Title: Phoenix Risings
Rating: PG-13/R
Chapter Number: 5
Author: White Werewolf
Category: Buffy/Xander, Sam/Daniel, Gabrielle/Joxer
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: After Buffy leaves Sunnydale, Xander decides to go looking for her. On the other side of the universe, Ninedinna wants the book she created...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: the Book of the Dead.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, BMT, Joshua, and X-Lander
Crossovers Planned:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Evil Dead
Stargate SG-1
Xena: Warrior Princess
Three's Company
Cameo Crossovers are sudden to appear. See if you can spot any.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***
Xander walked into the room as Kevin smiled, "What's up, Xander?"
He smiled, "Not much. Work was busy. Haven't found Buffy yet either. I'm really worried about her, Herc. It's been four days, and I haven't come up with anything."
Kevin walked over to a couch that he had by the far left wall. "Sit down, Xander."
The brunette shrugged, "Sure." Then he sat down.
"I know you're worried about her. Ever since I met you, you haven't really stopped talking about her. She means a lot to you, huh?"
The teenager sighed, "More than you ever know."
Hercules knew that tone. Maybe not from Xander per say, but from other people. He wanted to be sure, "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer, if you don't want to."
Without thinking, he replied, "What do you want to know?"
The actor smiled, "You love her, don't you? I hear the way you talk about her. You're in love with her?"
How did Hercules know? Xander never told anyone about his feelings for the young blond woman. But did he want to tell him?
Telling someone might be a good thing. True, he didn't want to get his feelings hurt, but with Hercules it was different. The demigod actually told Xander his true identity. He was actually willing to trust Xander with that information, and that meant a lot.
So, with that conclusion, he decided to be completely honest. He said in an almost whisper, "Yeah, I do."
Kevin smiled, "Since when?"
"Since the day I met her. During my Sophomore year, I was on my skateboard and saw Buffy for the first time. She was walking up the stairs, and I was caught off guard. Staring at her, I didn't pay any attention to my surroundings. I hit the handrail, and fell on the ground."
Hercules chuckled, "That's a way to make a first impression?"
He smiled, "Oh, I didn't tell you when I actually talked to her."
"What happened?"
"She was coming out of the Principal's office, we bumped into each other with her dropping her book on the floor. Being the gentleman I was."
The son of Zues chuckled, "Gentleman? You a gentleman?"
He glared at him, "Yeah, that's what I said. I'm a gentleman." Xander eye's softened, "alright. I may not be a total gentleman, but I try to be.
"I'm sure you try."
"You bet I do." Xander said with a smile.
He nodded, "So back to your story."
"Right," the boy said right away, "after bumping into her, I helped pick up her books, I spoke to her. I said, 'Can I have you?' Can you believe it? I said to the girl of my dreams, 'Can I have you?"
Kevin smiled, "The subconscious mind does things without us ever knowing."
The young man nodded, "Don't I know it. Anyway, she smiled in response. I quickly covered myself by saying, 'Can I help you?' Which by the way is what I meant to say. We introduced ourselves, and she left shortly after. Forgetting that she dropped a stake by the way. Later I find out that she's the Vampire Slayer. As time went by, I learned new things about her, and I fell in love with her even more."
"Did you ever tell her?"
"I tried. I asked her out at our Spring Fling, and she turned me down. She told me that I was her friend and that she didn't feel that way about me. But I couldn't stop my feelings for her. Even though we never happened, I still had feelings for her. I'd gladly give up my own life to save her to only see her smile again."
"You got it bad, don't you?"
"I guess I do," he paused, and quickly continued, "is that the way you felt about Deianeira?"
He nodded, "Deianeira made the whole hero gig worth it. True, I only was her husband for eight years, but those eight years were the best of my life. We had three kids, and Hera took them away from me in one night. All it took was a fireball. I lost it. If it wasn't for Ioulas talking to me, I would've given up the hero job for sure."
The name of Ioulas reminded Xander of his friends, "I may not of known Ioulas. But, I have Willow. Willow, Jesse, and me were best friends. After Jesse was staked by myself no less, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I watch out for Willow and Buffy. They became the most important people to me. And, I intend to keep that promise."
Hercules grinned, "Well, from what I just heard proves what I said earlier. You have a good heart. And, I'll help anyway I can to find Buffy."
"Thanks, Herc."
The actor got off the couch, "No problem, Xander. C'mon, I'll show you the set."
"Cool," was his response.
With that said, the two newly close friends left Kevin Sorbo's dressing room.
***
"Thanks for the tour," Xander said as they exited the set.
Hercules said, "Glad you enjoyed it. So, now that that's done with, you wanna go try and search for your friend?"
"Sure. Sounds like a plan." The demigod's friend stated.
***
Buffy typed the keys to the cash registered and exchanged money with her customer. "Have you a good day."
The customer smiled, "Yeah, you too, Anne." Then he left.
Buffy sighed and sat down on a stool behind the counter. She placed her head on the top. "Gawd," she said in a tired voice, "today's been hell."
"Tell me about it."
