Title: Like Old Times (1/3)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: Crossover
Description: A few days after Angel fires his staff, Xander comes to town to find that old habits die hard.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a macaroni art depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg, and a charcoal rendering of Eva Gabor as Ripley from "Alien". Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the dub-dub WB own the Buffster and all related characters. It is their universe that I create my chaos in.
********************************************************************************
Cordelia Chase laid her head on her dining room table, and surrendered to frustration. The classifieds were spread out before her. The phone was still resting in her hand. A cup of tea floated her way from the kitchen.
"Thanks, Dennis," she said taking the cup. "That was very sweet of you."
She turned back to the classifieds as she sipped her Earl Grey. There was nothing. She had called them all. She had even hit three auditions in one day, but there was no steady work to be had.
"I guess there's always Taco Barn," she mumbled to herself.
Ding-Dong.
She glanced at the clock. It was almost 10 in the evening. And she wasn't expecting any visitors.
"C'mon, Dennis. The way my luck is going, this is probably Faith all fresh out of jail and looking for trouble."
She opened the door cautiously. She was both thrilled and surprised by the man she found on her doorstep.
"Hey, Cor," Xander Harris said with a smile. "Long time, no see."
Wesley glanced up at Gunn, who handed him his beer. "Thank you, Gunn."
"Don't mention it," the young man said. "I told'em it was on your tab."
Wesley smiled at the young man. Though he would never admit it, he admired Gunn. He knew his colleague had been through more in his short lifetime than most of the Watcher's council put together. He was glad they had agreed to meet. He had some ideas and wanted to bounce them off of someone with a differing perspective.
"I informed Angel that we would be keeping the agency open," Wesley said.
"Let me guess," Gunn said. "He had nothing to say."
"Not a word."
"So what do we do? We don't even have an office to work out of."
"I'm working on that particular problem. For now, though, Cordelia has agreed to let us use her place. It's not a place to bring clients, but we will continue to work from her visions."
"You think Angel will ever get his act together?" Gunn asked.'
"I hope so," Wesley said. "But the reality of the situation is that we cannot possibly be certain of it. Therefore, we must keep up the good fight."
"I hear that," Gunn said, knocking his beer mug against Wesley's. "Speaking of which...." He nodded to a woman who had just entered the bar and sat in a booth by herself.
"Good call," Wesley said. "She's clearly a vampire."
"Then let's get her."
"Well, we can hardly attack her here. Go over and chat her up."
"Chat her up? Is that stuck-up British guy for 'flirt with her'?"
Wesley rolled his eyes. "Just get her into the alley. I'll be hiding there in wait."
"That's the plan?"
"Well, she is only a vampire."
Cordelia handed Xander a diet soft drink and took a place next to him on the couch. "So you're here with a job?"
"Yeah," he responded. "My construction crew was called here for a week, but we were done in 4 days. So...."
"You figured you'd look up your ex?"
"No. I figured I'd look up my friend. Since we kind of resolved everything, we haven't really been in touch. I just thought it would be nice to see you."
She smiled at him. "Well, I can't say that I'm unhappy to see you."
"I'll take that."
"I still can't believe you're in construction. I wouldn't have thought you'd go for something so... manly."
"Yeah, well... It's not secretary work, but it's a living."
She smiled. He was still the same, old Xander. "So how is everyone?" she asked.
"Of the good. Wills is taking the university by storm. She and Tara are pretty heavy into the Wicca thing."
"Who's Tara?"
"Oh... long story. Anyway, Giles is busy with the Magic Box. Anya took a job with him and keeps him on his toes. Dawn is Dawn. She drives Buffy nuts, but we all get along with her fine. Cute kid. Spike is still around, though he's hardly one of the gang. He just likes to show up and taunt us."
"My old gig?"
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "And Buffy.... Well, Riley bailed on her. She's had it pretty rough, but she's learning a lot. She'll be alright."
"You still love her?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
"I... I love Anya. Buffy and I... we're not...."
"Already answered," Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. Then suddenly, her facial expression changed. Pain shot through her, and she began convulsing.
"Cor?" Xander grabbed her and kept her from falling backwards. "I got ya."
When the seizing stopped, she looked up at him. "We've got to hurry."
"Hurry?" He repeated. "Where?"
"To save Wesley and Gunn. They're in big trouble."
"We're in big trouble," Wesley thought, just before he went flying at a brick wall. He hit it so hard, he bounced back and landed on his back in the middle of the alley. He picked himself up, despite his body's protests, just in time to see Gunn flying his direction. The collision could not be avoided, and soon both men were on the ground.
"That woman is no ordinary vampire," Wesley said.
"Gee... ya think, Sherlock?" Gunn grabbed a board that was sticking out of a dumpster. "Here take this."
