Title: Deja Vu
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
belong to UPN, Joss, Fox, etc....
Distribution: You can put it wherever you want as long
as it's a happy place very far from B/S.
Summary: Xander realizes that he's reliving the same
day over and over again.
Setting: Season 5, right before I Was Made to Love
You.
Feedback: What would a fic be without feedback?...uh, probably my fic.
Rating: PG-13 to R.
Part 3
Outside of Xander's apartment
6:10 A.M.
Buffy walked up the stairs leading to Xander's apartment. She had been up these stairs many times, but never this early in the morning.
{God, no wonder Xander always seems so tired} she thought, finally reaching the top stair, as she walked down the hallway to his door.
After hearing movement in his apartment she put all thoughts of feeling sorry for Xander aside as she knocked on the door.
"W-who is it?" she heard Xander call out.
"It's Buffy, now come on and open the door."
After a minute of no response she leaned against the foorway, "Xander, I'm not leaving until you come to the door so if I was you I'd..." she was cut off by the door flying open so fast that she lost her balance, but Xander caught her as he quickly pulled
her into his apartment before closing the door.
"Xander what's your...." She was cut off by Xander, "Buffy we're in trouble."
"In trouble? How are we in trouble?"
"What do you mean how? Haven't you noticed?"
"Xander, the only thing I've noticed is that you need to switch to decaf in the morning."
{Oh God, she doesn't realize}
Xander began pacing around the room as Buffy watched, "Xander, what's wrong?"
Xander stopped as he looked back at her, "Giles, he'll know what to do." Xander said before grabbing ahold of her arm and dragging her out the door.
When they got into Xander's car Buffy didn't even have time to put her seatbelt on as Xander shifted the car in reverse and backed up in a hurry.
"Xander, tell me what is wrong."
"Not now. When we get to the Magic Shop I'll explain... or try to anyway."
"Explain what?" Buffy said as a thumping sound came from underneath them, "What was that?" she asked looking out the window on her side before looking back at Xander.
"Speed bump." he replied in a flat tone.
As they pulled out of the driveway and down the street towards the Magic Shop, speed bump wobbled off to his owner.
......................
The Magic Shop
25 minutes later
It was 6:45 in the morning and Giles was at the shop nontheless.
Always a professional no matter the job.
Whether it be his watcher duties or his duties to the shop, Giles was always up to the task. Today, however, was a different story as he stood behind the counter looking at the new inventory that had came yesterday in horror. There were five boxes stacked so high that
Giles was about ready to define it's demon origins until the bell rang above the door, drawing his attention.
"Giles! Giles!" Xander shouted until spotting the watcher behind the counter.
"Xander." Giles said simply before continuing, "Where's Buffy? I thought..." his question was answered as the blond slayer came through the door almost out of breath.
"Now I know why I've been too scared to get my driver's license." Buffy said coming inside and closing the door.
"Giles we've got a problem." Xander said almost out of breath himself.
"A problem, what kind of problem?"
"Well, you see... I'm uhh, well, it's kind of..." Xander let out a breath before continuing, "I'mrelivingthesamedayoverandoveragainandIdon'tknowhowlongthishasbeengoingonbutI'msureit'satleasttwodaysmaybemore." he finished nearly falling to the floor in exhaustion.
"Oh." Giles simply replied after listening to Xander's impersonation of the guy on the micro-machines commercial.
"Why didn't you tell me this at your apartment?" Buffy asked as Xander's breathing became normal again.
"I didn't want to have to repeat myself twice." Xander replied as Giles motioned for Buffy and Xander to take a seat.
Once Buffy and Xander were seated at the table in the middle of the Magic Shop, Giles stood over them with his hand massaging his temples.
"Xander, are you sure this wasn't a dream? Possibly brought on by something you ate."
"I'm sure Giles. I couldn't get more sure."
"Okay, well, first we need to know exactly when you first became aware of this...um, phenomenon."
"This morning when I woke up, although, I had these feelings yesterday....or would that be today?" he pondered out loud to himself.
After Xander received a stern look from both Buffy and Giles he continued, "I first started having these feelings of, I guess you could call them...Deja Vu, when I spoke to Anya on the phone."
"Before I came over?" Buffy asked.
"Yes...uhh, no." After receiving a look of doubt from Buffy he continued, "Hey, this is strange okay. It's not as if they have a book for these kind of things." he said defending himself before looking at Giles with desperation, "Do they?"
"Uhh, well, not that I know of." the watcher said.
"What do you mean, not that you know of? You're the watcher. You're suppose to know these kind of things." Xander said in a panic.
"Xander, calm down. We're get through this, okay." Buffy said across from him.
Xander looked at her and nodded his head before looking up at Giles, "Where do we start?"
"Uhhh, well, probably with research." Giles said walking away as he continued, "We'll need you to tell us everything about your experience. Every little detail could be helpful." he said coming back with a few books in his hands before dropping them on the
table in front of Xander and Buffy.
