Thursday evening, Buffy is walking carefully in the park, near the grove of trees, silently, hunting. The woman from her dreams jumps and lands behind her, so silently that Buffy does not notice.
"Looking for someone? Angel perhaps?" the woman asks.
Buffy is caught off guard, but quickly regains her composure.
"Actually it was for you--fossil lady."
"So it's you. The Slayer. I thought she'd be older--bigger. But its you."
"And, I hear, its you. Why did you do it? A Slayer accepting the temptation to become a vampire?
Why?"
"Eternal life, eternal beauty. It doesn't matter. We will win before it ends. You will not stop us." She turns into a vampire and attacks Buffy. A very difficult fight ensues tiring both combatants, but Buffy is getting the worst of it. Finally the woman flings Buffy toward the grove where she hits a tree and flops on the earth, barely conscious. The woman is tired, and takes a moment to catch her breath before the final assault.
"You are strong and fight well, Slayer, but not well enough."
At this point Angel appears. He is a vampire. He knocks the woman down violently. She briefly looks at him, and decides she cannot fight him since she is weakened from the fight with Buffy. Angel watches her leave and briefly considers following her, but decides Buffy needs help immediately. He picks her up and carries her to his home.

Giles is asleep, but the telephone wakes him up.
"This is Giles."
"This is Angel. You've got to come here now. To my home."
"It's nearly midnight."
"She's here, and she's hurt."
"Buffy?"
"Yes."
"I'll be right there" Giles says. "Uh, where do you live?"
When he arrives, he finds Buffy lying on Angel's couch, awake.
"Buffy? Can you talk?" Giles asks.
"Yes."
"What happened?"
"I was hunting and she was behind me. I didn't hear her at all. We spoke briefly, then she attacked. She seemed to know what I was going to do before I did it."
"I was worried about that."
"I can't do this again. If Angel hadn't come when he did..."
"I should have followed her," Angel said. " I could have ended it. She was weak. But I couldn't leave you there."
"I've seen this before." Buffy said.
"What do you mean?" asked Giles
"In my dreams. I'd forgotten. She killed a Slayer in my dreams. I don't know if it was me, or another."
Angel was pained. "Don't go after her alone again." he demanded.
"I feel better," Buffy said. "I think she just stunned me. I probably need to go back."
"She won't be back tonight" Angel retorted. "You drained her strength."
"And she mine. I'm so tired now."
Giles was concerned. "I think I'd better take you home. Where does your mother think you are."
"I'm not sure. I didn't exactly tell her I was leaving."
"Well" he said, helping her up "with the shape you're in, we're going to need quite a story."
Buffy got up with Giles' help. She was bruised and sore. They slowly started to leave. Buffy turned back.
"Angel....Thanks. I owe you again."
"Someday I'm going to collect" he replied.
Buffy smiles and they left.

