Thief in the night
Disclaimer: I don't own anything so there would be very little point in suing me. The marvelous characters in this story are owned by the people who own them and not unfortunately by me. If you don't recognize a character then it's mine, all mine.
Summary: Xander encounters the X-men but that'd just be boring so there's a twist.
Spoilers: Not really but let's say X-men 1 and Buffy season 6 to be safe.
Rating: Let's say pg-13 in case I use a bad word.
Author's note: Holidays are meant to be spent outside in the sun, see what I'm giving up for you.
Why is saving the world always so hard?
" End of the world, Prophecy for end of world, war. " Xander sighed in frustration and rested his head against his hands and then looked back up at the computer and at the prophecy website, he'd tried every search he could think of but nothing had come up with a prophecy stating that the world would end in three days.
" I thought you said that this would help us?" Xander demanded looking up to glare at Willow who was perched on top of the computer monitor. Her legs swinging in front of the address bar on the screen.
" It will, you're just not looking in the right place. The answer's right in front of you," Willow replied and Xander slammed his hand down on the table causing a loud bang.
" I am so sick of the cryptic suggestions Willow!" Xander shouted surprising not only Willow with his outburst but himself.
Xander sat in silence for a moment as Willow didn't speak and he finally gathered the courage to look at her. Xander rarely shouted at Willow and never in the sharp tone he had just used. But as hard he tried he couldn't quell the anger that had been building inside him.
" Xander?" Willow asked finally breaking the uncomfortable silence and Xander stared at her.
" Just tell me where to look for the prophecy Will, because I gotta tell you that this cloak and dagger bullshit is starting to get old. " Xander said his voice low and frustrated and Willow stared him out,
" Don't you think that if I could tell you, I would!" Willow demanded but Xander's face remained set in an angry stare.
" Then who the hell can Willow? Can the PTB? Can they tell me where the prophecy is?"
" It doesn't work like that Xander they can't interfere on such a level like that," Willow tried to explain but the statement only proved to anger Xander further.
" They can't interfere!" He shouted, " Look at me Willow! Look at where I am and who I've become and tell me again the PTB can't interfere!" Xander screamed pushing away from his chair and moving away from Willow who popped into life sized form.
" The PTB didn't do that," Willow shouted back in defiance and Xander stopped and stared her down.
" No, you did. So you know what Willow you fix it." Xander demanded and Willow blanched,
" I can't fix it! How am I supposed to fix it!" Willow asked in a panic and Xander shrugged,
" I don't know and I don't care." Xander shouted and started to walk away but Willow 'popped' into the air in front of him.
" Everyone is going to die." Willow stressed and Xander shrugged,
" Talk to the PTB about it." Xander shot back and Willow shook her head.
" Come on Xander!" She shouted and Xander stopped and looked at her.
" Come on?" He demanded, " I don't recall ever volunteering for this, I don't recall ever being asked."
" So you got lumped with saving the world! Are you going to ignore the responsibility just because nobody asked you politely to do it?" Willow yelled changing tact. Xander stared at her in frustration.
" Yeah, you know what I am. Or at least I am until someone somewhere stops screwing me around and just tells me what I have to do." Xander stated and walked away leaving Willow behind him.
"The answers right in front of you!" She yelled after him but Xander kept walking away from the library he'd been sitting in.
He stormed off through the hallways of the school with his head down which was probably why he failed to see the young lady he crashed into until he was lying flat on his back on the floor staring up.
" Gee I'm sorry," A voice above him apologized in a deep southern accent.
" You know what don't worry about it," Xander muttered hauling himself to his feet he looked up at the girl he'd crashed into. He'd seen her already once today on the basketball courts protecting the boy that Robot Bear had hit. Her long brown hair was worn loose now but her hands were still encased in gloves all the way up to the elbow.
" You're Dale aren't you?" The girl asked again and Xander shook his head,
" It's Xander actually," He supplied and the girl raised an eyebrow.
" But you're Logan's son right?" She enquired and Xander shrugged,
" Yup," Xander cut of the snappy comment he had prepared because his gaze had been brought to something shiny draped around the girl's neck.
" I'm Rogue," The girl was now saying holding out a hand and Xander nodded but his eyes refused to budge from the necklace the girl was wearing. It was the medallion he'd searched so long for.
