Part 17
Xander joins the others who are sitting at the scooby research table as Anya nervously enters the training room.
"Xander, you look upset, is anything wrong?" asks Buffy.
"No, not upset, just thinking."
"Well, that's a first," adds Spike.
"Shut up Spike, or I will kick your ass across this room and out into that bright sunny day!" "No, wait." "Spike, I am so NOT going to get into this with you." "I don't like you, and I don't have to, but I do admit, you have been a big asset to the Soobies." "You've saved all our asses more than once."
Shocked silence fills the room as everybody turns to stare at Xander. Spike gives him a grudging nod of thanks and replies "Well, you've done a pretty decent job of backing me up more than once."
Stunned by the sudden truce between the two that Buffy didn't know what to say. "Uh, am I in an alternate universe here?" "Did somebody make a wish that I didn't know about?"
"No, but I was thinking about my conversation with Meg." "We are a team, and we are only as strong as our weakest link." "I don't want to be that."
"Xander Harris, you are the weakest…" begins Dawn, only to be interrupted by shouts of "Shut up Dawn," from everybody else
"Well, I was only kidding," says the younger girl.
"What else did she say to you Xander?" asks Willow.
"Well, she wants me to start training with Buffy, and with Spike.
"Um Xander," says Tara hesitantly. "I don't want to hurt your feelings but if you train with the two of them, you are going to get killed." "It's not like they have human strength."
"Yeah, I'm right there with you Tara, or I was, but then Meg gave me this," said Xander as he holds up the amulet for everyone to see.
"Nice," said Buffy, "Does it come with earrings to match?"
"Hang on there Slayer," says Spike. "I've seen this before." "It's a warriors amulet." "The wearer receives the fighting skills of its previous owners." "As long as he wears it or carries it on his person, he will have skills previously unknown to him."
"Oh cool," Dawn chimes in. "Kinda like Dumbo with his magic feather."
"So not liking that visual," says Xander with a laugh. "What else do you know about it Spike?"
"Well, you are not invulnerable, and when you get hit, it's gonna hurt, but you will be able to hold your own."
"Well, that's all I need," says Xander. "You know, I kind of like this new watcher." "She's not like the rest of those other members of the council who were here last time." "She didn't automatically assume that I am a danger to the group because I'm not 'Uber Xander' or anything."
"Xander, you never have been a danger to us." "You are so important to me, to all of us," said Buffy, including everyone in her comments. "We need you, without you, there would be no Scooby Gang, and if anyone tries to take you away from us, they have to go through me."
"And me," says Dawn.
"And us," say Willow and Tara together.
"Bloody hell, me too," adds Spike grudgingly.
"Um guys, we do need to talk about something," says Dawn.
"What's that Dawnie," says Tara as she goes to sit next to the younger girl.
"Well, if we are supposed to be a team, and work together, then why is Professor Farrell talking to all of us separately?" "Wouldn't it make more sense for her to talk with all of us together?"
Again the room fills with the sound of silence as one by one, the others realize that Dawn saw what all of them failed to see.