Buffy Anne Summers got up from her comfortable seat besides her Boyfriend and stood centre in her lounge room. Carefully she looked around the room making eye contact with all present.
Her mother and Giles were sitting in the adjacent three person sofa with her younger sister Dawn sandwiched lovingly between the pair. Presenting to her mind a perfect picture of family. Both adults looked to her expectantly, each curious for the cause of the impromptu emergency gathering. A gathering unlike other Scooby meetings in that it also required the participation of the mother of the Slayer and her sister.
As her eyes continued in their journey they then feel upon Willow and Tara sharing a single seat. The two lost in an expression of found love for the other and doing their best to control their urges in the company of the Watcher and a Mother-figure who expressed an appreciation to the two that such display's be toned down in the presence of her youngest.
Eventually those eyes found its home upon the good-looking, sandy haired man who she had found the courage to welcome into her heart. The only person absent from the group of people she loved more then her own life was the one she had contacted everybody to talk about. Riley Finn offered her a gentle smile to prompt her along, and for the second time in as many seconds she looked over the participants and then spoke. "I'm worried about Xander." <There, simple and to the point.>
Willow shifted uneasily beside her lover, her attention now focused upon the subject of the boy she grew up with and loved like a brother. "Why, what's wrong with Xander? I saw him yesterday and he seemed fine."
"That's just it Willow. He seems *too* fine. Anya has been 'gone' for a month now, and he's acting like she's not dead - just not around anymore. That isn't healthy." The Slayer then sat upon the arm rest of the sofa she had removed herself from moments before, and felt the loving arm of her boyfriend place itself around her waist. "He needs to grieve, but he's not allowing himself to do that. Every single time I get close to asking him about how he's dealing with things post Anya, he gets like a deer-in-the-headlight expression on his face and makes some excuse about that new mystery job of his and leaves." Buffy then laid her head sideways upon the strong broad shoulders of the Iowan man and sighed. "I want to be there for him like he's always been there for me, but he won't let me. It's like he's forcing me out of his life."
"We all feel for Xander Buffy. But we can't just shove him through the process of loss. Such an --- intimate thing is best achieved if done naturally and over time. If you try and rush him you will only make matters worse. "
"But how much time Giles?"
"That's dependent upon how open Xander is to accepting Anya's passing."
"That's my point. He told me and Dawn last week that he's acknowledged Anya's dead, but I don't think he really has. We ask him where he was for those three weeks after he went 'Rambo' with those mystery guys's and we get nothing. We don't even know where he's living now that his old place had blown to Kingdom Come. He tells us he now has a well paying job but he doesn't inform us what it is. He's putting up walls everywhere. In the past eight days he's only patrolled with us once. *Once* Giles. That's a record for him, he always wants to go on patrol with me, err us. He's not behaving like the 'Xander' I love," Buffy then did a second quick double take of her words, consciously aware of the man seated beside her and mentally kicked herself. "Err in a purely brotherly Willow like-way of course." Buffy then bit down on her bottom lip as she tried to think out her argument a new. "Okay, okay, maybe superficially he is behaving like Xander. But that's only on the surface." Buffy then for the third time looked about the room hoping to see signs of the others agreeing with her. "C'mon I can't have been the only one who's noticed?"
Joyce Summers extricated herself from her second borne and approached her eldest. The forty six year old female then sat on the coffee table facing her and lent forward until the two were eye level. "Rupert's right dear. Xander needs his time."
"No. No, he doesn't. He needs his friends."
"And he has that sweetheart; Xander not as clueless as you believe he is, he knows how much he means to you all. But you have to give him space to deal with this in his own way. When you girls father and I divorced - when our relationship 'died'. And yes, I realize that it's not the same thing with a person, but I still grieved; I did exactly what Xander is doing now. I threw myself into my new Job, my new house, and my new Town. I distanced myself totally from my old friends at Hemley. I cut myself off totally, and focused solely on my life. During that time I guess I wasn't the best mother I could have been to you girls*"
"No! No, you were a great Mom - *are* a great Mom." The Slayer stared wide-eyed at her mother as she spoke these words. "You were always there when I needed you to be, and you had all these new responsibilities, as well as balancing everything else. A new Gallery and stuff. The way you dealt with Snyder like you did, you were a Great Mom. You were 'SuperMom' - the Best, I was just a crappy daughter." Buffy then embraced the senior Summers woman tightly. "You're the best Mom a Slayer could have."
"That's my point exactly Buffy. Xander will always be there for you 100% just like I have always tried to be. You don't have to be afraid that he'll leave you, he's not like that. He's one of the good ones. And that's what your really afraid of isn't it? That he will drift away from you after the tragedy?" Joyce Summers studied her daughters face for the recognition for the truth she knew she had spoken; when she saw Buffy cast her eyes downwards she knew for certain she had hit her target's mark. "Xander loves you with all his heart Buffy; he loves all of us. You don't have to be frightened that he will now grow cold towards you. That will never happen Buffy because he cares deeply for each and every one of us. And you shouldn't be afraid of that; he'll remain at your side for as long as you need him there. Because it's not in his character to abandon those he loves."
As Buffy blushed at her mothers words she felt Riley shift uncomfortably beside her. Even after four-months of dating the only compliment the former Army Lieutenant received from her 'Parental Unit' was that he seemed like a 'Nice-Young Man'. Buffy looked down at the tight faced expression of her boyfriend and felt compelled to speak and ease the awkwardness her mother's words had made. "I'm not afraid; I'm just worried about him. He's done so much for us without having to be asked, and I just want him to know that he can count on us to do the same for him."
"We.we're all a little worried Buffy. S---so don't think your alone." Tara's hesitant voice dominated the quiet room as all eyes now fell to the stuttering Wicca. "Xander wears his heart on his sleeve for everyone to see. But I've noticed it to, the way he doesn't talk about things anymore. Like he has a secret he wants to tell but can't." Tara then gently squeezed Willows hand as she continued. "But I think your wrong about the way Xander is acting; it's not like he's closed himself off to us, but rather that he has grown up. Almost over night. He doesn't look at things the same way anymore."
"Death of a loved one can do that to a person."
"Yes, I know that Mr Giles, b---but that's not what I meant. I mean that he's matured. I don't know if any of you have noticed this, but he walks differently now. Like he's always on guard for something to happen. And Buffy is right, he's a lot more evasive then he's ever been."
"What do you mean sweetie?"
The honey-haired Wicca removed her gaze from the Watcher to her lover and continued. "Remember the other week when we had his Welcome Home Party, well I tried to get a discussion going with him about some current events." Tara looked around the lounge room to make sure everyone was following her story. "He knew what I was talking about, but it took him a lot longer to recall what I was asking him. As if he was trying to remember something obscure that happened to him years earlier. A---and this was stuff that only happened a couple of day's before."
Giles took a deep sigh. "I truly think you should let Xander deal with this on his own."
"But why? He's our friend. Buffy's right. If this was happening to anyone of us Xander would be there in a second."
