open as she looked between the two Slayers menacing Julia, who seemed oblivious to her observation. She turned to Giles and slapped him on the chest with the back of her hand.

"Ow!" Giles protested as the Slayers turned to watch them. "What was that for?"

"So that’s why you assigned me Marsha?" she accused. "Look at those two!"

Buffy and Marsha turned in wonder to examine each other. Both of them quickly dropped their arms at the same moment to change their stance and looked everywhere but at Willow.

"I can’t believe you’re just now noticing," Giles remarked dryly.

Buffy laughed at Giles before she looked to Marsha. "You could have done, worse, Will. You could have another Faith." She motioned to Marsha. "Come on, Mini-Me, let’s go see how the troops are doing. I think your Watcher can handle Miss Attitude here."

The two Slayers headed off while Giles turned to Willow and said, "I think I’ll also go see how Rowena’s coming along. Do you want me to stay?"

"No, go ahead," Willow said. "The worst that can hurt me here is a little second-hand smoke."

Julia’s face smoldered in anger as Giles left the two of them alone.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Library – Minutes later

Rowena was struggling to pull a book off an upper shelf when Giles came into the room.

"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed as the blonde Watcher fell back into the wheelchair. It rolled back several feet until he stopped it. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Trying to get a book!" she said in exasperation, attempting to move the chair forward, but Giles held on.

"I'm surrounded by incredibly stubborn women!" Giles said angrily as he moved to the shelf to retrieve Rowena's book. "I daresay, you and Willow are perfect for each other," he mumbled under his breath.

Rowena remained silent as she wheeled the chair to the table where Giles dropped the heavy volume with a thump. She opened the book and flipped through the pages.

"Where're Dawn and Skye?" Giles asked, his tone calmer as he sat across from her.

"Went to raid the kitchen," she replied. "Again."

"Ah…the resiliency of youth," Giles smirked, and then looked up at Rowena's pout as if noticing she was not paying any attention to the research. "What is it, dear?" he asked.

Rowena looked up, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. After a moment, she answered, "I don't like this plan of Willow's. She's gonna get herself killed."

Giles sighed in sympathy. "I t-tried to talk her out of it, but it's obvious that Willow's determined. And when Willow is determined, you only have two choices: stand aside and let her by or stand behind and catch her fall."

"Which choice is better?"

"I've done both," Giles admitted. "But in this case…we should stand behind her."

Rowena took a deep breath and returned to turning pages in her book.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Basement – Same time

Andrew stood supervising a line of Slayers who were moving the rocks and concrete rubble caused by Xander's blast. The debris was shoveled into buckets and trash bins by the girls in front and as they were filled, the other girls quickly moved them out of the way.

Andrew adjusted the miner's helmet on his head, making sure the headlamp was at its brightest setting.

"Tell me why we're doing this again?" Marsha asked, returning with a stack of empty buckets. She grabbed a shovel and started filling them.

"The Slayers need a clear path into the sublevel," he explained, his tone sounding as if Marsha was acting dense. "Now come on, we need to pick up the pace."

Marsha paused and leaned on her shovel. "Didja ever think that your clear path also gives the Presidium demons an easy way up into the Council?"

Andrew stared at her as if the thought had never occurred to him. Finally he nodded. "Keep digging," he said. "We need to get to the last layer as quick as possible to let Xander blast a final hole, but I've got an idea."

Marsha dumped another shovel full of debris into her bucket.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Lobby – Moments later

As soon as Mia and Kennedy arrived in the lobby, Willow said to them. "I have to go get ready."

"Okay, Will," Kennedy said, moving over to lean up against a pillar as Mia approached Julia. The renegade Slayer stood up and glanced at Kennedy.

"Can we talk in private?" she asked Mia.

The Asian-American led Julia to the opposite corner of the lobby where Kennedy was out of hearing range. "This is private enough," she told Julia. "What do you want?"

The blonde shrugged. "I want you to come back," she said. "Most of the girls are working real jobs and we don't have to rob people anymore. We're earning good money and I've been putting some aside so we can get our own place instead of squatting in that old warehouse. We can use your help."

"I've got people here who need my help," Mia replied, pitching her thumb back towards Kennedy whose eyes never left Julia.

Julia glanced at Kennedy, her expression hostile. "I don't care about her," Julia said. "We need you more."

"Look, Jules," Mia said. "I've finally found something that's bigger than I am, and I don't only mean her. The work we do here is real…it's important and it saves lives. I want to be a part of that."

"We save people, too," Julia defended.

"Yeah, and that's great, but working on your own, you'll always be small scale," Mia said and Julia's eyes narrowed in anger. "I'm sorry, but it's true. The Council is global and their mission is to save the world when it needs saving…not only a small corner of Cleveland. We…we're on different teams now."

Julia's jaw muscles rippled as she continued to stare at Kennedy. Undaunted, the brunette Slayer returned the look. After a moment, Julia turned and left the Council without saying another word.

Mia turned to Kennedy and gave her a small shrug.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Kitchen – Same time

Dawn grabbed a gallon of milk from the commercial refrigerator and poured two glasses at the place settings she'd fixed at the butcher block while Skye worked at the stove. A minute later, the redhead joined Dawn, carrying two plates filled with toast and scrambled eggs.

"How's that?" Skye asked her girlfriend, sitting down and grabbing a fork.

"Fabulous!" Dawn said, digging in. Her face exaggerated her enjoyment. "Oh my god! I don't think I've ever had eggs this great. Buffy can save the world, but she couldn't cook an egg if her life depended on it."

Skye laughed at Dawn's antics. "You're just saying that because you're crazy about me."

"You betcha I am," Dawn laughed and leaned in to give Skye a lingering kiss. "Mmmm, someone tastes even better than the eggs."

Skye smiled fondly at Dawn and motioned towards her plate. "Finish your food, sweetheart."

After a few minutes of silence Dawn asked, "So what do you think of Cleveland?"

"You mean other than the fact that it's ground zero for the apocalypse?" Skye laughed, then shrugged. "It's actually kinda nice. I mean I expected it to be trashy after all the jokes I've heard about it over the years, but I like it."

"Me too," Dawn said. She was about to go on when Buffy entered the kitchen.

"Hey!" she said pointing at their plates. "Where's mine?"

"Get your own girlfriend to cook for you," Dawn jibed.

"Ha ha," Buffy said rolling her eyes. She grabbed the cookie jar and carried it over to where the girls were finishing their meal. "How's the research going?"

"Kinda hit a standstill," Dawn reported, growing serious again. She paused a moment and then said, "Buffy…when the Slayers go down to the caverns, we're going with them."

Buffy looked at both girls, one at a time. "No way," she finally announced.

"Yes, we are," Dawn insisted. "You know damn well you can't stop us and besides, you need all the help you can get."

Buffy closed her eyes in frustration. "Why must we go through this every year?" she said almost to herself. Then she opened her eyes and looked at her sister. "Fine. I know I can't win, so fine," she said. "But Skye stays here with Giles."

The redhead laughed. "I don't think so, Buffy," she said. "And obviously you seem to forget, so I'll say it again, I'm eighteen and –.

"You can go where you damn well please," Buffy said exasperated. "Second, my place is at Dawn's side and where she goes, I go. Got it?" the Slayer added as she mimicked the redhead.

"You're learning," Skye nodded proudly.

"Awww, that's so sweet," Dawn said and leaned in again to kiss Skye. Buffy rolled her eyes again and dramatically cleared her throat until Dawn looked up and said to her sister, "See why I'm crazy about her?"

"Uh huh," Buffy said. "Okay, fine. You can go, but I want you both in the rear formation. Okay?" Dawn looked about to protest and Buffy said again, "Okay?"

"Okay," Dawn mumbled.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Giles's Office – Moments later

Tracey poked her head into the open door and announced, "Got some visitors, Giles. Brell and his brother."

"Oh?" Giles said. "Show them in, please."

Tracey moved aside as the two blue-skinned demons walked past her, both of them giving her a slight bow of thanks. She smiled at them and left the office.

Giles came around his desk and shook hands with the brothers. "Brell. Tram. How are you both? How's the family?"

"Good!" Brell answered. "Wifes and spawns are good."

"Excellent," Giles said and leaned against his desk. "So…how can we help you?"

"Big dead demon near lake," Tram said. "No head. Very messy."

"Ah yes," Giles said, crossing his arms. "Xander and the Slayers took care of that, but I'm afraid we don't have time for carcass disposal at the moment."

"We know," Brell said. "Time for Presidium has come."

"Yes," Giles nodded. "I'm afraid so. We think it would be best if you took your families and got out of town for a bit. Much safer that way."

"Family safe," Tram said. "But we stay to help Council."

"We stay and fight with you," Brell added.

Giles smiled sadly. "That's very kind of you," he said. "But I'm afraid we are seriously outnumbered and I cannot guarantee you'll be safe. And we haven't forgotten our deal with you, Brell. You give us information and we keep you and your own safe. Remember?"

"Brell remember," the horny demon nodded and looked at his brother. The two demons were silent a moment, then both turned and left the office. Giles blinked at their retreating forms and then sighed.


"Testing…one, two, testing," Andrew droned on as Willow attempted to adjust the tiny earpiece. Tracey was holding the receiving unit for her.

"I can't hear you," Willow said.

Andrew made an adjustment on the control unit and repeated, "Testing…testing."

"Ow!" Willow cried, pulling the piece from her ear and glaring at him. "Too loud! Get it right!"

"Don't yell at me!" he whined back as he made another adjustment. "How's that?"

"Better," she said.

"Good. Now, you'll be Witchy One and I'll be Witchy Two, got it?" Andrew said.

Willow rolled her eyes. "How about I just be Willow and you be Andrew? Okay?"

"But that's no fun," he pouted.

Willow grabbed the receiving unit and moved away from him to secure the device in her hip pack. "Argh, he's driving me nuts!" the witch muttered under her breath and Andrew pretended not to hear.

Xander entered with Becca and announced, "Kennedy's checking the ranks. You almost ready?"

Willow nodded and buckled the pack around her waist. Rowena wheeled over to Xander and pulled him aside.

"Xander, I need to ask you for a favor" she said.

Xander squatted down so he could be level with her eyes and asked, "What's up, Ro?"

"Please watch out for her," Rowena said, looking deep into his eyes. "Okay?"

Xander smiled warmly. "It's what I do," he assured.

"Thank you," the Watcher whispered.

Giles entered the library, followed a moment later by Kennedy, Faith and Robin. The senior Watcher noticed Becca and walked to her side.

