Disclaimer: Don't own. Just playing.

Authors Note: Please forgive the slight retcon I've made to the Story. Xander's sword is a Longsword, not a Rapier. First Chapter has now been edited.

"Faith! Faith!" Xander rushed up to fallen Slayer pressing a hand against her neck to check her pulse. It was hammering as if the girl had just ran a marathon. He heard the door that linked his yard to the staff room.

"Xander, we've got trou-Faith! What's happened" Dawn rushed down the steps and crouched down to Xander's level.

"She just collapsed. She coughed up some blood and then..." Dawn shook her head.

"Just like the others."

"Others?" Xander looked across at the Key questioningly.

"We've got three Slayers in the main foyer who've done the same thing. Not sure how many across the building.." Xander gathered the fallen Slayer into his arms.

"Get the other Slayers to check all the rooms we're using. I want every Slayer suffering from this in the Violet room as soon as possible." Dawn nodded and rushed through the door. Xander followed behind her, quick on her heels. "Andrew, get as many cots as we need. Bring 'em to the Violet room. Take who you need. You three " He nodded at a group of frightened looking Slayers cowering slightly "Grab Gemma, Angela and Morrie, follow me." The three girls stood where they were, looking at the fallen Slayers with something akin to fear."NOW" He bellowed. As the three fallen were gathered up Xander jogged towards the Violet room. It was one of the conference halls that they'd cleaned up but hadn't found a use for yet.

"We've got reports of 7 more on other floors" Dawn shouted into the room.

"Get 'em down here as quickly as possible and tell Andrew to hurry up with those damned cots." Dawn scurried out. Looking over to the three Slayers. "Lay 'em down, but be careful." He gradually lowered the Bostonian Slayer to the floor."ANDREW!"

"We're here. We're here." The smaller teacher rushed leading a troupe of Slayer each ladened down with several of the collapsible cots.

"Right, Andrew, you're in charge, get all Slayers wrapped up and in a bunk, designate one person to watch each victim of this." With one last look at Faith, Xander stormed out of the makeshift infirmary with fire in his eyes.

"Yes, I am fully aware of what time it is, But you tell Doctor Atkins that if he wants to get that retainer we pay him then he gets his ass down here now!" The carpenter slammed the phone down.

"Making a friend?" Xander turned to Dawn.

"How're they doing?"

"Same with all of them. Running a fever, heart running at a mile a minute, coughing up blood." She looked across at the older man."Andy...Andy thinks that this is magical."

"I know." Xander said looking back at the Key. "I'm not getting' the Doctor to tell us what this is. The Doctor's coming to try and keep 'em comfortable." Xander reached into his desk and pulled out a belt and scabbard.

"What're you doing?"

"You remember saying you thought we should get to know the local occult community." He pulled on a thick gray trench coat and tucked a pair of stakes into the back of his waistband.

"Yes?" Dawn answered hesitatingly. Xander slid the sword into the scabbard.

"I'm going to have a word with the neighbors."

Kittle's was an occult bar, it served kittens for various demons, blood in 7 different varieties as well as a popular concoction called the Mana Charge which was popular with most of the cities practicing witches and sorcerers. Most of the bar was taken up with a variety of booths but a large number of demons sat against the bar chatting about the latest Indians game.

Sometimes drama just has a good sense of timing.

As thunder cracked down from the sky the door swung open and Xander stepped through the door. Xander felt every eye in the bar turn to him.

On another day this might have freaked him out or made him nervous. But today? Today someone had attacked his girls...and he'd be damned if he let anyone get away with that. He pulled up a stool and sat up at the bar. The barmen, apparently human, sauntered up to the Californian with a fair amount of caution.

"What'll it be?"

"Scotch. Neat. And some information." The Barmen hastily poured the amber liquid into a tumbler.

"What Kind of information?"

"I need a healer. Some friends of mine have been hit by some kind of plague spell. I need to find someone who can heal magical sickness." The Barman cleaned a glass staring across at him.

