PROLOGUE:

In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone will stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer.

The Bronze. People are coming and going. Cut inside. It's especially crowded tonight. Dingoes Ate My Baby (Four Star Mary) are on stage finishing the last song of their set, "Run".

Lyrics:  If I could walk out

Oz looks out into the crowd, a smile for Willow on his face. She is

sitting at a table with Xander and Cordelia. They have to share it with

some other people, it's so crowded.

Lyrics:  You know I'd never lie

The song ends with Oz's last chord understated and fading. The crowd begins to applaud and cheer as Devon takes his bows. Oz lifts his guitar from his shoulder, leans the instrument against the back wall of the stage and heads down the stairs at the side of the stage to join the gang at their table.

Willow:  (smiles) Oz! Hey! Have a seat... Except, we don't have any seats.

Oz:  It's okay. I'll just scrunch in.

Willow nudges over a bit with her stool to make room for Oz at the table, and bumps into Xander. She gives him a nervous look. Xander hurriedly scoots over a bit as well, nudging up hard against Cordelia.

Cordelia:  Xander, why are you giving me a lap dance?

Xander:  (smiles weakly and strokes her arm) What? I just like you.

Cordelia pulls her arm away from him and squirms around a bit to get comfortable again.

Willow:  (stammers, smiling nervously) And that's very beautiful. I think it's great when two people like two people and want to be close to them instead of anyone else.

Oz smiles to himself, enjoying it as always whenever Willow does that cute stammering thing.

Xander:  (also nervous) Here, here!

Oz:  Yeah. Well put. (points at a cup) Hey, can I snag a sip?

Willow:  Sure. (reaches for her cup)

Xander:  (reaches also) Yeah, you got it.

Their hands touch as they both reach for her cup. They look at each other in surprise and instantly jerk back their arms. In doing so they knock a tray of drinks out of the hand of the waitress standing behind them. Xander slips off of his stool and tries to catch them, but of course he's too late, and can only look down at the spilled drinks. Around him the crowd begins to applaud his graceful maneuver. He goes with the situation and raises his hands to the crowd in acknowledgment. Willow, however, is embarrassed.

Xander:  Thank you! (turns around) Thank you. (waves) Uh, we're here through Saturday. Enjoy the veal. (smiles)

Willow is terribly embarrassed now and tries to hide her face. Xander gets back on his stool. Oz reaches for a cup on his own.

Cordelia:  Why are you guys so hyper?

Oz takes a drink from Willow's cup.

Willow:  (nervously tries to cover) Hey! Speaking of people and things they do that aren't like usual, anyone notice Buffy acting sort of different?

Oz grimaces at the drink and puts the cup back on the table.

Xander:  Let's see, uh, killing zombies... uh, torching sewer monsters, and... No, that's pretty much the, uh, (grins weakly) same old Buffster.

Willow:  (concerned) Well, I just mean, you know, she's off by herself a lot more, and she's kind of... distracted.

Cordelia:  (smiles) Think maybe she has a new honey?

Willow:  A boyfriend? Why wouldn't she tell us?

Cordelia:  Excuse me? When your last steady killed half the class, and then your rebound guy sends you a dump-o-gram? It makes a girl shy.

Xander:  But we're the best of Buffy's bestest buds. She'd tell us.

Buffy:  (arrives behind them) Tell you what?

Willow:  About your new boyfriend, who we made up. Unless we didn't? (gives her an inquiring look)

Buffy:  (raises her eyebrows) This was a topic of discussion?

Oz:  Well, raised, but never discussed.

Cordelia:  So, are you dating somebody or not?

Buffy angles her eyes up and sways around a bit, considering what she should say.

Buffy:  I wouldn't use the word 'dating', (looks at them) but I am going out with somebody. Tonight, as a matter of fact.

Willow:  Really? Who?

Faith puts her hand on Xander's shoulder and pulls him aside a little so she can squeeze in.

Faith:  Yo, what's up? (nudges Buffy's shoulder) Hey, time to motorvate.

Buffy:  (puts her arm around Faith) Really, we're just good friends.

The two Slayers head out of the club together.

Cut to a cemetery. Buffy and Faith both roll onto their backs, side by side, each with a vampire on top of them. Buffy backhand punches her attacker while Faith struggles to get control over hers. Buffy's vampire tries to punch her, but she redirects his arm to hit the ground next to her. Giles watches calmly while sitting behind them on a nearby bench. Buffy is still on her back while her assailant is now standing over her, throwing punches down at her. Faith log rolls away from them, taking her attacker with her. Giles takes off his glasses and begins to clean them.

Faith manages to roll on top of her vampire. She yanks him by the lapels of his jacket to a standing position, spins half-way around and throws him into a log roll over a stone bench. He hits the ground and keeps on rolling. Buffy is up now, and ducks a half-spinning jumping hook kick from her vampire, and then sidesteps to avoid a punch. Faith jumps up onto the bench and then back down to the ground. Her attacker aims a punch at her face, but rethinks his maneuver and decides to snap kick her in the gut. Thinking quickly, Faith grabs his foot and throws it over his head, forcing him to flip over in a back layout. He lands hard on his stomach. Buffy throws a punch at her assailant's face, but he ducks it. She tries for another one, but he blocks it. She then aims for his stomach with another punch, but is blocked yet again. The vampire tries to punch her, but she latches onto his arm and yanks him backwards, then forwards, and twists his arm, sending him flipping onto his back. Giles calmly watches and takes notes.

