Title: Loose Ends
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: FROM NOW ON, THIS STORY'S BEING WRITTEN BY JANE MCCARTNEY AND STAIRWAY MAN.
***
[A few hours later]
The police lieutenant named Harlan was not having a good day.
Ever since this murder case involving Lance Randolph a.k.a. 'Neil Diamond' had been dropped into his lap by the brass, the LAPD detective had been completely, thoroughly and monstrously overworked.
This guy Xander Harris - the prime suspect - and, apparently someone named Faith Adams, had been on the verge of capture, abruptly and surprisingly deciding to surrender themselves to the cops at a warehouse near St. Matthew's hospital. When all of a sudden, everything had gone completely nuts.
And now all Harlan had was the insane testimony of the bluesuits present, that maybe aliens had come down and abducted the fugitives in a blaze of white light or something - plus, the story from the so-called hostages, Dr. Michael Penn and Nurse Kelly Marshall.
The middle-aged cop knew that there *had* been an unidentified third person present, a blonde woman; but she had quickly disappeared while all of L.A.'s finest were still out of it, and without even a good description of her that angle was pretty much a dead end.
Harlan turned around, and stared at the one person he hoped would be able to make sense out of this mess for him; one of his ex-detectives, Kate Lockley.
Now, Ms. Lockley had become something of a legendary story at the LAPD. She was tough, capable, had been on the fast track up the ladder of success, and the smart money would have said that in a few more years - she would have become the police captain of the precinct.
But then her father had died.
And the blonde woman had practically gone crazy afterwards, chasing after any weird case that had come to the attention of the police force.
Harlan hadn't enjoyed helping terminate her, after she'd pulled one-too- many stunts involving illegal procedure with some guy always dressed in black. But he had done it anyway, and it had been the end of their friendship.
Now however, the lieutenant had been given enough authority so that he was able to bring her back on board to solve this murder. And maybe, just maybe, restore the trust and friendship.
Kate looked back at Harlan, and made a subtle gesture to leave her alone with the witnesses. Frustrated at getting nowhere, he quickly agreed and left the interrogation room.
Ms. Lockley shoved some drinks towards Michael and Kelly, and told them in a neutral tone of voice, "You must be tired and thirsty, here drink up..."
The doctor and the nurse nodded their thanks, and gratefully took a long, cooling sip of that wonderful, delicious amber liquid. It wasn't beer, but after the long session with the police interrogators it was almost as good.
"How much longer are we gonna be?" Nurse Marshall suddenly asked. "I mean, I wanna go home and take a shower, I'm literally stinking here..."
"Same with me," Dr. Penn cut in, as he looked at his watch. "Although, huh, our shift at the hospital is almost due to start now..."
"Oh no," groaned the nurse. "I can't! Dr. Lewis is so gonna fire me, if I show up for work smelling like this!"
"Hey, you smell fine to me," Michael sent her a sly and punctilicious glance, as the curly-haired nurse blushed to her roots and looked down.
"If we could get back to business?" Kate asked impatiently, trying to ignore the subtle courtship byplay thing. "Now, if we could just go over..."
"How many times do you want us to give you the same answers?" Michael cut her off, annoyed. "Are ya trying to catch us out in a lie, or something? We already told you, we don't know what happened! We were in that warehouse, when those two decided to surrender. After that, we don't have a clue!"
Kate looked thoughtful, and suddenly and abruptly switched off the tape recorder. Michael looked stunned, "Why did you-?"
"We have some things to say, that are not police business," the ex-cop said seriously. "Now, I'm sure you two haven't been entirely truthful here-"
"Yes we have!" the two medical people chorused.
"Bull! I *know* you've left out some stuff - because either you think it's crazy, or that no one will believe you. But listen to me; I'm not a cop anymore, mostly on account of I've seen too much of what *really* goes on in this city..."
Kate looked impassioned, "I'm just doing a favour for truth, justice and the American way here, OK? Anything you can tell me off the record about these two, this Xander and Faith. Anything at all that'll help me solve Lance Randolph's murder? It'll be just between us..."
There was the long, dramatic silence thing. And just as Kelly opened her mouth to tell the other blonde all she had heard at the hospital and the warehouse - that Xander and Faith had come back from the future, to save the world from Evil - Harlan came back into the room.
No, damn it! Kate thought angrily. Lieu, I swear your timing truly and completely sucks!
"You two can go home," the older cop said roughly to the doctor and the nurse. "And Kate, seems that we don't need your help any longer."
What?! the other three people in the room thought.
"What's going on?" Michael was the first to express what the trio was all silently thinking.
