Title: Between Life and Death
Rating: R or M…depends on what system you want to go by.
Chapter: 10
Author: Jonathan
Category: Xander/Georgia
Spoilers: Post "Chosen" in BTVS, post "Haunted" in DLM
Summery: During a mission from Giles, Xander has an unfortunate accident. But just how unfortunate is the question.
Disclaimer: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer is owned by Fox, UPN, Whedon, and ME. Dead Like Me used to be own by Showtime, now Sci-Fi airs it, so I really don't know who owns it anymore. Not me though. If I did, I'd put it back on the air in a heartbeat.
Author Notes: Well, this is my attempt to come back to my personal fics. With William helping me co-write Path to Power, it also started to re-ignite my old muse. I'm going to be writing Path to Power mainly, but whenever I have some time in waiting in chapter development, I'm going to work on a fic of mine. So, this is what I first wanted to come back to.
This fic started before the Dead Like Me DVD movie. So, that movie isn't canon. For one thing, Rube is still around in story. And anyway, we all like Rube. So the movie isn't part of canon here.

My head shook at that moment. Ahead of me stood the Cave of Wonders. I couldn't help but smirk at that thought. If Jafar came around the corner in his elderly balding thin frame, I was going to shit my pants. I didn't need a wise-cracking loud mouthed blue genie ad-libing every five seconds. Although, I'd admit, hearing Robin Williams make some impressions would be a welcomed experience.

Just please, I don't need anyone making a wish. Are genies like vengeance demons? I let out a sigh. This wasn't the time to be thinking about Disney movies.

But anyway, this wasn't a social visit. Nope. Not one bit. It's yet another trip for the higher ups.

No, not the Watchers' Council.

I'm talking about the Powers that Be and I think God? I still don't know the reaper hierarchy. I do know that Steven is the head guy. Well, a head guy enough to gather all the reapers and warn them about Edo Everto.

Y'know what? No more Edo Everto for me. Eddie. Eddie is what I'm going to call this buffoon. Not original, I grant you, but hey, who doesn't like the name Eddie...

Eddie Murphy, Ed Sullivan, Eddie Van Halen, Ed Asner, Edward Nortan, Ed O'Neil...

Ed...

Mr. Ed?

I think you get the point. I smirked. Too many Eds, but Eddie is enough for me.

So, I'm here to find the Demon Blade. The sword that I'm going to kill Eddie with.

Oh! Edward Nigma!

I don't think we need to think about the Riddler. But c'mon, Jim Carrey always kicks ass! Or talks with it.

Anyway, you don't know where I am. The last time you heard from me, I was in Steven's office. Back in Seattle. But right now? I'm actually in Sunnydale. Home sweet Hellmouth.

But it isn't the Sunnydale I remember. Oh, it's still a Sinkhole. But the difference is, it's filled with water. Yep, Sunnydale became a Crater Lake Wannabe. And in the middle of the newly formed lake, a small island. That's where I am.

That's where Steven sent Tara, George, and myself.

Yep, we're at the foot of a maze. My hand caresses the side of the mouth. "I guess we go inside." I glance at Tara and George momentarily.

"That's the idea I think." George stammered.

I let out a nod. "I just hope we don't run into the Goblin King."

Both girls smiled at my comment.

Ah, the loss of Jim Henson. Still such a tragedy.

"I'm actually going to take a look." Xander said a moment later. "I want to see what we're dealing with. "

Tara smiled at him. "Be careful, Xander."

He smiled, "I missed you, Tara." Xander then turned around, and headed into the mouth of the maze.

And then there were two.

I let out a sigh as he retreated. I wanted to say something to him too, but was at a loss of words.

Fuck.

I still have a hard time talking to him. This is so not what I needed. I traced my fingers against the dark dirt. "So this…is Sunnydale?"

"There used to be a-a lot more, George." Tara clarified. "But when Sunnydale collapsed, our Demonic Influential Division dispersed. Some went to Cleveland, some went to S-San Francisco, and some went to London. I ended up in San Francisco."

