#18 Gone

Buffy sat back listening to Dingos Ate My Baby on Angel's lap. Xander sitting right next to them on a much needed day off. Especially on Valnetine's day. "Wow, Oz's band plays… unique music."

"Well… they took Freebird and made it their own." Angel offered.

Xander rolled his eyes. "They suck."

Buffy glared at him. "Well don't tell Willow that, she's really digging this whole groupie thing."

Xander looked back at the stage. "Wonder why."

Buffy let out an innocent laugh. "Look at the jealous man."

Xander turned to the slayer. "Excuse me?"

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Willow gotta new guy and now the old guy is jealous."

Xander shook his head. "I don't feel that way about her… and even if I did time's come and gone."

Buffy looked at him. "Come on… you mean to tell me you didn't feel nothing… seeing her in that leather."

Xander got to his feet. "You see me as a girl with boy parts, I see her as a boy with girl parts now as much fun as I've had this V-day think I'm going to call it a night."

#19 Elevation

Giles watched with Jenny as Xander easily blasted away the last of a nest. He honestly doesn't think the teenager has faced a challenge since Halloween. Xander easily killed the last three and just sighed as the grey aura came down. He doesn't even have to go super saiyan.

Xander looked around. "This is a nice house."

Giles looked at him a little bit worried. How did he go from hunting demons to appraising houses? "I suppose it is previous owners not withstanding."

Xander looked at it. "I think I might live here."

"Xander, you are not a burden to me." Giles assured him.

Xander turned to him. "And I'm thankful to you for putting a roof over my head but how do I phrase this… well elevation."

"Elevation?" Jenny asked.

Xander looked at them but quickly looked to the floor as his face turned red. "How do I put this? Since you two are close by I can sense your powers elevate when… friends don't make friends finish this sentence."

Jenny's eyes widened. "Oh my god, you can feel that? I mean you don't…"

"God no, just the energy, I sense it that's all."

Giles eyes widen as he realizes he knows when they have sex. "Oh, well this is a nice place how fast can you move in?"

"Well it's Friday night, factor in sleep, Saturday afternoon have everything up to code by Saturday night." Xander replied. "As long as no one actually lives here."

Giles shook his head. "No, house has been on sale since 1993."

Xander let out a smile. "Good, so no one will miss it when I'm done with it."

#20 Ghost

Buffy looked around still feeling whoozy. Stupid fever she's just glad Angel was there with a shield in hand to stop Lyle from killing her. Only she's in the hospital so where are the friends she helped out so much? What are they doing?

Xander looked around nervously in the presence of children and one particularly grateful little girl. "He's still here I can sense him."

Angel looked at him and activated a capsule that turned into a shield. "This is what happens when you run into a situation half cocked."

"Yes how dare I put a kid's who was dying life ahead of our own? God even with Captain America's memories and abilities you're still a little girl that prefers hiding." Xander replied.

Angel took his shield off and looked at him. "It could be worse I could become you."

"Hey! We got some sort of killing machine in here. If both of you don't stop your whining? I'll put you both in the hospital." Willow warned standing between the two.

Xander looked at her before looking at the ground. "We'll be good."

Angel nodded in agreement looking right at Willow while unseen to them Xander wobbled back and threw a couple jabs but not hitting anything. "I know, your friend is just annoying."

Willow rolled her eyes as Xander was paralyzed in place as all he can do is get his hands up. "Yeah well I figured you two could at least get along."

Angel looked at her. "Well I'm not holding grudges."

Willow almost glared at him. "Oh really we know that's a lie. You whacked him with your shield."

Xander's hands glowed gold before it quickly faded and shouted. "Does someone want to kill this thing before it drains me dry!"

Willow turned around. "Oh"

Angel quickly ran up to Xander but was smacked aside with a bit of strength by the air. Whatever this thing is, he really is draining Xander's strength.

Willow quickly pulled out the reaper and threw right in front of Xander as she heard something cut through. Which was unknown to them the demon's eyes.

Xander instantly felt the detach and his ki level off to weaker then normal but still there. He immediately lunged in front and grabbed… something he's pretty sure they're arms as he puts the demon in a full nelson as he kicks his legs out from under him. This thing took a lot of his strength. He starts glowing gold but it quickly went back to gray. "OH for the love of… you guys better hurry, I can't hold him for long."

