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.
*****
"Mr. Harris..."
Xander opened one eye blearily, "Huh? Wha? What time is it?"
"Six thirty."
"I told you to wake me for eight."
"I know Mr. Harris, but you have a visitor in the elevator."
"Huh? Who?"
"The blond. Buffy."
"Ah hell..."
"Should I keep the elevator where it is, Mr Harris?"
"No... no. let her up. And call me Xander, ok? My dad is Mr Harris... and I don't need to be compared to him."
Their was a pause. "Very well... Xander. She'll be up here in a moment."
Xander shook himself awake and grabbed the clothes he'd laid out the night before.
*****
Buffy stepped out of the elevator into the large room, looking around, a little surprised by how dark it was. "Hello? Xander?... Angel?"
"Just a sec!" Xander's voice came from his room. "Be right out."
She nodded and sat down on the leather couch.
While she was waiting the door to the spare bedroom shifted open. "Buffy?"
"Angel." She breathed.
He stepped out, wearing a dark maroon sweater and matching sweat pants. She had to stifle a laugh, it was so out of character from his standard black leather.
He caught her look and grimaced. "I know, I know... but this is Xander's, so I'm counting my blessings that it's not a Hawaiian print."
She smiled and nodded her agreement. "He dresses better now."
Angel rolled his eyes, but nodded. "What happened?"
"After you... left..." Buffy said softly, "So did he. He blamed himself."
Angel frowned, "For what? My 'death'?"
She shook her head, "Not exactly... He blames himself for... I don't know... letting it go so far? I'm not sure I understand."
"There was nothing he could have done." Angel said with certainty.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Buffy said, unsure. "I don't know. But he was hurt enough that he left... then I had a vision, and saw him die."
She closed her eyes as the pain of the vision floated back. Angel saw it, and started toward her but soon aborted the move and stopped. "I'm... sorry."
"Nothing you could have done either, Angel." Buffy said, "Things just happen I guess."
"Maybe." Angel said. "How have you been?"
"It's been a hard summer." Buffy admitted softly, "If I didn't have Willow and Giles... and Mom and Dawn... I don't know..."
"Family." Angel said. "They help you through the hard times."
Buffy nodded as Angel turned away, she barely caught a flash of pain in his eyes.
They really do. He thought, unless you kill them.
*****
Xander stepped out of his room, dressed to the nines, and saw Buffy sitting on the couch, studiously not looking at Angel who was staring just as focused at the wall. Whoa... chilly room.
"Hey guys." he said, forcing a bit of cheer that he wasn't feeling into his voice, "Up for some breakfast?"
Buffy shook her head, "I ate some toast before I came over."
"Toast?" Xander looked at her, "Come on. I'll make you a decent meal... Jeez, Buff... with all the action you see I don't think counting calories is high on the priority list."
Buffy reluctantly consented to being dragged to the table, then suddenly turned to Angel. "I brought you some... food... as well."
Xander paused, "Where on Earth did you find blood this time of day?"
She looked sheepish, "I busted into Willy's and woke him up."
Xander couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Oh that's rich. What did he say?"
"Before or after he finished quaking in his boots?" Buffy smirked.
Xander just shook his head and started grabbing things from the fridge and cupboards. "You're one of a kind, Buffster. Bacon and Eggs sound good?"
Buffy saw Xander break out the pans and start preheating them, her stomach suddenly growled as it got the hint that food was forthcoming. "Sound good."
Xander smiled, "Cool. Yo, Db, you want to nuke that stuff?"
Angel winced as he handled the small paper bag. "Sure."
"Help yourself." Xander pointed to the microwave on a counter.
Angel drifted silently across the room and quickly slipped the wine bottle from the bag. He looked at the label, worried that it might be human since it came from Willy's.
"It's cow." Buffy said quickly, "I made sure..."
He nodded and grabbed a large glass from the cupboard, pouring the blood out. He grimaced every second that the blood was in plain sight, quickly shifting it to the microwave and setting the timer to thirty seconds.
Xander went about his task of preparing breakfast, quickly cracking the eggs as the bacon started to sizzle in the black cast iron pan.
*****
After breakfast Xander gave Buffy a lift to school, leaving Angel trapped in the darkened apartment until the sun went down.
"Sharing an apartment with Xander of all people." Angel shook his head as he bowed to the boredom and flicked on the TV. "Something is really wrong with the world"
"No Kidding, How do you think I feel?"
