Xander, Joyce and Giles waited in one of the many halls of LA's
international airport. The flight Buffy and the other Scoobies should
arrive on had a little delay. So the three had to entertain themselves.
Joyce and Giles were engaged in a conversation, whereas Xander wandered
around. Finally he returned to the seats the two adults were sitting on.
"Ah, the good old LAX," Xander said and took a sip from his coffee. He sat down between the two. "Always worth a visit."
Sitting there he took a drag from his cigarette. Unfortunately Joyce caught a lungful of his smoke. "Please Xander," she said and coughed. "Could you please put the cigarette out," she asked, waving the smoke away from her face.
"I thought we already established that smoking isn't harmful for me," Xander stated.
"Maybe not for you, but for us," Giles said and looked disapproving at him.
Xander rolled his eyes, but finally let the cigarette fall into his cup and threw it into the nearby trashcan.
"Thanks," Joyce said. A second later she came up with an idea to get back at Xander. "I bet if Buffy asked you to quit smoking you would do it,"
Xander groaned and looked at Giles. "I'm really curious," he asked the Watcher, ignoring Joyce completely. "How can the Council keep the whole slayer gig as a secret when you can't even keep a private conversation as one."
"Xander.." Giles tried to reason with him.
"Don't Xander me, okay?" Xander said annoyed. "I'm going to get me another cup of coffee. Anything for you two?"
"No thanks," Giles replied.
"Joyce?" he asked.
But the older woman shook her head and so Xander walked into the direction of the nearby coffee shop.
"I didn't think that he would be that touchy about the subject," Giles told Joyce.
Joyce rolled her eyes at that. "Rupert, Faith had been bugging him about it the whole morning during our visit. I think he is a bit annoyed about people giving him advice," she said, but stopped talking when she spotted her daughter and the other Scoobies coming from one of the hallways.
"Giles, Mom," Buffy shouted and hugged her mother and her father figure.
"Hey honey," Joyce greeted her. "How was your flight?"
"Everything was fine," Buffy told her with a smile.
Finally the rest of the Scoobies had caught up with the blonde slayer and greetings were exchanged.
"Where's Xander ?" Buffy finally asked.
"Oh, he just went to get himself a coffee," Joyce said and waved in the direction of the coffee shop, where Xander finally had made it through to the counter.
"Okay, I'll get him," Buffy said and walked in the direction of the shop.
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Xander just wanted to take his cup from the counter and was about to turn around, when his eyes were covered with two hands.
"Who am I?" asked the voice he immediately recognised. Xander couldn't help but smile.
"Well," he started, " soft hands," he said when he touched the hands, "annoying voice and has to step on her tiptoes to block my vision."
"And?" the voice asked upset.
"Looks like my favourite slayer is back in town," Xander said and immediately the hands were lifted from his eyes. He turned around and smiled at the blonde slayer.
"Hey Buffy," he greeted her.
Buffy instead threw herself into her friend's arms and hugged him hard. "Hi Xander."
Finally she released him and took a step back.
"How was your holiday," both asked each other at the same time. They had to laugh at the awkward situation.
"You first," Xander said and grabbed his cup.
"It was incredible. I was really sad that we had to leave," Buffy blabbered. "And that you weren't there."
Xander smiled at that. "Yeah, you already told me that in the over 100 emails you guys sent me."
"Just wanted to thank you," Buffy told him.
"You're welcome," Xander told her with a half smile.
"And you?" Buffy finally asked.
Xander shrugged and they both started to walk in the direction of the remaining Scoobies. "Did things that needed doing. Visited Faith and Angel a few times, helped them getting comfortable in LA. That about covers it."
"So, what was so important that you stayed in Sunnydale?" Buffy asked curiously.
"You'll see," Xander told her.
During their talk the remaining Scoobies had retrieved their luggage from the baggage carrousel.
"Will," Xander greeted his childhood friend and closed her into his arms.
"Hey Xander."
Finally he released her. "I hope the holiday was worth the cost," he said and looked at all his friends. "At least all of you got a good tan."
Surprisingly Cordelia stepped forward until she stood in front of Xander. "Hi Cordy. Don't I get a hug," Xander said and opened his arms in a dramatic gesture.
