1.21 Lost And...

Quotes

Raveena: Maybe we should start with the ganga."

Raveena: "So the perfect scenario: Nikki can't tell we're there, Zolor's standing right on top of the explosives, and I can get close enough to Strella with Deaver's sex toy to get it done."

Deaver: "Hey Geoff, know how to make napalm?"

Deaver [re: using guns against the hellhounds]: "I could probably make a silencer." Chase: "Aren't those illegal?" Geoff: "Now you're worried about legality?"

Owen: "What the hell happened to him, Chase?" Chase: "What would you say if I told you that a little blonde bitch of a demon is running around with the power to suck any physical attribute out of anyone that strikes her fancy?" Owen: "... I'd say that you must be in shock, too ..."

Raveena [re: Strella's noose]: "Was there a blonde hanging from one end?" Bannon [returning to his writing]: "I believe that she was a brunette at the time."

Geoff and Chase are on a plane bound for Colorado for Thanksgiving. Chase is excited he decided to come with her, and warns him that he's bound to get grilled, as she doesn't make a habit of bringing guys home with her... actually, she's never done it before. At least her parents won't be in attendance.

Colorado is a whirlwind of activity. Thanksgiving at Siochain (Chase's grandmother's ranch) is a full-out turkey-and-dressing affair, and all of the ranch hands and their families attend. They also have their own big party afterwards, involving a large homemade (and usually well-trodden) dance floor, lots of cerveza and tamales, and riotous small children. Chase's brother James makes a surprise visit down from New York for the occasion. He's initially tempted to break Geoff's nose on principle for touching his sister, but after a few hours (and a lot of beer), he relents and admits that Geoff is a good guy. Over the course of the week, Chase introduces Geoff to horseback riding and snowboarding, and all is laid back and fun. Their last night at the ranch, Chase sneaks into Geoff's room via the window (long story) and tells him that she doesn't want to go back - the dream or premonition or whatever you want to call it scares her, and she's terrified that something will happen to him. Geoff gently tries to explain to her that he feels like he's been living on borrowed time since he was seventeen, and that while he might not be looking forward to dying, he's not afraid of it either. He loves dangerous things, and it's part of the deal.

Giving up on changing his mind about going back (it was a halfhearted attempt anyway), Chase tells him that she figured out the dates for the summoning of Zolor. They were in the Familia. With the help of an almanac, she now knows they have two weeks. Not much time at all.

* * *

Raveena knocks on Ethan's door, and he opens it. He's surprised to see her, but pleased nonetheless. She steps inside, and sadly launches into her speech: She points out that they haven't been seeing much of each other lately, because she's been so busy ? and she suggests that they cease trying. She knows that Ethan doesn't want to be part of what she does, and that's okay. Raveena tells Ethan that he is what she wants, and where she wants to be. Who, or what, she is, though, will always be in the way. It just can't work. They both know it. He sadly agrees.

* * *

Deaver is reading his well-loved copy of the Familia in the 5th floor library. The book finally reveals the piece of info they have all been looking for - how to get rid of a Priestess. The Priestesses, once human, are kept alive by strong magic. However, they can only cheat death up to a point - they can be killed by only by the death that they once should have had.

* * *

Everyone congregates chez Geoff and Chase, as has become customary since the mass exodus from Nikki's. Deaver tells everyone what he's found about how to kill Priestesses, and Chase fills them in on the date that is set for the not-so-happy event. Deaver recalls that the only time he has ever seen Nikki really skittish is around fire, which would make sense, as she was burned at the stake. Since Strella was killed by hanging, but managed to get the phrase to call on Zolor out, it stands to reason that she was choking to death.

This kicks off a long, long, LONG scoobie powwow on how to approach the Big Event. [Really long. Like, took most of the session kind of long.] They decide the order in which things need to happen: 1) The fearsome foursome finish the summoning spell 2) The gang ... uh ... somehow ... takes out Nikki as quickly as possible 3) They ... manage to take Strella out after that 4) All this ideally happens before Zolor actually shows up, since there is some downtime between the end of the summoning spell and the appearance of it's subject. Deaver and Geoff have been working on some high-powered explosives, so the plan is to use those to take out Mr. Tall, Red, and Scaly. Chase suggests that Gabe cast the dream spell a few more times so that they can practice taking out the opposition with minimal damage to themselves, so that they're as fresh as possible for Endgame.

About that time, the conversation shifts to something even more terrifying that is lurking on the immediate horizon ... FINALS.

* * *

Geoff waltzes into a classroom full of people who have never seen him before, casually takes a seat, yawns, opens the exam, and starts writing almost immediately.

* * *

Raveena opens the exam in front of her and realizes it's in French. Uh-oh. She doesn't know French! What the ?. She rubs her eyes, and looks again. It's now in English. Phew.

