Find Your Way Home - Part 2
"Find Your Way Home"
A Sequel to "Even Standing"
Part 3/? - "Never Really Free"

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters here, save for the Scepter of Zeus and the Archon of Zerod... please don't sue me, I don't intend to earn money from this unless I'm offered a contract by the Buffy people... then I can toss this disclaimer out the window anyway.
Rating (Series): PG-13 (a little language and violence... its like ES, not too heavy on either, but enough to warrant a rating)
Spoilers: Same as ES... continuity diverges.
Author's Notes/Summary - Just when Xander thinks he's attained some normalcy in his life, it's interrupted by his past. Quinn's overall mission comes back to haunt him, as the Old Ones continue to unearth the Scepter of Zeus. The Scoobies, with the help of the estranged Xander, must get together to stop it from happening.
Note #2 - ES lives on in the sequel. Hopefully this is turning out enjoyable for you all. Feedback is the lifeblood of fic writers, and suggestions are our meat and potatoes. So, by all means, fill my plate up. :)

*FADE TO: Xander, putting away some groceries. Spike is sitting on the couch, watching TV. It's daytime, but the room is darkened by a few blankets thrown over the windows.*

"Y'know, Spike, you could keep up your part of the bargain and... oh, let's just say, help out around here?"
Spike snarled, "Hey, I've been good about the security deposit... I think you should..."
"No, Spike... you're going to start helping out around here. If you don't want to start sleeping out on the balcony, that is."
Spike almost looked shocked, "You really think you can boss me around?"
"Yes, I do. Because I'm paying the rent. I'm buying the food. And I'm *letting* you live here. Co-signing the lease or not... you have to pull your weight."
"Where's all this fire come from, Harris?"
"I'm not taking your crap anymore, that's all. You told me to take what I want in this world. Well I *want* you to get up off your ass and do some chores. I'm letting you live here Spike. I'd like to see you clean up your act. At least until you finally manage to get that chip out of your head, then its fair game." He finished putting away the groceries, and put the paper bags away, "You'll have to earn back your respect from me."
Spike had a blank look on his face. He was genuinely surprised. He quietly turned the TV off, and stood up, "Fine, what do I have to do?"
"Well, it'd be nice if you did the dishes. We're attracting fruit flies."
Spike looked at the pile of dishes, and snorted, "Bah, I'll do it... but just remember, this chip comes out, and I'm ripping your bloody throat out."
"I know, Spike. I know. Maybe, by then, I won't even put up a fight." He started walking to the bedroom to take a nap, "Just watch yourself, though... or I might go and bless the dishwater."
Xander's hand had just reached the doorknob of the bedroom, when a knock came from the front door. He looked to Spike, who was now doing his 'impression' of doing the dishes, by simply wiping the same plate over and over again. He was even whistling. It was obvious he was avoiding having to answer the door. 'Damn, how does he always find away around things?'
Xander padded over to the door, just as someone knocked again. He swung the door open, to see Willow leaning up to look back through the peephole, as Tara was just pulling back from knocking. Willow stumbled backwards when the door opened, but Tara stabilized her.
"Willow?"
Willow looked into the apartment, past him, and looked surprised, "This is..."
"I know, Wills... you here for a reason?" He didn't mean to sound as harsh as he did. He was actually glad to see her, but also weary.
"What are those blankets doing over the windows?"
"Red? Is that you?" Spike walked towards the door, wiping his hands off.
"Spike?"
Xander did an involuntary impression of Giles and his nose pinching, "Willow... I don't mean to sound like I'm not glad to see you... but why are you here?"
Willow frowned a little, "We need you."
Spike leered, "Ooo... I'm up for a little two-on-two action." He immediately received a slap to the back of the head, "Ow! Hey, watch the hair!"
Xander became instantly serious when Willow said 'they' needed him, "What's up?"
"The Scepter of Zeus." Tara stated simply.
Xander sighed, grabbing his coat, "I should have learned by now that I'm never really free. Spike, get your towel."

*CUT TO: The Magic Box. Giles is seated at the 'research table' along with Anya and Riley. Buffy is pacing in the midst of the bookshelves.*

