She sat on the stiff motel bed finishing off the rest of the chicken salad sandwich she'd bought at the 7-11 down the street. It was terrible, the bread was soggy, the chicken tasted funny, and she was pretty sure the mayonnaise had turned. At least it filled her up. Curling up the wrapper into a ball and tossing it into the garbage, she took a swig from her Big Gulp of Dr. Pepper to wash the remains of the sandwich down. She clicked the TV on and grunted when it shown nothing but squiggled images and thick black lines. She put her drink down and walked over to smack the side of the TV. Nothing. She smacked it again and played around with the antenna. Still nothing.
"Work you piece of shit," she muttered.
She considered tossing it out of the window but she'd lose her deposit. She raised her hand for one final blow but a knock at the door stopped her. She put aside her daydream of rock star hotel TV smashing and wondered who the hell was coming to see her so late at night. She paused and grabbed a stake from her pocket to be safe. Opening the door, she nearly slammed closed again at the person on the other side,but managed to keep her arm from doing it.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she replied.
"Can I come in?"
She stepped aside and waved her hand dismissively. He walked inside and looked at the dingy surroundings. It wasn't so bad. Maybe a few throw pillows, a coat of paint, and exterminator to make it somewhat hospitable. He took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"By all means sit down," she said.
"This place isn't so bad," he offered.
"Yeah, well it isn't the Ritz," she mumbled.
"You know the Ritz isn't all that..."
She folded her arms and glared at him.
"Nevermind."
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Willow told me that you got a package from Lothos," he answered.
"You talked to Willow?" She bit out sharply.
"Uh, yeah," he replied, hesitating slightly.
"When?"
"At her house."
"Just now?"
"About a half-hour ago. Why? What's up?"
"Nothing." "Are you sure? You seem kind of tense."
"I'm fine," she growled.
"Okay," he said raising his arms. "Okay."
She took a seat on the chair near the bathroom door and twirled the stake in her hand. He looked at her and Willow's words ran through his mind. It felt a little weird being so close to her now that he slightly suspected she might have feelings for him. It felt a little weird that there was even the possibility of her having feelings for him. There was also that strange feeling he had... No, he didn't. He loved Faith and she was dead. Case closed.
"So what did he leave you?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"Huh?"
"The package," Xander filled in. "The one that the evil vampire god Fed Ex'ed to you."
Buffy looked at something on the floor near the table on the side on the bed and Xander twisted his body so he could peer over the side. A black leather jacket lay crumpled in a pile. He looked up at Buffy to find her looking at him and she quickly turned away.
"He gave you a jacket?" Xander asked. "That was kind of generous. For a blood-sucking fiend I mean."
"It's mine," she said gruffly. "A friend of mine in Cleveland gave it to me awhile back and when Lothos... Well he took it from me."
Xander nodded and turned on the bed so it was easier to face her. She wasn't looking at him anymore, keeping her eyes locked on the floor. He was unsure of how to continue. He wasn't going to bring up anything Willow had told him for slight fear that he would royally piss her off. Also, he still wasn't sure what to think of all it. Buffy, ass kicking, bad attitude, 'I don't need your help' Buffy Summers actually liking him on any level? It was a thought too strange to comprehend.
"What are we going to do now?" He asked.
"Do about what?" She said, firmly keeping her eyes away.
"Lothos," he answered. "I mean, he knows your here and it seems like he has some intention of going after you. I don't see him as the type to send gifts and flee town."
"He's not," she replied.
"Well, what's the plan here? What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," she said honestly. "If I had my way I wouldn't be sticking around to find out what he has planned. I'd be long gone."
"Well why aren't you long gone?"
She looked at him briefly before turning her eyes away again.
"I have my reasons," she mumbled. "And I'm no coward."
He slid further down the bed and silently willed her to look at him. She still kept her eyes locked on the floor.
"Buffy," he said quietly reaching for her hand.
He felt her tense as he moved closer but she kept still. She let him touch her hand and he was mildly surprised that she did so. Her fingers were rough and callous from many nights of fighting and training. Still, they were smaller than his, and despite the gruffness of them they were still feminine. Their eyes locked as he squeezed her hand gently and was it his imagination, or did she lean forward a little bit? He felt his own fingers shake against hers and slowly moved closer himself. Neither he nor she had any idea what was happening. In their minds they were partners and nothing more but there was still something in this moment left unexplained. It's what was drawing them together now.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," he replied his voice just as low.
