Watcher 2 - Confessions
Xander awoke with a yawn. He looked around the strangely familiar room in confusion, where the hell was he? Then he noticed the beautiful and very naked girl lying half on top of him. His head furrowed in puzzlement, he reached to gently shake the girl awake and let out a groan as pain rippled through his body. Oh yeah, he remembered.
The brunette's eyes flickered open. "Oh god Xand," her voice shook. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry," he hastened to reassure the girl. "It only hurts when I move, speak or breathe." Seeing tears well up in the girl's eyes, he ignored the pain to ruffle the girl's hair. "Hey, don't worry I'll be alright in a few days. You didn't leave that's the important thing. Besides, I bet your knuckles are really bruised."
The girl giggled before bursting into tears and pressing into him. "I'm sorry, I killed someone Xander, oh god I'm in so much trouble! What am I going to do?"
The youth allowed the girl to cry into his chest for a few minutes before nervously clearing his throat. "Based on last time, I normally enjoy having a naked Faith lying on top of me but when we've got important stuff to discuss, it's kind of distracting."
The Slayer's head snapped up, her cheek crimson. "Oh god, I'll get dressed." Jumping up, she turned back to him. "Want anything?"
Xander turned away from Faith's nude body, his own face colouring. "I can think of a few things," he muttered before raising his voice. "Some painkillers would be good." Yeah, distracting was definitely the word.
"Five by five," the Slayer hurriedly dressed before rushing into the bathroom and returning with a bottle of painkillers that he took with a grateful nod. Faith's eyes widened as he poured half a dozen tablets down his throat. "Xand, it says only takes two."
"My ribs, face and nuts," he reminded the Slayer. When her face fell at his words, he grimaced. "Don't worry. I'll be fine in a few days."
"Finch won't," Faith whispered.
Xander felt his stomach clench in pain at the misery and guilt he saw on his friend's face. "Faith, help me sit up." He groaned as the Slayer eased him upright. "Thanks," he managed to gasp before pulling the Slayer into his arms, kissing her on the forehead and giving her a hug. "No matter what Faith, I'm in your corner."
The Slayer wiped away her tears and smiled. "Thanks Xand, you're the best."
He grinned modestly and shrugged. "I know." The girl giggled. "Modest too." Faith's face turned serious. "How did you find out about," she swallowed. "Finch?"
"Ah," he reddened. "I've been kinda toying with the idea of being a Watcher since last summer when Buff ran away. That's sort of why I've been taking the judo and aikido classes." He swallowed nervously at the girl's interested face. Anytime soon she'd start laughing at him who was he kidding? Him, a Watcher like Giles? "Dumb eh?"
"Not from what I saw last night," the Slayer replied before gently squeezing his hand. "Boy's got himself some moves."
"Thanks Faith," he smiled gratefully. "Anyway I've started staying behind in the library reading Watcher Diaries, books on the occult, that sort of thing." He laughed bitterly. "Beats going home. Last night I was packing up when I heard Buffy coming in, all crying. I started to come out to find out what was wrong. Then I heard her tell G-Man what had happened. G-Man was pretty shook up too but he calmed her down, said that you needed our support and that we'd talk about it in the morning."
"G's pretty cool."
"Yeah," Xander nodded in agreement. "I thought you'd need someone to talk to so I headed out to your motel. I saw you leaving, figured you'd head to the bus station and I guessed the route you'd take and where to head you off."
"Why didn't you just let me go?"
Xander hesitated. "I'm guessing me and you share pretty similar families, aside from your first Watcher no one's ever cared about you. Well you've got people here - me, Buffy, G-Man, Joyce, even Deadboy who do care. You shouldn't have to run away from that. We'll work something out between us."
Faith's eyes filled with tears before she flung her arms around his neck and began hugging him tightly. "Thanks X-Man," she muttered huskily.
Xander grinned and ruffled the girl's hair. "Always a pleasure to help a friend," he winced. "And you can help me by easing up on the grip, battered body remember?"
