"The stage but echoes back the public voice.
The drama's laws the drama's patrons give,
For we that live to please, must please to live.
Prologue at the Opening of the Theatre in Drury Lane 1747"
(SAMUEL JOHNSON 1709-1784)
Spike stalked through the crowded Centre of Sunnydale, the night air held a chill to it, but due to his peculiar attributes, he felt nothing of it. To him the town was a swirling mass of humanity, all happy meals on legs, as he used to say. He occasionally caught the eye of the occasional girl or woman as he strutted past. He smiled and made them blush, or turn their heads away, or occasionally gawk at him. He was basically feeling horny; hungry and horny. Normally he would have slaked his desire first then his thirst by feeding off of his 'date'. But the Initiative had put pay to that. He had sunk to Angel's level, pig's blood!
'At least I can still screw, he thought to himself when he noticed a particularly gorgeous woman who hadn't avoided his gaze or blushed. In fact she had a smirk on her perfectly formed red lips. She was wearing an all black business suit, and was blond, her dark glasses covered her eyes, but Spike knew she was looking at him. He found himself drawn to this mysterious woman, so he decided to leave the pigs blood till later and sate his desire first.
"No, not there over there" came the shout closely followed by a clang of metal on metal shortly thereafter as the sound of breaking glass, "Are you trying to put me out of business or WHAT!" was the shouted rejoinder.
The workman who had started the chain of events that had led to smashing several creates of alcohol reddened in embarrassment, "Sorry Mr Harris"
Xander breathed out a long sigh, trying to calm his temper as best he could. Christmas had been amazing, for the first time ever he had given the best presents he could manage. That meant just about anything. His friends had been shocked and most had tried to refuse but he hadn't allowed it. He'd spent a lot of time with his friends, his family. Now he had to get the club up and running for New Years. The assistant manager that he had hired was due at any moment; but the day had been frustrating to say the least. "It's ok Frank, just be careful OK?"
"Yes Mr. Harris"
"I told you before, call me Xander" Xander said smiling.
He looked around his club, smiling slightly. It had been hard work, but the club would be ready on time, that he was fairly certain of.
The club itself was a larger circle, with three floors. The ground floor held the main dance floor, which took most of the area. A large bar took the rest. The next floor held two small dance floors with a central balcony looking down at the main. The third and final was a chill out lounge that also held a balcony that looked all the way down past the other levels to the main dance floor. Each floor held a bar and the sound system was arranged to pump out on all levels. The chill out room had cleverly arranged sound dampeners to allow for conversation with most of the sound coming from the open balconies.
Xander walked from the second floor down to the main dance floor and stood in the middle with a huge smile on his face. He was already an accomplished businessman, but this was his pet project. If he could make sure this worked all else would fade to the background. His personal love of music and dancing may be new, as in very, but it was all consuming.
He turned to face the door with his head cocked to the side. The main door was opened and in walked a tall slender woman, late 20's wearing a black sheer dress that seemed to cling to her ever curve. She was an attractive woman, but her body wasn't the thing that caught Xander's attention. It was her eyes. They were light grey, blue and she had artfully applied her make-up to make them stand out, like search lights piercing the night. She walked up to him with her heels clicking across the solid dance floor. Once she arrived she shot him a kilowatt smile.
"Hi, I'm Christina Flatteny. I'm the new assistant manager; do you know where I can find the Mr Harris?"
Xander glanced down at his jeans and tee shirt and smirked slightly. He had dressed down from his usual Armani suit today. He knew he would be getting dirty and just because he had money now didn't mean he wanted to waste it. "Urm…" Xander started but Christina cut him off.
"It's just that I'm rather impatient to start, is he nice?"
"…"
"I hope so; the last manager I worked with was a complete ogre. I've heard that Mr. Harris likes to be called by his first name, that's a little sad isn't it. The boss should always keep aloof. Mind you my last boss tried to keep me on my back so anything's an improvement."
"…"
"Nice place isn't it. Is Mr Harris really the richest man in California? I heard he's a bit of a ladies man, he won't like perv over me will he"
He tried to keep his laughter down, he really did but it wasn't long before he finally burst a gut.
"What, what's funny?"
Just then Xander was saved by Phil, the in house DJ and audio wizard, "Testing the system now Xan…" then without waiting Phil set the system going.
"Thanks Phil" Xander said with tears in his eyes. Christina was currently redder than a virgin's blood.
The sound system started and the floor started to thrum with the bass from Phil's selection. Joi, Lick pulsed through the club and Xander started to move to the music sub-consciously, his entire being pounded with the bass. The mysterious vocals kicked in his adrenal gland and pretty soon he was almost dancing on the spot.
"I'm so sorry…" Christina started but Xander just smirked at her and held a finger to his lips. Then he held out his hand to her. She looked at him with a curious expression but took the offered hand. She soon found herself being dragged onto the main dance floor. Just then Phil cranked the system up to the highest rating the speakers would take and the time for talking was over. The system was set up in such a way that the main focus of the music was focused in the centre of the floor. That is where Xander took her, looking for the 'Sweet Spot'.
He cocked his head this way and that until he finally spotted the perfect auditory spot in the entire club. Then he started to dance for real, taking Christina along for the ride. She discovered quickly that he knew exactly what he was doing as she was bumped and ground into jelly as Xander danced with a light heart and a happy smile.
Soon she too was lost to the music and she enjoyed the feeling of a man who actually knew how to dance. It didn't hurt that he was good looking either. Then the music cut out and it took a full minute for the pair to stop dancing.
"Wow" Christina said trying to catch her breath.
"Hi, I'm Xander Harris" Xander said with a quirky grin. "Welcome to Non Lamia, the best club in California. Or it will be if I have my way, it's already better than the other clubs in the area and it hasn't opened yet. We're bigger better and safer than any other club in the town, and we compete in sheer terms of size with the biggest clubs in America"
Christina had to blink at his change in pace; he had gone from dancer to businessman in a heartbeat. The pride for his club was obvious in his every glowing word and she found herself liking the man straight away.
Then Phil started to put the sound system through its paces with hertz tests starting high. They both winced painfully, still standing in the sweet spot it was almost unbearable, but as the hertz range quickly descended into bass Xander started smiling like a kid in a candy store.
When the test finally finished, Xander let out a whoop of joy, the last note had almost made his eyes bleed, then he turned to the DJ Booth a grin plastered on his face "Fuckin' a Phil, you coulda warned me"
A dark haired surfer dude stuck his head out of the DJ booth with a shit-eating grin, "Sorry Dude"
Xander flipped him the bird. He had gone to school with Phil's brother. The surfer dude was not what he looked like; he was a highly intelligent audio engineer with degrees from MIT. He also happened to be Jessie's older brother. So Xander had known him almost his entire life.
Phil chuckled to himself and stuck his head back in the booth. It was closed off; due to the celebrity DJ's they had already book and hoped to in future, it was a secure booth.
During this time Christina started to smile herself. The entire club had an almost homely feel to it. It was great, even the DJ seemed to be great. She knew she was going to love it here. Not that she had any choice.
"So 'Tina, can I call you that?" Xander pushed on without her reply, "Well Tina, are you ready to start now? Good" Xander said once again ignoring any answer. "Come on I'll give you the tour then we'll hit the books and I'll show you your office and mine"
Tina goggled, "Office?"
Spike flopped down on the now extremely crumbled bed with a content sigh. He reached out for his jacket hung on the bedstead. He dug his hand into one of the pockets, fished around for a second before drawing a Marlboro and lighting it.
"Thanks Luv" he said
"My pleasure" The woman said smiling a forced smile. She looked over at the attractive Englishman beside her as if trying to come to a decision. In the very brief chat they had, had she had found out that they were both vamps, and that his name was Spike. He seemed to like to talk about himself, so she had let him. She was surprised to hear him mention Xander's name. It was then that she allowed herself to fall for his cheap seduction methods and sleep with him. She had quickly found out that vampires were as stupid as any other male of the species and fell for the dumb blonde trick just like everyone else. It was a very useful trait; she was after all still a fledgling, even if she was a fledgling master.
She smiled at him once more, "So Spike, Darlin', tell me more about this town, and this pesky ole slayer?"
Melinda walked up to the spacious Manor with a sparkle in her eye. She recently arrived in town her few belongs were in the rented white van behind her. Xander had given her express instructions over the phone and asked her to meet him here. She had trouble believing what she was seeing the manor itself was huge. Xander hadn't mentioned being rich; he had only said that he had the money he needed to do the job. Mel, as her few friends called her, thought that the manor was a bit excessive for just getting the job done.
Xander had told her that whilst the HQ was being finished that she could, if she wished, stay with him at his home. It was an offer that she had been happy to take him up on, it would save her money in the long run and she intended to have a very long run.
She reached out and pressed the intercom buzzer then looked up at the security camera with a cheeky smile plastered on her attractive face. She was good at the cheeky imp impression and it hid a wealth of knowledge and skill.
[Hello?] A feminine voice came from the intercom unit.
"Uh Hello" Mel said into the speaker, "I'm here to see Xander Harris"
[Are you Melinda?]
"Yep"
[OK, I'll be right there], there was a crackle and pop as the intercom was shut down the other end and Mel relaxed into a ready stance, just in case. She hadn't got to her age without leaning that caution is 'Always' the way.
The large, ornately decorated door swung back to reveal an attractive young woman with short dark hair. Mel held out her hand, "Hi, I'm Melinda Holt"
"I'm Mary Harris" Mary said taking in the stranger. She was short that was the first thing she noticed, possibly shorter than Buffy. Her hair was in fairly long and sleek bob feathered around her face. She also seemed to have a perpetually mischievous air about her. Mary smiled; she had the feeling she would like this 'Melinda' "Come on in, He's at the club right now, running late with the new assistant manager" Mary said with a smirk.
Mel looked at this 'Mary Harris' wondering who exactly she was; Xander hadn't acted married. Of course who can tell with men? She knew that he was immortal as well, and most immortals didn't marry. It was usually two painful. She stepped into the large reception area and gasped out loud. The place was even more impressive inside.
"I know, cool isn't it" Mary agreed with the new section X agent. "Wow, I didn't realise."
"My bro; He isn't that forth coming when it comes to his wealth" Mary said with pride.
'Ah Ha!' Mel thought, 'She's his sister', that confirmed her thoughts a little, "It's impressive alright"
"It is, there's plenty of rooms, though Xan seems to be trying to fill them as quickly as possible though"
"Oh, it's not just you and he then?"
"Oh No, Lets see there's Me and Xander, Faith and Linda, but she's with her relatives at the moment, Nina, who'll will be back tomorrow and now you"
"Well it won't be cramped that's for sure"
Mary chortled, "No, definitely not. Want the grand tour while we're waiting for his highness to show up?"
Mel shot Mary a large grin, "Sure, lead on McDuff"
Susie's mind was currently ticking along like Swiss clock. Before she had been turned she always tried to use her mind to get what she wanted, and not her body. Now she was more than willing to use it to get where and what she wanted. But her mind was still her most formidable weapon she just hid it carefully. She had been letting Spike talk for the last hour, carefully guiding the conversation back to the infamous 'Scooby Gang' and in particular her beau to be Xander.
She would be the first to admit that she had become obsessed with him; the demon within her had latched onto the love she had for him and twisted it into something else. It didn't bother her that she was obsessed either, after all her morals had gone away with her soul. All that mattered was getting Xander back to where she considered he belonged with her. She looked back at Spike out of the corner of his eye to gauge him a little more. He was obviously not what he had appeared at first, which was basically a bumbling fool. He was a master vampire in his own right, a sadistic vicious animal that she admired for his devilish and often daring plans. He did however have one fatal floor, well two if you counted his dick.
He was arrogant.
Susie was not arrogant, she knew she was good but that didn't mean that she was going to push her luck.
She had come into Sunnydale with the intention of building an army of fighter to fight for her. But now that had changed, she would still need fighters but she had Spike, on the inside.
She turned over slightly, making sure the sheet slipped down just enough for her breasts to become uncovered.
"Ya know darlin', little ole me has a suggestion about your little problem"
"Yeah, what's that Luv" Spike replied, thinking that he would leave this ditz here and go get some blood soon, then when he noticed her uncovered chest, he changed his mind.
"Well it seems to be that you can't fight them physically, you should fight 'em mentally" she slid her hand across the bed and gripped him in her hand, jerking it upwards in a fluid stroke. Spike growled slightly his focus lost for a moment, then as he was enjoying the sensation of the hand stroking him, his eyes travelled up her body coming to rest again on her face.
Seeing the demure look in her eye he managed to grind out. "Keep talking, and for god's sake don't stop that."
'Gotcha' Susie thought with an inward smile.
"Hello?" Xander called out as he walked into his home. It was strangely quite. Even at this late hour there was usually music going, or people chatting and laughing between themselves. The central room, was the focus for the house, well that and the kitchen. He had yet to walk into it without finding someone there. They did use the living room as well, but only when the numbers grew to a point where they had to move to it.
However, the house was as quiet as a tomb. "Hello?" Xander tried again to no avail. He extended his empathic sense. A smile crept across his face as he noted the number and position; if they were there then they wouldn't be able to hear him. The training room in the basement was sound proof by design and because of the large amount of bricks and mortar around it.
Xander set off towards the basement. The closest access was via the kitchen so whilst there he quickly grabbed himself some soda and pooped the can. He meandered down to the training room. The sounds of laughter carried to his sensitive ears before he walked into the huge room. When he finally stepped into the room he let out a bark of laughter, attracting every ones attention.
Mary was on Faith's shoulders as Dawn, who was on a sleep over was on Buffy's; who must have dropped by after patrol. Melinda Holt was standing off to the side laughing her ass off, but shouting encouragement and the rules. The two teenagers were using long rubber tubes to beat at each other their mounts being girded into motion with short jabs of their heels. Faith and Buffy had tears in their eyes they were laughing so much. Mary and Dawn had face-splitting grins and to see one on Mary's face warmed Xander's heart.
"Hey Bro" Mary called out, her momentary distraction caused her to be swiped on the head, "Hey, no fair"
Dawn smirked, unrepentant, "Is so" she retorted.
"OK, Time Guys" Mel called out; as she noticed Xander's presence with them in the basement.
"Having Fun?" Xander asked with a smile of his own.
"Mel said it was good training" Buffy said wiping her hair away from her face, "Personally I think she just wanted to laugh her ass off at us".
Melinda smirked, "Whatever gave you that idea, Buff"
"Admit it B, you love it, really" Faith shot at her sister slayer with a smile.
Buffy didn't reply in words but the happy mile on her face was answer enough.
"Hey Faith, no cheating" Mel said as she noticed to dark haired slayer shuffling towards her opponents.
"Sorry Mel" Faith shot back with a smile. Faith and smiling was a relatively new concept to Xander, Smirks and evils grins maybe, but not large happy smiling.
Frankly Xander was amazed at the easy rapport that Melinda had managed to build up with what looked to be the entire group in a very short time. He knew he'd made the right choice in including her in Section X.
Spike watched the retreating back of Susie with an evil smile.
'The Ditz was right' he thought.
The seed of thought that Susie had planted within his skull was germinating into a fully-fledged plan. We wanted revenge of the gang of teenagers that had repeatedly thwarted his plans. Especially Xander, who had made him seem like a fool in front of Buffy. The only he thought was worth a damn was Dawn, and he treated her well. Not that, that would stop him from draining her if he could, It was in his very nature. A Leopard can't change it's spots but the handler can stop it from eating with a tug on the chain, which is exactly what was happening to Spike at the moment the chip was his handler and unless something happened to change his fundamental nature, he was still a master vampire.
He was intelligent and daring, he was well known for his plans and until he arrived here he was adept at carrying them out.
It was just this damn town hated him, that's what it was.
'Well', Spike decided, 'Its Time for The Worm to Turn'.
Xander got up from his knees taking the weight of the small woman in his stride. He had been co-opted into joining in and Mel was his rider for the duration. Faith and Mary seemed perfectly happy as they were so that left him and the Aussie immortal.
"Come on horsey, getcha" Mel said with an evil smile.
"I still think I should be riding you" Xander shot back, not thinking.
"You've got to buy me dinner first stud," Mel said.
"Doh!" Xander said realizing his words other connotation.
"Moving in already, X" Faith said with a smirk of her own.
"I'm sorry did you say Xander was moving in on someone" Buffy said with an incredulous smile, "Since when did Xander move in on a woman, wasn't he always too shy for that?"
"Hey!" Xander put in attempting to move the conversation away.
Mary laughed out loud, "My Bro Shy!"
Buffy smiled at her, "Oh hell yeah. I remember when he asked me out, he was stuttering so much I thought he'd never get it out"
"Get It Out, Ha" Dawn giggled; Buffy shot her a look from her place underneath.
"You've been spending WAY too much time with Faith"
"Hey" Faith said with a smile. It was another change in her, the ability to take a joke as just that.
Buffy smiled at her sister slayer, removing any sting. "You're corrupting my sister" she accused good naturally.
"Am Not" Faith retorted
"Are So"
"Am Not"
"Are So? Ow" Buffy said as the rubber tube bounced off her butt. She turned to find Xander handing the tube back up to his rider and shooting her an unrepentant look. "Oh, you are so gonna get it"
"Ohh, Finally, but what about Riley, won't he be mad" Xander shot back, backing away with a laugh as Buffy lunged at him.
"Come on Faith I say we double team Xander" Buffy said looking over at Faith.
Faith pursed her lips in consideration, "I don't know B, and I mean you're not really my type"
"So not what I meant"
Mary chuckled, "So Xander, 'The Lady Killer' Harris was shy"
Buffy barked out a laugh, "Lady Killer!" she almost snorted, her ire at Faith comment had redirected totally to amazement at Mary's statement.
"Oh yeah, He's scored with two beautiful woman, that I know of anyway. Oh and Monica, I forgot, and she is; well wow covers it"
Buffy now look incredulous for real, "What?"
"Yeah, and Pru was a hottie" Faith put in.
"I didn't actually 'sleep' with Pru" Xander put in but was ignored totally.
"You've kept yourself busy then babe," Mel said from his shoulders.
"Don't start Mel"
"Me, I'm not starting, just wondering where I buy tickets" she said her voice turning sultry but the effect was ruined by her laughter.
"Dru wasn't exactly a dog" Dawn said; casting a worried glance at Xander but seeing no pain she smiled. It was good to see that Xander had recovered from the pain of her death.
"A little bird told me he slept with Linda before he gave her a job" Faith commented. "And hey, I'm not ugly ya know" she said as almost an afterthought.
Xander, who'd been groaning to himself and trying to keep steady against Mel's laughter induced shuffling, looked up at the ceiling in supplication. "Why me, lord, why me" An image of Monica, and then the rest of his lovers crossed his mind and a large smile split his face, "On second thoughts: Thank You Lord!" he said laughing.
