Buffy drove her 2008 Ford/Chrysler Dragon into the garage then waited for the automated charge cycle to kick in before she shut the garage doors. The great oil drought of 04 had made the car company's fast lane a lot of the new innovations. The fact that two of three giants of the automotive industry had merged rather than fold like GM and Toyota was further proof of just how bad it had become. America led the way into the mini depression and drove out of it on the back of the hybrid power sources.
Buffy had retired as the 'chosen one' once Faith was released on patrol and into Giles's capable hands. The Council had seen fit to start paying their slayers thus ensuring said Slayer's economic stability and in doing so tighten the hold they had on their charges. Giles also implemented the 'in the field' training for the future potential Slayers with Buffy passing on her wit and wisdom to the next generation of chosen. She was currently employed by the Californian School system as the councilor for Sunnydale High.
Buffy paused at her front door just as Dawn arrived home from Sunnydale General. Buffy couldn't help but be proud of her little 'Sister', top of her class and, in her honest opinion, the best damned intern the hospital had." Hey Dawnie, how'd it go?"
Dawn stretched and yawned." Same old, same old. Thank the Gods I only have two more years before I get to kiss the ER goodbye and say hello to the second floor."
Buffy keys in her code and the front door slides open while the house computer welcomes her with the day's messages and mail. Dawn hurries over to the viewer and flicks through the days e-mails." Ooh look our old faithful has arrived." She taps the screen and the letter opens." Yep the regular 15 thousand from Cayman is in your account." She smirks at her sister." You really have to tell me what it was you did for this person Buff, cuz whatever it was he/she was really impressed."
Buffy smiles at her sisters usual dig." Hell I wish I knew what I did and who I did it with, but then you know how much I like a little mystery in my life."
Just then the door opens for Giles and Joyce. Joyce was grinning at something Giles had done and he was trying to explain." Really the whole idea is preposterous to say the least!" Joyce grins at Buffy and Dawn." Your father's upset over seeing his rebellious past catching up with him."
Dawn turns to see them." Oh! Giles and rebellious past?...Spill!"
Giles blushes." As I said it's someone's idea of a joke." He held up a micro disc and showed them the cover." Ripper! Live at the espresso pump." Joyce giggles like a schoolgirl and fakes a swoon." Oh Ripper sing me a song."
Giles looks sternly at his wife and warns them all." If I find out any of you had anything to do with this I.."
Both Buffy and Dawn looked at each other before Buffy says." None of us were involved Giles, but I have to say I wish we did just to see that look on your face."
Dawn nods." And it's too corny for something that Willow or Tara would ever do, not that they'd have the time anyway. What with running the store and trying to track down the remaining survivors for the class reunion next month." Dawn slaps her head." Doh! I almost forgot to tell you." She turns to Buffy." Tara managed to find several e-mail addresses for Xander! A couple bounced but the rest sent back an automated reply receipt."
Buffy almost dropped the glass of sterilized water she had taken from the machine." Xander! As in Alexander' no way in hell are you going to find me 'Harris?" Dawn nods." How the heck could she find him when they tried just about everything this side of hell and failed?"
Dawn shrugged." She just said that her new ferret program is even more persistent than spam mail. It just took a while is all." Dawn pressed juice flavor for her drink and took a glass from the processor." Anyway she says she's going to make sure he at least knows about the reunion the rest is up to him." She grins." This guy must have had quiet an effect on you girls for her to put out this much effort for a 'guy'."
Buffy nods." Yeah he did, I just wish you could have met him, he was always there for me at the beginning and helped us out no end." She sighed." That and he saved my life a couple of times, and kept my spirits up more times than I care to remember."
Dawn smiles." Yeah it don't hurt when he's got the looks and the package to back it up either." Joyce looks at her and Dawn shrugs." What? I saw the photo's, the guy looked hot, especially in those tight red Speedo's! Though how he could have made the swim team with that thing slowing him down I'll never know?"
Joyce opens and closes her mouth." Dawn!"
"What? Jeez moms I'm 22 and a freaking doctor you don't think I've never seen a man's jigley bits before?" Dawn watches Buffy's reaction and smiles as she gets that faraway look in her eyes." Ah but I saw it in real life." She blushes." The Uhh Speedo's I mean." She places her glass on top of the water processor and as it is recycled she ponders." I wonder what he's doing anyway?"
Xander was looking out the hotel window at the main entrance of the Grand Plaza across the street. He turned and spoke into the blue tooth head piece as Marcella tells him."..1000 rounds .40 S&W steel core, 1000 rounds case less .380 soft point."
Xander unclips the small briefcase and extracts the cut down rifle as he continues to speak to his secretary." Good transfer from account # 65934752 and tell Hakim not to try and send any of that ex-Korean army crap."
"No Korean crap check."
Xander finishes assembling the German made sniper rifle." Also transfer the usual amount to account # six one niner seven one eight five seven five three-Summers Buffy Anne. "He feeds the five round clip into the stock and then activates the laser sight.
"You got it."
He checks his watch then stands on the step away from the window." Thank you Marcella."
"Sir."
"What?" He answers as he adjusts the portable steps.
"I-I wanna read you something." She asks hesitantly.
"I'm working Marcella." He moves the stock to his shoulder.
"I think you should hear this sir."
"Okay but keep it short." He watches the screen for any sign of his target.
"Dear 'Dale High Alumni, can you believe its been 10 years since you left Sunnydale High? Where are you now? Are you in an outward-bound canoe trip like Brooke Stinson? Or perhaps in charge of public appearances for the NFL like Aurora Calloway? Willow Rosenberg owns a Spiritualist shop.." Xander rechecks the calibration on the sights then snorts derisively.
Marcella ignores him and continues." Looking at yearbooks & pictures evokes so many memories, some good, some bad but all interesting. When ever news of you filters back the school is excited and proud of your accomplishments..."
Xander sees four men leaving the Hotel and he scans the road ahead of them and spots a Segway rider heading for them." Hold on a second." He lines up on the rider as he pulls an automatic from his bag, Xander fires hitting him square in the chest, causing him to stagger and draw the attention of the man's three body guards who open up on the rider." Okay."
He begins to take the gun apart as Marcella continues." As a graduate of the class of 1999 you are someone special. Remember: There's nowhere you can go that you haven't learned to go in time? Whatever the hell that means."
Xander closes and locks the case." Shred it."
"I thought it might be good for you, open new accounts. Network.."
Xander starts to move for the door." Don't tease me Marcella, you know what AI do for a living.." He stops as he hears more gunshots coming from the main entrance to the hotel. He pulls back the curtain and searches the area until he sees the doorman firing a pair of custom made revolvers into the prone body of Xander's client." Mother! Grocer!"
Xander calmly walked out of the hotel and climbed into the late model auto that the bellhop had drove up for him. He drove off just as the sound of sirens caught his ears. He drove to his safe point then dialed Marcella and she started on him the minute she answered." I just got off the phone with a very unsatisfied customer."
Xander walks around his car and kicks a rock." Well ask them how that could possibly be my problem? I was contracted for one job, the jerk on the Segway, not two. Why don't you find out what the hell Grocer was doing there then maybe we can talk?"
"I have Mr. Grocer on the other line why don't you ask him?"
Xander pauses." Uh. Okay patch him through."
Xander winces at Grocer's smug tone." Alexanderrr! Where are you kid?"
"Budapest." Xander takes his sunglasses off as a car similar to his own pulls up. Grocer exudes an air of joy as he spots him." Ah, city of Cathedrals! Yeah I can see you right there on the bridge of the Danube kid. I'd kind of like to talk to you." He tells him as he exits his car and heads towards Xander.
Xander looks at him as his hand slides towards the Glock hidden on his hip." Why don't you e-mail me?" He asks him, as Grocer gets closer.
"Man I'd kinds like a one on one , you know face to face type of thing."
Xander is looking Grocer in the eye as he speaks into his phone." Like personal?" He throws his phone into the passenger side of his car, his hand never leaving the but of his gun as he did."
Grocer mirrored Xander's move." Yeah like that. How are you kid?" He extended his hand cautiously as they edge towards each other like combatants in the opening moves of a war.
Xander extends his hand hesitantly." How are ya?"
Grocer shakes his hand and they back up." Good." He tells him.
"Good. Good." Xander feels like he should count his fingers, his other hand still resting on the grip of his gun.
Grocer waves his hand around like a madman." Hey! Mental telepathy.. Astral projection.."
Xander snorts." And here you are, right what do you want?"
Grocer goes into his spiel like a snake oil salesman." Kid, I'm putting together a little concern which could enable those of us in our rarefied profession to avoid uh.." He jerks his thumb behind him." Those embarrassing overlaps."
Xander narrows his eyes." What like a union?"
Grocer smiles." More like a club, you know, work less earn more."
"Sounds like a great idea. Uh but thank you no-no." Xander backs up towards his car. Grocer chuckles and folds his arms." You remember Burma?"
Xander smiles." Yeah I do."
"That nut General Kwang! You were like a colonel in his army."
"Yeah, yeah. I sold you those tanks and you shipped them to Alabama."
Grocer tugged on his earlobe." T-34's, yeah I took a bath on those."
Xander grins." Yep that sure was fun."
Grocer points to him." That's what I'm talking about kid, we could be working together again like the good old days for God's sake! You know making big money, killing important people." He begins the hard sell." I want to structure an arrangement where you would get original shares on the ground floor of the concern."
Xander shrugs." And you would be.. What like the president of this organization or something? Or maybe a father figure to me?"
Grocer smiles." Hey if you wanna father figure I'll give you a spanking!"
Xander backs off shaking his head." Yeah uh fugetaboutit."
Grocer can see he's loosing him." But our employers are getting us much cheaper than they should be."
Xander crosses his arms." What can you do? After the bamboo curtain falling it's open slather."
"Yep the Soviet Bloc takes a dump and then the Chinese, hell after that whole North Korea fiasco there ain't many Red nations left." Grocer paces in front of him.
"The market's flooded all right."
Grocer snaps his finger and points it at Xander." Okay now that's what I'm looking at, I'm talking consolidated bargaining." He temples his hands." Look I don't wanna play against you Alexander, this thing is for real."
Xander is suddenly worried." How real?"
Grocer smiles as he begins to reel him in." The Morango Brothers, them East German ex-Stasi guys." Xander shivers." Oh I don't like those guys!"
"They're not to fond of you either Alexander something about their kid sister?"
Xander grins." She was a looker wasn't she though."
Grocer carries on with his list." Uh, them butch Filipino ladies."
Xander grins." The little..Uh dwarf maids!" He makes exaggerated stabbing motions with his hands. "The Stabbers!" Grocer copies him." Queens of the hotel hit my friend."
Xander nods." You got a great crew."
"Absolutely anyone that's anyone in our profession is in kid."
Xander uncrosses his arms and stands back." Yeah well not me, so don't paw me with your dirty little guild!"
Grocer grins and slaps his hands together." All right! You more than anyone knows life's full of second chances." He angrily turns on him and jabs his finger at him as if it were a knife." And here's chance number two for you! You ponder okay? You think of the consequences of not coming in with me."
Xander shrugs." I'll think about it."
Grocer grins wider and motions quickly to him." Cuz either way I'm gonna to get you kid." He wiggles his fingers at him.
Xander snorts." Yeah? Get what? Get back, get bent."
Grocer laughs and pretends like his offer and Xander's refusal didn't matter. He wiggles his fingers again." Bing-bing-bing-BANG! Popcorn."
Xander chuckles half heartedly." Yeah whatever." He heads back to his car shaking his head in disbelief." Yeah nice to see ya again."
"Good to see you too kid." Grocer turns his back so he can open his car door." You ah like that Pacific coast air kid? All that sun sand and sex?"
"Never went back, never intend to either." Xander tells him.
Grocer's imitation of an alarm makes Xander jump, then he mimics an explosion before throwing his arms apart." Catch ya kid. Don't blow up anymore schools until I see ya again." He clambers into his car laughing at his own joke.
Xander shakes his head." You look great by the way."
"Nice chatting kid." Grocer chuckles.
Xander leans against his car and waives." Drive safe...Shmuck!" Grocer peels off in his car and Xander opens his door and slumps down on the passenger seat." I hate that guy." He reaches for his cell phone as it rings he flips it open.
"So come on back to the old oak tree, acorn. Signed the Sunnydale High school reunion comitee." Marcella tells him.
Xander rubs the bridge of his nose." You're fired! Don't ever read that crap to me again."
Marcella exclaims." Wait don't hang up sir! Did you read yesterdays offer?" She presses a button and sends him a fax. His fax chirps and prints out the offer, as it stops he rips it off and reads it .Marcella tells him." Its in French sir."
Xander shakes his head." Isn't everything bad? This day is like a bad freaking nightmare."
Marcella grins." Its a Green peace vessel, it should be a piece if cake."
Xander stands up." No freaking way! Even I have my limits."
"Since when?"
Xander chuckles." Listen uh is that Miami thing all set up?"
"It's covered sir."
"Good.Good.Good." He rubs his eyes as if he was suddenly tired of it all.
Marcella was worried." Sir, are you okay? You don't seem like your old self lately. If you don't mind me asking is it the job? Is it getting to you?" She can hear him sigh." You know when you start getting invited to your high school reunion that times catching you up."
Xander looked puzzled." Are you talking about a sense of my own mortality or a fear of my own death? Cuz I could probably count on both hands how many of my old alumni that will have survived ten years on that hell...I mean in that place if they didn't leave."
"Well I didn't really think about that sir."
He kicked at the dirt." Did you go to yours?"
"Yes I did. It was just as if everyone had swelled."
"Why are you so interested in me going to my reunion?"
"I just find it amusing that you came from somewhere." She tells him as she re-reads Willows e-mail to her asking for her help to get an estranged Xander back to his friends.
He nods." Yeah so do I, bye." He flips the phone shut and throws it in the back. He sits back in his seat and feels something he had not felt in ten years.
Dawn rechecked the diagnostic computer once more and cursed." One day this thing is going to go down for good and we're going to be up a creek without a paddle." She looked around to make sure she was alone and kicked the side of it. The computer beeped and came back on line." There you go, as good as new." She proclaimed to the nursing sister as she came in.
"I don't know what we'd do with out this Doctor Summers." She guided another of the endless line of injured up and Dawn hooked the man up to it." No need to be worried the 'Doc' will do everything that a normal doctor would do to treat you , apart from the huge bill at the end of it that is." She joked as the computer diagnosed the problem and began to administer aid.
She left the room and saw another intern approach her." So are you going to Sharon's big blow out on Sunday?" Dawn shrugged." If you've been to one of her raves you've been to them all." She grinned and nods." So yeah I'm going." He grins and says." Cool, I've wanted to see you with your hair down."
Dawn walks away." Oh no one's seen me with my hair down." She walks over to the nurses' station and she tries to remember to grab something's for the first aid kit at Slayer Central. She sighed it wasn't as bad as the old days when all the remaining Slayers in training in the world resided at Casa del Summers. The first had managed to destroy the Watchers council with a well-placed bomb but apart from half the SIT's in the world being killed that had been the extent of his damage before he simply gave up. The much-prophesied fault in the Slayer line had simply failed to present itself.
Even Faith was becoming bored with her life beyond the California Penal System. She was even given to 'spicing up' her patrols by hamstringing the Vampires and then chasing after them. Willow had dragged the New Council into the 21st century by starting the worldwide database for all things supernatural. She could tell within five seconds of entering the information what demon they were facing, how to destroy it and even the odds on where it was hiding.
Dawn checked her pager then went into the day room for some peace and quiet time. She touched the screen of the computer and then touched the picture of her home. Amelia answered and Dawn smiled." Hey kiddo is her majesty home yet or is she still at work?"
Amelia shook her head." She's at the new school radio station. Wood's roped her into doing the 12-3 shift until after the reunion gig." She looked off to one side." Willow says Marcella has all but convinced Xander to come home for the reunion." Dawn felt butterflies in her stomach at the mention of the man's name." I don't even know the guy and I'm getting nervous at the thought of him coming back. Dawn shivered." I sure hope Willow's spell works because after reading the file the Council dug up on him the guy makes my skin squirm."
Amelia grins." But he's such a looker! Did you see the latest download Willow got of him?" Dawn shrugs." He's okay I suppose." She tried to feign a disinterest in him but Amelia grinned at her." If the tall dark and handsome type yanks your crank."
Dawn smiles." Okay he's a hottie, but he's also a stone cold killer and don't forget it." She shook her head as Amelia glanced off to the side.
"Rumor has it Faith knocked boots with him before she went all bad ass and she says he wasn't anything special." Amelia shook her head." But everyone knows that skank's just saying it to get up B's nose."
Dawn nods." Yep I've known those two for most of my life and they're all ways trying to stir the pot." Amelia looks of screen then tells her." I've got to go, her whininess is home." She signs off and Dawn sits for a minute as she remembers the Friday video nights just Willow, Tara, Buffy her mom and herself had.
Willow would start remembering the times Xander would bring the movies over to their place and the gang would watch a mixture of 'chick flicks' and testosterone movies while Xander would joke around. Dawn only knew of Xander second hand and even then no one would talk of what happened that day they all graduated and killed a Mayoral demon as it ascended.
"I wish I knew the truth, what really happened that day?" Dawn sighed and stood up as her beeper went off." What made him snap and more importantly is he still snapped?"
Xander rolled off of the bed and quietly dressed so as not to disturb the blond asleep in his hotel bed. He unlocked the safe and took out the equipment he would need for tonight's hit .He went into the bathroom and poured a small amount of liquid into an eyebath, he rested the bath on his right eye and tilted his head back. As he returned the bath to the sink he glanced at the girl as she moved in her sleep beneath the satin sheets.
He struggled with his inner thoughts as they battled with what he had done this night and many nights before. He blushed as he felt guilt for both the seduction of the girl and what he planned to do at 2.30 in the morning to a Mister Johnson, he didn't know why but all of a sudden he needed to know why. Why the one night stands with twenty something year old blondes? Why 'delete' people that he never even knew, nor what they had done to deserve termination.
He looked at the girl and he suddenly thought she wasn't the 'one', the one that had been haunting his dreams at night." Buffy." His mouth said the words but his mind refused to link the name and the vision that was forever burnt into his retinas. He moved over to the case and picked it up and made his way out of the room.
He handed the chit to the bellhop and he produced the electronic key to his rental. Xander drove as fast as the electric/combustion hybrid car could go, wanting both the night and the job to be finished.
Several hours later found him curled up in the roof viewing a sleeping man through the vent. He gently lowered the optic fiber camera of the apparatus and set the syringe of fast acting poison in its holder. He turned on the monitor and saw the man was in deep REM sleep. His hand twitched as it moved towards the syringe." Not now damn it!" The 'attacks' had started about three months ago and were starting to effect his chosen profession.
He took a couple of quick breaths and twisted his neck till it cricked." You can do this." He whispered in an attempt to psych himself up for the job. He watched the monitor again as his finger depressed the plunger, as he did something deep inside his mind screamed out to stop." Shut the fuck up!"
As the liquid snaked its way down the cord the little voice quieted and Xander drew a sigh of relief. One that was short lived as the target snorted and moved his head slightly, but enough for the poison to drop onto his cheek instead of his mouth." Shit!" Xander pulled the cable up as fast as he could then dived for the attic door and jumped down onto the stairway landing, drawing his silenced Glock as he did.
He kicked open the door to the man's bedroom just as his target pulled a Berretta from under his pillow. The pistol coughed and the man fell back clutching his stomach. Xander moved closer to him and kicked the fallen pistol out of his reach.
"Please! If it's something I did I promise to stop." He held one hand up out in front of him as the other tried to stem the flow of blood. Xander shrugged as he drew a bead on the man's forehead." It's not me." He fired a round into his head then policed up his spent brass.
