As fate seemed fond of doing, things started happening and they all started happening at the same time. A week into being back at school and the new Slayer arrived.
Giles was astonished as he had been searching since Kendra's death. The Council was stonewalling and even the AI's couldn't track her down.
And yet there she was dancing at the bronze.
With a vampire.
Oz pointed out that she was probably playing bait, but the group followed anyway, just to be safe.
The ensuing fight was short.
As was the introduction.
Xander suggested they head for Giles at the library to let him know what was going on.
They enjoyed a nice slow walk, whilst Faith, the new Slayer, regaled them with tales of daring do… and nudity. Oz and Gaia frowned as they heard the stories.
Something didn't add up.
Soon they reached the library where a flustered Giles made apologies for not knowing about her arrival.
"Where did you travel from?" He asked.
"Boston, my home town." She shrugged.
"You weren't raised by the council?" Oz asked.
"No, my Ma raised me… my dad would normally do it, but he ain't been around." She said indifferently.
"Does your mother know you are here?" Giles asked.
Faith snorted. "My Ma wouldn't care if I stayed at the White House."
"And your Watcher?" He prodded.
"Off at some retreat back in the Motherland." She shrugged.
"Ah, yes." Giles said with realisation.
"So you came of your own accord then?" Gaia asked.
"Yep, what's with the twenty questions?" She asked getting a little irritated.
"They keep us from getting dead." Xander said seriously.
"How? You bore them to death with endless questions?" She said snidely.
"The more we know, the better we can be sure you are who you say you are." Xander clarified.
"Trust me, I'm me." She grinned.
"One last question." Xander said. "How old are you?"
"Eighteen." She replied.
Xander sighed and turned to Oz. "What do you think? Runaway, maybe 15?" He asked.
"Maybe slightly older, hard to tell. Could check with the Council though. Definitely not supposed to be here." Oz agreed.
"Yeah, scared too." Xander nodded.
"What are you two on about?" Cordelia asked.
"Oz and I have been learning to use our heightened senses to tell when someone is lying, heartbeats and all that." Xander explained. "Faith is the Slayer, she is not eighteen, and she is not here with permission." Xander said.
"Are you calling me a liar!" Faith demanded angrily.
"Yes." Oz said without hesitation.
Faith opened and closed her mouth several times, but was unable to come up with a retort.
"Also, those stories she told us aren't true either." Gaia added.
They all turned to look at Gaia.
"You don't think I can't tell when someone is lying?" She asked with bemused look. "Oh and she's 16." She added.
"Faith, who is your Watcher and were is she?" Giles asked sternly.
"Alice Giles. Dead." She said glumly.
Giles just dropped to the floor and vomited.
Buffy and Xander rushing to help him.
"Rupert!" Jenny cried.
"It's his sister." Faith said quietly. "She told me if anything ever happened I should come straight to Sunnydale and Rupert Giles, her brother."
"Delta, call the General, see if he can spare Janet and some of SG1 or himself." Xander ordered.
Faith just looked around, wondering who he was talking to.
Jenny was on the floor, Xander having dragged him away from the mess. Gaia took a moment to vanish it.
"Faith, who killed her?" Xander asked firmly.
Faith hesitated, her hands shaking.
"Can't kill him if we don't know who he is." Buffy added.
Faith gave a disbelieving laugh. "You think it's that easy? Stakes don't work on him. He is way stronger than a Slayer and he doesn't even have hands and feet any more. He's got these goats feet."
"Faith, Buffy is the strongest Slayer ever." Willow said calmly having rejoined them as Cordelia took her place helping Jenny tend to Giles. "Not because she can physically beat you in an arm wrestling contest, but because she has excellent backup. Cordelia and myself are researchers, Gaia and Giles have huge amounts of info, Oz is… stronger than Buffy physically and Xander… well, Xander's list is too long to go into right now."
"So why don't I get any of those things?" She asked pleadingly.
"You do." Xander said. "Now. You would have had them when you were activated, but we couldn't find you. We think the Council was keeping Giles in the dark, they never even told us about Kendra, the Slayer who died so you were activated."
