*****



Initiative Bunker: Sunnydale, California



The returning troops trudged into the bunker looking exhausted, physically and mentally. They stripped down, carefully placing their gear back into place and headed for the showers. Riley knew they'd be heading for sack time shortly after, and envied them that luxury. He had things to deal with first.



"Agent Finn!" A base security officer stopped smartly in front of him and saluted.



Weasel. "Corporal." Finn returned the salute.



"Professor Walsh would like to see you, Sir."



Tiredly, Riley nodded and headed for the briefing area. She was waiting for him when he arrived.



"Agent Finn." Walsh looked pissed, her facial muscles even ticking slightly as she talked. "I demand an explanation for your misappropriation of Initiative resources last night."



Resources... fucking lovely. Riley didn't respond immediately, taking his time to consider what he knew he had to say. "Ma'am, you have not been cleared for that information. Telling you would violate my standing orders and the Official Secrets Act of the United States."



Walsh reddened. "I suggest you rethink that Attitude, Agent Finn."



"No attitude Ma'am. Just following orders given to me by a three star General and the President of the United States, Ma'am"



Walsh stared at the impassive soldier for long moments before she finally bit out a response. "Get out of my sight."



Finn turned on his heal, and marched out.



*****



Finn dropped into his bed, not bothering to even try to soften the impact. His big frame caused the bed to shake as he hit and just lay where he had fallen.



"So what did you tell her?"



Riley would have jumped if he had the energy but he just lay there and spoke into the pillow. "Graham, how many times have I told you to knock before coming in here?"



Graham shrugged even though Finn couldn't see him. "I don't know, so why bother adding to the list?"



Riley groaned. "Get out of here, man."



Graham shook his head. "Nope. Come on, man. I'm worried about you. What did you tell Walsh?"



"Not a damned thing, Graham." Riley finally said, irritated by his friends presumptuousness.



"Good." Graham dropped into a chair by the bed, "I was worried that you would be pissed off enough at Harris to violate your orders."



That brought Riley out of his stupor. "Those orders were signed by the Commander in Chief, Graham. No matter what Harris did, I wouldn't violate them."



Graham nodded. "Good. I know your hurting man, but Harris did what he had to do... You know that as well as I do."



"That guy worries me." Riley admitted, "How the hell does he warrant the kind of support and firepower he managed to pull together?"



"I don't know..." Graham shrugged, "I'm just glad he and his friends are on our side."



"Are they?" Riley asked quietly, dropping back onto his bed. "Are they really?"



Silence followed those words, but Riley continued the question in his mind. Is he on our side? Are we on his? Or something else entirely?



*****



Walsh stared at the monitor thoughtfully, before turning to a technician behind her. "Have Harris' file bumped up to level one priority."



"Yes Ma'am."



Who are you, Alexander Harris?



*****



Jarod and Xander's Building : Sunnydale, California



"All right, now that is just really freaky!" Colonel Jack O'Neill said as he materialized in the basement of Xander's building.



"Come on, Jack." Daniel smiled, "Its not as bad as the first time we went through the..."



"Ahem!" Jack stared at Daniel, his eyes flicking to Phoebe and Leo.



"Oh... ummm... right." Daniel said, "Sorry."



Xander just grinned at the group. "Come on upstairs guys. It's daylight so we have time to catch some quality sack time before Patrol."



Leo hesitated, "uhh.. I'd better go... check on the others."



He looked at Phoebe who glanced between him and Xander. "Go on without me, ok?"



Leo nodded, "Ok. I'll see you later."



The group watched as Leo orbed out of the room in a brilliant show of lights.



"Really REALLY freaky." O'Neill muttered and shook himself slightly, as if to get rid of an itch.



Xander started stripping his armor off, carefully placing each piece into its place within the heavy steel cabinet. SG1 watched with interest as he locked it away under two levels of security before turning back to them, "Come on, let's go get some sleep."



The group followed him up the stairs.



