CHAPTER TWO

Xander confidently stepped from the Council jet and onto the tarmac of the Milan airport. "I'm harder to shake than you would think," Rolph stated as he approached.

Xander's eyes went wide. "How did you beat the jet?" Xander asked angrily.

"Your jet wasn't exactly flying at full speed," Rolph replied before punching Xander in the jaw and sending him to his knees. "For shooting me."

"You hit like a girl," Xander said before looking away. "A Slayer." He whispered the last part. Rolph offered his hand and helped him up.

"I'm sorry," Rolph said honestly.

"Pilot," Xander said with spite. "I need more of My own people."

"More?" Rolph questioned.

Xander turned. Four figures, all armed, were approaching, weapons aimed at Rolph. "Don't shoot," Xander said. "He's actually my friend."

"So you're as infuriating as ever," the leader, a woman stated as they all lowered their weapons.

Rolph looked from the approaching team to Xander with wide eyes. "Meet my team," Xander stated. Rolph's mouth dropped open slightly.

"This is a little public for this," the woman said. She waved her arm and a large SUV came across the tarmac and stopped next to the group. "Let's load up. We can talk later."

"Thank you for coming," Xander said honestly.

"Your wish…..," she replied.

i*****

"You're Riley Finn's wife," Rolph said with confusion.

"I am, I was," Sam replied sadly. "He died."

"I'm sorry," Rolph responded sincerely. He turned to the young woman. "And you're a Slayer."

"Jenny," the girl replied.

Rolph turned to Xander. "You hid an entire ops team and a Slayer from the Council….and ME," he asked angrily.

"Xander did us a solid," Graham, Sam's number one stated strongly.

"The government burned us after using us on an illegal and exceedingly immoral op," Sam said. "It cost me my husband, and could have cost us all. We needed someplace to go, to disappear for a while. I remembered Riley's friends. And I had heard about the Council transformation. I took a chance and made a call." She looked at Xander. "He saved our lives."

"He does that," Rolph said as he shook his head. "And you did all of this in secret?"

"Don't be mad at him," Sam said. "I asked."

"I'm not nearly as mad as I am disappointed in myself and the entire Council security apparatus," Rolph replied. "How did you do it?"

"You don't want to know," Xander replied. "And I'd rather not say. You were never supposed to know about this team. Not you. Not anyone. They are still on the most wanted list of the NSA, CIA, FBI, Fox News…."

"Fox New?" Rolph questioned.

"Like they aren't just another government terror organization," Xander said without any sarcasm,

Rolph tilted his head and nodded. "No one knows?" Rolph asked. "Not Buffy? Or Giles? Dawn?" Faith?"

"No one," Xander replied. "Giles wouldn't have understood. Buffy. I don't know what Buffy cares about anymore. Dawnie would have been hurt. And Faith. She may have wanted to join. I didn't want that."

"And how is a Slayer off the books?" Rolph asked.

"She died," Xander replied. "Right after orientation."

"Horrible car wreck," Jenny stated with a sly smile.

Rolph was shaking his head. "I am so beyond disappointed in myself," he stated.

"You get used to it," Xander replied. "And that was the last of your twenty questions. Where's Faith?"

"We pulled the cell records for the city," Marcus, another member of Sam's team stated.

"How do you have access to that?" Rolph questioned. "You government codes still work?"

"We have a lot of identities," Sam replied. "As I'm sure you did when you were NSA."

"I KNEW it," Xander said as he pointed.

"I worked for State," Rolph responded.

"I'm sure," Sam replied.

"We worked for Weights and Measures," Graham stated.

"No secrets from the president, huh?" Xander asked Rolph directly.

"Not mine to give," Rolph replied.

"Neither was theirs," Xander said pointedly. Rolph nodded.

"We should get some rooms and start working on this," Sam stated.

"You do that," Xander replied. "I want her last location. I'm going there."

"This is not a day trip to Seattle," Rolph replied. "Besides whatever supernatural thing that might be going on here, this is a foreign city. Street gangs. Unforgiving local police. No offense, but you look like a weak American mark."

