Love and Pain
Twelve Months Earlier
Sunnydale, the Hellmouth
They stood gazing at the devastation that had hit Sunnydale. Looking down at the dust and utter chaos, they were just relieved that it was finally finished. Now they could look forward once again. With the school bus behind them, Willow turned to follow the others when she felt a chill go down her back. Glancing around she sees no danger just her friends, S.I.T.s and a yellow school bus. Thinking it was her imagination, she enters the bus and they leave.
Across the widening chasm a figure stumbles out of the chaos that was Sunnydale. Dirty and disheveled she looks around in amazement at what had happened to her hometown. She then turns and unsteadily walks away…
New York City
Present day
It was just a sprinkle in the big city as she observed a possible potential. The woman was in her late twenties very pretty and wearing a business suit. She had followed her since early morning; finally the potential had taken a lunch break and traveled to a McDonalds. Parking she went inside, so Buffy slowly meandered toward her car grabbed the front bumper lifted it and laid it on the car's back bumper ahead of the potential's, all the while watching for anybody to notice. She backed away slowly to settle into a place where she could watch. Buying a paper she sat down on an old weather beaten wooden bus seat and waits. While sitting there, she notices an article on page 25, about missing orphans. She continues reading until Megan, the potential, arrives and cusses loudly looking at her car. Other people watch her in amusement but no one offers her any help. Finally after a little while she looks around and then goes to the bumper of her car puts her hand under it and easily lifts the car and lays it back on the ground. Satisfied she again looks to see if anyone saw her and then climbs into her car and drives back to work.
Buffy smiles saying to no one, "Gotcha." She then rolls the paper up ready to leave, when she notices a figure in a black coat step out between two buildings watching as Megan drives off. "Hmmm… and who are you?" He then turns looking around and heads down the back alley. Ms. Summers would have followed but it would have taken to long to cross the road. She would have lost him anyway; hopefully he'll show up again soon. She turns, signals for a taxi and leaves.
Megan's Apartment Building
Megan nervously worked around the apartment cleaning up a bit. She seemed to be cleaning for no good reason and why did she buy a large pizza to be delivered instead of her normal small pizza? Ah well she'll just have pizza for lunch the rest of the week. She then considered the article she wrote and sent to one of the papers. She really wished she could find out what happened to Sally and the other kids at the orphanage. She had just sat down when the doorbell rang. Answering the door, she noticed a petite young blonde woman who was wearing a pair of leather pants and a black top that said "Don't mess with Mrs. PMS". She also was wearing Black boots.
"Umm…hi, my name is Buffy Summers and…"
Megan gasped as she realized where she had seen this woman before, she was with some others who had been fighting a … a vampire. Stunned she just gazed at the other woman amazement.
"Ummm…hello…earth to Megan, you there?" Buffy said waving her hands in Megan's face.
"Plea…please come in and sit down." Buffy entered then turned and said "never invite someone in your house verbally."
Taken back by Ms. Summers emotional voice she timidly nods and sits down.
For a minute Buffy studies the young woman and looks her up and down. Megan, an African American, was just wearing faded blue jeans and a white t-shirt, no shoes or socks. She was a very pretty woman, but seemed a bit too shy. Megan reminded Buffy of Tara.
"Why'd ya' let me in?" Buffy asked.
"I…I…don't know. Maybe it's because you look familiar to me."
"You saw me in your dream…"
"This can't be happening; it was real good for me until about twelve months ago. Then I start dreaming of monsters demons and super strong females that seem to fight them!" Getting up she folds her arms looks down and paces the room.
"You saw me fighting demons and vampires, didn't you?" She saw Megan shaking her head yes. "What else did you see?"
"Umm…I saw four other people. An older looking man, a young guy with a patch on his face, a red headed girl and dark haired girl just like you, along with a lot of other girls who I never really got a good look at."
"Megan" Buffy said as she got up reached out and took her hands then she pulled her down on the chair. "The world is a lot older than we think it is…"
After about twenty-five minutes she had Megan laughing and talking like they were old friends. "An…and then Xander sticks his hands like this over his chest signifying large… and you know what I mean and…" the doorbell rang.
