Disclaimer: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Angel" and all characters from the shows are the property of Joss Whedon, 20th Century Fox, and the UPN or WB Television Networks. The Cthulhu Mythos material is loosely based on the "Call of Cthulhu" role-playing game (copyright Chaosium Inc.) and the book "Encyclopedia Cthulhiana" by Daniel Harms. "Sunny Came Home" is copyright WB Music Corp./AGF Music Ltd./Scred Songs/Lev-A-Tunes (ASCAP).
Thursday May 23, 2002, Morning: Sunnydale
Whistler thinks over the night's events. Skip had warned him not
to interfere. Told him that the Powers had arranged this as a
test. That they had plans for Willow. That they were going to
arrange for Tara's resurrection only to arrange for her death a
short time later. That Tara's second death was supposed to be a
trigger to cause Willow to blast the enemies of the Powers.
Whistler shakes his head. "Too risky a plan. Let's see if I can
find a safer one." He considers for a while, then nods.
Whistler places several packets of herbs and an amber gemstone
into a box. He next fills the box with books, then writes a note
and places it in the box. He teleports himself into the empty
Magic Box and looks around. Whistler places the box on one of
the ruined shelves. He gestures and the box glows and fades.
One book glows for a few moments longer than the rest of the box.
Thursday May 23, Afternoon: New York City
Whistler exits the elevator, looking for the correct apartment.
He knocks on the door and a woman answers. "Jennifer Lynn
Albright," he says. "The name suits you."
Jennifer responds "Hello, Whistler." She pauses. "So what
brings you here?"
Whistler tells her "Two powerful witches in Sunnydale named
Willow and Tara. They're going to need a good teacher in a
couple of days. You can talk to Giles about them." He pauses.
"Tara's dead right now but that should change very soon."
Jennifer looks a bit dubious. "Resurrection?"
Whistler shrugs. "The Powers were going to bring Tara back
eventually. I'm just speeding up the process."
Jennifer stares at him. "The Powers?"
Whistler shrugs again. "They arranged for her death. They
surely can bring her back."
Jennifer looks puzzled. "Why would they kill her? And why would
they bring her back if they did?"
Whistler is silent.
Jennifer continues "It doesn't make any sense." She pauses and
her eyes widen "Unless they were going to going to kill her
again."
Whistler remains silent. Finally Jennifer asks "Whistler?"
Whistler warns "Just be very careful what you tell Willow."
Thursday May 23, Night: Sunnydale
Whistler returns to Sunnydale. He takes a report from the file
room of the Police Department and destroys it in a flash of
light. He finds an unattended computer and removes a certain
entry from the police database. He goes to the Coroner's office
and does the same thing to the Coroner's report and the Coroner's
database.
Friday May 24, Morning: Sunnydale, Magic Box
Xander is examining the Magic Box, trying to evaluate the extent
of the damage. Meanwhile Willow is helping Anya do inventory.
Anya finds the box of books that Whistler left. She quickly
looks through it. "Where did this come from? This is great!"
Willow and Xander rush over. Willow asks "What is it?"
Anya responds "These books. I don't remember them. They look
very valuable." She starts leafing through one of the books then
stops and reads more carefully. "Look at this. If I'm reading
this right ..." She pauses. "The spell should work on Tara.
The herbs are readily available. So is the gemstone, although
more expensive. We also need a Servant of Tisiphone and a
Daughter of Sineya." She pauses again. "Servant of Tisiphone is
an old name for vengeance demon."
Willow adds "The Slayer is sometimes referred to as a Daughter of
Sineya." She studies the spell, sudden hope showing on her face.
Anya looks through the box. "A note from Whistler. Says he
thought we might find this useful. Also most of the supplies we
need."
Willow says excitedly "We can do the spell tonight."
Anya cautions "We need to talk to everyone else first."
Friday May 24, Morning: Sunnydale, Giles' Hotel Room
Whistler knocks on the door and Giles answers. "Hello, Giles"
Whistler says. "Thought you might like to know. An old friend
of yours is coming to Sunnydale. To stay."
Giles asks "Old friend? Do you mean Ethan?"
Whistler shakes his head. "No, this is someone you'll be glad to
see." He pauses. "Oh, one other thing, someone close to Willow
will be ..." He pauses again. "Returning is a good word.
Returning in the near future. Most likely, tomorrow." Whistler
vanishes.
