Celia watches as Xander pounds on the heavy bag. She's watched him do this countless times before, but never with the same sense of dread she had now. He wasn't just preparing for a simple fight against the vampires as he'd done so many times before. There was something in his eyes she could see, though she didn't want to, that went far beyond simple determination. She could see in every punch, every bob, and every weave that he was preparing for a fight to the death. The prospect of that scenario didn't sit well with her. She wanted to yell at him, scream right into his ear that it would only be suicide to go after him. Something wasn't right. There was only one conclusion all of them could come up with as to why McRae would send a vampire as a message. She shivered helplessly. Another mark on the list of things she never wanted to think about.
"How long has he been at this now?" Buffy asked, startling her.
"Oh, um, I don't know. Awhile I guess..."
"Hey," Buffy said gently. "Are you okay?"
"Five by five," Celia said quietly.
Buffy blinked a minute, not sure if she'd heard her right.
"What did you say?"
"What? Oh, uh, he used to say that sometimes. It means I'm okay."
"I know what it means," Buffy smiles. "Just wondering where you heard it."
Celia flinched as Xander roundhouse kicks the bag, his leg making a loud snap against the leather. Buffy tries to squeeze her shoulder and offer a small bit of comfort but Celia shrugs her off. Buffy sighs and sits next to her making sure not to touch her. It was clear she didn't need it now.
"You're really wigged about this aren't you?" She asked.
Celia doesn't reply merely stares at Xander pounding away. Buffy looks around the room in discomfort. She began to doubt if she should have come back at all. She never would have left it she hadn't thought that everyone was dead. She doesn't want to remember exactly what happened those years ago, and her brain has successfully blocked out most of the details. All she really knows is that she had watched helplessly from a nearby hill where she was hunting a pack of demons intent on making the citizens of Sunnydale their favorite new snack food. Next thing she knew...
Boom.
Town gone, smoke and bodies everywhere. She'd searched for days for anyone she knew or could at least recognize. When she found no one, she was lost. She took off for parts unknown and barely looked back. The last few years had been a haze. She knows she came back once, saw that Xander was indeed alive, and left again without ever letting him know she was there. She is still not sure why she came back again. She watches Xander continuously pummel the bag, and looks to Celia. She is glad she did.
Eventually Xander stops his workout and walks right past the girls without even looking at them. Buffy gets up to follow him but Celia puts her hand on her shoulder.
"Don't," she says softly. "You can't talk to him when he's like this."
"Has he been like this before?"
"Once," Celia says, her eyes moving to follow Xander's retreating form out of the room. "After McRae did... What he did."
"He went all crazy fighter guy?"
Celia nods. "For weeks he wouldn't look at anyone, and he'd stay out till all hours. Hunting for McRae, barely sleeping, training all the time," Celia waves her hand in exasperation. "He was like a robot you know? Crush, kill, destroy."
Once again Buffy blinks at her knowledge of even the smallest of pop-culture references.
"What ever happened to McRae?" Buffy asks.
Celia sighs and brushes her hair back from her face. She really doesn't want to think anymore about McRae than she already is.
"You have to tell me," Buffy says firmly. "What happened to him after he did that to Xander?"
"They kicked him out of course," Celia says. "But not before..."
"Before what?"
"They took one of his fingers. As penance. Eye for an eye someone said."
"They did that?" Buffy asks, shocked.
"After what he did to Xander, it was a small price to pay," Celia bit out.
Buffy nods, finding no argument for that.
"Well, I should go after him. Offer my services. After all, I am the slayer."
"I don't know if that'll make a difference to him Buffy," Celia said. "Crush, kill, destroy, remember?"
"Well, I was never one to listen to advice," Buffy said standing. "Sorry sweetie, but I'm going after him."
Celia sighs and hangs her head down.
"Yeah, I kind of thought you would. Just... Just be careful okay?"
"I will," Buffy assures her. "And by the way..."
Celia's head perks up.
"I never liked that show."
Buffy turns toward the door, going after Xander, leaving a confused Celia to herself.
"Show?"
***
Buffy is barely out the door when she sees Xander rushing back to the building at full speed. She looks up at the sky to see that dusk had settled in and her instincts kick in telling her the worst. She steps out of his way at the last second and it seems like he hadn't even seen her. She runs back through the door to see Xander bolting across the room. Celia runs after him and Buffy gives chase as well.