Willow ran up without a sword and reaper wing she started feeling around. "Neck, neck, where's his neck."

One of the kids lined up her hands on his neck and once he did she switched to only her pointer and index fingers before striking him on the throat three times.

Xander had a smile that was almost like childish glee. "Oh man, you pinched him! I didn't even know you could do that."

Willow shrugged. "Well, now you know I can."

Xander just sensed the demon's ki dropped to nothing. Der Kindestod was dead. "No offense, but I'm sleeping with one eye open around you."

#21 Dog

Angel ran nervously just trying to catch up. Dear god what did he do. How could he do it? Why was it, how could he do it?

Angel quickly ducked under an energy blast. He checked himself to see if he still has a head.

Xander glared at him, warning shot. She makes him human he tries to kill her. He looks at Angel ready to kill him this is long overdue "You no good son of a bitch!" Willow pulled at Xander desperate to pull him off. "You want to tell me how this one happened again."

"I don't know!" Angel shouted. He honestly doesn't him and Buffy were kissing on school grounds and then one moment later he's trying to kill her. Then her shied went up and the two people possessing them said their final goodbyes and went to the after life. "Where would I ever pull a gun out of?"

Xander punched him into the wall. "You damn near killed her."

Buffy quietly grabbed Xander's hand. "It wasn't his fault."

Xander growled Angel's loyal little lap dog as usual. "Would you stop defending him?"

Buffy rolled her eyes "We were possessed." She was just thankful that her mind was still in there enough to put up Nayru's love and save her life.

Xander rolled his eyes. "I'm sure." Little loyal lap dog, 'Honey even though you stabbed me thirty times it's my fault because I'm a bleeder.' He turned to Giles. "They were both really possessed."

Giles nodded. "Fraid so."

He turned to Angel. Well this just got awkward. "You can see why I'd do it right."

Angel nodded pulling himself out of the wall. "Would have done the same thing."

#22 Wounded

Xander walked calmly down the museum with Giles. They may not live under the same roof anymore but the elder man has made it a point to check in on the teenager. Especially since he needed plasma transfusions thanks to that wretched coach.

Xander looked at him. "So what did you need to see me about?"

Giles looked at him. "Well outside of school and patrolling you've kind of been kind of shut off lately…"

"I'm furnishing a house!" Xander complained. "It's a lot of work. I gotta cap it set up a grav room, find a fridge my size… it's hard work… left or right?"

"Beg your pardon?" Giles asked.

Xander rolled his eyes. "The statue you want me to blow to bits left or right."

Giles quickly realized where they were. "Oh, left."

Xander was walking towards the statue during their late night heist… or shatter in this case.

Giles was rattled when a window seemingly broke on itself in the racket of a loud noise. "What was that?"

Xander looked down and saw a crimson trail leaving his own stomach. What kind of bullet was that? Damn saiyan instincts, Trunks does it and it's a habit he picked up from him. But there's no Cell, no Frieza he has no damn reason to suppress his power. He holds his side as he falls down. "I think… I've been shot."

Giles looked at him as a security guard ran in. "Call an ambulance right now!"

Lyle Gorch looked at his work with a smile through the scope of his rifle. Finally doing what no bullet could have with a mystical sniper rifle and take down troll superman. "One Down"

#23 Fallen

Kendra looked at this bizarre group once again. A dark power is about to rise in Sunnydale so here she is. Kendra turned to her sister slayer. "Are you sure that your friend Xander can destroy Acathla?"

Buffy nodded. "Absolutely"

Angel turned to the door as something catches his attention. "Something's coming."

Kendra grabbed the sword meant to slay Acathla as the three others pulled out capsules that turned into swords for the girls and a shield and sword for Angel. They all stood ready as the door opened revealing a distraught Jenny.

"Ms. Calendar, what's wrong?" Buffy asked.

Jenny looked at the group. "Xander's in the hospital, he's been shot and he's lost a lot of blood."

Buffy immediately put her sword to her side not being able to shake off this bad feeling. "Let's get there right now."

They were taken by surprise when to the surprise of everyone a swarm of twenty vampires entered. Six each focused on Buffy and Kendra. Most vampires when it came to fighting well… they were idiots. Fighting one at a time it was easy to fight them. These ones were like a pack of wolves all fighting together.