" Are you all right?" Rogue asked a frown on her face and Xander snapped his head up and nodded.
The answer is right in front of you, was the thought that popped into his head.
" Xander?" Rogue asked again as Xander stared off into space, he looked back her obviously distracted.
" Sorry, I have to." He let the sentence trail off as he rushed back down the hallway to the library.
" Will!" He shouted as soon as he pushed through the doors and Willow appeared perched on the library table sitting cross-legged.
" Right in front of me?" Xander asked rushing over to her and Willow tried to look confused.
" But I thought you said the medallion had nothing to do with the situation we're in?" Xander queried and Willow shook her head.
" No I didn't, I said the symbol was used for protection." Willow stated and Xander nodded and moved closer,
" This prophecy has something to do with that medallion doesn't it, that's why I've been so drawn to the thing." Xander mused and he turned away from Willow and looked around for a phone but couldn't find one.
" Giles was investigating the medallion he sent Spike off in search of a text, does the text have something to do with this? " Xander asked again but Willow didn't answer and Xander moved away pacing the length of the library in thought.
" The answer's right in front of me," Xander said the words clearly and raced back to Willow.
" Is it the answer on how to save the world?" He demanded excitedly and Willow smiled at him,
" How about we use the medallion to put a protection spell on the whole world, would that work Will?" Xander asked his face lighting up but Will shook her head,
" Couldn't do it, if everything was protected then nothing could ever get hurt and it would upset the balance of the world." Will explained and Xander sighed and began pacing again.
" Ok so what's the question?" He asked as he paced and looked up at Willow who was looking at him in confusion.
" The answer's right in front of me, but I don't know the question." Xander stated and he stopped and looked at Willow.
" So what's the question? How to save the world?" Xander asked his best friend who shook her head.
" Too broad, that could mean a prophecy in twenty years. " Willow answered and Xander started pacing again.
" I need to know how to stop the war, so I need to know.what's the war about. No! I need to know what the prophecy is about. Is that it? Is that the question!?" Xander asked nearly yelling in excitement and Willow gave a single nod.
" So the answer to the question, What is the prophecy about? Is right in front of me and it's the medallion." Xander rubbed the heel of his hand into his eye sockets in thought.
" So if Giles has found the text then we could use that to search for the prophecy?" Xander asked Willow who didn't respond except to say,
" Right in front of you." Xander blinked his eyes shut,
" Ok and the text isn't right in front of me but . the medallion is." Xander looked at the library door and closed he eyes picturing the chunky medallion in his mind. His eyes snapped open.
" The prophecy is in the medallion!" He stated and Willow broke into a grin.
" Hey Will, I'm sorry about what I said before," Xander said backing away towards the library doors excitedly and Willow nodded.
" It's ok," She called after Xander.
Xander broke into a dead run away from the library snapping open the library door and racing away into the house, he sprinted down the hallway he'd just seen Rogue in and paused when he'd reached the spot that he'd meet her earlier. Taking a deep breath in through his nose he continued his pursuit tracking her scent and locating her in the common room.
The Common room was packed with kids of all shapes and sizes and Xander tried his hardest to focus on the medallion around Rogue's neck and not on the green fuzzy kid sitting in the corner spinning four juggling balls around his head.
A murmur broke out in the small room as Xander made his way towards the couch that Rogue was occupying and Xander's keen hearing picked up on what some of the kids were saying. It was mainly about him being Logan's son but there was also a muttering about how he nearly killed the Bear on the basketball court, and a rumor about him taking on Magneto.
Xander finally came to a stop in front of Rogue who was sitting next to Bobby the boy who had been outside on the basketball courts earlier.
" Rogue? Do you mind if I have a quick word?" Xander asked trying to work out a plan to get his hands on the medallion.
" Sure," Rogue replied a look of confusion on her face and Xander nodded with his head towards the door.
" Outside?" He asked and Rogue shot a look at Bobby but nodded anyway.
" Ok," She replied and pushed herself of the couch and followed Xander back out of the common room and into the hallway.
" Um, I just wanted to.say.sorry for earlier." Xander stammered cringing internally as Rogue gave him a funny look.
" Oh that's ok." She stated and Xander nodded,
" Good cause I didn't want you to think that I was being rude or anything," Xander explained and Rogue nodded again
" I didn't but thanks for apologizing I guess." Xander smiled and Rogue stared at him, Xander stared back.
