Predator

The hunt resumes

Author: Stephen Howe <sh01[at]bigpond.com>

FEEDBACK: Sure

Season: 11

Spoilers: 6,7 & the rest of the series

Categories: Romance, action, Sci-fi and horror.

Pairings: A/X, B/X.

Rating: PG-R

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters relating to BTVS or Predator. They belong to Joss, 20th Fox and any of their associates. I'm just playing around with them for a little while!

Content Warnings: Little bit of language, horror scenes.

Summary: Set towards end of the eleventh season. BTVS AU an idea based on the Predator franchise. Anya is gone; Amy is good Willow has had a binding spell placed on her by the Watcher's Coven. Xander has left Sunnydale and is in a relationship with Amy in LA. He is also a member of LAPD's major crime squad when the Predator resumes its hunt for trophies.

Archive Permissions: See, take, and keep!


Prologue

LA-SEPTEMBER 2007.

The wino staggered to the counter of the cash exchange and rapped the object on the counter." How's about some service?" He exclaimed through rotted teeth. The proprietor placed a hand over the phone and yelled out to him." Yeah in a minute Frankie, for Christ sake its not like they'll run outa Thunderbird!" Frankie muttered something under his breath as the man continued to speak." Nah it's just another one of those bums from St Patrick's, any way like I was saying Henri has some el primo shit coming in tonight and he wanted to know if you were looking to buy? Yeah, yeah usual deal fifty down and the residual on resale."

The man glanced at Frank and made sure the wino wasn't listening in." Be at pier 7 at 8.30 tonight and bring the dough, but none of your gang. Henri was pissed the last time and your lucky he's even considering dealing tonight. Nah I wont be there this time, got me a date with a hot tamale" The man listened then his eyes went wide as he saw a cop enter the shop.

"Uhh got to go." The man glanced nervously at the cop." Hey Officer Morello long time no see, its nice and all but aren't you early?"

The cop glanced at the wino then snorted in disgust." You'll take stuff from anyone won't you Marco." He turned to the bum." Beet it before I beet you!" The bum staggered around for a bit but Marco knew he was usually good for some good gear." Leave him be, he can't even remember what year it is so I doubt he'll even remember you Morello." the cop shook his head, his hands on his hips." I need this months donation to the police benefits fund now Marco."

The cop saw a glare in Marcos eyes and he stepped forward." You wanna do it the easy way or the hard way?" He rubbed a hand on his chin and grinned." I could always pay a visit to your kids school...How old is she now 16-17? Mighty prime piece of ass, tasty too." As soon as the words left his mouth Morello knew he had pushed the storeowner too far. His hand dropped to the butt of his Glock just in case and he knew he was right when Marco turned red with rage.

"You even look in her direction and they'll be picking pieces of you off the city dump for months!"

Morello's eyes turned mean and he began to mock the shop keeper." ooh! When did you grow a pair Marco?"

The wino burped and told Marco." Look man just pay the dude and get on with it already! The thunderbird ain't getting any younger ya know!" The cop glanced at Frank and his eyes weighed up the wino for the first time. His eyes took in the old, dirty clothes and had he not been a cop on the take he would have left it at that but the man didn't fit the look. But before he could act on it Marco distracted him.

"Do you want the damned money or do ya wanna hassle bums?" Marco slapped the envelope on the table and Morello grinned as he slipped it into his pocket. He playfully slapped Marco on the cheek." Next time don't be so pissy!" He grinned and then sighed." I'll see ya later Marco. I'll stop by and see your kid's okay." He cupped his balls as he walked out. "Sure was fun the last time I 'talked ' to her. Now you've paid I'll try not to hurt her.. This time."

Morello spun as he heard Marco curse his name but he was too slow and he was looking down the barrel of a deadly looking twelve bore. Morello held his hands up all signs of the cocky bravado gone as Marco pumped a round into the Remington." Kiss your life goodbye mendaho!"

A tapping noise on the counter distracted Marco for a second and he glanced at Frank." Beat it Frank, you don't want to be around when I grease a pig!" He glanced at Frank's eyes and suddenly the drunken bum had left the scene. In his place was a man and the thing he was tapping was a short chambered Glock undercover special. He glanced down at it the up at Frank." Frank?"

"Put the gun down Marco, this piece of shit ain't worth frying for." Xander used his other hand to tilt his collar to his mouth." It's a bust fella's! Come an pick up Marco." He waited for the shop owner to put his gun down then he snapped his gun towards Morello." We get a bonus prise too, an Officer... What's your first name shitbag?"

Morello cursed then said." I ain't saying nuthin without union representation."

Xander shrugged." We have an Officer Shitforbrains Morello to take to the tank for attempted extorsion, and possible rape of a minor." Xander moved cautiously over to the officer and unsnapped his holster, removing the Glock carefully and tucked it into his waistband." Pukes like you give the word Pig a bad name!" He kicked his feet apart and then told Marco." Stand over there against the wall, place your hands out wide and stay there till I get to you."

The small pawnbroker shop was soon filled with armed men as the Major crimes team filtered in. Jackson patted Morello down and took the throw away out of the ankle holster." You do know you don't get paid by the pound Harris?" Jackson cuffed Morello and pushed him outside." Move it! You have the right to remain stupid, should you give up this right and grow a brain you may just come out of this in one piece..." The man continued as he frog marched the officer out of the door.

Xander holstered his gun then put his hand in his mouth and removed the false teeth. He spat out the horrible taste then dug under his flea infested shirt and flipped the badge out so it hung around his neck." You almost blew it there Marco! Man I thought you were going to splatter what little brains he had all over my good clothes." he grinned at him then turned serious." Do you think he was lying about your kid?" Marco shrugged." What does it matter now? By the time I get out she'll probably be a mattress back like her old lady!"

Xander sighed." Look I know you tried your best to get her outa this crap." Xander rubbed his hand on the five day growth on his chin then glanced around saying in his loudest voice." Thanks for the assist there Marco, if it weren't for your quick thinking he'd got me for sure." Marco looked at Xander like he was crazy and then Xander whispered." Look man you're only a little fish, the one we want is Henri and we got him by the balls already so just shut up and play along with me okay?"

Then a man in a clean cut suit entered the store and he looked around till he saw Xander." Harris! Get your sorry ass over here!" Xander shrugged to Marco and walked over to his boss. The man placed a none too gentle hand on Xander's collarbone." Did we have a mix up in memos or did you not hear me say we had to get Henri and the gun shipment. Hmm? Maybe you misunderstood me and thought you were transferred to IAD? Shit like Morello we can deal with anytime!"

Xander shrugged the hand off of his shoulder and then stood at attention." The sign on the cars say' TO serve and Protect ' sir so I was serving and protecting." He looked the man in the eyes." We have Henri dead to rights, I'll snap the cuffs on his hairy ass at 8.30 tonight myself sir. We need Marco as a key witness now so anything we can do to butter him up is a plus."

The man stops and begins to think this through." You're sure he'll roll over on his friend?" Xander nods." If not he'll go down with him and then more for what happened just now. Besides we'll also need him against Morello." Xander smiles and shrugs." There's bound to be more bad apples in Morello's precinct and he'll squeal like a stuck pig, this way we clean house, IAD owe us one and so does the Mayor. It is an election year and he has been promising to 'clean house' for some time now."

The man grinned and shook his head." I knew we were right in bringing you on the team. I must remember to thank Captain Lockley for her passing you on." Xander grins." Yeah Kate's a peach...I mean Captain Lockley is a friend sir." The Lieutenant smiled." Now go home and get cleaned up ready for tonight. Can't have my best rookie falling asleep at the wheel can I?"

Xander nods then returns to Marco as they take him to the car. "Look I just cut a deal for you with the boss." Xander helped him into the back of the car then sat next to him." If you co-operate, and I mean 100% no bullshit co-operate, then the light at the end of the tunnel may not be a freight train."

THE MAGIC BOX.

Amy finished placing the customers goods into the bag and handed it over to the woman." Thanks for choosing Magic Box if there's anything else we can help you with please feel free to call us or check on our website." the woman smiled and then left the shop as she did her nose wrinkled at the unkempt wino that was just entering the store." Give me a dollar!" the wino demanded." Really!" The woman huffed and quickly left the shop. The wino turned around." Hey hot 'n tasty how about a free sample?" Xander waggled his eyebrows at Amy and she giggled." Xander you have to cut that out or we'll lose customers."

Xander clutched his chest and grimaced." Oh my god! The pain, poor Giles will lose money and send in the torturers to see why!" Amy playfully slapped his hand and then pulled him closer." So does your sudden appearance mean we're on for tonight?" Xander shook his head." No it means my days of smelling like Spike's armpit and wearing these dregs are over for now." I just came over to shave, shower, change and show my girl some Xander lovin' before I have to get back." He glanced at her face and saw the worried look." Hey it's going to be a cakewalk honey. We got a witness ready to roll over, we know who it is, where the shipment is and even who's going to buy. Baddabing baddaboom we got them in the bag."

Meanwhile, at a condemned warehouse, the Crypts gang leader was talking to his men." Look we guns! The freaking Bloods are cutting through us like we don't matter." He hefted the Barretta and slammed it down on the counter." These toys aren't worth shit! We need full auto ball breakers man and Henri has got them over at the docks."

One of his men shook his head." Weren't no Blood that took out Manuela and his crew Hoffa." He glared at him with a mixture of both fear and anger." They took their damned heads man! What kind of freaky shit is that?"

Another gang member calmly told them after taking a hit from a PCP laced joint." Didn't just take the heads dude, they took the whole fucking spinal cord along with it. Like they was some kinda trophy!"

The leader threw a can at the man." Shut the hell up with that crap! It was the Bloods, and I say we tool up and show 'em the real meaning of fear!" He marched up and down the room like a general giving orders to his troops." We get everything from Henri then burn his ass! I hear he's got flamethrowers, rocket launchers the whole frigging show over there. We cap his ass and take what we want and then...And then we show this town the Crypts rule with an iron fist!" He slams his hand down and the others scream their approval.

All except one who whispered." My people know of these things. Weren't no Blood, weren't nothing human at all." He licks his lips and looks around the room." It was..THE YAUTJA!!!"

Chapter 1

MAGIC BOX - LA.

Xander wiped the condensation from the bathroom mirror and finished shaving the five-day growth from his face. He heard the bedroom door open and close and the door to the bathroom open. He glanced up in the mirror and saw Amy pouting behind him." Darn!" She moaned." And there I was rushing around so I could get up here and catch my old man in the shower." Xander splashed water on his face to remove the excess shaving foam. He turned around and pulled Amy close to him and she sneaked her arms inside his robe and wrapped them around his waist.

He made a show of sniffing his armpits and wrinkled his nose." Ya know I do believe I can still smell the flophouse on me." Amy grinned." Oh darn!" She pecked his lips with hers." I guess we'll just have to keep washing till it goes away." Xander side." Oh well if you insist?" Amy began unbuttoning her top." Oh I do, I do."

Several hours later Amy is sitting in front of the dressing table mirror brushing her hair. Her eyes glance back and she runs them over Xander's sleeping form. She grins and remembers the first time Xander had even looked at her like she was a woman." I really have to write a thank you note to Spike and give a prayer of thanks to Diana for making Slayers so dumb!" She saw Xander shudder in his sleep and she stood and sat by his side. She watched his eyes as they moved behind his closed lids and she frowned." Why won't you let it go Xander? It's been four years since that bitch broke your heart for the last time." She stroked his face then kissed his open mouth.

***************** FLASHBACK ****************

SUNNYDALE-2002.

Xander was the happiest he had ever been in his young life. After seeing how much easier it was to find out things when they had Riley on the inside he had decided that things would run smoother if the gang had an inside edge with the Sunnydale PD. He had applied and, due to the high turn over of patrolmen, been approved for the new rapid training scheme set up by the new Mayor. This Mayor had seen the corruption and the way the officers had turned a blind eye to the things happening from dusk till dawn and decided to do something about his dwindling voter base.

Xander had told Willow about his plans and she was more than eager to help him with studying for the entrance exam, which he passed with highest honours, and then she even managed to bring Amy back into the fold. Xander asked her as they prepared for the passing out parade three months later." Not that I don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth Wills but why Amy?"

Willow shrugged as she helped knot his tie." The group needs a Wicca, Xander and Amy is the best there is out there." Xander pulls on his collar and made a chocking expression." Yeah but didn't she kind off egg you on?"

Willow stood back from Xander and looked him up and down, she fanned her face with her hand and put on a southern accent." Well my, my Mr. Harris I do declare you look quiet nummy in your dress blues. If'n I weren't gay I could easily spend all my time dressing you." Xander raised an eyebrow at her comment until she grinned." Well to dress you I'd first have to undress you and while you were nekid we could." She waggled her eyebrows." Baddabing baddaboom."

Xander grinned and then they heard Buffy and Dawn arriving. Xander glanced out his bedroom window and saw Buffy as she hurried Dawn along. His smile grew wider and his eyes watched every move she made." Oh you still got it bad don't ya Xand!" Xander sighed and stood back by the full length mirror." Yeah.. But what can you do, she's...Buffy!" He shrugged. And then Willow glanced around conspiratorially." You know I overheard her telling Dawn that she' noticed how much better you looked since you had to pass the physical." Xander's eyes snapped to hers as he re-examined himself in the mirror." Don't joke about this Wills it ain't funny."

Willow shook her head." Do you see me laughing?" She rested her head on his shoulders." That's not all she told Dawn, but if you don't want to know then.." She made to move away but Xander turned and gripped her arms." For the love of God spill!" Willow smiled as she told him." She told Dawn she's been having nice dreams about you." She saw Xander's blank look and then she shook her head." Grr MEN! Nice dreams..." He still looked confused." As in faster Xander, harder Xander!" Xander's eyes went wide." Oh my sweet petunia's!"

"Oh you bet your cute butt Xander!" Willow exclaimed." Just don't push it and for my own safety DO NOT tell her what I said!" She watched Xander as he all but ran to answer the door and she whispered." Sorry Aims I guess you missed your chance." Willow knew that things had been hotting up between the witch and the normal guy but she also knew that Amy had no chance not while Buffy had his heart wrapped around her little finger. She felt pleased with herself as she went into the lounge to join the others." Who needs witchcraft to help her friends when a couple of words here and there did just as well?"

Dawn exclaims." Wow hunk a hunka burning blue love dude! My prayers to the love goddess have worked and she was pleased with me." She hugged Xander and then looked up." I thank you for your gift of nummy goodness and promise not to tire him out too much." Buffy pulled her sister from off of Xander and then brushed imaginary dirt from his uniform. "You shouldn't let little girls jump all over you like that Xand." She grinned at him and he was lost in the depths of her eyes. "Beggars can't be choosers Buff, besides the sister I really want doesn't even know I'm alive."

Xander felt a tingle run up and down his spine as he felt her fingers touch his pulse point on his neck. She grinned at him." Why Officer Harris, you're alive! Maybe we should talk more on the subject later?" Xander grinned nervously and said." Must be the uniform." Dawn was shocked when she heard her sister whisper." Hm maybe we should try it without the uniform?" Xander blushed." You mean we could go for a swim or something?" She turned from him then glanced back." Or something, though I hear the gene pool is quiet warm this time of year."

"Buffy Anne Summers!" Dawn exclaimed." Would you stop teasing the man, he needs to concentrate on his speech not have naked images of you running around in his head!"

Xander moaned." Great Dawn! Now instead of thanking the Mayor for' the opportunity to serve and protect the citizens of Sunnydale' I'll say the opportunity to serve a naked Buffy!" Buffy walked to the front door opened it then turned and told him." I think I prefer the second one myself." She then walked out the door with the graceful moves of a cat in heat.

Xander stared after her, mesmerised by the sight of her hips as they swayed." Ay carrumba!" Willow grabbed her purse and she and Dawn walked out." Come on Xand Amy's waiting for us at the academy... Xand?" She stopped and Xander was still frozen to the spot." Aye Carrumba!" He exclaimed once more. Willow grabbed one arm and Dawn the other and they guided him out of his apartment. Dawn looked at Xander then bent her head to look at Willow." If this is what he's like when she's just flirting with him what the hell's going to happen when they Uhh."

"Kiss?" Willow finishes for her and Dawn shrugs." yeah that too I suppose." Willow shrugs." I just hope his blue cross covers cardiac surgery is all."

The ceremony went off without a hitch; Xander gave his valedictorian speech with only a couple of stumbles along the way and then the gang went back to Buffy's for the celebrations. Amy kept hovering around Xander till almost midnight and Xander kept glancing at Buffy and praying for the party to end so he could ask her about the things she had said. Then right on midnight the worst thing that could have happened did happen. Spike arrived to add his five cents to the well wishers. He had returned just before Anya had been banished by D'Hoffryn for aiding the gang in reversing one of her wishes.(He had dropped the bombshell that no one at first believed." I've got me soul back Buffy!" At first both Buffy and Dawn had nothing to do with Spike, they had to keep Xander away from Spike otherwise they knew one or the other would be no more.)

The party hit a rough patch as people kept Spike at arms length but Dawn began to remember all the good things Spike had done and she broke the ice by taking him a drink. Spike got up the courage and asked Buffy if he could talk with her outside for a second, Buffy was no longer under Spike's thrall she knew she wasn't different and she was confident that the love of her friends would be enough to risk talking alone with him.

"What do you want Spike?" She asked him as they stepped outside." Just to talk and to beg forgiveness for what I did.. Everything I did back then." He looked into her eyes." You do know though that it wasn't just me? You came on to me like a hurricane Buffy." Buffy shook her head." No Spike it was just wild animal sex and nothing more. I needed to feel alive and god help me but the only way I could was to screw some undead piece of flotsam!"

Spike looked downcast and then he asked." So I guess if we kissed then you would feel nothing? Nothing but hatred for the thing that went out and fought to get his soul back just so YOU could be happy?"

Willow watched the conversation from the kitchen window and prayed Buffy wouldn't be so stupid, she jerked as she felt someone's breath on her neck and she just knew it was Xander before she even turned around. As she did she saw his eyes widen in both fear and revulsion, she turned in time to see Buffy kissing Spike and then saw her arms wrap around him drawing him deeper into the kiss. Willow turned quickly to try and explain but Xander was running from the room and out the front door.

The sound of a car starting up then peeling off down the road snapped Buffy back to reality. She pushed Spike away then wiped the taste of him from her lips." Nothing... You mean nothing to me Spike. Nothing more than an acquaintance that fights beside me." Spike nods and then takes out a cigarette." Well now I know." He grunted as he light the cigarette and drew a lungful into his dead lungs. "It's him ain' it, the looser, you love him don't you?"

She nods but before she can continue the backdoor opens to reveal Willow, Dawn and Amy standing there with disgust on their faces and in their eyes." How long..." Buffy started and then her eyes went wide." The car! Did Xander.." Before she could finish Willow started talking." Saw everything! How could you?" Willow's stare took in Spike and he felt like a child about to be beaten by his mother as she said." And with that of all things!" Buffy moved to leave but Amy stopped her." I hope you're pleased with yourself! You always wanted him out of the group and now you have your wish!" She turned to Willow and told her." You're going to have to find another Wicca for your group Willow." She looked daggers at Buffy." My stomach's not strong enough to be around her, I might do something I'd come to regret!"

