Part 3: A New Purpose (set during AtS season 1, 'War Zone')

One Year Later

It was the middle of the night in L.A., during that March 19th of the year 2000. A girl started running down a dark alley, as she was being chased by several vampires. She came to a dead end, and the vampires moved in for the kill.

All of the sudden, the sound of a truck pulling up was heard. One of the vampires turned around, and realized they'd headed straight into a trap.

"You."

"You expectin' someone else?"

The human leader's name was Charles Gunn, and he was there along with several heavily armed teenagers. The vampires rushed the new arrivals, and a massive battle broke out.

Over the next few minutes Gunn beheaded one of the vamps, the stake gun on the truck also hit two and another was ganged up on by five of Gunn's friends.

While this was going on, the last vampire got to within arm's reach of Alonna and knocked her over. Gunn rushed to her defense, but this vampire was more experienced than his deceased comrades had been.

He ducked Gunn's sword swipe, then delivered a devastating roundhouse kick. Gunn took the kick in the head hard, and did a 180 spin to the ground, dropping his sword in the process.

The vampire stood over the disoriented Gunn for a moment, admiring his accomplishment.

He didn't realize however, that that was all the time one of Gunn's friends needed to stake him from behind. He crumbled into dust, that fell onto the black man.

Gunn coughed up some of the ashes he'd breathed in, and started dusting off his clothes. He looked up with a smirk, as his rescuer held a hand out to help him up.

"Your timing as always is impeccable," the bald young man grinned.

"What can I say? I'm just good like that."

Gunn's rescuer was Xander Harris; and a very changed Xander, at that. He was wearing black jeans and a dark green short-sleeved shirt, along with a black Raiders hat. His hair had also gotten longer in the last year and he'd grown a goatee.

"Right..." They both looked happy over the vamp's death, but as Gunn got up he suddenly figured out something was not right.

"Alonna..."

The two men both rushed over and helped her up, the concern apparent on both their faces. "You okay?"

Alonna rubbed the back of her head, and hugged Gunn. "Nothing a few Advil won't cure."

Xander looked at her, particularly upset. He wasn't about to let this go. "You know I hate it when you play the victim in these traps..."

Alonna stopped him in mid-sentence. She hugged him hard, then looked into his eyes. "Don't worry. Remember, first rule of huntin' vampires is don't get hurt. I didn't forget what you said."

She wrapped her arm around Xander's waist, and the young man put his arm around her neck as they walked back to the others.

Their comrades at the truck saw them and Bobby yelled out, "So, how'd you guys do?"

Gunn took the initiative and yelled, "Hey, Harris staked number thirty!"

Several of them started cheering, while an annoyed Chain handed a ten over to a grinning Bobby.

"Thirty bloods in three months. Heh, and Chain said you couldn't do it..." Gunn was obviously proud of his friend.

Xander didn't say anything; he just smiled and got into the truck with the others, as it headed back to the abandoned building they lived in.

Once there, the boy went off to the small room on the second floor that he used for a bedroom.

It wasn't much, most of the windows were broken or boarded up and the floor was concrete – but it was enough. He fell down on the mattress in the corner, exhausted from patrolling.

Part of Xander still couldn't believe he'd really ended up here, even after spending all these months with Gunn's crew.

Kinda ironic that no matter where I go, I end up fighting bogeymen...

***

After the falling out in Sunnydale, Xander had ditched his uncle's car and wandered across California for weeks. To say the 'incident' had left him a broken man, didn't even begin to cover his feelings one bit.

It had felt like his 'friends' had ripped out a part of him, a part of his very soul that night.

Xander had been a broken shell of his former self after that. He'd trusted nobody, and Simon and Garfunkel would've been proud that their lyrics described Alexander Lavelle Harris to a T.

I've built walls.
A fortress deep and mighty.
That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship.
Friendship causes pain.
It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock.
I am an island.

To others, he'd been quiet, emotionless and very cynical. The appearance of just wanting to be left alone. A lot of the people that had met him could tell something terrible had happened to this wanderer, but trying to push for it had only ended up receiving severe hostility from an angry young man.

