Title: Phoenix Risings: Necro-Gate
Rating: PG-13/R
Chapter Number: 4
Author: White Werewolf
Category: Buffy/Xander, Eric/Faith, Sam/Daniel (Maybe), Gabrielle/Joxer
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: After Buffy leaves Sunnydale, Xander decides to go looking for her. On the other side of the universe, Ninedinna wants the book she created...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: the Book of the Dead.
Author Notes: This part is just a prologue to the Phoenix Risings Trilogy; which is in turn the starting fic to a huge series. This is the third part of the trilogy. It will be mainly focused on the Buffy/Xander relationship and it will be housing many crossovers.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, and X-Lander
Crossovers Planned:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Evil Dead
Stargate SG-1
Xena: Warrior Princess
Boy Meets World
Cameo Crossovers will suddenly appear. Take a read, and see if you can spot one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ash looked at his friend, "What do you suggest?"
He smiled, "Well, my time at the Council has proven to be quite beneficial in other ways besides demonic activities and self defense."
"I see." Ash said in a distinct annoyed tone. "What are you suggesting?"
"I have an acquaintance who runs a firing range. He used to work for the council, but now he owns the range. I'm more than sure that he'd be willing to help us."
Faith said, "Do it, Wes. If it'll help us take down my other half, then do it."
He nodded, "Right. I shall call Mr. Pierce. "
"Cool." Xander said with a grin.
"Right, cool." Wesley said while trying to maintain the teenager's language.
"So, what do we do in the mean time?" Buffy asked.
Gunn said, "I'd say we get a good night's rest, Buff. Tomorrow is a day of training. I need to tell my crew what's going on."
"Wicked," Faith said with a smile.
Xander thought for a minute. "Do you think this blond woman we have to stop is something attached to Bad Faith?"
Doyle shrugged, "It could, and it couldn't. My visions aren't exactly specific. I just remember seeing a blond woman heading for Los Angeles. She had a man with her in army clothing."
Buffy asked, "Do you know where they're heading to in LA?"
The half human/demon hybrid thought back to his vision. "They were heading to a television studio. That much I remember."
(I wonder...) Xander thought for a second. He knew he had to call Hercules at some point tomorrow. He'll warn him about the vision. Being prepared was nothing to sneeze at. "We'll figure it out tomorrow. Right now, all I want to do is get some sleep."
Faith looked at the clock, "Damn. I had no idea it was so late. Yeah, I guess I'll get to bed too."
"We shall reconvene here tomorrow at nine o'clock." Wesley said to them. "That shall give me enough time to contact Mr. Pierce in the morning."
"You do that, Wes." Ash said.
With that said, the friends left the cabin, headed for their own apartments, not knowing what was to come tomorrow and the days after.
***
"Shit!"
Bad Faith banged her fist on the desk that she was using.
"These are the wrong pages!"
Sighing, she leaned back her back, and placed her feet on top of the desk. "Where are they?"
Before anything else could be said or thought, she lost her balance and fell off the seat.
"Shit!"
***
"May I help you?"
Jack nodded, "My friend Murray here and I were wondering if you could help us locate a fellow soldier?"
The teller looked at them. "What's the name, Colonel O'Neill?"
Teal'c submitted the answer, "Lieutenant Banks."
Jack reconfirmed, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks. He let the base in a hurry, and forgot his binder. It's urgent that he gets this."
The teller nodded as she looked in the computer system for the name. "One moment please."
"Take your time." Jack said.
"Indeed." Teal'c said.
Shaking her head, "Sorry, Colonel O'Neill. Lieutenant Ryan Banks never came here. "
Sighing, the head of SG-1 said, "Thanks for the help. Come along, Murray."
"Thank you for coming to Colorado Greyhound."
***
"Excuse me?"
A man turned around in the office and walked to the window. "Welcome to Western Union Rails. How may I help you?"
Daniel said, "Captain Carter and I are looking for a soldier. Perhaps you saw him?"
The man said, "Name?"
Sam said, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks. He bought two tickets."
He nodded, "Lemme check." Then went into his computer and typed in the needed information.
"Right here, Captain Carter. Lieutenant Banks bought two tickets to Los Angeles last night. They should be there now."
Daniel smiled, "Thank you."
With that said, Sam and Daniel left the railroad station.
Sam grabbed her walkie-talkie. She pressed the button, "Sir, it's Captain Carter. Lieutenant Banks left for LA."
***
"Take it easy, Faith."
Bad Faith looked in front of her and saw a vision of Ash.
She could feel him. This wasn't the Ash that lived back at the cabin. This was...
"...Uncle Ash?"
He grinned, "So my niece finally turned evil, did she?"
She grinned malevolently, "I'm not that pathetic excuse of a slayer. I'm more lethal."
Bad Ash walked over to her. "Good to know, Faith. Good to know. I'm here to help you."
Faith asked, "Help me with what?"
He grimed, "Help you get the Necronomicon. I failed because my damn goody two-shoe twin blew me up. I want to make him pay. And now that you're like me. I want to help you."
"What do I do?"