"Try me," Xander replied powerfully.

"Maybe not," Sam said, "against a couple vamps or a single mugger. What about two guys, with guns? Or a nest of demons?"

"We NEED to find her….NOW!" Xander shouted.

"And we, you, need to do this smart," Rolph replied.

"You can't go John Wayning it all over the city," Sam added. "You have no idea whether that would put her or you in danger."

"Maybe this whole thing was to draw out the president," Jenny suggested.

"She has a valid point," Rolph said.

"You seem to be working way better together than I expected," Xander said unhappily.

"Let's get some rooms and take it from there," Sam said.

i*****

"Where do you think you're going?" Jenny asked from the bed nearest the door as Xander tried to open it.

"Shhh," he said, putting a finger to his lips and glancing at the two men sleeping on the floor. "I need to check something."

"We're doing this in shifts," she said. "They're working on this next door."

"We need info," he replied. "Boots on the ground info."

She smiled crookedly. "We're meeting up with the others in two hours," she said. "We'll form a strategy then."

"I'll be back before then," Xander replied.

"I can't let you go," she said plainly.

"You still work for me, don't you?" he asked.

"I work for Sam," she replied. "And Sam told me not to let you leave."

"Her trail is getting cold," he said. "Try to stop me." He reached for the door knob.

"STOP!" she yelled as she leapt from the bed. The two sleeping men awoke, guns ready. She yanked Xander's arm, hard.

"Owww," he said angrily. "What are you doing?"

"Stopping you from blowing yourself up," she said. "The door is wired."

"What?" Xander asked with shock. "Why?"

"Standard procedure in an unknown, unsecured location," Graham stated as he approached, pushing Xander back and away from the door.

"I didn't know," Xander replied.

"Let's go check the progress of the others," Jenny stated, "as long as we're all up."

"I'm sorry," Xander said. "I just wanted to…Do something."

"How well does that usually work for you?" Carlos asked.

"I've stopped seven apocalypses," Xander replied. "Eight if you count L.A."

"You negotiated a peace," Graham said. "Not exactly a win."

"The city is still standing," Xander replied.

Xander walked over and opened the door that joined the two rooms. "What did you do?" Rolph asked immediately.

"Someone remove the explosives from the door so I can leave," Xander stated. "We've wasted enough time."

"We've traced most of her movements for the past few weeks," Sam said, ignoring him.

"Anything suspicious?" Graham asked.

"More like surprising," Sam replied. "It appears she was on a typical vacation. She saw the sights."

"She told me she was learning," Xander said softly.

"It appears that she was back in her respective hotel rooms early almost every night," Red, another of Sam's team, stated.

"Alone," Rolph added pointedly.

"What happened Here?" Xander questioned.

"Museums, art gallery, historical sites," Sam said, "according to her cell phone movement. But, the morning she was scheduled to leave for Seattle, she was in a very Bad part of the city." She glanced at Rolph.

"Her phone never left," he stated.

"I'm going there now," Xander said through clenched teeth. "I don't care if you have other plans. And if you try to stop me, you'll have to shoot me." His voice had become very shaky, but the resolve showed through.

"Gear up everyone," Sam stated, before looking to Rolph. "Your show or mine?"

"I'm a guest," he replied as he looked to Xander unhappily. "And guard."

"I don't need a babysitter," Xander stated. Rolph looked directly into Xander's eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I probably don't even know a percent of what you've done for me. I just need to do SOMETHING!"

"You are the President of the Council," Rolph stated. "And there is No One on this planet that needs to stay protected more than you."

"I don't need your protection," Xander said honestly. "I just need your help. We have to find her. We have to find out what happened. Or nothing else matters." Sam looked down. Jenny quickly wiped a tear from her eye.

"We'll trace her movements more intensely from that day," Graham stated looking to Red and Carlos. "See if we can bring up any camera footage."

"Thank you," Sam replied before looking to Xander. "We'll go the Minas Hotel."

"Did she stay in nice places?" Xander asked.

