Title: "Nothing As It Seems"
Episode: #4 - "Here With Me"


Author: RockyD
E-mail: dollen@frontiernet.net
Category: A/X, B/X and delusional B/S
Rating: PG-14 (nothing worse than the show)
Summary: A few of months after "Father Of Mine." Xander has gone to L.A. to try to recover from his tragedy. Through the course of his stay, he has had a run-in or two with the Angel Investigations crew, and eventually joins up in their fight.
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me, they belong to Joss
Whedon and Co. The only thing I lay claim to is the excruciating torture I put them through... and I'm sure they love me for it.
Author's Note: I'm unsure of the exact spelling of Lorne/The Host's demon type. I hope I got it right, if not, shrug
Author's Note #2: For reference, the series title The episode title is a song by Dido. *salute* That is all.
Feedback: YES! I desperately need it, like an addiction. It would be appreciated.


*FADE TO: Angel Investigations/Hyperion Hotel. Xander is opening a filing cabinet and depositing files.*

While he worked, Xander furthered the cartoonish cliche of whistling what he would call a jaunty tune.
"Xander, I swear... if you don't stop whistling, I'm going to rip your lips off!" Cordelia demanded.
"Oh I bet you will, Cordy." Xander said mockingly.
"I don't know why we agreed to let you work with us. You're so... so..."
"Ruggedly handsome?" Xander offered with a smirk as he leaned on the top of the cabinet.
She glared at him, "Infuriating."
"Oh, I don't know. There's something to be said for someone who can get the best of Cordelia Chase." Angel said as he came strolling into the office with a coffee cup full of 'breakfast.'
Cordelia softened at his arrival, but still let out a frustrated noise as she passed by Xander to go to upstairs.
Angel and Xander exchanged an amused look as she stomped up the stairs. Xander laughed and went back to filing, "Y'know, never in a million years did I ever think I'd be voluntarily working for you, Angel."
Angel lost a little of his good mood as he had to remind Xander, "You aren't working *for* me, remember? Wesley is in charge."
Xander looked genuinely guilty, "Oh, I... sorry, didn't mean to kick the dirt in your face there. My point still stands. There was a time when I'd just as soon stake you as shake your hand."
Angel took a sip from his cup, "Don't worry about it. Love does that to people." Xander flinched, and it was his turn to apologize, "I'm sorry, Xander..."
"Don't sweat it, Deadboy. I'm getting better." He finished his job and took his frustrations out on the cabinet door as he slammed it. He turned around, reaching for his own coffee cup, and made conversation, "Any cases on the block today?"
"Wes and Gunn are out taking care of the only one we had. Unless we have a walk in or Cordy has another vision, we're pretty much slacking today." He hid a small smile behind his cup as he took a sip.
"Ahh, the glory of slack. Takes me back to high school." Angel's hidden smile didn't escape him, and he decided to push, "So... Cordy, huh?"
Angel did a double take, "What?"
"C'mon, Angel, it's plain to see. You're hot for Vision Girl."
"I... She..."
"No need to explain. I, too, understand the subtly blatant wiles of that woman. And she's turning into a fine person as well." Xander's smile was genuine, "Just don't go trying to get into her pants, and I won't have to kill you."
Angel even laughed, "I, uh, learned from my mistakes."
"And don't go worrying... she digs you too, in that Cordelia Chase way." A strangely comfortable silence fell between them. After a few moments, Xander felt compelled to break it, "You as creeped out as I am that we're getting along so well?"
"Pretty much."
"Okay, well, I'm gonna go watch some TV then. See ya later, Deadboy." He made a quick exit towards the upstairs, leaving Angel to his breakfast.