Xander hadn't trusted people anymore; and sometimes, he'd wondered if he ever would again. Oh sure, there'd been a part of him that had still wanted to be the person he'd been before.

To have friends, a girlfriend, the thrill of adventure he'd felt in Sunnydale. It had been tempting too at times, but that part of him had become just a whisper by then.

Back then, the only thing that Xander had needed was money. He'd worked jobs as a migrant farmhand, in construction, manual labor, and countless other things. It hadn't mattered to Xander, as once he'd had enough money to leave a town he'd done so.

Hitchhiking across the state, the boy had done his best to keep a low profile because of the charges he knew he'd face if he crossed the police the wrong way. What he'd done that fateful night and morning after, was never far from his thoughts.

For that matter, neither were his old friends from Sunnydale.

Together, it had caused several sleepless nights and a lot of torment for Xander Harris. Somehow, some way though, he'd dealt with his situation as best he could.

Time had turned out to be the key for Xander's emotional recovery. After those first few turbulent weeks, he'd come to terms with his predicament.

He couldn't go back home, that was certain.

On the other hand however, there'd been nothing holding him back anymore. Xander had reminded himself he'd wanted to be his own man. And in front of him was a huge world he'd never seen, since he'd stayed in Sunnydale his entire life.

It had been time to experience California, and so he'd done that. He'd swung north, seeing all the major cities and everything else in between. He'd camped out in Yosemite under the stars, walked through Hearst Castle in San Simeon, and strolled along the walk of fame in Hollywood.

His self-imposed exile had turned into an impromptu journey of discovery. And slowly but surely during his travels, Xander had begun to heal. At that point he'd still been somewhat distrustful to others, but at least not fighting himself anymore.

Eventually Xander had taken the first steps towards filling the emptiness he'd brought with him, and the Zeppo had begun to believe in his own abilities again. With no one to hold him in check, for the first time in his life he'd truly felt free.

There were no parents, no Snyder, no Buffy nor Scoobies. It had been his time, with no strings attached. Doing the only thing he could do; living and enjoying his life.

He'd thought it was rather funny that that sounded like something Buffy might say; but that had been another time to Xander by then, almost a different life.

***

As for his current situation, Xander had just happened to be in the wrong place at the right time.

After walking along the coast in Santa Monica and Venice Beach seven months previously, Xander had headed into L.A. and taken a job on the docks unloading ship cargo.

He'd opted for the night shifts, it had been better paying and he didn't have to deal with too many people.

One night after his shift ended, Xander had been walking back to the cheap motel he'd been staying at – when he'd come across Gunn's crew for the first time, just outside the docks.

It hadn't been a pretty sight; four vampires having their way with half a dozen of the teenagers, in a particularly brutal fight.

Xander had seen the kids weren't doing well. The vampires had divided up their bloodied opponents, and broken up the unit the crew had come in as. It had become just a fight for survival, for the young humans.

Vampires? Here? What the...is the Hellmouth becoming a franchise?

Now Xander hadn't exactly been friendly anymore to strangers after his life in Sunnydale, but then again he couldn't just watch several kids his own age get massacred...or worse.

He'd darted back into the closest dock warehouse and found what he wanted, an old wooden crate. One hard kick had broken off a jagged stake. He'd then grabbed it, and raced back into the fray.

Xander's advantage in this conflict had been surprise. The vampires, and the humans for that matter, had had no idea he was coming. He'd run up behind the closest vamp and effortlessly staked him, then done the same to the next closest bloodsucker.

Gunn's crew had then begun making a comeback, now that the odds had swung drastically in their favor. The last two vampires had then recognized their chances were getting slim.

One had seemed to defer to the other, the vamp they would later find out was Knox, the leader of the local nest in the area.

"Next time, there won't be any last second rescues..." Knox had then turned at Xander. "...and whoever you are, I'll enjoy sucking you dry after I hunt you down."

Blah, blah, blah! Xander had chuckled. How many times have I heard that? Good luck finding me numbnuts, I'll be gone tomorrow...