Faith has a firm grip on her attacker, and throws his head backward, sending him flying backwards onto a bench. His momentum carries him sliding over it. Faith jumps up onto the bench, following him over, ready to attack. Buffy sends her vampire spinning back to the ground with a two-kick combination of a roundhouse followed by a hook kick. She pauses for a moment to let him get back up, and then roundhouse kicks him in the gut, followed immediately by a punch to his face as the momentum of her kick carries her around. Giles picks up his cup of coffee and continues his calm vigilance.

Faith jumps down from the bench and roundhouse kicks her vampire in the face. Buffy roundhouse kicks hers again in the stomach. Faith punches her vampire in the stomach and takes aim with her stake. Buffy shoves hers against Faith's, and they end up back to back. The Slayers both plunge their stakes into their respective demons simultaneously, causing them both to explode into ashes. After the dust settles, they give each other a high-five and head over to Giles.

Buffy:  Synchronized slaying.

Faith:  New Olympic category?

Buffy:  (to Giles) Whadaya think?

Giles lowers his coffee cup, but keeps it held at mouth level.

Gwendolyn:  Sloppy.

They all turn to look at the woman who's just walked into view. Her hair is pulled up in a severe hair style, and she has a very serious look on her face.

Gwendolyn:  You telegraph punches, leave blind sides open and, uh, for a school-night slaying, take entirely too much time. Which one of you is Faith?

Giles looks back at the girls.

Faith:  Depends. Who the hell are you?

Giles turns back to the woman.

Gwendolyn:  Gwendolyn Post, Mrs. Your new Watcher.

The two Slayers exchange a look, then look over at Giles. He is still holding his cup and staring at Mrs. Post, too dumbfounded to speak.

Opening credits roll. Buffy's theme plays.

The library. Giles is leaning against the stair railing, cleaning his glasses. Buffy is sitting near the middle of the large central table. There are several books lying open on it. Faith is standing by a corner of the table, addressing Mrs. Post, who is looking through some of Giles' collection.

Faith:  I'm telling you, I don't need a new Watcher. No offense, lady. (Gwendolyn looks at her) I just have this problem with authority figures. They end up kind of dead.

She nods sarcastically and takes a seat next to Buffy.

Gwendolyn:  (walking past the table) Duly noted, and fortunately, it's not up to you.

Buffy and Faith exchange a look. Gwendolyn walks around the table below the railing of the upper level, looking around at the few stacks there are in the study area of the library, apparently unaware that the main stacks are up the stairs and through a set of French doors, well out of view.

Gwendolyn:  Mr. Giles, where do you keep the rest of your books?

Giles:  I-I'm sorry. (slips on his glasses) The rest?

Gwendolyn:  Yes, the actual library.

Giles gives her a confused look.

Gwendolyn:  Oh. (smiles thinly) I see.

Giles:  I can assure you, Mrs. Post, this is the finest occult reference

collection...

Gwendolyn:  (interrupts) ...this side of the Atlantic, I'm sure. Do you have Hume's Paranormal Encyclopedia?

Giles looks away, knowing that while his collection is superior, it is still not complete.

Gwendolyn:  The Labyrinth Maps of Malta?

Buffy gives him a hopeful look.

Giles:  It's on order.

Gwendolyn:  Well, I suppose that you have Sir Robert Kane's Twilight Compendium?

Giles:  Oh! Uh... (looks around) Yes, I... (spots the book) Yes! (pulls it out) Yes, I do. (holds it up)

Gwendolyn:  (unimpressed) Of course you do. (paces past him) I have been sent by the council for a very important reason. Faith needs a Watcher. I am to act in that capacity and report back.

Faith:  (leans forward in her chair) Excuse me, Mary Poppins, you don't seem to be listening.

Giles:  (interrupts) Faith, if the council feels that you need closer observation, then... we will all, of course, cooperate.

Faith leans back again, not at all happy with the situation.

Gwendolyn:  The council wishes me to report on the *entire* situation here, (to Giles) including you.

That takes Giles by surprise.

Buffy:  Mm! Academic probation's not so funny today, huh, Giles? (rolls her eyes innocently)

Giles glares at her. She just gives it right back to him.

Gwendolyn:  The fact is, there is talk in the council that you have become a bit too... (inhales) American.

Giles:  (taken aback) Me?

Buffy:  (surprised) Him?

Gwendolyn:  A demon named Lagos is coming here to the Hellmouth. (condescendingly) Mr. Giles, an illustration of Lagos, if you please.

Giles:  (a bit flustered) Oh, uh... (looks at the books on the table) Yes. Uh...

He sits at the table and begins to look through one of the books.

Gwendolyn:  Perhaps later.

Giles stops looking, very taken aback. He begins to seethe.

Gwendolyn:  Lagos seeks the Glove of Myhnegon. No record of this glove's full power exists, but we do know it is highly dangerous and must not fall into the hands of a demon. Lagos must be stopped.

Giles folds his hands over his books and looks up at her.