The teenager looked up and saw her friend. "I had one hell of a night, Danielle. And my morning was a wreck too. I recently broke up with my boyfriend and it's killing me."
Danielle nodded, "Boyfriends would do that. So, if you don't mind me asking. What happened?"
Buffy always had to be careful about her past. Nobody knew about her slayage, and she preferred it that way. So, she tried to convert her past to normal human life. "He changed. Angel wasn't the same guy I knew. Things got bad between us and the old Angel was never coming back. I couldn't be with him anymore, so I dumped him. But, it hurts y'know?"
Her friend smiled, "I know the feeling. The same thing happened with Matt. We just couldn't get passed the kissing. Don't get me wrong, the kissing was great, but I wanted more. He didn't. We broke up."
Anne smiled sadly, "Sorry."
She smiled the same way, "Yeah, I'm sorry too."
The blond got off her stool and took off her apron. "I'm just glad the day's over. I couldn't serve another piece of apple pie."
Danielle said, "That pie was popular tonight. So tell me, Anne. What do you want to do tonight?"
Buffy shrugged, "I'm not in the mood to do anything social at the moment, Danielle. I'm not over Angel yet, and I won't be for a while. So, I thought I just go home."
Her friend nodded, "That's alright, Anne. It's only been around four days since you came here. I understand. Why don't we do something later this week? See a movie maybe?"
She smiled, "Thanks for understanding. And a movie may be what the doctor ordered."
Buffy went to the closet and grabbed her jacket and purse. While she was doing that, Danielle shouted, "What time do you get off tomorrow?"
As Anne walked back to the counter with her jacket on, she said, "It's a half day for me. So, that's about 1:30. Y'know, just after the lunch rush."
Danielle got off her stool and joined her friend as she was headed for the door. "That's cool. Come over to my apartment. You really need to get out of yours. You can't just spend your time working and being all hermit crab like at your apartment."
It was true for Buffy. All she ever seemed to be doing since she ran away was work, vegetate, and cry. She needed to get out of the apartment. "Sure. Tomorrow I'll come over. Until then, later."
"Later, Anne. I've got to close up anyway in an hour."
She smiled, "See you later, Danielle."
With that said, she left the diner and headed her way home planning on what to ask Alex that night.
***
"Hey, RF."
Ralph Furely smiled as he saw his younger friend enter the store. "Hi, Xander. Thanks for coming in."
Xander sighed, "Remind me why I decided to come in tonight?"
The landlord answered, "Because you're trying to get on Mike's good side, remember?"
"Oh," he said in realization. "Good answer. But, tell me. Why did you call me?"
Ralph said, "Well, it seems that John and Danii couldn't make it in tonight. Something about an emergency. So, thanks again for coming in."
"Not a problem, RF." Then it hit him, "If I'm here to cover one of them, then who's coving the other one."
He shook his head, "Dunno. Mike made the arrangements. Just go to the locker room and change. When done, bring yourself and whoever the other person is back here. I'll clock you in."
"Thanks. I'll see you in a little while."
Then Xander headed for the locker room.
***
Xander walked into the locker room and spotted a man across the room. "Called in?"
He turned around, "Yeah. Mike called me in. Needed the extra money."
Xander chuckled, "I know that feeling. I just got the job a few days ago."
With that said, he went over to his locker and opened the door. While leaving it open, he grabbed his uniform and started to put it on.
The S-Mart employee walked over to Xander and peeked into his locker. He was about to meet up with Ralph when he stopped, "You know Buffy, huh?"
Xander's eyes widened. How did this guy know? Maybe he's seen her. So, the young man turned around. "How do you know, Buffy?"
"She came here the other night. Saw the picture of her in your locker and put two and two together."
"Oh, ok. Wait. She was here?"
He replied, "She came in the other day buying a knife. Seemed a little preoccupied, but I didn't bother asking her. Not my style. By the way, the name's Ash."
The Sunnydale resident offered his hand to him, "Xander is me. Hi."
Forgetting about his hand, he immediately shook the kid's one. "Nice to meet you, Xander. As I said before, you know that Buffy girl?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I do. I'm trying to find her. She ran away from home. I've got to find her. I know I'll find her eventually."
Ash showed a confusing look, "How do you know you'll find her?"
The boy chuckled, "Let's just say a little green friend told me."
"Little green friend, huh? Sounds kinda weird. Then again, you never know."
"Have to agree with you there. This world is a strange place."
(Only if you knew the half of it, Kid,) he thought to himself. "So, you just started working here? Why S-Mart?"
Xander shrugged, "Was looking for Buffy. Came here and asked RF. Saw the sign, and decided to apply for the job. Got it after meeting Mike."
The promised one said, "Yeah, Mike's a good guy. He's the one that approved my transfer. "
"Transfer, huh? Where you from?"
"Michigan. And all I can say is thank God for that. I wanted to be in a place where nothing could happen."
Xander chuckled, "You made a mistake there, Ash."
His eyes widened, "What are you talking about, Kid?"
