Watcher 3 - New Alliances
"You knew!"
Buffy's angry voice broke the tense silence. The blonde began to rise from her seat only for Angel to restrain her. "Buffy no." The vampire stood and stalked towards him, an unreadable expression on his face.
Xander felt the brunette beside him tense protectively. "No Faith."
"He's not going to hurt you," the Slayer growled.
"He's got the right." Steeling himself, he looked up to see Angel stood before him with a hand out-stretched. After a second he took the hand and shook it in bemusement. "Why?"
"I knew what you'd done when I was in hell," the vampire's face shadowed at the memories. "The demons would taunt me, mighty Angelus' downfall caused by a schoolboy. At first I was so angry," Angel shrugged. "Then I realised you probably saved Buff's life. So thanks." The vampire turned back to his seat.
"You're welcome," he muttered in disbelief. Maybe he'd badly misjudged Deadboy after all. Gathering his thoughts, he spoke. "As we've all made terrible mistakes and suffered guilt, we all know what," he squeezed the brunette's hand, "Faith's going through. But the others wouldn't understand and we can't tell them."
"Not even Willow?" demanded Buffy.
Xander noticed that the blonde's eyes still held a glint of anger. Angel might have forgiven him but Buffy hadn't. "Not even Wills. She's got a kind of rigid code, which is great, but she and Faith don't get on. And while she'd never deliberately use it against Faith she might lash out with it in an argument in Wussley's hearing."
"Who'd report it to the Council," Giles commented.
"Yeah." Xander hesitated.
"So what's the big plan?" Faith prompted, her eyes dancing nervously.
Let the laughter commence, Xander swallowed. "The reason I knew what happened was because, ever since Buff left during the summer, I've been thinking about becoming a Watcher. So I've been staying behind to read some Watcher diaries and was in the back when Buff came in -."
Giles chuckled. The Watcher opened his mouth to speak only for an angry Faith to interrupt, her eyes blazing. "Hey! Xander's a wicked fighter! Last night I really had to -," the brunette's words trailed off. "Oh crap," she muttered.
"I knew you were lying!" Buffy started to rise only for Angel to pull her down and silence her with a stern look.
"Great Faith, just great. Way to make a tough situation worse." Xander groaned. "Last night after hearing what had happened I hurried over to see how she was. I found her trying to leave and tried to stop her," he grimaced. "Not one of my smarter ideas. Anyway, what's important is after she beat me up she didn't leave me in the street." He hugged the ashamed girl. "She cared enough to bring me back and look after me."
"Um," Giles fixed the brunette with a piercing glare before continuing. "I wasn't laughing at the idea of Xander being a Watcher. On the contrary, before Buffy's 18th birthday fiasco, I had been considering recommending both Willow and Xander to the Council upon them finishing their education." A rare twinkle entered the Watcher's eyes. "After all how many Watchers have single-handedly prevented an apocalypse?"
"Or backed down a master vampire to save an injured Slayer," added Angel with a smile.
"Well this is embarrassing," Xander reddened.
"What's this?" demanded Buff.
"Yeah spill." Faith agreed, staring at him with interest and surprise.
"According to my sources, the night we battled the Sisterhood of Jhe, a certain young man who should have been tucked up in bed was in fact in the basement of the school battling a quartet of zombies intending to blow the Hellmouth open with a homemade bomb. I believe there were just seconds remaining on the timer when the timer was disarmed," Giles explained.
"Wicked Xand! You know what I gave you as a thank you last time you saved my life?"
Xander coughed uncomfortably. "Faith, an audience." He was far from adverse to the idea of doing the pelvic with Faith again but he'd prefer it without spectators to critique his performance.
Faith giggled. "Then I guess you'll have to do with a kiss." The brunette's lips softly caressed his cheek before she whispered in his ear. "Thanks Xand."
"How did Faith thank -." Buffy began before colouring at Faith's crooked grin. "Oh right. So what's this about Xander and a Master vampire?"
"When I put you in hospital last year, I turned up there intending to take advantage of you, rape, kill, and maybe turn you. The only problem was Xander was standing guard outside your door," the vampire smiled at him. "We both knew I could take him, but he wouldn't back down and I also knew that the time it would take would give security time to get there and save you, so I backed off."
"Good lord," Giles looked at him in surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was nothing."
"Nothing?" Buffy walked across the hotel room and kissed him on the opposite cheek to Faith. "You're always saving my life."
"Some kids collect stamps, my hobby's saving Slayers' lives," Xander grinned before taking a breath. "Look, this is my plan. Faith needs a new Watcher, someone she can rely on, someone who's not Wussley and is just looking after her, not her and Buffy." Xander swallowed, this was where everyone started laughing. "So if G-Man will train me in theory and Angel in field work I'd like to try and do the job, unofficially of course."