"Sorry."
Suddenly there was a determined knocking on the door. "Faith, I know you're in there. We've got to talk."
Xander turned to a paling Faith and forced a smile. "It'll be fine, Buffy will understand. Go open up."
* * * Buffy raised her hand to knock again only for the door to open to reveal a grey looking Faith. "Hi B."
The blonde nodded before walking into the room. "Faith, I've told Gil-," her eyes narrowed at the sight of her friend sat on the bed. "Xander, what are you doing here? And," she turned a suspicious glare on Faith. "What happened to you?"
"Thank god for Faith," Xander exclaimed as Faith opened her mouth. "I was in the library when you told G-Man what happened. I thought she might need someone to talk to so I hurried over but on my way here I got jumped by a gang of vamps. I dusted two but getting a pretty bad working over until Faith turned up and saved my ass. Then she brought me back here and fixed me up."
Buffy looked at her friend sceptically. He was lying but about what she couldn't tell. She turned to Faith. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't patrol again until we'd sorted out what happened?"
"I was going to run," her counterpart replied in a whisper. "I was going to dump Xander in my room and leave him." Faith grinned at her beaten friend. "But he kinda let me know I should stay and what I would be leaving behind."
Buffy nodded approvingly at Faith before smiling at Xander. "Thanks Xand."
Her friend grinned back at her before winking at Faith. "Couldn't let our buddy run out on us."
Buffy smiled at the embarrassed look on Faith's face before turning serious. "We have to discuss what happened last night."
"Buff, can it wait? I'd like you to ring G-Man and ask him to come here," Xander swallowed. "And ask him to bring Deadboy."
* * *
Xander took deep breaths to calm his pounding heart. A tearful Faith had just finished telling them about what had happened the previous night. He squeezed her hand comfortingly before starting. "G-Man, have there been any previous cases of Slayers killing innocent humans?"
The Watcher nodded. "Three."
"What did the Council did in those cases?"
"Xander, I hardly think this is relevant."
"Humour me." The Englishman sighed. "Two cases were quite dissimilar in that they were both murders, in those cases the Slayers were sanctioned by the Council. The third case was quite similar to Faith's in that it was also accidental, in that case an errant crossbow bolt," the Watcher hesitated. "That Slayer was also executed by the Council." Faith let out a gasp of fear.
"Well that's not going to happen to Faith," Xander stated defiantly. "Is it G-Man?"
Giles smiled a Ripperish grin. "Too bloody right, no-body gets one of my Slayers." Suddenly the facade of the middle-aged librarian was back. "I trust you have a plan Xander?"
He nodded uncertainly, his assurance of just a few seconds ago fleeing. "I asked you all here because my idea of what we do next involves you all. And like Faith we've all made mistakes."
He looked towards Buffy. "You've run away from being a Slayer twice. Understandable in both cases, still."
He turned to Angel who nodded in understanding. "Angelus."
Xander nodded. "Yeah. As for the G-Man, there's all the Ripper stuff and what happened during Buff's 18th birthday. As for me -."
"Yeah what about you!" Buffy looked pissed, Xander knew she always enjoyed the illusion of her perfection being shattered.
"I remember everything I did as a hyena."
Buffy's angry expression changed to one of understanding and sympathy. "Xand, I stopped you. Besides you were possessed."
"I know but -."
"Hush," his friend stood, walked across the hotel room floor and hugged him. "You didn't do anything, it was the demon."
Xander smiled. "Thanks Buff. Then there was the love spell thing. I hurt and humiliated a lot of good friends over that."
Angel chuckled. "I still remember Drusilla kicking my ass for touching her kitten."
Xander laughed. "Oh yeah, that was seriously scary." His face sobered. "Then there's the biggie," he dropped his gaze to the room's threadbare carpet. "Buffy, when you went to fight Angelus I...I knew Willow was re- attempting the soul restoration spell. But I was afraid you'd get yourself killed by holding back, so I didn't tell you."
