Title: One For All (2/?)

Author: Cyclone

Feedback: Please be gentle.

Distribution: Gimme credit and a link. Plus, archived at

Rating: I'm gonna go say PG.

Spoilers: Up to Graduation, then AU version of events after that.

Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to the almighty Joss. I'm just borrowing them for a while.

Summary: Thanks to Xander's sacrifice, the Slayer and Slayerettes can live normal lives... until now.

Author's Note: Read the previous parts -- including the prologue -- or this is not going to make any sense whatsoever.

* * *

Vinny Delgado was not having a good night. Turned during the gangster era of the 1920s, Delgado knew how to keep a low profile, and that had allowed him to survive these eighty-some years.

But that hadn't helped him tonight.

"I know he w-was here, in Cleveland," Tara said. "Wh-where is he now?"

The vampire snarled wordlessly at her, and she clenched her fist. The mystical bands of energy that bound the vampire and held him aloft constricted, and Vinny howled in pain.

"All right! All right! I'll talk!"

She loosened the bindings, and Vinny hissed in relief, then said, "Yeah, he was here. He took out Wasserman's gang and flew out a week ago. Word is, he was heading for the Hellmouth."

"'H-Hellmouth'?" Tara frowned in confusion. "Where's that?"

He blinked, "You don't know?"

"Just answer the question," she said, flexing her hand again. The bindings tightened slightly, reminding him of what she could do.

"It's in Sunnydale!" he shrieked out in panic. "D-down in California."

Tara nodded, "Th-thank you."

She backed away cautiously and stepped out of the building, then released the spell.

Vinny rose from where the spell had dropped him and snarled, "Stupid witch." Well, at least he'd get a meal out of this.

"Urk!"

His eyes bulged, and he stared at the dark figure that clutched his throat and held him dangling off the ground. "Who were you talking about, bloodsucker?" the dark man asked, his voice a low hiss.

"The Hunter!" he rasped. "Th-that male Slayer!"

"Good."

The pressure around his throat vanished, and he dropped to the ground, staring wildly around. He saw a ring glint in the darkness before the man-shaped region of deeper shadow vanished.

"So, _they're_ after him too," he chuckled, grinning ferally. "Things are looking up."

* * *

Fred shook her head and closed the massive tome, "Sorry, I just... I can't find anything." She sighed, "Maybe we should..."

"No!" Gunn whirled and glared at her.

"But, Charles..."

"We are _not_ calling Wesley."

"I don't believe that's your call to make, Gunn," Wesley said from the door. Gunn turned and stared, but Wesley ignored him. Looking at Angel, the ex-Watcher said, "All right, Angel. I'm here. What do you need?"

Gunn stared at Angel, "_You_ called him? After what he did?"

"Shut it, Gunn," Angel said. "There isn't a person in this room without a guilty conscience. Wes, Cordy had a vision, a big one. Kennedy had another Slayer dream too."

"Are they connected?"

"That's the problem. We don't know," Angel sighed. "We haven't been able to make any sense out of them, except that it's big."

"How big?"

"Apocalypse big."

Wesley raised an eyebrow, "Another one?"

* * *

"Hey, Rupes!" Buffy called as she entered the Magic Box.

The British shopkeeper looked up and scowled, "I do wish you would stop calling me by that infernal nickname, Detective Summers."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Buffy said. "Tell you what, Rupes, you start calling me Buffy, and I'll start calling you Rupert. Or Giles, if you prefer."

"Oh, never mind," Giles said in aggravation. The more different he kept his current relationship with Buffy than his previous one, the less likely he was to slip. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Detective?"

"Business, Rupes, sorry. We've got a serial killer on our hands, cult-related. Last three full moons, someone dissected a couple of hot ladies and a wolf each night, and whoever it is is big on the hocus pocus too. With the next full moon just a couple days away..."

Giles nodded and frowned, "A wolf? That seems rather... odd."

"Yeah," Buffy said, "and we have no idea where this psycho's getting them. We've a body count of six, no ID on two of 'em, and no leads except for the diagrams and the wolves. Zoo says all their wolves are accounted for, so that lead's a dead end. Can you come down to the station, have a look at what we have?"

"Ah, well, certainly," he turned. "Faith?"

"No worries, G. I'll hold down the fort."

* * *

"So," Buffy said, "any of this look familiar, Rupes?"

"Ah," he stuttered, "n-no. No, I can't say that it does. I mean, the pentagrams, obviously, are a common symbol of satanism, and the triangle and arrangement suggests that the, err, victims were intended as, well, symbols of... something or someone. I-I can't say for sure who or what."

Buffy frowned, "You sure?"

