Xander's a Hero??!!

Spoilers- up to The Zeppo, S3 but with alternate ending- Jack O'Toole didn't get eaten by Oz, he followed Xander out the door instead.

Disclaimer- In no way do I own the following characters; I just steal them away in the night and make them dance for my amusement. DANCE PUPPET BOY DANCE!

Note- This ended much differently then I originally thought it would, I hope you like it anyway.

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Xander looked around him and sighed contentedly. "This is the life, nice day, plenty of food, hanging with my buds and it's light on the work or world danger."

Buffy grinned and leaned back against the tree under which they had spread their lunchtime picnic. "You're right, I'm loving life right now."

Making a face at the chocolate frosting that had coated her fingers Willow looked up. She shaded her eyes and glanced around at all the students that had taken advantage of the sunny day to congregate outside. "You wouldn't think the world almost ended the other day."

Oz shrugged and grabbed yet another sandwich. "Denial is a wonderful thing."

Buffy watched as he demolished the sandwich. "Yeah well, all I can say is slayer healing is a wonderful thing." She waved her arm, now free of the cast, about. Buffy made a face at Oz. "You know for a short guy you can really eat."

Oz raised an eyebrow. "Side effect, the wolf is always hungry."

Buffy nodded understanding; "Right." She groaned and nudged Xander. "Uh oh Cordelia sighting, 12 o'clock."

Cordelia sauntered over and stopped beside Xander. "Hello all."

Xander smiled up at her. "Hey Cordy, time for your daily insult?"

She faltered. "Umm yes actually."

He patted the spot beside him. "Sit down, you can join the picnic."

Startled Cordy agreed and sat with them. To begin with the conversation was jilted and filled with awkward silences, but they soon fell into the rhythm they once shared. A shadow fell over the happy picnickers. They all looked up, shading their eyes against the harsh sun.

"Jack O'Toole, what can we do for you?" Buffy asked coolly.

Jack sneered down at her. "Nothing right now Summers, but check back in a few hours once I'm done with your buddy. It's actually Harris I've got the beef with."

Xander stood and faced him. "I thought I told you not to show your face around here again, Jack."

Jack laughed. "Yeah, like I was going to listen to you." He poked Xander in the chest. "What can you do to me?"

Xander looked up from examining his fingernails. "You know I could have sworn you had a couple of friends the other night. Wonder what happened to them?"

Jack looked a little less sure of himself. "You got lucky Harris, they were distracted by that demon with all the tentacles."

Xander smirked. "You believe what ever you want to believe Jack."

Buffy looked confused. "What… what are you talking about?"

Jack grinned evilly. "Harris killed 3 of my innocent friends. What do ya think of the golden boy now huh?"

Cordelia stood and placed her hands on her hips, her eyes flashing with anger. "He wouldn't do that, he's not like you."

Xander put a hand on her shoulder. "They were zombies, Cordy."

Cordelia deflated slightly. "Oh so you would do that. Wait, how did you do that?"

Jack rolled his eyes, he was sick of all this talking. He reached forward, pushing Cordelia out of the way and yanking Xander forward. Xander rolled with the movement, his soldier training coming back to him easily. He landed on his feet, unbalancing Jack. Jack growled and charged Xander again, this time Xander stretched out his leg as he sidestepped, tripping Jack before placing his arm in a painful lock.

By this time the fight had drawn quite a crowd. It was unknown for anyone to challenge Jack O'Toole, let alone someone like Xander Harris. A gasp ran through the crowd as Jack wrenched his arm out of the hold and pulled out his hunting knife. He slashed at Xander, who jumped back a feral grin gracing his features. With a lightening fast move Xander kicked out at the knife, causing it to fly out of Jack's hand and imbed itself in the trunk of a nearby tree, just missing Jonathan's head.

