Who Wants to Live Forever? (part 2 of 4)

Legalistic Disclaimer
Once again, this is the situation: The concept and characters of 'Highlander' (Duncan MacLeod, Richie Ryan, Joe Dawson, and Amanda) belong to Davis and Panzer Productions and Rysher. Meanwhile, over in Sunnydale, the concept and characters of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (Buffy, Angel, Xander, Willow, Giles, Spike, and Drusilla) belong to Joss Whedon, Warner Brothers, and Mutant Enemy. Any other recognizable characters also belong to their respective copyright holders. They'll all be returned to their owners none the worse for wear (sure, they will). Also, thanks once again go to my beta readers, Mary Ellen Jedrlinic and Claudia Diamond (who were also returned none the worse for wear).

One last thing before we get this show on the road, please do not re-post this story without first gaining the author's permission (that would be me). Violation of this caveat may result in either decapitation or staking (decisions, decisions, decisions).

** Important: Author's Note **
This is a sequel to my other crossover story, Immortal Dilemma. To minimize potential confusion, I recommend that you read it (among other things, I indicated that Xander is a pre-Immortal) before diving into this tale. When necessary, I've also taken the liberty of filling in some of those annoying gaps in character development. This story is set in the near future of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and during the fifth season of Highlander. In other words, the insanity of Highlander's fifth season finale, when Richie seemingly gets killed, is completely disavowed in my little universe. Of course, I'm also assuming that Angel will eventually somehow return from his recent (late second season) walk on the wild side with the fang gang. But, if all else fails -- and Angel stays evil and Richie stays dead -- well, then this can become an alternate universe story. Deal with it! Got all that? You do...really? Good.

Remember, all (positive) comments are welcome. All other (negative) comments will be criticized and/or ignored (hey, it's a free story, sometimes you get what you pay for). Please direct E-mail to me.
Enjoy.

Who Wants to Live Forever?(part 2 of 4)

After leaving the Bronze at 10 o'clock, Buffy and Angel took a stroll through Sunnydale's largest park. Ostensibly, the Slayer wanted to make sure that none of the town's undead inhabitants were snacking on the little old ladies walking their poodles. She also had a second, more personal, motivation. Following one of the darker trails through the trees, they soon came upon an area where couples were either necking on benches near their parked cars or still inside cars with fogged-up windows.

Grinning, Angel remarked, "Seems like a pretty dead night tonight -- wait, maybe I should re-phrase that..."

With an equally large grin, Buffy replied, "I know what you mean. At least the lover's lane is quiet."

"Ahhh, Buffy, that's generally the idea isn't it?"

"Yea, I guess so. Maybe we should check out the ballfields...unless you want to hang here for awhile..."

"...in case something turns up?"

"Right. You never can tell."

"But don't we sort of stand out here? We ARE lurking around in the bushes."

After pondering Angel's remark for a millisecond, Buffy started to lead him to an unoccupied bench, remarking, "Then I guess we'll just have to blend."

As they started to become incognito, Angel whispered into the girl's ear, "I'm warning you. I've been told I give quite a hickey."

Buffy simply responded, "I know. I was there, remember?"

"Oh, yeah. That WAS you, wasn't it?"

That remark drew a playful slap across his face.

*******************************************************************************

After nearly six hours of continuous torture, Xander had lost consciousness once again. Unfortunately for the teenager, Spike had honed his "talents" in such matters long ago and was an expert in inflicting excruciating, non-lethal (at least not until he wanted them to be) injuries. However, noting the volume of blood that had pooled at the base of the wall, the vampire realized he was rapidly running out of time. Drusilla, for her part, had tired of the proceedings a couple of hours earlier and had occupied herself by placing miniature ballgowns on many of her Civil War-era dolls -- oblivious to the screams and sobs that were reverberating off the brick walls.

"Dru, are you sure this one's special somehow? He's not looking too fresh right now. Maybe I should get you some new cards or tea leaves or something."

