California Trippin'

Disclaimer-I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Dark Angel, only the parts that I make up in this story.

Summary-This is a crossover with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Max, Alec, Jondy, and Krit leave Seattle in need of a vacation. Everything has blown over with the transgenics and familiars. The virus between Max and Logan is cured but they aren't together. The transgenics are free to roam around without the hate groups and so they decide to go to California, where Buffy and the gang are dealing with the First.

Pairings-The pairings have finally been decided...Max/Spike, Jondy/Krit, Faith/Alec...Buffy has yet to be paired off.

Chapter Five-Punching Bags and Apologies

"How could you do that to him?" Buffy asked Giles angrily. He sighed heavily. They were outside on the front porch arguing.

"I did what I thought was best, so did Robin," Giles replied. Buffy scoffed.

"And your idea of 'what's best' is to try and take away one of the few strong people that will help us win this war?"

"He was a danger to all of us! You can't deny that."

"Oh, I'll deny until I'm all denying out. It was never his fault and he was always able to come away from it. You can't deny that."

"No, I can't. But I stand by what Robin and I did," Giles said firmly. Buffy's expression turned blank and her voice was low and even.

"Well isn't that interesting? I'm thankful that you unknowingly helped get rid of Spike's trigger, but I'm disgusted by how you did it. If you idiots try anything like that again, Spike will kill Robin. More importantly, I'll let him."

"Buffy..." Giles began with a face full of shock.

"I don't want to hear it. You think you can still be useful in winning this war? Prove it to me," she growled before walking back inside.

Backyard (Next Day)...

"Punch, block, kick!" Max ordered. The potentials followed her commands fluently. "Cross, kick, block!" She walked up and down with her hands behind her back.

Okay, this reminds me too much of Manticore...she thought worriedly.

"Hey Max," she turned around and found herself facing Buffy. "Can I talk to you for a sec?" Max nodded.

"Hey Kennedy, wanna take over?" Kennedy nodded happily and stepped out in front of the potentials.

"Punch block combo!" Max and Buffy heard as they went back inside the house. Buffy motioned her upstairs and into her room. She closed the door and turned back to Max.

"I don't know how you found out about Spike being in that creepy garage with Wood the other day, but...thank you," she said.

"For what? I didn't really do anything," Max replied. Buffy shook her head, smiling slightly.

"You did plenty. I heard that mini-speech you gave Spike outside. Sometimes he does 'rag' on himself for past things he's done. But then at other times...he's just very proud to be doing good. And he seemed to take what you said very seriously. So, thank you." Max blushed slightly and shrugged.

"It was nothing," she said. "Just figured I could knock some sense into his head. Not literally of course. I save all my 'knocking' for Alec. He's my own personal punching bag," she joked. Buffy's smile faded. "Something wrong?"

But that's what I used to do...literally knockSpike around...I'm the person that filled his bleached head with screwed up ideas on good and bad...it's my fault...Buffy thought sadly. Max continued to look at her, waiting for an answer. "Um, no, I'm fine," she said aloud. "Thanks again." Max nodded and smiled.

"All in a day's work of saving the world right?" she replied before walking out of the room. "Think I'm gonna go beat up a punching bag...not my personal one but I've been meaning to check out that actual one in the basement...how bout you?" Buffy's smile returned.

"I think I'm gonna take a quick shower and go to work," she replied. Max nodded in understanding and headed down the stairs.

Basement...

Spike was asleep on his cot. Max smirked slightly and went over to the punching bag. She gave it a light poke, as if suddenly not wanting to use it, and glanced over at Spike again. She jumped in the air, twirled, and landed a hard kick to the punching bag. It disconnected from the ceiling and flew across the room, crashing into a shelf. She winced and held her hand up to her mouth in surprise. Spikeshot up at the noise. Max quickly noticed he wasn't wearing a shirt. She smirked but covered it up with her hand.

"What the bloody hell was that?" he asked, looking around the room. Max pointed to the punching bag across the room.

