Title : School Daze, (K)night Job
Author : Tenhawk
********WARNING!********
This story is NOT part of the Journeyverse continuum! This is the Sequel to 'Red & Gold'
*********WARNING!********
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners... none of which are me.
Summary: Life on the Hellmouth is never easy, especially when you're hiding a secret from the Slayer.
Warning : Crossovers ahead. (Yes Plural.)
Rating : PG-13 to PG-16; for mild cursing, violence, and demonic horror content... in other words a bit more grown up then the series... but only cause I don't have to suck up to censors.
Check my Yahoo group for the latest parts to this and all other stories by me, including the Journeyverse series.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Journeyverse
*****
Xander waved for the twentieth time as the elevator doors shut, then he stumbled back and collapsed onto the couch. "Damn I hurt."
"Then you probably shouldn't have kept baiting them like that."
"Shut up, you." Xander muttered as he glanced at the TV. "Show me the information on the meeting tomorrow."
The computer obligingly put the schedule up on the screen.
"Margaret Walsh, huh?" Xander said as he glanced at it. "We have a profile on her?"
The computer was silent for a moment, then put the relevant file on the screen.
"A geneticist? Degree's in abnormal psychology and basic cybernetics? What the hell kind of combination is that?"
"Unusual, but not entirely unprecedented."
Xander rolled his eyes, "Not everyone is Tony Stark. Weird... I wonder why they're sending a labcoat to talk construction..."
"Unknown."
"She's pretty good by this... Why didn't Tony hire her?"
"She didn't pass the psych test."
"Oh?" Xander glanced up, interested. "How so?"
"She was diagnosed with mild megalomanic tendencies and a very deep rooted belief that the ends justify the means."
"Great. Perfect candidate for a government employee. What agency does she work for?"
"Unknown. That information is unavailable in the files we were provided."
"Can you find it in any files we weren't provided?"
"Are you asking me to hack into government networks?"
"Yes."
Xander could have sworn he *heard* a smile when the computer spoke again. "Good. I already did. Here's the data."
Xander examined the screen. "SHIELD? Never heard of it."
"They are an all purpose agency that protects national security. They specialize in extreme cases."
"Lovely." Xander yawned. "Ok, I'm going to get some sleep... let me be until seven tomorrow, k?"
"Very well."
Xander stumbled into his room, calling for the computer to shut off the lights.
*****
The next day passed fairly quickly and Xander found himself driving to the university after an uneventful day. He parked the Impala and made his way into the University, quickly finding his way to Professor Walsh's office.
"Hello?" "Yes?" A blond man looked up from a desk. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Margaret Walsh."
The man looked at him suspiciously, "Who may I say is asking?"
"Alexander Harris."
The man blinked. Then he shook his head and got up, heading into an office to the rear.
A few moments later he reappeared along with a woman that Xander recognized from her bio pic. Margaret Walsh.
"Doctor Walsh. Good to meet you." Xander said, extending his hand.
"Who are you?" She asked, ignoring his hand.
Xander glanced at the blond man, "I'm Alexander Harris... I believe that you're expecting me."
"You're Harris?" She asked coldly.
"That's what my Stark Industries ID says."
"I'd like to see that, if you don't mind." The blond extended his hand.
"And you are?" Xander looked at him, sizing the blond up. Fit... Too fit maybe...
"This is Riley Finn... do as he asks."
Xander nodded and handed over his ID.
Finn looked it over, "It looks legitimate..."
"How old are you?" Walsh looked at him.
"Old enough." Xander said, taking back his ID. "Look. I'm here to get the requirements for the installation you want built. If you have time I'd also like to talk about security concerns..."
"We give Stark Enterprises a three quarter of a BILLION dollar deal and they send us... a child!?"
Xander stayed calm, having expected the reaction. "Ma'am, I've got more field experience then this howdy doody wannabe over here," He said, jerking a thumb at Riley, "What is he anyway? Marine? Ranger?"
"Marine." She responded automatically before thinking. "How did...?" Xander just smiled as he saw Riley stiffen. "Long story, and I'm not telling it to you anyway. Down to business, shall we?"