Shaking off the look of disbelief Jack swung at Xander. He caught Jack's fist, forcing him to turn his body. Xander lashed out, catching Jack in the side of the head with his open hand. Jack stumbled, and then fell as Xander landed a sidekick to his stomach. He rolled, preparing to rise when he felt a foot in between his shoulder blades.

After securing Jack's hands behind his back Xander hauled him to his feet. He glanced towards his friends, who were frozen in shock. "Hey Buff, can you get that knife out please? Buff? Buffy?"

Buffy, eyes wide with shock, nodded numbly and pulled the out the knife. Jonathan still stood beneath it, shaking and occasionally let out a strangled 'eeep'.

Nudging Jack forward Xander led the way to the library, people stopping to stare as Xander forced Jack down the halls. Jack began to struggle as he was pushed through the library doors. "You're not going to get away with this Harris."

Xander rolled his eyes. "Whatever!"

Giles came rushing out of his office. "Dear lord! What is going on here?"

Xander pushed Jack into a chair. "Jack decided to come back and cause some problems, didn't cha Jack?"

Jack glared at Xander. "I'm gunna get you for this Harris."

Xander snorted. "Yeah, whatever."

Giles grabbed Xander's arm and took him off to the side of the room. "I'm aware that you are having problems with this boy but is all this really necessary?"

Xander shook Giles's hand loose, his face grim. "Look this isn't simple high school revenge. He's a zombie, check for a pulse even."

Giles stopped next to Jack's chair. "Excuse me." Giles took Jack's wrist; he frowned and moved his fingers down the wrist. Giles's frown deepened as he placed two fingers on the side of Jack's neck.

Jack shook off Giles and began to rise from the chair. "This is ridiculous, I'm out of here." His shirt pulled tight, emphasizing the bullet wounds on his chest.

Giles pushed him back into his chair. "I don't think so. You're going to tell us what you are doing here."

Unnoticed by the others Xander slipped out of the library, suddenly not caring what Jack was planning. The others could handle it anyway. Xander walked quickly through the halls; he just didn't want to be here right now.

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Giles stood over Jack, who was scowling and refusing to answer any questions. Giles frowned at him and turned back to the others. "Willow, Oz, you two go into the stacks and find those books on the reanimated dead. Buffy, in my office there is a watchers journal on my desk and Cordelia, some rope if you would be so kind?"

The four turned to follow their orders but were stopped by a sharp scream of pain. They turned back, but only saw Jack whimpering in his chair and Giles calmly cleaning his glasses.

Jack whimpered again. "Alright, I'll talk. Just… don't do that again."

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Silence reigned in the library, each Scooby consumed by their thoughts. Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it with a snap. Cordelia had taken to pacing the library floors; she stopped. "Are you sure you have the right Xander Harris?"

Buffy shot her a look. "Because there are so many in Sunnydale."

Cordelia sighed irritably. "It just doesn't sound like him, that's all."

"Doesn't it?" Willow questioned. "I mean we all pushed him away and you know what Xander gets like when we do that."

Oz just raised an eyebrow in agreement and rubbed Willow's back.

Giles put his hands in his pockets. "I think we all underestimated Xander. We should be careful not to do so again."

Jack snorted and mumbled to himself. Buffy looked over at him. "So what do we do with ungrateful dead over here?"

"Umm?" Giles looked up, slightly unfocused. "Oh, just kill him."

Buffy smiled. "Okie dokie."

Jack scrambled out of his chair and ran for the door. With the air of someone with all the time in world Buffy got out of her chair and grabbed a throwing axe. Casually she let it fly, catching Jack at the neck just as he had reached the doors. His head toppled off his body, rolling until it hit the leg of the table.

Buffy leaned against the table. "So what do we do now? We can't just pretend we don't know."

Giles smiled slightly. "We trust him to do what's right."

Cordelia sniffed disdainfully. "Xander?"

Giles swung around to glare mildly at her until she lowered her gaze to the floor. Giles stared into space. "I believe there's a lot more to that boy then meets the eye."