Waking up to whispered voices, Xander fought his instincts and remained
still. He knew he was not in the same place he was when he fell asleep
last night. He was still holding onto Angel and still fully clothed, but
the ground he was laying on felt different. It felt like he was lying on
finished wood. He knew that he was indoors, the lack of wind and animal
sounds clued him in on that. He could tell that he and Angel were not
alone in the room.
All this only took the warrior a few seconds to figure out. He decided it was worth the risk to move and scope out the situation. The people that he could detect were not moving and he had no clue if they were prisoners or if they were the jailers in this situation. Xander raised his head and made eye contact with a familiar looking man. Where did he recognize him from? It only took a few seconds for Xander's photographic memory to come into play. Xander's shocked, "Oh shit," rang in the room and he looked at the others that stood with his old librarian. He recognized Buffy, who was in front of course. He also saw Willow, his childhood friend. It took him a few more seconds to remember Oz's name but it came to him quickly.
It took him just a fraction of a second to realize that if he was seeing the Scooby Gang, then he either was back in Sunnydale or they had been brought to him. He looked rapidly around the room and decided that he and Angel were back at the Hellmouth. He turned to his partner and finally noticed that Angel was not awake yet. This did not worry him, as it was technically night time where the two had been. He got to his hands and knees and starting shaking the vamp. "Angel, get your ass up now!"
Angel stirred and cracked his eyes open, taking stock of the situation. Like Xander, he quickly realized he was not where he was last at. He sat up and reached for his weapons at the same time when the felt the presence of the others. Taking his cue from Xander, he didn't react violently, but slowly turned to face the doorway. In the process, he realized where they were. Somehow they had been transferred back to his mansion in Sunnydale. How or why escaped him, but the relief at not having to survive another day in Hell filled him.
"Shit." Angel recognition of the four people standing in the doorway was instantaneous. The looks he was getting were filled with horror and shock. He didn't blame them as he remembered the last time he had seen them. He had tried to destroy them all and he couldn't blame them for being terrified of Angelus. He turned to Xander, "Do you want to explain or should I? They'd probably believe you more than they'd believe me."
Xander nodded, that would most likely be true. First though, they had to establish to the Scooby Gang that he really was their friend Xander and that he wasn't someone else entirely or from a different dimension. Hell, he had to figure out if this was where he and Angel were really from as well.
"Okay. Giles, Willow, Buffy, Oz. I'm not sure how we got here, but I am Alexander LaVelle Harris, Xander and he," Xander pointed at Angel, "is Angel, otherwise known as Angelus. I'm pretty sure we're from this dimension.I don't know why we'd be sent to a different one, but we haven't been here for a while, yes?" Xander waited for an answer.
Finally Giles got himself together enough to answer, "Yes, you've been missing since May. It's not August. Buffy was fighting Angelus and was knocked out. You jumped in and when we all got to the Mansion, you and Angelus had disappeared."
Xander nodded. It was most likely that they were in the right place. "Actually Angel. Willow's spell worked." Xander heard a gasp from Willow. "I knew Buffy wouldn't be able to kill Angelus, so when she was knocked out, I jumped in. I noticed that Willow's spell had worked, but it was too late, the portal had been opened. It sucked the both of us in and we've been in Hell. Time flows differently there. I have no doubt that it's been three months here, but it's been much longer for us."
Xander's expression was hard and unmoving. Giles knew more than the others what the boy, no man, must have gone through to survive. Hell, no matter which part of it, was no place for a non-demon to be. And Angel with a soul! He would have had a hard time as well. Punishments for demons were excruciating. It seemed though, that the two had managed to stick together. Hopefully they had managed to keep the other from too much pain and suffering. Giles wondered what Xander wasn't telling them. Years could have passed since they had last seen him.
Giles decided to ask. The longer it had been for the boy, the less likely it would be that Willow would get her friend back. It would be hard for the girl and Buffy to accept a new Xander. They were used to being the alphas in their group and would not take kindly to a Xander that could stand up for himself. "Xander, how long were you there?"
Xander looked up sharply at the Watcher. "I don't know. Years. I lost count after 100. After that, it didn't seem worth it any more. Angel? Do you keep track?"
Angel shook his head. "No, I lost count as well, but it was at least five centuries."
