Chapter 7


Oh, this is the start of something good
Don't you agree?
I haven't felt like this in so many moons
You know what I mean?
And we can build through this destruction
As we are standing on our feet
So, since you want to be with me
You'll have to follow through
With every word you say
And I, all I really want is you
You to stick around
I'll see you everyday

Gavin Dagraw - "Follow Through"


Xander was laying by a camp fire somewhere in – almost literally – Bum Fuck Egypt.

The stars were shining down on the camp, enhancing the serene feeling that had permeated for the past few days. The groups of campfires and tents were quiet since everyone was either asleep, on watch near the perimeter, or out on slaying jaunts with their teams.

Xander's African slayer organization was more akin to the Romany or Nomads than anything else. They were a group of 40 to 50 witches, watchers, slayers, hunters, and a few covering multiple roles. They traveled on horses and donkeys form place to place, carrying all for their worldly possessions with them. Their only real regular connection to the outside world was a single satellite phone with spotty reception and a set of radios.

They would travel from one camp site to another, picking off demons and dark shamans as they went. When they made their camp they started rotating out in groups of five. The parties would radiate out in different directions in a staggered 72 hour shift, so that there was always a good sized group at the base site. This worked fairly well since there were no real focus points of supernatural activity on the continent for whatever reason. Unfortunately there were a lot of demons. They liked it because there were fewer densely populated areas and they could hide out more easily. Not to mention the greater number of highly vulnerable villages. The largest cities, like Cairo, did have their own resident slayers, leaving the deserts and jungles to the tribes and Xander. Luckily most of the war torn areas were too hostile for even most demons, so they didn't have to deal with that much. It was a dangerous, isolated existence, but it was rewarding too.

Nobody in the Council, or even the Scoobies, really seemed to understand the odd little community that he led. Giles seemed to think that he exaggerated the conditions based on the way he had been raised. Will and Dawn didn't really think about it much at all as far as he knew. Buffy knew now, but only since that vacation 6 months ago.

They had swapped stories about their jobs and lives then. It had really surprised him a lot when, even after the tales of no electricity and gypsy living, she had wanted to come out here with him. God he hoped she didn't run away screaming after an hour without a blow dryer. But if she showed up here, and really hated it, he'd probably follow her back to civilization on the spot. He was dedicated, not stupid. You don't let a job, any job, keep you from true happiness.

Just then there was a strange shift in the air that made Xander sit up and look around warily. A tap on his left shoulder made him nearly jump out of his skin.

"Shit, sorry. I forgot how much it bugs you when someone comes at you on your blind side."

Xander whirled and smiled brightly at the woman who had scared him out of his mind.

Buffy smiled back briefly, before she threw herself into his arms. "Oh my God, Xander, I've missed you so much."

Xander laughed and spun her around. "What? I just came and spent a whole 10 hours with you last month. Not enough?"

When she was finally able to disentangle herself, Buffy plopped down on the blanket by the fire. "No. Not that I didn't appreciate Willow exhausting herself for us. This long distance thing just isn't working for me anymore. 6 months is too much."

"Yeah." Xander sat down and pulled his girlfriend close. "What's your plan then?"

"Oh, that's simple. I'm staying."

Xander's eyebrows went up. "Just like that? Did you just decide this morning and leave a note on the way out the door? 'Dear Andy. Gone camping, be back never. Call Giles for me. Bye, Buffy' "

Buffy smacked him roughly and pulled herself closer to him. "Of course not. I am a responsible adult now you know. I planned and everything."

"So you packed for a couple of days first?"

This time she laughed. "NO! Well, I did. But I also called Giles and had Andrew transferred to main headquarters, I had my apartment packed up and all my personal stuff stored so that my replacement could use all the council owned furniture and things in her place. I chose a replacement and got her moved in to a place. I got all my mail changed to be sent to a box where you pick up your mail. I had Andrew fix up all my paperwork so that I get paid properly for this kind of field work, and all my benefits have been arranged the same way that yours are. And before you ask, like the smartass you are, yes, I did pack appropriately for the environment. No blow dryer or six inch heels or miniskirts."

"Damn, love the way you look in those. I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice those things for me. Nobody has ever done that, sacrificed a huge chunk of their lives just to be with me. I love you for that."

"I know. And I know that this is a huge change that I'm making in my life. It was a huge change for you too. You took a job that nobody wanted and made it into a lifestyle that fits the world you were dropped into. We don't take that for granted. But know this; this is by no means permanent. We will be rotated back to civilization at some point, just like all the other watchers have been. You've been here longer than anyone should be, and I won't have you burning out or going nuts on me."

Xander thought for a minute and then nodded. "Yeah, I know I'll have to leave this to someone else eventually. Not right away though, if I can help it."

"Good."

"Why did you make the new slayer get her own place and send Andrew away?"

"Andrew spends most of his time with Giles now anyway, and the thought of her in my home for that last few years made me queasy Besides I sort of pulled seniority and made a few demands and decisions in the best interest of others. Some people are pretty pissed at me right now."

"What did you do?"

"I yanked Kennedy from Brazil and put her in Rome, as far away from Willow as I could manage. I got Robin reassigned to New York so that Vi can have a free hand with the girls in Cleveland without his constant interference. Bonus points for keeping him form trying to kill Spike again. There were a few other things, specific to a few of the girls that have called me with problems in the last couple months. Giles nearly had a coronary when he came back from a weekend off and heard what I had done."

"So, the queasy is because you stuck Ken there huh? What did Will say about that?"

"Pretty grateful actually. You may get that threesome after all. Things were getting worse and worse with them around each other. Will was about this close to melting down and since I was going crazy being away from you, I made the call."

Xander grinned widely. "My Buffy, decisive and In Charge. That is insanely hot you know."

"Good to know."