Amy grabbed her coat and left the party slamming the door behind her. Dawn just looked from Spike to Buffy and back again then she shook her head and turned around telling Spike as she left." I never want to see you again for as long as I live!" Willow saw the tears forming in Buffy's eyes as Buffy tried to go after her sister. Willow placed a hand on her shoulder and told her." Give them time Buffy," She glanced at Spike." They got over your last episode so my guess is Dawn will get over this one."

Buffy looked at Willow." And Xander?" Willow shrugged." Xander is Xander, given time he too will manage to cope." She looked at Spike." But you, if I were you I'd move somewhere safe like the dark side of the moon!"

*********** PRESENT DAY ***********

Xander woke with a jerk from the dream that haunted his every nightmare, he lay there and contemplated his life and the way it had turned out." He saw his girlfriend of two years as she got ready to assist Angel in his nightly forays into the dark underbelly of the city of Angels." Why do you do it?" He asked her and she turned towards her lover and smiled." because it has to be done Xand, why do you do what you do?"

Xander shrugged." Some one once told me I have a 'White knight' complex. I guess he was right." he looked at the time then cursed." Jeez did you have to let me sleep for so long?" my walked up to him and kissed the back of his neck." As I recall you didn't sleep much." Xander blushed then moved away from her, shrugging into his shoulder holster as he did. He turned as he slipped on his jacket and admired the view Amy showed him as she bent to tug on her boots. "With a body like yours it's a wonder I get any sleep at all!" Amy turned and smiled." the feeling's mutual kind sir." She snuggled up to him and placed her hands on his chest and gazed into his eyes." Call them...Call her when you get off duty tonight."

She saw him blush and then she told him." If you don't then I will Harris!" She moved away from him." This has gone on for too long, you miss them and I...I know you have dreams about that night. The best way to end them is to make contact and have closure before it's too late." Xander looked into her eyes." Why what's wrong?" he asked in a panicked voice." Is she? Did that bastard do anything?"

Amy shook her head and told him." Buffy calls Angel every Saturday to see how you're going and to discuss demon stuff. She had a close call last week when a Farll Demon trapped her in her dreams." She pauses knowing what she would say next could end her fairytale life in an instant." Dreams about you and the life she might have had." Xander shook his head and went over to Amy." Sweetheart, you are my life now, she was just a dream, just an impossible dream I had when I was a child." He kissed her but Amy knew in her heart he should be kissing another." But I'm an adult now, with adult dreams and I have the one I want, the one I need."

Amy broke the kiss and placed her fingers to his lips." Promise me you will call her, make the first move so you can be friends once more."

Xander nods." Okay, you win sweetheart. First thing tomorrow morning..." Amy shook her head." As soon as you get back from your stake out." She smiled as he nodded." And don't go talking all night, remember we have to go over to Kate's place tomorrow for Leanne's birthday." She almost giggled." Who would have thought the great Kate Lockley would have fallen for Wesley? I mean a watcher of all people." She moved to the wardrobe and took out a heavy coat." Oh you did remember to get a present didn't you?"

"Duh! I'm not a total spaz you know. I'd hardly forget to get a present for my ex boss's daughter." Xander went over to the safe hidden in the closet and took out his compensated Glock and slipped it into the holster. He then took his badge from the dresser top and placed it on the chain around his neck before kissing Amy once more." See you when you get home lover and this time don't forget your cell phone." He picked up his keys as Amy tells him the same thing she says every time he goes to work." Hey! Let's be careful out there okay?" Xander laughs." Man I should never have got the classics channel, Hill street blue's, who would have thought you'd get hooked on it?" Amy laughs." hey it's a cop show, just be grateful I didn't get hooked on Sabrina!"

Xander shuddered as he left." Gah!!! Talk about nightmares!" He walked down the stairs that led into the shop below and shuddered." man can I ever get away from this crap?" He looked at the bottles and glasses, the icons and images of long dead gods and sighed to himself." Well as they say everyone comes with baggage and I should be the last one to bitch." As he got close enough to his car the onboard sensor picked up the pre-programmed signal his key transmitted and turned off the alarm with a 'blip, blip'.

Xander then slid behind the wheel of the department issued Chrysler and started the motor. The car went through its safety routines then told him." Good afternoon Officer Harris, you have a zero blood alcohol level and are authorised to use this vehicle." Xander shook his head as he started to drive off. Ever since the big 'purge' of '04 the department was very anal about its representatives. Each month a computer-generated audit would pick officers at random and go through their finances with a zest that some IRS agents only dreamed of.

He watched the Angel mobile pull up and Amy climb in to join Wesley, Cordy, Gunn and of coarse Deadboy himself. Xander's eyes narrowed on Angel and he hoped he remembered the speech Xander had given him before he had agreed to let Amy join the 'Fang Gang' as Cordy had named it. Xander had been all smiles at the get together but as soon as Amy had gone over to talk to Cordy his eyes narrowed and focused on Angel." I know I can't stop her from helping out but I just want to warn you. Should anything ever happen to her you'll wish you had staid in Hell!"

Xander beeped his horn and waived at the group then nodded to Angel before he drove off to the stakeout on pier 7.

Amy waived to Xander as he drove off and then turned to Cordy." Okay vision girl what's the what?" Cordy was looking at Amy and smiled." I'm glad your happy Aims, but most of all I'm glad you make him happy, he deserves it." Cordy shook her head then said." Man am I getting old? " She laughed and then told Amy." Some demon's going to attack a gang of hoods in the mission district tonight, a real ugly piece of work."

Angel nods as he drives off." Whatever it is Book boy over there and Fred can find only scraps of information on it." Wesley takes up the case." It would appear this creature, or creatures, only come out in unnaturally hot weather and times of great disturbance like during a war or civil unrest." He took out his notes and read snippets of them out as they drove." It was believed they were responsible for the disappearance of America's first settlement at Roanoke at the beginning of our countries civilization of the America's." A derisive snort came from Cordelia's but Wesley continued." As I said that was the first known case and there have been many more down the years. During the war for independents, your civil war, Crimea, the Zulu wars and even the first and second world wars. Right up until just two years ago when they began a rampage through this very city."

Cordy turns to Wesley." Now tell her the real juicy part." Before he can Cordy turns back and tells her." These demons took trophies... Heads!" Amy blanches." That is the sickest thing I've heard yet! So has this one taken many?" Gunn shrugs." Who knows, at the moment it's only attacked two gangs, stirred up quiet a hornets nest between the two and at the moment they're on the brink of all out war."

Amy realises something." Hey! Xander's working on a case that might tie in with ours." She turns to Angel." Some gang is going to a pier on North Harbour to buy some heavy duty firepower maybe it's one of the gangs."

NORTH HARBOUR -PIER 7.

Xander along with a few of the TAC team are hidden behind storage crates on the edge of pier 7 as the commander drops into the position." How's it going guys?" The leader of the TAC team nods and replies." A late model Crown pulled up about five minutes ago and that." He points to a large people mover parked by the front doors. "Arrived about two minutes ago."

He glances at Harris." Are these the guys Henri's waiting for?" Xander shrugged." I only know the gang's supposed to be here at 8.30. The people in the Mazda look like bangers but you never can tell these days." The commander holds a pair of night vision goggles to his eyes and says." Uhh any signs of Feds?"

Xander looked up at him. "Feds? Why would they wanna get their nice clean suits dirty over this? These days they got their hands full trying to catch the Free America Army." The man looks at him. "Have you not read the memo's I put out? There's some serious crap going down in South Central and the Feds think it might be coming our way."

Meanwhile, inside the warehouse, the leader of the Crypts was examining the goods Henri had for sale." 5.56 Belgian made minimi, P90's, blockbuster self guided missiles... Man fucking Santa came early this year!" He picked up the Russian made assault rifle and stated." We are going to kick some Blood ass!" He laughed, as did his second in command and the laugh echoed across the warehouse rafters and to the receptors of an almost invisible creature, its outline only visible if it moved too quickly.

It cocked its head as another group entered the building, one of the men moving to Henri and whispered something in his ear. The fat man stopped grinning and glared at the leader of the Crypts." I told you no bangers! They attract the police like flies to shit!"

The leader shrugged." I just brought Pete here and a couple of the boys to give me a hand loading." Henri jerks a thumb to his man." Jack here tells me there's a van over by the entrance with about ten guys in it!" the leader glares at him." What kind of horseshit is this? You double-crossing us? Or maybe the Bloods 'll pay more to get me than I would to buy this shit!"

Henri picked up a loaded combat shotgun and pointed the barrel at the gang leader." I didn't make any other deal but the one with you"

As they argued all but the Crypts 2IC saw the three red dots as they made their way up Henri's shirt front. Pete turned around and searched the well lite warehouse for signs of the gun but saw nothing until." Madre! El Diablo cazapor de hombres!" He turned and began to pull on his leaders jacket." We have to move!"

Just then a high-pitched buzz could be heard and the front of Henri's chest vanished in an explosion of blood and gore. The Predator was on the hunt once more.

Chapter 2

MISSION DISTRICT-

9.30 PM. Angel brought the car around the corner as quietly as the old classic could and then pulled into the curb, he then turned to Cordy." Here we are just like you said in your vision." Cordy closed her eyes and the tried to remember the fractured vision, she saw the creature attack the street gangs as they fought until there was just two left. It de-cloaked and showed itself to be the horror of every child's nightmare as it roared at the two girls that were huddled in the corner. It stalked past towards them and then a blue light engulfed them pausing at each of the young girls abdomen before winking out. It then walked amongst its victims, picking out the most suitable for its purpose.

Cordy wrinkled her nose." Eew! Gross, man I have to get the PTB get rid of Technorama!" She glanced at Angel." Yeah this is the place and it all goes down at 10.00." Angel nods then tells the rest to get ready while he checks the place over. He walked as quietly as he could down the alley between the two buildings and made his way inside of the restaurant. He watched ten young men as they sat at a table calmly cleaning their assortment of guns while four young men stood by the doors with handguns out watching for any trouble.

Angel back peddled until he was again in the alley where he was joined by his crew." There's fourteen in there and they aren't ordering #42." He turned to Gunn." You're sure your guys have headed off the Crypts?" Gunn nods." Yeah they told 'em it was a police set up and they even joked about how the Bloods would be in for a surprise but not as big as the one tomorrow night..." He stopped." Hey, you said fourteen right?" Angel nods." Four kids and ten guys why?" Gunn kicked the wall." Shit! I thought this was going too smooth." He saw the confused look on Angel's face." Where'd the other ten go? There were twenty four in Cordy's vision not fourteen! And five of them were girls."

Angel sighs." Maybe if I ask nice they'll tell me." He returns to the restaurant and just walks in and grabs a meal from the table and sat down." Hey guys, how're they hangin'?" The ten men turned as one whilst the teenagers shifted their aim onto Angel." Whoa! Hey guy's how about we loosen up a little?" He held both hands in front of him as one of the teens says. "Hey ain't you the guy that saved Maurice from that gang last week?" Angel shrugs." If I said yes would ya drop the guns a little?"

The gang members looked at each other and Angel glanced at the clock on the wall." I got to tell ya something funky's going to go down at ten tonight, right here in Ming's house of noodles!" They all looked at the clock and then at Angel." So you got five minutes to tell us what before I personally cap your ass!"

Angel stood and walked towards the counter and picked up some lemon chicken and nibbled on it." What if I was to say that no matter how many men you have here it won't be enough" The man with the leather vest finished assembling his armalite and slapped home a clip. He smiled." After tonight we'll have enough firepower what you think won't matter." Angel shook his head." My advice is that if you want to live past 10.30 I suggest you and your gang get the hell out. Might even warn your other guys an' gals to have an early night." He brushed his hands together to brush the chicken grease of his hands.

Leather vest narrowed his eyes and asked." What do you know about the boss and his gate crash party?" Angel shrugged." Don't know and I don't care, other than where ever he is he's about to step into a world of hurt." The man snapped his fingers and a cell phone was thrown to him. He deftly caught it and quickly punched out some numbers and waited." if this is a trick you'll pray for a quick death." He stopped and held up his hand. "Manuela is Hoffa' there? Well tell him we got word its a trap, yeah get your asses outa there pronto tonto."

Cordy was glancing at Amy as she sat next to her in Angel's convertible." So what do you think about Willow and Dawn coming here next week?" Amy shrugged." It'll be nice to see them after all this time, I'm sure Dawn will have a lot to tell Xander." Cordy frowned." And you're not worried in the least that she'll talk Xander into paying a visit to Sunnyhell?"

Amy grinned like a Cheshire cat." Not in the least, wouldn't worry me at all if he did go back for a visit." Cordelia looked at Wesley who just shrugged." Hello.Does the name Buffy Summers and unrequited love interest mean nothing to you?" Amy's grin deepens." Oh I know she has feelings for him and he has them for her, but I know something that will mean nothing she does will tempt him to stray."

Cordelia cocked an eyebrow." Okay how about the term living in a fool's paradise.. GAHHH!!!" Cordy gripped her head in pain." God damn you DOYLE!"

"Angel glanced at the clock and then to the back of the restaurant as they all heard a noise. Angel held up a hand for calm." Its probably one of my crew getting nosy, I'll check." He walked back to find Gunn there with his gun drawn along with Wesley." What are you doing?" Gunn tells him." Cordy's having another vision." Wesley then states." I don't think we're at the right address." Angel nods then ushers everyone outside and into the car.

Cordy is shuddering in the throes of her vision." Warehouse. Water...Guns, lots of gunfire.. Demon with bright yellow eyes... Can't see it. A car crashing into the warehouse." Amy asks." Number, what's the number of the warehouse Cordy?" Cordelia grimaces." Death! So much death and slaughter! Man with large medallion." Amy asks once more." Cordelia! What's the address or location?"

Cordelia's eyes widen and she lets out a soul shattering scream." No! My God it's a massacre! Not a medallion its a badge... number 3217." Cordy's eyes widen as she sees a thick blue beam of light hit the man full in the chest throwing him back, back on to the edge of the dock and into the sea.

Cordy snaps out of it and sees the look of shock on Amy's face as the badge number strikes at her very heart. She grips Angels shoulder so hard it even hurt him." North Harbour, Pier 7 now!" Cordy shrugs off Wesley's hand and pulls Amy to her." Amy please tell me I'm wrong, whose badge number is it?" Amy has tears running down her cheeks." Xander's, its Xander's badge!"

PIER 7- 10.00PM.

The radio on the crate crackles into life." We have ten persons entering the warehouse from the rear." The TAC officer announced." Well looks like Henri's dance card just got a few more names added to it." The commander held the night goggles up and said. "I make it 18 bangers and only four guards. This is going to one short sharp fire fight."

Then a blue beam of energy struck the last gang member as they entered the warehouse scattering pieces of him across the doors. The commander almost shouted." What the fuck was that?" While a sick feeling washed over Xander as a memory fought to break out of its long forgotten prison." Jesus!" Xander exclaimed as they saw the light from more energy bolts flash through the windows of the warehouse followed by the sound of automatic gunfire. The Commander radios his men." Go, Go, Go! I want this place sanitised before any innocent people get dragged into this!"

They watched the armoured TAC vehicle smash through some crates that were being used to hide it and manoeuvre towards the warehouse. Xander saw several beams emanate from thin air and strike the armoured car blowing it into small pieces." Holy Mary mother of God!" One of the cops prayed." They've got a freaking death ray down there!"

Xander was trying to hold down the feeling of dreaded familiarity as they watched the scene unfold before them." Not again, not in my town!" He whispered then grabbed the commander." Call 'em off! Call the men off before you have no men left!" The commander glared at him." I have never given up in my life officer Harris and I'm not about to start now!" He keyed the radio." All teams ...Take 'em out!" He turned to Xander and pointed at him as he threw the radio to him. "You stay here and get back up and EMS teams if you want."

Xander shook his head and looked at his hands as they shook." You can't beat it on its own ground Commander! It's setting you all up for its trophy cabinet!" The commander looked mad." When this is over Harris I'm recommending you front a medical review board!" Xander laughed." Over? Over! This shit will never be over! It got Harper and my team and now its back for more!" He called out to the commanders back as the rest of the police moved in." Never be over till I'm dead." A grin washed over his face and then he straightened up and tugged his badge from under his shirt, letting it swing on his chest.

Xander calmly opened the door of the commander's car and slid behind the wheel then started the motor and gunned it till it almost drowned out the sound of the war going on in the warehouse.

Angel pulled up the car as they came to the road leading to the warehouses when suddenly the night was light up by the flashes of full auto firearms." We're too late!" Gunn cried out and Angel sent the car crashing into the locked gates." Not while we're still alive..." He saw Cordy glance at him." Well most of us anyway." They got close enough to see the blue flashes of light and the explosions as they touched their targets. Then from out of the packing crates a blue Chevy drove like a madman was at the wheel and crashed into the front doors of warehouse # 7 and straight on in.

Amy cried out." NO!" and Angel pressed the accelerator till it hit the floor but even the most optimistic amongst them could see they were too far away to be of any help.

Xander drove through, gritting his teeth as the car struck the table and then it hit something he couldn't see. The thing was flung back and crashed into some of the crates as Xander got out his Glock in his hand." Get out! Get the fuck out while you can!" He ordered and some of the men obeyed his order, helping the wounded outside into the relative safety of the night.

Xander saw a shimmering over by the boxes and he opened up on it with his gun until the slide clicked back and was empty. He threw it down and picked up a minigun then cocked the firing handle and fed a belt of ammunition into it. It felt like he was home once more, the smell of cordite and blood fired up his mind and his memories as he let the cocking handle snap forward." Lets party!" He said with an evil grin.

He watched the shimmering figure turn towards him and he grinned harder." Surprise mother..." The last part of his curse was blocked out by the noise of the machinegun as he started walking the rounds up and down the image in front of him. He didn't even realise he was screaming until the last round fired and the handle locked back. He dropped the gun and picked up a blood covered Colt AR15 and readied it for firing.

He walked towards the creature as the cloaking device sputtered and the finally failed revealing a monster of biblical proportions leaking fluorescent green blood. He saw it move for its arm and Xander fired his gun into the creatures arm severing it at the elbow." Tut, tut not nice to blow up your betters." He leant down and flipped the two side switches that held the helmet on the creatures' face all the while wondering how in the hell he knew to do this. He then flipped the mask away revealing a creature with several mouths full of teeth." You're still one ugly mother ya know that?"

Xander stood and he could see the ocean up close from his position and then he heard the commander." Goddamn! What the hell is that thing?" Xander shrugged." Dead?" He kicked it with his foot then pondered." This wasn't as tough as I.." His eyes went wide as he saw four separate dots of the targeting device move along the wall from different directions, all heading for him.

"Fuck!"

Chapter 3

THE DOCKS-10.25pm.

Angel pulled the car up just as the last man exited the building. Angel grabbed the arm of the man in the once smart looking suit and asked him." Harris, Officer Harris where is he?" The commander looked confused as he glanced behind him." He tried to warn me but I wouldn't listen." He grabbed Angels shirt." Why? What the fuck where those things?" Angel easily broke the mans grip and then Amy asked him again." Xander where is he?" The Commander heard another of the bolts as it was unleashed from the plasma caster." Let me GO! I have to get reinforcements...Yeah the army! The army will kick their ass!"