Xander was driving yet another rental car under another assumed name, towards his 'office' in Upper Manhattan. He was nodding his head to another one hit wonder that the music industry seemed to churn out with gut wrenching regularity.
Marcella is returning Willow's e-mail and letting her know she had tried her best but her boss was just not buying it. She jumped when she heard him come into the main room and quickly signed off. He glances at her in her 'in vogue' copy of an 18th century officers blazer." Morning." He tells her.
"Uh.. Hi." She replies as he makes his way into his office in the next room. Marcella buzz's him before he has time to sit and he looks at her through the open door." Sir may I come in?"
Xander shrugs and presses the intercom." Uh-Gimme a second." He takes a flyer announcing the reunion of the class of '99.Then screws it up and throws it in the bin, glaring at her the whole time.
He wanders over to his filling cabinet and plays with the gravity balls he had sitting on the top, picks a magazine from the pile on his desk, sits and begins to thumb through it. All the while Marcella is watching him from the door, an arm full of folders in her arms, waiting for his okay to come in. He glances up at her and smiles." Yeah?"
Marcella moves in by the water cooler." Um sir, I just got of the phone with a very unhappy client."
Xander tosses the magazine away and looks up at her." Well I'm not very happy either Marcella."
She gathers her strength." It was supposed to look like a heart attack sir, he was supposed to die in his sleep."
He shrugged." He moved, his sleep pattern indicated he should have been in REM sleep by that time." He grins at her." His heart stopped didn't it?"
Marcella was angry." SIR! This is a very valuable firm! Wolfram and Hart send a lot of work our way over the years." Xander waves her in." For god's sake Marcella you can come in." She walks hesitantly into his office, clutching the folders close to her chest." They blame you for the SNAFU and they say you have to make amends."
Xander sighs." When?"
Marcella grins inwardly." The end of the week at the latest sir, something about cleaning house before the new owners moves in."
Xander shakes his head." Next week? No impossible! Tell them I need my normal lead time!" He sees her glance at her pad then to her desk." Okay where?"
Marcella smiles at him." I'm getting a black cat, Friday the thirteenth kind of vibe about this one." She holds out the order." Its in L.A. you can take care of business and stop by Sunnydale for your reunion.
Xander stands up quickly shoving his chair back against the wall and making Marcella jump, he glares at her." Hey look-" He sees her top." Sgt Pepper, I really need you to shut up about the damned reunion."
She nods then tells him." Sir it's out of my hands, the Gods want you to go back home & delete someone while you're there.
Xander looks at the woman he considered his best asset, she always knew what jobs to take and what ones to leave." Would you describe your position on this matter as inflexible?"
She hesitates, never knowing what might set him on a course to find a new manager after 'deleting' his old one." Intractable, sir." She hands him an envelope with his flight and car rental details. Xander takes them from her and she also hands him a PDA." That contains the information you'll need on the target and also what time the reunio. . uh function is."
Xander pinches the bridge of his nose then moves from behind the desk." Okay I'll call you from L.A. just make sure you pick up my dry cleaning and feed the cat. Okay?"
She nods and hands him pouch." Don't forget your real identity sir." He takes it from her, feeling the old wallet and the other items inside." And sir?"
He looks up at her." Yeah?" She watches him as he heads to the door." You don't have a cat."
He looks puzzled and says." Are you sure?" Holds his hands apart." 'Bout ya big, brown? We called it Miss Kitty Fantastico." She shook her head." Uh that I'd remember sir."
He leaves and she sighs with relief, her knees buckle and she leans against the water cooler for support. The door bursts open and makes her jump, snapping back to her ramrod straight position, turning to see him as he pops his head in the door." Could you tell Dr. Oatman I'm on my way?"
She nods." Oh yes sir, of course." She can feel her heart beating a mile a minute.
"All right?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Bubye." He shuts the door and she lets out a breath she had been keeping in." Bye."
Xander is at the doctors office, sitting in his chair." So I got an invite to my ten year reunion." He frowns." I'm confused and conflicted. I don't know if I should or even want to go. It's near LA but I just don't know what i have in common with those people anymore, well with anyone really." He sighs." I mean they'll all have wives." He hesitates." And husbands.. Children, a house, dog the whole ball of wax." He looks at the doctor." They'll all be part of something, something good. They'll jabber on about their lives, and me, what the hell am I going to say?" He pretends to smile at someone." I killed the President of China with a fork, how have you been?"
He slumps back in the chair." I think it'll be depressing, I'll be depressing." He glances at his Psychiatrist." Shouldn't you be like writing this down or something?"
Dr.Oatman looks up from his hands." I'm not taking notes because I'm not your doctor."
Xander sighs." Please not this crap again."
"Alex, I'm emotionally involved with you."
Xander gets a creepy feeling." In what way?"
"I'm afraid of you."
Xander snorts." Of me?"
"Yes and that constitutes an emotional involvement and it would be unethical for me to treat you."
Xander smiles." Ah! I think you're upset because I told you what I did for a living and your letting it interfere with our dynamic."
The doctor holds his hands up in front of him." Whoa! Alex you never told me." Xander nods." Yes I did!" The doc shakes his head." Not until our fourth session and I told you then I couldn't treat you anymore." He sighs and holds his head in his hands." And yet you come back every week at the same time, that's a difficulty for me and to top it off if you commit a crime, or even think about one, I'm obliged to inform the authorities."
Xander sits forward." Hey I know the law okay? But I didn't want to be withholding cuz I'm way to serious about this process. Doc I've been getting these weird episodes just before a hit." He shivers." I keep hearing a voice telling me not to do it." He looks up at the doctor." I need you to help me bump off this voice, silence it so I can get back on track." He crosses his leg." Besides which I know where you live."
The doc panics." See! Now that wasn't a nice thing to say." He gets up from his chair and began to pace." That was aimed at intimidating me and I'm filled with anxiety when you talk like that."
Xander grins." Oh come on doc I was just kidding, the thought never crossed my mind."
"But you did, and now I have to worry about being creative enough in my work with you or you'll blow my brains out!" The doc is starting to babble.
"Look doc I just want you to stop the voices and make it so I can go back to my work, of which I'm damn good at by the way, or was anyway. "He lowers his leg." Look doc just treat me like any of your other nut jobs, what do you ask them?"
He shrugs." How do you feel?"
"I feel uneasy all the time, like any second that freaking voice is going to pop up and blow another job, it's throwing me off my game."
The doctor nods." Look I'm going to suggest something that might make you uncomfortable, maybe the fact your killing all these people is what's making you hear these voices?"
"Nah, doc! I've killed people for ten years now , why would it pick now to start with the yapping?" He looks at the doctor." Besides which chances are if I come to your door you've done something to deserve it. I don't care about that stuff."
"What stuff?"
Xander looks nervous." You know, morality."
"Hmm."
"Look I don't want to talk about work, I don't think that what a person does reflex on who he is." He smiles." So what next, dreams?"
The doc shrugs." Sure it's your nickel."
"Uh, I had another one about.. her." He sees the confused look on the doctors face." Uh Buffy."
"That girl your obsessed with?"
"Isn't that a bit strong?"
"I don't know lets see, a dream of loss and regret for ten years, yeah I guess I'd call that obsessive."
Xander glares at him." Move on."
"Um.. Anything else you dream of?"
"Yeah I keep dreaming I'm that mechanical rabbit off those commercials."
The doc looks shocked." The Bunny? You dream you're the Eveready bunny?"
"What's so wrong with that?"
"It's a a a machine! No blood, no anima no soul..." He sits up straight." A soul hmm."
"Look why don't you just treat me like any other patient, I ask a question and you give me advice."
"Yes okay."
"Should I go to the thing?"
"Yes! Get out of town, drink some punch, have a good time Uhh talk to Miffy."
"Uh that's be Buffy I think."
"Whatever, just go! And try not to kill anyone for a few days, see what it feels like, who knows you may even like it!"
Xander stands up." Fine, I'll give it a shot."
The doc shouts out to him as he leaves." No! Don't shoot anything."
Grocer is logged on and talking to his new client when suddenly a message flashes on his screen.
"SERVICES FOR LA CONTRACT TERMINATED.CONTRACT BEING SERVICED BY ALTERNATE VENDOR FOR ORIGINAL QUOTE."
He leans back and spits out pen top." What freaking alternate vendor?" He tries to type a reply but the screen goes blank. He thinks for a second then goes red." Alex fucking Harris!" He reaches over and dials a number." Federal building, agent Farrell." He barks out." Extension 1715." He curses again as he waits.
"Yeah?"
"Lardner? Yeah I got a pigeon lined up for ya. He's arriving tonight at LAX probably from NY. He's supposed to hit some Limey in a shit hole out of town dump called Sunnydale. My advice is let him pop this guy then do him."
Xander pulled out of the Hertz depot and quickly made it over to the LA freeway, he drove up to the old observatory and got out. He looked around and made sure he wasn't being followed then walked over to the brass plaque commemorating its construction. Xander knelt down and pressed the date and the name of the congressman that officiated at the opening. The top slid back to reveal an airtight compartment from which he took out the tools he would need neatly contained in leather hold all.
Lardner and his partner photographed Xander as he placed the bag in the trunk of his car and drove away."Our pigeon has teeth." His partner grins." That'll make it all the more easier to pin every thing on him."
Xander headed for the address on the PDA screen and used the 'never lost' system in the car to find him the quickest way to it. He pulled up at the traffic lights as the PDA began to chime; he reached over and hit the button to activate it. Marcella appeared." This is just a reminder to let you know I booked you into the Roosevelt room 357, the directions are in the PDA and by now it has downloaded into the car's system." She smiled and said." Just press hotel." She coughed and looked embarrassed." There's a function being held in the main auditorium where I'm sure you'll find..Suitable company."
Xander snorts." You really think of everything Marcella." The image fades and then reforms. "Just don't forget the reunion is in two days. I've already pre-registered you so don't forget about it."
Xander then drove to the offices of his client Wolfram and Hart where he would be given a sealed file for his next 'deletion'. Xander noticed his right hand begin to twitch just like it had for the past six months ever since the 'voice' had begun haunting him." Not now damn it!"
He parked the car and slowly made his way to his appointment hoping that the voice wouldn't start up again in the middle of his meeting. He walked into the office under the guidance of one of the Lawyers he had only spoken to via e-mail. Lilah smiled at him as she said." Its nice to finally put a face to the name Mr. Harris."
He smiled back." Please call me Alex." He watched her walk and he had the same stirrings he usually did when a beautiful girl caught his eye. He saw a twinkle in her eyes as she replied." Okay, Alex I will. "She pushed the doors open and introduced him to Mr. Hart.
Hart was standing in front of a large window looking down on the city." Have you ever had a dream come true Mr. Harris?" He turned and Xander shrugged." Not really." Hart smiles." Well I'm about to have one of mine come true, providing of course you do your job right this time." He looks sternly at him." No more screw-ups like Miami! It took considerable effort on our part to quite things down."
Xander shrugged." It was an unavoidable incident, the guy didn't keep to his schedule and I was left with no option."
Hart grinned and offered him a drink which Lilah made." I'm sure there won't be a repeat this time." He placed a time sealed PDA on the desk." This contains everything we know of the target." He sipped his drink then smiled at Xander." This time we won't mind how you kill him and we won't complain if there is some collateral damage." He sighed." A man like that should not have family if he's going to enter into a game like ours."
Xander downed his drink in one and couldn't help but notice the looks the blond lawyer was casting his way. * Maybe I won't need to go to this party tonight after all. * Xander stood up and picked up the PDA, slipping it inside his coat. "Remember not to try to unlock it Mr. Harris until the right time or it will self destruct."
Lilah tells him." We've been having trouble with a local trouble maker and he may have got wind of our little.." She glanced at Hart." Project. We want you to know that you have our unequivocal backing in anything you do."
Xander began to feel uneasy in his present company as the voices began to sound off in his head again." I don't mean to be rude sir but the quicker I get set up the quicker your dream can be made real." He stood up and Lilah guided him back out into the hall. She smiled and offered her hand." Do call back when your business has been concluded."
Xander gave her his 24carrot smile and nodded." Oh you can count on it Lilah." She handed me her card and whispered." My cell phone is on the back, call me and we'll MEET." Xander grinned as the blond emphasized the last word.
He made his way out of the building as Hart walked up to Lilah." I want to know why we have nothing on this man before 1999." He shook his head." I dislike not having all the information about potential associates of the firm."
Lilah turned to him." Are you planning to offer him a position sir?" Hart grinned at her." Not quiet the one you offered him but yes, the senior partners have let it be known he is a candidate. "Lilah grinned, knowing this would infuriate a certain lawyer not ten feet away from them at this very moment.
Dawn admired the old style decadence of the foyer of the hotel as Kit and the others in their party booked in. Kit handed Dawn her key and said." Now don't forget we're using the old tried and true system, if you see the do not disturb sign hanging on the door then go back to the lobby and find another room."
Dawn nods then narrows her eyes." And what happens if you see the sign." Kit snorts." Yeah right Dawnster! How many times did that happen back in college? And how often since?" Dawn blushed." Well I like to take my time."
Kit picks up her bag and the pair move to the elevators." Yeah well I just thank God you met Kirk in med school." She tilts her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose as she looks at Dawn." Nuthin' spoils a party like a whiney." She moves her gaze past Dawn." Hello bed bunny!"
Dawn takes her hand from the call button and gulps." Please tell me you're not saying that to me, cuz I have to tell you I'm not.." She sees the man Kit is goggling at and the pair stand there as the elevator doors open, then shut and it moves away.". Gay."
"I call shotgun! I saw him first, you can have what's left in the morning." Kit pulled her top down and her skirt up, showing even more of her tanned body as the man lifted his leather case and made his way towards them." He's coming!" Dawn tells her. Kit licks her lips and smiles at him. "Not yet but he will!"
Xander waited for the girls to move aside so he could use the call button then he motioned them to go first." What floor ladies?" Kit showed him the large gold key so he could get a look at the room number." I think it's four?" Xander nods." Well if it's room 412 then I guess it is."
Xander glanced at Dawn and something stirred inside him." Have we met before?" He asked and Dawn blushed then tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear." Um no I think I'd remember if we had."
The elevator announced its arrival on the third floor and Xander smiled." Well a pleasure to meet you both." He stepped out and as the doors closed Kit slapped Dawn's arm." Jesus girlfriend! Did I not teach you anything at med school?" Dawn looked puzzled." The guy practically begged you for your name and you pull a scared virgin act on him.." Kit's smile turned into a grin." Good work!"
She turned forwards as the doors opened on their floor." That's my girl! I guess I'll have to find another bed mate for tonight."
Dawn picked up her bag and headed for the room." The scared little girl act always works for me." She taps the key on her lips." Now to work out a way to get him into the party?"
Meanwhile back in the foyer three 'men' make their way towards the function room but are stopped by hotel security." Sorry sirs this is reserved for a private function." One of the men flashes a security ID." We're with the caterers." The guard nods." Servants entrance is at the rear, you best move your asses before Henri' docks your pay."
The three move outside and one turns." Remind me to wax that asshole before we leave." The leader grips him by the scruff of the neck." Keep your eye on the brass ring Corky! We're being paid a small fortune to grab the Slayer's little sister and the Brotherhood frowns on failure!"
Back in his room Xander drops his case on the bed and presses his thumb to the DNA scanner, a series of clicks come from the high tech case and it pops open to reveal his favorite 'toys'. He takes out a S&W .380 caseless and three spare clips. The entire barrel of the gun is one big silencer, virtually the only sound that comes from it is the sound of the feeder slamming home another caseless round. He looks over the rest and grins." Well unless the target is being guarded by the USMC I should have enough here to take him out."
His head began hurting again and he slipped the Advil patches from his pocket and slipped one next to his temple." Man this keeps up and I'll be glad Marcella talked me into buying shares in the company." He sat on the bed and looked at the multitude of fake ID's and hologram passports that the emergency supply pouch held.
He shook his head." It's going to take a lot to get used to being called 'Xander' again." He used a mocking tone on his old name .He glanced at his watch and then kicked off his shoes." I've got three hours to kill before this party." He stood and glanced at his reflection in the mirror, he touched the red hair and Van Dyke beard." Suppose I had best leave these alone till I get to Sunnyhell."
He flipped out the old drivers license and sighed." Black hair and brown eyes." He rubbed the beard and grinned." How the hell did I manage to keep Cordy for so long?" He took off his jacket and slung it over the chair and opened the smaller case to find something to wear for the function. The buzzing of his phone stopped him in his tracks and he glanced at it." Marcella would know better than to call me on a traceable line." He walked towards it and picked it up.
"Hello?" A girls voice asked." Hello?" He answered." Oh hi! This is Dawn, from the lift?" Xander tried to work out which one of the two she could be." Ah yes hello, and to what do I owe the honor of this call?" He wondered how she could possibly have found out his room number.
"We, that is Kit and myself, were wondering if you were busy tonight?" Dawn tried not to sound to anxious as the pair waited with baited breath for his answer." Not much, I was thinking of trying to crash this do that's going on in the function room."
Dawn held a thumbs up to Kit." Wow! Talk about a psychic connection was just calling to invite you to it, freaky huh?" She gathers up her strength and asks." So seeing as you're officially invited we'll need a name for your tag? Mine's Dawn Summers by the way."
Xander looked surprised by the last name but didn't falter." Sheridan, John Sheridan. What time should I expect your call?"
Dawn put down the scrying charm and told him." 7.30 in the foyer Mr. Sheridan."
Xander smiles." Please call me John, may I call you Dawn?" Dawn whispers." Just as long as you don't call me late for breakfast." She put the phone down as Kit tells her." You little tramp, I knew you had it in you."
Xander showered and changed he shrugged into the modified shoulder holster and slipped the .380 behind his neck then pulled on his tailor made jacket and pulled it into place. He stared at the mirror." The name's Bond, Xander Bond. "He smiled as he tugged his cuffs down." Man I'm feeling lucky tonight."
Dawn had been waiting in the foyer since seven and kept checking her breath and hair, much to the annoyance of Kit." Listen girlfriend, I don't think the guy's worried about if you have that ring of confidence as long as you got the moves cuz you definitely got the looks." Dawn smiled and then bit the corner of her mouth." What if he wants more than just tonight?"
Kit sighed." A man like that considers 24 hours to be a long term commitment honey so I wouldn't worry about him going all 'stalker guy' on you." She snaps her fingers and shimmies." Just say wham bam thank you Sam! And leave him in the sack wanting more but getting none."
Dawn grins." Ah the philosophy of dating 101.I remember it well, along with the sleepless nights on the couch in the rec room." Kit nods." Yes but now it's your turn for the brass ring while poor old me has to make do. Wow!" She gets up as one of the doctors arrives for Shannon's do." Don't wait up mom Kit's about to land money."
Dawn grinned at her high school friend but just then Xander walked into the foyer, she stood as he approached and smiled." Have you been here long?" He asked." Nope just got here myself John." She ushered him inside just as the party got into full swing.
After a couple of hours partying with the rest of them the pair made their way to a quieter corner of the room and began to chat about things. The more he talked to her the more she seemed familiar to him but he knew they had never met before this day. Xander saw the same waiter walk by them with an empty tray for the third time and his senses began to twitch. He held a glass to his mouth and asked her." Do you know the waiter walking towards us?"
She glanced at the man and shook her head." No, why?" Xander grimaced and placed his drink on the window sill." Because this'll be the fourth time he's walked by us with an empty tray." He turned and pretended to look out the window but in fact he was watching the man in the reflected surface. No one knew he was in town and no one knew what he now looked like so his best guess was that they were after Dawn. He saw the waiter look at two other waiters and the three began the tried and true killing box formation.
Xander glanced around and saw an exit that led to a patio which overlooked the city, he grabbed her arm." I think its time we took some air my dear." He moved her outside and looked over the edge down to the sidewalk some ten feet below them." Are you someone important, important enough to have enemies?"
