Title: Best Laid Plans.
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
----------------------
-Cleveland, Ohio-
----------------------
"As I have been trying to tell you all, there is some activity with the Hellmouth-"
"Giles you said that last week. Is there something going on with the Hellmouth or not?"
"Buffy, as I attempting to tell you, there is some Hellmouth activity at present but I am not certain as to what it is. It may simply be normal by Hellmouth standards."
"All right then G, what's the point then?"
The former librarian sighed, "The point Faith, was to inform all of you about the latest activity regarding the Hellmouth."
"Whatever." Faith leaned back against the wall next to Wood.
"Thank you Rupert", Travis thanked him.
"Anything else?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Well, I was reading up on this item that Wood had procured in his latest trip overseas", Wesley informed the group. "It does appear to be associated with traveling magicks but I haven't been able to learn anymore thus far."
"Oh let me see." Willow picked up the flat, circle shaped object. If not for the shapes and yellow-orangish color, it could have passed for an exceptionally dirty plate.
Kennedy watched her with interest, "Getting anything?"
"No, nothing."
"Great, the wanker goes to all that fuss and nonsense for one of Merlin's dirty dishes. Good job mate."
"Knock it off, Spike."
"Angel, Spike, shut up both of you." Buffy glared at them.
Silence settled over the room.
Travis announced "I believe all of the important business is concluded so I believe this meeting is over".
----------------------------
-Elsewhere in the city-
----------------------------
Leaving at 4 in the morning turned out be a wise decision, this way they would have plenty of time to settle in at their hotel and get familiar with the surrounding area. Their hotel was located within a short drive of the main city streets. With rooms on the fourth floor, they got a nice view of the neighborhood.
"Looks like a quiet place."
"So did my hometown."
"True, this place lacks the quaint small town charm though. No high school ruins to add atmosphere."
"Want to go for a quick around the block or two?"
"Yeah, beats sitting in here staring at the walls."
Alex nodded in agreement.
--------------------------
-A few minutes later-
--------------------------
"All right where were you this time or is that still info that your semi-experienced civilian friends can't be told?"
"Sorry Alex, no can do. But, I'll say this, canals are vastly over-rated."
"Bastard."
The two friends continued their walk unaware they were being watched. A pair of teenage girls, each was dressed in matching schoolgirl uniforms. The black girl had her hair in braids, which shook as she turned and spoke to her friend.
"Are you sure that's him?"
The other girl had red hair that was cut short. She was a little taller then the other girl and she wore brightly colored bracelets. Her face became a frown, as she thought hard before answering.
"It kind of looks like him but I'm not sure. It's been so long and he looks very different. Still that voice." she trailed off.
"If you're not sure-"
"No, I'm sure it's him. Let's go and tell the others."
Quickly they hurried away.
-----------------------------------------
-Crestview School for the Gifted-
-----------------------------------------
The sun was just setting when Vi and Rona burst into the school office, startling the night receptionist.
"Ack", she fell out of her chair.
"Sorry Miss Kendall", they apologized in unison.
A low growl issued from the blonde woman as she stood up. She carefully brushed out her businesswoman's outfit. And then she turned around and glared at the two younger women, her face changed taking up a more demonic appearance with yellow eyes.
"All right you two, what is it THIS TIME. I work my fingers to the bone answering these phones and writing the messages for everyone. I mean I even make sure everyone has paperclips and notepaper."
"Yes Miss Kendall."
"This isn't about the school uniforms is it? I mean, Cordelia and me tried to argue for something more modern and on the cutting edge but no Buffy, Willow and Giles all said no. You know for a bunch of heroes, there are severely fashionably challenged."
"No Miss Kendall."
"Then what is it about? The bloody mugs? I swear I was going to clean those up, Angel likes a warm snack before we-".
"Um, Miss Kendall", Vi interrupted "that's not what we're excited about."
"Then why are you here?"
--------------------------
-The School Library-
--------------------------
"And this goes..."
"The history and culture of Peru belongs in the nonfiction section Buffy."
"I knew that Giles, I was just making sure." She huffed.
"Of course you did dear." Travis added. His businessman-like attire a sharp contrast to her more casual blue jeans and white halter top.
Willow smiled from the table where she sat with Kennedy. Fred, Wesley, Cordelia and Giles occupied other tables; each had their own collection of books and folders. They were engrossed in planning out their lessons for the next week. Wood and Faith was leaning against the back wall reading, him the latest edition of the New York Times, her the latest Rolling Stone. She resumed typing on her laptop, eagerly planning out her next week of teaching.
It was at that moment that Vi, Rona and Harmony burst in.
"GUYS!"
Everyone looked at the group with mild surprise.
"You'll never believe what we saw!"
"What Miss Kendall means, is what Rona and I saw."
"Yeah what they saw."