Wesley took the board and watched as Gunn pulled one free for himself.
"Sticks?" The vampire said with a laugh. "You come at me with sticks?"
"We don't need anything more to take you down," Gunn said. "We're professionals. Well, I am."
"You're laughable," she said. "What do you think you are? The Slayer? You're a little male for that, I think."
"Maybe. But we are friends of the Slayer. I doubt you will find it so easy to best her when she arrives," Wesley looked at Gunn, obviously wanting help with the bluff.
"Yeah, you best get outta here," Gunn said. "I sure wouldn't want to be in your shoes when she gets here."
"You are bluffing," the vamp laughed. "It's cute, really. But I think I have time to pull your livers out before having to worry about the Slayer. Now, stop wasting my time with macho posturing. It's insulting."
"You think that's insulting?" Gunn asked. "Check this out."
She turned just in time to see the car bearing down on her. It was far to late to jump out of the way. The car rammed her with its front end so hard that she bounced down the alley like a ragdoll caught in a whirlwind. She didn't stop until she slammed into a brick wall at the farthest end.
Wesley was fighting the temptation to black out when the driver's door opened. The young man who stepped out was an old comrade. "Xander?"
"Who?" Gunn asked.
Cordelia opened the passenger door and motioned for them to get in. "From what I saw in my vision, this lady isn't going to stay down for long. Let's scoot!"
"Don't have to tell me twice," Gunn said, climbing into the back of the rental car.
Xander saw that Wesley was about to lose consciousness and ran to his side to help him into the car. "You know, when Willow said I'd have fun in L.A., I don't think this is what she had in mind."
"Oh, come on," Cordelia smiled. "It's just like old times."
Xander rolled his eyes and put the car in reverse. As they backed out, they could see the vampire standing to her feet at the end of the alley. She glared at Cordelia. "So the Slayer really is their friend," she thought to herself. "Good. That will make things all the more interesting."
Later at Cordelia's -
"So you're telling me that Angel has just abandoned you guys?" Xander asked.
"Not abandoned," Wesley said.
"Fired," Cordy corrected.
"Ah. I see the distinction." Xander plopped down on the couch. "I wish I could say I was surprised."
"You never did like him," Wesley said quietly.
"So what's your beef?" Gunn asked. "Why are you all anti-Angel? I thought he helped you guys before he came out here."
"If you call helping 'stalking and killing innocent people, including Giles' girlfriend,' then yeah. He helped us a lot."
"That was Angelus," Wesley said. "Angel has always been an honorable man."
"Yeah. I guess you're right," Xander said. "Leaving your friends to carry on the job that won you a second chance at life so you can fulfill some personal vendetta.... That just reeks of honor."
"It ain't that simple, man," Gunn said. "Angel needed to move us out of the way. He knew things were going to get dirty. He just didn't want us getting hurt."
"Wow," Xander said. "What a guy. He won't so much as talk to you, yet somehow you're convinced that it's for your own good? Get a clue. He wants you out of the way. He wants to do this his way and not have to answer to the good guys. Well, screw that. How many people is that woman, whatever she was, going to kill? The PTB brought Angel back for a purpose. And while I have no doubt that he will conveniently welcome you all back once this Darla mess is over, it hardly seems right. Why should he still get his second chance if he's going to waste it?"
The room was suddenly silent, as Angel's companions pondered what had been said.
"What you say may be true," Cordelia said. "But it may not be. I'm not gonna write Angel off until I see the big picture. He's saved my life, and yours if I recall, far too many times to not give him the benefit of the doubt."
"Do what you like," Xander said. "What do we do about the vamp chick from the alley?"
"Could you call Buffy?" Wesley asked.
"Buff already has a big bad roaming Sunnydale," Xander said. "She's needed there."
"Besides," Cordelia said. "Angel is skirting the edge as it is. The last thing we need is to bring Buffy into the mix."
"Then what's the plan?" Gunn asked. "We hole up here and hope she crosses Angel's path? I mean, I'm not willing to let folks die just because I know this girl can rip my head off with her bare hands."
"While I have to thumbs down the visual," Xander said. "I agree that we have to stop her. Angel or no Angel."
"Easier said than done," Wesley said. "She is unlike any vampire I have ever encountered."
"Then we research," Cordelia said. "Let's hit the books."
"But even when we find out what or who she is," Gunn started. "We still won't know how to find her."
"I may have an idea about that," Xander said. "Let me make a phone call."
An hour and a half later, Xander pulled his battle damaged rental car into a small motel. The sign out front read, "Come On Inn." He went straight to room 14c and knocked on the door. A familiar face greeted him. "Hey, man."
"Hey, Oz. We could really use your help."
TO BE CONTINUED......