Angel jumped straight of the couch, staring around in shock. "Who said that!?"
No answer.
"Show yourself!"
Nothing.
Angel swallowed. There wasn't anyone there, he was sure of that. He'd have heard breathing, smelt perspiration, blood, or something. After several minutes of stalking around the apartment he finally sat down again, shivers running up his spine as he looked around.
*****
Xander looked at Buffy after he stopped the car in the school lot, "You'll get through this."
She smiled over at him, her eyes uncertain. "I know."
"Come on," Xander smiled, "We'll walk to class and see Willow..."
"Ok."
The two of them got out of the car and walked into the school. *****
They didn't have a spare period until just before lunch, so Xander got to watch Buffy shift nervously in one class after another until her nerves were rubbing off on him.
He breathed more then one sigh of relief when the last class was finally over and they had their free period. They might have a hard time coming up, but at least it would soon be over.
Xander sat in the library, doing his best to appear calm on the outside. Inside he was all nerves. He knew that Buffy wasn't going to have an easy time in this meeting, and he was worried for her.
"Hey Xan."
Xander forced a smile and nodded at Oz. "Hey wolfman, how's it going?"
Oz shrugged. "Ok."
Xander rolled his eyes, straightened his face, and spoke in a deliberate monotone. "Cool."
Oz sort of semi smiled while Willow glared at him. "Xander! Stop making fun of my boyfriend."
Xander's mind lit up as he thought of a way to bury some of the nerves.
"OkifyoureallywantmetooIguessIcandothatforyouWills..." Xander said with a straight face, then took a deep breath.
Willow stared at him in shock, then raged. "Xander!"
Xander lost his calm exterior and started laughing, then stopped in shock as Oz actually chuckled out loud. Soon the two of them were laughing as Willow turned redder and redder.
"Stop it!" She glared at them, "That wasn't funny!"
This was the point that Buffy and Cordy walked into the room, greeted by the odd sight of Willow raging at both Xander and Oz while they laughed for no apparent reason.
"Ok." Cordy said dryly, "If this is contagious someone shoot me now."
Buffy glanced at her, a slight grin on her lips. "Don't say that too loud around Xander."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Giles walked into the room, glancing at the commotion with a raised eyebrow, but little reaction otherwise. He sat and tolerantly waited for everyone to calm down. Eventually his patience was rewarded as the last of the laughter petered out, and the two guys sat there smirking while Willow glared at them.
"If you're quite finished?" Giles asked, looking around at them. "Good. Now, Buffy, do you have anything to report from last night's patrol?"
Buffy fidgeted and looked around uncomfortably. "Well... it was quiet most of the night, but Xander and I were attacked by some vamps toward the end..."
"Many?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah... a lot."
"You're both alright?" Giles looked between them with concern.
"Yeah, we're fine, G-man." Xander grinned.
Giles rolled his eyes, but let it slide. "Anything else."
Buffy took a deep breath, "Yeah..."
Everyone waited as she looked around. She saw curiosity and concern on most faces, but when her eyes fell on Xander there was just a calm reassurance as he nodded to her. "Angel's back."
Eye's popped, jaws dropped, and at least one book thudded to the table.
"Sorry..." Willow whispered, picking her math book back up from where she had been sneaking in some reading.
"Good lord." Giles muttered, "Are you certain?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah."
Cordy spoke hesitantly, "Is he... you know? Grrrr?"
"He's *not* Angelus." Buffy said.
"But how can you be sure?" Giles put in.
"She's sure." Xander said, speaking up for the first time. "I'm sure."
"You?" Cordelia looked at him in surprise, "How do you know?"
Xander shrugged, "Cause if I weren't sure I wouldn't let him stay at my apartment."
"Angel's staying at your place!?" Willow squeaked out in shock.
"Are you insane!?" Cordelia asked shrilly.
"Hmmmm..." Oz mumbled to himself.
Giles waited for the comments to end before speaking, his voice cold and hard. "Even so, I don't see how you can be certain."
Xander took a breath, "I guess I should tell you what happened the night I left town..."
*****
When he was done speaking there was a long silence as everyone let it seep in.
"My god."
"Jeeez..."
"That's... so tragic. In a romantic kinda way..."
"Hmmmm..."
Buffy and Xander remained silent, letting the others get used to the idea.
Giles took a breath, looking around in agitation. "Very well. I don't see that there is anything else to discuss right now."
"Giles... I..." Buffy started.