"Giles is going to mighty pissed when he gets over his shock, the Council is going to be in big trouble. They got his sister killed." Buffy said.
There was a flash from the office that found Faith in a full battle ready position.
"Easy, just some friends of mine." Xander assured her.
Janet and Jack soon exited the office, Janet heading straight for Giles.
"Faith, this is Jack O'Neill, a Colonel in the Air Force, you'll likely see him and his team a lot. The one tending to Giles is Janet Frasier, a doctor at Jack's base." Xander said.
"My dad always talked about a Jack O'Neill." Faith said, she was still pretty much in shock that her careful web of lies was torn apart so easily.
"Yeah, Air Force?" Jack asked.
Faith nodded. "A Major."
"What was his name? There's another O'Neil but he only has one 'L'." Jack smirked.
"Kowalski, Charles Kowalski." She said slumping into a chair.
Jack went white.
Xander was worried he might pull a Giles.
"Jack, you ok? Do I need to call Janet over?" Xander asked pushing Jack into a chair.
"He never mentioned he had a daughter." Jack said quietly, he looked up at Xander. "I knew he was divorced, but not that he had children."
"He left us anyway, so it don't matter." Faith said sullenly.
"Left you? When?" Jack asked.
"About two or three years ago." Faith said. "Just said he had a job to do and never came back. He always called or wrote me before, but this time nothing. Figured he had enough of Mom's drinking."
"Faith, he never came back because he was killed in action." Jack said softly. "He was the dedicated sort, he was a bit of a joker, but he wouldn't give up on a kid." Jack said firmly.
"Then why didn't no one tell us?" Faith demanded.
"Is there a chance they told your mom and she never told you?" Oz asked.
"Sounds right." Faith groused.
"Xander, you got plans for setting her up?" Jack asked.
"Figured she could stay with Buffy, Joyce and myself. I definitely want her given the same rights and protections as Buffy and the rest. I have a feeling the Council will try and get her back." Xander said.
"Don't I get a say!" Faith demanded.
"Not really, you're a minor. You need a guardian. Buffy's mom, Joyce, will be happy to fill that role, we aren't going to let you go out and die somewhere because you don't have backup. You asked where your support is… here we are." Xander said.
"You really think you can take on the Greek Freak?" Faith scoffed.
"Greek Freak?" Jack asked.
"Some uber vamp." Buffy offered.
"You've got Jaffa out right?" He asked.
"Yep, they see anything they'll report it and watch it. If it's a vamp they'll report and engage. If they're not sure, they'll call it in and wait for orders." Xander said.
"What's a Jaffa?" Faith asked.
"A special warrior. They kinda work for me. You'll wind up training with them as they can take a beating as good as they give. Also you'll train against me and Oz."
"I still don't see how a bunch of civies think they can take on a Slayer." Faith said in disbelief.
"That's because you're assuming we're simple humans." Oz said.
"You're not gonna tell me?" She asked.
Xander looked to Oz, who just shrugged. Both pushed off the table and transformed.
Faith fell backward over her chair as she was confronted by a huge wolf and a black panther.
Buffy and Gaia were giggling whilst Willow just rolled her eyes.
"Are they showing off again?" Cordelia called out.
"Definitely." Willow responded.
Both boys transformed back as Janet approached.
"Colonel, I'm taking Rupert back to the base. He's still in shock, and I want to keep an eye on him. Jenny will come too." Janet reported.
"Ok Doc, carry on." He ordered.
Janet and Jenny helped Giles into a standing position as Janet called for pick up and a gurney to the base.
They vanished in a flash of light causing Faith to scuttle further back on her butt.
"What is with all the animals and flashing people!" She demanded.
"That is a very long story." Gaia said. "Xander will fill you in later. "For now you need to know about two things. One, you won't be sleeping in Sunnydale, and your location is classified so this Kakistos will not be able to find you. Two, Xander here will likely be the one to take out Kakistos, so you won't have to worry about him."
"Three, you'll be coming back everyday for school and patrolling. You won't be the one to face Kakistos, but you will be there to witness it." Xander added.
