Feedback: God, yes! It is the only thing that gives me a reason to continue through this weird yet harsh reality.
Distribution: Ask and thou shall receive.
Spoilers: None
Pairings: B/X, R/F (No, it's not Riley! If you think it's Riley, I will find out where you live and smack you.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy and Co. They belong to the Joss W and now the UPN. I also do not own any of Bruce Lee's ideas. They belong to his widowed wife Linda Lee Caldwell and the Bruce Lee Educational Foundation. All I own are some smelly socks and I am sure you don't want that. ;-)
Summary: The beginning of a new Scbooy gang and Buffy is left with a mystery.
Author's Note: If you have read my other fic: If the Shoe Fits. You will know that I really hate the idea of Buffy dying. In case you haven't, I will tell you that she didn't die this time. Instead I have it to where Xander went up to save Dawn instead of Spike. As the Doc turns to greet him, thinking that Xander will fight him. Instead Xander walks up to him and gives him a speech like he did Angelus. When in actuality Xander was just distracting him enough to where the Doc's back is to the ledge so he could push the overconfident asshole off the platform, which he succeeded in doing. Oh and Anya died, when she saved Xander.
2nd note: I know it's a little late but the . . . indicates thoughts, * . . . * indicates telepathic conversations, and ~ . . . ~ indicates a phone conversation. And any words I use for spell casting are just gibberish. =Þ
My thanks to my Beta Readers: Brooke and Anne1680 and to those who have given me feedback: StoneCold, Michael, Xandman, Wicked Raygun, Xanderluv, Amelia, and Draxar for his creative criticism on my sub-genre. ;-) If I left anyone out email me and I'll be sure to add you to the list.
Giles' Apartment
Buffy knocks frantically on the door until Giles answers.
"Oh Buffy you are early. I take it you didn't find anything tonight."
"Not exactly."
"What do you mean by not exactly?" The watcher enquired.
"Well, I found two things. The first is Spike tells me we have three new players in the Slaying Game, although I am not sure if they are on our side. The second is I found sixteen piles of ash in one area."
Three strangers in Sunnydale? And sixteen piles of vampire ash in one spot? Interesting. He thought. "Did Spike give you a description of these people?"
"Yeah he did. Billy boy said there were two women and one man. He also made it sound like they were a powerful bunch too. He said that one girl was a shape-shifter, the other could run about as fast as me, and the man could do a teleportation spell without muttering a word."
"Did he mention anything else? Did he follow them?"
"Nope."
"Hmm . . . The shape-shifter may be a demon like the one we faced in the high school when that spirit cursed into the dummy's body. The man could be a mage, but I have never heard of a mage that powerful. As for the other woman, I couldn't tell you anything about her." He speculated.
"Spike said that he didn't smell a demon. Besides the shape-shifter was already in a human form before changing to a grey wolf. He didn't say anything else about the other two."
"Oh well it seems I will have to research more on this. As for the sixteen piles of vampire ash, I have heard of a number of vampiric rituals that require the sacrifice of their brethren to perform spells. Were there any writings or symbols in the area? Or were the ashes arranged in a certain pattern?"
"Nope, there were no symbols or writings and the piles were just scattered about. Some even had footprints in them to indicate that someone had been fighting them."
"Ok, that rules out the rituals but may only lead to thinking that the new group is on our side and still requires research." The Watcher said.
"Ugh. Before we start with that, can I call Xander? I need check up on him because Spike said he was walking through that area."
"Oh really? ... I mean go ahead."
Buffy picked up the phone and dialed Xander's number.
Xander's Apartment
Xander had just opened his door as he heard the phone ring. As he answered it, he motioned for the group to come in.
"Hello"
~Xander.~ Buffy answered.
"Oh hey. Buff, what's up?"
~Hey umm I was calling to check up on you. I talked to Spike earlier and he saw you walking through the Groovesdale cemetery where I found some Vampire dust.~
"Buffy. I will be honest with you." Well, part of the truth. He thought. "I was walking through that area but I didn't see anything."