Friday May 24, Night: Sunnydale, Summers' House
Anya, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, and Dawn are sitting around
the kitchen table.
Anya is explaining about the books they found in the Magic Box.
"I started glancing through this one and found a spell (she gives
a brief summary). I also found a note from Whistler and some
supplies. Tara's death is recent enough and her bond with Willow
is surely strong enough. We have everything we need."
Giles examines the book and the note. "Whistler is in Sunnydale.
He talked to me this morning." He pauses and skims quickly
through the book. "Ancient Secrets by Ambrosius, John Dee
translation. Looks genuine." He pauses again. "Ambrosius warns
about the spell. Says it's very dangerous."
Anya replies "Most of the danger is because the vengeance demon
usually has to be magically bound to the spell. But I'm willing
to help. I liked Tara."
Willow adds "The nether realm can be dangerous but we'll be fine
with Xander as our anchor."
Xander asks "Are you sure about this, Willow? Neither of us has
exactly mixed well with magic recently."
Willow says determinedly "I know. But I have to try." She
smiles. "And I trust you to keep us all safe."
Anya looks around. "Anyone else?" She pauses. "I think we
should try the spell."
Dawn says "I agree with Anya." She looks at Buffy.
Buffy says cautiously "I'll help if we decide to do this."
Xander nods. "Same here."
Giles looks troubled. "All right. I still don't like this. But
I won't try to stop you."
Anya says "Tomorrow morning, then. In the back room of the Magic
Box."
Saturday May 25, Morning: Sunnydale, Magic Box
Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Anya are sitting in the back room.
Giles and Dawn are in the main room going through inventory.
Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Anya each light a candle. Willow puts
the amber gemstone in one small bowl and puts the herbs in
another bowl and sets them alight. Willow, Buffy, Xander, and
Anya each make a cut on their arm and drip blood into the bowl
with the gemstone. They link arms.
Willow, Buffy, Xander, and Anya begin chanting. "Ayala flows
through us. See with the inward eye. Travel the sightless sea.
Aradia hear our words. Show us the way to our lost one." A
circle of light forms around the four of them.
Willow chants "The Seeker."
Buffy chants "The daughter of Sineya."
Anya chants "The servant of Tisiphone."
Willow, Buffy, and Anya continue. "We join together to call our
lost one from beyond."
Willow chants "Let my heart's desire be granted. Let my beloved
return to me."
Willow, Buffy, and Anya finish. "Let our powers be joined to
make it so."
Light gathers outside the circle and solidifies into Tara's body.
Tara sits up and looks around.
Willow shouts joyfully "Tara!" and hugs her.
Tara looks dazed. "What happened?"
Willow responds "It's a long story."
Xander calls out "Giles, Dawn, it worked! Tara's back!"
Giles and Dawn enter the back room. Dawn shrieks in excitement
and rushes over to give Tara a hug.
A few moments later Willow tells Tara, "I need to talk to you in
private. Later, back at Buffy's house."
Saturday May 25, Late Morning: Sunnydale, Summers' House
Willow and Tara are sitting in the living room. Willow begins
hesitantly "Tara, I ... I need to tell you something. After you
were shot, I did a lot of horrible things. I drained dark magic
from the books at the Magic Box and froze Anya when she tried to
stop me. I tracked Warren down and used magic to torture him,
skin him alive, and burn him to a crisp. Then I tried to kill
Jonathan and Andrew, even if it meant killing Buffy, Xander, and
Anya for getting in my way. I got tired so I drained magic from
Rack and killed him. Then I threatened to turn Dawn back into a
ball of energy. Giles immobilized me for a while but I forced
Anya to release me and attacked and tortured Giles. I drained
magic from Giles and that made me feel the pain of the entire
world, so I decided to end the pain by ending the world. While I
was preparing, I animated some roots and earth to attack Buffy
and Dawn because I thought Buffy should die fighting. Then I
raised this demonic temple so I could channel its energy. Xander
tried to talk me out of it but I attacked him with magic. He
kept trying to reach me even while I kept attacking him. Somehow
he did reach me. Somehow. There aren't enough words to
apologize for what I did. And what I tried to do."
Willow stops and glances at Tara. Tara looks stunned. She
doesn't say anything.
Willow pleads "Tara? Please tell me you don't hate me."
Tara shakes her head. "I don't hate you. I've never hated you."
She pauses. "Are you still living here?"
