"There is a perfectly legitimate explanation," Xander said. "The dog's not a dog. He's a werewolf."
"It was nine o'clock in the goddamn morning," Hondo said. "Werewolves only change on the full moon, and they're vicious killers when they do. I've done my research."
"That's true, Hondo," Xander said. "Except for this one. And actually, werewolves change on the full moon and the nights before and after it."
"That's still not 9 a.m. a week after the full moon," Hondo said.
Xander sighed. "He learned to control his change," said Xander. "He thought he was a danger to his friends, and the girl he loved, so he learned to control it. For her. But it turned out she just brought it out in him. But, I guess, he's gotten better since then."
The others were staring at him. Xander knocked on the side of the van, and a young man with bright red hair, wearing a shirt two sizes too big and a pair of shorts that barely held on to him.
"Hey," he said. "Thanks for the duds."
Most of the SWAT team gaped at him.
"Oz," Xander said. "Thanks for the help."
The guitarist looked up at Xander. "SWAT?"
"Yeah."
"Cool."
Hondo looked at Xander, who smiled.
"Daniel Osbourne, meet the best SWAT team in the country. Guys... this is Oz."
Oz looked around at them. "Hey."
"All right, I give up," Deke said to Xander. "Does crazy shit like this always happen around you?"
"Pretty much, yeah. Oz, we're having a little trouble with an explanation. Wanna help?"
Oz's expression didn't change.
"He gonna respond?" Sanchez asked.
"Oh, that's his thinking face," Xander said.
"It... looks just like his other face," said Boxer, pointing at him.
"Yeah," Xander said. "He's like that."
"Well," Oz said, ignoring the talking that had gone on around him. "Wild animal's out."
"Enclosed area. And, you know, plane," Xander said, nodding.
"Elevator mauling?" Oz asked.
Xander snapped his fingers. "Perfect." Xander turned back to the team. "He tripped over... a seatbelt or something, or on a wet spot, fell into the open food elevator, which then was activated, and it scraped up his body."
They looked at him incredulously. "Well do you have a better story?" he asked. "I'm doin' my best here, and Oz probably saved somebody's life today, probably one of ours."
Street shook his head. "Do you know every supernatural freak in the world?"
"Well, first off, Oz isn't a freak. He's a victim of infantile cousin teething. Second, no, I don't. Just most of the ones in California. It so happens we went to high school together."
"Whatever," Hondo said. "We'll go with your story for now, if something better comes up..." he shook his head. "I swear to God, Harris, you're going to be the death of me. All right, all of you, get out of my sight. I have to go figure out why the hell we were provided incorrect blueprints of the goddamn plane."
Deke shook his head. "Xander, man, you live a fucked up life."
"Don't I know it," said Xander.
"Hey," Sanchez said. "He's not a fugitive too, is he?"
Xander rolled his eyes and flipped her the bird.
"Fugitive?" Oz asked.
"Faith," Xander said. "She broke out to help Angel with LA's magical disappearing sun, went to Sunnydale to help stop the First, and nobody's really intent on taking her back to prison."
Oz and Xander walked out of the station together.
"You need to get your stuff from LAX?" Xander asked.
Oz nodded. "Could help."
"So, you can control yourself while in wolf-form, now, huh?"
"Yeah," Oz said. "For a year or so, now."
"That's cool," Xander said as they climbed into his truck. More of a literal climb for the shorter man. "How long you in town for?"
"Don't really know yet," Oz said.
"Hear about Sunnydale?"
Oz nodded. "Scoobs?"
"Anya and Spike."
"Damn," Oz said. "Everyone else? Willow?"
Xander smiled as he pulled out of the parking lot "They're in Cleveland," he said. "New Hellmouth, and tons of Slayers. Willow's helping Giles set up a new Council, cuz the old one got blowed up."
Oz nodded. "She and Tara...?"
Xander blinked. "Shit," he said, with a heavy sigh. "Last year. Tara was killed. Shot by this guy who was trying to kill Buffy."
Oz said nothing, just stared out the front of the truck.
"And he is now..." Oz prompted.
"Dead," Xander said. "Willow... Oz, she turned dark. Killed Warren – the guy who shot Tara? Then tried to end the world."
Oz looked at him. "You were there," he said. "Stopped her."
"Yeah," he said. "I was on suspension. How..."
"Got a feeling," Oz said.
Xander accepted that at face value. "Got a place to stay?"
"Lotsa hotels here," Oz said.
Xander smiled. "I know a good one. Cheap, too."
Oz nodded. "Thanks," he said.
"Just gotta make one quick stop at a hardware store first," Xander said.
Oz nodded, and they continued the ride in silence.
"Hello, hello, hello," Xander said, walking into the Hyperion with Oz.
"Good afternoon, Xander," Wesley said, not looking up from his text.
"Wesley, it's rude to ignore your guests," Xander taunted.
"Since when are you a guest?" Wesley replied. "You're here often enough you no longer count."
"You cut me to the quick, Mr. Wyndham-Pryce. But it's not me I was talking about."
