Title: The Visitor (Part four continued from The Test)

Author: Whiskey Meteor

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Xander finds out the truth about Andrew.

Disclaimer: Everything BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon. And yes, there really is a town in Alberta called Vulcan.

Notes: Alternate ending to "Hell's Bells". After Xander walks out on his wedding he does not come back. As far as we know, the old man really was Xander from the future.

*****************************

Xander settled down quickly on the floor next to the unconscious Andrew. He hesitated only for a moment before turning the man onto his back and cradling him in his arms. Andrew had fallen almost flat on his face. His nose was bloody, and there was a good sized bump forming in the center of his forehead, and Xander pulled the sleeve of his tux into his hand and dabbed most of the blood off of Andrew's face, So much for getting my deposit back for the suit, he thought. Andrew was still and heavy like a sleeping baby in Xander's arms, and as Xander studied his face, he couldn't help but think that Andrew looked a little sad as well. Xander rolled his now bloody sleeve up, and ran his fingers tentatively over the swelling on the other man's head. More than the size of the bump, Xander was taken simply by the softness of Andrew's skin. Unable to restrain his curiosity Xander let his fingertips play over the rest of the man's face, marveling at how close his cheekbones were to the skin, almost sharp in contrast to the inviting plump of his lips. Inviting indeed, Xander thought to himself, remembering in Technicolor detail the sensation of pressing a kiss against those lips. Poor guy, Xander thought, permitting his fingers to continue their tentative exploration of the texture of Andrew's skin, He loved that Warren guy so much, and the jerk never even kissed him... what was he, blind? Xander ran a finger over Andrew's lips again, And now Andrew's so scared of him that he's gotta get out town-, Xander's thought stopped short. He had a sudden, forceful memory of telling Andrew that the two of them getting out of town together was the best idea *ever*. Mental note, Xander thought, Never drink again. He looked down at the hand which was caressing Andrew's face and was painfully aware of how bare his ring finger looked. Guiltily, Xander removed his hand from Andrew's face, and moments later his eyes fluttered open. Xander smiled, "Hey," he said softly, "Lost you there for a minute."

Andrew was aware of the beating of Xander's heart, somewhere very close to his own. It was a steady, sure noise, and Andrew let it pull him back into consciousness. Slowly, the room around him came back into focus, and Andrew frowned groggily, "Ow," he said, "What happened?"

"You fell over," Xander explained, slowly pulling Andrew upright, "You hit your head pretty hard- but you were only out for a minute."

Andrew gingerly poked at his nose, and then feeling his forehead, his eyes opened wide, "Oh my god," he exclaimed, aiming a worried look at Xander, "Do I look like a Klingon?"

Xander chuckled and patted Andrew on the shoulder reassuringly, "Maybe from The Original Series," he said, "It's really not that bad." Andrew frowned, but seemed adequately reassured. Xander sighed, relieved that Andrew wasn't seriously hurt, and then frowned at himself for being such a softy. Give it up, Xander. Whatever the reason you care about this guy, he thought, You both have to get out of town for a while, Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea to stick together... Xander sighed, "Hey, Andrew," he started, "I remember you mentioning something about us getting out the town together... and me saying it was the best idea *ever*-,"

Andrew cut in, "It's okay," he said, "You were drunk." He shrugged dismissively, "Don't worry, I wasn't gonna hold you to it."

"Well, actually, I was thinking," Xander said, "I really do need some time away to figure everything out." Andrew looked up at him hopefully, and Xander went on, "And it would be kinda nice to have some company."

"Really?" Andrew asked, instantly forgetting his decision to confess Warren, Jonathan, and his sins to Xander. He could rationalize it if he tried; Xander had enough on his plate already, the last thing he needed was something else to worry about. So really, Andrew thought, I'd be doing Xander a favor by not telling him the truth.

Xander nodded resolutely, "Really," he said, and pulled himself up off the floor. "Now can we go get some breakfast?" he asked, "I'm starving." Xander extended a hand to Andrew and helped him to his feet. Suddenly upright and still woozy from his fall, Andrew's legs wobbled and gave way beneath him. Reaching out for something in an attempt to steady himself Andrew's hands latched onto Xander's lapels, and as he fell backwards (Luckily onto the bed, and not the floor again) the other man was dragged down on top of him. Xander vaguely remembered having been in the very same position the night before. But this time he wasn't drunk. His mind- and his vision- clear, Xander gazed down at the man beneath him. Try as he might, he couldn't deny that Andrew was beautiful. Looking past the perfectly pale skin and the bewitchingly grey-green eyes, Xander saw a fusion of innocence and benevolence that was entirely intoxicating. He couldn't help but stare.

Andrew gave a shy smile. Being this close to Xander again was serving only to make him more lightheaded, and the way that the other man was staring at him... "Sorry," Andrew offered, breaking the silence between them, and after clearing his throat Xander carefully pulled them both back to their feet. "I don't usually fall down this much," Andrew added apologetically.

Xander shrugged, "Don't worry about it," he said, and looked down at the floor awkwardly, "You feel okay to get some breakfast now? Food might help with that whole lightheadedness bit."

"Yeah sure," Andrew nodded happily, "I could go for some-," he was cut off by a knock at the door. "I'll get it," Andrew volunteered, raising a hand, and strode over to the door. Curiously, he peeked through the peep-hole. What he saw made his heart constrict in fear, "Ohmigod," he whispered, "It's Warren."

Xander looked at the door cautiously, "Warren?" he whispered back, "Here?"