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: Crossover
Description: A few days after Angel fires his staff, Xander comes to town to find that old habits die hard.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but a macaroni art depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg, and a charcoal rendering of Eva Gabor as Ripley from "Alien". Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the dub-dub WB own the Buffster and all related characters. It is their universe that I create my chaos in.
********************************************************************************
Cordelia Chase laid her head on her dining room table, and surrendered to frustration. The classifieds were spread out before her. The phone was still resting in her hand. A cup of tea floated her way from the kitchen.
"Thanks, Dennis," she said taking the cup. "That was very sweet of you."
She turned back to the classifieds as she sipped her Earl Grey. There was nothing. She had called them all. She had even hit three auditions in one day, but there was no steady work to be had.
"I guess there's always Taco Barn," she mumbled to herself.
Ding-Dong.
She glanced at the clock. It was almost 10 in the evening. And she wasn't expecting any visitors.
"C'mon, Dennis. The way my luck is going, this is probably Faith all fresh out of jail and looking for trouble."
She opened the door cautiously. She was both thrilled and surprised by the man she found on her doorstep.
"Hey, Cor," Xander Harris said with a smile. "Long time, no see."
Wesley glanced up at Gunn, who handed him his beer. "Thank you, Gunn."
"Don't mention it," the young man said. "I told'em it was on your tab."
Wesley smiled at the young man. Though he would never admit it, he admired Gunn. He knew his colleague had been through more in his short lifetime than most of the Watcher's council put together. He was glad they had agreed to meet. He had some ideas and wanted to bounce them off of someone with a differing perspective.
"I informed Angel that we would be keeping the agency open," Wesley said.
"Let me guess," Gunn said. "He had nothing to say."
"Not a word."
"So what do we do? We don't even have an office to work out of."
"I'm working on that particular problem. For now, though, Cordelia has agreed to let us use her place. It's not a place to bring clients, but we will continue to work from her visions."
"You think Angel will ever get his act together?" Gunn asked.'
"I hope so," Wesley said. "But the reality of the situation is that we cannot possibly be certain of it. Therefore, we must keep up the good fight."
"I hear that," Gunn said, knocking his beer mug against Wesley's. "Speaking of which...." He nodded to a woman who had just entered the bar and sat in a booth by herself.
"Good call," Wesley said. "She's clearly a vampire."
"Then let's get her."
"Well, we can hardly attack her here. Go over and chat her up."
"Chat her up? Is that stuck-up British guy for 'flirt with her'?"
Wesley rolled his eyes. "Just get her into the alley. I'll be hiding there in wait."
"That's the plan?"
"Well, she is only a vampire."
Cordelia handed Xander a diet soft drink and took a place next to him on the couch. "So you're here with a job?"
"Yeah," he responded. "My construction crew was called here for a week, but we were done in 4 days. So...."
"You figured you'd look up your ex?"
"No. I figured I'd look up my friend. Since we kind of resolved everything, we haven't really been in touch. I just thought it would be nice to see you."
She smiled at him. "Well, I can't say that I'm unhappy to see you."
"I'll take that."
"I still can't believe you're in construction. I wouldn't have thought you'd go for something so... manly."
"Yeah, well... It's not secretary work, but it's a living."
She smiled. He was still the same, old Xander. "So how is everyone?" she asked.
"Of the good. Wills is taking the university by storm. She and Tara are pretty heavy into the Wicca thing."
"Who's Tara?"
"Oh... long story. Anyway, Giles is busy with the Magic Box. Anya took a job with him and keeps him on his toes. Dawn is Dawn. She drives Buffy nuts, but we all get along with her fine. Cute kid. Spike is still around, though he's hardly one of the gang. He just likes to show up and taunt us."
"My old gig?"
"Yeah," he said with a smile. "And Buffy.... Well, Riley bailed on her. She's had it pretty rough, but she's learning a lot. She'll be alright."
"You still love her?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me."
"I... I love Anya. Buffy and I... we're not...."
"Already answered," Cordelia said, rolling her eyes. Then suddenly, her facial expression changed. Pain shot through her, and she began convulsing.
"Cor?" Xander grabbed her and kept her from falling backwards. "I got ya."
When the seizing stopped, she looked up at him. "We've got to hurry."
"Hurry?" He repeated. "Where?"
"To save Wesley and Gunn. They're in big trouble."
"We're in big trouble," Wesley thought, just before he went flying at a brick wall. He hit it so hard, he bounced back and landed on his back in the middle of the alley. He picked himself up, despite his body's protests, just in time to see Gunn flying his direction. The collision could not be avoided, and soon both men were on the ground.
"That woman is no ordinary vampire," Wesley said.
"Gee... ya think, Sherlock?" Gunn grabbed a board that was sticking out of a dumpster. "Here take this."