"What is it?" Celia shouts. "What's wrong?"
Xander doesn't even register her presence. He's too busy prying a chest off of an unsteady looking shelf. Buffy hears him grunt with the weight of it and steps in to lend a hand. The trunk hits the ground with a slam, the sound echoing throughout the room. Xander quickly pulls a key out of his pocket and shoves it into the big black lock on the front of the trunk. Buffy's eyes widen at the cache of stakes, crosses, and bottles of holy water inside. It easily bested her old stash.
"Vampires?" Buffy asks. "Are there vampires outside?"
Xander nods his head swiftly, stuffing his pockets with supplies.
"Why didn't you say anything!" She shouts.
Xander looks up and scowls at her. Buffy looks away sheepishly.
"Oh... right."
She kneels down and grabs a few stakes and crosses of her own.
"Is it McRae?" Celia asks, her voice shaking. "Is he out there now?"
Xander looks over to her sadly, and with one nod of his head fresh tears begin to pour down her cheeks. He grabs her swiftly, pulling her into a tight hug and kisses the top of her head. Her arms are wound tightly around his neck and when he moves to stand she doesn't let go.
"Don't go Xander," she pleads quietly. "Please don't go."
He pulls her hands from his neck and smiles weakly. He takes a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbles a little note.
'I'll be back,' it says. 'I promise.'
"You better be," Celia demands. "Or I'll be the one to kick your butt."
He nods as he stands and looks over to Buffy, brows raised.
"Of course I'm coming," she says.
He turns and runs out the door, leaving Buffy behind.
"I'll make sure he comes back," she says.
"Promise?" Celia whispers.
"Promise."
Celia watches helplessly as Buffy turns and follows Xander out the door. She wipes a few tears from her cheeks, but fresh ones just replace them. She sighs and runs to her favorite corner, falls to her side and pulls her knees into her chest. She can hear her own cries echo through the room. She wishes someone could read her a story.
***
Celia's not sure how much time has passed when she wakes up still curled in the corner. She looks around blankly at the walls for a few minutes wondering if she wants to get up at all. Her side is sore from lying on the floor and she knows that if she moves it'll only get worse. She lies for a few minutes more and finally gets up. She walks slowly to the sleeping mats and jumps when she hears the sounds of a battle raging outside. She's not scared of any Vampires getting in. She knows that they can't enter without being invited. She resists her urge to peek out the door to see what's going on.
A loud crash makes her jump again and she sighs. She thinks that she should be used to this now. She can imagine Xander outside, being all commando warrior on any vamps within striking distance. She's not to sure how Buffy would look. She's never seen her fight, and only knows what Xander used to tell her. She knows in her mind that she doesn't have to worry, but the feeling in her stomach is telling her otherwise.
Bang.
Crash.
Screams.
She puts her hands against her ears to block it all out. For the first time in a long time she wants her mommy.
She jumps to her feet instantly when someone comes crashing through the door. She's already halfway across the room when Buffy's familiar voice calls after her.
"Celia!" She shouts.
Celia skids to a stop and turns to run back to Buffy. She gasps when she gets closer. A stream of blood runs down the slayer's forehead, and her cheek looks like it's beginning to bruise. Celia quickly runs to get the first-aid kit from Xander's dresser and comes back to her. She takes out a wad of gauze and pours a bit of alcohol from the small bottle onto it. Buffy looks at her strangely when she gently wipes away the blood from her head.
"You think he didn't teach me first aid?" She says trying to smile, but finds that she can't.
"So many," Buffy says. "Xander was right; they were building their forces..."
"Where is Xander?" Celia asked, fishing for a band-aid from the box.
Buffy moves her head away, and Celia's hand freezes.
"Where's Xander?" She says a little more urgently.
"He..."
"Where is he?!" She shouts.
"Are okay?" Buffy asks. "No one got in here right?"
"Don't change the subject!"
Celia was crying again, fearing the worst from whatever Buffy wasn't telling her. Buffy reached out a hand to her and Celia slapped it away.
"Don't touch me!" She screamed. "Not until you tell me what happened!"