"I saw it in a dream. He's gifted alright. I sense great power. You'll see, my pet."

After asking his mate to rejoin him, Spike used a bucket of cold water to once again revive his victim.

"Laddy, I'm afraid to say it, but you're not looking too grand." With a snide laugh, he then added, "Hell, let's be honest, you're dying. That's the bad news. But, there may be an upside...if you're smart enough to grasp it."

Barely able to directly respond to his torturer, Xander's unfocused eyes indicated that he was going into shock. No longer aware of his surroundings, he just kept mumbling, "It hurts...please stop...it hurts..."

"I bet it hurts. Done up like a pincushion and all."

"I don't think he's enjoying the party," said Drusilla with an impish grin as she cradled one of her dolls.

"Not for long, love."

The male vampire then proceeded to apply additional pressure on the spike that was impaling Xander's right hand to the wall. As streaks of tears flowed down the boy's cheeks, he started pleading, "No more! Please, no more!"

"That got his attention. Now, down to business."

Placing his face inches from Xander's ear, Spike then made his offer. "You can either die here -- now -- or live forever."

After a couple of seconds, Xander replied simply, "No."

"Oh, come now. I'm offering you a major gift -- eternal life...immortality. You can watch kingdoms and countries turn to dust, but you'll go on."

Rolling his head from side to side, Xander once again replied, "No."

Rubbing his chin, Spike then remarked, "OK, let me think. What else would a young man be interested in above all else?"

Drusilla then whispered something into her lover's ear.

Slapping his pant leg, Spike then exclaimed, "Oh, yes! Of course! Thank you, my pet. How stupid of me...I must be getting old or something. Women...chickies...babes. Accept my offer and you can compete with that dog, Angelus, for the Slayer's attention. You'd like that now, wouldn't you?"

After a short pause, Xander weakly replied, "I'd rather be dead." For emphases, he also spat into Spike's face. The teen then blacked-out once again.

Slowly wiping his face with a handkerchief, Spike simply commented to Drusilla, "See, I try to be nice and reasonable and look what it gets me. The youth of today simply have no respect for their elders."

"My poor Spike. You gave him more chances than he deserved."

Smiling, he replied, "Well, I always try to be a nice guy." A moment later, he also remarked, "I guess you're dream was a bit off -- wouldn't be the first time. Can we eat now? Before he gets cold."

"Yes, we can, my sweet."

The two creatures then sunk their fangs into the major veins in the teen's exposed neck. In less than a minute, his heart had ceased to beat. Spike, withdrawing his canines first, muttered, "Fish."

Drusilla, finishing moments later, turned and asked, "Excuse me, hon?"

"I said, 'fish.' He ate fish today. Shame, I wasn't really in the mood for seafood."

*******************************************************************************

Buffy returned home from "patrolling" with Angel shortly before two in the morning (at least that would be the official version of events that Giles would be told). Climbing into her house through the bedroom window, she had started to undress when she noticed the blinking red light on her answering machine.

"Six messages? I guess Willow and Xander must have been waiting around the Bronze after all."

After pulling her sweatshirt over her head, she pressed the replay button and listened to the first message.

"Message One, 7:10 p.m.: 'Hi Buffy. It's Will. I was just wondering if you've seen Xander? We were supposed to study tonight and he isn't home. Please call me if you check your messages.'"

"Gee, Xander late for a study date. Big surprise."

"Message Two, 8:15 p.m.: 'Buffy. It's Willow again. Still no Xander. If he blew me off to be with Cordelia tonight, I'll kill him. Talk to you later.'"

"That's it. Xander's a dead man."

"Message Three, 9:15 p.m.: 'Buffy, I'm worried about Xander. This isn't like him at all. I'm home now, but there still isn't any answer at his house. I hope something hasn't happened to him. Please call me.'"