"What kind of sickness?"

"Do you need to know that to recommend someone?" The barman glared at the man in front of him.

"What's it worth?" The one eyed man dropped a 100 bill onto the bar.

"This, and my promise not to come in here with a small army at my back to ask some very difficult questions." Xander stared across at the man.

"I know this guy...calls himself Gambler. Big shot mage. If anyone can cure this..sickness of yours then he can." The barman scribbled down a note and passed it to the carpenter. Xander nodded, knocked back his drink and stalked back to the door.

"Hey!" A large dark green demon stood up, he pointed a clawed finger at the departing man."Who do you think you are to come in here and start asking questions and threatening us? Where the hell did you blow in from?" Xander turned to look at the demon for a long moment.

"Sunnydale" He turned on his heels and stormed out into the rain.

"Oh..Crap" muttered the suddenly shocked demon sitting down.

'I am definitely in the wrong line of work' Xander thought looking up at the building before him. The building before him was set in one of the nicer parts of town, compared to the buildings on either side of it there was a definite Gothic feel to this place. High arching windows, elaborately forged Spikes on the gate that separated the property from the street, and, underneath each of the windows a gargoyle grinning down at him.

Pushing open the creaking gate Xander made his way up the short path to the door of the large house. A brass plaque on the door read "Thelonius Gambler – Expert." Turning his collar up against the rain Xander knocked twice against the door. After a couple of minutes the door was opened with a slow creak.

"May I help you Mr...?" Before Xander stood a man in his sixties, hair receding and gray, a thick mustache and a distinct air, if Xander was any judge, of snootishness. He was dressed in a tuxedo and almost sang 'Butler'.

"Harris, Alexander Harris. I was wondering if I could speak to Mr Gambler."

"I'm afraid it is very late and Mr Gambler has retired for the evening. Perhaps if you try to make an appointment tomorrow Mr Gambler will be able to make time for you." The Butler tried to close the door but it slammed into Xander's foot.

"I really really need to speak with Mr Gambler."

"Cedric." From behind the butler Xander saw a man descending down the stairs. Cleanly shaven, with his hair slicked back from his forehead, he appeared to be in his early thirties. Clad in a suit of deep purple over a collarless white shirt he certainly made Xander, wearing his wet jeans and shirt, underdressed. Obscuring the man's eyes were a pair of sun glasses of the same shade as the man's suit. "Let the man into my study." The butler nodded to his master and allowed Xander into the house. The man, Mr Gambler if Xander was any judge, walked past them to a room on their left.

"May I take your coat Mr Harris?" Xander shrugged out of the soaking coat and passed it to the butler. The older man nodded slowly and led Xander through to the room he'd just seen the man in purple enter. Inside of the room, the elegantly dressed individual sat behind a large hardwood desk in an elaborately carved chair. The walls on the room were covered with more books than Xander had seen in one place since the destruction of Sunnydale High. In front of the desks were a pair of arm chairs, each of which looked like they cost more than Xander had made in a year.

"Now then...Mr Harris was it?" May I ask what I can do for you this evening." Xander cleared his throat.

"I..I've been advised to come to you with a problem. Some friends of mine..they've become sick. It's not something..normal. We think there's a spell involved." Xander cleared his throat again. Something about this guy was freakin' him out.

"I see...and what would the nature of this sickness be?" The strange man's face was almost completely expressionless as he stared at the Carpenter.

"Coughing up blood, followed by collapsing immediately into unconsciousness, an increase in heart rate and body temperature." Xander felt the words come tumbling out from his mouth. Mr Gambler sat back in his chair staring at the ceiling ornamentation for several long moments before, getting more than a little impatient, Xander said "Mr Gambler?"

"Would I be correct in assuming that your friend is a member of the Slayer lineage?" he hadn't stopped staring at the ceiling once and even now his eyes seemed fixated on one of the chandeliers. Xander nodded and then realized the man wasn't looking at him.