Buffy rolled her eyes in response.
"And what do you think you saw?"
"Well we were walking and we saw these guys going around the neighborhood."
"One of them looked older then the other and-"
"Is there a point to this story?"
"Well, we think we saw... Xander."
Silence, then chaos.
"WHAT!"
"Where was he?"
"Are you sure?"
"Holy Shit."
"Faith."
The brunette smirked at Giles; Wood lowered his copy of the NY Times a fraction. Cordelia's face held an expression of surprise mixed with disbelief. Wesley had he been wearing his glasses would have removed as Giles had already done.
But by far the most interesting reactions belonged to Willow and Buffy. Willow's mouth was agape. She wore a stunned expression on her face. Then slowly, Willow smiled and pushed back from her seat and started hopping up and down.
"Oh God, Oh God, he's back, he's back..."
Kennedy laughed at her reaction and looked at Buffy expecting a similar response. She was disappointed and a bit surprised to see her reaction. Buffy's expression was unchanged, she continued as she had been before, placing the book on the shelf before climbing down. She approached the younger slayers slowly.
"Are you sure it was him you saw?"
"Well not really, he had a mustache and both eyes and..."
"Both eyes?"
"A mustache? What kind?"
"It's hard to describe we only saw him for a minute and the other guy he was with."
"Wait a minute, what other guy?"
"The other guy he was with. He was older, had broader shoulders, short hair."
Vi's face scrunched up as Rona was talking.
"Something bothering you, Vi?"
"I was just trying to remember something Mr. Giles, about the other man. He seemed familiar somehow. Oh I know, I saw a picture of him in Buffy's house."
Everyone stared at her.
"You saw a picture of him in MY house?"
"Yeah, it was a picture that looked like it was in college. He had his arms around you."
Buffy's expression changed matching the ice in her voice, "Riley."
"What would Riley be doing with Xander?"
"If it is Xander. It could be anyone. Willow find Riley, NOW."
The redhead nodded, her earlier joy gone, replaced with determination as she hacked into the local hotel registries. It didn't take long for her to find what she was looking.
"Buffy, look here he is, he just got into town from the looks of it. Even registered under his own name. I wonder what he wants."
"Whatever it is, it can't be good. Willow, I think you and I alone should visit Riley."
"Excuse me, what about the rest of us here. We know Xander too, granted we may not have talked since Graduation day but still, we're his friends."
"Cordelia, you don't know Riley. He might get suspicious if people he doesn't know show up at his hotel room asking questions. Besides you need to finish your lesson planning."
The former seer grumped in response, "great, I spent 4 years trying to be in show biz and now I'm left to teach glee club. This sucks."
"Great why you guys do that, I'm going on patrol by myself."
"Be careful Kennedy, please, with the activity of the Hellmouth, we simply do not what is going on."
-----------------------------------------
-Hotel room, half an hour later...-
-----------------------------------------
Riley watched as Alex paced back and forth across the room. He was clearly agitated and kept running his hands thru his hair. Eventually the commando's concern for his friend prompted him to ask why was Alex upset.
"It's not me, it's him. He's anxious, wants to go out and look around for himself."
Riley nodded. "It probably wouldn't hurt to let him look around a bit."
Alex sighed in agreement. "Tomorrow we visit Graham?"
"Yeah"
A sudden pounding on the door distracted Riley. With a quick glance at the other man, he went to the door and looked out the peephole. He saw two familiar young women, one with red hair and one with blonde hair looking at the door. Mentally cursing he unlocked the door and opened it, greeting both women as he did so.
"Hello Buffy, Willow".
"Riley." Buffy's voice was flat; Willow merely smiled faintly.
"I suppose I should ask what you're doing here or how you found me. But I don't think that's important right now, is it?"
"We're here because, well because we heard that you and Xander were in town together."
Riley looked unfazed, "Me and Xander?"
"Yeah, you and him were in this hotel."
"That's funny Willow, because I have no idea where Xander is."
Buffy didn't even look at him as she walked further into the hotel room. She spotted a dark haired man sitting with his back to her in a recliner. She pursed her lips and as she strode in front of him, a carefully prepared speech already rehearsed for this moment. And as she came to face him, she realized something.
This wasn't Xander; the dark haired man had a pair of dark sunglasses on and sat nervously in the chair. He was dressed in a black jacket and wore a dark blue T-shirt with black jeans. She opened her mouth to apologize but then noticed he hadn't yet reacted to her presence.
"Riley? Are your friends here? Because if they are, I can always leave and come back later, If...if that's o-okay with you?" He spoke in a surprising high-pitched voice and seemed extremely nervous.
Riley came back in the room behind Willow to find Buffy staring at the other man. He spoke carefully and clearly, "their already here, in fact there is one front of you."