"Giles, I can't believe you went on about this scepter thing even after I made it clear it wouldn't be an issue." Buffy nearly screamed.
Giles looked just as angry, "Yes, well I simply held a differing opinion. It was within my right to push ahead with my initial belief." He glared at her, "Lord knows you've done it enough times yourself."
"I'm sorry, Giles... I just don't see why this is so important..."
"Someone seems to be forgetting who's the Watcher around here." Blonde Riley commented under his breath.
Unfortunately, it wasn't quiet enough to escape Slayer hearing, "You! Giles, can you tell me just *why* these two are here?"
Giles stood up, taking an authoritative stance, "We are going to need all the help we can get, Buffy. They have knowledge of what we do, and thus they may provide help, if only in manpower."
Buffy let out a distressed growl. She just wanted to put the whole 'Old Ones' thing behind her, but it just wouldn't go away. Anya noticed what was going on with her, "You're just trying to push away all things Xander... even *I* can see that." She stated in her usual blunt manner, "I tried it, Buffy... it doesn't work."
"Like I'm supposed to take advice from *you*?"
"Yes." Anya replied as the store's door opened, "My advice is... find someone new... have lots of sex. Sex is a miracle cure-all."
"Maybe for you, Anya... but nothing beats a good vamp-killing spree in my book." Xander commented from behind.
Buffy immediately tensed upon hearing his voice, and her anger rose again, "What's *he* doing here?"
Giles sighed, his patience with her spent, "Buffy, I would like to kindly offer... that you sit down and SHUT UP!" Everyone was shocked at the sharp rise in Giles' voice. Even Buffy was stunned into immediately taking a seat, "Xander's knowledge of Quinn and any of his actions may once again prove useful to us. It is only fair that he sits in on this, because it involves him intricately."
Xander looked sad, "Why is it I can never get intricate with the ladies?"
Spike laughed, "Because we only attract the evil schemes, my friend."
It was Giles' turn to question someone's presence, "Exactly why is Spike here, as well?"
Willow answered slowly, "Because we picked him up with Xander at their apartment."
"*Their* apartment?!" Buffy spoke the thoughts of everyone in the room, "Xander, you're living with Spike?"
Xander brushed the accusation away, "Yeah, so what? I needed a roomie... Spike was tired of his crypt. I just figured I'd be the first person to extend some friendship to him."
Spike mockingly began tearing up, "That's real touching, man."
Xander rolled his eyes, "Ignore him... he doesn't take compliments well." They were all looking at him like hew as some shade of crazy, "Everybody deserves respect, guys... good guy, or bad guy... they all deserve some level of respect. I just figured, from one outcast to another, I could give him a little." Spike's mocking ceased, as he thought it over. He was silent, as were the rest of them. Xander finally shifted the subject, "Now that that's out of the way... What's the deal with the scepter?"
"It's... a long story." Giles began.

*CUT TO: Giles, nearing the end of his speech. Everyone is listening intently.*

"...and so, according to the Archon... it ended up buried beneath the earth, to prevent its repeated use. Unfortunately, the Archon does not disclose the location... simply that it was buried for protection."
"So, the deal is... the Old Ones get this thing, they turn it on, and the world goes warping back millions of years?" Xander repeated, in paraphrase form.
"Yes, in a manner of speaking. The species of the world will de-evolve back to their past forms. Until a point is reached where they wish to stop. The Old Ones will decide what point they want the earth to resume. As a side effect, the Old Ones will be cast into an alternate plane of reality, where they will no longer be bound to their duty of watching over the fate of the world."
"An ecological plane ticket to another dimension, huh?" Nobody understood how the words came out of Spike's mouth, except maybe for Xander, but they did.
Xander looked at him, almost stunned, "No more Dawson's Creek for you, Spikey." Xander decided a flippant attitude was the way to go from there, "So, what? We find the thing... we make sure they don't get it... crisis averted."
Giles made the clucking noise he did when someone said something he didn't like. He put the Archon down, "It won't be that simple."
"Is it *ever*?"
Giles ignored his attitude, "The Archon makes no mention of where the Scepter is buried. Which leaves us in a very vulnerable position. We need to pinpoint it's location, and prevent them from obtaining it."
Spike decided to throw his two cents in, trying to remove all snideness from his voice, "But the unfortunate thing is... they've got a monster head-start on us, right?"
"Right." Giles ran his hand over the cover of the Archon, "The only clue in our possession at the moment, is something Quinn said..." They all became attentive, "He mentioned that he had two separate races working to dig it up."
Xander's eyes flashed momentarily, but no one noticed. He was torn apart at the moment, "So exactly what kind of help is that to us? There's probably no records of this dig anyway."
"That..." Giles began, "Is what we wish to find out." He threw the Archon at Xander, who caught it carefully, "I want you to read through the sections I've marked, and see if you recognize anything."
"What can we do?" Willow asked quietly.
"Willow, I want you and Tara to find all information you can on dig sites in the area." He gave her a serious look, "Use both your technical skills, and any magic as necessary. I've got Angel working on areas outside of California."
"Got anything for me to do?" Spike spoke up. Everyone was once again surprised by him.
"Well, I think..." Giles began.
Xander interrupted him, "Um, I think Spike and I are going to hit it... I'll look this thing through, and, uh... I'll get back to you. You know where I live if you need me." He grabbed Spike by his jacket, and dragged him out of the shop. Spike barely had time to throw a towel over his head before he was pulled out the door.
"That was..." Giles began again.
Buffy interrupted him this time, "Odd." She gave him a sudden, menacing glare, "You know where he lives. Tell me where."
Giles frowned as he exchanged a look between Willow and Tara.