Then Knox and his flunky were gone, leaving the street gang and Xander to themselves.

Xander had then starting walking backwards toward the shadows, about to copy Knox's disappearing act.

The Zeppo may have saved these kids, but that didn't mean he'd wanted to socialize.

But one of Gunn's crew, a pale-looking Irish kid had fallen to the ground a minute later from his injuries. The others had gathered around him to help, but he hadn't looked like he would make it.

Xander had heard them, and surveyed the actions taking place for a moment. Maybe it had been that overwhelming need to belong that everybody feels at some point, or maybe Xander had just felt sorry for the kid.

Either way, he'd made a fateful decision that altered that path he was journeying on: he'd decided to help these kids out.

Rushing up to that group of strangers, he'd started barking out orders and giving the kid rudimentary first aid.

Xander had later been somewhat surprised he was capable of taking command like that, but what was even more surprising was that Gunn's crew had even listened to him. It was almost as if they'd known their friend's life lay in this stranger's hands.

That Halloween as Soldier Guy was possibly one of the best things that had ever happened to Xander. The information he'd learned on that night was priceless, even though he'd forgotten most of it when the spell had worn off and time marched on.

Sure he wasn't on par with a Navy SeAL, not by a long shot; but useful things like medical treatment, fighting, using weapons and taking charge of critical situations had still hovered around the edge of Xander's mind, making themselves available at times like that.

"Keep putting pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding."

"Here, tie the knot on the sling like this."

"We have to set his broken arm, or it's gonna be permanently useless."

Together, Xander and the rest of Gunn's crew had been able to get their fallen comrade back to the abandoned building the kids lived in.

And it took awhile, but they'd managed to stabilize the dying boy.

He'd made it, though he wouldn't fight creatures of the night again anytime soon. There'd been a look of relief on everybody's face, as they hovered around their recovering friend.

Xander had looked at them from the other side of the room, unnoticed by all, with the first genuine smile he'd had in a long time.

Well, my work here is done. Exit, stage left!

He'd started backing up toward the stairs, trying his Houdini impression a second time. Xander had just made it to the stairs before he heard her.

"Hey!"

An attractive black girl had noticed him trying to leave and ran towards him, getting the attention of others that saw the mysterious guy was trying to get away. "Why ya leavin'?"

Damn! I was so close!

"Well, ya see...I, uh...your friend...he'll be good as new...I mean...you don't need me here, so..." Several months of being alone meant Xander's people skills had been kinda rusty.

Gunn had walked up to the stuttering Xander looking grateful, and said, "Hey man, if weren't for you Shaun would be dead. We all would. Thanks."

Xander had just stared at him, still somewhat wary of these new people. Gunn had then held out his hand. "I'm Charles Gunn."

And after debating it for a second in his mind, Xander had shaken his hand.

"Xander Harris."

With a grin, Gunn had then pointed a thumb at the girl who'd caught Xander trying to slip out. "I see you've already met my sister, Alonna." She'd also shaken hands with a still uncomfortable Xander, who'd forced out a grin.

Gunn had known he was edgy. He couldn't blame Xander; the guy was alone with a group of so-called 'street thugs' in a damp, abandoned basement. "Hey man, why don't I drive you home? We can swap stories about killing vampires."

With almost no feeling Xander had responded, "I don't have a home."

"What do you mean?" came from a confused Alonna. She'd basically echoed what they all were thinking.

That small whisper for belonging in Xander's mind, had started demanding to be heard. Months of being alone had become too much to bear. He'd been so tired of nobody understanding what he had gone through.

If these kids had suffered through even a fraction of what he had...

Could you understand? Would you throw me out like they did?

"It's a long story..."

And Xander hadn't disappointed. He'd spent most of the night telling them of his past. Of how he'd come from Sunnydale, a town built on top of a Hellmouth.

He'd spoken too of the arrival of the Slayer.

How several people had learned about her and helped her fight an untold number of evils.

All the unique and strange abilities everyone in the group had had. All of them, except himself.

He'd mentioned quickly how he'd single-handedly defused a bomb under their high school set by a psychotic group of zombies a year ago, saving the lives of his friends.

