Title: White Knight?
Author: Cobra
Summary: What if Angelus called Xander's bluff in the Hospital?
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: Due to the reviews, i've decided to expand the original one shot. Keep reviewing.
Angelus sat on in the large chair, his face scrunched as if in thought.
"His friends.", The vampire muttered then smiled., "That's how to break the boy."
"What boss?", A vampire asked as he stood in front of his master.
"I want to you watch the Harris boy. See who beside the regular crew he talks to."
"Sure boss.", The vamp answered with a nod before leaving the room. Angelus smiled as he leaned back in the seat.
"Start with friends, end with family."
BREAK
Xander sighed as the phone ringing beside the couch woke him from his dreams. He blinked several times to clear his vision before picking up the cordless phone and hit the talk button.
"Harris residence."
"Is Xander there?" A voice asked hesitantly.
"This is him.", Xander muttered as he swung his legs around to sit up on the couch. He rubbed his face with his empty left hand and quickly ran the hand through his hair.
"Hey man. This is Chuck, from the hospital."
"Hey Chucky, what I can do for ya?", Xander asked as he stood and began to walk through the house toward the kitchen. His parents were out of town, one of there quarterly trips to Vegas.
"We got a few bodies in last night. Victims of Gang attacks. Thought you might wanna know."
"Yeah," Xander said through a yawn as he opened the fridge and pulled out a gallon of orange juice., "What time could I come by and take a look?"
"Anytime Xan.", Chuck said with an easy tone., "I'd like to ask you a few questions about this stuff anyway."
"I'll be there in a hour.", Xander answered as he pulled a glass from a cupboard beside the sink. He carefully looked over the glass to make sure it was clean., "Thanks for the heads up Chucky."
"Do you have to call me that?"
"Yep."
"Just asking.", Chuck said with a laugh., "I'll meet you outside the morgue in an hour."
"See ya then.", Xander said as he hit the end button on the phone and sat it beside the orange juice on the counter., "Thank god it's saturday."
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Xander walked the clean white halls of Sunnydale Memorial with an easy gate. The jacket he was wearing a bit to thick for the mild weather, yet no one gave him a second glance. And most nurses and doctors seemed to just nod to him a hello. He smiled at Chuck as he reached the morgue entrance. The two shook hands easily as Chuck pushed open the double doors and stepped in.
"We got three in last night.", Chuck said as he moved toward the far corner of the morgue room. Three bodies laid on metal slabs, white sheets covering them., "That's actually a bit more than usual. Some nights we get one or two, but three in one night is a little strange."
"Probably means someone is trying to build up an army.", Xander answered as he pulled one of the sheets from a body. A young male stared vacantly toward the sterile ceiling. Xander sighed as he picked a cotton swab from the counter beside him. He quickly opened the corpse mouth and swabbed the interior. As he removed the swab he looked at it carefully., "He's been turned."
"How do you know?", Chuck asked as he moved forward the examine the swab.
"To turn someone the vampire has to drain them, then the victim has to ingest the blood from the vampire."
"Sounds pretty disgusting."
"Doesn't it though?", Xander asked as he pulled a stake from the inside of his jacket and slammed it into the vamps heart. The body quickly turned to dust., "The victims haven't fully turned, that's why there not fighting back. But the demon has already taken over the body."
"Then why haven't they risen?" Chuck asked as he watched the dust settle. His voice filled in awe and confusion.
"The way I understand it, vampires are creatures of the night. The daylight isn't really an attraction for them. So the newly turned don't get the wake up call till nightfall."
"I guess that makes sense, sort of."
"Not really, but that's magic for you.", Xander said with a shrug as he and Chuck moved on to the next victims. Continuing their work. As the last corpse turned to dust Xander turned and began to lead the way toward the exit.
"Xan, there's on more body I wanted you to look at. It's not an animal attack or anything. It's just strange.", Chuck said as he opened on of the cooling pods and slid the metal slab out. Xander moved over and pulled the sheet back before closing his eyes.
"What the hell did this?", He asked before looking at Chuck., "Rhetorical question."
"Good, because I have no idea.", Chuck said as he turned away from the body. Xander took a deep breath for composure as he leaned forward to get a better look. With a sigh he pulled a pen and pad of paper from his jacket pocket.
"These burns are branded. Like someone took a hot iron to this poor guy. I've never seen them before.", He said as he began sketching the symbols., "The dismemberment and gutting leans toward a ritual of some sort. I'll have to research to figure out exactly what the hell it could mean."