"No," Sam said. Rolph shook his head quickly. "She stayed in 'inexpensive' places."

"I would have paid for the Ritz in any city," Xander said as he swallowed hard multiple times.

"Let's move," Sam commanded. They gathered their backpacks and duffle bags. She glanced at Xander. He moved closer to her.

i*****

"I am SO sorry," Xander said softly as he walked next to Sam.

"DON'T," Sam replied quietly with a clenched jaw.

"I love you," he continued.

"Stop Now!" she said. "I get it. I'm not a child. I knew exactly what I was doing. And I knew where it would go."

"I doubt that," he replied sadly.

"It was what I think we Both needed at the time," she said. "I don't regret it. Do you?"

"God no," he replied. "But I didn't want to hurt you. "I'm sorry."

"DON'T YOU DARE!" she tried strongly to stay quiet. "I love you, Xander Harris. But, Unbelievably, I think you have a destiny with someone else. At the time, I thought it was Buffy. You have a destiny with Faith."

"I don't," he said as his voice quivered. "She's a friend. And I'm just a boss. A one eyed boss. She can have anyone. So can you."

"So can you," she replied quickly. "You're the president of one of the largest corporations on the planet. And you have more money that most people even dream about. If you want a supermodel, make a call. But, being able to have anyone isn't the same thing as being able to have that someone. You and Faith have a chance. I had my chance with Riley. No one else will ever be the same. But that's part of life. And you go on."

"I need you to be honest with me," he stated. "I need you to be Sam, team leader, monster hunter for one question. Is she still alive?"

Sam stopped walking and turned to him. "Honestly," she said as she looked into his real eye. "I don't know. I think so. I think a ghost would be able to stay longer or not be able to travel to you. I'm not the person you should be talking to about this. You need Willow."

"I love Willow," he stated. "She's been my best friend for ninety five percent of my life. But she will only be happy Faith is gone. And she has that right."

"If you tell her how you feel, she'll help," Sam replied.

"She'll only get mad, really mad," he responded at they started walking again. "And a mad Willow is not usually a good thing to have around."

"This is it," Sam said. "Eighteen Via Pietro Calvi."

"I need penicillin just looking at this building," he stated. "This isn't a hotel."

"It's a hostel," Sam replied.

"Why would she stay here?" he asked sadly. "If she needed money, I would have given her Anything. She didn't have to vacation like this. It's a crap hole."

"Riley and I went to Orlando for a week," she replied. "We barely saw our motel. All we needed was a bed and a shower. And that's what this is."

"She didn't have to live like this," he said.

"You've been a little sheltered these past few years," Sam replied. "Most of the world would kill for this."

He turned and looked into her eyes. "The Council needs to fix that," he stated plainly.

She smiled wide. "You really are an amazing leader," she said honestly. "We need to talk to these people without spooking anyone. Do you want to wait out here?"

"Nope," he replied as he pushed past her and entered the building. "Anyone here speak English?" Every head within earshot turned. He reached into his coat pocket and produced a very large wad of cash. Sam closed her eyes, shook her head, and clenched her jaw. "I need to know if anyone has seen this girl." He held up a picture with his other hand.

He was instantly mobbed by college kids hungry for party money. "Yeah man," a guy in a t-shirt and shorts reeking of pot and alcohol slurred. "She's hot."

"When did you see her?" Xander asked, keeping the money clear. Sam eyed the room warily.

"Last night, man," pot breath stated. "Or this morning. Hard to keep track."

"You talk to her?" Xander asked.

"Of course," he said lasciviously.

"Get lost," Xander replied.

"What?" the guy asked angrily. "I want my money."

"If you talked to her, you'd be sporting some broken bones," Xander replied. "You're wasting my time. Get lost."

The drunken mess suddenly stood a lot taller. "Give me the money before you get hurt," the pot breath said much more sober than a moment ago. Sam's entire body tightened.

Xander chuckled as he put Faith's picture between his lips and quickly reached behind him. He produced a weird looking gun and pointed it at the guy's chest. "Walk away," Xander said as he retrieved the picture from his mouth.