Bad Ash grinned, "Find the book. Simple as that. Once you do, you'll know what to do."
Faith spat at him figuratively, "Easier said then done. I only got a few lousy pages!"
He walked over to her, "The book isn't that far away. Let the darkness within you tell you. Follow your instincts. The Hellmouth's waiting for you, Faith. It's waiting for you."
With that said, Bad Ash dissipated..."I'll be back."
Bad Faith sighed, "He may be bad, but he's pathetic on the help. Now," she grunted, "where's that damn book!"
***
"Hello?"
Recognizing the voice, Xander smiled, "Hey, Herc. Morning."
"Hello, Xander." He looked at the clock in his bedroom, "it's eight o'clock."
"I know. We got problems, Hercules. Major ones."
Hearing the tone in his voice, Hercules knew that this was serious. "What sort of problems?"
With that Xander said into the phone the problems. He told him about Faith splitting in two, saying that her bad half ran away into the night with pages of the Necronomicon. The boy also told him about the vision that Doyle had.
"Do you know any blond women?"
The demigod said with sarcasm, "You mean like your friend, Buffy?"
Chuckling, he said, "Good point. I just wanted to warn you. We're meeting at Ash's place in one hour. Can you make it?"
Hercules gave it some thought; "This is going to be hard with me trying to keep my secret, Xander. You know that."
"I know, Herc. But Ash said this is going to take some work. He fought his bad self before and it wasn't easy. Fighting a bad version of Faith is going to be worse."
"I'll be there, Xander. I'm going to need your help coming up with some answers."
He returned, "Don't worry. I've been covering for Buffy for a few years now. I don't let just anyone know she's the Slayer."
"Yet you tell a lot of people here. You told Ash, me, Faith, Wesley."
"I told them because they needed to know, Herc. You know that."
"True. I'll be there for nine."
"Thanks, Hercules. I'll see you there."
***
"Sean Pierce speaking." A British man said in a thick accent.
"Ah, Mr. Pierce. Good morning. It's Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
Knowing fully well what this would be about, he was prepared for the situation. "What do you need, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce?"
"We need the firing range to do some training. There's danger a foot. Danger that includes the necessity of two vampire slayers and a number of people. I would not be calling you if this was not extremely necessarily."
"I understand, Wesley. What type of training are we talking about?"
"We need help in the areas of combat and firing guns. We truly are short on time, Mr. Pierce."
"Call me Pierce."
"Most certainly Mr. Pierce. I mean, Pierce. We'll be there within two hours."
"See you then, Wesley."
"Good day."
"Good day." Sean said waiting for the other phone to hang up. Hanging up soon after. Taking off his hat, he tossed it in the direction of a coat rack, watching it land on top of it. With a smile, he said, "Works every time."
***
"Where you going, Callisto?"
Callisto turned to her childe, "I'm going to the studio, Ryan."
He shook his head, "It's Sunday."
"So?"
"So, places aren't open. I don't think Kevin Sorbo will be in today. Wait until tomorrow."
Sighing, she said, "But I want to kill him now."
"Waiting one day won't be a problem, Callisto. Just think of it this way, it gives him one more day to have life. Tomorrow, we can rip it away from him. Anyway, it's morning now. Not much we can do."
"Fine. We'll leave tomorrow. But I want to go as soon as night comes."
***
"O'Neill?"
Jack looked next to him, "Yeah, Murray?"
"What happens on these trains?"
"Trains are just a way to travel." He pointed in front of him. "See the monitor."
"Yes, I do, O'Neill."
"We'll be watching a movie to pass the time."
"Will it be Star Wars?"
"Let me check." He said as he pulled out a specific magazine. Finding the page he wants, "Not this time." Sighing his head in disappointment, "It's Soldier."
"Is it a bad movie, O'Neill?"
Shaking his head, "No, it's not. It's just the guy who plays Sergeant Todd. He just bugs me."
"So where we off to?" Faith called out as she exited the hallway.
Looking around, she spotted a ton of people: Xander, Buffy, her uncle, Wesley, Kevin, Doyle, Gunn, and a group of what looked like a dozen men. There was also one young woman within them.
"Damn. This place's packed."
Ash said calmly, "I had a lot more last time, but think of it this way. It looks like all these people know how to handle themselves in a fight."
Xander nodded, "Right. But we're still going to need to learn how to fight better."
Ash nodded, "We're going to have to learn battle formations and gun use properly."
Buffy just glanced at the floor.
"What's up, Buff?" Xander asked his friend.
Looking up, she said, "I never liked guns, Xander. I'd rather fight with a stake, crossbow, or sword."
Ash walked up to her, "I've fought these deadites before, and trust me, you'll want all the firepower you can get. It's the best way to take 'em out."
Wesley agreed, "And Mr. Pierce is the best at what he does. He's been known to have great skill in combat and weaponry. He was an important asset for the council."
Sighing, she said, "I just dunno. I heard using a gun can change a person."
Xander looked at his friends, "Is it alright if I talk to her?"
Around of nods could be seen.
Grinning, he said, "Thanks."
