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.

Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the

author doesn't know. Will it (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith,

(F)red, (H)armony, (K)enndy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman?

"Nothing like a hot shower to wake you up in the morning."

The man emerged from the shower and wiped away the condensation on the mirror. Alex looked at himself in the mirror. Aside from the aborted swimming team membership, he had not been an athlete in high school. Almost four years worth of construction had built up his upper body. Not to an over exaggerated level but a respectable one. He ran a hand through his short hair as he thought back to the evening at the bar.

Flashback

They had been leaving the bar via a side door when they bumped into her. He almost didn't recognize her it had been so long. But there she was staggering towards him, intent on gaining entry when he touched her arm.

"Amy?"

The woman looked up in surprise as she heard her name. The face and voice were familiar yet different.

"Xander?"

He nodded slowly and he spoke gently, "It's me Amy."

Relief seemed to spread across her face and tinge her voice. "Xander, I'm h-happy to see you." Slowly she brought her hand up and stroked his face as though exploring it for the first time. He flinched as her fingers neared his left eye and cursed himself as he did so. Amy reacted by yanking her hand away and trying to turn away from him.

"Amy, I'm sorry, it's not you."

"Yes it is, it's always me." She mumbled.

Alex took a step closer to her noticing as she tried to retreat. He continued moving towards her as she hugged the wall. "Amy, I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to help you."

She turned around to face him.

Alex took another step closer to her and was promptly slapped.

"Yea you want to help me just like all the rest. No one can help me." Amy hissed at him. She drew her hand back for another slap only to have her arm grabbed by Riley.

He lightly rubbed his cheek as it still stung from Amy's slap. Alex returned his attention to the witch who had slapped him. She looked angry and ashamed at the same time.

"Alex," Riley got his attention and gestured at Amy's arm.

He followed his friend's line of sight and sucked in his breath at what he saw. Amy's sleeve had slipped down her arm almost past her elbow revealing Amy's shame.

Needle tracks.

Alex turned his attention to her face. Amy's face turned scarlet under his gaze. She spoke in a quiet, low voice. "See there is nothing you can do for a whore like me. Now just leave me alone, Harris."

He looked at Riley and the two conversed silently with their eyes.

Some time later...

"Thanks for doing this."

Riley looked at him for a second before returning his gaze to the rental car. Amy sat in the front passenger seat, securely belted in. She looked confused and surprised at what had happened.

"No problem but, can I ask why?"

Alex sighed before he spoke; "I've known Amy since we were kids. Her, Jesse, Jonathan, Willow and me. Now Jesse and Jonathan are gone. Willow got her second chances time and time again. Why shouldn't Amy?"

He found Riley, looking at him. "What?"

The older man smiled, "You really are one in a million Alex", his expression changed as he continued. "Sam and I will do our best to help her get clean and turn things around. No guarantees though."

"I know, I just want her to have a shot at a better life."

"She'll get it." Riley decided to change the subject.

"Room's paid until the end of the next week. Should be plenty of time."

Alex barely nodded. "I'll find something."

"Good luck."

"Riley, thanks for being a buddy."

He shook his head before he replied, "No thank you Alex for being my buddy. Been a while since I had one of those out of uniform."

The two shook hands before Riley got in the car and started it. Amy watched as Alex turned around and walked back inside. "Why? Why is he doing this?"

"Because he can." was Riley's answer.

End Flashback

(Man, do you know any ugly women?)

Alex was jerked back to the present by the question. He smiled as he responded, "I thought witches weren't your type?"

(They aren't. Just saying that girl was fairly good looking if I do say so.)

"Well, I have other things to worry about."

(Yeah, finding a job, a new place to live. Dealing with the fuck-ups that run that school.)

"Not impressed are you?"

(I've seen three-legged dogs that have their shit together better then that bunch. They are the biggest group of screw-ups I have EVER seen.)

"And yet they're still here. They somehow beat everything thrown in their path with luck or chance."

(Luck doesn't last forever X. If you want to make that job interview; you'd better hurry and get dressed.)

Alex nodded and got dressed.

-Later that day-

"And you say you worked at Dynamic Sports for how long?"

"A year. I was promoted twice in that time."

Alexander was seated in an office located within Jakked & Plains record store. Sitting behind the desk in front of him was a man in his late forties named Nick Whittsmore. Nick was the current owner/store manager of J&P. Alex had spotted the ad in the local papers for assistant manager and called. As Nick pondered his next question, Alex looked around the room. Photos some autographed covered most of the walls and music memorabilia was scattered throughout the room. Despite his own life experiences, he was still surprised and a little bit of awe looking at how many famous people this man knew. He shifted his gaze to a blackboard hanging on the wall behind the desk. It listed upcoming dates for bands and other acts of note in the area. Alex smiled as he read one name in particular.