*CUT TO: Spike and Xander, entering the apartment. Spike throws off his towel, while Xander tosses the Archon onto the kitchen counter.*

"I didn't want to say anything on the way here... y'know, cause I figured you'd yank the towel off my head... but what was with you in the shop?"
"Spike? Being observant? Well I never..."
"Bloody..." He stopped, "You know something, don't you?" He smirked, "Withholding information that'll bring the Slayer's demise. I like it!"
"Shut up, Spike. I don't even know if what I know is worth anything. I might have been mislead. Screw that, I *was* mislead. I just want to make sure I don't translate my mistake onto them."
"And what happens if you realize too late its the right thing? Took me a bloody lot of time to realize that Angelus was in over his head with the Acathla thing... I was lucky enough to find out in time to save myself... but look what I lost? Only woman I ever loved in Dru. She may have been a nutcase, but she was the most beautiful nutcase I ever had the pleasure of spending centuries with."
Xander looked surprised, "Spike... are you telling me to save the world?"
Spike growled, "Oh, don't look at me like that. Life's finally started to get sweet for me again since Dru left me. I might not like the lot of you, but you sure do provide me some entertainment." He smirked, "'Specially you with your 'I don't love the Slayer anymore, I really don't' routine."
"Spike, y'know what I said about you helping out around here to get your respect from me?" Spike nodded weakly. He knew trouble was coming, "Well, now you don't only have dishes... you've got laundry as well."
"Laundry? Bloody... you know what the dryer does to the air in my room! It's hard enough sleeping on that bloody futon. I don't need to wake up with a layer of lint all over me."
"Well, then... you shouldn't have been so quick to let me have the main bedroom."
"Quick to let... ooh, you bastard... I didn't let you! You moved your stuff in first!"
"It's not my fault you didn't think to start moving your things in earlier." Xander was grinning wickedly.
"Earlier? Bleeding Mary... if I had tried to move in earlier, you'd have had to vacuum me up off the rug. I can't move around easy in the daytime, y'know."
"I know, Spike. I know." He was laughing hard, but finally relaxed, "Now get to the laundry... I need my whites done." Spike vamped out, but just growled loudly, because he knew there was nothing he could do.

*CUT TO: Evening. Cemetery. What else could it be but Buffy patrolling?*

Buffy half-heartedly went around the cemetery. It was nice and quiet that night, all the better for Buffy to tear herself up inside about what she was feeling. Was she really in love with AleXander Harris?
She had debated over the facts for weeks. His absence, abrupt and unexpected, had set her mind in a whirl. Riley had been unsupportive of her 'grieving' at the departure of one of her best friends. She wasn't really surprised about that. Riley had always acted strangely towards Xander. They were starting to become 'buddies'... but she suspected it was only for her sake.
When he left, and Riley broke up with her, she spent a lot of her time remembering her life with Xander. Albeit short, they had been through a lot. The Harvest. The Master. Her obsession with Angel. Her obsession with Angelus. Right through her first year of college.
But things had started to drift. The boy that saved her life four years ago, wasn't around as much. And it was subconsciously eating away at her. She clung to Riley like a life-preserver, because her life was changing so fast. Even Willow was wildly different from when they first met.
She had come to a rather sudden realization. She liked Xander. She more than liked him. Over his absence, she had developed her own little obsession about him. And from it something, which may have been there the whole time, bubbled to the surface of her senses. Love. She definitely loved him. More than just her Xander-shaped friend. For the man he had become, and was still becoming.
It was torturous to find out he was out to hurt her. Against his will or not, it broke her heart to see him fighting for the side of evil. It was all over now, though. Things had come together, and fallen apart in the same breath.
Angel and Cordelia. The relationship that seemed to blindside all of them. She was surprised to feel no hurt or jealousy towards Cordelia. The love she had felt for Angel, real or not, had faded. Replaced by the growing need to be with her best guy friend. Xander and Spike. Not in a relationship, thank god, but getting buddy-buddy by the day. Would Spike manipulate Xander? Could he go bad again, if Spike is given the chance as well?
It didn't really matter. Xander didn't seem to want to be around her, any more than she outwardly expressed wanting to be near him. But inside, where it mattered, she longed to have a normal day, where they could exchange 'I love you's and hold each other.
Would that day ever come? She didn't know. And it was likely she never would. Life was never that fair.

*CUT TO: Two pairs of glowing-yellow eyes, hidden in the brush. They're observing the Slayer, in her sleepwalking trance. A pair of ragged laughs are heard.*

"The time is soon." One spoke.
"The time is now." The other mimicked. They both grunted in approval, as they slipped further back into the darkness.

End Part 3