Walking over to his friend, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked out of the cabin.
The two friends made their way down the front steps and walked over to a nearby tree.
Xander looked at her, "Alright, Buff. It's just you and me. No one else. What's the problem?"
She glanced up at him and said in a soft voice, "This is hard for me, Xan. It's really hard for me."
He said cautiously, "Why's it so hard?"
Her eyes started to glaze over with tears, "Because, Xander..."
Xander nodded, "Because why?"
She saw the concern he had for her. She saw the love he had for her. "Because of what happened to my father."
The mention of her father made this conversation more important then what Xander suspected. "What happened to him?"
"He, he, he got shot."
Realizing she said that, tears started to cascade down her cheeks. He immediately pulled her into his embrace and allowed her tears to eat away at his shirt.
He started to let his fingers run through her blond hair. "It's alright, Buff. You can tell me."
Buf she didn't talk, she just let him hold her. She let him take care of her. The way he always did.
She tried to start talking, but couldn't. She never could stop crying whenever this was brought up.
The only people she ever told about this was her mother and father. They would always hold her, much like what Xander was doing.
She raised her head and looked at Xander. He carefully took his thumb and wiped her tears away. "What happened?"
Buffy knew she could tell him. It only seemed right. "It happened when I was eight..."
***
"Alright, Buffy. What flavor do you want?"
Buffy looked through the display case at the man flavors of ice cream. She grinned, "Chocolate. Two scoops with chocolate sprinkles."
He chucked, "Sounds good to me." He looked at the cashier. "Ill have the same. Two servings of two scoops of chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles."
"Right away, Sir." Said the cashier as she went to get the order.
Buffy hugged her father's waist. "Thanks, Daddy."
He smiled, "Anything for my princess."
She giggled, "I love you."
"I love you, Buffy. Never forget that."
"Here you are, Sir."
Her father went inside his pocket and pulled out his wallet. After paying for the ice cream, he gave one cone to Buffy. "Here you go, Sweetheart."
Buffy grinned, "Thank you, Daddy." She then took a lick of the ice cream.
Taking a lick of his, he said, "C'mon, Buffy. Let's go home."
Her father opened the door and let her go through. Walking through, he closed the door, and they left.
The two of them walked down the streets eating their ice cream and talking to each other.
Soon a man came down the street. He was wearing a trench coat and a fedora. The man went inside his breast pocket and pulled out a gun. He wrapped his left arm around Buffy and pointed the gun at her right temple.
With a sadistic smile, he said, "Give me your money!"
He nodded slowly, "Alright, alright. Just don't kill her."
She dropped her cone and had her eyes wet with tears. "Daddy?"
"I'll kill her if I have to. Give me your money."
"Daddy, I'm scared."
"It'll be alright. It'll be over soon."
Nodding, he took his wallet from his gave it to the mugger. "Here, take your money. Just leave my daughter alone."
He quickly let go of Buffy and took the wallet. Placing the wallet in his pocket, he watched the girl run to her father. "I'm not finished yet!"
The mugger aimed his handgun at Buffy and squeezed the trigger.
Her father instinctively shoved Buffy out of the way, and a look of pain suddenly crossed his face.
Buffy looked down in horror.
"Noooooo!"
***
Talking about that night was always hard for Buffy. What kind of human being would actually kill a girl's father right in front of her?
Well, maybe not kill. But the mugger certainly made it close to a vital organ. It hurt too much at times to talk about. As she remembered before, her mother and father were the only ones that she talked to about this. Now, Xander knew.
But why Xander? Why was she able to trust Xander with all this information?
Simple answer.
His love, his kindness, his friendship, his loyalty, his honesty, and his ability to tell what really mattered in this world.
And to think it was someone sent by the Powers that Be that told her. She always felt that they should be screwed over...that they made everything difficult. But then they sent Alex.
Alex opened her eyes to what her friends were really capable of. She learned a lot about them, and learned a lot about Xander. Behind this joking man was her best friend. The one person that wasn't her parents. One of the people she could come to. That meant a lot to her, and there was no way in hell that she was going to lose him.
If he died, she'd go insane. Well, maybe not insane, but she'd definitely be emotionally and mentally scarred.
"What happened next?"
She looked back up at him and saw him give that soft smile.
"I mean, if you don't want to tell me, I understand, Buffy. I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Seeing your dad get shot at eight-years-old must've really hurt you."
She nodded, "It did hurt, Xan. It hurt so much."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But I need to tell someone. It'll help me get passed this pain."
Looking around, he spotted a swinging bench that Ash must've set up yeas ago. Taking her hand, "C'mon, Buff." He said to her as he took her to the bench and sat her down. Still holding her hand, he said, "Continue."
Taking another breath, she said, "After he got shot, the mugger ran away in horror. Now, that I look back at it. I think he was just full of hot air. It got hot and heavy and he just ran away.
"Running back to my dad, I asked if he was alright. But when he didn't answer me, I really got worried. I looked around and noticed a phone booth. I remembered what my mom told me. Taking the phone I called for an ambulance. Followed by mother.