Reluctantly, Walsh nodded. "Fine. These are the schematics."
Xander frowned, "Schematics? I was told that you would be presenting me with the requirements for the installations... not an actual design."
"I changed my mind."
"Ma'am, you do realize that Stark Enterprises has some of the best military architects on the planet? We are more the qualified to..."
"These schematics will do." She said firmly.
Xander sighed and pocketed the CD. "Fine. You understand that the contract has already been signed and you have no recourse to reclaim any of our fee?"
She nodded. "I do."
"Good." Xander said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get some homework done before the sun goes down."
Xander turned and left, leaving Walsh and Finn to stare at each other as a single thought passed through both minds.
Homework?
*****
That Night
"Hey Buff!" Xander called as he slid into the library.
"Hi Xander..." Buffy said quietly.
Xander glanced over at Giles, "heya G-man. Anything hellmouthy going on?"
Giles sputtered, and wiped his glasses. "Would you cease calling me that infernal nickname?"
"Sure." Xander said easily, "Which infernal nickname would you like? Jeeves? Rupes? Ruperman?"
Giles sat down at the table, having finally decided to ignore Xander. "As I was saying Buffy... there doesn't seem to be anything critical on the horizon for now... It should be a quiet patrol."
"Wow." Xander said, "That's a switch... when did quiet and patrol become words you could legally put together?"
"About the same time you left, actually..." Giles said, a slight grin tugging at his lips.
Xander's eyes widened. "My god... was I just zinged by the brit man?"
Buffy smiled and nodded, "Yep. And it was a three pointer at least.... Though I think that 'Ruperman' has kept you on top..."
Xander chuckled while Giles stifled a groan. "Get out. Go. Patrol. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Buffy."
Xander hopped up, "Well, you heard the man. Let's go."
Buffy looked at him oddly, "You sure you want to come along?"
"Sure." Xander grinned, as he extended his arm to her. "I haven't had my fix of Buffy-time in months... went through withdrawal something fierce."
Buffy rolled her eyes, looping her arm in his. "Shouldn't you be... I don't know, in a broom closet with Cordy?"
Xander shrugged, "We have a date on Friday... but until then I think we've cooled things off..."
"A date?" Buffy asked, surprised. "As in actually in public?"
Xander smirked, "Sure... why? You think I'll ruin her rep?"
"Actually I was more worried about yours." Buffy smirked right back.
The two of them chuckled as they made their way out of the school and toward the closest graveyard.
*****
"So, how was your summer?" Xander asked as they strolled through the gravestones.
Buffy shrugged, "Boring, sad, tiresome, sad, dull..."
"And sad?" Xander asked with a sad smile of his own.
"Yeah." She said, her voice tinged with regret. "How'd you guess?"
"Spotted a pattern."
They were about to say something more when a voice brought their attention back to the present.
"Well, well, ain't this cute."
Buffy looked annoyed as she turned towards the voice. "Rude much? We were having a private conversation....."
She trailed off as she realized that there were over a dozen vampires behind her, then she heard more approach from the other side.
"What's this? A convention?" Xander asked as he unbuttoned the top two buttons on his jacket.
"Lets say that we're getting a little tired of the Slayer killing us off one by one?"
"So your going to let me kill you off all at once?" Buffy asked, hiding her nerves, "Isn't that nice of you..."
The lead vampire growled, "get them!"
Buffy and Xander instantly dropped into fighting stances, Xander easily sliding his pistol from under his jacket.
Buffy charged forward to meet the vampires as Xander spun around and opened fire on those attacking from the rear.
*****
Buffy's stake cleared her pocket as she reached the first Vampire, and she wasted no time in removing that obstacle from her path. Her eyes had focused on the apparent leader of the group as she flew through the first two vampires like a knife through butter.
Twin columns of dust were scattered by the wind of her passage as she met the next one, who intercepted her thrust, turning the stake aside and struck out with a jab of his own. Buffy rocked back as she felt the vampire's fist split her lip, then fell into a crouch and spun around. Her extended foot swept two vamps from their feet, and she staked one of them instantly before powering her way up into a jump.