"They're ready to engage," he said, taking her hand. "Things might get a little noisy around here, but I want you to stay on the third floor. If the building starts to come down, you've got a clear escape route and a better chance to survive. All right?"

"This is not exactly what I had in mind, Rupert," she said. "I need to know you're safe."

Giles handed her his walkie-talkie. "Take this," he said. "You can hear everything that's going on, but under no circumstances do I want you coming down those stairs. When everything is over, we'll come up and get you."

"It better be you coming to get me," Becca said fiercely.

"I can't promise that, but I'll try like hell," he said as intensely. "For the first time in a very long time, I've got something more that just the fight to live for." Becca seemed unconvinced so Giles added. "Very well…I promise I'll be back for you."

Becca smiled.

Willow finished her preparations and looked at Rowena sitting in her chair. Her eyes widened as the Watched locked the wheels and struggled to stand. "Hey! Hey! None of that," she cried as she rushed to stop the blonde.

Rowena ignored Willow as she finally stood on her feet and made sure she was steady. She looked into Willow's eyes and the redhead's protests died on her lips. The two silently looked at each other for several long moments and then despite her injuries, Rowena pulled Willow into a bone-crushing hug.

Willow closed her eyes and gently returned the hug for a moment and then began to pull away. Rowena hung on and Willow tightened her hold, running her hand over the back of Rowena's hair.

"I'll be back," Willow whispered and finally Rowena let go, her eyes again shiny with unshed tears.

She turned from Willow with a small sigh and said to Tracey, "Help me get these books down to the control area." Ignoring the wheelchair she carefully walked out of the library, followed a moment later by Tracey.

Kennedy watched Willow as the redhead looked at the departing pair. Faith moved over to Willow to get her attention.

"We're ready when you are, Red," she said.

Willow looked around at the group and nodded. "Let's go," she said, her voice firm and resolved. "It's now or never."

Fade Out

End of Act Four

Another ApocalypseAct Five

Fade InInt.Julia's Factory – Same time

Julia paced in the privacy of her room like an angry, caged animal. Suddenly, she stopped, reached under the mattress, and pulled out a 9-millimeter pistol. She regarded it for a moment before standing up and stuffing it inside the seam of her jeans and covering it with her coat.

She stormed from the room as the other girls looked on in wonder.

"Where are you going?" one of the girls asked.

"Back to the council. Mia's leaving one way or another."

Julia walked out swiftly, not looking back.

Cut to:Int.Underground Tunnel – Same time

Faith motioned everyone to duck and cover against the wall as she spoke into her set. "Anytime you're ready Xander," she announced.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Lobby – Same time

Xander took a deep breath and held it as he pushed the button igniting the charge.


Faith and the arrival team all jumped and held their heads as the final charge exploded. As rock and debris rained down on them Faith pulled herself up in spite of the pellets and looked around the corner. She saw a light in the smoky recess of the tunnel that wasn't there earlier. "Looks like it worked," Faith told the group. "Everyone on your feet. Move." She motioned the group around the corner and made her way to the next edge.

Faith held up a hand, halting her group of Slayers and Watchers-in-training. The signal was passed to Buffy further back in the tunnel, then to Kennedy's team and eventually Willow and Dawn's team. Faith looked around – the tunnel widened into a low-ceilinged chamber for a few feet, but there was no sign of movement or threat.

"Demons?" one of the Watchers-in-training, Nicolas, whispered. Faith looked around again, grimaced, and then pointed in turn to two of her Slayers, gesturing for them to move out to either side.

"Lyn," she murmured to another, "take point, the rest of you, bodyguard the Watchers."

"What's going on?" Giles's voice asked from Faith's earpiece.

"As Andrew would say, my Spider-sense is tingling," Faith quipped.

"Watch yourself," Robin's voice broke in, relayed via his radio from twenty feet further back along the tunnel.

"Always do," she replied, "but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do." Sparing a backward glance at the two Watchers-in-training, safely shielded by the Slayers, she crouched, and then took off at a blinding sprint across the chamber.

"Cave in!" someone shouted as chunks of rock thundered down from above. Faith sidestepped a boulder, then wheeled around as it lurched after striking the ground, and lunged for her.

"These ain't rocks!" she shouted back, as the boulder unfolded into hulking arms and legs and made a grab for her. Narrow holes ringing the misshapen mound atop its shoulders lit with red pinpricks of light.

"Rock demons," Nicolas shouted into his microphone, "bipeds, two arms, multiple eyes all around-" He leapt back, giving the Slayer shielding him some room as one of the creatures lurched towards her. All around them, Slayers were charging forwards, their swords and axes ringing off the demons' rocky hides.

"They sound like Kaltikae," Giles's voice announced, "do they have bladed fingers?"

"Sure do!" Buffy yelled, entering the fray and dodging a swipe from one of the demons. Its claw, missing her, sliced through the rock wall beside her like tissue paper.

"Aim for the eyes," Rowena instructed, "one piercing strike will kill them."

"Easier said than done," Faith complained, rolling sideways to avoid two of the enraged creatures, which collided with each other instead. "Had to go and trigger an ambush all by myself," she muttered, rolling nimbly to her feet and drawing a silver stiletto from her boot.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Lobby Control Center – Moments later

Giles looked over to see Rowena sitting with her eyes closed, headpiece still fixed around her head. Her elbows were propped up on the table as her hands clinched in fists. He could see her teeth physically biting the skin around her knuckles on her index fingers as they all listened to the fighting below. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked as if she might cry.


The last Kaltika swung its massive claws wildly, but while its targets danced out of its way, it was helpless to defend itself against the other Slayers who closed in and rammed blades into three of its eyes simultaneously. It stiffened, then toppled over and shattered, adding to the rubble of its fellows strewn over the chamber floor.

"Right," Faith said, grimacing as she flexed her shoulder, "thank god that's over with. Giles, if you want a rock garden, we've got your raw materials right here."

"Are you hurt?" Nicolas asked nervously. A Slayer was tying a bandage over his shoulder as a sling for his arm. His hand was crushed, but no longer bleeding badly.

"Nah," she waved it off, "took a bump, nothing major. What's the damage?"

"Portia's out," he replied, "broken arm and ribs. Delta…" he glanced back, where Lyn was crouched over a fallen Slayer.

"Alive," she said, "head wound though, she needs treatment."

"Can you and Portia take her between you?" Faith asked.

"Can do boss," Portia piped up from where she was hovering among the other Slayers.

"Do it," Faith ordered, "stay in radio contact until you reach the surface. Giles? We're sending Nicolas back up with wounded."

"We'll be ready," Giles's voice answered.

"Faith," Buffy called from the other side of the chamber. Faith vaulted over a pile of debris to see her crouched over another Slayer, sprawled on the ground and half-buried in rubble. Willow was with her, moving

the rocks from her body, but it was obvious there was nothing they could do. Faith got a glimpse of Robin further back, where his and Dawn's group had caught up during the fight, and allowed herself a moment for a mournful glance.

"Two of them," Buffy said, "she got one but it jerked the knife out of her hand when it fell… the other was behind her."

Faith looked down for a moment, then nodded at Buffy.

"Come on," she said, "we'll come back for her. Giles? We lost Connie… we're going on."

Cut to:Int.Underground Cavern – Same time

The Engineer surveyed his troops – dozens upon dozens of demons, an army of fangs, claws, muscle and carapace. He inclined his head, and Larmin, at his side, bowed his.

"See to the witch," the Engineer rumbled quietly.

"She will reach you alive my lord," Larmin promised. He looked back at the wall of demons separating them from the cavern entrance. "When you have her…" he said.

"You may help kill the others," the Engineer allowed. Larmin bowed again, a gleam in his eyes.

All eyes went to the entrance tunnel as a sound echoed out of it. Clangs of steel against chitin rang through the cavern, then yells. The army squared its shoulders and tightened its grip on an assortment of axes, maces, morningstars and flails.

An arachnid head, still attached to part of a body and four legs – three on one side, only one remaining on the other, catapulted out of the tunnel and landed with a resounding crack as it splintered open. An axe whirled after it, passing cleanly through the crack in its carapace and splattering the front rank of the army with the creature's brain. Faith dashed into the cavern and snatched the axe from the spider's head by the protruding handle. She looked up, as more Slayers moved in behind her, and for a moment the cavern was silent as the foes sized each other up. Faith's eyes widened, then she gestured to the smashed head with the axe, which was still dripping with demonic grey matter.

"Is this thing yours?" she broke the silence. "'Cause we found it poopin' on our lawn, and in this dimension, we don't take that kind of thing lying down."

With a deafening roar, the demon army broke ranks and charged. Faith met the first with an upswing, opening it from crotch to neck, and the battle begun.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Lobby Control Center – Same time

Hearing Faith's comment through the headset, Andrew gave a small grin and amused snort that didn't stay long. He too looked over at the exceedingly nervous Rowena, who was now starting to pace in their tiny area. He looked as though he might say something, but he felt a hand on his shoulder. Giles shook his head 'no'. And unspoken, Andrew realized it was best to just leave the female Watcher alone.


Surrounded by fighting demons and Slayers, Willow darted this way and that, edging closer to the center of the battle whenever she saw an opening to move through.

Xander, Robin and Marsha stayed close to her, fending off any stray demons that got through the Slayer lines. Unseen by them in the chaos,

Larmin stalked through the fighting, avoiding the occasional attack from a Slayer, keeping his eyes fixed on Willow and the demons closest to her.

"Willow!" Robin yelled, pointing. She craned her neck to see above the press of struggling bodies and got a glimpse of the Engineer, towering above his guard, staring impassively across the battleground. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, then her features set into a determined scowl.

"No clear shot," she yelled back to her bodyguard, "going closer!"

"Careful!" Xander shouted in reply, as they began to move steadily towards the looming demon. He, Robin and Marsha had their hands full now, with fewer Slayers having made it so far into the cavern, but Willow seemed oblivious to the danger, all her attention set on the Engineer. Xander and Marsha took positions on either side of her, their backs almost touching her shoulders, moving with her, their swords slashing at anything in range. Marsha darted about the trio, attacking wherever she was needed.

Willow caught another glimpse of the Engineer, this time raising his hands in front of him.

"Watch out!" she warned. Before she had had time to cast a defensive spell a wave of power rippled out from her enemy. Human and demon alike were tossed like leaves in the wind as the wave spread in all directions. Willow had time for a brief glimpse of Xander's worried face before he was thrown back, landing alongside Robin and Marsha and a dozen sprawled demons in a crumpled heap fifteen feet away.