Giles:  What do you propose?

Gwendolyn:  Well, if it's not too radical a suggestion, I thought we might kill him.

Giles turns his head away from her and takes off his glasses.

Gwendolyn:  I suggest two Slayers at full strength for a coordinated hunt.

Buffy gives Faith a look. Faith just gives Gwendolyn an even stare.

Gwendolyn:  We believe the glove to be buried in a tomb somewhere, so Lagos will be headed for the cemetery.

Giles:  There is more than one in Sunnydale.

Gwendolyn:  I see. How many?

Giles:  Uh, twelve, within the city limits.

Gwendolyn:  (takes a deep breath) Well, we'll just have to take them one at a time.

Giles puts his glasses back on and starts to look through his books again.

Gwendolyn:  Anything in your books that might pinpoint the exact location of the tomb would be useful, but then, we cannot ask for miracles.

Giles lets his book drop to the table and makes a point of looking directly away from her, rubbing his fingers, keeping his cool.

Gwendolyn:  We will begin tomorrow at sunset. Faith... (Faith almost startles) With me, please.

She gives Faith a thin smile and walks from the library. Faith gives Buffy a glance, then follows her out. Giles visibly relaxes when they've gone.

Giles:  That was bracing.

He slaps his glasses onto the table and leans his lips into his fist.

Buffy:  Interesting lady. Can we kill her?

Giles:  (lowers his fist) I think the council might frown upon that.

His expression indicates he's considering it anyway, but soon discards the notion.

Giles:  Well... (stands up) How do you feel about a spot of training?

Cut to Angel's mansion. He and Buffy are practicing T'ai Chi in front of the great fireplace. Angel concentrates on the exercises, but Buffy watches his moves and does her best to mirror them. They each begin with their arms stretched high above and ahead of them, hands together. They lower their arms to waist level with a graceful bend at the elbows. Buffy glances over at Angel, watching his elegant movements. She turns her attention back to the exercise, and crosses her right wrist over her left. They both sweep their crossed arms in a wide arc from left to right, and then draw their hands in to their waists and make a quarter turn to their left, so that Buffy has her back to Angel. They both extend their arms and slowly raise them, never stopping their fluid movements, until their hands are again held high. Angel takes the two steps over to Buffy and puts his hands over hers. Buffy looks up at his hands on hers as he pulls her arms down and around her. She slowly turns to face him and angles her face up toward him. Their lips almost meet when Buffy suddenly pulls away and walks over to one of the two couches set at right angles to each other to get her things.

Buffy:  Uhh... I gotta go. Big night for us Slayer types.

Angel turns away, a confused expression on his face. Buffy pulls on her backpack.

Buffy:  People to see, demons to kill. (starts to leave) Better hurry before somebody figures out what we're doing.

Angel:  (pulls on his shirt) What are we doing?

Buffy:  (stops) Training. (quietly) And almost kissing.

Angel looks at her and steps toward her as he buttons his shirt. Buffy turns to face him.

Buffy:  Sorry. It's just... (smiles weakly) old habit. (loses the smile) Bad, bad habit to be broken.

Angel:  It's hard.

Buffy:  It's not hard. (with resolve) Cold turkey. That's the key to quitting.

They both look at each other for a long moment, knowing it's just not that easy.

Buffy:  (weakly and desperately) You think they make a patch for this?

Angel:  You have to go.

Buffy:  I really do.

Angel looks away as Buffy turns again to go. She only gets a couple of steps when she sighs and turns to face Angel again.

Buffy:  I'm gonna try and vent a little hormonal angst by going out there and killing a Lagos, whatever that is.

Angel faces her again upon hearing that demon's name.

Angel:  Lagos?

Buffy:  Some demon looking for some all-powerful thingamabob, (Angel sits, suddenly worried) and I gotta stop him before he unleashes unholy havoc, (sees his worried look) and it's another Tuesday night in Sunnydale.

Angel can't bring himself to look at her again, and so just stares off into space.

Angel:  Be careful.

Buffy turns and heads out of the mansion. Angel watches her back as she goes, and when she's gone, he gets up to start some work of his own.

Cut to the library. Giles is sitting at the large table reading through a book with a dozen other volumes open and spread out in front of him. Willow is standing behind the railing of the stack level behind him. Xander is standing at the end of the table. Giles looks up from his book.

Giles:  Oh, this is intolerable. (slams the book shut) There's not a word here about Lagos or the glove. (stands up) We don't have time for this (drops the book in frustration) near-missing. (turns to Willow and Xander) Just find out all you can about the demon, its-its-its strengths, its-its weaknesses, (begins to pace) its places of origin, (stops and yanks off his glasses) and most importantly, (points at Xander with his glasses) what it plans to do with this blasted glove.

Xander:  (gives Giles an annoyed smile) Hey, you're not the Watcher of me.

Giles:  Then go home. But if you choose to stay, then work.

He makes frustrated tracks into his office. Xander stares after him for a moment, then starts up the stairs to the stack level for more research. Willow steps over to meet him.

Willow:  Ugh... It's late. I'm tired. What does he want from us, anyway?

They head into the stacks.

Xander:  The number of a qualified surgeon to remove the British flag from his butt?