"Not now, Buffy." Giles said, pushing away from the table. "I'll see you later."
Buffy watched, her face a mask of emotions as she watched Giles walk back to his office. "Ok..."
*****
Xander waited for Buffy outside the library, stepping in time to her as she walked out. "He'll get over it."
Buffy didn't look up him, "I hope so."
"Giles will be fine, Buff." Xander said, "You just have to understand that he has a lot of anger to deal with... and it's not unjustified."
"Don't you think I know that!?" She hissed, glancing at him. "But what am I supposed to do? Stake Angel?"
Xander was silent for a while, "If it comes to it."
"What!?" Buffy's voice raised, and she stopped in her tracks.
"I don't mean now." Xander said, "But you have to understand... if he becomes Angelus again, and you don't stake him... there is going to be a line of people waiting for the honor."
"I can't believe you!" Buffy was almost yelling now, "Last night I thought you'd changed! But you're still as jealous as ever!"
Xander glared right back at her, not backing down. "This isn't about being jealous, Buffy. If Angelus comes back, I'll take him down myself if you can't do it."
"I guess all that stuff about being ok with Angel was just junk then huh?"
"No," Xander shook his head, "I'm fine with Angel. Angelus is NOT Angel. You can't have it both ways, Buff!"
Buffy took a step back, "What are you talking about?"
"You can't say that Angel is innocent of Angelus' crimes, then use Angel as an excuse not to stake Angelus." Xander said, his voice hard and angry. "If they are two different people, then so be it. Angel's innocence doesn't transfer to Angelus anymore then Angelus' crimes transfer to Angel! I'm telling you this now so you can figure it out for when, or if, the time ever comes. Angelus is NOT Angel. You can't let him get away with Murder because they happen to have a time share deal going."
Buffy glare faltered a bit and she looked away, "Angelus won't come back... we know about the curse now..."
"Buffy..." Xander said hesitantly, "Curses were made to be broken. I'm not saying it will happen, but it's a factor you have to accept. If his soul goes bye bye, then it's dusty time for Angelus."
Buffy looked away, then stepped back from Xander and walked off.
Xander swallowed as he watched her go, wondering if he went too far. He shook his head and checked his schedule. It was already shaping up to be another long day.
*****
After school Xander found Buffy waiting for him by his car. He didn't say anything, just keyed the door locks and silently opened the passenger side door for her, and got into the drivers side himself. He sat there for a few moments, not touching the key.
Finally he turned to look at Buffy, "I'm not going to apologize for what I said, but I am sorry that it had to be said. I wish things were simpler, Buffy."
"I know." She said tonelessly. "I know, Xander."
Xander nodded and turned the key, starting the engine and pulling out of the school parking lot.
*****
The made it to his apartment in silence, and were in the elevator on the way up before either of them spoke.
"Xander... I..." Buffy started, but the doors opened on the apartment before she could get any further.
Xander motioned her in, then followed as the doors shut behind him.
"Angel?"
"DB?"
Angel was still wearing the maroon jumpsuit that Xander had given him. And he looked distinctly out of place standing in the center of the room, staring around himself suspiciously.
"Xander... someone's in here."
Xander looked around, worried, and double timed it to his room where he picked up his pistol. He came out, looking at Angel, "Where?"
"I don't know!" Angel said, frustrated. "I can't smell them, or hear them... but they're here!"
Xander moved across the room, tapping a command into the keyboard by his couch. The TV came online, showing a layout of the room with two bright dots and one rather nebulous circle. He shook his head, "There's no one in here."
Angel looked around, "I heard her. She spoke."
Xander had a sinking sensation in his gut, "What did she say?"
Angel frowned, "Well... I said something about the world being screwy cause I was living in your apartment..." "And?"
"The voice muttered something like... How do you think I feel?"
Xander silently counted to ten, then blew up anyway. "That's it!"
Buffy and Angel looked at Xander in shock as he raged.
"That is IT! I'm getting that dull Axe I mentioned, and when I'm done with you, you'd better bet that Rhodey is next on my list!" Xander fumed as he tore through the room.
Just as the two of them both came to the conclusion that Xander had flipped, a voice came out of nowhere, and it sounded smug. "You don't know where my central core is."
"Oh don't you think that'll stop me!" Xander threatened the ceiling. "I give you one simple instruction, keep quiet while there are others here, and can you do it!? Nooooo..."