Three vamps stared, dumbfounded, as the petite blond flipped over their heads and landed behind them.
Buffy whipped out another stake in mid air, slamming both hands back as she landed, and dusted two more undead idiots. She grinned at the look of shock on the leaders face as she came at him, then frowned as she realized it wasn't directed at her.
***** Xander fell into a crouch as he spun around, resting one knee on the damp ground and shifting his gun into a two handed grip. He actually smiled tightly as he noted the tight group that the vampires were standing in.
He almost pitied them as he opened fire.
Almost.
The first four took the strikes in the midsections, and were kicked off their feet and thrown back into their comrades. The shocked vampires fell to the ground, slammed their by their comrades, and then were covered in the dust of their previously undead, and now simply dead, allies.
"What the hell!?"
"Shit!"
"What was that!?"
Xander just kept firing, not giving the vamps a chance to run, let alone regroup. As he cleared the last of them that had approached from behind a barely audible whine from the gun caused him to frown.
Ammo's running low.
He straightened from his crouch and spun around, in time to see Buffy flip easily over three vamps, then stake two of them. He smiled, seeing that she was almost to the leader, as was obviously her intention. Then he frowned as he saw that she had left two of the vampires alive behind her.
Calmly, Xander lifted the Plasma pistol and popped two rounds off, one for each vamp. As they were incinerated he turned his gaze to those remaining vampires who were standing on the other side of Buffy.
*****
Confused, Buffy risked a glance over her shoulder to see Xander standing calmly behind her, slipping a strange looking gun under his jacket. She blinked twice, then was forced to turn her attention back to the fight as her slayer's hearing picked up a vamp charging her.
She blocked his fist before she even turned to look at him, then grinned at the shock on his face. "Tsk tsk... you should never try to sneak up on a Slayer... It pisses us off."
Then she stiff armed hin in the chest, driving him back two feet and cracking his ribs. Before he could react she slid her stake smoothly into his heart, and pulled it out. "See?"
His mouth worked once or twice before he crumbled into dust, but no noise was made.
Buffy straightened and looked at the three remaining vampires, who were still standing at shocked attention and trying to figure out how they lost twenty of their brethren in less then forty five seconds. "So... what was that you were saying before?"
The leader fell back a couple steps as the Slayer approached him. "I... well... ummm... I suppose live and let live is out of the question?"
Buffy actually laughed, and heard a dry chuckle come from Xander behind her. She shook her head, grinning. "Yeah. I'm afraid so."
The vampire swallowed. "Shit."
He watched wide eyed as the boy joined the Slayer, a smirk on his face.
"Well... at least his realistic about it, Buff..."
She shrugged, "What's your point?"
"At least make it fast."
"Sure. Why not?" She hefted the stake in her right hand, the suddenly whipped it at the lead vamp.
He felt a pressure in his chest and looked down in time to see the crumble of dust start to spread outward from his chest where the wooden stake was embedded. The only thing that came to his mind was a repeat. "Shit."
As their leader crumbled the other two looked at each other, a combination of shock and terror on their faces. In that one instant a dozen thoughts passed between them, ranging from Run all the way to their final decision. Fight.
They split up and charged the Slayer and the boy, game faces on and fangs glistening in the moonlight.
Buffy and Xander met them together, blocking the first blows and delivering their own in response.
Buffy drove her vamp up on his toes as her fist sunk into the creatures sternum, then she stepped back and pivoted, bringing her heel up and smashing his face hard. As the vamp went down she spared a glance to make sure Xander was alright.
Xander had intercepted the vampires first blow, and given a tug that brought the vamp off balance. As the creature swept past him, Xander twisted the arm and jerked it back. He winced as he heard an audible pop as the vamps arm was dislocated. The vampire screamed in pain as Xander lashing out with a heavy kick that broke its kneecap, and sent it sprawling to the ground.
Buffy half smiled, then turned back to her own vamp, her stake flashing down in a stroke that ended its undead existence. When he got back up she turned and saw Xander do the same, then return the stake to a pocket she hadn't know he had.