The others turned to him with evil intent. Mel noticed their looks and departed from her perch clearing herself from the line of fire. Faith reached up and helped Mary down as Buffy did the same for Dawn. Then the four lined up with evil smiles on their faces.
"Oh, hey, now come on guys" Xander said backing up nervously.
Then they rushed him as one and pulled him to the floor tickling him without mercy. Peals of laughter shock the structure of the house and Xander's was above them all.
Outside the Manor a solitary figure stood on the driveway. Her heeled foot kicked absently at the stones but apart from that her entire being was that of a pointer dog. Poised and ready for action, she watched the large house with a longing that radiated off of her body like a physical force. Her indigo eyes gleamed with tears and her heart felt broken. She cocked her head to one side. For a moment she thought she had heard laughter.
With a sigh she turned on her heel and walked away sending, "See ya soon handsome" over her shoulder.
Xander stepped out of the club with a smile on his face. The new assistant manager was shaping up well and had most things in hand, so much so that he knew he would be able to take a break without the place falling apart in his absence. He flicked a cigarette into his mouth and lit it with his gold Zippo. Taking in a lungful of smoke he smiled and let it flow out of him.
His eyes wandered over the various passers-by most looking at the club with interested eyes some not looking at all. Then his eyes locked with a pair of indigo ones and his heart stopped beating. The apparition from his past walked towards him and Xander had to fight the crazy urge to flee.
"Hello Handsome"
"Suze?"
"How quickly they forget"
"I could never forget you Suze, but I was told you died"
"Not quite suga, do I look dead to you?"
Xander cast his eyes over the attractive woman before him. Not only did she not look dead she looked amazing, dressed in a dark charcoal business suit. "What happened?"
Susie looked away from him for a moment composing herself, or that's what it looked like. She was in fact hiding a smirk. "I ran" she said her voice small. She was gratified when she felt Xander's strong arms wrap around her. "I was scared and angry, I ran and I ran and I ran. Eventually I found out what had happened to the others and I decided to stay dead. I was dead, inside. Almost everyone I cared about was in that club… except you"
Xander held her for all his worth. 'She's not dead, she's not dead" he repeated over and over in his mind. The new of her death had been a blow for Xander, a big blow. He could feel the comforting thump of her heart beating against him and his entire being was flooded with a feeling of well-being. "Thank god you're safe;" he said finally, his voice thick with emotion.
"Look honey I gotta run, but can I see ya soon?"
"Sure, when, but why you have got to go"
"When is the grand opening?" she said dodging the last question for moment.
"Tonight, here" he said passing her an invitation "Come please, we have so much to catch up on"
"I know suga, I know" Susie said once again hiding her smile.
"Suze" Xander said causing her to turn back to him again.
"Yes Suga"
"Don't go"
"I have to suga, but I'll be back I promise"
And just like that she left him a flustered wreck on the sidewalk.
Susie smiled to herself as soon as she was safely away from Xander. He had fallen for it 'Hook Line and Sinker'. Of course the extra precautions she had taken had helped; the heart beat widget had been one of her better ideas. The spray she had picked up had helped seal the deal though. She had got it from an Indian shaman she'd found in her travels.
Now she had him convinced that she was alive and well. The particular aromatherapy she had used had been a belief-inducing spell, on that worked on the living and the dead. She had heard from Spike that her boy had become a little unusual, all big and strong.
Susie smiled as she walked into a clothes shop, she needed something special for that nights opening gala, and her 'coup de grace'
The heavy sounds of several thousand pounds of expensive and high tech sound system vibrated the floorboards that Nina was currently stood on. She could feel every bass note flow though her lower diaphragm like a sonic wave and the higher notes caressed her heart. This was not her kind of music, she liked it but it wasn't her favourite she preferred a much mellower vibe to her music. Xander was currently dancing with Faith, Buffy, Willow, Tara and Melinda on the dance floor. Nina had only met Melinda that day, but already she liked the short blonde. She was also fluent in ASL, which meant she had another with whom she could communicate.
She waved to Xander as he looked up at her on the balcony. She shook her head with a smile gracing her lips. He was currently dancing with five of the most attractive women in the club drawing stares of jealousy from both men and women. All of which he took in his stride. However, they were certainly an odd sight the one man dancing with the group of woman.
All of the women had dressed to kill they almost seemed like a rainbow with Faith dressed in a dark purple number, a mini skirt a change from her usual tight leather trousers. Buffy was dressed in a red dress that only reached her lower thigh the dress hugging her curves. Willow was wearing a long skirt and a Basque top in green, and Tara was wearing a similar outfit in gold. Mel was dressed in the shortest black skirt that Nina had ever seen, even shorter than her own. Xander was dressed in a black causal suit a white shirt showing at the collar and long cuffs. She knew that somewhere within that jacket he was also packing his trusty Walther and somehow his beloved sword. She would never know how he managed to keep it hidden.
The Slayer's had the night off; Giles had offered to patrol for them saying that he was too old for that sort of club. The two young women had jumped at the chance and Giles had made his two charges very happy.
Just then the song mixed into a slower track with a deep under riding bass note. Willow and Tara stepped into each other's embrace and started to sway to the music. Buffy looked round for Riley who was propping up the bar, he didn't seem willing to come over.
Xander looked up to her and she shook her head. She would sit this one out. She was enjoying watching the people. So far the club had been a hit, it appeared lots of people shared Xander's opinion that the bronze had become a vamp magnet. It had leaked that the 'Non Lamia' meant what it said over the door. One of Xander's little jokes, the name meant "No Vampires" in Latin. He had paid a shaman to block all demons and vampires from entering unless he personally invited them in. This, as far as she was concerned, was never going to happen. Nina noticed that Faith had grabbed Xander for the slow dance. Mel had grabbed the nearest man so she was sorted, despite his girlfriend's furious expression. Leaving Buffy who was about to leave the dance floor. Not wanting one of his friends to be left out Xander quickly grabbed Buffy by the hand and pulled her into the dance. They danced in a triangle the girls swaying to the music and Xander just along for the ride. He was smiling and laughing with the two girls as they danced, causing Buffy to throw her head back in laughter.
Nina gently brushed off another advance, this time from a good-looking footballer type. She had been offered to dance by several men so far this evening and whilst flattering it so wasn't going to happen. She wasn't looking for any sort of commitment or entanglement right at that moment. Her new duties as an agent of section X meant that she would be too damn busy. Xander had sent her on a mission just after Christmas, nothing scary just to visit with the two FBI Liaisons she'd met before. She'd got back that morning to find that there was another agent now as well. That agent being the immortal Melinda Holt who was an expert with weapons, the sword being her weapon of choice.
Nina still thinking happened to glanced over at Riley and found him staring at her friend with hatred in his eyes, which derailed her thoughts completely. The soldier worried her, he seemed all Kansas cornbread on the outside, but she knew it was all an act. Her peculiar disability had given her an insight into the human condition and their weaknesses. She had an almost instinctual ability to read body language and the blonde haired agent was not a good person. He was also jealous as hell at the moment.
She saw the back of a blonde head approach him, apparently asking him to dance. It looked like he was about to refuse when he looked over at the triangle of friends and ungraciously submitted. Nina couldn't see the women's face, but she was drawing looks from all the men around her. She was almost creating a wave as she led Riley onto the dance floor. Dressed in a slinky black dress with a daring split to mid thigh she was either in heels or very tall. All the men's eyes were watching her curves as she started to dance expertly and sexily. It was a similar style to Xander's. Nina glanced over to Xander and found that luckily Buffy hadn't yet noticed.
Nina continued to watch people, when the 'Shit hit the fan' she would go down and try to rescue the situation. Until then she would wait and watch.
Xander smiled down at the two women he was dancing with, Buffy and Faith were both smiling at him. He was aware of the stares he was drawing from some of the people on the dance floor but he wasn't bothered what people thought. He was enjoying a nice friendly dance with two of his favourite people. It wasn't his fault that they both happened to be gorgeous women.
"Mind if I cut in" A soft Texan accent asked.
Xander's head shot up and looked Susie in her indigo eyes. There was something different about her from when he had seen her the day before. A disgruntled Riley was standing to her left. Buffy smiled at the other women indicated she should go ahead. Faith followed suit and picked a nearby man to dance with, unlike Mel's guy, this one had at least been on his own.
The music changed again to a driving beat, nothing too fast the sound of strings in the background giving the track an almost surreal feel. Susie slinked towards him; her movements cat like and graceful. She smiled at him as they started to dance.
"Ya'll's getting better" she commented.
"I had a good teacher" he replied.
They continued to dance closely a space clearing round them as the two expert dancers quickly put those around them to shame. Even the naturally fluid and cat like movements of the two slayers paled in comparison to Susie's sexy movements. They moved closer seeming to move around each other as two snakes twisted together. Xander gave as good a show as Susie as his lessons with her came back to him.
When he had first started dancing at the club he had just gone with the flow, Susie, however had shown him how to dance properly. They had spent many before hour's lessons dancing together just him and her dancing. It had started as a bit of a joke but had quickly progressed into a full tutorial. Susie was a wonderful tutor and Xander had enjoyed dancing with her. The first time they had been practicing some seriously hot moves when Susie had her leg cocked up onto him, she had leant forward and captured his lips in hers, passion flowing out of their bodies, until Susie had broken away. But that was in the past, since then they had known each other biblically.
Susie put her arm on his shoulder dipping backwards her stomach and lower body pushing into his. He held her and swung her round to the beat. The stayed like that for a moment then Susie's leg swung up onto his shoulder the same move that had started their romance. Her finely toned leg pressing against him the split riding up to show the full expanse, she moved upwards again essentially doing the splits standing up.
It was then with most of her body pressed to his that Xander noticed something missing. Her body heat, there were parts pressed into him at the moment that would normally be very warm by now, he knew this from experience. This simple fact got is mind to working. No body heat, heard she'd died. That left him with an uncomfortable conclusion to draw. Somehow he had been tricked yesterday. He didn't know how she came to be outside in the day, but knowing Susie she would have found a way. She had always enjoyed the sun. He pulled her in closer to him causing her to gasp in pleasure. He continued to dance thinking furiously. From this distance he could feel her heat beating in her chest, but that could be faked.
He picked her up in a rock and roll dance move and swung her round himself causing people to stop dancing and clap. It was a difficult move to pull off and stay in beat with a trance track. As he placed her back on the floor he noticed a slight wobble in her chest that wasn't natural. He knew for sure that Susie had nothing fake about her, which meant that it must be some sort of device. It could very well be the thing to emulate her heart beat. His moment of revelation did not stop him from dancing. He continued to dance provocatively with her. All around them people had stopped dancing themselves and turned to watch them. Buffy and Faith stood off to one side their mouths gaped open. He wasn't surprised before his lessons with Susie his dance style had resembled an epileptic on speed, but with out the sense of rhythm.
He turned Suze once again and then they stepped round each other slowly, like a tango step. Their bodies touching all the way round, he trailed his round on her waist her dress silky velvet to his touch. He dipped her once again burying his face in her cleavage and running it slowly up between her breasts and upwards finally holding his lips over hers as they moved to the steady and hypnotic trance rhythm. He let the dance carry him of a few moments more; Susie was looking into his eyes a desperate longing in their depths. He smiled at her and received one of her radiant Megawatt smiles in return.
"You enjoying yourself" he asked her wryly
"You KNOW I love to dance with you handsome" her voice a husky purr.
"I always liked dancing with you Suze" his own voice husky in return.
"You can always fill my dance card 'All' the way up," she said suggestively. She licked her lips and his eyes treacherously drifted down to view her succulent, full lips. He dragged his gaze back up her face to look her deep in the eye. His own smouldering at the passion he saw reflected in their now inky almost purple depths.
"Well, I always did like to practice" he told her; his eyes holding hers for a beat or two longer than he should have, we could feel himself slipping into her spell. He wanted to kiss her to feel her in his arms as they joined together in a frenzy of passion right here on the dance floor.
"Why practice when you're as good as you" she smiled at him, her indigo eyes never leaving his she stepped in even closer her body now melding to his perfectly. It was it they were made for each other.
"Come back to me darlin'" she husked.
Xander seemed to snap out of the trance. He was unable to reply as Susie kept talking.
"Babe, you know we're good together. We were the best and we will be again, you know it", Susie was becoming confused, her potion should have kicked in by now he should be doing what ever she wanted, believe what ever she suggested he should. She knew it wasn't working because his eyes were currently piercing her to the dance floor. He looked almost sad.
"This place is warded against many things Suze" Xander said as he noticed the confusion cross her eyes.
"Suga?" she said
"Like for instance, spells, potions and vampires. Although you're a vampire I did invite you in," he stated, emotion filled his voice up to almost breaking point.
Susie took that moment to step in a kiss him full on the lips. Her cold tongue invaded his mouth. His heart quickly beat faster his arms slipping further round to hold her.
He was almost swept up in the moment he almost kissed her back; the heat of her passion making up for the lack of body heat, here with Susie pressed up against him he almost forgot all that.
"No Susie, Stop"
"No!" Susie raged tears springing to her eyes. She turned on her heel and disappeared into the crowds.
"Suze!" Xander called trying to get her to come back, however it was no good she had disappeared.
Susie stormed back into her stolen house tears running down her face. She shouldn't be crying. He was just a damn human and she was a Vampire, top of the food chain, master of all she surveyed. She should not be crying and not tears of water, she should be crying blood red tears the tears of a vampire. But it wasn't the demon crying it was the woman.
Susie tried to clear her head, it had all been perfect he had seemed to be coming round even without the belief potion doing some of the work for her. It had been like old times the way they danced; the way he had danced with her before. He had given her his body in one of the most personal ways it was possible without the act of sex. To dance like that with another was to share ones self, ones very soul. But Susie didn't have a soul.
Did She?
Lamia Rex, the king of vampires, the most powerful demonic crossbreed Hybrid it was possible to have walk the earth. One had destroyed entire armies. Another had caused volcanoes to erupt and sea's to rise up. It had taken the life of a slayer and 50 demons to take down the last ever recorded. They were virtually indestructible their strength was terrible to behold. They had many powers, control over the weak, Hypnotism. They could sire with a touch and kill with a word. Demons hated them and saw them as a threat. No Rex had ever tried to release the old ones, they had preferred to keep it all to themselves. They were the masters of the masters, the top of the chain, Angels of death walking the planet. They could steal souls, or make a mind explode with a glance.
The latest in a short line of these terrible creatures, one that had kept their soul, one that had killed the demon trying to take over him. The adoptive son of the god of thunder, a broken man was sat, crying. A piece of his soul tore away with each and every sob that racked his large frame.
He had retreated into his private office, brushing away the concern form his friends; he'd needed to be alone. He was hurting again, he'd lost so much in such a short amount of time he wasn't sure he could cope with it. He had seen so many friends lost to the darkness that purveyed every nook and cranny of the hellhole that was Sunnydale. What had started with Jessie and continued on though his entire young adult life, now ended up with Susie. His own recent changes were in the same vein, he had died that night in Oxnard fodder to the darkness. He didn't want it anymore, it was too much it ended or he did.
His anger drew in all the available power around him out of the very air. Nina could feel the build up of power from her place outside the office. Willow out on the dance floor dancing with her fellow Wicca; they felt it too. All the way in Willy's bar Giles felt it then as well a sense of great power building.
The legacy of the changes that he had undergone built up in Xander his anger feed by the pain of his loss; yet another loved one taken by the darkness.
Xander stood power crackling off of him in waves the room seeming to warp around him as he stood.
"Sunnydale is a pit of darkness; someone needs to turn on the light. We have been running from the darkness, we thought we were holding it back but in fact we have been drawn into it. It took Jessie, it took Miss Calendar, it took Angel, it forced Oz out, it's almost ate Faith alive; It killed Dru…" he trailed off, and whispered, "and now it's taken Suze" his voice came back more forcibly.
Nina worried by his diatribe had entered the office and was looking at him with wide fearful eyes. The power was pouring off of him in waves. His eyes crackled with tiny bolts of lightning. At this point he really looked like the son of a god, powerful and vengeful like the old gods.
"Not anymore we will chase it back, from now on we no longer run, I'll be back soon Nina tell the others not to worry" Xander's voice snapped her from her reverie. He walked swiftly out of his office, leaving a worried Nina, in his wake. Then quickly he left the club disappearing into the darkness.
Buffy and Faith watched him go as Tara and Willow came up besides him.
"Something's changed" Tara said.
"Boy Toys wicked mad" Faith said a little awed at the prospect. She like the others had no idea just what he was capable of, but she had inkling.
Giles appeared "Is everybody OK" he asked.
"We're fine, Xan just left looking pissed," Buffy said.
"Xander?" Giles said.
"Y.Y. Yes" stuttered Tara.
Xander stalked out through the night, he could sense a large gathering of vampires close by. Something had changed within him in the last hour. In his office in the club something fundamental had changed within him. There was a sense of power there that hadn't been available to him before. He could hear the thoughts of people as he passed them in the street, not the actual words but the emotion behind them. He hadn't touched a single door or gate; they had all opened before him as if they were on automatic. He knew that this wouldn't last for long; it just had to last for long enough. With his senses he had reached out and found the small minds of hundreds of vampires.
He concentrated until he had found the largest nest of vipers among them. It was with the Initiative but he was under orders to leave them alone for now. He had reached out again until he found another den of night time denizens.
He quickly made his way to them, they were gathered in one of the large underground sewer systems that joined with the large underground caves.
It took him only moments to find his way to them even though the labyrinth of tunnels.
There were fifty or more vampires in this one place, there were the bones of their victims littered all round the floor of their lair. A woman was chained up against the rock wall another to the floor in front of her. Ten vampires were gathered round them feeding noisily.
A Kavorcian demon seemed to be in charge, its large mucus dripping body sprawled out on a chair. Kavorcian demons often lived with vampires, their body eating requirements did not need blood; all they required the bones of their prey and the meat on them to survive. They were large and powerful, they ruled the vampires under them with an iron first and were highly organized. Luckily for humanity they were also rare. The mucus issuing from their bodies was potentially deadly to humans as it was a heady narcotic that caused their victims to stop struggling; it also killed them if they were in contact with it for more than a few moments.
He stepped out into their midst. As he did he uttered one sentence.
"For Suze, you bastards!"
Nina walked down the steps that led to Xander and Tina's offices. Her face was grim and her eyes held a little fear. She had never felt power like that before. It was primal, a force of nature. She recognized the worried faces that rushed to her and she gave them a wan smile.
Mel who'd only just found out what was happening quickly started to flash sign language. [What's going on?]
[One Pissed off Xander!] Nina said, her facial expression backing up her words.