He inched closer and their lips barely brushed...
A loud crash at the door made them jump apart and they both immediately jumped into fighting stances. Xander pulled a stake from his belt and Buffy grabbed her own from her pocket. They looked at each other and nodded. She edged her way closer to the door while he hopped over the bed and peaked between the blinds.
"What do you see?" She asked quietly.
"Three guys," he replied. "Two look like Van Damme clones and the other one looks kind of old. Gray hair and a funny looking suit. Anybody you know?"
She didn't respond and he looked away from the window to see her frozen next to the TV.
"Buffy!" He hissed quietly. "Do you know these guys?"
She nodded slowly and eased her way toward the bathroom.
"We have to get out of here," she said. "Now."
He hopped back over the bed and went to enter the bathroom when the front door was ripped from its hinges and tossed aside. The older looking vampire smiled smugly on the other side of the doorway, brushing the cape he wore away from his shoulders, he looked at Buffy and his smile grew deeper.
"It that who I think it is?" Xander asked, still making his way to the bathroom door.
"Uh huh," Buffy replied. "We need to get out of here now."
"Oh I don't think you'll get very far," Lothos taunted.
The bathroom window crashed from the other side of the door and both Xander and Buffy heard the snarls of another team of vamps.
"Buffy," he said warmly. "So nice to see you again. Though you never called, never wrote."
"Like I'd waste my time," she shot out.
"Now is that the way you talk to an old friend?" Lothos asked. "Where are your manners?" "You can shove them up your ass," she said.
"Still the same gutter mouthed little girl," he said reminiscently. "Not going to invite me in?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Well," Lothos began stepping through the doorway. "I was trying to be polite but I suppose manners get you nowhere these days."
"How the hell?" Xander asked aloud.
Lothos turned to smile grimly at him.
"The hotel manager's permission overrides her occupancy of the room," the old vampire answered. "Who's the new beau Buffy?" He asked. "He's taller than the last one."
"Bastard," Buffy said spitting at him.
He calmly wiped the saliva from his forehead and turned to his two bodyguards still waiting outside the room.
"Get them," he ordered.
Buffy leapt to avoid one of the vampires that came barreling into the room like a battering ram and twirled to kick him in the ass and into the wall. The other vamp charged at Xander and he leapt over the bed again. The vampire growled at him and charged again. Xander crouched low as the vampire drew nearer and shot his hand up rapidly, the stake slamming home. The cloud of dust burst over him and he shot to his feet to help Buffy when he felt an icy hand grab his shoulder. He spun to knock it away but it held firm. It squeezed harshly and Xander dropped to his knees with the pain. He tilted his head to see Lothos smiling cruelly down at him.
"You're a wiley one aren't you?" He asked.
Xander raised his stake but the vampire god knocked it away easily.
"I say, Buffy," he taunted grabbing her attention from pummeling the other bodyguard. "I'd stop beating on poor Claude if I were you."
Buffy looked to see Xander in Lothos' grip and dropped the already unconscious vampire to the ground. She moved to rush him but Lothos hauled Xander up by his shoulders and wrapped his cold hands around his head.
"One more step Missy and I break your little friend's neck," he said matter-of-factly. "And I know you wouldn't want me to do that again."
Buffy stopped dead in her tracks and Xander struggled to breathe in the chokehold.
"Let him go," Buffy ordered.
"Let me think about that," Lothos said. "I've thought about it. No."
He tightened his arms and Xander felt his mind slipping. The last thing he saw were two vamps storming out of the bathroom and tackling Buffy from behind. The rest was only blackness.
***
"You and the slayer were sure looking cuddly before the big bad came crashing in," she said stroking his hair lightly.
"Faith?" He asked groggily.
"The one an only," she replied pushing him back down when he tried to move.
"Am I asleep?"
"If you count being choked until you passed out as sleeping," she said smirking at him. "Then I guess you are."
"What happened?"
"You were attacked;" Faith filled in. "I'm pretty sure this is some kind of delusional unconscious thing on your part."
"Maybe," he said.
"So, you and Buffy looked like you were getting pretty close there."
"Oh god," he began. "Faith listen I didn't..."
"Ssh," she replied cooing him gently. "How many times have I told you Xander? I'm not really here. I'm dead remember? Flying with Angels? Harps and clouds? Ring a bell?"
"But..."
"But nothing. You were going to kiss her," she said. "Even more importantly you *wanted* to kiss her, even if you didn't realize it at the time. I'd say that's a major breakthrough on your part."
