*****



It was two and a half hours later when Xander and Phoebe semi-staggered into the living room, still bleary eyed from sleep. Phoebe greeted everyone and sank gratefully into an empty seat while Xander headed for the kitchen.



"Coffee."



Jarod grinned, "I figured you'd be up soon. Check the percolator."



"Thanks," Xander rasped out and grabbed a couple cups from the cupboard. As he filled them up he looked over at Jarod, "You have that gift we were getting ready for Willy done up yet?"



Jarod smiled, "Yes. Didn't take too long to set up."



Xander grinned back. "Good. We'll drop it off to him tonight when we take SG1 out on patrol."



"Your going on Patrol!?" Buffy asked sternly from the doorway.



Xander winced. "Not so loud. Coffee first, yelling later."



"Xander, you can't go on patrol..." Buffy started to trail off as her mind caught up to what her mouth was saying. "I mean... well..."



"Keep trying, Buff." Xander smirked as he watched the emotions pass across her face. "Eventually you might get the second foot in there."



"Excuse me?" Jarod looked confused. "What second foot? What first foot for that matter?"



Xander shook his head, "Later, Jarod. I'll tell you later. And yes, Buffy, I'm going on patrol with Jarod, Miss Parker, and the SG team tonight."



"I'm coming with you then."



He shrugged, "Fine with me. But you'll have to wait outside when we go into Willy's."



"What?" Buffy glared at him, "Why?"



"Because he'd never believe we'd follow through on the second part of the gift if you were there." Xander replied enigmatically.



"Huh?"



"Later, Buff." Xander edged past her with two cups of coffee and headed for the living room.



*****



Willow was barreling out of her dorm room when she ran, literally, into Tara.



"Willow!" Tara said in shock as she picked herself up off the ground.



"Ohmygod!" Willow babbled, "I'm so sorry... I'm just in a bit of a rush."



"Oh... that's ok... I understand."



"I have to get over to a friend's place..." Willow said as she helped the blond to her feet, "I'd invite you along but...."



Tara waited for her to finish but soon realized that that was as far as Willow was going to get. "That's ok... really... I have some homework to do..."



"I'm really sorry... I just have to go..."



"Then g...go..." Tara said as firmly as possibly when stuttering.



Willow smiled, half in apology and half in gratitude as she ran out the door.

*****



Xander looked over the motley crew he had sitting in his living room, occasionally shaking his head in amazement that no one had killed anyone else yet. Crow and Guiteau were sitting off in a corner, Father Cranston was chatting with Giles, who had just arrived. Miss Parker was alternately shooting glares at Crow and trading barbs with Buffy. God that's a scary combo.



The rest were more or less peaceful, though The SG team did seem to be on their guard around Buffy and Jarod. Wrong two, Jack, its Parker and Crow you should be worrying about.



"Ok, so we're decided?" Xander ventured, looking around the room. "Jack and Daniel will come with Jarod, Miss Parker, and I. Buffy you can show Crow and the rest around the vampire hot spots. We'll all meet at the graveyard down the road from here at midnight?"



"Why do I get stuck with the Jerk?"



Xander grinned, "Because he's the one who'll be in charge of setting up the Vatican team that will be assigned to this area. Who better to show him the sights."



"Hey, I've got my own fucking sights in mind right now." Crow leered at the various women in the room.



"Can I stake him?" Buffy asked, "Please?"



Xander sighed, shaking his head as he sank back into the seat. He turned to Phoebe. "You should get back to your sisters. Nothing big happening here tonight."



She shook her head, "I called them, it's quiet on the demon front in San Fran too. Leo can find me anywhere I am if they need me."



From across the room Crow piped up again, "Hey, now that the fucking war is over I want some answers."



"Crap." Xander muttered under his breath. "What about, Jack?"



"About your girlfriend there for starters, but her sisters especially. How did they pull that shit with the tossing people around with a glance and all that?"



Xander glanced at Phoebe, who shrugged and said, "It's not like he didn't see us in action..."



"You have a point. Still, this secret identity crap is starting to slip, you know?"