Dawn grinned." Look John, lets not play games anymore. I want you and you want me ,so lets cut out the Bond crap we're both too old for that."
Xander grabbed her by the elbow." There's three men in there heading this way now I'm only guessing they want you alive so just answer me!"
Dawn glanced around and saw the three waiters heading towards them." I'm just an intern, why would they..." Her eyes went wide." My sister! She's someone important and if they get me they might use me to get to her." She glanced at Xander and hoped he bought her half-truth as her mind raced. Other groups had tried to grab her before but Buffy and her friends had stopped them. She had hoped all that had been put behind her when Giles, Willow and Tara had cast a fogging spell that hid the fact she was an inter dimensional key from her enemies.
Angel had told them that he had been hearing whispers of someone searching for information about the 'Key' but that had been months ago. She looked at Xander and made a decision." Look John it might be best for you if you leave me here, I can take care of myself."
Xander's first thought was kiss her and run but that damned voice shouted so loud this time he had no other option than rough it out. He grinned as the three blocked the doorway and one of them flashed a very large gun from under the tray." Just stay calm and nobody gets hurt."
Xander's eyes went wide and he placed his hands behind his neck." Oh dear god! Please don't shoot me." He moved away from Dawn." I don't know her, take her, take my wallet just let me go?"
Dawn looked in horror at what he was doing." Jeez! Man can I pick 'em? First that jerk Kirk and now you! And my sister said she was the queen of angst!" She saw Xander's eyes loose the twinkle and become two dead orbs as if the life had suddenly drained from them. He then kicked the closest one to him in the groin and twisted the one with the hidden gun around so it pointed away from Dawn and towards the other guy. She heard a load bang as he did and the third man was pushed back as if by an unseen hand. Xander then pointed his hand at the man with the gun and she saw three red holes appear in his back.
Xander twisted and kicked the first man in the head as he tried to get up, then she saw the small gun in Xander's hand as it flashed twice more. She felt something wet strike her face and as she put her hand to it, it came away sticky with blood. She felt Xander pull on her arm." Snap out of it! We have to go before anyone comes."
He pushed her out the she heard the cannon go off again and felt Xander push against her. She turned and saw Xander fire his strange gun once more and the forehead of the wounded man exploded in a mist of blood and brains." Shit that hurt!" He grabbed her hand." Come on move!" He raced her out of the room just as security hustled in. Xander placed his gun in his pocket and returned to his scared bystander look. "Some nut bag's shooting up the place! Let me the hell out of here!" He dragged Dawn into the lift and pressed 3.Dawn was gasping for breath and answers." Okay Mr. Sheridan, what the hell's going on?"
Xander pulled her out of the lift and into his room, locking the door behind him and then changing the clip for a fresh one before dropping his coat onto the bed." I might well ask you the same question Miss Summers!" He went over to the hotel safe and retrieved his things in preparation for a quick departure." Why were three hit men after your scalp?"
She blushed." How do I know they weren't after you?"
He dropped his gun into the bag and shrugged out of the holster." Because there'd have been more of them and they would have been better prepared! Now talk!"
"We're working on a new formula to stop the ageing process." Xander looked at her." And people would kill to stop that?" Dawn nods." We're ahead of everyone else, of course they would."
Xander nods." Yeah, that makes sense." Dawn backs away from him." What kind of a demon are you?" He looks at her." A what? Look lady I'm all full with crazy at the moment, go sell it somewhere else okay." She looks at his coat and the large hole in it's back." That cannon hit you and yet here you are walking around without a scratch."
Xander picks the coat up and throws it to her." That my dear is a $1500 second chance mark10. Or was, now its just an expensive rag thanks to you. "He staggers as the pain finally hits him." The bitch is it stops the bullet but not the kinetic energy." He moves his arm." Think I may have broke something."
Dawn walks over to him." Take your shirt off I'll have a look." She sees him hesitate." Hey, I'm a doctor you ain't got nothing I haven't seen before buster."
He shrugs and lifts his shirt over his head." Yeah but most times I at least get dinner and a movie in first." He winces as she touches the big black bruise on his shoulder." Nothing broken, but.." She moves his shoulder and he spins around." That hurt!" They're standing toe to toe and he suddenly presses his lips to hers.
At first she jerks back but then she let's herself go and kisses him back. Xander has a weird feeling come over him and he pushes her away. They look at each other and try to cover the awkward moment." You had better get back to your friend then get the hell out of here pronto, tonto."
Dawn nods, still feeling the taste of him on her lips and craving more." Won't you get into trouble? Won't they trace the bullets back to you?"
Xander pulls his shirt back on and shakes his head as he gets ready to bolt." Nope, thanks to the caseless rounds no brass to find, and the bullets are soft nosed so they'll mash up beyond any hope of getting a ballistics match. Blam, Blam thank you Uncle Sam." He smiles as he lifts his cases." Now get your friend and get gone!"
Xander watches her as she races to the lift and disappears." Man it was like kissing my own sister!" He laments as he checks his watch." I never go into a situation without my usual good luck roll in the hay!" As he throws his bags into his car he rubs his beard." Be a shame to lose you old friend!"
Xander felt weird, weirder than normal, about both the unknown target and the upcoming re-union." I hate going in not knowing the back ground of my assignment!" He stood and made his way to the shower." Plus I'm doing it without my good luck charm."
He shaved the Van Dyke off then put a black rinse through his hair and showered. An hour later he excited the motel room leaving yet another identity as nothing more than ash in the wastebasket. Xander stepped out of the walkway and placed both bags into the trunk of his '01 Audi and then proceeded to drive into Sunnydale proper. He past the welcome sign and remarked." Well she must be doing something right, the population has gone up instead of down since I left." He grinned." Till now."
He's driving down Main street through the centre of town checking his rear view mirror every ten seconds for any signs of a tail. Meanwhile in a beat up station wagon four cars back Special Agent Lardner and his partner are keeping a discreet tail on Xander.
Xander changes channels trying to search for a song he at least likes while four cars back. Lardner shakes his head "You've never met Alexander Harris."
"I have met him, Grocer pointed him out to me."
"You are so full of it man. The guy's offed more people than cancer and you say you've seen him!"
"No. Seventeen months ago I was postin' a walk in Lisbon and he was there."
"Hah! He hasn't been in Lisbon since 2003." Lardner smirks at." How do I know that? Cuz I read the frelling file."
The Afro-American sighs." You know as a matter of fact I spoke to him in Beijing before the big hit."
Lardner snorts." You always have to know everybody. I tell you what, why don't I take the weekend off and you kill him since you two are old buddy's and all?"
He grins." All right. I'll do that." He points up ahead." Our pigeon is turning, you might want to indicate."
Xander is bopping to one of U2's oldies when suddenly a woman's voice cuts in as the record finishes." Hi. I'm Buffy S, and this is SHRR-FM Sunnydale. Puttin' the 'SUN' back into Sunnydale."
Xander grins and slows down, edging forward as if he can almost touch her now he can hear her voice." You've heard from Massive Attack, Morphine, Nickleback-and my personal favorite-Nelly Furtado and of course for those out there hurtin' for luv Duane Eddy's twangy guitar." Buffy leans into the mike." Good to hear all those old classics and as you know this weekend is Sunnydale High class of '99 reunion. So in honor of this momentous event, we here at Sunnydale High Rock Radio are making this an old fashioned CD weekend."
Buffy nods to her controller and keys up another song." So stay tuned on SHRR-FM and I'll keep you posted on all this reunion-related nonsense."
Xander tries to remember where the station used to be for the old school and he smiles as he slows down to see Buffy in the broadcast booth in the front window of the station he pulls up in front of the building as she continues." Hey I know everyone that can is comin' back to take stock of their lives. You wanna know what I say? "She grins as Willow shakes her head in shock." Leave your livestock alone. Kick back and relax, ponder this: Where are all the good men dead? In the heart or in the head?"
Willow drops the CD she was carrying." Well Wood's 'll be after your ass now Buff!" Buffy shrugs." So here's another cold cup of coffee from the POD."
The song begins to play out and Buffy glances out the window at the man sat behind the Audi and he looks familiar." Welcome back 'Daler's." Xander starts to drive off and she suddenly realizes who it is but as she stands up to check him out her earphones reach their limit and pull her over. Xander drives off to see just how much Sunnydale has changed, and whether it's been for the better.
Xander drives to where the old school was and is surprised to see it had been rebuilt, exactly the same and in exactly the same position, directly over the hellmouth. He pulls up and kills the motor." You've got to be freaking kidding me!" He gets out just as the station wagon pulls up at the corner and he walks towards the banner hung above the main doors.
He sees someone familiar and shouts out to her." Amy? Amy Madigan?"
She stops and turns to see an old familiar face." Harris? Xander! Oh my God it is you!"
She walks over to him and places the books in her right hand on the pile she is balancing in her left. She offers her hand to him and smiles." Oh my gosh. You've been Sunnydale's most famous disappearing act and that takes some doing."
Xander adjusts his coat and grins." You look.. Wow! Have you been dabbling in the dark arts again?"
Amy takes a closer look at Xander and snorts." Huh! That's a good one coming from you, you look." She licks her top lip." Fit!" She glances at his car and his clothes." Nice wheels too, being a mortician must pay well."
Xander shrugs." Its a rental, what can I say it was all they had." He tucks his tie inside his coat." What can I say black's the new black."
Xander coughs." Not to appear rude and all but how? I mean the last time I saw you, you had this thing for cheese and a training wheel."
Amy nods." Yeah, boy and that sucked beyond all description! Especially when Willow and her girlfriend got frisky and forgot to cover my cage." She sees the puzzled look on his face." Oh that's right you don't know do you?" She glances around to make sure none of the students milling around could hear her." Well Oz left and Willow went all angsty and then about eight years ago she met another witch , Tara's her name, and she brought out the real Willow." She pats his arm and sighs." Thank God for that otherwise I would still be on that damn wheel chasing my tail instead of being a fill in teacher here at Sunnyhell high."
Xander nods and waves his sunglasses at the building." Not to be such a downer but jeez couldn't they have found a better place to build the new school?"
Amy swung her long auburn hair to one side and lifted the books a bit higher, giving Xander a clear look at just how much she had changed." Well the council never were the sharpest tools in the shed, and some Law firm in LA offered to cover the costs if they built it here."
Xander nods." Yeah that'd do it." He took a strand of her hair in his hand." Nice look, weren't you blond though?"
Amy nods." Yeah I thought I'd keep my natural color, I got used to it again when I was Miss Rat of '98."She ran a hand through it." Why don't you like it." Her eyes widen and her mouth opens." Oh yeah that's right you had a thing for Buffy back then didn't you? Man was she pissed when you did the disappearing act."
She shakes her head." Never mind about her though, what happened to you? They all thought you went to LA or even overseas. You fooled a lot of people when you dropped off the scopes."
"You could say I went East..er ish. You know like the Donner Party. So what's the what here in Sunnyhell now?"
Amy shrugs as the bell sounds." Oh you know, same old, same old. Don't go out after dark lock your doors. Though since Giles came back with all those Slayer wanna be's it's been tolerable." She begins to walk away." Hey I'll meet ya after class okay?" He nods." Oh, where are you off to now?"
Xander's smile fades." I'm, uh-I'm going home." Amy snorts." Good luck."
Xander hops back in his car and drives off, as happy as he can be considering where he's going. He counts down the houses as he enters the all too familiar street." God I hope it's these two I'm supposed to.. Whack?" He slams on his breaks and rechecks his location. He steps out of his car and turns' around, counting off the houses then turns again to face his old home.
"A fucking Quickie Mart!" He takes off his sunglasses and grimaces at the glass and brick eyesore. He sighs and places the glasses back on, running for the entrance and makes his way to the counter. He waits for the teen to serve the customer then leans across the counter." What are you doing here?"
The teen backs away." I'm doing a double shift. What does it look like?" Xander flexes his muscles." How long have you been here?" The teen shrugs." A couple of months." Xander clenches his teeth." Is the manager here? Do you have a supervisor?"
"No they-" Xander interrupts." How long have 'they' been here?" The teen looks worried." I'm not tellin' you."
"Oh yeah! Where do you live?" Xander is getting pissed.
"I ain't tellin' you!"
"What about your manager, where does he live? Who.." He grips the counter with both hands." I used to live-What are you doing here?"
"Uh I told you I work here.."
Xander backs off and exhales." All right, what's done is done." He walks around the store cursing."
"Are you okay man?"
"Sure..." Xander takes out his cell and begins dialing. "Sure."
Back at Oatman's surgery the phone rings and the doc goes to answer but the machine picks it up first." Oatman?" Xander's angry voice comes out of the speaker." Pick up Oatman I know you're there.. Ah well never mind .I went home like you said but it's a freaking convenience store! You can never go home, but I guess you can at least shop there now.. Pick up Oatman!"Xander sighs and flips his phone shut just as a car pulls up to the front door.
Lardner and his partner pull up and Xander sees them." You got any idea how you wanna wax this guy?" Lardner sighs." Why do you always have to romanticize things? Can't you just say kill?" Lardner sees Xander looking at them." GO!"
Xander walks out of the store as they drive off and he dials Marcella. "Marcella-Never mind that find out where my parents live. I want my Mom!"
Xander drives to the old peoples home and wanders around till he sees her. She sees him at the same time." Alexander! Come over here and sit down." He sits down and she frowns." Why are you wearing black? It makes you look like a gangster." Xander grins and leans in as she tells him." I was speaking to your father the other day." Xander looks puzzled." I should imagine that's be difficult." She grins." Why, it's not so hard, I talk and then he talks."
Xander nods." Mom they told me you're on Lithium, honey are you taking enough?" She laughs and begins playing with her hair." Mom.. Um what happened to the house? And all the money I sent you since dad-err passed away?"
She grins." Gone.. Gone, I don't do money Alexander." Xander nods and looks at some of the things that the guards are wearing, gold Rolexes, diamond rings. He shifts something under his shoulder and smiles." Yeah well I guess I had better have a talk with the staff about that."
Just then a nurse comes over to them." I'm sorry to interrupt but it's time for Mrs. Harris's medication." Xander nods as his mom wanders off into another world in her mind." What.. What happened to her?"
The nurse sighs." She was beaten by her husband on a regular basis and it caused severe trauma to her frontal lobe. We try our best to make her happy." Xander glares at her and leans in." Try harder! Cuz if I find out she's not being treated right or her things are getting 'lost' I'll be back, and believe me you don't want that."
A large male nurse overhears what he said and he walks towards him, Xander merely grins." You like to walk there big guy?" The man sneers at him." You wanna find out how hard it'd be to walk with no kneecaps?" He slides his hand under his coat and he feels the coolness of the butt of his pistol." Keep coming and you will!"
Xander looks him in the eyes." Anything, and I mean anything happens to bring her grief and you'll vanish! And I'm just the magician to do it too!"
Xander leaves the hospital and goes to the cemetery." They say you died of alcohol poisoning dad! God I wish I had come back sooner-so I could have whacked your ass!" He opens, then tips up a cheap bottle of whisky on his father's grave, then drops the empty bottle and walks away.
Xander looks out of his window as people are scurrying back to their homes, he sees four teenage girls walking just like Buffy and Faith used to back in the times of old. He grins." Is it me or are all Slayers just naturally hot?" He whispers. He turns to the old heating vent in his room and uses a small cordless drill to remove the large grill. He then pushes the case containing his 'tools' behind the vent and seals it up again; making sure to brush away any tell tale marks.
He stands up and brushes the dust from off his knees and then picks up a cup of coffee and walks back to the window." No sign of that piece of shit Ford that's been following me since I hit the town limits."
He finishes the coffee and puts it down; he shrugs out of his coat and the almost invisible harness for his gun and sinks on to the bed, picking up Time magazine as he does. He snorts as he sees an artists rendering that almost looks like him." Is this the face of the new 'Jackal'? "The throws it aside." That is so last year."
He slowly drifts off to sleep and then the dream starts again. He's in some warped alternate universe where Buffy had been killed by Glory and brought back to life by her friends. He thought things would be better, and they were for a short time, right up until Spike began his own warped version of courting Buffy. What surprised him even more was the way she fell for the blonde Vampire. He relived his old life again and then the trip back in time to relive hell all over again only this time he made a few changes.
He looked in the mirror and was shocked to see he caste no reflection. His scream woke him and half the boarding house.
Willow woke with blood running down her nose and an intense headache that had only came previously by her use of the darker arts. She staggered into the bathroom and looked into the mirror." What the heck is happening?"
She washed and took two Advil caps then waited for the painkillers to kick in. As she left the bathroom she bumped into Dawn who grinned and wagged her finger at her." Too many late night's will do that to you Will." She paused and then asked." So did you manage to find out anything about the guy that saved my ass last night?"
Willow shook her head." Drew a complete blank on Mr. Sheridan it's almost like he never existed before two weeks ago."
Willow saw Tara waiting for her in their room and she smiled then told Dawn." Got to go now, see you for breakfast."
Dawn nods then stops." Say you never said what Xander had been doing since he did the vanishing act."
Willow stops then turns." Didn't I?" She frowns." You know I can remember telling you he. . Uh.." She frowns." Now that's weird?" She felt the headache start up again then said." I think he's in the retirement business." The headache slipped away and she smiled." Yeah that must be it, he's into helping people retire."
Dawn smiles." Yeah, from the way he looks in those old photos and from the way you described him he looks the type."
Willow entered the room she shared with Tara with the distinct feeling she was forgetting something." Tar, did I ever tell you what I had found out that Xander for a living?"
Tara shrugged." Was it banking, or something like that?" Her eyes went wide." Hey you don't think he's the one sending Buffy that money each month do you? I've never met him but from the way you described how he left that day it wouldn't surprise me if he were a robber or something."
Willow nods." And we never did figure out if he had the whole 'soul' thing going for him." She turns to Tara." Maybe we should get that spell we created for Angel and dust it off, just in case?"
Meanwhile, Lardner and his partner were sitting in a new car on the corner from the radio station when Lardner shook his partner." Grocer was right, he's back." They watched Xander as he stepped from his car and glanced around searching for his tail. He then walked into the station just as Buffy's voice came over the external speakers.
"Hi I'm Buffy S and stand by your phones because anytime now I'll be giving away tickets to see Palace this Saturday night in Concert at USC Hall. You can call in for tickets or just show up at USC Hall and say my name. Not!"
She turns as someone enters the booth." Oh my!" She's shocked to see who it is.
Xander nods." Hi."
Buffy groans." Crap.." She scrabbles for a record." Uh.. And here's Madonna.. Uh doing one of her..Um songs."
She drops her head then looks at Xander who leans down to her level." It's Xander."
She sneers." Duh! I know who you are. You're not dead, color me surprised.. Hi!" She stands and Xander backs off." Shake my hand." He does and she uses her Slayer strength on him causing him to wince. She smiles." Okay it's daylight and you're warm so that rules out guess number 1."
He then leans in to say something but they stare at each other for a few seconds before Buffy suddenly kisses him like she means it." Wow!" Xander tells her." Of all the greetings I expected I got to tell ya that wasn't one of them."
He puts his hands in his pockets." So how long's it been, like ten years?"
She puts her hands on her hips." How long's it been?" She cocks her head to one side." Oh you mean since you dumped us on grad night and disappeared without a trace?"
Xander winces." Yeah it sounds so bad when you say it that way." He backs off." I'm sensing that this may not have been Marcella's brightest idea."
Buffy's eyes went wide." Who? Is she your wife?" Xander snorts and waved his hands." No force on this earth...Never mind, forget about it."
Buffy loosens up after her first suspicions were proven false.." So, tell me the Alexander story, from when you dumped us."
Xander smiles." Well I uh, work in New York, but I travel around a lot-On um business." Buffy raises an eyebrow." And that's it.. Ten years worth? I had hoped for a great abduction story or something."
