Hi there. I just wanted to thank everyone for the reviews you guys left. I know, I should probably thank everyone personally, but that would leave the ones who reviewed anonymously out.

So thank you all and have fun with the new part.

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Xander stopped and parked his car directly in front of the police station. It had taken him almost an hour to make it through the thick traffic that covered the streets of Sunnydale. Almost everyone who had a car was doing his his best to get it and himself out of town.

"Now, let's see if you're worth your money," he said to the pendant he had fastened around his neck. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and entered the building.

"Hello," Xander called out, loud enough so that everyone could hear him. "I've just been murdered. And I want you to catch my killer."

But no one entrance hall reacted to his strange behaviour.

"Either vamps visit this place regularly," Xander mused. "Or this little gimmick is really working."

Deciding to take one final test, Xander walked up to one of the police officers that stood near the entrance. He stopped right in front of him, but the policeman still didn't react. Finally Xander snapped his fingers right in front of the officer's eyes. Xander was satisfied with the results, when the policeman didn't flinch.

Xander walked into the back of the entrance hall. But the door to the more sensitive part of the building was secured by num-pad and Xander didn't know the code. But it was only a short while before a policeman opened the door and Xander simply joined him.

Xander walked down the corridors, followin the signs that read 'Armoury'.

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At first Xander had some trouble transporting all the equipment from the police station to his car. But he came to a quick solution when he spotted a supermarket on the other side of the street.

Now he was whistling a happy tune as he pushed the shopping cart loaded various boxes of ammunition and guns out of the police station.

Xander was surprised that the police force of such a small town like Sunnydale was that well equipped. But after some thinking he decided that was probably the legacy of the deceased Richard Wilkins III.

He loaded the remaining ammo and guns in the trunk of his car and closed it afterwards. Giving the shopping cart a kick he walked around the car and sat down into the driver's seat.

"Next stop: Fort Sunnydale," he muttered and started the engine.

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"Okay," Buffy said while she walked down the stairs to the basement. Spike immediately looked up, noticing the determined look on her face. "How are we going to proceed?"

"Easy," he said. "He wants to drop by this afternoon. You challenge him and I'll make sure that all the SITs are watching when you take care of him."

Buffy nodded and walked back up the stairs. "I hope this works," she said and closed door behind her.

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Xander parked the car in front of the Summer's residence. The visit to the army base was not as successful as his raid at the police station. The Army had already withdrawn most of their forces, also taking most the equipment with them. That left only a small selection for Xander

He stepped out of the car and just wanted to walk up to the porch, when he spotted two familiar figures approaching his position..

"Ahn! Giles!" Xander called, but both just continued on their way, as if he hadn't said a thing. Xander frowned at that, but finally realised that he still wore the pendant.

"Guys," he tried again after he had removed the pendant. This time Anya and Giles turned into his direction, surprised to see Xander where seconds before no one had stood.

"Xander?"Anya asked, for a momentarily sure if it was really her ex- fiancé. The black clothes and the eye patch irritated her for a second, but finally she ran up to him and threw herself into his arms. "Oh my god, I'm so glad you are okay."

"Thanks," he said and untangled himself from her.

"Why are you out of the hospital?" she asked confused. "Shouldn't you be stuck there until your eye is healed up properly?"

"Yeah," Xander admitted with a nervous laugh. "See, about the eye. Somehow miraculously the eye healed overnight," he explained and almost instantly Giles and Anya backed away from him. "No, it has nothing to do with the First," Xander tried to reassures them. "Willow did a spell and everything is okay. You can ask her if you don't believe me."

"Your eye has completely healed," Giles asked still doubtful. Xander nodded. "Anything else that might be important?"

"Well," Xander started. "I have no problem with the depth perception, even if I still have only one eye. Oh, and my soldier memories from Halloween have been restored."

"Oh," Anya said, remembering the story Xander told her once. "Was that that night where Buffy thought that a car was a demon,"

"Yeah, but I wouldn't mention it in front of her. Unless you have a death wish," Xander told her with a smile. "Well, to make a long story short. I went home, grabbed some weapons and took care of Caleb in order to convince Buffy that it was still me."

"You did what?" Anya almost screamed at him. "Are you insane?"