The seated man's head jerked at that and started babbling, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I'm Joshua Higgins, a high school classmate of Riley's, I moved here a few years ago. I just bumped into him at a local book store, he was in town for some insurance convention that his company sent him on.."
Riley walked closer to the seated man and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay Joshua, they're not going to hurt you." Riley told him.
Behind him, Buffy and Willow nodded then seem somewhat surprised when Joshua seemingly relaxed and slumped down in the chair a little. Experimenting Buffy waved her hand in front of Joshua, trying to get a reaction. Willow glared at her and she stopped and looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh, oh, well umm, I think I've taken up enough of your time, so I'll be going now." Joshua spoke. Tentatively he stood up and started towards the door. The other people watched as he somewhat clumsily made his way to the door. Riley followed him and led him to the door itself.
"I'll see you around sometime, Joshua."
Silently, he shut the door and made his way back to where Buffy and Willow waited.
"So do you lie to everyone you meet about what you do or just your friends."
"Joshua is an old friend, he doesn't know what I did after I left high school. Nor do I plan on telling him."
"All right, fair enough. Where is he?"
"Where's who?"
"Xander, where is he?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Where is Xander Riley, we know he's with you."
"I honestly have no idea about what you're talking. I have no idea where Xander is right now."
Buffy and Willow frowned as they prepared for a long talk.
------------------
-Meanwhile...-
------------------
'Joshua Higgins' left the hotel via the back way. It led out into an alleyway unsurprisingly, pausing he took a look around at his surroundings. A small little network of paths, roads, alleys and walkways all bathed in the night.
"Perfect hunting ground for vampires and demons..." he paused "Or those that hunt them."
Smiling the man lowered his sunglasses for a moment revealing a pair of blue eyes. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of garbage, car exhaust, dust and a host of other smells that made up the night air. Suddenly, he stopped, slowly turning to face in one direction.
"And the winner of tonight's multimillion dollar prize is vampire... or several." Smiling the man disappeared into the night.
----------------
-Elsewhere-
----------------
Kennedy groaned as she regained consciousness, opening her eyes, Kennedy saw she was lying on a cold, somewhat damn concrete floor. She tried to move and discovered that chains that rattled loudly in the still night bound her arms and legs. Her face became grim as she recalled how she came to be in this current situation.
"Enjoy your nap little girl?"
Her gaze fell upon the leader of the vampire pack that had subdued her. The pack had once been eleven but now numbered only seven. She had intended on further reducing their ranks before a cattle prod had rendered her unconscious.
"Not really, I enjoy your idea of first aid even less."
"Oh well, I never paid attention to that class and I ate the nurse anyway."
"When I get loose, I'll show the proper way to apply a split."
"Oh there will be a class and plenty of lessons for all but I'm afraid it will be us doing the teaching and the learning. You on the other hand, will be our 'classroom' tonight."
The leader's face took on a leer as he looked down at her. Her face tightened as the meaning of his words sunk in. An evil grin spread across his face as he stepped back from her.
"Now let's begin with her jeans, they'll simply get in the way, so let's rid of them."
Seeing the slayer's anger, he started chuckling, chuckling that became full-blown laughter as other members of the pack stepped forward. And they were immediately bathed in darkness. The vampires looked around in confusion.
"Quick go get the lights turned on again, I don't want to miss her expressions in the darkness."
One of the minions hurried away in the darkness.
"Now where were we."
"Dead."
"What the?"
The pack leader looked around in annoyance.
"What was that?"
"That was me saying you're dead. You know that's part of the whole being a vampire deal. A human corpse animated by demon spirit. A dead man walking minus the whole washed up lead singer bit."
"Who's talking? What the hell is going on?"
The pack leader demanded; he was angry and agitated. He and the other vampires kept looking around, peering into the darkness. Kennedy was also looking and listening, she was trying to find the source of the calm voice. Her slayer senses were in overdrive as she strained to hear anything. Then one of the vampires jumped back and pointed at the darkness behind him.
"Found him."
"Yep you did, guess what you're dead, again."
The vampire was seemingly struck by green light and exploded into ash. Kennedy and the remaining vampires focused on the intruder. All she could make out in the darkness was a man shape but in his right hand, he carried what looked to be a blade composed of pure, green energy that cast little light. Idly, the man twirled the blade as he walked somewhat closer to her. The vampires seemingly backed off somewhat, ill prepared for the nonchalant air the man had.
"Well let's see here got five vampires here trying to cause trouble, and a beautiful young girl chained up to a concrete slab with nary a video camera in sight. If I didn't know better, I'd swear you boys were up to some mischief."
"No mischief, just several felonies and there's six of us."
The man lunged forward striking the nearest vampire in the stomach with his blade and then he withdrew the sword. The vampire grabbed at his stomach; a look of agony crossing his face as greenish light seemed to blaze forth from his eyes, mouth and other orifices as though he was burning from the inside out. Then like the previous vampire he exploded into ashes.