"Xander Harris is no longer a suspect in this murder case," the policeman practically growled in disgust. "A witness has come forward, claiming that she was with him during the time we've estimated that the killing took place."
"Who?" asked Kelly in amazement.
"Cordelia Chase, his supposed second victim..."
***
Cordy quickly left the police station after making her statement to the cops, and rushed back to Angel's car - where Anya was waiting for her. "How did it go?" the former demoness asked the seer.
"Not that well, but good enough," Cordy said painfully, rubbing her wound as she got into the driver's seat. "Xander's in the clear, they're only after Faith now for escaping jail. It would have helped if you'd come along and made your own statement, ya know..."
"I told you no way, and I meant it!" Anya said sharply. "Those cops and their huge, evil, trigger-happy guns? They make me very nervous. And besides, I didn't want them asking me why I ran away after what happened to Xander and Faith..."
A pause. "So what exactly did you say?" the blonde inquired, as the car sped off into the traffic.
"That Xander was innocent," Cordelia shrugged. "That I was confused in the hospital, the gang on PCP that attacked us must have slipped me something to give me hallucinations - but that it's worn off now, and I can remember everything clearly."
She shrugged again. "It's actually the truth, apart from the PCP thing..."
"What about the so-called witnesses, who said they saw Xander at the scene?"
The ex-Sunnydale girl smiled a dangerous, shark-like grin. "Funny thing, but the spell's effects didn't hold up when I demanded to know who these witnesses were. When they looked at their paperwork again, they eventually discovered some inconsistencies..."
"Fine. Now, what's going on with you and Xander?" Anya suddenly demanded bluntly, causing Cordelia to look at her.
And almost causing an accident to happen, as the huge blast of a truck's air horn thundered magnificently in the street - making Cordy slam down on the brakes, to avoid a collision.
Cursing softly, the brunette seer veered out from the snarling mess of cars and quickly parked along the side of the street. "What's that supposed to mean?" Cordelia asked her companion in a way-angry tone.
"You know perfectly well," Anya practically spat out. "If you're thinking of trying to get your ex-boyfriend back, forget it! Xander's mine, we're gonna get married after this so-ridiculous fiasco is over. And I'm willing to fight you to keep him, if I have to..."
Cordelia was stunned. "Are you completely-?"
"Hey! Right now, I'm supposed to be in Aruba with my husband on our honeymoon - but instead, I'm stuck here in this ugly-looking car with you! I've seen that look on your face before, with a thousand cheating women, so I just want to know the truth; did you do anything with my Xander?"
By this time, the ex-cheerleader was so angry that she just blurted out the truth. "Yeah, we kissed!"
Anya's eyes went wide. "Oh, that's it! As soon as I get my powers back, I'm gonna vengeance both your asses!"
So saying, she grabbed hold of Cordelia's hair and started pulling; and so of course, the former Queen C did the same thing and the cat-fight was on.
"Look, Mom! Two women are fighting!" a kid in a passing station wagon yelled, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
"Give me a break," the mother just muttered to herself, as they passed the Angel-mobile.
"I can't believe Xander would do that!" Anya yelled, as they kept on tussling. "He kissed you? Oh, and I bet he kissed Faith as well! When we were surrounded by those evil cops, I just *knew* she was looking him at him all funny!"
The brunette seer had calmed down enough to tell the whole truth now, though. "OK, OK, stop! Look, I kissed Xander; but it wasn't the other way around, all right? He pushed me away, like at once. And Faith? Come on, she tried to kill him that time, remember?! You were right before, he is yours now..."
Slowly the hair-fight stopped, and the two women let go of each other. "Really?" Anya asked in a solemn, heart-breaking tone of voice, and a strangely hopeful expression on her face.
"Yeah, really," Cordelia sighed. "But only because I was dumb enough to give him up, all those years ago! And just for the record?" she then said in a snarky voice, as the brunette pointed to the engagement ring on Anya's hand. "If I had never left Sunnydale, that would have been *my* ring that you're wearing..."
Anya just snorted in disbelief, as the car started up again and they headed back to the hotel and the others. "Pfttt..."
***
Author: Jane McCartney
Disclaimer: All the characters you recognize belong to Joss & co. (all hail the crackhead). I'm just fooling around with his universe, with no intention of making money or anything.
Classification: Buffy-Angel crossover
Rating: PG13
Feedback: Yes, please! Doesn't everyone want it?
Email: janemccartney@bol.com.br
Distribution: Anywhere, I don't mind, just credit me and inform me where it's at.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Theo, who actually made this project a viable one with his amazing and wonderful work - I'm truly grateful for your help with the English grammar and all the necessary adaptations. You're my savior.