"That was probably the most stupid idea you ever had," Giles agreed, but remembered something else. "Well, apart from throwing yourself into the magic blast of a witch that tried destroy the world."

"What can I say, I had some time to burn," Xander told Giles with a shrug and focused his attention on Anya. "I didn't know you cared Ahn."

"I don't," Anya clarified. " But we searched all night for information about this guy. And now you tell us that you killed him. Couldn't have you waited a few more hours?"

"Why?" Xander asked. "Did you find anything?"

"No," Anya said, drawing the word out. "But it might have been the case, so it was really selfish to kill this guy before you knew if we had something on him," Anya finished, taking a deep breath after the sentence.

"Taking lessons from Willow?" Xander asked with an amused expression.

"Sorry to interrupt you," Giles said. "But I'm curious. How did you manage to kill a being that managed to win against a vampire and two slayers?"

"Simple," Xander said with a smirk. "I cheated."

"Huh?" Both, Anya and Giles asked at the same time.

"I shot him," Xander admitted with a roll of his eye. "You ever heard of firearms Giles? They are a common tool to deal with the bad guys this part of the Atlantic."

"You simply shot him with a gun?" Giles asked as they walked up to the door.

"Yeah," Xander told him with smirk. "Ironically the same gun Willow bought to kill Kennedy."

"Well, it seems that you have a talent to come up with some unconventional solutions."

"Thanks," Xander said and opened the door.

He had just crossed the threshold when a body he could barely identify as Dawn jumped into his arms. "God Xander. I'm so glad that you're okay."

"Strange," Xander muttered and looked over his shoulder at Anya. "You are the second person today that has said this."

"Well, let's make it a third one," Faith said and gave him a friendly hug. "Glad that you're back X-Man."

"Thanks Faith," Xander said. "I hope I didn't worry you guys too much."

"Nah. We deal with that kind of situation 24/7 and..," she started, but stopped when she saw the eye-patch for the first time. "Does it hurt?"

"The eye?" Xander asked and Dawn nodded. "No. Not since it got poked out."

"Dawn," Anya interrupted their conversation. "Giles and I, we're pretty tired. Which rooms are free?"

"Well," Dawn said and though about it for a moment. "Willow is currently in her room. Those locator spells yesterday drained a lot of her energy. But you can take Buffy's room. And Giles can sleep in the guest room."

"Thanks Dawn," Giles told her and walked up the stairs, Anya joining him.

"Night guys," Xander called after them, and focused back on Dawn and Faith.

"Look guys," Xander started. "I really want to catch up with you, but I have some things I have to discuss with Buffy first. Where is she?"

"She is in the backyard," Faith said and motioned with her thumb in the direction of the kitchen. "Training."

"Okay," Xander said and walked in the direction of the kitchen. "I'll be right back."

On his way to the backyard, Xander crossed paths with some of the Potentials. He greeted them with a nod and in response they gave him what he presumed as a thankful smile.

Finally Xander walked into the backyard, where Buffy went through some exercises.

"Hey Buffster," Xander greeted the blonde slayer.

"Xander," Buffy returned the greeting. Both stood in silence for a few uncomfortable seconds. "So, how are you doing?" Buffy asked finally.

"Well, still getting used to the one eye thing," Xander told her. "But except for that pretty good."

"Look Buffy," Xander started after a moment, but Buffy's whole concentration was focused on the blonde vampire that stood near the kitchen window. Spike nodded once and Buffy knew what she had to do. "I admit that we have some problems at the moment, but that shouldn't interfere with our ability to work as a team. See, I made some errands this morning and.:"

"Wanna spar?" Buffy blurted suddenly out interrupting Xander in mid sentence.

"What?" Xander asked confused.

"Well you got all that army training now back in you head," Buffy explained. "I would like to see how good you are exactly in a fight."

"I killed Caleb," Xander told her with a smirk. "Isn't that proof enough?"

"You shot him," Buffy said coldly. "Every idiot can pull the trigger of a gun. It's harder to beat an enemy hand to hand."

"Then why didn't you shoot him, when nearly everyone can do it?" Xander asked. He shook his head. "I don't think that this is a good idea."

