Title: Rain Falls On The Just (9/?)
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Put your teeth back in!
Description: If you don't know by now, I'm not telling!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own destiny and a glow-in-the-dark yo-yo. Expect great things! Buffy and all related characters are own by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB. They are the masters. I am but their humble servant.
******************************************************************************************
"You wanna help me here?" Cordelia shrieked as she fought off a two-headed Murkak demon.
"I'm a little busy," Xander warbled through the choke hold the Kintash demon had him in. "It'll be another minute."
"You will be dead in seconds," the Kintash said. "You were foolish to ever come here." He picked Xander up over his head and threw him into Cordelia. They both fell to the ground in a heap.
"It's not like this was our first choice," Cordelia said, shoving Xander off of her.
"Exactly," Xander said. "We wanted to see Bermuda, but it's the heavy season there and we couldn't book a flight to save our lives."
"We shall see if your tongue is so quick when it floats in my soup pot," one of the Murkak heads said.
"Eww! Gross much?" Cordy said.
"I think I've been here too long," Xander said. "Because soup actually sounds pretty good."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "How 'bout you stop with the ha-has and get me out of here?"
"I'm open to suggestions," he mumbled.
"I suggest you close your eyes," the Kintash said with a wicked smile.
"And I suggest you leave them alone!" Suddenly in the center of the room stood a large demon, whose head was of living flame. He towered over the other two demons, and they quaked in fear. "If any shall dine on them it will be He'lan the Destroyer."
"He'lan?" the Kintash repeated. "We beg your pardon, dread one. Enjoy your meal."
The two demons ran far and fast. Only once they were gone, did the form of He'lan change into someone considerably more friendly.
Xander couldn't believe it. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her again. "Anya?"
"So when did Oz get here?" Angel asked, wincing in pain as Buffy changed his bandage.
"Last night. I found him in wolf form and knocked him out. Chained him up in Spike's place until morning," the Slayer responded.
"Well, at least we can keep an eye on him now. I'm beginning to worry that everyone we know has become a target."
"Seems that way. You say the vamps got Amy?"
"Yes. There were too many of them. There was nothing I could do."
Buffy smiled kindly and touched his cheek. "I know. I'm just glad you're okay. It scared me to see you so hurt. Luckily, it was mostly superficial."
"Buffy, I know the news about Xander was hard to hear. I had trouble believing it myself. But I want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'll do what I can."
She hugged him gently so he couldn't see the hatred filling her eyes. Her voice remained calm and gentle. "You've already done enough."
Willow Rosenberg stayed in the shadows until she was sure she saw a friendly face. She watched as the woman stepped into the street light. Her face was painfully familiar. "Faith?"
"Hey, Willow," Faith covered the distance to her and offered her hand in friendship. "Glad you and Tara are okay. Can't tell you how relieved we all were when Oz told us the news."
"Then, she's still okay?" Tara asked, emerging from the bushes.
"Yeah. We got some bad news that made it impossible for her to get away. I'm supposed to find you someplace safe to stay, until Buffy can get to you herself."
"How can I be sure you're on the up and up?" Willow questioned. "I mean, what if you killed Oz and plan on doing the same to us?"
"I'm no killer. I changed. Listen, Oz and Buffy trusted me to come get you."
"If Oz trusted you," Willow said. "He would have given you the pass phrase."
"He did. He said that all monkeys are French, but that has nothing to do with the reason they wear pants. Is that supposed to mean something?"
"It means you're okay," Willow said. "Now let's find someplace safe where you can fill us in on the big bad we're up against."
"Okay," Faith agreed. "But you won't like it."
Oz and Giles watched Angel and Buffy through the window. "This is dangerous," the Watcher said. "If he suspects for a second that we know the truth..."
"We won't let that happen," Oz said. "Let's go over the plan again."
"Right. So far as Angel knows, you've gone on patrol with Faith. When she returns, she will tell the tale of your demise."
"Thus freeing me up to head to L.A. so I can look for Anya's baby and provide a return trip for Xander and Cordelia once Willow and Tara bring them back."
"Correct. Oz, I cannot caution you enough. Wolfram and Hart have eyes and ears everywhere."
"Right. But hopefully, they won't waste their valuable time looking for a dead man."
"You're dead?" Xander asked, visibly upset.
"Yes," Anya said. "But I am adjusting. How cool was it that I scared the stuffing out of those demons?"
"Can you get us home?" Cordelia asked.
"No. Unfortunately, I can visit in this form, but cannot carry you back with me. But Willow and Tara will be searching for a spell to bring you back, so don't worry. It's only a matter of time."
"Time is something we don't have a lot of," Cordelia complained. "This place is crawling with demons!"
"Well, hello! It IS a demon dimension. What did you expect?"
"Okay, okay," Xander said. "How are the others?"
"He means Buffy," Cordelia interpreted.
"She's fine," Anya said. "She said to tell you to hold on, and that she loves you. I shall go back now and let her know that you are both still living. Proceed on to the seer you spoke of. Perhaps she can help us get you home."
"Deal," Xander said. "And, An?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"I'll help you find the baby. I swear."
She smiled at her former lover a beautiful smile. "I know you will. Should I give Buffy a message?"
"Yeah," Xander said grimly. "Tell her I love her. And that... I expect her to save me a piece of Angel. It's way past time that he and I had it out."
