Xander sucked the deep air in to his lungs as he ran in the early hours of the morning. Running in front of him was Jessica. She was one of the newest members to the A squad. She was only called as a slayer a year ago and still relatively green but when it came to running she could easily do circles around Xander.

The other members of A squad ran ahead of them for the morning jog with Buffy as usual taking the lead. It had been 3 weeks since the battle of Gormagon. 3 weeks since Xander had gotten a good night sleep. It seemed so long ago.

Hours before they had all gone in to battle at the old Church over the Cleveland Hellmouth Angel made sure he had gone over the battle plans with everyone. Under no circumstance would Gormagon be killed with the blood dagger. The power was too much and it was rooted in so much darkness. Xander could still hear Angel's words in his head.

"Buffy, Spike and I are going to be the ones to engage Gormagon. It's nothing personal there is just to much to risk.. This power has been used for Generations. This power has been the source of so much pain, torture and death. Once and for all it's time we destroy the power itself. The only one's near Gormagon will be us because." He shook his head "Because this power is to great to trust and I can't take a chance that someone might decide in a wild moment that power is something they could really use."

It seemed funny to Xander at the time. Angel was so paranoid. Xander trusted everyone he worked with. If you couldn't trust them then what the hell were they doing in battle with you. As far as Angel was concerned all it would take was one power hungry slayer and all would be lost.

As Xander and the slayers ran through the town he spotted the old broken stop light in the intersection. That stoplight was his one mile marker. It meant he only had one mile left. As much as he hated thinking about it his mind couldn't stop thinking about Gormagon. He saw the final battle in his mind. It was the only thing he saw when he closed his eyes.

The 12 foot beast known as Gormagon looked like he could be big brother to the Incredible Hulk. Xander knew engaging this beast in a battle was a war he couldn't win but that didn't stop him Especially when he saw Gormagon's massive hands wrapped around Buffy's neck. He knew he had no choice.

As he charged Gormagon the demon laughed at him. The beast was mortal but that didn't mean he wasn't a massive killing machine. Xander picked up the only weapon he could find and started swinging it at Gormagon. He picked up a broken piece of church pew Xander used as a club.

The beast laughed at him and dropped Buffy turning his attention to the boy. Angel and Spike were both so badly beaten by Gormagon they were long since out of the battle. As Xander reached back he swung the club but Gormagon caught it this time with his bare hand. He crushed the wood like it was a cookie. Xander looked up at the beast with fear as Gormagon grabbed him in a bear hug. Xander could feel his ribs crunch as the vice like grip was applied. He could feel blood pouring freely from his wounds. Xander howled in pain. He growled "You son of bitch. If' I'm going to die you are going with me."

With the last of his strength Xander pulled a simple remote detonator from his pocket and blew out a 40 foot hole in the middle of the church.

Finally Xander was given the much needed distraction he wanted. As he entered the gates of the school Xander heard Buffy calling out. "Okay come on Xander finish strong." Jessica was the last slayer to finish the jog and she had been done for almost 2 minutes. Xander's legs felt numb but he pushed hard and finished as Buffy and the other slayers applauded as he arrived at the end point.

Xander leaned against the brick wall of the school just wanting to catch his breath. Buffy walked to her friend "Good job Xander."

He just nodded sucking wind. The other slayers didn't look nearly as winded but then again they are slayers after all. Buffy took command. "Okay Girls good run. Hit the showers." The group took off as Buffy stood by her oldest friend. "You know Xander you don't have to do this right."

Xander shook his head. "Buffy it's okay. It's not the worst thing in the world to get a little exercise. Besides you need me on this run. I help boost morale."

She smiled at her friend. "Would love to hear this one." She reached down in to her bag and pulled out bottled water for herself and Xander.

Xander twisted the top and too a drink. "As long as I am out here none of the girls have to feel bad. I mean think about it they never have to come in last."

Buffy laughed and shook her head. "So I think we need to talk."

"About?"

Buffy looked around making sure no one was listening. "You are still thinking about Gormagon."

"I know I should let it go. I know I am over reacting."

"Xander you almost died. What you faced with Gormagon is the stuff nightmares are made of."

"Buffy it's not just what I faced." This time it was Xander who looked around to make sure no one was listening. "If Angel or Giles find out about the ritual. I mean. Buffy shook her head trying to reassure him. "Xander if it hadn't been done you would have died."

"I get that but what if the darkness that is supposed to come with Gormagon's powers."

"You don't have any powers Xander. Think about it. What ever Gormagon had in him you needed to use just to heal you."

Xander bit his lip unsure. "I don't know Buffy."

"Xander I do know. I saw how badly you were hurt. You were seconds from dying. So what ever power Gormagon had balanced out just to save your life."

"But what if I wake up tomorrow and I'm this twisted evil that is all powerful."

"Xander you just got beat in a 5 mile run by 16 girls. One of them was 14 year old."

He laughed and took another sip of his water. "Okay so maybe I'm not super powered but we are still not completely in the clear here."

Buffy nodded and walked along side Xander. She opened the gym door to the school as they started walking in. She lowered her tone as she talked. "I know we will have to explain the truth eventually but I think we should just wait a little longer. The last thing we want is Angel and Giles angry and claiming that you are the beast incarnate."

Xander nodded in a agreement. "Sound good for now."

Buffy smiled "You want to grab some late breakfast or an early lunch?"

"I can't. I told Hope we would go to the mall."

Buffy stopped and turned standing in front of him. "You are going to the mall? Wow the whole boyfriend mall trip. That is kind of a big step."

"Tell me about it. You have the whole carrying of the bags. Sitting while she tries on clothes and I tell her what I think. This is not an easy task."

Buffy laughed a little. "Sounds fun,"

Xander shook his head "Not even a little bit."

Xander stepped away heading the opposite direction as Buffy. She sighed. "So I'll touch base with you later in the day about tonight's battle strategy."

He just nodded. "See you then." He went to his room and grabbed a change of clothes. He didn't want to see Hope dressed in his smelly sweaty work out clothes. He grabbed his clothes and went in to the bathroom. As he pulled off the clothes he looked in the single mirror hanging on the wall. He rubbed his hands over his face looking at the eye patch on his face.

Buffy's words still rang out in his mind. Maybe she was right. He was seconds from death and Gormagon's powers no matter how strong it would take a whole lot to even keep him alive. The powers did heal him of every scratch, broken bone and drop of blood lost in the days battle. It didn't just heal that days wound though.

He pulled off his eye patch laying it down on the sink. Years ago the twisted priest gouged out his eye in one moment that changed his life forever. What Caleb took from Xander, Gormagon's power had returned. Looking back in the mirror Xander could see with both of his eyes. He reached up touching his eyelid. It still seemed unreal to him.

Eyes don't just grow back though. Which is why he wore the eye patch. Him and Buffy needed to come up with a way to explain how it happened and so far they had nothing. He shook his head and started the water in his shower. He closed his eyes and let water wash away the sweat and pain. One thought haunted him. Maybe he didn't inherit the powers that came with Gormagon but could he have inherited the darkness?