Note: This is my very first attempt at fan fiction, and English is definitely not my native language, so I'd be happy if you guys didn't go too hard on me - please. I'm just doing the best I can here.
Summary: [Buffy-Angel Crossover] Xander shows up in Los Angeles, and brings with him a secret that'll lead him into dangerous territory. Can he cope with that? And his friends, will they be there for him?
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: FROM NOW ON, THIS STORY'S BEING WRITTEN BY JANE MCCARTNEY AND STAIRWAY MAN.
***
[A few hours later]
The police lieutenant named Harlan was not having a good day.
Ever since this murder case involving Lance Randolph a.k.a. 'Neil Diamond' had been dropped into his lap by the brass, the LAPD detective had been completely, thoroughly and monstrously overworked.
This guy Xander Harris - the prime suspect - and, apparently someone named Faith Adams, had been on the verge of capture, abruptly and surprisingly deciding to surrender themselves to the cops at a warehouse near St. Matthew's hospital. When all of a sudden, everything had gone completely nuts.
And now all Harlan had was the insane testimony of the bluesuits present, that maybe aliens had come down and abducted the fugitives in a blaze of white light or something - plus, the story from the so-called hostages, Dr. Michael Penn and Nurse Kelly Marshall.
The middle-aged cop knew that there *had* been an unidentified third person present, a blonde woman; but she had quickly disappeared while all of L.A.'s finest were still out of it, and without even a good description of her that angle was pretty much a dead end.
Harlan turned around, and stared at the one person he hoped would be able to make sense out of this mess for him; one of his ex-detectives, Kate Lockley.
Now, Ms. Lockley had become something of a legendary story at the LAPD. She was tough, capable, had been on the fast track up the ladder of success, and the smart money would have said that in a few more years - she would have become the police captain of the precinct.
But then her father had died.
And the blonde woman had practically gone crazy afterwards, chasing after any weird case that had come to the attention of the police force.
Harlan hadn't enjoyed helping terminate her, after she'd pulled one-too- many stunts involving illegal procedure with some guy always dressed in black. But he had done it anyway, and it had been the end of their friendship.
Now however, the lieutenant had been given enough authority so that he was able to bring her back on board to solve this murder. And maybe, just maybe, restore the trust and friendship.
Kate looked back at Harlan, and made a subtle gesture to leave her alone with the witnesses. Frustrated at getting nowhere, he quickly agreed and left the interrogation room.
Ms. Lockley shoved some drinks towards Michael and Kelly, and told them in a neutral tone of voice, "You must be tired and thirsty, here drink up..."
The doctor and the nurse nodded their thanks, and gratefully took a long, cooling sip of that wonderful, delicious amber liquid. It wasn't beer, but after the long session with the police interrogators it was almost as good.
"How much longer are we gonna be?" Nurse Marshall suddenly asked. "I mean, I wanna go home and take a shower, I'm literally stinking here..."
"Same with me," Dr. Penn cut in, as he looked at his watch. "Although, huh, our shift at the hospital is almost due to start now..."
"Oh no," groaned the nurse. "I can't! Dr. Lewis is so gonna fire me, if I show up for work smelling like this!"
"Hey, you smell fine to me," Michael sent her a sly and punctilicious glance, as the curly-haired nurse blushed to her roots and looked down.
"If we could get back to business?" Kate asked impatiently, trying to ignore the subtle courtship byplay thing. "Now, if we could just go over..."
"How many times do you want us to give you the same answers?" Michael cut her off, annoyed. "Are ya trying to catch us out in a lie, or something? We already told you, we don't know what happened! We were in that warehouse, when those two decided to surrender. After that, we don't have a clue!"
Kate looked thoughtful, and suddenly and abruptly switched off the tape recorder. Michael looked stunned, "Why did you-?"
"We have some things to say, that are not police business," the ex-cop said seriously. "Now, I'm sure you two haven't been entirely truthful here-"
"Yes we have!" the two medical people chorused.
"Bull! I *know* you've left out some stuff - because either you think it's crazy, or that no one will believe you. But listen to me; I'm not a cop anymore, mostly on account of I've seen too much of what *really* goes on in this city..."
Kate looked impassioned, "I'm just doing a favour for truth, justice and the American way here, OK? Anything you can tell me off the record about these two, this Xander and Faith. Anything at all that'll help me solve Lance Randolph's murder? It'll be just between us..."