* * *

Chase frowns down at the paper on her desk, chews on a pencil, and looks up as though she's reading something in her head. She softly snaps her fingers with a relieved expression and starts to write.

* * *

Gabe is fast asleep in his seat, his exam closed in front of him. The rest of the room is empty. The TA comes over to his desk and shakes him awake. "Hey, the final is over. Did you sleep through the entire exam?" Gabe looks up at the TA blearily. "Nope. I finished in the first ten minutes. Here ya go. Mind if I just ... stay here for a while?" With that, he leans back in his chair and dozes off again.

* * *

Geoff is giving a final to his intro Chemistry class. Strella and Nikki are giving him dirty looks as they sigh over the tests in front of them. Nikki "accidentally" drops her pencil, and as the boy next to her leans down to pick it up, she brushes her hand against his, and thanks him for the help. She and Strella then link pinky fingers, while Strella grins evilly at him - he knows they're cheating and he can't do anything about it.

* * *

The gang (mostly) breezes through their exams. Gabe and Deaver decide it is time to give the lovely ladies of Cernunos' Grove an update on the Zolor situation, now that they have a date and time. They also warn CG of DoH's probable involvement, and ask if CG would be willing to help keep the other coven in line during the main event. Rowan agrees to provide help, and Rachel can't help indulging in snide commentary from her sprawled out spot on the couch. Gabe also hits Rowan with a list of spells, asking if any of them exist, as they are ideas that might come in handy. Rowan scans down the list, her eyebrow rising in surprise at some of them, and says that they should be able to at least work up a few of them for him. After thanking them, Deaver and Gabe head for the 5th floor library to do some more research.

The scoobies are once again at Geoff and Chase's apartment, this time to start their dream training. The rest of the week of the countdown flies by, as the group becomes pros at navigating the graveyard and the passage below it. Before they realize it D-day is here. At dusk tonight, they face Zolor and the Priestesses. That morning, they decide to do one more final run through of the dream. Geoff tells them that while they're snoozing on his living room floor, he's going to go to the chemistry lab and finish up a last batch of explosive putty for Deaver. As Gabe lights the incense, Geoff leaves the apartment.

* * *

Geoff finishes his explosive play-dough and looks up to see Kevin and Strella. Insert brilliantly crafted scene of Kevin and Strella's ominous arrival, in which Strella's shirt gets insulted. [You could also point out how poorly that bottled blonde goes with her current complexion. And since she can, y'know, change either one exceptionally easily, she has no excuse. HA. Love, Chase.]

* * *

The crew passes through the dusky graveyard without a scratch, and enters the tunnel under the crypt. They use their now-silenced .45s to take down one of the hellhounds, and Raveena quickly gets rid of the other. They head for the exit out into the clearing. As usual, the dream ends just as Nikki finishes the spell and pulls back her hood, looking directly at the group's hiding place ?

* * *

Geoff is now tied to a chair, and Strella and Kevin are still in the room. Strella sucks the life out of him. Or strength, technically, but you get the idea. Mean, mean Strella.

* * *

The gang wakes up, frustrated that they still can't witness Zolor's arrival in the dream [the director grins manically]. Geoff still hasn't returned from the lab - he was due back half an hour ago. Chase assumes he's just lost track of time, but when she calls his cell, there's no answer. Weird. She decides to go check on him, and the whole group goes with her. Opening the lab door reveals Geoff lying on the floor looking strangely emaciated, and he is in such severe shock that breathing is an issue. Chase tries to keep him calm as she checks him over. She grabs Geoff's phone and calls Owen Vasher at the hospital to alert him that they're coming, and Raveena gently carries Geoff to the not-too-distant building.

* * *

In the hospital room, Dr. Vasher takes one look at Geoff and freaks out, asking what happened and ordering tests. Chase tries to explain what she knows, and while she's really frustrated and on the edge of panic, she's not particularly surprised that Owen doesn't believe her. Struck with an idea, she excuses herself and leaves the room to make a phone call.

* * *

Deaver, Gabe, and Raveena are all in the waiting area. Chase arrives and hurriedly dials Nikki's cell number. Straight to voice mail. Home phone - no answer. As she's making her frantic calls, Deaver gets a call from Rowan on his cell. She asks that Gabe and Deaver come meet with her - she has news for them. Gabe and Deaver leave hurriedly. Raveena lingers, worried about Chase. Despite Raveena's misgivings, Chase calls Strella. When she picks up, Chase coldly asks her what she wants. Strella cheerfully tells her that Chase has nothing to offer, and that there's nothing she "wants". Well, except for Geoff to suffer excruciating anguish (which is why she didn't kill him outright), so she's quite happy with things the way they are. She eventually agrees to come meet Chase at the hospital, provided Raveena isn't there. Chase agrees, and asks Raveena to go find Nikki - maybe they can get Nikki to force Strella to cooperate. Raveena says she'll go, gives Chase a comforting hug, and heads for Nikki's place while Chase goes back to Geoff's hospital room.