But instead the brunette took his face into her hand and kissed him softly on the lips. After a few seconds she released and looked expectantly at him.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but what was that for?" Xander asked confused.
Now Cordelia was glaring at him. "What that was for?" she mimicked his voice. "Xander you paid my college fees."
"And your point is?" he asked. "You wanted so badly to go to LA. This way you can study there."
"I just wanted to thank you," she told him.
"Oh, believe me you did," Xander said and licked over his lips. The scoobies now moved in the direction of the parking lots. "But don't thank me too soon. You'll have to share an apartment with Faith," Xander told her with an evil smile.
"I have to share an apartment with Faith," Cordelia shouted shocked, attracting the attention of people around her.
"Either that or you can sleep on the streets. Your choice," Xander stated.
Cordelia's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I know I will regret this," she said, but then she remembered something. "But all my stuff is still in Sunnydale."
"Not any longer," Xander told her. "We brought it with us this morning. It's already at Faith's apartment. Oh, by the way. She said: Hi." Xander told the rest of the Scoobies. "She had classes this morning, so she couldn't come. But she said she would visit soon."
"That's nice to hear," Willow answered. "I hope she is doing as good as she described in her emails."
"Oh she is doing great," Xander told her with a smile.
"And the driving arrangements?" Buff asked when they finally reached the parking lot.
"Well, I will drive Cordy to her apartment," Xander said while he loaded Cordelia's suitcases into the trunk of his SUV. "You guys will drive with Joyce and Giles back to Sunnydale. You still have to finish registration this afternoon."
"Oh man," Buffy groaned. "I can't believe College is starting already."
"Yeah, three months can be a very short time," Willow agreed with a nod. "Especially when you dwell in luxury like us."
"Yeah, dwelling in luxury can really be a hard job," Xander said and walked up to the door of the SUV. "Oh, by the way," he said and produced a small business card from his pocket. "When you are finished meet me at this address."
Buffy took the card from his hand. "Your big secret?" she asked.
"I told you that you would see it soon," Xander told her with a half smile. Then he and Cordelia stepped into the SUV and Xander drove the big car out of the parking lot.
"Do you think he will kill us when he gets the final receipt from our trip," Willow asked while she and Buffy walked to Giles' and Joyce's cars.
"That would be more merciful than forcing us to pay him the money back," Buffy told her.
"Oh, I have an idea," the witch told her with an evil grin. "You could pay him back with sex."
Buffy looked at her friend with a blank look. But then her lips turned up in an equally evil grin. "Maybe I'm doing that," She told her, leaving a shocked Willow behind her.
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"So you have no idea who assisted you last night?" Professor Walsh asked Riley. Both were sitting at the briefing room table, going over the details of yesterday's patrol.
"No Professor Walsh," Riley admitted. "Like I said, he used a sniper rifle. But we searched all the rooftops from which the shots might be fired."
"And?" the professor asked interested.
"On one we found several empty shells," Riley told her. "We brought them with us for further analysis."
Walsh nodded at that and looked at the folder in front of her again. "Who do you think this person is?"
"I have absolutely no idea. But he is good," Riley admitted. "Maybe an ex- soldier that found out about the vampires in this town."
"Yes that might be possible," Walsh agreed. "I will order intel to look if there are any ex-soldiers living in this town that might be able to perform such a stunt. And I want you to look out for this person on your upcoming patrols."
"Yes Professor Walsh."
"Good. Now come with me, we still have a cover to obtain. Which means students to teach," she said and walked out of the room.
Riley followed her a moment later and groaned. This was the part he hated about the job.
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"Can you believe this," Buffy shouted angrily as she and Willow left the psychology lesson that was taught by Professor Walsh. "She puts me down only because I was sleeping during her class."
"Buffy, it's our first day at college. Sleeping in classes is not something that makes a great first impression," Willow told her. "And you were snoring also."
"Yeah, okay. Not my greatest moment. It's just this stupid jet lag. Gets me all tired," Buffy said sadly.
"Yeah," Willow agreed "Too bad our flight on friday was cancelled. Then we could have slept through the weekend. Stupid weather. You might think that going to the Bahamas means no storms. We were lucky that we arrived just in time."
"Well, at least we don't have to move our stuff to the dorms. Mom and Xander really did a good job decorating our room," Buffy admitted.