Willow nods. "I ... I didn't want to leave and Buffy let me
stay." She pauses. "Sometimes I wonder if she just wanted me
somewhere she could keep an eye on me."
Tara says reassuringly "I'm sure that isn't it." She considers
carefully. "Willow, I ... I need some time to think things
through. To absorb everything. I love you but ... but right now
you scare me a little. I'm sorry but I ... I just need some
time." She pauses. "I'd better go. I'll say goodbye to Buffy
and Dawn."
Willow feels a twinge of disappointment as she watches Tara walk
upstairs. Then she shakes her head. "Face it, Willow," she
tells herself, "Everything is working out better than you
deserve." She shudders. "A lot better."
Saturday May 25, Night: Sunnydale, Giles' Hotel Room
Jennifer knocks on Giles' door and Giles answers. He says
excitedly "JL! When did you get in? How did you know I was
here?".
Jennifer responds "This afternoon. Used a locator spell." She
pauses. "Giles, can you do me a favor? I need to talk to
everyone. Especially Willow and Tara. Maybe tomorrow at the
Summers' house?"
Giles nods. "Tomorrow it is. I'll call the others."
Sunday May 26, Afternoon: Sunnydale, Summers' House
Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Giles, and Dawn are gathered in the
living room. Jennifer knocks on the door and Giles answers.
Jennifer enters the house and Giles introduces her. "Buffy,
Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn, this is an old friend of mine,
Jennifer Lynn Albright."
Jennifer smiles. "Glad to meet everyone. You can call me
Jennifer, Jenny, or JL."
Buffy asks "So what brings you to Sunnydale?"
Jennifer responds "I thought I might be needed here."
Giles explains "JL is an expert on supernatural matters. In
fact, the Watcher's council wanted to recruit her."
Jennifer explains "They were a bit too stuffy for me." She
smiles again. "Present company excluded."
Giles looks around. "So, did anyone feel any aftereffects from
the spell yesterday morning?"
Xander asks hesitantly. "Has anyone else felt a bit weird? Like
you sort of knew where everyone involved in the spell was?"
Willow, Buffy, Anya, and Tara indicate agreement.
Giles gets a book and opens it. "Willow, Anya, Buffy, and Xander
cast this spell yesterday morning to resurrect Tara."
Jennifer studies the spell. She then asks Willow, Anya, Buffy,
Xander, and Tara to stand close together. She takes a small
bottle from her bag and tosses the contents into the air in
between the five of them. Lines briefly become visible
connecting each of the five to each other.
Jennifer explains "I thought so. The spell created magical links
between you. Right now the effects are limited to this vague
awareness." She pauses. "We can probably make the links
stronger if we want to."
Anya interjects. "Wait a minute. I'm linked to Xander?" Xander
looks uneasy.
Willow asks "Why didn't the spell description say anything about
this? It warned about other things."
Jennifer considers. "Maybe because the vengeance demon usually
needs to be bound. In trying to break the bindings, the demon
might keep the links from becoming permanent." She pauses. "I
had planned to offer Willow and Tara some tutoring, but perhaps I
should extend the lessons."
Tara glances toward Willow and asks "Tutoring in magic? Are you
sure that's such a good idea?"
Jennifer responds "Yes. It may even be vitally important." She
pauses. "Did anyone think about the death certificate?
Officially, Tara is still dead."
Willow says "I can check on it." A few minutes later she reports
"I couldn't find any death certificate. Or any police report.
Or any other indication of Tara's death. They all seem to have
just vanished."
Xander asks "Won't someone wonder about that?" He pauses.
"Right. This is Sunnydale. Collective Amnesia Central."
Sunday May 26, Night: Sunnydale, Giles' Hotel Room
Jennifer is talking to Giles. "I need your advice. Whistler
suggested that the Powers had something to do with Tara's death.
He also said the Powers were eventually planning to bring Tara
back themselves. Which doesn't make sense unless..."
Giles continues quietly "Unless the last time was practice and
they knew she was going to die again soon afterwards."
Jennifer nods. "I haven't told Willow about any of this, or Tara
either. But you know Willow, know both of them, better than I
do. What do you think?"
Giles considers. "I don't think Willow is ready to handle this
information. And if you tell Tara, she'll probably tell Willow."
Jennifer nods again.
Giles considers for another moment and says thoughtfully "You
never have mentioned how you know Whistler."
Jennifer smiles. "Oh, we go way back." She pauses. "We've
known each other for ages."