"Five now. That's not exactly fair is it? Let me even the odds."
And then the blade flashed towards Kennedy's legs. Reflexively she closed her eyes as she braced for pain. When none was forthcoming she slowly opened her eyes and she looked down at her legs and the chains that held them sliced neatly open. Cautiously she stood up only to see the blade come close to her again. This time she didn't close and watched as the blade struck the chains that held her arms, slicing into the metal as though it were paper. She rubbed her wrists where the chains had been, trying to get circulation going as she peered into the darkness.
"Catch."
He threw something to her and she grabbed, recognizing instinctively as a wooden stake. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the pack leader.
"Get them."
Cursing she turned and began fighting the vampire that had charged her. The pack leader hung back as the other two vamps attacked the unknown man. She kicked the vampire in the head and struck it right in the heart. The vampire had a look of rage on his face as he dusted.
Kennedy turned to observe her unknown rescuer and was surprised to see both vampires still alive. The man appeared to both taunting and waiting. Losing his patience, the vamp closest to him, charged only to be struck across the midsection with blade. Shifting his attention away from the dying vampire, the man focused his attention on the remaining opponent.
Closing the distance between the two of them, the man shifted the blade to his left hand. The vampire took this as a sign to throw a punch that was deflected away by the man's right hand. Still using his right hand, the man grabbed the vampire's arm, twisting it at first and then yanking. The sound of muscle and flesh tearing was heard as the man slammed his foot into the side of the vamp's knee. There was a crushing sound as the knee gave way and the vamp slumped forward. With the blade still in his left hand, the man cut from left to right thru the vamp's torso. Finished the man stepped back and turned his attention to the pack leader.
"Guess that just leaves us toodles."
"You don't impress me human, not with having to dependent on that weapon of yours."
"Oh this? This is nothing, it's a nice addition but I don't need it to kill vamps, demons, warlocks, whatever. In fact, let me show you."
The glowing green blade suddenly disappeared leaving them in darkness again.
"Come on leech, let's see what you got."
Kennedy looked on, noting that the other two were now in front of a window thus providing some illumination. She had just noted that her unknown ally had somewhat hair that reached his shoulder when the pack leader charged. He swung an overhead left with his full undead strength behind it at the other man. Quicker then he thought possible the unknown man brought his right arm and deflected the blow away. The ease of the move surprised both the vampire and the slayer watching, it also left the vampire off balance. The man quickly capitalized on this by punching the vamp in the stomach with his left hand.
The force of the blow, leaving him weak and defenseless expelled whatever air was in the dead man's lungs. The man simply raised and delivered a punch with his right hand straight to the vampire's chest. The pack leader went flying backwards slamming the wall behind it with enough force to crack it and cause loose debris to fall from the ceiling. The vampire struggled to get to its feet, surprised by the strength of the human. Enraged, he spun and threw a roundhouse kick with his right leg. His opponent was already in motion, stepping into the kick and blocking it with his left side as he turned away from the vampire, crouching as he did so. The man lashed out his right leg, kicking the vamp's left leg out from under it and knocking it to the floor.
The vamp tried to get back it's feet only to find its head caught in between the man's hands. It struggled to free itself but was unsuccessful as the man lifted it up and slammed him back down on the concrete. Dazed, the undead creature was unaware that the man still had his hands on its head.
"Well it's been fun playing with you but now, game's over. Bye."
Pain brought the vampire back into focus as it felt its neck being wrenched. It barely had time to scream before the man ripped its head off. There was a pause then the man released the vampire's head as it and the body dusted.
Kennedy stared in shock at what had happened. Though the darkness had prevented her from seeing what had exactly happened, she couldn't miss the vampire's fate. Silently she gripped the stake for reassurance before speaking.
"Thanks."
Silence.
"Girls like yourself shouldn't be out and about by themselves."
"I'm not a little girl to be coddled, I can take care of myself."
"So I can see, do you always plan on being captured, eaten and lord knows what else every time you go out? Do me a favor. When the sun goes down, stay inside. I have enough on my hands trying to keep innocent people from being eaten. I don't need to waste my time saving wannabe vampire hunters from becoming another item in the obituaries."
Saying that, the man started walking away from her in the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"Let's just say I'm a friend."
"I don't need a friend like you."
"I never said I was yours."
There was silence and then the lights cut back. Caught unawares, Kennedy shielded her eyes and blinked rapidly trying to accustom herself to their glare once again. She looked around searching for any signs of the stranger and saw nothing save the piles of ash. Annoyed, she flung the stake away from her, not paying attention as it caught the seventh and last vampire in the chest and dusted him.
"Damn it."
Author: Charlie
Timeline: Post BtVS S7 (initially), later on Post AtS S5.