Xander couldn't believe that he said that. One thing Xander hated to do was tell people about what went 'bump in the night.' So, naturally, he tried to cover it up, "I just meant that no where is safe. There's always something around the corner."
Ash shook his head, "That's a load of bull, Xander. One thing I learned in this world is that nothing is normal. Now tell me what you meant!"
He shook his head this time, "Trust me, Ash. You don't want to know."
The clerk glared at him, "I don't think so. Tell me what you're talking about."
Xander sighed, "All those folklore creatures-vampires, werewolves, and mummies. There all true. They all exist."
"No! They can't be true. They just can't! Deadites are more than enough!"
"Deadites! What the hell are you talking about?"
Ash sighed, "Never mind, Kid. Deadites are something I want to forget about. And I really want to forget about them."
Xander recognized that tone. It was something way too familiar to him. It was the way Buffy spoke whenever she talked about vampires. "I know the feeling, Ash. I feel the same way about vampires."
The taller man sat down next to him, "Listen, Xander. It's obviously we both have troubling pasts. I've dealt with deadites and it appears that you've dealt with a lot more."
He nodded, "You can say that again."
The former Michigan resident smiled, "Tell you what. After our shift ends. Let's take a walk and talk."
Xander grinned, "Lucky for you I got two stakes with me."
"Stake huh? I prefer my chainsaw."
He showed a confusing look, "Chainsaw? The only way that you can kill a vampire with that is by decapitation."
Ash grumbled, "Decapitation is nothing new to me."
"Why do you say that?"
The metal handed man said, "We'll talk about this after our shift."
Xander shrugged, "Sure. Whatever you say."
***
Ash and Xander walked out of the store and started down the street.
The night was calm and tranquil. The sky appeared to be a black blanket that was speckled with small bright white lights. There was also a full moon suspended. Traffic was on the low side as the two S-Mart employees walked down the sidewalk. Cold wind blew through the night allowing the leaves of trees to dance.
Xander went inside his pocket and pulled out two stakes. He tossed one to his new friend, "Take this, Ash. No clue when any vampire will show up."
Ash accepted the stake, "So, besides deadites and vampires. What else exists?"
He shrugged, "Just about anything you can think of. I've been luck to come across vampires, werewolves, demons, mummies, zombies, and witches. But that doesn't mean that that's all that exists.'
"For the love of God! Is there anything in this world that doesn't exist!?" Ash screamed into the night.
The boy chuckled, "Leprechauns?"
He turned to him, "Very funny, Xander. But seriously, why do all these things have to happen to me? Can't I catch a lousy break?"
Xander saw the pain in his co-worker's eyes. "What exactly happened, Ash?"
Ash knew nobody really believed his tale. But with Xander it might be different. It seemed that Xander would believe in it. Especially if vampires and all the other crap exists.
He took a deep breath, "It took place about five years ago at a cabin with Linda."
Xander showed a confused look, "Linda? Who's she?"
A sigh was made, "Linda was going to be my wife, but it never happened."
"Why?"
Ash glared at him, "I'm getting there, Kid!"
Xander took a step back, "Obnoxious much?"
He took a deep breath, "Sorry, Xander. My life's been a living hell."
The teenager looked around and spotted a bench at Henson. "C'mon, Ash. Let's talk about this over here."
He nodded and the two sat down.
Xander leaned against the back of the bench and started playing with the stake in his right hand, "You told me that you went up a cabin with Linda. What happened next? And I won't say anything until you're done."
Ash smiled, "Thanks. Anyway, when at the cabin I found a tape cassette. Not knowing what it was, I played it. And that was a big mistake. On it was Raymond Nolby and he was reading out of a book called the Necronomicon Ex Mortis."
"Neconomicon Ex Mortis? Never heard of it."
In a calm voice he said to Xander, "Remember. No questions until the end."
Xander laughed a little under his breath, "Sorry. But what kinda book is that?"
Ash slumped in his position, "I'll let it slide this once. Anyway, the Necronomicon is a Summarian book that was inked in human blood and bound in human flesh."
Continuing with his story, "Back to the story. Nolby read the book aloud off the tape and the evil started to rise from the ground. It soon took over Linda, and the only way for me to free her was to dismember her. That's when I used my chainsaw the first time. It killed me inseide, Xander. I buried her outside. Shortly after the evil got into my hand and it went bad."
With that Ash looked at Xander making sure he was understanding. It look like he was, so he continued, "In order to stop it from taking over the rest of my body, I took my chainsaw and cut it off at the wrist. That's why my hand is now made of metal. It took the place of the old one."
Xander listened as Ash continued his odysee. He listened as Ash defeated Nolby's wife, Henrietta, then traveling to medievel europe in the year 1300 AD, turned a gauntlet into a new hand, battled the army of darkness when he took the Necronomicon from the graveyard, and drinking a posting which restored him to his own time.
When Ash concluded his story, Xander simplified, "I guess you went through a lot."
He nodded, "I did go through a lot. And on the top of it I lost my girlfriend. Do you have any idea how that feels?"