" Was that all?" She asked and Xander nodded.
" Ok then, I'm going to go watch some TV you wanna come?" Rogue asked and Xander shook his head.
" No, I think I'm going to track down Logan see what he's up to." He explained and Rogue nodded.
" Ok, well I'll see you at dinner then?" She asked and Xander nodded.
Rogue smiled and turned to walk back into the common room. As she turned Xander's quick hands shot out and broke the clasp on the necklace. Rogue started back into the common room and the necklace slipped off the side of her neck unnoticed and fell to the floor. Xander grinned and as soon as the common room door was shut he scooped up the necklace and raced away back to the still deserted library.
" I got it!" He yelled as he ran into the room but the room was empty and Willow had disappeared.
" Will?" Xander called but after getting no response he sat down at the table and peered at the medallion.
The medallion seemed to made up of a box of sorts suspended on a heavy silver chain and Xander held up the box and shook it but got no response. Laying the medallion back onto the table, Xander poked and pushed every conceivable button or marking that might make the medallion open but got nothing.
" Will!" He yelled frustrated and waited a second before yelling again but his best buddy didn't appear.
" Dammit to all hell!" Xander swore thumping the table besides the medallion. Next remembering every movie he'd ever seen with a secret compartment he blew on the medallion, spat on it, warmed it up by rubbing it vigorously, hung it outside the window to cool it, rubbed a leaf over it and wished on it but nothing happened.
Sighing Xander picked up the medallion and slung it around his neck, pushing the metal under his shirt and he ran down stairs to find a phone and to call Giles. Leaping down the stairs three at a time Xander came to a hasty stop at the bottom and froze. A man was staring at him, standing by the front door.
The man who was dressed in black leather pants, a black leather tank top and wearing a long black duster complete with heavy black boots stared at Xander. Xander stared back.
" Hello," The man started coldly and Xander took in a deep breath. He could smell something familiar about the man but couldn't place what it was.
" Can I help you?" Xander asked forcing a smile onto his face.
" Yes you can," The man said and grinned creepily. A part of Xander's brain clicked into place and he suddenly placed the scent; he'd followed it through the woods earlier today. The hair on the back of Xander's neck suddenly stood up.
" What do you want?" Xander asked his voice suddenly going cold and the man in front of him frowned.
" Is that anyway to treat a guest?" The man sneered but Xander didn't respond.
" You were here earlier." Xander stated instead and the man looked a little surprised,
" You tried to blow us all up." Xander continued and grin disappeared from the man's face.
" Yes I did." He looked around the empty hallway smiling again as he realized there was no one else around.
" If you'll excuse me young man, I do just have to fetch something from a young lady and then I'll be on my way." As the man spoke he pulled a gun from beneath the folds of his jacket.
Bear hadn't been after Xander! Bear had been going for Rogue but Xander and Logan had interrupted. The man wanted the medallion and he still thought Rogue had it!
" Where is the girl named Rogue?" The man demanded and Xander shook his head.
" I don't." A loud blast from the gun cut off the rest of Xander's sentence and he screamed in pain as a bullet entered his thigh knocking him back against the stair case.
" Come on, I'm in a hurry where is Rogue!" The man yelled again and Xander looked up at him and because he couldn't form words due to the intense pain he was in he spat at the man.
The gun recoiled again and this time the bullet hit him in the shoulder. Xander roared in pain and grabbed at the wound on his shoulder. Blood cascaded down over his hand.
" Xander!!!!!" The primal yell came from within the house and Xander could hear several sets of footsteps rushing towards him, he stared at the man in defiance.
" I'll be back," The man warned turning to run and behind him Xander stated.
" No you won't" The man turned gun raised and looked surprised to see Xander standing if gingerly on two feet.
" Excuse me?" The man demanded and Xander stared at him.
" To be back you have to leave, and I don't think that I can let you do that." Xander stated and the man smiled.
" You're going to stop me?" He demanded and Xander nodded taking an internal catalogue of the damage he'd sustained. His right leg hurt like hell but the bullet had missed the bone and torn through muscle and as he stood there the tendons and ligaments were knitting themselves backs together. His shoulder would take longer, the bullet had shattered his shoulder blade and moving his left arm was not going to happen, but he could probably make something happen with his right arm and the rest of his body.