Willow straightened from the half-crouch she had instinctively gone into as the wave passed. Only she and the Engineer remained standing – the floor of the cavern, for forty feet in every direction from the towering demon, was bare, and beyond that the Slayer and demon armies were struggling back to their feet, trying to take advantage of each other's disarray to kill those who were still down.

"What-" Willow said, then the floor beneath her vanished.


"Faith, report!" Giles said into the headpiece upon hearing the commotion. "Faith!" he said

again with more urgency. "What's happened?"

"Some serious mojo that took us off our feet," they finally heard her answer. "But no damage. We're still on-line here."

Collectively, the group upstairs released a breath as the younger slayers and Watchers-in-training continued to listen over the loudspeaker at the action unfolding below.


Xander staggered to his feet, watching in dismay as Willow tumbled painfully down the side of the huge, gunmetal-gray bowl revealed beneath the cavern floor. Its walls were studded with protruding bumps, spires and angular projections – Willow's discomfort from rolling across them was plain in her motions as she struggled to her hands and knees at the bottom, on a circular walkway above a pit of black, seething oil.

Looming over her was the machine Jeffrey and Faith had described – a huge sphere, its surface pitted in a jagged geometric pattern, with three giant rings framing it. Above it hovered the Engineer, as if gravity mattered nothing to him. He stared down at Willow with the sneering air of one observing an insect.

Over the groans and snarls of the resuming battle, Xander heard Willow curse as she got to her feet, then she looked up. Her hands lifted, her voice echoed, now with a strange, strong undertone that carried easily through the huge cavern. A savage light formed around the Engineer, coils of energy misting into being, contracting around him. Willow's chanting grew in volume, and the strands linking her to the light became visible as they intensified.

The spell never concluded.

As the light was about to entrap the Engineer it was dragged downward, into the sphere itself. Willow jerked her arms, as if trying to pull away, but some force held her in place. The rings shuddered and began to spin, faster and faster, the sphere lit with an unearthly glow, and the filaments of energy flowing from Willow began to redden, and burn.

An image across on the other cavern wall caught Xander's attention. As the rock disappeared another dimension opened behind it. He saw thousands of demons charging forward and into the cave, cutting down Slayers left and right. He watched helplessly as five demons charged forward and threw their axes at Faith. All five landed in her back and she fell face first to the floor, dead.

"No!" Xander yelled as Willow's legs collapsed beneath her bringing his attention back to her. "Willow!" He raced forward, only to rebound painfully from an invisible barrier, rising from the perimeter where the machine's pit sank from the cavern floor. He watched helplessly as Willow screamed, the flesh of her arms beginning to blacken, her hands already breaking apart like ash, the fragments flowing along the streams of energy into the sphere.

"No!" he yelled again, as the sphere became blindingly bright, and the fires consumed Willow.

Xander closed his eyes and shook his head, not believing what he just witnessed. When he opened them again he saw Willow without so much as a mark on her inside the floor of the sphere. He looked to Faith to see her holding their own and then some, cutting down demons. It was then that Xander heard Willow curse as she got to her feet, and then she looked up. Her hands lifted and she took a deep breath to speak. And Xander screamed.

"Willow! Stop! Don't do it!"

Willow, in the act of raising her hands higher to cast, hesitated and looked back.

"Don't cast!" he insisted.

"What?"

"I saw it!" Xander shouted desperately. "If you work magic, you'll die!"

"We need help here!" Robin called, slamming his sword uselessly against the barrier.

Buffy raced over and had as much luck as Robin did with penetrating the shield. Looking concerned and unsure of what to do, Buffy backed up.

Willow stared up at the Engineer, who still sneered down at her. Her hands flexed, but instead of raising them to use magic, she began to back away, picking her steps carefully across the uneven metal floor of the pit.

"Giles, I'm open to suggestions," she muttered into her mouthpiece. As if responding to her voice, the Engineer inclined his head, just slightly, and a ghost of a cruel smile passed across his leathery face. The rings surrounding the machine sphere stirred, and slowly began to move, emitting a groaning sound as they sedately orbited their core. Willow fell to her knees, her hands flying to her temples, an anguished cry escaping her as her eyes clenched tight in pain.

"Willow!" Xander called again, swinging a heavy axe that had fallen from a dead demon's hand, and again failing to breach the barrier. Behind him, Robin and Marsha fought back to back, keeping the demons at arm's length.

"It's draining me," Willow yelled, steeling herself against the pain, "it's – it's him, he's draining my magic! Giles! Giles, what do I do?"


Giles frantically began looking through their papers as Rowena grabbed a book with the title 'Counter Curses' across it.

"We're looking," Giles told her through the headset.

"Tracey," Rowena said getting the young woman's attention. "Get Jeff here now. We need him for a counter spell."

Tracey nodded and rushed off through the crowd of Watchers-in-Training and other staff, looking for the young man.

In Giles's haste to find something, Ethan's folder fell and opened across the floor.

"I'll get it," Andrew offered as he began to pick the items up. One paper in particular caught his eye and he began to examine it more closely.

"Oh my goddess," he sighed.

"What?" Giles asked impatiently.

"Why didn't you show this to me?" Andrew asked as he handed it over.

"It's a ritual pattern and not what we need at the mo –."

Andrew took Giles's headpiece away since it was one of the few with a microphone and put it on his head.

"What on earth are you –?"

"It's not a ritual layout," Andrew told him. "It's an engineering schematic."`

Fade Out

End of Act Five

Another ApocalypseAct Six

Fade InInt.Watchers Lobby Control Center – Moments later

Giles walked over getting a better look. "How do you know anything –?"

"Hello?" Andrew stopped him before he could say more. "Former evil genius with other evil genius's thank you very much. I've seen these types of layouts before. Sure ours were better and easier to understand but it's the same principals but using magic instead." Andrew secured the headpiece and adjusted the microphone. "Willow, can you hear me?" he asked disregarding Giles.

Shocked Giles and Rowena looked at each other.

Cut to:Int.The Machine – Same time

"Andrew?" Willow asked in disbelief and listened for a short moment. "You want me to what?" Willow gasped, pausing in her effort to clamber up the sloped side of the pit.

"Find the device's magnetic axis," Andrew's voice repeated, "the north-south axis… I think the frame beneath the central core should have a cross-beam aligned to it, can you see that?"

Willow stared down incredulously, trying to make out the shapes in the gloom beneath the sphere. The glimmer of a glow from the sphere itself let her see two huge metal beams in a cross-shape, holding its central axle.

"I see the- agh!" she gasped as the rings picked up speed a notch. "I see the cross-beams, which one's north?"

"The tunnel we came down is north," Marsha reported, slicing the legs out from beneath a demon facing her and bringing her sword down into its face as it fell. "Slayer senses," she shrugged, sparing Xander a glance over her shoulder before turning back to her foes.

"This way Will," Xander called, "north is over here! Andrew, what does she need to do?"

"Can you see a, a spike or a prong of some kind, maybe a foot long, about half-way up the wall along that axis?" Andrew's voice was quick and tense, but he didn't falter.

"I see it," Willow said through clenched teeth.

"Get to it, turn it ninety degrees clockwise. Willow? Can you do that?"

"Not much choice," she grumbled, staggering along the wall as far as the slope allowed, before falling to her hands and knees and clambering up further. She reached the spire, an oily black obelisk of metal-bound stone, held it in both hands, and wrenched it sideways, crying with relief as it began to slowly turn in her grip.

The Engineer snarled down at Willow as she locked the spire into its new position, and began to clamber across the pit's wall towards another protruding structure.

"What's the matter, human?" he rumbled, "Too cowardly to fight. Too afraid of your own magic…"

He flexed his hands, and to the accompaniment of a resonant bass chord, a jagged star of darkness swirled into being in front of him. Willow looked up, fearful, then gave a defiant scowl and set her eyes back on the machinery in front of her.

"No escape for you," the Engineer proclaimed. As Willow was reaching for her goal, the darkness shot towards her, encasing her in lightning made from shadow. She screamed in agony, her limbs collapsed beneath her, and she tumbled over and over down the sloped pit wall until a jutting spire caught her painfully in the back, breaking her fall.

"Willow?!" Andrew's panicked voice sounded in her ear. "Willow are you – what's going on?"

"He's killing her!" Xander shouted from his position above the pit.


"That's it!" Rowena said ripping the communicator from her head and starting toward the basement entrance.

"Where do you think you're going?" Giles asked.

"Where do you think?" she countered not bothering to turn around.

Giles raced to catch up to her and spun her around, keeping a firm grasp on her arm. "You have to stay here. I can't afford to lose both of you."

"And I can't afford to lose her. Not being there cost me one life and I'm not going to make the same mistake twice," Rowena quickly shot back. She pulled her arm out of Giles grip and continued on.

"You need me?" Jeff asked making Giles turn sharply.

Rowena was now out of sight when he looked back. Realizing he couldn't dissuade her, Giles motioned Jeff to follow him back to the control panel.


"Andrew," Willow groaned, forcing herself to her hands and knees, "keep talking…the pyramid structure…" She clambered painfully back up the pit wall, dabbing with her sleeve at a bleeding cut on her forehead, where she had struck a protruding edge in her tumble.

"Willow?" Andrew repeated desperately.

"What do I do!" she shouted, grimacing at the pain.

"Um, um- the, uh, the pyramid's tip should open, look for a seam about half-way down and push it upwards. The, the- inside it, three things working like capacitors, I don't know what they'll look like but-"

"I'll figure it out," Willow muttered, ignoring the ominous bass rumbling from behind her as the Engineer formed another star of shadows. She flung herself the last few feet and clasped her hands around the base of the squat pyramid jutting from the wall, clenching her teeth as the bass reached a crescendo and another burst of darkness enveloped her.

"Nnngh!" she growled, her knuckles turning white with the effort of holding on in spite of the pain. One hand slipped, but the other held, allowing her to haul herself up once the searing agony had subsided.

"Weak," the Engineer intoned, "so weak, little human. Dying like an animal."

"Andrew," Willow grimaced, pushing hard against the pyramid's tip until it slid upwards and clattered away.

"Do you see the capacitors?" he asked, his voice high and tense.

"I see," Willow recoiled from looking down into the hollow structure, "ugh… three things sort of like hearts, covered in slime and yuck-"

"Disconnect them!" Andrew insisted.

"How?"

"Just… yank them out! Rip them out of their sockets."

"Did I mention the yuck?" Willow muttered grimly, wrinkling her nose as she reached into the hollow and took hold of one of the pulsing organs.


Rowena raced out of the tunnel entrance, straight into a massive melee between humans and demons. She stared in shock for a moment, then gathered herself and looked around.

