Title: Finding Faith

Author: Dennis Wellman

Email: merlin.enchanter@verizon.net

Rating: PG 13

Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, and a lot of other people own Buffy. Chris Carter and Fox control the destinies of Mulder and Scully of the X-Files. I get no money by writing this, just hope for some kind words of encouragement.

Classification: Alternate Universe, Crossover, Faith/Xander relationship

Spoilers: a few here and there.

Summary: The search for the missing piece of his heart causes distress for Xander.

Feedback: Yes please!!!!!

Distribution: If you like it... please feel free to place it on your site... but please tell me first.

Finding Faith

Chapter 1

Louis Armstrong Int'l Airport
New Orleans, LA
2:35 PM, May 3rd 2006

Special Agent Xander Harris exited the Cessna Citation X corporate jet and donned his sunglasses as the full force of a southern late spring day hit him full in the face. He nodded to the two men who were waiting for him, Agents Matt Wilker and Tony Haas from the New Orleans office.

"Matt, Tony." He said, shaking hands with both of them. "I hope you have some good news for me."

"Nothing definite sir, but we have her tracked down to a forty square block area, but that girl just doesn't leave tracks." Explained Matt.

"Correct sir, she's harder to pin down than most of the guys in the top ten. We have been getting reports about her off and on all over the south for the last few years, but we were never sure what to do about it till your notice went out." Said Agent Haas.

Xander stood looking out over the tarmac, almost as if he was trying to sense her, or locate her by her presence. The two agents looked at each other, wondering what they had gotten themselves into.

"Lets go." Said Xander.

They had piled into the white Ford Explorer that the two agents had arrived in, when Agent Haas asked, "Did you want to go to the hotel first sir?"

"No, just take me to where she was last spotted. And let them know downtown that Agents Mulder and Scully will be coming in at about four o'clock." Xander replied looking out the window, his mind thousands of miles away and several years ago.

~~~~~ *************** ~~~~~

Flashback

Special Agent Alexander Harris is only on his second case since graduating from the FBI Academy, and to his surprise he is working with Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully on a case involving several possible vampire style murders.

They flew into Dallas Fort Worth Airport and picked up the car at the local office; afterward heading to meet with the local police force. There, they read over the crime scene reports and autopsy reports. Xander set two reports off to the side, wondering how much he could trust the two agents with him. Mulder had the reputation of being a real flake, but Scully was supposed to be the scientist. He listened to the two of them arguing about the killers being "real" vampires, and he decided to go ahead and stick his neck out.

"They were killed by real vampires." He stated loudly.

The two senior agents turned to the younger man and looked at him. Mulder was trying to hide a smirk while Scully glared.

"They were killed by real vamps." Xander said again.

"Okay Agent Harris, would you like to explain to me how you came about this profound bit of knowledge?" Asked Scully.

"Easy, I've dealt with them before, these were no different than a hundred others that I have seen. The key to the proof that you will require is in these two autopsy reports." Xander said holding them out to her.

Scully took them and sat down to read them. Mulder took this opportunity to question the rookie agent. They talked for several minutes until Scully was done and turned back to them.

"Okay, I have read them over again, there was no difference compared to the others with the exception that both of these had blood in their mouths." Scully said wondering what the young man was referring to. "Their throats were ripped open, there would have been blood flying everywhere."

"Yes, but the blood in their mouths was of a different type." Xander pointed out.

Scully's head snapped around like it was spring loaded and she opened the two file folders, looking for the information she wanted.

"You're right, both blood samples found in the mouths of the victims was a different type than the victim, but was the same type. What does this mean?" Scully asked Xander.

"It means that the person who was looking to add to his family, turned both of these victims. It also says that they were buried today, so they will be rising tonight, and their sire will likely be at the cemetery waiting for them." Xander explained to the two curious agents.

As they drove back to the hotel Xander explained about his brushes with the supernatural while he was in high school and shortly after that. He left out key parts, telling them that he would explain all after they believed him. He stopped at a convenience store near a church and bought four gallons of drinking water and to Mulder and Scully's surprise carried it into the church. In the presence of the other two agents Xander told the priest what he wanted it for and the priest quickly got out his bible and blessed all four gallons. They thanked the priest and returned to the car with the water.

"Xander, what was all that about?" Mulder asked.

"Well we now have a good supply of holy water, works as good as concentrated acid on vamps. In other words makes them burn." Xander replied.

Scully grimaced at that thought, but held her tongue. As much as she hated to admit it, the young man did have a solid story. How true it was, remained to be seen.

Xander had Mulder make two more stops on the way back to the motel, one at a Toys R Us® where he picked up two squirt guns of the super soaker variety, and one at a lumber yard where he picked up some surveyor stakes.