After all this man was after the medallion which held the prophecy about the end of the world. Chances were that this guy had something to do with the war and if Xander stopped him now he could be one step closer to getting things with the PTB fixed.
" Xander!" A voice behind him yelled and Xander didn't have to turn around to know that Logan would be barreling down the stairs towards Xander and the mystery man.
The man looked up and upon seeing the X-men hurrying down the steps he opened fire emptying the clip towards the X-men and backing quickly out the door. Xander dived for cover his soldier training taking over and by the time he had rolled out of the way of the bullets and looked up the man was gone.
" Dammit!" Xander yelled thumping the ground with his right hand and Logan raced towards him as Scott and Storm raced out the front door.
" Xander! Are you all right?" Logan demanded grabbing Xander by the shoulder that wasn't dripping blood and pulling him off the floor and spinning him around.
Xander nodded in face clenched in pain,
" Yeah, I'll be fine." He stated looking down at his leg through the hole in his jeans.
The hole in his skin had completely closed over and while the leg was still tender the main healing had been done. Next Xander turned his attention to his shoulder, peeling back the shreds of his ruined shoulder and looking at the wound, Xander watched fascinated for a couple of seconds as the tissue closed in on itself.
" What the hell was that about?" Scott asked returning through the front door slightly out of breath.
" Rogue," Xander hissed his shoulder still sore, " He was after Rogue." Xander explained and walked back a couple of paces and sank down heavily onto the bottom of the steps.
" Xander?" Logan asked taking a few steps forward but Xander held up a hand,
" I'm fine, it's just I get so tired when I have to heal." Xander explained feeling completely drained.
" Who was that guy?" Jean asked moving forwards carrying a first aid kit,
" Guy dressed all in leather, he looked like a reject from the X-men." Xander grumbled rubbing at his shoulder, which now itched like crazy.
" Here let me have a look," Jean ordered but Xander waved her away. Jean not taking the action for an answer pushed forwards and sat next Xander and tore the remains of his shirt away from his already scabby looking wound.
" Incredible," she mused watching as the skin continued to heal around the wound.
" So what did this guy want with Rogue? " Logan asked coming forwards and sitting on the other side of Xander who shook his head slowly, exhausted.
" I don't know." He cut himself off as a strange tingling sensation started under his shirt against his chest, Xander scratched at the spot but couldn't feel anything.
" Xander?" Jean asked and Xander shook his head and looked around the group trying to ignore the tingling as it started again and became more intense.
" It's the medallion," A voice stated pushing through the crowd and Xander looked up to see Willow standing amongst the throng of people that were now congregating in the hall.
Xander glanced around the room quickly but nobody else seemed to be able to see his friend, he desperately wanted to know what was going on but didn't dare ask amongst all these people. Instead he just stared at Willow pleadingly.
" You've activated it," Willow explained, " Your blood must of opened the medallion," Xander nodded and then screamed in pain as a fire like sting started in his chest and doubled its intensity in seconds until it felt like his chest was being ripped apart from the inside.
Xander grabbed at his chest with both hands yelling in pain as Logan and Jean leapt into action.
" Xander? What's wrong?" Jean yelled over Xander's yelling which had caused everyone to turn and stare and gasp as Xander started to convulse on the stairs.
" Lie him on his side! Hold his head" Jean ordered and Logan lifted his seizing child off the stairs and laying him on the floor. Jean grasped Xander's neck and looked up at Logan who was shouting.
" What's wrong with him?" Jean shook her head.
Xander's yelling stopped as the seizure took a hold of his body and he stared up at Logan frozen until he saw the world begin to spin by, the room flashing around him. Finally the pain and the spinning stopped as suddenly as it had begun and Xander looked around and yelped in surprise.
He was standing above himself somehow watching as Jean grabbed instruments and syringes from her black bag and as Logan held him firmly down as Xander's body convulsed in the picture below him. Xander spun around his eyes taking in the grand expanse of nothing and he yelled.
" What the hell is going on!!!!" His voice echoed back to him and Xander spun around in a circle looking for anything but finding only a white expanse of emptiness.
Xander head snapped down to look at what was going on beneath him where Scott was racing away into the house and Jean was. Oh god! Jean was performing CPR on him. Xander glanced around the white in a panic. He was dead!