[Why?]
[I'm not sure, but it obviously had something to do with that blonde woman]
"What's she saying" Buffy asked annoyed.
"Chill babe, I'm just trying to find out what's happened to the Xan-man 'k" Mel said to the younger woman.
Faith starting looking around the club, trying to find the blonde haired woman she'd seen Xander dancing with. She knew that she had run off but not to where. Perhaps she had a few answers.
[He said he'll be back he said something about fighting back]
"Fuck" Mel said expressively.
Xander struggled under the mass of vampires who rushed him. With a roar of effort he managed to stand, his katana started to clear a path around his, the dust of the vampires already slayed was thick at his feet. As another wave of vampires tried to get to his position he held his free hand out in a blocking motion, their rush was halted and reversed as they flew into the opposite wall. Bakarasii Dôbutu flashed down again and again, cleanly killing with a stroke; a stab dusted yet another vampire.
The dust now around him was starting to affect his vision but still he carried on. The stench of death assailed his nostrils and turned his stomach.
The two women who were chained to the wall watched in horrified silence as the man with glowing gold eyes fought his way through vampire after vampire.
The Kavorcian demon was starting to worry; it was ten thousand years old, it had been around to see the last demon of a kind that now assaulted his vampires. He had watched as it carved its way though 50 demons and a vampire slayer. He spinal fins raised in fear as the apparent man swiped his arm outwards and caused more vampires to hit the wall in a sickening thud. He pulled out his prize axe, one the demon had taken from the slayer that day when the last Rex had been slain. It threw it at Xander the axe turned end of end as it whooshed towards him.
Xander felt the axe bite into his shoulder, He screamed out in rage, it caused the axe to fly back out of the wound straight back to the demon who had thrown it. It embedded in its throat and carried on through until it finally bit into the wood in the seat the Kavorcian had been sat upon. The demon quickly morphed into a gelatinous mess.
Xander had not even spared it a glance, his focus on the vampires around him. As he thrust and retreated back the dust now swirled at his feet and affected his foot work. That didn't matter to him; all that mattered to him was killing these last few vampires. Just one more stroke one more thrust, now a spin he waited. His vision cleared and looked around the room. He quickly moved over to the two women and unchained them. They were not two bad, one of them very pale from the feeding frenzy of the vampires. They other had only just gotten down into this hellhole. He led them out of the cavern.
As they reached the entranceway Xander turned and threw a cylinder back into the cavern.
Xander dropped off Emma and Sandra to the hospital telling the staff it was an animal attack. He hadn't been surprised when they took his explanation without comment and hurried the girls away. It was an almost regular occurrence for him these days.
Then when he'd made sure they would be all right and well looked after he rushed back to the empty manor and cleaned himself and changed.
Tina looked at the teaming crowd of humanity that were all dancing and generally popping to the music of the club with a massive smile on her face. It looked to her like the night was a resounding success. Her boss had disappeared, but that was a minor inconvenience for her. All that mattered was that the she was successful as an assistant manager.
"Looks Good" A purr came from behind her
She spun round and looked into two dark brown orbs. Xander had returned and had managed to her behind her without her realizing it. That was something she was surprised about. "Yes it does" she agreed turning back to her office window.
Xander stepped beside her and looked out at the large club. The offices were based in the top of the club and looked down on the entire place through the hole in the middle of the club.
"Where did you go, your friends are looking for you" Tina said carefully.
Xander turned a smile onto her, "Just a little trouble I had to sort out"
"I saw you dancing earlier, pretty hot"
"Thanks, fancy a spin?"
Tina paused, "Mr. Harris, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. This is a working arrangement…"
Xander held up his hand with a smile, "Would it make you more comfortable if I told you that it's against my rules to mix business and pleasure?"
Tina shot him a grateful smile, "Yes actually it would, if you mean it"
"I do, I've never slept with someone I do business with." Xander smirked, "Well not after I employed them anyway"
"Good, in which case. I'd love to. Where did you lean to dance anyway?"
Xander cocked his arm for the attractive woman and led her out of the club; he shot her a bittersweet smile "Did you see the blonde I was dancing with?"
Tina nodded, "Well she taught me when I was stripping in Oxnard last summer"
Tina attempted to cough up a lung, "Stripping?"
Buffy nudged her sister slayer in the ribs, since Xander's departure they had been hanging at the club. There was little point in chasing after him he would come back to them, at least that is what Faith had convinced them all of. Nina and Mel had backed up her claim and the others had been forced to wait it out. Riley had gone, saying he would check with his people about Xander.
The slayers were seated at one of the many tables on the second level when Buffy spotted movement on the dance floor. Xander had returned and was dancing with an attractive woman.
Buffy glanced up to where Nina and Mel were keeping watch. Nina glanced down and Buffy pointed to where Xander was dancing. Nina nodded showing that she got it and they all convened on the bottom floor. Willow and Tara came over to them having also spotted Xander from their lookout on the first floor.
None of them was best pleased about his sudden disappearance and reappearance. None of them even really knew why he had gotten so distraught about the blonde haired woman leaving.
Xander noticed their arrival and smirked down at his dance partner and assistant manager to the Lamia. "I've gotta go" he said. She pouted playfully at him but let him go regardless.
"Hey guys" he said as he walked up to them, "Why don't we go somewhere a little quieter for this" he said. He knew that they would want answers.
They generally showed their agreement to the idea and he led them back to his office. Once there they all looked around in awe. The office itself was large, with a huge desk with a large plasma screen behind it showing a revolving display of various areas of the club. The music was as loud in here as it was in the club itself. That was until Xander walked over to his desk and hit a switch. The sound dimmed to a background hum but the floor still resounded with the bass notes on the main system.
"What happened" Buffy finally asked as they arrayed themselves on the many chairs and sofa's.
"An old friend" Xander said.
"The Blonde"
Xander nodded, "Yes, the blonde. Her names Susie, I met her in Oxnard she's the one who taught me to dance, among other things"
"Oh eye?" Faith smirked at him.
Xander smirked back, "Not that gutter brain, she taught me about myself and about confidence" he paused his smile spreading, "although we did have a thing"
"So why the upset"
"She died, her club was overrun with a vamp attack, and they slaughtered nearly everyone there, only two survived. They're now working for me and getting the club open again"
[How did she get in?] Nina asked.
"I invited her; she has a way to be in daylight I don't know how though. She also had a gizmo to make her heart appear to beat, that and some funky aromatherapy and she tricked me into believing she was alive"
"Oh man that sucks" Mel said with a sigh, "Sorry sweets I know that's gotta hurt"
"Oh it does believe me"
"Where did you go?" Willow asked.
"To, Urm, let off some steam" Xander replied blandly.
"How" Buffy asked suspiciously.
"The same way you do buff"
"Oh"
"Yeah oh, but in the process I saved two girls from death so it worked out ok"
"Good one" Faith commented.
[That was a lot of power you put out] Nina commented.
Xander nodded and switched to Aclemia, [I know, anger brings out the demons power. I've noticed it before but not to that extent]
Nina scowled thoughtfully for a moment, [You don't have a demon in you though]
[No, but it did make a few; changes]
Nina nodded in understanding.
"What are you two talking about?" Buffy said in annoyance.
"Nothing much Buff, just chatting about power levels" Xander answered truthfully, but omitting details.
Willow and Tara shared a look between them but said nothing.
Mel smirked at Xander, "Now what babe"
Xander looked at a monitor and smiled; "Now I greet some guests. Man did they ever miss the dress code sign" he said with a smirk. On the screen was a tall black man with a long leather looking coat that hung to his feet behind him was a grizzled man dressed in jeans and a lumberjack jacket.
"Who the heck is that babe" Mel asked eyeing blade with lustful intent.
"That's Blade" Xander said with a smile, "He's not much on the talkie but man can he fight"
"Is this another friend from your travels?" Buffy asked.
"Friend may be stretching things a little" Xander said then his face split into a huge smile, "Fuck me" he said out of the blue. The scene had shifted to show a very familiar sight. "They came." He pulled out his mobile and dialed a number form memory.
The others all watched in mute surprise at Xander's suddenly joyful smile. He turned to Faith, "Hey Faith can you grab blade and whistler and bring them up here for me" He asked as the phone rang.
"Sure X" she said
"Oh hell I'm there too" Mel said quickly joining the dark slayer as she left the room.
Xander smirked, "Boy is she in for a surprise" he said "Oh hey sis."
[Xander!]
"What' ya doing?"
[You know what I'm doing] came the grumpy reply. She had been made to stay with Dawn and Joyce for the night. She wasn't strictly speaking old enough for the club.
"Fancy some clubbing" he said with a large smile, "There are some people I want you to see. Just grab that fake ID I gave you K"
[I can't Giles confiscated it]
"Oh don't worry about it go into my room check under the bed for the case, use the combination 826628. There's a copy in there"
[YES!]
"But I want it back afterwards"
[NO!]
"Trust me this is worth it"
[Who is it?]
"Tell you when you get here" Xander said cutting off the phone.
"Did you just aid and abet a minor gaining entry to an 18's or over night?" Willow asked in shock. Shock that was mirrored around the room.
"Xander, you could loose your license" Buffy added.
"The ID's bullet proof Buff and Mary hasn't had the chance to see these guys in a long time" Xander said pointing to a group of well dressed thirty something's in the centre of the large plasma screen. They were all highly attractive and in varying states of surprise, ranging from 'Cool' to 'Wow!'. One of them a dark haired Italian looking man was looking like a kid in a candy store.
"Who are they?"
"Friends" Xander replied.
"More demon hunting friends" Willow asked.
"Nope! Just very good friends who looked out for Mary and helped me through some stuff. I wanted them to be here to see the club opening give them a little fun for their help, ya know. The raven haired beauty in the middle in Monica, she runs my restaurant in the village. The tall blonde with the longer hair is phoebe, she's new age and a squeal. The guys from left to right are; Ross, Monica's brother. Joey, who just happens to be an actor on the rise. Chandler who makes more quips than I do and then the blonde bombshell on the end is Rachael; she's in the fashion game I think"
"How'd you meet them" Buffy asked but Xander was looking at Nina who'd just waived her hand to get his attention.
[Phoebe, the long haired blonde has some low level power, a healer?]
[Not that I know of, but she does do massage]
[She's using her talents without knowing it I expect, bet she has a good client base]
[Yeah she does, that reminds me she made me an offer] Xander said with a smile. [I could do with working out some kinks]
[Anytime you want to work out those kinks you can come see me] Nina offered with a large smile that was more than a little sultry.
"Damn it, I hate my personal honor code!" Xander said out loud without realizing it.
[Is that a no?] Nina pouted playfully.
Xander looked ready to cry and just nodded.
Tara looked between them with a knowing smile as Buffy and Willow looked clueless between the two.
"I hate it when they do that" Buffy said, "I'm gonna learn ASL then I'll know"
"That won't do you much good" Tara said, surprisingly them all with the sparkle in her eye and a total lack of a stutter. "That's not ASL"
[You know Aclemia?] Xander signed
Tara nodded and flashed back, [My mother taught me]
"You know I'm thinking that it's not as dead a language as we thought Nina my darlin"
Nina smirked at him.
"Ok, hang ten moon doggies" Xander said leaping to his feet and walking swiftly out of the office.
Nina turned to Tara with a raised eyebrow and smiled, [Oh thank god, someone else to understand me] she said her face giving the sign expression.
[I didn't realize before now it took me a while to remind myself of the gestures] Tara told her.
[How long?]
"Oh great now they're doing it" Buffy said to Willow in an aside as the two witches huddled.
Xander stepped onto the dance floor with a huge smile. He was a level above where Faith and Mel were currently getting his other guests together. So Blade and Whistler had yet to see him.
"GUYS!" he called out, his voice strangely carrying to the huddle of friends on the dance floor. "You Came!" he said as the crowded over to him smiles and laughter floating around the group like a shroud of happiness. They were a balm to his weary soul. It was good to have friend that had nothing to do with the more demonic aspect of his life.
He noticed Tina mingling with the customers and caught her eye before saying hello to his friend properly. She dutifully appeared at his side and leaned into him eliciting a slightly jealous look from Monica.
"Yes boss"
"I'm taking a party down to the basement, flip the relevant levers for me will ya."
"Sure"
"You'll be OK?"
"Of course I will""
"Cool, so a hit then?"
"Oh yes, you can say that again"
"Excellent, well join us down there later ok? Oh and my sister will be turning up and I'll bet she'll have her friend in tow can you send them down. She's about yeah high dark hair, Mary Harris on the ID. Get the bouncers to let you know when she gets here they can page you."
Tina nodded and set off to do his bidding. He smiled after for a moment, deciding that Linda had picked very well. He'd approved it of course but Linda had been the one to interview her.
"Guys!" he said and moved to greet his friends properly.
"Where's Harris?" Whistler demanded for the tenth time.
Mel turned on him with a spark in her eye, "He sends his regrets that he can 't meet you in person but he'll be joining us shortly"
"Damn rude" Whistler grumped.
"Hey, X has just opened this club, you can't expect him to be able to pander to everyone straight away" Faith said defending her friend.
Blade and whistler exchanged a glance before whistler said incredulously, "This is the kids club?"
Faith nodded as she led them into Xander's large office. She was met by an amused looking Buffy as Willow, Nina and Tara tagged along behind. "Change of Venue Guys" Buffy said pointing to the lift, "We're going down"
Faith nodded with a smirk, thinking the already annoyed whistler would be even more annoying. She was disappointed though as he was quiet after the revelation that this was Xander's club. They rode down the elevator in silence the huge blade seeming to fascinate all the woman present even Tara was eyeing him with a little appreciation.
The elevator doors glided open to show a large room than spanned the length and breadth of the club. It was currently quite well lit and the music was muted to a more bearable level. There were a lot of seats scattered around but they spotted Xander and a group of others sat in the largest conglomeration.
Xander looked to his friends and quickly excused himself, "I'll be right back, just a quick bit of business to take care of. Make yourselves at home, the bars free for you guys. Introduce yourselves around OK"
He then quickly walked over taking Blade by the arm and pulling him and whistler away from the large group. Normally blade would have decked any one for touching him but he secretly liked the younger man and didn't mind the physical approach. Although he did growl, this for him was polite.
"What's the word then guys?"
"As we said, interested" Whistler spoke for them both.
"So what do you want to know?"
Back at the main table the two sets of friends eyed each other warily. But Chandler was the first to speak up, "OK, well I'm Chandler. This is Monica…"
Buffy cut him off shock written across her face, "You're Monica!"
The aforementioned woman nodded looking a little weirded out, "Wow" Buffy said blushing, "Sorry but did you and Xander…"
Monica blushed a little herself then her eyes flashed, "What did he say" she demanded, "I'll string up the little sneak"
"No, no, no, its not like that Mary told us"
"Mary, where is she" Monica asked her eyes warming considerably.
"Xander called her, she'll be here soon" Willow put in, trying to calm the woman's ire.
"Mary told you?" Monica asked now blushing again, "Well I guess that's a bit different"
"So its true then"
Monica blushed again then her smile turned sultry as her eyes glazed over, "Oh yeah" she said a little dreamily.
"Wow" Buffy said again as Faith burst into laughter.
Xander glanced over at the peals of laughter that were now exploding amongst his friends with a chagrined smile, "What's the betting that's about me" he said to Blade who actually curled a lip in an almost smile flashing his elongated canines in the process.
"Anywho" Xander continued, "Those are the resource's I've got and if you want they're yours as well"
Whistler pulled a hand over his face causing a sound like sandpaper to issue, "Well, that's impressive sounding, do you have proof"
"Sure, I'll give you the tour tomorrow if you like"
Blade nodded as did whistler, "Now stay for the party. I've got some more friends stopping by, should be a blast"
"We're not party people kid" Whistler said as blade grunted his amusement.
"Well up to you guys?"
"No" Blade said, "Thank you"
"OK then, meet me at this address" Xander handed them a card, "Tomorrow afternoon about four?"
"Sure kid, see you then" Whistler said and then he and Blade walked back to the lift.
Xander walked back over to the table and received a slap on the bicep from Mel. "Damn that hurts woman" he said with a mild glare, "How do you do that anyway"
"Never mind that, where'd the hunk go"
"Away. Not a people person is our Blade; sorry"
"Damn you, he was seriously worthy" Mel said once again belting Xander on the arm.
"Ow!" Xander said again rubbing his arm.
"Don't be such a baby" Mel said with a smirk.
"How the hell do you do that!" Xander said then looked fearfully at the huddle sat on the sofa's. Monica, Rachael, Buffy, Faith and Willow were huddled together with Tara and Nina sat off to one side.
"Oh man that don't look so good" Xander said warily.
"Oh not good at all" Chandler agreed from his side.
"Ouch, now they're laughing" Ross said from the other side.
Then Joey leaned round and smirked. "You're ok unless they look up and smile, then laugh" he said sagely.
Then as one they looked up at Xander smiled, that damnable secret feminine smile, looked down again and 'giggled'.
Mel smirked at him and walked over to join them closely followed by Faith. Leaving the guys to wince in sympathy.
"Oooooo" they hissed as one patting Xander on the back at the same time.
Then Joey smiled, "Say how many of them have you slept with"
"Just two of them" Xander replied with a smile, then he remembered the conversation with Nina and his smile dropped, "Unfortunately"
The guys took a turn to laugh and that caused the woman to look at them with worry. "Score one for masculine solidarity" Chandler said with a smirk.
Xander looked over at the enlarged huddle with worry. Mary had arrived earlier and she did indeed have Dawn with her. They had said hello and Mary had hugged the guys, then they'd been pulled into the huddle. That was half an hour ago and there had been a lot of laughter. Xander had the worrying feel it was at him.
"Ohh, doesn't look good for our hero" said a heavy New York accent from behind him. Xander turned round with a smile already growing on his face.
There stood the infamous Hudson Hawk, Anna and Tommy five tone.
"Guys!" Xander said jubilantly. He shock both Tommy and then Hawks hands before engaging in a quick hug with Anna. "Glad you could make it"
"Miss a party?" Hawk said with a smile.
"Miss Free booze, I don't think so" Tommy agreed.
Hawk took a look around him, "Hey Xan, why'd you leave these colored boxes all over the place"
Xander smirked, "They're chairs numb-nuts"
"Oh!" Hawk said splitting his face with a grin as Anna and Tommy laughed.
"Come On, meet the gang" Xander said with a laugh of his own.
Anna spotted the huddle and smiled, "Ohh huddle; be back" she said and disappeared into the spreading arrangement of woman.
"Oh shit, not another one" Xander bemoaned.
"Hey, she's a nun what's the worse that could happen?"
Just then the laughter reached an all time high and Anna shot Xander a smirk. "O joy!"