"There were so many," Buffy said again. "They just kept coming and coming. It didn't stop. It was like fighting a wall. Xander and I kept fighting. It was strange because none of them seemed to want to get near him. Like they weren't supposed to touch him. And then out of nowhere this big burly vamp jumps out of the middle of the crowd and grabs him. I tried to get him, Celia. Believe me I did. But they... It was just too..."
"Tell me," Celia demanded through her tears.
"McRae's a vampire," Buffy said softly. "He has Xander."
"How long has he been at this now?" Buffy asked, startling her.
"Oh, um, I don't know. Awhile I guess..."
"Hey," Buffy said gently. "Are you okay?"
"Five by five," Celia said quietly.
Buffy blinked a minute, not sure if she'd heard her right.
"What did you say?"
"What? Oh, uh, he used to say that sometimes. It means I'm okay."
"I know what it means," Buffy smiles. "Just wondering where you heard it."
Celia flinched as Xander roundhouse kicks the bag, his leg making a loud snap against the leather. Buffy tries to squeeze her shoulder and offer a small bit of comfort but Celia shrugs her off. Buffy sighs and sits next to her making sure not to touch her. It was clear she didn't need it now.
"You're really wigged about this aren't you?" She asked.
Celia doesn't reply merely stares at Xander pounding away. Buffy looks around the room in discomfort. She began to doubt if she should have come back at all. She never would have left it she hadn't thought that everyone was dead. She doesn't want to remember exactly what happened those years ago, and her brain has successfully blocked out most of the details. All she really knows is that she had watched helplessly from a nearby hill where she was hunting a pack of demons intent on making the citizens of Sunnydale their favorite new snack food. Next thing she knew...
Boom.
Town gone, smoke and bodies everywhere. She'd searched for days for anyone she knew or could at least recognize. When she found no one, she was lost. She took off for parts unknown and barely looked back. The last few years had been a haze. She knows she came back once, saw that Xander was indeed alive, and left again without ever letting him know she was there. She is still not sure why she came back again. She watches Xander continuously pummel the bag, and looks to Celia. She is glad she did.
Eventually Xander stops his workout and walks right past the girls without even looking at them. Buffy gets up to follow him but Celia puts her hand on her shoulder.
"Don't," she says softly. "You can't talk to him when he's like this."
"Has he been like this before?"
"Once," Celia says, her eyes moving to follow Xander's retreating form out of the room. "After McRae did... What he did."
"He went all crazy fighter guy?"
Celia nods. "For weeks he wouldn't look at anyone, and he'd stay out till all hours. Hunting for McRae, barely sleeping, training all the time," Celia waves her hand in exasperation. "He was like a robot you know? Crush, kill, destroy."
Once again Buffy blinks at her knowledge of even the smallest of pop-culture references.
"What ever happened to McRae?" Buffy asks.
Celia sighs and brushes her hair back from her face. She really doesn't want to think anymore about McRae than she already is.
"You have to tell me," Buffy says firmly. "What happened to him after he did that to Xander?"
"They kicked him out of course," Celia says. "But not before..."
"Before what?"
"They took one of his fingers. As penance. Eye for an eye someone said."
"They did that?" Buffy asks, shocked.
"After what he did to Xander, it was a small price to pay," Celia bit out.
Buffy nods, finding no argument for that.
"Well, I should go after him. Offer my services. After all, I am the slayer."
"I don't know if that'll make a difference to him Buffy," Celia said. "Crush, kill, destroy, remember?"
"Well, I was never one to listen to advice," Buffy said standing. "Sorry sweetie, but I'm going after him."
Celia sighs and hangs her head down.
"Yeah, I kind of thought you would. Just... Just be careful okay?"
"I will," Buffy assures her. "And by the way..."
Celia's head perks up.
"I never liked that show."
Buffy turns toward the door, going after Xander, leaving a confused Celia to herself.
"Show?"
***
Buffy is barely out the door when she sees Xander rushing back to the building at full speed. She looks up at the sky to see that dusk had settled in and her instincts kick in telling her the worst. She steps out of his way at the last second and it seems like he hadn't even seen her. She runs back through the door to see Xander bolting across the room. Celia runs after him and Buffy gives chase as well.
"What is it?" Celia shouts. "What's wrong?"
Xander doesn't even register her presence. He's too busy prying a chest off of an unsteady looking shelf. Buffy hears him grunt with the weight of it and steps in to lend a hand. The trunk hits the ground with a slam, the sound echoing throughout the room. Xander quickly pulls a key out of his pocket and shoves it into the big black lock on the front of the trunk. Buffy's eyes widen at the cache of stakes, crosses, and bottles of holy water inside. It easily bested her old stash.