Giles looked down towards the direction of the voice and its 15-year old owner. "Dawn, please. This is not new territory for Xander. He has some experience in grief; and has proven to me that he is remarkably resilient in this respect. So I would strongly urge you all to give him the space and the distance he desires."
The room became silent to the humbled request as those assembled began to display signs of compliance to the Watchers words.
"How?"
Everyone then looked to Dawn with questioned looks on their faces.
"How come Xander is experienced with grief. I mean, I know that he isn't a virgin*"
"DAWN!"
"Mom, I'm 15. How many times do I have to say it - I'm not a Little Kid. I know what virgin means. And I don't mean it like that. I mean that *I know* Xander has been through some pretty upsetting times. But I don't think he's ever been through anything like this before. And Giles just said that this wasn't new for him. I just want to know what he meant by that."
Now all eyes were placed on the Englishman as he took another deep sigh, removed his glasses and began to polish them rapidly. As soon as he returned the Spectacles to his face he spoke. "That's confidential and privileged information Dawn. I have a trust to maintain."
Buffy sat up from the arm of the sofa and spoke with a rare authority in her voice. "Not any more. I'm invoking Slayer-Watcher Privilege. What do you know about Xander?"
The two eyes locked together across the coffee table, each unprepared to break from the other. Until the Slayer spoke once more. "Mom, Dawn, Willow, Tara, Riley. Can you please give me and Giles a moment alone with each other?"
One by one the small group herded into the kitchen under the invitation of Joyce Summers promising them all Cake and Tea. There was only one who chose not to join the party forming in the next room, a red headed Witch who now stood beside her longest living female friend.
"Spill it Giles."
"There is nothing to spill Buffy. There is absolutely naught I can tell you that will change my position on this matter regarding the proper dealing of Xander, or of the past."
"Fine, but something *did* happen to Xander, didn't it. And you're telling me - us." She was met with tense silence, the Slayer then took a couple of menacing steps forward to her seated Watcher. "Not exactly boosting me with confidence in you, are you Giles?"
"I could tell you Buffy, but this is not something you would want to know. Nor you Willow. Once the Genie is out of the bottle you'll find it damn difficult to put it back in. Take my word on this and please drop the matter."
"He's my best friend Giles."
Nothing else seemed need to be said as the Englishman removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. When the framed lens returned the former librarian's face took on a sombre expression. "There was always an --- animosity between Angel and Xander wouldn't you say?"
Both girls offered their agreement to this question without going into their own personal details as why they always thought this was.
"When Angelus returned, didn't you think it odd that given the 'history' his better-half had with the boy, that his demon self steered clear of him?"
Both girls looked at each other with a puzzled expression on their faces, it had never ever occurred to them. Willow's room was once visited by Angelus, and Buffy received an almost nightly reminder from the 'Vampire-King' that she was never far from his deranged thoughts. But Xander never reported anything. Infact Giles was right, given the abrasive relationship of the pair up to Angelus's return it should have been expected that Xander would have been his first target. But nothing had happened, or did it?
"What happened Giles?"
The Watcher cast his eyes over both young women and lowered his voice. "Angelus made Xander his Confessor."
"What?!? What do you mean by that, his confessor - what's that suppose to mean?"
Willow stuttered out her answer to the Slayer's question before the Watcher could respond. "I-it means that Angelus went into detail of everything he did, right? He would confess to Xander. Is that what you mean Giles?"
Rupert Giles nodded sadly. "Every murder he committed, every turning he performed, every lewd expression of 'Love' with his childe Drusillia. He would inform Xander of, and thereby, in a very perverted and dark way relieve himself of guilt for those acts." The Watcher then rose and began to pace beside the Bay-windows. "Xander would awaken most mornings with some trinket or souvenir thrown into his room accompanied by a short story of how its owner died or perished, on his more creative evenings Angelus would compose poems."
"W---why didn't he tell me?"
"Would it have made much difference? 87 deaths. All anonymous, until he and I would check the local Paper and associate a name to the tragedy. He attended as many funerals as he could, gave comfort as best he could manage to the families without revealing his connection to the crimes." Giles then ceased in his pacing. "They were all more or less strangers to him until ---." Giles could not finish his sentence, but the two girls he thought of as his own daughters knew who he was referring too.
"That's why he was so angry that night when it happened isn't it?"
The Englishman nodded and removed his glasses once more. "He wasn't looking forward to --- the Bastard left her pendent and a poem scribed in her own blood just to make it special. Since then the subject has been a sore one between us."
Buffy's legs nearly gave out under her. "That's why when Angel came back he wanted him dead, and why the two of you nearly came to blows at that meeting."
The Librarian nodded once more. "He wanted to tell you at the beginning, but I swayed him from doing so, as I thought you were not emotionally or physically prepared to take this knowledge and use it constructively."
"Giles, people were dying!"
"As long as Vampires walk the Earth Buffy, people will always die. That's just a fact of things." Giles then lowered his voice once more to prevent the intrusion of the others in the neighbouring room to come and investigate. "Despite Miss Calender's passing, Xander maintained himself admirably and I couldn't have been prouder of him. More so considering he was able to keep his tongue and not burden you all." Giles then turned his back on the girls and looked out of the window he was now standing before. "That's what I meant when I said Xander had experience in grief. True it has probably never affected him so profoundly as with Anya, but time mends all wounds, so please, I ask you - I beg you, give Xander space. What he needs most at the moment is Time."
Xander Harris, recent graduate of the 'Patrolman Academy' and one of the many Protector's of the Timeline, began to put his free-weights away after another intensive workout.
It was a mystery to him on how easy physical things were to him now. He noticed little things before he was recruited, a rail here, and a table there. But he always chalked it up cruddy workmanship, now he wasn't so sure. When he was at the Academy he excelled at the various Martial Disciplines put before him, even thou he had only a rudimentary knowledge of self defence. He would dominate any class that required physical and mental toughness. At the time he was so focused on forgetting about Anya and of the Programme he was on that these simple facts never occurred to him. But now that he was no-longer preoccupied with lesson plans, or grief over Anya's 'Death' he had the opportunity to think it all through.
And he could only come up with a single culprit - The Joining Spell that Willow performed so that Buffy could face and defeat A.D.A.M. Somehow he must have inadvertently syphoned off aspects of the other three. Giles - Intellect, Willow's - Magical Abilities, and Buffy's - Slayer Strength and Prowess. It was the only thing that made any sense. The old Xander Harris couldn't have made Valedictorian at the Academy, but the new and improved one could.
Once he effortlessly slid the 50kg weight back on its stand he picked up his phone and made a call. Even after a two hour intensive weight session he still had energy to burn, and he could only think of one enjoyable way to do that. As soon as this thought passed through his head, another followed in its wake <Oh God! I've become Faith.>
"Hello?"
"Ahn, it me."
"Have you quit yet?"
"Ahn --- Ahn I'm not getting into this conversation with you, we've had it already. I have responsibilities and I can't just throw it all in because my Girlfriend asks me to."