Summary: Xander begins a new chapter of his life.
----------------------
-Cleveland, Ohio-
----------------------
"As I have been trying to tell you all, there is some activity with the Hellmouth-"
"Giles you said that last week. Is there something going on with the Hellmouth or not?"
"Buffy, as I attempting to tell you, there is some Hellmouth activity at present but I am not certain as to what it is. It may simply be normal by Hellmouth standards."
"All right then G, what's the point then?"
The former librarian sighed, "The point Faith, was to inform all of you about the latest activity regarding the Hellmouth."
"Whatever." Faith leaned back against the wall next to Wood.
"Thank you Rupert", Travis thanked him.
"Anything else?" Buffy wanted to know.
"Well, I was reading up on this item that Wood had procured in his latest trip overseas", Wesley informed the group. "It does appear to be associated with traveling magicks but I haven't been able to learn anymore thus far."
"Oh let me see." Willow picked up the flat, circle shaped object. If not for the shapes and yellow-orangish color, it could have passed for an exceptionally dirty plate.
Kennedy watched her with interest, "Getting anything?"
"No, nothing."
"Great, the wanker goes to all that fuss and nonsense for one of Merlin's dirty dishes. Good job mate."
"Knock it off, Spike."
"Angel, Spike, shut up both of you." Buffy glared at them.
Silence settled over the room.
Travis announced "I believe all of the important business is concluded so I believe this meeting is over".
----------------------------
-Elsewhere in the city-
----------------------------
Leaving at 4 in the morning turned out be a wise decision, this way they would have plenty of time to settle in at their hotel and get familiar with the surrounding area. Their hotel was located within a short drive of the main city streets. With rooms on the fourth floor, they got a nice view of the neighborhood.
"Looks like a quiet place."
"So did my hometown."
"True, this place lacks the quaint small town charm though. No high school ruins to add atmosphere."
"Want to go for a quick around the block or two?"
"Yeah, beats sitting in here staring at the walls."
Alex nodded in agreement.
--------------------------
-A few minutes later-
--------------------------
"All right where were you this time or is that still info that your semi-experienced civilian friends can't be told?"
"Sorry Alex, no can do. But, I'll say this, canals are vastly over-rated."
"Bastard."
The two friends continued their walk unaware they were being watched. A pair of teenage girls, each was dressed in matching schoolgirl uniforms. The black girl had her hair in braids, which shook as she turned and spoke to her friend.
"Are you sure that's him?"
The other girl had red hair that was cut short. She was a little taller then the other girl and she wore brightly colored bracelets. Her face became a frown, as she thought hard before answering.
"It kind of looks like him but I'm not sure. It's been so long and he looks very different. Still that voice." she trailed off.
"If you're not sure-"
"No, I'm sure it's him. Let's go and tell the others."
Quickly they hurried away.
-----------------------------------------
-Crestview School for the Gifted-
-----------------------------------------
The sun was just setting when Vi and Rona burst into the school office, startling the night receptionist.
"Ack", she fell out of her chair.
"Sorry Miss Kendall", they apologized in unison.
A low growl issued from the blonde woman as she stood up. She carefully brushed out her businesswoman's outfit. And then she turned around and glared at the two younger women, her face changed taking up a more demonic appearance with yellow eyes.
"All right you two, what is it THIS TIME. I work my fingers to the bone answering these phones and writing the messages for everyone. I mean I even make sure everyone has paperclips and notepaper."
"Yes Miss Kendall."
"This isn't about the school uniforms is it? I mean, Cordelia and me tried to argue for something more modern and on the cutting edge but no Buffy, Willow and Giles all said no. You know for a bunch of heroes, there are severely fashionably challenged."
"No Miss Kendall."
"Then what is it about? The bloody mugs? I swear I was going to clean those up, Angel likes a warm snack before we-".
"Um, Miss Kendall", Vi interrupted "that's not what we're excited about."
"Then why are you here?"
--------------------------
-The School Library-
--------------------------
"And this goes..."
"The history and culture of Peru belongs in the nonfiction section Buffy."
"I knew that Giles, I was just making sure." She huffed.
"Of course you did dear." Travis added. His businessman-like attire a sharp contrast to her more casual blue jeans and white halter top.
Willow smiled from the table where she sat with Kennedy. Fred, Wesley, Cordelia and Giles occupied other tables; each had their own collection of books and folders. They were engrossed in planning out their lessons for the next week. Wood and Faith was leaning against the back wall reading, him the latest edition of the New York Times, her the latest Rolling Stone. She resumed typing on her laptop, eagerly planning out her next week of teaching.
It was at that moment that Vi, Rona and Harmony burst in.
"GUYS!"
Everyone looked at the group with mild surprise.
"You'll never believe what we saw!"
"What Miss Kendall means, is what Rona and I saw."