As he moved away he realised what Amy had asked and he pointed back inside." In there..Dying if he isn't already dead!" Amy went white. Angel gripped her and told her." We'll stop Cordy's vision Amy I promise!" Angel popped the trunk and walked round the back of his car and took out a short sword while Gunn picked up a pump action shotgun." Ready?" Angel asked him." No but that's never stopped me before." Gunn grinned at him.

Inside the warehouse Xander was ducking and weaving for his very life as plasma bolts began striking closer and closer. He saw men running and dying under fusillades of energy bolts he also saw Ahmed, the man behind Henri's shipments run for the door followed by a bodyguard. Xander stared around looking for anything that could help keep him alive and the his eyes landed on the blockbuster missile launcher." Oh momma!" He exclaimed then emptied the Colt at the area where he thought the closest predator was. He grabbed the launcher and kicked the case of rockets behind a stack of crates." Please Lord let this be as simple as that other rocket launcher!" Xander remembered how to use this launcher, his mind dredging the information up as if he always had known how too. His fingers flew over the rocket launcher and he also remembered the blockbuster was supposed to be dumb proof meaning it would take seconds to launch under battlefield conditions. He flipped open the case and saw three large rockets sitting like oversized Twinkies in the box. He picked one up and pulled the wire fuse out of the back, slid the rocket in and plugged the wire into the marked slot then heard the buzz as the two computers shook hands.

A beep drew his attention to the LCD screen and he read the readout before grinning." Man this is going to be.." His words were cut off as the crates erupted in a haze of smoke and debris." Time to go!" He said as he rolled out of the way then cursed as he saw the stack crash down on the remaining rockets." Well now that about sums up my luck!" He ran towards another stack, weaving and trying to get a lock on one of the creatures as he did. He began to pant and tried to control his breathing." How the hell do I know all this shit?" He saw a bag of material drop from the top of a stack and he held the launcher up aiming it where the bag had fallen. The screen went through its three options, infrared, movement and manual. He saw nothing on the infrared but the launcher momentarily locked on something in the motion detector setting.

Xander grinned as he selected motion then took his badge off and held it in his right hand. He waited till he saw the vague shimmering outline then threw the badge as hard as he could towards it. He grinned when he saw it stop just in front of the creature as it caught, and held it up to study it. He waited for the beep to signal the launcher had a lock, when it did he exclaimed." Hast la vista baby!" And depressed the switch. He watched the missile speed away from its launch tube and then he rolled away from the position, dropping the tube and gripping the Israeli manufactured combat shotgun from the dead fingers of one of Ahmed's bodyguards.

The blast shook the warehouse and flung Xander to the ground, the pressure wave causing him to roll several times and his ears to ring with a high pitched buzzing. When he could finally regain his feet he looked around smiling as he saw the green smear that was all that remained of the demon. Xander saw Angel and Gunn at the entrance to the warehouse and he thanked god for reinforcements. That was until he saw a shimmering shape move towards the pair. Xander stood up and yelled to them." Get the hell outa here ya idiots!"

He heard a whooshing noise and dodged out of the way as a disc narrowly missed taking his head. He fired at where he thought the disc had come from and then stood up, but a noise made him turn and then he felt the disc slice through his leg on its return to its owners hand." Mother..." He fired five quick shots at the disc as it was suspended in mid air and was rewarded by the inhuman scream of pain. Xander looked at his leg and saw the disc had sliced him clean to the bone." Jesus!"

He glanced over at the door and saw Angel pushing Gunn out the door. For some reason the creatures were leaving Angel alone but one of the blasts had struck too close to his friend." Yeah that'd be right, dead boy's luck holds true while I'm slowly bleeding out!" Xander slipped the carry strap off of one of the Mp5's and quickly tied a makeshift tourniquet to try and stem the bleeding. It was then he noticed his hands shaking like two leaves caught in an autumn storm." He breathed in and held his breath before releasing it slowly and then a voice from deep in the recesses of his mind barked an order at him. "Keep low, keep moving and keep alive godamn it! Watch for the shimmer and fire for effect!"

Xander looked around and grinned when he saw bags of pre mixed cement stacked to his left and another table loaded with contraband that Ahmed had hoped to off load on the gangs of LA." Why couldn't the jerk have been off loading Abrahm's or even an APC or two?" He risked diving across the table to try and find a replacement for his rapidly emptying shotgun. He quickly scanned the table but it was loaded with body armour and then the voice spoke once more and he grabbed a Kevlar mark V vest. As he began to move his hand reached out and grabbed a second one." Never underestimate your enemy-lesson one of the Giles books on surviving the hellmouth." He whispered as he swiftly moved into a darkened corner of the warehouse.

Outside Angel was taking Gunn back to the car when he saw Amy begin to caste a spell. "Revealus de Incenderiatos!" Blue arcs of electricity snapped out from her outstretched arms and immediately enveloped a shape that was stalking towards Angel. Gunn tried to lift his gun but he didn't have the strength. Angel was about to drop Gunn and take on the semi-transparent creature but he saw round after round hit the creature. Angel turned and expected to see Wesley firing the gun but the ex-watcher was busy trying to protect Cordelia as she shook with the rush of a new vision.

Amy, it was Amy that held the gun, he gave her the thumbs up then cried out as he saw a bolt of energy strike her shoulder." AMY!" Angel turned to see were the bolt had come from and there stood the creature they had thought would surely be dead. The arcs of energy that swept around his body slowing down until the creature pressed something on its wrist and once more vanished from sight." NO!" Angel cried out as he hefted the sword then ran off towards the demon. He struck with all his strength but felt the blow swing through vacant air as the creature moved with inhuman speed.

Angel vamped out." Okay we tried it your way now lets play a new game!" He used every sense at his disposal and felt the creature move close by him as it tried to get closer to Amy's struggling body. Angel drove the blade deep into the creatures flesh and his demon half revelled in the pain it was causing. Right up until Angel felt the twin prongs of the creature's blade as they bit deep into his chest.

Angel groaned and felt the pain in his chest expand as he collapsed to the ground. His hand struggled to keep hold of the sword and defend his friends but then he heard Wesley cry out." Stay back!" Angel turned in the direction Wesley was shouting and saw a man in a black vest limp from the warehouse firing some exotic shotgun as he did.

Every shot was accompanied by a word spat out with all the vitriol the young man's soul could muster." Get.. BAM.The Fuck.BAM.Away...BAM...From them. BAM...YOU...BAM. Ugly mother!!" The gun clicked on empty and then Xander gulped. The voice in his head said disappointedly." First rule of war don't get angry! Angry people make mistakes. SHIT!" The voice was cut off as a bolt of energy struck Xander in the centre of his chest throwing him back and crashing through the empty crates, tumbling him over the them and into the water below.

Chapter 4

THE DOCKS.

Angel coughed and tried to stand." No not both of them!" His quickly spoken promise to Xander came back to haunt his every fibre." You will make sure she's not hurt or you will wish you never got out of hell!" He heard Wesley scream his name as the two remaining fang gang members rushed to his, and Gunn's side." We have to get out of here!" Cordy told him but Angel shook his head." Not without the heads of the demons that did this!" Cordy looked at him and was almost in tears." Amy's dead, Gunn's injured and you're bleeding so much I doubt you'll be up and around for weeks!"

Wesley nods." Lets get Xander and get.." He saw Angel glance to the docks and Wesley shook his head." Xander?" Angel struggled to his feet." He took one in the chest trying to draw their fire from us." Cordy shook her head as the tears began to flow now." No, not Xander..He's not dead! He can't be."

Angel tensed as he heard the sirens of the approaching police forces arrive." I can't seem to sense the creatures anywhere." He spoke to Cordelia's back as she ran to the water's edge and looked down, scanning the surface for any sign of her one time love." XANDER!" She cried out and then felt Wesley's arms lifting her up." He's gone Cordelia, nothing could have survived a hit from one of those things." He turned her round and held her chin in his hand." I swear by all I hold dear we will avenge them."

Cordelia suddenly remembered Amy and she nods." We had better get away before the PD start asking too many questions." She began to walk away from the last resting place of Alexander Harris then turned and whispered." This will kill the others."

When they arrived at the car they saw Angel laying in the back cursing as Gunn tried to follow a trail." Its Amy, her bodies gone!" Gunn hobbled back shaking his head and gripping one of the surviving gang members by the back of his neck." I followed the trail and then it just stopped, no blood, no tracks nothing!" He hit his fist against the side of the car in frustration." Man what a cluster fuck! I found this hero hiding under one of the freight wagons near where Amy's trail disappeared.."

Gunn threw Pete against the car and growled at him." Tell them what you told me!" The man was almost pissing in his pants as he looked from one of the survivors to the other." Something dragged the body of a woman by where I was hiding and then it just went up into the air and that's the last I saw of it I swear to god!"

Cordelia finished bandaging Angel's wound as she asked." So just what the hell kind of demon did we run into tonight?" They all turned to listen to the young man as he told them in a panicked voice." In my village the old ones talk about 'El Diablo, Cazapor de Hombre's'." He looked from one to the other as Angel says." The devil that hunts men?" The man nods." Every time it gets unnaturally hot the men of my village would begin to be found without their heads, some skinned and gutted like a buck ready for the dinner table." They all saw his eyes grow white as he replayed everything he saw this night." They also called the demons 'El Que Hace Trofeos De les Hombre's!' The demon that makes trophies of men!" He then slumps to the ground." It has been very hot this summer...Very hot."

Angel struggled to sit upright then turned and saw the remnants of the stake out team begin to, hesitantly, walk into the light the fires from the burning warehouse caused. The headlights of the fast approaching back up, lit up the scene reminiscent of a third world battle zone.

Kate Lockley shot out from the rear of a town car and ran over to the familiar red convertible." I might have guessed you lot would be involved in this somehow." The commander walked zombie like from the shadows, the cuts and bruises highlighted by the flashing red and blue lights of the cop cars as they pulled alongside the warehouse. Kate grips his shoulder." Jimmy. What the hell happened here?" The commander looked at her as if she were a stranger." Hell, hell is what happened here." He glanced at the burning warehouse and shuddered." Gangs.. It must have been gangs on drugs or. or."

One of his men, one that knew Xander, barked out. "Alex tried to warn us but you wouldn't listen would ya? You make me wanna puke!"He tried to assault him but he was held back by some of the newly arrived. He pointed his finger at the commander. "He put his ass on the line and got some of us out including your sorry ass!"

The commander straightened his suit and brushed off some dirt from the lapels." that's right Franklins he did, but only because he was privy to information he didn't or wouldn't pass on to me." He glared at the man." When we find him I'm going to recommend a full IAD investigation guk!" Wesley had the man by the throat as he pushed him up against the squad car. The commander's eyes went white at the look of rage on Wesley's face." You'll make sure everyone knows what happened here tonight! You'll make sure he's honoured as the hero he truly was."

Kate gripped Wesley's hand and tore them from the commanders throat." Was?" Wesley turned to her." Angel saw him take a direct hit in the chest by one of those. Things! His body was flung back into the harbour." She moved to go to the waterfront but Wes placed a hand on her." We looked, he's gone Kate." Kate sighed." My god who's going to tell Amy Wes?" She saw the grimace of pain on Angel's face at the mention of Amy's name and Cordelia sobs." She's with him now Kate, if there is a heaven they're together there."

Kate looked around at the carnage and destruction." What the hell happened here, was it a gang war?" Angel moaned from the back seat of his convertible." No! It wasn't gangs Kate. It was demons, creatures on a hunt for trophy's." Kate glanced around at the wounded and dying survivors." Trophies?" Wesley nods and then tells her." We believe they take the bodies away with them much like hunters do with the game they shoot."

Four black Ford expeditions and two small trucks pull onto the harbour docks. Kate slowly leans over to Wesley." Drive Wesley, get the remains of your crew the hell out of here before they get set up." Wesley starts the car and Gunn lips in. "The FED's are here and trouble's never far behind them." Wesley drove off, past the frantically waiving man as he tried to set up a roadblock.

Xander slowly sank into the polluted waters of the bay harbour until his eyes snapped open and his hands struggled to release the Velcro straps of the two vests. They dropped down into the darkness and Xander kicked his way to the surface, his ribs sending bolts of pain to his synapsis as he tried to hold a scream of pain from escaping his lips. He broke the surface and gasped a much needed lungful of air into his tortured body. He span around in search of the creature that had fired at him then made his way towards the shore and the sounds of sirens. His mind going over the events of his recent past when he heard the sound of a high-powered speedboat start up. He was close to the boat and gripped the edge as he heard a large object hit the water. Xander had almost pulled himself in when the voice shouted a curse in Russian. "Get me the fuck out of here!"

Xander knew the voice belonged to Ahmed but how he knew he couldn't remember. Xander saw the look on Ahmed's face as he finally saw him." I don't know who you are but I owe you my life." He pointed the Semi-automatic at Xander's head." If I even think you're slowing me down I'll feed you to that thing back there!"

Xander laughs." Hey your a funny guy, I think I'll kill you last." Ahmed grins and sits down, the barrel of the gun not wavering from the centre of Xander's chest." Who the hell are you anyway? You're too well dressed to be a banger and some of the moves you made we're straight out of the Speznats training manual."

Xander watched the Russian Mafia come gunrunner wannabe take a Cuban cigar from a case, Xander casually lent over and removed one for himself, he rolled the fat cigar between his lips then bit the end off and spat it into the water and waited for Ahmed to lit it for him." You my friend have got brass ones the size of king Kong's! " Xander drew the aromatic smoke into his lungs and held it there before releasing it." So what's your name?"

Xander watched the docks quickly disappear behind him and moved the cigar to the corner of his mouth." My friends call me Dutch." Ahmed grinned." And your enemies?" Xander shrugged." They don't live long enough to call me anything."

Ahmed nods." Just what the fuck were those things? I've seen some crazy crap in my travels but I haven't seen anything to match half the things they did." Xander picked up the sound of the motors cut back as they approached a tanker and he shrugged." Something I ran into in Columbia last year." He grinned." I guess i may have pissed them off a tad."

Ahmed spoke in Russian to his guard and then told Xander." I have a little matter to attend to in LA, a man I trusted has disappointed me and I have to make an example of him.. And his family. You are welcome to anything you want before you leave." He glanced at the wound in Xander's leg and the way he winced whenever he moved suddenly." First off though I think you might find my Doctor of some use yes?"

Xander flicked the ash off of the cigar and nodded." Spesebo." And then followed Ahmed up the rails and into the hold of the tanker. He saw containers stacked from one end of the ship to the other." I'm going to need some equipment." He grinned." I hate to leave a job half done."

LA.

As they drove back to the hotel Cordelia's mind kept playing back her vision along with memories of how annoying, maddening and loving Xander had been towards not only her but everyone he loved." I can't believe he's gone. "She mumbled and then she turned to Angel." Who's going to call them?" Angel placed a hand to his forehead and sighed." I will, I owe them that much at least." He glanced up at Wesley." I owe Amy and Xander more." He winced as the unhealed wound protested at the strain he put upon it. "I promised Xander I wouldn't let anything happen to her." He closed his eyes and added two more names to the long list of his failures. "I can't even offer a body for them to bury!"

It took them half an hour to get back to the hotel and by the time they arrived Kate had left them a message on the answering machine." Uhh Angel we think we've found Amy, her remains were on the top of a warehouse along with several other bodies. Call me as soon as you get this message."

Cordelia went pale." What did she mean by they think its Amy?" Gunn helped Angel to the elevator and he turned to Wesley." Wes could you call her back? I need to get fixed up before we go after whatever did this." Gunn helped him to the bed and then Angel pulled the phone close to him." I need to call Buffy and let them know what's happened."

Gunn took his jacket off and winced at the damage to his arm." Man this is going to hurt when I wake up." He watched Angel dial the numbers." Do you want me to stay?" Angel shook his head." No this is something I need to do by myself."

Chapter 5

SUNNYDALE.

The ringing of the phone drew Willow from the start of a nice dream and back to the harsh world of Sunnydale. She rubbed her eyes and fumbled for the phone just as Dawn yelled out." Are you going to answer that or let it ring all freaking night?" Willow sat up and mumbled." That girl definitely has to go on decafe!" She picked up the phone and asked." hello, this had better be good."

Angel stumbled as he searched for the right words." Oh hi Willow, is um Buffy there with you?" Willow turned on the bedside light and told him." Not unless she's turned gay in the last hour, she's on patrol." A fear gripped her heart as she heard Dawn on the other line." Xander's alright isn't he?" they both heard Angel sigh which considering he was a vampire and didn't need to breath began to freak them out even more." There was an incident tonight and ...Well.." He hesitated and Willow's heart feared the worst." Willow, Will Xander's gone."

"Gone?" Dawn asked." Gone as in 'he's gone to Fresno' I hope." Willow began to rock on the bed as Angel's words struck home." No, please not Xander." Willow heard the other phone drop and suddenly Dawn was in her room." It's not what you think Willow! He's not gone, gone he's just..." She snatched the phone from Willows nerveless fingers." Spill deadboy!"

"There was a Demon, Cordelia saw it attacking a gang in a vision, when we got to where she thought the vision was it had moved to some docks. Evidently something had caused the demons to attack the warehouse Xander was staking out." Willow could here Angel's mumbled words but it was the reaction on Dawn's face that chilled Willow to her very soul. Dawn the sometimes annoying teenager sat on willows bed and continued to nod." So there's no body then." She nods." Maybe he's alive, did they search the waterfront?"

Willow saw Dawn squeeze her eyes shut and then a single tear slid down her cheek." And Amy how's she taking this." Dawn's eyes went wide and then she calmly told him." Yes I will Angel, thanks for letting us know and I hope you heal quickly, I'm pretty sure we will be there first thing in the morning if not sooner."

Angel began to protest." Look there's nothing any of you can do Dawn, we will find these things and. Dawn?" He looked over at Gunn as he hung up. "Well that good have gone better." He grunted then laid down on the bed as Gunn brought him a bag of blood." I'll leave you to it man, I have to check on the others." He stopped at the door." You know if I thought any of us would live through these times it would have had to have been Xander and Amy."

Angel finished the bag and nodded." Yeah the others can't manage to take it in either."

Willow took Dawn by her shoulders and asked." Please Dawn what happened?" Dawn just stood up and walked to the door." We need to get dressed and find Buffy before some asshole tells her." Willow shuddered." Buffy, this is going to hit her hard."

Dawn walked back into Willows room, pulling on a jumper as she did." Harder than you think Willow, she never got over him." She glanced at Willow as she too pulled on some clothes." Tell me this is a nightmare and we're going to woken up by him banging on the door reminding us House of Pancakes was haveing an all you can eat Tuesday."

GREEN ACRES CEMETERY.

"I know it's been a while Xander and I umm..." She saw the look on Spikes face." What I haven't even started!" Spike shook his head." He's going to think you're trying to tell him off for something. You love him right?" She saw Spikes eyes look into her soul and she nods." When he left I wanted to follow but Willow said he needed time, then when I gave him the time to sort out how I felt he found Amy. I can't just waltz in and say' nice place oh by the way I love you more than life itself'?"

Spike cocked his head to one side." And you can't because?" Buffy shook her head." Yeah right like he'll dump Amy for one more shot at the slag that he caught kissing yet another Vampire!" Spike nods." If he truely believes you and he really loves you then yes he will."

