Title: Xander Harris: Year One (Chapter Two)

Author: Randall Stone

Disclaimer: All characters are belong to someone else.

Summary: Some are born to destiny. Others make their own.

Notes:
Spoilers: S1-4

Continuity changes: Hopefully everything will be explained in the
text. One note- Veruca tragically stepped in front of a bus the
day before she was going to be turned into a werewolf, so Oz will
be hanging around.

Also, when time periods are skipped, assume that season 4 happened
as in canon except where noted differently. I don't have a whole
lot of changes early on, and I don't want to transcribe the first
few episodes.

Category: B/X, a little B/R early on
Rating: PG-14- nothing worse than what's on the show.


*****

"Xander, I need to talk to you."

Bemused, Xander followed Anya out the door and into the courtyard.

"I thought I would find you here."

"Yeah, Giles' place is kind of our library substitute."

"Where is our relationship going?"

"Our what? Our who?"

"Relationship. What kind do we have. And what is it progressing
toward?"

"I...uh...we have a relationship?"

"Yeah. We went to the prom."

"Anya we scraped the bottom of the barrel and found each other.
That's not a relationship."

"I can't stop thinking about you. Sometimes in my dreams, you're
all naked."

"Really. You know if I'm in the checkout line at the Wal-Mart I've
had the same one."

"So I can assume a standing Friday night date and a mutual
recognition as Prom night as our dating anniversary."

"Anya, slow down and listen to me." Xander waved his hand to get
her attention. "You killed thousands of people in terrible ways,
and you're still happy about it. I can't look past that."

"But I'm human now. What about us?"

"Oh, you haven't killed anybody lately? Let's go steady then."
Xander sighed. "Anya, there is no 'us'. There never has been an
'us'. There never will be an 'us'. In fact, I would suggest that
you seek some major therapy before you get into a relationship with
anybody."

"But-"

"Goodbye Anya."

---
THE NEXT DAY

Riley sighed as he surveyed the mountain of student papers that
Professor Walsh had given him to grade. They were alone in the
lecture hall.

"You know, when they told me my cover was being a Psych TA, I
thought it would be fun. Kick back, catch up on some reading, check
out the coeds..."

"They should have told you more about me, Riley. Nobody coasts in
my classroom."

"No kidding. At least I'm finally getting some use out of my
degree."

"Cheer up soldier. When you get done with those, I've got an extra
credit assignment for you." Maggie approached Riley's desk and
dropped a slim manila folder in front of him. "Your first live
mission."

Riley opened the folder and skimmed over the first page. "Jeremiah
Jacobsen?"

"Tragically, young Mr. Jacobsen passed away last night. We have
reason to believe that he will be rising tonight. As it happens,
we're running low on vampire subjects. This will be a good way to
get your feet wet. We're leaving mission tactics up to you."

With that, Professor Walsh left the room, leaving Riley to his
task. He started working on the papers again, now with a smile on
his face and troop dispositions running through his head.

---

Xander sat in a booth in the Espresso Pump, fidgeting. It was
frustrating, really. Three years of facing down vampires, demons,
and other assorted nasties. Four months of intense training. And
he was still reduced to wisecracking Donut Guy as soon as he was
in Buffy's presence. At least he wasn't still carrying a torch for
her. And he'd found this really great deal on a bridge that he was
thinking about buying...

Xander was contemplating the dregs of his espresso when he saw a
flash of blonde hair in his peripheral vision, and Buffy slid into
the booth across from him.

"Hey Buff. How's college treating you?"

"It's good. My psych professor could use some therapy though."

"Well, she must be pretty good then."

"What?"

"It's like barbers. If you want to find the best guy in town, look
for the one with the worst shave."

"You know, that almost makes sense. So how's the working man's
life?"

"Not so much working any more. Dominos is now short one driver."

"What happened?"

"Not everybody gets my sense of humor. I know it's hard to believe,
but there you go.

"Look, Buff, what I wanted to talk to you about- I know you guys
have been busy with the college and everything, but I haven't heard
from you at all. Nothing about patrol, nothing when this thing with
your roommate happened..."