Everyone looked stunned. Giles couldn't believe it. How HAD Xander survived that long? Obviously his life span had been manipulated to last that long, but living in Hell? Giles knew that he wouldn't have been able to be that successful and still remain sane. His respect for the man in front of him grew.
After a few minutes of silence, no one knew quite what to say, Giles spoke up. "Yes, well, Xander, I do believe that you haven't been listed as missing or dead yet. You should be able to pick up your life quite easily. You look a lot older though. I can help you get your diploma if you don't want to go back to high school. But we still have a couple weeks before school starts to take care of it. I'd love to hear about your experiences. We don't have a lot of information about the Hell dimensions, just that they are incredibly dangerous. Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
Without looking up from the floor, Xander spoke, "Yeah, Angel and I will stay here today. We'll go pick up my stuff tomorrow night. Angel's apartment should still be livable. And yeah, I'll probably take you up on your offer. I don't think I could go back to normal. I've seen too much and done even more." Xander got a sad look on his face as he remembered how exactly he became proficient at surviving. He had had to learn how to protect himself and Angel. He hadn't killed humans, but only because he was the only one. He knew that he rivaled the Vampire Slayer in strength and ability and he probably was more informed than she about the different demons. He had picked up several demon languages throughout the years and knew which ones were dangerous and which ones weren't and how to kill them all.
Xander had even picked up on how to use magic. He didn't have a natural skill with it, but had learned enough to be able to know when it was being used and by whom. He could perform simple spells but knew the mechanics of the bigger ones. He knew that he and Angel hadn't been sent back to Sunnydale randomly. There was going to be some big bad that they were needed for. TPTB had brought them back here for a reason. Now all Xander and Angel had to do was figure out what that reason was. He sighed. He was tired of being used and knew that it would be a long time before he was comfortable in his home dimension again.
He realized that he had been silent for a while and that no one else had said anything. "What?" Xander looked up to see everyone staring at him. Angel had moved closer and had placed his hand on his lower back for support.
Giles cleared his throat. "I think we should leave Angel and Xander alone so they can get some sleep. We'll figure out how they got back here later. Can you meet us at my place after sunset tomorrow?" This question was directed to Xander and Angel.
"Yeah, but make it after 9. I really want to get some things taken care of first and it'll take awhile."
"Fine. Willow, can you call Cordelia? She should be back by now and will want to see Xander. Buffy, would you patrol before coming over? That way we won't be interrupted." He started making his way out of the room. "I'll see everyone then." He left, after grabbing a reluctant Buffy's arm and dragging her with him. Willow and Oz remained for a few minutes longer.
Willow looked at Xander and didn't recognize who he was. Gone was the little boy she grew up with, gone was the happy-go-lucky teenager she had been friends with up until a few months ago. She nodded to herself. She would find a way to turn him back into the boy he was, even if he didn't want it. No one would change her friend, not even himself. She started to turn after saying goodnight to her Xander but was interrupted by Xander's low voice.
"Willow."
She turned back around and was greeted by Xander standing inches away. He had moved to quickly and silently that she hadn't heard him move. "Yes?"
"You will NOT use magic to try and fix this. What happened happened and cannot be changed. Do you understand?" Xander had enough ability to feel the magic surrounding his one-time friend. He recognized the look on the girl's face and knew that she was planning on manipulating the energies she had access to, to try and fix this problem. If she hadn't changed him, no one could. But he knew that while he hadn't wanted to go through Hell, he had for some reason and Willow would only bring destruction upon them all if he let her continue. He remembered the magics he had had to have stripped from himself in the other realm and knew that someone had to control the girl before she went too far. And it looked like tonight, it would be him.
Willow was shocked. How could Xander had known what she was going to do? She had forgotten that while she knew him better than anyone else, the same could be said for Xander. He knew her and knew what she was capable of. "What? I wasn't going to do anything!"
"Yes, you were. But you will not. I am not the zeppo. I never was but you and Buffy placed me there. I let you because it was easier than admitting that I was just as strong and intelligent as you were. I know you. You will not do what you were planning. I can and will make sure you won't, but I'd not like to go that far. Do I have to, Willow?"