Xander shrugs." I've had a few thrilling moments here and there.. But you know it just flew by."
"So just what is it you do?"
"Professional Killer." Xander smiles as he sees her snort.
"Do you get good dental with that?" She jokes, knowing that in no way could he ever be a hit man.
"Only if you get caught." He backs away towards the door." Look I got to go."
"You're working? "She asks as she tries to stop him.
Xander opens the door." No you are, I've been listening, I mean since I got back into town, you're good." He makes his way through the door." I'll be back."
Buffy drops her arms to her sides." What are the odds?"
Xander sniggers." That's good."
He shuts the door and Buffy flaps her arms in frustration." Why does he always do that?" She can hear the beep meaning the song was almost finished. She drops into her chair, as flustered as she can be." Someone's just come back into your life reviving a feeling long since forgotten.." She can see Xander standing outside with his hands in his pocket listening to what she's saying." I should be mad.. And I am." Xander nods and shakes his head.
Lardner turns to his partner." What's he doing" He shrugs." I have no freaking idea."
Xander stands behind a new Explorer." He says cryptic things and then is gone again.. Man that is getting so old, if you know what I mean." Xander nods as he watches her, the way she moves, and the way she breathes. He can feel something...beginning to grow deep inside him.
She grimaces." What is this I'm feeling? Is it pain, pleasure, hunger? Am I hungry? Who's hungry? -79.5 okay uhh the first five callers will receive a sentimental breakfast from Starbucks." She stares as Xander tries to decide whether to drive off." Courtesy of the long lost love of my life.. the man who vanished, the man who.." She jerks upright as she sees him running towards her." The man who is running right back into the station.."
Lardner shakes his head." What the hell? Are you sure this is the right guy?"
"..And into my booth." Buffy finishes as Xander walks up to her. She stands and points to a chair." Sit, now!" Xander hesitates then sits as ordered. Buffy sits and Xander jumps up, closes the blinds before she can complain then sits back down with a smile on his face.
"Okay lets pick a date.. Uhh I don't know.. Say spring of '99.Two friends, could have been more but we'll never know, terrific chemistry between them, almost volatile at times."
Xander points to the 'on air' sign and shakes his head." The girl sits, on what's supposed to be the beginning of her life, and waits for a boy that's supposed to be her rock, the man who said he's stick by her through thick and thin." She pulls the mike closer to her mouth." This young man could have had the best...err time of his life."
Xander looks shocked at the news as she continues." Then he up and disappears.. Until now. So what's the question?"
Xander grabs the mike." What like where have I been?" Buffy grins." Uh more like what the hell happened?" Xander begins to sweat." I uh don't know."
"And exactly how did that happen Mr. Harris?"
Xander glances at the on air sign." I could venture a guess, but it would sound like a rationalization. A cop out, I thought coming home, seeing some old friends..."Buffy shakes her head at him." And I uh thought seeing you of course would bean important part of that equation.." He can feel his heart beat a million miles an hour as he feels something trying to break free from a ten year old cage.
He wipes the sweat from his brow. "Uh that didn't come out right. Uh there's-This is not my idea." He shifts in his seat." This whole thing is my therapists idea, really."
The two FBI guys look at each other and snort in laughter at his predicament as they hear it over the radio.
Xander squirms in his seat as he begins to get close to the truth. Buffy's six months in psych evaluation 101 kicks in and she points to the mike." Is this bothering you.." She stands up and goes over to the window and shuts the other blind, as she does Xander jumps out of his seat and sits on hers Buffy jerks to a stop as she sees what he's done.
She sits all prim and proper in his seat and places the headphones back on." Okay, your back. "She glowers at him." A decade late, and you're on some sort of therapeutic assignment, and you wanna 'sort things out' with me." She sits forward as Xander looks around the room." Now the question turns to me, do I A) allow you access to me or B) do I call security?"
Xander draws a finger down his lips." I don't think that'd be a good idea." Buffy moves to the mike." Sunnydale I need your help.555-SHRR." Xander covers his mike." Do you think we could maybe go to the Espresso Pump for a coffee? And I could try to explain or apologize?" Buffy moves her mike away leans forward and grips his hands then moves his mike closer to him and slaps a set of headphones on him." Come on Xand, this segues so nicely into my '90's weekend." She looks coyly at him." Should a girl give a guy a second break, should she let him into her life and the life she has created since he up and ran away?"
Buffy slides away." So lets go to the phones." She hits a button." Hey Buffy it's Amy." Buffy crosses her arms." Oh hi Amy." "You know I wouldn't take him back." Buffy frowns, thinking his friend would be the first to say yes." I'd let him cool his heals for a while, while you see if you want him back...by the way Xand my number is 555-"
Buffy cuts her line." I'm a whore-Next caller." A man answers." Hey Buffy, I don't hear real remorse dude, I wouldn't let this guy back in your life Buff." Buffy grins." So does anyone else have a question for Xander?"
Lardner grins and picks up the mobile and his partner yells." Put that down." He grins at him and dials the number." But I have a question for Xander. Uh huh, be cool man!" He grins at his partner as Buffy answers." Yeah hi uh Buffy, longtime listener, first-time caller. I have a question for Xander, so Alexander, what no yellow ribbons?" Xander begins looking outside at the use of his full name." Did no one miss you? Don't you think you should tell her why you're really in town? You know what we love? We love tough guys like you..."
Buffy cuts him off."Thanks. That was our own Sunnydale Nazis with their latest chart topper. Come on people do I give this guy the time of day or what?" She turns to Xander as Lardner and his partner break up." Xander, do you have any deeply personal responses. You may want to share with our listeners? He's shaking his head listeners, which brings our interview to an end. Sunnydale California I have listened to you. If you love something set it free, if it comes back." She glances at Xander." It's broken."
Xander leaves and waves to her through the window muttering." Damn it I should have never listened to my instincts!" Xander continues to walk down the street but his attention is drawn to a clean-cut short guy that looks familiar. His instincts cut in when they guy walks by, looking neither left nor right. Xander sees the two FBI agents and curses, walking faster until he walks past a guy.
"Hey! Xander!" Xander pops open his coat and goes to draw his gun but sees it's an old friend." It's Oz, don't leave me hanging man." Xander's eyes light up." OZ! Man it's good to see you!"
Oz smiles." Walk with me man I got my car parked around the corner. Xander looks back at the two men tailing him and he smiles." Sure why not?" He snorts." You know of all the things I ever thought you'd be wearing a suit was not one of them."
"Says you! I haven't heard of you for so long we all thought you had joined a cult or something."
"Look at you though, since when did you join the dregs?"
"Since the band landed in the dumper, I decided to join in instead of bitch from the sidelines, so why don't you valet park your high horse and take it easy on your old buddy."
Xander shook his head." Wow! That was more words than I have ever heard you speak since I've known you man."
Oz takes his keys out and beeps a new BMW." Hard to make a sale if you don't speak Xand, and I make a lot of sales." He climbs in." Top agent for the south coast. I got to do a walk through for a client, you know hold their hands bullshit, the whole nine yards."
Xander is in front of an expensive house watching Oz go through his spiel when a man calls out his name and Xander reflexly reaches for his gun. He sees a cop get out of his cruiser and walk towards him." Hey Xand I was driving by and saw you on the lawn as I was driving by." Xander squints his eyes." You remember me, Jerry, from the swim team?"
Xander grins." Oh yeah, Jer, how you doin'? Cop huh, nice badge." Jerry shrugs." The badge isn't a meaningful symbol I'm not a cop, just a renta cop. You know how it is."
"Quick question, in these heightened times, do you have the authority to.. You know shoot people?"
He nods." Basically, yeah, it's a tough world out there and we're trained to handle the tough sits."
"So how did you get the gig?"
"Well my Uncle owns the company and there's usually like a two week training course but who has time for that, you know what I mean?"
"Suit looks good, suites you." He sees Oz walking towards him with a young couple and a huge smile on his face. Xander looks at the couple and smiles." You know I'm a very temporary guy, live for the minute and all that. But when my time comes, I want a house like this." He looks at the wife and grins. "Definitely a wife like yours." He grabs Jerry." And you'll be safe here with guys like this."
The couple grins nervously and they move away. Xander looks from Oz to Jerry." You know what? I think I'm glad I left Sunnyhell." He looks at their almost bald heads." Must be in the water." Oz smiles and motions Jerry to leave." You know I don't usually pimp my friends but I have a property I just know you'll love." He grins and they drive off.
As they drive Oz begins to tap the wheel." Look man I have to get something off my chest.. You been to your old digs?"
Xander nods." Yeah, a freaking Quickie Mart!"
Oz shifts in his seat." I.. Uh.. Kinda brokered the deal."
Xander shakes his head." Oh, wow. Wow!"
Oz struggles to explain." I tried to get a family in there but Quickie made the best offer."
Xander looks out of the window." Well thank you for profiting on my childhood. When you cross over you really go the whole way don't you man?"
Oz pulls up in front of a house." Take a look at this, just come on the market."
Xander shakes his head." Buffy's house?" Oz nods." Kinda crept up on you didn't it?"
"No, actually you just drove us here."
"Uh huh, yep I did." He begins to drive off." So not even interested in why?"
Xander shrugged." So you're looking good, you seeing anyone, anyone not a werewolf that is. How is that working for you by the way?"
"Its cool, I got this whole karma thing going for me and Wills gives me this smelly ointment that.." He hits the horn." Freaking ten years man! Where the hell have you been? TEN! Ten freaking years, where the hell have you been?"
Xander shrugs." I freaked out, joined the army, and uh.. Kinda went into business for myself. I'm a ..Professional killer."
Oz nods." Oh, do you have to like do a post grad work for that or do you just jump right in and start offing people? I'm curious about that."
Xander relaxes, he's told someone from his past and the guy actually seems cool about it." Nah, it's an open market."
Oz lights up a doobie and begins smoking it." Open market huh. That's good. Wow." He giggles." Ten years man! Ten freaking years."
Xander repeated his life." I freaked out, I joined the army, worked for the government then went into business for myself, I'm a professional killer. That's what I did, what I do!"
"Can I join up?" He asks.
"YES!" Xander shouts then they both begin laughing.
"But seriously man what did you do?" Oz pulls up at Xander's car and he gets out." All right I'll see you at the I-peaked-and-I'm-kidding-myself party."
Xander nods and walks to his car. He gets his phone out and palms a spotter's scope that he trains on Buffy. Marcella answers." Pacific Trident Global." Xander looks at Buffy again." I need some data."
"Hey there, how'd the assignment go?"
"I'll do it tomorrow."
"What's it looking like?"
"Fine, looks fine like it always does, nothing remarkable about it."
"Just taking your time, being professional."
"Something like that .I got a job to do. I'm going to do it, the timer pops tonight. Look the reason I called. Could you find out who else is in town and why? So far I've made two spooks and ghoul."
Marcella shrugs." So? From what you told me that's not unusual."
"Not real ones Marcella. So I wanna know if they've double booked the job or they plan to kill me, I'd like to know. Okay? Bye."
"I'm on it." She clicks the blue tooth." Willow? Hold on a second...Pacific Trident Global. Janice? Where the hell is the stuff? No.. No it's on the freaking list, 3,000 rounds nine millimeter subsonic, you get them to our warehouse by 9 or he'll pay you a visit and you don't want that do you? Good girl.. Now another thing have you heard anything about a double booking over in Sunnydale? Uh huh right, I know when you know or so help me God I'll rip your tits off!"
She hangs up and smiles sweetly." Willow, well it took some doing but as you can see he's there ..Oh yeah he's got 'a thing' but he's going to do it after the reunion..." She nods then looks wierdly at the headset."Uhh right yeah that's right he's a retirement agent.That's what he does all right.Day in day out he's a retireing fool!
The teen that served Xander is playing Doom7 on a holographic machine while listening to loud acid rock on his old headset as Xander walks in. He smiles and walks over to the hostess rack as he picks up a couple of packs tires squeal outside and Xander looks out the window. He pops a Twinkie into his mouth as the door opens and the short guy walks in, he sees Xander and pulls out twin mini-Uzi's and begins blasting at where Xander was. Xander pops up across the aisle raising his two UPS.45's and begins returning fire.
The shop is being demolished while the teen that served Xander before plays on ignorant of the shoot out going on in the store. Freezers explode from hits by the gunman while Xander dodges and weaves hiding behind the shelves as the man searches for him. Xander drops and reloads, he hears the beeping of the microwave and then jumps up again and begins to force the man out of the shop.
He hears the squeal of tires as his assailant escapes. Xander lets out a sigh of relief then stands up, he looks at the old fashioned microwave as the carousel turns. His eyes go wide and he takes off his sunglasses when he sees the block of C4 in there." Mother..."
Xander quickly ran for the exit as the microwave timer counted down to zero, he grabbed at the teen playing the game but her refused to budge as he carried on out the door. The teen looked away from the game and saw the destruction around." Holy crap! The super's going to kill me!"
Xander ran back in and grabbed the teen by the scruff of his neck and dragged him outside. He pushed the soon to be ex-employee of Quickie Mart further away until the blast from the explosion sent them rolling onto the green grass across the street. They were pelted by debris and Xander just lay there watching the demolition of the convenience store. A box of Hostess Twinkies landed in front of him and he patted out the flames before opening the box and ripping the wrapper off of one.
Lardner and his partner were in the car on the corner and Lardner says." Man when Harris is pissed about something he really goes the whole hog don't he?"
"Jesus Christ!" The kids exclaimed as he saw the remains of the shop.
"Are you okay?" Xander asked.
The pair stand, Xander still has the box of Twinkies and offers him one but the teen pushes it away." No I am not okay! What the hell did you do that for?"
Xander backs up." Hey, take it easy."
The teen begins to walk away." Damn it! I'm hurt, I'm pissed, I got to find a new job AND I got up to level ten!"
Xander shakes his head as the teen mumbles his woes as he walks away. Xander checks to make sure his guns are in place then takes out his cell.
Buffy picks up the phone back at the station. SHRR, you say, we play."
"Uh Buff?"
"Hi Xander"
"That whole thing didn't go quite as planned Uhh seeing you didn't go as planned either."
Buffy grins." Oh it went just as I planned."
"Yeah.. Well I would like to catch up. I don't know if its possible."
"Okay let's catch up."
"I thought we might, you know, go someplace and talk-"
Just then Dawn walks in and Buffy waves to her." Well I talk all day, if not here then at school-"
She mouths * Its Xander * To Dawn and then she puts him on the speaker. "Well then just listen. Maybe we could go to the Bronze in say 30."
"Years?"
"Uh I was thinking minutes."
Dawn's smile freezes and she looks like she's about to have a fit. Buffy frowns at her and says." Okay." To Xander." Uh is this live or are you going to broadcast it later?" Buffy shrugs." Oh I intend to record every word for posterity, you never know." Dawn is tugging on her sleeve and Buffy covers the mike with her hand." WHAT?"
Dawn points to the phone. "Its him! The one, you know! The one I told you about from LA!"
Buffy uncovers the mike as Xander says." I'll see you there, maybe then I could-"She hangs up on him and then Dawn starts to scream at her." THAT WAS HIM! The one that saved my butt in LA!"
"Dawn!" Xander wouldn't hurt a fly, remember?"
Xander drives off just as the fire department and police arrive at what used to be the Quickie Mart store. He reaches into the singed box and takes out the last Twinkie." I almost forgot how good these tasted."
Dawn, Tara and Willow are sat in one of the darkened areas of the bronze watching Xander as he talks to Buffy. Willow turns to her." You're sure that's the guy that went all 'Matrix' on the Tarakan hit squad?" Dawn nods." Different colored hair and he lost the beard, but yeah that's the hunk-" She blushed."I mean guy."
Willow squinted her eyes at him." Xander Harris just what are you up to?"
Buffy smiles as Xander keeps looking around the club from his seat." You seem nervous?"
Xander shakes his head." No, no, I'm not. It's just-"
Buffy sniggers, and winks at her crew." Then why do you keep looking over your shoulder?"
Xander shrugs." I just don't like having my back to the-uh.. It's a habit. But let's not get into that right now, I came her to talk about you."
Buffy nods." Okay."
"Lets have the Buffy Anne Summers story. A friend told me you got married? That's pretty unbelievable."
Buffy sighs." Yeah sure, it's pretty normal, Xand. In fact it happens all the time, and it's not like you went away for the weekend or anything .In fact just where the heck did you go anyway? Willow tried to trace you but it was as if you fell of the face of the earth."
Xander sipped his drink then said." Just about .I uh joined up and saw the world."
Buffy almost choked on her drink." My god! My ex was in the army maybe you met him? Riley Fin?"
"Do you have any idea how many branches there are? How many.. Wait, Captain Cornbread? 'Bout six foot of pure Idaho pig farmer?" Xander almost laughed out loud until he saw the glare coming from her." I mean, I think I knew him, came from one of the Midwest states yeah?"
She nods." He was in Sunnydale as part of the government's education project. We met while he was a TA for a teacher that died in a tragic frat house fire."
"Can I ask you a somewhat personal question, why?"
Buffy sighs." I guess it was because he was a chance to get away from what I was, but we are what we are and we can never change."
Xander looks into his drink sadly." Yeah, never a truer word spoken Buff."
"So now that that's over how about we switch the spotlight back to you?"
"Well the same thing happened to me I guess, I joined the army, and it's a marriage of sorts."
"Oh and on Grad night, that's kind of psychotic, how could you possibly join the army? It's not like someone had a gun to your head or anything."
Xander grins and shrugs." Yeah well you don't know how close you are, any way let's just say it was something I 'had' to do, its hard to explain."
"No please do, do you know how long I spent trying to figure out what it was I had done to drive you away? Do you know what it's like to lose the only men that I ever thought I could love, and on the same freaking night?"
"You did nothing Buff."
"You tell me that know, a little late by the way! I thought you had been murdered or brainwashed or.. at least that was what I hoped had happened." She sat back and shook her head." So come on spill, what the hell happened? What have you been doing for the past ten years? You must have had some experiences?"
Xander groans." Bad experiences."
"Met people?"
"Bad people."
Buffy snorts." You're pathetic ,you know what you need?"
"What?"
"Shockabuku."
"You wanna give me a hint as to what the hell that means?"
She glares at him." It's a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever."
Xander sits back." Been there done that, got the shoe print to prove it." Xander sees her look off to the left." So I figure I could drive by and pick you up for the reunion about seven-"
Buffy holds up her hand." Wait a minute. Let me get this straight, you, Alexander Harris, are asking me to go as your date to the reunion?"
"Yes!" Xander smiles.
She scoffs." You are unbelievable!" Xander shrugs." What the hell I figure you can't kill me for trying.. can you?"
"I really wasn't planning on going. I was just going to be mean to them on the radio but then I figure I owe you a prom date, considering I turned you down the last time and all."
Xander smiles at her just as a drunk bumps into the table." Oh my God! It's Buffy and Xanderrr." She smiles at Xander." Hey there hunky, she turned ya down again yet? Cuz I know someone that would love to hang with you." She points her drink at Xander." So where ya been for the last ten huh?"
Buffy smiles." Yeah you never got round to answering that one Xand."
He shrugs." I work at KFC."
Amy giggles." Ya do not!"
"I do. I sell biscuits and gravy and ask if you want fries with that ,all over the world."
"Oh you do not! Willow says you work for some import export company in NY!" Buffy tells him and she sees her arrow hit the mark but before she can push the point Amy spills her drink.
"Here let me get you two girls another." Amy smiles and holds out her empty glass." I'll have a Stoli , three olives and an onion."
"Ditto." Buffy tells him.
Xander smiles and gets up to go to the bar but he makes a detour to the washroom to clean up. He steps in to find Lardner and his partner washing up." I'm trying to regain the trust of an old friend; you know have a few drinks. So I'm going to be 'bout an hour, hour and a half tops. I'll meet you guys back at the boarding room okay?" He washes his hands then leaves.
