Part 12

22 hours later
L.A.
Angel Investigations

Xander Harris walked into the offices of Angel investigations, no one seemed to be about and so he looked around. A voice spoke up behind him, a British accent reminiscent of Giles.

"Hello I'm looking for Angel."

"I'm sorry he's busy at the moment he's on a case. Can I leave him a message for you."

"Yes Mr..."

"Wesley Wyndham -Price, associate of Angel's."

"Ok, tell him this to the word."

"Maybe those cops can't stop you, or those orderlies but I'm game to find out- are you? Tell him that and tell him I'm staying at the hotel across the road Room 316. He'll know what that means."

Wesley looked at this tall dark stranger and nodded his affirmation of the request, the young man left soon afterwards. From the office a smaller man came out.

"Who was that Wesley."

"I don't know Doyle but he seemed rather familiar, as if he had something to do with us all. I'll ask Angel what he thinks when he gets back."

Doyle nodded and went back downstairs to Angel's den where he was researching the latest vision he had had. A picture of a large half demon, half-artificial person drawn by Angel to Doyle's description with one word and one set of numbers at the bottom.

Adam..

316...

He sat down and started reading anything he could find about any of these terms but it seemed less and less likely that there would be anything they could find in the books. Wesley came down a few minutes later after having shut up shop.

"Wes, I don't think there's anything here that we could find about this thing. I think it's gonna be human-made and so it won't be in here."

"I suppose your right, maybe we should contact the Sunnydale group see if anything's come up there."

A voice spoke up from behind them. "I think that would be a good idea." Angel stepped into the main area of the room. "Contact Giles and the rest with any luck we should be able to come up with something."

"OK," Said Wesley as he got up. "Oh someone came in about 20 minutes ago looking for you, he said you can find him at the hotel across the road in room 316. He also left quite a strange message, cryptic if you might say."

"Really what did he say."

Wesley relayed the message and if vampires could turn paler then Angel did so, fear set into his eyes for the first time in years. "I've got to meet this guy. I'll be back in a few hours. Contact the Sunnydale group and get any info they have about this monster or anything weird maybe those Commandos we've heard about."

With that he left the offices to meet with the one man Angelus, hell even Angel was afraid of.


The Sunny-Side Hotel
10 Mins later
Room 316

Angel knocked on the door and faintly heard a voice say "Come in." He opened the door and looked at the man sitting in the chair a gun pointing at his chest, behind the gun sat a young man he had not seen in a while, older, tougher and a lot more intimidating.

"Xander Harris. Long time no see."

"Hello Angel, believe it or not I'm glad to see you again. Especially since I'm responsible for your incarceration in hell."

Angel looked at him and then at the gun, Xander switched on the safety and settled it in it's holster. He may be a fast draw but he needs the gun where he can get to it.

"A little insurance in case I was wrong about you. I need your help Deadbo... Angel."

"My help... Why?"

"Because except for..., you are the only person who knows how I feel and you are the only person who can help me understand what's going through my mind. I think I know how you feel Angel and I need some help to sort myself out in my mind and my soul." Xander looked up at Angel "You don't have to help me but I would appreciate it if you could, I know you don't like me and I didn't like you but please Help me."

"I don't know what I can do to help you Xander."

"I'm not quite the same person you once knew Angel, I'm not the same person who forced you to the masters cave, and not the same person who stood Angelus down."

Angel looked down at the floor, he shook his head. "I'm sorry Xander I can't help you." Angel moved towards the door and reached to open it.

"Dawn told me what you said." Angel froze at that, closing his eyes he took a deep if unneeded breath. "She told me that you hated and feared me." Xander continued, "For the same reasons I hated you- apart from the whole vampire thing which was the main reason. You were a good person and a hell of a fighter when the gang in Sunnydale needed you."

He stood up and walked up to Angel who turned around to meet the eyes of his former rival.

"Angel I never hated who you are, I hated the whole demon thing and that you held the heart of the woman I was in love with but... but if there had not been Buffy between us then I likely would have been honoured to call you a friend and ally."

To say Angel was stunned would be an understatement, the Xander Harris he remembered would never have said that to him. He had found a new respect for his

*Friend... Ally... What were they now*

Xander knew what the vampire was thinking and he responded in kind. He held out his hand and offered it to his former enemy.

"I mean it Angel, you are one of the most honourable and loyal people I know, believe me I remember everything we argued about and everything that came along that pitted us against each other, but you were always there for Buffy and I know you love her. I never doubted that."

Angel took the offered hand and shook it.

"Xander, man I don't know what to say. I think you just described yourself more than me."

Soul Ridden Vamp and Demon Hunter looked at each other with an understanding that had been reached and a new-found respect for the other

"I suppose that's something that always had us fighting, we saw too much of ourselves in each other and why we both had such a had time without Buffy. She sure knows how to pick 'em." Xander grinned

Angel laughed as well, for the first time in over 250 years he laughed a heartfelt laugh. One he never thought he would ever do again.

"I think your right about that Xander, we are alike more than I thought possible. What now then."

"I think we need to talk Deadboy." He said with a twinkle in his eye

"Don't Call me that." He smiled back

The two sat down on chairs in the room and started to talk- as allies and as friends- friends neither had ever thought they would have.


Angel Investigations
Dawn Next Morning.

Angel ran into the office just as the first rays of sunlight started to stream into the hallway. An amused Xander quickly followed him. The trenchcoat that Angel was wearing was smoking a little.

"Deadboy I didn't think you smoked."

"Only while Sunbathing." Angel Grinned, that response floored Xander. He never realised Deadboy *Angel* he reminded himself had such an ironic sense of humour- just another thing to make them more alike.