Buffy, now concerned herself, listened to the last three messages that were also from an increasingly agitated Willow who, it seems, had eventually gone to the Bronze and found Cordelia, who had also not seen Xander. During the last message an obviously upset Cordelia could also be overheard in the background. The message ended with Willow asking her to call her no matter what time she got home.

As she quickly dialed Willow's number, she couldn't help thinking, "Great, just what we need around here, another love triangle."

*******************************************************************************

Across town, as he approached his apartment located in a condemned building, Angel had more tangible reasons to be concerned. Shortly after leaving Buffy at her house, he became aware of the presence of others of his kind following him, but remaining out of sight. This was not the first time that Spike, or the Master before him, had had his followers play this type of cat and mouse game. However, as he neared the entrance to his building, his keen eyesight and sense of smell quickly locked onto something new lying in the shadows. Sprawled across the doorway was a body. Quickly stooping down on one knee to get a better look at the person's face, Angel was shocked by the revelation.

"Xander! Oh God, no!"

A moment later he then heard a shouted voice say, "I gave him the same choice you gave me, Angelus. Only he refused my offer."

Quickly standing, Angel -- now transformed -- turned towards the voice of his creation, which was emanating from somewhere across the street.

The older vampire shouted back, "If you wanted to come after me, Spike, I was here. This was unnecessarily brutal, even for you."

Suddenly appearing on a nearby rooftop, Spike replied angrily, "Don't YOU lecture ME on brutality, Angelus. Time was, you wrote the book. Now I'm simply adding some new chapters."

"Why don't you come down here Spike and show me what a big man you are? Or maybe what I've heard is true and you simply don't -- measure up -- in certain areas."

"Nice try, Angelus. At one time remarks like that would have worked. But, no longer. As my sire, you always taught me to avoid frontal assaults at all costs. To first chip away at the opposition before moving in for the kill. Well, consider yourself chipped. Your only concern should be where I will strike next."

Before he could reply, Angel could feel Spike's presence fading as the younger vampire left the area. Turning his attention once again to Xander's obviously brutalized body, he whispered, "I sure hope MacLeod and Ryan are right about you."

After unlocking the door to his building, the vampire quickly scooped up the teen and carried him inside.

*******************************************************************************

Within minutes, Angel was rapidly dialing phone numbers both in Sunnydale and Seacouver. After asking an obviously groggy (and suspicious) Giles to meet him in his apartment -- alone -- he then tried the number at MacLeod's dojo. Receiving no answer, he phoned Joe Dawson's bar.

"Hello, Joe's Place."

"Oh, hi Angel, how you been?"

"Richie? Yea, he's here. Hold on."

A few moments later, after reluctantly tearing himself away from a brunette at the other end of the bar, the young man picked up the receiver.

"Hello. Angel? It's Richie. What's up?"

After listening for a few moments, a grimace crossing his face, the Immortal said, "I'll be right there. Yeah, I still have the address. Later." The redhead then slowly hung up the phone.

"Trouble, Richie?"

"Afraid so, Joe. What else is new?"

"Need any help?"

"Truthfully? I just don't know."

"Well, if you do, I'm in the book."

"Thanks, Joe."

With his motorcycle helmet under his arm, Richie Ryan left the bar. Moments later, a red Yamaha could be heard speeding away into the night.

*******************************************************************************

Although Giles left for Angel's apartment at nearly the same time that Richie was climbing aboard his bike, the two arrived simultaneously. This was due largely to the fact that Giles drove like -- well, Giles -- compounded by the fact that since he had never been to the vampire's home before, he also got lost twice. Richie, on the other hand, drove like the grand prix motorcycle racer that, in another lifetime, he just happened to be. In a word, he drove like a maniac.

When the Watcher saw Ryan roar up to the curb, he realized that something significant had happened.

"Richie, what are you doing here?"

"What has Angel told you?"

"Just that he needed to see me right away. Damn odd timing if you ask me. Middle of the night and all."

"We'd better go up."

"Has he told you anything?"