Glancing at Megan she says, "Waiting for anyone?"
Megan shakes her head no, and then says "wait the pizza delivery man."
"Ahh…o.k. go answer it."
Watching, Megan opens the door to find a tall man about Xander's height holding a pizza box. He looked somewhat familiar, then before Megan or the delivery guy realize it she pushes Megan away throws the pizza box down grabs the delivery guy and throws him across the room. With a hard boom he hits the wall and groggily tries to get up only to find a tiny foot keeping him from moving. He again tries to force the issue, but can not seem to move the foot at all!
Buffy looks at Megan and said "Ya' know this guy?" Megan shakes her head no.
Looking at the guy she's holding down effortlessly she notices his bright blue eyes, long blonde hair and gorgeous face. His black cloak was drenched from the downpour outside and his coat hung open showing a black shirt with a pair of dark jeans. His worn boots were black leather and came up to mid calf.
Currently his face seemed to be in pissed off mode. She expected a strong stream of curse words. His was so pissed off that she just had to let out a laugh before she questioned him. "O.k. who are you?"
"The name is DeOgan, I am from the Elfin' clan Nelgin'."
"Okaayy…so where's you're cookies?"
"Search me, look for them yourself." He said grinning.
Buffy realized what he had said and blushed.
He looked hard into this young girl's face and found a strong person who had great confidence in her self and easily took charge. She reminded him of his grand-father's friend Aragon, except of course female. She was lighter than him so she should have been easy to move, but tell that to the foot on his chest.
"If you're not dangerous I'll let you up."
"If I am will you kill me?" he said grinning.
"Probably." She smiled sweetly, as she let him up.
He frowned, but came to his feet anyway. He then looked to the other girl, Megan, and then asked "You are the one that wrote the article in the paper?"
Megan shaking her head yes looked at DeOgan and Buffy.
"Is that the one about the orphans." They both nodded.
"It seems orphans have been disappearing, just last month about…a…thirty I think. You see I work for the adoption agency and I check to make sure that the kids are treated right when I realized that the number of kids in the areas top Orphanages were missing kids. When I talked to people about it, they told me that the kids just left."
Looking at DeO the two girls waited for his explanation. Smiling he said "I was hunting one day and walked through a deep fog in the morning and found myself in New York City. After about a week I heard a person scream, running I saw a man holding a little girl throw her into a vehicle and leave. This has happened quite a few times over the past months knowing this and then seeing the article I assumed she would know more." As he said this he took some blonde hair that fell into his face and pushed it back behind his ear. Both girls just stopped and stared.
"Oh my god! You have Spock ears!" Buffy yelled. Megan just nodded in agreement.
He looked at Buffy with a knowing smile saying, "No, I have elf ears…Spock is no relation."
Megan giggled, Buffy frowned, "You and Xander have got to get together, or maybe not."
"Xander?'
"Just a friend."
After about an hour later they were discussing what she found out and eating pizza. Buffy found she liked the young lady and the good looking, handsome young man.
She kept finding herself staring at his face when he wasn't looking. He reminded her so much of Xander that it was scary. If she had fallen for Xander earlier, their date might have been much different. You could tell DeO was in good physical shape by the musc…
"Buffy!"
"What! I was just thinking about well muscled…I mean the kids." She said embarrassed. Luckily for her he didn't notice, but Megan did.
Smiling Megan asked, "We were just wondering if you knew what to do?"
"Yeah, let me make a couple of phone calls first." So getting her cell phone she hits auto dial, has a short conversation then hangs up. She then again makes another call, talks, and hangs up again. Give them an hour, they should be here.
"Are they in New York?"
"Naw, one's in Cleveland, the other is in Rome, Italy." Waving her hand, she goes back to thinking about the problem. Megan and DeOgan just look at each other thinking how they are going to get here in an hour.
They were sitting talking about DeO's place of birth, when they suddenly heard a conversation happening behind them. "Dawn, do you have to materialize in my shower all the time. You see me more naked than my…than Faith."
Dawn just stood there with a dopey grin on her face.
