TITLE: BUFFY'S TURN 4\?
AUTHOR: RICK
DISCLAIMER: ALL THE BUFFY CHARACTERS BELONG TO JOSS WHEDON AND OTHERS.
SUMMARY: B\X BUT A LONG ROCKY ROAD TILL WE GET THERE. IN THIS CHAPTER AND THE NEXT FEW BUFFY GOES OFF THE DEEP END, MEETS FAITH, THE GANG BANDS TOGETHER, GETS A NEW GIG AND STILL HANDLES HELLMOUTH PROBLEMS.
CHAPTER: 4- XANDER COMES HOME
Buffy Anne Summers is a mess. She feels alone and lost. She didn't know what she had in Xander. He is gone. Buffy is walking on some very dangerous ground here. She stops associating with the gang, becoming an independent and reckless slayer. One night on patrol she senses a presence in the far end of the cemetery. It is a very familiar one. After dispatching an overmatched vamp she approaches the figure.
"Are you here for a reason?"
"I hear you are on your own these days?"
"Yea, so what?"
"So, have you dropped the goody, goody two shoes routine?"
"Look, Faith, you're lucky I don't try to kill your ass. What do you want?"
"Do you want to have some fun?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Just follow me."
Buffy follows her fellow slayer to a warehouse. About five vamps are loading a huge tractor trailer. Another five are idling about keeping guard. Faith approaches them.
"Hey look "B" some guys loading a truck. Let's watch."
One of the vamps addresses her. "If you know when you're healthy little girl you'll get your ass out of here."
Faith goes right up to the back of the truck and hits the first vamp she can reach. Buffy doesn't know why but she does the same. The fight is brutal, mostly for the vamps. After they are dispatched Faith spills gasoline all over the loading dock and sets it ablaze. Then she grabs Buffy and takes off. When they get safely away Buffy questions her.
"Faith, what the hell was that all about?"
"Just doing a favor for a friend, a benefactor actually."
"You mean you got paid to do that?"
"Not all of us can rely on mommy and daddy for support, "B". Welcome to the real world."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With Buffy off on her own crusade the gang has to debate its future. Giles has been contacted by a group of independent operatives who are very interested in their little set up, especially its familiarity with the workings of the underworld. They are very interested in Xander whom they contacted independently. The boy agreed to undergo some very intense training. On one of the sessions he is introduced to a very familiar figure.
"I don't believe it. Of all the people to run into."
"It's a small world. How is Willow, Xander?"
"Oz she sort of...well she..."
"I know about her bi-sexuality, Xander."
"Oh well in that case she is fine. She has a girl friend, Tara. They are very happy together."
Oz smiles but Xander can tell he has mixed feelings. He changes the subject.
"How did you get into this?"
"They sort of picked me."
Xander and Oz do well. They are use to working together. They make it through the grueling training with flying colors. They are selected for a special mission. It is suppose to be a training mission. They engage some other-worldly creatures. Only their experience in Sunnydale enables them to survive. Their employers are very impressed. But, our heroes have some questions about their new bosses.
"Oz, what are the chances that last mission was really a training mission?"
"Very little."
"So I guess you could say we're not trainees anymore?"
"That's my guess."
"Tell me do you completely trust these guys?"
"Xander, I trust you because you just saved my life a couple of times but that's as far as it goes."
"Well, I want the gig but I think we better rely on each other for a reality check from time to time."
"My man!"
Xander and Oz exchange a high five.
When they get back to barracks there is some one waiting for them, some one very familiar. It is Rupert Giles. Xander can't believe it.
"G-man, don't tell me you and these guys are with each other?"
"The name is still Giles, Xander, and every one is on a need to know basis. It appears you two have been assigned to me. And we will be based in Sunnydale. You are still in your training phase."
Xander and Oz just look at each other. Giles continues.
"With Buffy gone the way she has I had to come up with a way to continue with our Hellmouth activities. We will form a team to carry out various assignments and in return we will be able to continue to deal with the riff raff of Sunnydale."
Xander is not listening. He is stuck on Giles's words concerning Buffy."
"Giles, what do you mean; with Buffy gone the way she has?"
"After you left, Xander, Buffy just couldn't cope with her calling."
"After I left? What did me leaving have to do with Buffy?"
"It appears you meant more to her than anyone realized."
"Wait a minute, Giles, I don't understand. What about Riley?"
"Xander, you will have to ask the girls about any of that. My problem is that I have a rogue slayer on my hands and she may have even joined together with her fellow Slayer"
"You mean Faith?" Giles nods.