Friday morning, Willow, Xander and Giles are in the library, talking.
"What did you tell her mother?" Willow asked.
"That she was helping me collect some specimens, and that she slipped and fell a few feet." Giles replied.
"And she believed you?"
"I'm not really sure."
"And this woman almost killed her," Xander commented.
"Apparently," Giles replied. "She's had the same training as Buffy--the methods haven't changed for centuries., and she has had many more years to hone her skills."
"Perhaps you should consider an update" Xander complained.
"What can we do to help her?" Willow asked. "Is she going back?"
Giles thought a moment. "I think she will. She will not allow this vampire to remain free."
Xander was starting to get upset. "But what if the same thing happens, and Angel doesn't show up?"
"You think I haven't thought of that?" Giles countered, upset himself. "I spent all night trying to think of some other way."
"Some other way to what?" Buffy asked. The others were so engrossed in their conversation that they hadn't seen her come in.
"Buffy," Giles began. "I didn't think you would come to school today."
"You don't know my mom." Buffy said, then corrected herself. " Okay you do know my mom. Anyway, after my last school, I would have to be dead before she would let me stay home."
Willow did not like the direction this was going. "Buffy, don't say dead."
Buffy greeted them. "Hi Willow, ..... Xander"
Xander only nodded.
"Buffy," Willow said, " Giles told us all about last night. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Giles?"
"I received no new insights last night." Giles replied.
"I need something new. Something she would not have been taught."
"Even if she hadn't been taught, she may have learned it. There's no telling how long she's been around."
"And she's killed more than one Slayer." Buffy continued. "I remembered last night, after we left Angel's place."
"You were at his place last night," Xander interrupted. "I thought Giles..."
"Angel took her to his place from the park. Then he called me." Giles explained.
"Twist that stake," Xander said, looking at Buffy.
Buffy noticed his glance, but tried to ignore it. "I've had that dream several times. Each time I was a different Slayer. Each time had the same ending."
"Do you remember anything about the fights?" Giles asked?
"No. Just that she was vicious, strong, skilled. How am I ever going to be able to fight her?"
"Buffy, I believe the key is in your dreams."
"What do you mean?" Willow asked.
Giles explained. "A Slayer's dreams can be a way of passing knowledge from one slayer to another. Some of Buffy's dreams are meaningless. Others are signs."
"Like my nightmares about the Harvest when I first came." Buffy said.
"Right. Other dreams contain information gathered and passed on from other Slayers. I've read of Slayers that have lived the entire life of their predecessor in their dreams. They could recognize family and friends. Are your dreams becoming more and more vivid?"
"Actually, my memories of old dreams are becoming more clear."
"I believe the key may be there, the way to fight her."
"Giles, every dream has ended the same. With the Slayer dead."
"Pay attention. Recall every detail you can. The most insignificant detail may be the key. You should give it another night before you look for her again."
"How can I do that?" Buffy protested. "She's been free too long."
"Buffy," Xander spoke softly, " have you recovered from last night?"
Buffy looked at him and replied softly. "Not really. I don't think anything was broken or sprained. But I still have some sores and bruises. "
"Angel has been following her," Giles said. "He can handle it for one more night. You should sleep tonight--dream."
The bell rang.
"You three'd better get to class," Giles instructed. "I'll keep working on our problem."

Shortly after class, Willow and Xander are in the library with Giles.
"Giles," Willow said, "we have to help her. What can we do for her."
"We have to do something," Xander added. "One of us should be with her all the time."
"I don't think that would do any good," Giles replied. "It would only put you in danger, as well as her. She won't let you be with her while she's hunting."
Xander was not satisfied. "Don't you have some crosses or holy water or something? We could stay near her and try to keep her in tonight. If something did happen, we might be able to help."
Giles thought a moment and gave in. "Very well." He went to a closet, bringing back a vial of holy water which he gave to Willow and a cross and stake which he gave to Xander. "Just in case. Stay with her tonight, but try to keep her inside, resting. Angel said he will follow the vampire. You just try to keep Buffy out of trouble for one night."

It is shortly after sundown. Buffy is leaving her house. Just as she comes out, the woman/vampire comes at her from above. Knocking her down. She is in her vampire form Buffy manages to kick her off, but is hurt from the initial assault. The woman gets in a few more punches, and finally throws Buffy against the house, stunning her. This time she does not stop to rest before her final assault. As she pounces, Angel catches her in a flying leap. They fight briefly and end up with Angel underneath her being punched. Xander and Willow arrive. Xander runs toward Buffy muttering "We're too late." Willow took a look at Buffy, then saw the vampire on Angel. and screamed, running toward them while removing the top from the bottle of holy water. The vampire, hearing the scream, turns toward Willow, who threw water at her (whiled holding on to the bottle). Most of the water it hits her in the face and shoulder, but some of it hits Angel in the chest. She falls off him, rolls a few times, then manages to get up and run slowly away, shrieking. Xander picks up Buffy and carries her inside and lays her on the couch. She looks unconscious. Willow helps Angel, who is awake, but in pain from the fight and holy water, inside. He sits and rests near Buffy.