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!" Dawn's voice broke through the night and drove a verbal stake through Spike's heart. Dawn raced up to the pair and she could barely stop herself from following through on her promise." I think you have done enough to ruin her life don't you?" Buffy gripped her sister by the shoulder and spun her around. "He's helping me Dawn and believe me that's all he's ever going to do. Now why are you out here? Willow's not hurt is she?" The realisation that the only reason Dawn would be out when it wasn't her turn to patrol with Buffy was if someone was hurt.

She saw the calmness wash over dawn and she shook her head." It's not Willow, Angel called, and there was a demon and it." Dawn looked directly into Buffy's eyes." This creature killed Amy and Xander's missing."

Buffy felt worse than when she had been torn from heaven as the words hit home." No, he's wrong or, or you had a bad dream!" Spike could hear the wooden stake shatter under the pressure of Buffy's grip." What did the old poof say Dawn?" Dawn ignored him." What he said was meant for Buffy's ears and not yours!" Dawn walked up to Buffy and told her." Willow's bringing the car and some things for us to wear. We're going to LA and find out exactly what's going on."

Spike nods." I'll look after Sunnyhell while you look for him." The guilt of what he had done four years ago still plagued the souled vampire. He knew she was beginning to fall in love with Xander and his dark soul couldn't let him do nothing to stop the one thing he regained his soul for just slip away." When you find him tell him to get his ass back here where it belongs." Dawn spun around and jabbed a finger at him." If you weren't such an asshole he would never have left in the first place! By now Buffy and he would be.." She turned away from him." It would be best if. When he does comeback you weren't here!"

Dawn spun around to see Buffy slumped on the ground. " I should have stopped him, told him not to leave, If only.." Her mind went back to the week before Xander had left Sunnydale. She had heard tales from several different sources of how Xander had run off the rails. Suddenly he gave up on Buffy, on the only way of life he had known for seven long years, he drove himself harder than any taskmaster ever could have. She found out that Amy had returned from where ever it was she had run to when the shit had hit the fan the previous year and she found them together in his apartment.

Buffy knew Xander was at home that day but thought nothing of forcing the door open and marching in, determined to set things straight between them and try to bring him back to her. The noises she heard coming from the bedroom made her stop in her tracks. The sound of two people as they made love made her eyes widen and then anger fill her soul. She kicked in the door to the master bedroom to find Xander making love to Amy. Amy stopped moving under Xander when she saw the Slayer standing there and Xander turned around ready to attack whoever had broken into his house.

"Buffy!" He moved to cover Amy and himself up then stopped." Get out, what right do you have being here?" Amy moved away from Xander and stared daggers at the blond as she moved out of the room. Xander wrapped the sheet around himself and followed her out grabbing her by the arm as he did." Wait a damned minute! Answer me god damn it!"

Buffy spun around and glared at him." You dare ask me that? After all we have been through and you just cut us all from your life and now I found you screwing that bitch!"

Xander shook his head." That bitch happens to love me! Do you even know what the word means, it doesn't mean fucking some undead wannabe till you were so sore you could barely move!" She shrank back." And then just when I thought we could move on and perhaps be together you're at it again!" He glared at her and then shook his hands at the ceiling." To hell with you!" He marched off to the bathroom and slammed the door. Buffy was about to leave when she saw Amy leaning against the door of the bedroom." I wanted us to be friends you know, like we were once in high school."

Buffy shook her head." Oh I doubt we were that close Amy, besides I have even less reason to be friends with you now." Amy nods and then drops her bombshell." He's taken up a position with the LAPD." Amy didn't wait for the blast to reach her before she continued." I'm having his baby, we only found out this morning and we were going to tell the others tonight but we Ahh." She glanced at the bedroom." We kinda got sidetracked." Buffy felt her world spin out of control and crash down around her ears." Pregnant?" She asked, knowing full well that if she were then any chance of Buffy and Xander getting together had just been vaporised by those two little words." To Xander...And you're both leaving Sunnydale?"

Amy nods." It was his idea, I guess he didn't want the temptation." Buffy saw the way Amy looked at her." And I think he's right, even though I can give him what you never could." She rested a hand on her belly before telling Buffy." I think it best if you leave before he gets out don't you?"

Buffy nods and her body moves as if it were on auto pilot, she knew that nothing in this world would make Xander leave Amy now, he was loyal to a fault but only now he was loyal to someone else, someone not her. Four days later he was gone, out of her life and leading his own in LA. Amy lost the child seven weeks into the pregnancy and Buffy knew that Xander would die rather than leave Amy now. The letters and phone calls slowly trickled to a close and after three years they finally dried up as if Sunnydale was a chapter in a book Xander never wanted to read again. She, Willow and especially Dawn, waited for the regular Saturday update they received about him from Cordelia.

They lived through his ups and downs, cried when Cordy told her their second conception had ended as bad as their first. Beamed with joy when Xander had been promoted to detective and given his gold shield. Buffy had still held onto the slim hope that one day Xander might return and they would pick up from where they had so badly left off. But now all that would be consigned to the 'if only' bin, a bin that was filled to the brim with things she should have done but never did, or would.

Willow pulled up and ran over to them, she saw Buffy sitting on the cold wet grass, her legs skewed to either side of her body. Willow looked at Dawn and the teenager sighed." She's taking this harder than I had imagined." Dawn sat by her sister and moved the hair from Buffy's face." We only know for sure that Amy is dead Buffy, Xander could be just injured and waiting in some damned hospital." Buffy nods then stands up." We need to be there, we need to be there now!"

Chapter 6

LA.

Kate walked Wesley through to the viewing room." We only need a verification Wesley, we've already got prints to do a rundown." She hesitated at the window." You may want to brace yourself, it's not pretty." She pressed a button on the wall and the curtains were drawn back to reveal a white shrouded body that seemed too short." The Uhh head and most of the spine is missing, we made a thorough search but the thinking is that the thing, or things, that did this removed them from the area." The mortician pulled back the shroud, showing only the torso. Wesley nods." It's her dress. Excuse me." He ran off to the men's room and after several minutes came back wiping his glasses with a hanky before replacing them.

"Did the creatures leave anything that could lead you to their lair?" Kate shook her head." Its as if the city swallowed them whole." Wesley nods." Any luck finding Alexander's body?" Kate once again shook her head." If he went down like you said then he should have been easy enough to find, we're guessing the things probably took the body with them. We did find six bodies, hung by their feet, skinned and gutted as if they were a hunters prize. "

Wesley looked at his shoes and tried to think straight, tried to work out what these demons were and what their next move would be when Kate tugged at his arm until she held his hand in hers." That's not all Wes. When they performed the autopsy they found Amy was five weeks pregnant." Wesley went white." Oh dear God in heaven!" He slumped against the wall and shook his head." Why didn't she tell us? We would never have let her come with us if we had known... Did Xander know?" Kate shrugged." I doubt it otherwise he would never have let her go."

"What have we done?" He began to rock against the wall and Kate drew him into a hug." It was her choice Wes; she chose to keep this a secret from everyone. I think that maybe she wanted to wait until the doctors were sure she would carry this one to full term before she told Xander." She helped Wesley to his feet and they walked away from the mortuary and into the lift, just as the doors closed a man stepped from around the hallway and spoke into his cell." Yeah Harry I have a lead story for tomorrows front page!"

THE TANKER-FOLLOWING MORNING.

Xander placed the last of the items he had chosen from Ahmed's arms shipment in the trunk then walked up the stairs to Ahmed's quarters. As he was about to enter the room he heard Ahmed saying." Yeah I know who spilled his guts about the handover! Marco was the only asshole not at the meet and he knew everything about it." Xander heard another man ask." So? What do you want us to do about it?"

Xander heard a knife being drawn from its sheath and Ahmed telling them." I want his balls on a silver platter! I want his family gutted like fish; I want every living thing in his house dead! I want his little girls brought to me, and every time I think about what he's done I'll use them till I forget! Then everyone will know what happens when you cross Ahmed Potalmski!"

Xander went back and retrieved a few things then knocked on the door." Yeah?" One of Ahmed's bodyguards asked as he opened the door and Xander answered. "I was just about to leave and I'd like to thank Ahmed for his help." The guard turned around and Xander heard Ahmed's voice beckon him in.

Xander looked around the room and saw only two other men there. He smiled at Ahmed." Words cannot express what I feel for you Ahmed " His right hand came up and Ahmed thought he was extending it for a hand shake but instead it spat two flames out at the guard standing next to Ahmed. Xander turned and fired the silenced.45 at the remaining guard then turned back to Ahmed.

Ahmed felt his bowels loosen and the confined space of the cabin smelt like a washroom at grand central station, he dropped the knife on the table and held his hands up to Xander and begged." But why? You saved my life!" Xander looked deep into the man's face and told him." Remember when I said I'd kill you last?" Ahmed smiled." Yeah that's right you did!" Xander shrugs." I lied!" Then fired two shots into Ahmed's chest, placing the final round in the centre of the arms dealers' forehead. He dropped the gun." No one screws around with kids asshole!"

He heard a noise behind him and turned in time to see another guard trying to draw a weapon. Xander pulled the knife from off the table and spun releasing the knife when it lined up on the attacker sending it straight into his chest, pinning him to the wall." Stick around! The fun's just beginning." Xander was about to leave when he saw a pair of night vision goggles that looked like they were Ahmed's pride and joy. He picked them up and saw they were newer than anything he had seen before. He slipped them on and saw three setting. Infrared, Ultra violet and EOM. He knew what the first two were but had no idea what the last one did so he activated it and then he grinned." Oh Santa came early this year!"

He locked the door behind him then made his way back to his trunk and wheeled it up to the speedboat. Several of the crew helped him load his gear and he waived to them as the boat sped off into the dawn's early light.

HYPERION HOTEL.

Cordelia heard the car pull up outside and she peered out of the upstairs window." They're here." She turned around to face the group, her features pale and drawn and the bags under her eyes spoke of the hours of crying she had done during the night." I'm not going to be able to keep it together much longer." Fred nods." I was only talking to Amy the other day, she seemed so happy and now..." Cordelia nods." Yes now it all seems such a waste, she and the baby are dead and Xander.. Xander's disappeared."

Fred looks at Cordelia and is about to correct her but Gunn shakes his head. They hear the front door open and all of them go to greet the guests. Wesley is showing them in as Cordelia, Gunn and Fred make their way down the stairs. Cordelia sees Buffy's face and she brakes down. "I can't believe it!" The ex-Queen of Sunnydale high grips Buffy in a hug the leaves them both gasping. Cordelia places her hands either side of Buffy's face and Buffy tells her." We'll find him, and we'll deal with these demons that killed Amy."

Cordelia chokes back the sob she feels in her throat and tells them." Amy was pregnant!" Buffy and Willow went white." Oh Lord no!" Willow cried out." Did Xander know?" Cordelia shrugged." I'm guessing no, otherwise he wouldn't have let her join us last night."

Another car pulls up outside and Kate gets out, she stretches and then picks up the local trash newspaper from the front seat of her car. She sees the other car and sighs." Well I don't need to be psychic gal to not know who they'll be." She walks into the hotel and spots Wesley trying to comfort Dawn, Willow and Buffy. Kate walks over to him and he hugs her then kisses her." Any news?" Kate shook her head then slammed the Hard Copy extra on the counter." Only that some scumbag reporter found out about Amy being pregnant!" Wesley scanned the headlines and cursed under his breath." Now there's freedom of the press in action! Half truths and whole lies all tied up in heart strings!"

Gunn winces as he lifts his arm to turn the paper to him." Why those assholes! They trying to make it out that she had something to do with the arms deal and that Xander was a bent cop!" He throws the paper across the room as Kate tells them." Oh but it gets better! They say he left with the money after his men killed all those present, butchered his wife then fled the country!" Wesley shakes his head." When Angel finds out he'll probably rip their heads off!"

WAREHOUSE DISTRICT.

Xander sat on the threadbare mattress and held his head, as another spike of pain ripped through his very core, when it was over it was as if he had only vague memories of ever being Alexander Lavelle Harris. He had a detailed map of the waterfront and one of the warehouse regions that adjoined it laid out on the table. He has marked out areas where he thought the creatures could be, he took the cigar from his mouth and placed it on the table " I know you're here, I can feel it, where are you?" The newspaper that he had bought when he was scouting out the area distracted his eyes. His eyes fell on the picture of Amy taken when she was at a party for the mayor and he felt the buried part of him scream in agony." I will avenge you, you and all the." His eyes narrowed when he saw the words 'believed to be five weeks pregnant'. He kicked the table over and the scream of inhuman pain echoed into the streets.

His hands tore at the paper till it was nothing more than confetti then went over to the trunk, flipping the lid open." I warned you! I fucking well told you what would happen asshole!" The buzzing in his head got louder and it drowned out the screams of pain his broken ribs were telegraphing down his nerve endings." I'm going to cut you so deep your ancestors will feel it!"

Xander took the silenced .22 and slipped it behind his back, he walked to the entrance of the ramshackle warehouse and slammed the metal doors shut behind him. Every step he took was one closer to revenge. He hotwired a station wagon and drove it like a madman in search of The Hyperion Hotel and a promise he made.

Chapter 7

THE HYPERION.

Buffy waited for a few seconds before she got up the courage to knock on Angel's door, she bit her bottom lip and debated asking Angel anything but then thought about Xander and went through with it. She knocked on the door and entered the darkened room." Angel?" The last time she had seen him was at the funeral of her mother, he had come to her as soon as he was able, meeting her at Joyce's graveside.

She saw him struggle to get up and she also noticed how he could hardly bare to look her in the eyes." Buffy." He said her name curtly and without emotion." I heard you were here." Buffy walked into the room and sat by his bed, she glanced at the freshly healed scare that ran across his chest." Thank 'whoever' for fast healing hey." She told him.

Angel nods." One of the few perks I have." He looked over at her and was immediately struck by how much weight she had lost since he last saw her." I also heard about the troubles you've had. Why didn't you call?" Buffy shrugged." In case you hadn't noticed I'm all grown up now, I can handle almost anything."

Angel sighed." I was told you had a brush with Spike, man I should have dusted him when Dru first turned him!" Buffy shrugged." You live and learn, says so on the weaties box, Spike is not what I came here to talk about." Angel nods." I let her down, I let both of them down." He saw Buffy shaking her head but he placed a hand on hers before she could say anything." I promised Xander nothing would happen to Amy and now. And now both her and their unborn child are dead and Xander's more than likely dead and." Buffy gripped his hand so hard it hurt even him." Don't you say that! Don't you even think it! He's not dead, he's just missing."

Angel looked at her, truly looked at her, for maybe the first time since he had returned from Hell and he knew then beyond a doubt." You love him don't you?" Buffy nods and begins to shake. "Those dime romance novels were right, you never know what you've got till its gone." She brushed a tear from her eye and then had a resolved look on her face." You know me Angel; I never give up even when I should know better. I'm going to find him and I'm going to make these creatures pay!"

Angel nods." I figured as much when Cordy told me you were on your way here." He leant over and picked up a folded map." I had Gunn call in some markers. The areas marked in red are where these demons have attacked, you'll notice they all occurred around one central area." Buffy nods." The old Presidium Park, that's been marked for reclaimation for years now."

Angel sits up and takes her hand once more." You promise not to do anything till I can help, I need to help, and I need to repay some of the bad karma this whole thing has given me." Buffy nods." I'll do a little snoop and poop tonight then we can talk about it tomorrow when you're up to it."

As she began to leave Angel dropped his bombshell." I never thought anyone could love you half as much as I did Buffy. But from my dealings with Xander I know he still loved you." Buffy stopped." Thanks for the kind words Angel but.." Angel shook his head." They're not platitudes Buffy, he loved you. Haven't you ever wondered why after all this time, after Amy falling pregnant twice, he never asked her to marry him? Amy knew and she thought you knew as well, she may have had his body but you had his soul. And of the two, the soul always carry's more weight."

Buffy walked out and shut the door behind her. She rested her back against it trying to gain some strength from the old timbers when Gunn walked up to her." Its Kate, I think she's found something!"

Buffy followed Gunn up to the office in time to see Kate drop two items onto the table. She saw Buffy and she felt her mouth go dry." I'm sorry, so sorry Buffy." She looked at the desk and saw a twisted gold shield, covered in both red and green blood." This doesn't mean a thing." She shook her head." Not a damned thing do you hear me?"

Kate nods then pushes the tape over to Wes and he places it in the VCR and it begins to play." This is a copy of the security cameras they have on the docks." Buffy can see Angel slumped against Gunn as Amy takes a hit from the demon's weapon in the shoulder, her body dropping to the ground just as Wesley made to attack the creature Angel shouts." Stay back!"

A man in a blue vest, limping from a wound in his leg and suffering from cuts and abrasions fired a shotgun at a shimmering shape as it approached Angel. "Xander!" Buffy exclaimed as she saw what could have been his last moments. "Get.. BAM.The Fuck.BAM.Away...BAM...From them. BAM...YOU...BAM. Ugly mother!!" She saw the gun click on empty and held her breath.

"SHIT!" Xander cried out then a bolt of energy struck Xander in the centre of his chest throwing him back and crashing through the empty crates, tumbling him over the them and into the water below.

Buffy shook her head." He could have been wounded and... And he could have been wounded." She looked at the others." He's been hit by worse than that!" She looked at Willow." Remember Olaf and that damned hammer? Remember the blast he took meant for me." Her eyes grew dark." Remember all that energy you blasted into him when you tried to end the world! He lived through that and he lived through this too!"

Wesley tells her." Yes you maybe right Buffy." She turned to him and said." See! i told you." But then Wesley continued." But what you don't understand is that these things hunt for trophies, we mean as little to them as a ten point stag does to a hunter." His words finally sank in and she sat down with a thump." You think they... You think they butchered him like those others.." She went green and then stood up, holding a hand over her mouth. Cordy jumped beside her and guided her to the rest rooms.

Dawn looked at the small group and calmly asked." So its your opinion then that even if Xander survived the blast he's more than likely some kind of trophy hung up an a wall somewhere?" Kate sadly nods as does Wesley, the sound of a fist hitting the old desk sounded like a small bomb going off." Well that ain't even an option people!" Dawn was almost to tears as she berated the gathering demon fighters." I've known Xander from the first time we moved to Sunnydale and he would never give up on any of us so I for one will never give up on him!"

She kicked the desk and ran a hand through her hair." That stupid sister of mine! If she had only acted on her feelings this one damned time and told him she loved him then none of this would have happened!"

Gunn asked. "If he weren't dead then maybe they have him in their lair?" Kate it's next to Wesley and says. "I checked through city records and something similar to this happened a couple of years ago, just before Angel came to town. Most of the records were wiped but from what I could gather the squad that was put on the case were all but eliminated by these creatures. Lt. Harrington was in charge and he was found covered in a thin layer of white dust at the epicentre of an earthquake then all the killings stopped suddenly until now."

Fred asked." This Harrington guy he should know how to deal with them then?" Kate shook her head." He was killed in a shoot out last year. But it does prove these things can be stopped." She smiled at them." Xander also proved they can be killed." She showed them photos of the remains of two of the creatures.

Gunn nods." Then I suggest we lock an' load people, we got us a bug hunt!"