"Yeah." She said a little dejected.



"Well? Come on, and quit with the fucking melodrama already."



Xander was about to respond when a red whirlwind rushed in the door.



"Hi, am I late for anything big? I hope not, you know I had class today and I was so tired I almost fell asleep on Professor Walsh and she looked so mad that.... What's everyone staring at?"



"You fucking went to class today!?" Crow looked at her, incredulous. "You save the world one night and you don't bother to sleep in the next day? What kind of anal bullshit is that? You people should be out getting laid or something!"



Willow blushed bright red as she inhaled for the first time in almost a minute.



"What do you know?" Miss Parker said from across the room. "She does breathe."



Willow's shade of red deepened by several degrees, prompting a response from Jarod. "I didn't realize someone could turn that color and not have a stroke..."



"Enough of the redhead." Crow said after the chuckles had died down, "I want know about your girlfriend and her family, kid."



Xander tossed Crow a glare before he responded. "Nutshell? They're witches."



"Well, no shit." Crow said, smirking slightly at Guiteau who had paled.



"You work with witches?" Guiteau asked, a little stiffly.



Xander was quiet for a second, reading the change of emotions in the room quietly. Willow and Phoebe had stiffened perceptively. Among most of the rest there was a puzzled reaction, all except Jarod, Giles, and Buffy.



"You have a problem with that?" Buffy almost jumped clear of her seat as she glared at the two men in the corner.



"Thou shalt not suffer..."



Xander was on his feet instantly, "You finish that sentence and your going to be in a world of hurt, Crow."



"Don't threaten me, punk." Crow glared, coming to his feet. "I'm just giving you the company line is all."



Xander shifted his eyes to the priest. "What is the church's position on this?"



"Officially?" Guiteau asked quietly.



"For now."



"Hands off. We don't encourage teams to employ supernatural aid in the fight, but we don't encourage hunting of peaceful... entities."



Xander's voice was cold, "And unofficially?"



Guiteau didn't answer so Crow spoke up. "Some teams and their control officers have been known to employ a scorched earth policy when it comes to witches and other non-hostiles."



A long silence permeated the room.



Finally Xander spoke, "You tell your local 'control officer' that if he tries that shit around here I'll personally deliver what's left of his corpse to Rome. Same goes for any teams pulling that shit *anywhere* if I hear about it."



Crow nodded, "personally I don't give a fuck. I've used witches and even a werewolf once," He grinned at the slightly outraged look on Guiteau's face. "Whatever it takes."



Xander nodded, "Just so we understand each other."



Xander looked over the group for a long moment. "Plans changed. Crow, you come with my group, I think I can use your reputation. Everyone else, same as before."



*****



Tara got out and headed out of the dorm, her head was buzzing with the essay she'd been working on and she needed some air. The sun was setting but she decided to take a quick walk anyway.



She got out and headed toward the local club, a place Willow had called the 'Bronze'.



*****



Guiteau and Crow were talking softly to each other when they had managed to get some privacy.



"Fuck that Padre. You mess with this kid and he'll make good on his threat."



"I'm not saying we do anything, Jack." The Priest emphasized, "But we need to talk to our superiors about this. Besides, since when are you afraid of anyone Jack?"



"I'm not afraid of the punk, Padre. But I'm not stupid either. We mess with him over this, which I don't happen to fucking agree with anyway, and we open up another fucking front to the war. Don't be stupid, the vamps win if we start fighting amongst ourselves. And I like the idea of having the kind of resources this kid has on our side."



Guiteau frowned, "All right, Jack. But you know they'll find out soon enough."



"Yeah. I know." Jack conceded bitterly, "And some of those dumb fucks they assign to field teams are sure to try to cross the kid eventually."



"What happens then?"



"Then? Then we try to get things fixed up or we have to choose sides in a damned useless fucking war."



*****



Jarod and Xander led the two groups down into the basement of the building, quickly unlocking the weapons cabinets. Whistles echoed through the area as the group took in the assembled MP-5 submachine guns and Berreta pistols.



