buffy searches newly rented houses for the trio's hideout, and the three discover her on their surveillance equipment when she gets a bit too close. while they hide in the basement, andrew wells calls on a demon that attacks buffy and starts a fight. the demon grabs buffy and stabs her with a needle-like skewer from his forearm (similar to the polgara in season 4). buffy flashes to a scene in a mental hospital where as a patient she cries out as she's held by two orderlies and stabbed with a needle. buffy wakes up alone outside the trio's house with no demon to be seen; hurt and confused, she walks home.