Author: Charlie Timeline: Post BtVS S7 & AtS S5. Sequel to "Best Laid Plans" and "A Fair Exchange.
Summary: The face we see isn't always the one that is visible?
Feedback: Coin of the realm.
Author Notes: Round and round, the ship goes. Where it lands, the Author doesn't know. Will it be (A)my, (B)uffy, (C)ordelia, (D)awn, (F)aith, (F)red, (H)armony, (K)ennedy or (W)illow that wins the Xandman? Vote now.
"It's okay Buffy, we're here now."
Dawn silently guided inside her apartment and shut the door. Buffy automatically went to the couch, no sooner had she sat down then she again buried her face in her hands. The young brunette watched her tears start up again. She sat down next to Buffy and lightly touched her arm.
"Go away."
"No."
"I said go away Dawnie. Leave me alone."
"And I said 'No'. Why should I? All you're going to do is cry and wallow in your own pity."
Buffy's face peeked out from beneath her hands, "I'm a horrible person Dawn."
"No you're not. Misguided, naïve, stick-figurish, but not horrible."
"I'm dead inside Dawn. Mom would be ashamed of me. She couldn't bear to look at me."
"What? What are you talking about? Mom wouldn't be ashamed of you any more then I am. And I happen to think you're pretty darn great... for an older sister."
"Even though I'm... dead inside?"
"You're not inside, outside, upstairs or downstairs. You're Buffy, you're MY sister."
"Xander doesn't think so."
"Xander doesn't know you as well as he thinks he does."
Buffy looked up at her younger sister, "what? I've known Xander longer then anyone. Even Willow."
"And? I've known you even longer. Xander isn't infallible you know. I know you love Spike."
A shiver ran up the Slayer's spine as Dawn continued, "Just like I know you love Angel. Not to mention Willow, Giles, Faith, and of course Moi."
"So what are you saying exactly?"
"That Xander just really needs to pull his head out of his ass right now."
"I stabbed him Dawn. I almost killed him."
"So? You did the same thing with me. You told Giles that you have sent me into the portal against Glory."
"Dawn, I-"
"It's okay Buffy. I know you weren't all right in the head then. The First, Spike, everything. You're better now."
"I hardly call feeling like I've been cut open and gutted, 'better'."
Dawn dismissed her objections, "You're yourself now. No more post I'm-back-from-heaven-anger or I'm-the-Slayer-and-the-only-one' stuff. Now you're just Buffy."
The blonde still looked doubtful.
"Dawn, not all of that was... wasn't me."
"Don't worry about it. We'll go to the doctor tomorrow. Okay?"
Buffy nodded as she let Dawn pull her into a hug. With her face buried in the younger girl's long hair, she missed the wave of relief that washed over Dawn's face.
Elsewhere
Andrew was huffing slightly, carrying Spike was hard considering he was literally dead weight. The bleached vampire's legs were drug uselessly behind him while one arm was wrapped his neck. Spike's other arm reached out and he used the wall to steady himself.
"S'alright lad. Take a break. It's hard work carrying a body up and down flights of stairs and such. I should know after all."
"You're not dead. I mean not 'dead' dead, you're undead."
The former trio member managed to open the door to the apartment and move Spike inside, "Where to?"
"Recliner by the telly. Want to be front and center when Ol' Robin comes in to dust me."
Andrew shot him a horrified look even as he assisted the vampire into the chair. "Robin's going to kill you?"
"Well let's see he just found out that I raped and killed his mother. And thanks to Harris, I'm a sitting target. An easy, fresh kill for any bleeding fool."
"You could lock the door?"
"What so it would take Faith a little longer to break it down for him?"
"Why would Faith do that?"
"She's his bleeding woman, she'll do her bloody best to help him get me what's coming to me."
"So you want to die?"
Spike looked crossly up at him, "Nobody wants to die. I just don't know if I deserve to live. I mean look at what I did to Buffy and Fred. Ruined their lives I did. Been better off with Junior Watcher and the Whelp. Stupid sod I am."
"But they choose you..."
"Damn right they did. And I enjoyed the 'choosing' I did. Made them both holler and scream better then anybody else did. Bet that poof Travis wishes he could do the things I did."
