TITLE: BUFFY'S TURN 5\?

AUTHOR: RICK

DISCLAIMER: SEE CHAPTER ONE

SUMMARY: Xander and Oz get very good, Xander and Faith get it on, Buffy gets more pathetic but, in the end our two destined lovers will finally come together as written in the stars. I couldn't stand in their way even if I tried. Just like in the show: it's inevitable...Spike and Ben and all the other males in the Sunnydale world be dammed....we know its coming!!

SPOILERS: Well, except for what I just said I guess none.



CHAPTER: 5-You Are A Plague Upon My Household

Things have happened fast for Xander Harris. He went from high school to construction to wanderer to black ops operator all in a very short time. Things have changed dramatically for him. All except one thing. No matter what he does, no matter how hard he tries he cannot shake the slayer from his heart. Buffy Anne Summers, world savior deluxe, blonde headed vixen of his heart, warm and fuzzy holder of all the deep dreams and desires of his soul. Now she is wild and reckless and hard-assed. Xander cannot purge her presence for his heart and in all truth, doesn't want to either. But, like her at the moment, he is occupied with other endeavors.

Giles has introduced Xander to a tall and talented brunette by the name of Inez Rodriquez. She is to become part of his so-called network, a group of people with whom he will plan and carry out various missions for his bosses. Oz is also assigned various co-operators as well. They are suppose to keep them independent of one another but Xander and the wolf share everything. They have decided that is the best chance for their survival since both agreed that they can only trust each other despite their employers monetary kindness and apparent liking of their two new super agents (as they are now called.)

Inez, among other things is an expert with the sword. Xander has been learning from her as fast as is possible. He has developed a tremendous work ethic when it comes to skills to aid his survival

Inez is impressed. "Xander, you're pretty damned good for a punk kid!"

"Kid, oh I guess you're what...two years older than me?"

"Thanks for the compliment Xander but I'm afraid I'm much older than that."

Xander senses something in Inez, a certain sadness.

"Inez, can I tell you something?"

"Sure, Xander."

"You're a beautiful and energetic woman. But you have this sadness in your eyes, deep sadness. What happened to you?"

She looks at Xander intently before answering. "Do you really want to know Xander?"

"Of course I do."

"My whole family was wiped out by some of our enemies."

"Ah....do we have a lot of enemies?"

Inez just looks at him. Xander actually knows what she is feeling. In this business it is hard to trust anyone.

"Inez, I make you a promise. Oz and I are on your side and we always will be on your side."

"Xander you barely know me."

He walks closer to her and touches her face. "Inez, I'm use to Sunnydale. For some reason you develop the ability to sense good and evil. I can read your heart and I like what it says."

Xander and the Brunette embrace very warmly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oz pays a visit to the magic shop. Willow and Tara are there along with Giles. He is briefing them on their part in the new operation. As soon as the wolf enters the shop Willow sees him. Giles did not mention that they would be working together. The witch is shocked. And the look on her face upsets Tara.

"Willow, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Tara...that's...Oz."

Tara instinctively reaches for Willow's hand. She has never felt jealous before but she knows Oz was not just a heterosexual fling for Willow. He is a real competitor for her heart.

Willow is too stunned to do anything but stare. Oz moves to the table. He looks his former girl friend in the eye.

"Hello, Willow." He looks at Tara. "And you must be Tara. Glad to meet you."

He sticks out his hand for Tara to shake. Willow is still staring. She tries to open her mouth but nothing will come out. Giles decides to intervene.

"Willow, Tara, Oz will be part of our group. He will be one of the field agents. He will be trained to follow your guide."

The redhead is just too non-plussed to say anything. She thought she might see Oz again in the future...somewhere... but was just not ready for it right now. As emotions flood into her, anger, sorrow...love. She just cannot deal right now. She gets up.

"Giles...I can't. I have...to go. I'm sorry. Tara, I'll call you later."

She doesn't even acknowledge Oz. The wolf watches with Giles and Tara as she proceeds to leave in a hurry. Tara feels a need to cover for her girl friend. She looks at Giles.

"Ah, she just wasn't expecting to see him. It's been such a long time."