"Or you'll shoot me with your bb gun.?" The guy asked, looking to some friends for props.

"Good night," Xander said as he fired a dart into the man's shoulder. Pot breath looked at him strangely before crumpling to the floor.

"Anyone else tired?" Xander asked the room. Most of the spectators cleared out.

"That was just great," Sam said angrily. "We need to go now before I need to plan a prison break."

"Um," a small female voice came from across the room. "I think I may have seen her."

It was the young girl behind the reception desk. Xander approached. "We need to go, NOW," Sam said as she reached for his arm. He yanked free.

"You saw her?" he asked.

"Can I see the picture?" the girl asked in English with a strong Italian accent. Xander placed the gun back in his waistband and handed her the picture.

"She was here for two nights," the girl replied. "Very nice but quiet."

"Do you know when she left?" Sam questioned.

"It's pretty crazy busy in here most days," she replied. Busy sounded liked beezy. "Last night, I went to check if she was going to be extending her stay. She wasn't there. Her pack was gone."

"Did she ever say where she was going next?" Xander asked.

"No," the girl replied. "Scusa. Sorry."

"If you think of anything else or if she comes back," Xander asked, "could you call? He handed her a business card and a folded hundred dollar bill."

"Grazie," she replied. Xander nodded.

"We need to go, now," Sam said urgently. Sirens could be heard in the distance, and they were getting louder. "GO! I'll meet you across the street."

"What are you going to do?" he asked.

"Clean up your mess," she replied. He raised his eyebrows. "Go!"

Xander left. Sam walked over and pulled the dart from pot breath's shoulder. She glanced around the room for any cameras. Not seeing any she left. The girl behind the desk watched her finally leave. She walked into the small office behind her and closed the door.

i*****

Xander waited anxiously across the street. He relaxed as he saw Sam exit the hostel. She glanced across the street at him as the first police car arrived. She tilted her head. They both headed north. She met him two blocks away from the hostel. "Let's head back to the hotel," she said. "See what the others found."

"She lied," Xander stated.

"I know," she replied.

"What?" he questioned. "How do you know?"

"Her eyes, her movements didn't fit the situation," she replied. "How did you know?"

"I don't know why I have this ability," he replied, "but I can feel magics. And that place was vibrating off the charts."

"What do you want to do?" she asked.

"We need to call Willow," he replied. "Something's going on. It's bigger than a girl lying to us. And Faith is somehow right in the middle of it."

"I'll call the others," she stated.

"No," he replied. "Face to face for now. Until we know what we're dealing with."

She started to walk away and stopped. "Let's go," she said.

"I'm staying here," he replied.

"No, you're not," she said quickly.

"Our best lead is in that building," he replied. "I'm gonna make sure she doesn't leave."

"The police are already looking for you," she stated. "You and I need to clear out of here. If you want this place watched, someone else has to do it." Xander started to reach his hand behind him. Sam grabbed his wrist tightly. "I Will break it."

"What?" he questioned with mock confusion.

"Touch that gun," she stated, "I'll snap the bone. I love you, but I won't let you get yourself arrested or killed. And I DON'T feel like sleeping for the next four hours."

"That really hurts," he replied coldly. As she released his arm, he stomped off.

She sighed and shook her head before moving quickly to catch up. "I'm sorry," she said. "I can't let you get hurt or worse."

He stopped and turned. "I not a super," he said softly. "I'm not a soldier. Faith needs help. She needs someone way better than me to save her. You proved that ten seconds ago."

Sam tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and sighed. "You will save her," Sam said, "if that's what she needs. But, you're wrong. You are a super. You felt the magic. That's a Real lead. And it's important."

"I need to get back in there," he said.

"If magic is involved," she replied, "you'll just get yourself or her or both of you killed. You're on their radar now. What we need is magical help. Jenny's got some skills, but if you felt major mojo, she won't be enough."

"I'll call Willow," he acquiesced.

"Go back to the hotel," she stated. "I'll stay."