The answering machine was flashing, Xander pressed the button, a few different messages were there, one from a female detective with the LAPD, two from the landlord and then came two that almost froze them both. The first was from Cordelia- she sounded devastated and tired beyond belief.

"Wesley, Doyle, Angel, If any of you talk to or can contact a young man called Alexander Harris call me at 555-9087-887."

The last was from Dawn Summers.


This message scared them out of their life or unlife.



"Angel If you get this or if you end up talking to Xander. I know he's gone to see you. Please both of you get your asses over here as quickly as possible..."

The two men looked at each other fear in their eyes, at the last words on the tape.



"Buffy's collapsed."


Sunnydale Hospital
1h:30 mins later

"Mrs Summers. I'm Doctor Wilson the doctor in charge of your daughter's care."

Joyce looked up at the doctor and nodded, the doctor sat down next to her and spoke quietly to her. The older woman looked tired and worry lines spotted her face across her mouth and forehead, red and grey circles ringed her eyes, tear streaks ran down her face and her posture was one of resignation.

"Your daughter collapsed of Physical and mental exhaustion, with her weight loss and her mental condition she was lucky this didn't happen sooner. Her entire body just shut down from abuse she suffered, do you have any idea of what might have caused this to happen to her..."

Angel's Car
Same time
Sunnydale City Limits

Xander Harris was cursing himself for his actions, if he hadn't had been such an arsehole to Buffy then maybe she would not have been in such a bad condition as she currently was. He looks out the window with hooded eyes, the car he had borrowed from Angel with the promise he would call him as soon as he had news about Buffy.

"Dammit! I've done it again- hurt someone who cares for me." He was punishing himself, he half shut his eyes as he took a deep breath and then almost messed himself when a person appeared in the middle of the road. He swerved missing the figure by only inches and then slammed on the brakes.

"Shit- Dammit." His knuckles were white as they had tightened around the steering wheel. He slammed his palms against the wheel and whipped around as the figure walked up to him.

"Well I can see why you might be necessary to the cause and why Angel might be afraid of you."

Xander looked at this stranger and studied him, leather Jacket, Pork pie hat and a bad Hawaiian shirt that would have been at home in the old Xander's wardrobe. The figure was a little on the small side and something felt a little off about him.

"Your not human are you..." a name sprang into his mind from a conversation he Willow Buffy and Giles had had the night before he left. "...Whistler."
The balance demon's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise and then nodded, he opened the door to the car and sat down. He nodded to get the car started, Xander obliged and resumed his journey to Sunnydale.

"So you know who I am Xander."

"Yeah, I know about you- cryptic guy probably taught Angel all he knows about that right?"

"Yeah, Look kid I don't have much time for this but you have sent a who load of the balance out of whack. The loss of a slayer and the repercussions could be serious, you have to sort this out and now or we are in R triple D."

"R triple D??"

"Really Deep Doo Doo"

Xander nodded his head and looked at the Demon in the passenger seat.

"I'm going to, I sorted out a lot of my problems last night while talking to Angel. I think I understand him well enough now. I respect him and I hope he'll be around again, if not well he can still help when he's needed."

"Good for you kid, just sort this out, we're gonna need everything we can pull together for the upcoming battle and the Slayer will need to be at full strength otherwise the rest of you can say goodbye to your mortal asses, cos when it comes to it all of you will die or some of you will survive. That will be up to those of you left by then Mr. Harris- and you will be the one to choose when it comes to the end."

With that Xander slammed on the brakes, he whipped around in his seat but the demon had disappeared into thin air.

"Cryptic asshole." He growled and floored the accelerator, as he faded out of sight Whistler stepped into the middle of the road and let out a small smile.

"Good luck kid, you'll all need it."



Sunnydale hospital
1 hour later

Willow and Dawn were talking about how they may be able to help Buffy when she recovered when the doors to the corridor slammed open. Xander ran into the room and almost slammed into the railing in the waiting area.

"Old Habits die hard, Xand??" Willow smiled to him.

"Where is she Willow??"

"She's in room 121. Xand be careful she's in a bad way."

"I've seen two of my friends dead in one week, Wills I'm not letting a third go no matter the reason. Especially because of my mistakes." He walked up to the door of Buffy's room and walked in, on the bed looking pale and wane. Her eyes' moving restlessly under her lids, her lips grimacing as if her thoughts were pulling her in two. Fasts clenching holding onto the sheets. Legs shifting around body trembling, she was in the depths of hell like no other could be, a hell created by her own thought- her own feelings and all because of him.

He moved slowly to the bed and brushed her hair away from her face, the trembling and restless motions subsided and she started to calm under his ministrations and after a few seconds the motions under her eyes slowed and turned into stillness. She would now for the first time in so long have a restful sleep, and he was going to be there watching her while she did just like he had done so long ago.

Pulling a chair up to the bed he sat down pulling one of Buffy's hands into his own he sat and brushed his thumb across her hand, the look on her face shifted to a small smile- one to Xander that seemed to show her youth and the innocence that she had lost so long ago. He smiled back and brushed the back of his unclasped hand across her cheek softly, the movement behind her eyes resumed but this time slowly and softly, she was having good dreams. Xander looked at her and slowly drifted off to sleep his head resting lightly next to her own, he fell asleep a smile on his face at more at peace than he had been for such a long time.


Unfortunately outside the door a tall brunette stood and watched her love as he looked after his best friend, her worst fear had become real and she had lost the only person that had made such a difference in her life. He only person who had taken her for who she was and had not judged her for who she had been and who she was now.

With that Cordelia Chase turned around and walked out of the hospital...

And out of the lives of the Scooby Gang...


End Part 12