There was a moment of shocked silence and Faith let out a joyful squeal and threw her arms around his neck. "You'd do that for me?" she demanded, her eyes shining.
"You're a friend, of course I will." Xander glanced nervously at the others. "If G-Man and Angel agree?"
"Well your plan is unorthodox and there's never been a field watcher your age before but," a smile slowly spread its way across Giles' face. "You've already proven yourself to be loyal, resourceful and brave, all valuable qualities for a Watcher. And the memories of the Special Forces soldier could be a great asset. So I agree. Angel?"
The vampire groaned. "You realise this means we'll have to spend time together? I definitely preferred hell." Finally he nodded. "Redemption's a real bitch, but I'll do it."
Xander smiled in disbelief, they'd actually agreed. "Thanks guys." He turned back to Faith, his face serious. "But there are conditions."
"Conditions?" the brunette's face grew wary.
"First, you have to go to Giles' twice a week for counselling about what happened with Finch and anything else that's bothering you."
"I don't need a shrink!"
"Giles does the same for Buffy, diff is he can't do it anywhere were Wussley might overhear. Secondly, you enrol at school."
"Like hell! I'm a Slayer, not fated for a long life. What's the point?"
Xander fixed the girl with a glare that caused her mouth to clamp shut instantly. "You're not dying any time soon, not with all us to help you. You deserve time to be a normal teenager, do ordinary things, time when you're not thinking about Slaying."
"Faith he's right," Buffy said quietly.
"Thirdly, if Joyce is still offering, you're moving in with her."
Faith's mouth dropped open. "I'm not a charity case."
"No you're somebody who deserves to be part of a proper family," Xander said firmly. "You certainly are worthy of more than this dump."
"We'd be glad to have you," Buffy offered. After a second Faith nodded silently, apparently cowed by Xander's determination.
"Fourthly," Xander hesitated. This was the one that could get his head torn off, he was just glad Angel and Buffy were here to protect him. "You stop sleeping your way through Sunnydale's men."
The raven-haired Slayer's eyes flashed angrily. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to!"
"I know who I'm talking to," it took a supreme effort of will to keep his voice steady but Xander managed it. "A beautiful woman who's passionate, smart, funny and brave. Somebody who is worth more than just being a notch on somebody's bedpost. Someone who deserves to be loved and valued by someone in a relationship."
Faith stared open-mouthed at him. Angel chuckled. "That's the first time I've seen her speechless," the vampire sobered. "I was going to say it's almost worth agreeing to train Xander to see it, but nothing's worth that."
Giles chuckled before breaking into the conversation. "I'd like to add a condition of my own. Xander, you have to move in with either Angel or I."
"Why?"
The Watcher sighed. "Xander, I know your father hits you. No, don't deny it, I've seen the bruises on the days you haven't been on patrol."
Xander flushed at the concerned glances he was getting, embarrassed, he glanced to the floor. "I don't -." He started at a gentle squeeze on his arm and turned reluctantly to look at Faith.
"Xander," the brunette stared at him, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Is G right?" Suddenly choked up with shame he could only nod. "Xand, you deserve to be safe too." Finally Xander spoke. "I'll move in with you thanks G-Man."
"Well done X-Man."
The Watcher beamed. "Splendid. And when will the move take place?"
"Tonight," he answered, might as well get it over with.
"Fine, Angel and I will pick you up then," Giles replied.
Buffy smiled. "And we can take your things over after patrol Faith." The brunette nodded.
Xander smiled. "Thanks for coming everyone. G-Man could you drop me off at-," he started to struggle for his feet only for Faith to grab his hand.
"Please Xand, don't go. Stay with me until I go onto patrol. I don't want to be alone," Faith voice was soft, nervous.
"No problem," Xander grinned.
Buffy smiled. "I'll stay for a while too."
* * *
Giles chuckled as he started his car. "That is a most resourceful and cunning young man. Adding those conditions was a masterstroke."
Angel looked up blankly from under his blanket on the backseat. "What do you mean?"
"Well the conditions achieve two objectives. One, they combine to give Faith the stability and love she so desperately needs and yearns for. Two, by setting them he's forced Faith to acknowledge that he's the boss."
"And how do you think he'll do as a Watcher?"
"Whatever occurred between them last night and before we arrived has somehow made Faith more willing to listen to Xander than any of us. And we both know how fiercely protective and loyal Xander can be. He's not the most academically minded, but in the past he's shown himself to have a flair for strategy and tactics. But what's most important is that today he's declared his priority is Faith. As long as he maintains that, it will do wonders for her self-esteem that someone chose her rather than Buffy."
"But we'll have to watch them both."
Giles nodded in agreement. "Oh certainly. And make sure that Wesley doesn't have any idea what's going on."