"Yeah what they saw."
Buffy rolled her eyes in response.
"And what do you think you saw?"
"Well we were walking and we saw these guys going around the neighborhood."
"One of them looked older then the other and-"
"Is there a point to this story?"
"Well, we think we saw... Xander."
Silence, then chaos.
"WHAT!"
"Where was he?"
"Are you sure?"
"Holy Shit."
"Faith."
The brunette smirked at Giles; Wood lowered his copy of the NY Times a fraction. Cordelia's face held an expression of surprise mixed with disbelief. Wesley had he been wearing his glasses would have removed as Giles had already done.
But by far the most interesting reactions belonged to Willow and Buffy. Willow's mouth was agape. She wore a stunned expression on her face. Then slowly, Willow smiled and pushed back from her seat and started hopping up and down.
"Oh God, Oh God, he's back, he's back..."
Kennedy laughed at her reaction and looked at Buffy expecting a similar response. She was disappointed and a bit surprised to see her reaction. Buffy's expression was unchanged, she continued as she had been before, placing the book on the shelf before climbing down. She approached the younger slayers slowly.
"Are you sure it was him you saw?"
"Well not really, he had a mustache and both eyes and..."
"Both eyes?"
"A mustache? What kind?"
"It's hard to describe we only saw him for a minute and the other guy he was with."
"Wait a minute, what other guy?"
"The other guy he was with. He was older, had broader shoulders, short hair."
Vi's face scrunched up as Rona was talking.
"Something bothering you, Vi?"
"I was just trying to remember something Mr. Giles, about the other man. He seemed familiar somehow. Oh I know, I saw a picture of him in Buffy's house."
Everyone stared at her.
"You saw a picture of him in MY house?"
"Yeah, it was a picture that looked like it was in college. He had his arms around you."
Buffy's expression changed matching the ice in her voice, "Riley."
"What would Riley be doing with Xander?"
"If it is Xander. It could be anyone. Willow find Riley, NOW."
The redhead nodded, her earlier joy gone, replaced with determination as she hacked into the local hotel registries. It didn't take long for her to find what she was looking.
"Buffy, look here he is, he just got into town from the looks of it. Even registered under his own name. I wonder what he wants."
"Whatever it is, it can't be good. Willow, I think you and I alone should visit Riley."
"Excuse me, what about the rest of us here. We know Xander too, granted we may not have talked since Graduation day but still, we're his friends."
"Cordelia, you don't know Riley. He might get suspicious if people he doesn't know show up at his hotel room asking questions. Besides you need to finish your lesson planning."
The former seer grumped in response, "great, I spent 4 years trying to be in show biz and now I'm left to teach glee club. This sucks."
"Great why you guys do that, I'm going on patrol by myself."
"Be careful Kennedy, please, with the activity of the Hellmouth, we simply do not what is going on."
-----------------------------------------
-Hotel room, half an hour later...-
-----------------------------------------
Riley watched as Alex paced back and forth across the room. He was clearly agitated and kept running his hands thru his hair. Eventually the commando's concern for his friend prompted him to ask why was Alex upset.
"It's not me, it's him. He's anxious, wants to go out and look around for himself."
Riley nodded. "It probably wouldn't hurt to let him look around a bit."
Alex sighed in agreement. "Tomorrow we visit Graham?"
"Yeah"
A sudden pounding on the door distracted Riley. With a quick glance at the other man, he went to the door and looked out the peephole. He saw two familiar young women, one with red hair and one with blonde hair looking at the door. Mentally cursing he unlocked the door and opened it, greeting both women as he did so.
"Hello Buffy, Willow".
"Riley." Buffy's voice was flat; Willow merely smiled faintly.
"I suppose I should ask what you're doing here or how you found me. But I don't think that's important right now, is it?"
"We're here because, well because we heard that you and Xander were in town together."
Riley looked unfazed, "Me and Xander?"
"Yeah, you and him were in this hotel."
"That's funny Willow, because I have no idea where Xander is."
Buffy didn't even look at him as she walked further into the hotel room. She spotted a dark haired man sitting with his back to her in a recliner. She pursed her lips and as she strode in front of him, a carefully prepared speech already rehearsed for this moment. And as she came to face him, she realized something.
This wasn't Xander; the dark haired man had a pair of dark sunglasses on and sat nervously in the chair. He was dressed in a black jacket and wore a dark blue T-shirt with black jeans. She opened her mouth to apologize but then noticed he hadn't yet reacted to her presence.
"Riley? Are your friends here? Because if they are, I can always leave and come back later, If...if that's o-okay with you?" He spoke in a surprising high-pitched voice and seemed extremely nervous.
Riley came back in the room behind Willow to find Buffy staring at the other man. He spoke carefully and clearly, "their already here, in fact there is one front of you."