~~~~~ *************** ~~~~~

Buford County Cemetery
11:05 pm

Following instructions on where the two recent admissions were buried, Mulder and Scully followed Xander through the cemetery. All were dressed in jeans and light jackets with hiking boots. Mulder and Scully carried the two super soakers and had several stakes as well. Xander carried a crossbow and several vials of holy water. They found the two fresh burials and waited. Luckily the graves weren't too far apart, so they could watch both at the same time.

The wait was a short one as Xander noticed the ground start to move on the first grave.

As Mulder and Scully both watched, the former victim clawed his way out of the ground and climbed to his feet, his game face plainly visible.

He saw the two older Agents first and turned toward them, both were frozen in their spots, amazement clear on their faces.

"Soak him down!" Screamed Xander, as he readied his crossbow.

Startled out of their stupor, both agents let fly with a strong stream of holy water. The vampire started to steam immediately when the water hit it, and they could see the pain that it was causing.

"Okay, that's enough." Called Xander. "Now this is what happens when you pierce their hearts with wood."

The twang of a bowstring was heard, and both saw the crossbow bolt pierce the vampire's chest. The sound of a soft "poof" was heard, and the vampire disappeared in a small cloud of dust.

The other vamp had pretty much crawled out of it's grave unnoticed and was charging Xander at full speed, Scully cried out a warning and Xander just spun, dropped to one knee, and held up a stake for the vamp to run into.

~~~~~ *************** ~~~~~

That was pretty much the start of everything for Xander. Now after just three years with the FBI he was head of the Supernatural Branch of the X-Files Division. Mulder was the Division head, and ran the Extraterrestrial and Paranormal Branch and Scully was the leader of the R&D branch. It took time for the heads of the government to actually realize that there was another world out there populated by races mostly dedicated to the fall of humanity, but when several demons teamed up with some terrorists they woke up quick.

Mulder, Scully and Xander had pretty much free run of things when they were called in to a case in their area of expertise, and they were now treated with respect and almost awe.

Buffy was now a Special Agent as well, and Willow was a consultant that was called in whenever a lot of research was required. Giles had married Joyce Summers four years ago and enjoyed his consultant stasis, as well as the special liaison to the Council of Watchers.

Dawn was in her junior year of college, and was trying to decide what it was that she wanted to do with her life.

End Flashback

The three agents arrived at the scene where the latest victim was recovered. They parked in an old service station and exited the vehicle. Agent Wilker spread a city map out on the hood, and had marked where all the victims had been discovered, as well as where the girl had been spotted.

Xander pulled off his leather blazer, and tossed it in the back seat of the SUV, then joined the other two agents at the map. Both agents looked in quiet awe when they saw the shoulder holster carrying the huge Mark XIX Desert Eagle pistol.

Xander looked over the map, and then turned looking over the area.

Where are you Faith?

Xander had only regretted one thing in his life; he hadn't been there for Faith when she needed someone. Both before she had the lapse of judgment and turned bad, and the period after when she turned herself in and served her time. He had heard through Angel that she had studied hard in school and done well, getting out early. But Xander never seemed to have the time to get to LA to see her. Then once her parole was over she just disappeared.

They tried tracking her for years, but had no luck with any fresh information. That was until this week; when a concerned woman called the police to report that a young woman that had saved her from vampires had been injured. That had been three days ago. The report was filtered from a police report by one of Willow's computer tracking programs. The police did nothing; they put down the old woman's story as 'seeing things'.

Xander had spoken with her on the phone, he knew better.

The two agents with Xander knew all that was not classified about Special Agent Alexander Harris. He was a wunderkind who popped up out of nowhere when he helped Agents Mulder and Scully with a case. That case had been classified before anyone could read it, and the upper echelon of the FBI was in a tizzy for months after that. The X-Files Division had grown ten times in size overnight and worked under total classified security. Even the normally expressive and open agent Mulder had seen the need for that. Before a field agent could work with anyone in the X-Files, they had to be cleared by the bureau chief, and be notified of the secrecy of what they did.

Agents Wilker and Haas were non-believers. For now.

Xander spent several more minutes walking around the area looking over the buildings around him.

Talk to me Faith. Where are you?

What Buffy, Mulder, Scully and the others didn't know was that Xander was in love with the dark slayer, and had been before they slept together that one time. He had fallen hard for her, but had been afraid to let her know. Then she was gone, and never would know. Xander felt that he had to help her to finally find herself so he would be free of the guilt. The guilt he felt for not being there for her.

Finally he turned to the other two agents.

"Did you pick up the kits when you were assigned to assist me?" Xander asked.

"Yes, they are in the back." Tony Haas replied, nodding toward the Explorer.

"Get them out and outfit yourself with the stuff they contain. It will be getting dark in a few hours and I want you equipped properly if we end up out here after dark." Xander insisted.

While the other two agents loaded up, Xander walked around the vehicle some more, trying to get a feeling for where she was. Xander's feelings were mixed when it came to Faith, he had tried to move on, and even had a long-term relationship with Anya, but he never got over Faith. His near obsession possibly came from the feelings of guilt that he was unable to save her from herself, but he knew deep inside that he was still in love with the girl who took his virginity. The dark beauty with the attitude that he had connected with even now held is heart captive.

He walked to the rear of the Explorer and pulled out his own bag. He opened it up and pulled out a belt swiftly putting in on. He loaded several of the loops on it with stakes, holy water and a short sword. Next he added a large first aid kit to it as well. Pulling on a long black trench coat, he checked to make sure everything was well covered.

Then with the other two agents he set out, searching for Faith.