"I kicked it a little too hard," she explained. Spike stared at her. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up."

"S'alright," he replied. He took a second look at the punching bag and Max's position, quite a few feet away. He smirked. "That seems to be a pattern with you luv. Kick things and accidently knock 'em off their hinges." Max grinned.

"It's not my fault everything is really weak," she joked. Spike smiled and leaned his head against the wall. Max noticed a small burn in the shape of a cross on the side of his face. "What exactly did Wood do to you in there?" Spike's smile faded slightly.

"Beat me up a bit. Nothing special," he said. Max frowned.

"Then why is there a cross burn on your face?" she asked. Spike immediately covered it with his hand.

"It's nothing. I heal fast remember?"

Max sat down next to him on the cot and moved his hand so she could see the burn. "That place was covered with crosses. He burned you with one," she stated, still examining it.

Her feather-light touch was driving Spike crazy so he took her hand and removed it from his face. "Like I said, I'll be fine. Still got a few bruises though. I just need to sleep," he explained. Max smiled slightly and stood up.

"Get your rest then. I can check on you later," she replied and walked up the stairs. Once Spike heard the door close, he sighed heavily and flopped down on his cot.

Max headed over to the couch and did the same thing. She was soon joined by Alec, Jondy, and Krit.

"What's up with you?" Alec questioned as he sat down next to her. She sighed again and didn't answer. Jondy and Krit sat on her other side.

"I have a wild guess thatit has to do with the bleached wonder down in the basement," Jondy stated. Max rolled her eyes.

"Aw, does little Maxie have a crush?" Alec teased. Max scoffed and swatted his arm.

"I do not have a crush," she denied. "I think you're confusing me with you and your own crush on the other blonde." Alec's face scrunched in confusion.

"Anya?" he asked. Krit rolled his eyes.

"She means Buffy," he explained.

"Oh," Alec realized. "You guys are insane. I don't have feelings for Buffy. She's hot, yeah, but I don't like her like that."

"Since when do you not like blondes?" Jondy asked. Alec shrugged.

"It's not about hair color Ms. Interpreto, I just don't like her that way," Alec retorted. "Plus I think she has some issues..." Max rolled her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. He looked at her in surprise but soon relaxed.

"I'm bored," she stated. Alec smirked.

"Now who's the annoying one?" he joked. Max sighed and lifted her head off his shoulder.

"I just need something to do...I don't exactly like giving commands to the potentials. It reminds me too much of Manticore," she explained.

"Understandable," Krit replied.

"I'm gonna go see if the others need help with anything," Max said as she stood up.

"I'll go with you," Jondy followed her into the kitchen.

Xander and Andrew were arguing. "No, you're way wrong mister, Star Wars Episode I was way beyond boring," Andrew said.

"I'm just saying it wasn't that bad..." Xander began. Then he saw Max and Jondy watching with amused faces. "Loser," he added quickly.

"Oh, don't let us interrupt," Jondy said, smirking. Xander laughed nervously.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked.

"Yeah, we're bored. Do you have any errands or something we could run?" Max questioned.

"Ooh, ooh! I know a game we could play!" Andrew said, face bright.

"Sorry, but we're not really interested in playing a game right now. Maybe later, 'kay?" Max replied. Andrew smiled appreciatively at her and nodded quickly before going into the living room.

"He's almost like a little kid," Jondy muttered before turning her attention back to Xander. "So how 'bout it? Got any jobs for us?"

"You could always help out with the potentials. I think they're still training..." Xander suggested.

"We'll be glad to help out with training...just, not giving certain commands. It reminds us too much of Manticore," Max explained. Xander nodded in understanding.

"The other alternative, for now at least, would be research. My personal least favorite," he replied. Max and Jondy looked at each other.

"Research for what?" they chorused.

High School...

Buffy sat at her desk, twirling around in her chair, balancing her cup of pencils on her forehead.

"Buffy?" Wood's voice startled her, but she managed to catch the cup before it shattered.