"Let's go find Oz," Willow proposed. "Than we can drive to the address Xander gave us. I'm really curious to see what he spent the whole holidays for.
"Me too Willow." Buffy told her. "Me too."
"Ah, the good old LAX," Xander said and took a sip from his coffee. He sat down between the two. "Always worth a visit."
Sitting there he took a drag from his cigarette. Unfortunately Joyce caught a lungful of his smoke. "Please Xander," she said and coughed. "Could you please put the cigarette out," she asked, waving the smoke away from her face.
"I thought we already established that smoking isn't harmful for me," Xander stated.
"Maybe not for you, but for us," Giles said and looked disapproving at him.
Xander rolled his eyes, but finally let the cigarette fall into his cup and threw it into the nearby trashcan.
"Thanks," Joyce said. A second later she came up with an idea to get back at Xander. "I bet if Buffy asked you to quit smoking you would do it,"
Xander groaned and looked at Giles. "I'm really curious," he asked the Watcher, ignoring Joyce completely. "How can the Council keep the whole slayer gig as a secret when you can't even keep a private conversation as one."
"Xander.." Giles tried to reason with him.
"Don't Xander me, okay?" Xander said annoyed. "I'm going to get me another cup of coffee. Anything for you two?"
"No thanks," Giles replied.
"Joyce?" he asked.
But the older woman shook her head and so Xander walked into the direction of the nearby coffee shop.
"I didn't think that he would be that touchy about the subject," Giles told Joyce.
Joyce rolled her eyes at that. "Rupert, Faith had been bugging him about it the whole morning during our visit. I think he is a bit annoyed about people giving him advice," she said, but stopped talking when she spotted her daughter and the other Scoobies coming from one of the hallways.
"Giles, Mom," Buffy shouted and hugged her mother and her father figure.
"Hey honey," Joyce greeted her. "How was your flight?"
"Everything was fine," Buffy told her with a smile.
Finally the rest of the Scoobies had caught up with the blonde slayer and greetings were exchanged.
"Where's Xander ?" Buffy finally asked.
"Oh, he just went to get himself a coffee," Joyce said and waved in the direction of the coffee shop, where Xander finally had made it through to the counter.
"Okay, I'll get him," Buffy said and walked in the direction of the shop.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Xander just wanted to take his cup from the counter and was about to turn around, when his eyes were covered with two hands.
"Who am I?" asked the voice he immediately recognised. Xander couldn't help but smile.
"Well," he started, " soft hands," he said when he touched the hands, "annoying voice and has to step on her tiptoes to block my vision."
"And?" the voice asked upset.
"Looks like my favourite slayer is back in town," Xander said and immediately the hands were lifted from his eyes. He turned around and smiled at the blonde slayer.
"Hey Buffy," he greeted her.
Buffy instead threw herself into her friend's arms and hugged him hard. "Hi Xander."
Finally she released him and took a step back.
"How was your holiday," both asked each other at the same time. They had to laugh at the awkward situation.
"You first," Xander said and grabbed his cup.
"It was incredible. I was really sad that we had to leave," Buffy blabbered. "And that you weren't there."
Xander smiled at that. "Yeah, you already told me that in the over 100 emails you guys sent me."
"Just wanted to thank you," Buffy told him.
"You're welcome," Xander told her with a half smile.
"And you?" Buffy finally asked.
Xander shrugged and they both started to walk in the direction of the remaining Scoobies. "Did things that needed doing. Visited Faith and Angel a few times, helped them getting comfortable in LA. That about covers it."
"So, what was so important that you stayed in Sunnydale?" Buffy asked curiously.
"You'll see," Xander told her.
During their talk the remaining Scoobies had retrieved their luggage from the baggage carrousel.
"Will," Xander greeted his childhood friend and closed her into his arms.
"Hey Xander."
Finally he released her. "I hope the holiday was worth the cost," he said and looked at all his friends. "At least all of you got a good tan."
Surprisingly Cordelia stepped forward until she stood in front of Xander. "Hi Cordy. Don't I get a hug," Xander said and opened his arms in a dramatic gesture.
But instead the brunette took his face into her hand and kissed him softly on the lips. After a few seconds she released and looked expectantly at him.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but what was that for?" Xander asked confused.
Now Cordelia was glaring at him. "What that was for?" she mimicked his voice. "Xander you paid my college fees."