Xander said in a quiet voice, "No. But I know someone who would know how you feel."
Ash looked at his younger friend, "Who would that be?"
"Buffy. She's been through a lot too. A large amount of shit."
"What happened to her?"
"Buffy ended up killing her boyfriend too. But, she did it to save the world. And he was a vampire."
His eyes widened, "Vampire? You mean to tell me that she was involved with a vampire?"
The teenager nodded, "Yeah, it's true. But she started to fall in love before she knew he was one. When she first found out, she tried to fight it. But her heart wouldn't allow it."
"Wow. That's gotta be hell."
Xander chuckled, "Yeah I bet it is. After killing him, she ran away. She's somewhere in LA too. I took it upon myself to try and find her. Like I said before, no such luck yet."
Ash smiled, "I'm sure you'll find her. And I'll be glad to help."
This time he smiled, "Thanks for the help."
"We'll help too."
Xander looked at the new visitors. And he could easily tell what they were. All the times with Buffy came in handy when fighting vampires. They always looked pale, lousy fashion sense. Although, Xander wasn't the type of guy to judge fashion. But the teenager was usually wearing the newer styles. Vampires sometime wore ancient styles.
Another easy giveaway was that there was blood on the mouths. "I don't want your help." Xander said with a smirk.
Ash showed a confusing look, "Are they what I think they are?"
Xander nodded, "Yeah. You're looking at the ole great American vampire times four."
"Where'd you get four?" One of the vampires asked.
The former promised one smirked, "Gee, I don't know." Then he started to raise his voice, "Could it be because they're four of you?"
"Oh," he said trying to understand. That demon the turned to one of his friends, "I don't get it."
Xander sighed, "You're pathetic." He then leaped from his seat and jammed his stake into his heart. "C'mon, Ash. Let's kill these assholes!"
He smiled, "Right behind you, Kid." Ash then jumped off his bench and grabbed one of the remaining vampires. "So, I just stake them, huh? Right through the heart?"
The boy showed him a look.
He nodded, "Right. Stupid question." He then staked him, and watched them settle to the ground.
"Easy enough," he said with a lopsided grin.
"Shut the fuck up!" Another demon yelled as he tackled the scarred man.
Xander shook his head and shot a roundhouse across the last undead creature. "Less talking. More staking."
"Gotcha." Ash said as he jumped back to his feet and pushed his attacker off me. "Get the hell off me!"
Then he shot a punch on his cheek. "This isn't so hard." He said as the vampire staggered back a few inches. Next, he picked his assailant up by his collar. "C'mon, Jerkface. Take this."
"Take what?"
He shook his head, "God, you really are stupid!" He then staked the undead demon.
Ash dusted himself and saw Xander staking his opponent. "These guys weren't too big in the brain department, huh?"
Xander glanced at his new friend, "Normally vamps are somewhat average. But these guys were complete dumb fucks! They make Harmony look like Einstein."
Williams showed a perplexed look, "Harmony?"
He nodded, "Airhead extraordinaire."
"Oh," he smirked, "popular girl with no brain capacity."
"Exactly."
Ash approached him, "So, now that that's done. What do you want to do now?"
***
"Hey, Buff."
Buffy Summers turned around to see her Spirit Guide. "Do you have to sneak up on?"
Alex smirked, "Nope. Just fun. So, you ready?"
She shrugged, "I guess. Don't have anything else to do tonight except sleep."
"Good point. Now where were we?"
Buffy answered, "Last night we saw what a complete bitch I could be?"
Alex shook his head, "Buffy, You're not a bitch. I'm going to make sure that you're not, or my name isn't Alex."
"Uh, Alex?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled, "You're name isn't Alex. I gave you that as something to call you."
He chuckled, "Right. In actuality I don't have a name. I've been called 'Hey you!' and 'Move it!' Not a lot to go on, I know."
Buffy shook her head, "Oh, c'mon. You've got to have a name! Everybody has to have including Starvin Marvin! And that name is just wrong."
Alex gulped.
She looked concerned, "What's wrong?"
He answered solemnly, "My name is Marvin."
All of a sudden Buffy couldn't stop what she was about to happen. She just started to laugh hysterically.
Alex glared at her, "This is why I never told you. Now shut up, and grow up."
But Buffy couldn't stop. She tried to, but couldn't.
He narrowed his eyes, "Stop it, Elizabeth."
The mention of her real name made her stop. "Alright, alright. I won't call you Marvin if you won't call me Elizabeth."
Alex nodded, "It's a deal, Elizabeth."
She glared at him and said in a determined voice, "What did I just tell you, Marvin?"
He sighed, "Right. Sorry, Buffy. Won't happen again."
Buffy smiled, "Good. Now, where we off to?"
Her guide asked, "Before I say this. Tell me what did Xander say to you the night before you left Sunnydale?"
The Slayer replied, "Uh, Willow told me to tell you to kick his ass."
The Spirit Guide nodded, "Right. But that's not what Xander was told to tell you."