"Rowena!" Skye called from one side of the cavern, where the demons had been driven back – the dense scattering of demon bodies, in some cases just body parts, attested to the ferocity of the fighting that had gained the foothold.

"Where's Willow?" she yelled, skidding over the uneven floor, made treacherous by pools of blood and ichor. She stumbled, and looked down at the dead Slayer she had tripped on – an anguished expression crossed her face, and her hand tightened painfully around the stock of her crossbow.

"Over here!" Dawn called from further along the cavern wall. She blocked a blow from a demon, allowing a Slayer time to slash its back open, then backed off and jogged a few feet towards Rowena, as she and Skye caught up. All three flinched as the cavern was rocked by another eruption of darkness from the machine's pit.

"Xander and the others are holding out over there," Dawn explained quickly. She tried to continue but she had to pause and strike down an approaching creature. Wasting not time she turned back to Rowena and said, "We're cut off, the demons are holding most of the Slayers back."

"How many – what're our casualties?" Rowena asked.

"Not good," Skye said, her voice exhausted, "but probably could be worse… we've got some of the wounded to cover, they'll make it, if we don't get overrun."

"Xander!" Rowena said loudly into her earpiece microphone. "Xander, Robin? We're coming through, look out for us from the east wall."

"Ro?! What're –" Xander's voice began.

"Gotcha, we'll keep their attention off you," Marsha cut in.

Cut to:Int.Underground Cavern Short Distance Away – Same time

Larmin swung his axe, missing a Slayer by inches as she ducked back, but as he spun his weapon the jagged flail on its hilt caught her in the midsection and tossed her away in a spray of blood. He paused for a moment, staring across the battleground, and his dark eyes fixed on Rowena.

"Takk Guard," he rumbled, "with me."

He began to shove his way through the press of bodies, ignoring the startled growls of lesser demons as they were pushed aside. Behind him a phalanx of muscular demons in heavy plate armor followed, each carrying a savage-looking pole-axe in gauntleted hands.


Buffy saw the formation of hulking demons moving steadily across the cavern, and quickly surveyed her Slayers, seeing who was able to help.

"Eva, Marie, Heli!" she shouted. "The guys in armor! Let's go!"

Without sparing a backward glance, she lunged toward the

demons ahead of her, burying her two hand-axes in two of their heads, and using that leverage to propel herself forward and up, flipping over the heads of the startled second rank. The Slayers she had picked out fought their way clear of their current opponents and plunged into the gap she had created in the demon lines.


Rowena raised her crossbow to shoot the demon ahead of her, but a bolt from Skye's crossbow felled it first. As it collapsed, though, she saw Larmin striding towards her like a locomotive, raising his axe.

She fired three bolts from her bow as he neared, one into his shoulder, two in his chest, each punching through his thick hide and drawing out a well of thick black blood. The massive demon never broke his stride though – the first swipe of his axe smashed her crossbow in half, flinging the pieces out of her hands, and she had to leap backwards to avoid the following swing of the flail. She landed awkwardly, slipping in a pile of inhuman viscera as she tried to get to her feet, with Larmin striding closer.


The front half of Rowena's crossbow smashed over the head of a serpentine demon facing Kennedy, distracting it for the split second it took her to slice open its belly, then decapitate it. She peered through the fighting bodies in confusion, and spotted Rowena fall and instantly grab her already injured side. Larmin stalked closer to the Watcher.

Kennedy's sword-arm went back instinctively to throw her weapon at the demon, but then, as she watched Rowena scramble backwards futilely, and Larmin raise his axe, she hesitated and bit her lip. He was only seconds away from killing her.

A thunderous blast of darkness from the machine pit staggered everyone in the cavern, and through the din Kennedy heard Willow's

agonized scream. Quickly, she looked back to Rowena crawling across the floor for her life. Her eyes shifted again to Willow and then Rowena once more.

Kennedy took one step forward and at what seemed like a last-second decision, she threw her sword overarm. It spun through the air, and just as Larmin was about to bring his weapon down on Rowena, it sliced cleanly through both his wrists. He staggered as his axe clattered to the ground behind him, almost overbalancing onto Rowena, who was staring up at him in shock. With an enraged, inarticulate bellow, he turned to see Kennedy vaulting towards him.

"You'll pay for that, bitch!" he roared. He snarled, then looked at the bleeding stumps of his wrists, his brow furrowing in confusion. He looked back up, uncertain, as Kennedy scooped up his fallen axe.

"Bitc –" he began to say, as she braced herself and swung the massive weapon. The axe blade tore through his thick neck, spraying gore from the wound. The flail followed, its heavy spiked steel ball smashing against his head, tearing it from the remains of his neck and sending it flying away.

"That's 'Miss Bitch' to you," Kennedy snarled as Larmin's headless body toppled over backwards. She looked down and quickly extended a hand to Rowena, helping her back to her feet. The spray of gore from Larmin's wound had caught her full on in the body.

"Thanks," she said breathlessly.

"Anytime," Kennedy smiled. "You know…you smell really bad."

Rowena stared, then let out a short bark of laughter.

"Here," Kennedy added, picking up her fallen sword and handing it to Rowena.

"What about you?" she asked.

"I kind of like this thing," Kennedy replied with a feral grin, hefting the massive axe.


Demons began to rush through the passage way and up to the council main floor. As they moved through the basement and into the stockade, one of them noticed Bonnie pleading for help through the bars. He smashed the lock open with his sword and pulled the door open. Unable to merge into the tide of charging demons, Bonnie kept the door open and waited for them to pass.


"Enough pain," the Engineer intoned, "or shall I give you more?"

"Go to hell," Willow muttered, wiping away the blood trickling from her nose and trying to force the cramping spasms from her fingers. "Andrew?"

"Is the panel open?" his voice asked.

"Yeah," she replied, turning to spit out a mouthful of blood and bile. In front of her, one of the irregular panels making up the pit's walls was hinged back at its edges, allowing access to the strange collection of wires, stone blocks and organic shapes within, all flooded in a bubbling, viscous liquid. Reluctantly she reached in, submerging her hands.

"What are you doing?" the Engineer rumbled.

"Didn't you get that 'go to hell' comment?" Willow snarled to herself.

"Do you see a thick cable?" Andrew asked. "Running left to right, connected to a resistor in the middle?"

"There's a stone block in the middle," Willow said, "there's… I see two intestine-y sort of things, one across, one vertical, they're both sort of melded with the stone thing. Ow!"

"Willow? Are you okay?" Andrew's voice grew shrill.

"There's insect things swimming in this- ow! They're biting! Little bast- ow!"

"Enough of this," the Engineer sneered, "now, human, you will fight or you will die."


The demons charged into the lobby heading in all directions. Watchers-in-Training and junior Slayers stood shoulder-to-shoulder ready for the attack. Giles vaulted the control area, taking a sword with him, trying to defend the area where Andrew looked at the map.


"Which one do a pull Andrew?" Willow asked. "Vertical or Horizontal?"

"Give me a second," she heard him answer. Next came the noise of screaming and fighting.

"Are you okay?" Willow asked.

"They're getting through but, I'm here," he told her.


Andrew continued to focus on the map and didn't notice the vampire that had worked it's way around the side of the control panel. The demon pulled him from his seat and brought him face to face.

"You're history," the vampire sneered and began to descend on Andrew's neck. The young man screamed out in fear and pain as the fangs broke his skin. Giles sliced down a demon and looked over, racing to Andrew's side.

Suddenly the vampire's weight was gone and dust scattered all around him. Andrew blinked in confusion to see Tracey standing there holding a stake.

"And you're dust," she said to the pile on the floor.

"Uh, thanks," he smiled.

"Don't mention it," she replied.

Andrew grinned at her a moment longer and then raced back to his seat putting on the headset again. "Willow?" he called out.

"Which one?" he heard her ask.

Andrew's finger bounced back and forth on the blueprint. "Eney, meanie, minie, moe," he muttered. "Uh, the horizontal one," he replied.


Willow paused with an incredulous look on her face. "Did you just eney, meanie, mini, moe with my life?" she asked. "Is this going to work or not Andrew?" she added.


Andrew rolled his eyes. "No I can't say for sure because I don't build inter-dimensional portal annihilators as a hobby, well, not anymore. I'm working on instinct here too ya know," he quipped. "Try the horizontal."

"Any idea what will happen?"

"One of two things probably. You'll kill the machine or you'll open the hell dimension and destroy the world as we know it."


"Oh brother," she sighed, rubbing her forehead briefly. "Well, gang it's been fun knowing ya."

Holding her breath, Willow yanked the horizontal connector.


"What the f –" Faith began to say, as the ground beneath her feet started to shake. The crescendo of sound from within the machine pit grew to an unbearable level, causing everyone – Slayers and demons alike – to clasp their hands over their ears to try to block out the terrible din. They staggered as a wave of pressure converged on the Engineer, the sudden rush sending many toppling as their legs were swept out from beneath them.

In the pit Willow looked over her shoulder, seeing the Engineer only as a shadow within the maelstrom of energy he had gathered.

"Andrew! Talk to me!" she called. "What the hell did I do?"


The Engineer released the gathered energy, which hurled

in a solid mass towards Willow, breaking over her. She screamed again and again as the power coursed through her, the searing pain blinding her to anything else.

The shockwave of the Engineer's strike blasted out of the pit.

"Everybody stay down!" Faith screamed.

Xander and Rowena, standing closest to the edge, threw themselves to the ground to avoid being hit full-on – even so, the secondary waves spreading from the main blast tossed them backwards, sliding among fallen humans and demons.

The wave of magic caught some of Larmin's guard, who had been close to the pit and not ducked in time, and they erupted in showers of blood and gore as their skeletons exploded out of them, the raw magic tearing them apart from within, covering those nearby with shrapnel hails of splintered bone. Cracks formed in the cavern's ceiling, sending showers of rock tumbling down onto the combatants below.


Andrew ducked as the floor shook and light bulbs burst in their fittings.

"Bloody hell!" he heard Giles yell from the middle of the fighting in the lobby.

"Willow!" he shouted above the din of the earthquake. "Willow, the vertical cable! Break the vertical one too!"


"Goddess," Willow sobbed, her body wracked with pain as the darkness continued to tear at her.

"Willow!" Andrew called again. Scrabbling for a handhold, Willow hauled herself painfully up to the opened panel and plunged her arms in. Ignoring the searing agony flowing over her, the suddenly-boiling liquid her hands were immersed in, the pain of the insects within it nipping at her unprotected skin.

"Are you sure?" she gasped, wrapping her hands tightly around the pulsing tube of flesh emerging from the stone block.

"No!" Andrew wailed. "Now do it!"