"Vampires?" Buffy asks. "Are there vampires outside?"
Xander nods his head swiftly, stuffing his pockets with supplies.
"Why didn't you say anything!" She shouts.
Xander looks up and scowls at her. Buffy looks away sheepishly.
"Oh... right."
She kneels down and grabs a few stakes and crosses of her own.
"Is it McRae?" Celia asks, her voice shaking. "Is he out there now?"
Xander looks over to her sadly, and with one nod of his head fresh tears begin to pour down her cheeks. He grabs her swiftly, pulling her into a tight hug and kisses the top of her head. Her arms are wound tightly around his neck and when he moves to stand she doesn't let go.
"Don't go Xander," she pleads quietly. "Please don't go."
He pulls her hands from his neck and smiles weakly. He takes a piece of paper from his pocket and scribbles a little note.
'I'll be back,' it says. 'I promise.'
"You better be," Celia demands. "Or I'll be the one to kick your butt."
He nods as he stands and looks over to Buffy, brows raised.
"Of course I'm coming," she says.
He turns and runs out the door, leaving Buffy behind.
"I'll make sure he comes back," she says.
"Promise?" Celia whispers.
"Promise."
Celia watches helplessly as Buffy turns and follows Xander out the door. She wipes a few tears from her cheeks, but fresh ones just replace them. She sighs and runs to her favorite corner, falls to her side and pulls her knees into her chest. She can hear her own cries echo through the room. She wishes someone could read her a story.
***
Celia's not sure how much time has passed when she wakes up still curled in the corner. She looks around blankly at the walls for a few minutes wondering if she wants to get up at all. Her side is sore from lying on the floor and she knows that if she moves it'll only get worse. She lies for a few minutes more and finally gets up. She walks slowly to the sleeping mats and jumps when she hears the sounds of a battle raging outside. She's not scared of any Vampires getting in. She knows that they can't enter without being invited. She resists her urge to peek out the door to see what's going on.
A loud crash makes her jump again and she sighs. She thinks that she should be used to this now. She can imagine Xander outside, being all commando warrior on any vamps within striking distance. She's not to sure how Buffy would look. She's never seen her fight, and only knows what Xander used to tell her. She knows in her mind that she doesn't have to worry, but the feeling in her stomach is telling her otherwise.
Bang.
Crash.
Screams.
She puts her hands against her ears to block it all out. For the first time in a long time she wants her mommy.
She jumps to her feet instantly when someone comes crashing through the door. She's already halfway across the room when Buffy's familiar voice calls after her.
"Celia!" She shouts.
Celia skids to a stop and turns to run back to Buffy. She gasps when she gets closer. A stream of blood runs down the slayer's forehead, and her cheek looks like it's beginning to bruise. Celia quickly runs to get the first-aid kit from Xander's dresser and comes back to her. She takes out a wad of gauze and pours a bit of alcohol from the small bottle onto it. Buffy looks at her strangely when she gently wipes away the blood from her head.
"You think he didn't teach me first aid?" She says trying to smile, but finds that she can't.
"So many," Buffy says. "Xander was right; they were building their forces..."
"Where is Xander?" Celia asked, fishing for a band-aid from the box.
Buffy moves her head away, and Celia's hand freezes.
"Where's Xander?" She says a little more urgently.
"He..."
"Where is he?!" She shouts.
"Are okay?" Buffy asks. "No one got in here right?"
"Don't change the subject!"
Celia was crying again, fearing the worst from whatever Buffy wasn't telling her. Buffy reached out a hand to her and Celia slapped it away.
"Don't touch me!" She screamed. "Not until you tell me what happened!"
"There were so many," Buffy said again. "They just kept coming and coming. It didn't stop. It was like fighting a wall. Xander and I kept fighting. It was strange because none of them seemed to want to get near him. Like they weren't supposed to touch him. And then out of nowhere this big burly vamp jumps out of the middle of the crowd and grabs him. I tried to get him, Celia. Believe me I did. But they... It was just too..."
"Tell me," Celia demanded through her tears.
"McRae's a vampire," Buffy said softly. "He has Xander."