"Hanging up the phone, I turned back to my dad and held his hand. I kept asking him to live. I kept telling him that I loved him.
"Soon, I heard footsteps. Feeling an arm wrap around me, I was pulled into a hug. Looking up I saw my mom. She held me while we both cried until the ambulance came by.
"The doctors said I called them at that right time. If I waited any time longer, my dad would've died."
With a cautious voice, Xander said, "Did they ever find the guy?"
She nodded, "Yeah, they did. It was a week later. But during the next few months, I had a hard time walking home at night. I made myself not go out. I didn't want to see again what happened to my father. I basically became a hermit crab. That asshole took away a lot more than my dad's wallet. He took away my life"
"And now that I slay vampires, I keep imagining the face of that son of a bitch on all the kills that I make."
"I'm the only that you told this to?"
Buffy said, "Yeah, you are, Xand."
"That's why I don't want to use a gun, Xander. I don't want to use the very weapon that shot my dad. I don't want to know that kind of power. I'm afraid if I do, I might use it by accident and shoot someone that I love. If I ever shot my parents or my friends, I wouldn't know what I'd do."
Tears started to remerge from her eyes.
Xander pulled her into a hug, and held on to her while she cried.
Buffy was being a blubbery mess. She couldn't handle it anymore. All those years of holding it in was bound to break. Buffy was just lucky it was in front of Xander. He always saw her at her worst and her best.
"I love you, Buffy. I love that you told me."
It took a serious amount of will power to not take advantage of her right now. His heart melted as he held her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to keep her safe and let her never to feel the pain of seeing someone close to her die.
He knew better. This was Buffy Summers. His hero, the love of his life, his friend. Like his time with the love spell, he couldn't take advantage of her.
"Just hold me, Xander. Don't make me use a gun. I just can't. I really can't."
"Shhh," he whispered into her ear. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll go back in when you're ready. Alright?"
"I love you, Xan. Never doubt that I don't. You're my best friend."
"I love you too, Buff. Don't worry about the gun. We'll talk about it after."
"Do we have to?"
She raised her head and faced him. Tear stains remained on her cheeks.
He nodded slowly, "Like it or not, Buffy. We need to fight these guys. I know that you don't like guns, and I fully understand it."
She knew this to be true. She knew that these deadites were going to be tough.
"I'll tell you what, Buffy. I remember everything about my time as soldier boy. If you want, I'll train you. I'll show you how to do it the easiest and safe way I know how. I won't let this Sean Pierce guy show you. I'll do it."
She smiled weakly. If she had to learn how to use a gun, she'd want it to be taught by him.
"You promise you'll do it."
He nodded, "I will, Buffy Summers. I will show you the correct and safe way to do it. I promise you I won't let you do this alone. I promise you this, Buffy. I promise you that after this, you won't use a gun again until you're ready to use one on your own."
She nodded this time, "And I promise you that I'll train you. I promise that you'll be much stronger when we go out of patrol."
Sighing, he said, "You shouldn't have to keep this to yourself anymore. When this is all said and done, how about we go into counseling."
The word counseling made her made her pull away from Xander. "I don't think so, Xander. Nobody needs to know about this. Before an hour ago, I was ready to fight these guys head on. Now, you want to take me to a shrink? I don't think so."
She stood up and looked at him, "I don't want to pay some guy who has to listen to my problems and use the phrases, 'I feel that,' and 'I think that.'"
Standing up, he said, "I know it hurts, Buffy. But bottling up those emotions are never good. You said yourself that you imagine the bastard's face on the vampires you slay. What if that person you hit isn't a vampire, deadite, or demon? What if you get into a heated argument and you soon see his face on somebody you love. What if you see his face on your mother's body, father's body, Giles' body, Wills' body, or mine? I don't think you'll like the outcome."
"That bastard shot my dad! That son of a bitch had a gun, aimed it at me, and my dad pushed me out of the way and was shot. He was shot right in front of me!"
God no!
Not again!
She started crying again and crumbled to the ground.
She felt arms wrap around her again.
"I hate this! I hate that I couldn't do anything to stop this! I hate that that bastard shot him! I hate that I couldn't protect my dad!"
"Let it out, Buff. Let it all out."
And she did. She wept in front of him.
"Why does this hurt so much? Why does this still bother the hell out of me?"
"Nobody should hold in this much pain."
"God, I want this to stop. I don't want to cry any more. I don't want to be a wreck. I just can't stop crying, Xander. I can't stop these tears."
"Then go into counseling, Buff. When we get home, we'll get your mom and dad together. Together you'll go into counseling. You'll get passed this. You need serious help. I can't do this all for you. You need someone non-family/friend orientated to talk to."
She started to stop her tears. "Will you be there?"
He nodded slowly, "If you want me to. It's up to you. If not me, then just take your parents and see a doctor."
"Please, Xan? I need you there."
TBC
Rating: PG-13/R
Chapter Number: 4
Author: White Werewolf
Category: Buffy/Xander, Eric/Faith, Sam/Daniel (Maybe), Gabrielle/Joxer
Spoilers/Timeframe: All I know for sure it is after "Becoming Part 2."