~~~~~ *************** ~~~~~

Corner of Royal and Clouet Streets.
New Orleans, LA
7:35 PM, May 3rd 2006

It was starting to get dark and they still had no hunch where she might be, several business owners had remembered seeing her, but they did not know where she was staying. Xander had a feeling that they were close, so he sent Wilker back to pick up the SUV and bring it closer.

Matt had returned with the Explorer and they were debating what the next step should be when the decision was made for them. Xander spotted a couple of vampires that were stalking something. He signaled the others to follow him and he moved closer to the pair of vamps. One pulled out a cell phone and made a call.

"She's in the motel at Charles and Press streets. She's alone as far as we can tell and she's hurt, we could smell the blood. Room 106. Right, we'll keep an eye on her." Spoke the vamp, and then he closed up the phone.

"Yo, deadboy." Called out Xander. "When did they start allowing you guys to have technology?"

The two vampires turned to the newcomer, looking him over.

"You did say room 106 right?" Xander asked the two.

The two looked at each other then rushed the young man in the dark trench coat. Xander pulled out a stake in each hand and waited calmly. Agents Wilker and Haas moved closer to support him and drew their guns, equipped with 'special' ammunition carried in their support kits.

The first Vamp to reach Xander swung a wild roundhouse at his head, and was shocked when he ducked it. Stepping to the side, Xander drove a powerful kick into the vampire's stomach. When the vamp doubled over he leapt in and hammered the stake in his right hand into the creatures back, piercing its undead heart. With a soft 'Poof' the body vanished in a cloud of dust.

Wilker and Haas stared in fascination. They had been told of what Harris did, but until they actually witnessed it….

The other vampire pulled up short looking at the young man with caution.

"Your pretty good human, but lets see you stand up to me." Said the vampire.

"Hey, when you have trained and sparred with a slayer, and lived on the Hellmouth, you're no big deal." Xander returned.

The vamps face showed the concern that he was feeling now. He made one half hearted lunge at Xander and then he took off running. Xander started to follow, then pulled out his desert eagle. Sighting in carefully, he softly pulled the trigger.

The vampire was knocked down by the impact of the fifty-caliber bullet, and screamed when the bullet burst into flame, incinerating his innards in seconds, then silenced as he turned to dust. Wilker and Haas looked at Harris with more than respect now, almost hero worship as he walked back to where they were standing.

"Those were vampires gentlemen. I trust that you are believers now?" Xander said.

"Yes sir." They both replied shakily.

"Good." Xander replied clapping them both on the shoulders. "Now Haas, go get the truck and drive it to the motel on Charles and Press streets. Wilker, you're with me." He said as he started off at a swift jog toward the aforementioned intersection.

When he got closer, he saw that the motel was a small one catering to the poor who needed a cheap place to stay, offering kitchenettes and weekly rates.

Bet the roaches are out of control Thought Xander as they jogged into the parking lot.

Xander veered over to the motel office and went inside. He showed his ID to the desk clerk and demanded the key to 106.

"Who's registered there?" Xander demander.

"Said her name was Faith Summers." Replied the clerk, fearfully looking into the FBI Agents face.

Xander snagged the key out of the clerk's hands and left. Walking up to the door to unit 106 Xander found himself very nervous, fearful of the reception he might receive. Straightening up he stepped up to the door and knocked loudly, the other two agents of either side of the door.

He could hear no response, so he knocked again, even louder this time. Still no reply. Finally he inserted the key into the lock and turned it. He let the door swing open and tried to look into the gloom. Seeing nothing, he stepped into the room turning on the lights as he went.