He nodded, "Y-yes. Quite. I... I don't think I'll be much more use here, Detective, but I'll see what I can find in my archives."

With that, Giles scrambled out, depositing his Police Consultant card at the front desk.

"What's with him?" Carlos asked.

"I don't know..." Buffy murmured, frowning, "but I think he knows more than he's letting on. I'll handle it."

* * *

"Faith," Giles said, storming into the Magic Box, "where did Xander say he was going again?"

"Down to L.A., to talk to A and his gang," the Slayer replied. "Why?"

"We have to warn him, quickly."

"About what?"

He told her.

"Damn."

* * *

"I can't make out the exact details," Wesley said, "but it clearly indicates it will be happening somewhere near L.A., if not in the city itself." He sighed and looked up. "I'm sorry, Angel, but... there's just not enough in here," he waved toward the huge pile of books beside him. "I don't know what it is."

"Yeah, well I do."

Angel turned, "Harris. I thought you were in Cleveland."

"Emergency came up. Got some news and just finished confirming it. It's the Hellmouth."

"The Hellmouth?" Wesley asked, rising to his feet.

Xander nodded, "It's reopening."

* * *

"I'm telling you, Willow, Rupes is hiding something," Buffy said. "He's worried. Really worried."

"And why are you telling _me_?" Willow pouted. "I've got my own problems, remember?"

Buffy shot her a sympathetic smile, "Things getting worse with Oz?"

"Yeah," the redhead said dejectedly, "he refuses to talk about it, and with the Dingoes' records sinking into obscurity, I'm having to work more overtime at the company just to keep things in the black. I'm starting to see code in my sleep."

"You think he resents it?" Buffy asked. "That you're bringing in the bacon? Err, so to speak," she added at Willow's glare.

Willow sighed and shook her head, "No. No, that's not like Oz at all. I'm just... I still feel like I'm getting that jealous vibe off him."

Buffy rolled her eyes, "Oh, come on, Willow. Jealous of what? Someone or something you can't even remember? That's silly."

"Don't you think I know that?" Willow snapped. "I know it's ridiculous, but that's the vibe I'm getting."

Buffy sighed, "I know, I know. It's just..."

"You're worried about Rupert, I know," Willow said, then frowned. "Are you _sure_ you're just friends?"

Buffy glared at her, "Don't go there, Wills. Do. Not. Go. There. He dated my _mom_, for Christ's sakes. That's just... eww." She shook her head, "It's not just that, anyway. Something happened the other night, and... I'm not sure what to make of it."

"What happened?"

"Well... I met this guy..."

"Ooh! Was he cute?"

"Willow!" Buffy shot her a Look. "I don't even know his _name_." A small smile appeared on her face as she remembered her rescuer, and she said, "But, for record: Yes, he was cute. In fact, I would go as far as to say that he was well into the 'hot' territory."

She shook her head, "But that's _not_ what I'm talking about. He... well, let me start over. I was working late at the station, and while I was on my way to my car, these three thugs jumped me. Long story short, they kicked my ass, but this guy comes out of nowhere and saves me."

"A mysterious hero crusading against injustice in the night?" Willow asked, cocking an eyebrow. "What, you mean you got rescued by Batman?"

Buffy rolled her eyes, "_No_. Who's telling this story anyway?"

"Sorry. Shutting up now."

"Thank you. Where was I? Oh yeah. The weird part is that those three goons just, well, went poof."

"'Poof'?"

"Yeah, they just... sorta... crumbled to dust." Buffy shook her head in aggravation, "Oh, never mind. I probably just imagined it."

Willow frowned.

* * *

"You okay, Harris?"

Xander shook his head and looked up, "Yeah, Deadboy. I'm fine. Just a little lightheaded."

"Maybe you should sit down."

"I didn't know you cared," Xander said, grinning.

"I don't," Angel growled under his breath, "but can you imagine what Cordy'd do to me if something happened to you?"

The male Slayer snorted, "Oh, yeah. It's good to see Queen C back. Nice Cordy just gave me the creeps."

"Tell me about it," Angel said sourly, shaking his head. "I should have known she was possessed that year." He looked up, "You sure you're okay?"

Xander nodded, "Yeah, it's no big deal. Been happening every full moon for the last few months. The wolf must be getting antsy."

"Vision!" the object of their earlier discussion suddenly shouted.

They scrambled over, and Angel said, "What's happening? Where is it?"

"I-I don't know. It's dark... a warehouse! On the waterfront... a boat... the S.S. Miscast," she blinked and looked up in confusion. "It's gone. I didn't see anything. No demons, no people... just the place."

Angel's face darkened, "Let's move."