Oz has a question. "When you say Rogue slayer do you mean she joined the other side?"
"Not exactly. But she is dangerously close to a world she knows nothing about."
Oz has a come back. "You mean that whole gray area out there between good and evil."
Xander adds. "Like the one we're in?"
Giles doesn't answer.
Xander can't believe it. He left sunnydale because he thought he wasn't needed in Buffy's life. He is still very angry with her but is quite saddened by the news of her apparent split with the Scooby gang. Part of him is glad he is going back home. Giles has more news.
"Willow and Tara will be part of our team also. Their knowledge of computers will be put to good use."
Oz can only sigh at the name of the redhead for whom he still has an undying love. He left because he couldn't control the beast within him. He has since solved that problem but never returned to his former girl friend. Now the reunion will be very interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy is lost. She is completely burned out from all the tension and fear and darkness and evil all around her all the time. Running with Faith is a stress reliever. Just let it all hang out. Somewhere deep within her Buffy knows this is not the answer but she just has no other alternative at the moment. On one of their reckless endeavors they run into a familiar character. They are surrounded by 8 vamps in full game faces, trained vamps filled with anger and blood lust. Faith kicks out of a dangerous jam, Buffy takes a blow to the head before dusting the culprit. One behemoth slugs the blonde slayer with a baseball bat to the head. Faith is subdued by a trio of vermin as she tries to help her fellow slayer. All looks pretty grim until a bleach blonde leather jacket clad figure enters the fray. He starts furiously kicking tail. Buffy recovers and joins him while Faith breaks from her problem. The remaining monsters are no match for the two slayers and Spike. It was a dangerous and risky fight. Spike comments.
"Now that was a good fight!"
Buffy doesn't share his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you think so."
Hey, Slayer, you'll get use to it. They told me you got rid of the halo. It will be good to have you on this side."
"Oh, and what exactly is this side, Spike?"
Faith answers for him. "The wild side, "B", the side that tells it like it is. We're slayers, freaks. We run till we drop, live life to the fullest. We take what we want and we do what we want. And we dare anyone to stop us!"
Spike slides up close to Faith. "I always did like you best, Faith."
Buffy just walks out. Faith turns to Spike. "She'll be all right. Just give her some time."
AUTHOR: RICK
DISCLAIMER: ALL THE BUFFY CHARACTERS BELONG TO JOSS WHEDON AND OTHERS.
SUMMARY: B\X BUT A LONG ROCKY ROAD TILL WE GET THERE. IN THIS CHAPTER AND THE NEXT FEW BUFFY GOES OFF THE DEEP END, MEETS FAITH, THE GANG BANDS TOGETHER, GETS A NEW GIG AND STILL HANDLES HELLMOUTH PROBLEMS.
CHAPTER: 4- XANDER COMES HOME
Buffy Anne Summers is a mess. She feels alone and lost. She didn't know what she had in Xander. He is gone. Buffy is walking on some very dangerous ground here. She stops associating with the gang, becoming an independent and reckless slayer. One night on patrol she senses a presence in the far end of the cemetery. It is a very familiar one. After dispatching an overmatched vamp she approaches the figure.
"Are you here for a reason?"
"I hear you are on your own these days?"
"Yea, so what?"
"So, have you dropped the goody, goody two shoes routine?"
"Look, Faith, you're lucky I don't try to kill your ass. What do you want?"
"Do you want to have some fun?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"Just follow me."
Buffy follows her fellow slayer to a warehouse. About five vamps are loading a huge tractor trailer. Another five are idling about keeping guard. Faith approaches them.
"Hey look "B" some guys loading a truck. Let's watch."
One of the vamps addresses her. "If you know when you're healthy little girl you'll get your ass out of here."
Faith goes right up to the back of the truck and hits the first vamp she can reach. Buffy doesn't know why but she does the same. The fight is brutal, mostly for the vamps. After they are dispatched Faith spills gasoline all over the loading dock and sets it ablaze. Then she grabs Buffy and takes off. When they get safely away Buffy questions her.
"Faith, what the hell was that all about?"
"Just doing a favor for a friend, a benefactor actually."
"You mean you got paid to do that?"
"Not all of us can rely on mommy and daddy for support, "B". Welcome to the real world."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With Buffy off on her own crusade the gang has to debate its future. Giles has been contacted by a group of independent operatives who are very interested in their little set up, especially its familiarity with the workings of the underworld. They are very interested in Xander whom they contacted independently. The boy agreed to undergo some very intense training. On one of the sessions he is introduced to a very familiar figure.