"Agreed, she needs to see that nothing is undefeatable… except God." Jack smiled.
"I still don't believe a couple of animals can take out a vamp." Faith said in disbelief.
"You might as well show her." Jack said. "She won't stop worrying till she knows for sure."
Xander pushed off from the table again and summoned his armour, plasma sword in hand.
Faith found herself on the floor again.
"I am Lord Xander. Slayer of false gods and the Champion of the Universe in service to the goddess Gaia. No mere vampire will threaten my friends and family and walk this earth." He said with as much menace as he could muster.
Oz deciding to play to Xander's imposing figure transformed again growling slightly.
"This is Oz, a true werewolf, a Hound of God." Xander said playing up to Oz.
Gaia, seeing that poor Faith was about to wet herself, not that Buffy and Jack were helping with their snickering, decided to step in and add credence to their play and play the role of calming influence.
"Easy my Champion. She is young and scared, she lashes out at the world around her, hoping that she can stop it before it attacks her. She will learn in time that she has found her safe haven." Gaia said resting a hand on Xander's armoured shoulder.
Xander bowed slightly in his armour. "As you say My Lady."
Xander banished his armour and Oz transformed.
"Not all of Xander's battles are won easily. Because of my own actions he was recently exiled from the Hellmouth by the Creator and his duties here fell to Oz. His exile has been lifted and he has returned home." Gaia said gently helping Faith to her feet.
Faith for her part was staring fearfully at the two young men.
"Faith, don't worry about these two, they're really just a couple of teddy bears." Willow said glaring at the two boys who were looking a bit sheepish.
"Xander, cat, now." Gaia ordered.
"Do I have to?" He whined, a far cry from the armoured menace previously occupying the library.
Gaia just glared at him.
The next thing Faith knew there was a small black kitten perched in her lap.
"See, nothing to worry about. You should see him play with his godson and Jordy, they always demand the Kitty over Doggy rides." Buffy said smirking.
"I think I should be offended." Oz remarked. "But I'm not." He shrugged.
Faith was escorted to the Summers' home in Colorado. Joyce was pleased that Faith had finally turned up. Like the rest of the gang she was outraged at the lack of support a Slayer received.
The following day Xander stayed home from school, he needed to be around to help get Faith put in Joyce's custody and have her placed under his diplomatic protection.
Faith was shocked again when she suddenly found herself in a military base surrounded by military personnel.
All of them heavily armed. Her wooden stake and vaunted slayer strength didn't seem like such a big deal when confronted by all those high velocity projectile weapons.
Gaia and Joyce were quietly assuring Faith that she wasn't in danger.
They made their way to the briefing room where General Hammond was waiting for them with Jack and Daniel.
"General, Daniel this is Faith Kawalsky." Jack said grinning.
"Lehane, my name is Faith Lehane." Faith said quietly.
"Oh, ok, well, that's fine. Bottom line is she's Charlie's daughter." Jack shrugged.
"Wow, its great to meet you." Daniel said in awe. "I'm real sorry about your dad. He was a great man."
Faith just looked indifferent.
"She was never told he died, her mom let her think he just didn't want her." Jack explained at George and Daniel's confused looks.
"Never happen. The only mistake he made was not telling us about you so we could tell you personally." Daniel said.
"He probably didn't want it made public knowledge in case someone like Maybourne or Samuels thought they could use her to get him." Jack offered.
"Maybe you could get the paperwork sorted and then explain what happened to Charlie." Joyce suggested.
"Of course." General Hammond said indicating that they should all take a seat.
About an hour and a half later and the paperwork was filed and notarized. Being friends with the President had perks.
Then they explained about the fate of Major Charles Kawalsky.
They called Teal'c and Jacob to explain the Goa'uld, Sha're demanded to see the daughter of one of the men who saved her people.
Faith found herself a sudden celebrity, even Ferretti and Tyler showing up to see the child of one their own.
Jack offered to accompany Joyce, Faith and Xander to the school to get her enrolled.
Jack got to meet Principal Snyder for the first time.
"I have no interest and no obligation to accept one of his friends." Snyder sneered at Xander who was leaning against the wall by the door.