"No," she whispered. "I won't change anything." She was shocked. She had felt the strength coming off of her best friend. He was stronger than she was and could do as he threatened. How had he figured out she had limited him when she first started playing around with magic? That was the only explanation for his new abilities she had felt. She would have to be careful around him. Willow turned back around, resolved not to upset this stranger with Xander's face. She would let him be and search for her real friend. Real Xander would never treat her this way. "Come on, Oz, let's go." Without looking back, Willow walked away from the person she cared most for.
Oz followed, briefly stopping to say a quick, "Night."
Xander just stood there. "Willow, Oz. See you tomorrow."
After the two had disappeared from sight, Angel approached Xander. He knew that to the outsider, Xander appeared calm and collected. However, he knew that Xander was hurting. It had cost him a lot to say what he had to Willow. Willow was one of Xander's few bright memories of before. Before they had been transported to the other place. Before he had had to give up his innocence. Angel wrapped his arms around his love, and whispered, "Are you okay?"
Xander shook in silent laughter that quickly turned to tearless sobs. He had stopped crying many years ago. Emotions would only get you killed in Hell. He seemed to collapse in Angel's arms. "No. She's changed so much from what I remember. I know it's been forever for us, but it's only been three months here! Did I just not notice? She's convinced I'm not her Xander. I'll have to keep an eye out on her. She's not going to stop and one day, she'll be responsible for bringing hell on earth and I can't let her do that."
Angel just held on tightly. Xander had lost a friend today, one that he had dream after and had held in high regard. One day the two of them may have to take care of the girl to prevent her from becoming worse than Angelus ever had been. "It'll work out in the end."
"Yeah, I know." Xander stood up straight and pulled away from Angel. "We need to figure out why we were sent back. TPTB are the only ones that I can think of that would do it and that means that they need us here. Do you know anyone with access to them? I refuse to be their pawns and wander around aimlessly."
"Yeah, but they won't be up right now. We can take care of it tomorrow. Let's get some rest. I think the bedroom should still be habitable. I don't think anyone else would have used the Mansion while we've been gone."
"Alright. Lead the way." Xander tiredly followed Angel through the maze of rooms. They found the bed, covered in dust, but usable. They had certainly seen a lot worse in their sojourn in Hell.
The next day would bring their purpose in coming back to Sunnydale and would reveal the huge chasm that separated Xander from the Scoobies, but for now, he was home safe and with his love. For the first time in centuries, Xander Harris was content.
All this only took the warrior a few seconds to figure out. He decided it was worth the risk to move and scope out the situation. The people that he could detect were not moving and he had no clue if they were prisoners or if they were the jailers in this situation. Xander raised his head and made eye contact with a familiar looking man. Where did he recognize him from? It only took a few seconds for Xander's photographic memory to come into play. Xander's shocked, "Oh shit," rang in the room and he looked at the others that stood with his old librarian. He recognized Buffy, who was in front of course. He also saw Willow, his childhood friend. It took him a few more seconds to remember Oz's name but it came to him quickly.
It took him just a fraction of a second to realize that if he was seeing the Scooby Gang, then he either was back in Sunnydale or they had been brought to him. He looked rapidly around the room and decided that he and Angel were back at the Hellmouth. He turned to his partner and finally noticed that Angel was not awake yet. This did not worry him, as it was technically night time where the two had been. He got to his hands and knees and starting shaking the vamp. "Angel, get your ass up now!"
Angel stirred and cracked his eyes open, taking stock of the situation. Like Xander, he quickly realized he was not where he was last at. He sat up and reached for his weapons at the same time when the felt the presence of the others. Taking his cue from Xander, he didn't react violently, but slowly turned to face the doorway. In the process, he realized where they were. Somehow they had been transferred back to his mansion in Sunnydale. How or why escaped him, but the relief at not having to survive another day in Hell filled him.
"Shit." Angel recognition of the four people standing in the doorway was instantaneous. The looks he was getting were filled with horror and shock. He didn't blame them as he remembered the last time he had seen them. He had tried to destroy them all and he couldn't blame them for being terrified of Angelus. He turned to Xander, "Do you want to explain or should I? They'd probably believe you more than they'd believe me."
Xander nodded, that would most likely be true. First though, they had to establish to the Scooby Gang that he really was their friend Xander and that he wasn't someone else entirely or from a different dimension. Hell, he had to figure out if this was where he and Angel were really from as well.