"All right, whoa! Time out!" Jack O'Neill looked down at the weapon he'd been handed. It was the exact same issue as the SGC had. "How did you lay your hands on military issue firearms."



"A friend." Xander smirked as he tossed out clips taped with bright orange along the base. "These are specialized issue ammo guys. Do NOT miss. Keep your shots controlled."



"What are they?" Crow asked.



"Magnesium soft tips, with a thermite fuse. Works like a delayed action flare... goes in, gets real hot."



Crow grinned, "I like your toys, kid."



Xander didn't return the smile. "Keep that in mind for the future, Crow."



"Don't worry, kid. I always do."



"Everyone, grab some stakes." The group armed themselves with wooden stakes as Xander opened a third locker. From inside they saw him slip a sword into an inverted sheath on his back, a dull black knife into a leg sheath, and a pair of nickel plated colts over his shoulders. When he topped it all off with a long black trench coat the groups silence was finally broken.



"You do know that you like you're about to go postal right?" O'Neill said.



Xander smiled lightly, "Camouflage, Jack. I'll explain it later."



"Right."



"Everyone ready?" Xander asked, counting the nods. "All right. Let's move then."



*****



The sun hadn't quite set, when Xander's team reached Willy's bar, and the place was empty when Xander and Crow kicked the door in.



"Hey!" Willy yelled from where he was setting up the bar. "You can't just come in here and do that!"



Xander walked over to the weasely bartender and stared him down. "You remember what I came in here a week ago to talk to you about?"



"No way, kid." Willy said, his eyes darting to the windows in case someone was watching. "I told you before, no way."



"I think you should reconsider, Mr. Snitch." Jarod said over Xander's shoulder as he handed the small man a sheaf of papers.



"What's this?"



"This say's that your working for us now." Xander grinned. "Unless you want a visit from *them*."



Willy looked at the papers and paled. "You can't do that!"



"Only if you make us." Jarod's voice was cold.



"Aw come one guys..." Willy whined, "You wouldn't do that to 'ol willy would ya?!"



"Not if you do what we say, Willy." Xander smirked.



Willy closed his eyes, "They'll kill me if they find out."



Xander looked at him, "So don't get found out. Here's the number, leave a message if anything big hits town. Or *anything* else that might concern us. Understood?"



Willy reached out and grabbed the card. Xander tightened his grip on it and held it tight until Willy looked up into his eyes. "You even consider ratting us out and trying to use this as a trap and I'll bury you, Willy. Alive."



Willy tried to bluster the steely eyed young man, "Your one of the Slayer's friends. You wouldn't do that."



Xander grinned, he'd been waiting for that line. "Jack, I'd like you to meet someone."



Jack Crow stepped forward, looking at the weasley bartender, "This the asshole who serves vamps and demons?"



"This is him."



Jack pulled out a Berreta and jammed it into Willy's shoulder, "You mess with the kid and I'll blow your fucking brains out. Got that?"



Willy started stammering. "W... who the h... hell are you?"



"Name's Crow. Jack Crow."



Willy went whiter then the proverbial ghost. "Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. I promise man, I won't tell anyone... I swear it."



The group smirked at the quivering bartender and turned and walked out. Behind them the shivering man poured himself a drink, and shakily swallowed it down.



"What the fuck is that psycho doing in town anyway?" He asked of the empty bar as he quickly hid the card Xander gave him under his jacket. Shaking he looked at the papers again. "Aw man, who'd have thought they'd sick the IRS on me!?"



*****



"What was that all about?" O'Neill asked as they headed away from the bar toward the closest graveyard.



"Willy the Snitch." Xander said simply, "He runs the demon bar here in town."



"Demon bar!?" Jack O'Neill asked.



"Local place where vamps, demons, and various obviously non-humans can find their drinks of choice." Crow replied, "Most large towns and cities have a few of them, they tend to hire mages and witches to put spells on them to keep the normals away."



"Look," O'Neill began. "Assuming I buy this crap... which I don't, I'd like to point out for the record... Why don't you shut him down?"



