"You hear that, Giles?" Xander hollered over his shoulder. "They want me, they really want me."

"So I see," Giles replied, struggling to his feet as the vampires closed in on the boy.

"Guys, I'm flattered, really, but…" Xander swung out his left fist and connected with the jaw of the nearest vamp. Startled by the boy's sudden movement, the demon was caught off guard. He stumbled back and tripped over his own feet. Xander wasted no time and pounced on the prone vampire, burying his stake in its heart. "I'm already taken."

"Xander! Behind you!" Willow cried out as she ran toward her friend.

Xander quickly glanced over his shoulder, but Willow's warning had come too late. The vampire's foot smashed into Xander back, sending him sprawling on the ground. The boy flipped over onto his back, barely avoiding contact with the other vampire's boot.

Giles rushed forward to offer his assistance. He grabbed a small vial of holy water from his pocket, uncapped it, and tossed it into the face of the demon nearest to him. The creature howled in pain and rushed off into the night.

"Two down and…" the Watcher muttered as he fumbled around for a weapon.

Willow's scream caught the Englishman's attention. He rushed over to the girl who was struggling against one of the remaining two demons. Giles grabbed the creature's shoulder and flung him back, away from Willow. He turned and slammed his fist into the vampire's face, feeling smug satisfaction as he heard the bones crack. The vampire screamed and reached up, holding his nose as he tried unsuccessfully to back away from the man.

"Willow, stake!" Giles ordered. He then took the wooden object she handed to him and put the demon out of its misery. The Watcher stood up and brushed the dust from his slacks. "That was too easy, almost like it was a…"

Willow noticed Giles concerned look as the man glanced around the cemetery. "A-a what?"

Instead of replying, Giles called out. "Xander! Xander!" The Watcher scoured the nearby area for any movement but came up empty. He looked at Willow, unable to keep the fear out of his voice. "Almost like a suicide mission."

Xander was gone.



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Buffy was enjoying herself. She dodged an uppercut thrown by Stocky and laughed. "Come on, is that all you got? Surely you can do better than that!"

Stocky growled and charged at the Slayer. Buffy simply sighed and took a step to the side. She then grabbed his shoulders and using his own momentum, slammed him headfirst into a headstone. "I told you, I'm just too good for you."

Lanky struggled to his feet from his place on the ground where Buffy had tossed him only moments before. He looked unsteady on his feet and the Slayer smiled at him. She wasted no time, punching with her right fist and then twisting around, ramming her left elbow into the vampire's left temple. He winced in pain as Buffy used her foot to knock him to the ground. "Too easy," she smiled. She was about to lunge, driving her stake into the vamp's heart, when she felt herself being hoisted into the air.

Stocky had his arms wrapped around the Slayer, restraining her long enough for the other vampire to back away. Lanky stood up once more. "Let's go!" he ordered his partner.

"What about her?" Stocky motioned to the struggling blond in his grip.

"Leave her!" the smaller vampire commanded. "Mistress will have our heads if anything happens to her, anyway."

"If you say so," the big demon said. He casually tossed Buffy aside and began to follow his fleeing companion.

Buffy flipped to her feet. "Oh no you don't!" she cried, rushing after the vampires. She sped up, easily catching up to the creatures. Using a large stone for added momentum, Buffy flung herself forward, tackling both demons in one fluid motion.

"I got a strike!" Buffy rejoiced, pulling out her stake.

Lanky glanced at Stocky, who shrugged in confusion. They both stared at the Slayer.

"Not baseball, morons," Buffy rolled her eyes. "We're talking about bowling here. Get your sports straight." She paused. "Oh yeah, too late!" The Slayer whipped out a second stake and dropped to the ground, dusting both vampires in one quick movement.

She stood up and brushed the dust from her legs. Smiling, she began to walk through the cemetery, heading for home. "Hope you're having as much fun as I am, Xand," she commented and she danced around the headstones.



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Xander felt as if he had been hit over the head with a hammer. he thought as he struggled into a seated position. He glanced around at his surroundings, noting the unfamiliar furniture.

"You're awake," a voice called from his left. "Good."

Xander rolled his eyes as he looked over at the room's other occupant. "Where am I, Deadboy, and why am I here?"