Xander sat around another table with the guys sharing a laugh of their own as they swapped stories of various exploits that they had had either separately or together. There was a sense of camaraderie and friend ship in the private rooms that Xander felt was both welcome and comfortable. He lit up a cigarette with a large smile and exhaled the smoke slowly through his nose.
"That'll kill you; you know" came a smoky voice off to one side. He turned once again with a large smile. He had invited a lot of people to come to the club not knowing that they would all turn up. He'd had no replies and sensed that someone had been playing him. He glanced over to find Mary smirking at him but she quickly averted her gaze with a smile.
"Lara, it's great to see you. Oh Sorry Lady Croft"
"For you Xander its always Lara."
Xander stood and offered his seat to Lara who accepted graciously. The focus of the men at the table shifted to her and she smiled widely.
"From left to right" Xander said with a smile. "Tommy Fivetone, Hudson Hawk, Ross Gellar, Joey Tribiani and Chandler Bing. Guys Lady Croft"
"Hey"
"Howdy"
"Hello"
"Hey; how you doing"
"Hey There"
Lara smiled widely, "Hello boys" She looked around, "What's with the PTA meeting" she asked as the woman let out another peal of laughter, "Oh and Your friend Bond is up stairs chatting up the hostess"
"Oh man" Xander said beating a retreat, "I'll be back in a minute. I better do a sweep of the club" he said, "Guys look after Lara for me K"
The general agreement of the table was easily heard as was Lara's chiming laughter.
Xander stalked through his club keeping an eye out for any of his friend that had been missed. He found Bond chatting away quite happily to Tina and sent them both down to the basement to enjoy the party.
He was standing at the centre of the club when he found some more friends, Connor, Methos, Duncan and Amanda.
"Hey guys, your missing the party"
"Darling!" Amanda enthused grabbing him into an embrace and kissing his cheeks.
"He. He. He." Connor laughed at Duncan's flash of jealousy.
"Can it old man" Duncan said with a smile.
"Careful boy, or I'll have to put you over my knee" Connor shot back also with a smile.
"Xander" Methos said ignoring the bantering clansman and holding out a hand for Xander to shake; which he did.
"Come on, I've got a party down stairs where we can catch up" Xander said leading the immortals to the lift.
The doors opened to find that the huddle was still in place. Amanda let out a peal of laughter and quickly joined it.
"Oh man, not another one!" Xander said to the heavens.
"Ohh, not good" Methos remarked with a huge smile.
"Is that about you" Duncan commiserated
"Yeah" Xander said with a smirk, "But I'm kinda hoping they've moved on"
Just then the table exploded into laughter again.
"Jesus" Xander said, "Lara is over there as well!"
"I guess meeting the ladies will have to wait then" Connor remarked.
He quickly led them to the Y chromosome table and quickly did the intro's
The feeling of friendship came back quickly as the group all started to chat quickly getting into an animated conversation. Just then Mary let out a squeal, "Connor!"
Connor turned around with a large smile, "Hello Mary" he said with almost fatherly pride at the new improved Mary that was now hugging him.
Xander stood asking who wanted a drink. Just as he was assaulted from behind by a someone goosing him. He span around only to have someone limpet themselves to his lips. The smaller form quickly entangled herself around him and the kiss became passionate. At first he didn't know who the hell was kissing him until his memories surfaced from his lust laced libido. Around them the room became still as the red-slash-ginger haired woman snogged him into insensibility.
Even the X table stopped their conversation and gossip session that was actually a table of like minded woman having a good time and not just talking about Xander. They turned to see what the hell Mary and the men were laughing at. They found that there were three woman and a man that had just arrived. One of the women, the shortest was trying to eat Xander alive and he was reciprocating eagerly. The other tow were laughing their heads on whilst the man was sniggering behind his hand.
Monica's eyes were flashing somewhat, but she knew that she had no actual claim over Xander, especially since she knew of his rule not to play where he worked. That didn't stop her eyes turning a little green though.
"Uh hum" Connor said into Xander's ear. Only to be totally ignored.
"Don't worry their always like this." The tall blonde woman said, "Hi I'm Natalie, This is Alex and Bosley, the face sucking monster is Dylan"
"Alex?" Joey's voice came from his chair.
"Joey?" Alex replied shocked. The two made their way to each other and kissed passionately.
Natalie looked at Bosley who just shrugged a move mirrored by Ross and Chandler. Then Natalie pouted, "Hey I've got no-one to kiss. Did I miss the memo about kissing?"
Chandler held up his hand, "Me too, If I can help at all" he said trailing off with a chagrined smile.
Natalie beamed at him, "I'll get back to you on that" she said with gleam in her eye as she checked him out.
Ross looked to the ceiling, "Damn motor mouth beats me again"
Bond just smiled at the room in general the table he shared with Tina separate from the others. "Do you think he will come up for air soon?" he asked the audience.
"Who knows, Dylan once told me she could breathe through her ears" Natalie said with wry amusement, the guys looked at each other a smirked all basically thinking the same thing.
"Xander!" Buffy said loudly. "You've got guests!"
Xander kinda just waived a hand in her direction as Dylan flipped her 'the bird' causing the room to explode into laughter.
Xander broke the kiss with a lazy smile crawling on his face to live there for a while, "It's GOOD to see you too Dylan"
Dylan regulated her breathing for a moment then licked her lips reaching for him again only to have the Natalie and Bosley pull her back. She pouted playfully but her eyes were dark with lust.
"Whew!" Xander said shacking his head to clear it, "Damn I'd forgotten" he said. "Angels, meet the guys. Guys meet the angels"
Just then Amanda with a gleam in her eye reached out fro Dylan, "Oh darlin you we must talk to" she said.
"For the love of god don't go over there" Xander called out but it was too late as the girls huddled back around. He turned around to look at the guys with real fear on his face.
"Well since Joey's busy" Chandler said indicating the couple making out two tables away.
Xander blinked, "Whoa"
"Yeah" Chandler continued, "But I'm guessing you know her?" he said putting a spin of the know word.
"Uh, yeah you could say that" Xander said darting a nervous glance as the woman all backed away from the huddle and collectively said, "Wow"
"Although Joey would've probably just said, did you boink her" Ross filled in.
Outside the club a sprinkle of blue lights streaked to earth depositing three woman and a man, all dressed to the nines.
"This is the place?" Phoebe asked impressed as she surveyed the impressive frontage and sign of the Non Lamia.
"Yep" Leo replied looking around. He fished in his pocket and brought out the tickets that Xander had fed-ex'd over to them.
"Ready?" Pru asked her sisters, she was secretly looking forward to seeing Xander again. The attractive four walked into the club just as an unmarked sedan pulled up behind them.
"Impressive" Said the woman as she got out of the car, her auburn hair flowing around her.
"Yep" said the man he was as dark as she was auburn but his teeth flashed into the moonlight with a quick and easy smile.
"Got the tickets?" she asked her lip curling in anticipation.
The man nodded smiling again, "Of Course"
"Let's Party" she said.
He shook his head at her retreating form; she had changed so much since they had first met Xander. Her brush with the supernatural had changed her, most of it for the better. She was looser now, not so uptight and she had also inherited a large amount of supernatural knowledge that helped them with their cases a great deal.
They had played host to another section X agent, Nina, recently. They knew her already of course which had helped and communicating through Scully she had explained a great deal about the goings on of the night. She had also passed on some sad news.
Mulder gave a slight sigh as he thought about the young man he'd met, the one that Scully was so anxious to meet. It was sad that he'd lost his soul mate in such a way, an old god had killed her. Even Mulder had trouble wrapping his big brain around that one. He was also worried about his friend. He knew that she was interested in the young man but he was worried that his recent loss would mean she would be disappointed. He had of course talked to her about it but Scully had assured him that she just liked him and not LIKED him.
Mulder walked after his auburn haired partner, slightly worried about what would or could transpire this night.
"Hi there" Phoebe said as they walked to the bar where Xander was currently serving the guys their drinks, doing a damn fine Tom Cruise impression in the process.
"Hey Phoebe, Piper, Leo, Hi Pru" Xander said. "Meet the guys". The guys all said hello as the charmed ones all reciprocated.
Pru looked Xander in the eye and cocked her head to one side, Xander took the clue and left the men to serve themselves and mingle.
"Hi Pru" Xander said again smiling into her eyes.
"Hello Xander" she paused; her eyes soft, "I'm sorry for your loss"
Xander's smile was sad as were his eyes, "Thank you" he said from the heart.
Pru pulled him into a comforting embrace ending it with a soft and chaste kiss on the lips. "Anytime you want to talk. You know where I am" she said.
"Thank you; again" Xander said. Of all his friends she was one of the few that would actually know how he felt.
"Anytime" she said then shot him an evil smirk. "Oh huddle" she said quickly joining the teaming female table. She was quickly joined by her sisters.
"You know" Xander said leaning into Leo, "I'm thinking this was such a screaming hot idea"
"I think you may be right" Leo said smirking in a very un-angel like way. "And due to my status as an angel. I'm joining them" he said quickly beating a retreat.
"Ah that's low, dude" Xander called at his retreating back. Leo just shot another devilish smirk over his shoulder. Xander watched as Leo walked up behind piper and knelt behind her. His laughter soon joined the women's.
"How is it that he gets to go over there? I tried and they nearly killed me" Chandler commented.
"Leo's, urm, special"
"Gay?"
"See the brunette he's behind"
"Uh huh"
"Girlfriend"
"So not gay then"
"Hell No"
"Hmm"
"Don't worry, Natalie was into you" Xander said with a smile.
"You really think so, and how could you tell?"
"Well I was kinda distracted but I have my ways" Xander told him.
He felt himself being goosed again and turned to be once again soundly kissed. This one was a lot more restrained than before just a quick peck to the lips, "Hey there" Scully said with a wicked smile that she had perfected since her possession.
"Do you get that a lot" Tommy said from the bar.
"Yeah, cause I want to know your brand of aftershave" Hawk shot over his shoulder with a smirk.
"Can it you two" Xander shot back with a smile. Chandler smiled and walked over to sit next to the two and Xander gave slight shudder, "Oh man, that's not good either"
"Are you going to say hello or do I have to kiss you again" Scully said as Mulder skulked behind her.
Xander smiled and ignored the auburn haired FBI agent, "Hey Mulder" he said.
"Hello Xander, nice place you have here"
"Thanks, glad you could make it. Where's Scully" he said with a smirk.
Mulder chuckled, "I'm not sure I'm sure she was around here someplace"
"Fine" Scully said and pulled Xander down kissing him with a great deal more steam than she had before.
"Hubba oh momma!" Xander said as the kiss finally finished, "I thought you were kidding"
"She's changed" Mulder commented wryly.
"I'm getting that"
"I'll do it again" Scully threatened with a wicked smile and gleam to her eye. "Or I could turn you into a toad"
"She can do that?" Xander asked Mulder worried.
Mulder nodded laconically, "Yep, seen her do it"
"I'm warning you" she said trying to bury her laughter. He was not acting like a grieving widow. Nobody knew about the time he had spent training and talking with his adoptive father, time that had healed him. Time that spanned more than he had actually been away.
"What was that?" Xander said comically looking everywhere but at Scully.
Her only response was to wait until he was close and capture him in a searing kiss that made his legs wobble.
"Yowzer!" Xander commented a few minutes later when she finally let him go, "Man you red-heads are passionate" he smirked.
"It's out of a bottle" Mulder said smirking.
Scully shot him a death ray glare that he held up his hands to smiling.
Xander smiled, "So my FBI Liaison friends. What's shaking?"
"Oh huddle" Scully exclaimed.
"No you don't" Xander said desperately catching her elbow and linking his arm into hers keeping her away from the mass of femininity. "Stay right here with the me Special Agent Scully"
She pouted at him and battered her eyelids, "Puh-lease"
"Oh no, its bad enough that there is now" Xander glanced at the huddle, "at least four former, uh, playmates in there without you as well"
"We were playmates?" Scully asked from under her lashes.
"Very nearly" Xander smiled at the memory, "Sort of anyway, and I know you remember all of that"
'Sure do' Scully thought to herself with another wicked smile. She was really good at the wicked smile it started slow and formed on her face morphing her from FBI agent into bombshell sex kitten.
Mulder for his part was laughing his ass off as he walked to the bar and Tommy five tone, "Can I have a scotch on the rocks"
"Sure buddy" Tommy said prepping the mans drink in a blink. "So how do a coupla of feds know Xander?"
Mulder looked at the man with a smile, "Helped us with a case" he hedged, "and you"
It was Hawk that answered, "I do his security"
"He needs security?" Mulder sputtered.
Nina smiled and signed at Mel and Tara, [Have you noticed Xander's keeping the new woman away from us?]
Tara nodded as Mel looked around at the newcomer, "Quite the hottie isn't she"
[She seems to like him, she's kissed him three times in the last five minutes and that last one was straight from the crotch]
Tara blushed, "Hey s.s.sensitive eyes here" she said with a shy smile. Mel and Nina together were quickly bringing her out of her shell.
"Well you better not look over there because she looks about ready to rip his clothes of and do him here and now" Mel said with a chuckle.
"Do who?" Faith asked perking up, "Live porn, X goes all out for his parties hey"
"Porn?" Dawn asked tuning into the conversation as did they all.
Xander watched as Bond led an almost panting Tina out of the door. Just as the doors closed Bond shot a wink at him. Xander let out a guffaw of laughter, "Man, that guy has some moves" he commented. He led Scully to the bar where Tommy looked at them, "What'll it be"
"Tommy, you don't have to work the bar"
"I like it" Tommy shot back with a grin.
Xander shrugged, "Hey where'd the old men go?"
"Huh" Chandler said wondering who he meant.
"Oh don't worry I see them. Can I have a scotch no ice what'll be Dana?"
"I could really go for a screaming orgasm" she said into his ear. "And I never did finish that slow screw against the wall"
A shiver ran down his back as his pupils dilated. Her voice had shot a wave of lust through him more effectively than one of Dylan's kisses.
"Water" Scully said to Tommy who was smirking at her and watching bemused as Xander completely zoned.
"I don't know what you said to him, but I think you broke him" Hawk said with a laugh.
"Yeah, I've never seen him like that, it's good to know he is human after all" Chandler commented.
Scully was smiling again, "That's good to know, known him long?"
"A while" Ross answered looking over at the still kissing Joey, wondering where the hell he knew the Asian woman from. They certainly seemed to know each other.
"That's good" Scully replied her voice still smoky. "Glad to have made an impression"
Xander in the meantime was still trying to get his body in control and his mind out of the loop it had become stuck in.
"I remember when you were the shy retiring type" Mulder said from his position, propping up the bar.
"You love it really" Scully shot back with a smirk.
Mulder nodded with a smile. It was true that they had been getting on even better than before. Dana had quite a wicked sense of humor that he liked.
Xander's phone buzzed bringing him back to life. He whipped it out and looked down at the message that appeared on the screen. With a slight frown he realized he should forewarn a certain slayer about the guests that were due, as the message had told him, slightly late.
"I'll be back" he said to the people at the bar and walked over to the huddle.
Scully took advantage of his distraction to creep along behind him, standing dead at his back.
As they arrived at the table her smile once again grew wicked and she goosed him, again. He looked around and she slipped into a chair at the X table.
He rotated all the way to find her sat smirking at him, "Oh man!" he said exasperatedly. She stuck her tongue out at him and leaned forward to join the others.
"Buff" Xander called, trying to ignore the amused glances he was receiving.
"Yeah Xan"
"Can I have a word?"
"Sure, have two even"
Xander smiled at her and pulled her off to one side. Shooting "Traitor" at Leo who smiled unrepentantly at him.
When they were far enough away Buffy turned to her dark haired friend with a large smile, "What can I do for you… Stud"
Xander smirked at her, "Hardly" he said self-deprecatingly.
"That's not what Dylan was just telling us" Buffy shot back with a smirk of her own.
"I shudder to think" Xander said with a half smile, "But that's not why I pulled you away from the PTA meeting"
"Oh?" Buffy said matching his more serious look, "What's up"
Xander took a breath and went for broke, "I just thought I would warn you that Angel is due in about an hour"
Buffy shrugged, "Ok"
Xander shot a surprised look at her, "OK?" he asked
"We have talked Xan; he's even been down here before now. You didn't need to worry, but it was sweet of you to think about it though" Buffy said patting his cheek affectionately.
Xander rolled his eyes, "Alrighty then"
"Can I get back now" Buffy said nodding her head at the laughing women with a small smirk and teasing eyes. "I could be missing something important"
Xander glanced at the red hair of Dana Scully and gave a whole body shiver, "Considering who just joined you, you could be right" Xander said
Buffy glanced in the direction he was and turned a questioning glance at him.
Xander shrugged, "Not my most stellar moment" he admitted, "I was urm, well drunk on slammers and she was possessed. Well I didn't notice and it appeared the spirit needed some attention; like then and there." Xander looked at his feet and mumbled.
Buffy smirked, "What?"
"I said I was only too happy to give it to her" Xander said louder with a slight blush.
Buffy chuckled, "You're a naughty boy Xan, very naughty. Now are we done?"
"I dunno, it depends on whether my good friend and the loveliest slayer in the land; will protect my honor and reputation whilst she's there" Xander said with a large lopsided grin.
"I'll have to tell Faith you said that" Buffy shot back
"I'm sure she'll understand" Xander said hopefully.
"Yeah, yeah" Buffy said over her shoulder as she walked away. "You Wish"
Xander looked up at the tube leaden basement roof looking for Devine guidance. Unfortunately his father wasn't looking.
Xander sat slumped in his office chair. He had been at the party downstairs for some time until he realized that he needed to just get away for a while. It was difficult keeping up the happy act, he just wasn't happy. He had recently lost his soul mate, Dru, and then the woman he loved more than any other. He had then found out that that same woman was not in fact dead but a vampire. It was true that Suze didn't act like most vampires, for one thing she was obviously a lot more devious, and secondly she seemed to be far too passionate.
The sounds of his highly successful opening night filtered through the walls of his office, the music playing below was thumping out of a set of speakers hidden in the roof and desk. He currently had the music churning out at a normally ear splitting volume, to him though it was like having a hot bath would be for others. The music washed over him, encircling him in its tribal embrace. In the music he wasn't Xander Harris, he wasn't an immortal who had lost far too much too soon, he wasn't an ancient and powerful form of demon he was just Xander. He was like any of the others dancing away in the club below, he was a reed in the wind of the beat. Swaying back and forth in the eddies of notes and thunderous bass.