She showed a confusing look, "What?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TBC
Rating: PG-13/R
Chapter Number: 5
Author: White Werewolf
Category: Buffy/Xander, Sam/Daniel, Gabrielle/Joxer
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: After Buffy leaves Sunnydale, Xander decides to go looking for her. On the other side of the universe, Ninedinna wants the book she created...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: the Book of the Dead.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, BMT, Joshua, and X-Lander
Crossovers Planned:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Evil Dead
Stargate SG-1
Xena: Warrior Princess
Three's Company
Cameo Crossovers are sudden to appear. See if you can spot any.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
***
Xander walked into the room as Kevin smiled, "What's up, Xander?"
He smiled, "Not much. Work was busy. Haven't found Buffy yet either. I'm really worried about her, Herc. It's been four days, and I haven't come up with anything."
Kevin walked over to a couch that he had by the far left wall. "Sit down, Xander."
The brunette shrugged, "Sure." Then he sat down.
"I know you're worried about her. Ever since I met you, you haven't really stopped talking about her. She means a lot to you, huh?"
The teenager sighed, "More than you ever know."
Hercules knew that tone. Maybe not from Xander per say, but from other people. He wanted to be sure, "Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer, if you don't want to."
Without thinking, he replied, "What do you want to know?"
The actor smiled, "You love her, don't you? I hear the way you talk about her. You're in love with her?"
How did Hercules know? Xander never told anyone about his feelings for the young blond woman. But did he want to tell him?
Telling someone might be a good thing. True, he didn't want to get his feelings hurt, but with Hercules it was different. The demigod actually told Xander his true identity. He was actually willing to trust Xander with that information, and that meant a lot.
So, with that conclusion, he decided to be completely honest. He said in an almost whisper, "Yeah, I do."
Kevin smiled, "Since when?"
"Since the day I met her. During my Sophomore year, I was on my skateboard and saw Buffy for the first time. She was walking up the stairs, and I was caught off guard. Staring at her, I didn't pay any attention to my surroundings. I hit the handrail, and fell on the ground."
Hercules chuckled, "That's a way to make a first impression?"
He smiled, "Oh, I didn't tell you when I actually talked to her."
"What happened?"
"She was coming out of the Principal's office, we bumped into each other with her dropping her book on the floor. Being the gentleman I was."
The son of Zues chuckled, "Gentleman? You a gentleman?"
He glared at him, "Yeah, that's what I said. I'm a gentleman." Xander eye's softened, "alright. I may not be a total gentleman, but I try to be.
"I'm sure you try."
"You bet I do." Xander said with a smile.
He nodded, "So back to your story."
"Right," the boy said right away, "after bumping into her, I helped pick up her books, I spoke to her. I said, 'Can I have you?' Can you believe it? I said to the girl of my dreams, 'Can I have you?"
Kevin smiled, "The subconscious mind does things without us ever knowing."
The young man nodded, "Don't I know it. Anyway, she smiled in response. I quickly covered myself by saying, 'Can I help you?' Which by the way is what I meant to say. We introduced ourselves, and she left shortly after. Forgetting that she dropped a stake by the way. Later I find out that she's the Vampire Slayer. As time went by, I learned new things about her, and I fell in love with her even more."
"Did you ever tell her?"
"I tried. I asked her out at our Spring Fling, and she turned me down. She told me that I was her friend and that she didn't feel that way about me. But I couldn't stop my feelings for her. Even though we never happened, I still had feelings for her. I'd gladly give up my own life to save her to only see her smile again."
"You got it bad, don't you?"
"I guess I do," he paused, and quickly continued, "is that the way you felt about Deianeira?"
He nodded, "Deianeira made the whole hero gig worth it. True, I only was her husband for eight years, but those eight years were the best of my life. We had three kids, and Hera took them away from me in one night. All it took was a fireball. I lost it. If it wasn't for Ioulas talking to me, I would've given up the hero job for sure."
The name of Ioulas reminded Xander of his friends, "I may not of known Ioulas. But, I have Willow. Willow, Jesse, and me were best friends. After Jesse was staked by myself no less, I made a promise to myself. I promised that I watch out for Willow and Buffy. They became the most important people to me. And, I intend to keep that promise."
Hercules grinned, "Well, from what I just heard proves what I said earlier. You have a good heart. And, I'll help anyway I can to find Buffy."
"Thanks, Herc."
The actor got off the couch, "No problem, Xander. C'mon, I'll show you the set."
"Cool," was his response.
With that said, the two newly close friends left Kevin Sorbo's dressing room.
***
"Thanks for the tour," Xander said as they exited the set.
Hercules said, "Glad you enjoyed it. So, now that that's done with, you wanna go try and search for your friend?"
"Sure. Sounds like a plan." The demigod's friend stated.
***
Buffy typed the keys to the cash registered and exchanged money with her customer. "Have you a good day."
The customer smiled, "Yeah, you too, Anne." Then he left.
Buffy sighed and sat down on a stool behind the counter. She placed her head on the top. "Gawd," she said in a tired voice, "today's been hell."
"Tell me about it."