"But he's been here for *hours*!" The voice whined, "You have no idea how boring it is to have to keep quiet..."
Xander stopped and stared at the ceiling in shock. "Boring!? Surf the damn net or something!"
"I am... but I finished it last night."
"Xander...?" Buffy asked, her face confused.
"What!?" Xander turned on her, snapping before he thought about it. He quickly calmed down, "What?"
"What's going on?" She asked as softly and quietly as she could manage.
"Just my pain in the ASS computer, showing off!"
"I was NOT showing off!" The computer voice came back, "I was merely commiserating with the vampire over our mutual misfortune."
Angel started snickering.
Xander spun on him, "Oh, don't you start laughing...!"
That did it, both Angel and Buffy broke down, neither really understanding the joke but both knowing that it was somehow very funny.
Xander stood there in the center of his apartment, sighing into his hands. "Computer... Get me Jim on the line. NOW." "Yes Sir."
*****
Jim Rhodes looked up as his office screen came online, he smiled when he noticed Xander on the other side. He lost the smile when he noticed Xander's expression. Uh oh.
"Hello, Kid... what's up?"
"What the hell is wrong with this computer system you gave me, Jim!?"
Jim's normally impassive face cracked just a little. "Nothing... much."
"Jim, this poor excuse for a commodore 64 just revealed itself to my friends."
"So?"
"So!? I was kinda hoping for a little more undercover time then TWO DAYS."
Jim looked in the background and saw that there were two people roaring with laughter, and he suddenly figured out that there was more to it then blowing his 'cover'. "Let me guess... you don't like it's sense of humor?"
"Is that what that's supposed to be!?" Xander fumed, "Jim, what the hell did you give me?"
"Well... it's a factory reject model." Jim grinned, "We had some problems with the personality matrix."
"Oh that's just fabulous. You couldn't have given me one that wasn't a retard?" Xander looked around as the lights dimmed in his apartment, "Cut that out, you!"
Jim chuckled as the lights came back on full. "Sorry, but you know the AI's are very sought after... I just couldn't give you one that's meant for a client... and there's a waiting list."
"Then why give me one at all, dammit!?" Xander asked. "This thing can't even let someone use the TV remote on there own... OR go to the bathroom."
Jim saw the blond who was laughing in the background pop up, her eyes wide. "That's what Willow wanted to do an exorcism for!? Oh God, wait t'ill she finds out that she wanted to do an exorcism for a computer program!" Then the blond burst out laughing again.
Jim saw Xander collapse into his couch, groaning. "Do you see what you're doing to me here, Jim!?"
Jim just laughed at him, ""Live with it. The AI won't give away anything it's not supposed to." Xander's eyes narrowed. "Nothing it's not... You set me up!"
"Gotta go. Cya."
Jim flicked off the comm, still grinning, then dialed Tony.
*****
Xander collapsed back in his couch and groaned. "That bastard set me up!"
Behind him he could still hear Buffy laughing, but at least Angel had finally shut up. "Computer..."
"Yes?"
Xander was silent for a long moment, before he sighed. "I'm rescinding my previous orders about keeping quiet."
"Yes Sir."
"Oh, *now* you're polite and obedient." Xander said sarcastically.
"Yes Sir."
"You better pray I don't wake up some night and decide to... oh, I don't know, run an overload pulse through my pistol!" Xander snapped.
Buffy stopped laughing finally when the computer made no response to that. "What does that mean?"
Xander looked at her, "I just threatened to erase it's memory core with an EMP."
"A what!?"
"Big magnet." Xander said.
"Oh." Buffy stopped and considered, "Xander! That's cruel!"
"Thank you, Miss Summers." The computer spoke up.
Xander groaned again, "You shut up! No brown nosing the guests!"
"Xander!"
"I like her." Came a mock whisper from the ceiling. "Alright, that's it!" Xander grumbled, getting up.
"Xander... where are you going?"
"Out!" Xander grumbled. "Away from that... whatever it is!"
Buffy looked at Angel apologetically, "Sorry... I'll be back."
The she followed Xander into the elevator, leaving Angel alone in the apartment once again. Or not so alone.
The 240 year old vampire looked up at the ceiling, "I don't suppose you play chess?"
*****
READ THIS!! :
If you want more stories/faster updates in this and/or the Journeyverse series don't ask me. Just go to my Yahoo group and check it out for DAILY updates. I only post here when I get around to it... which can be any stretch of time at all. FF.Net simply isn't a priority given the recent uncertainties in posting here. So far I've been lucky, none of my fics have been deleted, but a lot of stories are biting the big one for little to no reason.
www.groups.yahoo.com/groups/journeyverse
********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.
*****
"Mr. Harris..."