"You don't need an interest, but you do have an obligation." Jack retorted. He wasn't sure what the problem was. They had just sat down and explained the situation. He had been hostile at the sight of Xander.
"Xander, what the hell did you do to this guy?" Jack asked in disbelief.
"I was born." Xander said dryly.
"He is a degenerate! And stain on this planet and humanity." Snyder screeched.
"Do I have to come here?" Faith asked, she was clearly not liking this guy.
"It would be best." Jack said trying to figure out the problem. "Can you give examples of his… degenerate behaviour?"
"He… I… It's that Summers' girl, both of them dragging down Ms Rosenberg with them, at least that boy Jesse is gone."
Xander pushed off the wall and started growling.
Which instantly put the fear in Snyder.
"You speak about him one more time and I am going to be in a lot of trouble." Xander said menacingly.
"See what I mean!" Snyder said backing up as far as I can.
"All I saw was you being a jerk, me wishing I had my sidearm and Xander threatening to kill you. Something he can do… he does have diplomatic immunity after all." Jack said off-handedly.
"He… what? Diplomatic immunity?" Snyder stuttered.
"Why don't we start this over." Jack said calmly. "Hi, I'm Colonel Jack O'Neill of the United States Air Force. This is Faith Lehane, she is the daughter of a fallen comrade of mine. Xander is a good friend of mine as I work with him a lot. Joyce, who is one of Xander's guardians has agreed to accept Faith as her charge as well. We would like to get Faith enrolled at this school, without issue." Jack said with a sickly sweet smile. "Of course, if issues do arise, I'm sure there are numerous members of the State Department and the President's own friends who would jump at the chance to help… sort them out."
Snyder visibly floundered. He soon caved, he didn't manage to say another word throughout the whole meeting. Jack just moved the meeting along at his own pace having Snyder sign where needed and so on.
Within twenty minutes Faith was enrolled at Sunnydale High School.
"Is it me or does that guy remind you of-"
"Anteaus, yeah. Oz said the same thing… Gaia too. Thank goodness Anteaus isn't as bad… can you imagine Snyder with the abilities of the Nox?" Xander said.
Jack just shuddered.
"Was it really a wise choice to reveal Xander's diplomatic status and ties to the military?" Joyce asked worriedly.
"Only if we had to actually prove it. Otherwise it's just his word. Besides, he doesn't know why Xander has these benefits, only that Xander is untouchable, which means he even looks into it and the State Department will be breathing down his neck." Jack grinned.
The four made their way to the library where the rest of the Scoobies were gathered as school had just let out.
"Ladies and gents, I present you the latest victim- I mean student of Sunnyhell High!" Xander said theatrically.
"And you wonder why we didn't get asked to do an encore at the talent show." Buffy said with a snarky smile.
Xander took the high road. And blew her a raspberry.
Which Buffy gleefully returned.
"How's Giles?" Willow asked.
"He's doing much better." Joyce assured her. "He just needed a good nights rest and some time to absorb the shock."
"Janet plans to send him home tonight. Probably be back by the time you lot finish your patrol." Jack said.
Jack suddenly started beeping, so he went to Giles' office to answer the call.
"Any word on this Kakistos?" Xander asked.
"The AI's report an out of town limo heading into town. Boston plates." Willow said.
"Cool, sooner we put this guy back in the ground the better." Buffy said.
"The boys been told to watch out?" Xander asked.
"Yep, if they can trap him in and hold position with their staff weapons they will do that and hold him till you arrive." Willow said happily. As with Abydos Willow's red hair made her quite the celebrity with the Jaffa. Buffy was a bit disappointed as apparently blondes were in abundance.
"Ok, so standard patrols, I'll take Faith and Willow, Buffy and Oz… try and do some actual patrolling." Xander said pleadingly.
"Hey! Our way works, vampires come to us cause they see two people making out and think they're easy pickings." Buffy pouted.
"Well, keep your ears open at least." Xander said.
"O'Mally and Beta tend to keep an eye on things." Oz said with a small smile.
"Watch it Wills or I'll send you with them!" Xander told the snickering hacker.