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the ideas and my computer.
Summery: After Buffy leaves Sunnydale, Xander decides to go looking for her. On the other side of the universe, Ninedinna wants the book she created...the Necronomicon Ex Mortis: the Book of the Dead.
Author Notes: This part is just a prologue to the Phoenix Risings Trilogy; which is in turn the starting fic to a huge series. This is the third part of the trilogy. It will be mainly focused on the Buffy/Xander relationship and it will be housing many crossovers.
Special Thanks: Danii, Tenhawk, Teri, Silent Bob Foley, and X-Lander
Crossovers Planned:
Buffy: the Vampire Slayer
Hercules: the Legendary Journeys
Evil Dead
Stargate SG-1
Xena: Warrior Princess
Boy Meets World
Cameo Crossovers will suddenly appear. Take a read, and see if you can spot one.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ash looked at his friend, "What do you suggest?"
He smiled, "Well, my time at the Council has proven to be quite beneficial in other ways besides demonic activities and self defense."
"I see." Ash said in a distinct annoyed tone. "What are you suggesting?"
"I have an acquaintance who runs a firing range. He used to work for the council, but now he owns the range. I'm more than sure that he'd be willing to help us."
Faith said, "Do it, Wes. If it'll help us take down my other half, then do it."
He nodded, "Right. I shall call Mr. Pierce. "
"Cool." Xander said with a grin.
"Right, cool." Wesley said while trying to maintain the teenager's language.
"So, what do we do in the mean time?" Buffy asked.
Gunn said, "I'd say we get a good night's rest, Buff. Tomorrow is a day of training. I need to tell my crew what's going on."
"Wicked," Faith said with a smile.
Xander thought for a minute. "Do you think this blond woman we have to stop is something attached to Bad Faith?"
Doyle shrugged, "It could, and it couldn't. My visions aren't exactly specific. I just remember seeing a blond woman heading for Los Angeles. She had a man with her in army clothing."
Buffy asked, "Do you know where they're heading to in LA?"
The half human/demon hybrid thought back to his vision. "They were heading to a television studio. That much I remember."
(I wonder...) Xander thought for a second. He knew he had to call Hercules at some point tomorrow. He'll warn him about the vision. Being prepared was nothing to sneeze at. "We'll figure it out tomorrow. Right now, all I want to do is get some sleep."
Faith looked at the clock, "Damn. I had no idea it was so late. Yeah, I guess I'll get to bed too."
"We shall reconvene here tomorrow at nine o'clock." Wesley said to them. "That shall give me enough time to contact Mr. Pierce in the morning."
"You do that, Wes." Ash said.
With that said, the friends left the cabin, headed for their own apartments, not knowing what was to come tomorrow and the days after.
***
"Shit!"
Bad Faith banged her fist on the desk that she was using.
"These are the wrong pages!"
Sighing, she leaned back her back, and placed her feet on top of the desk. "Where are they?"
Before anything else could be said or thought, she lost her balance and fell off the seat.
"Shit!"
***
"May I help you?"
Jack nodded, "My friend Murray here and I were wondering if you could help us locate a fellow soldier?"
The teller looked at them. "What's the name, Colonel O'Neill?"
Teal'c submitted the answer, "Lieutenant Banks."
Jack reconfirmed, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks. He let the base in a hurry, and forgot his binder. It's urgent that he gets this."
The teller nodded as she looked in the computer system for the name. "One moment please."
"Take your time." Jack said.
"Indeed." Teal'c said.
Shaking her head, "Sorry, Colonel O'Neill. Lieutenant Ryan Banks never came here. "
Sighing, the head of SG-1 said, "Thanks for the help. Come along, Murray."
"Thank you for coming to Colorado Greyhound."
***
"Excuse me?"
A man turned around in the office and walked to the window. "Welcome to Western Union Rails. How may I help you?"
Daniel said, "Captain Carter and I are looking for a soldier. Perhaps you saw him?"
The man said, "Name?"
Sam said, "Lieutenant Ryan Banks. He bought two tickets."
He nodded, "Lemme check." Then went into his computer and typed in the needed information.
"Right here, Captain Carter. Lieutenant Banks bought two tickets to Los Angeles last night. They should be there now."
Daniel smiled, "Thank you."
With that said, Sam and Daniel left the railroad station.
Sam grabbed her walkie-talkie. She pressed the button, "Sir, it's Captain Carter. Lieutenant Banks left for LA."
***
"Take it easy, Faith."
Bad Faith looked in front of her and saw a vision of Ash.
She could feel him. This wasn't the Ash that lived back at the cabin. This was...
"...Uncle Ash?"
He grinned, "So my niece finally turned evil, did she?"
She grinned malevolently, "I'm not that pathetic excuse of a slayer. I'm more lethal."
Bad Ash walked over to her. "Good to know, Faith. Good to know. I'm here to help you."
Faith asked, "Help me with what?"
He grimed, "Help you get the Necronomicon. I failed because my damn goody two-shoe twin blew me up. I want to make him pay. And now that you're like me. I want to help you."