Even this normally soothing effort was wasted on him tonight, the appearance of Suze was a shock to his system a hole in his already damaged heart. Downstairs in the basement and private rooms of the club where nearly all of his friends in the world. Not even their company could salve his weary soul that night, he just needed at little alone time but he knew that his personal time was limited. He had invited all those friends to visit and he could not just ignore them and leave them to fend for themselves. He would have to play host and smile and crack jokes just as he had always done. He would have to push the pit of darkness back into a corner of his mind, a draw to in which hide it away from the others. He wasn't sure it was working too well, but he was trying.
Xander glanced up and was shocked to find someone looking at him from the open door of his office, he had been so immersed in his sadness that he had not even felt their arrival. He reached down and dialed down the volume to a more talk friendly level.
"Hey" Xander said with a bright smile.
"Hey yourself, Bro" Mary said with a small smile.
"Having fun?" Xander asked her.
Mary shook her head, "Nah; there's something important missing"
Xander frowned, "Really what?" he asked.
Mary smiled warmly at his, "Well, it's something very important to me…" she said.
Xander cocked his head to one side a small smile starting to grow.
"…and to just about everyone down at the party, in one way or another" Mary smirked, "Even if it is just your body, they're after"
Xander's smile grew some more.
"But" Mary started her smile disappearing and her eyes probing deep into Xander, "Its something that without it I would now be dead or worse without. Its someone I love very much and I need them in my life more than money, or clothes or even my friends. Without it…" she trailed off with tears in her eyes and Xander got up from behind his desk. He swept her up into a big hug tears flowing down his own cheeks as well.
"I Love You Bro" Mary said into his chest and Xander felt a large and happy grin spread across his face.
He decided then and there that perhaps his personal time wasn't what he needed after all.
They stayed like that, each hugging the other as tightly as possible, for some time. Finally Mary stepped back out of his embrace and used the back of her hand to wipe away her tears. "Come on, let's get back to the party. Everyone's missing you." Her smile flashed back into existence with a teasing quality to it, "Especially that red head"
Xander smirked, "Which one, at last count there were three down there"
"Well, due to Tara, I think we can discount Willow being more anxious than normal"
"Okay, Dylan or Dana?" Xander said letting Mary take his arm.
"Either…Both" Mary said with a chuckle as they left his office.
"Oh Boy" Xander said
"Like you don't love it" Mary teased him as they walked into the open elevator.
"I do, I really, really do. But which one?" Xander said with mock horror.
Mary swatted his arm, "All men are pigs you know that right"
"Of course!" Xander agreed with an exaggerated nod which earned him another swat on the arm.
Mary frowned at him, "That doesn't do much good when I do it does it" she said to him as the lift opened to the basement.
"Nah" Xander drawled with a smirk, "You're too…" he was cut off by a sharp pain on his shoulder; "OW!" he turned to come face to top of Mel's head. "I should have known"
Mel smirked at him unrepentantly as Mary grabbed her arm and dragged her away. Xander just managed to catch the word 'Teach' before the music drowned out their words.
Feeling somewhat better Xander smiled widely, for one thing the huddle had broken up, he noticed that Linda had arrived as had Angel and the Fang Gang. He felt a flash of guilt at not having seen them on their arrival but they seemed to be well looked after by the Scooby gang. Linda knew quite a few of the people here but most importantly she knew Ralph and Jenna who had arrived as well.
Xander made a bee line for them with a wide smile, "Guys, glad you could make it"
Xander sat down with a sigh on one of the many colored box like sofa's that were arrayed around the basement room. He closed his eyes for a moment to let his eyes rest and to catch his mental breath.
The strangely flatulent noise that the sofa gave out signaled the arrival of someone else next to him and he cocked open an eye. He came face to face with a deep blue eye socket that held mirth and a secret smile.
"Well hello Special Agent Scully" Xander said sardonically.
Dana just smiled back at him with that same look in her eye.
"What?" Xander asked.
Again with the silent secret look.
Xander cocked a crocked smile at her, "What?" he asked again.
Her smile seemed to grow but she remained silent.
Xander smirked at her, "Alright, I'm officially wigged, what's got into you" his smile turned slightly more sexy, "Oh, I get it" he said. Xander leaned into her and nipped at her lips with a quick almost chaste kiss, almost because of the promise held within it.
"I was starting to wonder if you'd ever get it" Scully said, "Although, I'm not sure that was worth it"
"I'm wounded" Xander said holding a hand to his heart, "Are you saying I'm not a good kisser"
Dana shook her head her hair fanning out as she did so, "No, I just know you can do better" she said as she leaned in closer to him.
Almost lip to lip Xander smiled into her eyes, "Not backwards in coming forward are you?"
Dana smiled a sultry smile her lips curling up in a wicked smile.
Xander crossed the inch between them one hand snaking out to grab her waist, the other went into her hair as he kissed her with fire that started at his feet and flowed up his entire body.
When they broke apart she was smiling widely as was Xander when suddenly he looked like he'd been pole axed.
"What is it?" Scully asked in concern
"I've just realized something" Xander said his voice annoyed.
"What?"
"We work together right"
"Sort of" She replied with confusion in her eyes.
"You could almost say that you work for me in fact" Xander continued.
Dana shook her head, "Nah, I work for skinner"
Xander appeared to think for a moment, "I dunno, that sound's kinda thin" he said aggrievedly.
"Why all the talking, and not the kissing?" Dana said leaning in to him and pressing herself against him.
Xander's breath was caught by the look in her eyes for a moment. It was almost a predatory lust, need from the depths of the human ID. "I've got a rule" he began but Scully pushed further into him her lips once again an inch away from his. His treacherous hand ran down from her waist down her leg and back up. His eyes widened slightly and a dark smile graced his face. "It's really more of a guideline" he said before his lips descended back onto hers.
Across the other side of the room Dylan pouted her lips in annoyance, "Bitch" she spat.
Natalie turned to her friend with a shocked look, "Dylan!"
"No, not about that" she said with a quick waive of her hand towards Alex and Joey making out; still. "That" she said pointing to Scully and Xander.
"Oh, the green eyed monster rears its head" Natalie said with a smile.
"Well, I mean, I saw him first"
Natalie nodded, "Yeah, so. Claim him then, you've never been afraid of a bit of competition before"
Dylan nodded thoughtfully, "Yeah. Thanks Nat, you're right!"
"Of course with your track record, I'm thinking that I should slap a pair of cuffs on him right now"
Dylan cut her a glare from ice and presented it with her eyes, "Very Funny" she said with no hint of mirth in her expression.
In another corner of the room almost ice blue eyes were burning with a quiet anger that none of her friends noticed. It took an almost complete stranger to notice Monica Gellars jealousy.
"He has a certain something, doesn't he" an English accent asked.
Monica's ice blue met with deep ocean blue. "Sorry?"
Lara Croft smirked, "Xander" she clarified with a nod, "Has a certain something that seems to attract women like flies"
Monica snorted slightly, then huffed out an annoyed breath, "Yes" she finally admitted.
Lara smiled widely, "I take it you have history, I'm afraid I missed you entry into Xander's anonymous earlier"
Monica smiled slightly, "Yes, we have"
"Why aren't you over there then?" Lara asked gently.
Monica looked back at the red head who was currently kissing Xander with another flash of jealousy, "I work for him now and he has a rule…"
"… I see" Lara said with a larger smile.
"Oh, I see, interested yourself are you?" Monica asked, there was no venom to her words just a little amusement. "You realize he's 19"
Lara nodded, "He is, but then he is also nearly 6000 years old in experience"
Monica frowned, "Sorry?"
"You don't know I take it?"
"Oh yes, of course" Monica said in a surprising display of acting. "I just forgot for a moment"
"It's very easy to do; after all he really is only 19 in terms of years lived. The head's he has been forced to take are what have aged him so." Lara paused thoughtfully, "It's funny to think that he will look the same in 10, 50, 100 or even a 1000 years time"
Monica's eyes became very wide almost like search lights in the darkened room, "Lucky man" she managed to say. Her heart was thumping in her chest and it had nothing to do with the high octane dance music currently playing.
"Lucky" Lara said turning to look at her new friend, "You really think so?"
Monica nodded slightly, "You don't?" she asked on auto pilot.
"Not really, imagine watching all those you love and hold dear aging before your eyes. Perhaps even hating you because you've not aged, lost your vitality while they crumble with age. Imagine loving a mortal that would die before you by a factor of millennia. Just think how it would be to watch all of that." Lara paused again, "It seems like the loneliest existence on the planet to me"
"There are advantages" Methos said as he loomed up from behind them, "You can watch entire cultures rise, tyrants fall. Technology grow and the evolution of human kind as they slowly grow through life. We may be destined to walk lightly on the sands of time, leaving no tracks, but we can watch the heavy foot fall of giants" he said before smiling politely and walking away into the parting throng.
Monica shook herself slightly, "I suppose you can't blame him for wanting a little warmth in his life" she said wistfully.
Lara looked her in the eye and smiled, "No, you can't really, but I sense you're jealous all the same"
Monica nodded with a laugh, "I am, but then I believe you're somewhat envious yourself"
Lara smiled widely, "Not really, when those two" she said indicating both Scully and Dylan who was glaring daggers at the other, "Get through with the battle to win a place in his heart for a while, well" she smiled a sharks smile, "I may step in and steal him from the victor"
Monica laughed gaily, "Oh, now you I like" she said smiling.
"Thank you" Lady Croft said with a smile of her own.
"I like your plan", Monica said but then pointed to some more groups of people, "But I've been watching and there is a lot more competition than just the ginger haired one"
Lara looked as Monica pointed out Cordelia, Faith, Nina, Linda, Melinda, Phoebe, Pru and finally and most surprisingly Buffy. "Well, Nina, Linda, Faith and Melinda all work with or for him" she commented.
"I see, that's them out then" Monica thought for a moment, "This will sound strange but from the conversation I was in earlier there was a blonde hear earlier that rocked Xander's world"
Lara's brow rose, "Really?"
Monica nodded, "Suze, or something she's the one that taught him to dance"
Lara did not get the significance of that statement and Monica noticed, "You 've not seen him dance?" she asked.
"No, I don' think I have" Lara said thoughtfully.
Monica smiled, "Then" she pointed at where Xander had extricated himself from Scully's embrace, "I would give him a twirl"
Lara shot her a look that was almost a question and Monica picked it up easily, "If it can't be me, I'd prefer it to be you" she said honestly, "I think from what you said that you understand what I'm just starting to"
Lara looked at her questioningly. So she continued, "That as much as he feels for each and every woman in his life, he doesn't want to or can't stay with them for very long. Losing his wife hurt him, a lot and add to that what you were saying about his immortality…"
"I think I follow you" Lara said thoughtfully as she watched Xander glide across the club heading towards the huddle of men that included the man who had called himself Hawk. Her lips curled into a smile, "I've just noticed something else interesting as well"
"Oh, what?" Monica asked with a smile at her new friend.
"He's carrying a gun. This is his club with security controlled by him. He 's surrounded by friends not an enemy in sight and he is still has that Walther"
"I don't follow" Monica admitted. "What's that mean exactly?"
Lara smiled warmly at her, "I'm not sure myself but I don't have a gun on me tonight, nor I notice does anyone else, with the possible exception of Bond. Although I did notice that the immortals are all carrying swords. However, as I understand it, they would be mad not to"
"I'm still not with you" Monica said with a slightly confused expression.
"It could be that he doesn't trust anyone else to keep him safe" Lara said doubtfully.
"Okay, that doesn't sound much like Xander" Monica pointed out.
"I agree, I think it more likely that he considers ever single last person here to be under 'HIS' protection" Lara smirked, "Which, considering the people here its rather funny"
"I take it that you don't need protection from what you were saying about guns" Monica asked the English lady curiously.
"Good lord no" Lara said with a light laugh, "Nor do most here"
Monica pouted her lips thoughtfully, "Is it just my friends and I who are 'normal'" she asked
Lara scanned her eyes across the crowd of Xander's friends, "Not exactly but I do think you are the only group who has no combat experience"
"Makes you wonder what he saw in us?" Monica asked, almost stated.
Lara looked at her carefully gauging her, "I think it has something to do with the fact that you and your friends helped him when he needed it, if my dear family member tells me the truth"
Monica smiled widely and decided to change the subject, "Really, which one is your 'family member'"
"He's not here; he's covering for the girls"
"That's good of him"
Lara nodded her eyes back to watching Xander as he worked the room, "Rupert is like that"
Xander skirted and 'flirted' the various groups in the basement before finally slinking off to the elevator and slipping into it. He nodded to Lara as he noticed her watching him. He pointed to his watch and held up five fingers as the doors closed and Lara smirked slightly and turned to her companion, "It seems that the game is still running" she commented.
"The FBI women noticed" Monica said nodding to where Scully was slipping off after him, "I think that he may be more than five minutes" she smirked
Lara smirked back at her, "Sound like you're talking from experience"
Monica blushed and then nodded energetically. "Oh hell yeah"
"Hey Phil" Xander said as he slipped into the DJ booth using his key card.
Phil turned his blonde head back to Xander and smiled, "The Xan-Man cometh dude"
"You crazy drugged up surfer" Xander shot back with warmth. "How's the guest DJ doing is everything alright?"
"He's cool, he's like really tall"
"Paul" Xander finished off with a smirk, "You'd think his name would have given you a clue"
Phil flipped him the bird with a smile, "This place is hot. The bronze has no chance"
"Good" Xander said, "That place is a trap for the toothy guys, at least here people are safe"
Phil nodded with a smile on his face but his eyes were dark, "Good"
Xander clapped a hand on the older mans shoulder and gave it a brotherly squeeze. Then he handed him a Jack Daniels, neat, he'd picked up on the way and brought up one himself.
Phil looked at him glass held up. Together they said, "To Jessie" and downed their drinks in one gulp. Both men coughed a little and smiled at each other.
"Man this stuff is strong" Phil said shaking his head to clear it.
"You never could take your drink" Xander commented wryly.
"No, that's true enough" Phil told him once again smiling his Surfer Identity back in place.
"When's his set up?"
"1a.m. then I'm back"
"Good, try to out do him, make him realize that he will have to work hard for the crowds in here. That way if he comes back…"
"… He'll be even better, I getcha Xan"
Xander winked at him and backed out of the box disappearing into the crowds once again. He wanted to try to find his assistant manager along the way and check up on the running. Although he figured that she was somewhere with Bond doing, well what men and women do.
He quickly checked in with the various bar managers as he made his way up to the offices at the top floor. He wanted to be as quick as possible so as not to annoy or neglect his guests too much. But then they all knew that he had a business to run. He was very happy to see that they were packed to capacity and a glance at the figures from the bar was doing things for his bank balance. Profit was not his main aim here; he wanted to give the people of Sunnydale somewhere safe. Also, If he was honest, he just wanted a nightclub. That said, Profit was nice; very nice.
His mind turned to Lex Luthor, he was somewhat curious to find out if his possible business partner would be arriving before or after midnight. He had sent him an invite; in fact he had sent several in the vague hope that he would bring Lana who would in turn bring Clark. He wanted to try to figure out that small enigma.
He finally reached the office area and smirked as he watched Tina come out of her office with Bond in tow, both arranging their clothes.
"Hello old chap" Bond said with a large smile.
"Hello James" Xander said in a surprisingly good English accent.
Bond's eyes widened slightly and then he smirked. Xander smirked back and looked to Tina, she looked at him fearfully.
"Chill Tina, I was just wondering if you had a feel for how things were going, but its no big deal. I've just had a walk around and I'm very pleased to say it's jumping out there"
Tina flushed slightly, "I'm sorry Mr. Harris…"
Xander held up a hand to stop her, "I really don't mind, as long as it doesn 't happen too often" the last part said with a mild glare at Bond who shrugged and smiled it off. "Besides, tonight IS special and the bar managers can keep things running by themselves. We're just here to keep a hand on the tiller and for anything major"
Tina nodded and then flashed a dazzling smile but Xander cut her off with a laugh, "Please no jokes about having your hand on anyone's rudder"
Tina laughed as did Bond who went as far as to say, "Your sense of humor is quite possibly worse than mine"
"Thanks" Xander said taking it as a complement, "Now scoot, I've got to hit my computer a few times and then I'll join you down at the party. If anyone asks tell them I won't be long"
Bond nodded and guided Tina out with a hand on the small of her back. Xander watched them go with a smile. His smile grew as they disappeared completely and walked over to the end wall of the office. Then with a quick look around he reached out and hit the wall in three different places. A section then lifted out of the wall and slid back revealing another room into which he walked, the wall closing behind him.
Once inside the lights flickered on to reveal a state of the art computer room with a communications panel arrayed across an entire wall of the six foot by six foot room. The room itself had been very difficult to set up and had taken a certain amount of his talent with computers to make disappear completely from any and all plans of the building. It was his personal operations center which he fully intended to connect to the main network at HQ when it was finished. Currently it allowed him direct access to his contact at MI6.
He filed a quick report noting that he had met up with Blade as well as a few comments about Susie while he was about it. There was something strange about her 'breed' of vampire, he was fairly certain that her sire had been of the demonic kind, but she didn't act like a demonic vampire. The thought of Suze gave him a pang of emotion and he quickly finished up his report. Then checking that no one was outside he took his leave of the Ops room.
He was about to walk into the elevator when he noticed that his door appeared to be ajar. His Walther cleared leather in a flash and he crept towards his office. He was fairly certain that he had locked his office door after he had left it before, but here it was open.
He continued his creep.
Chandler found himself being jogged by Hudson Hawk who was smiling at him.
"What?" Chandler asked with a worried expression on his face.
Eddie Hawkins smiled widely, "She keeps on looking at you kid"
Anna swatted his arm affectionately, "Leave him be, love takes its own course"
Eddie smirked, "Who said anything about love?"
Anna scowled at him playfully, and looked at the amused Chandler Bing, "Don' t take any notice of this MAN"
"Yeah" Chandler said slowly, "But is she looking?"
Anna glanced over to exhibit A; and found that a light blue pair of eyes was indeed glued on Chandlers form, "Yes, actually she is" she darted a look at her husband who was chuckling slightly, "It's not like you to notice these things" she said curiously.
Hawk shrugged, "I didn't" he admitted, "She did" pointing at the dark haired elfin girl that they now knew was Xander's sister.
"Mary told you" Chandler said and harrumphed, "She could have told me"
"Nah, she didn't tell me. I just over heard her telling her" Hawk told him pointing to a girl with much longer brown hair cascading down her back. The slayers sister was currently huddled with Mary and her sister chatting back and forth and laughing together.
"Oh" Chandler said, "So, do you think I should… You know?"
Hawk looked to the ceiling in supplication, "Well, let me think…"
Anna swatted him, "What my Neolithic husband meant to say was, yes. Ask her to dance"
Hawk smirked and made like an ape, "Or you could club her over the head and drag her to your cave by the hair, ug"
Chandler chuckled slightly, "But you know, I'm not good with the whole talking bit"
Anna smiled at the younger man, "Then go over there and catch her eye"
"Yeah…" Chandler said enthusiastically.