Xander was freaking out. "We'd better call an ambulance."
"Call Giles," Willow insisted.
Xander looks at her carefully. "She's breathing but not moving."
"She's right," Angel said weakly. " Call Giles."
Xander left the room to call.
Willow noticed that Angel was in pain. "I'm sorry I got some of the water on you." Angel ignored her and just looked at Buffy. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he whispered to himself.
Xander returned saying "He'll be here in a minute."
"Are you hurt Angel," Willow asked.
Angel finally looked toward Willow. "Yes. But she's more important right now."
"I still think we should call..." Xander began.
"Lets wait for Giles," Willow interrupted.
Xander went to Buffy, felt her pulse and checked her breathing.
"How could we let this happen?" Xander asked. "Giles wanted us to be with her all the time."
"It's my fault," Angel said. "I didn't think she would be hunting Buffy. She's changed since I last saw her. She's even more vicious."
They heard a knock at the door. Willow opened it for Giles.
Giles rushed to Buffy and checked her pulse, etc. "What happened?"

"The vampire ambushed her," Xander said. "I think we should call an ambulance."
"No, not yet," Giles said. "She seems to be breathing normally. Let's wait a few minutes and see what happens."
"Where is the vampire?" he asked after a moments silence.
"I splashed her with the holy water," Willow said. "And I got some on Angel too."
Giles looked at Angel. "She got some on you?"
"Just a little," Angel replied. "It hurts like hell though. I can imagine how she feels. She got most of it."
"She left then." Giles deduced. "She will be weak for a day or two. That's something I guess."
"We should go after her," Angel said.
The very though of it upset Xander. "Uh..please notice. Buffy. Not moving. And you're in no condition yourself."
Angel was not dissuaded. "She's weak. its our best chance to put an end to her."
Xander was almost yelling now. "We can't ask Buffy to do that--even when she wakes up. She's weak from last night, and she definitely lost the fight tonight!"
"Its our best chance."
"No Way!!!" Xander was yelling now.
"Xander," Buffy said softly. "It's OK."
Xander looked at her--relieved. "Buffy"
"Are you OK Buffy?" Giles asked.
"How do I look?" Buffy asked. She was speaking only. She did not move.
"Buffy," Xander said, "you can't go out again tonight."
"You're right. I need rest." She glanced at Angel. "We both do."
Angel spoke softly but earnestly to Buffy. "She's weak. She was hit with a lot of holy water."
"It's OK. I know what to do."
"What do you mean?" asked Giles.
"After she knocked me down, I saw her coming at me. I thought I was dead. Then I saw Angel hit her. I felt myself going out, or to sleep or something. Anyway, I saw the fights with her again--every detail. My two fights with her, the other three Slayers fights' with her, even her last fight when she lost and became a vampire. I saw them clearly. I saw her weakness. I know what to do."
Xander was still concerned. "Buff, you're in no condition to..."
"We don't need to go tonight," Buffy interrupted. "She will still be weak tomorrow night. We can hunt her down then."
"Buffy, are you all right?" Giles asked. They all noticed that she had barely moved.
"Just help me upstairs. I need sleep and rest." She then noticed how bad Angel looked. "What happened to Angel?"
"Holy Water--just a little though," Giles replied.
"Are you OK?" Buffy asked Angel.
"Now that you are awake, I'm much better. I am so sorry..."
"It wasn't your fault."
"I didn't think she would hunt you yet," Angel continued. "And it was so close to sundown. I should have started following her sooner."
"I think she's probably hunting us both now. We should probably stay close together after sundown...at least until we're done with her."
Giles was relieved that Buffy seemed to be gaining strength. "How are we ever going to explain this to your mother?"
"Just put me in bed," Buffy said. "It'll look like an extension of last night."
"Have you seen your front lawn?" Giles asked.
Xander and Willow helped Buffy upstairs. Giles helped Angel to follow.
They left Buffy and Angel upstairs and went back downstairs.
"You two should go home," Giles said. "I'll stay and talk to her mother."
"What about him?" Xander protested.
"They need to talk a bit. As soon as he is able, I'll see that he gets home all right."
"You shouldn't leave them alone together"
Willow pulled Xander through the door. "Xander, he'll take care of it."
"Yes I will," Giles thought. "Shortly." He sat down in the living room to wait.