"What do I do?"
Bad Ash grinned, "Find the book. Simple as that. Once you do, you'll know what to do."
Faith spat at him figuratively, "Easier said then done. I only got a few lousy pages!"
He walked over to her, "The book isn't that far away. Let the darkness within you tell you. Follow your instincts. The Hellmouth's waiting for you, Faith. It's waiting for you."
With that said, Bad Ash dissipated..."I'll be back."
Bad Faith sighed, "He may be bad, but he's pathetic on the help. Now," she grunted, "where's that damn book!"
***
"Hello?"
Recognizing the voice, Xander smiled, "Hey, Herc. Morning."
"Hello, Xander." He looked at the clock in his bedroom, "it's eight o'clock."
"I know. We got problems, Hercules. Major ones."
Hearing the tone in his voice, Hercules knew that this was serious. "What sort of problems?"
With that Xander said into the phone the problems. He told him about Faith splitting in two, saying that her bad half ran away into the night with pages of the Necronomicon. The boy also told him about the vision that Doyle had.
"Do you know any blond women?"
The demigod said with sarcasm, "You mean like your friend, Buffy?"
Chuckling, he said, "Good point. I just wanted to warn you. We're meeting at Ash's place in one hour. Can you make it?"
Hercules gave it some thought; "This is going to be hard with me trying to keep my secret, Xander. You know that."
"I know, Herc. But Ash said this is going to take some work. He fought his bad self before and it wasn't easy. Fighting a bad version of Faith is going to be worse."
"I'll be there, Xander. I'm going to need your help coming up with some answers."
He returned, "Don't worry. I've been covering for Buffy for a few years now. I don't let just anyone know she's the Slayer."
"Yet you tell a lot of people here. You told Ash, me, Faith, Wesley."
"I told them because they needed to know, Herc. You know that."
"True. I'll be there for nine."
"Thanks, Hercules. I'll see you there."
***
"Sean Pierce speaking." A British man said in a thick accent.
"Ah, Mr. Pierce. Good morning. It's Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
Knowing fully well what this would be about, he was prepared for the situation. "What do you need, Mr. Wyndam-Pryce?"
"We need the firing range to do some training. There's danger a foot. Danger that includes the necessity of two vampire slayers and a number of people. I would not be calling you if this was not extremely necessarily."
"I understand, Wesley. What type of training are we talking about?"
"We need help in the areas of combat and firing guns. We truly are short on time, Mr. Pierce."
"Call me Pierce."
"Most certainly Mr. Pierce. I mean, Pierce. We'll be there within two hours."
"See you then, Wesley."
"Good day."
"Good day." Sean said waiting for the other phone to hang up. Hanging up soon after. Taking off his hat, he tossed it in the direction of a coat rack, watching it land on top of it. With a smile, he said, "Works every time."
***
"Where you going, Callisto?"
Callisto turned to her childe, "I'm going to the studio, Ryan."
He shook his head, "It's Sunday."
"So?"
"So, places aren't open. I don't think Kevin Sorbo will be in today. Wait until tomorrow."
Sighing, she said, "But I want to kill him now."
"Waiting one day won't be a problem, Callisto. Just think of it this way, it gives him one more day to have life. Tomorrow, we can rip it away from him. Anyway, it's morning now. Not much we can do."
"Fine. We'll leave tomorrow. But I want to go as soon as night comes."
***
"O'Neill?"
Jack looked next to him, "Yeah, Murray?"
"What happens on these trains?"
"Trains are just a way to travel." He pointed in front of him. "See the monitor."
"Yes, I do, O'Neill."
"We'll be watching a movie to pass the time."
"Will it be Star Wars?"
"Let me check." He said as he pulled out a specific magazine. Finding the page he wants, "Not this time." Sighing his head in disappointment, "It's Soldier."
"Is it a bad movie, O'Neill?"
Shaking his head, "No, it's not. It's just the guy who plays Sergeant Todd. He just bugs me."
"So where we off to?" Faith called out as she exited the hallway.
Looking around, she spotted a ton of people: Xander, Buffy, her uncle, Wesley, Kevin, Doyle, Gunn, and a group of what looked like a dozen men. There was also one young woman within them.
"Damn. This place's packed."
Ash said calmly, "I had a lot more last time, but think of it this way. It looks like all these people know how to handle themselves in a fight."
Xander nodded, "Right. But we're still going to need to learn how to fight better."
Ash nodded, "We're going to have to learn battle formations and gun use properly."
Buffy just glanced at the floor.
"What's up, Buff?" Xander asked his friend.
Looking up, she said, "I never liked guns, Xander. I'd rather fight with a stake, crossbow, or sword."
Ash walked up to her, "I've fought these deadites before, and trust me, you'll want all the firepower you can get. It's the best way to take 'em out."
Wesley agreed, "And Mr. Pierce is the best at what he does. He's been known to have great skill in combat and weaponry. He was an important asset for the council."
Sighing, she said, "I just dunno. I heard using a gun can change a person."