"Better you than me.", Chuck said as suppressed a shudder. Wondering how the young man in front of him could be so cool about the state of the body. Xander finished the sketches quickly, then stood and took a deep breath, before covering the victim and sliding the slab back into the freezer.
"Thanks again for the heads up Chucky.", Xander said as he closed the door to the unit., "I appreciate the help."
"I'll call next time anything come up."
"Thanks.", Xander said with a sigh as he turned and walked from the morgue. The weight on his shoulders slightly heavier.
BREAK
Xander couldn't help but smile as he walked into the library. Dance music was thumping through the library from the small boom box on the counter as Buffy practiced what looked like a gymnastics routing in the center of the room. Xander smiled slightly as he pressed the off button on the music player and Buffy slipped barely catching her balance before falling to the floor.
"Sup Buffster?", Xander asked as he leaned on the counter., "The G-man around?"
Buffy smiled slightly as she picked up a towel from the center table and wiped off her face.
"Miss Calander.", Buffy growled out with a frown., Came in wanting to speak with him. He should be back soon."
"Cool.", Xander said with a nod as he pulled the pad of paper from his pocket and slipped off his jacket sitting both on the counter., "Need a quick sparring dummy while we wait?"
"If your up for it.", Buffy said with a shrug as she tossed him the hand pads.
"Helping out my favorite slayer? I'm always ready." Xander answered with a half smile as he moved into position opposite Buffy. He held his hands up and began to move them quickly as Buffy jabbed and kicked.
"Cordy was royally pissed at you last night.", Buffy said as she through a high roundhouse kick into one of the pads.
"That's to bad."
"Don't you care?", Buffy asked as she landed a right cross.
"Of course I care.", Xander said with a grunt as he twisted with the blow so it wouldn't hurt his arm., "I'm just tired of people trying to tell me what to do and who to be. I'm happy being me, everyone else should be too."
"I am.", Buffy said with a smile as Xander ducked a spin kick and caught her follow up left jab on the pads.
"Nice to know.", Xander muttered as he tried to keep up with the slayer., "Wanna pick it up a bit?"
"Think you can handle it?", Buffy asked as she began to move faster. Kicks and punches flying at incredible speeds. Xander smirked slightly but couldn't take the time to answer as he continued dodging and blocking as fast as possible. Soon the young man fell back and motioned for Buffy to stop.
"Wow, that's a workout.", Xander said as he took a deep breath., "For me at least."
"I think you've gotten faster.", Buffy said with a curious tone as she wiped her face with a towel.
"What can I say. I watch you.", Xander answered with a shrug and a smile., "Did that sound creepy to you?"
"A little, but mostly sweet."
"Ah, good then.", Xander said with a smile as the doors to the library opened and Giles walked in., "G-man. Gotta talk to ya."
"Xander.", Giles said with a sigh., "How many times have I told you not to call me that?"
"I lost count long ago.", Xander answered with a shrug as he walked to the counter and handed Giles his sketches., "You have any idea what these could mean?"
"Um, I'll have to consult my books. Where did you come across these?"
"My friend Chucky is a security guard at Sunnydale Memorial. They had a few animal attacks brought in last night so he called to have me check them out. They're dust, but there was another body he showed me. The guy was dismembered, gutted, and branded with these symbols."
"Eww.", Buffy voiced with a sick look on her face.
"Yeah, very eww worthy.", Xander agreed with a nod.
"It sounds like a ritual of some sort, maybe Druid, or Norse. I have a few ideas of where to start looking.," Giles said in thought., "Will you be staying to help research?"
"Sure G-Man.", Xander said with a shrug., "As long as Buffy keeps with the stretching and kicking."
"Pervert."
"I'm a male.", Xander shot back at Buffy with a smile.
"I'll get the material.", Giles muttered as he disappeared into the stacks.
"Thanks Xander.", Buffy said with a pout., "Now I'll have to research till my eyes bleed."
"Aw, poor little Buffy.", Xander said with a smirk as he moved out of her reach.
BREAK
The figures moved in the candle lit cavern easily. Their dark robes seeming to absorb what little light there was.
"The cycle is almost complete." A voice hissed out from within the group., "Soon our master shall be released."
"We must prepare for his coming.", another voice stated, this voice more oily than the first., "Time is short."
"We will be ready. And as the moon rises three night from now we will one again reign by his side."
"It is Time.", the group eerily echoed.
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