Xander shook his head, "Are you kidding me? Shut down Willy and we lose one of our best sources of information, and all the vamps that go there are on the street hunting instead. Not a good mix. We even try to avoid violence at Willy's unless we're looking at the end of the world, encourages the quieter ones to stay inside at night and away from civilians."



"Oh."



"Let's raid a couple graveyards, see what we can scare up." Xander grinned as he walked.



"Ah." Jack O'Neill said, raising his hand. "Could you *not* say it like that?"



*****



"So, if I understand this right, Vampires are human hosts of an alien essence?"



"Huh?" Buffy looked at Giles for help.



"Precisely, Captain Carter. Though the term alien might not be entirely accurate depending on your point of reference."



"How do you mean?" Teal'C asked in his stoic manner.



"Well... Mr. Teal'C... Demons were here before humans. A long time ago the rise of humans on this world forced the demons out and sealed many of the dimensional gateways that permitted them access."



"I am not certain I understand." Teal'C said slowly, "It is my understanding that early humans did not have sufficient technology to do combat with beings of the power you suggest."



"Quite." Giles said, unhappily. "There are many missing pieces in the histories I'm afraid... I'm really not certain how the demons were first driven out."



"I see."



*****



"So this is what you do for fun in this town?" O'Neill complained as they marched through the graveyard.



Xander shrugged, "Party at the bronze, hang out in the graveyards... its all good."



The group had walked a little further when Xander spotted the first vamp of the night. "Ah, our first contestant."



"That's a vampire?"



Crow looked at O'Neill, "What? The pale skin, evil look, dark clothes, and bad hair don't give it away?"



"Come on!" O'Neill protested, "You just described every teenager I know."



"Hey!" Xander protested.



"He does have a point," Crow conceded.



"Hey!" Xander tried again.



Jarod smirked and pointedly looked Xander outfit over. "I'm starting to agree..."



"Hey!" Xander said for the third time. "I do not have... bad hair." he finished lamely.



By this point the lone Vampire had approached the group and vamped out, startling everyone but Xander and Crow.



"That's a matter of opinion, kid."



Xander ignored the vampire, "Watch the hair jokes, Crow."



The group had fallen back as the demonic creature lunged at the only two who hadn't moved. Crow sidestepped and kicked the demon in the balls as he passed. "Look, kid. I'm telling ya a little styling wouldn't kill ya."



"Oh come off it, Jack!" Xander said as he jammed his elbow into the vampire's back bone, driving the creature to the ground. "Look at that mop on your head, where to you get off giving me style tips?"



Crow jammed his boot into the neck of the squirming and moaning creature, holding him down against the ground. "Kid, when you look as good as I do then you can get away with my casual 'devil may care' look. But you, you need to work on it."



Xander shook his head in disgust and turned to look back at the group who had started to cautiously approach again. "What do you think... be honest, do I need to see a stylist?"



*****



"And that is a vampire." Buffy said proudly as she watched the wafting dust drift to the ground.



"Indeed." Teal'C said quietly.



"Fascinating." Carter said as she leaned in closer. "What caused it to disintegrate like that?"



"The vampire is bound by demonic energy that is focused in its heart. Pierce the heart with an object that is born of life energy, wood preferably, and the demonic spirit is destroyed."



"Ok..." Carter said slowly, "But that still doesn't answer the question."



"Ummm yes, well... Demonic energy tends to rot and erode everything it touches so when that energy is gone there is nothing left to bind the creature's corporeal body together."



"So your saying that the energy that inhabits the human hosts is actually destructive to the cellular construction of the host? But while it's present it maintains cellular cohesion despite the increased rate of decay it imposes on human tissue?"



"Ummmm..." Giles slowly untwisted her words. "Yes... I believe that is an accurate explanation."



"Indeed."



*****



Tara left the Bronze, a little bored. She wished that Willow hadn't been busy when she stopped by to ask her to join her. Idly she wondered what the red wiccan was doing as she worked her way back through the dark streets.



She never noticed the dark shapes closing on her position as she meandered her way back toward the university.



*****