They stop at a spot where a few books are lying open on the floor and sit down. Xander takes one of them and starts to look through it.

Willow:  My eyes are all blurry.

She leans forward and rests her head in her hands for a moment, then starts rubbing her temples with her fingers.

Willow:  Ohh...

She moans as she rubs. Xander looks over at her, concerned. He sets down his book, nudges a bit closer and reaches over to do the rubbing for her. When she feels his fingers at her temples, Willow drops her own hands into her lap and lets him minister to her, letting out a few more moans.

Willow:  Oh, stop.

Xander:  Right. (continues rubbing) Stop means no... (keeps rubbing) And no means no, so, um... (finally stops) stop.

He leans back away from her. She sits up a bit. He takes his book again to continue his research. Suddenly Willow reaches for him, grabs his face and plants a hard kiss on his lips. Xander responds and puts his hands around her to pull her closer. They kiss passionately for a few seconds, when Giles suddenly comes walking by, his attention focused on a book in his hands as he reads. Willow and Xander don't notice him at all.

Giles:  Willow, Xander...

They stop kissing and quickly scramble to their feet.

Giles:  ...you can stop your, uh, studying.

They wipe and cover their mouths in guilt, but aren't yet sure if they've been caught since Giles is looking at a bookcase. Willow bites her nails nervously.

Giles:  I've got what I need.

Xander:  (trying to be cool) What have you got?

Giles:  Uh, the probable location of the Glove of Myhnegon. (faces them) It's, uh, housed in the Von Hauptman family crypt.

Xander:  Yeah, that's that big one over at the Restfield Cemetery.

Willow:  Yeah, well, that's great, Giles. Um, how'd you find it?

Giles:  I looked. (continues his reading)

Xander:  Where's Buffy at?

Giles:  Uh, I'm not sure.

Xander:  Well, I'll go check out this, uh, crypt. (starts out) Um, tell her heads-up if she, uh, stops by. (leaves)

Giles:  Yes, by all means, go.

Willow:  (nervously) A-and I'll just keep studying. I think we're on the verge of a big Lagos breakthrough.

Giles:  (looks up from his book) No, I'd say we're done.

He starts back out of the stacks. Willow lets out a deep sigh, ridden with guilt and halfway convinced that they've been caught.

Cut to the streets at night. Faith and Buffy walk along as people and cars go by.

Faith:  Ronnie, deadbeat. Steve, klepto. Kenny... drummer. Eventually, I just had to face up to my destiny as a loser magnet. Now it's strictly get some, get gone. You can't trust guys.

Buffy:  You can trust some guys. (gets a doubtful look from Faith) Really, I've read about them.

Faith:  (laughs) Yeah. So, what about you?

Buffy:  You mean like, me and guys me?

Faith:  Mm-hm.

Buffy:  Not much to tell these days.

Faith:  Yeah, but you gotta have stories. I mean, I've had my share of losers, but you... you boinked the undead. What was that like?

Buffy:  Life with Angel's... was complicated. It's still a little hard for me to talk about.

Faith:  Well, try.

They stop walking.

Buffy:  Look, Faith, all the Angel issues are still kind of with me, so if you don't mind, I'd rather not.

Faith:  (shrugs) Yeah. (shrugs) Yeah, whatever.

Buffy looks away.

Faith:  You know what? We're oh for six tonight. Why don't we just blow this off?

Buffy:  Yeah. I am kinda beat. But-but Shady Hill's pretty close.

Faith:  I'll swing through it. It's on my way anyway.

Buffy:  Alone? I-I don't know if I'd...

Faith:  I got Miss Post on my back now. I don't need another baby-sitter. I'll holler if I'm having any fun.

Buffy:  (smiles thinly) Okay.

Faith:  (nods down the street) Later. (goes)

Buffy:  Thanks.

She watches her go for a moment before turning and heading home.

Cut to Shady Hill cemetery. Faith walks around a hedge and into view, scanning the graveyard as she goes. Suddenly the lid of a stone coffin slams into the ground in front of her. She jerks back, startled but unhurt. In front of her she sees Lagos, a warrior demon, grabbing things out of the coffin and throwing them aside as he quickly rummages through it.

Faith:  (to herself) Son of a bitch. It's my lucky day.

She starts to run toward him and jumps into a flying side kick to Lagos' back. He hardly budges and turns his head to see who is disturbing him. Faith grabs his arm and whips him around to face her. She backhand punches him in the face and instantly follows up with another swing to his face, then punches him in the gut and again in the face. She pushes him away slightly to get some distance between them, and then roundhouse kicks him in the side. Unfazed and tired of the interruption, Lagos grabs her by the neck and throws her high and far. She slams into the side of a mausoleum and falls to the ground. Lagos turns his attention back to the open coffin. Faith scrambles to her feet and starts to run at him again. Lagos hears her coming this time and turns to face her. She tries to grab his neck, but he blocks her arm and does an uppercut to Faith's diaphragm, which makes her airborne once again. She hits the ground hard and starts to struggle for breath. Lagos ignores her and goes back to his rummaging. He pulls the last of the coffin's contents out, sees that it's nothing he wants and throws it aside in disgust. He wastes no time getting out of there, stomping right past Faith, not giving her even so much as another glance. With her breath knocked out of her, Faith is unable to get up to pursue him.

