Part 5
Sunnydale Mall, Front Office
Christmas Eve
5:30pm
"Can I help you," the woman behind the counter said.
"I'm looking for the security office. I'm here to pick someone up," Xander said.
"Down the hall to the right. I'll let them know you are coming."
"Thank you. Merry Christmas," Xander said as he headed down the hall.
"Merry Christmas," the woman said.
Security Office…
Dawn is sitting at a table with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," the officer said on the phone. "Looks like your sister's fiancé is here to pick you up."
Dawn questioned to herself.
There was a knock on the door. Officer Williams went to the door and opened. Dawn was shocked to see Xander standing there. As if she didn't feel bad enough, the disappointed look Xander gave her hurt her the most.
"Is she going to be in any trouble," Xander asked Officer Williams.
"Normally she'd be up to her knees in doody, but given the holiday season, I'll let her off with a warning. But if we ever catch her shoplifting again, we will file a report and there is a good chance she would have to spend some time in juvenile hall and your fiancé would lose custody of Dawn."
"I'll make sure this doesn't happen again," Xander said while looking at Dawn.
"Okay, I just need you to sign a few things."
Xander signed the papers and left with Dawn.
AU The Magic Box
6:00 pm
"So, Spike and Dru left town because of the Mayor's Ascension," Buffy asked.
"Yeah…the gave us a lot of trouble over the two years they were here," Willow said. "Laney is just lucky she didn't have to deal with them."
"Wrong," Buffy said. "She needs to have gone up against them to know what she's dealing with. Spike and Dru are tough together. I still haven't stopped them in my world."
"Well, why haven't you staked Spike," Jesse asked. "He may be harmless, but he is still a vampire. That chip stops working, you and your friends could be in danger."
"Look, I don't want to explain my choice not to stake him. In this world he's evil. I will stake him in this world."
"No you won't," Laney said. "I will. I'm the slayer here. You're not."
"Perhaps it would be most helpful if the two of you work together in stopping Spike," Wesley said.
"I can handle them myself," Laney said.
"In your dreams," Buffy said.
"Would you two stop arguing," Angel said. "Look, Laney. Buffy is a great slayer. If she hadn't died that night, I have no doubt she would be the oldest living slayer."
"Fine," Laney said. "I'll play nice. Come on Buff. Let's see what you got."
Laney heads into the training room and Buffy follows.
"Okay," Angel said. "That's not Buffy. She has been buried for the last 5 years. Who was that?"
"That was Buffy," Wesley said. "Just not our Buffy."
"I know I did the cryptic thing, but could you de-crypt that just a bit."
"She's from a parallel universe," Jesse said. "There was this guy she wished never had been born and an angel brought her here. She's a bit meaner than the Buffy I remember."
"Jesse," Willow said taken aback.
"What, it's true. It's like she's not the same person. Like there's something wrong with her."
"Maybe I should talk to her," Angel said. "Maybe I can figure out what's wrong so she can get back to where she belongs."
"You sure you don't want her to stay Deadboy," Jesse said. "You went pretty nuts when she was gone."
"Jesse," Angel said.
"Sorry."
Angel got up from the table and went to the training room.
Laney's Training Room…
"You know, my training room doesn't have those gymnast rings. Maybe I should ask…," Buffy stopped when she realized what she was about to say.
"Ask who?"
"Giles, my watcher. But I can't, he's gone. Went back to England."
"Oh…sorry," Laney said.
"Doesn't matter. Let's fight."
The stand in the middle of the mat, bow and begin to fight. Buffy throws a right punch, but Laney blocks it and throws her to the ground. Buffy jumps back up only to be knocked down when Laney punches her in the chest. Buffy glares at Laney from the ground.
"What is up with you," Laney asked. "It's like you're not even trying."
"She's not," Angel said from the door. "I've seen Buffy fight. This woman doesn't have half the drive the Buffy I knew did."
"You don't understand," Buffy said.