Damn.

"You really did split up."

"It wasn't so bad." Tara said in sadness. "It actually made being away from here easier. I remember having picnics with Willow, research parties at the Magic Box, hanging at the Bronze…"

She took a moment.

"I may of lost allot here, George. But…Xander…"

I couldn't help but look at the cave again.

A few moments passed.

"You too, huh, George?"

Her comment made me snap my head around.

"What?"

She smiled. Tara approached me. "You l-like Xander."

My eyes widened. "I…"

"I s-spent enough time with him to know his t-track record.." She grinned, "Xander's a sweetie."

Did I like him? I dunno. I mean, he's funny, nice, even cute. But I dunno. "I…" I thought back to the last few days. He can see me as me. I don't have to worry about the him seeing me as my undead self…

My head hung in defeat. "I dunno."

Tara added, "I s-see the way you look at him. Why d-do you think I suggested you come with us?"

"But even if I did like him, it can't work."

"George, l-let me tell you something about Xander." She took a moment. "Xander's l-lost allot."

I let out a sigh. "I know." My head dropped again. "I just don't want to hurt him. My relationships don't end well at all." I look at her, "Even so, he'll leave after this. It's not worth trying anything."

"But you're always going to wonder." She added, "We're reapers. We aren't going anywhere."

My eyes rolled. "Don't remind me."

"In a sense, neither is he."

I forgot. Throughout everything that happened. I forgot. "Then that means…"

"H-he'll be alone." She let out a sigh. "Again. He won't age. He'll be like us. Only technically alive."

"But even if we do get together…"

She cut me off, "You'll be happy. "

Have I ever mentioned I hate dark empty places?

I don't think so.

You would think it considering the life I lived.

I took a few steps down the corridor of the maze. I could definitely tell this was going to be hard. For 1, it's a maze-one that I've never been in before, 2, I'm on a time limit, and 3, I can tell something was going to pop out at the end.

Will it be an octopus like in the cut scene from Goonies?

Will it be Balrog like in Lord of the Rings?

Will it be Freddie Kruegar?

Hey, that's another Eddie name!

I chuckled. I don't think so. Too far of a stretch. And I even knew that when I thought about that name.

Hell, I could even run into Yogi Bear. But if he calls me Boo Boo, I'm going to get myself a new bearskin carpet.

I let out a sigh. I know I should head back, and rather soon. I don't know how long I've been in this maze, but at least I know if I turn around and head straight, I'll hit the entrance. I'm not that far off.

I will say this though, if anything, this little maze attempt has given me some time to finally think about what's been going on these past few days. So much so, that I really haven't the opportunity.

But I do know that time is actually going to be able to afford. Looks like my curse as the Butt Monkey continues to this day. As far as I know, I can't die. I'm like the Energizer Bunny. I'll keep going and going and going. I'm just glad that I'm still technically alive. Well, at least according to what Steven says.

And I really don't know what to think about him. I will say this though, it's great to see Tara again. My friends haven't been the same since she died. Willow's been through hell when Tara passed.

And because of that, I'm now a protector. What started the change? That damn Houdini Demon. All I can say is Eddie is going to pay. I still don't know what I'm exactly supposed to do.

I probably should head back anyway. I don't know what possibly Tara and George would be talking about. And to a degree, I am a little worried about it. Who wouldn't be?

I let out a breath and looked back to the entrance. I can see a small patch of light at the far end of the maze. So going back wouldn't be too hard.

I could actually ask Tara to do a locator spell. I'm just surprised I didn't think about that before.

I don't think I can really blame myself on that one though. It has been a couple years since I last seen her. I still want to talk to her though. I'm pretty sure she wants to talk to me too. I would love to know how her unlife has been going.

"Damn. You got old, Xand."

My eye widened. Turning around I noticed the source.

"Jesse?"

TBC

I know this is a short chapter, but I think it had some good points. I'll definitely try and make chapter 11 longer.