Another mass of energy began to build between the Engineer's hands. Ignoring the din, Willow tightened her grip, closed her eyes, and heaved with all her remaining strength.

The intestine-like tube stretched, strained, then snapped violently, spewing milky-red liquid over Willow. She overbalanced and fell backwards, tumbling head over heels down the side of the pit, finally slamming painfully into the lower walkway, dazed and bruised.

She forced her eyes open, hearing a roar above her. The energy gathered between the Engineer's hands was flowing down, into the sphere. He roared again, drawing more power to himself, and for a moment an equilibrium was reached – the energy taut between him and the machine, but moving in neither direction.


Faith delivered a sweeping kick that knocked one of Larmin's guard off his feet, and cracked his helmet open with a powerful downward axe-blow, smashing his face to a pulp. She looked up as the walls of the cavern rippled and reddened.


Xander grabbed a sword from the ground and prepared to defend himself, then stared around in shock as the cavern began to fade from view. Surrounding the struggling Slayers and demons, in place of underground rock, a hellish landscape shimmered into being. Hundreds – thousands, tens of thousands – of demons were advancing towards them, while above, in a sky dotted with scarlet falling stars, winged creatures circled and began to dive. Xander closed his eyes shut tight and opened them again only to be faced with the same scene. Time hadn't slipped and he knew he was still in the present.

"Oh god," Xander muttered to himself. "He's gonna open it himself."

Fade Out

End of Act Six

Another ApocalypseAct Seven

Fade InInt.Watchers Council Giles Apartment – Same time

Feeling the blast that rocked the building Becca looked to the door. She took a step forward and hesitated. Clinching her jaw and setting her shoulders, she opened the door and walked out.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Second Floor Stairway – Moments later

Becca walked to the top of the stairs to see various demons fighting the Watchers below. She also saw Bonnie below as the agent ducked trying to avoid the melees going on around her, slowly working her way toward the front door.

"Nuh uh," Becca mumbled to herself. She took off down the stairs, hanging on to the banister and moving as fast as her feet could carry her.


With a shocked roar the Engineer faltered, and his power slipped, surging into the machine once more. His clawed hands blackened and blistered, the veins glowing as fires began to light within him.


With a titanic wave of pressure, the boundary between one realm and the next snapped back, leaving the underground cavern in place of the otherworldly landscape. Those creatures that had been in the process of moving across the threshold collapsed as the edge passed through them – they were left sliced in half, limbs missing, some even half-entombed in the cavern walls, vomiting up blood as the rock fused with their innards. In the few seconds the worlds had touched, however, dozens of demons had safely crossed the threshold, and added their numbers to the Engineer's army.


As the demons and Slayers continued to battle, Jeff scanned the area looking for Lily, his mother. He called her name repeatedly through the din of the fighting. Each call

grew more frantic when she didn't answer. He looked to the ground of fallen Watchers and demons and recognized a pair of shoes. He rushed over and found another demon was lying dead on top of her.

"Mom?" he called out as he tired to move the weight.

It was too much for him, and he began to chant and gave another push. This time the huge demon was toss aside with as much effort as a sack of potatoes and using his magically-enhanced strength, he picked her up and carried her from the middle of the chaos to the corner.

Bonnie tiptoed toward the door and was only steps away when she felt a hand reach out and spin her around.

"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Becca asked.

Bonnie looked calm, but suddenly pushed Becca away trying to make a run for it. She didn't get far as Becca reached out grabbing her hair and pulled her deeper into the council. Bonnie turned around as much as she could and tried to scratch Becca's face. She connected but not enough for Becca to let go. Seeing that scratching wasn't working Bonnie pushed all her weight into Becca sending them both to the ground. It was enough for Becca to lose her hold and the agent jumped up and ran to the door. Giles saw the door open and he battled his way toward it. He looked over and saw Becca laying flat on her back.

"Becca," he shouted and raced over, falling to his knees beside her. "Are you okay?"

"Damn it," she said in a short breath. "I let her get away," she said defeated.

"Don't worry about her. She's not important and…" Giles paused and realized, although delayed, she hadn't listened to him. "I told you to go to my room."

"And technically I did," she answered. "I just didn't stay there is all."

Giles ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "What am I going to do with you woman?" he sighed.

Becca moved to her elbows. "Just love me I guess," she answered with a grin.

Giles grinned too and motioned over to Andrew. "Fine but stay with Andrew. You both could use protect right now. Agreed?"

"I can manage that…for now."

Giles shook his head as he watched her get to her feet and jog over to the control center where Andrew and Tracey stood happy to see her. Giles turned in the other direction to see Brell and Tram enter inside again. "No one listens to me," he muttered. "I might as well retire now."


Willow clambered to her feet as the Engineer grimaced in pain, clenching his fists against the burning as his energy was pulled from him. Again he managed to slow the passage of magic from him to the machine, holding it in check with all his might. Willow looked up, seeing the cavern's ceiling fade into the tumultuous red sky again.

"Willow?" Andrew's voice came from her earpiece. "What's happening?"

"It's gone," she said to herself, then repeated louder: "it's gone, it's not connected to me any more." She turned on the Engineer, raising her hands. A glittering aura formed around her, as if starlight was flowing over her. The dark demon looked down at her, rage twisting his features.

"Fight or die, huh?" Willow said. "Okay, now I'm fighting."

With a rush, she released her magic, letting it slam into the Engineer with all its force. He roared in pain and rage as the starlight blasted through him, and as he convulsed the machine beneath him surged, tearing his own magic out of him and began to speak.

"Bide ye the Wiccan Rede ye must,In perfect love and perfect Trust.Eight words the Wiccan Rede fulfillAn' it harm done, do as ye will

Lest in self defense it be,Ever mind the Rule of ThreeFollow ye this with mind and heart,Merry ye meet, and merry ye part."

The rings spun faster and faster as he burned, the metal groaning in protest, glowing white-hot around the bearings. Willow scrambled back, raising her arms to shield herself from the heat as the sphere erupted in a sheet of flame.

The Engineer, bellowing in fury and disbelief, burned from within, breaking apart like ash and collapsing into the burning sphere.


Giles walked toward Brell and Tram as they entered.

"I thought I told you…"

He trailed off as he watched blue demons entering in a steady stream. As they continued to pour in they raced ahead, helping the Watchers take down their Presidium foes.

"Council helped us," Tram explained. "Set up funds, give us goods to build new life here. Too late for Tram and brother to save old homeland but we help you save new homeland. You give so much. Only right Brell people give some back."

Giles smiled on the verge of tears and he nodded quickly. "Alright then," he told them. "Work your troops toward the basement after we've taken out these demons here. Understood?"

Brell nodded. "Thank you Watcher Leader," he said before he and Tram raced ahead to help.

Giles swiftly moved to the control panel and took the headset from Andrew under a whiny protest. "Faith," Giles said quickly. "Brell and Tram are on the way with a lot of blue help. Do you copy?"

"Copy that," she grunted before he heard her shout to the troops. "No killing the blue guys coming from behind. They're playing for the home team."

Giles quickly gave the headset back to Andrew who put it back on his head. "I coulda told her that," Andrew remarked indignant. Giles simply glared at him and Andrew added, "But it's, you know, okay that you did Mr. Giles, cause, being the boss and all."

Tracey leaned over to the stuttering man. "Nice attempt at a save," Tracey teased.


Willow clambered higher up the pit wall, hauling herself up with whatever handholds she could find on the irregular surface. The fire at the bottom of the pit spread from the burning sphere and its rings and leapt up from the pool of oil beneath it, engulfing the central walkway above.

"Andrew," she yelled desperately, "how do I drop the barrier and get out?"

"It's not down?" he asked.

"If it was down Andrew I wouldn't be asking now would I?" Willow said nervously as she turned away from the heat and stopped looking down.

"I don't know!" he replied desperately. "I-I mean there's nothing on the diagram that looks like a barrier – there's just the sphere inside the pit, nothing else. What do you see?" he asked.

"Just the sphere!" Willow confirmed. "And a whole lot of fire that's getting hotter I should add."

"It must be something else," Andrew said, "something outside the pit."

Instinctively Willow began to look around.


Julia arrived at the council, opening the door determinedly. She stopped in her tracks at the chaos around them. Using her gun, she started to shoot the demons.

Hearing the gunfire, everyone began to duck and scream. Julia took aim as Tram ran toward her. "No! Good demons!" he insisted.

"My ass," she answered.

Giles screamed out, "Nooo!" as he ran to stop her.

But it was too late. Julia shot Tram between the eyes and he fell over to the floor dead. Giles arrived knocking the gun out of her hands. The Presidium agents wasted no time in beginning their attack again at the diversion Giles had created, and soon the room turned to pandemonium once more.

"He was on our side!" Giles yelled. Before he could rant any further in his disgust, a vampire grabbed Giles. The Watcher tried to stab the vampire from behind so he could get free but he just ended up twisting in a half circle. Julia dusted the vamp through the back with the stake from her inside coat pocket.

Giles's breathing was labored as he turned around to her. "Thank you. Obviously you've sensed what's happening here and came to help," Giles told her as he slashed at an approaching demon with his sword taking him down. "But no guns and no dead blue demons."

Not correcting him, Julia looked out into the fight going on around them.

"Awe damn it," Julia hissed, taking the sword from Giles and running headlong into the battle, cutting through the Presidium population with every turn of her blade.


Having heard Andrew's message too, Rowena looked about frantically, searching for any trace of a ritual design, a device, anything that could create the barrier trapping Willow inside the burning machine. Her eyes were drawn upwards as a tremor shook more debris free of the ceiling, and through one of the newly-opened gaps she saw a glint of metal.

"There's something up there!" Rowena yelled, pointing. As another chunk of ceiling fell away, rebounding off the barrier enclosing the machine pit below it, a strange device was revealed, something like a black cast-iron chandelier with dozens of crystals in place of candles.

"That's it!" she called, drawing Faith's attention. "Up there, that's projecting the barrier!"

Faith and Buffy both looked up to where Rowena pointed.

"Right," Faith said with determination, snatching a crossbow from the ground and searching for a bolt. "B? Give us some room here," she added.

Buffy nodded and motioned a few Slayers to give the small circle cover. Mia sprinted across to hand her one, and she loaded the bow and aimed it.

"Damn!" she swore, as another tremor shook the framework holding the projector, and it

began swaying. Her bolt clanged off the metal, leaving it undamaged. "Anyone got a heavier bow? Missile? Anything?"

"Giles, can you spare anyone?" Xander asked into his radio. "We need the missile launcher down here now!"