"Laney could you…"
"Sure Angel, I'll see you outside."
Angel walks towards Buffy and offers his hand to help her up, but she shakes it and gets up on her own.
"We need to talk," Angel said.
Buffy makes her way to the couch.
"What's going on," Angel asked.
"Nothing."
"Something's up. The passion you had when you fought looks like it's gone."
"I can't feel," Buffy said softly.
"Feel what?"
"Anything. In my world I died. My friends brought me back…but I was in heaven. Everything was perfect when I was there. I don't know how to feel after I've been there."
"Have you even tried living again? Doing the things you love to do?"
"I feel like all I'm doing is going through the motions. Slaying. Trying to live when I feel dead inside."
"Isn't there one friend who has tired to talk to you, make you feel something other than the darkness and the pain."
"Buffy," Angel said pulling her from her thoughts.
"Oh…sorry. No."
Angel sits on the couch next to her and gives her a hug. As they pull away, Buffy kisses Angel. He gives in for a moment, but pulls away.
"We can't do this," Angel said standing up. "If you knew how long I've wanted that to happen…you're not yourself. So I can't do this…not now."
"Why?"
"You're going to leave. It hurt enough the first time."
"So," Buffy said. "I just want to feel something. You're the first man that I loved."
"I know, but this isn't right. You know that."
Angel left the room closing the door behind him. Buffy broke down crying.
"Why can't I just die," Buffy said.
"That can be arranged," Spike said from the back door.
Magic Box (Real World)
6:15 pm
Giles enters the magic shop carrying several bags of gifts.
"Hello," Giles called out. "Buffy, Anya, Xander, Willow, anyone?"
Giles shuts the door with his foot and drops the presents on the table.
"GILES," Anya screamed.
She grabs Giles and pulls him into a big hug, then throws him to the side. She grabs presents and starts shaking them.
"Which one is mine," Anya asked.
"I gave you the store."
"So…I want more."
"You'll get them when everyone else is here. Where is everyone," Giles asked.
"Xander went get Anya at the mall."
"She last minute shopping?"
"No, she was arrested for shoplifting."
"She what?"
"Shoplifted…took something that wasn't hers…swiped stuff."
"Where's Buffy?"
"Don't know. She hasn't been around all day. She may be with sleeping with Spike again."
Giles plops in the chair.
"What has been going on here since I left."
"Lots of stuff."
The bell from the front door sounds as Xander and Dawn come in.
"I want you to sit down in that chair and don't move from it until Buffy gets back," Xander said angrily.
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry," Dawn said while crying. "I'm sorry."
"Giles," Xander said. "Glad your back."
Giles stands up and hugs Xander and Dawn. Giles takes off his glasses and begins to wipe them.
"What is going on Dawn?"
"Nothing," Dawn says as she takes a seat. "Where's Buffy? I just want to go home."
"You're gonna have to wait until Buffy gets her," Giles said. "She'll deal with you then."
"Can't you just yell at me?"
"You are not my responsibility. I will say that I am getting more and more upset and disappointed in you after I hear you doing these things."
"I can't be here right now," Xander said suddenly.
"Xander," Anya said. "You haven't even tried to find your gift. I think it's the big one."
"Not now Anya," Xander said.
Xander left the shop and all was quiet in the shop. Xander left in such a daze, he didn't see the car fail to yield at the cross walk. Inside the shop, everyone heard a loud screeching, a thump, and after a few seconds someone yelled for an ambulance. Anya and Giles ran outside and saw Xander on the ground unconscious.
"Good lord," Giles said.
He rushed back inside and called the hospital. By this time Dawn stood next to Anya and began to cry.
"Xander," Dawn yelled through the tears. "No, you can't die."
Anya is speechless. Hot tears pour down her face. She doesn't bother wiping them because they keep coming.
"We need you," Dawn said sniffling.
But nothing happened. Xander remained on the ground unconscious.