"Nice." She complimented him.
Xander shrugged, "I picked up a little Akido over the summer."
"And the gun?"
Xander's face clearly said 'what gun', but Buffy glared him down. Finally he chuckled and nodded. "Did I forget to mention that I work in Stark Enterprises Security division?"
Buffy shook her head and growled at him as they started to walk out of the graveyard. "How come it works on Vamps?"
"Plasma pistol."
"Huh?"
Xander sighed, remembering Jim's explanation when he had much the same response. "It takes in air from around you, superheats it with an electrical charge, then it bottles it up with some kind of magnetic field... After that it shoots it out... presto, crispy critters."
Buffy stared at him, then shook her head again. "Never mind. I should have known better then to ask."
Xander grinned, "probably."
"You do know that Giles and Willow are going to want details though... when I tell them." She grinned, looking at him slyly.
Xander groaned, "God save me. Those two could bore a vamp to death..."
"Welllll....." She said, "I guess I could be persuaded not to say anything..."
"Oh?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her, "And what will this cost me?"
She suddenly moved ahead of him and Xander's eyes were drawn lower until he was fascinated by the sway of her hips. "Oh, I'll think of something..."
Xander shook his head, trying vainly to clear it as he followed Buffy, walking her home.
***** The two of them walked side by side until Buffy's place came into sight, and they stopped at the walkway.
Xander shifted a little, looking uncomfortable. "It's been fun..."
"Oh yeah." Buffy rolled her eyes, "Nothing like a night of killing and maiming..."
"Hey, we didn't maim anything..." He grinned.
"I stand corrected."
"Anyway," Xander nodded his head up the walk, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah..." Buffy said, not moving.
Xander hesitantly reached out, his hand almost cupping her cheek when a ragged voice came out of the darkness.
"Buffy...."
They both turned in shock.
"Angel!?" Buffy practically screamed as she saw his naked and battered form stagger from the darkness and fall onto his face.
*****
********WARNING!********
This story is NOT part of the Journeyverse continuum! This is the Sequel to 'Red & Gold'
*********WARNING!********
Disclaimer: All characters belong to their rightful owners... none of which are me.
Summary: Life on the Hellmouth is never easy, especially when you're hiding a secret from the Slayer.
Warning : Crossovers ahead. (Yes Plural.)
Rating : PG-13 to PG-16; for mild cursing, violence, and demonic horror content... in other words a bit more grown up then the series... but only cause I don't have to suck up to censors.
Check my Yahoo group for the latest parts to this and all other stories by me, including the Journeyverse series.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Journeyverse
*****
Xander waved for the twentieth time as the elevator doors shut, then he stumbled back and collapsed onto the couch. "Damn I hurt."
"Then you probably shouldn't have kept baiting them like that."
"Shut up, you." Xander muttered as he glanced at the TV. "Show me the information on the meeting tomorrow."
The computer obligingly put the schedule up on the screen.
"Margaret Walsh, huh?" Xander said as he glanced at it. "We have a profile on her?"
The computer was silent for a moment, then put the relevant file on the screen.
"A geneticist? Degree's in abnormal psychology and basic cybernetics? What the hell kind of combination is that?"
"Unusual, but not entirely unprecedented."
Xander rolled his eyes, "Not everyone is Tony Stark. Weird... I wonder why they're sending a labcoat to talk construction..."
"Unknown."
"She's pretty good by this... Why didn't Tony hire her?"
"She didn't pass the psych test."
"Oh?" Xander glanced up, interested. "How so?"
"She was diagnosed with mild megalomanic tendencies and a very deep rooted belief that the ends justify the means."
"Great. Perfect candidate for a government employee. What agency does she work for?"
"Unknown. That information is unavailable in the files we were provided."
"Can you find it in any files we weren't provided?"
"Are you asking me to hack into government networks?"
"Yes."
Xander could have sworn he *heard* a smile when the computer spoke again. "Good. I already did. Here's the data."