"Oh, hi Buffy." Xander said, while Dawn smiled and hugged her sister.
The other two just stared at the two, who had just appeared, confused. After the greetings, introductions and comments about Vulcans and Keibler Elves, the five got down to serious conversation. This ended with everybody in agreement as to what to do.
Outside of New York
Three days later
They had all met the suspect and found him to be a very nice guy and loving person. Buffy though had a bad feeling about him and continued to watch him by himself until one night Buffy saw Jim, the suspect, pick up a four year old girl from the orphanage and drive her out of New York. As soon as this happened she called the crew, Megan, DeOgan and Xander, to meet her wherever she ended up.
DeO liked Xander, as he liked to be called, more and more. They were like brothers, except of course they were two different species. Buffy, DeOgan and Megan had just noticed what Xander was wearing. It seemed to be a hooded cloak with a black shirt and leather pants with black low healed leather biker boots.
"Xan, why the outfit?"
"Oh, Buffy this is the warrior suit for the slayers, you will have one too."
"Wha…what? Why?"
"It's protected against spells and will even deflect some of the punches we take. Also it has hidden pockets to carry weapons. I'm wearing my sword, can you tell?"
A bit irritated, Buffy quickly says, "I'm wearing a bra, can you tell?"
"If you step over here I could do a quick check." Xander smirked, the others laughed.
"I'm sure Faith might have something to say about that."
"Okay, you win, checkmate." He says laughing.
"This is the way it goes down, he took the girl into that building next to the main house, Xander you've got the rear of the main building, the three of us will check the building where Jim went. Let's go!"
Alex went around to the back of the main house as the other three went to check out the building. Buffy entered the building first with Megan coming up second and DeO bringing up the rear. She cautiously snuck in looking for any alarms or cameras. Not finding any she continued until she found a door. She believed it led to the garage. She heard signs of a struggle from behind the door, so opened it up slowly. Her eyes widened at what she saw, there hanging upside down was the little girl, while the Jim was off on the other side sharpening a knife. Buffy seeing this burst into the room automatically putting herself between the man and the terrified girl. Looking up Jim grabbed the knife and moved in towards Buffy. Megan rushed to the girl and started to untie her as DeO pulled his sword from his scabbard.
"You are one sick son of a b@!$h and we won't let you hurt her!"
For his part looking at everybody, Jim smiled and said, "I give up." and dropped the knife.
Main House
Xander opened the back door slowly watching for signs of any movement. Off to the right he heard several people working. It must have been the kitchen, because he heard the sounds of pots and pans, and the sizzle of meat on the grill. He came around to the door and peeked in, two guys and a woman cooking with a carcass being butchered in the center. He suddenly took a deep breath and turned the corner to ask a question when…
He almost vomited. He stared at what was happening and it almost caused his mind to shut down. For their part, the three people in the room continued their conversation as to what they were going to do on the weekend. The woman threw some more meat on the grill while the guys were throwing vegetables in a big pot. To the left was a cook book in which Xander tucked into his cloak. He then picked up a list which was laid next to it. In the corner he saw boxes for shipping food. After a minute Xander again scanned the room even though it turned his stomach and came to a decision. He reached behind his head and pulled the Katana out of its sheath, he wasn't worried about them hearing it, for in a minute they wouldn't care anyway.
Sharon laughed lightly as she turned around to cut some more meat from the carcass, that's when she heard the sound. Looking up she suddenly saw a man in a black outfit. She then looked into the cold brown eyes as he stepped towards her. She looked around amongst the chaos in the room and new that no amount of pleading would help. She was resigned to her fate, as the sword swooshed and her bloody head fell on the grill sizzling.
The other two men, a little over weight, looked up as this happened. They came to a conclusion; they each ran in different directions. If Xander was in any state of mind he would have missed one, but he was beyond anger he was in vengeance mode. Swinging low he took out the legs of the one nearest him, and then he picked up a meat cleaver and threw it, striking the other in the back.