"I don't believe it. Of all the people to run into."
"It's a small world. How is Willow, Xander?"
"Oz she sort of...well she..."
"I know about her bi-sexuality, Xander."
"Oh well in that case she is fine. She has a girl friend, Tara. They are very happy together."
Oz smiles but Xander can tell he has mixed feelings. He changes the subject.
"How did you get into this?"
"They sort of picked me."
Xander and Oz do well. They are use to working together. They make it through the grueling training with flying colors. They are selected for a special mission. It is suppose to be a training mission. They engage some other-worldly creatures. Only their experience in Sunnydale enables them to survive. Their employers are very impressed. But, our heroes have some questions about their new bosses.
"Oz, what are the chances that last mission was really a training mission?"
"Very little."
"So I guess you could say we're not trainees anymore?"
"That's my guess."
"Tell me do you completely trust these guys?"
"Xander, I trust you because you just saved my life a couple of times but that's as far as it goes."
"Well, I want the gig but I think we better rely on each other for a reality check from time to time."
"My man!"
Xander and Oz exchange a high five.
When they get back to barracks there is some one waiting for them, some one very familiar. It is Rupert Giles. Xander can't believe it.
"G-man, don't tell me you and these guys are with each other?"
"The name is still Giles, Xander, and every one is on a need to know basis. It appears you two have been assigned to me. And we will be based in Sunnydale. You are still in your training phase."
Xander and Oz just look at each other. Giles continues.
"With Buffy gone the way she has I had to come up with a way to continue with our Hellmouth activities. We will form a team to carry out various assignments and in return we will be able to continue to deal with the riff raff of Sunnydale."
Xander is not listening. He is stuck on Giles's words concerning Buffy."
"Giles, what do you mean; with Buffy gone the way she has?"
"After you left, Xander, Buffy just couldn't cope with her calling."
"After I left? What did me leaving have to do with Buffy?"
"It appears you meant more to her than anyone realized."
"Wait a minute, Giles, I don't understand. What about Riley?"
"Xander, you will have to ask the girls about any of that. My problem is that I have a rogue slayer on my hands and she may have even joined together with her fellow Slayer"
"You mean Faith?" Giles nods.
Oz has a question. "When you say Rogue slayer do you mean she joined the other side?"
"Not exactly. But she is dangerously close to a world she knows nothing about."
Oz has a come back. "You mean that whole gray area out there between good and evil."
Xander adds. "Like the one we're in?"
Giles doesn't answer.
Xander can't believe it. He left sunnydale because he thought he wasn't needed in Buffy's life. He is still very angry with her but is quite saddened by the news of her apparent split with the Scooby gang. Part of him is glad he is going back home. Giles has more news.
"Willow and Tara will be part of our team also. Their knowledge of computers will be put to good use."
Oz can only sigh at the name of the redhead for whom he still has an undying love. He left because he couldn't control the beast within him. He has since solved that problem but never returned to his former girl friend. Now the reunion will be very interesting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buffy is lost. She is completely burned out from all the tension and fear and darkness and evil all around her all the time. Running with Faith is a stress reliever. Just let it all hang out. Somewhere deep within her Buffy knows this is not the answer but she just has no other alternative at the moment. On one of their reckless endeavors they run into a familiar character. They are surrounded by 8 vamps in full game faces, trained vamps filled with anger and blood lust. Faith kicks out of a dangerous jam, Buffy takes a blow to the head before dusting the culprit. One behemoth slugs the blonde slayer with a baseball bat to the head. Faith is subdued by a trio of vermin as she tries to help her fellow slayer. All looks pretty grim until a bleach blonde leather jacket clad figure enters the fray. He starts furiously kicking tail. Buffy recovers and joins him while Faith breaks from her problem. The remaining monsters are no match for the two slayers and Spike. It was a dangerous and risky fight. Spike comments.
"Now that was a good fight!"
Buffy doesn't share his enthusiasm. "I'm glad you think so."
Hey, Slayer, you'll get use to it. They told me you got rid of the halo. It will be good to have you on this side."
"Oh, and what exactly is this side, Spike?"
Faith answers for him. "The wild side, "B", the side that tells it like it is. We're slayers, freaks. We run till we drop, live life to the fullest. We take what we want and we do what we want. And we dare anyone to stop us!"
Spike slides up close to Faith. "I always did like you best, Faith."
Buffy just walks out. Faith turns to Spike. "She'll be all right. Just give her some time."