Xander opened one eye blearily, "Huh? Wha? What time is it?"
"Six thirty."
"I told you to wake me for eight."
"I know Mr. Harris, but you have a visitor in the elevator."
"Huh? Who?"
"The blond. Buffy."
"Ah hell..."
"Should I keep the elevator where it is, Mr Harris?"
"No... no. let her up. And call me Xander, ok? My dad is Mr Harris... and I don't need to be compared to him."
Their was a pause. "Very well... Xander. She'll be up here in a moment."
Xander shook himself awake and grabbed the clothes he'd laid out the night before.
*****
Buffy stepped out of the elevator into the large room, looking around, a little surprised by how dark it was. "Hello? Xander?... Angel?"
"Just a sec!" Xander's voice came from his room. "Be right out."
She nodded and sat down on the leather couch.
While she was waiting the door to the spare bedroom shifted open. "Buffy?"
"Angel." She breathed.
He stepped out, wearing a dark maroon sweater and matching sweat pants. She had to stifle a laugh, it was so out of character from his standard black leather.
He caught her look and grimaced. "I know, I know... but this is Xander's, so I'm counting my blessings that it's not a Hawaiian print."
She smiled and nodded her agreement. "He dresses better now."
Angel rolled his eyes, but nodded. "What happened?"
"After you... left..." Buffy said softly, "So did he. He blamed himself."
Angel frowned, "For what? My 'death'?"
She shook her head, "Not exactly... He blames himself for... I don't know... letting it go so far? I'm not sure I understand."
"There was nothing he could have done." Angel said with certainty.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Buffy said, unsure. "I don't know. But he was hurt enough that he left... then I had a vision, and saw him die."
She closed her eyes as the pain of the vision floated back. Angel saw it, and started toward her but soon aborted the move and stopped. "I'm... sorry."
"Nothing you could have done either, Angel." Buffy said, "Things just happen I guess."
"Maybe." Angel said. "How have you been?"
"It's been a hard summer." Buffy admitted softly, "If I didn't have Willow and Giles... and Mom and Dawn... I don't know..."
"Family." Angel said. "They help you through the hard times."
Buffy nodded as Angel turned away, she barely caught a flash of pain in his eyes.
They really do. He thought, unless you kill them.
*****
Xander stepped out of his room, dressed to the nines, and saw Buffy sitting on the couch, studiously not looking at Angel who was staring just as focused at the wall. Whoa... chilly room.
"Hey guys." he said, forcing a bit of cheer that he wasn't feeling into his voice, "Up for some breakfast?"
Buffy shook her head, "I ate some toast before I came over."
"Toast?" Xander looked at her, "Come on. I'll make you a decent meal... Jeez, Buff... with all the action you see I don't think counting calories is high on the priority list."
Buffy reluctantly consented to being dragged to the table, then suddenly turned to Angel. "I brought you some... food... as well."
Xander paused, "Where on Earth did you find blood this time of day?"
She looked sheepish, "I busted into Willy's and woke him up."
Xander couldn't help it, he burst out laughing. "Oh that's rich. What did he say?"
"Before or after he finished quaking in his boots?" Buffy smirked.
Xander just shook his head and started grabbing things from the fridge and cupboards. "You're one of a kind, Buffster. Bacon and Eggs sound good?"
Buffy saw Xander break out the pans and start preheating them, her stomach suddenly growled as it got the hint that food was forthcoming. "Sound good."
Xander smiled, "Cool. Yo, Db, you want to nuke that stuff?"
Angel winced as he handled the small paper bag. "Sure."
"Help yourself." Xander pointed to the microwave on a counter.
Angel drifted silently across the room and quickly slipped the wine bottle from the bag. He looked at the label, worried that it might be human since it came from Willy's.
"It's cow." Buffy said quickly, "I made sure..."
He nodded and grabbed a large glass from the cupboard, pouring the blood out. He grimaced every second that the blood was in plain sight, quickly shifting it to the microwave and setting the timer to thirty seconds.
Xander went about his task of preparing breakfast, quickly cracking the eggs as the bacon started to sizzle in the black cast iron pan.
*****
After breakfast Xander gave Buffy a lift to school, leaving Angel trapped in the darkened apartment until the sun went down.