Frank had his legs taken out, he hamstrung, couldn't move as he watched the man's brown eyes look towards the walk-in freezer. Opening it he saw him suddenly blanch and look away, almost losing it on the floor. He then watched as he stood straight looked into Frank's eyes and the sword he held swooshed down…
Bobby watched in fascination as his buddy, his lover, had died at the hands of this maniac. He shuddered when the man turned and questioned him. It took only a few minutes. He didn't tell Bobby that he would let him live, Bobby knew better than that. He would be dead in a minute. Bobby never saw it coming when it did; it was over in a second.
Xander walked like a dead man out of the kitchen after turning off the stove…
Main Hall of the House
Buffy escorted their prisoner into the house pushing him in front of her. As they entered she heard a sound in the back noticing a very uncharacteristically calm Xander.
He looked at Jim then told Megan to take the girl outside now! Megan looked at him funny, but complied. Buffy was concerned when she looked into Xander's dead eyes. She asked if maybe she should take a look in the kitchen and started to move around him. DeO had looked into Alex's eyes and Knew something was wrong. As Buffy moved around Xander, he stuck his arm out and told her to get outside now! She was a little confused, but started for the door. She watched as DeO moved past Alex and entered the kitchen. Jim smiled watching the interplay between everybody. He still wondered why he wasn't arrested yet though, that perplexed him. Then Xander moved towards him and he saw him reach for something behind his back. Before he could even realize that he was wrong, these people weren't cops…
Buffy turned around to watch as Xander's sword was out and sliced through Jim's neck in one motion, beheading him. She watched in horror as her best friend had just killed a human! She then saw his cold eyes as he turned and walked to the door. Just then DeO staggered out of the kitchen…
Xander caught Buffy's arm and headed to the door, while calling back, "Don't vomit, it will give the authorities a DNA sample!" Nodding he followed behind wiping the door handle down real well.
They walked to the car off the grounds all the while Buffy staring at her lifelong friend. They drove back in silence, except for the crying of the little girl. During the drive back they stopped and made a call to the police. When they got to the apartment, Buffy called Dawn and she took them all back to Cleveland. Faith greeted her boy friend who side stepped her and proceeded to rush to the bathroom to vomit. She then ran after him and held onto him as he started to cry, shaking. The same could be said for DeO as he came in and rushed for the restroom in the hall spilling his guts. The girls just watched as Alex, who was supported by Dawn and Faith led him to their room. Willow then helped Buffy with DeOgan and let him sit down. Several slayers looked about bewildered with the chaos around them. Giles showed up and stared giving orders.
After about an hour later, sitting in Giles office Buffy, Faith, DeO and Giles were talking. She explained what happened and then what she saw in hall with Xander. They couldn't believe it. What made Xander snap like that? That's when DeOgan spoke up relating what he saw in the kitchen. Xander didn't kill one man, he killed Four people and if he was there instead he would have killed them!
Willow ran from the room, while Buffy threw up in Giles waist basket as he stroked her back and talked to her quietly. Faith turned three shades of green, but just held it together. Then the door opened…
"Guys, I'm not sorry for killing them." Xander stated as he entered with a very green tinted Willow. I'm only sorry I didn't kill them a long time ago."
"Why were they doing it?" a shaking Buffy asked.
"For the money," Alex replied. "It was a mail order restaurant Buff," as he threw on Giles desk a recipe book and the order book. They all quietly looked at the man Giles got up and pulled the younger man into a hug…
The next day Faith woke still finding Xander clinging to her it was a bit of a shock. He wasn't scared, just angry for all the children he couldn't save. She slowly disengaged his arms, took a shower and dressed. After kissing him on the forehead, she went downstairs for some breakfast meeting up with a tired Buffy, Giles and Willow.
"You guys going to be all right?"
They all shook their heads yes to Faith's question.
She looked at them uncertainly and then asked "You don't blame Xander, do you?"
Giles answered for everyone in the room, "Hell no! If I was there I'd a…" He trailed off as Faith looked into his eyes.
'Thanks, he's going to need all our support, you know?" They all shook their heads and then changed the subject as Dawn came walking in with the four year old.
"Hey, look who's up and hungry." They smiled at the girl and got her a bowl of cereal.