"Ye-"

"I thought so. Terrible shame, sounds like your Slayer's come down with the Blight. Wouldn't worry bound to be another one called within a few days."

"The Blight?"

"Yes. Nasty bug. Killed 15 Slayers in succession in the thirteenth century. Don't believe the Watcher's ever did discover a way of inoculating against it." He looked across at Xander, peering over his sunglasses. "My advise would be to go home, wrap your Slayer up warm, try to keep her comfortable and, if she wakes provide her with as much pain medicine as recommended by current 'Doctors'"

"And that'll cure this Blight thing?" Xander looked at the man hopefully.

"What? Oh no, of course not. But you may as well make her comfortable before she dies." Xander felt the blood drain from his face.

"T-There's no cure?" Mr Gambler stood and walked to the door as if trying to usher the younger man out.

"There's a cure but it will be virtually impossible for you to provide it. No, much safer to wait for this Slayer to die and hope that the next one doesn't get infected."

"NO!" Xander slammed his fist down on the hardwood desk before him. "If there's a way you'd better damned well tell me what it is right now." His voice was like Ice and for several long moments there was nothing but silence.

"Very well" Mr Gambler walked over to one of the book shelves and retrieved a leather bound journal from the wall. Bringing it back to his desk he placed it upon the table and, with a gesture of his hand caused the book to flip open and start rushing through pages on it's own. "Ah, here we are. The Blight." He began to read. " 'The Blight is the name of both a creature and a disease most fowl. Found only to strike those with either the potential to become a Slayer or the Slayer herself. The demon emits a cloud of gas which quickly permeates the surrounding area. When this gas comes into contact with a Slayer or potential there is a momentary indication of infection in the form of a cough during which the infected coughs up blood. While there are recorded incidents of Slayers surviving this infection or being completely immune to the Blight these accounts are few and far between. In most cases this disease kills the infected within 24 hours of infection.'" The purple clad man paused for a moment glancing up at Xander who was still staring intently at him. He read on. "'The only notable way of saving a Slayer from this disease was found during the 12th century when Watcher Robin, to save his Slayer Marian from the Blight located the lair of the the demon underneath the largest midden in the land and, slaying the creature. He collected the blood of the demon and used this to cure his Slayer. "

"So what's the big deal, I just need to find this thing and kill it?" Mr Gambler looked across at the younger man with an expression of disbelief.

"Mr Harris, this is the Blight" he turned the book around to the carpenter holding open the page to show a woodcut of the creature. To Xander it looked like someone had taken the body of the incredible hulk and replaced it's head with an alarming amount of teeth and tongue. It's body appeared to be covered with sores and most of it's body seemed to be oozing slime. Xander swallowed nervously.

"So what's the big deal. I just need to find this thing and kill it." He sounded braver than he felt. Mr Gambler shook his head in disbelief.

"Yes. That's 'all'."

"You said midden didn't you? That's something like the sewers isn't it?" Mr Gambler nodded. "Right then." he made towards the front door.

"Mr Harris" he called after he departing youth. Xander turned to him."To slay a demon this strong you would need some kind of magic, an enchanted weapon of some description." The head-teacher flashed the purple clad man a darkly roguish grin.

"You think I carry this thing around for fashion?" He patted the sword at his side as he shrugged his damp coat on and walked into the night.

While Xander couldn't see it. Mr Gambler's eyes showed their first sign of surprise. He remained silent for a while deep in thought before pulling another book from the far wall, still sitting at his desk, drew it over to him with a gesture and started to read.

Xander pushed open the door of the Curzon just as the doctor rushed out. He put a hand at the older man's chest to stop him.

"Doc? What's the deal?" Atkins glared at the one eyed man. He was one of the most respected doctors in the country and this man kept talking to him like an indentured servant.