Oz is a little perturbed. He didn't leave because he didn't love Willow. He left because he did. He didn't want to put her through what he had before. But now it is different. He has control of the daemon within him. In fact Giles has come up with something which can re-produce the increased strength and sensitivity of wolfness without the messy side effects.

"You don't have to explain Willow to me. I know all about her."

"I was talking to Giles, Oz. Not to you."

"I'm going to follow her."

"I wouldn't if I were you. She likes..."

Oz interrupts. "I told you. You don't have to tell me anything about her. I know her as good as you do, maybe even better."

"Don't go attacking me Oz. I was civil to you."

"Yea, you can afford to be you're the winner right now!"

With that Oz stomps out. Tara looks at Giles. The watcher shakes his head.

"You kids and your matters of the heart. Its like an American soap opera!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

On his way home from training Xander comes upon a small dark haired girl battling three horned monsters twice her size. It is Faith. She has dispatched two of them but is having much trouble with a third. He walks up to her.

"You need some help, Faith?"

When she sees it's Xander she smirks.

"Ah, I think this is a little over your head little boy."

"Are you sure Faith, I've gotten a little better."

"What are you going to do curse at him?"

Xander just shrugs his shoulder as the monster slams Faith into a chain link fence.

"All right Faith, do your bad ass routing till the end...see you around...maybe."

Since Faith is getting roundly beaten she decides to take him up on his offer.

"Ah, Harris, can't you recognize a girl's cry for help?"

Xander grabs his sword. He stands behind the behemoth after it pummels Faith to the ground. In one furious swipe of the sword he slices into the back of it's neck. The momentum carries it cleanly through to the other end.

The monster is standing still, his body still in shock from the clean beheading. The head still sits atop the body as Faith jumps up to face it again. She didn't see Xander's swipe.

"Ah, Harris...now would be a nice time to begin your help."

"Oh, okay...I've developed a new power." He goes to the beast.

"I can scare things to death." He pushes on the monster's head.

"Boo!"

The head falls. Faith has her mouth open. Then she sees the sword.

That sound I heard. That, swoosh. That was you?"

He nods. Faith approaches him. "Damn, Harris, now you have me excited."

She moves even closer to him planting a kiss on his lips. Xander likes it.

"Ooh, excited tastes real good on you."

"My apartment is very close to here, Xander."

"Lead the way. I'm not busy right now."

They go to Faith's apartment. They engage in some decent love making. Xander comments.

"Hey, remind me to help you like say...once a week."

"Hell, I never knew you were this exciting Harris. Look me up any time. Now go, I have to meet "B" for supper."

"I didn't have supper yet."

"I told you I'm eating with Buffy."

"I wouldn't mind seeing her."

"Yea, but she won't like what we just did."

"How do you know?"

"Because she made me promise not to use you for one of my boy toys. So get out Harris."

"Can't I even get dressed?"

"Get out Xander!"

"Hell, next time tell me I won't have time to get dressed. I'll keep my clothes on."

While pushing him out. "You're a complicated man, aren't you? Deal, Xander, deal!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy starts running with Spike. She turns down his advances but still raises hell with the de-froked vampire. She is in full "Bitch" mode. She is empty inside but refuses to face her feelings. She was very angry with Xander for leaving her. It has turned into a disdain. Its easier to hate him and loathe him then it is to face anything she feels for him. Spike is close to evil just like she is now. But the Vamp lives his life there. Our hero is only there because she doesn't know how to go on the way she was. Buffy had the world on her shoulders for a long time now. What most people forget is that she is still a young woman with needs and fears and weaknesses. Unconsciously she knew Xander was her stability, and more. But she just never could see her way clearly to him. Hellmouth has a way of clouding everything. Now, she thinks he rejected her too. So Spike and,of course, Faith with their self-destructive and sad outlook on things prevail in her world now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oz catches up to Willow right before she reaches her room. He reaches to her but she tries to get away from him. He won't let her.

"Willow, you're not even going to talk to me?"

"Why, Oz, why did you come back now?"

"Willow, I didn't ask to be sent here. It just happened."

Willow softens up a little.

"Giles told me you can control your wolfiness. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Honey, I was going to but then I heard about you and...Tara. I didn't know how to respond. I still don't."

"I'm happy, Oz. I really am."