Grocer steps out of the toilet and hits Lardner on the arm." That's him!"
"Yeah we know, thank you." Lardner sighs." We've been following him around all day."
"So what's the problem? You guys on an hourly rate?"
Lardner's partner tells him." If we observe the subject in an illegal act , then we will intervene. and terminate."
Grocer seems annoyed." Why don't you just shoot the mother humper?"
"Because Mr. Grocer we are not assassins, we work for the government."
Grocer is about to go off again when Lardner warns." Hey he's commin' back!" Grocer dives back into the cubicle and the FBI guys laugh as they leave. Grocer comes back out." I don't appreciate being hosed!"
Xander leads Buffy out of the Bronze an hour later." You're exactly the same as I remember you Buff."
"How so?" She asks, her senses on the watch for any demons that Faith and the girls may have let slip through their net.
"Troubled, caring too much about things instead of taking a step back and looking at a problem from a different angle. What did you try to do about it?"
"I'm troubled? That's good coming from Mr. Change the subject." She stopped walking then turned to him. "Okay, I'll bite. I tried a herbalist, nutritionalist, psychic, but all it left was doing my duty."
"Ah yes the patriot card, how many times did I hear that in my sordid past." He smiled at her." Okay so lets try and solve our problems tonight."
"Right, so is there a Mrs. Mysterio?"
"No but I have a very nice secretary and a cat and it's very demanding of my time."
"What sex is it?"
"The secretary or the cat? Because I respect both their privacy."
Buffy looks into his eyes." Are you happy?"
"Kind of.. Well almost. See lately I've been feeling kind a weird, ya know? Like a part of me is rebelling against the rest of me, or my life."
"Change your life then."
Xander shakes his head." Can't."
"What you mean is you won't." Buffy walks towards her car.
"No. I'm pretty sure if I had meant that I would have said that. I can't, certain things are in place now that would make my walking away from my life.. impossible."
She smiles at him as she gets in her car." I can vaguely remember a teen that once told me nothing is impossible if you really want it enough."
Xander shrugged." I think that kid died on graduation day along with his dreams."
Buffy scrunches up her face as she shakes her head." Nah! He just doesn't know what he wants yet, but he will. I'll make sure he does."
She starts up her car." Nice ride, I guess nobody buys American anymore huh?"
She shrugs." It's Giles.. I mean dads, and you know how he likes the Euro cars."
Xander nods." Yep I remember that, so see ya tomorrow?"
Buffy grins." With bells on."
Xander watches her drive away then takes his cell out.
The ringing of the phone wakes Marcella up and she touches the blue tooth." Hello?"
"Marcella, what do you have?"
"That town is hot! I got the stink from an assistant over at Rothschild's; we dated in the good old. I downloaded everything he had so just call it up on your PDA anytime." Xander climbs in his car and turns on his PDA.
"Hit me."
"We've got one Federal Agent Steve Lardner a.k.a. Steve the sleaze. And special agent Kenneth McCullers, no pseudonym. Both presently employed as covert operators for the N.S.A...Hey didn't you .."
"Yeah I did now Gimme more Marcella."
"They're part of the governments new, new get tough on terror campaign and apparently they're looking for an Oswald; some patsy to take the fall." She smiles." And guess who fed them you?"
Xander smacks the side of his PDA." Freaking Grocer!"
"Got it in one sir, surprised?"
"Not overly."
"They were supposed to catch you in the act of whacking your new gig, but I guess they weren't quick enough right?"
Xander glances at the PDA Hart gave him." Nah the client hasn't made the hitee known to me yet. So that's the spooks, who's the ghoul?"
"Wow, this guy is a major bad ass. Felix LaPoubelle. He's an amateur that worked with the French Separatists, few odd jobs with the Taiwanese Nationalists. Finally turned pro on that Cuban Cruise Liner two years ago."
"Oh! That's where I recognized him from he's an asshole. So why's he here?"
"Um it's all part of that Oregon fiasco with that dog, Budro. So you're going to get out of there right ?I mean, you gotta get out of there. Right.. Tell me you're on a flight as we speak?"
Xander licks his upper lip." It's.. not done."
Marcella looks shocked." This is not good."
"I'll complete the contract tomorrow as per schedule."
"Sir, I'm beginning to worry about your safety.. Sir?"
"Look I'm going to have to go now."
"Yeah, we all have to go sometime, sir, but we can choose when."
Xander frowns." If there's one thing I've learned in this job Marcella, and that's no one chooses when." He hangs up and drives back to his room. He showers then takes the case from behind the grill and opens it to reveal the tools of his trade.
He takes out a silenced P99 and holds it to his cheek like a lost lover." Talk to me..."He sees the photo of the old gang someone had placed on the mirror and he squints his eyes whispering. "Willow!"
Buffy is pacing the floor as she speaks to Dawn." So you're sure this was the guy that stopped the hit men from taking you?"
Dawn nods and smiles." Yep, same smile and same cute butt."
Buffy turned quickly to look at her." HEY!" But Dawn just looked back at her." What?"
"No looking at strange guys butts!"
"But he's not strange, he's Xander."
"Yeah, but who's side is he on. None of us have seen him for ten years, a lot of things can happen in that time and not all of them good." Buffy watches Willow as she gets off the computer." Marcella says there's two fed's and a hitter on his tail."
"A hitter.. You've spent way too much time talking to this Marcella." She stops pacing." Why would all these guys be after him?"
"Marcella wouldn't say, she's loyal to Xander."
They hear a car pull up and Buffy tells the others to hide, then turns the radio on and curses when it turns out to be Sunnydale's only Reggae radio. Xander runs up to her door then hesitates before knocking. Buffy opens the door." Ya can't come in man." She tells him in a Jamaican accent.
"I was just in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by and say Yo!" He looks past her." Can I come in?"
"Ya mon!" She runs inside and hurry's the other's out before Xander comes in. He looks around and sighs." This place never changes."
Buffy nods." Yep they kept it as a shrine for me. I'm only here cuz my apartment burnt down on Devil's night."
He nods." That'll do it. So you never gave me an answer, I figure if we both go together we'll have a much better chance of coming out alive, just like the bad old days."
"So give me an answer and I'll say yes."
"Hit me."
"What have you been doing for ten years."
"A general answer or the real deal? Cuz it'd take me ten years to.." She glares at him." Okay, in a nutshell...Pest control. People have pests, they hire me and I make the pests go away."
"Ooh like animal control."
"Kinda, yeah." He moves towards the couch and sees a photo of Dawn. He glances at Buffy. "So Do I pick you up at 7? Or do I go lone wolf?"
"Okay pick me up at 7,just so's you know if you don't show, don't even think of coming back for the twentieth okay?"
Xander grins and crosses heart." So help me, I would not miss the beginning of our burgeoning relationship."
"You are a freaking psycho."
Xander shakes his head." Don't.. Rush to judgment on something like that until all the facts are in." He begins to walk outside." I'll go now and you should probably lock the door behind me, you know about all the undesirables that hang about this place." He turns and she slams the door in his face." So I guess that'll be all for tonight then?"
She turns to see Dawn, Willow and Tara standing there with their arms crossed. She giggles." He has got a cute butt."
Lardner and Ken are trying to clean up in their car as Xander pulls up in front of the Espresso Pump." Here he is." Ken tells him." Look we know who he's supposed to whack, why don't we do his job so we can do our job and get the hell out of this funked up town?"
"Lardner tells him." What do you mean do his job? I'm not a cold-blooded killer; you wanna kill the good guy but not be the bad guy? It doesn't work like that. You got to wait till the bad guy kills the good guy then you whack the bad guy and become the good guy."
Ken asks." So just to clarify if we do his job we're the bad guys, but if we do ours we're the good guys? Cool, I can dig that.." They look at each other and laugh until they see Grocer pull up next to Xander's car." Oh hi Mr. Grocer." Lardner mimics." Looks like he's brown bagging it today." He says as Grocer gets out of his car carrying a brown paper bag and goes into the coffee shop after glancing around.
Xander is sitting at a table facing the door when he sees Grocer through the window, he takes out his gun ,cocks it ,holds it on his knee and places a serviette over it .Grocer comes in ,his hand inside of the brown bag and Grocer sees Xander.
"Easy there chief, I don't see hollow point wound care on the menu." Grocer tells him as he sits opposite him. Xander doesn't take his eyes off of Grocers." Up. Up. On the table." Xander places his hand covered by the cloth on the table the same time Grocer puts the brown bag on the table.
"What are you here for? Anaheim need a new goon?"
The waitress comes over." Hi I'm Melanie, let me tell you our specials."
Grocer stops her." Poached eggs, scrape off the milky white crap. Hash browns, well done. English Muffin and a coffee decaffeinated." He says this as the hit men still have their eyes locked." Whole grain pancakes, egg white omelet, thank you."
"What would you like in the omelet?"
"Just the egg white."
"Then technically that's not an omelet."
"I just want the protein not the chatter."
She walks off." Come on there iceman let chef Raoul put some beans in for your liver."
Xander looks at him." Look I don't want to talk ,I just want to eat my breakfast and go."
"Gettin' a little feisty there kid." He grins." Heard about your little escapade at the Quickie Mart, wicked frigging shame."
"One of your fraternal brothers?"
"No! I told you I want to work with you. That was some indie frog, some Taiwanese whacker from the minor leagues wanting a transfer to the majors. You sure Oregon don't ring any bells? Something about you hitting some wonder dog called Cujo?"
Xander kicks the table." Ohhhh. Budro. Yes Budro. Jesus Christ on a crutch!" Grocer chuckles ."Oh he knows the dog!"
"I was out there trying to delete some junk bond buckos.. These morons were flushing game with sticks of dynamite and the dog that they 'borrowed, little Budro, was a retriever get it! The dog was never a target, the dog was acting on instinct, you know I would never harm an animal, I'm offended at the accusation.."
"Whoa, there Chatty Kathy, clip your string, I don't need to know. What do know is your marks borrowed your clients pooch, so bad luck for Budro and bad luck for Harris. Pooch puncher.. Hound hitter." He begins chuckling.
"Screw the dog, what about those to spooks out there in the Caprice Classic? Word is you turned two G men on me turncoat!"
"Me go "G" on you?"
"Yeah you!"
"Never. Let's get our relationship straight for a minute. I took you in and trained you up.." "I didn't get into this business to have relationships. And I don't want to join your damn union! I 'm a loner lone gunman get it? That's the whole point. I like being a loner, look at the way I dress. You, why don't you become a cop so you can have coffee and donuts in the morning with your pals?"
Grocer looks depressed as Xander continues." Look the way things are going this is probably my last job anyway."
Grocer snorts in disbelief." Yeah right kid, an I'm the next Pope!"
"Let's forget the whole damn thing and have some breakfast okay?" They both bring their guns to bare under the table. Grocer tells him." No scabs, from now on all contracts are regulated and chosen by me. Xander stares at him" Meet the new boss." "That's right kid, we're going to do your job for ya and after that we're going to do one more.."
Xander smiles at him." Yeah that's nice of ya and the other job?"
"I'm going to pop a hole in your forehead and hump the brain hole!"
"Nice mouth you got sugar lips." Xander says as the waitress comes over with their meal." Nada omelet?" Xander tips the plates over on Grocer then stands up, his cloth covered gun pointing right at Grocer who hadn't moved the starts grunting like a chimp." You wanna try me Grocer? First you got to lose the fear of dying." He backs out of the store and gets in his car."
Grocer looks at the waitress." Uhh we're in a play." She holds out the check and he grumbles as he forks over the money." Fucking Harris I am so going to wax you!"
Xander is in his room looking at the invitation as it rests against the mirror. "Pacific Trident Global?" Marcella answers his call." Marcella, Oatman's not answering my calls. I need you to find him right now, I think I'm having another episode."
"Okay, I'll find him."
"Get him to call me on a land line this stupid thing's running low." He hangs up and shrugs into his jacket and looks at the ticket." Oh hi how are ya. Yeah. I'm a pet psychiatrist. Yeah. Yeah." He shakes his head." Yeah, I'm a couch insurance salesman. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. I test market positive thinking. I lead a weekend men's group that specialize in ritual killings. You look great! God you look good!"
He begins to lose it." Hi.. Yeah I'm Xander Harris, you remember me? I'm not married, don't have any kids and I'd blow your freaking head off if someone paid me enough money sport." He sighs." Yeah that ought ta work."
Buffy is at her house waiting for Xander as Dawn walks up to her." He wouldn't skip again.. Would he?" Buffy turns to her." Is Willow sure about the soul thing?" Dawn nods." Tara read his aura and she says it's just barely there but it's there."
Buffy nods." Tell the Wicca twins to do their stuff. Xander's coming home whether he wants to or not."
Xander is almost bouncing off the walls as he talks to Oatman." Don't you dare hang up on me.. No I haven't killed anyone.. Yet. But there is this guy that tried to off me in a quickie mart, so if I see him I'm definitely gonna do him. But I'm not going to kill anyone else. . Maybe"
Oatman is shaking his head as Xander continues." So anyway I saw Buffy, I'm on my way to the reunion with her, but I'm a little anxious, so I wanna do a phoner. Oatman nods." Okay so repeat after me. I am at home with the 'me' .I am rooted in the 'me' who is on this adventure." Xander copies his every word." Good now take a deep breath, and realize that this is 'me' breathing. Say it. Right now do that for about twenty minutes and DO NOT kill anybody."
Oatman hangs up and Xander takes out his gun, slips the clip out and then slams it back in." This is me breathing." His hand shakes as he places the gun in a draw and looks into the mirror." My you're a handsome fella who are you again?"
Buffy is at home still waiting as Xander speeds to her home .She sighs and looks at the clock." Oh this is so not happening!" She picks up her phone and dials his room where Felix looks at the phone ringing and sees the ticket, he smiles." Bingo!"
Buffy's doorbell rings and she shouts out." I'll get it." Xander's standing there with a bunch of red roses." Oh funny guy! Flowers?" He smiles." As long as it gets me the yuks."
He enters." You look.. Wow, you look good."
"Good, it was what I was going for. Giles is down the hall, I think he wants to talk with you, so go talk while I throw these in the bin."
Xander nods." Good my first move worked." He sees Giles sitting there." Joyce not here?" He smiles. Giles has a blank look on his face." It's ahh Xander, Alexander Harris?"
Giles smiles." I know who you are it's just that I lose the bet, I had 2020 in the draw. I think Joyce wins the pool."
Xander is nervous." I just thought it would be nice to touch base with old.."
Giles stops smiling at him and interrupts." I don't know where you've been since you abandoned Buffy and all your 'so called' friends ten years ago and frankly I don't care. It's good that you left this place, you've grown up a bit, which is more than could be said for those poor unfortunates that staid and died." He sat up." Tell me if I had you figured wrong."
"I don't know but I sure hope so."
"I pictured you in a haze as one of those slackster, flannel-wearing coffee house misanthropes I've been seeing on the cover of Newsweek."
"No , no I went the other road, six figures, doing business with lead-pipe cruelty, mercenary sensibility. Sports sex, with no real relationships .How 'bout you? How have the years treated you?"
Giles relaxes." You know me, pushing the oppressed teens past their breaking point, marrying Mrs. Summers, bringing up two girls, rebuilding the Watchers."
"Two girls?"
"Yes Xander two as in sisters, as in Buffy and Dawn."
"Dawn? Dawn is Buffy's.." He touched his lips." No wonder it felt funky!"
Giles smiled." Yes when she described you I knew it could only be you Xander. Buffy has no idea of course, but I know precisely what you do Xander. You see in my line of work you make friends in very low places." He looks Xander in the eyes." Hurt her and they'll need dental records to find out who you are, got me?"
"Gotcha." He starts to leave as Joyce walks into the room." Xander! It's been so long since I've seen you. What have you been doing with yourself?"
"He's a professional killer my dear."
She looks from Giles to Xander." Ah. Good for you, I hear it's a growth industry."
Both Xander and Giles are stunned." Oookay, good seeing you again Mrs. S, sorry, Mrs. G. I'd love to stay and chat but I can't keep B waiting."
"Of course not dear, at least not as long as before anyway." She sits next to Giles as he exits the room. He jumps when Dawn gooses him." Hey there sailor, wanna good time?"
"Oh jeez." Xander gulps." Look I'm sorry I didn't hang around but."
She raises an eyebrow." I know things to see blonde's to do. Look if things don't pan out with grumpy I'm always here for you."
"Dawn! What did I tell you about my things?"
Xander and Dawn look at her as she blushes." I mean, about annoying my guests?"
Xander escorts Buffy out and into his car. He opens her door." Madame. "He shuts it after she gets in and walks to his side whispering." I am 'me' and I'm bringing myself along for the ride."
Xander pulls up into the parking lot of the high school and runs around to open Buffy's door. She gets out and he glances around for the two spooks.
Lardner and Ken wave to him and Xander curses. Lardner says." Okay he's definitely falling for her, I mean look at him."
Ken sighs." She looks really nice." Ken grimaces and shakes his head." No, nope he's using her, cruel bastard! I'm gonna really enjoy neutralizing that SOB!"
Lardner nods." To right."
Buffy has been complaining about the way she looked ever since they left her house." I should have worn the skirt. Do you think I should have worn the skirt?"
Xander mumbles." I should have brought my gun!"
"What?"
"I said it should be fun. "He tells her as they enter the hall. They stare at the table containing all the badges and Xander whispers." I can't remember this many surviving the Mayor's ascension attempt?"
"Crashers, happens every time." Amy tells them from behind. Buffy grimaces and says." Why Amy, weren't you a rat when we graduated?"
Amy grins." That's very racist of you Buff! Some rats I know make better people than people I know." She smiles at Xander." I had the grades to finish even if I wasn't present for the finals. Besides which I happen to be one of the people scheduled to work here." She glares at Buffy." Unlike some suck ups that get to swan about for the week on the government dime."
She reaches over and finds Xander's badge then pins it on him and pats it down." There we go, now we won't lose you.. Again."
Xander walks Buffy into the gym hall and asks." Who needs hard liquor?"
"ME!" Buffy all but yells." Okay to the bar it is then."
He looks around." Darn! I'm actually beginning to recognize some of these faces. I'm going to have to actually start relating to them." He hands Buffy her drink and she whispers." Oh oh, Ken Ashcliff."
Ken slaps Xander on the back." Hey Xandman!"
"Ken. How's it going?"
He puffs up and hitches up his trousers." Can't complain, Lawyer, divorce and injuries, big money." Xander nods." Cool, kind of the same thing ain't they?" Ken laughs and slaps his back again."Always with the jokes, same as ever." He looks at Buffy." And as always, at the class protectors side. Let me give you a card, just in case you ever need a lawyer." He goes to give him his card the stops." My card, no wait." He goes to his top pocket and takes out an expensive pen." For my top shelf clients don't forget to read the cap."
"Thank you." Xander tells him as he puts it straight in his pocket." Yeah, great to see you again Ken."
"Sure, sure, right." Ken waves to some one else and has already forgotten them as he starts to walk away. Xander's about to tell Buffy something when someone charges Xander calling his name as he does." Xander!" Xander quickly grips the man's hand in a lock and forces him on his knees before he remembers where he is." Oh hey man watch out its slippery round here."
"Yeah, sure." He says rubbing his sore hand in confusion, he sees Buffy." Hey Buffy looking good as always, come over and meet the guys, Jimbo and Peanut."
Xander shrugs." Peanut? Did we even know a peanut?" Buffy sighs." Just go with the flow." She downs her drink and grabs another as Nathaniel drags them away from the bar. They talk and everyone seems to want to talk to Buffy, Xander just happened to be there so they talked to him as well. The party seemed to come to life as more alcohol was consumed and began to break down the walls people had built up in ten years. Willow and Tara came int. the hall; Willow gave Buffy a quick nod before pecking Xander on the cheek.