"Oh, yeah! That's why we'd better go up. You'll see soon enough."

Climbing the steps two at a time, Richie reached Angel's apartment door first. It opened before he could knock. Then, seeing Giles lagging behind, he added, "Sorry about the time, but I thought the two of you should be here. He's in the bedroom."

As Richie proceeded into the next room, Giles stopped to ask, "Angel, who's in your bedroom?"

"Xander."

A chill started seeping into Giles as he asked his next questions, "Why is Xander in your bedroom? Is he sick?"

"No, Giles. I wish it was that simple. Xander was..."

Before he could finish, Richie returned and remarked, "Man, they really did a job on him...bastards!"

Angel then spoke again, "Giles, I...we...have something to tell you. Please sit down."

A quizzical look crossed the Watcher's face as he occupied the nearest armchair.

"Fine. I'm seated. Now will you please tell me what's wrong with young Mr. Harris in there."

Angel, without any preamble, replied simply, "He's dead."

After his mouth moved a few times without any sounds coming out, Giles finally managed to ask in a whisper, "Dead...how?"

"He was attached by Spike and left like a burnt offering on my doorstep."

"Oh, good Lord!"

At this point, Richie approached the older man and bent down so that he was at eye level with him.

"Actually, Giles, there's more."

Looking from one Immortal to the other, Giles was still dazed as he asked, "More? How can there be more?"

"Xander is an Immortal."

Giles blinked several times before responding, "Pardon? But you just said that he's dead. What..."

Richie then continued, "Giles, please listen to me. Xander has experienced his 'first death.' His body will heal. It may take some time, but he will come back to life and his appearance will not change from this day on."

Turning to Angel, the Watcher asked, "You knew?"

Nodding, the vampire replied, "Yes, I did. And so did Ryan."

"Did Xander know?"

"No. We didn't want it to influence his life."

Absorbing this information, Giles' normally rationale mentality slowly started to return as he replied, "Of course. Very sensible." A moment later, he asked, "May I see him?"

"Yes."

Entering the dimly lit room, Giles' eyes quickly focused on the bruised and beaten body of Xander Harris. Although the overall extent of the injuries were truly horrifying in their severity, it was the two sets of small marks (that had already started fading) on his neck that immediately caught the Watcher's attention.

"They fed on him."

Moving noiselessly up behind him, Angel softly replied, "Yes, they did."

"What effect will that have on him?"

"Hopefully, none. But we just don't know...this has never happened before."

"Can't you tell if he's becoming a vampire?"

Angel answered, "No. And right now, Ryan can't sense him either. But that's actually normal for both vampires and Immortals during the period between death and resurrection."

Richie then joined them in the small room.

"Is he in any pain?"

The Immortal replied, "Not now. But, based on his injuries and the amount of healing that will still need to happen after he wakes up, he probably will be. I know I was the first time around."

"So what can we do?"

"Nothing, but wait...and hope."

*******************************************************************************

Until shortly before dawn, Angel and Giles took up positions at the foot of Xander's bed while Richie slept on the couch. They figured that because of everything that had happened to the young man, he would take some comfort in waking up to familiar faces. At some point during their vigil, Giles also asked Angel, "What do I tell Buffy...and Willow...and Cordelia?"

"Nothing."

"How can I tell them nothing?"

"It's not your right."

"What do you mean?"

"It's Xander's life to lead as he chooses. To tell, or not to tell, who he chooses."

After a short pause, Giles then remarked, "Buffy will find out."

With a resigned expression on his face, Angel replied, "I know. She always does."

A short time later, Richie swapped places with Angel, who slept with his head completely covered by his leather jacket.

At shortly before noon, Xander's previously lifeless body was suddenly jolted as if an electric charge had passed through it. Moments later, his eyes popped wide open and started moving wildly from left to right and back again as a pained expression swept over his features.

As Richie, Giles, and Angel moved into view, Giles spoke first, "Xander, you're safe now. You're in Angel's apartment."