And how those same friends had all repaid him for it by kicking him out that very same night, because he was 'just normal'.

Finally, Xander had related his expulsion from school the next day, and the aimless wandering his life had taken ever since.

Some of the gang had passed out from exhaustion, while Xander told his story. But the vast majority of them were hanging onto every word he'd said.

Afterwards, they'd offered to let Xander stay with them for a while. And he'd agreed, although the young man had only expected to stay a short time.

One night. I'll take it easy for one night, then I'll be on my way.

However, every time he'd tried to leave something had always kept him there, for some reason or another. One night had become two nights.

Then a week. Then a month.

Xander had soon learned the story of Gunn and his 'Lost Boys', as he liked to call them. A group of homeless kids with nowhere to go, who had starting living in this abandoned building. They'd been discovered by the group of vampires led by Knox, who'd started using them for food and entertainment.

As time went on, they'd gotten pushed further and further into a corner; and like any animal that got pushed too far, eventually these kids had decided to fight back. However, they weren't very experienced at vamp killing and they hadn't been able to do much up to that point.

After staying with them for a while, Xander had started going out with Gunn and the others to stop the vampires. As the young man had experience fighting these horrors, and it had showed.

He hadn't just fought; he'd covered other people's backs, defending comrades who'd gotten hurt and improvising on the spot.

It had soon become apparent that his experience made Xander just as good at this, as anyone else in the group. He'd also seemed to have this ability to sneak up on almost any opponent, like a hunter going for its prey.

The fact that he wasn't getting seriously hurt unlike others during these fights, had also soon caused other kids to seek him out for tips on fighting the undead.

They'd wanted to learn what he knew, everything that this new guy 'Harris' – as most people called him now – could show them. So, Xander had taught them what he could.

Combining what was left of his military training with what he'd learned from the Scoobies in Sunnydale, it had made a very significant difference to people who had no supernatural advantages.

The first thing Xander had made clear to the others was something Buffy had told him, which he'd changed around a little for these people; don't get hurt.

The former Zeppo had soon started getting respect from a lot of them, and was looked upon as a leader as much as Gunn was. For one thing, he hadn't tolerated kids who went off on their own with their 'I'm King Shit' attitude during fights.

Xander had made it clear when he taught them; they all needed to work as a team.

"You get hurt because you try to be a hotshot or don't watch the other guy's back, and they get hurt and you're not fighting anymore."

This had caused one or two problems, but he'd had the support of Gunn and several others. So things...had soon got sorted out.

Oddly enough, while the Scoobies had been determined to limit the exposure to evil for any normal people, Xander was the exact opposite.

If normal kids were willing to fight to the death to protect themselves and do their part, then as far as he was concerned they should be welcomed in with open arms.

The learning hadn't been just one-sided, however; for someone as immersed in isolation for so long as himself, these kids had showed Xander how to trust people again.

He'd made several new friends, and they'd given him a meaning in life that had been sorely lacking the previous few months. Xander and Gunn, for example, had quickly become best buds.

Not only that, but a lot of the girls there had taken a special interest in him. Ironically, the entire Sunnydale female population had considered him a loser, but here he'd been a greatly desired commodity.

And as for the war they'd fought, the results of Gunn and Xander's efforts had quickly paid off.

They might have been dropouts, orphans, runaways – it didn't matter. Under Xander and Gunn's leadership, they'd become capable fighters and those kids had come down on Knox's vampires like the wrath of God.

They'd broken the Master vampire's control over that section of L.A., and made it clear he wouldn't be able to regroup and try to build up his kind's numbers again.

Most importantly, the Lost Boys had lost only two people fighting in the last several months.

Knox was still out there but they would survive, and Xander would be there to help them through it all.

***

"Hey! Earth to Xander!"

He was so deep in thought, the teenager hadn't even seen Alonna at the doorway to his room. It was dark, but he could tell it was her. Gunn and Alonna were the only two people here, that still called him by his first name.

"So...what were you thinking about?" the girl had a very curious look on her face.