* * *

"So, what's the game plan?" Gunn asked, hefting his hubcap axe. "Charge right in or just set the place on fire?"

Xander shook his head, "No. We don't know what we're dealing with here. Recon sweep first. Deadboy, you go around back; I'll take the front. Rest of you, stay here. We'll call if things get hairy."

* * *

Angel quietly pried off the wooden board over the broken window and slid into the warehouse. He looked around, eyes darting left and right.

So far, nothing.

He crept around, between the crates, sword at the ready. The ensouled vampire saw movement out of the corner of his eye and whirled around, lashing out with his weapon.

The blur rushed past him, underfoot, and he felt something slice across his leg, sending him down to one knee.

* * *

Xander allowed his shotgun to lead the way. He had already chambered a slug from the dual-feed shotgun's box magazine. When the Powers That Be sent a vision, he doubted they'd be dealing with just vampires.

"Welcome, Hunter."

He whirled around and leveled his shotgun at the voice. He frowned, "Who the hell are you?"

"I... am Drang," the Asian man smiled. He was light by a magical green flame that hovered above his hand, and it was obvious that he was quite blind, his sightless eyes containing no pupil or iris... merely all white.

"Okay," Xander said, "you got my attention. What do you want?"

"Your head," Drang said simply. "Oh, and let me introduce you to my brother, Drom."

Drang gestured, and Xander turned. His eyes widened, and he swung his shotgun around and fired. Drom was unusually large, even for a Fyarl demon, but a twelve-gauge slug in the chest was still more than enough to throw him back.

Xander swung the shotgun around toward Drang and pumped another slug into the chamber. Bracing the weapon against his shoulder, he said, "Not really seeing the family resemblance."

WHAM!

Xander blinked as he picked himself up, rubbing his chest where the Fyarl demon has backhanded him. Drom walked steadily toward him, snarling in his language.

Drang smiled again and shook his head, "You shouldn't have said that. He's very sensitive about that."

Xander stared. "What the...? Since when the hell were Fyarl demons bulletproof?!" he demanded incredulously.

* * *

CRACK!

Gunn suddenly stopped twirling his axe and straightened up. "You hear that?"

"That's Xander's gun," Cordy said. "We should..."

"Uh, guys," Fred interrupted. "I think we've got bigger problems right now."

They turned to where Fred was pointing.

"That's a lot of vamps," Kennedy commented.

"They outnumber us ten to one," Conner said idly. "Not exactly fair, is it?"

Kennedy grinned, "I'll fight with one hand."

* * *

Xander rolled to his feet and gasped for air. There was no _way_ that Fyarl demon should be that fast.

*Damn it!* he swore to himself. *Should've seen this coming. Should've loaded the silver flechette.* Instead, he reached over his shoulder and pulled his sword free from his baldric.

He whirled around and thrust the blade into the Fyarl demon's gut. The multiple blessings and additional magical enhancements he'd cast on the weapon paid off as Drom howled in pain and backed away.

"Incendere!" he said, uttering the first spell that came to mind.

The stream of fire flew toward Drom... and parted as it struck an invisible sphere around him.

*Of course!* he thought. *A spell! Why didn't I realize that before?*

He scampered away and scooped up his shotgun as he passed by it. He scanned the warehouse. There was no sign of the Eastern mystic.

Xander looked behind him again and saw Drom stomping implacably toward him. He gestured and muttered in Latin. Spikes erupted from the ground between him and Drom, slowing the Fyarl demon's progress as he reloaded his shotgun, this time with silver flechette.

He raised the weapon again and fired.

He breathed a sigh of relief when the silver needles penetrated Drom's chest, unimpeded by the protective spell, slaying the Fyarl demon.

"You killed him."

Xander turned and fired his shotgun reflexively at Drang, but this time, the silver needles were deflected harmlessly.

"I'll be back, Hunter," Drang said, "and you will die. Dreg!"

Suddenly, a two-foot gremlin scampered toward Drang from the darkness, and the two vanished in a blinding flash of light. Angel staggered from the shadows where the gremlin appeared from.

"Geez, Deadboy, you don't look so good," Xander said, eyeing the ensouled vampire, whose clothing was badly shredded and whose skin wasn't faring much better.

Angel glared at him, "Gremlins are fast. What happened?"

"Looks like the vision was a fake. Some kind of lure. Let's see if I can find anything on this guy," Xander said, crouching over the Fyarl demon's body.

"Well?" Angel asked, limping toward him.

The Hunter held up the oversized ring, fitted for the massive calloused hands of the Fyarl demon, and Angel paled even more than usual.

"The Order of Taraka."

* * *

Author's Postscript:

Bwahahaha! Also, props to the G-man (Garrett) for his beta work.