Starting Over 11 – Old Friends
Travers slammed the motel door shut, the muffled sobs of the fourteen year old prostitute he’d just beaten sweet music to his eats. She’d just been disciplined just like those bloody Slayers needed to be.
A smirk on his face, he raised the cigar he’d used on the girl’s naked body to his mouth. Suddenly a fist flew out of the darkness and slammed into his jaw. His legs wobbly, he staggered away from his unseen attacker only for a pair of firm hands to grab the front of his jacket and throw him into the wall of the motel room, driving the air from his body. “I have money,” he wheezed even as his eyes desperately searched the darkness for help.
“Don’t bother,” his attacker laughed harshly. “Your bodyguards have been taken care of, haven’t they?”
“Yes.”
His blood froze as he recognised the broad-shouldered man who’d stepped out of the shadows. “Angelus,” he whispered in terror.
His remark got him a slap across the face. “He goes by Angel now and he hates you Council guys. But,” his breath shortened as his assailant pulled out a gleaming knife and held it to his throat. “Not as much as I do. You’re going to cancel the snatch teams you’ve sent after Faith -.”
“And why should I?” he attempted a sneer. “You’ll pay for meddling in Council business!”
His attacker let out a cold laugh.
“I’ll tell you why you bastard. Because,” he whimpered as the knife pricked his
neck, drawing blood. “If you kill Faith I won’t have anything to live for. And
if I don’t have anything to live for I’ll have to come to merry old England,
kill every member of your family and then torture you to death.”
“Harris?” Travers whispered in incredulity. Intelligence reports had indicated that for the first time the slut was actually in a relationship with Harris. But nothing the youth’s file indicated the buffoon was capable of what he was doing now or what he was threatening. “You haven’t got the st-, argh!”
“The nerve? The balls?” Harris pressed the blade into his cheek, making him squeal in pain. “Don’t press me. The only reason I haven’t killed you for what you did to her in the past is because than I’d have to come to England to find the new Council Head. So what’s the answer?”
“I..I’ll cancel the contract,” he gasped, he shuffled uncomfortably as his bladder loosened, hot urine running down his leg.
His attacker nodded. “Good. Now there’s just the question of your treatment in there. Hand me your wallet.”
“My wallet?” Seeing the youth’s eyes darken, he pulled out his wallet and watched as the youngster rifled through it. “Eight thousand dollars, murder and treachery must pay well. Now for the pain part of your punishment.”
He doubled up as the youth slammed a fist into his belly, forcing the air to explode from his lungs. Before he had a chance to straighten up, the side of his head erupted in pain as the teen drove an elbow into his head. Falling to his knees, he felt his arm being grabbed and yanked, he let out a scream as his shoulders dislocated as his arm was pulled back his elbow broke.
The last of his air left his lungs when a boot from behind connected with his balls. His agony ended with a boot to the head that sent him falling into unconsciousness.
* * *
“You enjoyed that.”
Xander heard the accusatory note in Angel’s voice and shrugged. “So what if I did? I’ve read enough of the Watcher Diaries to realise what total bastards the majority of them are. Add to that the girl I love one of their damn tools and this bastard,” he kicked the unmoving body at his feet, “is a child abuser. I don’t have a problem with what I’ve done.”
“Well I do,” the vampire replied coolly before sighing. “Xander, evil people always have a justification for what they do. Do you think Faith didn’t justify her actions to herself when she was working for the Mayor?”
Xander glared at the vampire. “Don’t
you dare bring her into this!”
The vampire sighed again. “Xander, god help me but over the past sixteen months you’ve become a friend, someone I respect, I don’t want to have kill you if you turn evil-.”
He dropped his gaze for a second, the
simple sincerity in his friend’s tone had touched him. When he looked up his
trademark goofy smile was back in place. “Friends eh? Does that mean we have
to exchange manly hugs.”
Angel shook his head and chuckled. “No we don’t,” his tone turned serious. “Are you going to deal with the girl?”
Xander swallowed and nodded. “Are you
going to dump Travers in his car?” the vampire nodded. “Is Kate in?”
“Yes,” Angel shook his head, “I just wish we could have got here in time.”
“Yeah,” he turned an anguished face towards the vampire. “I just hope she’ll accept our help.”
Angel placed a comforting hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You’ll have to do your best, you always do.”
* * *
Xander swallowed hard as he saw the welts, bruises, and burns on the girl’s body. He cringed inwardly at the way her face twisted in terror and she flinched away at his approach. As a fellow abuse victim he recognised the sort of fear he saw on her face, although he’d never suffered the type of degradation the girl had suffered.
He forced a smile. “Hi, my name’s Xander. I’ve come to help you.” Bending down he picked the girl’s clothes off the floor, wincing slightly at their frayed state, and dropped them on the bed beside the girl. “What’s your name?”
“April,” the girl’s voice was lifeless.
“April? That’s a pretty name, a real pretty name,” Xander forced a smile, he was no good at this social worker shit. “April, why don’t you get dressed so I can take you to see a friend of mine who’ll help you.” He turned his back on the girl. “My friend’s a cop, a really good person.”
“K..Kenny will kill me.”
“Leave Kenny to me.” Behind him he heard the rustling sound of clothes being put on.
* * *
“Kate.”
“Hi Xander.” The cop regarded the girl leaning against the young man, her frightened, doe-like eyes glued to his face. She was a slight little thing, dressed in a worn denim mini and faded to grey halter top, Xander’s jacket draped over her slender shoulders, with fine features and an air of timidity surrounding her. Yet somehow the girl seemed to know that Xander would protect her. Kate moved aside to let the two in.
She watched as the young man eased into the bathroom before making his way back into the lounge. She heard the sound of the taps being turned on before the man closed the door behind him. “How is she?” she asked softly.
“Not good,” Xander grimaced, Kate noted her friend’s face was haggard and weary, years on it that no teenager should have. “Tonight was her first time. And he wasn’t gentle,” the boy’s voice trailed off, his eyes growing haunted.
Kate guessed that the youth was thinking about Faith. From what little she’d managed to piece together Faith had been a victim of her own father from an even younger age. The cop reached up and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’ll look after her,” she promised.
“Thanks Kate,” the young man dropped a bag on her floor. “That’s money from the man who -. Her client, there’s eight gs there. Use it for whatever, you need anymore call me.”
She nodded, he had a big heart. She watched as he made his way to the door. “Going home Xander?”
“No, I’ve got to collect some donations for April’s care.”
* * *
Ken Trent struggled to his feet with a curse. “I’m coming!” he roared at the loud knocking on his front door. If one of his bitches had forgotten her keys, he was going to beat the stupid whore into a fucking coma. He took a second to steady himself, the coke he’d scored today was real grade A shit. “Yeah who is it?” he growled, picking up his Smith & Wesson as he made his way to the door.
“Somebody looking for some action.”
“Come back in the fucking morning!”
“Now.” Trent glanced through the door’s peephole and grinned. It was just a kid, maybe five years his junior, this was going to be fun. He’d take the little prick’s money, rough him up some, and kick his ass out. A smirk still on his face, he began to pull the door’s deadbolt back.
And was sent flying when the boy hit the door with his shoulder. As he hit the floor ass first, he raised his gun to shoot the bastard only for the shit to kick the gun out of his hand. “Nobody tell you it’s naughty to play with guns?” the youth asked before kicking him in the groin.