Andrew looked uncomfortable and nervous after that. "So... So you're glad you did those things?"
"Damn right. Wished they had a better ending but don't regret what I did or why I did it. I went and got me soul back for Buffy's love. Completed the trials of that damned demon shaman. Went all nuts for a few weeks. That's what I did for love. Then that bleeding Wolfram & Heart trinket shows up and fries me."
"But you're here now. And you've managed to help out a lot, even Angel said so."
"Captain Forehead will say anything to that conscience of his. It's even bigger then his ego. Go on, leave me be whelp. I'll face me bloody fate on my own."
Andrew looked concerned as he left the apartment, he almost locked the door on his way out but thought of Spike's words and left it open.
Across town
"So this is it?"
"Yes sir. All of the pieces were accounted for."
"Seems awfully small."
The being known as Mr. Thomas reached into an open box and picked up a charred foot. There were other pieces, some recognizable, some not scattered in the other boxes. Frowning, he turned to his underling. "Are you sure this is all of it?"
"Yes master."
"And you say he was defeated rather easily?"
"Yes master, at the time of his creation, all weapons were forged."
"Well that was awfully short sighted of his creators." He frowned then smiled, "Still it's nothing that can't be ... improved. And his other abilities?"
"They will return when he is made whole, master."
"Good...I think those could stand some improvement as well."
The chilling sound of Mr. Thomas's laughter echoed throughout the rooms and halls of his residence.
The streets of Cleveland
"So what exactly are we looking for Xander?"
The one-eyed man seemed to ignore the question as he scanned the streets. Angel kept looking at him out of the corner of his eye as he drove. The memories of Xander's harsh words and actions towards Buffy and Faith kept his grip tight on the steering wheel. The crippling of Spike and sizable dent in the dumpster had convinced him that something was very wrong with the young man. The problem was he wasn't really sure he could do anything about it.
"Relax Dead man, If I was going to do something to you, I would have."
"So what's stopping you?"
"Stop the car."
Angel did as he was told and looked over at Xander who was already unbuckling his seat belt. With a grin he turned and smiled at the vampire, "Found what I was looking for."
He quickly followed Xander's lead and followed him as the latter walked towards a man sitting on some steps. The man was dressed in a somewhat dirty white T-shirt and baggy, loose fitting jeans. He also seemed to be wearing an excessive amount of jewelry in Angel's opinion. Xander moved closer and addressed the man as soon as he was within comfortable speaking range.
"Hey, what's the world man?"
"Nothing man."
"Cool, I got this party lined up and I need some entertainment. You know nothing high end, but nothing cheap looking either. Just something solid, you know what I'm saying, think you can help me out?"
"Yea Dawg, I can help you out. It's gonna be a couple bills though."
"Cost isn't an issue. So we got a deal?" Xander offered his outstretched hand.
"Deal." The other man took it and they shook hands. Then Xander yanked the other man to his feet and head butted him, knocking him out in one blow. Smiling, he picked up the unconscious man easily and headed back to the car. Angel followed closely behind him, "What are you doing?"
"Relax Fang, Nobody's gonna miss this guy. We just need to go to another part of town. You know someplace with less people and more unpleasant things. Now are you gonna drive or am I?"
Silently Angel got behind the wheel and drove off.
"Turn left and head over the bridge, I want to go below 42nd."
"That place is crawling with vampires."
"I know that."
With little traffic, the duo made their way to the area and entered an alleyway behind one of Cleveland's many deserted buildings. Xander slapped his captive lightly to awaken him.
"Wake up sunshine."
"What the fuck man, -"
"I'll ask the questions shit head answer correctly and we all can walk out of here and go home. Answer incorrectly and," Xander punched the brick wall beside the thug's head leaving a good-sized hole.
"Get me."
"I gotcha."
"Good, a few days ago, a girl and two guys were murdered in their houses. One girl escaped went kinda nuts. Hear anything about it?"
"Only what I read in the papers."
Xander responded by stomping on the man's right foot. The sound of breaking bones was heard, as was the man's scream. "Wrong answer. Now try again. Did you hear anything about it?"