"You knew!"
Buffy's angry voice broke the tense silence. The blonde began to rise from her seat only for Angel to restrain her. "Buffy no." The vampire stood and stalked towards him, an unreadable expression on his face.
Xander felt the brunette beside him tense protectively. "No Faith."
"He's not going to hurt you," the Slayer growled.
"He's got the right." Steeling himself, he looked up to see Angel stood before him with a hand out-stretched. After a second he took the hand and shook it in bemusement. "Why?"
"I knew what you'd done when I was in hell," the vampire's face shadowed at the memories. "The demons would taunt me, mighty Angelus' downfall caused by a schoolboy. At first I was so angry," Angel shrugged. "Then I realised you probably saved Buff's life. So thanks." The vampire turned back to his seat.
"You're welcome," he muttered in disbelief. Maybe he'd badly misjudged Deadboy after all. Gathering his thoughts, he spoke. "As we've all made terrible mistakes and suffered guilt, we all know what," he squeezed the brunette's hand, "Faith's going through. But the others wouldn't understand and we can't tell them."
"Not even Willow?" demanded Buffy.
Xander noticed that the blonde's eyes still held a glint of anger. Angel might have forgiven him but Buffy hadn't. "Not even Wills. She's got a kind of rigid code, which is great, but she and Faith don't get on. And while she'd never deliberately use it against Faith she might lash out with it in an argument in Wussley's hearing."
"Who'd report it to the Council," Giles commented.
"Yeah." Xander hesitated.
"So what's the big plan?" Faith prompted, her eyes dancing nervously.
Let the laughter commence, Xander swallowed. "The reason I knew what happened was because, ever since Buff left during the summer, I've been thinking about becoming a Watcher. So I've been staying behind to read some Watcher diaries and was in the back when Buff came in -."
Giles chuckled. The Watcher opened his mouth to speak only for an angry Faith to interrupt, her eyes blazing. "Hey! Xander's a wicked fighter! Last night I really had to -," the brunette's words trailed off. "Oh crap," she muttered.
"I knew you were lying!" Buffy started to rise only for Angel to pull her down and silence her with a stern look.
"Great Faith, just great. Way to make a tough situation worse." Xander groaned. "Last night after hearing what had happened I hurried over to see how she was. I found her trying to leave and tried to stop her," he grimaced. "Not one of my smarter ideas. Anyway, what's important is after she beat me up she didn't leave me in the street." He hugged the ashamed girl. "She cared enough to bring me back and look after me."
"Um," Giles fixed the brunette with a piercing glare before continuing. "I wasn't laughing at the idea of Xander being a Watcher. On the contrary, before Buffy's 18th birthday fiasco, I had been considering recommending both Willow and Xander to the Council upon them finishing their education." A rare twinkle entered the Watcher's eyes. "After all how many Watchers have single-handedly prevented an apocalypse?"
"Or backed down a master vampire to save an injured Slayer," added Angel with a smile.
"Well this is embarrassing," Xander reddened.
"What's this?" demanded Buff.
"Yeah spill." Faith agreed, staring at him with interest and surprise.
"According to my sources, the night we battled the Sisterhood of Jhe, a certain young man who should have been tucked up in bed was in fact in the basement of the school battling a quartet of zombies intending to blow the Hellmouth open with a homemade bomb. I believe there were just seconds remaining on the timer when the timer was disarmed," Giles explained.
"Wicked Xand! You know what I gave you as a thank you last time you saved my life?"
Xander coughed uncomfortably. "Faith, an audience." He was far from adverse to the idea of doing the pelvic with Faith again but he'd prefer it without spectators to critique his performance.
Faith giggled. "Then I guess you'll have to do with a kiss." The brunette's lips softly caressed his cheek before she whispered in his ear. "Thanks Xand."
"How did Faith thank -." Buffy began before colouring at Faith's crooked grin. "Oh right. So what's this about Xander and a Master vampire?"
"When I put you in hospital last year, I turned up there intending to take advantage of you, rape, kill, and maybe turn you. The only problem was Xander was standing guard outside your door," the vampire smiled at him. "We both knew I could take him, but he wouldn't back down and I also knew that the time it would take would give security time to get there and save you, so I backed off."
"Good lord," Giles looked at him in surprise. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"It was nothing."
"Nothing?" Buffy walked across the hotel room and kissed him on the opposite cheek to Faith. "You're always saving my life."
"Some kids collect stamps, my hobby's saving Slayers' lives," Xander grinned before taking a breath. "Look, this is my plan. Faith needs a new Watcher, someone she can rely on, someone who's not Wussley and is just looking after her, not her and Buffy." Xander swallowed, this was where everyone started laughing. "So if G-Man will train me in theory and Angel in field work I'd like to try and do the job, unofficially of course."