Weakly trying to raise himself up, he was only able to gasp, "Spike...hurt...me" before Giles gently pushed him back down onto the mattress.

"Yes, we know...he attacked you. But you're safe now. You need to rest."

Then, after muttering, "I'm so tired," the teen's eyes rolled back in their sockets and he again passed out.

Silently observing the proceedings, Angel motioned for Richie to join him outside the room.

"What wrong with this picture, Ryan?"

"What do you mean?"

"Xander's not breathing and, as far as I can tell, his heart isn't beating."

"How's that possible? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I usually notice little things like that."

"But I'm sensing the presence of another Immortal -- not a vampire. There's a difference."

"I know."

"Damn! What now?"

"Good question."

*******************************************************************************

Meanwhile, back at Sunnydale High, life was far from normal. Willow and Cordelia were bouncing off the walls with worry, while Buffy sought out the font of knowledge for all such mysterious ircumstances. Imagine her surprise when she found the library doors closed and locked.

Suddenly, from behind her, Buffy heard a familiar unfriendly voice remarking, "Mr. Giles called in sick today."

Turning, she found herself face to face...no, make that face to bald head, with Principal Snyder.

"Giles...sick?"

"Yes, Miss Summers. Imagine that, even teachers get sick."

But, I need to talk to him. It's very important."

"Well, I'll just have to wait till tomorrow, won't it? However, since you obviously have a free period, you won't mind helping my secretary with some filing. Come along, Miss Summers."

As he turned to go back to his office, all Buffy could think to mutter was, "No good, Ferengi."

Quickly spinning back around, Snyder asked, "What did you say?"

"Ahh...I said you're a fun guy."

"That's better."

*******************************************************************************

"Fine. So let's recap. Xander is not breathing and has no pulse. However, he was not affected by sunlight when I opened the curtains, casts a reflection, and did not react to a cross. What does this tell us?"

After a moment, Angel answered, "He's a hybrid."

Richie slowly nodded his agreement.

Giles merely asked, "Sorry. A what?"

Angel then explained, "Actually, MacLeod was afraid of something like this. Xander is displaying various vampire AND Immortal traits. Like other hybrids in nature, he does not belong to one race or the other. The real question is if any of these traits will take on dominant characteristics."

Richie then asked, "So, he's still changing?"

"Yes. I believe his two natures are fighting for control. Otherwise, he should be awake by now. Instead, he's in constant pain, is not healing correctly, and keeps passing out. That shouldn't happen to either vampires OR Immortals."

Giles then asked a question that had yet to be voiced, "What about food? Will he need to feed like a vampire, or not?"

Sidestepping this issue, Angel instead remarked, "Actually, a more basic concern is if he can remain in control of himself. Regardless of his need for blood, the fact remains that he's been infected by the same demon that controls all vampires."

The Watcher then asked, "So is Xander still in there, or has some soulless monster taken over?"

After pausing a moment, the vampire then responded, "Well, he still has a reflection and isn't affected by the cross or sunlight. That's good -- I wish I could say the same. And I was thinking about something Spike said last night...that Xander had refused 'his offer.' I assume he's referring to his offer of Immortality. That could be important."

Richie simply asked, "Why?"

Realizing the significance of Angel's last statement, Giles concluded the thought by saying, "When a vampire chooses to sire -- create -- another vampire, the candidate has to freely accept the offer. In other words, there is a crucial element of free will involved. Absent this, and the conversion process should not take place."

The redhead then asked, "So why was Xander affected at all? Why didn't he simply die and come back as a regular Immortal?"

Angel responded this time, "Because of his inactive Immortal nature, I suspect he's caught in limbo."

"Limbo? What's that?"

Leaning against a wall, Angel thought for a few moments before responding, "This is kind of complicated. How can I explain? OK...when a vampire chooses to sire another, he or she brings the chosen candidate to the verge of death -- limbo -- and then gives the victim a simple choice: Live or die. Assuming the person chooses to live, the vampire transfuses them with some of his own blood to complete the process. The major irony about it...and it's a real bitch...is that the person still dies, but the demon now controls their body."

