Joss owns it all. I'm just visiting. Takes place 3 years after season 7

Chapter 1: Where are you?

Xander hung his car keys on a hook inside his small kitchen and ran a hand through his hair. Today was the day. It had been three years since he'd come out and left Sunnydale. Three and a half years since they had put down The First. He hadn't talked to his friends since he had left. He missed them.

"Hey boy." Xander patted the German Shepard on the head. "Dad's gotta get dinner ready before Jake gets home." Xander threw some pre-made hamburgers on the grill as he heard the roar of his partner's truck pull into the driveway.

"Alex I thought you were going to get all of that wood out of the yard today." Jake griped as he entered the house, throwing a bucket in the sink.

Xander looked at the man before him. He was about three inches taller than the former zeppo. He had dirty blonde hair and green eyes, which were hard to see under the cowboy hat.

"I was going to but you took the truck."

"It's not my responsibility to make sure you get your work done Al." He gave Xander a rough kiss and popped open a beer. Xander cringed. Jake and beer was always bad.

"I'll get it done tomorrow."

"Damn right you will. When will dinner be ready?"

"Soon. I ah…I have burgers on the grill and I'm going to throw some baked beans on the stove."

"Is that it?" Jake asked slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, I worked a ten hour day at the site while you were fishing." Xander answered shortly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Jake asked with his back to Xander.

"I'm just tired." The punch came to fast for Xander to duck. He staggered backwards and caught himself on the countertop.

"Watch your tone." Jake warned simply.

"I'm sorry." Xander rubbed his face. "What else would you like for dinner?"

"Why don't you whip up some of that potato salad huh? I'll help you." Jake smiled at Xander and began to peel potatoes.

"Look Red, just do it." Spike paced back and forth through the Summer's living room.

"Spike I would but I promised Xander that we would leave him be until he was ready."

"But I know something is wrong with the whelp. I need to find him! If you just arse about it'll bloody well be too late." Spike slammed himself into a chair.

"How do you know that something is wrong with him?" The witch questioned.

"I just do." Spike huffed.

"I don't understand. Spike you haven't so much as mentioned Xander in the last three years. Why are you getting so obsessive-y now?" Spike scowled at her. "OK, OK I wont ask."

"Will you do the spell?" His voice was desperate.

It took Willow time to answer. "…fine. I'll do it but, you have to promise me that if you find him and nothing is wrong you will leave him alone." She flashed her infamous resolve face.

"Cross my un-beating heart."

"Check with me in an hour."

"Did the hocus pocus work?" Spike asked, finding Willow in her bedroom.

"Yeah. He's outside of Cody, Wyoming." She handed him a piece of paper. "You should be able to find him."

"Thank you." He turned to leave.

"Spike…"

"Yeah luv?'

"If you get to see him, tell him that we love him." A look of hurt flushed her face.

"Will do."

"When will you leave?"

"Tonight, try not to mention it to the slayer."

"Consider it not mentioned."

Spike stopped his car behind a clump of trees in the middle of no-where Wyoming. Xander was in the house that sat just a few hundred yards away. Spike could pick up on faint yelling. The vampire crept up to the window of the living room. A tall man was screaming.

"God damn it Alex. Look at this house it's fucking disgusting!" Jake grabbed Xander by the shoulders and hurled him onto the floor. Xander's head hit the concrete with a loud crack.

Spike could see all of the bruises and cuts that littered his boy's neck and face. He pounded on the window to no avail.

"Jake I'm sorry I didn't have ti…." Jake began undoing his belt.

"I knew that you were worthless! I knew! All I ask is that you take care of the house and you cant even do that! You have to learn Alex!"

"Jake no! Please!…" Xander's face held a sense of fear unlike anything Spike had ever seen. His stomach rolled as he helplessly watched the belt breed new marks into the already raw back of the man he was supposed to be saving. A signal tear ran down his cheek.

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