The hammer swung down on top of the nail, driving it into the wood, then moved on to the one next to it... hammering in sequence down the bottom of the window.
*One more window done... same window I've fixed close to a dozen times now... probably have to fix it again in a few days.*
Xander sighed and shook his head. He had been told... more like ordered... to make these trivial repairs all over the house... repairs he had done more than once already.
*Seems like every time I turn around, something is getting broken... by a vampire, a demon, or a teenager. I just wish they would have a little more respect for my hard work and...*
"Xander... come fix the back door... it's broken again."
Xander frowned. Queen Buffy calls... bellows more like it... again.
"I just finished fixing it yesterday, Buffy."
Xander heard her growl. True she's in the other room, but he knows she growled.
"Well it's broken again so get in here and fix it... then go fix the shower in the bathroom... and..."
Xander grabbed his tools and dragged himself to the back door to do as ordered, before she got mad again. She was getting mad so frequently lately.
"... and the kitchen sink is clogged and the driveway is cracked and..."
Xander stared at the door, noticing it had only come off the hinge.
*Not much of a job here and my god, she's still listing things for me to do.*
"... and the yard needs to be mown... all before the
Xander glared at Buffy, who was too busy looking out into the backyard, and just shook his head.
*She thinks I'm her slave... that has to be it.*
Xander took his screwdriver and reattached the door. As he worked, he glanced at Buffy.
"Buffy... why am I the one repairing everything?"
Buffy, not really listening, just rolled her eyes.
"Cause it's your job, duh."
Xander nodded.
"When did it become my job... and why?"
Buffy yawned and then frowned at something a Potential did outside.
"Because you're the only one not doing anything... you just Xander. You don't fight you just repair what's broken here."
Xander nodded and shook his head.
"Done here. I'm going to have to go to the hardware store to get some more parts for the rest of the stuff you want done."
Buffy nodded.
"Ok... sure, whatever... just get it done."
Xander stared at her and sighed.
"Right... be back later."
He turned and headed to the front door, grabbing his tools and jacket as he went. Once outside, he walked over to his car, put everything away, then drove toward his apartment. Once there, he went inside and quickly gathered his belongings. He had been packing for close to a week already, having been ordered to move in to Slayer Central to repair everything, and so all he had to do was grab a few things then move everything into the car. He was moving fast, knowing that if he was gone for longer than an hour... that Buffy would come looking for him.
*That about covers it. Guess this is it.*
Xander climbed into his car and headed to his bank. Driving through, he emptied his account and then closed it. With everything taken care of, he headed out of town. He stopped at the city limits and looked back.
*Well... this is it. It's been leading up to this for some time now. I can't see myself staying where all I'm seen as is a slave. I'm going to do it. I'm going to finally leave. Frank offered me that job in Casper, Wyoming and I'm going to take it. Make a clean break and start over... the best thing to do.*
Xander nodded and turned on the radio and smiled at what he heard. It fit the situation perfectly.
"... but it's much too late... for goodbye."
Xander laughed.
"You said it, my friend, you sure said it."
Xander pulled forward and drove on... and as Sunnydale became an ever-shrinking dot in his rear view mirror, Xander smiled and shook his head.
"Goodbye Sunnydale... another Scooby has left the building..."