AN: There you go a nice big chapter. Review please (
Disclaimer: I don't own anything so there would be very little point in suing me. The marvelous characters in this story are owned by the people who own them and not unfortunately by me. If you don't recognize a character then it's mine, all mine.
Summary: Xander encounters the X-men but that'd just be boring so there's a twist.
Spoilers: Not really but let's say X-men 1 and Buffy season 6 to be safe.
Rating: Let's say pg-13 in case I use a bad word.
Author's note: Holidays are meant to be spent outside in the sun, see what I'm giving up for you.
Why is saving the world always so hard?
" End of the world, Prophecy for end of world, war. " Xander sighed in frustration and rested his head against his hands and then looked back up at the computer and at the prophecy website, he'd tried every search he could think of but nothing had come up with a prophecy stating that the world would end in three days.
" I thought you said that this would help us?" Xander demanded looking up to glare at Willow who was perched on top of the computer monitor. Her legs swinging in front of the address bar on the screen.
" It will, you're just not looking in the right place. The answer's right in front of you," Willow replied and Xander slammed his hand down on the table causing a loud bang.
" I am so sick of the cryptic suggestions Willow!" Xander shouted surprising not only Willow with his outburst but himself.
Xander sat in silence for a moment as Willow didn't speak and he finally gathered the courage to look at her. Xander rarely shouted at Willow and never in the sharp tone he had just used. But as hard he tried he couldn't quell the anger that had been building inside him.
" Xander?" Willow asked finally breaking the uncomfortable silence and Xander stared at her.
" Just tell me where to look for the prophecy Will, because I gotta tell you that this cloak and dagger bullshit is starting to get old. " Xander said his voice low and frustrated and Willow stared him out,
" Don't you think that if I could tell you, I would!" Willow demanded but Xander's face remained set in an angry stare.
" Then who the hell can Willow? Can the PTB? Can they tell me where the prophecy is?"
" It doesn't work like that Xander they can't interfere on such a level like that," Willow tried to explain but the statement only proved to anger Xander further.
" They can't interfere!" He shouted, " Look at me Willow! Look at where I am and who I've become and tell me again the PTB can't interfere!" Xander screamed pushing away from his chair and moving away from Willow who popped into life sized form.
" The PTB didn't do that," Willow shouted back in defiance and Xander stopped and stared her down.
" No, you did. So you know what Willow you fix it." Xander demanded and Willow blanched,
" I can't fix it! How am I supposed to fix it!" Willow asked in a panic and Xander shrugged,
" I don't know and I don't care." Xander shouted and started to walk away but Willow 'popped' into the air in front of him.
" Everyone is going to die." Willow stressed and Xander shrugged,
" Talk to the PTB about it." Xander shot back and Willow shook her head.
" Come on Xander!" She shouted and Xander stopped and looked at her.
" Come on?" He demanded, " I don't recall ever volunteering for this, I don't recall ever being asked."
" So you got lumped with saving the world! Are you going to ignore the responsibility just because nobody asked you politely to do it?" Willow yelled changing tact. Xander stared at her in frustration.
" Yeah, you know what I am. Or at least I am until someone somewhere stops screwing me around and just tells me what I have to do." Xander stated and walked away leaving Willow behind him.
"The answers right in front of you!" She yelled after him but Xander kept walking away from the library he'd been sitting in.
He stormed off through the hallways of the school with his head down which was probably why he failed to see the young lady he crashed into until he was lying flat on his back on the floor staring up.
" Gee I'm sorry," A voice above him apologized in a deep southern accent.
" You know what don't worry about it," Xander muttered hauling himself to his feet he looked up at the girl he'd crashed into. He'd seen her already once today on the basketball courts protecting the boy that Robot Bear had hit. Her long brown hair was worn loose now but her hands were still encased in gloves all the way up to the elbow.
" You're Dale aren't you?" The girl asked again and Xander shook his head,
" It's Xander actually," He supplied and the girl raised an eyebrow.
" But you're Logan's son right?" She enquired and Xander shrugged,
" Yup," Xander cut of the snappy comment he had prepared because his gaze had been brought to something shiny draped around the girl's neck.
" I'm Rogue," The girl was now saying holding out a hand and Xander nodded but his eyes refused to budge from the necklace the girl was wearing. It was the medallion he'd searched so long for.