"Hold out you hand…"
"Yeah…"
"THEN, club her over the head" Anna said with a titter of laughter.
Chandler rolled his eyes, "Doh!"
"Just kidding, then just smile and she'll get the hint"
"Really?" Chandler asked Anna, Hawk was rolling his eyes but smiling at his wife adoringly.
"Is that Tommy trying to score with the English Lady?" he said suddenly.
Anna glanced to where Tommy Fivetone was chatting up Lady Croft, "Looks to be"
"Damn, well if he can do it, you can kid" hawk said to chandler.
Chandler nodded and appeared to try to gather his courage.
"Just go for it" Anna urged him.
Chandler nodded and then setting his shoulders he walked calmly over to Natalie and did exactly as Anna had told him.
Natalie beamed up at him and took the proffered hand quickly and virtually dragged the more than willing Chandler to the dance floor.
Spike walked into his crypt with a large smile on his face. Inside of his spacious dust jacket he had 200 cigarettes, a bottle of Bells whisky, a bottle of English draft and most importantly a bottle of blood. He intended to settle down in front of the box and watch his recorded passions episodes.
Despite helping the Scooby gang out, just for kicks, he still had a few friends in the demon community and they had allowed him to hook up electricity, plumbing and even cable into what was essentially a large grave. He wasn't like his Nancy boy Grand Sire; he wouldn't live in a bloody great mansion. He just wanted to more traditional crypt. Failing that he would have liked a warehouse, trouble was for that he needed minions and no vamp worth his fangs would follow the lead of a master vampire who couldn't even bite a soul.
He stopped dead as he stepped across the threshold and his already pale complexion faded to an almost translucent white.
He couldn't be seeing what he thought he was seeing. There was no possibility of it at all. He had seen many things in the 150 odd years he had lived most of the more gruesome of which he had perpetrated himself. But this simple sight was shaking his world to the very foundations. He took several steps into the crypt his cigarette hanging from where it was stuck to his lip.
He didn't care, he didn't even notice as it dropped down to the ground his movement finally shaking it loose.
The apparition turned to look at him and a slow demure smile spread across its human looking and attractive female face.
"Hello Spiky" the English accented voice seemed to snap him back into the present.
"Ducks?"
Pru turned to her sister with a wide smile, "This is one hell of a party" she said.
Piper nodded her head Leo smiling along with her, "It sure is, this place blows P3 out of the water in terms of size"
"P3 is much classier" Leo said loyally.
Piper smiled fondly at him, "Thanks honey"
Pru rolled her eyes, "Talking of clubs, where has the owner gone this time?"
"That red head has gone as well" Leo pointed out.
Pru's eyes spat green fire for a flash, "Really"
Piper leaned into Leo, "She won't be sent to hell for a first offense will she?"
Leo shot her a puzzled look, "Huh?"
"I think she wants to use her power to drive that redhead through a wall or ten"
Leo chuckled slightly, "You're kidding, right?"
Piper cocked an eyebrow.
"Right?" Leo repeated worriedly.
Connor sat with his clansman and friends drinking a very fine scotch and swapping stories. Neither he nor they were much for dancing, certainly not as much as the others who were for the most part bopping away on the large dance floor. However, none of them were exactly against the music playing and Methos was in his element with the large selection of Beer's that Xander had shipped in.
"Are you enjoying yourself old man?" Duncan said with a sparkle in his eye.
"I certainly am boy" he glanced at his watch, "Isn't it past your bedtime"
Duncan shot him an amused look, "If it is, then most of the people here will have to join me"
Connor smirked; "I wouldn't let Amanda hear you saying things like that" he shot back and laughed at his cousin's confused expression. Methos almost spat up his beer.
"Alright, where is he?" Cordelia demanded tapping Mulder on the shoulder.
Mulder turned around and smiled at the attractive brunette. He had been in deep conversation with Angel, going over what is and isn't real in the vampires experience. It was turning out to be a very interesting conversation, "Who?" he asked.
"Xander" Cordelia shot back.
Mulder's brow crumbled in good looking confusion, "Sorry, what?"
Cordelia rolled her eyes, and was about to unleash some of her patented brand of sarcasm on him but Angel stepped in to save him the embarrassment. "'Delia, why would Mulder know where Xander is"
Cordelia rolled her eyes again, "Well duh, she is his partner"
Angel blinked slowly, only by long hours of practice and immersion therapy was he able to understand her thought processes, "What makes you think Mulder knows where Scully is"
"Oh" Mulder said understanding entering his expression like day break, "She said she was going to the bathroom. She'll be back in a minute"
Another eye roll from Cordelia, "Men!"
Angel looked thoughtful for a moment before he finally spoke, "I'm not sure how to say this Mulder"
"Shot" Mulder said relaxing against the bar.
"Your Partner…"
"Yeah, she's like mundo obsessed with my ex" Cordelia put in.
Angel rolled his eyes, "Thank you Miss Tact"
Cordelia shrugged and smiled a megawatt smile.
Mulder chuckled slightly before sobering up, "Yes, she is"
"Why?" Angel asked in honest confusion.
Cordelia swatted his shoulder hard, "Honestly, you don't get it even now do you" she said her eyes flashing slightly.
"What?" Angel asked absently rubbing his shoulder.
"Well, let me think, he's brave, funny, charming, good looking and now he dresses properly he looks like a million bucks. Gee, why would any women be interested in him?" Cordelia told him tapping her chin in mocking thought.
"Yeah, alright, maybe but Agent Scully is a highly intelligent women, a strong women of the nineties or considering the time, nearly the naughties"
Cordelia let out a very unlady like snort of laughter, "Naughties, ha"
Angel smirked, "Yeah, well, you know what I mean"
Cordelia sobered slightly, "Well, if it means anything I don't think that Xander will sleep with her"
Mulder cocked an eyebrow at her, "Why not?"
"Well, she is obviously very attractive if you like that sort of thing, but Xander's not that easy he has like a code"
Linda and Jenna who were ear wigging the conversation let out a guffaw of laughter.
Cordelia turned imperiously and glared at the pair, "What's so funny?"
"Sorry" Linda gasped out, "Sorry, We didn't mean to listen in, but…" she tried to sober a little more so Jenna stepped in.
"With Xander you just need to know the buttons to push"
Linda nodded, "And man does he have a go button" she said sniggering slightly.
"Huh?" Cordy said
"Just before you got here us girls were having a chat, well we learnt a few things." Linda filled in.
Jenna cut her off, "Besides, you just need to know his trigger, if you've got that you'll get some"
Cordelia blinked at her phraseology, "Get some?" she asked frostily.
"Yep" Jenna said her smile turning wicked, "although I should say a lot"
Linda smirked and sniggered slightly, "I'm guessing your talking about…"
"Oh yeah…"
Cordelia pulled herself up to her full height, "What?"
Linda and Jenna smirked at each other whilst Mulder and Angel looked at one another with equal looks of confusion.
Jenna leaned forward and whispered into Cordelia's ear. Cordy's eyes grew every second of the short conversation until finally she sputtered, "That's it, just wear"
Jenna cut her off, "Careful, that information is dangerous in the wrong hands" she said mock seriously.
"But..."
Jenna just nodded so Cordy looked at Linda who also nodded with the same wicked smile on her face as Jenna had.
"Damn" Cordy said and then shook herself, "So you're saying if she is, then he will?"
Another joint nod from Linda and Jenna, "Damn" Then Cordelia smiled widely, "Well, these days what are the odds that she is" then she frowned, "Come to think of it, why were you?"
"Strip Club" they both said together before erupting into laughter.
Upstairs Xander pushed open his door carefully his alloy Walther leading the way he stepped inside and stopped dead in his tracks.
His eyes slowly raised themselves from a high heel up past an ankle past perfect calves' shapely knee and finally coming to rest on the lacy top of a stocking.
Scully looked up from adjusting her suspender strap and smiled wickedly at him. The split in her skirt swished forward as she stepped back from where she had propped her foot on his desk, the curtain of material covering the transfixing sight.
Xander came to his senses and looked into a laughing pair of blue eyes above a mocking and wicked curl to her red lips.
She sashayed over to him her intent plainly visible in her eyes. "Oh Shit"
The heavy door to the limo swung back soundlessly on its hinges from its door a bald head appeared followed by a body, then a dark haired man, A long dark haired women and finally a blonde haired one stepped through. The chauffeur smiled and bowed slightly to the bald man who was obviously in charge.
"Thank you, I'll call you when we're done"
"Of course Mr. Luthor"
Across the road and also just stepping out of a vehicle, a taxi to be exact was a raven haired woman wearing a cocktail dress that caused all the men nearby to suddenly turn and look at her.
They two separate groups walked to the entrance of the hottest club in the area and cued behind each other. The large capable looking doorman glanced at their tickets and directed them all to the elevator. They rode down in silence the raven haired women shifting nervously feeling somewhat out of place with the group of obvious friends, especially so since she knew the identity of the bald haired man from her studies of various newspapers.
The good looking and also raven haired man looked at her and smiled, "Hi" he said nervously.
"Hi" she replied.
"So… Come here often" he said and winced, "Sorry that sounded like such a line. God, sorry I'm just a little nervous"
"Why?"
"Well my friend over there was invited by a possible business partner. I'm just a bit worried about screwing it up for him"
"Now Clark, I told you don't worry. Xander is cool" Lex said with a smile at the petite beauty that Clark was talking to. "Lex Luthor"
"I know" she said with a smile, "I'm Lois, Lois Lane"
Lex looked at her with great interest, "Hello Lois. This is Clark" he pointed as he went around the elevator car, "Lana and Chloe"
"Hi" Lois said nodding to each in turn.
"So what brings you to California? I take it you know our guest"
Lois blushed slightly at which Lex smiled charmingly, "I'll take that as a yes. If I may ask, how?"
"I met him in a club in metropolis"
"You're from metropolis?" Lex said stunned, "Small world"
Lois smiled engagingly, "It certainly is" she glanced at the large form of Clark towering over nearly everybody present and Lex allowed himself a small smile.
Just then the elevator doors opened to reveal the large party now in progress.
Linda spotted them as the door opened and rushed across to greet them.
Xander found himself being pushed back against the wall with great force the shelves rattling on the thin plaster. He smiled into the now dark with lust blue eyes of the red haired woman. Any who knew the old Scully would be shocked at this display of passion, her colleagues, with the exception of Mulder, thought her to be a cold fish. They had no reason not to as she was always aloof towards them. However even before her possession that veneer of ice was holding back a core of Lava hot passion.
Xander kissed her deeply his hands wandering across her body not in a teenaged frenzy of touch but in slow movements that sent electric tingles of desire down straight to her pelvis. With that single kiss he unlocked Dana Scully's secret heat. The possession had merely allowed it to be shown more, a peak into the depths of a fiery redhead, natural or not. Her passion boiled out from under the ice causing almost visible steam to rise from her body. She ran her hands down his chest noting that he was well defined and hard as rock. A pink tongue darted out to lick her moist red lips. Xander watched its process with lustful intent. As it disappeared back into her mouth he plundered the depths of her with his tongue dueling with hers.
Dana moaned slightly as his hand cupped her still clothed breast, his fingers tracing a pattern of lightening across the outside of the material. Xander pulled back and looked into her eyes. Dana's breath hitched as she watched a tentacle of lightening appeared in his left eye, then another in his right eye. They multiplied and spread all around those deeply dark orbs that seemed to shift around the spectrum until they were lightly glowing golden brown. The electrical storm occurring in his eyes did nothing to deter or dampen her passion; in fact knowing that the man she current had panting for her was so powerful made her feel special. She was slightly surprised to find that fact was turning her on like nothing had ever managed before in her life. Scully was no virgin, but for the last few years she had not had the chance or inclination to sleep with anyone. Now she knew that she needed to feel him inside of her more than she needed to take another breath.
"You're so hot" Xander growled causing her pupils to dilate further as she smiled that slow sexy wicked smile of hers. Xander ran his hands down her body enjoying the feel of nubile woman hood under his hands. He ached to feel her warm flesh under her clothes so his hands set out to do his bidding. Her blouse seemed to be transported away from her body and floated to the floor in a rustle of silk. Dana feeling more lustful by the second ripped Xander's jacket away where it fell to the floor in a plunk of sound. Her nimble fingers set to work on his buttons for all of five seconds before need overcame her and she ripped it away buttons flying around them like popcorn.
Xander reached forward once again capturing her in a kiss swapping positions with her as he did so. Now she was pressed back against the wall her hands in his as he smiled into her eyes, that strange storm once again crackling around his eyes transfixing her gaze. Her breath was coming in pants and her expression of such want that Xander found himself becoming painfully hard. His hands left hers and ran across her arms and round to her back pulling her forward her bra was undone with a flick of his fingers. He gently reached around pulling the flimsy material as he did so it shortly joined the shirt on the floor before finally his head bowed to a breast. Scully let out a small yelp of pleasure as his lips made contact and her eyes crossed slightly. Once of her hands wrapped around his head and curled into his hair. The pleasure hit her in waves for a half minute as he teased her. Then he began a journey south trailing kisses down her stomach. Swift hands pulled her skirt upwards around her waist an arm tucking her leg behind his shoulder.
"OHHHHHH" Dana drawled out in a throaty voice that caused Xander to increase his efforts; her eyes closed rolling back in their sockets as he expertly pleasured her.
A sudden loud beeping sounded in the quiet office and if took Xander a long moment before he even heard it.
Dana felt his focus change and her eyes flickered open, "Leave It"
Xander started to ignore it but a voice finally floated across the intercom, "Mr. Harris, Lex Luthor and party have arrived as has Ms Lane" the doorman's deep voice told them.
"Damn" Xander breathed out removing himself from her skirt.
"Oh no, don't you do this to me again" the red head said her eyes flashing fire.
"I've got to go meet them, new business partner, could be worth millions" he said by way of explanation. Then he smiled charmingly at her and looked deep into her eyes, "We'll have to take this up later" he asked hopefully.
Scully rearranged her skirt and blouse her eyes flashing pure fire, "No, we will not, Mr. Harris!" she spat at him picking up her clothes and putting them on quickly before turning on a high heel and stalking away.
"Dana, Wait" Xander said catching her at the door. "I'm sorry" he said into her eyes.
Scully battled with herself for a moment before allowing a small smile, "I understand, but I meant what I said"
Xander nodded sadly but shot her a smile, "That's a damn shame" he said following her out of the door and allowing his glance to take her in, "A damn shame"
Scully turned at the elevator door which had arrived and opened on cue and smirked at him, "Your loss lover boy."
Xander smirked, "Fuck it, Lex can wait" he said stepping forward
"Too late" she said as the doors closed.
Xander walked back into his office and looked at the small mirror he had there. Lip stick was smeared across his face, a lazy lopsided smirk he fished in his pocket. Once the case was retrieved he took a cigarette from his case and flipped it into his mouth and lit it. Then staring himself in the eye for a moment his grin faded. With a thump his head slumped forward and smacked into the mirror as he muttered a mantra Over and over again.
"So close, so damn close, damn Lex and damn that doorman"
Xander finally walked out of the elevator and back into the party. He quickly glanced around and found that Scully was now sat chatting to the Gellars animatedly. He smirked a little at that sight and then searched for Lex. He found him in standing with a group of friends. They managed to catch each others eyes at the same time and nodded to each other. Xander set off to meet with his new partner, which is one of the reasons that he had invited Lex to the party anyway.
As he walked across Lex watched his, hopefully new, business partner cross the room and interact with the various people he met on the way across. In total it took him five minutes to actually manage to get across from one side of the room to his position. Lex considered himself a good judge of character and it was obvious from his interactions with the people he'd met that Xander was friends or friendly with every single person here. The only unknowns to Xander were Clark, Lana and Chloe and those that Lex had brought with him. There was a surprisingly large amount of people in the room, at a rough guess Lex counted heads at close to twenty people, in what Xander had called a small private party at the opening of his new club.
"Glad you could make it Lex" Xander said as he finally stood in front of the famous Lex Luthor.
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world" Lex said honestly. Wild horses couldn't have kept him away tonight, not when he hoped he was going to get the news that he hoped he would.
Xander smiled widely, "How's tricks?"
Lex smiled back, "Pretty good" he replied with a twinkle.
"Alright, I'll be nice and stop playing you"
Lex cocked his head to one side, "I take it you've made up your mind"
"Yeah, sorry" Xander said
"I see, well no hard feelings" Lex said with a sigh, he'd have to find another avenue to explore.
"I hope not, since we'll be working together" Xander said with a large smile.
Lex blinked then smiled widely actually showing some relief at the pronouncement, "Excellent"
"I think it will be, the lawyers can knock heads on this for a while and draw up some form of contract. I'll list any holdings that are…for other things"
Lex nodded wondering what THAT meant, "Of course, as will I"
Xander looked at Lex's collection of friends chatting amongst themselves and noticed Lois chatting animatedly to a tall dark haired man. "Well, aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" he asked with a charming smile.
Lex took a sip of his drink to hide a large smile, "Of course"
He turned and attracted the attention of the small group, "Guys, this is my new business partner, Xander Harris"
He turned back to Xander and smiled, "Xander meet from left to right, Clark Kent, Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan. I think you know Lois"
"Picked up a straggler hey" he said winking at Lois who smiled and winked back.
"Yes, we met in the elevator" Clark said leaning forward to shake Xander's hand.
Xander took his hand in his own. The moment they touched there was an audible, even over the music, crack of electrical power and a flash of gold and green. The two men jumped back from each other in shock eying each other warily. "Damn, that was some static shock" Lois said with a pretty smile that didn't hide her curious expression from the more experienced among them, namely Lex and Xander.
"You're telling me" Clark said thinking, 'That actually hurt!'
The two men looked into each others eyes for a long time before Xander smiled, "Remind me, not to do that again. No offence I think we'll stick with waving"
Clark smiled, "Sounds good to me"
Lex looked from one to another with a secret smile wondering what was going on. He was well aware that his friend had a knack for finding and solving trouble and he was well aware that something was different about him. He just had yet to find out what. Now it appeared that something strange was happening with Xander as well.
Lois watched Lex thinking that something was going on here that just didn't feel right. She decided then and there to find out what the hell it was.
"So… What do you guys think of the club" Xander said prompting a nice safe banal conversation.
The countdown to the new millennium had started with the DJ announcing that there were only twenty minutes to go as a man seemed to melt out of the shadows of the club. As he did so another twenty similar looking individuals did exactly the same thing spreading out across the floors of the club and moving with precision.