"Sharing an apartment with Xander of all people." Angel shook his head as he bowed to the boredom and flicked on the TV. "Something is really wrong with the world"
"No Kidding, How do you think I feel?"
Angel jumped straight of the couch, staring around in shock. "Who said that!?"
No answer.
"Show yourself!"
Nothing.
Angel swallowed. There wasn't anyone there, he was sure of that. He'd have heard breathing, smelt perspiration, blood, or something. After several minutes of stalking around the apartment he finally sat down again, shivers running up his spine as he looked around.
*****
Xander looked at Buffy after he stopped the car in the school lot, "You'll get through this."
She smiled over at him, her eyes uncertain. "I know."
"Come on," Xander smiled, "We'll walk to class and see Willow..."
"Ok."
The two of them got out of the car and walked into the school. *****
They didn't have a spare period until just before lunch, so Xander got to watch Buffy shift nervously in one class after another until her nerves were rubbing off on him.
He breathed more then one sigh of relief when the last class was finally over and they had their free period. They might have a hard time coming up, but at least it would soon be over.
Xander sat in the library, doing his best to appear calm on the outside. Inside he was all nerves. He knew that Buffy wasn't going to have an easy time in this meeting, and he was worried for her.
"Hey Xan."
Xander forced a smile and nodded at Oz. "Hey wolfman, how's it going?"
Oz shrugged. "Ok."
Xander rolled his eyes, straightened his face, and spoke in a deliberate monotone. "Cool."
Oz sort of semi smiled while Willow glared at him. "Xander! Stop making fun of my boyfriend."
Xander's mind lit up as he thought of a way to bury some of the nerves.
"OkifyoureallywantmetooIguessIcandothatforyouWills..." Xander said with a straight face, then took a deep breath.
Willow stared at him in shock, then raged. "Xander!"
Xander lost his calm exterior and started laughing, then stopped in shock as Oz actually chuckled out loud. Soon the two of them were laughing as Willow turned redder and redder.
"Stop it!" She glared at them, "That wasn't funny!"
This was the point that Buffy and Cordy walked into the room, greeted by the odd sight of Willow raging at both Xander and Oz while they laughed for no apparent reason.
"Ok." Cordy said dryly, "If this is contagious someone shoot me now."
Buffy glanced at her, a slight grin on her lips. "Don't say that too loud around Xander."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
Giles walked into the room, glancing at the commotion with a raised eyebrow, but little reaction otherwise. He sat and tolerantly waited for everyone to calm down. Eventually his patience was rewarded as the last of the laughter petered out, and the two guys sat there smirking while Willow glared at them.
"If you're quite finished?" Giles asked, looking around at them. "Good. Now, Buffy, do you have anything to report from last night's patrol?"
Buffy fidgeted and looked around uncomfortably. "Well... it was quiet most of the night, but Xander and I were attacked by some vamps toward the end..."
"Many?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah... a lot."
"You're both alright?" Giles looked between them with concern.
"Yeah, we're fine, G-man." Xander grinned.
Giles rolled his eyes, but let it slide. "Anything else."
Buffy took a deep breath, "Yeah..."
Everyone waited as she looked around. She saw curiosity and concern on most faces, but when her eyes fell on Xander there was just a calm reassurance as he nodded to her. "Angel's back."
Eye's popped, jaws dropped, and at least one book thudded to the table.
"Sorry..." Willow whispered, picking her math book back up from where she had been sneaking in some reading.
"Good lord." Giles muttered, "Are you certain?"
Buffy nodded, "Yeah."
Cordy spoke hesitantly, "Is he... you know? Grrrr?"
"He's *not* Angelus." Buffy said.
"But how can you be sure?" Giles put in.
"She's sure." Xander said, speaking up for the first time. "I'm sure."
"You?" Cordelia looked at him in surprise, "How do you know?"
Xander shrugged, "Cause if I weren't sure I wouldn't let him stay at my apartment."
"Angel's staying at your place!?" Willow squeaked out in shock.
"Are you insane!?" Cordelia asked shrilly.
"Hmmmm..." Oz mumbled to himself.
Giles waited for the comments to end before speaking, his voice cold and hard. "Even so, I don't see how you can be certain."
Xander took a breath, "I guess I should tell you what happened the night I left town..."
*****
When he was done speaking there was a long silence as everyone let it seep in.
"My god."
"Jeeez..."