*****



Xander was finishing up his shower when a cool breeze brushed across his back. He turned around and his jaw dropped a Phoebe joined him in the shower. "I... I..."



She closed his mouth with her index finger and smiled at him, "Not the most romantic timing, I'll admit but... Wash my back?"



Xander nodded, a little dumbly as she pressed closer to him and gave him a quick kiss.



*****



"All right, Rat Boy," Miss Parker began, poking Jarod in the chest with her finger. "What in the hell have you gotten me into?"



"Miss Parker?" Sidney asked from where he was watching the confrontation.



"Boy Genius over here," Parker spat the words slightly, "Just got me involved in a freaking war!"



"Jarod?" Sidney turned his attention to the tall man, using his best 'couch voice'.



"It was something that had to be done, Sidney." Jarod said simply, his face betraying his inner turmoil over the events of the past day.



"Jarod," Miss Parker said, slightly exasperated, "We just fought in a *war* where over five thousand people were killed. A lot of them at our hand."



Sidney's look turned form curious to concerned, "Jarod? Is this true?"



Jarod nodded, "Yes. Though I'd call it a battle... not a war. From what I can tell the war is ongoing."



"Jarod, you shouldn't be involved in this... this is very disturbing." Sidney began.



Jarod interrupted him, "What's disturbing, Sidney, is what would have happened if we hadn't been there to stop it. And the fact that we're at war and know one even knows."



*****



Xander and Phoebe dropped into bed, looking at each other uncertainly.



"We... uh... don't have to..."



Phoebe nodded, "I know. Timing sucks. How about if we just talk for now?"



Xander nodded and pulled her closer to him, speaking softly into her ear. "What about?"



She sighed, "About what happened last night. About what Riley said."



Xander stiffened. "I don't really want to..."



"I know, but your hurting as much as he is. Xander, you have to talk about it."



"Do I?" His voice was slightly wistful. "Do I really?"



"Yes." Her tone was firm, and she shifted around to look at him. "I'm worried about you."



He smiled, "I know. And believe me, I'm grateful. But I'll survive this, Phoebe."



"I know you will, Xander." Phoebe tilted her head up to look him square in the eyes, "But sometimes survival isn't enough."



Xander sighed, "Can we do this later? Please?"



Reluctantly Phoebe nodded, lowering her head to the crook of his neck. "Just promise me that we will."



"I promise." He said, and slowly closed his eyes as he felt sleep overtake him.



*****



"So," Jack looked at the other members of SG1. "What do you guys think we'll really see tonight?"



Carter shook her head, not offering an answer. Teal'C merely raised an eyebrow and looked distinctly uncomfortable without his Staff weapon.



It was Daniel who spoke up. "I have the feeling that we're going to see real vampires."



O'Neill scoffed. "Come on, Daniel. Aliens I could buy, but vampires?"



"Before you saw the Stargate the first time did you believe in Aliens?" Daniel asked lightly.



"No...." O'Neill trailed off slowly, "Oh no you don't! Don't try to turn that around on me..."



Daniel smiled, "Sorry, Jack... but sometimes it takes a watershed event to rid us of our preconceptions. I think we may be in for one tonight."



"Ok," Carter said, "I'll bite... What makes you think that?"



"Did you see the people Xander called in to help us?"



"Yeah, so?" O'Neill asked.



"Well, I saw one of them teleport entire squads into the SGC, another toss Jaffa around with a wave of her hands, another slip of a girl took on an entire squad of Jaffa in hand to hand and kicked their ases... And then there was the soldiers he recruited."



"What about them? They were good sure, but not the best I've seen... nothing special."



Daniel shook his head, "What was special was that Xander and Finn told them that we were up against Demons... and they believed them."



*****



"Well... that was a rather bracing affair." Giles said as he dropped Buffy and Willow off at their dorm.



"Don't try to change the subject, Giles." Buffy said in a tense tone. "You held back on us. You knew more about Xander then he was telling us."



"Ah... well, yes. I did."



"Why?"



"He asked me to."