"Okay. Giles, Willow, Buffy, Oz. I'm not sure how we got here, but I am Alexander LaVelle Harris, Xander and he," Xander pointed at Angel, "is Angel, otherwise known as Angelus. I'm pretty sure we're from this dimension.I don't know why we'd be sent to a different one, but we haven't been here for a while, yes?" Xander waited for an answer.
Finally Giles got himself together enough to answer, "Yes, you've been missing since May. It's not August. Buffy was fighting Angelus and was knocked out. You jumped in and when we all got to the Mansion, you and Angelus had disappeared."
Xander nodded. It was most likely that they were in the right place. "Actually Angel. Willow's spell worked." Xander heard a gasp from Willow. "I knew Buffy wouldn't be able to kill Angelus, so when she was knocked out, I jumped in. I noticed that Willow's spell had worked, but it was too late, the portal had been opened. It sucked the both of us in and we've been in Hell. Time flows differently there. I have no doubt that it's been three months here, but it's been much longer for us."
Xander's expression was hard and unmoving. Giles knew more than the others what the boy, no man, must have gone through to survive. Hell, no matter which part of it, was no place for a non-demon to be. And Angel with a soul! He would have had a hard time as well. Punishments for demons were excruciating. It seemed though, that the two had managed to stick together. Hopefully they had managed to keep the other from too much pain and suffering. Giles wondered what Xander wasn't telling them. Years could have passed since they had last seen him.
Giles decided to ask. The longer it had been for the boy, the less likely it would be that Willow would get her friend back. It would be hard for the girl and Buffy to accept a new Xander. They were used to being the alphas in their group and would not take kindly to a Xander that could stand up for himself. "Xander, how long were you there?"
Xander looked up sharply at the Watcher. "I don't know. Years. I lost count after 100. After that, it didn't seem worth it any more. Angel? Do you keep track?"
Angel shook his head. "No, I lost count as well, but it was at least five centuries."
Everyone looked stunned. Giles couldn't believe it. How HAD Xander survived that long? Obviously his life span had been manipulated to last that long, but living in Hell? Giles knew that he wouldn't have been able to be that successful and still remain sane. His respect for the man in front of him grew.
After a few minutes of silence, no one knew quite what to say, Giles spoke up. "Yes, well, Xander, I do believe that you haven't been listed as missing or dead yet. You should be able to pick up your life quite easily. You look a lot older though. I can help you get your diploma if you don't want to go back to high school. But we still have a couple weeks before school starts to take care of it. I'd love to hear about your experiences. We don't have a lot of information about the Hell dimensions, just that they are incredibly dangerous. Do you have a place to stay tonight?"
Without looking up from the floor, Xander spoke, "Yeah, Angel and I will stay here today. We'll go pick up my stuff tomorrow night. Angel's apartment should still be livable. And yeah, I'll probably take you up on your offer. I don't think I could go back to normal. I've seen too much and done even more." Xander got a sad look on his face as he remembered how exactly he became proficient at surviving. He had had to learn how to protect himself and Angel. He hadn't killed humans, but only because he was the only one. He knew that he rivaled the Vampire Slayer in strength and ability and he probably was more informed than she about the different demons. He had picked up several demon languages throughout the years and knew which ones were dangerous and which ones weren't and how to kill them all.
Xander had even picked up on how to use magic. He didn't have a natural skill with it, but had learned enough to be able to know when it was being used and by whom. He could perform simple spells but knew the mechanics of the bigger ones. He knew that he and Angel hadn't been sent back to Sunnydale randomly. There was going to be some big bad that they were needed for. TPTB had brought them back here for a reason. Now all Xander and Angel had to do was figure out what that reason was. He sighed. He was tired of being used and knew that it would be a long time before he was comfortable in his home dimension again.
He realized that he had been silent for a while and that no one else had said anything. "What?" Xander looked up to see everyone staring at him. Angel had moved closer and had placed his hand on his lower back for support.
Giles cleared his throat. "I think we should leave Angel and Xander alone so they can get some sleep. We'll figure out how they got back here later. Can you meet us at my place after sunset tomorrow?" This question was directed to Xander and Angel.
"Yeah, but make it after 9. I really want to get some things taken care of first and it'll take awhile."