"Yeah?" she asked him warily. He had a bandage over his left eye and the rest of his face showed that he had obviously been in a fight.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked. Buffy nodded and followed him into his office, noticing he walked with a limp. He sat down at his desk with a slight groan. Buffy remained standing.

"You look better," she lied. He smirked humorlessly. "Why are you even here today? Spike is still resting. Although it is daytime...but the last time I saw you, you looked pretty beaten up. Still do."

"I thought you just said I looked better?" Wood pointed out.

"I lied."

"I'm sorry for what I did, Buffy. I know it doesn't mean much now but I still am. On the bright side, the trigger no longer works," he smiled slightly, but it disappeared when Buffy didn't return it.

"I know you're sorry. You should be. And I meant what I said to you the other day. Try that again, and Spike'll kill you. I don't have time for your vendetta," she sighed. "But I need you in this fight. I need as much allies as I can get."

"Thanks, that means a lot."

"So we're good?" Buffy smiled. Wood returned it.

"Yeah, we're good," he paused. "You're fired." Buffy stared at him shock.

"I'm what?"

"Fired. Effective immediately."

"You're firing me? I was just being all noble and accepting you back to the team. What gives..."

"There's nothing for you here, Buffy," Wood interrupted her. "People are leaving town, more than half the kids aren't showing up anymore. You've got more important things to deal with. Look at the big picture." Buffy sighed heavily.

"Right. The big picture...the one with the big war and dead girls."

"They won't die. Not if you get them ready."

"Some of the girls haven't even been in a real battle...not counting the transgenics."

"Then test them. That's the only way you'll know."

Buffy nodded. "Guess so..."

Buffy's House...

Books covered the dining room table. Jondy was researching on the internet while Max, Alec, Krit, Dawn, Anya, and Xander looked in the books.

"This kinda sucks," Alec commented as he put down the book he was reading. Max didn't take her eyes off the page she was looking at.

"Then go hang out in mini-Manticore," she replied. Alec sighed and picked the book back up. Max smirked.

"You really think the way the potentials are being trained is like Manticore?" Dawn asked the transgenics.

"Not exactly," Jondy answered. "Not everything anyways. Just the whole 'punch block combo' thing in the backyard. The rest is legit."

"How else are they gonna learn moves?" Xander questioned. "We can't just throw 'em at demon and say 'improvise'."

"That's not what we meant," Krit replied. "Just...for us, it hits a little too close to home. As long as they don't get yelled at or beaten for making a small mistake, then it's nothing like Manticore." A few minutes of silence followed.

"When does Buffy get back from her school job?" Max asked suddenly. Anya looked at the clock. It read 2:30.

"Couple hours," she answered.

"Speaking of school...why aren't you there?" Alec questioned Dawn. She shrugged.

"War against evil is a little more important than algebra," she replied. Alec nodded in agreement.

Buffy entered the room. "Are you all doing research?" They nodded. "Good." She turned to leave.

"Wait, what are you doing home so early?" Dawn asked.

"Wood fired me. I need to focus on what's going on here more anyway," Buffy replied. "I'm gonna go check on the potentials." She headed towards the backyard. She nearly crashed into Giles.

"Buffy, I need to speak with you," he said. She glared at him but didn't say anything. "It will only take a moment." she sighed and relented.

"Fine. Talk," she replied.

"I know you're very angry with me." Buffy scoffed. "But I need to help in this war. We both know that. I will do what I can to win back your trust, but you have to meet me halfway." Buffy sighed.

"I basically already had this conversation with Robin but...I guess you need to hear it too. You're going to have work pretty damn hard to get my trust again. You were the one person in the world that I trusted more than anything. And you went behind my back. It'll be a while before I can actually forgive you but...I know I need a lot of help in this. Your's, Robin's, Spike's. I'll take anything I can get. But try anything like that again and you're out. We clear?" Giles nodded. "Good." She continued walking to the backyard.

Dining Room (Nighttime)...

"I'm gonna take a break," Max said, stretching as she stood up. Buffy looked over at her.

