Xander Gets His Due - An Insert For "Checkpoint"
[Cole's Note: It always has bothered me how little recognition Xander receives. He is NOT just clocking "field time," and he is NOT merely "the one who sees." Xander is one who saves. He repeatedly rescues his friends. He saves the world singlehandedly at least twice. Yet he is presented as the Scooby Gang's weakest link. Nigel's derisive challenge to Xander's Scooby qualifications in Checkpoint presented an opportunity to give Xander his due. I take that opportunity here.]
"What about the boy?" Nigel asked distainfully. "He has no special powers."
"Xander?" Buffy glared incredulously. "I thought you said you were going to interview my friends?"
"We did." Nigel drew himself up haughtily. "In fact, I interviewed Xander myself."
"Well, did he tell you about the time that he snuck into the Master's lair and brought me back from the dead?"
Nigel's eyes widened. He gaped up at Xander, his worldview shaken. Anya and Willow each covered one of Xander's hands with her own, and smirked smug pride down at Nigel.
"No." Nigel directed a raised eyebrow Xander's way. "He didn't mention that."
Xander shrugged apologies.
"How about the night two weeks ago, when the powerful witch and 1,000-year-old former demon," Buffy pointed at Willow and Anya in turn, "were down, and Xander held off an angry ogre with his bare hands until help could arrive?"
Buffy scanned the room, staring down each Watcher in turn.
"How could you not know these things? Aren't you supposed to be the research geniuses? Did you even ask?"
The Watchers focused accusingly on Nigel.
"I asked." Nigel flustered. "I did!" He snapped at the other Watchers defensively, then peered back at Xander, visibly perplexed. "He didn't tell me."
"No." Buffy said, looking up to meet Xander's eyes. "He probably didn't."
Her lips twisted with wry tenderness. "He probably forgot. Xander is the bravest, most resourceful person I've ever met. And he doesn't even know it."
She glowered at Nigel. "True, he doesn't have super strength or magical powers. But he's always there when I – when we – need him. No matter what. And he FINDS a way to help."
Buffy paused, then continued slowly. "He's the best of us." She realized for the first time.
Xander startled. Anya and Willow squeezed his hands in agreement.
"And if you can't see the value of that." She spat contemptuously at Nigel. "If you can't see the value of HIM, then you're blind."
Buffy smiled mocking sweetness.
"Which makes you a pretty lousy Watcher, doesn't it?"
Abashed, Nigel refused to meet her gaze.