Andrew nodded nervously, "Just be quiet and maybe he'll go away..."

There was another knock on the door, although this time it sounded more like a kick than a knock, "Andrew!" came the slightly muffled voice from the other side of the door, "I know you're in there!" Andrew cringed and backed away from the door. Xander crossed the room to stand beside him, placing a hand on Andrew's shoulder reassuringly. "Andrew!" Warren screamed again, "Did you think I wouldn't notice that you'd gone!" There was another loud slam against the door, "I should have known you'd go running off to one of the slayer's pets!" another slam, "I'll kill you!"

Xander narrowed his eyes, Wait a minute, he thought, Slayer's pets?. Something clicked into place in his mind, "...Warren? As in Warren and Jonathan and the other guy?" he demanded, removing his hand from Andrew's shoulder and turning to stare at the young man in disbelief. "You're the other guy- you're Tucker's brother," he hissed.

Andrew's lower lip quivered, "I'm sorry," he begged, "I wanted to tell you, but-,"

"You killed that girl," Xander said.

"No," Andrew shook his head, "Warren did, and- and it was an accident-,"

Xander shook his head, "You tried to pin it on Buffy." In the background, Warren was still slamming against the door, and Andrew glanced towards it apprehensively. "You were right," Xander said, his face showing hurt and disgust, "You do deserve a bastard."

Andrew bit his quivering lip and a single tear rolled from his eye and down his cheek. He'd expected Xander to be angry, furious even, when he found out the truth. He hadn't been prepared for hurt and disgust. "I'm s-sorry," he begged again.

Xander took a deep breath, Don't feel sorry for him, he commanded himself, and glanced towards the door, which sounded as if it were about to break, and then back at Andrew. Xander looked into Andrew's eyes, wide and pleading, and saw still the goodness he'd observed in them earlier. If the eyes are a window to the soul, Xander thought, Then Andrew's a good man. Xander's eyes darted back and forth between Andrew's pleading eyes and the shaking door, when suddenly caught sight of a chair standing against the wall by the door. Inspiration struck and Xander let his instincts take over. Without hesitating he marched over to the door, unlocked and opened it, lifted the chair up over his head, and brought it down onto Warren's. Andrew gasped as Warren wobbled and collapsed onto the ground, a look of fleeting surprise on his face as he lost consciousness. Xander hooked his arms under Warren's shoulders, dragged him into the room and deposited him unceremoniously on the floor. "Come on," he called to Andrew, "Let's get out of here before he wakes up." Andrew stood motionless, gaping at Warren's still form on the floor. Xander rolled his eyes, grabbed Andrew by the hand and led him away hurriedly.

"Are you taking me to the police station?" Andrew asked flatly, following Xander blindly.

Xander shook his head and still holding tightly to Andrew's hand, continued to pull the other man along behind him, "No," he said, "I'm taking you to the bus depot."

"But-," Andrew started.

Xander stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to face Andrew, pointing a finger at him reprimandingly, "Look, Andrew," he warned, "For some reason I've decided to abandon my sanity and help you out here," he narrowed his eyes to stress the seriousness of the matter, "So it would be in your best interest to *not* argue with me, okay?"

Andrew nodded, and Xander lowered his finger and set off again, still pulling Andrew along by the hand.

* * * * *

A short, quick walk later Xander and Andrew arrived at the bus depot. They stood in an awkward silence in the middle of the throngs of people coming and going, both only vaguely aware that Xander was still holding tightly onto Andrew's hand. "So I guess you've changed your mind about coming with me?" Andrew ventured.

Xander nodded, "I think it would be better if we went our separate ways now," he said.

Andrew glanced away, and then back to Xander again, "Will you..." he hesitated, "Will you tell Buffy that I'm sorry?" Xander nodded. "I'm sorry to you too, Xander," Andrew added sadly.

Shaking his head, Xander pulled Andrew into a hug. It was unexpected, warm and comfortable- and over much too quick. Xander took a breath, "Look, Andrew," he said, "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Andrew nodded dismissively, "I guess I should get going," he said, and then frowned, "Where am I supposed to go?"

"I think the most important thing right now is getting out of here quickly," Xander explained, ushering Andrew to the nearest ticket booth, "So just buy a ticket on the next outbound bus, and wherever it goes, then that's where you're supposed to go."

"Thank you," Andrew offered, and looked up at Xander again pleadingly, "Are you sure you won't come with me?"

Xander smiled, "If Mr. Spock himself transported into the bus depot and ran over to tell me that it was imperative that I go with you..." he shrugged, "Then I might consider it."

Andrew nodded, disappointed, but understanding, and turned to the woman waiting behind the counter of the ticket booth. "I'd like a ticket on the next outbound bus please," he asked.

The clerk offered a patient smile, "To what destination?" she inquired.

"It doesn't matter," Andrew said, "Just whatever's leaving right away."

"Okay," the clerk quirked an eyebrow, and turned away briefly to consult her computer, "There's a seat available on the 420 to Alberta, it leaves in five minutes."

"Alberta?" Andrew asked, "Like, as in... Canada?"

The clerk nodded, "Yes sir," she confirmed.

Andrew shrugged, "Okay," he said, "I'll take it."

"Okay," the clerk nodded and turned away again to consult her computer, "So one ticket on the 420... final destination: Vulcan, Alberta."

The two men exchanged a look. *Vulcan*, Alberta. It was a sign. Xander raised a hand and waved at the clerk to attract her attention, "Excuse me, miss?" he asked, "I think you'd better make that two tickets."

The end

To be continued...