The teenager looked up and saw her friend. "I had one hell of a night, Danielle. And my morning was a wreck too. I recently broke up with my boyfriend and it's killing me."
Danielle nodded, "Boyfriends would do that. So, if you don't mind me asking. What happened?"
Buffy always had to be careful about her past. Nobody knew about her slayage, and she preferred it that way. So, she tried to convert her past to normal human life. "He changed. Angel wasn't the same guy I knew. Things got bad between us and the old Angel was never coming back. I couldn't be with him anymore, so I dumped him. But, it hurts y'know?"
Her friend smiled, "I know the feeling. The same thing happened with Matt. We just couldn't get passed the kissing. Don't get me wrong, the kissing was great, but I wanted more. He didn't. We broke up."
Anne smiled sadly, "Sorry."
She smiled the same way, "Yeah, I'm sorry too."
The blond got off her stool and took off her apron. "I'm just glad the day's over. I couldn't serve another piece of apple pie."
Danielle said, "That pie was popular tonight. So tell me, Anne. What do you want to do tonight?"
Buffy shrugged, "I'm not in the mood to do anything social at the moment, Danielle. I'm not over Angel yet, and I won't be for a while. So, I thought I just go home."
Her friend nodded, "That's alright, Anne. It's only been around four days since you came here. I understand. Why don't we do something later this week? See a movie maybe?"
She smiled, "Thanks for understanding. And a movie may be what the doctor ordered."
Buffy went to the closet and grabbed her jacket and purse. While she was doing that, Danielle shouted, "What time do you get off tomorrow?"
As Anne walked back to the counter with her jacket on, she said, "It's a half day for me. So, that's about 1:30. Y'know, just after the lunch rush."
Danielle got off her stool and joined her friend as she was headed for the door. "That's cool. Come over to my apartment. You really need to get out of yours. You can't just spend your time working and being all hermit crab like at your apartment."
It was true for Buffy. All she ever seemed to be doing since she ran away was work, vegetate, and cry. She needed to get out of the apartment. "Sure. Tomorrow I'll come over. Until then, later."
"Later, Anne. I've got to close up anyway in an hour."
She smiled, "See you later, Danielle."
With that said, she left the diner and headed her way home planning on what to ask Alex that night.
***
"Hey, RF."
Ralph Furely smiled as he saw his younger friend enter the store. "Hi, Xander. Thanks for coming in."
Xander sighed, "Remind me why I decided to come in tonight?"
The landlord answered, "Because you're trying to get on Mike's good side, remember?"
"Oh," he said in realization. "Good answer. But, tell me. Why did you call me?"
Ralph said, "Well, it seems that John and Danii couldn't make it in tonight. Something about an emergency. So, thanks again for coming in."
"Not a problem, RF." Then it hit him, "If I'm here to cover one of them, then who's coving the other one."
He shook his head, "Dunno. Mike made the arrangements. Just go to the locker room and change. When done, bring yourself and whoever the other person is back here. I'll clock you in."
"Thanks. I'll see you in a little while."
Then Xander headed for the locker room.
***
Xander walked into the locker room and spotted a man across the room. "Called in?"
He turned around, "Yeah. Mike called me in. Needed the extra money."
Xander chuckled, "I know that feeling. I just got the job a few days ago."
With that said, he went over to his locker and opened the door. While leaving it open, he grabbed his uniform and started to put it on.
The S-Mart employee walked over to Xander and peeked into his locker. He was about to meet up with Ralph when he stopped, "You know Buffy, huh?"
Xander's eyes widened. How did this guy know? Maybe he's seen her. So, the young man turned around. "How do you know, Buffy?"
"She came here the other night. Saw the picture of her in your locker and put two and two together."
"Oh, ok. Wait. She was here?"
He replied, "She came in the other day buying a knife. Seemed a little preoccupied, but I didn't bother asking her. Not my style. By the way, the name's Ash."
The Sunnydale resident offered his hand to him, "Xander is me. Hi."
Forgetting about his hand, he immediately shook the kid's one. "Nice to meet you, Xander. As I said before, you know that Buffy girl?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I do. I'm trying to find her. She ran away from home. I've got to find her. I know I'll find her eventually."
Ash showed a confusing look, "How do you know you'll find her?"
The boy chuckled, "Let's just say a little green friend told me."
"Little green friend, huh? Sounds kinda weird. Then again, you never know."
"Have to agree with you there. This world is a strange place."
(Only if you knew the half of it, Kid,) he thought to himself. "So, you just started working here? Why S-Mart?"
Xander shrugged, "Was looking for Buffy. Came here and asked RF. Saw the sign, and decided to apply for the job. Got it after meeting Mike."
The promised one said, "Yeah, Mike's a good guy. He's the one that approved my transfer. "
"Transfer, huh? Where you from?"
"Michigan. And all I can say is thank God for that. I wanted to be in a place where nothing could happen."
Xander chuckled, "You made a mistake there, Ash."
His eyes widened, "What are you talking about, Kid?"