"Buffy why don't you call Willow and Tara and see if they could help in the research." Giles said as Buffy got up with a nod and headed to the phone.
Xander got up as he looked at the clock in the Magic Shop, "I'll go pick up Anya."
"Pick her up? Why don't you just call her?" Giles asked.
"Because if I remember correctly right about this time she's calling me to see if I'd like to go eat breakfast with her." Xander said cringing.
"And that's a problem?"
One look from Xander gave the watcher all he needed to know, "Hurry back."
....................................
The Magic Shop
About six hours later
After Xander and Anya got back, the latter finally being convinced that it wasn't a good idea to go to Denny's, everyone listened to Giles' lecture on stuff that made Xander feel like he was taking a college course....in German.
Willow and Tara had arrived just before Xander and Anya. They were all seated at the table, Tara and Anya beside one another, while Willow sat beside Xander. Buffy was leaning against the book shelf by the table as she too tried to comprehend the lecture that was Giles.
"Look on the bright side, at least now you might get some use out of your knowledge of star trek." Willow whispered into Xander's ear with a slight smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Giles clearing his throat wiped the smile from her face as she made a zipping of the mouth and throwing away the key motion.
Giles went back to his chalk board that he had dragged into the center of the shop. He was writing calculation after calculation, so many in fact that even he seemed to be confusing himself at times. When he finished the last calculation with a tap of the chalkboard he looked at the gang like he'd just discovered the cure for cancer.
"Uhh, could you go over that again, but this time in English?"
Giles just looked at the young man before him with a blank expression.
Tara broke the silence, "How do we stop this from happening again, today I mean?"
"Well, first we have to find out who did this."
"You mean you think someone did this?" Buffy asked.
"Perhaps, or perhaps some event could have caused it. I don't know yet." Giles said as he stared straight at the table, deep in thought.
"Okay, you know how much I love these round table discussions of ours, but I think you all are missing the point here."
"And that would be?" Giles asked.
"How the hell do *I* get out of this thing?" Xander asked in panic.
Before Giles could respond Anya spoke up, "See if you'd came over to my place last night when you were suppose to we'd probably be having sex right now and you wouldn't be in Bill Murray hell."
"What did you do last night? I mean, after you left here?" Giles asked, trying to ignore Anya's comment.
"Actually, that was tonight." Willow before receiving looks from Giles and Xander to which she threw away another key.
"Lets see, first I went to Anya's." Xander said recieving a smile from her as he continued, "then..."
"Xander?"
"Oh God..."
"What?" Buffy asked as she stood from her leaning position against the bookshelf.
"I can't believe I didn't remember it sooner."
"Remember what?" When Giles got no response from Xander he continued, "Xander, what is it that you didn't remember?"
"The family. Giles, we've got to do something. I was too late before. There were too many vampires." Xander said looking up at Giles and the others.
"Ok, calm down Xander."
"No, you don't understand." Xander said as he looked up at the clock that read 1:35 P.M. on the wall before continuing, "We've got to warn them, before it's too late."
"Xander, listen to me."
"Giles, we..." he was cut off by Giles, "Xander, sundown isn't for another five hours or so. The more important matter at hand right now is that you tell me everything that transpired last night. Everything, no matter how insignificant it might seem. There's no
telling what may have caused this event."
"What, are you saying that I may have caused this?"
"I don't know, but we must keep all of our options open at the moment. We mustn't jump into something we know nothing about so please go over every detail of what you experienced last night."
Xander sighed and began telling his day.
==========================================================
StoneRidge Park
10:25 P.M.
They had been here since sundown and still no sign of any vamps, especially no sign of a family. Giles believed there might be some sort of connection between the family's death and these strange events that were supposedly occurring. There was only one way to find
out.
The park had an eerie quiet to it that made the hairs on Xander's neck stand on edge. {Or maybe that's just the effects of being in a crypt}
Willow, Tara and Buffy were in one group, while Xander, Giles, and Anya held up in a local crypt just about twenty yards from where the family had previously met their doom.
{You've got to love Sunnydale. A crypt at every corner} Xander thought as he peered over Giles' shoulder, who was looking through the slightly cracked door. At first Buffy couldn't find a good place to stay low at from the other side of the park, but as irony and a levation spell from Willow would have it, her, Willow and Tara were now in one of the tallest trees in the park as they sat and waited.
"Will, not that I doubt your magic abilities, but do you think you'll be able to get us down from this tree without disabling us before, you know, we actually fight the vamps."
"Buffy, you worry too much. We're just an {Eccephe'} away from being in contact with Mr. Grass."
Neither Buffy, nor Willow noticed that Tara fell to the ground with a thump.
After catching her breath and dusting herself off, Tara stood up and was about to call out to Willow and Buffy when she bumped into something. No, make that someone as the woman looked at the girl before her with a smile, "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"
Tara could sense something in this woman she didn't like. She was hoping that any minute now Buffy and Willow would join her, but they still didn't seem to notice her disappearance as they continued to bicker in the tree. Willow accusing Buffy of not believing in
her magic and such.