"Fuck no man," terror crept into his voice, "that kind of shit is see no evil, hear no evil. You know."
"Oh is that it? That's how things work."
"Yeah, we don't see, hear or know shit about stuff man."
Xander said nothing as he produced a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. The man's eyes grew wide as he saw them. "Hey man, what are you doing?"
"Nothing," Xander said as he casually handcuffed the man to a pipe that ran the length of the alley. He then picked up a beer bottle and smashed against the brick wall. With an expressionless face, he lifted the dirty white T-shirt and lightly slashed the man across the belly. Wrinkling his nose, he stepped back away from the man.
"Couldn't wait till you get home could ya? You just had to go and piss yourself."
"Let me the fuck go."
"Patience my young padawan."
"What are you doing?" Angel's voice betrayed his barely surprised shock and increasing anger.
"Fishing. Come on, you don't want to scare them all off now do you?"
Xander lead them around the corner and waited with an increasingly sickened Angel by his side, ignoring the man's frantic pleas. The former detective was just about to go set the man free when he heard it. The sounds of shuffling footsteps approaching down the alleyway. The pleas from their 'bait' seemed to die down as he thought someone was coming to rescue him. A low growl that reached their ears said otherwise and then the man renewed his pleading. Xander seemed to smirk then he dashed around the corner with Angel on his heels.
Angel barely had time to take in the scene of a vampire in game face stalking towards the man before Xander tackled it. After a brief scuffle, Xander emerged in control of the vampire, keeping it pinned to the ground.
"Looks like we caught ourselves a live one, in a manner of speaking of course. Now what shall I do with you?"
He seemed to contemplate for a minute, "Maybe I should throw you back? Or just stake you and be done with it?"
The trapped vampire growled at him. Annoyed Xander leaned down until he was almost face to face with the demon, "Listen up ugly, we both know how this is going to end. The only question is how will we pass the time until then. I can make it fly or drag it out for days, what's it gonna be?"
The look in the thing's eye said it all. Xander sat up, satisfied, "Now that we understand each other. I have some questions. A few weeks ago, a couple of out of town types entered the city. They seemed pretty familiar with the tunnels, know who I'm talking?" The answering growl caused him to shake his head as he casually removed the crucifix from around his neck and then pressed it into the cheek of the vampire.
There was the smell of burning flesh and a howl of pain before Xander removed it. "So what do you know?"
"Nobody knows anything about them. Or the new guy."
"A few days ago, two men and a girl were murdered in their homes. One girl escaped, chased by some of your friends. She said she was running something else. Any idea what?"
"I don't know anything. Word is the new guy had something to do with it."
"Who is this 'new guy'?"
"Nobody knows. He looks human but he isn't. He's scary bad. Tore thru 3 gangs like a lawn mower. Word is he's the biggest bad-ass in town."
"And yet no one knows anything about him?"
"He's scary man. He keeps out of stuff. Doesn't care for feeding or money or anything. Just shows up and demands things be done or given to him. Anybody that doesn't hop to dies."
"Interesting. Thanks for the info."
Xander smiled at the captive vampire before he tore it's head off. As the creature dusted he turned and looked back at the other two. Angel's normal guarded expression was replaced by one of surprise and ever so slightly, fear. The other man was staring at him, unable to move. He dusted himself off as he made his way over to his 'bait'.
"Hey man, thanks a lot. I couldn't have done that without you. Thanks to your courage and sacrifice, hundreds of thousands of lives are safer now."
The man at last found his voice, "Y-You really mean that? I helped save people?"
"Yeah you did. And as your reward, you'll never have to worry about things like that attacking you again."
The man smiled as Xander reached up to where to where the handcuffs were.
"There is just one thing my man, I saw in the paper where one of your girls, a 14 year old runaway was found dead, raped and with a whole lot of smack in her system."
"Yeah?"
"So..." Xander smiled at him as he withdrew a knife from the small of his back and plunged it thru the back of the man's head, straight thru the brain stem, killing him instantly, "So I hate evil regardless of age, race, sex or species." He withdrew the knife, wiped it on the man's shirt and walked away.
"Coming Dead man?"