Several hours later Xander watched the crowd of people as the exited the Hyperion and made their way to two cars then left in a hurry. Xander took out another stogie from the holder he took off of Ahmed's body and lit it up. He glanced at his watch then checked the gun in the crook of his back before getting out of the stolen car. His limp all but gone and the ribs only hurting when he over taxed them. Xander calmly walked into the hotel and looked around the foyer, he checked a few doors then found one that went down." Nice and dark, just how he likes it."

Angel was talking to Cordelia when suddenly the door was kicked open." Knock, knock!" Cordelia jumped a mile in fright then when she saw it was Xander she lost control." Oh my god you're alive!" She threw herself on him, hugging and squeezing him till she thought he would die from the pressure." Buffy's going to blow a gasket when she sees you."

"I remember you." He told her as his mind tried to put a name to the face, he looked at her breasts and grinned." I never forget a face." Then he heard Angels voice and his heart hardened again.

"Xander you are alive, we thought those things killed you." Xander glared at Angel." You mean just like they did Amy?" The weight of the gun on his back egged him on and he so dearly wanted to empty it into Angels face, but first things first. He rubbed his head and put on those puppy dog eyes." You wouldn't happen to have any Tylenol would you?"

Cordelia's smile began to thin." Cordelia, my name's Cordelia, Xander! Sheesh! Ya dump a guy and you'd think he'd remember your damned name!" She complained as she walked out past the ruined doors." And if you think I'm fixing these your sorely wrong Zeppo!"

Xander walked towards Angel and now the souled vampire sensed something wasn't quiet right." Are you okay Xander? I know you've been through the ringer but you smell...Wrong?" Xander flicked the ash off of the cigar." You're probably not used to the smell of Cuban's." He pushed the chair close to Angel and span it around so the back was facing Angel, he then sat, using the back to lean on." So then how have you been? Did you manage to track the YAUTJA."

Angel looked surprised." The what? What the hell is a YAUTJA?" Xander flicked the ash from his cigar." The YAUTJA are a creature that comes from another world, they hunt men, women anything with a weapon. They hunt them for sport and then they take their heads and, if their skin has a different colouring or texture, they take that as well."

"How the hell do you know this?"

"Me and my team were hunted by one of them back in '89." He grinned." Needless to say I made it." Then the grin vanished." Funny thing is though, the last thing I can remember is fighting demons in some one Starbuck town in Shithole, California."

The penny dropped for Angel." You're not Xander are you?" Xander grinned then placed the cigar on the bedside table and reached behind him." Now I really need to find out a few things before the kid gets to say his piece about honouring promises." He places the silenced 22 on his leg and asks." Now then, just where do you boneheads think the creatures are now?"

Angel tells him." We think they have a lair in the old Griffith park area." Xander grins." It's not a lair brainiac, its a spaceship. When I was debriefed the morons that debriefed me let more slip than they should have. They were from Area 57. Alien hunters they said."

Angel nods trying to hold Xander until Cordelia returned." So then these things aren't from hell?" Xander shook his head." Nope, they ain't local boys but they are going to hell, you can count on that, straight to a burning hell!" Xander grinned and placed the cigar back in his mouth before standing up." That's all you know?"

Angel nods." That and Buffy's here with Dawn and Willow." From the reaction Xander gave he might as well have told him Brittany Spears and Destiny's Child were there. Xander shrugs." I'm sure they'll send flowers." The small pop went almost unnoticed but the sheet covering Angels knee began to turn red. "Somehow I know these won't kill you Angel." He calmly shot Angel's other knee." But I do know they sting like a son of a bitch and they will put you out of the game till I can finish you off at the kids leisure."

Angel was grimacing in pain." Xander!"

Xander turned back, his face a mask of rage." Don't call me that! Don't you ever call me that name again? Xander was a pussy he let everyone walk all over him like a cheap door matt." He smiled and popped a round into Angels elbow and as he watched the demon come out in Angel he grinned and popped the other elbow." You can call me Dutch!"

Just then Cordelia appeared carrying a glass of water and two headache pills, Xander scooped up the pills and swallowed them with the water. Xander handed her the glass back before she could look in the room then Xander smiled." Thanks." He looked her up and down." You're a cute one, and dressed like that you must bring in, what? $250 a night?"

Cordelia went red." Hey! I am not a hooker!" She turned to tell Angell and then saw him covered in blood." Jesus Christ I leave you for a minute and all hell breaks loose!"

Chapter 8

Griffith Park.

Xander watched the movements of the Scooby's and suddenly he couldn't take his eyes of the petite blond girl. It was like she had him hypnotised, every move she made drew him deeper under her spell." Damn no wonder the kid went nuts for seven years!" He sighed and moved the lens off of her." Damn shame she never even gave him a second glance." It was like he had vague memories of this Buffy Summers running on a screen in the deep recesses of his mind. He had memories, good and bad, float to the surface like some jigsaw puzzle from a forgotten time." Thank God he grew up and dumped her ass!" Even as he said it a part of him new the truth to the lie.

Xander saw another group shadowing the Scooby's as they searched for the lair of the demon they hunted. The other group of men were all dressed in black and observed them from a distance, whilst he watched them all from high up in the trees that looked down on Griffith Park. He moved the glasses from the group and concentrated on anything that looked out of place. He snorted at the last thought." Looks like a damned tornado hit this place." He whispered to himself as the glasses took in the now ruined observatory." Jesus! James Dean must be rolling in his grave!"

Then he saw something that made him smile as he dropped the field glasses and took the special optical goggles from his pack. He placed them on his head and activated the EOM part of the goggles. The field of view seemed unchanged until he moved his head to where he had seen the shimmer." Frig me!" He exclaimed as the shimmer turned into the outline of one of the creatures." These must enhance the shape of anything using electrical energy to hide."

He watched the creature moving towards the group of MIB's." This should be interesting." He watched the creature stalk past them and it looked like it was studying their every move before it took off like a scalded cat for an area in front of a hillock." I see you!" He mouthed. "And now I know where to find you too." Xander took out the relief map of Griffith Park and circled the mound on it before he put it back in the pack. He watched Buffy and co march back to the vehicles and drive off then grinned as a black van followed them down the drive and into traffic." Man these people need some basic training, never go anywhere without checking your 6!"

HYPERION HOTEL.

Buffy and the others entered the battered old hotel and were immediately confronted by Cordelia." Well did you see the big ape?" Dawn shook her head." Demon, Cordelia, jeez we should never have let her stay up to see the King Kong re-runs!"

Cordelia let the insult pass and walked up to Buffy." I mean your boyfriend!" Buffy looked confused until she told her." Alexander Harris?" Buffy's heart began to beat faster as she gripped the ex-prom queen. "He was here, he's alive?" Cordelia nods." Yes and Duh! He came here and put the squeeze on Angel then made like Wild Bill freaking Hickock!"

Wesley asked." Angel didn't hurt him much did he?" Cordelia shook her head." Nuh uh, this is a new and improved Harris we're talking about. He shot Angel several times then made some smart assed remark.." She stopped and asked Fred." I don't look like a hooker in this dress do I?"

Buffy grabbed Cordelia and shook her." Hey! Concentrate okay? What did he do, or say?" Cordelia shrugged." He spoke to Angel you had better ask him."

Buffy, Willow and Dawn made their way down to Angel's rooms and then stopped when they saw how badly he was hurt." Xander did this?" Buffy asked. Angel shook his head." His body may have but it wasn't Xander, I think Xander would have just staked me." He slumped down." Not that I would have blamed him."

Dawn nods." You did get his pregnant girlfriend killed, that would rate pretty high on his must destroy now meter." Angel's head drooped as Buffy stood close to him." He did this?" She pointed to the four limbs that were bandaged and Angel nods." He calmly asked me what we had found out about the demon." He looked at Willow." He called it a YAUTJA, and then when I told him everything he." Angel motioned with his head to his wounds.

Willow tells Buffy." I have never heard of a demon called YAUTJA." Angel shakes his head." He said it wasn't a demon, it was a hunter from outer space." Angel remembers something." And he didn't like being called Xander, said it belonged to a pussy that let people walk over him, his names Dutch and he said he and his team had been hunted these things. He also said his last memories were of fighting demons in some shithole in California in '89."

Willow jerked as if someone had kicked her." HALLOWEEN!" Buffy frowned and looked at her." You remember, I was a ghost, you were 18th century girl and Xander.." Buffy's eyes widened." Was soldier boy!" She looked at Willow." You think maybe this is soldier boy making a special guest appearance?"

Dawn sighed." That's all we need!"

Angel moans then tells them." You might just be right Dawn, he might be all that's standing between us and those creatures." Buffy sits by Angel." I don't care, he's alive and when we find him we'll create a spell, bang a freaking gong! Whatever it takes we're getting Xander back!"

Gunn came running down and jerked his thumb behind him." you had better get your asses up here, we got more Feds running around up here than at a nerds convention."

Buffy and the others followed Gunn up just as Wesley was telling them." The last I had heard Griffith Park was open to the public and we were just taking a nice stroll in the park." The man just glared at Wesley." Okay chum just keep that upper lip stiff and we'll have your ass back in Limeyville sucking down tea and scones before you know what hit you!"

Wesley was begging to lose his cool." Now listen here you overpaid, overfed moron. I happen to be a US citizen and anytime you'd like to try I'd be more than happy to help you test out just how far your medical insurance will go!"

The man grinned." Is that a threat?"

"No, your face is a threat to me keeping my lunch down!" Wesley told him.

"Hey fella's let's play nice okay?" Buffy asked." What's this all about anyway?" The Fed glared at Buffy." And you are?"

"Buffy Summers." She told him. The man grinned." Nice to know your folks had a sense of humour kid." He flashed his badge and asked her." Why were you and your playmates ferreting around Griffith Park?" Buffy put on her patented blond look." We were just taking in the sun, catching some rays, you know."

The man knew she was lying but couldn't prove it." Well the park is now off limits, after the quake of '03 things got a bit messed up in there and we're doing some geological surveying." Buffy grinned." In your nice black suites?"

Dawn blurts out." Did you run into Dutch while you were 'surveying'?" The man stopped and looked at Dawn with hard soulless eyes." Dutch?" Then he turned around." Never heard of him, lets go guys." He glanced at Buffy." Remember if you know what's good for you take in the sun somewhere else."

They waited till the feds were gone and Dawn grinned." Did you see the look he gave me when I mentioned Dutch? I wonder what he did to him?"

Willow tells her." After seeing Angel I think it would be more of a case of what did he do to them." Wesley looked at Fred and Willow." Run a search on the net and find out everything you can about this YAUTJA and a soldier called Dutch."

The two went off to the computer room leaving the others to ponder what had happened to stir up the feds. "I think we're looking for the same thing but for different reasons." Buffy tells them." Maybe they want the YAUTJA alive so they can produce weapons from its technology?" Wesley raises an eyebrow at her suggestion and she holds up her hand." Please believe me when I say 'been there done that'."

Wesley shrugs." I'll bow to your experience but we have to remember that Xander is out there somewhere in his confused state and he could either be a help or a major hindrance." Buffy smiles." From what I remember of the way he handled himself the last time, I'd say he's going to be a major help. But that's not to say the first chance we get we're not going to change him back to plain old Alexander Harris."

Chapter 9

THE WAREHOUSE.

Xander parked the station wagon and walked the last few blocks back to the warehouse and as he did he was working out a battle plan for the coming engagement. He forced the metal sheeting back and then replaced it before moving to the upper floor where he had stashed his 'gifts' from Ahmed. He opened the trunk and took out the British made semi-automatic anti armour combat shotgun and admired it." Man we could have really used this in Colombia!" He worked the action and it was as smooth as silk then he pulled it up to his shoulder and sighted down the barrel and through the optic sight. Xander placed the weapon on the mattress and took out the fifteen round clips from the trunk along with the brass shells.

"Red is for armour piercing, yellow incendiary and blue is high explosive." He began loading the clips each with their separate loads and as he did his eyes fell on the map of Griffith Park." I'm going to make you wish you assholes had stayed the hell away from my town!" He slid the short-barrelled gun into the bag along with seven clips and the night vision goggles. He went over to the camping stove and started to cook the tin of Stagg beans he had placed there.

As he sat and ate the chilli beans his mind wandered back to the days events and he smiled when he remembered seeing Buffy. He flicked on the battery-operated radio just as the Beatles 'something in the way she moves' came on. What little he remembered seemed to be focused on her as his mind played back fuzzy memories of her mixed with memories of his life with Amy. Dutch's mind tried to process the information and all he came up with was the 'kid' may have been with Amy but his heart was always with this Buffy girl.

He finished the beans and threw the tin in the corner for the rats to pick over; he then took his shirt and trousers off to tend his wounds. The stitches in his leg were holding out and he applied more ointment to it before re-wrapping the bandage over it." I have to remember to wash all this gunk off before I go in, no point in advertising my presence before I have too."

He pulled the trousers on and walked stiffly over to the trunk and took out three blocks of C5, C4's bigger brother and hefted it in his hands." Oh this will make their butts pucker when it goes off!" He placed both remote and timed fuses into the bag with the explosives. He then took out a K Bar commando knife and tested the edge before honing it on a stone. As he moved the knife up and down the stone he had flashes of memories, memories that made his heart beat faster.

EL SALVADOR-1989-MISSION DEBRIEFS.

Dutch flicked the ash from his cigar onto the floor of the makeshift debriefing room and told them once again." They weren't rebels it was one thing, one creature that did all that." The man in the black suite walked behind the seated General, taking in everything Dutch had to say. The General shook his head." This is bullshit Dutch! You're trying to tell me this thing supposedly took down the first team and then wiped out your own team before you got it? And then it just blew itself and three acres of jungle all to hell?" Dutch just shrugged." Don't ask me, ask the girl she was there as well." The General blushed and glared at the man in black." We did Dutch and she confirmed your story but it sounds more like some fucking movie!"

"It was a nightmare General, a nightmare that will haunt my every soul for as long as I live." Dutch told him." The thing is the people around there said these things had been around forever and yet we have never even once come across them." Dutch watched the man in black stop pacing as he grinned. The man then placed a hand on the General's shoulder and whispered something in his ear. The General nods." Your government has declared everything that happened here as ultra top-secret Dutch. You can't mention a word of this to anyone at anytime."

Dutch nods." What about my men? Don't they deserve some recognition for their sacrifices?"

The General nods." We've already put out a report they were killed trying to rescue the survivors of a downed civilian aircraft that strayed over the border into hostile territory." Dutch nods." They were good men, they fought hard and died harder General." Dutch stood up then asked." What of the girl? She helped us, gave us the information about that thing."

The General glanced at the man in black." She has been taken care of Major." Dutch saw the look then glared at the man." What's that supposed to mean?" The man looked at Dutch and told him." It means she, and everything that happened out there, is no longer any of your concern Major, you can go now."

Dutch knew something weird was going on, weirder even than the events of yesterday. He watched as several more 'agents' were working on some kind of device over by the shack on the edge of the heliport. He made his way over to it then stopped when he saw a black body bag pushed up by the rest of the camps garbage. He walked over to it and looked around before kneeling down and opening it. His eyes went wide when he saw the mutilated body of the female rebel. It looked like she had been tortured before a single round had been fired into her head.

"Bastards!" He stood up as the man in black began walking towards the others of his kind." Lousy mother humping bastards!" He ran towards them, picking up an M16 from the packs waiting to be loaded and cocked a round into the chamber. He held the rifle down by his side as he got closer." Excuse me but I never got your name Mr?"

The man looked at him." My name doesn't matter Dutch, just go home and live out the rest of your years in peace." He grinned when one of his men laughed. Dutch grinned." Yeah maybe you're right." The man's smile faded when he saw the M16 being raised." And maybe monkeys will fly out of your ass!"

The M16 fired five rounds before it had a stoppage; one of those rounds took the man in the leg as he dived for cover. The remainder took out laughing boy and just missed the head of the asshole in charge. Dutch chambered another round but before he could fire he felt sledgehammers striking his body as round after round took him down.

Dutch's final memory was of the man standing over him with a pistol in his hand." I'll be back!" Dutch hissed out at him.

Just before the man pulled the trigger he told him." Not in this life you won't!"

The flash of white and the deafening buzz jerked Dutch back to the present and he was visibly shaken." Son of a bitch!" He stood up, dropping the knife onto the floor and went over to the trunk and took out a chrome plated Desert Eagle and grinned." Vengeance is mine sayest the Lord, paybacks a bitch sayest Dutch!"

HYPERION HOTEL.

Buffy was in a state of confusion as her heart argued with her mind over the matter of one Alexander Harris. On the one hand her heart was beating like a sixteen year olds on prom night at the thought that Xander was alive. But her mind was trying to force her to wake up to the fact it maybe Xander's body out there but judging by the way he treated Angel there was no way it was the same Xander that stole her heart." Why can't my life ever be easy, it's always the hard way for me."

Wesley told her." it's the curse of being the Chosen One Buffy, you should be grateful most Slayers fail to live past their 18th birthday." Buffy turns to him and says." If it wasn't for Xander I' wouldn't have lived past my first year in Sunnyhell and neither would a lot of people. The master would have risen and took the world to hell."

Wesley nods." Yes but the brutal fact of the matter is if you had have died another would have been chosen, and so on and so forth." Buffy shakes her head." If that's your idea of a pep talk Wes, let me tell you the brutal truth it sucks big time." Wes grins." You don't get what I mean do you? Look it's like this, your time was up then and another was chosen, Kendra died and Faith was chosen and it will go on until the stars themselves wink out. You did your duty and the ten years since then has been a bonus." he took of his glasses and looked so Giles like it was scary." What I'm trying to say is your duty has been more than done Buffy, its time you looked after yourself and your loved ones."

Buffy smiled." In case you hadn't noticed Wes Dawn has moved on, hell she's almost out of college!" Wes nods." I wasn't talking just about Dawn, there's the matter of Xander." Buffy nods once more." Yeah what to do about Xander, that's the six million dollar question."

Wesley grips her by the shoulders and looks at her." What does your heart say? Follow your heart and things will find a way to work out." Dawn watched her sister talk to the ex watcher and she wished, not for the first time, Giles had not taken up a position on the Council of Watchers. Sure he had single handily dragged the centuries old Council of Watchers into the 21st Century but she knew he was sadly needed in their lives. Dawn was just three months away from beginning her internship at Sunnydale General and then that would leave Buffy all alone in their mothers old house. A house that held far too many bad memories for both the Summers girls.

She saw Buffy look in her direction and she also saw her wipe away a tear." Did they find anything Dawn?" Dawn held the sheaths of information close to her as she nodded and walked to her sister." Yeah but its kind of 'lone gunmenish' though." She handed the documents over and told her." It seems like the Initiative wasn't the only undercover government agency running around America."

"Project Arc Angel Retrieval." Buffy glanced at Wesley." This sounds pretty ominous." She read on." It seems that these guys were running around the US and it's border nations looking for evidence.. Ohh get this, undetermined sources of multiple atrocities involving the mutilation and disappearance of, hunters, gang members, military units and police officers during the past four hundred a eighty years."

Wesley narrows his eyes in thought." The Council would undoubtedly know of these events, they might even have them down as erroneous demon attacks." He made his way to the phone." I'll call Rupert and see what he can find out." Buffy placed her hand on Dawns shoulder." Good work sis, now we know the governments involved deeper than we thought we can start a deeper search. I can call in favours a certain Riley Finn owes me and." She sees the concerned look in Dawn's eyes." What?"