Meanwhile across the park Xander and Giles didn't even see Tara's state either because they were now focused on the family that had just ran into the park, obviously fleeing from something or someone.
As soon as Giles opened the crypt door, Xander flew out with Anya behind him as Giles brought up the rear. Giles had a crossbow, while Xander was armed with a stake and cross. Anya held onto her bottle of holy water as she followed close behind Xander.
Buffy was about to reply to Willow's put down of her stupid looking stake until she sensed movement from her left. She turned just in time to see Xander, Anya and Giles head towards a group of people, struggling to fight off a group of vamps.
"Willow!"
Willow immediatly went quiet when she heard Buffy's alarming tone. She knew that tone all too well. Willow followed Buffy's gaze to the rest of the gang coming to the rescue of the family.
"Willow, get us down. Now!"
"Eccephe'!"
With one word they both fell to the ground. Well, actually Willow fell, Buffy landed gracefully as she pounced back up from her crouching stance and flew into action.
Willow was about to take off after Buffy until she heard something behind her, "Tara, are you o..." she cut herself off as she saw Tara being held by a woman. As Willow looked into the eyes of Tara's captor she could tell this was a vampire. She didn't need the
woman's face to change to tell her that fact. She had been at this too long not to know.
"Well, well, who says money doesn't grow on trees. Well, okay maybe not money, but it seems food definitely does." The gorgeous, redhead said with a smile.
Willow could see the fear in Tara's eyes as they locked gazes for a moment before Willow spoke something so low that the redhead didn't hear until it was too late.
The redhead released her grip on Tara as she screamed in agony. This caught the attention of Buffy who had just dusted one of the vamps that Xander was wrestling with.
Both Buffy and Xander looked up to see the redhead look upon Willow and Tara with hatred as she held her burnt hands out in front of her before fleeing with a couple of her minions close behind.
"What was that all about?" Xander asked as Buffy and him came along side Willow.
"Oh, that's just a little spell me and Tara have been working on. Just a little holy magic."
"Holy Magic?" Giles asks as he and Anya now join the hundled group.
"Yeah, I blessed Tara." Willow said with a wide smile before looking at Tara who returned the smile with one of her own.
Buffy's demeanor changed as she scanned the area, "Guys, shhh."
They all looked around, waiting for an attack, before Buffy spoke out loud, "Alright Spike, come on out. I know you're here."
The platinum blond vampire came out from behind one of the trees, "Bloody Hell! Can't a guy at least have the satisifaction of ease dropping anymore."
"You're not a guy, so no." Buffy stated as she put her hands on her hips before continuing, "What are you doing out here and more importantly what the hell is Dawn doing here!" Buffy said as Dawn came out from behind Spike.
Dawn was about to say something until Spike spoke up first, "The niblet just wanted to go out for a stroll. I saw her sneaking out of her window and decided that she'd be safer with the big bad by her side."
"I'm thinking she wouldn't because usually dust isn't very capable of defending anyone." Buffy said before looking at Dawn, "And you, what is it about vampires, night, Sunnydale, and dangerous that you don't
understand."
"Listen slayer, she was only..." Spike was cut off by Xander, "Okay, you know that I'm all for yelling at Spike, but what about our little problem? You know, the reason why we're out here in the middle of the
night."
"Yes, I believe Xander is right. Perhaps we should save staking Spike for another time and call it a night." Giles said looking directly at Buffy.
"Fine, but yelling at my sister is not open for discussion." Buffy said grabbing Dawn as the gang followed.
"So, does saving the family mean that we stopped this time loop thingy?" Xander asked as he walked along side by Giles.
"Perhaps, but I'm not sure. There may be no connection between the family and this time loop as you put it. Like I said before, this could be the handy work of someone else. Who or what I don't know yet."
"What do we do then?" Xander asked as he watched Giles' get into his red convertible.
Before Giles could answer, Xander heard the all too familar sound of someone knocking before opening his eyes and finding himself back in bed.
..................
Xander went through the next few days/loops going, well, loopy. He'd gone over it time and again with the gang about his previous day, but they were getting nowhere. Giles had suggested that Xander should start taking notes of everything that he experienced and report back to him each and every morning about the previous day. What made it even worse was that no matter how much the gang wanted to help they really couldn't. They would try to help out in the research department, but Xander always had to be there to inform them on whatever they'd already covered or else they would just be researching the same thing over and over again.
To say it was frustrating was an understatement.
The one thing that Giles had come to believe was that the reason Xander was the only one aware of this time loop was because of his near death experience in the park at the time that this phenomenon began.
Dawn had convinced Buffy to let her skip school and help out with the research. Even Spike agreed to help out. Well, for a price that is.