" Are you all right?" Rogue asked a frown on her face and Xander snapped his head up and nodded.
The answer is right in front of you, was the thought that popped into his head.
" Xander?" Rogue asked again as Xander stared off into space, he looked back her obviously distracted.
" Sorry, I have to." He let the sentence trail off as he rushed back down the hallway to the library.
" Will!" He shouted as soon as he pushed through the doors and Willow appeared perched on the library table sitting cross-legged.
" Right in front of me?" Xander asked rushing over to her and Willow tried to look confused.
" But I thought you said the medallion had nothing to do with the situation we're in?" Xander queried and Willow shook her head.
" No I didn't, I said the symbol was used for protection." Willow stated and Xander nodded and moved closer,
" This prophecy has something to do with that medallion doesn't it, that's why I've been so drawn to the thing." Xander mused and he turned away from Willow and looked around for a phone but couldn't find one.
" Giles was investigating the medallion he sent Spike off in search of a text, does the text have something to do with this? " Xander asked again but Willow didn't answer and Xander moved away pacing the length of the library in thought.
" The answer's right in front of me," Xander said the words clearly and raced back to Willow.
" Is it the answer on how to save the world?" He demanded excitedly and Willow smiled at him,
" How about we use the medallion to put a protection spell on the whole world, would that work Will?" Xander asked his face lighting up but Will shook her head,
" Couldn't do it, if everything was protected then nothing could ever get hurt and it would upset the balance of the world." Will explained and Xander sighed and began pacing again.
" Ok so what's the question?" He asked as he paced and looked up at Willow who was looking at him in confusion.
" The answer's right in front of me, but I don't know the question." Xander stated and he stopped and looked at Willow.
" So what's the question? How to save the world?" Xander asked his best friend who shook her head.
" Too broad, that could mean a prophecy in twenty years. " Willow answered and Xander started pacing again.
" I need to know how to stop the war, so I need to know.what's the war about. No! I need to know what the prophecy is about. Is that it? Is that the question!?" Xander asked nearly yelling in excitement and Willow gave a single nod.
" So the answer to the question, What is the prophecy about? Is right in front of me and it's the medallion." Xander rubbed the heel of his hand into his eye sockets in thought.
" So if Giles has found the text then we could use that to search for the prophecy?" Xander asked Willow who didn't respond except to say,
" Right in front of you." Xander blinked his eyes shut,
" Ok and the text isn't right in front of me but . the medallion is." Xander looked at the library door and closed he eyes picturing the chunky medallion in his mind. His eyes snapped open.
" The prophecy is in the medallion!" He stated and Willow broke into a grin.
" Hey Will, I'm sorry about what I said before," Xander said backing away towards the library doors excitedly and Willow nodded.
" It's ok," She called after Xander.
Xander broke into a dead run away from the library snapping open the library door and racing away into the house, he sprinted down the hallway he'd just seen Rogue in and paused when he'd reached the spot that he'd meet her earlier. Taking a deep breath in through his nose he continued his pursuit tracking her scent and locating her in the common room.
The Common room was packed with kids of all shapes and sizes and Xander tried his hardest to focus on the medallion around Rogue's neck and not on the green fuzzy kid sitting in the corner spinning four juggling balls around his head.
A murmur broke out in the small room as Xander made his way towards the couch that Rogue was occupying and Xander's keen hearing picked up on what some of the kids were saying. It was mainly about him being Logan's son but there was also a muttering about how he nearly killed the Bear on the basketball court, and a rumor about him taking on Magneto.
Xander finally came to a stop in front of Rogue who was sitting next to Bobby the boy who had been outside on the basketball courts earlier.
" Rogue? Do you mind if I have a quick word?" Xander asked trying to work out a plan to get his hands on the medallion.
" Sure," Rogue replied a look of confusion on her face and Xander nodded with his head towards the door.
" Outside?" He asked and Rogue shot a look at Bobby but nodded anyway.
" Ok," She replied and pushed herself of the couch and followed Xander back out of the common room and into the hallway.
" Um, I just wanted to.say.sorry for earlier." Xander stammered cringing internally as Rogue gave him a funny look.
" Oh that's ok." She stated and Xander nodded,
" Good cause I didn't want you to think that I was being rude or anything," Xander explained and Rogue nodded again
" I didn't but thanks for apologizing I guess." Xander smiled and Rogue stared at him, Xander stared back.