His eyes watering, he attempted to curl in a ball but his attacker grabbed him by his ponytail, dragged him to his knees, and drove him face-first through the glass coffee table, slicing his face to ribbons. Next he felt the back of his shirt being grabbed and was thrown into the wall opposite, his nose shattering with the impact. His body shaking with pain, he dropped to his knees. “No please.”
His opponent ignored his begging choosing instead to drive a bone-breaking punch to his jaw. After dropping forward onto the floor, Trent tried to scramble to his feet only to be doubled up by a sharp kick to the stomach. Even as he got to his hands and knees, his adversary stamped on his left hand, breaking his fingers causing him to shriek in agony. After a foot to his mouth that sent teeth flying, he slumped to the floor and watched helplessly as the intruder strode through his apartment picking up bundles of money as he went.
Finally he worked up enough nerve to speak. “W..who are you?” he lisped through his mangled mouth.
“You’ve heard of the creatures of the night?”
Trent felt a bowel-loosening terror. As a denizen of L.A.’s teeming underworld he’d heard rumours. “You’re a vampire?”
“Nope, I’m one of the SOBs who hunts them.” The teen looked down at him, his eyes chilling. “Thanks for the money by the way. Ten K will go a long way for looking after April. I hear you’ve even looked in her direction and I’ll make what happened tonight see like gentle foreplay.” The youth picked his mobile up off the floor and threw it to him. “If I was you I’d call an ambulance. Bye now.”
Starting Over 12 – Healing
“Where have you been?”
Xander glanced across the pillow to his
girlfriend and sighed. He knew his girlfriend’s question stemmed from her
insecurity about being not worthy of love. “Out with Angel.”
“Angel came back hours ago,” the girl replied, her face scared. “You’ve got someone else.”
He reached across the bed and gently cupped the girl’s face in his hands. “And why would I want anyone else?” he softly asked. “You’re gorgeous, funny, tough, sweet, brave, and smart. What guy could want more?”
His girl smiled slowly, it was obvious she was pleased with the compliment. “Rich?”
Xander laughed. “You’ve got me I’m actually a Hollywood starlet’s toyboy.”
“So where were you really?”
He hesitated before replying. He didn’t want to tell his girlfriend about what had had happened with Travers, just mention of the Council was enough to give her a panic attack. But he knew Faith’s tenacious nature meant she wouldn’t let it drop until she got an answer of some sort. “We came across a fourteen year old kid on the streets. I took her to Kate for her to look after.”
“Oh,” Faith’s eyes filled with concern. “She five by five?”
Xander forced a smile. “She’s had a pretty rough time. But she’ll be okay now Kate’s looking after her.”
“Yeah, Kate’s good like that,” the brunette ran her fingers across his chest. “Just like somebody else I know.”
“And who would that be?” he grinned.
“Oh, I think you know.” Faith placed a kiss on his cheek. “Hold me.”
* * *
“You sure you want do this?” Xander asked as he started his car up.
“I’m the Slayer right? It’s my duty to help people. Maybe I can help April, make her see she’s worth something. I had the same problem ‘til I met this great guy.”
“Oh I think he was the lucky one,” Xander beamed at the Slayer. He was so proud of her, he really was. Over the past sixteen months, they’d rescued a few young girls either from abusive families or pimps and Faith had until now shied away from the victims as if scared of the memories their presence brought up. By helping April Xander hoped she could confront and defeat her last personal demon.
“So we moving or what?” Faith snapped impatiently.
“At once mistress of my heart.” The car pulled away from the kerb. “What’s in the bag hon?”
The Slayer glanced down at the bag she held on her knees. “Just some old clothes of mine and Cordy’s.”
Xander nearly swerved the car into the path of on-coming traffic in surprise. “Cordy gave away clothes?”
Faith chuckled. “Well she doesn’t actually know.”
Xander laughed. “Slayer or not you are toast, girl. I’ve seen hordes of the undead stampede in terror when they’re caught between Cordy and her wardrobe.”
“Xander, what if I say the wrong thing?” Faith asked.
Without taking his eyes off the road, Xander took Faith’s hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Although it might be a good idea not to mention vampires and demons. That could lead to embarrassing wetting of underwear.”
“Speaking from personal experience, Xand?” the jauntiness had returned to his girlfriend’s voice.
“No when I saw my first vampire I ran and hid behind -,” his voice trailed off.
“You can say her name Xand,” Faith’s voice was quiet.
“I don’t want to.”
“Xand, you’re allowed to talk about
them, they were your friends.”
“I’m not interested. End of conversation.”
“Okay.”
He winced at the hurt he heard in
Faith’s voice. “Shit Faith I’m sorry. It’s not you I’m angry with. It’s just
it still hurts to think about how things ended.”
“I’m sorry.”
Xander shook his head. “Not your fault
beautiful. Things were falling apart long before you came back into my life and
I haven’t regretting coming here with you for a second.”
“Ditto,” Faith snuggled into his side, pulling his arm around her shoulders.
For the rest of the journey Xander enjoyed the warmth and feel of his girlfriend’s body pressed against him. He decided that life just didn’t get any better than that. It was with great reluctance that he pulled into the car park outside Kate’s apartment building. “We’re here.”
* * *
“Hi Kate.”
“Xander, Faith.” It was only through years of experience in the interrogation room that she managed to keep the shock of seeing Faith from showing. Usually the former street kid avoided any possible contact with her. “Come in.” She stepped aside to allow the two to enter.
“Where’s April?” the Slayer asked, her voice carrying a rare note of hesitancy.
“Through there,” Kate nodded towards the room where April had spent the night. The raven-haired girl took a breath, hugged her boyfriend, and set off for the room.
“Do you want a drink?”
The young man tore his eyes away from his departing girl-friend. “I’ll have an OJ please.”
Kate smiled. “Why don’t you sit down in
the lounge?”
“Thanks.”
Nothing was said for the next few minutes. Finally Xander broke the silence. “How was last night?”
“Filled with nightmares,” Kate grimaced. “I slept the night on a camp bed in her room. I’ve started making a few phone calls to my contacts to get temporary custody.”
Xander dropped several bundles of notes on the table. “This is towards her care.”
Kate’s mouth dropped open. “W..where did you get that from?”
“A contribution from her pimp to her retirement fund. Don’t worry, I didn’t hurt him,” Xander shrugged, “well much.”
Kate decided not to press the matter, given the screaming fits her young guest had endured during the night she wasn’t inclined to feel merciful, but as a cop she really didn’t want to know the details. Suddenly Xander broke into a smile as laughter came out of April’s room. “It’ll do Faith good to have someone to talk to who doesn’t know about her being a Slayer. Make her feel more normal. She hasn’t felt normal in a long time.”
Normal, such an under-rated state of being. Kate’s own childhood had been far from ideal but her parents had always protected her. From what she’d been able to gather from observing Xander and Faith, and from conversations with Giles and Angel, the same could be said for either of her visitors. She reached forward and placed her hand on Xander’s forearm. “And how about you, how are you?” she asked softly.
The youth shrugged. “I’m okay. As long as Faith’s alright I’m fine, I don’t matter.”