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be?"
"I love you," he said.
"I know that," she replied. "And I love you too. But I'm gone Xander. It's time you realized that."
"I... I think I have," he offered.
"Really?"
"Yes. You were right I wanted... I actually wanted to kiss her."
"Good," she said. "I finally got through that thick head of yours. Although you know this means you won't be seeing me like this anymore."
"I know," he said sadly.
"Hey," she said moving to kiss him gently. "We had a good run boy toy. Think about the good times as well as the bad." "It's too hard to say good-bye," he admitted.
"Then don't say it," she said simply. "We'll see each other again."
He closed his eyes as she moved to kiss him and he returned it with vigor. One last taste of her lips before he went back to reality, finally ready to let her ghost inside him rest. When he opened his eyes she was gone.
***
"Xander," he heard quietly as a hand began shaking him. "Xander," it said again. "Wake up."
He groaned as he rolled onto his side. His neck felt sore and the headache festering at the base of his skull was growing with each passing second. He noticed the rocky surface underneath him and put his hand down to feel it. The stone was cold against his fingers. His opened his eyes hesitantly to see Buffy's face towering over him.
"Where are we?" He mumbled sitting up.
"I don't know," she replied. "I only woke up a minute ago."
He looked around and only saw darkness staring back at him. The floor surface seemed to be flat and even and he moved to stand but the pain in his head kept him on the ground.
"Sit still," she commanded, gently pushing him back down.
She kept her hand lightly planted on his chest and he reached to touch it. A small intimate gesture that she didn't shy away from. He could barely see her face in the dark.
"We're not tied up," he said lightly.
"We're in a cage made out of rock," she replied. "There was no need to tie us down."
"How come he didn't kill us?"
"He doesn't play around," Buffy said softly. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't like to play. He has something planned I think."
"Like what?"
"I don't know," she said sadly. "But it can't be good."
"Stone cage, powerful vamp looking to end our lives in some brutal fashion. I'd say we're far from..."
His last words were cut off by Buffy's lips pressing to his. He balked for second, the shock stilling his response so much that she began to pull back, but he threw his arm around her and kept her close. Her tongue invaded his mouth, deepening the kiss. She moved closer, pressing her body firmly against his. They tasted one another, nipped at each other's lips. She moaned gently against him and he let himself be lost in her touch. After a few minutes she broke away, leaving him breathless.
"We might die tonight," she whispered. "And I just had to know what that was like."
"Work you piece of shit," she muttered.
She considered tossing it out of the window but she'd lose her deposit. She raised her hand for one final blow but a knock at the door stopped her. She put aside her daydream of rock star hotel TV smashing and wondered who the hell was coming to see her so late at night. She paused and grabbed a stake from her pocket to be safe. Opening the door, she nearly slammed closed again at the person on the other side,but managed to keep her arm from doing it.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi," she replied.
"Can I come in?"
She stepped aside and waved her hand dismissively. He walked inside and looked at the dingy surroundings. It wasn't so bad. Maybe a few throw pillows, a coat of paint, and exterminator to make it somewhat hospitable. He took a seat on the edge of the bed.
"By all means sit down," she said.
"This place isn't so bad," he offered.
"Yeah, well it isn't the Ritz," she mumbled.
"You know the Ritz isn't all that..."
She folded her arms and glared at him.
"Nevermind."
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Willow told me that you got a package from Lothos," he answered.
"You talked to Willow?" She bit out sharply.
"Uh, yeah," he replied, hesitating slightly.
"When?"
"At her house."
"Just now?"
"About a half-hour ago. Why? What's up?"
"Nothing." "Are you sure? You seem kind of tense."
"I'm fine," she growled.
"Okay," he said raising his arms. "Okay."
She took a seat on the chair near the bathroom door and twirled the stake in her hand. He looked at her and Willow's words ran through his mind. It felt a little weird being so close to her now that he slightly suspected she might have feelings for him. It felt a little weird that there was even the possibility of her having feelings for him. There was also that strange feeling he had... No, he didn't. He loved Faith and she was dead. Case closed.
"So what did he leave you?" He asked, breaking the silence.
"Huh?"
"The package," Xander filled in. "The one that the evil vampire god Fed Ex'ed to you."
Buffy looked at something on the floor near the table on the side on the bed and Xander twisted his body so he could peer over the side. A black leather jacket lay crumpled in a pile. He looked up at Buffy to find her looking at him and she quickly turned away.