" Was that all?" She asked and Xander nodded.
" Ok then, I'm going to go watch some TV you wanna come?" Rogue asked and Xander shook his head.
" No, I think I'm going to track down Logan see what he's up to." He explained and Rogue nodded.
" Ok, well I'll see you at dinner then?" She asked and Xander nodded.
Rogue smiled and turned to walk back into the common room. As she turned Xander's quick hands shot out and broke the clasp on the necklace. Rogue started back into the common room and the necklace slipped off the side of her neck unnoticed and fell to the floor. Xander grinned and as soon as the common room door was shut he scooped up the necklace and raced away back to the still deserted library.
" I got it!" He yelled as he ran into the room but the room was empty and Willow had disappeared.
" Will?" Xander called but after getting no response he sat down at the table and peered at the medallion.
The medallion seemed to made up of a box of sorts suspended on a heavy silver chain and Xander held up the box and shook it but got no response. Laying the medallion back onto the table, Xander poked and pushed every conceivable button or marking that might make the medallion open but got nothing.
" Will!" He yelled frustrated and waited a second before yelling again but his best buddy didn't appear.
" Dammit to all hell!" Xander swore thumping the table besides the medallion. Next remembering every movie he'd ever seen with a secret compartment he blew on the medallion, spat on it, warmed it up by rubbing it vigorously, hung it outside the window to cool it, rubbed a leaf over it and wished on it but nothing happened.
Sighing Xander picked up the medallion and slung it around his neck, pushing the metal under his shirt and he ran down stairs to find a phone and to call Giles. Leaping down the stairs three at a time Xander came to a hasty stop at the bottom and froze. A man was staring at him, standing by the front door.
The man who was dressed in black leather pants, a black leather tank top and wearing a long black duster complete with heavy black boots stared at Xander. Xander stared back.
" Hello," The man started coldly and Xander took in a deep breath. He could smell something familiar about the man but couldn't place what it was.
" Can I help you?" Xander asked forcing a smile onto his face.
" Yes you can," The man said and grinned creepily. A part of Xander's brain clicked into place and he suddenly placed the scent; he'd followed it through the woods earlier today. The hair on the back of Xander's neck suddenly stood up.
" What do you want?" Xander asked his voice suddenly going cold and the man in front of him frowned.
" Is that anyway to treat a guest?" The man sneered but Xander didn't respond.
" You were here earlier." Xander stated instead and the man looked a little surprised,
" You tried to blow us all up." Xander continued and grin disappeared from the man's face.
" Yes I did." He looked around the empty hallway smiling again as he realized there was no one else around.
" If you'll excuse me young man, I do just have to fetch something from a young lady and then I'll be on my way." As the man spoke he pulled a gun from beneath the folds of his jacket.
Bear hadn't been after Xander! Bear had been going for Rogue but Xander and Logan had interrupted. The man wanted the medallion and he still thought Rogue had it!
" Where is the girl named Rogue?" The man demanded and Xander shook his head.
" I don't." A loud blast from the gun cut off the rest of Xander's sentence and he screamed in pain as a bullet entered his thigh knocking him back against the stair case.
" Come on, I'm in a hurry where is Rogue!" The man yelled again and Xander looked up at him and because he couldn't form words due to the intense pain he was in he spat at the man.
The gun recoiled again and this time the bullet hit him in the shoulder. Xander roared in pain and grabbed at the wound on his shoulder. Blood cascaded down over his hand.
" Xander!!!!!" The primal yell came from within the house and Xander could hear several sets of footsteps rushing towards him, he stared at the man in defiance.
" I'll be back," The man warned turning to run and behind him Xander stated.
" No you won't" The man turned gun raised and looked surprised to see Xander standing if gingerly on two feet.
" Excuse me?" The man demanded and Xander stared at him.
" To be back you have to leave, and I don't think that I can let you do that." Xander stated and the man smiled.
" You're going to stop me?" He demanded and Xander nodded taking an internal catalogue of the damage he'd sustained. His right leg hurt like hell but the bullet had missed the bone and torn through muscle and as he stood there the tendons and ligaments were knitting themselves backs together. His shoulder would take longer, the bullet had shattered his shoulder blade and moving his left arm was not going to happen, but he could probably make something happen with his right arm and the rest of his body.