Kate felt a surge of fury at the parents that had conditioned this young man to feel worthless. “Xander, listen to me. I’ve seen the people you’ve helped. I know what the people you work with, your friends, think of you. I know what I think of you – and you do matter! And you’re not telling me I’m wrong are you?”
“No ma’am.”
“That ma’am rolled off the lips awfully easy Xander, get arrested by many lady cops back in Sunnydale?” she teased, relieved that the youth’s hunched posture had straightened.
“Only in my frequent dreams Kate, although they were never as gorgeous as you. Which reminds me, I was wondering if Faith could borrow your uniform and handcuffs one night?”
Kate chuckled. “Careful Xander. I might have to run you in for soliciting an officer of the law.”
Xander grinned. “Oh roleplay, I love them.”
* * *
It was nearly sunset by the time they were leaving the building. Their day had gone well, Xander reflected, April had relaxed some looking up to Faith as a big sister and him as a brother. The street kid had even allowed them to take her out for a burger in the afternoon.
Xander’s good mood lasted exactly ten seconds after entering the Angel Investigations’ office. Everybody was there, their faces tight with tension. Xander exchanged worried glances with Faith. “What’s wrong gang?”
Coredlia wordlessly pressed the answering machine’s Recall button. Xander gave Faith’s arm a reassuring squeeze as he recognised the voice. “Hi guys, it’s me. I need help. There’s a hell-goddess called Glory after my sister she wants to use her to open a portal into hell. It’s too tough, I can’t do this alone. Please, I need help.”
Xander felt his legs grow shaky. Sunnydale? Could he ever return? “What are you going to do Angel?” he asked, it was struggle to keep his voice steady but he managed it.
The vampire smiled humourlessly. “A hell-goddess? Buffy can’t handle that on her own. I’m going and so are the others. You and Faith can stay here, hold down L.A. for us while we’re gone.”
“This is an end of world situation isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
Xander paused in thought. He was grateful for the out his friend had offered him, and knew none of them would blame him if he stayed here. He glanced down at the girl beside him. Whatever he decided he knew Faith would stand by him.
On the other hand his friends were going into battle and no matter what he’d always stood beside them. And this threat sounded way too big to let grievances get in the way. He closed his eyes for a moment as images of Dawn laughing at a joke or funny story he’d told her flashed before him. After sighing he stalked into the bedroom he shared with Faith and came out with his Desert Eagle in its shoulder holster and his Mossberg 590 cradled in his hands. “When we leaving?”
* * *
Faith smiled at her boyfriend. Whatever it took she knew her guy would do the right thing. Racing across the office floor she flung her arms around her boyfriend’s neck and kissed him full on the lips. After a few seconds she pulled away to see her boyfriend grinning at her. “Not that I’m complaining but what was that for?”
“Proud of you,” she whispered into his ear.
“If that’s what I get for being noble and self-sacrificing, I’ll have to try it more often then,” her boyfriend whispered back.
“Oh stop the bloody love in!” Spike growled. “I’m just grateful we’ve got somebody with some soddin’ brains to run the operation.”
“Um, excuse me?”
The bleached blond vampire skewered Wesley with a withering glance. “Oh yeah Watcher Boy, lots of dangerous things come jumping out of your books don’t they?”
“I really don’t know why the two of them don’t just stop the pretence and come out, after all they argue more than any married couple I’ve ever seen,” Xander’s muttered comment set off an attack of the giggles from his girlfriend.
“Piss off whelp, I heard that.”
Angel stepped in before a three way argument broke out. “We’ve got half an hour before sunset. Let’s use that time to get all our weaponry and any books that might be useful. Wes, you and Cordy are with me. Gunn, take Spike, Faith, and Xander with you.” The vampire took an unneeded breath. “Let’s get moving people.”
Starting Over 13 – A Glorious Homecoming
“You’re quiet hon.”
Xander glanced into the back seat at his girlfriend, sat beside Spike. How could he explain the maelstrom of emotions assaulting him? The last time he returned he’d been so scared and angry at what Finn had done to Faith he’d barely given the past a second thought. But now. He glanced at his girlfriend’s worried face again and realised he probably didn’t have to explain his feelings, she almost certainly felt much the same. “Just scared is all.”
“We could always turn back man.”
Xander smiled gratefully at his bud. “No Gunn. Much as I’d like to, people need our help. Worlds to save.”
“Usual shit then.”
He laughed at his friend’s comment. “Yeah. I can’t let anything happen to Dawn.”
“Oh yeah,” Faith’s voice broke in, a note of humour bubbling through the nervousness. “Wonder if she’s still got that crush on you.”
Xander chuckled. “I’m sure she still has. After all I’m irresistible.”
“Bloody Summers women have lousy taste,” Spike groused, “first the Slayer falls for the galloping poofter, then Nibblet falls for the whelp.”
“Spike what have I told you about calling Dawn that?”
“How about Cell.”
“Faith?”
“Ow!” Spike let out a yelp as Faith slapped the back of his head. “That’s right pick on the defenceless vampire!”
“Works for me,” replied his girlfriend.
“So,” Gunn broke into the bickering, “do I smell some scandal?”
“Oh you have no idea. See, Dawn’s B’s fourteen year old sister. She’d had a jones for Xand since forever. Man, the looks she used to send him. Talk about X-Rated! I remember this one -.”
To save himself from further embarrassment, Xander tuned out of the conversation. Instead he consumed him thoughts about what was awaiting upon his return. Distinctly unhappy ones.
* * *
“You ready for this boytoy?”
Xander turned from his inspection of the Summers house to his girlfriend. Angel’s car was already there, so everybody was waiting for their grand entrance. Another comforting thought. “No, but let’s get it over with.”
They were half-way up the driveway when the door flew open and a small figure charged out of the house and into Xander. For the first time since hearing Buffy’s phone call, Xander felt truly happy. A grin on his face, he lifted the girl up and whirled her round before putting her down on the ground. “Hi Dawn Patrol, miss me?”
“You bet!” Dawn stared suspiciously at Spike. “Is he still neutered?”
“We prefer the term impotent but yeah.” Xander grinned at the scowling vampire.
“Good.” Xander’s eyes widened as Dawn turned and launched a kick at Spike’s shin that the vampire wasn’t quick enough to dodge. “That’s for kidnapping me two years ago!”
Xander and Faith dissolved in laughter as the limping vampire disappeared into the house, muttering curses about little brats to a highly unsympathetic Gunn. Their laughter died as Dawn turned her gaze from Spike’s retreating back to Faith. “You still psycho?” she demanded.
Faith looked nervously at him. “Uh, no,” she finally replied.
“Good.” Dawn threw her arms around his girl-friend and began hugging her. After a second, Faith returned the hug, a look of delight on her face. “Missed you Faith.”
“Ditto, pip.”
Xander smiled at the scene before him. Consumed with his own dreads of his return to Sunnydale he’d forgotten how close Faith had been to Dawn before her descent into darkness. The younger girl had idolised Faith as an older and wilder sister and in turn, Faith had revelled in the role. His smile died as he noticed the figure watching them from the doorway. “Let’s go in.”
* * *
Buffy let her sister and fellow Slayer into the house before stopping Xander with a hand on his chest. “Thanks for coming Xander.”
