Chapter Eleven: You're Welcome – Part One

Three weeks before Xander's employment at Wolfram & Hart began

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

Midnight

If there was one thing Rupert Giles hated it was the inability to sleep despite feeling exhausted. And yet, despite his strong dislike for it, that had become the norm for several weeks now. He looked over at his bed side clock; it read 12:02am. He had just less than five hours to sleep before getting up too meet the girls for early morning training. Next to the alarm clock was a half drained botte of vintage scotch. He reached for it before pulling back his hand. No, the answers certainly didn't lie there.

The phone rang, distracting him from his musings. "Hello," he said tiredly, "Rupert Giles speaking. Who's calling?"

"Giles it's me," responded a young female voice.

"Hello Willow," he said, "Are you and the girls on the plane yet?"

"No not yet," the witch answered, "There's a slight delay. Oh sorry," she said with a tone of contrition, "I forgot about the time difference; did I wake you?"

"No, no it's fine," he assured her, "I was awake. Did you find what you were looking for?"

Willow and Kennedy had spent the past two months travelling across South America looking for activated Slayers to recruit. They were supposed to have left Lima for Edinburgh three days before but all of the airports had been closed as the entire city had been placed in lockdown; nobody in or out. Apparently there was a citywide manhunt of some sort yet, strangely enough, there was not a single wanted poster or photograph of whoever it was responsible for the disturbance. If it had been just her travelling, she would have simply charmed her way across the border, however, she also had three young girls in tow and she didn't want to put them in any danger. Besides, three extra days in a luxury hotel didn't make it seem so bad.

There had also been another thing that persuaded her to stay; she could sense something in the city. It was faint but she felt it was calling to her. It felt familiar.

"No," she answered, "False alarm. I went all over and yet I found squat. The girls didn't mind though. I think you're really going to like these ones. And anyway," she said in a disapproving tone, "What are you doing up anyway?"

"Couldn't sleep," he answered. She immediately understood the unspoken reason.

"It's been difficult for everyone since Africa," she said quietly, "And we've been over this; it was not your fault. It wasn't any of ours; none of us were even on the same continent."

"It doesn't matter," he protested, "I knew he wasn't coping with Anya's death, I knew he was drinking and yet I still put him on the duty roster."

"You tried to tell him to take a break," she soothed, "He wouldn't have any of it. He insisted on going to Africa."

"I could have tried to talk to him," he argued, "If it had been Buffy, Dawn or you I would have done it in a heartbeat but with him… I didn't."

"Xander didn't talk about his problems," she said, "Hell, you saw his parents. He grew up with that and he never complained. In fact, he did his absolute best to ensure Buffy never found out what they used to do him. I know what you're doing," she said understandingly, "You want to punish yourself so someone pays for his… But it's not going to bring him back."

"I know that," he said wearily, "I should get some sleep."

"Goodnight Giles," she said, "Though can you do me a favour?"

"Anything."

"Try not to think about it when you're alone."

~o~O~o~

Two weeks after Xander's employment at Wolfram & Hart began

Location: Wolfram & Hart headquarters, Las Angeles branch, lobby

Morning

"I don't see what the big problem is," Xander said, holding the door open for Harmony, "It's just a drawer."

"It's what the draw represents moron," she retorted.

"What does it represent?" he asked incredulously, "I spend most of my nights over at your place, so why not a drawer? It would be a damn sight easier than having to always run back to my place to get ready for work. Or," he said, "Just putting it out there; why not occasionally spend the night at my place?"

"Have you seen your place?" she responded waspishly, "Until you find an actual place that isn't a backpacker's lodge; I don't see that happening." He threw his hands up in exasperation.

"Why do I put up with this?" he asked of no one in particular.

"Probably because I occasionally let you touch my boobs," she responded.

"Yeah," he agreed, "That would explain it."

"What are you two fighting about this time?" asked Fred, wearily walking over to the pair.

"She's being controlling," he answered.

"Well he's being demanding," she insisted.

"Uh, context?" Fred asked. Why did I involve myself in this?

"I spend a lot of time at her place," he explained, "So all I ask for is a place to put a couple of shirts so I don't have to go back and forth all of the time."

"However," she retorted, "Since he has so refused to put a label on whatever the hell this is, I don't think I'm obligated to do anything." She paused, mid tirade, to allow Rudy to scan her for human blood. For some reason, he was rather hesitant in approaching her. "Oh come on Rudy, she said with exasperation, "I promise not to knock you out, tie you up, gag you and stuff you in the closet."

"That seemed oddly specific," mused Xander.

"Don't ask," muttered Fred, quiet enough for Harmony not to hear her.

"You're clean," said Rudy before practically fleeing the scene.

"Really?" asked Harmony, "Was that really the worst thing to happen to you here?"

"Are you absolutely sure I don't want to know?" asked Xander.

"You really don't," she replied. Harmony's pager beeped.

"That's Angel," she explained, "I better see what he wants." She lightly pecked Xander on the cheek, completely contrasting with her behaviour merely seconds ago and dashed off to the elevator.

"Why are women always complete nutcases?" he asked Fred. He then realised that that probably was not the wisest thing to say. "Well, to be fair," he began before backpedalling, "Nope, I'm not going to defend that one."

"Good idea," she said archly. As she turned to leave, he suddenly remembered that he had wanted to ask her something.

"Uh Fred?" he said, "I need an address from you."

"Another vampire nest?" she asked.

"Not really," he answered seriously, "There's someone I need to see."

~o~O~o~

Late evening

It was strange that despite how little she had changed, she looked like a completely different person. Five years can do that to you, Xander thought idly.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner," he began, "I should have but it was… difficult. That's not the right word, I don't know, it felt like that me coming here would make it really… real. I know that's stupid but hey, stupid is kind of my thing. Anyway, I suppose I just wanted to hold onto the illusion that it didn't actually happen. That everyone else was somehow wrong. But that's not real life and I shouldn't have neglected you to cater to some ridiculous fantasy that I had concocted. In fact, given the things I've seen, it was especially stupid of me and I'm sorry."

He looked down at the comatose figure.

"I'm sorry Cordelia."

He stayed with her for until the nurse informed him that visiting hours were over. He left the small room and had barely made it to the stairwell when the nurse suddenly ran after him.

"She's awake," she said breathlessly.

~o~O~o~

I hope you enjoyed the cameos from Giles, Willow and Cordelia. See you next time and, as always, please review.