"That's it?" Buffy glared at the older man.



"That was enough." Giles said simply as he started the car again. "I'm sure that we will finish this later, but I do believe that Xander should be present."



"Fine." Buffy glared some more, "But this is not over."



"Quite."



Buffy continued to glare at the old car as her Watcher drove off. Finally she relented to Willow's coaxing and turned toward the dorm.



*****



It was three o'clock in the afternoon when his moaning awoke Phoebe. He didn't move much in his sleep, but Xander's face was contorted alternately into aspects of terror, rage, and sorrow. The young witch tentatively reached her hand out lightly and stroked his face with a gentle touch.



And suddenly froze as the visions washed over her.



*****



"Hello, Elan." Xander said as he again stared out at the empty wastes that had been filled with monsters a short time earlier.



"Hello, Alexander."



"It's desolate here, isn't it?"



Elanthielle looked over the desert wastes that stretched as far as the eye could see and shrugged. "This place is as you see it, Alexander. It is a reflection of your own self."



Xander was quiet as he looked over the expanse for the second time, this time with a more concerned eye. "That can't be good."



Elanthielle smiled, "Do not worry overly about it, Alexander. This is an emotional reflection of your nightmares. I can rid you of the monsters, but even I cannot repair the damage they have wreaked on your mind so easily. But it will be repaired, in time."



Xander sighed, and settled himself on the ground. "I guess I'm pretty messed up huh?"



The ancient soul didn't answer immediately. She thought about his latest bout with the nightmarish realm his mind had created. The worst demons were no longer his attackers, they were his fallen comrades. Men and women who called out to him for help while he struggled in vain to reach them in time.



Sighing, she shook away her own reverie and turned back to the young man sitting cross legged beside her. She settled herself down beside him, matching his position as she did. "You are perhaps one of the most sane people I've known, Alexander. Of course, I am a weapon who has been born by some of the greatest warriors of their times... and to achieve that one must often give up a portion of ones sanity."



Xander smirked, "Gee thanks. Way to make a guy feel adequate."



Elanthielle's laugh rang pure and clean through the wasteland, echoing off of the very air as she leaned into Xander. "Oh my lord, Alexander." She laughed as she spoke, "Do not worry about your 'adequacies' child. For one with no preparations and training you survive remarkably well."



Xander's face grew somber. "Yeah... but... Survival isn't always enough."



Elan was about to reply when her attention was suddenly diverted.



"What?" Xander asked as he noticed Elan's sudden distraction.



"Your witch."



"Excuse me?" Xander looked at her as if she had lost her mind.



"She has tapped into your nightmares, Alexander. Probably by accident."



Xander whistled, a long mournful sound. "Great."



"One moment." Elanthielle seemed to focus on the skies for a long second.



*****



Phoebe suddenly slumped back to the bed, landing across Xander as the visions stopped and everything went black.



*****



Xander blinked when Phoebe appeared in front of them, the effects of the dreaming keeping him from being more then mildly surprised. "Hey Phoebe."



"Uh... hello?" Phoebe looked at Xander in confusion, "Xander? How did I get here? Better yet... where is here?"



"Welcome to my nightmare." Xander replied, sounding altogether too chipper considering the statement. "As for the how... well, thank her." He finished, nodding toward Elanthielle.



"Oh?" Phoebe stared at the very beautiful and semi-dressed woman seated by Xander's side. "And who is she?"



"Phoebe, Elan. Elan, Phoebe."



"Please to meet you, Miss Halliwell." Elanthielle rose to her feet and bowed slightly.



"Uhhh... Nice to ummm... meet you... Elan?"



"Elanthielle. Alexander does not often make use of my proper name."



"Elanthielle. I see." Phoebe shifted slightly, "Not to be rude or anything... but aren't you... well...?"



"I am Xander's Battle Staff, yes." Elan smiled at the obvious confusion. "I apologize for bringing you here, however you should be more careful where you exercise your powers. Tapping into Alexander's psyche could have had serious effects on your own."