"That's... so tragic. In a romantic kinda way..."
"Hmmmm..."
Buffy and Xander remained silent, letting the others get used to the idea.
Giles took a breath, looking around in agitation. "Very well. I don't see that there is anything else to discuss right now."
"Giles... I..." Buffy started.
"Not now, Buffy." Giles said, pushing away from the table. "I'll see you later."
Buffy watched, her face a mask of emotions as she watched Giles walk back to his office. "Ok..."
*****
Xander waited for Buffy outside the library, stepping in time to her as she walked out. "He'll get over it."
Buffy didn't look up him, "I hope so."
"Giles will be fine, Buff." Xander said, "You just have to understand that he has a lot of anger to deal with... and it's not unjustified."
"Don't you think I know that!?" She hissed, glancing at him. "But what am I supposed to do? Stake Angel?"
Xander was silent for a while, "If it comes to it."
"What!?" Buffy's voice raised, and she stopped in her tracks.
"I don't mean now." Xander said, "But you have to understand... if he becomes Angelus again, and you don't stake him... there is going to be a line of people waiting for the honor."
"I can't believe you!" Buffy was almost yelling now, "Last night I thought you'd changed! But you're still as jealous as ever!"
Xander glared right back at her, not backing down. "This isn't about being jealous, Buffy. If Angelus comes back, I'll take him down myself if you can't do it."
"I guess all that stuff about being ok with Angel was just junk then huh?"
"No," Xander shook his head, "I'm fine with Angel. Angelus is NOT Angel. You can't have it both ways, Buff!"
Buffy took a step back, "What are you talking about?"
"You can't say that Angel is innocent of Angelus' crimes, then use Angel as an excuse not to stake Angelus." Xander said, his voice hard and angry. "If they are two different people, then so be it. Angel's innocence doesn't transfer to Angelus anymore then Angelus' crimes transfer to Angel! I'm telling you this now so you can figure it out for when, or if, the time ever comes. Angelus is NOT Angel. You can't let him get away with Murder because they happen to have a time share deal going."
Buffy glare faltered a bit and she looked away, "Angelus won't come back... we know about the curse now..."
"Buffy..." Xander said hesitantly, "Curses were made to be broken. I'm not saying it will happen, but it's a factor you have to accept. If his soul goes bye bye, then it's dusty time for Angelus."
Buffy looked away, then stepped back from Xander and walked off.
Xander swallowed as he watched her go, wondering if he went too far. He shook his head and checked his schedule. It was already shaping up to be another long day.
*****
After school Xander found Buffy waiting for him by his car. He didn't say anything, just keyed the door locks and silently opened the passenger side door for her, and got into the drivers side himself. He sat there for a few moments, not touching the key.
Finally he turned to look at Buffy, "I'm not going to apologize for what I said, but I am sorry that it had to be said. I wish things were simpler, Buffy."
"I know." She said tonelessly. "I know, Xander."
Xander nodded and turned the key, starting the engine and pulling out of the school parking lot.
*****
The made it to his apartment in silence, and were in the elevator on the way up before either of them spoke.
"Xander... I..." Buffy started, but the doors opened on the apartment before she could get any further.
Xander motioned her in, then followed as the doors shut behind him.
"Angel?"
"DB?"
Angel was still wearing the maroon jumpsuit that Xander had given him. And he looked distinctly out of place standing in the center of the room, staring around himself suspiciously.
"Xander... someone's in here."
Xander looked around, worried, and double timed it to his room where he picked up his pistol. He came out, looking at Angel, "Where?"
"I don't know!" Angel said, frustrated. "I can't smell them, or hear them... but they're here!"
Xander moved across the room, tapping a command into the keyboard by his couch. The TV came online, showing a layout of the room with two bright dots and one rather nebulous circle. He shook his head, "There's no one in here."
Angel looked around, "I heard her. She spoke."
Xander had a sinking sensation in his gut, "What did she say?"
Angel frowned, "Well... I said something about the world being screwy cause I was living in your apartment..." "And?"
"The voice muttered something like... How do you think I feel?"
Xander silently counted to ten, then blew up anyway. "That's it!"
Buffy and Angel looked at Xander in shock as he raged.
"That is IT! I'm getting that dull Axe I mentioned, and when I'm done with you, you'd better bet that Rhodey is next on my list!" Xander fumed as he tore through the room.
Just as the two of them both came to the conclusion that Xander had flipped, a voice came out of nowhere, and it sounded smug. "You don't know where my central core is."