There was the long, dramatic silence thing. And just as Kelly opened her mouth to tell the other blonde all she had heard at the hospital and the warehouse - that Xander and Faith had come back from the future, to save the world from Evil - Harlan came back into the room.
No, damn it! Kate thought angrily. Lieu, I swear your timing truly and completely sucks!
"You two can go home," the older cop said roughly to the doctor and the nurse. "And Kate, seems that we don't need your help any longer."
What?! the other three people in the room thought.
"What's going on?" Michael was the first to express what the trio was all silently thinking.
"Xander Harris is no longer a suspect in this murder case," the policeman practically growled in disgust. "A witness has come forward, claiming that she was with him during the time we've estimated that the killing took place."
"Who?" asked Kelly in amazement.
"Cordelia Chase, his supposed second victim..."
***
Cordy quickly left the police station after making her statement to the cops, and rushed back to Angel's car - where Anya was waiting for her. "How did it go?" the former demoness asked the seer.
"Not that well, but good enough," Cordy said painfully, rubbing her wound as she got into the driver's seat. "Xander's in the clear, they're only after Faith now for escaping jail. It would have helped if you'd come along and made your own statement, ya know..."
"I told you no way, and I meant it!" Anya said sharply. "Those cops and their huge, evil, trigger-happy guns? They make me very nervous. And besides, I didn't want them asking me why I ran away after what happened to Xander and Faith..."
A pause. "So what exactly did you say?" the blonde inquired, as the car sped off into the traffic.
"That Xander was innocent," Cordelia shrugged. "That I was confused in the hospital, the gang on PCP that attacked us must have slipped me something to give me hallucinations - but that it's worn off now, and I can remember everything clearly."
She shrugged again. "It's actually the truth, apart from the PCP thing..."
"What about the so-called witnesses, who said they saw Xander at the scene?"
The ex-Sunnydale girl smiled a dangerous, shark-like grin. "Funny thing, but the spell's effects didn't hold up when I demanded to know who these witnesses were. When they looked at their paperwork again, they eventually discovered some inconsistencies..."
"Fine. Now, what's going on with you and Xander?" Anya suddenly demanded bluntly, causing Cordelia to look at her.
And almost causing an accident to happen, as the huge blast of a truck's air horn thundered magnificently in the street - making Cordy slam down on the brakes, to avoid a collision.
Cursing softly, the brunette seer veered out from the snarling mess of cars and quickly parked along the side of the street. "What's that supposed to mean?" Cordelia asked her companion in a way-angry tone.
"You know perfectly well," Anya practically spat out. "If you're thinking of trying to get your ex-boyfriend back, forget it! Xander's mine, we're gonna get married after this so-ridiculous fiasco is over. And I'm willing to fight you to keep him, if I have to..."
Cordelia was stunned. "Are you completely-?"
"Hey! Right now, I'm supposed to be in Aruba with my husband on our honeymoon - but instead, I'm stuck here in this ugly-looking car with you! I've seen that look on your face before, with a thousand cheating women, so I just want to know the truth; did you do anything with my Xander?"
By this time, the ex-cheerleader was so angry that she just blurted out the truth. "Yeah, we kissed!"
Anya's eyes went wide. "Oh, that's it! As soon as I get my powers back, I'm gonna vengeance both your asses!"
So saying, she grabbed hold of Cordelia's hair and started pulling; and so of course, the former Queen C did the same thing and the cat-fight was on.
"Look, Mom! Two women are fighting!" a kid in a passing station wagon yelled, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
"Give me a break," the mother just muttered to herself, as they passed the Angel-mobile.
"I can't believe Xander would do that!" Anya yelled, as they kept on tussling. "He kissed you? Oh, and I bet he kissed Faith as well! When we were surrounded by those evil cops, I just *knew* she was looking him at him all funny!"
The brunette seer had calmed down enough to tell the whole truth now, though. "OK, OK, stop! Look, I kissed Xander; but it wasn't the other way around, all right? He pushed me away, like at once. And Faith? Come on, she tried to kill him that time, remember?! You were right before, he is yours now..."
Slowly the hair-fight stopped, and the two women let go of each other. "Really?" Anya asked in a solemn, heart-breaking tone of voice, and a strangely hopeful expression on her face.
"Yeah, really," Cordelia sighed. "But only because I was dumb enough to give him up, all those years ago! And just for the record?" she then said in a snarky voice, as the brunette pointed to the engagement ring on Anya's hand. "If I had never left Sunnydale, that would have been *my* ring that you're wearing..."
Anya just snorted in disbelief, as the car started up again and they headed back to the hotel and the others. "Pfttt..."
***