"He gave you a jacket?" Xander asked. "That was kind of generous. For a blood-sucking fiend I mean."
"It's mine," she said gruffly. "A friend of mine in Cleveland gave it to me awhile back and when Lothos... Well he took it from me."
Xander nodded and turned on the bed so it was easier to face her. She wasn't looking at him anymore, keeping her eyes locked on the floor. He was unsure of how to continue. He wasn't going to bring up anything Willow had told him for slight fear that he would royally piss her off. Also, he still wasn't sure what to think of all it. Buffy, ass kicking, bad attitude, 'I don't need your help' Buffy Summers actually liking him on any level? It was a thought too strange to comprehend.
"What are we going to do now?" He asked.
"Do about what?" She said, firmly keeping her eyes away.
"Lothos," he answered. "I mean, he knows your here and it seems like he has some intention of going after you. I don't see him as the type to send gifts and flee town."
"He's not," she replied.
"Well, what's the plan here? What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," she said honestly. "If I had my way I wouldn't be sticking around to find out what he has planned. I'd be long gone."
"Well why aren't you long gone?"
She looked at him briefly before turning her eyes away again.
"I have my reasons," she mumbled. "And I'm no coward."
He slid further down the bed and silently willed her to look at him. She still kept her eyes locked on the floor.
"Buffy," he said quietly reaching for her hand.
He felt her tense as he moved closer but she kept still. She let him touch her hand and he was mildly surprised that she did so. Her fingers were rough and callous from many nights of fighting and training. Still, they were smaller than his, and despite the gruffness of them they were still feminine. Their eyes locked as he squeezed her hand gently and was it his imagination, or did she lean forward a little bit? He felt his own fingers shake against hers and slowly moved closer himself. Neither he nor she had any idea what was happening. In their minds they were partners and nothing more but there was still something in this moment left unexplained. It's what was drawing them together now.
"What are you doing?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I don't know," he replied his voice just as low.
He inched closer and their lips barely brushed...
A loud crash at the door made them jump apart and they both immediately jumped into fighting stances. Xander pulled a stake from his belt and Buffy grabbed her own from her pocket. They looked at each other and nodded. She edged her way closer to the door while he hopped over the bed and peaked between the blinds.
"What do you see?" She asked quietly.
"Three guys," he replied. "Two look like Van Damme clones and the other one looks kind of old. Gray hair and a funny looking suit. Anybody you know?"
She didn't respond and he looked away from the window to see her frozen next to the TV.
"Buffy!" He hissed quietly. "Do you know these guys?"
She nodded slowly and eased her way toward the bathroom.
"We have to get out of here," she said. "Now."
He hopped back over the bed and went to enter the bathroom when the front door was ripped from its hinges and tossed aside. The older looking vampire smiled smugly on the other side of the doorway, brushing the cape he wore away from his shoulders, he looked at Buffy and his smile grew deeper.
"It that who I think it is?" Xander asked, still making his way to the bathroom door.
"Uh huh," Buffy replied. "We need to get out of here now."
"Oh I don't think you'll get very far," Lothos taunted.
The bathroom window crashed from the other side of the door and both Xander and Buffy heard the snarls of another team of vamps.
"Buffy," he said warmly. "So nice to see you again. Though you never called, never wrote."
"Like I'd waste my time," she shot out.
"Now is that the way you talk to an old friend?" Lothos asked. "Where are your manners?" "You can shove them up your ass," she said.
"Still the same gutter mouthed little girl," he said reminiscently. "Not going to invite me in?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Well," Lothos began stepping through the doorway. "I was trying to be polite but I suppose manners get you nowhere these days."
"How the hell?" Xander asked aloud.
Lothos turned to smile grimly at him.
"The hotel manager's permission overrides her occupancy of the room," the old vampire answered. "Who's the new beau Buffy?" He asked. "He's taller than the last one."
"Bastard," Buffy said spitting at him.
He calmly wiped the saliva from his forehead and turned to his two bodyguards still waiting outside the room.
"Get them," he ordered.
Buffy leapt to avoid one of the vampires that came barreling into the room like a battering ram and twirled to kick him in the ass and into the wall. The other vamp charged at Xander and he leapt over the bed again. The vampire growled at him and charged again. Xander crouched low as the vampire drew nearer and shot his hand up rapidly, the stake slamming home. The cloud of dust burst over him and he shot to his feet to help Buffy when he felt an icy hand grab his shoulder. He spun to knock it away but it held firm. It squeezed harshly and Xander dropped to his knees with the pain. He tilted his head to see Lothos smiling cruelly down at him.