Giles then remarked, "So you're saying that Spike is not Xander's sire."

"I don't think so. He never brought him across."

Richie then asked, "So how do we knock him out of limbo? He can't remain like that."

The dark-haired vampire responded, "I agree. In fact, it's hellish." Then, turning away from the two men on the couch, he added softly, "Some of the more sadistic of our kind actually use it to torment their more unfortunate victims...before finally killing them. It's the ultimate act of domination over the helpless."

Recognizing what he thought was the sound of guilt in Angel's voice, Giles then asked, "So what do you suggest?"

"You're not going to like it."

"I didn't think I would. But, try me anyhow."

Turning back towards the couch, he said, "OK...here goes...the next time he comes to, assuming Xander's willing, I let him drink some of the blood I have stashed in the refrigerator. There's a few pints in there."

"You're not serious."

"Giles, if you have a better idea, I'm listening. Do any of your ancient texts mention anything like this?"

"Unfortunately, no. Nothing that I've ever read has dealt with a situation quite like this."

Richie then asked another question, "But wouldn't that push him farther over to the undead side of the field?"

"I don't think so. The blood will feed him, allowing him to heal, but the demon's influence shouldn't increase any further. That would require blood taken directly from a vampire."

After pondering Angel's words for a few minutes, Giles reluctantly agreed that the plan was worth trying. Two hours later, they would get their chance.

*******************************************************************************

Responding to the sound of breaking glass, the three men entered the bedroom to find Xander curled up in a fetal position. A reading lamp was smashed on the floor next to the bed. The teenager's face was white as a sheet and tears of blood were streaming down his cheeks. It was obvious to all present that his pain was intensifying over time. With his knees drawn tightly up to his chest, Xander was moaning, "Help me! Please make the pain stop...it hurts so bad!"

Angel moved closest to the teen and spoke first, "Xander, it's Angel. We think we can help you. Do you understand?"

After the pain had subsided somewhat, the boy nodded weakly and whispered, "Yes."

The vampire then continued, "Xander, we're going to give you some blood to drink. It should relieve the pain."

With a confused expression, Xander asked, "Blood?" Turning away from Angel, he added, "No...I can't...don't want to be like Jesse."

Hearing this exchange, Richie whispered to Giles, "Who's Jesse?"

The Watcher explained that Jesse was Xander's friend until the Master transformed him into a vampire as part of his grand plan to destroy Buffy. He concluded by telling Richie that Xander had to eventually kill his friend. Giles and Richie then moved around to the other side of the bed. The older man gently placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and asked, "Xander, do you trust us?"

"Yes."

"Then let us try to help you."

Suddenly, the boy was once again wracked by a series of intense pains that nearly caused him to roll onto the floor. Tiny beads of blood also started to appear on his forehead and under his armpits.

Giles and the Immortal then struggled to hold the teen flat onto the mattress. With a wide-eyed expression, the Watcher could only mutter, "Oh my God."

After the pain had subsided somewhat, Xander started pleading, "Please, do something! Do it now!"

Angel then stepped forward holding an IV bag filled with blood. Quickly slitting open one of the seams using a sharpened fingernail, he then asked Giles and Richie to wait in the other room. After the Immortal had closed the bedroom door, he moved the bag towards the boy's lips and softly said, "Xander, drink this slowly."

As the liquid dripped into his mouth, Angel noted various changes coming over the young man...at first minor, but then more apparent. For one thing, Xander's skin ceased to be merely pale, but instead took on the appearance of a marble statue, with branches of red arteries and blue veins faintly visible beneath. Within a minute, this transformation finally culminated in the appearance of a set of fangs, claws where fingernails had previously been, and pronounced bony ridges along the forehead. Most disturbing of all, however, were the eyes. Angel was now staring into a pair of crimson-tinged golden pupils that no longer looked pained, but hungry.