Xander trailed off when he saw a flash of guilt cross Buffy's face.

"Xander, I've been meaning to talk to you about that."

He settled back and waited for an apology.

"With us finishing high school and everything, well...I don't think
it's a good idea for you to help us out with the nighttime
activities any more."

"What?!?" Xander lowered his voice after several of the other
patrons turned to look at him. "What are you talking about?"

"Xander, this is a chance for you to start a normal life."

"You want me to just bury my head in the sand and pretend vampires
don't exist?"

"Willow, Oz and I have got a handle on the supernatural activity
now. And the risk of you getting hurt-"

"I accepted the risk when this started."

"But I didn't! You know what it would do to me if you got hurt?
What if you die because I couldn't help you in time?

"Xander, I'm not asking you, I'm telling you. You're not a part of
the gang any more.

"Eventually you'll see that it's for the best."

With that, Buffy stood and left the building. Xander just sat
there, stunned.

Slowly, a plan began to form in his mind. Buffy could keep him from
fighting alongside her, but he'd be damned if was going to stop
fighting.

---
JUST BEFORE SUNSET

Riley surveyed the position of his men. In front of him was the
fresh grave of Jeremiah Jacobsen. He was hidden behind a large
tombstone. Forrest and Miguel were behind the tombstones to his
left and right, respectively. Graham was out of sight behind a
mausoleum across from the fledgling vampire's grave, and Riley
could just make out the silhouette of Jose on the roof.

Riley settled back down to wait. His blaster was by his side, and
a police whistle was hanging from his neck.

Shortly after sunset the dirt over the fresh grave began to move.

Even though he knew it was coming, Riley was still a little
surprised to see a hand claw out of the dirt. He waited until the
vampire had pulled his entire upper body from the ground before
grabbing the whistle and blowing two short blasts.

Riley, Forrest, and Miguel rose together, blasters trained on the
vampire. At the same time, Graham stepped from his hiding place,
blaster at the ready. All five men fired simultaneously. Jeremiah
convulsed as the electricity poured through his body and then
slumped, unconscious.

"Man, that rising from the grave thing was creepy." Riley commented,
and turned to Forrest. "How long does it take to get used to it?"

"Hasn't happened for me yet."

Riley shook his head. "OK, let's get him out of the ground."

As they carried the undead body to the van, Riley didn't realize
that he was thinking out loud.

"Guess we were a little over prepared for that guy." He was
surprised when Graham answered him.

"Rather be over prepared than under prepared, sir."

---

Xander was starting to wish he had done a bit more preparation. He
had come to the Drunken Sailor thinking that vampires would be more
common on the seedy side of town, but he'd been on his bar stool
for an hour without any sign of the undead. And he wasn't sure how
useful his vampire hunting gear would be against the six drunken
Marines in the corner booth if they got out of control.

Xander was about ready to give up on this place. He was considering
other hunting grounds when a female voice broke his reverie.

"You look pretty young for a sailor."

"Yeah, I'm part of the youth outreach program," Xander replied as he
swiveled to face the stranger. "And it looks like I don't have to
ask what brings a girl like you to a place like this."

With her outfit and attitude, she was either a vampire or a hooker.
And thanks to the vampires, hookers didn't last long in Sunnydale.

"You're pretty sharp kid. Watch out or you'll cut yourself."

"Hasn't happened yet."

"Maybe you haven't met the right girl. Buy me a drink?"

"I think we'd both rather continue this conversation somewhere
more...private."

She nodded, took Xander's hand, and led him out to the alleyway
behind the bar.

"Hey, I didn't catch your name before."

"How rude of me." She chuckled before turning around in game face.
"It's Sandy."

She was surprised when the young man in front of her didn't recoil
in horror at seeing her true face. She was even more surprised when
he brought his right hand around and slammed a wooden stake into her
heart. If she'd had the time, she probably would have been
disappointed with the last words she would ever hear.

"Hi Sandy. I'm Xander."


*****

End of chapter 2. Hope you guys enjoyed- the next one should be a
bit longer.

-- Randy