Buffy was starting to feel a little better as she lay in bed. Angel sat in a chair next to her..
"I owe you again, Angel." Buffy said, looking at him.
"I can't bear to see you like this." Angel replied. "If only I'd been more cautious."
"It's not your fault. I was the unprepared one. I'm glad you came when you did. I wish I could do something about that holy water."
"Only time can heal it. I will be better much sooner than she will."
"We will deal with that tomorrow." After a pausing for a moment, she asked " Did you think about what we talked about at your place?"
"I did. Buffy, I want something with you more than anything..."
He added a "but" under his breath. Buffy did not hear it. She turned over, her back to him, to prepare for sleep. "Then its settled."
"Yes. Settled." Angel whispered to himself, with a sigh.

Saturday morning, Buffy arrived in the library. Giles was working alone.
"Buffy." Giles greeted her. "How are you?"
"Not perfect, but so much better than last night. Did you see Angel leave?"
"Yes. He was still hurting. But it will go away eventually. Why are you here on a Saturday? You should be resting."
"I had to come. I wanted to see you."
"Oh?"
"Giles, I'm scared." Buffy began. "I've never been so scared in my life. She has fought me twice--and has won both times. If it weren't for Angel..." She did not finish.
"You said you know what to do."
"I do. I went over it in my mind several times. I just wish I could practice it. I know those fights by heart--every move. But they all ended the same."
"Buffy, I wish I could be more helpful"
"You have helped. You showed me the key--I hope--to beating her. I'm just afraid that it won't be enough."
"Stay in until Angel comes. You must hunt her with him."
"Believe me, I will wait for him tonight. For once, I'm going to take your advice."
"For once?" Giles feigned shock. He had actually gotten her joke this time--at least he hoped it was a joke. "You mean all these other gems of thought I have spoken the last few months have fallen on deaf ears?"
Buffy did not reply, but left with an impish grin on her face.

Angel and Buffy were in her living room, preparing to leave.
"Do you know where she'll be?" Buffy asked.
"I think so," Angel replied. " I know where she went after her first fight with you. She was weak. There's lots of animals for her to feed on, easy kills for her to build up her strength. People even occasionally come by. As weak as she is, I think she'll go there again."
"We can start there. We need to be far enough apart so that she can't attack us both at once, but close enough that the one can help the other."
"I'll lead, you follow at whatever distance you think is right.." Angel left.

Buffy followed Angel to a dark, moonlit, wooded area. He stopped and waited for her to catch up.
"We're nearly there," he said when she arrived.
"So she could show up anytime?"
Angel nodded and moved on. Buffy broke a branch of a tree leaving a spiked stump. Angel went back to her. "What are you doing?"
"Creating opportunities."