Xander examined the screen. "SHIELD? Never heard of it."
"They are an all purpose agency that protects national security. They specialize in extreme cases."
"Lovely." Xander yawned. "Ok, I'm going to get some sleep... let me be until seven tomorrow, k?"
"Very well."
Xander stumbled into his room, calling for the computer to shut off the lights.
*****
The next day passed fairly quickly and Xander found himself driving to the university after an uneventful day. He parked the Impala and made his way into the University, quickly finding his way to Professor Walsh's office.
"Hello?" "Yes?" A blond man looked up from a desk. "Can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Margaret Walsh."
The man looked at him suspiciously, "Who may I say is asking?"
"Alexander Harris."
The man blinked. Then he shook his head and got up, heading into an office to the rear.
A few moments later he reappeared along with a woman that Xander recognized from her bio pic. Margaret Walsh.
"Doctor Walsh. Good to meet you." Xander said, extending his hand.
"Who are you?" She asked, ignoring his hand.
Xander glanced at the blond man, "I'm Alexander Harris... I believe that you're expecting me."
"You're Harris?" She asked coldly.
"That's what my Stark Industries ID says."
"I'd like to see that, if you don't mind." The blond extended his hand.
"And you are?" Xander looked at him, sizing the blond up. Fit... Too fit maybe...
"This is Riley Finn... do as he asks."
Xander nodded and handed over his ID.
Finn looked it over, "It looks legitimate..."
"How old are you?" Walsh looked at him.
"Old enough." Xander said, taking back his ID. "Look. I'm here to get the requirements for the installation you want built. If you have time I'd also like to talk about security concerns..."
"We give Stark Enterprises a three quarter of a BILLION dollar deal and they send us... a child!?"
Xander stayed calm, having expected the reaction. "Ma'am, I've got more field experience then this howdy doody wannabe over here," He said, jerking a thumb at Riley, "What is he anyway? Marine? Ranger?"
"Marine." She responded automatically before thinking. "How did...?" Xander just smiled as he saw Riley stiffen. "Long story, and I'm not telling it to you anyway. Down to business, shall we?"
Reluctantly, Walsh nodded. "Fine. These are the schematics."
Xander frowned, "Schematics? I was told that you would be presenting me with the requirements for the installations... not an actual design."
"I changed my mind."
"Ma'am, you do realize that Stark Enterprises has some of the best military architects on the planet? We are more the qualified to..."
"These schematics will do." She said firmly.
Xander sighed and pocketed the CD. "Fine. You understand that the contract has already been signed and you have no recourse to reclaim any of our fee?"
She nodded. "I do."
"Good." Xander said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get some homework done before the sun goes down."
Xander turned and left, leaving Walsh and Finn to stare at each other as a single thought passed through both minds.
Homework?
*****
That Night
"Hey Buff!" Xander called as he slid into the library.
"Hi Xander..." Buffy said quietly.
Xander glanced over at Giles, "heya G-man. Anything hellmouthy going on?"
Giles sputtered, and wiped his glasses. "Would you cease calling me that infernal nickname?"
"Sure." Xander said easily, "Which infernal nickname would you like? Jeeves? Rupes? Ruperman?"
Giles sat down at the table, having finally decided to ignore Xander. "As I was saying Buffy... there doesn't seem to be anything critical on the horizon for now... It should be a quiet patrol."
"Wow." Xander said, "That's a switch... when did quiet and patrol become words you could legally put together?"
"About the same time you left, actually..." Giles said, a slight grin tugging at his lips.
Xander's eyes widened. "My god... was I just zinged by the brit man?"
Buffy smiled and nodded, "Yep. And it was a three pointer at least.... Though I think that 'Ruperman' has kept you on top..."
Xander chuckled while Giles stifled a groan. "Get out. Go. Patrol. I'll talk to you tomorrow, Buffy."
Xander hopped up, "Well, you heard the man. Let's go."
Buffy looked at him oddly, "You sure you want to come along?"
"Sure." Xander grinned, as he extended his arm to her. "I haven't had my fix of Buffy-time in months... went through withdrawal something fierce."
