A/N: The subsequent parts were co-written with another author whose identity I will protect by calling her "Patience." Thanks, sweetie!
Part 2
Xander woke up slowly as new sensations made their way to his sleepy brain: really gross pastel curtains, a slightly stale smell, the sound of an overworked air conditioner clunking in the background. Slightly confused but calmed by the rhythm of breathing, Xander looked down the bed. Silver belly button stud, red lace underwear…WHAT? Xander shoved himself backwards, nearly tumbling off the bed.
"Uuph," grunted Faith in response to the elbow in her gut. "Get offa me!" Faith sat straight up, ready to fight. Xander just stared. As if the red lace thong wasn't enough, he could now see through Faith's white tank to her thong's matching red bra.
"You go to fight an apocalypse wearing THAT!" Xander gasped.
"Yeah, well. You know," Faith shrugged. "How'd we end up like this anyway?"
"Dunno," replied Xander, regaining his composure. "Where is everyone?"
"Must be out," said Faith. She began to ease herself out of bed. "Ouch," she grunted, discovering a new bruise. "I feel like I've slept for days."
Standing upright, Faith raised both of her arms over her head to stretch and Xander gaped, then looked quickly away. "Well, if you want to get in the shower or something…uhhhhh… go ahead," he managed.
Faith looked hard at him, then relaxed. "Guess I'll need to do some shopping today, since this is all I've got," she said, shrugging past Xander on the way to the bathroom.
Xander eased himself back onto the pillow as the events of the last day came flooding back with the sounds of running water. "Anya." He sighed and shook his head. Best ignore those feelings right now. His mind continued along the timeline - the end of the fight, the mad rush out of the school and the frantic drive out of Sunnydale. Then looking back at nothing: the entire town imploded and a giant gray crater marking the close of the Hellmouth. "And I couldn't even say goodbye." Did he say that out loud?
Xander got up and began to pace, empty closet to scarred outer door and back again. Last night. Oh, yeah. They had finally arrived at an outpost of civilization large enough to boast a hospital, a motel and a Pizza Hut about 2 hours after their last view of the Hellmouth. Principal Wood and the injured Potentials were deposited at the hospital with Giles who was to make whatever explanation he could to appease the doctors. The news channels were strangely mute regarding the suddenly lack of Sunnydale, California. It was almost as if had been wiped off the face of the earth without anyone to notice.
Xander sighed. Figures, he thought. Everyone smart left town a week ago and won't come back until they hear it's safe. With the news networks ignoring the new crater, former Sunnydale inhabitants won't start heading home until they get really curious. Xander ran his hands through his hair. He wouldn't want to be the one to have to concoct a story about what had happened to the town. Nor did he want to hear one. The truth was enough for him. Yet again, they saved the world. No credit. And no food either, Xander thought, as his stomach rumbled.
The water shut off and Faith emerged from the bathroom.
"What is it with motel towels?" she asked, trying to hold one closed. Faith moved around the bed, looking for clothes. She found her jeans, grimy with ash and blood, shook them out and shrugged. Since no one seemed to be around to lend anything, it was this or nothing. "I'm outtie," Faith announced after struggling into her filthy clothes. "Want anything?"
She got a strangled "No, thanks" from Xander who had been staring out the window, trying not think about the glass' reflective properties. The door slammed shut and she was gone.
No sooner had Xander started scrounging for his pants than the door burst open. In came a triumphant Dawn, holding out a Pizza Hut box, followed by – yee, gads – everyone: Andrew, Buffy, Willow and Kennedy. "You're up," Dawn exclaimed, holding out the pizza box. "Did you know you've been asleep forever?"