Xander couldn't believe that he said that. One thing Xander hated to do was tell people about what went 'bump in the night.' So, naturally, he tried to cover it up, "I just meant that no where is safe. There's always something around the corner."
Ash shook his head, "That's a load of bull, Xander. One thing I learned in this world is that nothing is normal. Now tell me what you meant!"
He shook his head this time, "Trust me, Ash. You don't want to know."
The clerk glared at him, "I don't think so. Tell me what you're talking about."
Xander sighed, "All those folklore creatures-vampires, werewolves, and mummies. There all true. They all exist."
"No! They can't be true. They just can't! Deadites are more than enough!"
"Deadites! What the hell are you talking about?"
Ash sighed, "Never mind, Kid. Deadites are something I want to forget about. And I really want to forget about them."
Xander recognized that tone. It was something way too familiar to him. It was the way Buffy spoke whenever she talked about vampires. "I know the feeling, Ash. I feel the same way about vampires."
The taller man sat down next to him, "Listen, Xander. It's obviously we both have troubling pasts. I've dealt with deadites and it appears that you've dealt with a lot more."
He nodded, "You can say that again."
The former Michigan resident smiled, "Tell you what. After our shift ends. Let's take a walk and talk."
Xander grinned, "Lucky for you I got two stakes with me."
"Stake huh? I prefer my chainsaw."
He showed a confusing look, "Chainsaw? The only way that you can kill a vampire with that is by decapitation."
Ash grumbled, "Decapitation is nothing new to me."
"Why do you say that?"
The metal handed man said, "We'll talk about this after our shift."
Xander shrugged, "Sure. Whatever you say."
***
Ash and Xander walked out of the store and started down the street.
The night was calm and tranquil. The sky appeared to be a black blanket that was speckled with small bright white lights. There was also a full moon suspended. Traffic was on the low side as the two S-Mart employees walked down the sidewalk. Cold wind blew through the night allowing the leaves of trees to dance.
Xander went inside his pocket and pulled out two stakes. He tossed one to his new friend, "Take this, Ash. No clue when any vampire will show up."
Ash accepted the stake, "So, besides deadites and vampires. What else exists?"
He shrugged, "Just about anything you can think of. I've been luck to come across vampires, werewolves, demons, mummies, zombies, and witches. But that doesn't mean that that's all that exists.'
"For the love of God! Is there anything in this world that doesn't exist!?" Ash screamed into the night.
The boy chuckled, "Leprechauns?"
He turned to him, "Very funny, Xander. But seriously, why do all these things have to happen to me? Can't I catch a lousy break?"
Xander saw the pain in his co-worker's eyes. "What exactly happened, Ash?"
Ash knew nobody really believed his tale. But with Xander it might be different. It seemed that Xander would believe in it. Especially if vampires and all the other crap exists.
He took a deep breath, "It took place about five years ago at a cabin with Linda."
Xander showed a confused look, "Linda? Who's she?"
A sigh was made, "Linda was going to be my wife, but it never happened."
"Why?"
Ash glared at him, "I'm getting there, Kid!"
Xander took a step back, "Obnoxious much?"
He took a deep breath, "Sorry, Xander. My life's been a living hell."
The teenager looked around and spotted a bench at Henson. "C'mon, Ash. Let's talk about this over here."
He nodded and the two sat down.
Xander leaned against the back of the bench and started playing with the stake in his right hand, "You told me that you went up a cabin with Linda. What happened next? And I won't say anything until you're done."
Ash smiled, "Thanks. Anyway, when at the cabin I found a tape cassette. Not knowing what it was, I played it. And that was a big mistake. On it was Raymond Nolby and he was reading out of a book called the Necronomicon Ex Mortis."
"Neconomicon Ex Mortis? Never heard of it."
In a calm voice he said to Xander, "Remember. No questions until the end."
Xander laughed a little under his breath, "Sorry. But what kinda book is that?"
Ash slumped in his position, "I'll let it slide this once. Anyway, the Necronomicon is a Summarian book that was inked in human blood and bound in human flesh."
Continuing with his story, "Back to the story. Nolby read the book aloud off the tape and the evil started to rise from the ground. It soon took over Linda, and the only way for me to free her was to dismember her. That's when I used my chainsaw the first time. It killed me inseide, Xander. I buried her outside. Shortly after the evil got into my hand and it went bad."
With that Ash looked at Xander making sure he was understanding. It look like he was, so he continued, "In order to stop it from taking over the rest of my body, I took my chainsaw and cut it off at the wrist. That's why my hand is now made of metal. It took the place of the old one."
Xander listened as Ash continued his odysee. He listened as Ash defeated Nolby's wife, Henrietta, then traveling to medievel europe in the year 1300 AD, turned a gauntlet into a new hand, battled the army of darkness when he took the Necronomicon from the graveyard, and drinking a posting which restored him to his own time.
When Ash concluded his story, Xander simplified, "I guess you went through a lot."
He nodded, "I did go through a lot. And on the top of it I lost my girlfriend. Do you have any idea how that feels?"