End Part 5
Sunnydale Mall, Front Office
Christmas Eve
5:30pm
"Can I help you," the woman behind the counter said.
"I'm looking for the security office. I'm here to pick someone up," Xander said.
"Down the hall to the right. I'll let them know you are coming."
"Thank you. Merry Christmas," Xander said as he headed down the hall.
"Merry Christmas," the woman said.
Security Office…
Dawn is sitting at a table with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you," the officer said on the phone. "Looks like your sister's fiancé is here to pick you up."
Dawn questioned to herself.
There was a knock on the door. Officer Williams went to the door and opened. Dawn was shocked to see Xander standing there. As if she didn't feel bad enough, the disappointed look Xander gave her hurt her the most.
"Is she going to be in any trouble," Xander asked Officer Williams.
"Normally she'd be up to her knees in doody, but given the holiday season, I'll let her off with a warning. But if we ever catch her shoplifting again, we will file a report and there is a good chance she would have to spend some time in juvenile hall and your fiancé would lose custody of Dawn."
"I'll make sure this doesn't happen again," Xander said while looking at Dawn.
"Okay, I just need you to sign a few things."
Xander signed the papers and left with Dawn.
AU The Magic Box
6:00 pm
"So, Spike and Dru left town because of the Mayor's Ascension," Buffy asked.
"Yeah…the gave us a lot of trouble over the two years they were here," Willow said. "Laney is just lucky she didn't have to deal with them."
"Wrong," Buffy said. "She needs to have gone up against them to know what she's dealing with. Spike and Dru are tough together. I still haven't stopped them in my world."
"Well, why haven't you staked Spike," Jesse asked. "He may be harmless, but he is still a vampire. That chip stops working, you and your friends could be in danger."
"Look, I don't want to explain my choice not to stake him. In this world he's evil. I will stake him in this world."
"No you won't," Laney said. "I will. I'm the slayer here. You're not."
"Perhaps it would be most helpful if the two of you work together in stopping Spike," Wesley said.
"I can handle them myself," Laney said.
"In your dreams," Buffy said.
"Would you two stop arguing," Angel said. "Look, Laney. Buffy is a great slayer. If she hadn't died that night, I have no doubt she would be the oldest living slayer."
"Fine," Laney said. "I'll play nice. Come on Buff. Let's see what you got."
Laney heads into the training room and Buffy follows.
"Okay," Angel said. "That's not Buffy. She has been buried for the last 5 years. Who was that?"
"That was Buffy," Wesley said. "Just not our Buffy."
"I know I did the cryptic thing, but could you de-crypt that just a bit."
"She's from a parallel universe," Jesse said. "There was this guy she wished never had been born and an angel brought her here. She's a bit meaner than the Buffy I remember."
"Jesse," Willow said taken aback.
"What, it's true. It's like she's not the same person. Like there's something wrong with her."
"Maybe I should talk to her," Angel said. "Maybe I can figure out what's wrong so she can get back to where she belongs."
"You sure you don't want her to stay Deadboy," Jesse said. "You went pretty nuts when she was gone."
"Jesse," Angel said.
"Sorry."
Angel got up from the table and went to the training room.
Laney's Training Room…
"You know, my training room doesn't have those gymnast rings. Maybe I should ask…," Buffy stopped when she realized what she was about to say.
"Ask who?"
"Giles, my watcher. But I can't, he's gone. Went back to England."
"Oh…sorry," Laney said.
"Doesn't matter. Let's fight."
The stand in the middle of the mat, bow and begin to fight. Buffy throws a right punch, but Laney blocks it and throws her to the ground. Buffy jumps back up only to be knocked down when Laney punches her in the chest. Buffy glares at Laney from the ground.
"What is up with you," Laney asked. "It's like you're not even trying."
"She's not," Angel said from the door. "I've seen Buffy fight. This woman doesn't have half the drive the Buffy I knew did."
"You don't understand," Buffy said.