"Well, as nice as this has been hearing about my daughter's make out sessions, I need to get back. Sha're and I are taking the boys to the park and Cassie might join us." Joyce said fighting a grin.
"Actually, I could use your help Xander." Jack said as he came back in from the office.
"Jacob says that they may have located a missing snake on Earth. Daniel found a good match. We need to head over and take control of an ATF team before they get themselves and everyone else killed and we lose the worm for another hundred years."
"Ok. Faith, you wanna come with me, go have some fun with Joyce and the kids or stay here?" Xander asked.
"Which ones safer?" She asked.
"Jordy stopped biting." Oz offered.
"Why don't the rest of you come and join Sha're the kids and myself. We can visit Rupert as well." Joyce said.
So the entire group headed off to the SGC. Cordelia stayed behind for cheerleader practice.
Giles was in much better spirits. He officially requested Xander's aid in confronting the Council over the death of his sister and Kendra. Xander was only too happy to agree. Oz and Buffy stated their intent to be there as well.
Faith wanted to go too, Alice had been good to her. She wanted justice, and a healthy dollop of vengeance.
Joyce dragged the Scoobies off, Giles and Jenny joining them as Janet was going too.
Jack and Xander headed off to the briefing room to meet with Jacob, George and the rest of SG1.
It seemed that some Goa'uld named Seth kept building cults and then killing the members. The ATF was about to raid his latest hideout on weapons charges. Chances were he had Zat guns and the ATF was going to get slaughtered.
"So, I go in with invisibility. Confront Seth, kill the worm and what?" Xander asked.
"Not that simple, I'm afraid." Sam said with a wince.
"It is likely that the cult members are under the influence of a mind control drug called Nishta. It can be countered by an electric shock, but you will still have to apply it to all of them." Selmak explained.
"Ok, so… I go in with invisibility. Confront Seth, kill the worm and zat the minions?"
"Any one got a better idea?" Jack asked.
"We could enter the building after Xander has dealt with Seth, using Jaffa stun grenades we can incapacitate the… minions… and stun them as we go through." Teal'c offered.
"I don't think we're going to get a better plan than that, you have a go people." George said dismissing them.
Twenty minutes later, SG1 had seized command of the AFT team before they got killed.
Thirty minutes later Xander was standing in Seth's throne room.
Dead worm on the floor.
Unconscious minions scattered around.
SG1 zatting stray minions as they progressed through the compound.
And a former host worshiping the ground Xander walked on.
Xander looked annoyed as SG1 just snickered.
The host was shuffled off to the SGC to see if he could be trained to fit in with modern day society, if nothing else Xander's people would take him in.
Xander headed back to Sunnydale whilst SG1 headed back to base after clearing up things with the ATF.
Faith was clearly nervous about patrolling. Mostly due to Kakistos. A little was due to being left alone with Xander. She was still a little scared of the armoured figure.
Xander took Faith on a patrol route that would allow him to introduce her to the Jaffa squad currently assigned to Sunnydale.
The Jaffa were quick to assure the young Slayer that there was no place safer in battle than by Lord Xander's side.
Once they moved off on their patrol, Faith asked something that had been bothering her.
"Why 'Lord Xander'?"
Xander rolled his eyes and smiled.
"It's not actually my official title. Officially I am just 'Champion of Gaia' or 'Champion of the Universe'. But, well, you remember how we told you the Goa'uld make themselves out to be gods? They also tend to live luxurious lives and demand pretty titles and such.
"When I defeated one of those Goa'ulds, I managed to convince the Jaffa serving them that they were serving a tiny worm.
"Unfortunately they are a little bit awed and took to calling me 'Lord Xander', in the end I gave up trying to stop them. I also find it useful when intimidating the Goa'uld and intimidating people who get too big for their boots and start messing with my people." He grinned.
"So your not a real Lord?" She asked.
"Actually he is." Gaia said startling Faith as she appeared beside her.
"You'll get used to that." Xander assured her.
Faith nodded, not really believing. She turned to Gaia. "Why?"