*CUT TO: The Office, later that day. Wes and Gunn come walking in looking like they've been walking through a slime demon nest.*

"That is the *last* time I go walking through a slime demon nest with you." Gunn declared, reaching the counter and throwing his disgustingly slimed axe up on the counter in front of Xander.
Wesley rolled his eyes and deposited his grimy weapons in front of Xander as well. Xander looked at them with mild annoyance, "Slime demons? I knew I was going to regret agreeing to clean weapons. I'm thanking God I opted out of laundry duty." He cautiously slid the weapons off the counter and into a large bin, which he then carried off to the office bathroom.
"How's it goin' with him?" Gunn asked quietly when Xander was out of hearing range.
"I believe he's coming along alright... but he's had the tendency to just push things away instead of dealing with them... We simply have to keep doing whatever we can to help him get past what he's been through." Wesley answered.
Gunn nodded, "I should probably talk to him sometime... I kinda know how it feels to see someone you care about dying." He remembered what it was like to stake his sister.
Wesley put a hand on his shoulder, "It couldn't hurt... but I believe we should inform Cordelia and Angel of our work first. Perhaps, then, you can go out to dinner and speak with him."
Gunn couldn't help but smirk, "Should I buy him flowers and chocolate first?"
"Very funny." Wes replied sarcastically, "Let's go."
Back in the bathroom, faint scrubbing can be heard. Suddenly, there's a thudding sound, followed by splashing, "Son of a... this was my favorite shirt!"

*CUT TO: Hyperion Hotel/Angel Investigations office. Cordelia is sitting in a chair, writing stuff in a small journal, when Angel came from nowhere and leaned on the counter.*

She jumped, slamming the journal closed, and tried to act like she'd been crunching numbers on a nearby adding machine as she raised her head to look at Angel, "Yes, Angel?"
"I, uh, was just wondering if you were okay... y'know, after the little blowout earlier."
"I'm fine, Angel. Xander just knows how to get under my skin, and you weren't helping matters much. Ganging up on me isn't very nice."
"We're just trying to keep you on your toes, Cor." He sat down on the bed, missing out on her slight smile at the nickname. "I was wondering, if you maybe wanted to..."
He was interrupted by a short scream from Cordelia as she began clutching her forehead. Angel rushed over to stabilize her before she fell out of the chair, and nearly had his eardrums burst as she screamed again.
Heavy footsteps could be heard making their way down the stairs. Cordelia convulsed for several short moments, until she finally relaxed.
Wesley and Gunn came into the office shortly after, in time to hear Cordelia pant, "1530... South... Brooker... green, three-horns, likes to bite heads off..."
Xander arrived slightly late, his hair wet from a shower, and Wesley went into boss-mode, "It sounds like a K'darak demon... Angel, Xander, and I, will go take care of it... Gunn can stay and make sure Cordelia is okay."
Gunn nodded, "I know the drill. Go make this thing wish it didn't earn Cordelia a migraine."

*CUT TO: Later in the evening. Angel, Wesley, and Xander enter, bearing dirty weapons and exchanging pleasantries.*