Phoebe stared at Xander, a question in her eyes.



"Don't look at me," He shrugged, "She's got one helluva lot more experience in magic then I do."



Phoebe looked at Elanthielle, curious now. "How much?"



Elan pondered the question for some time before answering. "Three thousand years of practical experience, ten thousand of theoretical applications."



Phoebe dropped to the ground.



*****



"Hello?" Buffy walked into the building, looking around for someone.



Jarod walked out, "Oh, hello. Xander's not up yet."



"Oh." She paused for a minute, "Maybe I'll wake him?"



Jarod smiled slightly, "I don't think that would be wise."



"Why not?"



Jarod raised an eyebrow, "Other then the fact that he just got back from fighting a small war?"



"Point." She conceded. "You mind if I wait?"



"Not at all." Jarod said, "Make yourself at home. Just stay on this floor."



"Why?"



"People are sleeping upstairs."



"Oh."



*****



"Thirteen thousand years?" Phoebe asked weakly.



"Give or take." Elanthielle shrugged, "I don't tend to watch time very closely when I don't have a bearer."



"Oh."



Xander snickered slightly, "Welcome to my world, Phoebe."



"Thanks." She replied dryly, then frowned. "Wait a minute... you two can talk to each other when your awake can't you?"



Xander smiled, "We actually tend to yell at each other more then strictly 'talk', but... yeah."



"Oooohhh" Phoebe growled, "So *that's* how you keep coming up with all the weird solutions!"



Elanthielle grinned and mock bowed in a gesture, Phoebe noted, that came straight form Xander's repertoire.



Phoebe stuck her tongue out at Xander, "Cheater."



Xander rolled his eyes, "Sorry. Guess we can't all be one of the Charmed Ones."



The three chuckled slightly.



Finally Elanthielle spoke, "You should both get some sleep."



Phoebe looked confused, "Aren't we sleeping now?"



"Your bodies are, but your minds need rest too."



"Oh."



Elan smiled softly, "Sleep now."



The two young people slipped away, drifting into a dreamless sleep within sleep.



*****



Buffy settled into the living room after glancing around the first floor curiously for a bit, turning the large screen television on and channel surfing.



"Hello." The voice sounded patronizing as it spoke.



Buffy turned around, "Hello, Miss Parker."



"And how are we today?" Miss Parker sank into the couch facing the TV but didn't pay much attention to it.



"*We're* fine." Buffy replied.



"Good." Miss Parker put such a tone of perverse pleasure into her voice that Buffy actually shuddered.



"Don't mind her." Jarod said as he walked into the room. "She talks like that to everyone."



"I'm surprised she has many friends."



"She doesn't." Jarod grinned, as did Miss Parker.



Buffy shrank slightly into her chair. For a human, Miss Parker was certainly capable of a truly feral smile. "Right."



Buffy stared at the screen blankly for a while, trying to ignore the shivers that ran up her back as she felt Parker's eyes bore into her. She was about to turn and snap at the woman when another voice joined the group.



"Fuckin-A!" Crow exclaimed as he entered the room and dropped onto the couch beside Miss Parker. "I haven't slept in a room that nice in... oh five or ten months."



Miss Parker inched away from the man with distaste, "Really? I wouldn't have guessed."



Buffy rolled her eyes, "The jerk."



Crow just grinned and tossed a leer at both women. "I'm a fucking vampire hunter, ladies. Manners aren't exactly the most important qualification for my job."



"Your manners would hardly qualify you as human." Miss Parker said.



Crow leaned back, dropping his arms around Miss Parker's shoulder, "I could always prove how human I am."



An instant later he paled, his eyes dropping down to the nickle plated Smith and Wesson resting against his crotch.



"How would you like to have your 'humanity' spread across the couch?"



Her voice was soft, but there was little doubt in Crow's mind that she would pull the trigger. He quickly withdrew his hand.



Buffy grinned. Maybe I can get to like this Parker woman after all.