"Uh hey Xander, long time huh." She motions to Tara." This is Tara, she's my significant other." Xander nods." Hey Wills, Tara, been a while." He looks at Tara." A lot of things have Uhh changed it seems." Xander sighs as Willow drags Buffy off." Yeah see ya Will." Xander mumbles as he takes a sip of his drink.
Oz rocks up to him." Hey man! I was expecting you to have cracked like a piñata by now."
Xander sighs and nods." I gotta tell you I'm close real.. Wow." They pause as a platinum blond walks between them and squeezes up by Xander." Hey Xand!" He looks at her closely but doesn't remember her." It's me Jenny, Jenny Slater. I was on the swim team pep squad."
He grins." Oh hi Jenny!"
Her eyes drop down to his crotch and then back up." I'm a sales rep for Speedo now." She bit the corner of her mouth." I was wondering if you were doing anything later, I uh.. That is the company's after some older models to help sell the new summer line and when they said you were back in town I immediately thought of you." She sipped on her drink then licked her top lip.
"Cool, yeah I'll be sure to check my diary and get back to you about it." Oz is all but fawning at her feet in an attempt to get her to acknowledge his presence." Uh, hi Jenny.. It's me.. Oz." She shakes her head. Oz looks at Jenny." Hey Jenny, hey Jenny. It's Oz, remember?" She shakes her head and he pleads." Had about eleven classes a day with you? Did your understanding Computers term paper for you?"
She shrugs and smiles at him." I never did like geeks." She turns to Xander and asks." So did you hear about Cordy?" Xander and Oz both shake their heads and she leans in." Three kids, gained about twenty pounds and she's being done for gross indecency with a minor!"
"You're shittin' me!" The two men say." I shit you not! I heard it from a girl that works for the guy that does the windows of the place Cordy works in." She looks around and says." The kid was her boss's son too so I guess she'll be out of work and heading home soon enough."
Xander grins." Man it's always good to find out you're not the only one that the god's love to dump on."
Oz is still trying to grab her attention but she shrugs then tells Xander." Give me a call, anytime." She tucks her card into his top pocket then slinks off. Xander shivers." My lucky blond?"
Oz shakes his head and begins to rant." Right. . Man my life sucks. Turn into a wolf in the full moon, leave town for like an instant and my girlfriend turns gay on me. Man I wish some one would just kill me now.." He remembers who he's talking to and his eyes go wide." Didn't mean it!"
Oz cricks his neck and shakes his head." You know what? People have absolutely no respect anymore! They think just because your a man you can't evolve past your teenage hor..mones!" Jenny walks by and Oz zooms off after her.
Just then Jerry, the security guard, comes up to him." Hey Xand how's it goin'" Xander shrugs." Don't these jerks just PISS you right off?" He snorts." Think they're so hot just because they were in the honor club, as if that means anything now." He grins as he takes a nine mill from his pocket and flashes it to him quickly before putting it back." Check this out. Oh yeah! Just let one of these assholes say the wrong word and kapow! Instant authority."
Jerry begins to walk away and Xander tries to stop him but Jerry is gone in a flash." Hey I don't think you should have brought that here.. Ah fuck it."
He sighs and chuckles." Man there are people here way more screwed up that I ever will be."
He starts to move away when a woman's voice calls out to him." Xander?" He looks down at the table to see another face from his past." Anya?" She's nursing a baby." Hi! Is this.. Are you."
"Baby's mine. Married, yes and this is Robbie."
"Wow. And how is it all for you? Crap like they say?"
"No .no, it's not true. It's great."
"Really?"
Anya smiles. "It's so great and I'm so happy. People think that when you get married, you lose your freedom. Not true, it gets better and better." She smiles." So how's your life?"
He shrugs." Truthfully? It sucks big time." He sees Buffy and Willow talking before Willow and Tara move away leaving Buffy swaying sexily to the music." But I think it's going to get a whole lot better."
Anya is struggling with the baby as she tries to both hold him and find it's bottle, she hands him over to Xander." Don't worry you won't break him." Xander holds him away from him as Anya searches for his bottle." I'm not used to being this close to new life, I kind of operate from the other end of the spectrum."
The baby stares into Xander's eyes and he can't seem to look away from the infant's eyes. Xander feels a funny feeling come over him as the child begins to smile and open his eyes wider. Xander grins as he can feel something trying to get inside him and he begins to feel a sensation as if he were floating high above his body.
Buffy comes over and grins at him and breaks the bond." Looks natural on you." She turns to Anya." Hey Ahn, last time I saw you he was in here. He looks so cute." She sits beside her and touches her belly briefly.
Anya says." Do you want to hold him?"
"Can I?"
Anya nods. She takes Robbie from Xander and hands him to Buffy." Here ya go munchkin."
Buffy holds him up in front of her. "Hey there bunny..." Buffy says but Anya shivers and interrupts her." Don't say that! It's just a 'thing' I have about those.. Things!"
Xander watches Buffy as she holds the baby." Wait, let me get a picture." He pulls out a tiny camera and clicks off a few shots. Then puts it back in his pocket. He blushes as Buffy and Anya smile at him. "I uh.. Need to use up the film, I've got some stuff I need to get developed.."
Buffy hands Robbie back to Anya." Nice seeing you again Ahn." Buffy tells her as they stand up and walk away. They meet a few other old faces that bring back fond memories and a couple of faces that they'd rather forget before they end up in the bleachers high above the party.
Xander turns to her." Do you know I have a recurrent dream about you? Did I tell you that?" She turns to him." Five nights a week for like six years, and they seem to be getting stronger now."
Buffy sighs and she's about to tell him that she knows he lost his soul and that Willow is about to caste a spell to bring his soul back." I think I was a bit harsh when I said you were broken, I think you're just.. Mildly sprained and it's nothing that can't be fixed."
"Well should I take that as a compliment?"
"Yeah."
He gazes into her eyes." Now I forgot what I was going to say.."
"That you're glad you came back, and you're really happy to see me, as happy as I am to see you." "Yeah, I really am. Sorry if I screwed up your life by leaving like that."
She shakes her head." It's not over yet.." She smiles at him." Unless you have a wife in Arkansas." He sniggers." No." She grins and holds out her hand." You wanna dance?"
He takes it." Yeah." They begin dancing to a slow song and he looks at a couple dressed in their wedding clothes. Buffy tells him." They were friends in high school, it took her ten years to realize he was the one all along." Xander looks at her and she moves closer." Some girls are like that. Don't see what they really want even if it's right under her nose."
They move closer and are about to kiss when a song from their past is played. The same one she danced against Xander to when she was trying to make Angel jealous. She grins then begins grinding herself against him just like she had back then. Oz is jiving with Jenny and he nods and winks at Xander before holding up his thumb.
Buffy leads Xander off the floor and down the hall before she stops." Ah the nurses office." She giggles, turns and leans against it placing her hand on his chest." I don't feel well, and neither do you." He grins." Just as well we're here then." He grips the door handle behind her and forces the door open and they go inside.
Buffy is walking backwards in front of him, he has his hands on her hips" You know there's been this big black cloud following you around all day and I'm not going to do anything till it's gone. "Buffy kisses him and they back up to the wall. Wait." She pants and looks confused." Something's missing, something..."Now he looks confused and then she smiles and says." Oh I know." She slaps him hard enough to rattle his teeth.
He moves his jaw and looks at her." Ouch!"
She kisses him and pushes him towards the sick bed." That makes me feel a whole lot better now." His kisses feel like they're setting her body on fire and Xander is burning up." Oh God, I.. Man!" He tells her between kisses. Buffy is trying to slow herself down but it seems her mind was no longer in the driving seat of her body as she felt his hands move over her body.
She breaks a kiss and moans as he moves his lips down.." This is.. Not happen.. OH GOD!" She cries out." For the love of god Willow would you hurry up!"
Meanwhile, back at the entrance, Amy is still at the table waiting for the rest of the class of '99 to show up when Felix saunters in. Amy plasters an inane grin on her face as she sees him." Hi! And welcome back 'Daler, to your reunion."
Felix says." Hello, Aimee." He looks at her name tag then scans the large number still unclaimed on the table." It is I Sanford." He watches as she picks the tag up and crosses his name off before handing it to him." My you have changed, and those French classes seem to have paid off for you." "Yes they did." He pins it on and looks past the doors." Alexander is here, yes?"
She sighs." Yes he is Sanford, and who'd have thought he would have lasted this long?"
Felix grins evilly." Not me, that is for sure. But the night is still young."
She smiles, puzzled by his strange sense of humor as he wanders in to the hall." Man how come only the whacko's survived?"
While all this is going on Willow and Tara are in the library preparing the spell that they hope would soon return Xander's soul to his body. Tara places the orb into the center of the pentagram." I hope we're doing the right thing Will, I mean what if he likes not having a soul? What if he needs not to have it?"
Willow shakes her head." Only evil requires no soul Tar, and Xander was never meant to be evil." She opens her spell book and begins the chant that would call his soul back to his body and bind it there. She turns as Tara asks." But what if he has a moment of pure happiness? Won't he lose it again?"
Willow smiles." It's been over ten years since I last caste this spell Tara, and I have refined it with Giles's help in case we had to re-do Angel's soul. So, no there is no escape clause with this version."
She restarts the casting and a mystical fog begins to descend on the library and swirl around the orb and the duo casting the curse.
Buffy backs out of the nurses office fixing her top as Xander follows her out." Well that was.." She grins." definitely worth the wait." Xander kisses her then says." Yeah, sure beats the hell out of the dreams I've had." She moves closer and he tells her." I think that maybe we should go away for a .."He smiles as her hand finds him but Buffy just looks innocently at him." And?" She asks. "Month or two and work this out, you know stay in the room eating room service, getting up only when we really, really have to." Xander tells her as she leads him down the hall and back to the dance.
"Fine.." She kisses him then moves away." Where are you going?" Xander asks. Buffy jerks her thumb back to the hall and tells him." Well there are probably a few people I should say good bye to." She flicks his black tie and walks away leaving Xander ruffled and out of breathe." Well uh.. I'm gonna cruise by my old locker, then meet you out front."
She turns and walks away." Oh I'll find you." He watches her walk away." Mmm!" Just as Bob, the high school bully walks by him." Hmm, Buffy Summers! Are you gonna start up that puppy dog shit again Harris?" He chuckles.
Xander glances sideways at him." I'm fine Bob and you?"
Bob chuckles again." Real smart move. "Bob begins to take his jacket off." Let's see just how smart you are with my foot up your ass!"
Buffy had stopped walking when she saw Bob walk by here and decided to make sure he didn't hurt but what she saw was not what she expected. Xander went in close while Bob was taking his jacket off and asked." Do you really believe that there's some stored-up conflict going on between us?" He moves in close so his face is in Bob's." There is no 'us'. 'WE' don't exist." He backs off." So just who is it you wanna hit man? Cuz it sure ain't me." He slips Bob's coat back on his shoulder's and asks." So what do you wanna do here dude?"
Bob takes a crumpled piece of paper from his inside pocket and holds it out to him." I have no idea what that is Bob."
Bob nods and slurs drunkenly." It's my words." Xander looks surprised." A poem? See, that's the-express yourself Bob." Bob smiles" Go for it man."
Bob staggers and starts to read." When I feel quiet, when I feel...blue-"He looks at Xander. "When I.."
Xander folds the poem up." You know, I think that's terrific...what you have right there." Xander pats him on the back." I wouldn't go and sell the dealer ship or anything like that, but I'm telling you." He pats his heart." It's intense dude."
Bob looks glad he had ran into Xander and very happy." There's more.." Xander stops him from unfolding it and says. "Okay then.why not skip to the end?"
Bob smiles." Okay the very end." He turns the paper over then coughs and readies himself."...For a while."
Xander sighs." Whoo! That's wild man, that's.." Bob holds up a finger." ..Or A While..." Xander bobs his head." Cool."
Bob smiles." You wanna do some blow?"
Xander looks around." No, not really, but thanks for the offer."
Bob moves to go then turns and hugs him, Xander pats him on the back." I missed you." Xander nods." It's okay man." Bob moves away and mumbles." Okay." As he gently folds the poem and places it back in his pocket. Buffy grins from the window in the door and then moves away. Xander shakes his head and shrugs before heading onwards to the locker room. He dances over to his the lockers and smiles." Shit it survived!"
They had repainted it and taken some of the dents out but it was his old locker number. He takes a piece of wire from his belt and pops the lock on his old locker. He smiles as his hand searches for something hidden, stuck to the back by old glue and time. He pulls it out and holds it up to the light. The tiny silver cross shines as it catches the light.
"I'd almost forgot about you." He was about to put it on when he saw Felix out of the corner of his eye. He dropped the necklace and kicked the silenced gun from the assassin's hand then struck out with a three-fingered blow to his throat. Felix blocked it and struck out with a leg sweep but Xander jumped over it and slammed his foot into Felix's face causing him to fall back. Felix blocked another kick and got a good uppercut to Xander's face then followed it up with a punch to his midriff causing Xander to hit the locker. Xander dodged another hit, grabbed the arm and twisted Felix into the locker hitting him with a few kidney punches before Felix broke the grip and moved out of the way of a kite strike.
He returned with a knee strike to Xander's thigh and a hit to his head but Xander turned, deflecting a killing strike then hit Felix's elbow and knee with hits of his own. Xander blocked a few more then missed a set hit to his enemy's throat. But he did follow it up quickly by a kick to Felix's chest that sent him back into the lockers. Felix glanced around for his fallen weapon and the pair tested each others defenses as they both tried to regain their strengths.
Xander took a heavy hit to his arm that left it tingling and immobile for a few seconds, it was all Felix needed as he drove a left hook it Xander's jaw and forced him to the ground. Xander swept the legs from under him and they scuffled for a while with Felix using Xander's immobile arm to his advantage.
Felix scrambled for the gun but Xander was on top once more, using his good arm to hold Felix down while he used the barely moveable one to go for the complimentary pen Ken had given him. He took the cap off with his teeth and then jammed the nib into Felix's jugular and held it there till he bled out.
Xander exhaled a sigh and winced but then turned as he sensed someone watching him. Buffy saw him kneeling over the dead guy, blood running around them and over Xander's chest. She glared at him then turned to run away." It's not me!" He hits the locker as she runs and cries out." This isn't me anymore!"
He sinks to his knees repeating the words as Buffy runs down the hall and knocks into Oz." Hey!" He was smiling but stopped as he saw her face." Hey, where's our boy?" She cried and kept running and Oz thought the worst." Fuck, she killed him!"
He raced down the hall and found Xander cross-legged by some dead guy that was leaking blood like a cheap Russian dam." Shit! Is he uh dead?"
Xander jumps up." Oh I hope so."
Oz looks from Felix then to Xander." You okay?"
Xander nods." Yeah, a thousand innocent people get killed everyday." He rips down a banner and covers the body." But some shmuck billionaire's pet gets detonated and you're marked for life!"
Oz points to the body." He is dead though.. Right? Not to sound like a pussy but the only killing I've seen for the past seven years has been in the real estate market."
Just then Lardner and Ken decide to do a walkthrough to make sure their pigeon hasn't flown.
Xander lays Felix on the banner and jerk's Oz's arm." Help me out here man." Oz hesitates then shrugs and helps him roll the body up in the banner. Xander points up to another banner." Pull that one down. Oz does and hands it to him." How did he die?"
Xander says. "Remember when they told is in class that the pen is mightier than the sword, well it beats guns too." He sees Oz blanch then tells him." He was a notorious terrorist and there's a contract out on my life." Xander is wiping the spilt blood up with the other banner then turns to Oz." Is his feet covered?" Oz nods then asks." But he is dead right?"
Xander grunts as he hefts the dead body up against the lockers." Come on grab his feet."
Oz sighs and complies, they lift the body and walk gingerly down the hall, stopping at the corners to make sure they're not seen. They take it down, following the signs to the boiler room, until they open a door to the room they seek. They throw the body down the stairs and then jump after it. Xander grabs a cloth and opens the boiler doors and lifts the front of the body up." On three!"
They struggle to get the body in and then he finally closes the doors, turning to Oz as he does." Don't worry, no one's going to come looking for this guy. Come on. Come on."
Xander moves Oz out of the boiler room and back into the school proper. Oz is dumbstruck as they walk the hallowed halls and into the dance hall. They see everyone that came are now sat at a few tables, talking about what they've been doing for the past ten years as the band packs up to leave.
They saunter up to the bar where Xander sees Jerry." Hey Jer have you seen Buffy?" Jerry sighs and knocks back his drink." Nope, not since she and the two dykes got into an argument and split."
Xander nods as Oz tells the bar man." Scotch, double." He glances at Xander." Make it two."
Xander turns." Make mine a club." Oz downs his in one then turns to Xander holding out his hand."Daniel Osbourne, I'm in real estate." His eyes pierce Xander." And what is it you do Xander?"
Xander looks at him and his outstretched hand then Oz says." So what now, chase the girl?"
Xander sighs." If you see her tell Buffy, I'm sorry." Oz shakes his head angrily and storms off. Xander turns and grabs a napkin and fills it with ice. He places it on his jaw then turns back round to see Ken. He nods." See ya round Ken, and thanks for the pen man."
Ken has already forgotten about it and just shrugs.
Xander is back at his room and led on the bed as he channels surfs waiting for the painkillers to kick in. He picks up his headset and dials Oatman's number, getting his answer machine instead." Dr. Oatman, it's Alexander Harris, I just called to say I don't wanna work with you anymore." His voice is devoid of emotions as he continues." Things worked out really well here, better than expected and I just don't feel you're at all help full in any way, besides which you're not serious about the therapy." He sits up." And now I want you to take a deep breath and realize.."
Oatman is trying to switch off the machine as Xander keeps talking, much to the anxiety of Oatman's patient as she sits weeping on his couch.".. That this is 'ME' firing 'YOU'." Oatman finally crushes the machine in a fit.
Xander breaks the connection and then sighs. Some one knocks on the door and Xander picks up his gun, thumbing off the safety as he gets up to answer it. He cracks the door then hides the gun behind his back as he opens the door to allow Buffy inside. He can see she had been crying and she has her arms crossed over her chest as they stare at one another for a while until she asks." That man, he was going to kill you.. Right?"
Xander nods." Yes."
She squints her eyes as she asks." Are you sure it wasn't the other way around."
Xander shakes his head." No, no! I Swear to whatever God you believe in! It was not my intention. "Buffy sighs." Was it because of something you've done?"
Xander struggles to come up with a plausible lie then says." No it's something.. I do, for about nine years now."
Her eyes go wide." You were joking!" Xander shakes his head." People always joke about the horrible things that they DON'T do, they don't do them it's absurd!" She is backing away from him, her eyes becoming glazed over, as she gets madder at him.
Xander shrugs as he follows her." When I left this psycho, Grocer, recruited me, don't ask me why. He found out I killed a bunch of people to protect.." He drops his eyes." Never mind, lets just say I was bad and leave it at that. I joined the army and when I took the service exam my psych profile fit a certain-moral flexibility would be the kindest way to describe it." Buffy's eyes kept getting wider as he told the tale of his lost years."
"I was loaned out to the CIA sponsored program and was trained to kill, that's the way it works."
She tries to find an excuse for him." So you-work for the government then?"
Xander closes his eyes before telling her." Yes.. I was at the beginning, but not any more. But that doesn't matter, that's all PR that governments put out to defend the killing they do, there's a theory..."
Buffy shakes her head." I don't wanna hear about theories, I wanna hear about the dead people." She glowers at him." Explain the dead people.. Who do you kill!"