"That was truly a... beautiful strike you made, Xander. You've come quite a long way from when I first met you. Your skill with the swor..." His compliment was interrupted by Angel quietly mumbling something he couldn't hear, "What?"
Xander repeated it, breathlessly, "Buffy..."
Angel was the first to react, rushing up to her and giving her a monstrous hug. She gave him a weak hug back and smiled faintly at him. Angel immediately prodded her, "Is there... something wrong?"
"No, no... Everything is fine. Actually, I..." She paused, sensing this would hurt, "I actually came to see Xander."
To say both men were dumbfounded would be an understatement. They both looked like Buffy had just started glowing like Christmas tree lights. Wesley saw they were both incapable of speech, so proceeded to continue the conversation, "To see Xander? Well, I... It's nice to see you."
"You too." She glanced quickly at the two stunned men, "Think either of them will come out of this soon?"
Wesley shrugged, "Difficult to tell." Xander walked past him wordlessly, and gave Buffy a silent but strong hug, before gliding himself over to the couch and sitting down.
Buffy followed him, taking a seat on the same couch. Wesley quietly maneuvered Angel into his office and closed the door. Xander was still processing the symbolism he picked up from Buffy's statement. Since he'd been here in L.A., he'd gotten periodic calls from Willow detailing how worried they were about him, and about how he was doing. He'd never actually heard from Buffy herself that she was worried. Or that she was coming to visit. Him. He just assumed she didn't have the time to do anything like that.
Buffy slugged him on the arm lightly, forcing him out of his trance, "I know what you're thinking."
"Really?" He replied, unconvinced.
"I just wanted to surprise you. I didn't even tell Willow about it, because you know how she is about secrets. I wanted to come here and make sure you were doing okay... not just saying what I want to hear and then hanging up the phone. This way, I can beat the truth out of you."
He smiled faintly, "Please don't hit me... I just had a run in with a K'darak demon who didn't really appreciate me cutting one of it's horns off."
She smiled, "Really? I heard Wesley start to say you were getting good with a sword. I'm glad you're getting to do stuff like that. I wasn't exactly warm towards the idea of you going out there fighting demons. I didn't want you dead."
His heart almost stopped. The way she said the last sentence, the tone of voice, was something he'd never thought he'd hear. Addressed to him. He quickly became uncomfortable, and deflected the comment, "Well, you know how much of an aversion I have to death. I've got lots of things I'd rather do."
Buffy stood up and offered him a hand, "Why don't we go have some dinner? You only ever tell Willow vague stuff about how you're doing here, and I'd like to hear the truth."
He took her hand to help him up, and glanced at the office quickly, "Don't you want to... talk to Angel?"
She shook her head, smiling, "He's gonna be around forever. You've only got 50 or 60 years left." He had no way of hiding the smile her statement brought on. Without much more hesitation, he lead her out of the building and off into the night.
Angel cracked the door open a little more, his eyes showing a mixture of disbelief and quiet hurt. He quietly walked out, grabbed the weapons, and headed into the bathroom to clean them. He needed something to keep his mind off the way Buffy was treating Xander.

*CUT TO: Caritas. Buffy and Xander are talking at the bar over a drink, trying to ignore the screeching voice coming from the stage.*