"High Blood Pressure, Fever..Severe Coughing fits" he rattled off a list of further symptoms which meant nothing to Xander. "I've not seen anything like this before but I've got a lab ready to run some tests." He snapped. Xander kept his hand where it was.

"And what're you doin' to get them better?"

"At this point nothing except keeping them comfortable. Without knowing what's wrong with them if I start prescribing anything it could do more harm than good." He pushed the younger man's hand away with a glare. "And the more time I spend talking to you the less time I have to get these tests done!" He pushed past Xander and walked down the steps towards the main gate.

"Doc. Let us know as soon as you know more but remember our deal..." The doctor gave the one eyed man another furious glare.

"I know damn you. Complete confidentiality...Any test results I find will go here and noone else." Xander gave the older man a dark smirk.

"And your 'parties' will be kept 'confidential', so your wife doesn't find out. Good. Your cheque'll be in the mail Doc." Swearing under his breath the doctor walked out of sight and Xander heard the familiar clang of the front gate shutting.

Xander walked through the front door of the hotel. The foyer was eerily quiet. Since they'd moved into the building this room had almost always been a bustle of activity. Between lessons there were always groups of Slayers hanging around talking, there were usually a few sparing or playing some sort of game which might have made sense to Xander if he were 8 years younger and a different gender. There would usually be some sound coming from the common room next door of the foyer, music, the sound of the television, an argument, but always noise..Today there was nothing except a faint cough. He shook his head. Shrugging out of his wet coat, Xander unbuckled his sword belt and laid it on the front desk. He made his way to the room they'd converted into a sick bay and was confronted by a sight which would haunt him for the rest of his days.

The Curzon hotel housed 42 Slayers in total...All bar 4 of them were lying in rows on the cots he'd had brought in earlier. Between the rows he could see Dawn, Andrew and the healthy Slayers running up and down, laying cold compresses on foreheads, providing drinks, checking their vitals. Periodically there would be a weak cough or a moan from one of the Slayers.

"Andrew." The demonologist looked up from the Slayer he was tending and walked over to Xander. "I need you to find out all you can on a creature called the Blight. Some kind of Plague demon."

"The Blight?" Andrew looked puzzled. "Is that the name of the demon or the disease?"

"Both. I need you to find out where it's likely to be. As fast as possible." Andrew nodded and sped off to his library. Xander picked up the cold compress from the bowl of icy water Andrew had left and laid the compress down on the Slayer Andrew had been tending to. He spent several minutes checking each of the Slayers in the area before he gradually made his way up to his fallen friend.

Faith lay there motionless. Someone, Xander suspected one of the other Slayers had changed her clothes and covered her with several blankets. Allowing himself a short rest Xander eased himself down to the floor and sat cross legged near her cot. Leaning forward he let his forehead rest against the metal frame of the cot. The cool metal felt good against his skin, it felt good just to be still and silent for a few moments. Running around in a storm in an open trench coat, shirt and jeans probably wasn't going to do wonders for his own health but at the moment he had higher priorities. He let a short cough out himself and quickly checked his own hand. No Blood. Good.

His attention was diverted by movement on the cot in front of him. Faith let out a quiet moan and moved slightly as if she was trying to fight something away. Reaching down Xander withdrew a cold cloth from the bowl of water and used it to wash the sweat away from the brunette Slayer's brow. At the touch of his skin on hers Faith quietened somewhat. Xander kept wiping her forehead until she finally returned to the relatively peaceful slumber of her earlier state, he left the cloth against her head. And looked at the woman before him. There was no way on earth he was going to let them die. Not a single one of them. With one last look at faith Xander pushed himself up and walked out of the room to the office he shared with the Others.

"Andrew. Give me some good news." Andrew looked up from his books. For a moment, with his wire-framed glasses perched on his nose and the reading light highlighting him Xander could have sworn he was looking at a younger clone of Giles.