The look her former friend gave her cut her heart in two. “Just remember I’m here for my friends and not for you. My only concern is making sure none of them get hurt and that nothing happens to Dawn.”
The Slayer fought back tears as Xander brushed past her and walked into the lounge. She’d thought things had mended a little after their meeting in L.A. and Giles’ return, but obviously not. Forcing her pain down, she followed him into the crowded lounge and started talking. “Giles, you take Wes, Cordy, Will, Tara, and Amy around to your place and research Glory. Angel, you and Spike go to Willy’s and see if you can find out anything about Glory’s plans. Faith, you and me are patrolling.”
“Like hell.”
Buffy turned to Xander, her never-long temper close to snapping, she accepted she’d hurt him in the past but that didn’t give him the right to question her every move. “Why not?” she asked through gritted teeth.
“Because there’s no way I’m risking my girlfriend getting a stake in the back.”
Xander’s coldly-delivered answer rocked her back on her heels. Did he think so little of her? “How dare you?” she snapped.
“It’s for your own good.”
“And how do you work that out?” she demanded.
Buffy paled as Xander raised his shotgun, pointing its gaping muzzle at her. “Because if you come back without her I won’t wait to hear what happened. I’d just blow your head off. Angel and Spike I trust, you I don’t.”
Buffy scowled. Nobody threatened her in her own home. She turned at a touch on the arm to see Angel next to her, his face taut with tension. “Both of you calm down. We’re on the same side,” he ordered. “Buff, you and I will go to Willy’s. Faith and Spike can patrol.”
“Fine,” she turned back to Xander. “This isn’t over.”
Xander smiled coldly. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
* * *
“How dare he!”
Angel winced as yet another tombstone cracked under a single punch from his ex. Somehow he guessed Willy wasn’t going to enjoy their visit at all. “Calm down.”
“Calm down!” Angel winced, vampire ears weren’t built to take sound at that pitch. “After what he did in my own home? He’s lucky I didn’t take five seconds to kick his ass.”
”I would take a hell of a lot longer than that.”
Buffy snorted. “Don’t make me laugh, he’s just -.”
Angel felt rage overwhelm him. Grabbing the Slayer’s arm he spun her round to face him. “There you go again demeaning him. Have you any idea how much you hurt him?”
“No,” Buffy shouted, her eyes flashing angrily. “Why don’t you tell me Mr. Xander Expert?”
He took an uneeded breath. Maybe if he was really lucky she’d just stake him. No, still here. “His mother and father weren’t interested in him, never missed an opportunity to tell him what a worthless piece of shit he was,” Angel paused, unwilling to recount such painful memories. “Once, and Xander himself doesn’t know this, when I was Angelus, the night after you were released from hospital, I went round to Xander’s house to get him for saving you. Instead,” his voice shook with the memory. “I watched as his own father beat him into unconsciousness while Xander just took it. In the end I just left him, figuring that he’d suffer more if I left him where he was.”
“No,” he barely heard Buffy’s shocked whisper as he recalled that night. The drunk’s look of sadistic glee as he beat Xander, his friend’s look of pained acceptance, and his inner demon’s rejoicing.
“He never had the usual parents. The sort a child grows up idolising. He was directionless, Willow and Jesse his only anchors. Then this beautiful warrior for good arrives in town. As well as falling for her in a big way he also hero-worships her. He saves her life, risks his own for her, because his doesn’t matter anyway. Yet despite all he does, none of it matters to the girl, she still treats him like a no-body. Doesn’t give him the respect he craves.”
“That’s so not true,” Buffy protested weakly.
“Then this kindred spirit arrives in town. Another beautiful warrior for good, but with a similar and even worse background to the boy. The girl tries to fit in but the others don’t let her into her gang, no respect for this kid either. The girl goes off the rails but the boy knows the pain she feels and decides to stand by her, even when his friends order him not to. Boy leaves town with girl to work for a devastatingly handsome champion for good.”
“You finished?” Buffy’s tone was dismissive but her complexion had paled considerably. At least some of what he’d said had hit home, maybe some of the wounds could begin to heal. “Cause Willy is waiting.”
* * *
“It’s pretty bad between you and Buff?”
Xander stared at Dawn’s pale face. For once he was unable to decide what to say. The teen hadn’t spoken since his confrontation with her sister. He really wished she hadn’t had to see that but Faith was his priority. “Pretty bad, yeah.”
“W..will you ever come home?” she asked hopefully.
“My home’s in L.A. with Faith now,” he replied.
“B..but can I come visit?”
He ruffled Dawn’s hair before hugging her. “If big sis gives you the okay, sure.” He kissed her on the head. “Weekends, holidays. Heck, I might sue for joint custody.”
“So kiddo I’m sure you’ve got plenty of stories about Xander that you’d just love to share with his new friends.”
Xander grinned his thanks at Gunn for the diversion. As the others talked he looked round the lounge, it was much the same as it had been the last time he’d been there. His smile faded as he noticed the family photographs on the mantelpiece. He’d wanted to come back for Joyce’s funeral six weeks ago but she didn’t deserve her memory to be tainted by a scene. In the end he’d sent a wreath that read ‘To the only real mom I ever had’.
Unable to cope with the memories he glanced out of the windows and tensed. “Gunn, get Dawn and go to the basement.”
“What’s up man?” already his friend was moving.
“Glory’s minions outside.”
“Shit, you coming with us?”
“Nope,” Xander grinned as he lifted his shotgun. “Got some excess aggression to work off. Haven’t single-handedly saved the world in what, oh 48 hours. Don’t unlock the door for anyone who isn’t witty and handsome.”
“Just Angel then?” Gunn nodded. “Good luck man.”
* * *
Xander didn’t have to wait long for the attack. The demons came crashing through the window. He met them with blast of consecrated ammo from his shotgun as he crouched behind the hastily over-turned sofa, taking three down in quick succession, his shots tearing their unfortunate recipients in two. The fourth got close enough to grab at the shotgun but Xander drove its barrel into its face before blowing its head off.
Dropping the shotgun he drew his pistol and began firing at the remaining demons. He took out another three before one, braver or dumber than the others, launched himself over the sofa and onto Xander. Cursing, he drove the butt of his empty automatic into the beast’s forehead. The creature’s eyes glazed over but it continued its attack, its scaly hands choking the life out of him even as its fangs got ever nearer to his throat. In desperation he drew his combat dagger and thrust it repeatedly into its chest. Eventually the beast crumpled to the rapidly bloodying carpet.
Xander rose slowly, his lungs greedily taking in air, combat knife in one hand and double-bladed axe in the other. To his surprise the expected demons had left, leaving behind a pretty blonde woman perhaps five years his senior dressed in a fashionable black dress. “You killed my minions.”
“I try.” Xander blinked, this was Glory? She wasn’t quite what he expected. “After all they were trying to kill me.”
The goddess stamped her foot. “I want the key!”
“As big bads go you ain’t shit.” Xander advanced warily on the hellgod. “The Master, Angelus, Spike, the Judge, and the Mayor all way scarier.” He launched a two-pronged attack, thrusting upwards with his combat knife at her stomach and swinging at her neck with his axe.