"See something you like?" Whittsmore inquired.

Alex nodded at the board and answered, "Yeah that group's from my hometown. Went to high school with the singer and lead guitarist."

That impressed the older man apparently. He leaned back in his chair, considering his words carefully. "So you know Daniel and Devon real well then?"

"Daniel? To me he was always 'Oz'. "

Nick nodded at his response. "They were a real big hit around here for awhile. This is their first time back in a long time. And to be honest, I'm thrilled to see them myself." He paused before continuing, "Tell you what kid, I'm gonna give you a shot. Let's see what you got."

Alex grinned. "I'm always up for a challenge."

As he left the building, Alex was quietly pleased with himself. He had managed to get a decent job in less then two days and helped out an old friend. By most standards, a great day.

(Good, the hard part is over, now for the easy part.)

Alex didn't miss a step as he responded. 'You sure about that?'

(Trust me.)

Jimmy Quarters had been in the long enough to know a good night from a bad one. Tonight was shaping up to be a VERY good night. It held just the right amount of business, booze and broads to keep his interest. That was becoming harder to do in his life, more and more he used the things he sold to others to create excitement in his life. Now as he walked away from his latest transaction, he was pondering whether or not to wait until after midnight before getting started. Deep in thought he was started when a hand snatched him back into the darkness of an alley.

"Hey, what the fuck! I got no beef with no one." Even as he spoke his hand dove inside his jacket for the pistol he carried. A heavy blow to his chin stopped that as he saw stars. Dazed he was lifted and slammed against the brick wall.

"Got a question for you about a new customer of yours."

"Man I don't know what the fuck you're talking about."

A fist slammed into his stomach driving the air from his lungs and destroying the dealer's air of denial.

"I don't want to ask you again. You gonna cooperate or shall I ask a little harder?" a hint of menace crept into his voice. Wearily the injured man nodded.

"Now, this new customer, a woman from out of town. She's in her mid twenties. Know who I'm referring to?"

"Lot of girls like that on the street."

"Not this one, she's special. Think harder. Think witchcraft"

Recognition dawned on Jimmy's face. "Yea her, I remember her. She was a good blow man."

The other man didn't respond to the taunt. Instead he gripped the smaller man around the throat and lifted him off his feet. He gritted his teeth as he spoke.

"She's off limits from now on."

"Hey she owes me man."

"Not anymore. You get me?"

Struggling for breath, Jimmy replied "Yeah I get you."

"Good."

And the pressure around his throat disappeared and he dropped to the ground. Quarters took a deep breath trying to get his air back. Suddenly he was slammed into the wall again. The drug dealer looked up in surprise at the attack.

"I hope you didn't think that was the end of our business tonight."

Surprise became fear as the brown-eyed man's face shifted and changed to that of a different man with blue eyes and a different voice.

"Because Jim. I still need you to tell someone something."

-An abandoned warehouse and storage building near the highway. -

"I hate this fucking place."

"Yea we know Joey, we heard ya the first hundred times."

The other man continued not paying attention. "I mean look at this place. Bars on the windows, soundproofing in the walls and shit. There's only one way in, through that fucking door."

"That's why we use it Joey. It keeps things nice and quiet, which is perfect for us. Right boss?"

A large green skinned humanoid in a business suit nodded before speaking. "Nice quiet and neat Joey. It helps keep that slayer bitch and her band of helpers out of my way by not attracting her attention. I don't like attention, it creates all sorts of problems."

Before he could continue there came a loud pounding on the door.

The demon flicked his wrist at one of his flunkies. The man walked over, opened a little viewing slot and looked out.

"What is it?"

"It's some guy. Wait a second, It's Quarters from mid-town."

"Ain't Quarters that two-bit smack dealer? I thought he only worked with humans?"

"Bring him in. Ain't nobody gonna hear him scream in here."

The man nodded, unlocking and then opening the door.

"Hey Jimmy, what's up."

Jimmy didn't answer as he fell forward and dragged the other man partially to the floor.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing Quarters?"

"Sending a message."

"What the fuck?" The man holding Jimmy exploded into ash as a stake struck him from behind.

The others had been distracted by the commotion at the door. Now they watched as it swung shut and a man wearing a trench coat came into view.

The boss demon tried to remain composed. As he addressed the stranger. "A message, well what is it?"

Silently the man brought up a shotgun into view and racked the first round into the chamber. Cole's eyes had a twinkle in them as he replied.

"It's closing time."