"Oh don't you think that'll stop me!" Xander threatened the ceiling. "I give you one simple instruction, keep quiet while there are others here, and can you do it!? Nooooo..."
"But he's been here for *hours*!" The voice whined, "You have no idea how boring it is to have to keep quiet..."
Xander stopped and stared at the ceiling in shock. "Boring!? Surf the damn net or something!"
"I am... but I finished it last night."
"Xander...?" Buffy asked, her face confused.
"What!?" Xander turned on her, snapping before he thought about it. He quickly calmed down, "What?"
"What's going on?" She asked as softly and quietly as she could manage.
"Just my pain in the ASS computer, showing off!"
"I was NOT showing off!" The computer voice came back, "I was merely commiserating with the vampire over our mutual misfortune."
Angel started snickering.
Xander spun on him, "Oh, don't you start laughing...!"
That did it, both Angel and Buffy broke down, neither really understanding the joke but both knowing that it was somehow very funny.
Xander stood there in the center of his apartment, sighing into his hands. "Computer... Get me Jim on the line. NOW." "Yes Sir."
*****
Jim Rhodes looked up as his office screen came online, he smiled when he noticed Xander on the other side. He lost the smile when he noticed Xander's expression. Uh oh.
"Hello, Kid... what's up?"
"What the hell is wrong with this computer system you gave me, Jim!?"
Jim's normally impassive face cracked just a little. "Nothing... much."
"Jim, this poor excuse for a commodore 64 just revealed itself to my friends."
"So?"
"So!? I was kinda hoping for a little more undercover time then TWO DAYS."
Jim looked in the background and saw that there were two people roaring with laughter, and he suddenly figured out that there was more to it then blowing his 'cover'. "Let me guess... you don't like it's sense of humor?"
"Is that what that's supposed to be!?" Xander fumed, "Jim, what the hell did you give me?"
"Well... it's a factory reject model." Jim grinned, "We had some problems with the personality matrix."
"Oh that's just fabulous. You couldn't have given me one that wasn't a retard?" Xander looked around as the lights dimmed in his apartment, "Cut that out, you!"
Jim chuckled as the lights came back on full. "Sorry, but you know the AI's are very sought after... I just couldn't give you one that's meant for a client... and there's a waiting list."
"Then why give me one at all, dammit!?" Xander asked. "This thing can't even let someone use the TV remote on there own... OR go to the bathroom."
Jim saw the blond who was laughing in the background pop up, her eyes wide. "That's what Willow wanted to do an exorcism for!? Oh God, wait t'ill she finds out that she wanted to do an exorcism for a computer program!" Then the blond burst out laughing again.
Jim saw Xander collapse into his couch, groaning. "Do you see what you're doing to me here, Jim!?"
Jim just laughed at him, ""Live with it. The AI won't give away anything it's not supposed to." Xander's eyes narrowed. "Nothing it's not... You set me up!"
"Gotta go. Cya."
Jim flicked off the comm, still grinning, then dialed Tony.
*****
Xander collapsed back in his couch and groaned. "That bastard set me up!"
Behind him he could still hear Buffy laughing, but at least Angel had finally shut up. "Computer..."
"Yes?"
Xander was silent for a long moment, before he sighed. "I'm rescinding my previous orders about keeping quiet."
"Yes Sir."
"Oh, *now* you're polite and obedient." Xander said sarcastically.
"Yes Sir."
"You better pray I don't wake up some night and decide to... oh, I don't know, run an overload pulse through my pistol!" Xander snapped.
Buffy stopped laughing finally when the computer made no response to that. "What does that mean?"
Xander looked at her, "I just threatened to erase it's memory core with an EMP."
"A what!?"
"Big magnet." Xander said.
"Oh." Buffy stopped and considered, "Xander! That's cruel!"
"Thank you, Miss Summers." The computer spoke up.
Xander groaned again, "You shut up! No brown nosing the guests!"
"Xander!"
"I like her." Came a mock whisper from the ceiling. "Alright, that's it!" Xander grumbled, getting up.
"Xander... where are you going?"
"Out!" Xander grumbled. "Away from that... whatever it is!"
Buffy looked at Angel apologetically, "Sorry... I'll be back."
The she followed Xander into the elevator, leaving Angel alone in the apartment once again. Or not so alone.
The 240 year old vampire looked up at the ceiling, "I don't suppose you play chess?"
*****
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