Xander said in a quiet voice, "No. But I know someone who would know how you feel."
Ash looked at his younger friend, "Who would that be?"
"Buffy. She's been through a lot too. A large amount of shit."
"What happened to her?"
"Buffy ended up killing her boyfriend too. But, she did it to save the world. And he was a vampire."
His eyes widened, "Vampire? You mean to tell me that she was involved with a vampire?"
The teenager nodded, "Yeah, it's true. But she started to fall in love before she knew he was one. When she first found out, she tried to fight it. But her heart wouldn't allow it."
"Wow. That's gotta be hell."
Xander chuckled, "Yeah I bet it is. After killing him, she ran away. She's somewhere in LA too. I took it upon myself to try and find her. Like I said before, no such luck yet."
Ash smiled, "I'm sure you'll find her. And I'll be glad to help."
This time he smiled, "Thanks for the help."
"We'll help too."
Xander looked at the new visitors. And he could easily tell what they were. All the times with Buffy came in handy when fighting vampires. They always looked pale, lousy fashion sense. Although, Xander wasn't the type of guy to judge fashion. But the teenager was usually wearing the newer styles. Vampires sometime wore ancient styles.
Another easy giveaway was that there was blood on the mouths. "I don't want your help." Xander said with a smirk.
Ash showed a confusing look, "Are they what I think they are?"
Xander nodded, "Yeah. You're looking at the ole great American vampire times four."
"Where'd you get four?" One of the vampires asked.
The former promised one smirked, "Gee, I don't know." Then he started to raise his voice, "Could it be because they're four of you?"
"Oh," he said trying to understand. That demon the turned to one of his friends, "I don't get it."
Xander sighed, "You're pathetic." He then leaped from his seat and jammed his stake into his heart. "C'mon, Ash. Let's kill these assholes!"
He smiled, "Right behind you, Kid." Ash then jumped off his bench and grabbed one of the remaining vampires. "So, I just stake them, huh? Right through the heart?"
The boy showed him a look.
He nodded, "Right. Stupid question." He then staked him, and watched them settle to the ground.
"Easy enough," he said with a lopsided grin.
"Shut the fuck up!" Another demon yelled as he tackled the scarred man.
Xander shook his head and shot a roundhouse across the last undead creature. "Less talking. More staking."
"Gotcha." Ash said as he jumped back to his feet and pushed his attacker off me. "Get the hell off me!"
Then he shot a punch on his cheek. "This isn't so hard." He said as the vampire staggered back a few inches. Next, he picked his assailant up by his collar. "C'mon, Jerkface. Take this."
"Take what?"
He shook his head, "God, you really are stupid!" He then staked the undead demon.
Ash dusted himself and saw Xander staking his opponent. "These guys weren't too big in the brain department, huh?"
Xander glanced at his new friend, "Normally vamps are somewhat average. But these guys were complete dumb fucks! They make Harmony look like Einstein."
Williams showed a perplexed look, "Harmony?"
He nodded, "Airhead extraordinaire."
"Oh," he smirked, "popular girl with no brain capacity."
"Exactly."
Ash approached him, "So, now that that's done. What do you want to do now?"
***
"Hey, Buff."
Buffy Summers turned around to see her Spirit Guide. "Do you have to sneak up on?"
Alex smirked, "Nope. Just fun. So, you ready?"
She shrugged, "I guess. Don't have anything else to do tonight except sleep."
"Good point. Now where were we?"
Buffy answered, "Last night we saw what a complete bitch I could be?"
Alex shook his head, "Buffy, You're not a bitch. I'm going to make sure that you're not, or my name isn't Alex."
"Uh, Alex?"
"Yeah?"
She smiled, "You're name isn't Alex. I gave you that as something to call you."
He chuckled, "Right. In actuality I don't have a name. I've been called 'Hey you!' and 'Move it!' Not a lot to go on, I know."
Buffy shook her head, "Oh, c'mon. You've got to have a name! Everybody has to have including Starvin Marvin! And that name is just wrong."
Alex gulped.
She looked concerned, "What's wrong?"
He answered solemnly, "My name is Marvin."
All of a sudden Buffy couldn't stop what she was about to happen. She just started to laugh hysterically.
Alex glared at her, "This is why I never told you. Now shut up, and grow up."
But Buffy couldn't stop. She tried to, but couldn't.
He narrowed his eyes, "Stop it, Elizabeth."
The mention of her real name made her stop. "Alright, alright. I won't call you Marvin if you won't call me Elizabeth."
Alex nodded, "It's a deal, Elizabeth."
She glared at him and said in a determined voice, "What did I just tell you, Marvin?"
He sighed, "Right. Sorry, Buffy. Won't happen again."
Buffy smiled, "Good. Now, where we off to?"
Her guide asked, "Before I say this. Tell me what did Xander say to you the night before you left Sunnydale?"
The Slayer replied, "Uh, Willow told me to tell you to kick his ass."
The Spirit Guide nodded, "Right. But that's not what Xander was told to tell you."
She showed a confusing look, "What?"
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TBC