"Why Xander?" Buffy challenged him. "Afraid that I will hurt you."

Xander contemplated the offer for a minute. Finally he stripped off his jacket and threw it to the ground.

"Fine," he said with a shrug. "I can use the training."

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"Girls," Spike called out as he entered the living room. "Wanna see something interesting?"

"What?" a few of them asked curious.

"Xander just challenged Buffy to a fight," he said and smirked as the mass of Potentials stormed through the door, nearly stomping him into the ground.

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"You want to start?" Buffy asked.

"Nah," Xander said and moved into a fighting stance. "I never throw the first punch."

"Fine with me," Buffy exclaimed and immediately threw a right hook at Xander's head. He barely had time to avoid this attack. He blocked the next punch with his arm, but it still hurt, because of the force Buffy had put into it.

"Easy there Buff," Xander said, trying to reason the slayer. But Buffy ignored his words and threw two more punches. Xander blocked the first one, but the second shit him square in the chest and nearly knocked him off his feet.

"What the fuck," he started but Buffy already started her next attack. Xander blocked the next two punches, but a swing from Buffy caught him right under his chin. Before he could react Buffy had kicked his legs out from under him and Xander hit the ground hard.

"Oh, come one Xander," Buffy challenged him. "I didn't hit you that hard."

Xander groaned. He could fell with the tip of his tongue that one of his teeth was coming loose. He sat up on his knees and spit out the blood that was in his mouth.

While he stood up he passed a glance in the direction of the house and was surprised to see nearly all the Potentials standing behind the kitchen windows, including Faith and Dawn. But more important he saw Spike among them, an evil smile plastered on his face.

"Okay," Xander said and stood up. He again took his fighting stance and glared angrily at Buffy. "If you want it that way."

"Oh, now I'm frightened," Buffy exclaimed with confidence. Both circled each other for a few seconds. Finally Buffy attacked, kicking Xander into the stomach, but Xander was able to catch her foot. Buffy reacted quickly. She jumped in order to kick him in the head with her other leg. Xander however had already foreseen this move and simply ducked under her kick.

Even her slayer strength couldn't save Buffy from the outcome. Xander let loose of the leg her had grabbed and so she landed on the ground. The impact wasn't very hard and did nothing more than anger Buffy.

"Nice," she admitted and stood up. This time she aimed a roundhouse kick at Xander's head, but the Zeppo dropped to the ground, kicking Buffy legs out from under her.

For the second time Buffy landed on her ass. "Is that all you can do," she challenged him angrily, but Xander only stared at her. "Come on Xander. Attack me," she tried again and threw two powerful punches at Xander. But he simply deflected them, taking most of the force out of the attack.

"Fight like a man," Buffy challenged, but Xander continued continued to block her punches. Finally Buffy became sloppy with an attack. Xander was able to grabbed her right arm and after that her left one. Before she could make any attempts to get free out of his grip, Xander brought is head back and slammed it with all force into Buffy's face.

The dazed slayer couldn't react as Xander let loose of a series of punches. A hard uppercut finally send Buffy to the ground, for the third in their match.

"Now I'm angry," the still slightly dazed slayer seethed. She wiped the blood away that had formed from the cut on her forehead and went into the next attack.

Xander stood still and just waited for the attack. Buffy again tried it with a roundhouse kick, but Xander was again able to duck under her leg. But what happened now surprised Buffy, the SITs and even Spike who was the master of all dirty tricks.

Xander waited until Buffy was back on her feet. Before the slayer was able to react Xander had already extended his right arm and stabbed with two of his fingers into the eyes.

The blonde slayer's hands immediately went up to her momentary blinded eyes, trying protect them from further damage. That was exactly was Xander had planned.

He didn't wait for Buffy to regain her eyesight. He walked besides her grabbed her ponytail. He pulled hard, bending her head backwards, while he lifted his other arm. He didn't wait another second and brought the strike down as fast as possible.

The edge of his hand hit Buffy right on her exposed throat. The blow not only drove all the air out of Buffy's lungs, it also interrupted for several precious seconds the blood flow to her brain.

Xander let loose of her pony tail and let Buffy's unconsciousness body fall to the ground. But Xander wasn't in any better condition. His exhaustion caught up with him and he sat down, taking extra care to take as much distance between himself and the blonde slayer.