"I like my blood O-pos if you don't mind." the planinum blond vampire said leaning against the bookshelf as he handed the mug back to Willow. He was rewarded with a book being shoved into his chest from
a not so happy looking slayer.
"Spike, you agreed to help out so shut up and start reading."
Spike took the book in his left hand before walking slowly over to one of the tables, all the while giving Buffy a good once over as she rolled her eyes and went back over to where Giles was standing.
"Anything?" she asked.
"Well, umm...no." Giles said looking back down at one the books in his arms as he put it back in the shelf before continuing, "I really don't know what to look for. There's no telling who or what caused this event."
"Giles."
"Hmm."
"Do you think Glory could have something to do with this?"
"I've thought about that, but it doesn't seem like something she'd do."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. She's a God after all, why would she have to worry about invoking a spell or something. If she truly knew about The K...Dawn, then she'd probably just bust in here and...."
"Buffy, I'm worried about Dawn also." Giles said as he put a hand on Buffy's shoulder while looking over at the slayer's younger sister who at the moment was sitting beside Willow and Xander at the table in the middle of the room, "But I know she'll be fine. You want to know why? Because she has you." he said looking down at an almost tearful young woman.
"This is all too freaky." Dawn said looking at the book in her lap.
"Tell me about it." Xander said.
"I mean, there's no telling how many times I've taken Ms. Bullard's history test." Dawn said looking up at Willow and Xander.
"Well, at least you forget taking it, every morning I wake up there's Buffy the work out slayer banging on my door."
"Yeah, but look at all the fun you could be having." Dawn said as her smile grew wider.
"Fun?" Xander said looking up at the person who at the minute he wanted to put in a door knob and turn, "You don't know how much I'd wish Denny's would go out of business at the moment."
"Yeah, but if it did it'd just be back in business the next loop." Willow said innocently.
Xander looked at his childhood friend beside him with a glare as she quickly looked back at the book in her lap.
"No consequences. Just think, you could do anything and no one would know except you. If I were you I'd be living it up." Dawn said looking across the table at Xander.
"You'd be living what up?" Buffy asked as she come up from behind Dawn.
"She'd be living up life." Willow answered with a smile.
"Yeah, living life is always good." Buffy answered as she yawned before continuing, "It's late, you should be home. Mom's probably worried since she doesn't know yet about your little class cutting today. Plus I'm a little sleepy." she finished with another yawn.
"Why, it's not as if we're going to get any sleep anyway. I mean, before we know it we'll be waking up to go get dressed and then we'll have to go take a history test again. The same one we've been taking for God knows how long and, uh..." Dawn cut herself off when she saw everyone's eyes on her before quickly changing the subject, "Uh, well, just because you're too sleepy to care about helping Xander doesn't mean I am." she said towards Buffy.
"What, that's not true. I care." Buffy said defending herself too everyone before looking at Xander with a uncertain face, "Xander you know I care, right?"
"Yeah, I know. It's okay Buff. Go ahead take Dawnie home and get some rest. The rest of us can take it from here."
"Okay, but if you guys find anything call me and I'll be here stat." Buffy said as Dawn got up reluctantly and followed her out.
"Maybe I should make sure they get home okay." Spike said as he made a move for the door before being blocked by Giles. Spike made a move to go around him, but Giles countered him, move for move.
"Listen, I don't know what your problem is, but...." Spike was cut off by a finger to his chest from Giles, "You're my problem Spike. Mine and everyone elses. Take my advice, leave her alone. Stay away from her or else you'll find out that the pain you have from that
chip in your head is nothing compared to the pain I can put you through."
Fear. A microsecond of fear and then it was gone as if it was never there.
Spike smirked as Giles continued, "Now if you want to help us research that's fine, but if not then leave, but..." Giles was cut off by Spike.
"Yeah, yeah, don't go near the slayer. I've got it. Now if you don't mind, some of us actually like the things that go bump in the night." he said before leaving, but not before looking back at the group as
he lit a cigarette with a smile.
After Spike left Giles turned to Xander, "Xander, I don't know if we'll be able to find out what it is that's causing this in the limited time we have until the day starts over so..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Remember what we researched the previous day, so that we don't research the same thing again." To Xander's remark Giles acted like he was about to say something, but Xander continued, "Oh, and don't suggest I write it down because been there, done that. Doesn't work. "
After he spoke Xander looked up at the clock, "Well, we've got about an hour and a half if I'm correct so lets get with the studying."
At Xander's eagerness to study, Willow, Tara, Anya and Giles all looked at him, "You know, I'm going to kill who or whatever did this, right?" Xander said.
Giles had thought the same thing. {Why was this morning the day I chose to change my breakfast routine. Bloody Fruit loops.}
==========================================================
Okay, there's part 3. I hope you liked it. The next part hopefully won't take as long, though, I'm afraid with RL rearing it's ugly head it may take a couple of weeks. Though, I will tell you this, in part 4 Xander starts to take Dawn's advice. Plus, for all those patient people out there, there will be B/X moments.