Dawn tells her, hesitantly." We also found out something about the guy named Dutch." She rubbed her suddenly sweaty palms on her jeans." Major Joseph 'Dutch' Van Newman served with honour in the US military from the age of 18 until he was killed in action July 23rd 1989 while on a rescue mission in Colombia. He and his team, plus another Green Berets team, were wiped out trying to rescue a couple of friendly cabinet ministers that were kidnapped by rebels." She looked her in the eyes." None of their bodies were ever recovered."

Dawn turned the paper over as Buffy took it all in." Now going on what we know Willow had a chart of the weather patterns of that area and it was suffering from the hottest summer in twenty years...Much like we are now and Fred went further and dug up reports from all over the world that indicate these demons seem to attack during the peak of the El Nino season in area's where it's the hottest."

Buffy flicked through the reports of vanishings and unclaimed atrocities that lead up to the ones here in LA ten years ago." So the government has known about these things and have done nothing?" Dawn grimaced." Think of the name the unit was given? I think these assholes are more interested in gaining weapons technology more than they're worried about the people the demons have butchered." she threw her hands up in the air." I don't know who's worse, you don't see these demons screwing each other over for military advantage, yet there we are standing by watching these things hunt people down and waiting for any scrap of technology they may drop!"

Buffy nods." Maybe we should lead these things to Washington where they might do some good?" She looked at her sister." Nah, these guys are like roaches, you kill one and a million takes its place. We should just make damned sure these bozo's get nothing for all their trouble but a honking big bill!"

Dawn and Buffy turn as Willow walks into the room." So did the Doc here tell you what we found yet?" Buffy sighs." Yeah another nail in my hopes of the Pentagon learning its lesson from the Initiative debacle." Willow nods then says." So if what we figure is right then Xander was possessed by this Dutch back in '95 and again for some reason when he took that swan dive off Pier 7. The thing is why now and why Xander?"

Chapter 10

THE WAREHOUSE.

Xander had one more item he needed to complete his ensemble for tonight's 'dance'. He had vague memories of Xander's time in the police force and remembered hearing one of the Burglary detail guys talking about busting a burglary ring that had been using Thermal Signature Dampening suits similar to those used by the Special Forces. Xander checked his watch and then took one of the few cigars he had left and lit up." I figure half an hour to get to One Police plaza, wait for the usual change of shift shuffle and sneak out with my nice new suit."

He walked over to the table that had all the gear set out for the coming battle. He picked up the late edition and hefted it in his hand. It was a large machete hand ground till it was as sharp as a surgeon's scalpel. He flicked the edge with his thumb ad grinned evilly." I can't wait to see the expression on their ugly faces!"

He slid the machete into its sheath then rolled the collection pf armaments in the specially prepared goodie bag and slung it over his shoulder." Man I have to get this kid bulked up! I wonder if steroids are still illegal?"

THE HYPERION HOTEL.

Willow went to the window and glanced out." That car's still there." Cordelia bent the Venetians so she could peer outside." Which one the red Corvette or the tatty looking Giles mobile?" Willow shook her head." The old Citroen of course! It's been there ever since Kate arrived over an hour ago."

Buffy glanced at the clock and sighed." Funny how when the weather heats up the vamps hide out." Kate walks up carrying a cold drink for Buffy as she hands it over she tells her." Yeah but then the human freaks crawl out of the woodwork." She glances over at Willow and Cordelia as they peered out of the windows." What's with Pinky and the Brain over there?"

Buffy shrugged." Something about a car sitting out front." Kate ambled over and lent across Cordelia so she could look." God damn it!" Cordy turned to stare." Old boyfriend?" Kate shook her head." No worse, its that damned reporter from Hard Copy!" Then she glanced at the Corvette." Hey!" She took out her cell and speed dialled the precinct." Hobson, what the hell is the pimp mobile doing outside my husbands place?" They watched her face grow red." Oh for Christ's sake! Don't tell me you guys are buying this bullshit! Yeah bite me!"

She looks at the others." IAD are investigating the reported sightings of Xander and are looking hard into his finances!" She kicked the chair as Buffy went to the window and looked at the two cars." You mean after all he did, his own people think he's dirty?"

Kate nods." That's IAD for you, they couldn't hack the heat on the street so they think everybody's bent." She walks over to the window and flashed the car the bird then lent out of the open window." Why don't you assholes get real jobs?"

The car starts up and drives off leaving the Citroen to bare the brunt of the hatred emanating from the Hotel. Wesley came up from Angel's room carrying empty blood bags." He's got his appetite back and he should be up and around in a couple of days." Wesley sighed and dumped the bags into the bin." We still need to come up with a battle plan to deal with these creatures."

Dawn shrugs." I say we leave them to Xander, or Dutch, or whoever the hell he is today." She lays back." Maybe when he does this Dutch will have closure and let Xander have his body back."

Wesley walks in and sighs." I fear it will take more than that." He held an ancient leather bound book in his hands as he continued." It would seem that this 'Dutch' may not leave Xander until he has reeked his revenge on the one that killed him." He looked at Buffy and his mouth went dry." He...I mean Dutch's spirit might be the only thing keeping Xander alive."

Buffy could feel her heart beating against her ribs as she asked." You mean while he fights these creatures, once he's finished Xander will be okay, won't he?"

Wesley shrugs." Angel seemed to think Xander was just a faint memory in Dutch's mind, a ghostly flicker of the previous occupant. I must say after reading this I tend to agree."

Dawn glares at him." And this has what to do with Xander?"

Wesley fights the sudden urge to not finish his thoughts but then tells them anyway." Xander may have died when he drew off the demons attack. If so then it would explain how Dutch's hold is so strong."

Cordelia sagged against the wall as the realisation hit her." So what your saying is that when this is over, and if he comes out of it in one piece, the minute this Dutch has his retribution Xander will just die?"

Wesley nods." Whatever memories of Xander, Dutch is using are just echoes of his former life." He took his glasses off." I fear Alexander perished that night on the docks and once Dutch once more leaves this plain Alexander will become a lifeless husk!"

ONE POLICE PLAZA.

Xander waited till it was close to the change of shift then went over to the rear entrence of the Evidence section of One Police Plaza. As he did he passed the cherry red Corvette and smiled at the female detective as she got out." Sometimes its good to be the good guys." He told her, she shrugged." Wouldn't know, I'm just dropping it back to the garage after it got pinged by the suspects IAD were trailing." She walked with him to the door and as she keyed in her security code she asked." Don't I know you?"

Xander shrugged." Don't know, you ever work burglary?" She nods." Oh yeah, weren't you on the CAT detail?" Xander smiles." There you go." He held out his hand." Johnson, Ralph Q." She shook it then watched as he keyed in his code little knowing his fingers just brushed the keypad. She held the door open for him." So what brings you here?" Xander held up an empty folder." I have to re-check some evidence for the court case. Little scumbag's saying we picked him up with two of those fancy stealth suits when it was only one."

She checked her watch." Look I have to book, I' am sooo late to pick up my little girl Macey from pre-school." Xander nods then as he walks away he stops." Hey look I'm going over to that way anyhow why don't I drop the keys off for you?" She thinks about it and about the little girl waiting for her at home. She tosses him the keys and says." I owe you one Ralph."

Xander smiles and winks at her. "Say hey to Macey for me and we'll call it even." He walked into the evidence room and saw the two guys doing the handover, he walked by then holding the keys and the folder in plain sight and went straight to the lock up." Man these guys are to complacent, maybe after the shake up this causes things will be a lot more secure round here." He retrieved the suit and just walked by, waiving to one of the men as he looked at him.

Xander slid into the Corvette and drove it straight for the Park. "While I'm out I might as well leave a get well soon card for a very sick man." He grinned as he gunned the powerful cars motor down the freeway.

GRIFFITH PARK.

The long bed truck idled at the edge of the park then a hissing noise came from underneath as the stabilisers extended from each side and bit into the soft earth until they took the weight of the hefty cargo. It detached from the bed of the truck as it drove away. The cube descended to the ground where it began to bury itself. The man in charge nodded to his subordinate and the specialists began to bring everything online." Ultra-violet scanners are online.. Motion detectors are online." He turned to the last man and he nods." Defensive armaments are online." His subordinate then stood in front of him." We're ready for them sir."

The man temples his hands and sat back in his chair." Excellent! And this time we will obtain the technology from their lifeless bodies!" "What about those fools that the report said were running around the park yesterday, what if they return?"

The man shrugged. "Well we need something to draw the Hunters in so our teams can knock them off." "What about the civilians?"

He grinned." Well they obviously know more than is good for them, either way they won't be around to tell anyone anything."

His second in command looked at him with disguised hatred. * How could a man in such a position be such a bastard? When I signed up it was to protect people from these things not use them as bait! *

The man saw the sideways glance then told him." Listen Finn if you want to survive these creatures then you will do exactly as I say." He placed a hand on his shoulder." I find revenge is a dish best served in the skull of those you call your enemies." Riley looked at him and he knew he had probably eaten many a dinner that way.

As they stepped out of the heavily defended portable redoubt the man stopped and motioned to Riley." Can you smell cigar smoke?" Riley sniffed the air and was about to agree when one of the guards ran up to them." Sir I think you had better see this!"

The three of them ran over to where a crowd of guards were gathered and stopped when they saw an empty black body bag." This some kind of freaking joke soldier?" The man in black demanded." No sir!" he snapped to attention then handed him an envelope marked." To the asshole in black."

The man ripped open the side and a card fell out. Riley picked it up." Roses are Red, violets are blue, my team are all dead and soon so will you. Signed Dutch." He looked at the man and he saw fear in his eyes for the first time.

The man grabbed the card and ripped it into small pieces." If this is some one's idea of a joke we'll see how funny they find it when I cut their balls off!" He glared from one man to the other until Riley said." Sir, who is this Dutch?"

The man turned on him and almost shouted." Some fucking boy scout that tried for one badge too many." He stared into Riley's eyes." But I set him straight, straight to fucking hell!" He looked at the surrounding area and yelled." You're not Dutch! He's fucking worm food in Colombia."

The man stormed off back to the secured area but stopped when he got to his personal car and found a cigar nailed to one of the tyres along with another note. He tore the note from the nail and read it." Next time it'll be your head I'll nail to your car! This time I'm bringing a bigger gun, one that won't jam asshole!" He threw the note away and felt a cold trickle of sweat run down his spine.

Chapter 11

LA- NIGHT.

Buffy and the remains of the fang gang travelled towards Griffith Park, as they did the news reports coming over the radio were not good." Gangs have been held responsible for an attack that occurred on the LA LOOP. Five transit police and four civilians were believed killed, the bodies of the five transit police were described by one witness as 'mutilated beyond recognition.'" Buffy looked at Wesley as he drove the big convertible down the freeway." These demons are getting bolder Wes, how many attacks does that make tonight?"

Wesley sighs." This one will make it four." Gunn nods as he glances at the trunk." I hope to Christ we don't get stopped by one of LA's finest, the dude 'll have a stoke if he looks in the trunk." Gunn had grabbed every conceivable weapon he could find in Angel's arsenal, both old fashioned and high tech." What we need is a frigging M1 Abrahms!"

Buffy shrugged." Did you not see the armoured tank the SWAT guys tried to use? It looked like Godzilla thought it was a can of beans by the time we got there." She bit the corner of her mouth and was glad she had forced both Dawn and Willow to stay at the hotel to watch over Angel.

Wesley saw he look of concern and told her." You did right to leave them behind with Fred, Buffy at least they can continue researching how this Dutch may have taken possession of Alexander."

Buffy tried to concentrate on the road ahead." I'm more worried about how we clean house and still keep Xander's body alive long enough to get his soul back in it Wes."

Gunn holds up his hand." Speaking for myself I'm worried about living through tonight with all my body parts still connected.If Xander makes it out then it'll be a bonus."

Wesley takes the Griffith Park exit and tells them." Confidentially I'm praying this Dutch is half as good as the reports made him out to be,I fear we will need him before tonight's fracas is over."

GRIFFITH PARK-SUNDOWN.

The technician hit several switches and the monitors in front of him came to life." Ultra-violet and motion trackers are up and running." They heard two thumps from above them." The electric minigun's are armed and tracking, all systems are in the green sir." Riley nods and turns to his boss." Shall I call in the outposts sir?"

The man shakes his head." Why Riley? Feeling lonely are we?" He leans forward." The men knew the job was dangerous when they signed on Captain, it's time they earned some of that pay we've been lashing out on them."

One of the techs shouted out." Sir! We have movement in the tree line, whatever it is it's heading for the hillock in area 37 at quiet a pace sir."

The man grinned." Ahh! Home are the hunters!" He jumped up from his seat." Keep tracking and let me know the second you have a fix on their landing site!"

Another cried out." Gunfire sir! From directly in front of the hillock!" "What calibre? Is it one of ours?" Riley asked.

"No sir sounds more like.. Like a cannon sir."

AREA 37.

Xander watched through the stolen optics as the YAUTJA made it's way through the treetops with its trophies slung at its side. Xander gripped the nylon rope and swung closer to the hillock, he stopped all movement as he saw the creature snap to look in his direction." Just get a little closer asshole, I got a gun here that'll make your butt pucker but good!"

Xander swung the gun around and flicked off the safety, he checked the clip to make sure it was the AP rounds he was about to use then settled into his hollow and waited. He looked through the electronic sights and down the barrel, his finger outside the trigger guard until he had sight of the creature." Come say hello to my liiitttle friend!" He spoke as the YAUTJA was within range.

The noise of the shotgun echoed through the park and Xander grinned at the massive amount of green blood that fountained from the creatures body." Un-fucking-believable!" He checked that no others were near and dropped to the ground, running towards the still trembling body. He aimed the gun at the centre of mass and fired two more rounds before slinging the gun and pulling out the machete. He began singing the theme to Mr. Rogers's neighbourhood as he went to work.

At the redoubt Riley was pacing from one monitor to the other." Anything?" He asked." No sir nothing since the gunfire about three minutes ag sir." He rubbed his chin." And you're sure none of our men fired?" the man shook his head." None of our people carry cannons sir...Maybe they should be?" He finished.

The man in charge asked." You are sure this place is damped? Nothing can see or hear us?" The tech nodded." Yes sir all YAUTJA counter measures are in place and running at optimal levels."

The man nods." Get one of the men to get a camera to the area where you heard the shots."

The tech pales and looks at Riley and Riley tell him." Sir the YAUTJA are bound to be active, risking a mans..." The man in black narrowed his eyes." Okay Riley you wanna be a boy scout." He picked up the camera and threw it to him." Go get me some footage we can use!"

Riley caught it then swallowed hard then glared back at him." With pleasure! At least the air out there will stink less than it does in here!" Wesley pulled the car up at the barrier and idled." Are any of you worried that there are no guards here to stop us?"

Gunn shrugs as he hopes out and moves the barrier." Maybe they got better things to do than die a horrible death?" He jumped back in as the car drove off towards where they searched earlier.

Wesley pulled up under the cover of some trees and they saw the red Corvette. Gunn placed a hand on the hood." Stone cold, these dudes have been here a while." He ducked when he heard the shots." Someone brought a cannon." He looked at his shotgun then gulped." why didn't we think of that?" He asked Wesley as he and Buffy joined him. He looked at Buffy and shook his head." A stake, people are firing freaking cannons at creatures with death rays and the Slayer brings a piece of frigging wood?"

Wesley smiles." Only a wop would bring a shtake to a gun fight." His Irish impression left the pair staring in confusion." Um Sean Connery in The Untouch.. Never mind lets go."

Gunn tells Wesley." Actually I take offence to that man, I happen to be part Italian." He smiles as they move out. Buffy shakes her head." Now I know why the Slayer is a girl." She turns to them." Men don't know when to shut the hell up!" Buffy watched as a man dressed in combat fatigues ran towards the hillock carrying what looked like a camera." That guy looks nothing like Allen Funt, so my guess is Government assholes for twenty." the three of them began to follow, staying as close to the tree line as they could. When he stopped to get some footage of something stuck on a pole they too stopped." What do you think it is?" Gunn asked Buffy who shrugged." i don't know it looks like.."

Riley filmed the object as he radioed in the footage. The monitors were filled with the severed head of on of the YAUTJA, a cigar was smoking in its gruesome mouth." I don't know who this guy is but he's doing our job for us." Riley radioed. The man in black keyed the mike." No he's not Captain Finn! Our job is to secure weapons for our nations defence!"

Riley shook his head then noticed two fine wires running down the pole, he glanced at his feet and saw two freshly cut sections of turf, as if the turf was dug up and then replaced. His eyes went wide and he began to bake away. He turned and ran for the tree line." Sir I think our friend is smarter than we gave him credit for...Sir?" The ground trembled seconds before the night was lit up by the sound of the redoubts defences opened up." Sir?" Nothing but static answered him." Asshole!"

"We know you are but what are we?" The words caught Riley by surprise and he almost dropped the camera." Who the hell are you?" He asked. Wesley stepped forward and was about to answer when Buffy brought them down to the ground. "Buffy! What the hell?" She held a finger to her lips then pointed to the pole.

The YAUTJA de-cloaked and stared at the head of one of his friends as it stared back at him from on the pike. It cut the trophies from its back then flung back its head and a monstrous roar filled the night. It grabbed the cigar and sniffed it, committing the smell of it to memory before crumbling it up and dropping it to the ground.

In answer to its call two more YAUTJA shimmered into existence along side it and joined in the mournful wail.

A voice came over Riley's radio." It's nice but you can't dance to it, I give it 2 Paula." Before Riley could ask what Buffy and the others were doing there Buffy grabbed the radio." Xander?"

Riley looked incredulous. "Xander, as in Harris?" Gunn nodded." He's been fully optioned." He held out his hand." Gunn." Riley nods." So you were the idiots tromping around here yesterday?" Buffy glared at him." Your with these assholes?" "Ain't no Xander round here, now if I were you I would get my pretty blond ass the hell out of here!" She was about to complain when he said." Duck!"

Xander was looking down at the three YAUTJA as they completed their wail for their dead companion. Two of them talked in grunts and clicks while the third emptied his catch bag of the gruesome contents. The two larger YAUTJA shimmered out of existence while the third stepped up to the pike. Xander tried to track both of the invisible assailants but they split up and went in two separate directions.

Xander heard Buffy call out Xander's name over the radio just as the remaining YAUTJA began to lift the head off of the pike." Duck!" Just as the two blocks of C5 detonated as the wires connected to the YAUTJA's head set off the detonators.

Chapter 12

THE REDOUBT.

The room was a shambles; dead bodies littered the room as the man in black staggered to his feet. He looked at the shattered monitors and the banks of computers as they sparked out their last energies." This was not supposed to happen!" He ranted." This facility was supposed to be impregnable and invisible to the YAUTJA!"

He made his way to the armoury and found several men still alive. He took out a grenade launcher and then ordered them to do the same." Remember we want their weaponry so try not to damage the ship!" One man looked at him and then at the others before walking away." Screw you!" He shouted as he ran off and several others joined him.

"God damn it! Those men are on report!" He pointed to one of the remaining men." Take point, we are going to take the ship!" The four-man army ran out of the ruins and towards the sound of an explosion.

AREA 37.