Xander awoke with a yawn. He looked around the strangely familiar room in confusion, where the hell was he? Then he noticed the beautiful and very naked girl lying half on top of him. His head furrowed in puzzlement, he reached to gently shake the girl awake and let out a groan as pain rippled through his body. Oh yeah, he remembered.
The brunette's eyes flickered open. "Oh god Xand," her voice shook. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't worry," he hastened to reassure the girl. "It only hurts when I move, speak or breathe." Seeing tears well up in the girl's eyes, he ignored the pain to ruffle the girl's hair. "Hey, don't worry I'll be alright in a few days. You didn't leave that's the important thing. Besides, I bet your knuckles are really bruised."
The girl giggled before bursting into tears and pressing into him. "I'm sorry, I killed someone Xander, oh god I'm in so much trouble! What am I going to do?"
The youth allowed the girl to cry into his chest for a few minutes before nervously clearing his throat. "Based on last time, I normally enjoy having a naked Faith lying on top of me but when we've got important stuff to discuss, it's kind of distracting."
The Slayer's head snapped up, her cheek crimson. "Oh god, I'll get dressed." Jumping up, she turned back to him. "Want anything?"
Xander turned away from Faith's nude body, his own face colouring. "I can think of a few things," he muttered before raising his voice. "Some painkillers would be good." Yeah, distracting was definitely the word.
"Five by five," the Slayer hurriedly dressed before rushing into the bathroom and returning with a bottle of painkillers that he took with a grateful nod. Faith's eyes widened as he poured half a dozen tablets down his throat. "Xand, it says only takes two."
"My ribs, face and nuts," he reminded the Slayer. When her face fell at his words, he grimaced. "Don't worry. I'll be fine in a few days."
"Finch won't," Faith whispered.
Xander felt his stomach clench in pain at the misery and guilt he saw on his friend's face. "Faith, help me sit up." He groaned as the Slayer eased him upright. "Thanks," he managed to gasp before pulling the Slayer into his arms, kissing her on the forehead and giving her a hug. "No matter what Faith, I'm in your corner."
The Slayer wiped away her tears and smiled. "Thanks Xand, you're the best."
He grinned modestly and shrugged. "I know." The girl giggled. "Modest too." Faith's face turned serious. "How did you find out about," she swallowed. "Finch?"
"Ah," he reddened. "I've been kinda toying with the idea of being a Watcher since last summer when Buff ran away. That's sort of why I've been taking the judo and aikido classes." He swallowed nervously at the girl's interested face. Anytime soon she'd start laughing at him who was he kidding? Him, a Watcher like Giles? "Dumb eh?"
"Not from what I saw last night," the Slayer replied before gently squeezing his hand. "Boy's got himself some moves."
"Thanks Faith," he smiled gratefully. "Anyway I've started staying behind in the library reading Watcher Diaries, books on the occult, that sort of thing." He laughed bitterly. "Beats going home. Last night I was packing up when I heard Buffy coming in, all crying. I started to come out to find out what was wrong. Then I heard her tell G-Man what had happened. G-Man was pretty shook up too but he calmed her down, said that you needed our support and that we'd talk about it in the morning."
"G's pretty cool."
"Yeah," Xander nodded in agreement. "I thought you'd need someone to talk to so I headed out to your motel. I saw you leaving, figured you'd head to the bus station and I guessed the route you'd take and where to head you off."
"Why didn't you just let me go?"
Xander hesitated. "I'm guessing me and you share pretty similar families, aside from your first Watcher no one's ever cared about you. Well you've got people here - me, Buffy, G-Man, Joyce, even Deadboy who do care. You shouldn't have to run away from that. We'll work something out between us."
Faith's eyes filled with tears before she flung her arms around his neck and began hugging him tightly. "Thanks X-Man," she muttered huskily.
Xander grinned and ruffled the girl's hair. "Always a pleasure to help a friend," he winced. "And you can help me by easing up on the grip, battered body remember?"