TC
Disclaimer: The characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer
belong to UPN, Joss, Fox, etc....
Distribution: You can put it wherever you want as long
as it's a happy place very far from B/S.
Summary: Xander realizes that he's reliving the same
day over and over again.
Setting: Season 5, right before I Was Made to Love
You.
Feedback: What would a fic be without feedback?...uh, probably my fic.
Rating: PG-13 to R.
Part 3
Outside of Xander's apartment
6:10 A.M.
Buffy walked up the stairs leading to Xander's apartment. She had been up these stairs many times, but never this early in the morning.
{God, no wonder Xander always seems so tired} she thought, finally reaching the top stair, as she walked down the hallway to his door.
After hearing movement in his apartment she put all thoughts of feeling sorry for Xander aside as she knocked on the door.
"W-who is it?" she heard Xander call out.
"It's Buffy, now come on and open the door."
After a minute of no response she leaned against the foorway, "Xander, I'm not leaving until you come to the door so if I was you I'd..." she was cut off by the door flying open so fast that she lost her balance, but Xander caught her as he quickly pulled
her into his apartment before closing the door.
"Xander what's your...." She was cut off by Xander, "Buffy we're in trouble."
"In trouble? How are we in trouble?"
"What do you mean how? Haven't you noticed?"
"Xander, the only thing I've noticed is that you need to switch to decaf in the morning."
{Oh God, she doesn't realize}
Xander began pacing around the room as Buffy watched, "Xander, what's wrong?"
Xander stopped as he looked back at her, "Giles, he'll know what to do." Xander said before grabbing ahold of her arm and dragging her out the door.
When they got into Xander's car Buffy didn't even have time to put her seatbelt on as Xander shifted the car in reverse and backed up in a hurry.
"Xander, tell me what is wrong."
"Not now. When we get to the Magic Shop I'll explain... or try to anyway."
"Explain what?" Buffy said as a thumping sound came from underneath them, "What was that?" she asked looking out the window on her side before looking back at Xander.
"Speed bump." he replied in a flat tone.
As they pulled out of the driveway and down the street towards the Magic Shop, speed bump wobbled off to his owner.
......................
The Magic Shop
25 minutes later
It was 6:45 in the morning and Giles was at the shop nontheless.
Always a professional no matter the job.
Whether it be his watcher duties or his duties to the shop, Giles was always up to the task. Today, however, was a different story as he stood behind the counter looking at the new inventory that had came yesterday in horror. There were five boxes stacked so high that
Giles was about ready to define it's demon origins until the bell rang above the door, drawing his attention.
"Giles! Giles!" Xander shouted until spotting the watcher behind the counter.
"Xander." Giles said simply before continuing, "Where's Buffy? I thought..." his question was answered as the blond slayer came through the door almost out of breath.
"Now I know why I've been too scared to get my driver's license." Buffy said coming inside and closing the door.
"Giles we've got a problem." Xander said almost out of breath himself.
"A problem, what kind of problem?"
"Well, you see... I'm uhh, well, it's kind of..." Xander let out a breath before continuing, "I'mrelivingthesamedayoverandoveragainandIdon'tknowhowlongthishasbeengoingonbutI'msureit'satleasttwodaysmaybemore." he finished nearly falling to the floor in exhaustion.
"Oh." Giles simply replied after listening to Xander's impersonation of the guy on the micro-machines commercial.
"Why didn't you tell me this at your apartment?" Buffy asked as Xander's breathing became normal again.
"I didn't want to have to repeat myself twice." Xander replied as Giles motioned for Buffy and Xander to take a seat.
Once Buffy and Xander were seated at the table in the middle of the Magic Shop, Giles stood over them with his hand massaging his temples.
"Xander, are you sure this wasn't a dream? Possibly brought on by something you ate."
"I'm sure Giles. I couldn't get more sure."
"Okay, well, first we need to know exactly when you first became aware of this...um, phenomenon."
"This morning when I woke up, although, I had these feelings yesterday....or would that be today?" he pondered out loud to himself.
After Xander received a stern look from both Buffy and Giles he continued, "I first started having these feelings of, I guess you could call them...Deja Vu, when I spoke to Anya on the phone."
"Before I came over?" Buffy asked.
"Yes...uhh, no." After receiving a look of doubt from Buffy he continued, "Hey, this is strange okay. It's not as if they have a book for these kind of things." he said defending himself before looking at Giles with desperation, "Do they?"
"Uhh, well, not that I know of." the watcher said.
"What do you mean, not that you know of? You're the watcher. You're suppose to know these kind of things." Xander said in a panic.
"Xander, calm down. We're get through this, okay." Buffy said across from him.
Xander looked at her and nodded his head before looking up at Giles, "Where do we start?"
"Uhhh, well, probably with research." Giles said walking away as he continued, "We'll need you to tell us everything about your experience. Every little detail could be helpful." he said coming back with a few books in his hands before dropping them on the
table in front of Xander and Buffy.