"For starters Xander, I'm not you girlfriend anymore. You burnt that bridge quite nicely when you decided to side with those Madmen. I am however open to a reconciliation on provisos that you hand in your Resignation."
"I told you Anya, you don't retire from this gig."
"Then get fired! It's really not all that hard to mess with time Xander. I use to do it all the time in my Demon days. You know with the warping of reality and the like. How do you think I knew all about you Bozo's. Drown Hitler at birth, do something constructive, it doesn't have to be evil-bad, it can be wrong-good."
"I can't do that Anya, I gave an Oath."
"Oh yeah like you've never broken one of those before."
"I haven't."
"What about wanting to be with me forever, or was that just pillow talk?"
"I *love* you Anya, I nearly got reamed for bringing you 'back'. That should be proof enough how much I want to be with you. But I can't quit, what I've been asked to do is too important."
A pause followed his words as he waited for his former girlfriend to respond. "The Apartment is really nice by the way. Very big, kinda like that one on 'Buddies', 'Pals' or 'Friends', I can't really remember the name of the stupid show is, but it's really big. A lot of room."
"Yeah? I was hoping I could rocket over and help you, err christen it."
"Oh, oh you were hoping that were you? What makes you think it hasn't been 'Christened' already. Maybe I'm christening it right now with that cute guy Carl who lives down the Hall with his room-mate Brad.
"Very nice young men, the pair of them. Very fit, great taste in women shoes and thrifty as well, despite the fact that they both live in a two bedroom apartment they economize and share the same bedroom. They also have one of the most impressive Barbara Streisand Collections I have ever seen. We have a lot of common interest. Maybe if I ask nicely enough they'll *BOTH* be happy to 'christen' my brains out all night long. How do you feel about that?"
"Now that you've described them, I don't actually feel too threatened anymore."
"Well New York is a big city Mister, I'm sure I'll find someone to threaten you."
"Don't do this Anya, please, let's work this out. Let's have dinner together and talk it through like mature people."
"Are you going to quit?"
"No."
"Then there is nothing to talk through. I know what 'Unattached Agents' do Xander. They 'Do' anything in a skirt. Your perverts - all of you. You travel through time having sex with women, and you all eventually end up being with Cleopatra. What's up with that? She wasn't even all that attractive. It's either her or Helena of Troy."
"I haven't even been on my first Assignment and your pigeon holing me?!?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to catch up! As far as I know you've probably already had thousands of affairs. And knowing you, I bet one of them *was* Cleopatra."
"I can't win. Anya if this is how you want to play it, then fine. Two can play this game as well as one."
"Xander, don't you see how much I care for you? I'm even prepared to have lots and lots of anonymous sex, with lot's and lots of strange men just to prove to you how much you mean to me."
"Gee, I feel so stupid for missing that."
"Yes, well, I was always the brighter one between us."
Suddenly a strange beeping sound echoed from a sealed room down the hall of Xander's new home. A sound that travelled down the phone line to an Apartment in New York.
"Xander, what's that sound?"
"I --- I think it's my first Assignment."
"Don't you dare answer that! You do and I swear I'll be having sex tonight and it won't be with you! Hello! Xander! Are you there?!?"
The Patrolman carefully placed the receiver once more into the phone cradle and approached his designated 'Communications Suite' of his home. This was a special room, in that it was always locked. No key could open the door, only his palm print, cornea impression, and voice recognition accompanied by a series of passwords. After his palm and cornea had been confirmed, he spoke to the door directly. "Fortune favours the brave." At the completion of these words the door opened inwards and he stepped in to receive his Mission.
He emerged five minutes later with a debriefing in his hands noting a date, a person, their 'crime' and judgement, and other relevant facts to the case.
He went to his wardrobe and removed one of the many outfits that that had been prepared to enable him to blend in comfortably with any time period and country. Infact to call it a wardrobe, thou that was its function, would be a disservice to its grand arrangement; it actually accommodated the size of a large room and also held counterfeited currency that could pass the closest scrutiny.
After breaking out a couple of dollars and coins, he changed into one of the selected outfits. It fit like a glove, and had just that worn quality to make it passible and avoid judgement and closer inspection. Xander looked at his reflection and couldn't help but comment. "Roy Rogers never dressed like this." The Patrolman then approached his Basement, and removed the tarp covering his Timecycle.
With casualness his fingers graced over the simplistic panel before him as he straddled the seat, listening to the hum and feeling the engines power up to maximum efficiency. He then typed in February 12, 1892 on the screen and the destination - Hill Valley; California.
With another flick of a switch he and the vehicle he was on disappeared from the subterranean room.
"NO!"
The outburst from Willow took the Slayer and her Watcher completely by surprise. The Red-headed Wicca had always been the least assertive of the group so it was completely out of character to witness the fury irradiating from the Witch.
"No. You were wrong Giles. You were both wrong. You and Xander. He shouldn't have taken this responsibility onto himself. He should have told us. You both should have told us!"
Giles once more turned towards the Bay-window and stared outside to the sunny day. "And what would you have done?" Silence followed the repeated question as Rupert Giles knew it would, so he pressed his advantage. "Xander's life was held by the tread that Angelus enjoyed tormenting him. If he relinquished and shared this burden to the group and not just to me, then Angelus's amusement would have come to an abrupt end."
Buffy raised her voice meekly trying to present the illusion that she had once more taken claim over the situation. A situation that she had initiated with her confrontation of the English Watcher. "Angelus's would never have hurt Xander, he wouldn't have dared. Not when he knew I would have come after him with everything I had, and that I wouldn't have stopped until he was all but dust in the wind."
Giles turned on his young daughter like charge with a cold damaged stare. "Like you did when he took Jenny's life? He was injured and ripe for 'removal', yet you still couldn't do it."
Buffy looked down at her feet remembering clearly the insane anger in her father-figures eyes that night nearly two years in the past. "I---I had to make a judgement call. You were hurt as well Giles, if I went after Angelus you would have been burnt to death."
The former Librarian took three slow and steady breaths before he offered a retort to his Slayer's emotional rational. "Watcher's, like Slayers Buffy come and go. This is the life that was chosen for us. We are expected to fight the good fight until we cannot fight it any longer. If I perish whilst trying to end a potential evil then so be it."
"No, you might not put much stock in our lives Giles, but I do. I have no intention of dying any time soon, nor for anybody else if I can help it." With these defiant words Buffy found the inner strength within her to look up from her feet and stare her Watcher straight in the eyes. She then stood up and approached the unemployed Librarian, continuing to speak as she did so. "Seeing you hurt was more then I could bare. There wasn't a choice for me that night Giles. There was only you." She then encaptured him in an embrace and buried her head deep into the musky tweed jacket that she would make fun of but loved all the same.
The Englishman raised his arms and returned the hug his Slayer was offering him. He then looked over Buffy's head to see Willow standing awkwardly in front of him. A parental smile passed over his lip, evaporating all of the emotion he had displayed moments earlier. "Don't be too upset with Xander Willow. His silence was what kept him alive."