They covertly covered all of the exits and entrances including the various staff only doors. Two were set up on each bouncer and doorman guarding the club and watching the proceedings with a professional eye.
A lone figure melted up the stairs towards the office block their dark clothes suddenly seemed to match the dark interior of the club.
As the exits were systematically guarded a single female entered the club, for the second time that night. Her first time had been a somewhat disastrous affair, but this time she was decided in her goal. He wasn't going to shake her this time, it was join her or die. Her indigo eyes scoped out the club looking for the dark haired man that had become the star of her dreams, both waking and sleeping.
Across town in a crypt Spike's closed his eyes in pleasure as a dark haired woman was knelt before him.
In bar called simply the Alibi room an aged watcher was catching up with an old friend, James Bond who had slipped away from the party to meet Giles.
Back in the bowels of the Non Lamia the party was grinding up a gear and Xander found himself dragged to the dance floor by a daughter of an English lord.
The many men and women in the private room started to gear up for the coming millennia, the six one seen in for one of them and the second for another.
The clock continued to click down towards midnight.
Xander glanced over to find Scully looking at him with a slight smile that caused him to smile a little wider himself. He was worried about how what had happened in his office would affect their working relationship. From the look in her eye, she was at least on her way to forgiving him for his cardinal sin of having to halt their… moment.
He allowed his eyes to slip past her to the elevator door as it opened and lost all trace of color on his face.
Scully noticed the change in complexion and reacted quickly getting up ignoring Ross and Monica she made her way quickly over to the young man that made her pant like no other. She was a long way from forgiving him for stopping, but then if she was aloud to say, so were he, but stopping for a few lousy Million bucks! She had to admit to herself that it was worth waiting for, especially that thing he'd been doing with his tongue. But right now he obviously needed at friend. He looked almost scared.
Xander didn't notice her approach he only saw her, for the second time that night Xander felt his heart crack and shatter into a million pieces.
"Are you alight?" Scully asked him worry etched on her lovely features.
Xander smiled down at her, "Yeah, just a little tired. Excuse me I've got to deal with something" he said his tone dead.
Scully watched him slightly confused as he walked over to the elevator only to grab the arm of a blonde woman and drag her back into the elevator. She quickly looked around for Angel and found him talking to two short blondes, one wearing what could only be described as a belt and the other wearing a classy looking ensemble. She cut through the crowds quickly her earlier playfulness had disappeared and now Agent Scully was in control the smirk gone her eyes cool and calm. The public face of Dana Scully was also her professional one. She slipped into the old persona like sliding on a comfortable pair of shoes.
"Angel" She called out as she reached the tall vampire, "I think we have trouble"
Angel's smile slipped away to be replaced by a concerned frown. Buffy on the other hand smirked, "Done already" she said icily.
Angel shot a surprised look that he quickly covered while Mel was busting a gut not to laugh.
Scully ignored her totally, "I just watched Xander blanch then he walked over there and pulled a blonde haired women, I'd say late twenties striking eyes into the elevator car and disappeared. He wasn't being too gentle either"
Buffy sobered, "Was she tall, looked like a dancer with the way she moved?"
Dana shook her head, "Couldn't say about the dancer although she was remarkably fit looking and yes she was quite tall"
Mel and Buffy shared a look, "Do you think…" the said together.
"Think what" Angel prompted.
"Earlier an old 'friend' of Xander's dropped in, only trouble was that she's a vampire that tricked him into inviting her in. This old friend means something to him, quite a lot of something's" Buffy filled in.
"Dangerous?" Scully asked.
"Could be, she had Xan tied in knots earlier"
"She moves like a dancer, sure, but that could also be martial training" Mel put in.
Scully's doctor class brain shifted into high gear, "Okay, I think we should at least back him up. We four should be able to slip away from the party without causing a stir"
Buffy nodded, "Good plan"
"I'm sure X has it under control" Mel said nicking Faith's nickname for the Section X leader. "Besides, I've got a better idea" she said and caught Nina's eye and flashed a quick conversation with her fingers. Then she caught Faith's eye and communicated with her eyes. Seconds later both Nina and Faith were standing at her side looking ready for anything. "We'll handle it" Mel finished with a slight smile leading her fellow agents away.
Buffy looked at them in shock, "What the hell just happened"
"They're a team" Dana said in a moment of clarity, "He's moving quickly" she continued and disappeared after them. She paused for a moment to take Mulder by the arm and with a quick glance at her he followed without a word.
Buffy and Angel frowned at each other before shrugging and following them all.
Xander pulled Suze into his office without a word. He walked around to the other side of his desk and clicked a button. Suze felt and heard the door behind her clicking closed and there was a slight thud as a large deadbolt slid into place from the door itself.
"Why Suga, I didn't realize you were so needy" she drawled with a sultry smile.
Xander leant forward and leant his knuckles on his desk. His eyes seemed to bore into her but she returned to stare without a flicker of doubt.
"What's going on Suze?" Xander said finally.
Susie waved a manicured hand, "I don't know what you mean handsome, you did after all invite me to this shindig" she replied airily.
"I think you know what I mean. Suze you're a vampire"
"So"
Xander let out a bark of laughter, "So?"
"Yeah, So. It doesn't mean I can't feel handsome, in fact being brought across has opened my eyes, removed the veil from them"
Xander smirked grimly; "Yeah, that sounds like a vamp" he looked at her trying to remind himself that this wasn't the Suze he had loved. This was the thing that had killed her. Yet again he was reminded of his blind belief that Angelus should have been staked by Buffy quickly. He had yet another insight into how she must have felt. He made a mental note to apologize to her; this was going to be a lot harder than he had at first thought. His hand slipped into his jacket pocket and reappeared with a stake clenched in a death grip.
Suze looked at the stake in shock, "Handsome?" she said in a small voice.
"Do me one last favor Suze" Xander said his voice heavy with emotion, "Bring out your Game face make it easier for me" he almost begged.
Suze stepped back involuntarily her eyes wide, "No, you can't do this"
"I have to Suze; the Suze I knew wouldn't want to be a vampire"
She took a long breath in unfortunately through her nose. "What's that smell Suga, you've had a woman in here" she growled, her eyes flashing a deep indigo fangs appearing from her upper mouth. Her finger nails grew into sharp looking claws. Apart from the elongated canines everything else appeared to stay the same on her face, no deformed ridges and no yellow eyes.
Xander tipped his head to one side and studied her, "Trust you to actually look hot in game face" he said with a slight smirk.
Suze growled low in her throat sounding like a lioness ready for the hunt, "You bastard, how could you bring me in here"
Xander looked befuddled for a moment and sudden comprehension crossed his brow, he was suddenly at a complete loss for something to say to the enraged vampire. "This would be so much easier if I could just stake you Suze" he said with a tired sigh.
Suze stood up straighter up to her full height which in her heels was almost to Xander's ear. "When did you become a heartless bastard Xander" she said her game face slipping back to normal and her voice cold.
Xander frowned at her, "Killing vampires is what I do Suze"
"You and I were close once" she pointed out.
"You may have the memories of Suze, but you're not really Suze. You're the thing that killed her"
"So sure of yourself soldier, think you know everything don't you" Suze spat her eyes once again spitting fire, but this was the fire of a hurting woman. "How do you know that I'm demonic? I might not be, I could be like you"
Xander tilted his head once again and shifted his focus allowing the special aura viewing aspect of his gift to come to the fore. He carefully studied her aura and then shook his head, "You're not you don't have a quickening"
Suze filed the strange word away in her mind for later but pressed her advantage, "I didn't mean just like you, dolt. I mean a vampire with a soul"
"I'm not a vamp Suze. There is no demon in me"
"Who says there is one in me?"
"I saw it Suze, dark red in your aura, blood red for a vampire demon quite a strong one though. You're a master vampire, not just a minion." Xander laughed slightly, "Not that I'm surprised at that, I can't see you as anyone 's minion"
Suze flashed him a megawatt smile for a brief moment before it was burnt away by her anger, "What about a soul?" she demanded
"Can't see that in an aura Suze tell me pissed of any witches?"
Suze shook her head, "No, what's that got to do with it?"
"Only a powerful witch of shaman can restore a vampire's soul Suze" Xander said hefting his stake again and stepped round the desk.
Mel led her fellow agents into the office area quickly checking exits and scooping out the area. It had taken them a few minutes of skirting through the club to realize that Xander had come up this way. They had searched floor by floor until finally one of the bouncers finally pointed them up here. Mel cursed; she should actually have realized that he would come up here, after all this was the most private area of the club.
She glanced at Faith and Nina checking that they were at her side before giving a nod and stepping up towards the office door that was marked with an X. Xander's private office and the hub for the entire club.
She reached out a tentative hand and knocked once.
As she did so the two FBI agents assigned to liaise with the head of Section X and an ensouled vampire and slayer arrived.
They looked at each other when there was no answer and Mel reached out and twisted the door knob. There was no give in the door or the knob indicating that it was locked. "Xan" she called out shouting into the door.
"One minute Mel" his voice rang out causing them all to let out a sigh of relief.
After a moment there was a click and the door swung back on its hinges, just enough for Xander to appear. "Hey guys"
"We were worried, is everything alright, we saw that blonde from earlier" Mel said carefully.
Xander nodded with a sad smile, "Yeah, I'm just dealing with that. Don't worry guys everything is in hand"
Mel smiled at him her usual impish grin, "Fair enough babe, we'll see you soon?"
Xander nodded, "Yeah soon"
"Don't miss the ball dropping yeah, I know I want a New Years kiss" she said her eyes dancing.
Nina's fingers flashed, [I'm not entirely against the idea myself] she said causing Xander to smile at her.
"I'll Try" he said to everyone present his lopsided smile showing itself. "Promise"
Mel nodded and backed away from the door, "Good, we'll see you down there then"
Xander nodded again and closed the door leaving a concerned looking Section X team staring at its alloy effect surface.
Xander turned back to where Suze was now standing her eyes not leaving his for a moment; the stake reappeared from his pocket.
Scully shared a glance with Mel and they both smirked slightly, "Believe him?" Buffy said a slight smile herself.
"Nah" Mel said stepping back from the door, "Something weird is going on here"
"Who is this person?" Angel asked, "This blonde"
"Trouble" Faith said succinctly, "Big trouble"
Inside the office Xander moved quickly, almost a blur of motion streaked across the office until he was standing with Suze held off balance in one arm and the stake hovering above her chest, directly above her heart. He had moved so fast that a shocked yelp had been torn from Susie's throat.
She looked from the wooden death held in a white knuckle grip by the man she loved. Her eyes traced up his arm and rested on his eyes. A single tear leaked from her eye and ran down her face pausing like a drop of diamond before freeing itself and dropping to the ground.
Behind Xander he could hear the banging on the door that signaled that Mel and the others had heard Susie's shocked scream and wanted to make sure everything was all right.
Suze looked into his eyes her heart held within there almost violet depths. For a long moment they held each others gaze the stake still hovering in mid air not moving a single inch. There were a few more resounding thuds on the door as the larger guns were moved into position and Faith, Buffy and Angel all started to pound on the metal surface. To Xander it seemed that the sound was coming from a mile away, the room was taking on an almost dream like state. Time seeming to trickle along in a treacle like flow rather than the white rapids that normal signified time for Xander. All the time looking into those violet depths of pain. He tried several times to move his hand; to plunge the wood down into what he knew was an un-beating, dead heart. He tried for what seemed like an eternity but was unable to even tense the muscles in his arm.
Suze watched his inner battle from the strange security of his crocked arm still holding her in almost a dance step. She knew that he would not drop her and suddenly she knew that he would not stake her either. This would have made her happy except that she also knew that he was still trying to end her life. Another tear collected in her eye and slid down the same route as its predecessor. More joined them from both eyes as they welled up in a backlog causing her indigo eyes to darken.
"Do it" she whispered her lips barely moving, "get it done suga" she said slightly louder.
If Xander heard her he made no move to indicate it, he was still perfectly still battling with his inner demons, conscious, love and duty. He knew that if he allowed Suze to walk that any death she caused would be his fault, however indirectly. But could he stake her and move on, the last few months had been both the best and worst in his entire life. His soul mate had been taken from his, he should have died and yet he continued on fighting the good fight.
His arm drew back just as the DJ started the 10 second count down to the new year, the new millennium. The stake still in his hand now poised and his aim true.
Suze looked into his heart, "Last request? Please Handsome"
Xander paused; his arm and nodded.
"One last little ole New Year's kiss for old times, Suga, hey?"
Xander paused for a long moment before finally nodding again and moved forward bringing Suze up into his embrace his lips meeting with hers. It started as a chaste kiss and quickly became much more. Suze's hand came up and held his head curling into his hair, the other hand coming up snaking around his shoulders. Xander's hand that was holding the stake seemed to undertake a life of its own and let go of the wooden dagger which tumbled out of his suddenly numb fingers.
Midnight started to strike.
01 - The door to his office was finally removed in a final burst from his friends.
02 - They piled into the office only to come up short when they saw what was happening.
03 - The strange men started their action
04 - The men took control of the doormen's positions with quick and effective strikes.
05 - Xander and Suze started to kiss for real their passion building into what it was back in Oxnard.
06 - Connor and the other immortals sprang into action as men with glowing goggles attacked the basement area.
07 - The three beautiful women known as Charlie's Angels took down a man each.
08 - Methos lopped of the head of a man trying to attack Monica, Rachael and phoebe.
09 - The charmed ones chanted a spell erecting a barrier around the private room.
10 - Nina's felt the spell from down stairs and quickly did the same for the upper offices just as three men with goggles came out of the lift.
11 - A dark man with deactivated night sight goggles slipped a disk into the drive of Tina's computer and attached a portable power system.
12 - At the last chime of twelve thundering out of the sound system the lights in the entire club went out and the system died without another sound. The man known as Michael, brother to a man who had once been called Karl smiled as his men took control of Xander's club thus starting his revenge with perfectly controlled military precision.
The party goers let out a roar of amusement various glowing pieces of jewelry lighting up the dance floor in a cacophony of colors. There was a general scream of fun as everyone started laughing thinking that there had been a power cut. Someone blew a whistle starting the laughter again as people started to clap in time to the last beat laden piece of music. Suddenly there was music again, made by humans carried away in the spirit of the New Year.
Xander and Susie finally stopped kissing with a slight popping motion and realized that it was pitch black.
"Damn, Suga, my daddy always said lustful thoughts would send me blind"
Xander chuckled slightly as power flowed around his body from the pent up lust he was experiencing. He looked around the room.
The collected Section X agents, FBI and Scooby's gasped in surprise as out of the darkness there was a crackle of power around Xander's eyes lighting up the area with tiny sparks of lightning.
"Okay, who took out the lights" Xander said amused as he straightened up letting Suze find her own feet.
"Xan…" Mel was cut off when there was a sudden burst of automatic fire followed by screaming and another burst of fire that created a strange quiet in the once lively club.
"EVERYONE REMAIN CALM AND NO ONE WILL BE HURT", a highly amplified voice, that sounded like it came through a megaphone, said, "EVERYONE TO PLEASE SEAT THEMSELVES ON THE GROUND IMMEDIATELY OR THERE WILL BE DEATHS, SURRONDING YOU ARE ARMED MEN WITH NIGHT VISION GOGGLES. YOU CAN SEE THEM YES, THE GREEN. GOOD THEN KNOW THAT THEY CAN SEE BETTER THAN YOU AND ONE WRONG MOVE FROM ANYONE AND I WILL ORDER THEM TO FIRE."
There was a silence in the club as all the party goers in varying degrees of drunkenness took in his words and looked at the eerily glowing eyes of the gun men around them.
"NOW, I WANT THE OWNER, MR. HARRIS. I WANT YOU TO JOIN ME AT THE FRONT ENTRANCE"
Xander's eyes blazed burnt gold as he activated his latent talents the room becoming visible through his supernatural sight. The voice through the megaphone had been very familiar.
"Oh joy" Xander murmured.
"What's going on" Angel's terse voice came out of the darkness. Xander looked at the tall vampire with a smirk as he noticed him holding out his hand trying to feel his way further into the office. He noticed that they were all in a similar state.
"What's up DB, can't see in the dark?" Xander asked with an amused voice. "Nina darling, would you cast a light spell for me"
The office suddenly lit up showing everyone blinking and rubbing there eyes. Xander's own eyes dimmed back to their normal brown as he smiled his thanks to the beautiful witch.
"Alrighty then" Xander took a deep breath, "If I'm not mistaken that's my good friend Michael"
"Friend?" Mel said with a slight grin.
Xander nodded the strange blue light causing everyone to seem to be much darker in color than they truly were, "Yep, he thinks I killed his brother"
"Did you?" Buffy asked her voice shocked.
Xander shrugged, "Sort of, but that's beside the point"
"So what is the point?" Mulder asked.
Xander's eyes flashed gold again, "The point is he has come into my club and threatened my customers, so now he dies" he growled the noise like a lion marking his kill.
"You can't kill humans Xander" Buffy said in a no nonsense tone of voice.
Xander shot her an incredulous look, "Pardon?"
"We, you, don't kill humans" Buffy pressed the issue.
Xander smirked slightly, "I don't have time for this right now buff, we'll deal with the morality issues later. There are close to 2000 people down in that club who are for the most part innocent." He walked to his desk gently moving a strangely quiet Suze out of his way as he did so. Then he reached underneath it and clicked a button. There was an audible whir and the office came alive once again. The lights flickered on, off and then back on again as a customized UPS took up the slack. His computer whirred into life and the large screen on the back wall shot upwards into the roof. Behind it was an assortment of weapons. "Ladies choice" he said with a smirk to Mel who walked quickly around the desk her pin thin high heels still not making her tall enough to reach the armory.
"I suppose you think that is funny" she said sardonically.
Xander nodded and kicked his chair over to her reaching into his jacket and taking out his Walther, "Agents, feel free and my guys as well. Buffy Angel, I will understand if you don't want to take part in this. Humans will most likely die" he said throwing the gun to Nina who caught it and checked the clip and action.
Buffy looked from her own soul mate to Xander trying to figure out what to do before Angel nodded slightly, "I'll not use weapons but I'll help" he said finally.
Buffy decided to take his lead and nodded that she would do the same.
Xander turned to his resident witch as Mel passed out weapons to the government agents, "OK, Nina how long will that shield last?"
[Ten minutes, now I've shut down the light spell]
Xander nodded taking in that information, "There is a fire escape at the end of the hall you can get down to the basement from there. I want you," he said pointing to Buffy and Angel, "To get reinforcements and try to get the hostages out. Mel, Faith" the two women looked at him as he tapped his keyboard, "There is someone in the system they'll be on this floor try Tina' s office."
He glanced at the FBI agents, "Can you go out the fire escape and try to secure a way out for the hostages; clear a path for them?"