Xander turned to look over toward the bed and saw her lying on the floor. His heart fell as he rushed to her. He put his hand on her neck, to checking for a pulse and thankfully found one. It was weak but it was still there. He rolled her gently onto her back and brushed the hair out of her eyes. She was burning up with fever. Then the smell hit him.

It was the rotten odor of infection and decay. Swiftly he turned to Haas.

"Get the truck started, we have to get her to the hospital!" Ordered Xander.

As Haas rushed out to get the truck started he yelled to Wilker.

"Get her bags. Looks like she was getting ready to split when she got hurt again."

He bent down and gently scooped her up into his arms; her too light frame, was no strain to lift at all. Gently he carried her out the door and climbed into the back seat of the waiting SUV. Cradling her carefully he whispered quietly to her.

"It's all right now Faith, you're safe. We're going to get you all fixed up." Said Xander.

In her fevered semi conscious state she must have recognized something, because her face relaxed and she snuggled into his chest, bringing some relief to the young FBI agent.

He held her carefully and pulled out his cell phone, hitting the speed dial as he brought it up to his ear.

"Mulder, we found her. She's pretty bad off, got some infected wounds and is running a high fever. No we are taking her to…" Xander paused looking up at the other agents.

"Charity Hospital." Said Agent Haas.

"Charity Hospital. Have Dana meet us as soon as possible. Thanks!"

Faith made little whimpering sounds as she lay in his arms. Xander pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head. Looking her over he could see the evidence of several older wounds, and he could feel her bones through her skin. It looked like she had missed way too many meals, robbing her of the resources that her slayer healing needed. Her hair was much longer than he had ever seen, but it looked good on her. Who was he trying to kid, everything looked good on her. Just as much as ever, he viewed her not so much through his eyes, but with his heart.

He steadied himself as the SUV roared up to the emergency room entrance, and screeched to a halt.

He opened the door and got out, careful not to disturb the precious bundle in his arms. With Wilker leading the way, he strode into the emergency room.

"I need a doctor right now!" He ordered.

"This way sir." Spoke up a trauma center nurse as she held open a door.

He entered the room and lay her down gently on the bed. She whimpered softly again, but Xander held onto her hand. He pulled out his ID and handed it to the nurse.

"Special Agent Harris, FBI. This is one of our undercover agents, she was hurt several days ago and was not able to get help, we just found her a little bit ago." He paused looking down at the woman he loved. "Not sure what her injuries are, we just rushed her here, although she is running a fever and I'm sure she has a bad infection by the smell." He stated, sounding official. "One of our doctors will be here in a few minutes to oversee her care."

The nurse handed him back the ID folder and looked over the huge sidearm, sword and stakes and made no move to tell the agent to leave the room.

She started cutting Faith's shirt and jeans off, leaving her in sports bra and panties. Then started unwrapping the bandaged knee. Xander looked her over, seeing way too many scars that should have not been there if she would have healed correctly. Her ribs showed, every one of them, and now that the light was better she looked almost gaunt.

Xander looked up as the nurse gagged as the final piece of gauze peeled off. The long gash on the outside of her knee was oozing yellow-green pus and smelled terrible.

The nurse stepped away and took several deep breaths. Then turned back to her patient.

"She's malnourished." She stated looking up a Xander.

"Yes, I was just noticing that. I don't know how long she has been not getting enough to eat; she has been undercover for a long time. But I think her body is just running out of gas." He answered.

The nurse turned and grabbed a bag of glucose off the cart. Swiftly she hung the IV and got a tube into Faith. She opened the line wide, then grabbed a nasal tube and put Faith on oxygen.

Xander stood there cataloging her injuries. There was a large bruise on her hip and shoulder, cuts all over and a half healed gash across her stomach. Who knows what else they might find.

One of the ER doctors came in and started working on her. He started injecting lidocaine around the injured knee, and placed a tray underneath Faith's leg. He then stripped off his gloves, putting on a fresh pair. Next he picked a bowl of betadine solution up and a small scrub brush and started scrubbing the wound.

Faith started to whimper louder but Xander put his hand on her head and leaned over whispering in her ear and she quieted.

As the doctor was finishing up with cleaning the wound out, Scully showed up. No bigger than Buffy, when she entered a room her very presence demanded attention and respect

She got a rundown from the doctor and nurse, then turned to Xander.

"Any idea of how long she was there unconscious?" Scully asked.

"None at all, but no one had seen her outside for the last three days." Xander replied.

"Well she has a terrible infection, and is feverish and dehydrated. I have ordered X-rays and a full blood work up. They have started her on some antibiotics and glucose to get her strength back up. Now it is just a matter of time.

TBC