These words earnt him a puzzled look from the Wicca as Buffy remained unmoving from his chest. "What do you mean?"
Giles gently let go of Buffy and approached the uncertain red head in front of him. "There were instances, according to Xander, when opportunities presented themselves to Angelus. Opportunities in which the Vampire could have easily have claimed his life but chose not to. There was one confrontation, an encounter in which Xander chose to be sketchy with the details about the where, when and what it was that was discussed between the two. A time when he was standing as close to Angelus as I am to you now. No Stake, no Cross, no Holy Water. No appropriate form of protection of any kind except raw and pure courage on his part.
"During this 'exchange' he told me he had practically dared the Vampire to try something. Xander outright challenged him to the death. But Angelus chose not to accept the engagement. To lower his 'relationship' with Xander to a physical, and not a mental and emotional one would have possibly taken away all his fun. Xander told me that the Vampire then skulked away, and didn't bother returning for the remainder of Buffy's stay."
Buffy looked up at her Watcher. "My Stay? Where was I?"
"I'm not entirely sure, that was one of the aspects he chose to be sketchy with."
"Giles, if Xander could get that close, then why didn't he just stake him?"
"Because Angelus was a lot more devious then we ever gave him credit for I fear. I believe the Vampire's knowledge of the young man enabled him to create a perfect 'Catch 22' situation. If Xander had instigated his demise, and if it had not taken place as a fight to the death between the two, and if by some miracle he had been successful and won out. Would you have forgiven him? For that matter, if I had been successful with ending Angelus's reign the night of Jenny's --- passing. Would you have forgiven me?
"Xander values highly your friendship and companionship Buffy, and Angelus used his feelings for you against him. Your Mother was absolutely right in her assessment of Xander. He cares deeply for you and he would never do anything to bring you harm or jeopardise whatever fondness you have for him. If he survived and killed Angelus - if he slayed Angel, then he would have lost that friendship he treasures so much. Whether Angelus continued to exist, or perished at Xander's hands, the Vampire would have won. Won, because you would have ended your friendship with him."
"No! I wouldn't - never!"
Calmly the Watcher answered. "Yes Buffy, you would have. Angelus's end had to have come from you. You were struggling with the ghost of Angel on a daily basis. You would not have accepted Angelus's 'removal' by anybody else *but* yourself. You started it, and you saw it as your responsibility to finish it in what ever form it took. Why else did you blockade any plans or preparations that we as a group made to confronting him, Spike and Drucillia. Angelus was still just another Vampire, thou he was more sinister, ruthless and Machiavellian then the norm, he was still victim to a Vampires frailties. With the same level speed and proportionate strength as all the rest. Yet you dismissed all our conceivable plans, many of which originated from Xander utilizing that blessed phantom Soldier memory of his. All his proposals were in my mind both feasible and possible, with little or no risks to ourselves in their delivery. Yet you blacked balled them all.
"It was frustrating, and I dare add must have been heart breaking for the boy to see you shoot down his plan work. Maybe if you *did* know what that Beast was putting him through you may have said 'Yes' to at least one of them. But telling you was an impossibility."
"Why? What was so difficult about Xander being honest with me? I would have protected him."
Giles barked out a soft annoyed chuckle to the Slayer's declaration. "No Buffy, these revelations would only have distracted you further. Besides, during this disturbing period Xander was perhaps the most protected out of all of us, aside from yourself of course. He was protected by Angelus's word and rule. Why else do you think he was fortunate enough to escape Drusillia and her hordes on the eve of Acathla's return? The night they stormed the Library and took me prisoner and killed Kendra.
"Willow had been lucky enough to have been buried under a bookcase and its contents and was possibly considered too much of an effort to claim before they all had to leave. Cordelia had been sent out of the Emergency Fire Exit Door by that courageous young man in the midst of that battle." Giles paused for a moment and removed his glasses. Ceremoniously cleaning them as he always seemed to do when he was either deep in thought or trying to avoid certain realities facing him. "Despite receiving an injury, being knocked into unconsciousness and exposed out in the open. Not one of the Vampires present dared to take a nibble of him before they left with me. Why? Because they were possibly too afraid of Angelus's wrath if they had done so. Whatever harm that was to befall that young man had to have come from their Lord and Master. To be be responsible for Xander's death would have earnt them a far worse fate."
Buffy and Willows eyes locked with each other as another disturbing fact revealed itself from the Watcher's mouth. One that they had never, ever considered. And one that was left blatantly out in the open to be questioned by both.
"Xander has secrets, possibly more secrets then he ever felt comfortable sharing with me. I know but a few, I do not know them all. And for that I am eternally grateful, I don't think Xander and my unique relationship would have survived otherwise." Rupert Giles then commenced to pace back and forth between the two girls.
"He told me things freely. I had, I suppose, proven my ability to keep a secret after that whole Hyena fiasco in our first year association. I had discovered that his recall of those 'animalistic' days of his would be available to him post Possession and he had asked if I would maintain my silence on the matter, and I did. Just as I had kept my tongue when he asked me to cast a spell upon him to maintain aspects of Ethan Rayne's enchantment of his 'Soldier' experiences. It took me two days to find and cast an appropriate incantation, by that time there were just remnants of the memory left; I asked him if it would be worth it. The err process was a physically painful one you see, blood letting, toxins, calling forth a Warrior Spirit to bless the memory remaining - that kind of thing. He answered me that anything that would help Buffy out would be worth what ever he had to go through." The Librarian paused for a moment and massaged his temples, he then continued, a whisper a first but as his word flowed they became stronger. "The sacrifices he made to the cause were beyond me. He never faltered, not once. I am in constant awe at how he made it through those days of 'Angelus' knowing that the following night he would be made an unwitting accomplish to the Vampire's crimes. Yet he did. Everything he did took immense character. Of course there were times when my expectation of him was knocked down a peg or two, the 'Love Spell' for example, and it was during these moments that I had to force myself to remember that he was but a teenager. With this in mind I compared myself to him when I was his age, and I am ashamed to admit that his character easily dwarfed my own."
The red-head Wicca took a couple of steps back from the Englishman. "That final year, the year we graduated. I knew there was something off with him back then. He seemed restless, darker, introspective. And --- and he chose *me* over Cordelia. ME!
"Cordy was the most popular girl in school, prettier, sophisticated, and they were always so happy together. I always, *always*, wondered why he would jeopardise all that he had with her for those brief moments we shared.
"When he and I started to see each other secretly --- I --- I thought that he did so because he was secretly in love with me, but it was totally out of character for him. It --- it hasn't occurred to me until now; Xander has always been 110% loyal. He would never betray someone he cared about, regardless of his feelings for someone else. The Xander I know would have broken it off with Cordelia before he even contemplated seeing anyone. He would never cheat." Willow's bottom lip began to tremble as she realized what her words were meaning. "He was --- 'messed up' then wasn't he Giles? He had some kind of, I don't know, breakdown or something didn't he. Everything that he had put himself through, it caused him to --- to---."