"For starters, his title was given to him by the Jaffa out of respect, not fear. He doesn't demand the title, he often tells people to just call him Xander.
"The US government lists him as Lord Xander. Although he didn't know that, he just thought it was people meeting him and copying others. He's never actually read his diplomatic papers." She said smugly.
"What! They put that on there?" He asked incredulously.
"Yep, but the real reason he's a Lord, is because the Creator has decreed it. Heaven has a soft spot for Xander, Hades keeps a close eye on him, the Heavenly Host have accepted him among their number and God keeps popping in to say hi, or drags him up there."
"Really?" They both asked in awe.
Gaia just laughed. "Yes really. He is fully entitled to call himself 'Lord Xander'."
"At least it's better than 'Animal'." He sighed. "Not to mention it doesn't make me sound like the comic book hero that 'Champion of the Universe' does."
Faith burst out laughing. "I wondered why it sounded so weird."
"Xander, I believe Kakistos is approaching." Delta reported scaring Faith to a deathly white.
"Don't worry Faith, earlier today I defeated a false god and his army, they shot at me with bullets and ray guns. And look at me now, not a scratch. This little demon won't be a problem."
The truth was Xander hated saying things like that. They usually meant the universe was gonna bite him on the butt. Fortunately for him the universe needed him.
Kakistos lumbered into view, flanked by a black vampire in a hideous purple suit and backed up by a dozen vampires.
"Faith, I've been looking for you." Kakistos said smugly. "We have unfinished business."
"Faith, you were right. He is butt ugly." Xander said grimacing.
Faith just looked at him in betrayal, but Gaia just squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
"Maybe I will kill this boy like I did your Watcher and let you watch… again." He said.
"NOOOO!" She screamed as she cried.
"Ok, now you made my new friend cry. Let's get this over with." Xander said angrily.
The next thing Kakistos knew there were blasts of fire hitting each of his minions, leaving only himself and the purple clad monstrosity.
Who quickly vanished leaving a trail of dust as he ran.
"Thanks fella's!" Xander called out to the Jaffa squad that had been trailing them.
Xander marched up to Kakistos who threw a wide punch. He clearly relied on brute strength as opposed to skill.
Xander caught the cloven hand easily, kicked out at the knees crippling the hulking vampire as it cried out in pain.
Pulling out his sword that was currently strapped to a sheath under his back in the form of a knife, he embedded it in the vampires spine, causing him to tumble to the ground, paralysed.
"Ok, guys you can come out now." Xander called out.
Faith was shocked to see the Scoobies, Giles and Ms Calendar, not to mention the Jaffa walk out of the darkness. But most of her attention was still on the fallen vampire.
"Aren't you gonna kill him?" She asked, eyes wide with fear.
"Nope. You are." Xander said. "You bring it?" He asked Buffy.
"One sword as requested." Buffy said producing a simple double edged sword.
"Some times stakes don't do the job, so it's best to apply the Jaws methodology to the problem." Xander told her as she took the sword.
"Huh?" She asked in confusion.
"You need a bigger boat?" He suggested.
"Oh."
"He's all yours." Xander said as he stepped back.
Faith carefully approached the incapacitated vampire.
Kakistos' eyes widened as he realised his end was due.
"NO! You cannot do this to me!" He cried in fear.
Faith ignored him raising the sword. "This is for Alice." She said as she sliced his head off.
There was a soft thump as it hit the floor.
Then the body began to systematically disintegrate, leaving only the thick bones that pronounced him a true Master Vampire.
Xander carefully approached and took the sword from the trembling Slayer. Giles approached holding a pair of heavy mallets.
He wordlessly handed one to Faith, and they smashed the bones to dust.
When they were finished they were both crying, and Giles hugged Faith tightly. Silently vowing to take up where his sister left off.
Xander walked up and blessed the bones.
"In the name of my goddess Gaia and the Creator of all I bless these remains. May they become one with the earth again, never to be used for evil again."
Oz and Jenny silently began sweeping the remains up to be scattered at sea.
"You're a priest?" Faith asked with a sniff as Giles still held her.