"Sorry."
Suddenly there was a determined knocking on the door. "Faith, I know you're in there. We've got to talk."
Xander turned to a paling Faith and forced a smile. "It'll be fine, Buffy will understand. Go open up."
* * * Buffy raised her hand to knock again only for the door to open to reveal a grey looking Faith. "Hi B."
The blonde nodded before walking into the room. "Faith, I've told Gil-," her eyes narrowed at the sight of her friend sat on the bed. "Xander, what are you doing here? And," she turned a suspicious glare on Faith. "What happened to you?"
"Thank god for Faith," Xander exclaimed as Faith opened her mouth. "I was in the library when you told G-Man what happened. I thought she might need someone to talk to so I hurried over but on my way here I got jumped by a gang of vamps. I dusted two but getting a pretty bad working over until Faith turned up and saved my ass. Then she brought me back here and fixed me up."
Buffy looked at her friend sceptically. He was lying but about what she couldn't tell. She turned to Faith. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't patrol again until we'd sorted out what happened?"
"I was going to run," her counterpart replied in a whisper. "I was going to dump Xander in my room and leave him." Faith grinned at her beaten friend. "But he kinda let me know I should stay and what I would be leaving behind."
Buffy nodded approvingly at Faith before smiling at Xander. "Thanks Xand."
Her friend grinned back at her before winking at Faith. "Couldn't let our buddy run out on us."
Buffy smiled at the embarrassed look on Faith's face before turning serious. "We have to discuss what happened last night."
"Buff, can it wait? I'd like you to ring G-Man and ask him to come here," Xander swallowed. "And ask him to bring Deadboy."
* * *
Xander took deep breaths to calm his pounding heart. A tearful Faith had just finished telling them about what had happened the previous night. He squeezed her hand comfortingly before starting. "G-Man, have there been any previous cases of Slayers killing innocent humans?"
The Watcher nodded. "Three."
"What did the Council did in those cases?"
"Xander, I hardly think this is relevant."
"Humour me." The Englishman sighed. "Two cases were quite dissimilar in that they were both murders, in those cases the Slayers were sanctioned by the Council. The third case was quite similar to Faith's in that it was also accidental, in that case an errant crossbow bolt," the Watcher hesitated. "That Slayer was also executed by the Council." Faith let out a gasp of fear.
"Well that's not going to happen to Faith," Xander stated defiantly. "Is it G-Man?"
Giles smiled a Ripperish grin. "Too bloody right, no-body gets one of my Slayers." Suddenly the facade of the middle-aged librarian was back. "I trust you have a plan Xander?"
He nodded uncertainly, his assurance of just a few seconds ago fleeing. "I asked you all here because my idea of what we do next involves you all. And like Faith we've all made mistakes."
He looked towards Buffy. "You've run away from being a Slayer twice. Understandable in both cases, still."
He turned to Angel who nodded in understanding. "Angelus."
Xander nodded. "Yeah. As for the G-Man, there's all the Ripper stuff and what happened during Buff's 18th birthday. As for me -."
"Yeah what about you!" Buffy looked pissed, Xander knew she always enjoyed the illusion of her perfection being shattered.
"I remember everything I did as a hyena."
Buffy's angry expression changed to one of understanding and sympathy. "Xand, I stopped you. Besides you were possessed."
"I know but -."
"Hush," his friend stood, walked across the hotel room floor and hugged him. "You didn't do anything, it was the demon."
Xander smiled. "Thanks Buff. Then there was the love spell thing. I hurt and humiliated a lot of good friends over that."
Angel chuckled. "I still remember Drusilla kicking my ass for touching her kitten."
Xander laughed. "Oh yeah, that was seriously scary." His face sobered. "Then there's the biggie," he dropped his gaze to the room's threadbare carpet. "Buffy, when you went to fight Angelus I...I knew Willow was re- attempting the soul restoration spell. But I was afraid you'd get yourself killed by holding back, so I didn't tell you."