"I know, Willow. And I'm not here to make you unhappy either."

Finally, Willow gives into her feelings and warmly hugs her former soul mate. They both shed tears of sadness...but also happiness as neither knew if they would ever see each other again. It feels so good to be in each other's arms again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oz and Xander are sent on a mission to invade the strong hold of a so- called "Slave Trader". He deals in drugs and bodies...live bodies to be sold into a special kind of slavery. Women are kept as sex objects and as blood banks for well to do Vampires. The black market for such bodies is apparently very high. This is one assignment our heroes don't mind doing. Giles, Tara and Willow set up shop in a well equipped high tech van close to the strong hold. Together they penetrate it and free the current crop of perspective slaves. They were especially concerned with one particular woman, a Janice Hill. They have no idea why but she is to be brought back to Sunnydale. Xander sets her up in a motel as he was instructed. She is still quite traumatized and asks Xander to stay with her. Janice is a very petite woman standing about 5'4" with jet black hair and very gentle feature. She appears some what frail. After watching her get some rest Xander takes her out for dinner. After the meal they just stroll down town for a few minutes. They sit down on a bench. Xander is just trying to soothe her.

"Janice, I swear I'm not going to let anyone bother you. You'll be safe."

On the other side of the street two familiar figures are doing there own form of strolling. It is Buffy with her new running mate, Spike himself.

When Buffy sees Xander, she freezes for a minute. When she sees him fondling Janice a wave of jealousy comes over her...and anger. She approaches him.

"Look, Spike, Xander boy has a new little friend."

Spike responds. "Well, I'll be damned. It must be the losers club."

Xander stares at Buffy for a few seconds. He recognizes her look. He has been victim of it before. He tries to be calm since he has Janice with him and she has had enough trouble.

"Hello, Buffy. Hello Spike."

Buffy approaches Janice menacingly. "Aren't you going to introduce us to your little friend, Xander?"

"This is Janice. Janis this is Buffy and Spike."

"Do you two want to join us for a little fun?"

"No thanks, Buff."

"Well, maybe your girl friend wants to come?"

Janice looks at Buffy hard. "I don't want any part of what you're doing."

"Oh, arrogant little floosie, aren't you?"

Xander instinctively moves in front of Janice. Buffy notices and doesn't like it.

"Oh, protective of her are we?" She pushes Xander to the side.

"Won't work, Xander, remember I know who you are."

Spike gets a kick out of that one. Xander asks Buffy and Spike to come to the side. Spike puts his arm around Xander in a condescending manner. Xander has to swallow his desire to knock it off. Janice does not need any more trouble.

"Buffy, Janice had a rough time. Could you go easy on her?"

Spike speaks up. "Oh, is your little girl friend having a problem? Are you protecting her big man?"

Buffy speaks up. "Why don't you let somebody else protect her, Xander. What are you going to do if trouble comes?"

Spike flashes him a real demeaning smile. Buffy grabs hold of him.

"Let's go, Spike, we bothered the little boy enough." They walk away. Xander goes back to Janice.

"Look, Janice, I have to say one more thing to them. If they do something to me just meet me back at your house, okay?"

She nods. Xander catches up to them. He has got to tell Buffy something for her own good. He doesn't believe she meant to give Janice a rough time.

"Buffy, when did you add being cruel to your act? I told you Janice was in bad shape."

Buffy just stares. Xander says one more thing as he is leaving.

"You're pathetic, Buffy!"

The slayer reacts to this. She grabs him "I'll kick your ass, Xander."

He doesn't back down. "And, what? Then you wouldn't be pathetic?"

Xander looks into a store window. He sees a mirror. "There's a mirror over there, Buffy. Go look at yourself in it. That girl back there is in trouble. She didn't need any wise ass vampire slayer and her vampire boyfriend trying to intimidate her!"

Buffy gets very angry. She roughly grabs him looking into his eyes. She is shocked by what she sees in his eyes. No fear, no intimidation. Only disgust...and pity. She lets him go. Xander goes over to Spike.

"You should get a saddle and ride her."

"And what is that suppose to mean Xander boy?"

"You figure it out, asshole!"

Spike grabs at Xander but Buffy shakes him off. They both just stare as he goes back to Janice.