Cut to Restfield cemetery. Xander finds his way through the gravestones to the Von Hauptman family crypt. His breathing is heavy and nervous. He finds the crypt and peeks at it from behind a bush, making sure no one and nothing else is around. He steps out from behind the bush, nervously looking around while he makes his way toward the crypt.

Xander:  (smiling, dripping with sarcasm) Hey, Giles, here's a nifty idea: why don't I alleviate my guilt by goin' out and gettin' myself really, really killed?

He stops in his tracks when he thinks he hears a noise. Sure enough, a second later he can hear the sound of stone grinding against stone coming from inside the crypt. He swiftly ducks behind a group of bushes, crouches down and waits to see who will come out. A figure soon comes out of the crypt and pulls the door closed. In its arms it holds something wrapped in a bunch of rags. The figure turns its back to Xander as it grabs the outer iron gate and swings it closed as well. Xander rises up just a bit so he can better see who it is. The figure turns around again and begins to cautiously make its way out of the graveyard. As it nears Xander, he sees that it's Angel. Xander doesn't take his eyes off of him as he walks past. When Angel is far enough ahead of him, Xander comes out from behind the bushes, pulls out his stake and starts to follow.

Cut to the atrium at Angel's mansion. Xander sneaks down the stairs to the main gallery and tiptoes over to a window where he can see inside. There, to his shock, he sees Buffy with Angel, kissing passionately.

Angel's mansion. He and Buffy are kissing passionately. The camera circles around them as they continue kissing. Suddenly Buffy breaks it off and takes a couple of steps backward and looks away from his face.

Buffy:  Oh, God...

Angel:  (confused) Buffy...

Buffy:  What am I doing? (looks up at him) What are *you* doing?

Angel:  (still confused) I don't know.

Buffy:   Shame on you!

Angel doesn't know how to respond to that. He puts his hand to his forehead. Buffy heads over to her things on the couch.

Buffy:  Oh, God, I... I don't even know why I came back here.

She starts to pull on her jacket. Angel steps over and takes it from her hands.

Angel:  It's good you did.

Buffy looks up to him, waiting for an explanation.

Angel:  I think I have what you're looking for.

He leads her by the hand over to a pedestal where the thing he got from the crypt lies, still wrapped up in rags.

Buffy:  Great... Just, wherever this was gift-wrapped, remind me not to shop there.

He unwraps the rags to reveal their contents. It's an ancient-looking glove made of leather, chain mail and plate mail. There are small spikes along the plates that cover the back of the hand and the forearm. Ringed around the opening are ten hinged claws that look something like crab legs, but made of steel and very sharp.

Angel:  Glove of Myhnegon.

Buffy:  The world's ugliest fashion accessory.

She reaches out to touch it. Angel quickly stays her hand with his.

Angel:  No, don't. Once you put it on, the glove can never be removed.

Buffy:  So... no touching. (nods, looks at their hands) Kinda like us.

Angel gets the hint and releases her hand. He wraps the glove back up in the rags.

Buffy:  You hold on to it. I'll... I'll tell Giles in the morning. At least he'll be happy.

Cut to Giles' apartment. He is researching through a book at his desk. Gwendolyn walks in front of the camera and around to Giles' side. He seems to have found something.

Giles:  Ah! Yes. There we are.

In the book is a sketch of a battle scene with an inset of the glove. It resembles the real thing only vaguely. He sets the book down for her to see.

Giles:  There's a wood engraving. See? The Glove of Myhnegon.

Gwendolyn:  (looks at it, unimpressed) Yes, engraved by Father Theodore of Wolsham.

Giles:  Yes.

Gwendolyn:  Based, I believe, on very sketchy and unreliable folk legends. The pictures are fun to look at, Mr. Giles, but one really ought to read the nice words as well.

Giles looks up from the books, but stares ahead, not wanting Gwendolyn to see the look of raw annoyance in his eyes. In the kitchen the tea kettle begins to whistle.

Giles:  Ah. (stands up) Yes. (puts his hands in his pockets) Some tea, perhaps?

He strides into the kitchen. Gwendolyn takes the few steps over to the bar where he has two cups already set out for the tea and sits on one of the stools. Giles grabs the kettle from the stove.

Gwendolyn:   I know that you must find me tiresome, but it's insidious, really.

Giles pours the hot water into one of the cups. Gwendolyn looks down at the teabag in her still empty cup, takes it out and sets it aside.

Gwendolyn:  A person slips up on the little things, and soon everything has gone to Hell in a handbasket.

Giles doesn't say anything to her rejection of his teabag. She opens her purse and pulls out a small box with her own supply of tea.

Gwendolyn:  For example... Buffy, your Slayer...

Giles:  (struggling to control his voice) Mrs. Post... (pours her hot water) I can assure you that Buffy is both dedicated and industrious, and I am in complete control of my Slayer.

Suddenly his apartment door whips open, and Xander runs into the room.

Xander:  Giles! We have a big problem. It's Buffy.

Gwendolyn gives Giles a snooty look.

Giles:  Will you excuse us?

He walks very stiffly from the kitchen and nods to Xander to follow. They go to the far side of the room and whisper between themselves. Gwendolyn takes her own teabag and puts it in her cup to steep.