Buffy rolled her eyes, looping her arm in his. "Shouldn't you be... I don't know, in a broom closet with Cordy?"
Xander shrugged, "We have a date on Friday... but until then I think we've cooled things off..."
"A date?" Buffy asked, surprised. "As in actually in public?"
Xander smirked, "Sure... why? You think I'll ruin her rep?"
"Actually I was more worried about yours." Buffy smirked right back.
The two of them chuckled as they made their way out of the school and toward the closest graveyard.
*****
"So, how was your summer?" Xander asked as they strolled through the gravestones.
Buffy shrugged, "Boring, sad, tiresome, sad, dull..."
"And sad?" Xander asked with a sad smile of his own.
"Yeah." She said, her voice tinged with regret. "How'd you guess?"
"Spotted a pattern."
They were about to say something more when a voice brought their attention back to the present.
"Well, well, ain't this cute."
Buffy looked annoyed as she turned towards the voice. "Rude much? We were having a private conversation....."
She trailed off as she realized that there were over a dozen vampires behind her, then she heard more approach from the other side.
"What's this? A convention?" Xander asked as he unbuttoned the top two buttons on his jacket.
"Lets say that we're getting a little tired of the Slayer killing us off one by one?"
"So your going to let me kill you off all at once?" Buffy asked, hiding her nerves, "Isn't that nice of you..."
The lead vampire growled, "get them!"
Buffy and Xander instantly dropped into fighting stances, Xander easily sliding his pistol from under his jacket.
Buffy charged forward to meet the vampires as Xander spun around and opened fire on those attacking from the rear.
*****
Buffy's stake cleared her pocket as she reached the first Vampire, and she wasted no time in removing that obstacle from her path. Her eyes had focused on the apparent leader of the group as she flew through the first two vampires like a knife through butter.
Twin columns of dust were scattered by the wind of her passage as she met the next one, who intercepted her thrust, turning the stake aside and struck out with a jab of his own. Buffy rocked back as she felt the vampire's fist split her lip, then fell into a crouch and spun around. Her extended foot swept two vamps from their feet, and she staked one of them instantly before powering her way up into a jump.
Three vamps stared, dumbfounded, as the petite blond flipped over their heads and landed behind them.
Buffy whipped out another stake in mid air, slamming both hands back as she landed, and dusted two more undead idiots. She grinned at the look of shock on the leaders face as she came at him, then frowned as she realized it wasn't directed at her.
***** Xander fell into a crouch as he spun around, resting one knee on the damp ground and shifting his gun into a two handed grip. He actually smiled tightly as he noted the tight group that the vampires were standing in.
He almost pitied them as he opened fire.
Almost.
The first four took the strikes in the midsections, and were kicked off their feet and thrown back into their comrades. The shocked vampires fell to the ground, slammed their by their comrades, and then were covered in the dust of their previously undead, and now simply dead, allies.
"What the hell!?"
"Shit!"
"What was that!?"
Xander just kept firing, not giving the vamps a chance to run, let alone regroup. As he cleared the last of them that had approached from behind a barely audible whine from the gun caused him to frown.
Ammo's running low.
He straightened from his crouch and spun around, in time to see Buffy flip easily over three vamps, then stake two of them. He smiled, seeing that she was almost to the leader, as was obviously her intention. Then he frowned as he saw that she had left two of the vampires alive behind her.
Calmly, Xander lifted the Plasma pistol and popped two rounds off, one for each vamp. As they were incinerated he turned his gaze to those remaining vampires who were standing on the other side of Buffy.
*****
Confused, Buffy risked a glance over her shoulder to see Xander standing calmly behind her, slipping a strange looking gun under his jacket. She blinked twice, then was forced to turn her attention back to the fight as her slayer's hearing picked up a vamp charging her.
She blocked his fist before she even turned to look at him, then grinned at the shock on his face. "Tsk tsk... you should never try to sneak up on a Slayer... It pisses us off."
Then she stiff armed hin in the chest, driving him back two feet and cracking his ribs. Before he could react she slid her stake smoothly into his heart, and pulled it out. "See?"