~Oh ok. That's good. Oh and I wanted to tell you there is this mystery gang in town. All we know about them is that the group consists of three people: a guy that can do magic, a shape-shifter, and another person that Spike said could be as strong as me. I just wanted to give you the heads up.~
Xander smiled about her last bit of information. "Ok Buff, thanks for the information. I will keep a look out. Anyway I gotta go because I have to get up early for work tomorrow." To tell them that I quit.
~Ok Xand. I guess I will let you go.~
"Bye Buff."
~Bye Xand.~
"Who was that?" Faith asked as she poured herself a glass of water.
"Oh that was Buffy. She was just checking up on me. Spike told her he saw me in the cemetery where we dusted those vamps. She also mentioned something about mysterious group people in town." He said smiling.
"Oh and I take it you told her the half truth." Brooke piped in with a wicked grin.
"Yes, I did. I also told her that I going to bed but I want to hear more about you guys."
"Well what else do you want to know?" Reed asked.
"Actually there's a lot I want to know like why did that elf tell their plans like an idiot? What about Brooke's story and how did you guys met?"
"Ok what do you want to know first?"
"Hmm . . . "
"I want to know more about Brooke." Faith said. The reason for her interest was that she wasn't sure what the two were to each other.
"All right, Brooke, do you want to do the honors or shall I?"
"Guess I will. Since is my life story and you would probably just screw it up or add some sexual innuendo in there." The shape-shifter said playfully.
"Me?! Never." Reed said giving her a devilish smile. He was trying to hide his concern because he knew she would be reliving painful memories. But sometimes it's good to remember where you come from even if it is painful.
The playful banter between the two makes Faith jealous but as usual she didn't show her feelings.
"Ok well I guess I start at the part where I first found out I was a shape-shifter. I am half human. My mother is a fairy creature from the world that Reed spoke of and my father is human. But they failed to mention that part of my mother's life. So when I turned 16, I had my first changing experience and let me tell you turning into a guy in front of your friends is not an experience I wanted to relive. I ran home crying my eyes out. My parents saw me as I ran into the house. They followed me to my room asking what the happened. After I told them, they decided to explain everything to me. They said the reason they didn't say anything was that they were hoping that I wouldn't have the magic since my father was human. They still could have told me to prepare me. So needless to say I was infuriated with them. How was to face my friends? I mean I turned to a guy in front of them. I told them to get out of my room." Brooke said as tears formed in her eyes she relived the memories.
"Do you want me to finish?" He asked.
"No, like you said before I need to deal with my past. I guess now is a good time to do it anyway." She said wiping her eyes. "Anyway that night I decide to run away. I thought that all my friends would see me as a freak and I was so angry with my parents that I didn't think about their feelings. So I packed my bags, hid them until the next day because I needed to clear out my savings account and then caught a bus to New York where I met Reed a couple of months ago."
Xander decided to ask the obvious. "Ok, you guys met in New York. How did you guys meet?"
Reed decided to answer, "Well that's the interesting part. Brooke actually saved my life. Three months ago, I was in New York hunting some RCA demons."
"RCA? There are demons named after a VCR?" Xander asked in confused.
"Actually no, that's an abbreviated version that Brooke came up with. It's short for really cruel assassins. Well, anyway, have you ever heard of a vampire named Angelus?"
At the mention of Angel's former name both Xander and Faith gave him a look.
"I'll take that as a yes. That would also mean that you have come across a vampire named Angel. Judging by the looks you just gave me his curse was somehow broken and you met his alter ego."
"Yeah, we have met him. The thing that broken his curse was for him to get laid." Xander said in spit. "Judging by YOUR look, the answer is yes. We defeated him by re-cursing him but not before we sent him to Hell. Unfortunately, he came back."
"Good! I mean it's not good that the curse was broken. That brooding bastard still owes me his life and a hundred dollars from a poker game." The wizard said smiling.