Buffy grimaced as another chunk of YAUTJA slammed into her back and slid off with a noisy squelch." Damn I hope this shit don't stain." She glanced over at Gunn who was covered from head to foot in green fluorescent blood. Buffy nodded and looked at herself. She shook one hand and watched the green blood ooze off onto a nearby tree." That crap must have gone everywhere."

She looked over at Riley who had some blood and gore on him then saw Gunn shake his head at Wesley. She glanced at him and saw he had not one drop of blood on him." Shall we go then?" He asked as the others looked from one to the other in amazement. Gunn narrows his eyes." If you had clean spell caste on you before we left I for one am going to be mighty peeved tweed man."

Suddenly the air is alive with blue/white bolts of energy. Wesley ducks then tells them." I think it best if we.." "RUN!" Buffy yells at them as she takes off for the car closely followed by the rest of her team.

Xander watched them run for their lives and was about to go to their aid when he saw the outline of one of the two remaining YAUTJA move in the tops of the highest tree." Oh smart! Very smart, you heard the dumb humans towards a preset kill zone in the hope I try to stop you, then Charlie boy up there has a clear shot at taking my head." He watched Buffy, Gunn, Wesley and Riley as they ran, guided by well-placed blasts, straight for the trap.

Xander gulped as he fought the sudden urge to rush down and save the blond haired woman, his pulse increased the more he hesitated until finally he began to move." Okay kid I'm going, I'm going!"

He ejected the clip of AP and reloaded with high explosive rounds." You do know the second I fire this mother that bastard will have our range and probably fry our Asses?" He asked of his conscience. He grinned." Yeah, yeah I know. Sometimes love makes you do the wacky!" He looked puzzled." Don't you try to tell me you don't love her! Sometimes you seem to forget who's in control of this body kid!"

Buffy was running in front of the gang as the blasts seemed to be getting closer and closer." Come on move it!" Gunn groaned." Man we never even got a shot off at one of them things!" He looked bemused." Damn I'm going to die!"

Wesley shook his head." No you won't Gunn."

"The hell I ain't! Everyone knows the black man dies in these situations! Don't you Limeys ever watch the movies?" Gunn moved a branch out of his way as they ran. Buffy turned." If only we knew where the hell this thing was!"

Suddenly her spider senses went off like a three county alarm." DOWN!" She cried out and as they dropped the tree in front of them erupted into a fireball, the blast causing them to roll away from the epicentre.

As she began to gather her wits she stopped moving when she saw the clawed feet of a YAUTJA standing in front of her. Gunn went to raise his gun to fire but a blast by his side made him think otherwise. Buffy motioned with her hands for Gunn and Wesley to put their weapons down. She held out her palms." See no weapons, do the words non combatant mean anything to you?"

It lent over her and sniffed in her odour." yeah well you don't exactly smell like a bed of roses either doggie breath!"

It kicked her to one side then lifted Gunn up by the throat." See I told you, I friging well told you!" It sniffed him before dropping him to the ground." Hey I'm not proud, I'm glad I'm one that John West rejected!"

It was about to do the same to Wesley when it suddenly jerked up and smelt the air. It roared like a wounded beast then vanished once more. Wesley slowly stood up." Was it something I said?"

They heard the sound of Xander's gun which was followed by the metallic boom of the high explosive rounds detonating amongst the higher branches of the trees." Xander drew them off!" Buffy told them." I guess there's more of Xander in Dutch than he knows."

The four watched the fight as it moved further away from them. As each beam lashed out towards where they presumed Xander was, his rounds would belch out in the reverse trajectory.

Xander knew he was running out of both rounds and options as the two YAUTJA drove him towards the buried ship." That's all right fella's I was heading that way anyhow!" He cried out to them as he slapped one of the last remaining blocks of C 5 to the base of a tree then shaped the charge so the blast would form an arc across the front of the open ground. He jabbed a remote detonator into the block of plastic then ran for his life toward the hillock that he knew hid the YAUTJA space ship. In the mean time the man in black and his meagre forces had made their way closer to area 37 and now had Buffy and the others in their sights. He rubbed his chin then said." We get these idiots to walk in front of us, then when the YAUTJA attack them we open up with everything we have!"

Buffy glanced back at the retreating fireworks then she brushed off the leaves from her jeans and told the others." I'm not going to stand by and watch Xander die!" She ran off towards the sounds of battle and the others soon joined." Man an' I was short too!" Gunn told Riley who simply nods." Yeah? So is she but no body's ever game enough to tell her that." He slapped him on the back." Come on when this is over I'll by you a beer. That is if the serve beer in heaven." He grinned and was soon joined by Gunn as they both took off after Buffy and Wesley.

"Move out, keep them between us and the YAUTJA." The man in black ordered. He grinned as he saw the night sky light up." Well Dutch, if it really is you, I don't like your chances of staying here for much longer!" He and his three men were forced to run harder as Buffy's group picked up their pace, only this time they were running towards the action and not away from it.

THE HILLOCK.

Xander rolled out of the way as another beam came close." So they still can't get a lock on me hey?" He ejected the spent clip then loaded more HE." Last one of HE so I'll have to make it count." He plucked a grenade from his pocket and then hurled it towards the opposite side of the clearing." 5,4,3,2,1.. Boom!" He rolled till he was up against a large tree and waited, all but holding his breath waiting for the YAUTJA to fall into another of his traps.

"Just a little bit closer meat head and zap! Your ass is mine!" He scanned the ground in front of the tree he had planted the C5 on and held his breath in anticipation. He had to wipe the mist from the goggles as he sweated like he had never done before. Xander could feel the final victory close at hand. All he had to do was take out these two bozos, get into the ship and retrieve what he knew were the remains of Xander's girlfriend.

He watched as the YAUTJA moved with inhuman speed as they tried to sandwich Xander between them, little knowing he wasn't where they thought he was. Suddenly his goggles picked up the four heat signatures of the kid's friends, a mystery guest and in turn the four armed men that shadowed them." God damn it!" He rechecked the positions of the two YAUTJA and cursed as one broke off to intercept the intruders.

Buffy stopped the four in their tracks and whispered." We're not alone." She ran into the shrubbery then turned." Uh guys that means follow me." Wesley looks at their back trail while Gunn spots something crashing through the tree tops." Oh shit! RUN!"

Buffy stops and then turns around." I'm done running away from these assholes!" She sees the vague outline of the YAUTJA as it lands in front of the foursome. She holds her hands out wide." Why don't you come out of your fancy suit and face me like a man.. Thing." She sighs." Whatever!"

The gang hear the cloaking field begin to beep and crackle as the predator disengages his chameleon shield and now they all know what it is they're fighting. Buffy takes in the 6'5" mountain of muscle and gets into her fighting stance." Man I was kind of hoping you were like E.T., you know something small and harmless."

She decided attack was the best form of defence but when her fist struck what felt like armoured plating she had second thoughts." I guess that was a mistake." The creature could almost be heard grinning at her feeble punch when it landed one of its own. Buffy flew back until the trunk of a nearby tree stopped her progress. She rolled away from the tree and tried to stand." Oh that's going to leave a mark." She looked at her now tattered coat then glared at the creature." Hey! That was my favourite jacket!"

She ran and leapt at the creature, her right leg forward while her left tucked slightly back but she was unprepared for the creature to swat her aside like an annoying mosquito. She felt it's weight on top of her and heard the metallic twang as its twin blades snapped out. It flipped her over and no matter how much she struggled she could hardly move the creature.

It tilted its head to one side as it examined her and found her worthy to join its vast collection of trophy pieces. It stared at her face, moving it from side to side as if examining it. The creature used its vocal modifiers and produced an almost human guttural growl." You are one ugly muthafucker!"

It drew back its arm to administer the finishing blow when a voice came from out of the trees." Says the thing with a face so ugly if it were my dog I'd shave it's ass and make it walk backwards!"

The Predator didn't move from its spot as it said." Who dares interfere with a YAUTJA on the hunt?"

A cigar was flicked from the bushes and landed at the YAUTJA's right hand." It sniffed the air then growled." Your head will take pride of place in my collection Hu-man!"

Xander stepped forward and dropped the shotgun and the two remaining clips and the night site." I'll be your huckleberry." He took out the machete still stained green with the other creatures blood and grinned at it then nodded to Wesley and motioned to the gun and weapons he had just dropped. He glared at the predator as it stood." Come get some!" He took off at a run as the creature howled in anger then took off after him."

Xander ran as fast as he could." Damn it kid you really need to give up on those damned Twinkies!" He saw the tree he had placed the shaped charge and grinned." This is going to be a freaking Massa..." He saw the other creature materialise to the left of the tree. "..cer. Crap!"

Chapter 13

AREA 37.

Xander's mind ranted as Dutch let loose a string of profanity directed at the gods." Okay can we just calm the hell down now?" Dutch stopped as Xander's memories began to seep through to the front of his mind." I don't mind you getting me killed, again, but could you do it after I get my girlfriends body parts back from these bastards?" He watched the YAUTJA waggle his finger at Xander as he tried to make his way past the creature." Shit!" He turned just as the other predator made it into the clearing." Hey how's it doin'?" He asked." I hope you didn't take offence at the whole shave your ass thing cuz you know you have to love those things different from ourselves." He smiled and raised his hands, clasping his palms behind his head and then started laughing.

The creature in front tilted its head to one side then began laughing in a deep throated tone." You are going to die human!" It kept laughing.

Xander nods as his hand tugs out the remote detonator and thumbs off the safety. He laughs harder and then says haltingly." And you know what the bitch is? I don't care anymore.... You're terminated fucker!" He depressed the button and the small arroyo lit up the night. Meanwhile Gunn had picked up the combat shotgun and the two extra clips, he checked the clip in the gun then nods to the others as Buffy hands him the goggles." We do this right and we bring him home." Gunn nods as he fits the goggles snugly to his face and pulls back the cocking handle of the gun." Lets kick some demon booty!"

They followed the path that Xander had taken out of the tree line then saw the sky above the dip in the earth light up, followed by a hollow boom as the sound wave reached them." What the hell was that?" Gunn asked. He adjusted the goggles and was amazed at how far the technology had advanced since he had last used them. He saw the goggles were set to EOM and, as he scanned the treetops and the grounds surrounding them he became aware of the four men trailing them. He saw the electrical output of their radios and taped Riley on the shoulder." Hey GI Joe we got four of your pals playing hide and go seek behind us."

Riley sighed." That's probably some of the perimeter guards, maybe some people survived the YAUTJA attack on the base." he followed Buffy as closely as he could." Buff you do know Harris thinks he's some Special Forces Major called Dutch right?"

Buffy nods." He doesn't just think he is Riley, he is this 'Dutch' maniac."

Riley nods." More Hell mouthy freaky shit right? Cuz the last thing I knew about Harris was he was some kind of Serpico in the LA PD."

Buffy shrugs." It has a lot to do with what Ethan Rayne did that Halloween but Wes thinks its gone way beyond that now, way beyond."

Wesley slows as they near the crest of the hill." It would appear this Dutch has an agenda and I think that when Alexander died.." He glanced at Buffy." Was at his weakest, Dutch manifested himself and took over Alexander's body."

Riley nods." I think I know who this Dutch is jonesing for." Buffy stops and looks at him.

"My boss, well my old boss, received a 'greeting card' in the form of an empty body bag and a card that more or less told him he would be dead soon."

Wesley looks back at the fires that mark the spot where the redoubt once stood." How very perceptive of Dutch."

Buffy shook her head." This asshole isn't dead." Wesley looked puzzled." Because if he were then Dutch would have no more reason to keep possession of Xander." She looked at Riley." We need to keep Xander away from this guy until we know how to deal with what happens when Dutch gets evicted."

Buffy looks down into the arroyo and gasps." Jesus!"

The small area was bereft of anything taller than a foot; trees were decapitated and lay strewed across the fields. She ran down into the dip as Gunn tried to stop." Buffy wait till I have cleared the area!" he held out his hand to stop her and both Riley and Wesley were stunned when a bolt hit Gunn in the chest ripping him open like an over ripe peach.

Riley grabbed the gun and shouted." Down!" He laid down a suppressing fire towards where he had seen the bolt come from as others lanced their way towards him. They dodged from one blast to the other until the fusillade stopped. Wesley went to check on Gunn but he had known the feisty black man was dead before he even checked for a pulse. He closed the dead mans eyes and said a quiet prayer over his body but Riley's voice cut into his mourning." Buffy's gone!"

Riley took the goggles and the spare clips from Gunn's body and ejected the now empty clip and replaced it with a full one." I guess that thing just wanted us out of the way while it took her!" He chambered a round and hissed out a curse." That thing's bagged its limit!"

Meanwhile Buffy had made her way to the epicentre of the blast and found pieces of YAUTJA spread over the area, gore hung from branches of ruined trees and she smiled." Good to see your luck is holding out Xand." She stopped when she saw a spray of red blood on the darkened grass, her heart began to thump so load she feared the YAUTJA would hear it. She followed the trail and knew that if he was moving then at least he was alive when she heard the YAUTJA begin it's attack on the others.

She was torn between finding her wounded friend or helping those under attack, Buffy turned and saw Riley firing the hand cannon Xander had left and knew something must have happened to Gunn." I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but I have to find him."

Xander staggered towards the spot where he had seen the remaining YAUTJA run to. He grimaced with each step he took as the wound in his side seemed to drain him of what little energy he had left. His eyes never stopped scanning the area for any signs of the hated creature that would haunt his every dream for whatever time he had left. Only the image of what this thing had done to Amy drove him on and Dutch knew that was fuel enough for both their needs.

Xander had picked up the machete and used it to push back some foliage that over hung the hole in the ground." This looks inviting, said the spider to the fly." He checked the Desert Eagle was still secure in his shoulder holster then walked into the tunnel. His free hand touched the walls and he wondered how they had become as smooth as glass until he saw the chamber where the YAUTJA's space ship lay ready to take off.

Xander gritted his teeth and briefly touched the wound in his side." You're not going anywhere while you have something of mine, asshole!"

He walked down the sloping tunnel until he came to the main chamber; he searched for a way into the ship and saw an open hatch in its side. He moved the machete to his left hand and removed the big pistol with his right." Its Showtime!"

Riley and Wesley mad short work of the distance between them and the scene of the explosion. Riley ran an expert eye over the devastation." It looks like this Dutch set a trap here before he came to our aid." he knelt and touched his hand to the red splash of colour and rubbed his fingers together before pointing to the trail of human blood." It looks like he got caught up in the blast though." He scanned the area for any sign of the YAUTJA. Then shook his head." I don't get it, the predator took out Gunn and could have smeared us all over the park but it just let us go."

Wesley sighed." Maybe it was disturbed or, or it had bigger game to go after?"

Riley began moving, following the trail of blood as he was sure Buffy had." Xander or I should say Dutch would make quiet the prize, after all how many humans had taken out so many YAUTJA? His head would make a fine addition to any predators collection!"

Wesley kept up with Riley's pace." I'm not so sure it wants his head Mr. Finn. Can you imagine the reception this YAUTJA as you call it would get if it returned with the creature that all but wiped out a pack of their kind?"

Riley's mind thought back to the stuffed bear his Uncle had back on the farm he grew up on as a child. He gritted his teeth and moved faster." I always thought of Xander as a friend, he always treated me with friendship and respect even though I could tell he had it bad for Buffy." He looked at Wesley." There's no way I'm going to let a friend of mine end up as a freaking exhibition in some museum!"

He took out his radio and changed frequencies." This is Captain Riley Finn, serial number Delta, Alpha 157289. I am calling in a fallen angel notification in grid reference Hotel Echo 157. Be aware this vessel is primed and ready for launch!"

A voice responded." Roger your last transmission Captain Finn be advised we are awaiting confirmation of your credentials and voice verification. Let us know when it launches Captain and we will intercept it over."

"Understand Archangel I will radio you when it launches over." Riley replaced the radio back on his belt and told Wesley." Even if they launch they won't take him very far." He glanced at Wesley." You do understand that when they bring it down there's no way Xander could survive that?"

Wesley nods as they approach the entrance that the trail of blood leads to." I'm sure he'd rather that than what would await him on their home planet." Riley paused as he saw a print in the bloodied ground." Size seven runner." He sighed." Buffy's in there with him." He looked around and found a YAUTJA footprint that covered one of Buffy's." And a YAUTJA followed her inside!"

Chapter 14

THE CORRIDORS OF THE SHIP.

Xander walked down the barren corridors of the YAUTJA transport and tried to find the room where he knew the predators would keep their trophies. He followed the trail of green fluorescent blood until it vanished in front of a door." Damn! How the hell do you open one of these anyway?"

The voice behind him made him jump." Don't you know Dutch? I thought you knew all about these things?" He turned and drew the hammer back on the heavy pistol. Buffy stood there with her hands raised." What are you doing here Dutch?"

She saw his face set in a grim visage as he hefted the machete." I'm going to carve her name in the bastards black heart and then I'm going to find where they took her...her, the rest of her and I'm not leaving without it!"

Buffy nods." You have more of Xander in you than you think Dutch."

Xander shrugs." I owe him and then I intend to finish what I came back for."

Buffy moved closer to him." Remember what Giles used to say about vengeance? When you seek vengeance its best you dig two graves."

Xander nods and grins in remembrance." One for your enemy and one for yourself, man I miss the guy." His smile vanishes." Maybe if he had stuck around the kid would have been better off." Xander lent against the door as another spasm of pain racked his body. Buffy was at his side in an instant." Xander you're hurt, we need to get you out of here."

He shrugged her off and then told her." I think the kid should have stayed and fought for you, but then I never knew you as well as he did." He placed a hand on her cheek and stroked her face." I do know the last thought he had was for you, the last image he had was of your smiling face." He dropped his hand as she placed hers on it." But he needs to do this as much if not more than I need to finish what I started all those years ago."

The door slid open and Xander dropped into firing position, his gun sweeping across the room until it stopped on the creature as it rested on what looked like a medical bed. Xander moved swiftly to it and as he stood next to it the YAUTJA's eyes snapped open and Xander grinned as he saw fear in the relentless creatures eyes. It's first set on mandibles opened to reveal green stained teeth." My kind knows of you know Hu-man." It coughed and bright green blood flecked its lips." Even though you kill me my brothers will hunt you down!"

Xander tucked the gun into his belt then leaned in so the creature could see the truth behind his words." When you killed my mate your kind sealed your own doom! I vowed never to rest until the mighty hunters were brought to task for what they had done." He slapped the flat side of the machete against the creature's chest causing it to cough up more blood.

"I will have my revenge this day even though I will not live to see the day's ending!" He stuck the blade into the edge of the bed and lifted the creature by the front of its armour." Where is she?" He shook him harder and shouted." What the hell have you done with her remains?"

The creature glanced to another door and Xander looked at it before picking him up and carrying him to the door. Buffy wrenched the machete from the bed where Xander had embedded it and followed." Open it!" Xander demanded and the creature stepped on a section of flooring in front of the door. As it slid aside Xander tugged the gun from his belt and pushed the creature into the room then cautiously followed it in.

Xander saw a large section of one of the walls was covered with the skulls of the different species these creatures hunted. There were skulls of humans in one section and in others were hung the skulls of strange, nightmarish creatures that would strike fear in the bravest of hearts. There were quiet a few skulls that were elongated with two sets of jaws, one inside the other, and as Xander examined it the YAUTJA laughed." If ever your kind makes it into space you will pray for a quick death should you ever come across this species Hu-man!"