"Buffy why don't you call Willow and Tara and see if they could help in the research." Giles said as Buffy got up with a nod and headed to the phone.
Xander got up as he looked at the clock in the Magic Shop, "I'll go pick up Anya."
"Pick her up? Why don't you just call her?" Giles asked.
"Because if I remember correctly right about this time she's calling me to see if I'd like to go eat breakfast with her." Xander said cringing.
"And that's a problem?"
One look from Xander gave the watcher all he needed to know, "Hurry back."
....................................
The Magic Shop
About six hours later
After Xander and Anya got back, the latter finally being convinced that it wasn't a good idea to go to Denny's, everyone listened to Giles' lecture on stuff that made Xander feel like he was taking a college course....in German.
Willow and Tara had arrived just before Xander and Anya. They were all seated at the table, Tara and Anya beside one another, while Willow sat beside Xander. Buffy was leaning against the book shelf by the table as she too tried to comprehend the lecture that was Giles.
"Look on the bright side, at least now you might get some use out of your knowledge of star trek." Willow whispered into Xander's ear with a slight smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Giles clearing his throat wiped the smile from her face as she made a zipping of the mouth and throwing away the key motion.
Giles went back to his chalk board that he had dragged into the center of the shop. He was writing calculation after calculation, so many in fact that even he seemed to be confusing himself at times. When he finished the last calculation with a tap of the chalkboard he looked at the gang like he'd just discovered the cure for cancer.
"Uhh, could you go over that again, but this time in English?"
Giles just looked at the young man before him with a blank expression.
Tara broke the silence, "How do we stop this from happening again, today I mean?"
"Well, first we have to find out who did this."
"You mean you think someone did this?" Buffy asked.
"Perhaps, or perhaps some event could have caused it. I don't know yet." Giles said as he stared straight at the table, deep in thought.
"Okay, you know how much I love these round table discussions of ours, but I think you all are missing the point here."
"And that would be?" Giles asked.
"How the hell do *I* get out of this thing?" Xander asked in panic.
Before Giles could respond Anya spoke up, "See if you'd came over to my place last night when you were suppose to we'd probably be having sex right now and you wouldn't be in Bill Murray hell."
"What did you do last night? I mean, after you left here?" Giles asked, trying to ignore Anya's comment.
"Actually, that was tonight." Willow before receiving looks from Giles and Xander to which she threw away another key.
"Lets see, first I went to Anya's." Xander said recieving a smile from her as he continued, "then..."
"Xander?"
"Oh God..."
"What?" Buffy asked as she stood from her leaning position against the bookshelf.
"I can't believe I didn't remember it sooner."
"Remember what?" When Giles got no response from Xander he continued, "Xander, what is it that you didn't remember?"
"The family. Giles, we've got to do something. I was too late before. There were too many vampires." Xander said looking up at Giles and the others.
"Ok, calm down Xander."
"No, you don't understand." Xander said as he looked up at the clock that read 1:35 P.M. on the wall before continuing, "We've got to warn them, before it's too late."
"Xander, listen to me."
"Giles, we..." he was cut off by Giles, "Xander, sundown isn't for another five hours or so. The more important matter at hand right now is that you tell me everything that transpired last night. Everything, no matter how insignificant it might seem. There's no
telling what may have caused this event."
"What, are you saying that I may have caused this?"
"I don't know, but we must keep all of our options open at the moment. We mustn't jump into something we know nothing about so please go over every detail of what you experienced last night."
Xander sighed and began telling his day.
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StoneRidge Park
10:25 P.M.
They had been here since sundown and still no sign of any vamps, especially no sign of a family. Giles believed there might be some sort of connection between the family's death and these strange events that were supposedly occurring. There was only one way to find
out.
The park had an eerie quiet to it that made the hairs on Xander's neck stand on edge. {Or maybe that's just the effects of being in a crypt}
Willow, Tara and Buffy were in one group, while Xander, Giles, and Anya held up in a local crypt just about twenty yards from where the family had previously met their doom.
{You've got to love Sunnydale. A crypt at every corner} Xander thought as he peered over Giles' shoulder, who was looking through the slightly cracked door. At first Buffy couldn't find a good place to stay low at from the other side of the park, but as irony and a levation spell from Willow would have it, her, Willow and Tara were now in one of the tallest trees in the park as they sat and waited.
"Will, not that I doubt your magic abilities, but do you think you'll be able to get us down from this tree without disabling us before, you know, we actually fight the vamps."
"Buffy, you worry too much. We're just an {Eccephe'} away from being in contact with Mr. Grass."
Neither Buffy, nor Willow noticed that Tara fell to the ground with a thump.
After catching her breath and dusting herself off, Tara stood up and was about to call out to Willow and Buffy when she bumped into something. No, make that someone as the woman looked at the girl before her with a smile, "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"
Tara could sense something in this woman she didn't like. She was hoping that any minute now Buffy and Willow would join her, but they still didn't seem to notice her disappearance as they continued to bicker in the tree. Willow accusing Buffy of not believing in
her magic and such.