"Anyway I don't mean to sound cold but I need to get back to the story because I don't think we all want to be staying up all night for something like this."
"Yeah, hurry up and tell the damn story." Brooke said. "I told you that you should have let me tell the story. That's so like you always veering off the subject."
"All right, all right already! So as I was saying, I was hunting these assassins, which are quite a mean bunch. They make Angelus look like a Saint. Anyway I had finally cornered them in an abandoned factory. I was about to kill what I thought was the last demon, when another one came up behind me about to slice my head off. Suddenly a huge grizzly tackled them and proceeded to rip the two demons apart. After the bear finished its frenzy, it seemed to calm down. That was when I noticed that the Grizzly started to shrink and take a human form . . . a very *nekkid* form . . . Ow!"
He suddenly receives a smack to the head by a certain blonde shape-shifter. "I thought I told you to keep that little scene to yourself."
"Oops. Sorry."
"I think I will finish up the story since you seem to forget certain things." She said. "Anyway, when I turned to see to if Reed was running out of the alleyway to my surprise. I see him with his back turned and a coat floating in midair. Then it finally dawned on me why he was like that. After that we teamed up and started to fight the forces of darkness. We made quite a reputation for ourselves. But the weird thing is no matter how feared you are there is always some stupid cocky demon waiting to get his ass kicked."
"God, ain't that the truth. I don't know how many times I have seen a demon come up to Buffy thinking he can beat her and ended up with head short. Pun intended" Xander stated.
"I am wondering if you have known Reed for three months why were you asking about him on the way to the Cemetery." Faith asked
"Well, I was engrossed in training Brooke how to control her powers, that I didn't have the time to give her my life story. Of course, that didn't stop her from giving me hers." Reed laughed
"Oh shut up. What was I supposed to do listen to you the entire time?" She countered
"Ouch. Crash and Burn. Ok, now that that's all said and done. I think it's time we all hit the sack."
"Great! We haven't slept for two days. Ok Brooke, you go get the bed ready and I'll be there in a minute." Reed stated.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Faith screamed. "I thought you said you two were just friends. But you are sleeping with him. And Reed I thought you said you were waiting till you got married before you did the deed! After all the times I tried to get you the sack!"
"Faith, How dare you insult me and Brooke like that! I can't believe you think so little of me after what we have. YES! I am sleeping with her but with clothes ON. I only agree to it because I am sort of a security blanket for her because of how her life has been! I was hoping that when we settled in she would start sleeping in the bed by herself! Now I hope you can find it in your heart to apologize to Brooke and me! " Reed countered heatedly.
Faith looked away in shame and embarrassment. "I ... I am sorry Brooke. I am sorry I jumped to conclusions. I will just go ahead and turn in."
"Ok. Goodnight and Thank you." Reed said.
Faith turned around all confused. "For what?"
"Well" He looked a little flushed around the cheeks. "I wasn't sure if you had any feelings for me. I guess with your outburst my question was answered." Reed smiled. "But I am still disappointed in you. We will discuss a proper punishment tomorrow."
"Hey! I have an idea for her punishment." Xander piped in. "I have some chores that need to be done around here. She can do those."
Faith just glared at Xander. *You are sooo gonna get it later, Xander. Hmm . . . I wonder how he feels about pink boxers. *
"That sounds good enough and don't even think about mixing his boxers with any red towels while washing his clothes. I know how you like to use that as revenge."
"Oh! All right. I won't. But I just want to state that I'll be bitching and ranting all day tomorrow."
"Duly Noted. Now can I please go to bed. I have been running on adrenaline all day and I would like to get some rest."
"All right. Night everyone." Faith said as she headed toward the second spare bedroom. As she closed the door a small smile spread across her face.
Tune in next time. Same Slayer Time. Slayer Channel. Ok made not the same time but definitely the same channel.
Reed a.k.a. King Xander.