Angel jumped down shield in hand joining the frey desperate to fight them off.

Willow looked at the one she's fighting. They must be underestimating her because she's human. She stabs hers in the stomach before pulling the blade out and cutting his head clean off.

Buffy saw how bad this was going and quickly tried to create a portal for everyone to get out and so she could burn down the library with no regrets. She opened her hand but a vampire punched and Buffy quickly retaliated with a stake to the heart. The vampire jumped into the air and struck with one quick kick to Buffy's knee as something in Buffy's leg snapped and the vampire dusted. Buffy immediately grabbed her leg as two vampires dumped a cabinet of books on the slayer knocking her out.

Kendra fought bravely but much like Buffy her technique is more for one on one. And since Tector didn't give orders to leave her alive they were much more ruthless and stabbed her in the stomach as two bit down on her neck draining the slayer in moments.

Angel shouted in fury seeing Buffy hurt if not worse. He jumped down and used his shield as bludgeon clubbing any vampire he could get his hands on with it.

Willow smiled feeling the spell's power take hold as fire surrounds her. "Angel, you know what to do?"

Angel staked the two draining her and dragged Kendra to Buffy and put his shield up in front of him using his body to shield the slayers. "What are you waiting for? Fire that thing!"

Willow shouted as fire surrounded the library torching almost every vampire in it. Angel knelt down shield ready trying to block making a path for the fire that goes by him Kendra and buffy without burning them. When this is over he's asking Xander what the heck this thing is made out of.

Buffy opened her eyes and tried to pull herself up but Angel held her down till the spell passed. She tried to get to her feet but fell right back down.

Willow walked over. "How are they?"

Angel shook his head. "Buffy's leg is broken, Kendra, she, she didn't make it."

Willow nodded and looked at them. Tears will come but not right now. "You stay with her we gotta get to the hospital."

Buffy looked at her. "Why the hospital are you hurt?"

Willow shook her head. "Look around, you're hurt and who's missing?"

Buffy looked around and got her answer. "Jenny, you think they'll trade."

Willow shook her head. "No, but I do think they'll go how do we open Acathla or we'll cut her throat."

Buffy groaned sometimes it really sucks to be the good guy. "You're right, we gotta go to the hospital and find Giles."

Willow rolled her eyes. "No, I gotta go you're no good to us with your leg like that."

Buffy shook off the pain and wobbled one step before falling. "Damn it!" Buffy frowned for a moment before realizing the only thing she can do as she handed Willow her sword. "Kick their asses."

Willow took the sword and added it to her own and the reaper. "They won't know what hit them… but Xander's still in the hospital and if Giles is gone he'll be defenseless."

Angel hoisted Buffy up bridal style as the slayer yelped in pain. "I'll protect them, I'll protect them both."

Willow nodded as the three left for the hospital they have no choice but to leave the fallen Kendra there.

#24 Courage

Lyle Gorch stood with a smile finally having one up the slayer and her gang of morons. He looked down with a smile seeing the rifle in his hands used earlier. Every bullet failed against her friend with the glowing hair. Which is why thanks to Rack this rifle fired more of a mystical bolt then a bullet. He smiled seeing Jenny held by two others as Giles came in seeing candles and torches for a likely failed ritual since all you need is your own blood.

"Well if it's not the slayer's watcher." Lyle replied with a smirk.

Giles looked at him coldly. "I came alone just like you said, now let Jenny go."

Lyle shook his head. "No, not until you tell me how to open Acathla."

Giles bit his bottom lip trying to control his anger at the moment. "Are you daft? If you free Acathla you'll kill us all."

"Can't make a threat if you don't know how to use it." The cowboy replied.

Giles looked at him. "Very well, the secret to releasing Acathla is to… perform the ritual in a tutu you pillock." Giles looked at Jenny and the two lovers showed a sad acceptance of what's coming next.

Lyle had an evil smirk. "Well, if that don't go down…" Lyle hit the floor hard in a dive when to the surprise of everyone the reaper soared into the room decapitating one vampire holding Jenny before it bounced off the wall and got the other freeing the techno pagan as Willow ran in and caught her weapon.

Giles caught Jenny when she ran into his arms. "Willow, where are the others…"

Willow shook her head. "It's just me… now get out of here Giles."

Giles shook his head. "No absolutely not, I can't just leave you alone."