Meanwhile across the park Xander and Giles didn't even see Tara's state either because they were now focused on the family that had just ran into the park, obviously fleeing from something or someone.
As soon as Giles opened the crypt door, Xander flew out with Anya behind him as Giles brought up the rear. Giles had a crossbow, while Xander was armed with a stake and cross. Anya held onto her bottle of holy water as she followed close behind Xander.
Buffy was about to reply to Willow's put down of her stupid looking stake until she sensed movement from her left. She turned just in time to see Xander, Anya and Giles head towards a group of people, struggling to fight off a group of vamps.
"Willow!"
Willow immediatly went quiet when she heard Buffy's alarming tone. She knew that tone all too well. Willow followed Buffy's gaze to the rest of the gang coming to the rescue of the family.
"Willow, get us down. Now!"
"Eccephe'!"
With one word they both fell to the ground. Well, actually Willow fell, Buffy landed gracefully as she pounced back up from her crouching stance and flew into action.
Willow was about to take off after Buffy until she heard something behind her, "Tara, are you o..." she cut herself off as she saw Tara being held by a woman. As Willow looked into the eyes of Tara's captor she could tell this was a vampire. She didn't need the
woman's face to change to tell her that fact. She had been at this too long not to know.
"Well, well, who says money doesn't grow on trees. Well, okay maybe not money, but it seems food definitely does." The gorgeous, redhead said with a smile.
Willow could see the fear in Tara's eyes as they locked gazes for a moment before Willow spoke something so low that the redhead didn't hear until it was too late.
The redhead released her grip on Tara as she screamed in agony. This caught the attention of Buffy who had just dusted one of the vamps that Xander was wrestling with.
Both Buffy and Xander looked up to see the redhead look upon Willow and Tara with hatred as she held her burnt hands out in front of her before fleeing with a couple of her minions close behind.
"What was that all about?" Xander asked as Buffy and him came along side Willow.
"Oh, that's just a little spell me and Tara have been working on. Just a little holy magic."
"Holy Magic?" Giles asks as he and Anya now join the hundled group.
"Yeah, I blessed Tara." Willow said with a wide smile before looking at Tara who returned the smile with one of her own.
Buffy's demeanor changed as she scanned the area, "Guys, shhh."
They all looked around, waiting for an attack, before Buffy spoke out loud, "Alright Spike, come on out. I know you're here."
The platinum blond vampire came out from behind one of the trees, "Bloody Hell! Can't a guy at least have the satisifaction of ease dropping anymore."
"You're not a guy, so no." Buffy stated as she put her hands on her hips before continuing, "What are you doing out here and more importantly what the hell is Dawn doing here!" Buffy said as Dawn came out from behind Spike.
Dawn was about to say something until Spike spoke up first, "The niblet just wanted to go out for a stroll. I saw her sneaking out of her window and decided that she'd be safer with the big bad by her side."
"I'm thinking she wouldn't because usually dust isn't very capable of defending anyone." Buffy said before looking at Dawn, "And you, what is it about vampires, night, Sunnydale, and dangerous that you don't
understand."
"Listen slayer, she was only..." Spike was cut off by Xander, "Okay, you know that I'm all for yelling at Spike, but what about our little problem? You know, the reason why we're out here in the middle of the
night."
"Yes, I believe Xander is right. Perhaps we should save staking Spike for another time and call it a night." Giles said looking directly at Buffy.
"Fine, but yelling at my sister is not open for discussion." Buffy said grabbing Dawn as the gang followed.
"So, does saving the family mean that we stopped this time loop thingy?" Xander asked as he walked along side by Giles.
"Perhaps, but I'm not sure. There may be no connection between the family and this time loop as you put it. Like I said before, this could be the handy work of someone else. Who or what I don't know yet."
"What do we do then?" Xander asked as he watched Giles' get into his red convertible.
Before Giles could answer, Xander heard the all too familar sound of someone knocking before opening his eyes and finding himself back in bed.
..................
Xander went through the next few days/loops going, well, loopy. He'd gone over it time and again with the gang about his previous day, but they were getting nowhere. Giles had suggested that Xander should start taking notes of everything that he experienced and report back to him each and every morning about the previous day. What made it even worse was that no matter how much the gang wanted to help they really couldn't. They would try to help out in the research department, but Xander always had to be there to inform them on whatever they'd already covered or else they would just be researching the same thing over and over again.
To say it was frustrating was an understatement.
The one thing that Giles had come to believe was that the reason Xander was the only one aware of this time loop was because of his near death experience in the park at the time that this phenomenon began.
Dawn had convinced Buffy to let her skip school and help out with the research. Even Spike agreed to help out. Well, for a price that is.