"Apparently being the Champion to a goddess makes me a holy man." He shrugged. Then he got a silly grin. "If the school ever gets invaded by vamps, pull the fire alarm, I blessed the sprinklers."
Faith gave a tearful laugh.
Joyce took Faith and Buffy back home whilst Xander gave Jenny, Giles and Willow a lift home.
Oz and Xander decided to walk back to the mansion. Oz had moved in with the Jaffa. They seemed to get along quite well.
"I guess we need to make some time this week to see the Nox." Xander sighed.
"Might be an idea." Oz agreed.
"Do you think Anteaus will have changed?"
"Anything's possible." Oz said. "Just not very probable."
"Maybe Opher or Lya will take over." Xander said. "I still don't know what they are teaching me?"
"Have you told them that?" Oz asked.
"Anteaus just said 'That is because you are very young'." Xander said with a bad imitation. "Talk about a one track record."
They had just reached the street where the Mansion was when there was a bright flash of light and a naked body landed.
"Angelus!" Oz growled.
"Like hell!" Xander said marching forward and staking the vamp.
"What the hell was that about?" Xander demanded to no one.
"Maybe we should ask Giles or Gaia." Oz suggested only to have the vampire fall from another flash of light.
Which Xander promptly staked.
"That got old real fast." He declared. "Gaia!"
"What's up?" She asked. "Why so angry?"
And once again the body fell from a flash of light.
And Xander staked it.
"That's why." Xander growled.
"What is that about?" She wondered. "God didn't say anything about that."
Just as she was about to say she would find out the body re-appeared.
Just as Xander was about to stake it… again, a voice called out.
"Wait!" The owner a short man in a hat and bad fashion was marching towards them.
A quick check showed him to be a demon.
So Xander staked the vamp and turned to the demon.
"What do you want demon? Are you responsible for this?" Xander demanded.
"Me? I'm just a messenger. Names Whistler. I work for the Powers That Be." He said.
"The guys who are supposed to be fighting against demons as penance for their betrayal of God are trying to bring back one of the worst vamps in history?" Xander asked in disbelief.
At which point said vamp re-appeared.
And Xander staked him.
"Would you please stop staking him!" Whistler pleaded.
"That would be a solid 'no'." Xander said in disbelief.
"Look, he's got his soul back, they re-cursed him. But he's needed in their plans." Whistler pleaded.
"They cursed him? With the whole happiness clause as well?" Oz asked with a frown.
"Well, yeah." Whistler shrugged as if there was another way.
The vamp re-appeared.
And Oz staked him.
"Not good enough." Oz said.
"Agreed." Gaia said.
"But they need him!" Whistler whined.
Once again the body appeared and this time Gaia grabbed Xander's stake staked it.
"They have no right to re-introduce a demon to my domain. Soul or not." She declared.
"She's right." A firm male voice said.
They turned to see God and the Metatron standing there.
Xander and Oz dropped to their knees.
God walked over and with a calm face lifted them to their feet and gave them a small nod.
"They are pushing their boundaries. They walk dangerous paths." The Metatron said clearly speaking the words of God as he seemed to meld with the background not taking the spotlight. "Furthermore it is an insult to my daughter." He said as God laid a hand on Gaia's shoulder.
"Bu-bu-bu-b-but they need their Champion!" The terrified demon cried.
At this point Xander realised that the demon was still on his feet. This enraged him.
"Have you no respect!" He demanded shoving the demon to his knees. "This is the most holy of beings and you should be grateful you still live. You should have been on your knees in front of the Lady Gaia, but to not do so in front of the Almighty is abominable."
Xander slowly backed away and knelt again. "I am sorry my Lord, his disrespect angers me." Xander said sadly.
God walked over and gently lifted him to his feet. She gave him a soft smile.
"It is the duty of the Host to ensure that the Almighty is respected. You did well Xander." Michael said appearing next to him with a hand on his shoulder.
Whistler was at this point trying not to soil himself.
"We will allow the Fallen their Champion. But he will have his soul permanently fixed, and he will be human." The Metatron declared. "He will also serve under Lord Xander."
One would think Whistler would accept what he got and run like hell, but he didn't.