“Of course I could be wrong,” muttered Xander as the goddess effortlessly grabbed both of his wrists stopping his inches from the target. Thinking quickly, the young man stepped forward and slammed his forehead into the goddess’ face, only for his legs to buckle with the pain that resulted from his action. A second later and his hands were twisted violently, snapping his wrists like twigs, causing his weapons to drop to the carpet.
“Where’s my key?”
He was helpless to prevent the shrieking goddess lifting him by the front of his shirt and slamming him into the wall above the mantelpiece, sending framed photographs flying. “I hear the Bahamas is good this time of the year,” he gasped, ignoring the pain roaring through his body. “Maybe she took a jet?”
The goddess let out a scream of fury before throwing him headfirst at the patio windows. “Oh boy,” Xander muttered, “this is going to hurt.” The glass shattered with a mighty crash, a dozen or so shards slicing into his body. Such was the power of the goddess’ throw he didn’t come to a landing until he nearly the top of the garden.
Xander moaned in agony, his entire body felt on fire. He was fairly sure he had several cracked ribs, his vision was blurred, never a good sigh, and his body was covered in cuts. He wanted nothing more than to just lie on the damp lawn, to never move again, but – he knew he couldn’t. Screaming with the pain he forced himself to his knees and pulled out his back-up gun, a Walther PPK, out of the back of his trousers and aimed at the advancing goddess.
“Things just keep getting better and better,” he slurred as he watched through half-swollen shut eyes as the bullets bounced off the goddess.
Laughing the goddess grabbed him by his throat and lifted him off the ground. “Where’s my key, monkey?”
For once in his life Xander hadn’t got the energy for a witty reply. Instead he spat in the blonde’s face. “Eat shit.” And then his world went black.
Starting Over 14 – Re-Building
Angel glanced warily at his ex-girlfriend’s back as he followed her up the road that led to her house. When they’d entered Willy’s, Buffy hadn’t even bothered to ask any questions at first, just wrecked the place, then dragged a shell-shocked Willy over the counter and demanded answers. As an interrogation tactic it was effective, brutal but effective.
He allowed the ghost of a smile to flicker across his face. He’d never seen Buffy act so psychotic. “Xander, you really have a way with the ladies,” he chuckled. The chuckle died when Buffy let out a cry and started running. Cursing, he chased after her. “Buffy! What’s wrong?”
The Slayer didn’t appear to hear his question but in a few seconds he could see for himself what had terrified her. The front door to the Summers’ house lay in the middle of the garden while the lounge windows had all been shattered.
“Damn it,” he hurriedly followed Buffy through the wrecked doorway and into the lounge. The room looked like a small war had been fought there, glass lay scattered across the carpet, an over-turned sofa was in the middle of the floor surrounded by a number of demonic corpses while the usually pristine walls were marred by gunpowder burns and the patio doors shattered.
Peering into the dark back garden Angel watched as Buffy rushed over to Xander’s crumpled body, knelt down, and cradled his head in her laps, tears streaking her cheeks. His mouth dry with fear, Angel moved towards his friend only to catch a slight form hurrying towards an oblivious Buffy.
“Xander!” the screech that came from the figure was animal-like, almost recognisable as human. Seeing the tell-tale glint of a knife in the shape’s hand, Angel leapt towards the figure, tackling the intruder around the waist, bundling them both to the ground.
“Faith!” he bellowed into the writhing girl’s ear as he struggled to restrain her, his muscles straining and writhing with the strain and his body shuddering under the blows he was receiving from the enraged Slayer. He knew he couldn’t contain her for a long, she was just too strong, he had to make her understand. “Buffy was with me! It’s not her fault!” he had to repeat his shout three times until some semblance of intelligence returned to the girl’s coal black eyes.
“Honestly?” the girl asked, her voice trembling and her face streaked with tears.
Too exhausted from his struggle, Angel could only nod wearily before rolling off the Slayer. Faith immediately sprang to her feet and rushed over to her injured boyfriend, pushing aside a stunned Buffy.
The blonde Slayer snarled and stepped towards Faith. “Buffy!” Angel intercepted the older Slayer’s advance, “what about Dawn?”
Buffy paled, her eyes widened with terror. “Dawnie!” she screamed before rushing back into the house.
Angel turned to follow her only to stop as he sensed a presence behind. Turning, he looked at his grand-childe, noting how his fellow vampire’s face was even paler than normal and devoid of its normal cockiness. “Watch over them,” he nodded towards Faith and Xander. “And phone Wes and the others, tell them to get over here now.”
Spike nodded. “Get right on it.”
* * *
Faith heard none of the conversation going on around her. Her concentration, her entire being, was centred on watching the slight rising of her boyfriend’s chest, willing it to continue. When she’d seen Buffy holding her head, her first thought was that she’d attacked him for talking back to her earlier and was about to snap his neck until Angel had interfered. Now though her only concern was looking after her man.
She’d nursed him back to health on a number of occasions in the past sixteen months, but he’d never looked so bad. His jaw looked like it was broken, as did his left arm, both wrists, and left cheekbone, his right shoulder appeared to be dislocated while he had a four inch gash across his forehead and a two inch one on his right cheek. Worse still was his body, his clothes were torn to shreds and her love appeared to be bleeding from a score of wounds. “You can’t leave me baby,” she whispered.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to an unusually pensive looking Spike. “Whelp’s tough lass,” the vampire gruffly comforted, “he’ll be alright.” The vampire winked. “Too bloody frightened of you not to be.”
Faith’s answering giggle died at the thought of Xander dying. No, the thought was too frightening to face. He couldn’t, he was her reason for living. Once again she felt her eyes begin to burn with tears.
“What’s this? Tears from super girl?”
Xander? A delighted smile spread across her face as she regarded her boyfriend’s pained but awake face. “Guess you’re my kryptonite baby,” she replied as she fought back tears of joy.
“Oh bloody hell, if you two get any sappier I’ll have to find a nice picket fence to impale myself on.” The bleached blonde crouched over the injured youth and grinned. “How you feeling mate?”
“Like I was in a handicap match against Angelus and old Spike.”
The vampire nodded slowly. “That Glory packs one hell of a punch.”
Glory. Faith felt a surge of her old homicidal fury at just the mention of the bitch’s name. For what she’d done to her Xander, she’d tear the cow limb from limb.
The Slayer realised her boyfriend was trying to get to his feet. She firmly but gently restrained him. “No Xand,” she said softly. “Don’t risk any further injury by moving. Rest.”
“Damn it,” the young man growled, his voice weak. “I have to know what happened to Dawn.”
“She’s been taken.” The words came from Angel as he supported a dazed-looking Buffy. “We found three dead demons in the basement but no Dawn or Gunn.”
* * *
“Good lord.” Spike had said things were bad, but this was several stages beyond. The house looked like something out of the blitz. Giles staggered dazedly through the house, followed by his fellow Watcher and the others.
All thoughts of the house were forgotten when he saw the state of Xander. “What happened?”
The youth grinned weakly. “Hey G-Man you know me and parties.”
Giles’ lips quirked up into a smile. “Why do you think I never let you hold any parties at my place?” after a nod to Faith, he knelt beside the battered teen. “How do you feel son?”
The youth grimaced. “Been worse. Course with the head trauma I can’t actually remember when.”
He glanced up at Angel. “Dawn?”
“She’s gone.”