"I like my blood O-pos if you don't mind." the planinum blond vampire said leaning against the bookshelf as he handed the mug back to Willow. He was rewarded with a book being shoved into his chest from
a not so happy looking slayer.
"Spike, you agreed to help out so shut up and start reading."
Spike took the book in his left hand before walking slowly over to one of the tables, all the while giving Buffy a good once over as she rolled her eyes and went back over to where Giles was standing.
"Anything?" she asked.
"Well, umm...no." Giles said looking back down at one the books in his arms as he put it back in the shelf before continuing, "I really don't know what to look for. There's no telling who or what caused this event."
"Giles."
"Hmm."
"Do you think Glory could have something to do with this?"
"I've thought about that, but it doesn't seem like something she'd do."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. She's a God after all, why would she have to worry about invoking a spell or something. If she truly knew about The K...Dawn, then she'd probably just bust in here and...."
"Buffy, I'm worried about Dawn also." Giles said as he put a hand on Buffy's shoulder while looking over at the slayer's younger sister who at the moment was sitting beside Willow and Xander at the table in the middle of the room, "But I know she'll be fine. You want to know why? Because she has you." he said looking down at an almost tearful young woman.
"This is all too freaky." Dawn said looking at the book in her lap.
"Tell me about it." Xander said.
"I mean, there's no telling how many times I've taken Ms. Bullard's history test." Dawn said looking up at Willow and Xander.
"Well, at least you forget taking it, every morning I wake up there's Buffy the work out slayer banging on my door."
"Yeah, but look at all the fun you could be having." Dawn said as her smile grew wider.
"Fun?" Xander said looking up at the person who at the minute he wanted to put in a door knob and turn, "You don't know how much I'd wish Denny's would go out of business at the moment."
"Yeah, but if it did it'd just be back in business the next loop." Willow said innocently.
Xander looked at his childhood friend beside him with a glare as she quickly looked back at the book in her lap.
"No consequences. Just think, you could do anything and no one would know except you. If I were you I'd be living it up." Dawn said looking across the table at Xander.
"You'd be living what up?" Buffy asked as she come up from behind Dawn.
"She'd be living up life." Willow answered with a smile.
"Yeah, living life is always good." Buffy answered as she yawned before continuing, "It's late, you should be home. Mom's probably worried since she doesn't know yet about your little class cutting today. Plus I'm a little sleepy." she finished with another yawn.
"Why, it's not as if we're going to get any sleep anyway. I mean, before we know it we'll be waking up to go get dressed and then we'll have to go take a history test again. The same one we've been taking for God knows how long and, uh..." Dawn cut herself off when she saw everyone's eyes on her before quickly changing the subject, "Uh, well, just because you're too sleepy to care about helping Xander doesn't mean I am." she said towards Buffy.
"What, that's not true. I care." Buffy said defending herself too everyone before looking at Xander with a uncertain face, "Xander you know I care, right?"
"Yeah, I know. It's okay Buff. Go ahead take Dawnie home and get some rest. The rest of us can take it from here."
"Okay, but if you guys find anything call me and I'll be here stat." Buffy said as Dawn got up reluctantly and followed her out.
"Maybe I should make sure they get home okay." Spike said as he made a move for the door before being blocked by Giles. Spike made a move to go around him, but Giles countered him, move for move.
"Listen, I don't know what your problem is, but...." Spike was cut off by a finger to his chest from Giles, "You're my problem Spike. Mine and everyone elses. Take my advice, leave her alone. Stay away from her or else you'll find out that the pain you have from that
chip in your head is nothing compared to the pain I can put you through."
Fear. A microsecond of fear and then it was gone as if it was never there.
Spike smirked as Giles continued, "Now if you want to help us research that's fine, but if not then leave, but..." Giles was cut off by Spike.
"Yeah, yeah, don't go near the slayer. I've got it. Now if you don't mind, some of us actually like the things that go bump in the night." he said before leaving, but not before looking back at the group as
he lit a cigarette with a smile.
After Spike left Giles turned to Xander, "Xander, I don't know if we'll be able to find out what it is that's causing this in the limited time we have until the day starts over so..."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Remember what we researched the previous day, so that we don't research the same thing again." To Xander's remark Giles acted like he was about to say something, but Xander continued, "Oh, and don't suggest I write it down because been there, done that. Doesn't work. "
After he spoke Xander looked up at the clock, "Well, we've got about an hour and a half if I'm correct so lets get with the studying."
At Xander's eagerness to study, Willow, Tara, Anya and Giles all looked at him, "You know, I'm going to kill who or whatever did this, right?" Xander said.
Giles had thought the same thing. {Why was this morning the day I chose to change my breakfast routine. Bloody Fruit loops.}
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Okay, there's part 3. I hope you liked it. The next part hopefully won't take as long, though, I'm afraid with RL rearing it's ugly head it may take a couple of weeks. Though, I will tell you this, in part 4 Xander starts to take Dawn's advice. Plus, for all those patient people out there, there will be B/X moments.
TC