Scully nodded as did Mulder moving to do his bidding. Mel and faith took some weapons and moved out as did Buffy and Angel, "Nina, go with Buff and DB" Xander said nodding to the witch. Xander watched Scully go with a slight smile and Suzy growled low in her throat as she recognized the scent of the woman who had been in the office before. That brought Xander's attention back to her, "Suze" he paused trying to think what to do with the blonde vampires, "Get out of here, use the fire escape with Scully and Mulder"
Suze cocked her head slightly, "What are you going to do?" she asked suspiciously.
Xander smiled as he started to unload his various weapons, only the magically hidden Katana and Bo staff stayed on his person. "I'm going to try to stop Michael from killing hostages" he said sweeping out of the room.
Suze's eyes narrowed glowing slightly violet as her game face showed itself slightly. She glanced back at the gun rack and selected a Beretta 9mm. Then quickly checking the semi-automatic weapon over with a cold professional air, she set off after her man.
Pru Halliwell turned to Connor with a worried look, "What the hell is going on?" she asked
"I'm not sure, it appears that the boy has done something to piss someone off, a lot" he said with his characteristic throaty chuckle.
"That's not very helpful, actually" Piper put in glaring at him.
Connor shrugged, "Thanks for the lights by the way" he said indicating the glowing ball of energy above their heads.
"It's nothing" Phoebe said with a small grin, "I wonder where Xander is"
"Knowing Xander he's on his way to the front entrance" Willow said her eyes wide with fear, "He'll give himself up before he lets anyone else get hurt"
Connor nodded, "Let's hope this guy doesn't know what he's dealing with"
"I think that guy wants to kill Xander" Mary said her voice shaky as she clutched Connor's arm.
"I agree, but you know as well as I do that you can't just kill Xander and expect to get away with it"
Xander's sister suddenly lost her fear and a large smile graced her elfin features, "Yeah" Mary said her voice full of ironic sorrow, "I feel so sorry for them; Not!"
Lex Luthor looked at possibly his only friend in the world to find that he was fidgeting with a nervous energy unlike any he had seen. "So, interesting night isn't it" Lex said sardonically. So far they had watched as a just visible wall of light had blocked several armed goons from entering the main room. Then the lights had gone out. A few moments later a strange light blue light had come to life above the three brunettes currently talking to the man who had worked with three others to cut down some other goons. Basically it was starting to become almost familiar to the Smallville natives.
"Your new partner sure knows how to throw a party" Clark agreed trying to figure out how he could help without giving up his enigma.
Xander stepped out of the stairwell and was roughly escorted down to the front entrance. He kept his sight toned down to normal and made sure he stumbled a lot. The goggled goons virtually carried him down the three floors until finally he was standing in front of the blonde haired Michael.
"Well, Well. It is my good friend Mr. Harris" Michael said, his accent thickly South African. He was standing in a pool of light caused by the front doors being glass; the street lights cast a glow into the club. As such he wasn't wearing goggles and Xander could see the hate leaking out of his eyes.
Xander walked slowly until he was standing face to face with the vengeful terrorist. He showed no fear as Michael's gun was trained on his head. The MP5 barked fire and several rounds of Armor piercing ammunition sprayed brain matter across the floor. Xander's lifeless body fell to the floor a large hole in his head. A flower of blood spread from his head to create a pool of crimson.
Michael closed his eyes and smiled, his good friend Hans Gruber had hypothesized that the man now laying dead at his feet had been wearing some sort of Armor, a bullet proof vest of the like. The theory was that the young man had not received any head shots and that was how he had survived. Michael had always trusted his friend and bosses opinion. Hans Gruber was one of the most intelligent men he had known. As such he had adjusted his aim and used a head shot, a short burst from the MP5 almost taking the young mans head off. Michael opened his eyes and watched the body for a short while, nearly a full minute before he was finally satisfied that the young man had been killed to death.
Michael lifted a radio to his mouth and spoke a single word, "Beta"
Upstairs in Tina's office Faith and Mel nearly had a heart attack when a radio crackled into life. They had crept in without making a sound. The slayer a natural predator and Mel had learnt a very long time ago to make sure that she couldn't be heard.
"BETA" the radio said.
A gravelly voice then spoke from behind Tina's desk a soft glow from the computer screen lighting his face, "Affirmative" with that single word he started to hack the second level of security to gain access to Xander's back accounts.
Mel crept forward her heels placed gently on the floor outside, her feet now bare. She made not a sound as she made her way to intruders left.
On his right Faith appeared out of the gloom, moving with deliberate grace.
A bare leg snapped out from the darkness and knocked the man flat to the floor out for the count.
"Nice kick, Mel" Faith said with admiration in her voice as she walked around the desk inspecting the body.
"Thanks" Mel said rubbing her shin, "Damn, those goggles are sharp"
Angel, Buffy and Nina finally arrived on the basement floor, they had crept down the metal stairs with preternatural silence even Buffy's heels had not made a clank of metal on metal. Not a shuffle from the rubber of Angel's foot had sounded. Both had seemed not to breathe. Their way lit by the soft glow of a light spell now resting in the rafters of the building.
As Buffy was about to walk out of the fire escape when Angels hand grabbed her by the chest and pushed her back against the wall. A dark figure walked past the door their foot fall very audible.
Buffy glanced down at the position of Angels hand and tapped his hand. He looked at her and followed her gaze to his hand. Realizing his error he removed his hand with haste and smiled a sorry. Then he pulled open the door soundlessly and pulled the attacker back into the stair well covering his mouth with one hand as Buffy knocked him out with a fast snap punch to the jaw.
The goon slumped to the ground with a whisper of sound. Buffy grabbed the goggles from the top of his head and Angel took his radio.
Nina tapped Angel on the shoulder and signed with ASL, [There is a light spell in place past this door]
Buffy looked at Angel curiously as he nodded to the witch. Angel replied by taking the goggles out of Buffy's hand and dumping them on the unconscious body.
They tensed together and pulled back the fire escape door.
Scully used the gun she had been given at Xander's office to push open the heavy door and peak through to the outside world. The way down the stairs had been hard and if not for a small light spell she had cast it would have been deadly. One of the more useful residual memories from her possession was the ability to cast spells. She didn't have the personal power to cast a large spell, such as transfiguration, she couldn't really have turned Xander into a frog. But a simple Light spell was easy even for a non practitioner. The softly glowing orb of light had allowed them just enough illumination to navigate the steps.
Agent Scully turned to her long time partner and a quick communication took place non-verbally. Then she pushed open the door as Mulder stepped through it. His gun went left and her right as they quickly scoped out the area.
They were both shocked to find that there was no-one guarding the exits. Their guns pointed the way as they looked from left to right, up and down. Nothing not a single soul was visible.
Mulder looked at his attractive partner and they shared a shrug.
Hawk, Tommy, Connor, Methos, Duncan and finally Amanda walked up to the barrier looking at the guards standing the other side. All 6 of them smiled charmingly at the exact same time.
Suddenly there was a strange feeling of electricity and a smell of ozone as the shield disappeared with a soft snap of power.
The six leapt into action, Tommy and Hawk launching powerful punches. Connor head butted his guard as Duncan used a powerful kick to his guards head. Methos used the hilt of his sword and Amanda kicked her guard very hard between the legs. As he sagged to the floor she spun around and sent him to the land of nod with a wheel kick.
Chandler looked at Natalie and winced, "Remind me not to annoy her"
Natalie cast a professional glance at her and smiled brightly, "I wouldn't"
Buffy, Angel and finally Nina burst out of the corridor leading to the Fire Escape just as the last guard hit the floor and came to a stand still looking at the unconscious men.
"Well, I see you've got this in hand" Buffy commented with a wry grin.
Dawn launched herself at her sister and hugged her for all she was worth.
She had sunk to the floor in total shock when the bullets had ripped into her love. She had watched as his brain had erupted in a stream of gore. The slow descent of his body had filled her universe and the spreading blood around his head was totally filling her vision. She was totally unable to move against the killer or anyone at that moment in time.
Susie watched in mute horror bearing witness to the death of a hero.
On the floor in a pool of his own blood Xander Harris came back from the dead. His body lurched slightly before he was able to stop it. Luckily Michael had been looking in the opposite direction directing his men to rob the hostages; no one noticed the magic happening in the entranceway. Suze however was not missing the show and her eyes widened in alarm. Xander held himself still and let the power of his heritage work. It had already repaired the damage to his brain and now set about the less important skin and bones. Small trickles of lightning spread across his body knitting bone, muscle and finally skin. The numerous wounds that had just been afflicted upon him were removed with patient and meticulous care until finally Xander lay as good as new in his drying life's essence.
Suze watched in alarmed joy as the tendrils of power crisscrossed his body, her sharp vampiric eyes able to watch the minute details of his disappearing wounds. Until finally it was over and he led healed but as still as a corpse.
Susie glanced over at the man who had killed her friend and hopefully lover with hatred in her eyes, then with a quick scan of the club she moved from her hiding place. She moved as quickly as she could; making sure not to make any noise. She paused as she reached Xander's body and hauled him up into her arms using her demonic strength. Then she ran quickly back into hiding.
"Now what?" Scully said
Mulder shrugged again, "I'm not sure, basement?"
Scully nodded, "Sounds good, not much we can do here" she said with an exasperated gesticulation at the empty side alley.
Faith and Mel walked out of the fire escape happy to find that the basement area had been secured.
"Hey guys" Buffy said with a small smile, "Join the party"
"What's the plan" Faith said impatient for action.
"What happened up stairs" Angel asked Mel.
"Some hacker type trying to rip of the boss man" Mel answered with a snort, "We dealt with him"
"Dead?" Buffy asked nervously.
"Nah, just a little wrapped up in himself" Faith replied with a smirk, knowing just where Buffy's mind had taken her.
Buffy rolled her eyes, "You've been hanging out with Xander far too long"
"Connor" Mary called out as soon as she noticed that Mel and Faith had arrived, "Mel and Faith are here"
Connor nodded his thanks and broke off the planning meeting with the other big hitters in the room. Only Lex's group and Monica's were standing aside form the party and none of them looked happy about that fact.
He walked over the two Slayer's, Souled Vampire, Immortal and Witch. "We may have a plan" he said tersely.
Suze hugged the still form of Xander to herself tightly for a long moment before one dark brown eye opened and looked at her with a definite look of amusement in its depths.
Suze looked down into Xander face and smiled a beautiful smile that lit up the small stairwell that they were standing in. "Hey Handsome" she said her voice cracking slightly.
Xander held up a finger to her lips making a shushing shape with his lips before smiling at her softly. He then extricated himself from her grasp and cracked open the fire door.
Xander glanced back to the nervous looking Suze and winked motioning with his head for her to watch.
Outside Michael turned back from directing his troops and let out a cry of anger and despair, with a healthy dollop of fear as well. There was a pool of blood; there not was the body of his brother's killer.
Xander smirked up at Suze who was leaning on his back peering over his shoulder. Then he gently pulled back the door.
He was about to point downwards when suddenly there was a collective yell of pain.
Xander's friends swarmed silently from the basement spreading around the building using the various back stair wells taking up positions behind unopened doors, they stood quietly as they awaited the signal.
The Charmed Ones joined hands with Willow, Tara and Nina. Standing on the top floor in the office block they looked down through the small observation floor and joined their powers. The six most powerful witches in the world unleashed their gift. A small mote of light flickered into existence below them the other side of the toughened glass flooring.
With a mental command the witches super charged the light spell causing it to blossom into a large fiery ball of light brighter than the sun.
As the be-goggled goons suddenly found their vision filled with far too bright light a cry of pain was released from each and every member's throat as they were blinded.
Various hostages also let out a sudden yelp of fear and pain as their eyes were forced to cope with a sudden and bright light. They had it easy as they were not wearing goggles designed to turn night into day.
Alex, Dylan and Natalie burst out of their door on the second floor. Dylan moved round one guard who was squealing in pain and trying to remove his goggles. She tapped him on the shoulder causing him to stand upright in surprise. Her small fist whipped out nailing him on the nose. Alex's leg flashed upwards in a graceful arc then it slammed down onto her guards back knocking him flat. Natalie smiled brightly nailing her guard in the nuts before catching his sinking body with her knee rendering him out for the count.
Across from them Tommy Fivetone and Hudson Hawk stepped out from the fire door calmly walking around their guards and with a quick glance at each other their fists rose and slammed down on the unsuspecting guards synchronously.
Finally from the back of the floor Angel and Buffy burst from the door like the wrath of god their enemies downed before they had taken a step. The three teams then moved towards the other members of Michaels Troop.
On the first floor Connor, and Methos exploded from a fire door to find their assigned guards lying face down on the floor with the dark haired Clark Kent smiling sheepishly. They looked at each other for a moment wondering, A how he had got to them from the other side of the room so quickly and B, how the admitted well built man had taken out six guards in the time it took them to open the door.
At the back of the first floor Faith and Mel high five'd each other as Nina watched Clark with a small smile.
The ground floor was a bustle of activity as Duncan and Amanda swept across the floor knocking any guard that dared to stand before them. Lara Croft side kicked a guard into the wall knocking him out in the process.
Working unarmed not a single shot was fired and in less than a second the tide had turned.
Michael who hadn't been wearing his goggles shaded his eyes and made a quick decision and ran from the building leaving his men to fend for them selves so that he may live to fight another day.
From the cover of his fire escape Xander watched his enemy take to his heels and quickly set off after him.
Susie watched the man she loved run after the man who had killed him with her eyes dark. She made a quick calculation followed by a snap decision and turned tail and ran to the side exit.
Michael exploded out of the club looking from side to side quickly he picked a direction at random and fled down the side alley that passed the building.
Xander followed his example by bursting out of the front doors staggering slightly as his foot hit some glass. Using his preternatural hearing he took note of Michael's direction and Xander set off in pursuit.
After he had made his way down the alley way Michael turned back and pulled out his hand gun knowing somehow that any minute now Xander would be behind him. So he stopped turned and took aim.
As soon as Xander turned the corner even Michael fired not allowing Xander a chance to react as a bullet tore into his heart killing him once again and dropping him to the floor. His quickening immediately set to work to heal him but that didn't stop him from loosing consciousness and slipping into dark oblivion.
Michael smiled grimly and started forward to try to finish off the kill this time. "This is the third time I've killed you Mr. Harris. Let's just see if I can make it stick this time"
Behind him a smoke spilled out from the very wall itself sinking down to the floor it seemed to build into a tubular shape, A ghostly form took shape like an optical illusion where there was once a column of smoke there was suddenly the form of Susie standing as smoke. Then the smoke changed colors twisting around a 4th dimension before becoming solid. Violet eyes glowed from angular beauty and Susie stepped towards Michael's back.
She grabbed the much larger man with one hand. "No one messes with my man" she said with death's voice and tore into his neck, her fangs sinking deep into his jugular.
Michael struggled against the force of nature draining his life's blood from his body to no avail. Finally his eyes started to dim and Susie tore him away form her then with slow precision she took his chin in one hand and his shoulder in another.
The alleyway was filled with a sudden sound as Michael's head was snapped off of the top of his vertebrae with a loud, *CRACK*
Xander's body heaved upwards arching his back as the quickening within him jump started his body as quickly as it was able. His pure quickening more efficient than any other immortals he was revived within seconds of a kill. He slowly got to his feet rubbing his chest were a sharp residual pain was still making itself known. He looked around the alley to find nothing within site. He ran as fast as he was able to the end and back out again but there was no sign of Michael.
With a heavy sigh Xander walked back into his club to find pandemonium reined. He looked around quickly finding Michael's megaphone and put it too his lips, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN" he roared. The club came to an uncertain silence.
"THE MANAGEMENT WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR THIS EVENINGS EXCITEMENT AND LET YOU KNOW THAT FREE TICKETS WILL BE HANDED OUT WHEN YOU LEAVE."
Xander glanced at the bar manager for the floor and smiled. The man took the visual clue and started getting his staff back to work
"I'D LIKE YOU TO ENJOY A ROUND ON THE HOUSE FOR THE TROUBLE. SOMEONE WILL BE ROUND SO YOU CAN COLLECT YOUR BELONGINGS" he glanced over to the booth to find that Phil was standing by the decks helping the guest DJ to his feet. "THOSE OF YOU FROM SUNNYDALE KNOW I'M TELLING THE TRUTH HERE BUT WE CAN EXPECT THE POLICE AT AROUND ABOUT 6AM WHEN THE SUN COMES UP" there was a chortle of laughter form the town natives, "IN THE MEANTIME, LETS HAVE SOME FUN"
The rescuers moved down to the ground floor all watching Xander with strange expressions as he took control of the club with the force of his personality. The so called normal members of the private party appeared from a fire escape which included Lex's group minus Clark, Monica and her brood and Mary, Dawn and Tina.
Xander let out a slight chuckle, "OK MUSIC WILL BE BACK SHORTLY UNTIL THEN" he paused thinking quickly, "FOLLOW ME" he roared out again. The he walked into the center of the dance floor and looked up to the other floors. The bright lights spell still pumping out plenty of light. He held up his hands in the air and clapped. He looked around at the now amused crowd and pointed to a guy who was still holding his whistle. The man smiled and put the whistle to his lips and blew hard.
CLAP, CLAP… …CLAP and whistle.
The club didn't take long to get the message and a close to two thousand people started to clap in time with each other a single whistle piecing the rhythm occasionally. Xander led them into a Latin sounding rhythm that was moving along at a fast clip.
Scully and Mulder finally appeared behind the civilians as they had been the protectors of the group. Scully looked at Xander with a wicked smile curling her lips as Mulder shook his head with a rueful smile. Xander spotted her and walked from the middle of the dance floor and took her hand. He led her to the middle of the dance floor and held her in a ball room pose. Then with a smile into her eyes he started to fast Tango her around the dance floor.
The revelers whooped with joy at the floor show and started to get into the swing of things. The sound of Scully's heels clipping a rhythm in between the claps as Xander swung her down and occasionally dipped her. On one such dip he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I don't know what sound one hand clapping makes" he pulled her up and in close to him, "But now I know the sound of four thousand"
Tina earned her money by rushing up to her office and bringing the electronics back on line. The system took a moment to reset itself just as the light spell died out. The club started to come to life a strange party atmosphere coming back after the interruption that had plagued it for its Gala night.
Xander smiled widely at Phil swinging Scully around again. Phil for his part scanned his music line up and faded in a song with an almost matching beat. The music started to thrum around the club again.
Sunnydale residents are among the hardiest on the planet their capacity to repress memories legendary and so they did what they did best. Ignored the strange and went back to their lives, taking to the dance floor in droves.
Quickly the private party joined the public one and the millennium was seen in with a huge party.