Title: Calming the Beast

Rating: R

Chapter:2

Author:White Werewolf

Category:Buffy/Xander

Spoiler:Takes off from "The Wish." Then it hit's AU.

Disclaimer:I don't own anything, but the ideas, my computer, and my website: http: makes a wish that traumatizes Xander, and he becomes something far from human.

Author Notes:This idea came from Mac's Defender of the Night. It's also my way to do a Halloween fic, but not do the challenge. Hopefully, this turns out good.

Dedication:Merlin

-

Opening the cage, Buffy sat Xander upright. His large alligator head leaning against a book shelf. She carefully placed his tail away from his body so he wouldn't be sitting on it if he fell downward.

Taking a few steps back, she looked down at her friend. Her best friend, a friend that put himself at risk every night to help her out, and to able to have her survive for another day.

"We'll fix this, Xander. I promise you."

Kissing him briefly on the fore head, her lips feeling the now bumpy skin, and not the smooth white skin that she was so accustomed to see.

Turning around she walked out of the cage to see Willow standing in front of the cage with her hand holding onto one of the links.

Giles stood by his usual perch. Wiping his glasses, he glanced over at Cordelia who was looking rather shocked.

Locking the cage, Buffy walked over to Cordelia. Her arms wrapped around her chest, hugging herself. Trying to gather some support to make her feel better.

"Now that Xander's taken care of, Cordy. I want to ask you something."

Nodding to herself, Cordelia faced her. She could see Willow and Giles walking forward too. "What do you want to know?"

Buffy tried not to control her anger rising in her blood. She said in a calm voice, "Why would you wish that on Xander?"

She shook her head, "How was I supposed to know that my wish would come true?"

Giles said, "That may be a very good point, but how long have you known about the Hellmouth and the vampire activity that inhabits this town?"

Cordelia answered slowly, "Three years…well more like two years. That is if you count that Buffy only came to Sunnydale that first January and now since it's like December."

Buffy stated, "Two years, Cordy. Two years on a known Hellmouth and you make a wish that would turn Xander…" Turning her head to see her friend in full alligator body, "…into Leatherhead…into something that the world

was never to see exist."

The cheerleader shook her head, "Hold on, Buffy. I understand that you care for Xander. But, he cheated on me! With Willow!"

Willow glared at her, "So, that supposed to justify you making the wish! You haven't seen what he was going through. The other night he was going on and on trying to make it work again with you, but you were too kissing John Lee."

"Put him through! What he put me through!"

"Stop it!"

The three teenagers turned to glance at the elder man.

"You put Xander in danger, Cordelia. You made a wish, to a demon no less, and changed his whole existence. Xander may never be human again."

"But Giles."

"Just give us the pendent and go home. We'll contact you if you're needed."

Glancing at Xander, "But I want to be here when he wakes up. We may have broken up. But I still love him."

Willow said, "We all love Xander, Cordelia. Just give us the pendent."

Nodding to herself, knowing time was needed, she went for her necklace. But it wasn't there. "I lost it."

Buffy growled, "You lost it? You just had it!"

"It has to be outside. Xander made me drop it when he threw me." The cheerleader answered.

The redhead told her, "Go get it. Bring it here, and then leave."

Feeling tears started to dwell in her eyes, she ran out of the library in search of the pendent. The whole time hoping that Xander might be able to forgive her.

Watching her exit, Buffy asked her watcher, "What are we going to do?"

Putting his glasses back on his head, he said, "I'm going to have to research the pendent. That is if Cordelia brings it to me."

Buffy looked at Xander, "How come he attacked Cordy like that? I mean, I can understand him being upset with her, but why did he attack her?"

Willow answered, "That's how Leatherhead acts."

Giles questioned, "He acts?"

Buffy's eyes widened, "Wasn't Ninja Turtles also a cartoon?"

The redhead nodded, "Yeah, it was. But the comics were more adult. When they made the cartoon, they made it more satire. Anyway, Leatherhead is a character that acts like the Incredible Hulk. When he gets angry, he loses control. So we have to be careful around Xander."

The Slayer asked, "Do you think Xander has the comics still? I'd like to read them so I know what we're dealing with."

"One thing about Xander is that he takes extreme care of his comic books. So, I believe he still has them." Willow said.

Giles sighed, "I can not believe I'm actually going to have to research through comic books."

Buffy grinned, "This is Xander we're talking about, Giles. We have to find a way to change him back."

"What happened?"

The three of them turned to the cage and saw Xander starting to wake up.

"Do you think we can let him out?" Willow asked.

The Watcher nodded, "I believe so, Willow. If he gets upset again, we'll use the tranquilizer rifle again."

"Good." Buffy said as she opened the cage. Kneeling down next to him, she asked, "How do you feel?"

Xander rubbed the back of his head, "Alright, I guess. Just as alright as a guy like Leatherhead could feel like."

Xander started to stand up. He walked out of the cage. "I'm sorry about how I acted back there."

Willow shook her head, "It wasn't your fault. It's how Leatherhead would've reacted."

Reminding him of his new body, he glanced down at Buffy. "Do you have a mirror I could borrow? I don't know how I look."

She nodded, "In my purse. Which unfortunately is in my locker."

"I have a mirror in my office, Xander. I'll be right back." Giles then disappeared into his office, and returned within another moment. Holding up his mirror to Xander, he said, "Now, Xander this is only temporarily. We will find a way to change you back."

Xander took the mirror from his friend and brought to his face. His eyes widened as he saw the face of Leatherhead looking back. "God no!" He said as he felt anger started to surface. He quickly calmed himself, and sat down in open chair.

There was a problem though, he was too heavy, and the chair broke from the impact of his tail and bottom. Falling to the ground, he said with emparresment, "Sorry, Giles."

Giles said, "Don't worry about it."

Seeing Xander just sitting on the broken pieces of the wood, Buffy asked, "Doesn't that hurt?"

"No. Not really." Xander responded.

Giles clarified, "Having the skin of an alligator is rather strong and durable. His skin will be able to protect him more now then when he was human."

He grinned, "I can help you more on patrols now, Buff."

She smiled, "You definitely can. Just how strong is Leatherhead anyway?"

The male Scooby answered, "I don't think it was ever clarified. But he was able to lift up cars in the comics." A smile appeared on his face, "and he was also very intelligent. Now, I can get those A's!"

"Uh, Xand?" Willow asked.

"Yeah, Wills?"

"That's all good and all. But how are you going to get them? You can't come to school now, you realize."

Giles stated, "A lot of questions are going to be had answered. For instance, I don't think your parents are going to be easily accepting of your new body."

-

TBC