"Laney could you…"
"Sure Angel, I'll see you outside."
Angel walks towards Buffy and offers his hand to help her up, but she shakes it and gets up on her own.
"We need to talk," Angel said.
Buffy makes her way to the couch.
"What's going on," Angel asked.
"Nothing."
"Something's up. The passion you had when you fought looks like it's gone."
"I can't feel," Buffy said softly.
"Feel what?"
"Anything. In my world I died. My friends brought me back…but I was in heaven. Everything was perfect when I was there. I don't know how to feel after I've been there."
"Have you even tried living again? Doing the things you love to do?"
"I feel like all I'm doing is going through the motions. Slaying. Trying to live when I feel dead inside."
"Isn't there one friend who has tired to talk to you, make you feel something other than the darkness and the pain."
"Buffy," Angel said pulling her from her thoughts.
"Oh…sorry. No."
Angel sits on the couch next to her and gives her a hug. As they pull away, Buffy kisses Angel. He gives in for a moment, but pulls away.
"We can't do this," Angel said standing up. "If you knew how long I've wanted that to happen…you're not yourself. So I can't do this…not now."
"Why?"
"You're going to leave. It hurt enough the first time."
"So," Buffy said. "I just want to feel something. You're the first man that I loved."
"I know, but this isn't right. You know that."
Angel left the room closing the door behind him. Buffy broke down crying.
"Why can't I just die," Buffy said.
"That can be arranged," Spike said from the back door.
Magic Box (Real World)
6:15 pm
Giles enters the magic shop carrying several bags of gifts.
"Hello," Giles called out. "Buffy, Anya, Xander, Willow, anyone?"
Giles shuts the door with his foot and drops the presents on the table.
"GILES," Anya screamed.
She grabs Giles and pulls him into a big hug, then throws him to the side. She grabs presents and starts shaking them.
"Which one is mine," Anya asked.
"I gave you the store."
"So…I want more."
"You'll get them when everyone else is here. Where is everyone," Giles asked.
"Xander went get Anya at the mall."
"She last minute shopping?"
"No, she was arrested for shoplifting."
"She what?"
"Shoplifted…took something that wasn't hers…swiped stuff."
"Where's Buffy?"
"Don't know. She hasn't been around all day. She may be with sleeping with Spike again."
Giles plops in the chair.
"What has been going on here since I left."
"Lots of stuff."
The bell from the front door sounds as Xander and Dawn come in.
"I want you to sit down in that chair and don't move from it until Buffy gets back," Xander said angrily.
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry," Dawn said while crying. "I'm sorry."
"Giles," Xander said. "Glad your back."
Giles stands up and hugs Xander and Dawn. Giles takes off his glasses and begins to wipe them.
"What is going on Dawn?"
"Nothing," Dawn says as she takes a seat. "Where's Buffy? I just want to go home."
"You're gonna have to wait until Buffy gets her," Giles said. "She'll deal with you then."
"Can't you just yell at me?"
"You are not my responsibility. I will say that I am getting more and more upset and disappointed in you after I hear you doing these things."
"I can't be here right now," Xander said suddenly.
"Xander," Anya said. "You haven't even tried to find your gift. I think it's the big one."
"Not now Anya," Xander said.
Xander left the shop and all was quiet in the shop. Xander left in such a daze, he didn't see the car fail to yield at the cross walk. Inside the shop, everyone heard a loud screeching, a thump, and after a few seconds someone yelled for an ambulance. Anya and Giles ran outside and saw Xander on the ground unconscious.
"Good lord," Giles said.
He rushed back inside and called the hospital. By this time Dawn stood next to Anya and began to cry.
"Xander," Dawn yelled through the tears. "No, you can't die."
Anya is speechless. Hot tears pour down her face. She doesn't bother wiping them because they keep coming.
"We need you," Dawn said sniffling.
But nothing happened. Xander remained on the ground unconscious.
End Part 5
