Summary: Ten Years Gone...

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Buffyverse except what I have created in original characters.

Feedback: Rean of the Coilm

Pre-fic Comments:

I hate plotbunnies. I hate plotbunnies I get from thinking about stinking challenges.

Somewhat unauspiciously, due to the naming convention on my hard drive, this file is named 'btvs.au.13.01.txt'. Note the 13.

* * *

"Few creatures of the night have captured our imagination like vampires... "What explains our enduring fascination with vampires? What is it about the vampire myth that explains our interest? Is it the overtones of sexual lust,power,control... Or is it a fascination with the immortality of the undead? "And what dark & hidden parts of our "psyche" are aroused & captivated by the legends of the undead? The mysteries of the undead will continue to fascinate the living."

- 'Vampires', Godsmack

* * *

Buffy hated university. This was partly due to having to drop out to earn a living for herself and her sister, but also due to the fact that 'varsity students tended to have far too much time on their hands to summon demons and raise hell.

She couldn't avoid this one, though. Willow had tracked Xander down to this little university in New Zealand, and they needed him.

She also needed to find him, which was easier said than done.

"Excuse me, but where's the reception?," Buffy asked a passing student.

The student paused. "You mean the Registry?"

"Uh, sure, the reception, registry, whatever you call it here," Buffy said. "I just wanna find someone."

"The Registry is the big building at the end of Concourse, near the Library and the student building," the student explained, pointing towards the Registry.

"Uh, okay, thanks," Buffy said, not really any wiser.

Eventually, she found the Registry, where all administrative activities happened. The Slayer had somehow managed to get the lady behind the desk to tell her where to find 'Alexander L. Harris' -- the English department. Figured. She couldn't see him in the mathematics department.

After half an hour, she managed to find his office.

If she ever caught up with whoever designed these places... well, they'd better be human for /their/ sake.

The Vampire Slayer nervously knocked on the door, which had 'BSC2.33 - A L HARRIS' marked on it.

"Enter," a familiar voice said.

She did, rather enthusiastically. The door swung too far, hitting a bookshelf and causing many tomes to make a valiant leap for the escape of the door, only to lose steam at the floor.

"I hope you're going to pick those up, Buffy," Xander said. "Shut the door."

The Slayer did so. As she picked up the books, she began noticing a theme.

"Mythology Of The Urals... The Cathayans... Rumours Of Cain... Xander, are you channeling Giles?," Buffy asked. "And why did you disappear for ten years, anyway?"

Xander stood up. He was dressed in a pair of jeans, and a white teeshirt with a german man holding a stein on it. "Gee, I don't know, Buffy."

"We need your help, Xander," Buffy said.

"The Slayer needs /my/ help?," Xander asked. "The universe must be getting sick of using me as a rugby ball."

"Rugby?," the Slayer asked. "Uh, never mind. You have to come back, /now/."

"Why?," the former Scooby asked. "You've got a thousand Slayers. You don't need a one eyed former chippie."

"Giles... Giles is dying," Buffy said.

* * *

She was surprised at how quickly Xander started packing once he heard that. Eventually, he had a suitcase with a laptop, some papers and a change of clothes packed.

"Uh... that was quick," Buffy said. "Don't you have students to lecture or something?"

"We're in the summer semester," Xander explained. "Most students are either here for 'hard' stuff, or working during the summer break. Have you got a flight booked?"

"Sure," Buffy said.

The one eyed scholar turned off the lights in his office, locking the door behind him. He quickly moved to the English Head of Department, explaining that he had a 'family emergency.'

"I'm sorry to hear that, Alex," the HoD said.

"So'm I," Xander said. "I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I will be."

"Okay," the HoD said. "I'll keep your office assigned to you, as long as you return in time for the first semester."

And then they went to the airport.

* * *

Post-fic Comments:

I have no idea if americans call carpenters 'chippies' or not. Hehe, we NZ'ers call electricians 'sparkies'.