"What's the word?" Rowena asked. He shook his head.

"Sounds like they're plenty busy up there."

Rowena's face light up. "Kennedy! We need you here now!"

"Heli, you okay?" Faith asked. The Slayer swung a sword left-handed, ignoring her right which was crushed and bleeding.

"I can still fight," she insisted.

"Get Lyn and- where's Eva?"

"I see Eva fall," the Slayer reported in a Scandinavian accent, "I don't think she make it."

"Hell. Skye, find her, see if she's alive, help if you can. Dawn, go with her. Heli, take Lyn, go into the tunnels and clear 'em out. Go!" They scattered, dashing along the eastern wall of the cavern – opposite them, those Slayers still on their feet were locked in combat with the remnants of the demon army. The cavern shook again as a blast rocked the machine pit, sending metallic shrapnel ricocheting off the inside of the barrier.

"What's up?" Kennedy asked as she arrived next to Rowena.

"Shoot that thing down please," she pointed.

Kennedy took a shot and it missed by just a fraction of an inch. "Lemme try again," she said as Mia handed her another bolt. The second one connected but it only broke two crystals.

Willow looked above her and saw the barrier melt for just a moment before snapping back into place as Kennedy's third bolt missed.

"This might take awhile," Kennedy told Rowena honestly.

"We don't have awhile," Rowena replied.


Vi tore through the approaching demons with cat-like speed and grace and for a brief moment Buffy smiled as she watched the compact Slaying laying waste to the enemies that dared to enter her path. Buffy, however, wasn't the only one noticing how much a threat Vi had become as she struck down demon after demon who dared to come within a few feet of her. Another unit of creatures began to approach and Buffy tightened her grip on her sword.

"Look alive girls!" she shouted to her Slayer comrades who guarded Kennedy as she continued to shoot at the crystals.


"Willow?" Xander called, pressing his palms against the barrier heedless of the sparks of energy that leapt from the contact.

"It's getting kind of toasty in here!" she shouted back.

"Did anyone bring pitons, or something?" Faith hazarded.

"What about going up there?" Marsha piped up.

"You're kidding, right?" Robin asked.

"No," she said, pointing – a section of wall and ceiling had collapsed, revealing the steel girders behind them, supporting the projector. The progressive cave-ins had buckled the metal dangerously, in places tearing away supporting beams.

"That'll never support a Slayer climbing on it," Kennedy protested.

"Not you guys," Marsha pointed out, "But I'll make it."

"What's she doing?" Willow's voice echoed from beyond the barrier.

"Faith?" Marsha pleaded.

She looked up at the sagging metalwork, then nodded. "Go for it Blondie."

"Somebody talk to me! What's happening?" Willow insisted.

"Marsha's going to shut off the barrier projector," Rowena called down to Willow.

"She's what?! I'm still your Watcher, young lady!"

"I know!" Marsha called back. "I spent too much time breaking you in to get a new one now."

"Dammit…someone cover her," Willow shouted.

"Ken, that's you," Faith said. Kennedy nodded, and took the crossbow handed to her. Mia offered Marsha the remaining supply of spare bolts. The trio sprinted towards the cavern wall, where Marsha began clambering upwards, using the gaping cracks as hand and footholds.

"Are you okay?" Rowena called down to Willow.

"Apart from being covered in gunk, and getting a little too well done on the backside, I'm fine," Willow called back.

"If it's any consolation," Rowena said, "I'm covered in 'gunk' as well."

"Misery loves company, sweetie," Willow replied.

Rowena smiled at the endearment. "Just hang in there Will. We're coming."

Cut to:Int.Underground Cavern Ceiling – Same time

Marsha scrambled for a foothold as a ledge crumbled under her. She managed to reach one of the bend metal beams and hung onto it, swinging back and forth to flip herself up and onto the tangle of broken steel that had been embedded in the cavern ceiling. She rose gingerly to her feet and made her way forwards, ducking to her hands and knees as the framework gave ominous groans. She rose again, taking deep, steadying breaths as the structure shuddered beneath her feet, and with arms out for balance she made her way forwards.

From the ground, she heard Faith say, "Look at her go!" but Marsha stayed focused on the beam in front of her as she took careful yet quick steps. She didn't see that Faith was forced back into the action at the sound of Buffy's distress call.

Marsha threw herself to one side as part of the structure gave way, tumbling down to smash against the top of the machine's barrier. Hanging from one arm and spared a glance down, and got a dizzying view of Willow, tiny beneath her, staring up, clinging to the wall as the bottom of the pit blazed fiercely. Even at her altitude she could feel how intense the heat had become and she looked even more determined knowing her Watcher was helpless even closer to it.

She reached with her other hand for another beam, but it buckled when she tried to put her weight on it, and broke free of its bolts. As she desperately looked around for another handhold, something whizzed past her. With a dull thunk, a crossbow bolt embedded itself at an angle in the ceiling.

"Hey!" she shouted as if wondering who was shooting at her.

Another followed, and she looked down again to see Kennedy lowering her crossbow.

That's when she noticed the location of the bolts. "Oh, hehe. Thanks," she yelled, reaching for the protruding bolt needed to finish her journey. The tip was buried securely in the rock – with a deep breath she let go of the framework behind her and swung, all her weight on the tiny metal spar. She reached for the second bolt, caught it, then flung herself forward, catching the edge of a beam as she fell.

The projector was barely five feet from her. She let go with one hand and drew a heavy knife from her belt, testing its weight.

"Is this thing going to blow up?" she yelled down.

"Probably," Rowena's voice echoed up to her, "so don't hang around!"

"Great, now they tell me," Marsha muttered to herself. With a snort of laughter she drew back her arm and flung the knife, spinning it sideways as it flew. It scythed through the crystals mounted on the projector, smashing a path from one side to the other. Blue and green lightning began to arc between the broken crystals, and the whole thing began to shake and emit a high-pitched while.

"Exit Slayer, stage right," Marsha said quickly, swinging back towards the embedded crossbow bolts. She reached the first, but as she swung towards the second a blast from the projector tossed her forward, making her miss her grasp.

"Marsha!" Willow screamed, seeing her fall. She tumbled wildly towards the burning machine pit, then smacked into the barrier and began to slide down its curved surface.

"Ow!" she whined as she rolled end over end. Above her the projector gave another burst of flame, fragments of crystal showering down like hail.

"Marsha, move!" Willow yelled. The young Slayer flung out her arms to stop her roll, and in the instant she had her legs beneath her she lunged forward, towards the edge of the pit. With a blinding flash the barrier failed, visible for a split second as a hemisphere covering the machine pit, then it was gone, leaving Marsha again falling, head-first, just short of safety.

Robin leapt from the edge of the pit, catching her in mid-air. The pair of them landed heavily on the sloped wall and began to roll, but an arm reached out and grasped Robin's hand. Willow chanted and held on as if her own life depended on it, despite the weight of two bodies hanging from her, until Robin managed to get a foothold just below the witch, against the wall.

Xander and Rowena scrambled down into the pit with Kennedy right behind them. Collectively, they hauled Willow up and helped her out. Seeing Rowena had Willow securely in hand, Kennedy and Xander went to help Robin and Marsha. Slayer and Weapons Master together managed to carry Marsha up onto safe ground before hoisting Robin up behind her.

"I'm okay," Willow said in a dazed voice, as she and Rowena reached the cavern floor. She tried to stand up, but her legs wobbled, and only Rowena's quick grab kept her from falling.

"Okay but maybe not a-okay," she admitted, as Rowena held her, hugging her fiercely.

"You're alright?" she whispered as she pushed Willow's hair out of the way and examined her face.

"I'm alright," Willow replied. "But where's Marsha?"

She saw Xander and Robin helping her out of the pit. Xander picked her up and carried her. A pained look was on her face, but she was alive.

"I'm okay," the young Slayer said quickly noting Willow's concerned expression.

"Okay but for a broken leg," Robin added, "sorry about that. If it means anything I'm in a world of hurt now too kiddo." He was leaning heavily holding his knee, obviously badly bruised or broken from his fall.

"Better than a busted head," Marsha noted. "Brell!" The group turned to see the demon sprint over to them, nervously eyeing the fighting still going on nearby.

"Help her," Rowena said, and she and Brell together supported Willow as they made for the tunnel entrance. Rowena groaned and Willow turned to her.

"Your rib," the witch said moving away.

Rowena grabbed Willow's hand to keep the witch's arm around her shoulder. "Nothing more drugs won't fix," Rowena smiled. "Let's get you out of here so the Slayers can do their job without us interfering anymore."

Xander and Marsha followed alongside them.

"Need a hand?" Robin puffed as Faith staggered over to him, carrying Marie. She set the young woman down with the other injured Slayers in the corner.

She turned back and watched him trying not to put his weight on his leg. "You're hurt aren't you Ace?"

"I'm fine," he brushed it off.

"Stand up straight," Faith challenged.

Robin tried to appear like he was standing on both legs. Faith shook her head. "Men. You lie like dogs. Get outta here," she said pitching a thumb after giving him a quick kiss.

"No, let me help the others," he insisted.

"Well start by ordering some Watchers here. We lost communication," she said as she showed him a frayed wire that was still connected to her ear. She popped it out and tossed it casually to the ground. "I'm sure Andy and Giles are freaking right about now."

Robin looked over to where Faith had put Marie to see a pair of injured Slayers – one broken arm, one painfully holding her ribs – standing guard over a half dozen unconscious girls. "You'll be okay?" he asked Faith.

"No problem Ace." She grinned. "Go get them help and then get yourself bandaged up." She turned back to look at the rest of her troops. "This won't take long," she assured him.

"Faith," he said making her stop in her stride toward the Slayers. "I love you," he said sincerely.

She gave him a wicked grin. "I love you too, Ace. Now go on. This could get ugly…for them," she said nodding toward the demons.

With a smile, he began to leave the cavern.

Faith walked over to the remaining Slayers and pointed to Kennedy, Buffy, Mia and Vi. "You four stay," she said. "Everyone else, grab an injured Slayer and get upstairs. Understood?"

With much relief, the Slayers quickly went to the corner to see who they could help and began to file out. Faith and her company formed up around her, glaring defiance at the last remnant of the Engineer's army. The demons, a fraction of their former number, were wounded, bloodied, and some were looking more nervous than ferocious as the Slayers casually advanced step by step toward them.

"Anyone got anything witty to say?" Faith asked, picking up another axe from the ground to add to the one already in her hand.

"Sorry," Buffy replied, "I used up all my best lines years ago."

"Ah well," Faith shrugged, "let's just kill 'em and tell everyone we said somethin' real clever first. Girls?"