Xander looked at his friends, "Is it alright if I talk to her?"
Around of nods could be seen.
Grinning, he said, "Thanks."
Walking over to his friend, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked out of the cabin.
The two friends made their way down the front steps and walked over to a nearby tree.
Xander looked at her, "Alright, Buff. It's just you and me. No one else. What's the problem?"
She glanced up at him and said in a soft voice, "This is hard for me, Xan. It's really hard for me."
He said cautiously, "Why's it so hard?"
Her eyes started to glaze over with tears, "Because, Xander..."
Xander nodded, "Because why?"
She saw the concern he had for her. She saw the love he had for her. "Because of what happened to my father."
The mention of her father made this conversation more important then what Xander suspected. "What happened to him?"
"He, he, he got shot."
Realizing she said that, tears started to cascade down her cheeks. He immediately pulled her into his embrace and allowed her tears to eat away at his shirt.
He started to let his fingers run through her blond hair. "It's alright, Buff. You can tell me."
Buf she didn't talk, she just let him hold her. She let him take care of her. The way he always did.
She tried to start talking, but couldn't. She never could stop crying whenever this was brought up.
The only people she ever told about this was her mother and father. They would always hold her, much like what Xander was doing.
She raised her head and looked at Xander. He carefully took his thumb and wiped her tears away. "What happened?"
Buffy knew she could tell him. It only seemed right. "It happened when I was eight..."
***
"Alright, Buffy. What flavor do you want?"
Buffy looked through the display case at the man flavors of ice cream. She grinned, "Chocolate. Two scoops with chocolate sprinkles."
He chucked, "Sounds good to me." He looked at the cashier. "Ill have the same. Two servings of two scoops of chocolate ice cream with chocolate sprinkles."
"Right away, Sir." Said the cashier as she went to get the order.
Buffy hugged her father's waist. "Thanks, Daddy."
He smiled, "Anything for my princess."
She giggled, "I love you."
"I love you, Buffy. Never forget that."
"Here you are, Sir."
Her father went inside his pocket and pulled out his wallet. After paying for the ice cream, he gave one cone to Buffy. "Here you go, Sweetheart."
Buffy grinned, "Thank you, Daddy." She then took a lick of the ice cream.
Taking a lick of his, he said, "C'mon, Buffy. Let's go home."
Her father opened the door and let her go through. Walking through, he closed the door, and they left.
The two of them walked down the streets eating their ice cream and talking to each other.
Soon a man came down the street. He was wearing a trench coat and a fedora. The man went inside his breast pocket and pulled out a gun. He wrapped his left arm around Buffy and pointed the gun at her right temple.
With a sadistic smile, he said, "Give me your money!"
He nodded slowly, "Alright, alright. Just don't kill her."
She dropped her cone and had her eyes wet with tears. "Daddy?"
"I'll kill her if I have to. Give me your money."
"Daddy, I'm scared."
"It'll be alright. It'll be over soon."
Nodding, he took his wallet from his gave it to the mugger. "Here, take your money. Just leave my daughter alone."
He quickly let go of Buffy and took the wallet. Placing the wallet in his pocket, he watched the girl run to her father. "I'm not finished yet!"
The mugger aimed his handgun at Buffy and squeezed the trigger.
Her father instinctively shoved Buffy out of the way, and a look of pain suddenly crossed his face.
Buffy looked down in horror.
"Noooooo!"
***
Talking about that night was always hard for Buffy. What kind of human being would actually kill a girl's father right in front of her?
Well, maybe not kill. But the mugger certainly made it close to a vital organ. It hurt too much at times to talk about. As she remembered before, her mother and father were the only ones that she talked to about this. Now, Xander knew.
But why Xander? Why was she able to trust Xander with all this information?
Simple answer.
His love, his kindness, his friendship, his loyalty, his honesty, and his ability to tell what really mattered in this world.
And to think it was someone sent by the Powers that Be that told her. She always felt that they should be screwed over...that they made everything difficult. But then they sent Alex.
Alex opened her eyes to what her friends were really capable of. She learned a lot about them, and learned a lot about Xander. Behind this joking man was her best friend. The one person that wasn't her parents. One of the people she could come to. That meant a lot to her, and there was no way in hell that she was going to lose him.
If he died, she'd go insane. Well, maybe not insane, but she'd definitely be emotionally and mentally scarred.
"What happened next?"
She looked back up at him and saw him give that soft smile.
"I mean, if you don't want to tell me, I understand, Buffy. I'm so sorry you had to witness that. Seeing your dad get shot at eight-years-old must've really hurt you."
She nodded, "It did hurt, Xan. It hurt so much."
Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But I need to tell someone. It'll help me get passed this pain."
Looking around, he spotted a swinging bench that Ash must've set up yeas ago. Taking her hand, "C'mon, Buff." He said to her as he took her to the bench and sat her down. Still holding her hand, he said, "Continue."
Taking another breath, she said, "After he got shot, the mugger ran away in horror. Now, that I look back at it. I think he was just full of hot air. It got hot and heavy and he just ran away.