* * *

Owen and Chase have a conference while chain smoking in a staff patio area. Owen explains that Geoff appears to have been hit with inexplicable massive muscular degeneration. He tells her that they will put Geoff in physical therapy as soon as he's able to handle it, but the best they can hope for is invalid status - somebody who can feed himself and read a book without somebody else holding it. Geoff shows no signs of internal damage - his lungs, heart, etc. look like they should be fine for another 60 years. Mentally, Geoff is also on top of things. Owen had him explaining complex pharmaceutical principles without any memory problems. He's just been sapped of all his physical strength. Trying one more time, Chase tells Owen bluntly about Strella, her demonic physical trait-sucking nature, and that she'll be here in about half an hour if he'd like to meet her. He looks at her like she's completely lost her mind and lights another cigarette.

* * *

Raveena checks Nikki's house, but there's no one there. Knowing that Nikki frequently liked to go to the 5th Floor library and read, Raveena decides to head there next. Nikki is nowhere to be found in the library ? but Bannon is. He's very polite, and when Raveena addresses Kevin's lack of compliance with the agreement they made, Bannon, wrinkles his nose delicately. He tells Raveena that some vampires simply cannot comprehend what makes an effective immortal, at least not in his organization, and don't deserve his protection. He's therefore washed his hands of Kevin. As Raveena turns to leave, but Bannon points out that there might be something of interest to her in the glass case to the left of the exit. She is welcome to borrow it (after all, the entire collection belongs to him) as long as she puts it back. He has been pleased to see that she and her friends have the ability to put things back where they came from, unlike so many of the current generation. She looks in the case with a puzzled expression ? and sees a length of rope. When she asks Bannon about it, he casually explains that he picked it up in 1693. He wasn't positive at the time, but he had a feeling it might be an interesting artifact for his collection. With an uncertain but sincere thank you, Raveena turns for the hidden stairs.

* * *

Back at the hospital, Owen and Chase have returned to Geoff's room and are talking quietly when Strella makes her entrance. She takes one sneering look at Geoff and says that she "doesn't want to remain in a room with that," turns around, and heads down the hall. Owen and Chase follow her. Chase again tries to determine what will change Strella's mind about leaving Geoff in this condition. She is completely unapologetic, and tells Chase condescendingly that she doesn't have any bargaining power. Trying a different tack, Chase points out that Nikki won't react favorably to this, and if Strella is already worried about Nikki cooperating, it is probably only going to make things worse. Strella rolls her eyes. "So basically you're telling me that Nikki may be angry and ruin all my plans, so that's why I should fix Geoff. If Nikki's really that unstable, then I think the real solution is to find somebody else who isn't." She sidles over to Owen and pats him on the cheek. "Would you be more stable?" He looks quite startled as Strella pulls his arm around her. "You are cute. I can see why Geoff was friends with you." At that, she digs through his lab coat for his keys while Owen tries to squirm away. She takes his hand as she pulls them out of his pocket. Strella flips through the ring while staring at the door she has stopped them all in front of. It's a freezer. She asks which key it is, and nearly breaks Owen's fingers when he hesitates. He quickly tells her the correct one [it's his surgery hand, after all], and Strella marches inside, towing Owen behind her. She won't let him go until Chase joins her. Chase steps inside, Strella lets Owen go, and Owen exits, telling Chase on the way out that the freezer door will shut but not lock behind him. The door closes quietly. With a smile, Strella tells Chase that there IS something she wants from her - an understudy for the role of Priestess, in case Nikki can't hack it. Pulling Chase to the other end of the freezer, Strella tells her that the freezer should keep her alive for about six hours. Fortunately, she will know in five whether or not Chase is necessary. She does remember the phrase for calling on Zolor, right? Chase looks away uncomfortably - of course she does. Strella then tells her that if she takes Nikki's place, maybe Strella will be generous and restore Geoff for her. Priestesses do stuff like that for each other. With that, she leaves the freezer, locking Chase in behind her.

* * *

Raveena is walking back through the tunnel system that leads away from the 5th Floor library. She is a few feet from the exit when her spidey sense tingles. She look down at her feet and realizes she's tripped a wire. With a rumbling sound the ceiling collapses on top of her, burying the slayer beneath the rubble?

* * *

Gabe and Deaver arrive at Rowan's place. Rachel lays on the couch; she's had the crap kicked out of her by a member of the DoH. She looks quite pleased with herself anyway - after all, you should see the other girl. ;) She'll be OK. She's also learned that DoH plans on being a part of this in a BIG way. CG will use their influence to keep them out as much as possible, but that means they won't have extra people to send with our gang to the main battle. She also states that they've had some luck with the spells that Gabe requested. Rowan enters from the kitchen, white faced. "Guys, we've got a problem?"

FADE TO BLACK