Disclaimer: I don't own any of these wonderful characters. I'm just borrowing them for my own entertainment.
Spoilers: You know the drill.
This is set after "Phases" in Season 2. Oz is a werewolf, Xander and Cordelia haven't come out of the closet (literally), Willow's nowhere near the closet (figuratively and literally) and Angel is Angelus.
Author's Note: Willow rules. That is all.
* * * * *
Xander's hand closed on something narrow and heavy. He turned his head and saw that it was the studio lamp that had been knocked to the ground. He grabbed it and swung blindly at the demon's head hoping that the stand would stun it at least momentarily.
The base hit the demon on target only succeeding in snapping it's head to the left and causing it to stumble. Xander quickly got to his feet and by the time the demon had turned it's now enraged attention back to him he was brandishing the lamp as a weapon.
* * * * *
Buffy jumped the chain link fence that blocked off the Harris' backyard and made for the back of the house. She kicked out the sharp shards of glass at the bottom of the window and jumped through. Xander had somehow managed to get to his feet. She grabbed a trophy from Xander's desk and aimed for the demon's head, then froze, "Hmpf, I didn't know you played baseball."
"Buffy!" Xander cried, "A little focus here!"
"Oh right," Buffy said, chunking the trophy at the demon. It didn't even turn around. Instead, the demon knocked the lamp out of Xander's hands leaving him lampless.
"Buffy!" Giles called from behind her. She turned and he threw her a sword through the open window. "Distract him as long as you can, get Xander out here with me."
Buffy nodded and turned back to Xander in time to see the demon lunge at him. Xander ducked and the demon sailing into an open closet.
"Get out!" Buffy called to him. Xander went for the bedroom door, but Willow told him to make for the window. Buffy put herself between the demon and Xander, brandishing her sword. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to play with your food?"
* * * * *
Xander scrambled out the window, catching his foot and falling painfully on the broken glass shards. Giles grabbed him by the arm and yanked him up.
"Hurry! She won't be able to hold him for long," Giles said pulling him around to the front where his ancient looking car sat in their driveway. Xander yelled in surprise as something grabbed his other arm.
"What the hell are you doing?" Mr. Harris asked, his face redder than Xander had ever seen it. "I work, put food on the table, so you and your friends can break windows and destroy your room?"
"Dad..."
"Mr. Harris, we have to get him out of here," Giles said, tightening his grip on Xander's left arm and yanking him towards the car.
Mr. Harris pulled on Xander's right arm which yanked him back towards him and out of Giles grip. He stood only inches from his father's face. "Are you on drugs?" he asked making a disgusted face, he pushed Xander down causing him to land hard enough to knock the wind out of him, "What did I tell you about doing drugs, you good for nothing piece of..."
"You don't understand," Giles said, stepping between Xander and his dad. "Xander's in grave dan--"
Mr. Harris pushed Giles causing him to take a step back before steadying himself, "Who the hell are you?"
"Someone's who is trying to save your son's life, you bloody pillock!" Giles said, loosing his customary cool and pushing him roughly back.
Xander's eyes opened wide as he looked up at the two of them, "Giles!"
"What did you just call me?" Mr. Harris said stepping up to Giles.
Giles sighed, "We don't have time for this." Then he reached back and hit Mr. Harris full force in the face knocking him to the ground. He bent down and grabbed Xander's arm again and commenced with the dragging towards the car.
"What just happened, here?" Xander asked wildly, looking over his shoulder at his dad slowly getting up. "Did you just deck my dad?"
"Just get in the car!" Giles said releasing his arm and running around to the front to slide behind the wheel. "We don't have much time."
* * * * *
"I'm calling the police!" a hysterical Mrs. Harris said, running for the phone in the living room.
"No!" Willow said, running after her. "Everything is fine!"
Mrs. Harris looked at her the phone half way up to her ear. "Fine? There's a girl brandishing a sword in my son's bedroom!"
"It's a drill! Yeah...a...um...we're all part of the drill team. So you know what to do if a demon ever attacked. So....pop quiz! What do you do if a demon attacks? You don't call the police, that's what." Willow said pushing the phone down.
Mrs. Harris opened her mouth to answer, but was distracted by the front door opening. "Oh Anthony, what happened?"
Willow turned and saw Mr. Harris holding a bloody nose.
"What do you think happened? His dealer punched me. How many times did I tell you he was no good? How many?"
"Dealer?" Mrs. Harris said frowning.
"Open your eyes woman! He's higher than a kite."
"No!" Willow said causing them to glance her way. "Xander's not on drugs!"
"He's too smart for that," Mrs. Harris said. "He's on the drill team."
"On the drill team?" Mr. Harris said angrily. "My son's a baton twirling fairy?"
"NO!" Willow said dropping the phone. "No! Not that kind of drill team!"
"Dammit, Jessica, If you didn't baby the boy he wouldn't be..."
"Don't you dare blame this on me!" Mrs. Harris screamed back at him. "Don't you dare! Not like you've been a good role model you drunken ..."
Willow jumped as someone touched her elbow.
"It got away," Buffy said. "How much of a head start do they have?"
"I don't know..." Willow said, finding it hard to ignore the screaming couple beside her. "Five minutes maybe."
"We've got to go," Buffy said, then as if noticing the two parents for the first time. "What about them? Won't they wonder..."
Willow shook her head, "Don't worry about them. The longer they fight the longer we have to disappear before they call the cops." Buffy shrugged and walked out the door. "Or the neighbors call the cops on them," Willow muttered as she shut the door softly behind her.
* * * * *
I realize it sounds poor, pitiful Xander like...but it will get better. Promise!
Once again, thanks to my reviewers. Bolo, Steve, J.M., dragon-reborn5.....you make my day!