The seated man's head jerked at that and started babbling, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry, I'm Joshua Higgins, a high school classmate of Riley's, I moved here a few years ago. I just bumped into him at a local book store, he was in town for some insurance convention that his company sent him on.."
Riley walked closer to the seated man and laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay Joshua, they're not going to hurt you." Riley told him.
Behind him, Buffy and Willow nodded then seem somewhat surprised when Joshua seemingly relaxed and slumped down in the chair a little. Experimenting Buffy waved her hand in front of Joshua, trying to get a reaction. Willow glared at her and she stopped and looked somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh, oh, well umm, I think I've taken up enough of your time, so I'll be going now." Joshua spoke. Tentatively he stood up and started towards the door. The other people watched as he somewhat clumsily made his way to the door. Riley followed him and led him to the door itself.
"I'll see you around sometime, Joshua."
Silently, he shut the door and made his way back to where Buffy and Willow waited.
"So do you lie to everyone you meet about what you do or just your friends."
"Joshua is an old friend, he doesn't know what I did after I left high school. Nor do I plan on telling him."
"All right, fair enough. Where is he?"
"Where's who?"
"Xander, where is he?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Where is Xander Riley, we know he's with you."
"I honestly have no idea about what you're talking. I have no idea where Xander is right now."
Buffy and Willow frowned as they prepared for a long talk.
------------------
-Meanwhile...-
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'Joshua Higgins' left the hotel via the back way. It led out into an alleyway unsurprisingly, pausing he took a look around at his surroundings. A small little network of paths, roads, alleys and walkways all bathed in the night.
"Perfect hunting ground for vampires and demons..." he paused "Or those that hunt them."
Smiling the man lowered his sunglasses for a moment revealing a pair of blue eyes. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of garbage, car exhaust, dust and a host of other smells that made up the night air. Suddenly, he stopped, slowly turning to face in one direction.
"And the winner of tonight's multimillion dollar prize is vampire... or several." Smiling the man disappeared into the night.
----------------
-Elsewhere-
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Kennedy groaned as she regained consciousness, opening her eyes, Kennedy saw she was lying on a cold, somewhat damn concrete floor. She tried to move and discovered that chains that rattled loudly in the still night bound her arms and legs. Her face became grim as she recalled how she came to be in this current situation.
"Enjoy your nap little girl?"
Her gaze fell upon the leader of the vampire pack that had subdued her. The pack had once been eleven but now numbered only seven. She had intended on further reducing their ranks before a cattle prod had rendered her unconscious.
"Not really, I enjoy your idea of first aid even less."
"Oh well, I never paid attention to that class and I ate the nurse anyway."
"When I get loose, I'll show the proper way to apply a split."
"Oh there will be a class and plenty of lessons for all but I'm afraid it will be us doing the teaching and the learning. You on the other hand, will be our 'classroom' tonight."
The leader's face took on a leer as he looked down at her. Her face tightened as the meaning of his words sunk in. An evil grin spread across his face as he stepped back from her.
"Now let's begin with her jeans, they'll simply get in the way, so let's rid of them."
Seeing the slayer's anger, he started chuckling, chuckling that became full-blown laughter as other members of the pack stepped forward. And they were immediately bathed in darkness. The vampires looked around in confusion.
"Quick go get the lights turned on again, I don't want to miss her expressions in the darkness."
One of the minions hurried away in the darkness.
"Now where were we."
"Dead."
"What the?"
The pack leader looked around in annoyance.
"What was that?"
"That was me saying you're dead. You know that's part of the whole being a vampire deal. A human corpse animated by demon spirit. A dead man walking minus the whole washed up lead singer bit."
"Who's talking? What the hell is going on?"
The pack leader demanded; he was angry and agitated. He and the other vampires kept looking around, peering into the darkness. Kennedy was also looking and listening, she was trying to find the source of the calm voice. Her slayer senses were in overdrive as she strained to hear anything. Then one of the vampires jumped back and pointed at the darkness behind him.
"Found him."
"Yep you did, guess what you're dead, again."
The vampire was seemingly struck by green light and exploded into ash. Kennedy and the remaining vampires focused on the intruder. All she could make out in the darkness was a man shape but in his right hand, he carried what looked to be a blade composed of pure, green energy that cast little light. Idly, the man twirled the blade as he walked somewhat closer to her. The vampires seemingly backed off somewhat, ill prepared for the nonchalant air the man had.
"Well let's see here got five vampires here trying to cause trouble, and a beautiful young girl chained up to a concrete slab with nary a video camera in sight. If I didn't know better, I'd swear you boys were up to some mischief."
"No mischief, just several felonies and there's six of us."