He sighed. All their efforts undone. He felt a hand on his arm and looked down to a tearful Xander. “I couldn’t stop her Giles.”
For once he could not find anything to say to comfort the young man. “It’s not your fault,” Giles glanced up in surprise at Buffy.
Xander’s face twisted in misery. “I’m sorry Buffy, I am a screw-up. You were right -.”
“No,” the Slayer shook her head. “I was wrong, you killed a ton of demons tonight and I’m guessing it was Glory who stopped you. And I haven’t been doing much better against her, the only difference is I heal quicker.”
Tears fell from the young man’s eyes. “Thanks Buff.” Giles smiled, perhaps some old bridges were at last being re-built.
His Slayer leaned over Xander and placed a gentle kiss on her old friend’s forehead. “Just concentrate on getting better. The ambulance will be here soon.”
“Cancel it. G-Man’s going to do a healing spell.”
“I beg your pardon?” Giles turned a shocked face towards Xander. Such spells were dangerous in the extreme and involved taking life-force from the spell caster, or the spell’s subject, or both.
“Giles, guys. I’m coming with you tomorrow. Gunn is my buddy and Dawn is one of my girls. And nobody hurts one of my girls.”
“I know a spell.” Giles felt his eyes roll back in his head. Bloody yank teenagers, didn’t they ever learn to keep their gobs shut? He turned to look at a nervous looking Amy, silently willing the girl to keep silent. Instead she spoke again, her tone nervous but growing in confidence as she continued. “B..but it takes years of life from the subject. Judging from your injuries maybe as many as five.”
“No!”
“Faith, hon I’m doing this,” Xander’s voice was weak but he managed a grin. “Look at it this way. My great-grandpa lived to be eighty-one, my grand-pa’s still annoying the hell out of us at seventy three. I’m only twenty, do you really want another sixty years with me?”
Only Giles was close enough to hear Faith’s muttered reply. “Six hundred wouldn’t be enough.”
“Ditto,” the young man muttered back. “But there’s no way in hell you’re facing her without me.”
“Five by five,” the brunette’s voice was shaky.
“Thanks for understanding.”
Something occurred to Giles, turning he shouted to Wesley. “Get the Sword of Rinaldo out of my car!”
“The Sword of Rinaldo?”
Giles turned to a curious-looking Angel. “It is the sword that Rinaldo used to defeat Acathla the first time he rose. I had it flown over here from England care of the Council.”
“And will it work on Glory?” Buffy broke in, her eyes hopeful.
“I don’t know,” Giles replied, “the fact the sword banished a demon of similar strength to Glory is hopeful but some of these weapons are effective only on particular demons. However Xander’s injuries give us an increased chance.”
”So glad to be of service.”
Giles ignored Xander’s grunt. Instead he turned to the red-eyed Slayer knelt at the other side of his son. “You love him?”
Anger flared in the brunette’s eyes. “How can you ask me-.”
“Faith,” he interrupted, “it’s important.”
“Yes I love him,” the brunette snapped back at him, “more than I ever thought possible.”
Giles smiled. It was good that this former wild child had found peace with his son and that Xander had found someone who completed him. “And you Xander, do you love her?”
“With all my heart.”
“Good,” he turned back to the watching crowd. “Legend has it Rinaldo’s lover was a Slayer who died at Acathla’s hands. He dipped the point of his sword in one of the dying woman’s wounds and swore an oath to avenge her death. If we change the wording -.”
Faith’s eyes slowly filled with understanding. “Uh, uh, no way! I’m not sticking a sword into Xander.”
Giles opened his mouth to argue his case was beaten to it by Xander. “Faith hon. You want to get this bitch for me right?” The Slayer nodded unwillingly. “Well according to G-Man this gives you best chance of doing that.”
“Five by five,” Faith whispered with a nod.
Giles nodded in approval. After thanking Wesley for bringing the sword to him. He turned to Faith and quickly scribbled Rinaldo’s oath for her. “This is what Rinaldo said according to legend.”
The Slayer nodded quietly before turning to Xander. “Is there any wound that would hurt less Xand?”
Xander grimaced. “No, just do it.”
“I’m sorry sweetie,” Faith kissed Xander on the forehead before gracefully rising and easing her sword into one of the young man’s gaping wounds in Xander’s right side. The youth shuddered with pain but didn’t cry out. “For justice. For the world. And for the love that has fallen I will rid the world of Glorificus.” As soon as she’d finished speaking the girl dropped to her knees and began crying. “I’m sorry Xand.”
Giles hugged the girl around the shoulders. “Faith he’s going to be alright.” He turned to the others, more exhausted than he remembered being in months. “Angel, Spike, Buffy, Cordelia, take her inside. The rest of us will do the spell now.” He glanced down at the body lying on the garden. “I’m afraid this is going to hurt a lot Xander.”
The injured youth arched an eyebrow. “What even more than the one time Faith used a riding crop?”
Giles flushed. “Oh thank you so much for that most edifying image.”
Starting Over 15 – Reasons to Fight
“So we’re in this demon karaoke bar and this green demon, the owner, a cool guy called Lorne, comes over and asks who’s going to sing – Xander looks at Spike, nods and the two of them get up on stage,” Xander groaned as Faith paused theatrically.
“So what did they sing?” asked an intrigued looking Buffy.
“I Got You Babe! Their encore – ‘It Takes Two’.”
Xander glared at the laughing girls flanking him. “I think I preferred it when you were mortal enemies,” he muttered. He had thought the beating he’d received the previous night and the agonising healing he’d been forced to endure would have entitled him to some sympathy. He should have known better.
To tune out the sound of the two Slayers embarrassing him, he decided to mentally review Angel’s plan of attack, it was a plan with only one virtue that he could see – simplicity. The two vampires were going to take out Glory’s main henchman, Doc. The Watchers, Cordy, and the witches would spear-head a diversionary attack on the front of the building, hopefully drawing the attention of Glory’s minions. While they…
They had the most difficult and dangerous part of the plan to accomplish. The three of them were sneaking into the back of Glory’s mansion through the tunnels that the blueprints that Willow had hacked off the net. He and Buff were going to rescue Gunn and Dawn while Faith was going to use the sword to deal with the hell goddess.
Faith. A sudden stab of fear pierced his heart nearly causing him to stumble. After last night’s healing he’d been too exhausted to do anything but sleep with her holding him. What if he never saw her smile or heard her laugh? What if he never got to hold her in his arms, kiss her, or make love to her? What if-.
“You okay boytoy?”
The sound of his girlfriend’s concerned voice pulled him out of his reverie. He forced a smile down at her anxious face. “Just worried about my baby.”
“Don’t be.” His girl-friend wrapped her arms around him and pulled him close. “You’re going to rescue Gunn and Pip and I’m going to kill me a hell goddess, maybe mount her head on our wall. Easy as.”
“Interesting decoration,” he ran a finger up his girl-friend’s face. “You promise?”
“Would I lie to you?” the Slayer grabbed his head and pulled him down into a kiss. After a few seconds tasting her lips, he plunged his tongue into her eagerly waiting mouth, wrapping his tongue around hers. Xander slid his hands under his girl’s shirt, onto her taut stomach before slowly moving up to her -.
“Ew! Get a room! Spike said you were bad, but this is like watching a porno!”