"But he won't have the strength of a vampire! He will be weak." Whistler argued.
Xander and Oz both growled at his offensive attitude, but a slight hand movement from God and they ceased.
"Lord Xander fought for over a year as a human. Rupert Giles for most of his adult life. There have been many humans who have served successfully. Your words only show your bias against them. If he is truly worthy of being their Champion, he will not have difficulty doing so as a human."
God gave Oz and Xander a sweet smile before she and the Metatron vanished leaving a naked human in their place.
"Be gone demon. Your mission is fulfilled." Michael said waving his hand as the demon vanished.
"You did well Xander. We must always remember our place. But also remind those around us of theirs. Especially in Her presence." Michael said. "But now you have a new challenge. You must learn to work with someone you hate. But you must not abuse your position of authority."
Xander knew what he was saying. He couldn't treat him like dirt. Just another fighter for the cause.
"I understand."
"Unfortunately, he has been plucked from a hell dimension. So he may not be quite right in the head. I suggest you tie him up for a bit." Michael said as he vanished.
Which was right as Angel woke up.
Oz conked him on the back of the head, knocking him out. Gaia and Xander stared at him.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with him." He shrugged.
"This is going to be a long night." Xander sighed.
"We need to tell Buffy and Jenny." Oz said.
"Yeah, we also need a place to stash him till he gets back on his feet." Xander mused.
"Ask George to lock him up and have the docs look at him. You can then call the Scoobies together." Gaia said.
"Ok, sounds like a plan."
"You handle him. I'll gather the Scoobies at Joyce and Buffy's." Oz said as he wondered off to arrange transports and wake the gang.
"He's pretty pissed." Xander remarked.
"We all are. Even God." Gaia reminded him.
"As soon as he is able I will send him elsewhere to fulfil his duties. He has no need or right to be around this place or the Scoobies." Xander said determinedly.
"His assignments are at your discretion, although he may receive orders from the Fallen."
"I assume that 'The Powers That Be' is the name they gave themselves?" Xander asked wryly.
"Yes, they are considered quite the joke in heaven. And in Hades' realm." Gaia smirked.
"They're well on their way to achieving that here as well." Xander agreed.
It was with a look of disgust that Angel was accepted into the care of the SGC by Janet and George. They knew what he had done, he was responsible for Xander's previous exile.
They agreed to keep him locked up till he recovered.
It was a tired Xander and Gaia that met with a sleepy Scooby Gang that night. Only Oz, Xander and Gaia were not in their sleep wear.
"Oz you told them anything?" Xander asked.
"Figured it was your place." The werewolf shook his head.
Xander just nodded at the dismal truth of the matter.
"Listen very closely to my words." He said staring each of them in the eye. "Angel has been returned to Earth as a human."
There was a deathly hush. Jenny and Buffy sank deeper into the embrace of their paramours.
"This is due to the Fallen, who call themselves the Powers That Be. They have declared him their Champion." Xander continued. "Oz and I were returning to the Mansion when he kept appearing as a vampire in a flash of light. Needless to say we just kept staking him until we called Gaia.
"A demon representative of theirs turned up to complain about us staking a vamp. God arrived and declared that they had no right to insert a vampire into Gaia's realm, but she affixed his soul permanently and made him human."
Still no one said anything.
"He has been placed under my direct command. He is also feral as he has been in a hell dimension. As soon as he is… better, I will send him elsewhere to fulfil his duties. He will not be allowed to return to Sunnydale. He will not be allowed to approach my friends or family."
"None of us are happy about this. God included. But sometimes these things have to happen. Fortunately we have control of this situation to a degree." Gaia added.
"Where is he now?" Giles asked quietly.
"At the SGC in a cell. George didn't really want him, but we want him well so we can send him away." Xander said.
"Xander has permission to send him anywhere that is not where you are." Gaia said trying to assure the two women who had nearly lost it all to Angelus.
"Joyce, do you mind if we all bunk here tonight?" Xander asked.
"Of course not. I think that would be a good idea." She agreed.
"Where ever he goes, he will be accompanied by a squad of Jaffa." Xander assured them.