The man lunged forward striking the nearest vampire in the stomach with his blade and then he withdrew the sword. The vampire grabbed at his stomach; a look of agony crossing his face as greenish light seemed to blaze forth from his eyes, mouth and other orifices as though he was burning from the inside out. Then like the previous vampire he exploded into ashes.
"Five now. That's not exactly fair is it? Let me even the odds."
And then the blade flashed towards Kennedy's legs. Reflexively she closed her eyes as she braced for pain. When none was forthcoming she slowly opened her eyes and she looked down at her legs and the chains that held them sliced neatly open. Cautiously she stood up only to see the blade come close to her again. This time she didn't close and watched as the blade struck the chains that held her arms, slicing into the metal as though it were paper. She rubbed her wrists where the chains had been, trying to get circulation going as she peered into the darkness.
"Catch."
He threw something to her and she grabbed, recognizing instinctively as a wooden stake. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the pack leader.
"Get them."
Cursing she turned and began fighting the vampire that had charged her. The pack leader hung back as the other two vamps attacked the unknown man. She kicked the vampire in the head and struck it right in the heart. The vampire had a look of rage on his face as he dusted.
Kennedy turned to observe her unknown rescuer and was surprised to see both vampires still alive. The man appeared to both taunting and waiting. Losing his patience, the vamp closest to him, charged only to be struck across the midsection with blade. Shifting his attention away from the dying vampire, the man focused his attention on the remaining opponent.
Closing the distance between the two of them, the man shifted the blade to his left hand. The vampire took this as a sign to throw a punch that was deflected away by the man's right hand. Still using his right hand, the man grabbed the vampire's arm, twisting it at first and then yanking. The sound of muscle and flesh tearing was heard as the man slammed his foot into the side of the vamp's knee. There was a crushing sound as the knee gave way and the vamp slumped forward. With the blade still in his left hand, the man cut from left to right thru the vamp's torso. Finished the man stepped back and turned his attention to the pack leader.
"Guess that just leaves us toodles."
"You don't impress me human, not with having to dependent on that weapon of yours."
"Oh this? This is nothing, it's a nice addition but I don't need it to kill vamps, demons, warlocks, whatever. In fact, let me show you."
The glowing green blade suddenly disappeared leaving them in darkness again.
"Come on leech, let's see what you got."
Kennedy looked on, noting that the other two were now in front of a window thus providing some illumination. She had just noted that her unknown ally had somewhat hair that reached his shoulder when the pack leader charged. He swung an overhead left with his full undead strength behind it at the other man. Quicker then he thought possible the unknown man brought his right arm and deflected the blow away. The ease of the move surprised both the vampire and the slayer watching, it also left the vampire off balance. The man quickly capitalized on this by punching the vamp in the stomach with his left hand.
The force of the blow, leaving him weak and defenseless expelled whatever air was in the dead man's lungs. The man simply raised and delivered a punch with his right hand straight to the vampire's chest. The pack leader went flying backwards slamming the wall behind it with enough force to crack it and cause loose debris to fall from the ceiling. The vampire struggled to get to its feet, surprised by the strength of the human. Enraged, he spun and threw a roundhouse kick with his right leg. His opponent was already in motion, stepping into the kick and blocking it with his left side as he turned away from the vampire, crouching as he did so. The man lashed out his right leg, kicking the vamp's left leg out from under it and knocking it to the floor.
The vamp tried to get back it's feet only to find its head caught in between the man's hands. It struggled to free itself but was unsuccessful as the man lifted it up and slammed him back down on the concrete. Dazed, the undead creature was unaware that the man still had his hands on its head.
"Well it's been fun playing with you but now, game's over. Bye."
Pain brought the vampire back into focus as it felt its neck being wrenched. It barely had time to scream before the man ripped its head off. There was a pause then the man released the vampire's head as it and the body dusted.
Kennedy stared in shock at what had happened. Though the darkness had prevented her from seeing what had exactly happened, she couldn't miss the vampire's fate. Silently she gripped the stake for reassurance before speaking.
"Thanks."
Silence.
"Girls like yourself shouldn't be out and about by themselves."
"I'm not a little girl to be coddled, I can take care of myself."
"So I can see, do you always plan on being captured, eaten and lord knows what else every time you go out? Do me a favor. When the sun goes down, stay inside. I have enough on my hands trying to keep innocent people from being eaten. I don't need to waste my time saving wannabe vampire hunters from becoming another item in the obituaries."
Saying that, the man started walking away from her in the darkness.
"Who are you?"
"Let's just say I'm a friend."
"I don't need a friend like you."
"I never said I was yours."
There was silence and then the lights cut back. Caught unawares, Kennedy shielded her eyes and blinked rapidly trying to accustom herself to their glare once again. She looked around searching for any signs of the stranger and saw nothing save the piles of ash. Annoyed, she flung the stake away from her, not paying attention as it caught the seventh and last vampire in the chest and dusted him.
"Damn it."