He looked at her questioningly. "I'm not risking you either," he said emphatically.

"This is what I do," she said. "I can disappear in plain sight. You go….straight back to the hotel. Send someone here. PROMISE you'll go straight to the hotel."

"I promise," he said. "You stay out of sight. And wait for backup. I can't lose anyone else I care about." He turned and started to walk away. Then, he stopped. "You're turn to promise. You're not expendable. No one in the Council is. I'm sorry I didn't do better by you. Don't do something stupid for me."

She walked up to him and leaned her mouth to his ear. "I love you too," she said. "And you do great with me. You are the best friend I have ever had. You've protected me and my team for years. And you were there for me when I really needed someone. No regrets. And I Will help you get her back."

"Promise," he stated.

"I promise to help y….," she started to say.

"PROMISE!" he said strongly.

"I won't get myself killed," she said. "I promise." He turned and walked away.

i*****

After closing the office door, the girl walked to what looked like a closet door and opened it revealing stone steps that led down to a dimly lit cellar below. She descended the uneven stairs carefully. The small room was dank and mossy and reeked of mold and mildew. Trickles of water ran down two of the walls and the distinct sound of dripping water could be heard in the distance. "He is dangerous," a deep, dark voice came from the darkness.

"Who?" she questioned.

"That boy," the voice replied as it stepped forward into the light streaming down from the office above. He wore a cheap black suit but it seemed to shimmer with electricity and power.

"He's looking for her," she stated as she looked past him to the iron cage built into the stone walls. A figure lay on the damp stone floor.

"He's Council," the man stated. "And he has magicks in him."

"You need to get her out of here," the girl said.

"You do not tell me what to do," he said threateningly.

"I need this place," she replied as her face morphed into the face of a very ancient vampire. "If they come…."

"Master will come for her tonight," the man warned. "You keep them out of here or you will no longer be of use."

"Neither will you," she replied, licking her tongue across the sides of her two inch fangs. "And I've been on this planet much longer than you."

"I will get the mystic to strengthen the shield," he stated.

"Good," she replied. "Cause I'm hungry, and there is a new batch of arrivals due at dusk."

i*****

"He's on his way back," Sam said into her phone.

"He was," Rolph replied. "Not anymore."

"DAMN IT!" Sam shouted, startling a man passing her on the street.

i*****

Xander entered the rear of the building and quickly made his way to the lobby. A small group of guys were standing in a circle talking. Xander ignored them as he passed. "HEY!" an angry voice shouted from behind him.

"Oh great," Xander said under his breath. He turned to see Pot Breath stomping towards him. He started to reach for the gun again but stopped. He pulled his arm back and punched the large man in the jaw, hard. The guy crumpled to the floor. "Ow Ow Ow Ow." He shook his injured hand. The guy's three friends moved towards him. "Whoa there boys." He quickly reached into his vest and produced a black plastic pouch. He flipped it open revealing a badge.

"You're polizia?" one of the boys asked.

"Interpol," Xander lied. He glanced at the floor. "Sorry about your friend. But we're about to make an arrest here. Time is critical."

"Who?" one of the other boys asked.

"Where is the woman that runs this place?" Xander asked in an official sounding tone.

"Regina?" the first boy asked in his heavy Italian accent.

"What did she do?" the other boy asked.

"Let's just say there has been a pattern of disappearances and murders around this place. "We were waiting to find her accomplices, but the longer we wait, everyone here is in extreme danger."

"Danger?" a girl across the room questioned.

"We lost track of her when the locals arrived," Xander continued. "My partner and I aren't entirely sure the police haven't been helping her."

"I saw her go in the office over there," the first boy stated as he pointed.

"You should collect your friend and clear out of here," Xander stated. "At least until this is over."

"We will," the third boy stated.

As Xander walked to the office, he pulled the real gun from his waistband. He checked the door. It was locked. Behind him, the three boys carried their unconscious friend out the front door. Xander took a deep breath just before kicking in the door. The door and frame gave way easily sending splintered wood all over the empty office. He stood in the doorway, his mouth hanging open. "Where the hell did she go?" he questioned no one. "Is she a ghost? Shape shifter? Maybe she's that stapler." He smiled and chuckled before turning and scanning the small room. But, he glanced back at the stapler twice.