"Some. You wanted to know where we could find this thing first didn't you?" Xander nodded. "Alrighty. This thing seems to really like...well...excrement." Xander raised an eyebrow. "Sewers. In the past it was usually found underneath midden's and stuff but today...He pulled out a map of the sewer system of the City. "My bet's here." He pointed at a nexus of pipes which seemed to be a large chamber. "It's where most of the cities sewage ends up before it gets to the processing plant."

"Alright." Xander said nodding and making to the door. He stopped as he realized that Andrew was following him. "Where are you going?" Andrew managed to look confused.

"With you?" Xander shook his head.

"No. You're not, you're going to stay here and try and find out anything about a way of killing it."

"But-"

"No buts. You're our best shot at working out what can stop this thing. "

"But-"

"No. I'm going to find this thing, I need you to tell me what can kill it..."'And I don't want to risk anyone else on this' he thought. He stormed ahead of Andrew, leaving him at the doorway to the office and had made his way to the entrance of the hotel, picking up sword and coat on the way.

"You have got to be shitting me!" He turned to see Dawn glaring at him from the doorway of the sick-room. Xander looked down at the ground with a sigh. "After the amount of times my sister did this to you? After how many times you moaned to me that you just wanted to help? After all of that you're still going to go off on your own?"

"Dawn..."

"No, You listen to me Xander! I've already put a call through to Giles he's on his way, we're going to research this proper, get a team of Slayers together and go down there and stop this."

"And what then? We bring a squad of Slayers into the city what happens to them? How long before they're too sick to do anything. They are dying Dawn! And if there is anything I can do to help, to stop this? Then you'd better believe that I will do it." He pushed the door open and stood, silhouetted against the rain.

"But why alone? Why can't Andy or I come with you?" she pleaded. Xander was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"All those times Buffy told me to stay out of danger, to stay back? I think I finally get why." With that he let the door close behind him and walked out into the rain. Dawn and Andrew exchanged a look before each returned to their tasks.

"Alright You're going to be coming up to an exit on your right in about 30 feet, you need to turn there and carry on for about 100 feet." Xander nodded, one hand pressing his cell phone to his ear, the other holding his sword in front of him. The Three foot blade was throwing off an eerie white glow which cast shadows along the sewers.

"Turning right." he followed Andrew's directions as accurately as possible. This was not somewhere he'd want to get lost, even if time wasn't a factor. "Dawn still pissed at me?"

"She is certainly not happy. But she's got her hands full taking care of the Slayers."

"What do you mean taking care of the Slayers?"

"Um..."

"Andrew?"

"You should be approaching a turning on your right in about 15 feet. You're going to need to go that way..."

"Andrew! What do you mean taki-" He followed the directions.

"They're getting worse." Xander swallowed. "They're all thrashing around and moaning." Xander let out a few choice expletives. "Yeah, so she's trying to get them calmed down and resting. But...well..it's hard going."

"Right."

"Xander I know you don't need more pressure but...we're not sure how much longer they have. I dunno what that guy told you but things are not looking good here." Walking in Silence Xander reached a fork in the paths, one heading right and one left.

"Andrew? Which way?"

"Um...Left..I think"

"You think?"

"These maps are hard to read!" Xander followed the younger man's advice and after 50 feet came across a large circular door with a turn wheel securing it.

"Alright. I'm at a door."

"Open it. That should be where you need to go." Xander put his phone into the pocket of his coat and leaned his still glowing sword against the wall of the passage way. With several swift turns he felt something give. Picking up his sword he pulled the door open and looked inside. After studying the inhabitant of the chamber for several moments Xander pulled the phone out from his pocket..

"Good job Andrew. Found it. I'll call you back if I'm alive." With a click Xander hung up his phone and stepped inside of the chamber with the Blight.

To be Continued.

Authors Notes: Before anyone get's nervous No Mr Gambler is not going to be a Mary Sue character, yes there is a purpose behind him, Yes it'll get explained before the end of this episode. Thank you for some great reviews. Please, anyone who has some comments to improve my writing let me know.