His mouth worked once or twice before he crumbled into dust, but no noise was made.
Buffy straightened and looked at the three remaining vampires, who were still standing at shocked attention and trying to figure out how they lost twenty of their brethren in less then forty five seconds. "So... what was that you were saying before?"
The leader fell back a couple steps as the Slayer approached him. "I... well... ummm... I suppose live and let live is out of the question?"
Buffy actually laughed, and heard a dry chuckle come from Xander behind her. She shook her head, grinning. "Yeah. I'm afraid so."
The vampire swallowed. "Shit."
He watched wide eyed as the boy joined the Slayer, a smirk on his face.
"Well... at least his realistic about it, Buff..."
She shrugged, "What's your point?"
"At least make it fast."
"Sure. Why not?" She hefted the stake in her right hand, the suddenly whipped it at the lead vamp.
He felt a pressure in his chest and looked down in time to see the crumble of dust start to spread outward from his chest where the wooden stake was embedded. The only thing that came to his mind was a repeat. "Shit."
As their leader crumbled the other two looked at each other, a combination of shock and terror on their faces. In that one instant a dozen thoughts passed between them, ranging from Run all the way to their final decision. Fight.
They split up and charged the Slayer and the boy, game faces on and fangs glistening in the moonlight.
Buffy and Xander met them together, blocking the first blows and delivering their own in response.
Buffy drove her vamp up on his toes as her fist sunk into the creatures sternum, then she stepped back and pivoted, bringing her heel up and smashing his face hard. As the vamp went down she spared a glance to make sure Xander was alright.
Xander had intercepted the vampires first blow, and given a tug that brought the vamp off balance. As the creature swept past him, Xander twisted the arm and jerked it back. He winced as he heard an audible pop as the vamps arm was dislocated. The vampire screamed in pain as Xander lashing out with a heavy kick that broke its kneecap, and sent it sprawling to the ground.
Buffy half smiled, then turned back to her own vamp, her stake flashing down in a stroke that ended its undead existence. When he got back up she turned and saw Xander do the same, then return the stake to a pocket she hadn't know he had.
"Nice." She complimented him.
Xander shrugged, "I picked up a little Akido over the summer."
"And the gun?"
Xander's face clearly said 'what gun', but Buffy glared him down. Finally he chuckled and nodded. "Did I forget to mention that I work in Stark Enterprises Security division?"
Buffy shook her head and growled at him as they started to walk out of the graveyard. "How come it works on Vamps?"
"Plasma pistol."
"Huh?"
Xander sighed, remembering Jim's explanation when he had much the same response. "It takes in air from around you, superheats it with an electrical charge, then it bottles it up with some kind of magnetic field... After that it shoots it out... presto, crispy critters."
Buffy stared at him, then shook her head again. "Never mind. I should have known better then to ask."
Xander grinned, "probably."
"You do know that Giles and Willow are going to want details though... when I tell them." She grinned, looking at him slyly.
Xander groaned, "God save me. Those two could bore a vamp to death..."
"Welllll....." She said, "I guess I could be persuaded not to say anything..."
"Oh?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her, "And what will this cost me?"
She suddenly moved ahead of him and Xander's eyes were drawn lower until he was fascinated by the sway of her hips. "Oh, I'll think of something..."
Xander shook his head, trying vainly to clear it as he followed Buffy, walking her home.
***** The two of them walked side by side until Buffy's place came into sight, and they stopped at the walkway.
Xander shifted a little, looking uncomfortable. "It's been fun..."
"Oh yeah." Buffy rolled her eyes, "Nothing like a night of killing and maiming..."
"Hey, we didn't maim anything..." He grinned.
"I stand corrected."
"Anyway," Xander nodded his head up the walk, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah..." Buffy said, not moving.
Xander hesitantly reached out, his hand almost cupping her cheek when a ragged voice came out of the darkness.
"Buffy...."
They both turned in shock.
"Angel!?" Buffy practically screamed as she saw his naked and battered form stagger from the darkness and fall onto his face.
*****