Xander reluctantly pulled away from his grinning love and turned to face the blonde. “Way to spoil the moment Buff.”
“Yeah B,” Faith paused from tucking her shirt in to look towards the other Slayer, “and how do you know about pornos, watch many?”
The blonde’s mouth opened then clamped shut. Turning on her heel she marched on muttering under her breath. Faith turned back to him, her eyes innocently wide. “What? Was it something I said?”
* * *
“I…I’m scared.”
“Don’t be kiddo,” Gunn ignored the pain of his possibly broken forearm to pull Dawn close to him. Disregarding the hurt in his battered face, he grinned down at the young teen and ruffled the young girl’s hair. “Angel, the crew, and your big sis aren’t going to let anything happen to you. Glory is looking at one hell of an ass kicking.”
“What do you think happened to Xander?”
He hid a grimace at the girl’s worried question. He’d heard the enquiry a number of times since they’d awoken. When Glory’s army had dragged him semi-conscious from the Summers house he’d caught a blurred glimpse of the wrecked front room. But no sign of his friend. “I don’t know kiddo,” he replied finally.
“But the fact he’s not here with us, that’s not good is it?”
Gunn scowled. What the kid said more or less echoed his own thoughts. “Maybe he ran for it,” he suggested weakly. Total bs of course, he’d never seen Xander run when any of them were in trouble. Quite the opposite in fact, the sight of a friend’s injury sent his bud into a homicidal rage.
The scornful look Dawn sent him told him that she believed what he’d said about much as he did. He was saved from having to make up any more lies by the sound of their cell door opening and half-a-dozen heavily armed demons walking in. Their leader spoke, his voice a growl. “Time for the sacrifice.”
Gunn pushed Dawn behind him and stood. He’d killed three of them the previous night but then he’d been uninjured and armed. “That isn’t going to happen,” he spoke with a confidence he didn’t feel.
“Couldn’t agree more,” Gunn’s heart leapt when he heard a familiar voice behind the demons.
* * *
Angel leaned backwards avoiding the forked tongue by mere inches before grabbing it as it recoiled. His muscles straining under the effort of restraining the tongue, he bellowed at his companion. “Spike now!”
Instantly the bleached blonde vampire surged to his feet with a speed that belied his battered condition and sliced through the protruding tongue with one swing of his knife before thrusting his blade into Doc’s throat.
The demon hit the floor with a thud. Grinning slightly, Spike reached into his duster pocket, brought out his silver drinking flask, unfastened it, and poured its contents onto the thrashing body at his feet before pulling out his Zippo and lighting the body.
The screams of the dying demon echoing in their ears, they moved over to the window. Beneath them the Watchers and Cordy were shooting crossbow bolts into the swarming demons while the trio of Wicca bombarded their enemies with a variety of spells. But for every demon that fell another three took their place. “Things not looking good,” commented Angel.
“Yeah,” Spike agreed as he lit a cigarette. “Don’t know why they’re bothering with the weapons though. Have the cheerleader talk to them for five minutes they’d soon be running for the hills.”
“Well it works with us,” Angel replied, “so are we going down to help?”
Spike threw his cigarette onto Doc’s still smouldering body before nodding. “Got nothing better to do.”
* * *
Gunn felt a wave of relief at the blonde Slayer’s voice. He watched as the demons began to turn back towards the door only for a shotgun blast to tear the two monsters nearest the doorway in half. Even before the two bodies had hit the floor Buffy was amongst the surviving monsters. Her sword flickered sideways decapitating the demon to her right even as she planted a side kick in the ribs of the one to her left lunged at her sending it crashing to the ground. The remaining two lunged at her but she deflected their advance by first side-stepping the nearest one’s charge even as her sword flew up to cleave the demon from the left hip to the right shoulder. Then the Slayer leapt into the air and into a roundhouse kick that deposited the remaining demon on the ground with a mighty thud. Upon landing she quickly moved through the room, her sword tearing through the necks of the two demons she’d just knocked down.
“Well it’s lucky you turned up, I thought I was going to have get medieval on their asses.” Gunn smiled as Dawn ran into her sister’s arms. His grin widened as he recognised the shotgun-toting figure lurking in the doorway. “Xander! How in the hell did you get through last night without getting injured?”
His friend grimaced. “I didn’t, healing spell.”
“Not good?”
“Like being operated on without an anaesthetic,” Xander smiled at him. “Good to see you’re still breathing.” Xander glanced at the blonde. “Buff, I’m going to head off after Faith.”
The young man turned to lead only to be stopped by the Slayer grabbing his arms. “Xander -.”
“Buff, I owe that bitch some serious payback for last night. And there’s no way I’m leaving my girl to face her on her own,” Xander’s eyes flared and his jaw tightened.
“I wasn’t going to stop you, I’ve learnt that lesson,” the Slayer reached upwards and gently kissed Xander on the cheek. “Just be careful. I’ve only just got you back; I don’t want to lose you again.”
“Don’t worry.” After quickly hugging Dawn and nodding at him, his friend marched out of the room.
Gunn chuckled. “If I was you I’d be worried about Glory instead of Xander.” He’d seen that cold-eyed stare in Xander’s eyes enough times in the past few months to know that whenever his friend got that look carnage and havoc always followed.
* * *
Faith eased the throne room door open and slid inside. Her eyes narrowed at the woman sat on the throne and knew from B’s description it had to be Glory. Realising she had no chance of sneaking up on the hell goddess unaware she kicked the door shut. “So you’re the bitch who attacked my Xand last night?” she was conscious of how her voice echoed in the cavernous hall. “Time for some serious ass-kicking bitch.”
The goddess rose to face her, her gaze coolly arrogant. “Oh, it was your boyfriend I killed last time. He begged most wonderfully.”
Faith laughed harshly. “Wrong on both counts. My boy doesn’t beg and you didn’t kill him.”
”Really,” the goddess arched an eyebrow. “I’ll have to correct that mistake.”
“Like hell,” Faith drew her sword from the scabbard on her back. “You’ll have to go through me first.”
“Gladly,” the goddess charged forward. Faith ran to meet her but sidestepped at the last second, leaving only the blade behind. Her eyes wide with shock, Glory attempted to stop her head-long rush but was only partially successful, and the edge of Faith’s weapon cut a thin furrow across the flat stomach of the hell goddess.
“You’ve ruined my dress!” Glory screamed, her eyes burning with rage.
Faith coolly licked the goddess’ blood off her blade, to her surprise it didn’t taste any different from her own when her mom had bloodied her lip or when a vamp got lucky. She smirked at the hell goddess. “Oh I’d say you’ve got bigger problems, Slayer’s got a taste for goddess’ blood.”
“Taste this!” Glory leapt at her, her hands out-stretched like claws. She dropped to one knee and thrust her sword upwards, hoping to impale Glory on it. This time however her adversary was ready. Twisting away from the blade in mid-jump, the goddess slammed her foot into the Slayer’s jaw.
The impact of the blow shattered her jaw and sent her flying into the wall twenty feet behind her. Groaning with pain both from the kick and the shock of her landing, she forced herself upright to meet Glory’s advance. Once her rival was in range, Faith swung her blade slicing into Glory’s shoulder.