Gwendolyn:  Would you like some assistance?

Giles and Xander stop their whispering and look at her.

Giles:  (smiling thinly) Thank you. That won't be necessary.

They go back to their private discussion. Gwendolyn looks at her cup to see how far along her tea is.

Cut to Sunnydale High. Cut to the library. Giles paces slowly in the main area. Behind him the door opens, and he hears someone walk in. He slowly turns to see that it's Buffy.

Buffy:  Lagos is out of luck. I got the magic mitten thingy.

She stops to see that Xander, Cordelia, Oz and Willow are all sitting at the center table looking as glum as Giles does.

Buffy:  What's with all the tragedy masks?

Giles:  (indicates a chair) Better take a seat, Buffy.

Xander gets up out of his chair, nudges it over a bit so it's at the head of the table, and steps away to stand next to Cordelia. Buffy slowly steps over to the chair.

Buffy:  What's going on? (sits)

Giles:  We know Angel is alive. (Buffy looks shocked) Xander saw you with him. It would appear that you've been hiding him and that you lied to us.

Buffy looks away, trying to absorb this new turn of events.

Willow:  Nobody's here to blame you, Buffy. But this is serious. You need help.

Buffy:  (looks up at Willow) It's not what you think.

Xander:  Hope not. Because I think you're harboring a vicious killer.

Buffy can't believe Xander's callousness.

Willow:  (trying to mediate) This isn't about attacking Buffy. Remember, 'I' statements only. 'I feel angry.' 'I feel worried.'

Cordelia:  Fine. Here's one: I feel worried... about me! Last time around, Angel barely laid a hand on Buffy. He was *way* more interested in killing her friends.

Buffy:  But he's better now.

Xander:  Better for how long, Buffy? I mean, did you even think about that?

Buffy:  (stands up) What is this, Demons Anonymous? (starts to leave) I don't need an intervention, here.

Giles:  Oh, don't you? (Buffy stops and faces him) You must've known it was wrong seeing Angel or you wouldn't have hidden it from all of us.

Buffy:  (desperate and defensive) I was going to tell you, I was. I-it was just that I... I didn't know why he came back. I just wanted to wait.

Xander:  For what? For Angel to go psycho again the next time you give him a happy?

Buffy:  (raising her voice defensively) I'm not going to... (raises her hand to him) We're not together like that.

Oz:  But you were kissing him.

Willow gives Oz a quick look, then looks at Buffy, worried. Buffy thinks about the implication of Oz's accusation, and looks at Xander.

Buffy:  You were spying on me? (steps toward him) What gives you the right?

Cordelia:  What gives you the right to suck face with your demon lover again?

Buffy:  (defensive again) It was an accident.

Xander:  What, you just tripped and fell on his lips?

Buffy:  It was wrong, okay? I know that, and I know that it can't happen again. But you guys have to believe me. I would never put you in any danger. If I thought for a second that Angel was going to hurt anyone...

Xander:  ...you would stop him. Like you did last time with Ms. Calendar.

Buffy is completely taken aback by Xander's totally insensitive and unfair attack, and can't utter a word in response. Willow senses that it's time to intercede.

Willow:  (nervously) Buffy, I feel that when it comes to Angel, you can't see straight. And that's why we're, we're all gonna help you face this.

Buffy:  But he's better now. I swear. Look, you guys, he's the one that found the Glove of Myhnegon. H-he's keeping it safe for us in the mansion.

Xander:  (spreads his arms) Right! Great plan. Leave tons of firepower with the Scary Guy, and leave us to clean up the mess.

He makes tracks to leave the library, intent on doing something about this. Buffy takes him by the arm and spins him around to face her.

Buffy:  You would just love an excuse to hurt him, wouldn't you?

Xander:  I don't need an excuse. I think lots of dead people actually constitutes a reason.

Buffy:  Right. This is all nobility. This has nothing to do with jealousy.

Xander gives her a haughty grin, but is interrupted before he can continue.

Cordelia:  Hello? Miss Not-Over-Yourself-Yet?

Buffy:  (shakes her head in warning) Don't you start with me.

Cordelia looks to Giles for support.

Willow:  (upset) Giles, no one's doing the 'I' statements!

Giles:  That's enough! Everybody. Now, Buffy knows our concerns, and her actions, however ill-advised, can be understood. (Cordelia shakes her head) Our... priority right now is to retrieve the Glove of Myhnegon and try to destroy it. Now, all of you, back to classes.

One after the other they all get up, gather their things and go. Giles goes into his office, his hands firmly stuffed into his pockets. Once there he takes off his jacket and hangs it around the back of his chair. Buffy follows him and stops by the office door.

Buffy:  (uneasily) Thanks for the bail in there.

Giles doesn't face her, and instead unbuttons his vest.

Buffy:  I know this is a lot to absorb, but Angel did find the glove, and that was a good...

Giles:  (interrupts) Be quiet. (slowly turns to face her) (sternly) I won't remind you that the fate of the world often lies with the Slayer. What would be the point? Nor shall I remind you that you've jeopardized the lives of all that you hold dear by harboring a known murderer. But sadly, I must remind you that Angel tortured me... for hours... for pleasure. You should have told me he was alive. You didn't. You have no respect for me, or the job I perform.