Author: Jeffrey Patrick
Type: B/X... Put your teeth back in!
Description: If you don't know by now, I'm not telling!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own destiny and a glow-in-the-dark yo-yo. Expect great things! Buffy and all related characters are own by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and the WB. They are the masters. I am but their humble servant.
******************************************************************************************
"You wanna help me here?" Cordelia shrieked as she fought off a two-headed Murkak demon.
"I'm a little busy," Xander warbled through the choke hold the Kintash demon had him in. "It'll be another minute."
"You will be dead in seconds," the Kintash said. "You were foolish to ever come here." He picked Xander up over his head and threw him into Cordelia. They both fell to the ground in a heap.
"It's not like this was our first choice," Cordelia said, shoving Xander off of her.
"Exactly," Xander said. "We wanted to see Bermuda, but it's the heavy season there and we couldn't book a flight to save our lives."
"We shall see if your tongue is so quick when it floats in my soup pot," one of the Murkak heads said.
"Eww! Gross much?" Cordy said.
"I think I've been here too long," Xander said. "Because soup actually sounds pretty good."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "How 'bout you stop with the ha-has and get me out of here?"
"I'm open to suggestions," he mumbled.
"I suggest you close your eyes," the Kintash said with a wicked smile.
"And I suggest you leave them alone!" Suddenly in the center of the room stood a large demon, whose head was of living flame. He towered over the other two demons, and they quaked in fear. "If any shall dine on them it will be He'lan the Destroyer."
"He'lan?" the Kintash repeated. "We beg your pardon, dread one. Enjoy your meal."
The two demons ran far and fast. Only once they were gone, did the form of He'lan change into someone considerably more friendly.
Xander couldn't believe it. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her again. "Anya?"
"So when did Oz get here?" Angel asked, wincing in pain as Buffy changed his bandage.
"Last night. I found him in wolf form and knocked him out. Chained him up in Spike's place until morning," the Slayer responded.
"Well, at least we can keep an eye on him now. I'm beginning to worry that everyone we know has become a target."
"Seems that way. You say the vamps got Amy?"
"Yes. There were too many of them. There was nothing I could do."
Buffy smiled kindly and touched his cheek. "I know. I'm just glad you're okay. It scared me to see you so hurt. Luckily, it was mostly superficial."
"Buffy, I know the news about Xander was hard to hear. I had trouble believing it myself. But I want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'll do what I can."
She hugged him gently so he couldn't see the hatred filling her eyes. Her voice remained calm and gentle. "You've already done enough."
Willow Rosenberg stayed in the shadows until she was sure she saw a friendly face. She watched as the woman stepped into the street light. Her face was painfully familiar. "Faith?"
"Hey, Willow," Faith covered the distance to her and offered her hand in friendship. "Glad you and Tara are okay. Can't tell you how relieved we all were when Oz told us the news."
"Then, she's still okay?" Tara asked, emerging from the bushes.
"Yeah. We got some bad news that made it impossible for her to get away. I'm supposed to find you someplace safe to stay, until Buffy can get to you herself."
"How can I be sure you're on the up and up?" Willow questioned. "I mean, what if you killed Oz and plan on doing the same to us?"
"I'm no killer. I changed. Listen, Oz and Buffy trusted me to come get you."
"If Oz trusted you," Willow said. "He would have given you the pass phrase."
"He did. He said that all monkeys are French, but that has nothing to do with the reason they wear pants. Is that supposed to mean something?"
"It means you're okay," Willow said. "Now let's find someplace safe where you can fill us in on the big bad we're up against."
"Okay," Faith agreed. "But you won't like it."
Oz and Giles watched Angel and Buffy through the window. "This is dangerous," the Watcher said. "If he suspects for a second that we know the truth..."
"We won't let that happen," Oz said. "Let's go over the plan again."
"Right. So far as Angel knows, you've gone on patrol with Faith. When she returns, she will tell the tale of your demise."
"Thus freeing me up to head to L.A. so I can look for Anya's baby and provide a return trip for Xander and Cordelia once Willow and Tara bring them back."
"Correct. Oz, I cannot caution you enough. Wolfram and Hart have eyes and ears everywhere."
"Right. But hopefully, they won't waste their valuable time looking for a dead man."
"You're dead?" Xander asked, visibly upset.
"Yes," Anya said. "But I am adjusting. How cool was it that I scared the stuffing out of those demons?"
"Can you get us home?" Cordelia asked.
"No. Unfortunately, I can visit in this form, but cannot carry you back with me. But Willow and Tara will be searching for a spell to bring you back, so don't worry. It's only a matter of time."
"Time is something we don't have a lot of," Cordelia complained. "This place is crawling with demons!"
"Well, hello! It IS a demon dimension. What did you expect?"
"Okay, okay," Xander said. "How are the others?"
"He means Buffy," Cordelia interpreted.
"She's fine," Anya said. "She said to tell you to hold on, and that she loves you. I shall go back now and let her know that you are both still living. Proceed on to the seer you spoke of. Perhaps she can help us get you home."
"Deal," Xander said. "And, An?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"I'll help you find the baby. I swear."
She smiled at her former lover a beautiful smile. "I know you will. Should I give Buffy a message?"
"Yeah," Xander said grimly. "Tell her I love her. And that... I expect her to save me a piece of Angel. It's way past time that he and I had it out."