The Librarian nodded again to Witch's enquiry. "Yes, thou I wouldn't go as far as to call it a 'breakdown'. He just found a low point and dwindled there for awhile. He was in desperate need of corroboration that he mattered, and that someone could love him for all his faults. So Willow please don't contribute Xander's state of mind back then to his feelings for you. He truly does love you; he was just trying to find assurance, love and comfort in the one place he knew he could find it. He knew that Cordelia cared deeply for him back then, but during this time he didn't want to be 'cared' about. He wanted to be *loved*. It was a very difficult time for him. And he knew without a doubt in his mind that you truly loved him, so take comfort in that at least Willow. Out of all the girls he knew, you were the one he was certain loved him in return unconditionally."
From beside her Watcher and unseen by the pair Buffy's face shifted into an expression of slight hurt at Giles concluding comment.
"He was beset by all these insecurities about himself Willow. Insecurities that originated with Angelus's taunts at his worth months earlier. I dare say Xander was always self conscious, hiding his doubts and fears about himself behind his rapier-like wit and sense of humour. Angelus only gave these doubts a voice and a dark validation to his inner nagging." Giles began to gently stroke Willow's hair in a fatherly way as he continued.
"He felt as if you were all out growing him, and that he had nothing of worth to contribute. He also carried in him the guilt and burden of Angelus's murders." The Watcher then returned to the sofa he had left four minutes earlier and sat down. "Two-thirds the way through that year he came to a decision of going on a Road Trip, remember? It was to be a bitumen Odyssey in which he told me he had no intention of returning from. I voiced my objections of course, but he was unmoveable. He told me that he was just going to drive until he was but a dot on the horizon and the he was going to keep on driving until he wasn't even that.
"Yes, those past two years were not easy ones for him. He saw the need to break away and re-charge his batteries as it were. He didn't know whether he would return. Simply, he needed time and space to find himself anew." Rupert Giles stared blankly ahead remembering the conversation he had with the youth back then, oblivious of the expressions forming on the two College Girls faces.
"No, your lying. Something that big. Something that important Xander would have told us. He wouldn't just leave us for good, he ---." The Slayer lost her words, as she now started to realize how much of her Xander-shaped-friend she truly did not know.
Another sad smile passed over the Watcher's face at Joyce Summer's eldest girl's interruption to his memories. "He wanted to avoid any scene. If he had told you of his true intentions there was one of two scenario's that could have presented themselves. Either he told you, you would object and make him feel bad about his decision. Or he would tell you, and you would be indifferent to it."
"Of course we would have objected, how --- how could he have thought otherwise?"
"It wouldn't have been a major leap for him Willow. Graduation Year was difficult for all of us. But as I said it, it was more so for Xander. Being in the presence of Angel again, both knowing what history there was between them. It wasn't easy. For him, me, and I must add perhaps Angel as well. I suspect that his guilt over what he had done to Xander was a motivating factor behind his departure from Sunnydale to LA.
"Anyway, the fact that Xander saw himself being slowly annexed by you and Buffy from the group's nocturnal activities with each passing week only seemed to give foundation to these doubts he was nurturing within."
"We did that because we worried about him. He would make all these stupid and insane risks. We --- I had no choice. Some of the stunts he was pulling out in the field were almost suicidal."
The Watcher offered a dry wise chuckle to Buffy's comment. "Almost?" There fell a strangled silence in the room with that single word question.
After several seconds Willow recovered from her shock and pointed an accusing finger at the middle-aged English man. "Don't you dare tell us he wanted to die? Don't you dare! I would have known. *That* I would have been able to tell."
Rupert Giles raised his right eyebrow to the Witch's claim. "Like you've known about everything else to do with Xander to date? Truth be known, I'm not 100% certain myself, and it wasn't a subject I was comfortable raising with him. But there was an instance nearly a month before the Mayor's Ascension, a lone night when he saved all our lives because he was able to fake-out a Psychopathic Zombie."
Willow and Buffy looked at each other with a questionable expression on their faces.
"He must have either given a thoroughly convincing performance, or he truly was prepared to welcome death to his bosom that evening. Either way, his complacency to living or dying terrified the Zombie into disarming a bomb mere moments before it detonated.
"I only know of this because Xander had asked me to help him dismantle it. The device had been planted in the School Boiler Room, and was set to explode when we were all in the midst of closing the Jhe opening of the Hellmouth. His 'adventure' that evening came up in conversation as we took it apart piece-by-piece."
Buffy voiced the frightened scenario. "We could have been blown up while the Hellmouth was open?"
"Yes. You accredited me the following morning of doing one of the bravest things you had ever seen. But no Buffy, the bravest thing was for that boy to hear all your three's condescending words at how lucky he was to have stayed away from the battle. Hold his tongue, and walk away like a man with his head held high without embarrassing you all with his tale of courage. We and the world would have been damned in a breadbasket if not for Xander's actions that evening. And I believe the events of that night returned a portion of his confidence in himself back, either that or Faith did."
"What do you --- of course, that was the night they---"
As the Englishman answered a wry smile formed on his face. "Yes, it was."
"You mean as he was running around fighting Zombies, saving the World and us, he decided to have sex with Faith. Where the Hell did he find the time?"
"As I have said, he's an extraordinary young man. But to be honest, I think it was Faith who initiated the --- err, 'coupling'. And I believe her attentions gave him the inner confidence to confront the Gang of Zombies, and a few rogue Jhe members."
"There was a *Gang* of Zombies now? How many?"
"Four in total I believe. And one or two Jhe members as well."
"How. How could he - *YOU* not have told us this! I didn't want him involved in anything dangerous Giles. And Faith I would definitely slot into the 'Dangerous' Category. Damn him. I told him to stay fray adjacent."
"Well all I can say is that it was a good thing that he didn't." The Watcher then sighed as he watched Buffy's anger grow, unsure as to it's origin. Was she upset that Xander went against her wishes and saved them all, or whether she objected to be reminded of Faith and Xander together. "I too saw the risks he was taking Buffy, I saw how much he was pushing himself. The Boy deserved a break from the fighting, the research, and the late nights. That was why I tried, unsuccessfully, to segment him in the role of 'Scooby Snack' gatherer. Hoping it would dampen his enthusiasm and offer him a break he richly deserved."
"Break?"
"Yes Buffy, a break. When you were gone for those months it was Xander who kept the Hellmouth at bay. Willow, Oz and Cordelia helped of course, but even they would have to acknowledge that Xander was instrumental in tracking down the possible 'Turned', Vamp Nests and other Demon Domains. He spent most of his vacation time at my Apartment researching, or here at your mother's home doing chores and keeping her spirits high. With all that effort pre and post Patrol I doubted he got more then three hours sleep a night. A standard and acceptable state of affairs for a Slayer as their metabolism can handle those physical demands, but a normal human being?