"Well that's very complicated but in the beginning all that matters is that you have something to hang on to.. I mean 'taming unchecked aggression' was one of my personal favorites. Other guys liked 'live free or die', but I guess you get the idea." He sees her begin to lose interest in what he says." But that's just all bull, you do it because you were trained, you were encouraged to do it, and ultimately.." He licked his lips as they felt dry as a dessert." Ultimately you grow to love it."
He can see tears forming in her eyes as he knows they do in his." I know that sounds.. Bad."
Buffy gasps." You're a psychopath!" She glares at him." You're as bad as Faith was.. No you're worse at least she tried to get some redemption! All you wanted was in my pants!"
Xander shakes his head." No, no, no! A psycho kills for no reason I kill for money. It's a job"
"Oh and that is far nobler!"
"Wait that didn't come out right." He tells her." If I showed up at your door chances are you did something to bring me there. Everybody's doing it, it's like a natural order." He motioned to her." Hell even you did it, the Slayers are always doing it. You kill to protect? Well that's what I do too!" He reaches out to her as she tried to cover her ears." I mean you should read the files on some of these humpers, they read like a freaking demon's resume!"
She starts to leave and he feels something tearing him apart inside." Look, I bottomed out here, I've lost my taste for it, for the killing and the lifestyle." He moved towards her." That's why the dreams, that's why I had to come back. To start over where my life ended!"
Buffy starts to release some of her anger." Oh! I get it, I'm part of your romantic new beginning, right?" She sees him begin to nod then jabs a finger into his chest." So how come you never learned that it was frigging wrong? There are certain things you do not do and the main one is YOU DO NOT KILL HUMANS!"
Xander tries to argue." What civilization are you.."
"Shut up, just SHUT UP!" She looks him up and down then shudders." Everything about you is a lie." She sobs." Everything.. I.." She starts to move to the door." I thought I loved you but.. Just stay away from me."
She opens the door." Buffy please don't go!"
She turns." You don't get to have me!" She cocks back her hand but stops from hitting him. "Just forget about me and I'll try to forget you!"
"You're over reacting.."
She hits him and he slumps to his knees." Yeah? Yeah! I guess I am." She turns and slams the door. Xander picks himself up and moves his jaw." Owe!" He then grabs his phone and dials Marcella who has trashed the office and is pouring gasoline all over the piles of papers ,humming as she does. She totals the computer and throws it on the heap as the phone rings." Hello?"
"Are we out of business yet?"
"I'm just finishing off the office now."
"Good. I'll put things right and then I'll find you."
Marcella backs away from the window and nervously asks." Why?"
"It's not like that Marcella. Look under your desk, I left a little something for you."
She bends over." All the way under." She feels around then pulls a block from the top of the desk and rips off the brown paper to reveal a large block of thousand dollar notes." Oh my gosh! You shouldn't have."
"Consider it a separation check, I believe in profit sharing." He hangs up and Marcella does a little dance." All right!"
Xander throws down his phone just as the PDA from Hart beeps and unlocks. "My you're a handsome fella, let's see what my last job would have been." He waits till the screen activates then sees a face and a name, his eyes go wide and he sighs." Dumb fuckin' luck!"
Giles is out doing his morning jog, the headphones playing Pink Floyd as he counts the beat. A strange van is parked at the end of the street and Grocer is in the back cocking the sniper rifle and sighting it up." Here he comes." His driver tells him." Perfect hit." He nods to the two men and says." As soon as we hit him we head over to his place and take care of that collateral damage our client was so interested in." He grins and lines Giles up." Come to papa!"
An Audi screeches around the corner and heads for Giles who is oblivious to all the action. Grocer curses." Alex fucking Harris!" With that the two companions reach for their guns." You guys cool your jets or you'll scare the pigeon!"
He sights again but Xander does a handbrake turn in front of Giles causing him to jump back and tare off his phones." Watch it you asshole!"
Xander opens the passenger side door." Get in.. Get the fuck in!" Giles jumps in and Xander burns rubber as the van drives towards them. Giles is bitching about what Xander had done but Xander flips open the PDA and dumps it on Giles's lap." You must have really pissed someone of G-man, cuz they put a contract out on your ass." He turns to see Giles reading the dossier." And those of your family."
"No! I don't believe you! Why would someone.."
"Believe me Giles, I was hired to kill you, but I'm not in that business anymore." Xander increases his speed." Besides which I'm in love with your daughter and I may even have a new respect for life."
Grocer nudges one of the Stasi and says." Either he loves this guys daughter or he has a newfound respect for life." He grins and cocks the MP9." Either way it gives us an edge."
Giles reads the PDA." My whole life!" Xander shakes his head." Hopefully not."
Xander brings his car to a skidding halt in front of Buffy's place. As Giles gets out he turns to Xander." Some asshole wants me dead because I exert undue pressure over the lives of the chosen ones? You wanna kill me because I'm good at what I do?"
Xander takes his case out of the trunk and ushers him inside." It's not me! Why is it that everybody thinks it's personal?"
They move inside and Xander locks and bolts the door behind them just as Buffy and her mother are coming down the stairs." What's going on and what the hell is he doing here?" Buffy demands as Joyce holds on to her.
Giles puffs." They're trying to kill me to get at the Slayer line, Xander saved my life."
Buffy and Joyce hug Giles while Xander gets his 'toys' out of the case. He loads and cocks a Glock.45 and tucks it into his belt." I was sitting there on prom night in my god damned tuxedo and realized for the first time in my life I wanted to kill someone." He stared at Buffy then took out another gun, loaded it and put it in his pocket along with several spare clips.
"So, I figured since I love you so much, it'd be a good idea if I didn't see you anymore." He took another out then told them." I was in Syria a couple of years ago, don't ask, any way I came up over this dune and saw the ocean. It was on fire." He grinned." It was freaking beautiful, and I just sat there and watched it burn. I got this sneaking dark suspicion that maybe there really was a meaning to life, a cosmic connection between everything that lives. Call it God, Allah, Yahweh, whatever.."
He turns and puts two rounds from his silenced pistol through the front door as the handle rattled and then pointed to the three frightened and confused humans." Don't move!"
He ran towards the backdoor just as one of the Stasi came creeping in with a sub machine gun. He fires, missing the guy then swings the stainless steel fridge door open to intercept the incoming rounds. He dives behind the counter and reloads.
Buffy grabs Joyce's hand and the three run for the front door and swing it open to reveal a very dead hitman." Joyce screams and Buffy sees Grocer and two more men running towards them. She slams the door shut and relocks it just as it's hit by a fusillade of bullets.
They run for the back door just as Xander stands and shoots the hitman there. The three enter to see him stand over him and put two more rounds into him before finishing him off with a caste iron frying pan. He wipes some blood from his face and turns to see Buffy." Buffy I love you and I know we can make this work."
He hears the front door being hit again as others are coming round the back .He pushes them forward." Come on, come on." He stops them by his case." Wait wait. "He was closing up the case and lifted it up." I was always afraid to commit more than one day to any relationship."
Buffy is confused." What?"
"But now I feel I'm ready to make it happen, ever since late last night I've had this feeling come over me like an epiphany." Gunshots reverberate down the street and he hands Giles the case." We need to go upstairs now." He ushers them up the stairs." It's not easy for me, I always control what little emotions and I need time to change." The front door blows open and Xander spins firing both guns at it. Forcing a hitman to duck for cover.
The hitman sees them run upstairs and he barges in firing off his gun. Xander drops down and opens up with his guns and as the rounds hit they send the guy crashing through the side window. He runs back upstairs and forces them into the bathroom as he changes clips." You probably don't know this but I wasn't exactly raised in a loving environment, it's not an excuse. It's a reason, my soul felt empty and now it's up to me to fill it again."
Grocer is singing." I'll be commin' round the mountain when I come." Xander forces the slides back and moves to the top of the stairs." I'll be a blowin' your freakin' head off, I'll be blowin' your friging head off. I'll be whackin' your freaking mind out when I come."
Xander can hear someone imitating popcorn and he runs to the other end of the stairs in time to see someone creeping up the back way." Neat, you redesigned the house G-man!" He fired at the shadow and it dived out of the way.
"And I saw a beast rise up out of the see.."
Xander drops to the floor in Buffy's bedroom and gets ready. "I'll give you a shiny new penny if you just shut the hell up and get this shit over with!" Xander complains.
Still Grocer went on from downstairs." Having 7 heads and 10 horns.." The last ex-Stasi member crept past the door and Xander opened up on him before he could look down. The man danced a .45 caliber minuet as the force of Xander's rounds spun him.
"And they worshipped the beast saying,' Who is like the beast?"
Xander rose and checked that the hitman was dead, then knocked on the bathroom door as Grocer droned on." Who is able to make war with him?"
Xander knocked again and Buffy replied." Nothing today thanks." Xander smirked." Buffy it's okay; it's me, Xander. "He reloaded and pointed one gun at each end of the hall." Yeah that makes me feel safer!" He kicked it with his foot." Come on!"
The door opens to reveal Buffy holding his chrome plated Smith with an inbuilt laser sight pointing it right at him." Oh nice! Look I know what I do.. Did isn't moral per se-"
She motions the gun to him." Make this work!"
He sighs." Sure." He takes it from her and draws back the slide then releases it." But, I think, if you can look past that you can find a man worth loving." He hands it back to her and she continues to pint it at him." I'm working on the redemption thing-" He checks the hall then looks back as Grocer shouts." Don't trust him honey, he's a professional!" Xander sighs and moves her barrel to one side the holds up a finger." Be back in a sec."
He closes the door." Smells like a wedding, you're breaking my heart down here Harris!" Grocer shouts." I can't aim through the tears. WOOF, WOOF!"
Xander runs down the hall as quietly as he could, taking the spare gun out as he did." Look out Harris! Budro's a cumin' for ya!"
Xander hopped down the back stairs and tried to be as stealthy as he could but Grocer was still ready for him and opened up as he hit the kitchen. Xander returned fire, coming close to hitting him but then was forced back by Grocer's rounds. Grocer's guns clicked on empty, he drops them and tugs two more from his holsters.
Xander forces him into the hall as he dives over the counter and enters the lounge. Grocer begins to stalk towards the kitchen. Grocer sees him before Xander's trap works and he dives, emptying his guns into the lounge as he does. Xander fires through the drywall, his shots ricocheting of pots and pans as he searches for Grocer, who is hiding in the corner by the lounge. He takes out his hideout gun strapped to his ankle and cocks it.
He thinks he knows where Xander is and fires into the lounge but Xander has moved into the corner closest to the kitchen, just the other side of the counter separating the two rooms. He's waiting for the perfect shot, trying to conserve his few remaining rounds. Grocer cries out and Xander fires." Comrade-Hey comrade?"
"What?" Xander replies.
"Why don't you just join the freaking union? We go upstairs together and cap daddy."
Xander mutters under his breath then asks." This union, is there going to be meetings?"
"Of course."
He shakes his head then moves out." No meetings." He fires his gun through the gap and into the corner, trying to force Grocer out into the open. He begins to stand as suddenly the new French windows are kicked in and Xander ducks, then turns.
Lardner and his partner enter, guns drawn and shout." National Security." Then begin firing at Xander. He begins returning fire and is joined by a smiling Grocer who gladly pays back the two morons.
The two dirty NSA agents are peppered by rounds from the four guns and die in a hail of bullets. Xander's guns click on empty and Grocer chuckles." Workers of da world, unite!"
Xander spins around and they fire but all their guns are empty. Grocer exclaims with a smirk on his face." Look at that. Empty!" He drops both guns and ducks behind the counter." Solidarity baby! You out?"
Xander checks his pockets then slams the empty guns receiver shut making it sound like he just reloaded." Yeah, crying' shame too."
Grocer hears the slide hit forward and he snorts." So what are you gonna do? Throw that freakin' peace at me?"
Xander looks around the room for anything he could use as a weapon." No?"
"How' bout I sell ya a piece for a hundred g's?" Grocer laughs and prepares to attack.
Xander smiles as he spots the large screen TV and turns the power on and prays the lead is long enough it." Okay. Front me?"
"Sure kid." He throws an empty gun into the center of the lounge then duck walks into position. Xander picks up the TV and staggers to the counter just as Grocer grins, stands up and shouts "POPCORN!".
Xander slams the TV onto his head smashing the screen and forcing the rest down. Xander follows it down into the kitchen and lands on his knee as Grocer's body jerks its death rattle. The sounds of electricity arcs through the kitchen and then Grocer's body stops jerking as the power cuts out. He kicks Grocer's leg and says." And they told me TV would be bad for me."
Xander grabs Grocer's gun then crawls over to the counter a wraps his injured right hand in it. He groans as he realizes he's cut some tendons and says." Great, just great! Ten freaking years and not a scratch, I decide to play nice and I get this for my troubles."
He stands then hobbles out of the demolished kitchen and up the stairs and drops to his knees outside of the bathroom. He uses his good hand to open the door and the sees his gun rise out of the bath. Xander curses and ducks as Buffy empties it into the door. He pops his head round the corner and she sees him covered in blood." I want you to think about this, and you don't have to answer now." He winces." Buffy would you marry me?"
Joyce looks over the tub from Buffy's side and Giles leans out of the shower." You got my blessing." He sighs and sinks back into the shower cubicle. Xander looks at Buffy and she moves the gun away from Xander, he smiles but she just uses the barrel to shut the door.
Cut to Buffy's car driving by the studio as a tape kicks in." This is Buffy S, Fin free radio, Sunnydale California, closing down our all CD hit reunion weekend. Sunnydale High class of '99"
Xander is driving and trying to take a picture of Buffy at the same time, she wags her finger at him and he goes back to driving, but she does smile. Then takes the camera from him and takes his photo as the pre-recorded radio program continues." Some people say forgive and forget. Nah, I don't know, I say forget about forgive and just accept. AND JUST GET THE HELL OUT'A TOWN."
They get to the 'Farewell from Sunnydale sign' when Xander's phone rings. He looks at her and Buffy picks it up." Hello?" She shakes her head." Oh hi 'Daddy'." She mouths * It's Giles *"Yeah, great." She covers the mouthpiece and says." His friends have just left and it's going to be announced that two NSA agents died while stopping an international terrorist gang from an act of terrorism." She smiles and removes her hand." Yeah, sure we're on our way there now. 'Kay."
She shut the phone down and tells him." We have to check in on the 'trio' and make sure Dawn's safe before we run." She places a hand on his injured knee and sighs." You sure you wouldn't like me to drive?"
He glances nervously at her." Uh I've seen you drive, I'd feel much safer driving myself thank you very muchly." They pull up at the Magic Box in time to see a wounded Tara come running out." TARA!" Buffy yells. What's happened?"
Tara runs to her and points inside." Three men came in and grabbed Dawn, we tried to stop them but they were just too strong."
Xander groans." Hart you asshole!" He grabs his phone and dials Giles as Buffy gets out to check on Willow." G-man, they took Dawn!" He starts the car again and pulls away." Look hold that story I think I have a better one! And get my case ready."
The relatively quiet community of Sander's Falls was the last place you would have thought to see the strange 'men' as they moved around the farm. Xander was leaning on the bonnet of his rental and checking out the farm with the aid of the spotters scope." Is she there?"
Xander never took his eye from the scope and said." I told you it would be doubtful if they had her here Buffy." He could hear her pacing." And if you keep moving the guys will see you and ruin my plans."
Buffy kicked his car and all but yelled. "So what are we doing wasting time here for?"
Xander watched another man move from the house and into the barn." That's seven...Do you think they're having a monster barn dance?"He glanced over at Buffy then sighed as he slipped the scope back into his pocket." Okay I'll tell you one more time. We know these guys took Dawn because Willow and Tara screed they did. But where she's gone from here they don't know." He jerked his thumb behind him. "But I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts the head honcho down there knows exactly where she's gone."
Buffy jumped in the passenger side of the car." And he's just dying to tell us I bet!" She folded her hands over her chest as Xander went to the trunk and moved something around in there.
Xander shut the trunk and began walking towards the farm, he pointed to her and ordered." Stay! I'll be back.. Or not."
She watched him walkout of sight then got out of the car and slammed the door." I am not a freaking dog Harris!"
The outer guard saw the human approaching and tried to look as normal as possible as it got closer.
Xander held the cell phone up and shook it." Hey man am I glad to see you!" He stopped and took a breath and shaded his eyes as he looked up at the sun." What a day for the Audi to breakdown"
Groll grunted." Yeah must be a bitch!"
Xander shook the phone again." And now I can't get a damned reception on the cell.. Full coverage Ma Belle's ass!" He grinned." Don't suppose I could use yours?" Xander looked around and saw no obvious signs of surveillance, he checked the detector that was tricked out to look like a cell and smiled.
Groll shook his head." Sorry man, like to help but this is very private property."
Xander nodded and got to within a foot of the guard." That's okay man...Look I know this going to be a stupid question but.. Have you seen a twenty odd year old woman." He held his hand up to his head, placing his right hand close to Groll's head." Answers to the name of Dawn?"
Buffy made her way as stealthily as she could towards the farm but saw no sign of Xander, her foot caught on something and as she looked down she saw Groll. A neat slash across its throat and a pool of green blood gathering around his head. She looked around and grabbed the small sword the creature had gripped in its right hand then moved towards the farmhouse. She ducked when she heard shooting and then ran towards the barn as it grew in tempo.
She pushed the heavy wooden door open then jerked back when she saw the metallic looking creature pinned to the door by a pitchfork. Buffy licked her lips and gripped the sword tighter as the sounds of gunfire seemed to come from below her feet. She followed the trail of bodies; some had been shot others killed by anything that could kill. Some of the bodies were demons but the majority had been human." Oh Xander." Buffy sighed.
Two metal doors were trying to close but the body of a demon had either fallen or been jammed against it to prevent hem from closing. Buffy followed the sounds of shouting and was soon in the bowels of a Tarakan base." They work in teams of three so how many would a base have?" "Too many!"
Buffy turned and saw two demons approach her." You should not have attacked us Huuman!"
Buffy shrugged." And you should not have taken my sister.. Mutt face!" She jumped into the battle,her old skills still fresh in her mind even if she hadn't patrolled for some time. She drove the blade into the chest of the first and used its body to power her kick into the gut of the second before she drew the blade from it and severed the head of the second one before it could recover.
She held the sword up and grinned." Wadda ya know? I still got it!"
She heard a shout and then the crack as a gun was fired and she ran towards it. She slowed when she saw Xander standing there, his right hand wrapped in a bloody rag, his left pointing a pistol at two creatures, one demon, one human." Okay that leaves you two smart guys." He flexes his injured hand." First one to tell me where you took the girl lives."
"Go to hell human!" Xander shoots the creature in the knee and turns to face the human." Times ticking away and you don't have much left. I figure whoever has her knows her value and also knows we'll be after them." Xander sees the creature glance at the man and Xander cricks his neck." Now one of you I'm going to leave alive as a warning to the Tarakan's never to piss me off again! The other can, if it wants, just walk, or limp away never to worry about this business again."
Buffy is walking towards him when the sound of his gun makes her jump. The human clutches his elbow and screams." Every second is another lost limb." He sees the evil glare in the mans eyes and he shoots him in the knee." Tick tock people!"
He shoots the mans other knee then turns to the creature only to see it hold up it's hands." We took her to some Lawyers in LA. , Wolfram and Hart! I swear we never knew she was yours!"
The man growls at the creature." I'll make sure you roast..."Xander's gun fires again and the man's head jerks back and he slumps lifelessly to the ground." I guess you just became the luckiest demon on earth." He turned and saw the revulsion in Buffy's eyes. He pushed past her and said." Stow it! We have to get to LA quickly!"
Buffy watched the demon struggle to its feet and try to make it's way outside, she turned and saw Xander hold the cell phone close to a console. "I knew it'd be somewhere!" He looked over at Buffy and told her." Get back to the car, the Tarakan's are about to have a fire sale!"
