Buffy is getting her background checked by the Captain of the Sunnydale Police Station. Buffy points out that all charges made against her in high school were dropped but the Captain isn't interested in that. He informs Buffy that she will need to pass several aspects of the application process which includes, but are not restricted to, psychological evaluation, drug screening, physical agility test and written examinations. Buffy is a little intimidated but seems up to the challenge of it all.
Over at The Mystic Mind tarot shop, Tara and Willow are having fun with palm reading and their future - until Tara gets flashes of Willow crying in agony.
Opening Credits
We're back right where we left, Tara is stuttering, trying to tell Willow that she saw her future - and it involved pain. Willow is understandably shaken up and quickly leaves before Tara can comfort her.
Willow sits in her dorm room alone and obviously afraid. After a moment she gets up and takes out some magical items from underneath her bed.
Tara enters the Magic Box looking for Willow and worried about what she might be doing and interrupts Xander and Anya's sex-capades, behind the cash register. Tara has a look on her face that appears to be a mix of shock and disgust. She quickly exits before either of them can say anything.
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After passing the drug screening and psychological evaluation, Buffy is happy to have reached the physical tests. A Sergeant/instructor guy drones out, "At this academy you will get basic training which is followed by field training. This is not going to be a walk in the park for any of you." Buffy seems to be zoning out when the Sergeant grabs her by the shoulder, "Pay attention!" he shouts in her face. The Sergeant releases Buffy and she stops herself from whooping his ass right there.
Dawn walks into the magic shop and finds Xander and Anya strangely quiet, apparently going about the "usual". Anya's standing behind the cash register and greets Dawn even more enthusiastically than normal, practically yelling her name and smiling in a suspicious way. Xander's doing his best to pretend to research something (he's currently reading Volume Four of 'Demonology for the layman'). Dawn asks what's up and Xander quickly stops Anya from answering that question.
Buffy's quite happy to be "demonstrated on" when the Sergeant asks for a volunteer. Buffy gets to vent her anger out when she flips the Sergeant on his butt. He quickly gets up and attacks her again more violently and yet again she has him on the ground within three seconds. Buffy says she forgot to mention she's a self-defense instructor at the Y.
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Tara shows up at Willow's dorm room but finds no Willow. Said redhead is currently at the Magic Box looking through some books in the keep-out-of-Dawn's-reach area. Anya has taken Dawn to the Espresso Pump for a mocha leaving Xander to man the cash register. He wonders aloud why Willow would be looking through dangerous spell books, "Especially after what happened last year." he reminds her. She ignores him and he mentions Tara was looking for her before. Willow's quiet for a moment then tells Xander what's got her so shaken up.
Later in the afternoon, Dawn's at home studying when she hears a knock at the door. It's Spike. He just stopped by to "Talk with Buffy about something" that's not for the younger Summers' ears. "What? There's suddenly a censorship on things I can and can't hear? I'm sixteen! If I was Buffy I'd be boinking Angel right now. Trust me, I'm old enough to hear whatever you've got to say, Spike." He concedes her point and starts telling her in detail about how he found a young woman eviserated in the woods near UC Sunnydale. Dawn suddenly doesn't feel so great and begs Spike to stop before running upstairs. The sound of barfing can be heard downstairs as Spike simply asks, "What?"
Tara eventually finds Willow at the magic shop, she's being comforted by Xander. Tara promises Willow she'll never let anything happen to her and they hug. Buffy stops by the Magic Box to see what's the what and is almost immediately followed in by Spike and a very pale Dawn. Spike, helps her sit and Buffy asks Spike why he's there and why he brought Dawn. He just figured Buffy would be at the magic shop and makes a crack about how predictable the Scooby Gang is, "Least it explains how evil always seems to track you down." Everyone just looks at him. He continues, "Speaking of the nasty, I found this eviserated girl..." Tara's eyes widen. Something clicks in her head, "Someone is killing off witches."she concludes.
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Tara explains before the gang can even ask. "I saw the ambulances. There were cops there too. That Detective who helped you out last week, Buffy, was there. He took something from the body - a pendant. One just like a young girl was wearing who came to the Mystic Mind." Buffy says that doesn't necessarily mean someone's killing off witches in particular. After a hesitant glance at Willow, Tara tells them all about the flashes she had when reading Willow's palm. That's enough to send Buffy out looking for the witch hunter. Spike goes with her.
Later that night, everyone else stays put at the magic shop to keep Willow and Tara safe. Tara spots the magic books and supplies on the table that Willow had gathered. "I would have protected you." Tara quietly tells Willow as they sit together. Willow explains it wasn't for protecting herself but for protecting them both. "I wasn't the one who was so tactfully told about the looming death cloud hanging over my head." Tara says, apologising for the way she'd told Willow what was going to happen to her. Willow says that if Tara saw pain in her (Willow's) future, it could have been because something had happened to Tara. And if something happened to Tara then Willow would indeed be in agony in the future.
Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike have obviously stopped by Buffy's house because they're both carrying an arsenal of weapons. Buffy's determined to kill whatever would threaten Willow's life. Spike steps on a stick causing it to snap. Buffy turns, ready to fight and Spike apologises then yells at Buffy to watch out. She turns just in time to get zapped by...something.
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Turns out a girl who knew Willow and Tara from their wicca group has been delving in the black arts and has been killing good witches in the name of evil. Before Buffy can even get a punch in, the witch shoots her in the stomach with electricity again. Buffy writhes in pain until Spike tackles the witch. She quickly calls upon thorny branches to grab Spike and hold him. She does not realise it was a distraction to let Buffy recover until it is too late - Buffy takes her out with an axe. Buffy cuts William the Bloody (forgive the pun:) free and lets him lean on her as they walk back to the magic shop.
Ending credits