He walked to the wall and ran his hand down it, held up the gun with his right hand, and carefully lifted a latch with his left. As he slowly pulled the door open, he saw the stairs. "Got you," he said proudly. He pulled a small flashlight from his vest and put it in his mouth before he cautiously descended the stairs. He reached a landing on the stairs that finally gave him a view of the cellar. Two torches were sitting in holders on opposite walls washing the room in an eerie, orange glow. It was an open room with a table in the middle. Other than that, the dank room was empty.

Sam ran past a group of boys carrying another. "Your partner is in the office," one of the boys said as she passed.

"Partner?" she thought. "What the hell are you doing?"

He walked down the remaining stairs. He scanned his light around the walls. Something metal flashed causing him to take a closer look. There was an iron cage built into one of the walls. The door was slightly ajar. A set of iron chains, ending in shackles, were firmly attached to the walls and floor. Xander shone his light around the space. There was blood on the dirt floor, enough that a puddle still hadn't seeped into the ground. Suddenly, he knelt down. In the dirt, there was a single X with a circle around it. Tears filled his real eye. "Faith," he said softly.

He heard the deep growl from behind him. "Too late," the ancient, deep voice stated. Xander closed his eyes. "She is gone." Xander's eyes flashed open. He spun on his knee, raising the gun as he turned. He began to fire. In the very confined space, the sound was deafening. Every shot struck the completely unrecognizable girl in the face or chest. When the weapon finally clicked, a trickle of blood ran from his right nostril.

The vampire crumpled slightly and let out an angry howl that would have been painful to hear if Xander could still hear over the loud ringing in his head. He looked at the creature with an intense hatred. He pulled a knife from his vest and was about to charge, when new bright flashes lit the cellar. He could feel the shock waves on his chest and head.

The vampire fell all the way to the ground. Sam was shouting, but Xander couldn't hear her. Sam appeared over the vampire and slammed a stake into its back. Nothing happened. Her eyes went wide as she stared at Xander. "GET OUT!" Xander screamed, sending a debilitating pain through his skull.

Sam entered the cell and grabbed his arm. He didn't stand. She pointed the flashlight in his hand at his face. His good eye was milky white and his nose was bleeding profusely. She lifted his left arm over her shoulder. He tried to push her away, but he wasn't strong enough. She lifted him from the ground and they started moving. The ancient was already recovering and blocking the exit to the stairs. Sam glanced at the tunnel on the other side of the room.

"Xander," she said with deep concern, "we have to get out of here."

He couldn't hear her, but his reply was the same, "go," he said weakly. "She's too strong. I can't…too weak. You, go."

She dragged him to the tunnel entrance and carefully leaned him against the wall. She pulled a few items from her vest. She glanced at his face and back at the vampire that would soon be a threat again. She sighed exasperatingly. She shone the light down the tunnel. She could see a branch a few hundred yards down. She changed a setting on three grenades then lobbed them towards the vampire. She quickly grabbed Xander and dragged him down the tunnel.

She pulled him around the junction and pushed his body against the wall. Sam glanced around the corner. The vampire was beginning to stand. "Three, two, one," she said in her head. It was two more seconds before all three grenades exploded, nearly simultaneously. She turned quickly, pulled him down, and wrapped her body against his as the flash fire travelled down the tunnel. She felt the heat, but she didn't feel a burn. As soon as it passed, she looked into his eye. "We need to go," she said, enunciating every word.

"Faith," Xander said weakly. "She was there. Hurt." Sam nodded sadly. She started to help him stand when he suddenly vomited.

She reached for her phone but it did not have service. She quickly lifted him and dragged him towards a faint light in the ceiling about a hundred feet away. She gently set him on the stone ground and climbed the rebar stairs. She lifted the sewer cover. Luckily, it was in an alley. She reached her phone into the light and dialed.