There was a moment of shocked silence and Faith let out a joyful squeal and threw her arms around his neck. "You'd do that for me?" she demanded, her eyes shining.
"You're a friend, of course I will." Xander glanced nervously at the others. "If G-Man and Angel agree?"
"Well your plan is unorthodox and there's never been a field watcher your age before but," a smile slowly spread its way across Giles' face. "You've already proven yourself to be loyal, resourceful and brave, all valuable qualities for a Watcher. And the memories of the Special Forces soldier could be a great asset. So I agree. Angel?"
The vampire groaned. "You realise this means we'll have to spend time together? I definitely preferred hell." Finally he nodded. "Redemption's a real bitch, but I'll do it."
Xander smiled in disbelief, they'd actually agreed. "Thanks guys." He turned back to Faith, his face serious. "But there are conditions."
"Conditions?" the brunette's face grew wary.
"First, you have to go to Giles' twice a week for counselling about what happened with Finch and anything else that's bothering you."
"I don't need a shrink!"
"Giles does the same for Buffy, diff is he can't do it anywhere were Wussley might overhear. Secondly, you enrol at school."
"Like hell! I'm a Slayer, not fated for a long life. What's the point?"
Xander fixed the girl with a glare that caused her mouth to clamp shut instantly. "You're not dying any time soon, not with all us to help you. You deserve time to be a normal teenager, do ordinary things, time when you're not thinking about Slaying."
"Faith he's right," Buffy said quietly.
"Thirdly, if Joyce is still offering, you're moving in with her."
Faith's mouth dropped open. "I'm not a charity case."
"No you're somebody who deserves to be part of a proper family," Xander said firmly. "You certainly are worthy of more than this dump."
"We'd be glad to have you," Buffy offered. After a second Faith nodded silently, apparently cowed by Xander's determination.
"Fourthly," Xander hesitated. This was the one that could get his head torn off, he was just glad Angel and Buffy were here to protect him. "You stop sleeping your way through Sunnydale's men."
The raven-haired Slayer's eyes flashed angrily. "Who the hell do you think you're talking to!"
"I know who I'm talking to," it took a supreme effort of will to keep his voice steady but Xander managed it. "A beautiful woman who's passionate, smart, funny and brave. Somebody who is worth more than just being a notch on somebody's bedpost. Someone who deserves to be loved and valued by someone in a relationship."
Faith stared open-mouthed at him. Angel chuckled. "That's the first time I've seen her speechless," the vampire sobered. "I was going to say it's almost worth agreeing to train Xander to see it, but nothing's worth that."
Giles chuckled before breaking into the conversation. "I'd like to add a condition of my own. Xander, you have to move in with either Angel or I."
"Why?"
The Watcher sighed. "Xander, I know your father hits you. No, don't deny it, I've seen the bruises on the days you haven't been on patrol."
Xander flushed at the concerned glances he was getting, embarrassed, he glanced to the floor. "I don't -." He started at a gentle squeeze on his arm and turned reluctantly to look at Faith.
"Xander," the brunette stared at him, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Is G right?" Suddenly choked up with shame he could only nod. "Xand, you deserve to be safe too." Finally Xander spoke. "I'll move in with you thanks G-Man."
"Well done X-Man."
The Watcher beamed. "Splendid. And when will the move take place?"
"Tonight," he answered, might as well get it over with.
"Fine, Angel and I will pick you up then," Giles replied.
Buffy smiled. "And we can take your things over after patrol Faith." The brunette nodded.
Xander smiled. "Thanks for coming everyone. G-Man could you drop me off at-," he started to struggle for his feet only for Faith to grab his hand.
"Please Xand, don't go. Stay with me until I go onto patrol. I don't want to be alone," Faith voice was soft, nervous.
"No problem," Xander grinned.
Buffy smiled. "I'll stay for a while too."
* * *
Giles chuckled as he started his car. "That is a most resourceful and cunning young man. Adding those conditions was a masterstroke."
Angel looked up blankly from under his blanket on the backseat. "What do you mean?"
"Well the conditions achieve two objectives. One, they combine to give Faith the stability and love she so desperately needs and yearns for. Two, by setting them he's forced Faith to acknowledge that he's the boss."
"And how do you think he'll do as a Watcher?"
"Whatever occurred between them last night and before we arrived has somehow made Faith more willing to listen to Xander than any of us. And we both know how fiercely protective and loyal Xander can be. He's not the most academically minded, but in the past he's shown himself to have a flair for strategy and tactics. But what's most important is that today he's declared his priority is Faith. As long as he maintains that, it will do wonders for her self-esteem that someone chose her rather than Buffy."
"But we'll have to watch them both."
Giles nodded in agreement. "Oh certainly. And make sure that Wesley doesn't have any idea what's going on."