Willow glared at him with a confidence she had never shown once in her life. "Giles for my plan to work I can be the only one here. Now get out of here!"

Jenny nodded as she took Rupert by the hand and pulled him away. "You have to trust her Rupert."

Giles looked at her for a moment but kept walking.

Willow looked across the room at the urban cowboy vampire and his twenty five followers as her fist closed trying to contain her anger at what he's done to her friends. "You've terroroized this town all spring for an idiotic cousin that got himself killed for biting Cordelia near Buffy."

"Brother!" Lyle shouted at the redhead. "You're the weakest of the group you little twig do you think you can beat me and mine on your own."

Lyle will unleash hell if she does nothing, so win or lose she has to try. Unknown to everyone in the room a glowing triangle appeared on Willow's hand as she shouted. "I know I can!" She threw the reaper against the wall as it quickly became more like a deadly pinball bouncing from wall to wall hitting vamps in legs arms necks as it moved wildly.

Willow shouted in fury pulling out her and Buffy's swords as she fought the vampires tooth and nail. She saw how ineffective this was the sword's could break by the time she decapitates them all. She jumped through the air landing at one of the torches as she puts both swords in and ignites them. She'll never have the time to use Din's fire so this will have to do.

Lyle watched as the reaper did it's job and kept the other vamps off guard and on their toes as even Willow had to deflect it off her swords a couple times. If the watcher were here he'd likely be killed by it. Lyle watched Willow stab the last two with her back turned dropping one sword and catching the reaper wing. Lyle quickly ran up and jumped off his feet and kneed her in the back as she toppled over to the floor.

Willow tried to get up but Lyle kicked her in the ribs forcing her to turn on her back.

Lyle grabbed her by the throat and smiled pulling her up and putting both hands around her throat as he choked the life out of her as she dropped her weapons. "Well, at least I'll kill one of you."

Willow pushed and pulled at the vampire's grip trying to break free but even with all her training and working out. She can't budge him she needs a plan b and she's too far away from her weapons. She punches Lyle in the face a couple times but the vampire doesn't let go.

Willow looked down starting to lose her strength as she sees plan C with a bit of booze. With one hand she reaches down her fuzzy top and pulls out a little cleavage dagger Giles gave her as she kneed Lyle in the balls. He didn't let go but it brought him close enough to stab him and that finally broke his grip as she ripped the flask from him.

Willow popped the top off the flask and quickly drank from it as Lyle rushed her. With a bloated mouth she grabbed a torch and waited. Once Lyle was close enough she spit out at the torch turning her mouth into a makeshift flamethrower lighting the Gorch on fire.

Xander flew through the window just in time to see Lyle dust as he collapsed to the floor bleeding from his side as he held the wound.

Willow looked at him confused. "What are you doing here?"

"Angel told me, you came here alone." Xander replied seeing the day's already been saved. So he re injured himself for nothing "I came here to kick ass and pop stitches and… I'm all out of stitches."

Willow looked at him with a little smile even with all that power… he's still Xander as he helped him up and helped him walk. "Come on Rowdy Roddy let's get you back to the hospital."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea. Buffy's probably starting to worry about us by now."

#25 Decrease

A statuesque African American woman with black hair sat at her desk hating particularly days like this. When it's all over she's lived a complicated life so she doesn't know where she'll go. But after what happened to Ace of the Royal Flush Gang wherever she goes it will only be fair. Ace was a scared teenage girl and they experimented on her until she broke and it was the kindness of Batman that saved an entire city from being obliterated with her.

Amanda Waller heard the intercom go off and sighed. "Come in General Lane"

In entered a balding man with little hair left in a military uniform with three starts to his name holding a manilla folder. "I think you might find this interesting."

Amanda Waller looked at the report it was a fatality list for a city in California called Sunnydale. "Seems small; what's the point?"

Lane turned it to a different page. "The point is, this was the fatality rate last year."

Waller looked at it and now she was intrigued. "An 82% drop in casualties… in just six months."

"With your permission ma'am I'd like to run my own investigation into what caused this… it could give us a way to defend ourselves against the justice league."

Waller simply nodded. "Do whatever you have to do to find out what caused this. But leave the results to me."

Author Notes

I wanted to go through S2 real fast as the story's big moments take place in S3