Also surprising was Xander's newly found strength. The boy had completely drained the blood from the bag and now had a vice-like grip on Angel's arm. This development greatly surprised the older vampire. In all his past experiences -- when Darla had brought him across as well as when he had brought Spike and Drusilla, among others, across -- newly fledged vampires were always much weaker than their creator. However, as Angel was rapidly discovering, this situation was unlike anything he had previously experienced.

Grabbing onto Xander's upper arm with his free hand, he unsuccessfully attempted to loosen the teen's grip, saying, "Xander, you've got to let go."

Until now, Angel had not used excessive force to break Xander's hold. However, this immediately changed when he saw the boy slowly starting to rise from the bed, seemingly preparing to sink his virgin fangs into his flesh. Angel, now transformed himself, started shouting, "Xander! No! Stop!"

Angel's shouts quickly brought Richie and Giles back into the room. Upon entering, they were momentarily shocked into inaction by what they witnessed: Two powerful creatures seemingly locked in a life and death battle...and, most surprising of all, the newcomer seemed to be winning. Xander now had Angel backed up against a wall, using one hand to hold him off the floor by the throat, with the other clamped onto the side of his face, exposing his jugular. The teen's fangs were sunk deeply into the elder vampire's neck. Thin trails of blood were also flowing down the collar of Angel's white shirt.

Thrashing wildly against this assault, Angel had one hand wrapped around the boy's neck, his claws deeply piercing the skin, and the other intertwined in his hair, attempting to pull his face away. Now paler then usual, Angel could only croak to Richie and Giles, "Get him off me!"

Seemingly oblivious to his surroundings, Xander was then blindsided by the two men as they each grabbed an arm, allowing Angel to collapse to the floor. They then forced the young man face down onto the mattress.

"Richie, we need to bind him. Give me your belt."

Using the thick leather strap, Giles tightly bound Xander's wrists. As he was doing this, he heard sobbing coming from beneath him. When he was finally rolled onto his back, a once-again human-looking Xander was saying, "I'm sorry...I didn't want to hurt anyone...I just couldn't stop!"

Now sitting on the edge of the bed, Richie responded, "We know, Xander. It'll be alright."

Noticing that Angel was no longer in the bedroom, Giles left Richie with Xander and went in search of the vampire. He soon found him braced against the kitchen counter with the refrigerator door tossed open. Angel had already drained the contents of one blood bag, which was tossed onto the floor, and was now quickly consuming the contents of a bottle of plasma in much the same manner as a person tosses back a cold beer. When he finished, he placed the empty glass container on the countertop.

From the adjoining living room, the Englishman coldly remarked, "Well, I hope you're satisfied."

"Not now, Giles."

"Xander's probably worse off now..."

Quickly removing his blood stained shirt, thereby exposing an equally stained T-shirt beneath, Angel repeated, "Giles, I said, not now."

"I should never have agreed to this...amateurish attempt. I should have researched..."

At that, Angel suddenly turned and pulverized the empty glass bottle under his fist, sending glass fragments in several directions. Without flinching, he then turned and started to advance on the Watcher. His eyes flashing dangerously, he roared, "Shut up, Giles! Right now! Or I'll shut you up!"

Seeing the look of fear on the man's face, Angel stopped and stared at the floor for several seconds. Quickly regaining his composure as well as his human appearance, he then said, "Sorry, Giles. It's been a long day. I just didn't expect that to happen in there. He shouldn't be that strong."

Removing his glasses, Giles took a deep breath and replied, "No, actually, I was out of line. I know you're trying to help Xander. We all are. It's just that he could have destroyed you."

"I know. But, he didn't. We'll just have to try something else."

With a nod, the Watcher said simply, "Quite right."

*******************************************************************************

end part 2 of 4 Who Wants to Live Forever by Richard Ruth