Alright, I'm going to start this chapter off by responding to my reviewers. First response goes to Lena, who asked if this was a Yelena x Xander pairing. Well it's not. Second response goes to Arc. Thanks for reviewing and I'm trying to type quickly so you can read this before your mom gets home. Bad you. Last response goes to the person that reviewed both my past chapters. Sorry I don't remember your name, but you know who you are. So, let's get this rolling. Oh and fyi I don't hate Yelena. In fact, I love her. But this story isn't about her, it's about the hacker. The first part of this chapter focuses slightly on her but it recovers over time. K. Now that that's done...

Yelena had been on his mind forever. She was a big problem in his life right now. The agency was annoying but he could handle them, and other than that he didn't have any money or living problems, so Yelena was the one dilemma he could not solve. Xander hated having problems he couldn't solve, because he couldn't go to anyone either. He didn't want to lose his image. Xander, the sarcastic joker; Xander, the rock. Xander, the man who has no problems and for whom life is always dandy. Riight.

Gods, problems annoyed him. This thought drugged out his mood and the last of his happiness drained away as he pulled into the driveway of a run-down apartment building. The walls were red brick and the doors were painted with brown paint. The paint was so old it was peeling in many places. The walkways were covered in trash and dried gum, and as far as Xander could tell, the windows were so dirty you might not even be able to see through them.

There was only a small alley on one side of the building and on the other side there was only the next structure. The whole place was cramped and dirty, and he could hardly believe a deadly hacker lived here. And this was Buffalo New York! Why would someone with a name so obviously Russian live here? X had been around a lot of Russians during the Silent Night case and he was used to them. He would have been more comfortable in some Russian country.

Trudging up the front walk, he glanced at the index card that held the apartment information. He punched in the numbers on the panel by the door. He wasn't planning on leaping in through the window and acting as a one man sweep team. He would befriend Nikolai first. That technique had worked before and he was willing to try it again. Hell, last time he even got a hot girl out of the deal.

The intercom page flew through electrical wires into a dingy apartment room. There, it fell, empty and unanswered. X turned to the door and realized that it was beat up enough that one swift kick would open it. After accomplishing the easy task, Xander inspected the inside of the building. It was dirty but not as bad as he expected. There was simply a flight of stairs in front of him and at his feet, a dusty blue floor mat rested. The staris creaked in protest as he climbed them to the top. There he cf0ound the door, the number of which matching his card.

He knocked. The sound filled the space then faded. A creak revealed the that the door was opening. Xander looked and saw it was open a tiny crack.

"Go away." A voice said, flat and mildly deep.

"You ever heard of a Nikolai?" X asked.

"No," they replied.

"You sure? What's yer name kid?"

"None of your business," they responded, about to close the door. Xander caught the handle and yanked it open, causing whoever was at the door to sprawl at his feet. Grabbing their shirt, he pulled them to their feet. It was a boy no older than 17 or 18. his face was oval shaped and his eyes were a misty blue. He wore big blue jeans that were at least two sizes too big, and an olive green old navy hat was backwards over his sandy blond hair. He looked twitchy and incredibly nervous. Next to Xander though, he was a decent height, not as tall as the man but not too far off.

"I said what's your name kid?" Xander demanded, letting go of the boy's Linkin Park t-shirt.

"Chet," the boy said, trying to clear his voice.

"Okay Chet, well I got this address for a guy named Nikolai who apparently has some kick ass computer equipment. I've got money for it but man, I guess I got the wrong place."

"You wanna buy computer stuff?" Chet asked anxiously, making Xander smile inwardly. This was the 'opening up' period he liked so much.

"Yeah,"

"Well Nikolai isn't in right now but if you give me a list I can get back to you."

"List, eh?" Xander said, then pointed to his head. "List is all in here kid, guess I'm outta luck."

"I can get you something to write it on." Chet said a little flatly.

"Yeah," was the answer. Chet carefully slid through the door and into the room, which was so dark it wouldn't have mattered. X stood patiently, trying to think of some awesome computer shit to ask for. He knew computers just as well as cars. His knowledge also covered instruments, sports equipment, guns, TV's, video games and the easiest and most fun ways to kill a human. That part he learned form being an agent back at Mt. Weather. He didn't use the techniques much; after all, he wasn't a killing machine.

The kid came back out and handed X paper and a pen. Xander put the paper on the wall and began to compile a list of computer parts. When he finished, he handed it back over to Chet, who took it and looked it over.

"Million kilobytes a minute, huh? Nice and fast. The modem won't be so easy but the programs will be a snap." Chet said, approving the selection.

"Yeah, I'm sure Nikolai can find this stuff. Got the world at his fingertips, you know/" He gestured to the bottom of the paper. "This is your number?"

"Yeah. You get back to me, aiight?"

"Yeah," Chet nodded and ducked back into the room. X stood there and thought about some things for a moment before finally heading out.

The kid, Chet, wasn't Nikolai. That much was for sure. X had considered it but a great hacker wouldn't be so jumpy or clumsy, although X didn't know why he would have an assistant either. Xander got into his car drove off, his thoughts turning to Yelena.

The phone rang. It had already rung twice. A snow white hand hovered over the receiver, while the mind attached to it debated whether or not to pick it up. Yelena chewed her lip. "Pick it up, tell him it's over." "No, he'll eventually get it, he'll go away. Xander isn't the kind to hold on to the impossible." "Pick it up!" "Don't!"

She didn't. Soon the phone stopped ringing and Yelena threw herself against her chair. She rubbed head and forced back a scream. She wanted to scream so badly, just in defeat.

Big, strong arms encircled her neck and soft lips kissed the side of her face. "This sure is hard on you."

"Yes," she agreed, letting her boyfriend sweep her up and hold her.

Xander listened to the phone ring ten times before taking his cell and slamming it shut. "Fuck." He muttered and drove back to his hotel.