Wesley took the board and watched as Gunn pulled one free for himself.
"Sticks?" The vampire said with a laugh. "You come at me with sticks?"
"We don't need anything more to take you down," Gunn said. "We're professionals. Well, I am."
"You're laughable," she said. "What do you think you are? The Slayer? You're a little male for that, I think."
"Maybe. But we are friends of the Slayer. I doubt you will find it so easy to best her when she arrives," Wesley looked at Gunn, obviously wanting help with the bluff.
"Yeah, you best get outta here," Gunn said. "I sure wouldn't want to be in your shoes when she gets here."
"You are bluffing," the vamp laughed. "It's cute, really. But I think I have time to pull your livers out before having to worry about the Slayer. Now, stop wasting my time with macho posturing. It's insulting."
"You think that's insulting?" Gunn asked. "Check this out."
She turned just in time to see the car bearing down on her. It was far to late to jump out of the way. The car rammed her with its front end so hard that she bounced down the alley like a ragdoll caught in a whirlwind. She didn't stop until she slammed into a brick wall at the farthest end.
Wesley was fighting the temptation to black out when the driver's door opened. The young man who stepped out was an old comrade. "Xander?"
"Who?" Gunn asked.
Cordelia opened the passenger door and motioned for them to get in. "From what I saw in my vision, this lady isn't going to stay down for long. Let's scoot!"
"Don't have to tell me twice," Gunn said, climbing into the back of the rental car.
Xander saw that Wesley was about to lose consciousness and ran to his side to help him into the car. "You know, when Willow said I'd have fun in L.A., I don't think this is what she had in mind."
"Oh, come on," Cordelia smiled. "It's just like old times."
Xander rolled his eyes and put the car in reverse. As they backed out, they could see the vampire standing to her feet at the end of the alley. She glared at Cordelia. "So the Slayer really is their friend," she thought to herself. "Good. That will make things all the more interesting."
Later at Cordelia's -
"So you're telling me that Angel has just abandoned you guys?" Xander asked.
"Not abandoned," Wesley said.
"Fired," Cordy corrected.
"Ah. I see the distinction." Xander plopped down on the couch. "I wish I could say I was surprised."
"You never did like him," Wesley said quietly.
"So what's your beef?" Gunn asked. "Why are you all anti-Angel? I thought he helped you guys before he came out here."
"If you call helping 'stalking and killing innocent people, including Giles' girlfriend,' then yeah. He helped us a lot."
"That was Angelus," Wesley said. "Angel has always been an honorable man."
"Yeah. I guess you're right," Xander said. "Leaving your friends to carry on the job that won you a second chance at life so you can fulfill some personal vendetta.... That just reeks of honor."
"It ain't that simple, man," Gunn said. "Angel needed to move us out of the way. He knew things were going to get dirty. He just didn't want us getting hurt."
"Wow," Xander said. "What a guy. He won't so much as talk to you, yet somehow you're convinced that it's for your own good? Get a clue. He wants you out of the way. He wants to do this his way and not have to answer to the good guys. Well, screw that. How many people is that woman, whatever she was, going to kill? The PTB brought Angel back for a purpose. And while I have no doubt that he will conveniently welcome you all back once this Darla mess is over, it hardly seems right. Why should he still get his second chance if he's going to waste it?"
The room was suddenly silent, as Angel's companions pondered what had been said.
"What you say may be true," Cordelia said. "But it may not be. I'm not gonna write Angel off until I see the big picture. He's saved my life, and yours if I recall, far too many times to not give him the benefit of the doubt."
"Do what you like," Xander said. "What do we do about the vamp chick from the alley?"
"Could you call Buffy?" Wesley asked.
"Buff already has a big bad roaming Sunnydale," Xander said. "She's needed there."
"Besides," Cordelia said. "Angel is skirting the edge as it is. The last thing we need is to bring Buffy into the mix."
"Then what's the plan?" Gunn asked. "We hole up here and hope she crosses Angel's path? I mean, I'm not willing to let folks die just because I know this girl can rip my head off with her bare hands."
"While I have to thumbs down the visual," Xander said. "I agree that we have to stop her. Angel or no Angel."
"Easier said than done," Wesley said. "She is unlike any vampire I have ever encountered."
"Then we research," Cordelia said. "Let's hit the books."
"But even when we find out what or who she is," Gunn started. "We still won't know how to find her."
"I may have an idea about that," Xander said. "Let me make a phone call."
An hour and a half later, Xander pulled his battle damaged rental car into a small motel. The sign out front read, "Come On Inn." He went straight to room 14c and knocked on the door. A familiar face greeted him. "Hey, man."
"Hey, Oz. We could really use your help."
TO BE CONTINUED......