His Slayer

Disclaimer: Joss owns Btvs

A/N: Hi all. As always I want to say thank you for the reviews. They are much appreciated. Now as I mentioned in the last chapter I had intended to finish this story up in about 18 chapters. Now that's been set aside and I'll write until I feel this story is finished. Hope you enjoy. Skyz.

~*~

Chapter Seventeen:

Bruised and battered, pain was something to be expected. Even in this case, welcomed. It was proof. Proof that he'd accomplished something without the help of the Slayer.

Xander wasn't much. He knew that and had been resigned to accept that. That is until he'd met Buffy and learned of all the hideous atrocities that went on beneath their noses in Sunnydale. Evil was afoot and he'd been part of the bigger plan. Had helped to defeat it on a number of occasions.

But never on his own.

Now tucked safely in his hospital bed a grin on his lips and a reluctant Faith on hand he was content to be in pain. Because the pain was worth it. The pain was proof that he was something. That he could be something worthwhile.

"Would you quit it?" Faith demanded angrily as she watched him grin just a little harder.

He sent her an innocent look.

"What?" he asked.

"Stop with the creepy grinning Xander! I mean damn you're actin' like you actually made it out of the Initiative. 'Cept you didn't. I had to carry you out, cuz you were passed out," Faith said with a smirk.

Xander lost a bit of his grin but managed to give Faith a glare.

"Hey! I'll have you know-"

His hospital door swung open and slammed into the wall with a loud thud as Willow rushed in. She raced to Xander's side and reached for him.

"Oh Xan are you okay?! What happened? What did you let happen to him?!" she turned angrily to face Faith who'd stepped to the side as Willow had rushed in.

Lifting her hands palms forward Faith shook her head.

"Watch your step there Red. I didn't do anything. Why don't you ask superman here. He did this to himself. Hey where are wolf boy and Joyce?"

Willow sent Faith one last glare before she turned her full attention to Xander.

"I don't know. Joyce didn't make it to the meeting place. I was worried so I went to Buffy's house and listened to your message about Xander. Oz well… I don't know where he's at. I guess he's still roaming around."

Faith scowled as she felt twin pricks of irritation and worry.

"Well that's just frickin' great! Have a werewolf roamin' the streets killing and maiming. And Joyce! Where is she? She said she was meeting you two and then coming back here. I don't like this. Not at all. Shit-look I'm gonna scout around for her and wolf boy. Sit tight k?"

Before Willow could answer Faith had already ducked out into the hall and strode off.

"Is there anything I can do for you Xander?" Willow asked anxiously.

Xander flashed his puppy dog eyes and nodded slowly.

"Could ya maybe fluff my pillows and turn the channel for me?" he asked softly.

Willow jumped to do his biding.

Xander relaxed with a small smile.

It worked every time.

~*~

Skirting around the people who were milling around the ER waiting room, Faith crossed her arms over her chest and ducked her head.

Hospitals put her off.

She'd didn't have a logical explanation but they just wigged her out big time. So the quicker she was out of here the better, she thought picking up her pace.

She was nearing the doors when her Slayer senses picked up vampire vibes off to the left and down the hall.

Swearing loudly she brought herself to a stop and debated what she should do. A big part of her wanted to leave and find Joyce and wolf boy. But the Slayer side of her warned a vamp was in the hospital and could prey on all the sick people there.

With an exaggerated sigh she turned and headed down the hall.

She walked fast, the sooner she got this over with the better. She'd dust this vamp and run around town looking for Joyce. A frown lit her face for a moment as she thought of Buffy's mother. The woman had balls, she'd give her that.

But jeez there had been so many possibilities of things going wrong and all of them ending up dead, so she had to give Joyce props for succeeding her first time out.

Nearing the door where she knew the vamp was, she squared her shoulders and gripped the stake she'd slid from her jacket pocket.

As she reached the door she grabbed the door knob and shoved it open forcefully.

"Angel," she blinked as she took in the vampire's disheveled appearance.

Angel glanced over at her, away from the police officer he'd been talking with.

"I need to talk to you," he said striding forward and grabbing her arm.

"Sir-"the police officer began.

"I'll be just a minute," Angel snapped as he guided a surprised and slightly pissed Faith to a corner. "Joyce is dead. Buffy's in shock and I need your help in killing Spike."

~*~

Faith's steps were slow and dragging as she made her way back to Xander's room. She wasn't sure as to what exactly it was she was feeling at the moment. Truth was she'd never been close enough to a person to mourn their passing. No not passing, she thought with a bitter taste in her mouth, murder.

Grimacing as she paused outside Xander's door she wished that she could just walk away. Leave and never come back. But she couldn't. She'd become close to Joyce in Buffy's absence and had formed a tentative friendship with Xander if not Willow. And hell Buffy was her sister Slayer. She couldn't let her handle this all alone.

She opened Xander's door.

"Stop. Ok turn it. Turn it. Wait. Turn it."

"Do you want the remote?" Willow asked irritated.

"Jeez Wills my arms are kinda outta operation," Xander complained. "Ok change the channel. Why's there nothing on?"

Faith cleared her throat and watched as both Willow and Xander turned their attention to the door.

Xander looked beyond Faith searching for Joyce.

"Where's Joyce? And Oz? I thought we'd have a party. A little pizza, a little pain medication and I'm set!"

Willow dropped the remote onto Xander's lap as she took a step closer to Faith.

"Is it Oz?" she asked, her voice trembled with suppressed emotion.

Xander looked at the girls blankly.

Faith bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from saying something she'd most likely regret.

"No," she said shortly. "It's not. As far as I'm aware he's still wandering around out there. It's…um…Joyce. Well Joyce, she's uh- Dammit that bitch killed her!"

~*~

Rowan wasn't sure what made her head outside of Sunnydale on her search for Tate and Wesley. Compelled she didn't question how or why the urge had come.

She moved with her hopping gait as fast as she could.

Murmuring spells along the way. She knew that as the baby of two vampires Tate would leave an aura if he'd come this way. And sure enough the further she got from Sunnydale the stronger the trail became.

Until suddenly it stopped.

Frowning in bewilderment she tried a few more spells and when nothing else appeared she gave a few animals a fright with her curses.

"Well that can't be good," she muttered to herself before she glanced at the frog perched in her bag. "Listen if I undo my spell will you be a good Watcher and keep your mouth shut?" she asked.

It wasn't possible for him to respond but Rowan took it to mean he would do as she asked. Quickly and efficiently she undid her spell and Giles fell to the ground on all fours, as naked as the day he was born.

Without bothering to spare him a glance she licked her suddenly dry lips and wandered away.

"Where are you?" she asked aloud. There was no doubt Tate had come this way. But what had happened to the trail? From what Spike had told her, Maggie wasn't one to indulge in Magik.  But this just didn't make sense.

"Dear Lord where are my clothes?! And my glasses?! I'm naked woman!"

"Be quiet," Rowan snapped doing a final spell.

As Wes's aura was entangled with Tate's, she focused on his, and when the small glowing light leapt from her hand and zoomed off she began to follow it.

Into the woods on the side of the road and deeper still.

Until she came to the prone form of whom she assumed was Wesley.

She crouched down so she could feel his pulse, and gave a relieved sigh as she felt the faint beat of his heart at his throat. She flicked her gaze over the man and then turning slightly, called for Giles.

"Rupert I need your help over here," she called out.

~*~

A/N: I know this is awfully short but I needed to get this out. The next chapter focuses fully on Buffy and Spike. And in the chapters to come this story will take on a different tone. This is just catching up with everyone. Except Oz. I've plans for Oz. skyz.