After a few more minutes, Angel stopped and motions for Buffy to join him.
"Look'" he said pointing. Two teenagers were sitting on a blanket under a tree--kissing.
"We need to warn them," Buffy whispered. "They're sitting ducks for her."
"No, its too late." Angel pointed in the middle of leaves of nearby tree. Buffy could see a silhouette.
"Why hasn't she attacked?" she asked.
"Maybe she's resting , building up strength," Angel guessed. "It may have taken something out of her to just get up there. I don't know."
"Well," Buffy began nervously, "It's time for the party to begin."
Buffy walked toward the couple, breaking more tree branches. She looked at Angel briefly. "If she comes flying through the air toward you, point her in the direction of one of these." she said, pointing to the stub from the branch she just broke off.
She broke several limbs near the couple before she was noticed. Angel could not be seen.
"It looks like you're having fun, but its about to get ugly. I think you'd better leave."
The vampire/woman dropped from the branches as the young couple scurried away.
"You're back, and spoiling my supper again," the vampire complained. " When will you learn, Slayer? I've bested you twice already."
"Well, maybe you'll get it right this time," Buffy replied. "I remember you from my dreams. You were not a very good Slayer."
It worked. The vampire was angered. She screamed and rushed toward Buffy. "This time you die!!!"
At first, the fight seemed to be going the way of the others. Finally, Buffy managed to flip her over her head backwards. Angel appeared at this time, caught her and threw her immediately toward one of the broken limb stakes. His aim was true. She hit it going forward, upside down, shrieking. Then she turned to dust.
Angel approached Buffy, who has been staring at the stump. Before he got there, she fell weakly to the ground and started crying, then sobbing. "Buffy, its over," he said softly. She did not respond, though the crying became softer.
"Buffy, what is wrong?" he tried again.
"Angel, she was a Slayer." Buffy replied. "How could this have happened? She betrayed us. Why?"
"I don't know."
"She was a Slayer, yet she succumbed to the temptation to be a Vampire. You did too. Why?"
Angel was silent a moment, then tried to explain.
"Buffy, when the vampire gets you, all you know is that you are going to die. Then it gives you this chance to live forever. You may be 16 or 20 years old. All you know is that you are going to die, and you think that this is your chance. It doesn't tell you that your soul is gone, that its not really you. Even if you know that, you think you are different, that this will be you. All you know for sure is that you are going to die, and that you have a split second chance to maybe live again.
Buffy looked at him thoughtfully. "Ever since I knew who she was, I've despised her, hated her. But maybe I would have done the same."
"It wasn't the Slayer you were looking at. It was the demon."
"It was the Slayer that consented'" she countered. " She killed three Slayers. Three. It would have been four if not for you. I owe you everything.
"She hunted me as well. You helped me."
"Time after time when I need you, you're there. I can never repay you."
"Buffy, for 80 years, I have spent every day regretting the choice I made in that split second. I've hoped to meet someone who would put me out of my misery. The only reason I kept on was to try to repair the smallest part of what I did before my soul was restored I lived in hell until you came along."
"Me? I've done nothing for you."
"You help me repair the past. But even more, I no longer regret the choice I made. I still wish I hadn't done those terrible things I did. But if I hadn't made the choice, I would have missed you. And I am so glad I didn't miss you."
"Angel, I don't know what to say."
"Come on" Angel said, offering a hand to help her up. "Its late, we need to get you home, to start recuperating."
Buffy took his had and was pulled up. As they walked, she took his hand again.
"Besides." he added after they had taken a few steps. "You're probably grounded for something."

Monday morning, just before school, Giles, Willow, Xander and Buffy were talking on a bench.
"So that's it" Xander commented. "It was over that fast."
Giles still had a question. "What was the key that you found to defeating her?"
"Well," Buffy replied, "every move a Slayer made she countered--every move except one. She like to fly."
"She could fly?" asked Willow.
"No. I mean, when she could see that the Slayer was going to flip her, or toss her into the air, she did not counter. Maybe it was some kind of adrenaline pump for her. The harder she hit the wall or the ground, the more vicious she became. Or maybe she used it a ploy to make you think you finally got one in, and you let your guard down just a little. I know I fell for that one."
"So you created as many places to flip her into as you could." Giles noticed.
"Yeah."
"Well," Giles continued, "we're glad you're all right."
Buffy was somber in her reply. "I don't know if I am. She killed three Slayers. What if another Slayer/Vampire is out there. I don't think I could live through another few days like that again."
"Is Angel OK?" Giles asked, hoping to improve her mood.
"I think so," Buffy replied.
Xander had a question. "So it was just you and Angel out there."
"Yeah," said Buffy
The bell rang, they stood up to leave. The students left together, Giles listened to their conversation as they left.
"I have to know," Willow said. "This time did he...you know..."
"No. Still a perfect gentleman.....Darn him."
"Buffy," Xander interjected, " if you want someone whose imperfect, look no further."
"Xander!" Buffy cried.
"I know, I know. You want some time and I'm giving it to you. Spend some of it thinking about my imperfections. I'll be imperfect for you anytime...anyplace. Dwell on my imperfections..."
Giles headed for the library muttering to himself "I'll never understand them."