The goddess screamed in pain as the blade ripped its way through her body but Faith’s satisfaction was short-lived. A hard right broke her nose and then the punches began to rein in. On the fifth blow, she was dimly aware of her sword falling to the ground and on the eighth she herself fell.
She dazedly heard the goddess’ cackling laughter and felt a screaming pain in her scalp as she was lifted by her hair and thrown into the far wall. Even as she spat blood out of her mouth she could hear the goddess’ gloating as she crossed the distance between them. “You’re a pretty one,” she said. “Maybe I’ll keep you as a pet.”
“Hey bitch leave my girl the hell alone!”
Xander. Faith’s heart leapt at her boyfriend’s voice even as she heard the boom of his shotgun and the accompanying scream of agony from the goddess as the pellets tore into her. Turning her head, she saw the goddess race over to her boyfriend, knock his gun out of his hand and begin strangling him.
Her body trembling with the agony, Faith began to crawl desperately towards her sword lying at the other side of the room. It seemed miles away but she had to reach it, for her Xander. Eventually she did, after lifting the suddenly impossibly heavy weapon she staggered to her feet and started towards her lover and the goddess choking him, every step taking a seeming age to complete. As soon as she was in range of the oblivious hellgod she raised the blade and spoke, her voice raspy from pain. “Bitch,” the goddess began to turn, “told you you’d have to go through me to get to my boy.” With a single swing she decapitated Glory. She grinned wearily at Xander and then the world went black.
Starting Over 16 – Making Up Is Hard To Do
Buffy swallowed as she observed the lone figure sat on the porch, they’d started to bond again but there was still some tension. “Hi Xander.”
Xander turned his head to face her. “Hi,” he replied, his voice was still hoarse from last night’s near-choking.
“Aren’t you going in? There’s one heck of a party in there.”
“No.”
“Why not?” she demanded, her heart clenching in pain. “I thought we’d made up.”
To her relief her friend hastened to reassure her. “It’s not you, it’s me,” Xander’s voice trailed off.
Buffy reached across and took her friend’s hand. What’s wrong Xand?”
For a long time there wasn’t an answer then Xander began to speak. “Last night we killed a goddess, an actual freaking goddess. And then, when Faith fell I thought she was dead. I guess I’m just worn out.”
“You really love her don’t you?”
“Yeah,” there was a hint of challenge in her friend’s voice, daring her to disapprove.
“Good.”
It was impossible for her to miss the surprise on her friend’s face. “Really?”
“Really. I was against you at the start but she’s happier, more open, and trusting, while you – you’re still a jackass.” She smiled at her friend’s laugh, she’d missed that sound. “Xander, why did you decide to help her?”
Buffy was shocked to see a tear well up in Xander’s eye. “The night we left for L.A., Faith turned up at my house looking for help. My dad invited her in a…and,” Xander took a rattling breath, his words becoming choked with emotion, “he tried to rape her. She was in too much shock to do anything; if I hadn’t turned up he would have succeeded.”
“Oh Xander,” she pulled him into a hug, “I’m so sorry.”
“She was so scared, I couldn’t let you or anybody hurt her. You didn’t need me but she did,” she was relieved when her friend’s voice steadied. “Me and Faith are quite similar really. Same shitty families, her’s even worse than mine, only diff was I had you guys and Giles. She had nobody. Then she’s chosen and comes to Sunnydale after being forced to watch her Watcher, the first person to ever respect her, be tortured and killed. And what do we do? We dump her in a fleapit hotel with the junkies, hookers, and all the other lowlife. A scared and lonely sixteen year old kid.”
“Oh god,” Buffy whispered. Looking back she realised that Xander was right.
“Then the Mayor turns up, a guy who acts like the father she always wanted,” her friend wiped at his eyes. “It wasn’t her fault, not really, not like the stuff I did.”
”What did you do Xand?”
The young man beside her took a breath. “I remember everything about being a hyena Buffy.”
“Oh,” she paused in thought, “Xander you were possessed.”
Her words failed to comfort the young man sat beside her. His face twisted in anguish. “Damn it Buffy I tried to rape you.”
“But you didn’t succeed,” she soothed, “and it wasn’t you, you were possessed. Xander’s there’s nothing to forgive.”
“I wasn’t possessed when I cheated on Cordy, god I hurt her so much. Or when I cast the love spell, after blackmailing one of my oldest friends to do it.”
“Xander, everyone makes mistakes. I ran away from being a Slayer twice remember?”
“Yeah but,” the youth hesitated, taking a breath before speaking. “I knew Willow was re-casting the soul restoration ritual when you went to face Angelus but I didn’t tell you.”
”I know.”
Her friend’s head snapped up from inspecting his feet, turning to face her. “How?”
“After you left Angel rang me for a few weeks trying to get me to talk to you. I think he was desperate to get rid of you,” Xander chuckled. “He told me a lot of stuff, about the hospital, the zombie gang,” she chuckled slightly as her friend reddened. “He also told me about what happened that night. At first I was so angry but then I realised you probably saved my life again.”
“Yeah,” Xander let out a relieved laugh. “That’s one hobby of mine that’s getting real boring.”
“Xander,” Buffy felt her heart pound with nervousness. “Will you come home please?”
She was disappointed when Xander shook his head. “I can’t, I’m glad we’re friends again. But,” her friend paused, “Faith’s happy where she is and aside from you guys there’s nothing in Sunnydale for me. In L.A. I’ve got a great job, here I’d just be a labourer, I’ve got a home in L.A., not here.”
“You could stay with us,” Buffy suggested tentatively.
Her friend grinned at her and raised an eyebrow. “And where exactly would there be room? What with you and Gunn getting all hot and steamy.”
“You saw that?” Buffy reddened. “Does my new guy get the Xander seal of approval?”
“Well after years of trying, and dozens of guys, ow!” Xander rubbed at his arm where she’d punched him, “sorry should that be hundreds?” her friend grinned at her warning growl. “Gunn’s a great guy.”
“Like someone else I know,” she leaned into her friend’s side finding the comfort she’d always gained there. “But you’ll stay in touch?”
Xander hugged her. “You bet, try and stop me. We’ll come up for vacations, that sort of thing. You and the others have an open invitation to come up to LA. Which reminds me,” the young man reached into his jacket and brought up a book which he passed to her. Her eyes widened as she opened the book.
“How? What? Why?”
Xander laughed. “As well as working for Angel, Gunn, Faith, and I go vampire nest clearing. When we’ve cleared out a place, we go through the building looking for cash, stuff we can pawn. Anything we make we split three ways.”
“But there’s eighteen thousand dollars here,” she waved the account book dazedly.
Her friend shrugged. “Only money,” he grinned. “If I get short, Faith will have to keep me. You can use the money for whatever you want.”
“But why?”
Xander frowned. “Your mom was always great to me. I didn’t want to cause trouble by turning up at the funeral so I decided to pay my respects with that,” the young man tapped the book in her hand. “I thought that G-Man could come up to some story as to where it came from. Now thought,” Xander smiled, “now though I get to see your face when I give it to you.”
Buffy felt her eyes burn with tears as she threw her arms around her friend’s neck. “Still looking after me Xander?” she muttered before kissing him on the cheek. “You’re the best.”
Her friend winked. “Aw shucks ma’am.”
The End