"Running back to my dad, I asked if he was alright. But when he didn't answer me, I really got worried. I looked around and noticed a phone booth. I remembered what my mom told me. Taking the phone I called for an ambulance. Followed by mother.
"Hanging up the phone, I turned back to my dad and held his hand. I kept asking him to live. I kept telling him that I loved him.
"Soon, I heard footsteps. Feeling an arm wrap around me, I was pulled into a hug. Looking up I saw my mom. She held me while we both cried until the ambulance came by.
"The doctors said I called them at that right time. If I waited any time longer, my dad would've died."
With a cautious voice, Xander said, "Did they ever find the guy?"
She nodded, "Yeah, they did. It was a week later. But during the next few months, I had a hard time walking home at night. I made myself not go out. I didn't want to see again what happened to my father. I basically became a hermit crab. That asshole took away a lot more than my dad's wallet. He took away my life"
"And now that I slay vampires, I keep imagining the face of that son of a bitch on all the kills that I make."
"I'm the only that you told this to?"
Buffy said, "Yeah, you are, Xand."
"That's why I don't want to use a gun, Xander. I don't want to use the very weapon that shot my dad. I don't want to know that kind of power. I'm afraid if I do, I might use it by accident and shoot someone that I love. If I ever shot my parents or my friends, I wouldn't know what I'd do."
Tears started to remerge from her eyes.
Xander pulled her into a hug, and held on to her while she cried.
Buffy was being a blubbery mess. She couldn't handle it anymore. All those years of holding it in was bound to break. Buffy was just lucky it was in front of Xander. He always saw her at her worst and her best.
"I love you, Buffy. I love that you told me."
It took a serious amount of will power to not take advantage of her right now. His heart melted as he held her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to keep her safe and let her never to feel the pain of seeing someone close to her die.
He knew better. This was Buffy Summers. His hero, the love of his life, his friend. Like his time with the love spell, he couldn't take advantage of her.
"Just hold me, Xander. Don't make me use a gun. I just can't. I really can't."
"Shhh," he whispered into her ear. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll go back in when you're ready. Alright?"
"I love you, Xan. Never doubt that I don't. You're my best friend."
"I love you too, Buff. Don't worry about the gun. We'll talk about it after."
"Do we have to?"
She raised her head and faced him. Tear stains remained on her cheeks.
He nodded slowly, "Like it or not, Buffy. We need to fight these guys. I know that you don't like guns, and I fully understand it."
She knew this to be true. She knew that these deadites were going to be tough.
"I'll tell you what, Buffy. I remember everything about my time as soldier boy. If you want, I'll train you. I'll show you how to do it the easiest and safe way I know how. I won't let this Sean Pierce guy show you. I'll do it."
She smiled weakly. If she had to learn how to use a gun, she'd want it to be taught by him.
"You promise you'll do it."
He nodded, "I will, Buffy Summers. I will show you the correct and safe way to do it. I promise you I won't let you do this alone. I promise you this, Buffy. I promise you that after this, you won't use a gun again until you're ready to use one on your own."
She nodded this time, "And I promise you that I'll train you. I promise that you'll be much stronger when we go out of patrol."
Sighing, he said, "You shouldn't have to keep this to yourself anymore. When this is all said and done, how about we go into counseling."
The word counseling made her made her pull away from Xander. "I don't think so, Xander. Nobody needs to know about this. Before an hour ago, I was ready to fight these guys head on. Now, you want to take me to a shrink? I don't think so."
She stood up and looked at him, "I don't want to pay some guy who has to listen to my problems and use the phrases, 'I feel that,' and 'I think that.'"
Standing up, he said, "I know it hurts, Buffy. But bottling up those emotions are never good. You said yourself that you imagine the bastard's face on the vampires you slay. What if that person you hit isn't a vampire, deadite, or demon? What if you get into a heated argument and you soon see his face on somebody you love. What if you see his face on your mother's body, father's body, Giles' body, Wills' body, or mine? I don't think you'll like the outcome."
"That bastard shot my dad! That son of a bitch had a gun, aimed it at me, and my dad pushed me out of the way and was shot. He was shot right in front of me!"
God no!
Not again!
She started crying again and crumbled to the ground.
She felt arms wrap around her again.
"I hate this! I hate that I couldn't do anything to stop this! I hate that that bastard shot him! I hate that I couldn't protect my dad!"
"Let it out, Buff. Let it all out."
And she did. She wept in front of him.
"Why does this hurt so much? Why does this still bother the hell out of me?"
"Nobody should hold in this much pain."
"God, I want this to stop. I don't want to cry any more. I don't want to be a wreck. I just can't stop crying, Xander. I can't stop these tears."
"Then go into counseling, Buff. When we get home, we'll get your mom and dad together. Together you'll go into counseling. You'll get passed this. You need serious help. I can't do this all for you. You need someone non-family/friend orientated to talk to."
She started to stop her tears. "Will you be there?"
He nodded slowly, "If you want me to. It's up to you. If not me, then just take your parents and see a doctor."
"Please, Xan? I need you there."
TBC