"I can not tell you how surprised I was when he showed up at the beginning of your Freshman year after only being gone for three months." Giles looked longingly in the direction of the kitchen and observed the other members of the contingent beginning to slice a cake presented by Joyce Summers. "Whatever took place on his 'Journey of Discovery' it had a resounding and I must say a positive effect on him. It was as if I was seeing a completely different person to the one who had left. I couldn't remember the last time I had seen him so confident and self assured."
Buffy nodded. Remembering Xander's words to her at the Bronze. Offering a slight smirk as she also recalled what he had said to her about where he was and what he had been forced to do. That smirk sadly disappeared as she realized that this may have just been another one of his lies and deceptions to protect her from worrying about him. Afterall, how could working as a stripper for just one night have transformed him so much?
That evening he was 'Take-charge Guy'. The Xander she knew would have insisted on research before tackling any creepies that would get her to think twice about challenging again. But Xander just said 'Let's put this Bitch in the Ground' and that was it - end of discussion. There was a strength that flowed from him that evening, one that gave her strength. A simple 'thank you' wasn't enough for what he offered her, but it was what he received. And for him who received it so rarely from her, it was enough.
What *really* happened to him in those three months that made him her 'Hero' for the evening? This was just another question to add to her growing pile involving Xander Harris.
When she was at her lowest point, when she was questioning her effectiveness as a Slayer, Xander had practically materialized out of nowhere to lift her spirits up again. Him and his beautiful words. As she remembered what he said to her that night her mouth involuntarily opened. "Oh my God! His parents. He said his parents had moved all his stuff from his bedroom into the basement. He really *wasn't* going to come back was he Giles."
"No Buffy he wasn't." Giles stood up once more and welcomed their surprised and sad expressions. "He needed then, as I'm sure he needs now, time and space alone to sort himself out again. Anya was possibly the most positive thing to come into his life in a good while.
"I don't know if he loved her, truly loved her, but I can say that he was extremely fond of her. And in her strange sex-obsessed way she was good for him
"Even thou Xander was prone to keeping their activities and his feelings for her private, Anya was not so tight lipped I'm embarrassed to say. And she loved him as much as she dared too. So please, give Xander time and space to recover from his loss. That's what he needs Buffy, Willow. Time and Space." Giles then looked into the direction of the gathering in the next room. "Now let's all adjourn to the kitchen before the length of this conversation starts to make everybody more curious then what they already are, hmmm?"
Willow and Buffy watched Giles leave the room towards the direction of everyone else. When the Watcher was out of earshot Willow turned to her best friend. "So are we going to do it?"
"That Time and Space thing? ---"
"What'll it be Mr Harris sir?" The fifty-five year old bartender asked kindly, glancing at the disgruntled Xander Harris over his half-moon spectacles.
"The strongest thing you got Mitchell. And don't call me Mr Harris, that's my Pop's name." Xander said these words heavily, dropping himself down upon one of the few stools in front of the lengthy counter at the only Saloon in Hillvaley. His chin resting upon his tired arms. {How did I let things get this far? A quick and simple Mission. An 'in-out' Assignment. But Nooooooo I had to get cocky and turn this from a working holiday to a Vacation from Hell.}
The man who would not be born for another ninety five years buried his head deeper into his dusty and dirty long sleeve cotton shirt. And gave a muffed and frustrated scream as he heard footsteps approach him from behind.
In the time it took him to spin around, his mind instantly cast itself back two weeks prior to his arrival in this time period and the origin of his current predicament.
He remembered with clarity stashing the Timecycle in a nearby cave and covering the entrance with broken and green branches from a nearby shrub.
He remembered walking the six mile distance along the Railroad line to the still blossoming town of Hillvalley.
He also remembered as he came to the outskirts of the town spying three children playing - nothing unusual about that. Kid's need to play. Unfortunately these kids were playing with a flying Model Plane that would not be invented for another hundred years.
He remembered approaching the boy's in question presenting his best and most disarming smile, and asking for their names. Two were brother's - that was obvious, not only by their physical appearance but also by how they dressed. Xander didn't care what Time Zone he was in, these two boy's outfits were enough to get themselves beat up on in any decade. The third presented himself as from farming stock, slightly older, maybe a year or two and was the kind of kid who naturally assumed the role of leader regardless of what ever group he was dropped into. The older of the three undoubtedly considered and saw himself as the two's protector from bullies and taunting. Xander remembered liking this eight year old straight away.
The boy's names were Verne and Jules Brown, the defiant one was William 'Billy' McFly. The first McFly born in America - as if that claim was somehow important, maybe his parents drummed it in to him how special that was? Anyway the name struck a cord in the recalled readings of his case. Not Billy, but McFly. Martin, aka 'Marty' McFly. The Patrolman remembered looking the boy up and down a few times wondering how close Marty and he must have been alike.
The Time-Cop also remembered asking to be led to the two brother's Pa. It was as he was taken though the still simple western town by the three boys that he realized that the West was not the harsh dog-eat-dog time period the old movies made out. The people who made up the frontier community seemed to all be God-fearing and Helpful people. Men, Woman and Children bowed their heads, jostled their hat's at his approach and offered him greetings and welcomes. All he could do was offer these strangers the same courteousy that they had shown to him; doing his best to make his actions look natural.
He was directed towards the town Blacksmith shed by the three children before they splintered off to participate in some other adventure, minus the Plane still held in his hands.
As he entered the shed he dropped the Plane by the door and proceeded unannounced towards a large construct two-thirds hidden. It did not take Xander long to recognize what it obviously was when he had a better angle - A Locomotive. Unsurprisingly the Blacksmith-Inventor was in the midst of his latest creation as sounds could be heard originating from a panel besides the Engine.
Emmet 'Doc' Brown did not notice his arrival until the Patrolman coughed politely.
The sound startled the aged inventor so much that he banged his head upon a semi-open hatch that he was busy tinkering within. Without looking up to the origin of the sound a tired and annoyed voice yelled out. 'Damnation of Copernicus's Ghost. It's after two, the smelt and me are finished for the day. Come back after nine tomorrow and we'll deal'
This being Xander's first Assignment he wanted a cool and effective resolution to the task before him. He did not want to dance around the subject, so he got straight to the point. 'Disconnect the third cable in your sixth I-Flux port. And do it now!'
The man who was without a doubt an unrecognised genius looked up and upon him gob smacked. As the Doctor of Physic's stared at the young man before him Xander tried to present an authority about himself. This was not easy given his apparent age of nineteen years but he was obviously successful as the white-haired Blacksmith turned and did exactly what he had been told.
The Patrolman grabbed the metal coppery stranded line from the Blacksmiths grasp and threw it into the furnace nearby. 'You were jipped Professor, that line wasn't 100% Copper. Hell, I doubt it was 30%. If you had tried to use that on your departure you would have blown yourself to Heaven and Back before you reached twenty - forget 80mph. And you would have bathed this entire area in Temporal Radiation as you did so.'