Wesley looked up. "Oz," he said, coming around the desk. "How nice to see you. I had no idea you were in town."
Oz looked up at Xander.
"Oh, right," Xander said. "Last you two met, Wes was still a prat with a huge pole up his ass. He's better now."
Wes rolled his eyes. "Yes, thank you for that glowing recommendation, Xander," he said. "How long do you intend to stay in town?"
"Xander!" Dawn yelled, virtually throwing herself down the stairs and latching onto Xander.
"Whoa, whoa, it's a Dawn-rocket," he said, catching the near-flying girl and spinning her around. "What's with all the enthusiasm?"
"I haven't seen you in like a week!" she said. "Oh, and hi Oz!"
"Hey," Oz said.
"Dawn, it's been three days," said the Xander half of what had be come a XanderDawn.
"I know, but I never ever saw you the past four years except like every couple months. I like seeing you more," said the Dawn half.
"Well, I gotta say, I like being seen," he said with a smile. Xander turned to Wes, with the girl still attached to his side. "You guys got a room open?"
"Certainly," Wes said. "Oz, would you like second, third, fourth or sixth floor? The fifth is currently under renovation, and thus, is unusable."
"Um... second?" Oz said.
"Excellent," said Wesley. "Current rooms taken on the second floor are 207 and 219. Any others are open to you. In lieu of keys, we have removed the locks from all rooms not in constant use. Our porter and concierge have just quit, and thus we will be unable to transport your luggage for you."
Oz shot a look at the XanderDawn. "Just pick a room," Xander said. "It's not a hotel, it's a detective agency."
"Well, what else would it be?" Oz asked.
"I see you have a new growth, Xan," Faith said, walking out of the gym in back. "Wolfy. Hi."
"Faith. Hear you renewed your membership."
"Something like that," she said.
"Well. Welcome."
"Thanks," Faith said, unsure of how to react.
Oz looked around. "Isn't anyone ever surprised to see me?"
Receiving a few shrugs, Oz let it go, and took his bag from the XanderDawn. "I'll take a room now?"
Xander nodded, and Oz walked up to the second level.
"Dawn," Faith said, "you planning on lettin' the X-man move?"
"He can walk," Dawn said, not removing her arms from around him.
"What do you say?" Xander asked. "You girls up for a movie tonight?"
"Every time you try to take us to a movie, you get called away to go shoot people," Dawn said.
"Yeah, but that won't happen tonight," Xander said.
"How do ya know?" asked Faith.
"Hondo said we have the night off, cuz of our thing earlier today."
"Oh," Faith said. "Well, I can't anyway. Robin's coming back to town for a couple days tonight."
"Ah ha," Xander said. "So it's time for a few rounds of hide the salami."
"Xander!" Wesley said.
"What? I'm not wrong," said Xander.
"He's really not," Faith said with a smirk.
"Oh well," Xander said. "What do you say Dawn? Movie?"
"Uh... lemmethinkyeahokaysurewhattime?"
"Whenever," Xander said with a chuckle. "Your choice. Movie, time, place, whatever. I've made my quota of decisions for the month."
"Okay," Dawn said, detaching herself from Xander's side. The young woman bounded up the stairs to get ready.
"Jesus, that girl gets attached," Xander said, sitting on one of the couches.
"Well, that's because she's in luuurrrvvv," Faith teased, plopping down on the couch next to him.
"Here," he said, pulling a key from his pocket.
"What's this?" she asked.
"For you. I gave one to Dawn when she got here, I'm giving one to you now. It's a key to my apartment. I want you to feel free to visit anytime."
"Oh," Faith said, looking at the key. "Oh... wow. Uh. Thanks."
"Yeah, well don't read too much into it," Xander said with a lopsided grin. "I keep a lot of spare keys with friends because I lock myself out more than you'd believe. This just means I get to call you to open my door for me at 3 am. I mean, I have a key over the door across the hall, but that gets taken sometimes."
"Oh, wow, thanks," Faith said sarcastically. "That's a real honor."
Xander yawned. "Ah. Sorry. What time's Robin supposed to get in?"
"His flight leaves in about an hour," Faith said.
"Xander!" Dawn yelled from the second floor balcony. "How about that pirate movie?"
"Whatever you want, Dawn," Xander said.
Dawn squealed in excitement. "Orlando Bloom is so hot!" She ran back to her room.
Xander shook his head. "I'm so lucky most perps don't have that much energy. I'd never catch 'em."
Oz came back downstairs to join the former Sunnydalers. "Plans?" he asked.
"What do you think, Oz? Pirate movie?"
"I'm game. I've heard good things about it," he said.
"You heard good things about a pirate movie when you were in Tibet?"
"Internet," Oz said. "It's everywhere."
Dawn came barreling back down the stairs. "Okay," she said. "Dinner, then movie at 8:15, and ice cream or coffee afterwards."
"So says Dawn, so shall it be done," Xander said, standing up off the couch. "Okay, I'm gonna go crash back at my place, I got woken up early today."
Xander said his goodbyes and left the Hyperion.
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End Chapter 9