Buffy averts her eyes in shame. Giles turns back to his desk, sits down and leans back in thought. Buffy just stands in the doorway for a long moment before leaving quietly.

Cut to Faith's motel room. There is a knock at the door. Faith opens it, stake raised and ready. She is surprised to see Gwendolyn standing there. She lowers the stake as Mrs. Post enters.

Gwendolyn:  A word of advice? Vampires rarely knock. Especially in daylight. (closes the door)

Faith:  Oh, right.

Gwendolyn:  (looks around) So... this is your home.

Faith:  Yeah. (gestures around the room) The decorator actually just left.

Gwendolyn:  Faith, do you know who the Spartans were? (leans against the dresser)

Faith:  Wild stab: a bunch of guys from Spart? (sits on the bed)

Gwendolyn:  They were the fiercest warriors known to Ancient Greece. And they lived in quarters very much like these. Do you know why? Because a true fighter needs nothing else. I'm going to be very hard on you, Faith. I will not brook insolence or laziness. And I will not allow blunders like last night's attack. You will probably hate me a great deal of the time.

Faith:  (smiles sardonically) You think?

Gwendolyn:  (steps over to the bed) But I will make you a better Slayer, (sits next to Faith) and that will keep you alive. You have to trust that I am right. God only knows what Mr. Giles has been filling your head with.

Faith:  Giles is okay.

Gwendolyn:  (stands) His methods are unfathomable to me. I find him entirely confounding. But that is not important. Let him have his games and secret meetings.

Faith:  What meetings?

Gwendolyn:  Oh, I don't know. Something with Buffy and her friends.

Faith:  Oh, right. I guess that doesn't include me.

Gwendolyn:  And why does he let her socialize so much? It hardly seems... No matter. Would you like to do some training?

Faith:  Training? (stands up) As in kicking and punching and stabbing?

Gwendolyn:  (smiles) Yes, that's the idea.

Faith:  I'm your girl.

Cut to the halls at Sunnydale High. The bell rings. Buffy walks around the corner and stops when she sees Willow at her locker. She takes a breath to calm herself and heads over to her friend.

Buffy:  Hey.

Willow:  Hey! (continues gathering her stuff)

Buffy:  So on a scale of one to a million, how much are you hating me right now?

Willow:  (jumpy, trying to hide her feelings) Zero. You were scared, you kept a secret, you know? (zips closed her backpack) That's-it-it's okay. I mean, secrets aren't bad. You know, they're normal. (slips her pack onto her shoulder) They're better than normal. They're good. Secrets are good. Must be a reason why we keep them, right? (closes her locker)

Buffy:  Yeah, I guess.

They start down the hall.

Willow:  So, are you going to the Bronze tonight, or, uh, are you gonna sneak away for a not-so-secret rendezvous with Angel?

Buffy:  None of the above. I'm gonna try and kill this Lagos guy. Peace offering to Giles.

Willow:  Well, Angel has the glove now, right?

Buffy:  Yep. But Lagos doesn't know that. I figure sooner or later he's bound to show up at that crypt looking for it.

Willow:  Ah, but instead he finds a Buffy in a not-so-good mood.

Buffy:  That's my brilliant plan.

Cut to the Bronze that evening. Xander makes his breaking shot at a pool table. He goes over to the pocket where he accidentally sank his cue ball, retrieves it and walks back around the table to continue practicing. Faith approaches the table.

Faith:  You look pissed.

Xander:  Rough day. (chooses his shot)

Faith:  Tell me about it.

Xander:  (places the cue ball) Rather just shoot. (aims his cue stick)

Faith:  Don't think I don't know what you and your pals were talking about behind my back today.

Xander:  (takes his shot) Yeah? And what was that? (looks for his next shot)

Faith:  More about this glove deal than you're saying.

Xander:  The Glove of Myhnegon? Right. (aims his cue stick) How'd you like a hit of some real news: Angel's still alive.

He takes his shot and starts walking around the table again, looking for his next shot. Faith looks at him in wide-eyed surprise.

Faith:  The vampire.

Xander:  Back in town. Saw him myself. Toting the popular and famous glove.

He bends down again to take aim for his shot.

Faith:  Angel.

Xander makes this shot and watches the balls ricochet.

Faith:  Guy like that, with that kind of glove, could kill a whole mess of people.

Xander:  Said the same thing to Buffy myself. Weird how she didn't seem to care. (aims for his next shot)

Faith:  Buffy knew he was alive.

Xander takes his shot.

Faith:  I can't believe her.

Xander:  (walks around the table) She says he's clean.

Faith:  Yeah, well, I say we can't afford to find out. (has Xander's full attention) I say I deal with this problem right now. I say I slay.

Xander:  Can I come?

He puts down his cue stick and they head out.

Cut to Giles' office at the library. He is researching at his desk. He hears footsteps and turns around to stand up and see who it is.

Gwendolyn:  You wanted to see me, Mr. Giles?

Giles:  (grabs his coat) Yes. I do apologize for bringing you in at this late hour. (pulls it on)

Gwendolyn:  Please. A good Watcher must be awake and alert at all hours.