The fellow Time Traveller staggered back, combing his fingers threw his silvery white hair in stun surprise. 'Great Scott. Another Traveller of the eternal mile.'
'It's not that eternal Doctor Brown. There is an end, there is always an end. And those who have set up shop there wanted me to come back and stop you from making this trip.' Xander gestured to the presently melting wires. 'You're a smart guy Doctor Brown, so you can appreciate the repercussions of a Time Stitch in the later part of the nineteenth Century. All manner of wild life, and other people could be minding their own bee's wax walk through the stitch by accident - the one *you* created, and end up here. Imagine what would have happened if a Dino, or a Sky-cycle breezed into Town. ' Xander ignored the startled look he was receiving from the other occupant of the shed. 'I would have preferred *and* would like to have stopped you in 85' - it would have been less messy. But the guy's who sign my checks didn't want that, they needed you to invent the 'Flux-capacitor'; don't ask me why - it's not my place to question. Their more in the know then me, so I just went with it. But you gotta give up on this Travel thing 'Doc' - your dangerous. Leave it to the Professionals.'
By this time the smartest man in the shed found voice and attempted to justify himself to the one who knew far more then what he was comfortable with. 'I --- I had no intention of using this machine more then once, I just wanted to see if it could be done. And I don't appreciate the accusation that I am some careless misanthrope.'
Xander looked at the Blacksmith with a steady, steel gaze and continued with his speech, ignoring what the Inventor had just said. '---And it's because there was no malicious intent in your earlier expeditions, *cough-biffverse-cough*, that you are not wiped from existence right now.' Xander approached the only Metal smith in Town and smiled his crooked smile that at that moment seemed more menacing then reassuring. 'I read your file Doc, you're a good guy. But you've been judged by my superiors as a Time-Criminal. There is one of two things we can do with respects to your sentencing. Death or Banishment. Death, I'm guessing you won't like and believe me; I won't be enjoying playing the role of executioner either so let's skip over that one, huh? And that only leaves banishment - You can either live out your life here, or back in 1985.'
Emmett Brown twirled in a hysterical fit, gesturing to all manner of half finished projects littered about his shop. "I --- I--- I love it here.' He then stalled as he realized he would be speaking for his family as well. 'But I have to admit I miss the convenience of future living. And Clara and the Boy's will*'
'*No. Clara and your children are the products of this Age. They are not participating in this deal. You go back to eighty-five alone.'
The 'Doc' stood stunned the moments these words left Xander's lips. 'Why are you doing this to me?' He then became enraged as the realities of Xander's judgement sunk in. 'Why not a year ago *Future-Boy*, why not before I met Clara? Why now?'
Xander reacted to the learned man's outburst with detached calm. 'Because you were never supposed to meet Clara, she was supposed to fall into a Gorge or Ravine or something, remember? And then after that, you chose exile for yourself willingly here when you saved her life a second time and let that McFly kid travel back to the Future.
'Everybody was happy with your decision; you were supposed to grow old, have a family and disappear into the pages of history. But then, or rather now, you start with the whole Time Machine kick again, and my bosses couldn't allow that.' Xander removed his Cowboy hat and stroked his fingers through his sweaty dark hair. 'The Future is always changing Doc, like the tides in the Ocean. The only stable point is the Past. You mess up the Past, and the ripples you can create can turn into Waves that you don't want to think about. One book and a quick trip back fifty or so years nearly threw this entire plain of reality off. And let me tell you, that is one of the smaller mistakes ever made.'
Xander then tossed his hat upon a nearby create and approached the still fuming Time Traveller. 'It's my job to protect the Past so that some idealized future that has the possibility to come - DOES come. Now something you would have done would have had repercussions on the Human Race meeting that future. And I was sent back to pull you into line so that everything goes accordingly. The little things, the little changes are not a problem in the grand scheme of things. Time always has a way of smoothing those ripples out. But the 'Stitch' you were days away from creating was deemed in the mammoth category.'
The Doc rubbed his forehead vigorously. 'It's not like I knew.'
'And that's the problem Doc. You wouldn't have known until it was too late. It's my job to ensure that 'Late' never - ever happens.' Xander then approached the tarp concealing the Blacksmith's private project and gave it a good pull revealing the Locomotive to all. 'Nice, where did you find the dollar's to pay for this?'
Emmett looked down at his feet sheepishly. 'I err didn't. It umm seemed seven years ago this Locomotive was 'borrowed' by a gentleman who directed it upon an uncompleted line. As a result, it and presumably the err thief fell to their demise within the Chasm. The Railway Company hired me to remove it from the base. It took half a year, but I was able to retrieve every component and remove them back to the shed. I then paid one of the Railroads representatives a hundred dollars to use the scraps for raw product in my work here. Instead of melting it down, I attempted to put it back together, with some obvious improvements.'
Xander smiled at the design, and raised an eyebrow to the inventor. 'Very Gothic.'
'Yes, well, that was Clara's input.'
'I like it.'
The inventor sighed deeply. 'I suppose you will want me to take it apart now.'
Xander returned the sigh; he had not wanted to destroy a man's life's work. He did not enjoy casting himself as a bad guy, and that was exactly how he felt. Slowly he looked back and forth between the machine and the puppy brown eyed expression of the Inventor. 'Look, I just came here to stop you from using that third cable. If you promise that you will only take one trip and one trip only. Then I guess I can look the other way, as long as you abide by what I said.'
The Blacksmiths eyes lit up. 'Of course, of course dear boy. I just wanted to go and pick up Einstein and to let my family see beyond their years. One journey, I promise I will return straight away. On that you have my word.'
Xander paced back and forth for a minute in thought over how much leeway his Superiors would be prepared to afford him. He knew that they appreciated initiative in their Agents, just as he knew that the Doc would be true to his word. 'How long would it take you to get a replacement copper cable - A 100% Copper Cable?'
"The next train is in a week, I could requisition an Order through them and I could probably expect to receive it a week after that upon their return.'
'Two weeks huh, yeah I suppose I could do two weeks here, what's the worst that could happen?'
Xander's eyes narrowed to face the source of the footprints. His hands drifting to length parallel to the gun belt he wore. He had been receiving too many challenges, and it was beginning to get on his nerves.
It all started innocently, the Doc had taken him into his and Clara's home, and as he was clearing out one of the spare rooms he found an old holster and six-shooter the Doc had stored away in case of emergencies. Temptation got the better of him and the following day he went behind the Blacksmith shed, as Emmett was inside shoeing a horse, and began to do some target shooting. It was as he was warming up to the weight of the 'Iron' at his side that he began to do some 'quick-draw' exercises.
As he was doing so the Slayer aspect within him took charge of his motions. He was always in wonder at how Buffy, Kendra or Faith was so quick to react to things. But after a few drawings that amazement evaporated away into only a moderate respect. They always made it look so easy, because it *was* so easy for them. Xander was utilizing the Slayer Speed, Reflex's and the unnatural Hand-Eye-Coordination of a 'Chosen-One' with ease as he repeatedly withdrew the weapon from its holster.