Buffy walked out and headed for the car, her world once more shaken to its core. She had let him into her life after ten years of doing what he did, she now knew beyond a doubt the kind of man he was. The worry now was would he ever be the man she had fallen in love with?
Just as she got to the Audi the ground trembled and she turned to see the barn and farmhouse crumple into the earth as Xander walked over the hill and shook the rag from his hand. He went to the backseat and folded it down to reveal a green medical case from which he took a spray can.
He looked at her as he sprayed the sealant/pain killer on his hand." Twice in one day! Ya think the Gods are trying to tell me something?" He grinned at her but then frowned when he saw the look on her face. He threw the can into the back then told her." Did you think they would just tell us where she was by asking politely?" He sat in the driver's seat as she sat beside him." I just signed my own death warrant to get that information.." He started the car and shut his door." I just hope we get to her in time."
Xander is looking for the Hyperion Hotel as Buffy gets off the cell with Faith." They're almost here, it took a bit of convincing but Oz is on board, Faith, Willow and Tara are as well. Oz scored the three vans you asked for but he's worried about the box you're getting them to get for you."
"He should worry, if the law pulls him over there's enough shit in it to send them down for their next three lives." He looks over at Buffy." Did your dad get the thing?"
Buffy grimaces and nods." Yeah, and he's squared whatever it takes for us to get Dawn back with the feds, but only up to a certain point."
Xander nods and then realized why Buffy was so distant." If I could have wished for things to be different I would Buffy. "He sighed." This isn't what I want to do anymore but if I stop now then I doubt you'll see Dawn again." Xander saw the old hotel and he pulled up in front of it opened his door then paused." Once its over I'll leave." He got out, went to the rear and took out his case then walked towards the front door, glancing at the three vans that sat in front of the hotel.
Buffy got out, her emotions swinging from relief he would be leaving to sadness that he would be going. She had not been this confused since the day Angel had left. She walked into the hotel to find her old friends and Angel's new ones were doing the meet and greet while Xander was at the desk cleaning and preparing his weapons.
Angel came up to her and smiled." Been a long time Buff." He looked over at Xander." The kid's changed, a lot!"
Buffy nods." I don't think he's the same little boy that left for camp." She shivered." We thought he had lost his soul but Willow and Tara assured me that he now has it back but..."She looks at Angel." I've seen him do things kill people and demons without a seconds hesitation or care. He tortured beings to find out who had taken Dawn"
Angel nods." Xander's always been.." He searched for the right words then blurted out." Protective of the friends he's made. Besides which would we know where to go if he hadn't..Expedited the matter?"
Buffy sighed." No, but that doesn't make it right does it?"
"Sometimes the how doesn't seem as important as the who, Buffy. Xander has this..Talent that he needs at this moment and I'm sure when its done he'll file it away with no more than a shrug." Angel grins." I doubt very much he'll go all Grr! On you at the wrong moment." "And he's standing behind you." Buffy tells him and Angel jumps." We need to get you a bell kid." Angel tells him. Xander smiled." Funny. Did Giles send that 'thing' I asked for?"
Angel nods and he makes a sour face." And can I just say you have one weird hobby! It's upstairs in the freezer, he had his 'friends' do the modifications as you asked"
Xander nods and looks at Buffy." I almost got what I had wished for but I should have known better." He sighed then shrugged. "I guess its true about your work becoming your life." He checks his watch then says." Come on there's a place you need to got to before we hit Wolfram and Hart." He picked up his case and told him." We got to get you 'tooled up' and I have got to get myself sorted out, this is one job I don't want to screw the pooch on."
He led the convoy of three vans to a small engineering district then drove up to a small warehouse. He keyed in a number and the double doors slid open to allow them to drive in. The doors were shutting as Xander got out and carried his case over to a long table. The others followed him and Oz told them." I could of gotten you a good deal on a new place over on Vine, low residential interference and even lower..."He saw them looking at him in disbelief and shrugged." Sorry, its an addiction."
Xander pressed his hand against the wall and it opened to reveal an arsenal Sadam would be hard pressed to hide." Take two of the mini-guns and four of the m28's for the others."
He walked over to the table and took his jacket and shirt off, wincing as pain shot up from his right hand." This could be a problem." He bent over and took out a weird holster and strapped it to his left forearm. He held his arm out and bent his hand back allowing a large black blade to shoot out. He grinned and pressed the point against the table, forcing it back into its spring-loaded sheath." It's made of a polytechnic plastic, hard as steel, but invisible to metal detectors." He took out another and tried to strap it to his right forearm but winced again.
While the others were looking over the weapons or just checking out the other things in the warehouse, Buffy had been watching Xander's every move. She moved over to him and helped him strap the device on, his eyes never leaving her." Once we have Dawn free I'll leave town and I promise never to bother you or yours again."
Buffy finished and looked up at him, her heart breaking as she wished she could so no." It would be the smart thing to do Xander."
Xander nodded as he took a silenced gun and clipped it into the holster. He then took out a box and opened it to reveal a dark black pistol that he caressed." Hello sugar, it's been a long time baby."
He took out two clips and hid them around his body while he tucked the gun in the holster behind his neck." Prototype stealth gun, hard-core assassin's friend. Caseless, silenced and x-ray invisible."
He was talking just to hide the pain but she could still sense the hurt behind the bravado but had to control her urge to kiss him. He closed the case and locked it, stroking the case and said." Hope I never see you again." He shrugged into his special jacket and smoothed it down then looked at the others." You all know your places and your dance partners in this macabre little dance so lets book!"
Buffy waited for them to get in the vans before she stopped Xander from getting in his car, she turned him and kissed him, putting her very soul into the kiss. When they broke Xander looked confused until she smiled and told him." I've never been the one to play things smart Xander."
He grinned then jerked back as she grabbed his lapels and lifted him up." You get hurt and I swear to god I'll never speak to you Harris!"
Xander's lopsided grin returned as she lowered him down and he told her." I've never been hurt on any job before Buff, I don't intend to get hurt now, especially when I've got an incentive not to!"
Xander checked the two guns he wore on his hips and tried not to check the two 'specials' he carried in their special wrist holsters. He speaks softly enough to be picked up by the throat mike." Set?" He hears three clicks and then moves the bag in his hand as he walks in through the revolving door. He's greeted by two burly security guards and smiles as they pat him down, finding, and removing the two pistols then checking the contents of the bag." Just so's you know, I'll be taking them back when I leave."
The one guard smiles knowingly at the other." Sure you will Mr. Harris. Mr. Hart is waiting to see you in his office. "They walk him to the lift and motions to the small gym bag. Careful it don't leak, Mr. Hart don't like a mess."
Xander smiles." That's always good to know sport." He replaces his sunglasses and steps into the lift and smiles as the doors shut.
Xander listens to muzak version of AC/DC's Highway to Hell and is actually whistling it as he leaves the lift. Lilah greets him and motions to the bag." I see everything went as planned?"
Xander shrugs." I had a bit of trouble but nothing I couldn't handle." She leans in." Can I see it?" Xander smiles and whispers." You could, but then I'd have to kill you." He shrugs." You know how it is with us business men, dog eat dog and all that."
He sits on her desk as they wait to be buzzed in by Hart." I hear you guys got 'creative' while I was dealing with Papa bear and his cub." He ran a finger down her jaw line." Snatched baby bear right from under their noses."
She grins." Yes, we did didn't we." She stands as the door buzz's open." But I'm sure if Mr. Hart wants you to know he'll tell you." She motions for him to enter and he sees Hart just shutting down a monitor that showed Dawn strapped to a table. He turns in his seat and smiles." Ah, Mr. Harris, so glad you came through that mess in one piece."
Xander sat and nodded." I hope you understand that my consumables went up so I'm going to have to revise my expenses." Hart sat back and was about to balk when Xander said." I know you sent Grocer and his 'union' in to both make sure the hit went down as well as trying to save on the final amount by sending me down too."
Hart shrugged." Well what can I say? Some of my personnel are overachievers."
Xander nods." Well then I hope you understand that their actions have just increased the final total by 68%." He handed him a receipt breaking down the total into their respective amounts. Hart smiles as he reads it out." Loss of personal items 2%, unforseen expenditure caused by double booking the assignment 5 %, cost of bribes and associated expenditure to ensure my decamping the scene 10% and finally 51% for aggravation and stress related injuries."
He glances up from the report and nods to Lilah." Assuming you can prove.." Xander undid the bag and let the head roll out on to Hart's desk." Uh.. Okay Lilah process the changes."
Xander watches the old man move to the wet bar and Xander glances at the monitor trying to judge where the cell was. He knew from what Angel had told him that it would be deep inside the old building." Willow." He whispered." We need a hack." A beep was heard in his ear and he knew Willow would be doing her best to hack into the companies system." I'll try and get you a line in."
Xander's PDA beeped and he opened it to reveal confirmation of the deposit into his Cayman Island account. He tapped a few keys, transferred the total amount in his account to several other accounts and then sent them on a whirlwind ride that no one would be able to trace until all the money would end up in one untraceable account. He closed the PDA and smiled at Hart as he handed him a drink."
"Everything as it should be Mr. Harris?"
"Oh everything is just peachy Mr. Hart." He stood and moved away from the head as it stared at him. Hart looked closely into the dead eyes and said." Whom is laughing now Mr. Giles?" His grin froze as one of the contacts fell from the eye to reveal the wrong color. Hart grasped the head and his hands came away with latex, he ripped at it until Grocer's head was revealed. Hart growled and began to turn.
Xander flexed his left hand and a foot long blade emerged, he held it against Hart's throat." This is how it's going to work. Your going to buzz downstairs and tell them to get Dawn prepped for removal.. Tell them the heats coming down on this place and you have to move her quickly, understand?" The man said nothing and Xander drew the blade across his throat drawing a thin trail of blood." OKAY!"
Hart nods and presses the intercom." Lilah, have the 'key' prepped for travel, it appears the white hats are on their way to try and free her." Xander jerked the old man's hand away from the intercom." Good boy, keep it up and you might just live to see the end of days after all."
Hart sat in his seat and temples his hands." I have watched you for a very long time Mr. Harris, we were even grooming you for a high position on our team."
Xander shrugged." Not a team player here Hart, more of your lone wolf type of guy." He moved over to the monitor and told him to bring up her cell. Hart sniggered and complied, Dawn could be seen being uncoupled from the table and herded outside.
"They'll be taking her to the lift about now, to the roof from where she will be offered up to the great God Cathula."
Xander glared at him as the old man sat back." It's her time Mr. Hart, nothing you can do.." A small hole appeared in Hart's forehead and the semi-automatic slid back into its wrist holster after completing its job. Xander shook his right hand and winced." Mother! Okay guys! We have an elevator leaving the sub-basement area and heading up to the roof. Willow over ride the protocols and stop it as close as you can to ground level then lock out all other lifts except the one to Hart's office." He hears the beep and then moves over to the head.
He pokes a finger into Grocer's left eye until he hears a click." I think it's about time you did some good."
Xander left the room backwards." Okay, look I'll get right on it Mr. Hart, and thanks." Xander staggered to Lilah's desk and sighed." Your man Hart is a slave driver honey, could you buzz me a lift so I can get back to work?" Lilah nods and places her hand on the security scanner and the lift doors open. He winks at her as he gets in." Been a blast Lilah, call ya soon."
The doors shut and Xander begins to wiggle his right hand." Man that stings."
Meanwhile in three black vans outside Wolfram and Hart Angel, his gang and the new Scooby's are getting ready. Willow taps the final key then speaks into her mike." Okay the lift has been stopped on level three Xand. When you get there the stairs are to your right. Security is unaware of your..." The van rocked as the top section of Wolfram and Hart was suddenly turned into flying debris." What the hell was that?"
Xander radioed." Grocer lost his head. I'm at level three.. Hold on." Xander saw two men wheeling a trolley out and Xander looked around." What the hell was that man?" He asked one of the guys, but before he could answer Xander pointed his right hand beyond them." Jesus!"
As the two turned the 'stealth' pistol was shot into Xander's hand and he fired one shot into each of their heads." Man are you guys dumb!" He raced over and flexed his left hand causing the foot long blade to appear once more. He cut the restraints from her and helped Dawn to stand." Dawn, honey can you walk?"
Dawn could barely understand what he was saying and she smiled at him." Oh! Iz you, hmm" She rested her head against his chest." My hero." She patted his butt and said." Wanna have some funnnn?"
Xander grinned and said." Normally I'd say a big freaking yes, but now Buffy would skin me alive and hang my remains on the shed door."
She began to fall asleep." Thas good." Xander flexed his left hand and the blade slipped back into its sheath. He lifted her up and grunted." Man why couldn't you have been Buffy!" He ran over to the stairway door and kicked it open." Okay we're on our way down. Get ready cuz we will be coming out hot!"
Angel turned to Gunn and Wesley who cocked back the firing handles of their auto's." Angel team ready Xander." In the other van Giles, Faith and Buffy prepared." Covering team ready Xand." Buffy told him. In the third van Tara opened the side door while Oz started the engine up." Snatch team ready and very willing Xander." Oz told him." And you're going to have to buy a freaking Palace off of me to cover this 'favor' dude!"
Xander smiles." That's a deal Oz, assuming I'm still around to buy the hut." Xander looks out the window in the ground floor door well." Crap! The freaking place is crawling with rent 'a' cops." He sighed." I was sure the explosion would have people charging the front doors to get.." He smiles as the other stairwells empty a hoard of people into the lobby." Okay human nature!"
He feels Dawn mumble and bury herself in his chest." You know I guy could get used to this."
Buffy asks Willow." Are you sure he has his soul? Cuz he's sounding awfully like that asshole I hit."
"Big yuks Buff, I was joking. Jeez try to lighten the moment. .Crap on a crust." I have bandits heading my way. He breathed into Dawn's ear." Honey if we don't make it it won't be from the lack of trying." He winced as the torn muscles in his hand sang back to him when he gripped the gun." Okay ready or not.. I'm going for it." He kicked open the door and shot the closest guard then charged into the remainder."
He sighed when he burst through them and saw the doors being forced open by the crowd of people. Bout ten yards from the SHIT.." He felt a hammer blow to his knee and he went down, keeping a death grip on Dawn. He turned and fired at the three guards shooting at him then stood up, defying his pain he used the old lessons he was taught by experts and channeled the pain to better use. He swung Dawn, and her feet hit a guard getting too close then ran as fast as his wounded leg would allow him.
The guard at the control pannel was shutting the doors and Xander shot him through the head. His gun finally clicked on empty and he dropped it." Come on Dawnie wake up." He shook her and she opened her eyes." Wah?" He shook her harder and she shouted." For the love of Mike I'm UP!" She felt the ground moving under her and she realized she was being carried. She looked back and saw men firing at her.
"Okay...Okay you can wake me up now." She told him then looked down behind her to see a trail of blood leading up to them." I mean it put me down." Xander dropped her and she staggered for a second as he pulled her behind the console. Xander tugged the Glock from the guards holster as Dawn checked on his leg.Xander smiled as he saw his guns under the counter."Told ya I'd be back babies." He handed the guards gun to Dawn and picked his two up,checking the loads then told her."Get ready to book!"
Xander went to stand but she pulled him down." Xander you can't move on that."
Xander looked at her and motioned to the guards firing at them. "I don't think we need to worry about that for now, I think I'm more likely to die of lead poisoning than blood loss." he saw the look of fear in her eyes then put his pistols down and shrugged out of his jacket and threw it to her."Put it on Dawn."Xander could feel the high of adrenolin begin to fade and new the odds of him making outside were very slim.He closed his eyes and thought of the man he used to be and what he had become.
Dawn used the guards belt to tie off the leg and thought she herd Xander say something."What?" She asked.
Xander grinned and said."i said did your sister make good use of the money I sent each month?"
Dawn sighed."I knew it had to be you!" Xander shrugged."If she liked that then she's going to have kittens when she checks her balance tommorrow."Xander touched the button in his pocket."Front door clear?"
"Clear."Faith told him.He took a deep breath and whispered."I am ME realizing my full potential and I'm glad I never paid Oatman for that finall sesion."
He waited for a lull then dived over the counter and hit the button to open the doors. He turned and shot three guards as they tried to intercept them, then told Dawn." Go!!" She hesitated then he pushed her." Don't wait for me sis, you're likely to be left behind!" He kept his body between her and the men firing.
They were at the doors and three vans jumped the curb, forcing the fleeing people out of their way .Oz took center slot while Gunn and Wesley jumped from the left hand side and Buffy, Faith and Giles leapt from the right hand side.
Wesley and Gunn spread their legs and readied to open up with the heavy weapons whilst the others were going to pick and choose their targets. Buffy told the others." I'm not happy with this plan but we're here so let's do it."
She saw Dawn running with Xander covering her and then her heart felt like it had been hit.
Xander fired at the closeing guards but the pair were still inside the building.His eyes met hers and she knew he was about to do something drastic as she saw him mouthe."Goodbye." He turned and emptied the guns, keeping the guards down while Dawn reached outside and freedom. Xander dropped the guns and ran as fast as his wounded leg allowed. He saw Dawn make it to Tara and turn."God damn it! Get in the freaking van!"He was about to yell out to her to keep going when he felt several hammer blows to his back and his world went into a black hole.
Buffy was watching Amy and Oz slow dancing to a very old CD that had somehow survived the riggers of 2016.She sighed." These days kids pop a pill and listen to their rock stars in real 'o' vision. Give me the good old days when you could at least turn it off."
She looked around and was buried in memories as she talked to the Hyper TV reporter." Now where was I?"
The reporter says." You were just telling our viewers how you saved the world for the fifth time when Cathuzla tried to rise from the Hong Kong Hellmouth." Buffy nods then tells her." Hey I'm 38 not 308!" A little girl ran up to her and tugged on her dress." Mommy, Alex won't let me play the G box!"
Buffy grinned then shouted to her other child." Alexander! If you don't let Jessie play then you don't play!" The boy cursed under his breath and removed the dark glasses and gloves holding them out for his sister." Here you go rat."
Buffy sighed and looked at the reporter." Kids! They're our parents revenge." Buffy sat back and said." Yeah, Cathuzla, he was a mean son of a bitch. But it wasn't just me that stopped him; it was the Council of Watchers and the new security team that they employed. Kicked it's ass back to hell, then sealed up the last Hellmouth on earth."
"And then I take it you settled down and had Alex and Jessie?"
Buffy laughed." Hell no! My husband would have run if I left it that late." Her eyes lost their shine as she remembered a dark day just after the reunion of 2009.She moved her hand to the small silver cross on her throat and she told the reporter. "I owe so much to him, he went through hell for us, for me .He even changed time so we could live out this life we have." She looked as if she was far away from the gathering and said. "He remained with us until he was sure Dawn was safe and we managed to get him to a hospital. They said he would never last the night out but he fooled them, he fooled us all."
The reporter turned to the hovering camera." That would be Alexander larvelle Harris."
Buffy stared at her and the reporter suddenly knew how one of the old vampires felt moments before they were staked." That's Lavelle! Alexander Lavelle Harris and you had better not forget it!"
The reporter gulped and tried to change the subject as she saw a man limping towards them. Suddenly Buffy smiled and a sense of serenity washed over her." Yes I know but it just.. Okay. They also said he would never wake from the coma." She turned and held a hand out to the dark haired man as he sat down next to her." As I recall they also said our marriage wouldn't last the week." He smiled at the reporter." You been annoying the press again Buff?"
The reporter saw the man behind the woman that was a legend, a legend himself in darker quarters of the world. Those that knew if you tried to hurt the Slayer or her family you were in for a Universe of hurt. The reporter smiled as the two children sat next to them." Well here we are, the entire Summers-Harris family. Buffy Anne Summers-Harris, hero to a generation." She turned to face the camera." Next week on E-News we talk to Rupert Giles founder of the reformed Watchers Council."
Buffy sighs and leans into Xander and whispers." You're my hero Xander."