Xander merely forced the creatures head against the glass and ordered it." Which one is she?" He looked at the fifteen different human skulls and couldn't tell which one was Amy's. He hit the creatures head hard against the glass." Tell me or I will make every second you delay seem like an eternity!"

The creature merely grinned." Do your worst Hu-man!"

Xander's eyes went wild." Oh you ain't seen my worst yet but I will be more than pleased to give you a little taste!" He placed the barrel against the creature's knee and calmly pulled the trigger. The boom of the gun echoed in the room, causing Buffy to jump." Jesus Xander! Just kill him, there's no need to torture it!" The creature staggered as blood and bone of his shattered joint was sprayed against the wall. It howled in agony as it sank to its one remaining knee.

Xander looked at the glass and then stood back and opened fire on it. The heavy .44 magnum bullets just scratched the surface before ricocheting around the room. Xander stopped and felt the glass before he aimed the gun at the YAUTJA his face red with rage and his mind almost lost in the red fog of anger." Open the fucking glass!"

Wesley and Riley were in the main chamber, just about to enter the ship when they heard the big.44 magnum fire." Looks like Xander had a back up piece." Riley tells him." If he's fired it that would suggest he is in need of assistance." Wesley answered. The two then rushed into the spacecraft in search of their friends. Riley held up a hand and they stopped as they came to the door and the end of the trail of blood." Look." He pointed at the green pool of blood and they saw the print of a YAUTJA's foot.

Wesley looked at Riley and his mouth felt suddenly very dry. "I fear there's more than one of these creatures left alive." Riley nods." That's okay I've got enough ammo to take it on...I just hope I don't have to is all."

They stepped closer and the door slid to one side giving them a view of what looked like the medical section of the craft. Wesley tells Riley." The trail of red blood goes to the bed then over to that door over there." He points to the door the other three went through but Riley tugs Wesley's arm before he moves off. He points to the footprints that lead to another door and Riley asks." I wonder where our other friend is going?"

Wesley shrugs." I neither know nor care, we are here to help get Xander and Buffy out then get the hell away!" Wesley walks over to the other door as Riley sets off to attempt to track down the mystery guest Wesley stands close to the door and it slides aside, Wesley's eyes go wide when he's confronted by the business end of Xander's Desert Eagle while Buffy has the machete ready to take Wesley's head off of his shoulders.

Buffy drops the blade to her side and pushes Xander's arm aside." Wes, mate you have to learn to knock!"

THE WOODS OUTSIDE OF THE SPACESHIP.

The man watched as Wesley and the traitorous Captain Riley Finn as they entered the tunnel." Do we go in after them sir?" The man merely grinned." No we wait for them to come out." He points to the other two men." You two cover the entrance from over there while we cover it from here. As soon as they emerge you may begin firing, once they are dead we can then pick over the YAUTJA technology at our leisure."

One of them men wants clarification of his orders." that's when the YAUTJA emerge sir?" The man looks deeply into the soldiers eyes." Whatever comes through that tunnel soldier is fare game. Do I make myself clear?" He moved from man to man then told them." Everyone aboard that ship is expendable and they will be terminated at the first opportunity am I clear?" The three men nod, not liking the order but knowing this man would kill them just as easily as he had just ordered the death of Captain Finn and the civilians with him."

They then began to set up the crossfire that would ensure whatever came out of the tunnels would be dead before they knew what hit them. Dawn pulled Buffy's car up at the barrier and turned to Cordelia." You're sure this is the place in your vision?"

Cordelia nods." Yes, look unless you want them all to die I suggest a little less yakking and a lot more speed!" Cordelia was worried that the two of them wouldn't be enough to stop the tragedy that she had seen unfold in her vision. She had seen Gunn killed by one of the creatures and then the others killed as they left the hole in the ground. Cordelia had a vague impression that something human had killed,Buffy, Xander,Wesley and the strange military man that was with them.

Dawn turned to her as the Jeep's tyres slid on the wet grass." You're sure humans killed them?" Cordelia nods and stopped biting her nails long enough to say." Unless the undead have suddenly started using automatic weapons then yes I'm sure." She went back to biting her nails unsure whether facing the creatures or sitting in a car while a maniac drove it was worse.

INSIDE THE CRAFT.

Wesley watched as Xander went back to the creature and pulled it till it lay in front of the glass wall. His mind finally registered what was behind the glass front and he slowly walked towards it. he went from one section to the other until he stood before the collection of human skulls. Wesley looked at the creature as it struggled under Xander's ministrations." You had the intelligence to build ships capable of travelling vast distances of space in, what one would assume, short periods of time. You have weapons and technology far beyond anything even dreamed of here on earth."

Wesley was stunned by what he saw now and had seen in the past 48 hours. Xander gripped the creature by the dreadlocks, causing it even more pain." What my friend is trying to say is why use all that technology just to hunt down creatures to dumb to even get out of their own way?"

The YAUTJA grinned a toothy smile at them and growled out." Because we can!" Xander handed Buffy the gun and took the machete off of her. Their eyes met and Buffy silently pleaded with him to stop. He averted his gaze knowing how wrong this was but not able to stop himself. He knelt by the creatures side as Riley returned." I lost track of our friend in the halls." Riley stopped as he took in the trophy room. "What the heck?"

Xander was tapping the flat of the machete against the creatures head." Welcome to the trophy room Riley. Fang head here was about to either tell us how to open the glass or loose an arm, his choice!"

The creature hissed at Xander and he hit the YAUTJA harder with the flat of the machete." No growling! Bad doggie! Now how do we open up your cabinet?" The creature is clearly dying and it knows they know." I am soon to join my fallen brothers in the great halls of the hunting lodge.. Fuck you!" It mimics Xander's voice to a t then screams in pain as Xander cleaves the creatures right arm from its body." I frigging warned you! Know open the damned."

Xander's words were cut off as the ship shuddered beneath their feet. The creature grinned." You forgot the pilot! Soon you will be on our home world and then they will avenge me, avenge us all!"

Xander glared at it and then at the human skulls. An evil glint appeared in Xander's eyes as Dutch remembered something. He pushed the creature so it lay at the foot of the human skulls, at the foot of HER skull. He turned to the others." Go! Go now before it's too late!" He then knelt by the YAUTJA and keyed open the wrist controls, the creatures eyes going wide as he did." You're surprised I know how to do this? Lets just say I've run into your kind before and I never forget assholes like you!"

He turned and saw the three friends still standing there." Look this thing is about ready to take off so I suggest you do like wise!"

Buffy shook her head." I came for you and I'm not leaving without you Xander." He saw the look in the blonde's eyes and he knew beyond a doubt that she loved the man that belonged to the body Dutch wore." After all this time you still love him?" She nods as a tear slides down her cheek." Enough to die, or live by his side."

Xander turned to the creature and then asked it." I don't suppose you creeps know much of earth history, even though you hunted my kind since I don't know when." Xander rested the blade against the YAUTJA's throat as he continued." Amy's people descended from the old Norse race and they had this ritual where when one of their great kings or great warriors died then they would be placed on a long boat with their belongings, a dog at their feet and the boat would be torched then set adrift so the spirit of the great one would ascend to Valhalla."

Xander reached over and tapped out the destruct code for the YAUTJA's armour. As he finished he told it." She was a great woman, a goddess! You are the dog and this ship will be her long boat." He dragged the razor sharp edge of the machete across the YAUTJA's throat then stood up placed a bloody hand on the glass and kissed the glass where thought Amy's skull was." Good bye my love, until we meet again at Odin's side!"

Xander walked away then turned and threw the blade till it imbedded itself in the door mechanism. The doors slid shut behind him and he saw the others waiting to leave as the craft began to shudder even more." Let's blow this pop stand."

He smiled for the first time and Buffy saw in it the soul of her Xander.

Chapter 15

THE HILLOCK.

Dawn swerved the Jeep past the debris of the fallen redoubt and her eyes flashed to the rear-view mirror as she saw the red and blue flashes of the emergency vehicles flashing lights." International Rescue's here." She looked at Cordelia and almost hit the remains of one of the automated defence guns. Cordelia watched the remains bump against the car as they flew by." If you're not more careful you will need rescuing when Buffy sees her car!"

Dawn mimics Cordelia's voice then says." What is it with the older generation these days? All they seem to do is moan and groan about little things." Cordelia glared at her." Hey missy, you're only a few years younger than me you know! Besides which if my vision is right a lot worse is about to happen o Buffy's pride and joy while you're at the wheel so watch where your going!"

Cordelia points to the left." There! Go that way." She scans the area trying to spot something she could recognise from her vision. The landscape sped by as Dawn pushed the four wheel drive as hard as she could." How much longer do we have?"

Cordelia glanced at the green numbers on the dash." Not long now...There!" She points towards the hillock." There it is, now move this piece of shit!"

Xander ran behind the others and felt the wound in his side all the more now he had done what the kid wanted him to. His face was set in a hard unforgiving glare as he thought about the man he needed, no must kill! If that fool hadn't of stopped Ethan's spell when he did Dutch had planned to take off from Sunnydale and begin his quest for revenge. Revenge for both himself,the rebel girl and all the others this butcher had killed for the sake of technological advancement.

As they exited the craft they felt the outer doors shut behind them. Riley grabbed the radio from his belt and thumbed the mike." Archangel this is Delta, Alpha 157289. The fallen angel is rising, repeat the craft is leaving." He released his thumb and waited for a reply." Delta, Alpha 157289 this is Archangel control, sir we have you as missing presumed dead and can longer proceed with any of your requests." Riley thumbed the mike again." Do I sound freaking dead to you soldier?"

"No sir, but your CO radioed in just after your order and countermanded it sir. He also said you were more than likely an impostor that had tortured Captain Riley's codes from him."

"Bullshit! My CO is a psychopathic homicidal maniac that was trying to get us all killed. Now you can track the craft as it launches but by then it will be too late... Are you there? Shit!" Riley threw the radio aside." That maniac must still be alive, he's just allowed the craft to get away rather than destroy it!"

Xander glanced at his watch then shrugged." It would be best if it were outside of our atmosphere when it goes off anyway." The four of them were thrown to the ground as the ship tore itself from the earths grasp and moved slowly out of the newly formed crater.

The man in black along with his three men were thrown to the ground by the blast as the ship took off then hovered above them until it was aligned on its trajectory. The man's eyes were crazed." One day soon we will have that technology and then we will rule this rock along with many others!"

The four escapees came running out of the tunnel as a cloud of dust and steam preceded them blinding the three soldiers before they could fire. One man fired blindly in the hope of hitting one of them but only succeeded in warning them of the trap. Xander pushed Buffy to one side then dived next to her." Who want's to bet this that asshole in black?"

Riley fired his gun at the position the rounds were zipping over their heads from and was satisfied when he heard a scream of pain. The man in black called out." Nice work Riley, you're really making a habit of being a traitor ya know that." He ducked as Riley fired at his voice.

Xander squirmed his way down the small run off to the left as Riley kept firing at their attackers. He moved with all the stealth Dutch had mastered and made his way behind the small force. He settled behind a tree then cried out." Hey asshole if its me you want your facing the wrong way."

The man in black turned to search for whoever had cried out and then stiffened when Xander said." I see you! Time to die muthafucker!" Xander ran towards him all the hatred fuelled his aching body as he finally saw an end to his quest, to his vengeance. He felt the sting as round after round buzzed by his head.

Riley took advantage of his opponents disarray and charged forward, laying down a suppressing fire as he did the gun running dry as he got within striking distance. He kicked the head of one of the men as he tried to bring his gun to bare and heard Buffy as she took care of the other man. He looked up and saw his boss change clips then prepared to finish them off; nothing in the world could save them now.

Xander saw the fear in the man's eye turn to a leer of victory as he began firing at Xander. The roar of the Jeep drowned out the crack of the rifle as the 4x4 tore through the shrubbery and sideswiped the maniac, sending him flying towards Xander. The man felt his hip brake as the front of the jep knocked him flying through the air the gun spiralling away to fall at Xander's feet.

Xander watched as the man landed heavily and he bent down and picked up the MP5 and checked its load before slowly walking towards the man ash tried to rise. Xander put a round into the man's elbow and he dropped like a rock, squealing in agony from both his broken joints.

Buffy gathered herself from the ground from where she had thrown herself when she saw the Jeep as it careened out of control. Her mind told her it was her new car but she almost knew who was driving before she saw her sister dash from behind the wheel." "BUFFY!" Dawn cried out in fear she was too late.

She saw Buffy running towards her as Wesley and Riley tied up the remainder of the man's men. She hugged Buffy until she thought she would faint from lake of air and then asked." Xander?" It was then Buffy remembered what Wesley had told her." Wesley! Where is he?"

They all scanned the area until they saw Xander standing over the man and Buffy ran to him.

In the mean time Xander just stared at him all his concentration was directed at the man that had caused him so much grief and had finally caused him his death." You did all this for their technology and in doing so you became worse than those monsters!" He felt the light from the explosion bathe his face and then told the man to look up at the new star in the night sky.

The man in black cried out." NO!" As he saw the YAUTJA spacecraft was vaporised by the detonation of the predator's armour. Xander looked at the mini sun and a tear fell down his face." Good bye Amy Xander will never forget you." He looked down at the man and smiled as the sound of the emergency rescue vehicles approached." You know I'm almost tempted to let you live so you can try to explain away all this." He waived his hand at the death and destruction that littered the Park.

"Then let him live Dutch." Buffy told him." If he lives we can find away for you to find release and yet save Xander."

He looked at her and saw she was shaking, not from what had happened but in fear of what might happen." You know as well as I that the place beyond this world is a much nicer realm Buffy Anne Summers." He watched her as she tried to get closer to him." He will wait for you of this I am sure."

She shook her head." Xander, my Xander would never just kill an unarmed man. The path he took was the right one for him; he did things the right way, the legal way. Killing this man now would set you free but at what cost to Xander? Is it right he should be made to suffer for your actions?"

Xander glanced at her and he lowered his gun." I'm sorry Buffy, but you don't know what this animal did! Torture and death was the best his victims could hope for and now I have their vengeance at hand."

"Please." She begged." If you can feel him inside you must know how much he cared for me, please don't do this I beg you."

She could see the man behind Xander's eyes waiver and almost give in to her demands." God forgive me." He cried out then emptied the MP5 into the man in black's body." Hasta la vista baby!"

"NO!" Buffy screamed out as she saw the rounds pepper the man in black until the gun clicked empty. The man was dead and Dutch's quest for vengeance ended with him. Buffy saw the glint fade behind Xander's eyes and then she saw his body fall bonelessly to the ground." Wesley!" Buffy cried out for aid.

She rushed to Xander's side and then was shocked to see the chest slowly rise, she turned and looked at Xander's face then her breath caught in her throat as she saw him exhale a fountain of water before collapsing back." No! I won't let you die again Xander." She checked his pulse and found it weak and thready, his skin felt cold and clammy to the touch. The water continued to flow from his mouth and she cried out." He's drowning."

Wesley nods." When the blast hit him he was thrown into the water, Dutch must have taken over just before he drowned!" Wesley knelt at the other side of Xander and ripped open his shirt then used the knife at Xander's side to cut open the stealth suit so he could look at his chest. They all saw the massive blue bruise as it appeared as if by magic on his chest." He must have been wearing a flack jacket and that stopped the blast from killing him."

Wesley suddenly stopped as he saw Xander stop breathing, he checked the pulse then told them." He's gone."

Dawn shouted at them." Don't just sit there do something!" The fear of loosing her best friend for good drove the young woman to her knees." Please let him live."

Buffy snapped out of a dreamlike state and cleared Xander's airways of the foul smelling water then began to breath for him while Wesley counted then moved in to perform CPR.

LA COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.

Cordelia was watching the TV in the family waiting room as they waited to be discharged. Riley was talking to two men in uniform trying to make something workable from the ruins of the preceding nights actions one of the men told him." The story will be that you and this Harris charecter were working undercover trying to find a cell of terrorists and last night we were able to stop them exploding a thermo nuclear device in the city." Riley nods as Cordelia hushed them.

Kate was on the screen reading from a prepared statement." At approximately 11.45 last night elements of the armed forces along with members of our own anti-terrorist squad, halted an attempt at exploding a nuclear device in Griffith Park. The same bands of terrorists were believed responsible for the 'Head-hunter' attacks that had plagued our city for the past week. During the action all of the terrorists along with the aircraft they were using, were destroyed in the skies above Griffith Park. This victory did not come cheaply as both the army and our own meagre forces lost men in the action."

She looked up from her prepared script and went on." Special agent Gunn of the anti- terrorist squad gave his life and many more were wounded. Detective Alexander Harris is in critical condition from both his actions at Pier 7 and his bravery in thwarting this evil plot at Griffith Park." She then glared at the TV." As you may know a recent article in Hard Copy had stated that Officer Harris was in league with the gunrunners along with his wife. These scurrilous and unfounded accusations are a matter for our attorney General and she is delving into them as we speak, those responsible will be brought to trial."

Cordelia almost broke down in tears at the mention of Gunn then said." You go girl!" At the mention of prosecuting the paper. She saw Dawn as she sat with Willow and Fred waiting to hear the news about Xander.

Buffy meanwhile was sat at Xander's bedside, her hand clutching his as she watched the machines breath for him. The machine pumped air in and then repeated it and began its never-ending cycle once more. Her eyes were red from crying and her voice horse fro begging him not to die and leave her all alone. She began telling him of everything that happened in Sunnyhell since he left.

"We now have three Starbucks and two Wall marts." She grinned." Hell we're almost civilised." She gripped his hand and tried to will him to recover." Dawn is about to start her internship at Sunnyhell General." She grinned." So we don't need to worry about incompetent doctors or having them turn into Goddesses."

"Willow is in her fifth year of being magic free, she got a pin and everything, its so cute." She stopped when she thought she felt something but continued after a while." Giles is busy trying to rebuild the Council of Watchers and drag them screaming and kicking into the 21st century."

"There's nothing much else to say apart from my life will probably go on if you don't wake up. I'll get up each morning and go to work, come home and fight with Dawn before I go out to take on the undead of Sunnydale. Then, if I'm lucky, I'll go home to my empty home and my empty life." She lent over him and whispered." Only you could fill my world with laughter and love Xander. Only you were my last hope at living the dream of a loving husband and a loving home."

She was to wrapped up in sorrow to notice the machines beeps change their note and an alarm begin to ping. She felt his hand grip hers a little stronger and her eyes flew open. She stared into his face as the grip became stronger and saw his eyes moving beneath his lids.

"NURSE!" She screamed and was pushed aside as the room filled with staff. She watched a young doctor check the readouts and then her eyes went wide when she heard Xander begin to choke.

The doctor leant in and told Xander." It's okay MR. Harris it's just the tube, we're removing it now." He pulled on the plastic tube and it made a sickly slurping sound as it made its way up Xander's throat before popping free. Xander struggled to breath, his arms flapping around as if in search of something. Nothing they did could calm him until finally the nurse grabbed Buffy and led her to him." Talk to him."

She grabbed his hand and she felt him grip her hard." It's okay Xand I'm here, I'm here and I not going away, I'm never letting you leave me again!" They felt Xander relax and settle into a normal sleep. The doctor looked at Buffy and she couldn't stop grinning like a fool." He's going to be fine, everything's going to be fine again."

THE END.