"And your point is?" he asked. "You wanted so badly to go to LA. This way you can study there."
"I just wanted to thank you," she told him.
"Oh, believe me you did," Xander said and licked over his lips. The scoobies now moved in the direction of the parking lots. "But don't thank me too soon. You'll have to share an apartment with Faith," Xander told her with an evil smile.
"I have to share an apartment with Faith," Cordelia shouted shocked, attracting the attention of people around her.
"Either that or you can sleep on the streets. Your choice," Xander stated.
Cordelia's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I know I will regret this," she said, but then she remembered something. "But all my stuff is still in Sunnydale."
"Not any longer," Xander told her. "We brought it with us this morning. It's already at Faith's apartment. Oh, by the way. She said: Hi." Xander told the rest of the Scoobies. "She had classes this morning, so she couldn't come. But she said she would visit soon."
"That's nice to hear," Willow answered. "I hope she is doing as good as she described in her emails."
"Oh she is doing great," Xander told her with a smile.
"And the driving arrangements?" Buff asked when they finally reached the parking lot.
"Well, I will drive Cordy to her apartment," Xander said while he loaded Cordelia's suitcases into the trunk of his SUV. "You guys will drive with Joyce and Giles back to Sunnydale. You still have to finish registration this afternoon."
"Oh man," Buffy groaned. "I can't believe College is starting already."
"Yeah, three months can be a very short time," Willow agreed with a nod. "Especially when you dwell in luxury like us."
"Yeah, dwelling in luxury can really be a hard job," Xander said and walked up to the door of the SUV. "Oh, by the way," he said and produced a small business card from his pocket. "When you are finished meet me at this address."
Buffy took the card from his hand. "Your big secret?" she asked.
"I told you that you would see it soon," Xander told her with a half smile. Then he and Cordelia stepped into the SUV and Xander drove the big car out of the parking lot.
"Do you think he will kill us when he gets the final receipt from our trip," Willow asked while she and Buffy walked to Giles' and Joyce's cars.
"That would be more merciful than forcing us to pay him the money back," Buffy told her.
"Oh, I have an idea," the witch told her with an evil grin. "You could pay him back with sex."
Buffy looked at her friend with a blank look. But then her lips turned up in an equally evil grin. "Maybe I'm doing that," She told her, leaving a shocked Willow behind her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
"So you have no idea who assisted you last night?" Professor Walsh asked Riley. Both were sitting at the briefing room table, going over the details of yesterday's patrol.
"No Professor Walsh," Riley admitted. "Like I said, he used a sniper rifle. But we searched all the rooftops from which the shots might be fired."
"And?" the professor asked interested.
"On one we found several empty shells," Riley told her. "We brought them with us for further analysis."
Walsh nodded at that and looked at the folder in front of her again. "Who do you think this person is?"
"I have absolutely no idea. But he is good," Riley admitted. "Maybe an ex- soldier that found out about the vampires in this town."
"Yes that might be possible," Walsh agreed. "I will order intel to look if there are any ex-soldiers living in this town that might be able to perform such a stunt. And I want you to look out for this person on your upcoming patrols."
"Yes Professor Walsh."
"Good. Now come with me, we still have a cover to obtain. Which means students to teach," she said and walked out of the room.
Riley followed her a moment later and groaned. This was the part he hated about the job.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
"Can you believe this," Buffy shouted angrily as she and Willow left the psychology lesson that was taught by Professor Walsh. "She puts me down only because I was sleeping during her class."
"Buffy, it's our first day at college. Sleeping in classes is not something that makes a great first impression," Willow told her. "And you were snoring also."
"Yeah, okay. Not my greatest moment. It's just this stupid jet lag. Gets me all tired," Buffy said sadly.
"Yeah," Willow agreed "Too bad our flight on friday was cancelled. Then we could have slept through the weekend. Stupid weather. You might think that going to the Bahamas means no storms. We were lucky that we arrived just in time."
"Well, at least we don't have to move our stuff to the dorms. Mom and Xander really did a good job decorating our room," Buffy admitted.
"Let's go find Oz," Willow proposed. "Than we can drive to the address Xander gave us. I'm really curious to see what he spent the whole holidays for.
"Me too Willow." Buffy told her. "Me too."