After all this man was after the medallion which held the prophecy about the end of the world. Chances were that this guy had something to do with the war and if Xander stopped him now he could be one step closer to getting things with the PTB fixed.
" Xander!" A voice behind him yelled and Xander didn't have to turn around to know that Logan would be barreling down the stairs towards Xander and the mystery man.
The man looked up and upon seeing the X-men hurrying down the steps he opened fire emptying the clip towards the X-men and backing quickly out the door. Xander dived for cover his soldier training taking over and by the time he had rolled out of the way of the bullets and looked up the man was gone.
" Dammit!" Xander yelled thumping the ground with his right hand and Logan raced towards him as Scott and Storm raced out the front door.
" Xander! Are you all right?" Logan demanded grabbing Xander by the shoulder that wasn't dripping blood and pulling him off the floor and spinning him around.
Xander nodded in face clenched in pain,
" Yeah, I'll be fine." He stated looking down at his leg through the hole in his jeans.
The hole in his skin had completely closed over and while the leg was still tender the main healing had been done. Next Xander turned his attention to his shoulder, peeling back the shreds of his ruined shoulder and looking at the wound, Xander watched fascinated for a couple of seconds as the tissue closed in on itself.
" What the hell was that about?" Scott asked returning through the front door slightly out of breath.
" Rogue," Xander hissed his shoulder still sore, " He was after Rogue." Xander explained and walked back a couple of paces and sank down heavily onto the bottom of the steps.
" Xander?" Logan asked taking a few steps forward but Xander held up a hand,
" I'm fine, it's just I get so tired when I have to heal." Xander explained feeling completely drained.
" Who was that guy?" Jean asked moving forwards carrying a first aid kit,
" Guy dressed all in leather, he looked like a reject from the X-men." Xander grumbled rubbing at his shoulder, which now itched like crazy.
" Here let me have a look," Jean ordered but Xander waved her away. Jean not taking the action for an answer pushed forwards and sat next Xander and tore the remains of his shirt away from his already scabby looking wound.
" Incredible," she mused watching as the skin continued to heal around the wound.
" So what did this guy want with Rogue? " Logan asked coming forwards and sitting on the other side of Xander who shook his head slowly, exhausted.
" I don't know." He cut himself off as a strange tingling sensation started under his shirt against his chest, Xander scratched at the spot but couldn't feel anything.
" Xander?" Jean asked and Xander shook his head and looked around the group trying to ignore the tingling as it started again and became more intense.
" It's the medallion," A voice stated pushing through the crowd and Xander looked up to see Willow standing amongst the throng of people that were now congregating in the hall.
Xander glanced around the room quickly but nobody else seemed to be able to see his friend, he desperately wanted to know what was going on but didn't dare ask amongst all these people. Instead he just stared at Willow pleadingly.
" You've activated it," Willow explained, " Your blood must of opened the medallion," Xander nodded and then screamed in pain as a fire like sting started in his chest and doubled its intensity in seconds until it felt like his chest was being ripped apart from the inside.
Xander grabbed at his chest with both hands yelling in pain as Logan and Jean leapt into action.
" Xander? What's wrong?" Jean yelled over Xander's yelling which had caused everyone to turn and stare and gasp as Xander started to convulse on the stairs.
" Lie him on his side! Hold his head" Jean ordered and Logan lifted his seizing child off the stairs and laying him on the floor. Jean grasped Xander's neck and looked up at Logan who was shouting.
" What's wrong with him?" Jean shook her head.
Xander's yelling stopped as the seizure took a hold of his body and he stared up at Logan frozen until he saw the world begin to spin by, the room flashing around him. Finally the pain and the spinning stopped as suddenly as it had begun and Xander looked around and yelped in surprise.
He was standing above himself somehow watching as Jean grabbed instruments and syringes from her black bag and as Logan held him firmly down as Xander's body convulsed in the picture below him. Xander spun around his eyes taking in the grand expanse of nothing and he yelled.
" What the hell is going on!!!!" His voice echoed back to him and Xander spun around in a circle looking for anything but finding only a white expanse of emptiness.
Xander head snapped down to look at what was going on beneath him where Scott was racing away into the house and Jean was. Oh god! Jean was performing CPR on him. Xander glanced around the white in a panic. He was dead!
AN: There you go a nice big chapter. Review please (