It wasn't long before he had half the town coming to spy on the source of all the gun shots. It was when he was in the midst of his groove that he decided to put on an impromptu show for the locals. And what a show it was. With steady ease he out drew everyone and hit targets - cans, twigs, bottles within less then half a second of being asked to do so with an accuracy that staggered the mind. The demonstration would have easily have continued into the night, unfortunately everyone ran out of bullets.
As the viewing community of Hillvalley walked away they all began to hail him the Fastest Gun in the West. It was a title Xander enjoyed for about three day's. Then the challengers began to show up, people who had wanted to claim that title for their own. And the only way they could do so was over his dead body. Suddenly being called the 'Harris - The Fastest Gun Alive' began to lose its appeal and became an annoyance.
Xander looked his latest challenger up and down, and turned his back to him in disgust. To date he hadn't killed anyone, his Slayer-side aim was too true for that to happen. But he knew it was only a matter of time, even Buffy missed 1% of the time. And he had no intentions of killing anyone if he could help it.
A nasally, adolescent voice broke the distance between the two. "Don't turn your back on me! I'm calling you out!"
The Patrolman turned once more and faced the thirteen year-old. "You're 'Calling me out', they actually said that? Geez." Xander looked about the moderately busy Saloon and noticed the Patrons had all hidden themselves under the tables they had been sitting at. Xander studied the face of the teenager before him, recognizing some characteristic. "Your --- Peabody's boy aren't you?"
The teenager didn't answer, but he shifted uncomfortably at being recognized.
"What are you doing here Kid?"
"I---I'm calling you out."
"Don't do that. Cause if you do, your going to lose. And losing is a quick trip to Boot Hill."
"I ain't the one who's gonna lose."
Xander reached behind him and picked up a shot glass that Mitchell had already filled with whiskey and gulped it down in a fluid motion. He then offered the boy his best thousand-yard stare. "Of course your gonna lose. And I'm about to tell you why. For starters that 'Iron' of your is two big for your hands, and probably too heavy for you as well, whose is it anyway, your Pa's? Second - your standing all wrong, you don't stand flat, you stand parallel. Less area for a bullet to hit you. Third, you got your holster right up there on your hip, the gun should relax upon your thigh, so that when your hand lowers itself down to length it's there waiting for it and your not jerking it out of its holder. Forth - you got yourself a pre-cocked gun there son, if you think your saving yourself time then you're an idiot, you'd be lucky if you don't blow your own foot off before you get clear of your holster. And lastly, and most importantly, you don't wake up one morning say to yourself your gonna be a Gunfighter, put on a rig, and you magically are one. To be quick and good takes practice. A lot of practice, we're talking several hours per day for several years." With this latest instruction Xander allowed his shot glass to slip from his fingers and in a blur of motion removed his six-shooter from it's home and shot the tiny vessel into nothingness all before it had spaned 20 centimetres distance from it's release. "Are you *really* that good Peabody?"
The teenager's mouth opened and closed several times as the cloud of gun smoke wafted out of the bar. "Go home Peabody. Give the Gun's back to your Pa, and take the hiding you deserve for taking it. Grow up and get old. Make yourself a family and grow stuff."
"W---w---what kinda stuff?"
Xander turned his back on the boy and faced the Bar once more. "How the Hell do I know or care. Fruit, Vegetables, Christ do the environment a favour and Grow Pine Trees if you want - just get out of my sight." With the closing of these words the sound of scuffling feet could be heard as they exited the Saloon amongst a roar of laughter from the adults who had witnessed the child's humiliation.
Mitchell approached the celebrity Gunslinger with a fresh glass of whiskey. "On the house Mister Harris, sir."
"You think he'll be okay?"
The Saloon owner laughed at the concern in the Patrolman's voice. "Jeb is a goodman Mister Harris. He'll give the lad a couple of licks but no more, and I don't think we'll be seeing young Jonathon at tonight's 'Do'. He'll be too embarrassed to show his face in town for a bit I reckon."
Xander nodded as he nursed the whiskey in his hands. "I've been lucky so far haven't I Mitch?"
The Bartender motioned himself closer to his prized patron. In the past ten day's Mitchell Greene, dispenser of Alcohol and the Manager of the finest Cathouse in a hundred mile radius had established a firm relationship of sorts with the Time Traveller. If anybody new was in Town seeking his new title out then Mitch provided Xander with due notice so that he could cut the problem off before things got deadly. In a whisper the Barman spoke. "That you have sir; you've been able to impress them all. But it's only a matter of time before someone stupid enough comes into Town and decides that they won't be impressed by show. You're quick Mister Harris, the quickest I have ever done seen. But there is always someone out there faster and better then you."
Xander looked up from the bronze liquid in his hands with his now infamous crooked smile plastered across his face. "You sure about that?"
"Yes sir, cause there always is."
Xander took another gulp and placed the glass rim down upon the counter. "Okay, what have you heard?"
"Rumours Mister Harris, just rumours."
Xander's hands rolled around trying to coax him along. "And they are?"
"There is a man on his way, and if his father was any indication a very stupid one at that. The Tannon's have a renowned temper sir, and are not known to be the brightest candles in the room. I don't think your tricks will impress him too much sir."
"Any idea of when he'll get here?"
"This afternoon, maybe. Just in time for the celebration this evening."
Xander pounded the counter a couple of times as the warmth of the alcohol in his belly started to take effect. "I wasn't planning on going, now I guess I'll have to just to make sure this Tannon guy doesn't cause trouble when he doesn't find me there.."
Mitchell Greene was generally surprised at this declaration. "Not going? It's one of the Event's of the Year. All the pretty young things, the Dancing, the food, the Music. A young Buck like you would have to have rocks in your head for thinking of not attending. In fact I can think of several young lasses hoping rope you tonight. Two families have even set up dowries with that in mind." The bar tender then began to count off the celebrated gunslinger's attributes on his fingers. "Your not in your twenties, still got yer own teeth, sharp as a whip, respectful, and strong of limb. Don't think no-one has see you lifting that Anvil of Emmett's, cause we all have - it must weigh over 400 easy. A catch like you don't come around to these parts to often, and the town girls are all going fishing tonight."
"Yeah, that was what I was afraid of. It's not that I'm not flattered at the attention, infact the last time I had this much interest from the female population I secretly enjoyed it. It's just that --- well, I'm trying to prove to someone I can be trusted when I --- go away."
"I didn't know you were married sir."
"I'm not."
"Engaged?"
"Not yet."
"Well she hasn't branded you yet, so kick it up and have some fun while you can. Believe me sir, it'll be the only fun you'll have - so make the most of it. Cause the moment they get that ring on your finger they all turn from Angel's to Demon's."
"Actually she already has the Demon thing down pat." Xander then pushed himself away from the counter, walked over the shards of broken glass, out of the saloon and towards the direction of the 'Smithy's' to clean his gun and to prepare himself for the Dance later that evening that he now felt compelled to attend.