"You're a wiley one aren't you?" He asked.
Xander raised his stake but the vampire god knocked it away easily.
"I say, Buffy," he taunted grabbing her attention from pummeling the other bodyguard. "I'd stop beating on poor Claude if I were you."
Buffy looked to see Xander in Lothos' grip and dropped the already unconscious vampire to the ground. She moved to rush him but Lothos hauled Xander up by his shoulders and wrapped his cold hands around his head.
"One more step Missy and I break your little friend's neck," he said matter-of-factly. "And I know you wouldn't want me to do that again."
Buffy stopped dead in her tracks and Xander struggled to breathe in the chokehold.
"Let him go," Buffy ordered.
"Let me think about that," Lothos said. "I've thought about it. No."
He tightened his arms and Xander felt his mind slipping. The last thing he saw were two vamps storming out of the bathroom and tackling Buffy from behind. The rest was only blackness.
***
"You and the slayer were sure looking cuddly before the big bad came crashing in," she said stroking his hair lightly.
"Faith?" He asked groggily.
"The one an only," she replied pushing him back down when he tried to move.
"Am I asleep?"
"If you count being choked until you passed out as sleeping," she said smirking at him. "Then I guess you are."
"What happened?"
"You were attacked;" Faith filled in. "I'm pretty sure this is some kind of delusional unconscious thing on your part."
"Maybe," he said.
"So, you and Buffy looked like you were getting pretty close there."
"Oh god," he began. "Faith listen I didn't..."
"Ssh," she replied cooing him gently. "How many times have I told you Xander? I'm not really here. I'm dead remember? Flying with Angels? Harps and clouds? Ring a bell?"
"But..."
"But nothing. You were going to kiss her," she said. "Even more importantly you *wanted* to kiss her, even if you didn't realize it at the time. I'd say that's a major breakthrough on your part."
"You're not mad?"
"Why would I be?"
"I love you," he said.
"I know that," she replied. "And I love you too. But I'm gone Xander. It's time you realized that."
"I... I think I have," he offered.
"Really?"
"Yes. You were right I wanted... I actually wanted to kiss her."
"Good," she said. "I finally got through that thick head of yours. Although you know this means you won't be seeing me like this anymore."
"I know," he said sadly.
"Hey," she said moving to kiss him gently. "We had a good run boy toy. Think about the good times as well as the bad." "It's too hard to say good-bye," he admitted.
"Then don't say it," she said simply. "We'll see each other again."
He closed his eyes as she moved to kiss him and he returned it with vigor. One last taste of her lips before he went back to reality, finally ready to let her ghost inside him rest. When he opened his eyes she was gone.
***
"Xander," he heard quietly as a hand began shaking him. "Xander," it said again. "Wake up."
He groaned as he rolled onto his side. His neck felt sore and the headache festering at the base of his skull was growing with each passing second. He noticed the rocky surface underneath him and put his hand down to feel it. The stone was cold against his fingers. His opened his eyes hesitantly to see Buffy's face towering over him.
"Where are we?" He mumbled sitting up.
"I don't know," she replied. "I only woke up a minute ago."
He looked around and only saw darkness staring back at him. The floor surface seemed to be flat and even and he moved to stand but the pain in his head kept him on the ground.
"Sit still," she commanded, gently pushing him back down.
She kept her hand lightly planted on his chest and he reached to touch it. A small intimate gesture that she didn't shy away from. He could barely see her face in the dark.
"We're not tied up," he said lightly.
"We're in a cage made out of rock," she replied. "There was no need to tie us down."
"How come he didn't kill us?"
"He doesn't play around," Buffy said softly. "But that doesn't mean he doesn't like to play. He has something planned I think."
"Like what?"
"I don't know," she said sadly. "But it can't be good."
"Stone cage, powerful vamp looking to end our lives in some brutal fashion. I'd say we're far from..."
His last words were cut off by Buffy's lips pressing to his. He balked for second, the shock stilling his response so much that she began to pull back, but he threw his arm around her and kept her close. Her tongue invaded his mouth, deepening the kiss. She moved closer, pressing her body firmly against his. They tasted one another, nipped at each other's lips. She moaned gently against him and he let himself be lost in her touch. After a few minutes she broke away, leaving him breathless.
"We might die tonight," she whispered. "And I just had to know what that was like."