The Slayers charged ahead.

Fade Out

End of Act Seven

Another ApocalypseAct Eight

Fade InInt.Watchers Council Infirmary – Sometime later

The last of the Slayers limped into the infirmary. Nearly all of them were wounded, but those able to walk were carrying those who could not. The doctor rushed over to direct them, sending some of the wounded to be immediately treated, while sadly directing a few others to the temporary morgue in the corner of the large emergency room.

Becca grabbed another bandage and continued wrapping Marsha's leg. The young Slayer was chatting animatedly about the battle, but Becca shushed her with a stern word. Marsha looked at her confused and then followed Becca's glance to where the doctor was talking with Jeffrey.

Willow stood next to the young mage, her arm comfortably wrapped around his shoulders as he continued to look at Lily who looked small and frail lying on the bed.

"When will she wake up?" he asked the doctor, interrupting her.

"I wish I could say when, Jeff, but I can't," the doctor replied. "She's taken quite a beating and it'll take a long time for her to heal, but I assure you we'll do everything we can."

"Just let me know what I can do to help, okay?" Jeffrey said.

"We'll all help, Jeff," Willow said. "Right now though we could use your assistance with the other wounded."

Jeffrey finally looked at his mentor and nodded. "Right, on it," he said and then turned to assist the nurse setting Robin's leg.

Faith and Giles looked at Brell as the demon carefully cleaned the yellowish blood from Tram's forehead. Julia leaned arrogantly against the wall near the door ignoring the frenetic activity going on around her as she watched them with a defiant expression on her face. Mia worked with Andrew as he stitched up a Watcher trainee, obviously keeping an eye on Julia.

Finally putting the towel aside, the demon turned to the pair. "Brell will come later for brother's body," he said. "Family take care of it."

"Is there anything we can do to help, Brell?" Giles asked. "We don't know what your customs are, but we usually pay our respects to the departed."

Brell nodded. "Brell know, but family will take care of respects. Watchers have their own burials to attend to. Many burials," he added looking around at the body bags.

Faith sighed. "I'm so sorry about Tram."

Brell took the Slayer's hand. "We all know risk when we come here, pretty Slayer," he said. "Today you defeat the Engineer. This world not taken over like our world. Watchers keep their promise. Family safe. Tram give his life for that. It is high price, but one we all willing to pay."

With that, he gently kissed her hand before dropping it and turning for the door, ignoring Julia as he walked past her. Faith met Julia's eyes for a moment.

"Come on, Giles," Faith said turning away. "Let's get to work on the living."

With a final glance at Mia, the renegade Slayer turned and left

Fade Out

Fade In:Int.Watchers Council Infirmary – Sometime later

Most of the chaos had been cleared away. All but the most extremely injured had been moved to the dorms and Council rooms. Dawn appeared in the doorway and looked around. Spotting Willow sitting on a stretcher, she approached the witch.

"Hey Will," she said. "How you doing?"

"Okay," Willow replied, looking on as the doctor finished spreading ointment on her scorched legs. "Thanks, doc."

"No problem," the woman replied. She capped the ointment and handed it to Willow. "Spread some more after your shower and again in the morning. I'll check it tomorrow. Hopefully there won't be any blistering."

Willow nodded and then turned to Dawn as the doctor left.

"What's up, Dawnie?" Willow asked as if sensing the young girl wanted sometime.

"Um…hm," Dawn said looking down at the floor.

"Dawn?" Willow asked. "Everything okay?"

"Yes, but I'd like to ask you something," she said. "I talked with Buffy and it's okay with her and…" Dawn trailed off.

"Just ask, Dawn," Willow said. "You're starting to sound like me and I never realized how disturbing it was."

Dawn gave her a feeble smile. "I'd like to stay," Dawn finally blurted out. "I mean, here at the Council. I've only got one more year of high school left and I'd like to do it here. And I want to join the program and become a Watcher."

Willow looked stunned. "Really?" she asked. "You want to be a Watcher? And you want to stay here? With us?"

"I mean, if…if it's okay with you?"

"Okay with me?" Willow laughed and pulled the young girl into a hug. "Of course it's okay with me. I've missed you so much. But…what about Buffy? Is she going to stay, too?"

"No," Dawn shook her head. "She mumbled something about having more baking to do, whatever that means."

"Maybe someday," Willow said sadly. She looked at Dawn a moment longer. "You've grown so much, Dawnie. I'm so proud of you and I know someone else who would have been just as proud."

"You mean Mom?" Dawn said and Willow nodded. "I love you, Willow," Dawn pulled Willow into another hug.

"I love you too, Dawnie," Willow replied. "Come on, let's go find the gang and tell them the news."

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Lounge – Minutes later

Rowena was sitting on the couch next to Buffy and Xander as Giles paced around the room. He looked up as Dawn and Willow entered the room.

"Ah Willow," he said. "Buffy and Xander were just recapping the Engineer's demise for Rowena and I."

"It was touch and go for a while there, but fortunately the good guys won…again," Willow said. "We had a lot of casualties, but I hate to think what would have happened if he succeeded in opening that portal."

"Are you okay?" Rowena asked. She looked at the ragged remains of Willow's corduroys.

"Oh yeah," Willow said following her gaze. "Just scorched a little, no worse than a bad sunburn and believe me, I've been there."

Rowena gave her a wan smile and Willow continued with a happy smile. "Dawn's got some good news!"

"Oh yeah?" Xander said. "Give it up, Dawnie. We could always use some post-apocalyptic good news."

Dawn blushed. "Willow said it was okay so if it's okay with you, too, Giles, I'm gonna stay and finish my education here at the Council."

"That's great!" Xander said, standing up and hugging her. "Junior Watcher gets promoted to Watcher-in-Training."

Giles smiled. "Wonderful, Dawn," he said. "I'm sure you'll be a credit to the Council. Your experience and intelligence are exactly what we need."

"I agree," Rowena said, standing up and laying a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Your assistance during this crisis has been invaluable."

"Thanks, guys," Dawn said. "I'm glad those monks decided to boost my brain cells a bit even though they modeled me after Buffy." She jerked her head at her sister.

"Hey!" Buffy protested. "I'll have you know I did better on the SATs than Willow."

The redhead rolled her eyes. "I…I was under a lot of pressure," she defended herself. "I think the Powers that Be must have taken pity on you a-and made sure your random bubble patterns matched the right answers."

"Well, I'm the Slayer," Buffy said with a pout. "Champion to the Powers that Be. Who has time to study when you're saving people from creatures of the night?"

"I wish they would have sent me some help," Xander complained. "I might not have been their champion, but I did my share of work for them."

"Poor Xander," Buffy soothed. "It must be a bitch having champion envy."

Rowena moaned at the Slayer's pun and said, "And on that note, I'm going to bed. Goodnight, people."

"Goodnight, Ro," Giles said and everyone echoed him as the Watcher left the room. Willow watched her leave and then joined Buffy on the couch.

"So," the Slayer said, grabbing Willow's hand and squeezing it tight. "How many does this make for us now?"

"Apocalypses?" Willow replied and Buffy nodded. "Who knows? I lost track sometime after Adam."

"Now that was a fun time," Xander said, flopping down next to Willow. Dawn moved next to Giles and the Watcher uncharacteristically put his arm around the young girl.

"Indeed," Giles said. "After magically joining with the Slayer, I had the uncontrollable urge to buy shoes for months afterwards."

Dawn laughed. "Well, I'm starting to get used to apocalypses." She broke off as everyone stared at her. "What…okay, whatever. I'm gonna go give Skye a goodnight kiss."

"That better be all you give her," Buffy warned.

"And this from the one who used to sneak out every night of her high school career," Dawn retorted.

"I snuck out to slay vampires!" Buffy said with a glare.

"That's not all you did with vampires," Dawn said and ran from the room squealing as her sister jumped up and gave chase.

Willow chuckled along with the two men and then gave Xander a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to bed, too. Goodnight." She moved to Giles and repeated her action despite his blush. The tall Watcher pulled off his glasses and began to polish them with his handkerchief.

"Goodnight, Willow," he said with a warm smile.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Willow's Suite – Minutes later

Willow walked into her darkened apartment and dropped her bag on the side table next to the door. She closed the door behind her and put her hand on the light switch, then appeared to change her mind. Instead she moved through the living room to the bedroom and turned on the nightstand lamp, letting the soft diffused light fill the room. She appeared as if she was going to turn to face someone but stopped. With a shake of her head in dismissal she took a step toward her dresser.

"Hello, sweetie," a voice said behind her.

Willow froze. The voice was as familiar as her own. Slowly she spun around to see the figure standing before her. Her legs gave out and she sat heavily on the bed.

"Tara?" she whispered.

"Hey," the blonde smiled gently.

"Oh, Tara," Willow whispered. "I'm dreaming, right? This is

another dream?" Tara shook her head and Willow mimicked the action. "So…you're really here?"

"I've always been here, Willow," Tara replied, her face soft and gentle. "And you always sensed it, just like you did a few seconds ago. Only things are different now and you can see me this time."

"Then, why? I…I mean why now? After all this time?" Willow still looked uncertain. "Anya came to me and told me about karmic circles a-and that you were trapped and I was the reason why and –."

Willow stopped when Tara held up her hand.

"It's time for me to say goodbye," Tara explained, her warm blue eyes meeting Willow's green ones.

"Goodbye?"

"It's time for me to move on," the blonde answered.

"So…I'm never going to see you again…ever?"

"No, you will someday, in some life, many lives from what I understand but…in this one…no. I've completed my circle here and so will you someday but before I can really let go I need to know that you'll move on, too."

"But…but I have," Willow said, confused. "I mean Kennedy and…" Willow broke off as Tara shook her head.

"Kennedy helped you so much, and I admire her for that," Tara said. "She's sassy and that's perfect for a Slayer. But your heart lies somewhere else now, doesn't it?"

Willow nodded, looking guilty at her bedspread. "I'm sorry, Tara," she said miserably and then looked up at the sweet sound of Tara's laugh.

"Sorry for what?" Tara asked. "For loving someone else?"

Willow nodded. "You and I…we…we should have been forever."

"Oh Willow," Tara said. "We are forever. We'll always be forever. Nothing can ever change that…not fate or destiny or the boundaries of time and space. We'll be together again. That I can promise you."

"Really?" Willow said hopefully. "It's just…sometimes I feel guilty. I never thought I could love anyone again as much as I loved you."

"Of course you can, Willow," Tara said. "During the long journey through our lives, we touch so many others. When you find someone who you can love and who loves you back…it's a wonderful gift from the gods you should not deny. Our souls have joined repeatedly over eons, but not just ours alone. You need to go to her, Willow. Tell her how you feel. Take that first step."