Still staring at the ceiling Xander responded, "Just everything that's happened, the past few months."

"Yeah, a wandering guy finds a group of street kids and joins their mission to hunt vampires. Got all the makings for a great movie..." The light-hearted sarcasm was evident.

"Hey! You watch, Spielberg will call me back – and then we'll see who's laughing!"

Alonna laughed, and got onto the mattress with him. "Nah, then you'd be famous and everyone would want you. Here, you're all mine."

The two of them shared a very deep kiss after that. As with Gunn, Alonna had become very close with Xander. And about two months ago, they'd become something more than just friends.

She'd filled that last part of his soul, that had been missing within Xander.

He'd cared more about her more than anyone, by that point. They'd continued kissing, and made love that night.

And as they'd fallen asleep in each other's arms, Xander had felt more complete than ever before.

***

Xander Harris woke up the next morning around 10 a.m., with the sun shining into the room directly into his eyes – and with nothing but a bed sheet covering him. The way the building was, he could never sleep longer than that without the sun waking him up.

Alonna was already out of bed, probably in the basement. Xander got up and got dressed, then walked over to the far wall where a small mirror was hanging and combed his hair.

He stopped for a second, then pulled away the hair over his forehead to show a thin scar across the middle of it. Xander had gotten it the night Buffy had kicked him out, after the Sisterhood of Jhe demon had tried to rearrange his face.

Sometimes, it would remind Xander of what had taken place in his past. He'd be a liar if he said he didn't wonder what had happened in Sunnydale since then.

It was just curiosity though, not caring.

The teenager had all but closed that chapter in his life, but the curiosity was still there. So he went up to the small table in his room, and grabbed his cell phone.

He slowly dialed the number of his parents' house, but only got that annoying beeping noise and the recorded voice: "We're sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected..."

He tried the Sunnydale high school library, with the same results; of course, Xander had no idea that the place had been destroyed in a titanic battle with the Mayor, the previous year.

Well, I tried. Not like I was going to chat. Just a "Hi. I'm still alive and I'm happy, so don't come looking for me." Whatever, Buffy and the others really don't care anymore...

***

Xander let it go, and joined the other Lost Boys in the basement where he scavenged something for breakfast and found Alonna. They joined Gunn and Bobby watching 'Gilligan's Island' in the corner, and found the two were arguing over who would've ended up with Ginger Grant.

"I'm telling ya man, the Skipper was the biggest guy on the island! Ginger woulda wanted someone who was big."

Gunn wasn't intending to lose this argument, though. "You're full of it, Bobby. Ginger wouldn't have wanted someone like that. She liked guys with brains – she woulda ended up fallin' for the Professor, and lived happily ever after."

"Yeah, right. Like, you got no idea what women want, Gunn."

"And you do?"

Bobby put on a smug look, and puffed his chest out. Of course, nobody believed him. Xander and Alonna started laughing hysterically at this.

Bobby looked to Xander for support. "Hey, c'mon Harris, you know I'm right."

Xander put his hands up defensively, in between gasping for air from laughing. "Don't look at me, I ain't getting involved in this."

"Wha'? I thought you's always sayin' we's supposed to be a team!"

"When we're hunting vamps, sure. On this, you're on your own. Besides, it was Gilligan who belonged with Ginger."

Both Gunn and Bobby took offense at the Gilligan comment. They both got into why it wouldn't have been the first mate who'd have ended up with the movie star; but even then, they couldn't agree, and started arguing all over again.

Xander just kept laughing. He was happy here. He wasn't with a bunch of gifted heroes, trying to make them believe he belonged.

Here, he was among equals with no special abilities and they accepted him as an equal. Separated by distance and ideology from the original Scoobies, Xander was free to have formed a special bond with a new group of friends.

One that stood for what he'd believed in Sunnydale all along, that a normal person can make a difference.

However, one's future in the City of Angels is never certain. Like Xander, Charles Gunn had a destiny that would soon make life interesting for the Lost Boys.

And Xander Harris was about to learn that he couldn't leave something like what had happened in Sunnydale behind, without it catching up to him sooner or later.