Giles:  Would you like some tea?

He tosses his glasses onto his desk and steps over to his tea-making implements to prepare his teapot and two cups.

Gwendolyn:  God, yes, please. I'm completely knackered. (goes to Giles' chair) I spent the afternoon training with Faith. (sits) She doesn't lack for energy.

Giles:  (chuckles) She's your first Slayer, I take it?

Gwendolyn:  If you're questioning my qualifications...

Giles:  No, I'm not. (pours water from the kettle into his teapot) I, uh, have the utmost respect for your methods... (faces her, holding the teapot) in my own American way. (leans against his desk) I also have the glove. (Gwendolyn looks at him expectantly) Oh, not actually on me, but, uh, I believe it's safe. It's in a mansion on Crawford Street. A-a-a friend of Buffy's is keeping it there.

Gwendolyn:  (stands up) Well. We must get to it. Immediately. Hide it before someone else finds it.

Giles:  Or better still, destroy it.

Gwendolyn:  (surprised) Destroy it?

Giles:  (stands up and sets down the teapot) Yes, I-I... I didn't think it could be done either, but... (goes to his desk for a book) It involves transforming fire (show her the book) into Living Flame and immolating the glove.

Gwendolyn reads the pages where Giles indicates.

Giles:  I-i-it's complex, but, uh, I believe I have all the necessary materials.

He goes back to his desk and checks his gathered inventory.

Gwendolyn:  Well, (puts the book down) I must say, Mr. Giles... Good show.

She steps up behind him and hits him across the back of the neck with a wooden tribal statue. His knees give and he stumbles, but doesn't fall. He turns to face her, giving her a stunned look.

Gwendolyn:  Good show indeed.

She swings the statue again at his temple. It hits him hard, and he falls unconscious to the floor.

The Restfield Cemetery in front of the Von Hauptman family crypt. Willow paces and Buffy sits on a stone bench while they wait for Lagos to show up.

Willow:  Um, not to downplay my own slaying abilities, which in some circles are considered formidable, but shouldn't Faith be here?

Buffy:  I tried calling, but no one was home. Look, if you're feeling any demon-o-phobia, please, splitting is totally an option. You're not the one in trouble with Giles.

Willow:  That's true. (continues pacing)

Buffy:  How long do you think he can stay angry at me, anyway?

Willow:  The emotional marathon man? (shrugs)

Buffy:  Yeah. I can't really blame him. It's weird, though. Now that my secret... Angel, it's all out in the open... I feel better.

Willow:  Well, *sure* you do. This big burden's been lifted. I mean, keeping secrets is a lot of work. (stops pacing) One could hypothetically imagine.

Buffy:  You have no idea.

Willow:  (laughs uneasily) None whatsoever. But... (sits next to Buffy) Can I ask you a question? (Buffy nods) When you were with Angel and nobody knew about it, did that make it feel, you know, sexier somehow?

Buffy:  Not really. It's too much pressure. After a while, it even makes the fun parts... not so fun.

Willow:  (disappointed) Oh.

Buffy:  (wondering what's up) What makes you think all this secret stuff is sexy, anyway?

Willow:  (nervously defensive) Nothing. I'm just wondering. Gotta keep asking the big old questions when you're blessed with this girl's thirst for knowledge and... (gives in) Okay. There's something I have to tell you.

Buffy:  What?

Willow:  (gets up) Okay. This will make me feel better, right? You know, I always consider myself a good person. Floss, do my homework, never cheat. But lately, and please don't judge me on this, but I want you to be the first to know that, that... (sees Lagos) there's a demon behind you.

Buffy looks behind her and kicks her legs up to spin herself around on the bench. She uses the momentum of the spin to start a running attack. She jumps into a twin pike kick to Lago's stomach. It has no real effect on Lagos, just making him take a step backward as she falls flat to the ground. Willow looks on, worried and unable to help. Lagos reaches down for Buffy and grabs her by the neck. He pulls her up only to flip her back down to the ground in a sloppy front tuck. She lands hard on her back. Willow wants to help, but can only watch. Buffy gets to her feet and comes at Lagos with a combination of a punch to the gut and the face, a half spin, a backhand punch to the face, another half spin and another backhand punch. She tries for an elbow jab, but he blocks it, grabs her arm and reaches for her leg, and lifts her up above his head. Willow is afraid for her friend and waves her hands wildly in protest.

Willow:  Don't...

Lagos suddenly drops Buffy, and she lands hard on her back. Willow cringes at the sight. Buffy quickly gets to her feet and steps to her right as Lagos swings a fist at her head. He misses her and smashes his fist into a stone cross. Taking advantage of the opening, Buffy steps in and front snap kicks him in the gut, following up with a roundhouse kick to his face, a full spin and another roundhouse kick to his crotch. Lagos doubles over in pain. Willow winces at how painful it looked. Buffy spies the battle-ax on his back.

Buffy:  Now we're talking.

She grabs the ax, pulls it from its sheath and swings it around as Lagos straightens back up. In one stroke Lagos is suddenly headless. His head rolls along the ground a ways before coming to rest. Willow pumps her fists into the air in front of her.

Willow:  Yes!

She quickly plays down her gesture into crossed arms. Buffy comes walking back to her.