After half a minute of deep breathing he stood up, noting that Buffy had already regained consciousness.

"You know Buffy," Xander said and spat out some more blood. "If you wanted to beat up a guy, you could have just asked Spike. I'm not into that kind of stuff."

And with these words he left the backyard, leaving a shocked and beaten slayer behind.

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When Xander entered the kitchen the group of Potentials that stood in front of him parted almost liked the red sea. He ignored the whispering and stares of the teenagers and quickly left the room.

"Xander," Dawn called after him, but Xander also ignored her and walked up the stairs of the Summer's house. Dawn followed him up the stairs and into the bathroom.

"Xander.," she started again, but instantly stopped when she saw the pained expression on his face. "You okay?" she asked instead.

"I'm just dying. Feel free to ignore me," he joked, while reaching with two fingers into his mouth. After a bit of pulling the tooth finally came lose and fell into the sink, followed of a stream of blood.

"Xander," Dawn exclaimed shocked.

"It's okay Dawn," Xander said and spit some more blood out. "I still got enough teeth in my mouth."

"It's not okay," she said and went to his side. "That should have never happened."

"Yeah," Xander said absently and looked around. "Do me a favour. Hand me the box of painkillers over there."

Dawn did as ordered and gave him the box. Xander immediately opened it and put a dozen of the small pills in his mouth.

"Ah," Faith said as she spotted the two in the bathroom. "Here you are."

"Hey Faith," Xander said with a weak smile. "How are things going on down there."

"It was fun," the dark slayer admitted with a smile. "I guess it was pretty embarrassing for Buffy to face the SITs after you beat her down."

"She brought that on herself. Not my fault," Xander said and groaned and took his T-Shirt off. Dawn cringed as she saw the fist shaped bruise on Xander's chest.

"It's not that bad Dawn," Xander said, trying to reassure her. "One ore two ribs are probably bruised. That's nothing a good sleep couldn't cure."

Dawn shook her head as Xander began to strap some bandages from the first aid kit around his chest.

"I don't understand how Buffy could lose it," Dawn said. "She was always violent, she's a slayer after all. But it never went that far."

"Well, she didn't loose it," Xander said and put the shirt back over his bandaged chest. "She did that on purpose."

"What?" Dawn asked shocked. "Why?"

"Because she wanted to impress the SITs," Xander told her. "Look, I'm the guy that killed the enemy she couldn't beat. She thinks that I stole something from her. The victory that proved once and for all that she is the leader of the group. And by beating me up she wanted to prove that she is still the Alpha."

"That's a pretty fucked up point of view B has there," Faith exclaimed. "But I guess it fits with her personality. She never could accept competition."

"You should know it," Xander said. "You have the most experience in competing with her."

competting - should be : competing

All three stood in the bathroom for for several long, silent moments.

"Xander," Dawn finally started. "Maybe it's time that we do something about Buffy."

"What are you talking about?" Xander asked confused.

"I don't know," Dawn admitted. "All I know is that in her current state of mind she is far from being a responsible leader."

"And what I'm supposed to do?" Xander asked. "Take over the leadership?"

"Why not?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah," Faith agreed. "I'm with the jailbait."

Dawn glared at Faith, but the slayer returned it with an amused smile.

"No," Xander declared and shook his head. "That's not an option."

"Why not?" Dawn said. "With all that army experience in your head you're the one most qualified for that position."

"Forget it Dawn," Xander said and walked up to the door.

"Why not?" Dawn asked again.

"Look," Xander said, trying to get his thoughts in order. "I'm not fond of Buffy right now. But she leads the group, not me. And even if she is a bit jumpy right now, we could always count on her to make the right decision."

"Like when you went to kill Caleb," Dawn threw in. "Admit it Xander. She made mistakes. And if she keeps on doing them. It's because she doesn't see that she is doing something wrong."

"Dawn," Xander said more calmly. "I would risk my life for each and everyone of you. But I won't accept the responsibility of leading a group of teenage girls into a fight."

And with this words Xander left the bathroom and walked down the corridor, leaving a confused slayer and key behind.