"Could you go check on Spike, then? I've been meaning to but..." she trailed off when she realized the others were all staring at her.

"Sure thing," Max replied smiling. "I should also probably fix that punching bag..." Alec turned to face her.

"What punching bag?" he asked. Max smirked.

"Already worried I found another one are ya?" she teased. Alec rolled his eyes. "No need to fret, I was talking about an actual one that I accidently 'kicked off its hinges'-to quote Spike." Everyone stared at her in surprise but she ignored them. "Nurse Max going to report for duty." She headed towards the basement.

"That's a nice image," Alec commented, smirking. Jondy and Krit whacked his head.

Basement...

Max walked over to Spike's cot, where he was still sleeping. She lightly poked his face to wake him up. He stirred and groaned but didn't open his eyes.

"Wakey wakey," Max blew into his ear. His eyes snapped open. She giggled. "Figured that'd get you up." He turned his head to look at her.

"And you're waking me up, why?" his voice sounded slightly husky from sleep. Max grinned.

"I said I'd check up on you later. So here I am. It's nighttime by the way. Vampires aren't supposed to sleep at nighttime are they?"

"They can if they want to luv," Spike replied, closing his eyes again. Max scoffed and kneeled in front of him. Her face was inches from his. She stared at him until his eyes opened again. Blue eyes met brown.

"Are you getting up or not?" Max asked, voice low. Spike just stared at her.

"Hey guys?" Buffy's voice rang out at the top of the stairs. Max sighed and stood up, walking over to see Buffy.

"Yeah?" she asked.

"I'm going patrolling. Wanna come?"

Max looked over at Spike, waiting for him to answer. He sat up.

"Yeah, sounds good," he replied, still watching Max.

"Sure. We leaving now?" Max asked. Buffy nodded. "'Kay. We'll meet you upstairs in a second." Buffy left and Max turned back to Spike. "Where do you keep your shirts?" Spike pointed over to the dryer.

"Should be some clean ones in there," he said as he stood up. Max walked over to the dryer and pulled out a blue shirt. She tossed it over to him. Once he put it on, they both walked up the stairs.

Buffy was waiting by the front door. "Ready?" she asked when she saw them. They nodded and grabbed their coats.

Out on the Streets...

"So what's the plan again?" Faith asked Willow asked they drove down the road.

"We go to Buffy's and explain things," Willow began.

"Like how I'm not here to ruin her life? Promise she won't stake me?" Faith joked. Willow sent her a look. "Just joking Red." Willow opened her mouth to say something but had to quickly slam on the brakes. "What the hell..."

Willow jumped out of the car and ran over to a body that was laying in the street about 100 feet away.

"Least we know we didn't hit her..." Faith muttered as she got out of the car as well.

"Are you okay? Can you hear me?" Willow tried talking to the girl. She rolled her over and turned back to Faith. "This girl's bleeding badly. We have to get her to the hospital."

Faith didn't seem fazed as she sauntered over. "Yep. Guess I'm back in Sunnydale."

A/N-Another chapter done. Hope you liked it ;o) Review please!

Sky Angel-That was one of my favorite parts to write. I'm glad that their relationship is actually believable ;o)

Angel Of Darkness231-That does sound like a great pairing...definitely better than Alec/Buffy. Thanks for the idea ;o)

cora-I have thought about it but considering the fact that Willow's a lesbian I'm not sure how I'd write it. And when she wasn't one, she was with Oz. It'd probably have to be very AU.

RavynJensen-I really liked it too, so I'll probably use it ;o)

Tap Dancing Widow-I'm glad you like the pairings. I like BA too and ML is okay but I just like Alec more ;o) Your other review was fine ;o) Yes, some of Max's siblings will be making an appearance.

kim-I'm glad you like the interactions. I try to make them as much in character as I can... The blonde in the shadows was Buffy.

LadyV77-Don't worry, Faith isn't going to be paired off with Wood. I don't think I'll pair Wood off with anyone...but Faith is probably going to be with Alec...