"I've never been one for making that kind of move, you know?" Willow said and Tara laughed again.

"How well I do," the blonde replied. "But this time you must. You have to be strong. It's going to be a rough and long road, but you know that anything worthwhile is never easy."

"I guess you're right," Willow said with a smile. "If I can have even a fraction of what I had with you then I would spend the rest of my life happy."

"Sweetheart you can have so much more and that's all I want for you," Tara said. "To be happy. Now go to her," she urged.

Willow looked at the door and then turned back to respond. The room was empty once again. Tears filled her eyes and she wiped them away.

"Goodbye, baby," she said and then resolutely walked out the door.

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Infirmary – Same time

Buffy found Faith checking on the injured Slayers and Watchers-in-Training. She looked on as the other Slayer went from bed to bed, making sure each occupant was sleeping comfortably.

"Shouldn't you be taking care of your man?" she finally asked when the brunette reached the last bed.

Faith turned and smirked at her. "Listen to the voice of jealousy," she replied as she joined Buffy at the doorway. "When you gonna find your own boy toy, B?"

"I don't know," Buffy shrugged. "Had enough of relationships for a while. Dawn's decided to stay here and officially become a Watcher so I might wander around some more on my own. Maybe when I get tired of that I'll settle somewhere and finish college. Hey, I heard you finally got a taste of education. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Faith said. "Willow's all for me pursuing the post-secondary lifestyle. If she bugs me enough I might take her up on it and get my revenge by forcing her to tutor me some more."

"Will's a great tutor," Buffy said. "She saved my delinquent butt through many an exam."

"Yeah," Faith said and then her face brightened as she changed the subject. "Hey, that's great about little D. Won't you miss her?"

"Of course I will," Buffy said. "She's my sister, but she's growing up and taking the first steps into the big scary world. Besides, I know you will take care of her, because if you don't –"

"Yeah, yeah," Faith interrupted. "I know, it'll be the knife in the gut for me."

"Nah, I think I'll use the Scythe this time," Buffy quipped as they turned to leave the infirmary. "I saved it just for when you pissed me off."

Faith laughed. "Y'know something, B?" she said resting her arm on Buffy's shoulder as the other Slayer wrapped an arm around her waist. "I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship."

Buffy groaned. "You've been hanging out with Andrew way too much."

Cut to:Int.Watchers Council Rowena's Suite – Minutes later

"Hey," Willow said as Rowena opened the door of her apartment.

"Hey," the blonde smiled. "Come on in." Rowena closed the door behind Willow before running her hand down the redhead's arm. "How're you feeling?" she asked with concern.

"Oh, I'm ah, I'm good," Willow said nervously. "You? How's the rib?"

"It's there. Are you sure you're okay because you look like you might implode at any moment?" Rowena teased.

"No, no implosions I just…" Willow tried to go on, but she couldn't. Instead, she pointed to Rowena's sofa. "Can we sit down over there?"

"Sure," Rowena said concerned and lead the Wiccan over, taking a seat next to her. "Willow did we lose another girl?"

"No, this is actually about me…I'm just not sure where to start," Willow confessed, looking as if she might begin to cry.

Rowena's face grew more concerned and she brushed the hair behind Willow's ear that had fallen down. "Okay, you're starting to scare me here. Did something else happen?"

Willow broke into a smile and shook her head. "No, I'm just…I'm beginning to chicken out. That's all."

"Chicken out?"

"Yeah," Willow said relaxing and not paying close attention to her words. "I planned to come here and give you a big, long romantic speech about how much I love you and how my whole life people chose me a-and for the first time everyone is telling me to make the first move a-and –." Willow stopped and realized what she just spoke out loud. Her eyes went wide. "Oh gods, that's not how I wanted it to come out a-and I messed it up and now –."

"You're actually telling me you're in love with me?" Rowena asked.

Willow examined her a moment as if trying to gauge her reaction. When Rowena didn't say anything more Willow slowly nodded. "Yeah I am. I mean…I'm in love with you a-and I have been for a while now but I wasn't sure how you felt. But today, I felt it. When you put your arms around me and held me, I felt a connection I haven't had in a really long time. And I think you felt it too." Willow's shaking hands took Rowena's in hers and she brought one up to her lips and kissed the back. "I love you," Willow whispered.

Willow's hand released Rowena's and worked its way into the blonde's hair, slowly bringing their faces closer together. Willow leaned closer and kissed Rowena on the cheek first and then closer to her ear. She pulled back slightly and felt Rowena tilt her face toward her. Taking the invitation, Willow's lips met Rowena's…softly at first. She pulled back just a fraction. This time however Rowena leaned forward and recaptured Willow's lips on her own accord.

This time with more assurance, Willow returned to Rowena and lightly kissed her top lip. Rowena responded again and met Willow with a soft moan, but almost as quickly, she pulled away and looked at Willow with a petrified expression.

"I-I'm sorry," Rowena stuttered. "I-I can't do this, Willow."

Willow sat opened-mouth on the sofa as she watched Rowena dart up and begin to pace in front of her. The witch's shoulders dropped and she couldn't look at the blonde any longer.

"No, I'm sorry," Willow muttered to the floor. "It's not your fault. I…it was my mistake."

Willow bit her bottom lip as her eyes watered.

"It's not you," Rowena insisted.

"Okay," Willow said as she glanced in Rowena's direction, but quickly looked away again. "Then it's not the whole gay thing, is it? 'Cause, you know, there are benefits to the girl-on-girl pairing like no

unexpected pregnancy a-and it's a money saver too – no pill or patches to buy." When she didn't get so much as a grin with her attempt at humor, Willow grew serious again. "But maybe it's not that at all. Maybe you don't love me and I got the signals all goofed up. If that's the case then at least we got things out in the open, right? And maybe we can move on from here and be –?"

Rowena stopped in front of Willow and moved to her knees with a slight grimace. "No," she insisted on the verge of tears herself. "It's not anything like that Willow, honestly. I'm…" Rowena pushed the water that hung in her eyes with the back of her hand, struggling to find her voice. "You didn't misread me. I'm crazy about you too. Really. But…I'm scared."

"I scare you?" Willow asked. "I wouldn't hurt you Rowena," she whispered.

"Not intentionally, I'm sure," Rowena answered.

"Rowena –?"

"No," she continued. "You don't understand. I never felt this way before – ever."

Willow looked confused. "So you love me too?"

Rowena nodded.

"And it's not the gay thing?"

Rowena shook her head. "I was confused at first, but Althenea helped me put things in perspective. So yeah, I know I love you, too."

"And this is bad because…" Willow let the sentence hang, waiting for Rowena to finish it.

Rowena took Willow's hands in hers. "Because when I almost lost you today, I felt that shock wash over me, that helplessness. And when it looked like you weren't going to make it…I was never more scared in my entire life."

"Sometimes scary things happen," Willow agreed. "Sometimes terrible things happen, but you have to take that chance. That's the price for loving someone."

Rowena seemed to ignore Willow's remark and continued. "I never thought I could love anyone like this and if, if things got any deeper, and I lost you, then…I don't know if I'd be able to go on. I'm scared because I…I love you too much, Willow."

Willow paused and cocked her head. "So let me see if I understand this? You don't want to be with me because you love me?" Willow snorted as she finished.

"I didn't say it made sense," Rowena answered dryly.

"Ya got that right," Willow sighed and looked away in frustration.

"Besides," Rowena countered. "I'm leaving for England to help Robson, remember?"

"Sure. It was vaguely mentioned but nothing set in stone. Look, you don't have to go," Willow told her. "We'll send someone else."

"Who else has the experience?" Rowena countered.

"Hell, Giles is English," Willow replied, tossing her hands in the air. "Let him go back to London for a while."

"And I'm sure he and Becca would both love that idea, wouldn't they?" Willow looked away and Rowena continued. "The man's put his time in and then some. He should start enjoying his life and Becca's a part of that so we can't send him there. But I, on the other hand, well I know the area. I know how to relate to the overseas Council and I'm the one most experienced for the job of organizing them more thoroughly."

"How long will it take?" Willow asked reluctantly.

Rowena paused with as much reluctance. "I don't know if I'll be coming back to Cleveland," she finally answered softly.

Willow did a double take. "If? You mean when you're coming back, right?"

"I might be staying in the European office," Rowena told her. "Giles and I discussed it and if it's best that I serve the Council that way, then I'll be staying."

"But not forever," Willow argued. "You'll be back someday, right?"

"Maybe not, and I can't ask you to wait," Rowena told her. "It wouldn't be fair."

"Oh? Like it's fair that you and Giles just made the decision that you could be leaving for good and didn't bother to tell me or even include me in the discussions?"

"He wanted to, but I told him there was no sense saying anything until I got there and could take a look at their operations firsthand. We didn't see the need to upset you until we knew for sure." Rowena's voice shook.

Willow looked angry at first, but then a sarcastic grin came to her face and she stood. "Works out kinda nice for you then. You can just run off to England because you're too scared to stay here."

"That's not what I'm doing," Rowena argued.

"The hell it's not!" Willow angrily said making her way to the door.

"Look, Willow, I have a duty – a calling. I can't just throw off my responsibilities."

"No, but you sure can hide behind them."

Rowena rubbed her forehead but didn't reply.

"You know somethin'," Willow began. "I love you – probably more than anyone has ever loved you - but you're hiding no matter what you call it. So hop on a plane and run off to England. When you decide that you want something real and you're willing to risk your heart, drop me a line."

Willow continued to walk to the door.

"Don't be mad at me, please," Rowena begged. "You just don't understand what I've been through…I'm not meant to find someone. It's…complicated."

"No," Willow countered, pointing her finger. "It's quite simple actually. You did find someone. You're just too afraid to enjoy it." Willow turned again to leave but stopped and faced Rowena. "And don't say I have no

understanding here, okay? I know risk and I know loss. But I also know that when you meet someone who you live for a-and would be willing to die for – well, it's worth the chance."

"I know how you felt about Tara," Rowena began. Before she could get any further, Willow spoke.

"I was talking about you," Willow answered softly. She swallowed the lump in her throat and ran her fingers through her hair exasperated. "Have a safe flight, Rowena. If you're ever in Cleveland again, look me up."

Willow walked out the door and Rowena let out a sigh. She moved forward as if she would follow but stopped. Slowly she started to cry and buried her face in her hands as she fell to her sofa.

Willow continued walking down the hallway to her room, the further away from Rowena's door, the harder she began to cry.

End of Season One

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