"Fine. Willow, can you call Cordelia? She should be back by now and will want to see Xander. Buffy, would you patrol before coming over? That way we won't be interrupted." He started making his way out of the room. "I'll see everyone then." He left, after grabbing a reluctant Buffy's arm and dragging her with him. Willow and Oz remained for a few minutes longer.
Willow looked at Xander and didn't recognize who he was. Gone was the little boy she grew up with, gone was the happy-go-lucky teenager she had been friends with up until a few months ago. She nodded to herself. She would find a way to turn him back into the boy he was, even if he didn't want it. No one would change her friend, not even himself. She started to turn after saying goodnight to her Xander but was interrupted by Xander's low voice.
"Willow."
She turned back around and was greeted by Xander standing inches away. He had moved to quickly and silently that she hadn't heard him move. "Yes?"
"You will NOT use magic to try and fix this. What happened happened and cannot be changed. Do you understand?" Xander had enough ability to feel the magic surrounding his one-time friend. He recognized the look on the girl's face and knew that she was planning on manipulating the energies she had access to, to try and fix this problem. If she hadn't changed him, no one could. But he knew that while he hadn't wanted to go through Hell, he had for some reason and Willow would only bring destruction upon them all if he let her continue. He remembered the magics he had had to have stripped from himself in the other realm and knew that someone had to control the girl before she went too far. And it looked like tonight, it would be him.
Willow was shocked. How could Xander had known what she was going to do? She had forgotten that while she knew him better than anyone else, the same could be said for Xander. He knew her and knew what she was capable of. "What? I wasn't going to do anything!"
"Yes, you were. But you will not. I am not the zeppo. I never was but you and Buffy placed me there. I let you because it was easier than admitting that I was just as strong and intelligent as you were. I know you. You will not do what you were planning. I can and will make sure you won't, but I'd not like to go that far. Do I have to, Willow?"
"No," she whispered. "I won't change anything." She was shocked. She had felt the strength coming off of her best friend. He was stronger than she was and could do as he threatened. How had he figured out she had limited him when she first started playing around with magic? That was the only explanation for his new abilities she had felt. She would have to be careful around him. Willow turned back around, resolved not to upset this stranger with Xander's face. She would let him be and search for her real friend. Real Xander would never treat her this way. "Come on, Oz, let's go." Without looking back, Willow walked away from the person she cared most for.
Oz followed, briefly stopping to say a quick, "Night."
Xander just stood there. "Willow, Oz. See you tomorrow."
After the two had disappeared from sight, Angel approached Xander. He knew that to the outsider, Xander appeared calm and collected. However, he knew that Xander was hurting. It had cost him a lot to say what he had to Willow. Willow was one of Xander's few bright memories of before. Before they had been transported to the other place. Before he had had to give up his innocence. Angel wrapped his arms around his love, and whispered, "Are you okay?"
Xander shook in silent laughter that quickly turned to tearless sobs. He had stopped crying many years ago. Emotions would only get you killed in Hell. He seemed to collapse in Angel's arms. "No. She's changed so much from what I remember. I know it's been forever for us, but it's only been three months here! Did I just not notice? She's convinced I'm not her Xander. I'll have to keep an eye out on her. She's not going to stop and one day, she'll be responsible for bringing hell on earth and I can't let her do that."
Angel just held on tightly. Xander had lost a friend today, one that he had dream after and had held in high regard. One day the two of them may have to take care of the girl to prevent her from becoming worse than Angelus ever had been. "It'll work out in the end."
"Yeah, I know." Xander stood up straight and pulled away from Angel. "We need to figure out why we were sent back. TPTB are the only ones that I can think of that would do it and that means that they need us here. Do you know anyone with access to them? I refuse to be their pawns and wander around aimlessly."
"Yeah, but they won't be up right now. We can take care of it tomorrow. Let's get some rest. I think the bedroom should still be habitable. I don't think anyone else would have used the Mansion while we've been gone."
"Alright. Lead the way." Xander tiredly followed Angel through the maze of rooms. They found the bed, covered in dust, but usable. They had certainly seen a lot worse in their sojourn in Hell.
The next day would bring their purpose in coming back to Sunnydale and would reveal the huge chasm that separated Xander from the Scoobies, but for now, he was home safe and with his love. For the first time in centuries, Xander Harris was content.