"This place is really... charming." Buffy commented, looking around.
"It's got its positives and negatives. Mostly negatives, but who am I to complain?"
"Hey, tall, dark, and sarcastic... don't knock it or you won't be coming back." The Host joked casually. He glanced at Buffy momentarily, "Who's the walking knock-out?"
Xander laughed, "Lorne, you have no idea how right you are. This here, is Buffy."
The Host gasped audibly, "The one and only Slayer?" He took a slight bow, "It's a pleasure to meet you, sweet cheeks."
Buffy looked slightly uncomfortable, "This is a nice place you have here."
"Well, I try." He looked at her carefully, before speaking to Xander, "You convinced this little powerhouse to get up and sing yet?"
Xander glared, "Lorne, you can't even get me up there. And I'm far less stubborn than her."
"Hey!" Buffy cried, slapping Xander on the arm.
"Harris, you can't blame me for wanting to read you. You're such a tasty mystery treat. I'll get you one of these days." He smiled at Buffy, before and gestured at her as if she were a target, "You too, babe," Shortly afterwards, he headed off to give the screecher their reading.
"Read you? What's he mean?" Buffy was confused.
Xander smiled faintly, "This'll be fun to explain. Lorne there is an Anagogic demon. He can read people's futures, their destinies. Only catch is, you have to sing in front of him before he can do it."
Buffy looked skeptical, "You sure it isn't just a sick sense of humor?"
Xander shook his head, "Nope, did research on it myself. To make sure he wasn't just out there to make an ass out of the demon population. But I still won't let him read me. I don't really want to know what's in store."
Buffy nodded, "I understand."
"Now, Buff, tell me why you're here."
Buffy avoided his eyes, "I haven't seen you for a few months, Xander. Can't a friend come to visit without it being out of the ordinary?"
Xander looked at her closely, "Not when the friend hasn't called personally the whole time... is something up, Buffy?"
She finally looked up at him, sighing as she replied, "I just miss you, Xan. I went 5 years with you there for me all the time, and now you're not. I guess I just didn't realize how much I needed you in Sunnydale until you weren't."
His eyes clouded over, and he took a gulp of his drink. She kept her stare fixed on him for several minutes, before it became painfully obvious he didn't want to talk about it. He sighed, unable to stay silent with her for much longer, "So how long are you in town?"
"For the weekend. I adjusted my hours so I had them off. Now I'm just going in a little earlier than usual." She glanced around the bar quickly, "I figured I could use a little bit of a break from the daily grind."
"Well, Buffy, it is nice to see you. I'm getting my life together, all over again. Strangely enough, thanks to Angel." He motioned to The Host, who had returned to the bar, for another drink, "I was in L.A. for a few days, when I ran into what I like to refer to as the 'welcoming party.' About a half-dozen vamps, out to paint the town red, with me."
"What happened?" She asked, worry in her voice.
"Well, I took a couple of them out... but they were too much. I was about a thirty seconds away from being a vampire snack... when Angel, Wesley, and this other guy Gunn, showed up. Made pretty quick work of them. I was surprised to run into them so soon... but I thanked them and went my separate way."
"How did you come to work with them?"
He smiled, "Just a second, the best part is coming up. I went out a few nights later... and the same thing happens again, I'm almost puppy chow for a vamp gang. Angel and his crew save me again. Turns out, my apartment was a couple of blocks away from a vampire nest." He laughed, "Angel convinced me to come and help destroy it... didn't take long, and afterwards, Cordelia bullied me into coming and staying with them."
"Cordelia..." Buffy said, looking into her drink, "Guess it was nice to see her, huh?"
"After almost two years of non-communicado, yeah it was." He looked at her with narrow eyes. Eventually he just shrugged. He stood up and laid down some money for the drinks, "Unless you've got the sudden urge for some 'Baby... One More Time,' then I suggest we book before Lackdaro the Cheznok demon gets on stage."
Buffy looked at the purple demon climbing on stage and gratefully took his arm as he led her out of Caritas.

*CUT TO: Hyperion Hotel, later that evening. Xander and Buffy are walking back through the entrance.*

"Well, now that I've been to Caritas, I can honestly say that I've seen and heard it all." Buffy declared, swinging her purse around wildly.
Xander laughed, "You've obviously never seen Lackdaro before. It does a mean 'I Got You Babe' with Lorne that'll have you either clapping or convulsing."
"Sounds wonderful." Buffy replied sarcastically.
He stopped and leaned on the counter, "Well, Buffy, I enjoy the company of a Slayer very much... but this little boy has to get to bed so he can wake up for his *paying* job."
"Paying job?"
"Well, the caseload has been kinda light lately, and Wes can't exactly pay us all a decent wage... or at all. So for the time being, I snagged a little construction work with a client we had a few weeks ago. A few nasties were tearing up one of his sites, and he hired us to clear them out. Anyway, the schedule is light... I come in when they don't need me here, and if I get a call, I can just leave with no consequences. Works out quite nicely for everyone."
"Glad you're doing okay here." Buffy said, looking pensive.
"You should probably talk to Angel... he might be in his office if they aren't out on a call." He glanced towards the office door quickly.
Buffy did the same, but shook her head, "Nah... I think I'm gonna turn in and start fresh tomorrow."
Xander looked at her like she had grown a second head, "Uh... alright, then... Follow me and I'll show you to your room. Here at the Hyperion we can't promise a good night's sleep, but we *can* promise you a cold, fanged smile to greet you at some random point in the night. That, and we ask that you please don't eat any mints left on your pillows. Trust me, they aren't mints."
Buffy let out a squeaking laugh, before going and picking up her bags from where she left them earlier. Xander lead the way up the stairs as she followed silently.