The Archer

"Hey, Wes," said Xander as he and Faith walked into the hospital room.

"Xander, Faith," Wesley said as he sat upfrom his bed.

The British Watcher had just awoken from his coma. Giles, Willow, Oz, and Cordelia were on his right while Buffy, Xander, Faith, and Angel were on the other side.

"The group was just informing me of what I missed out on," said Wesley, "Sorry to hear about your home, Xander."

"What do you remember," asked Faith.

"I ran for a long time," said Wesley, "In my manly way. I finally stopped running once I realized I was in the cemetery. I got frightened and decided to head back to my flat, but then...I remember hearing something whistle my way. Then, I fell to the ground, a sharp pain in my leg. Everything went dark around then."

"Which cemetery," asked Giles.

"I don't know the name," said Wesley, "But, it's the one near the funeral home."

"There aren't any homes out near Xander's house," said Oz.

"No," said Xander, "Well, we'll just have to find a different way to get to Dominique."

The group left the hospital collectively, each needing to get home before the night gave way to day. Giles was taking Cordelia home while Oz and Willow were going in Oz's van.

"Xander," said Angel, "I'm going through the park tonight. Want to come with?"

Xander looked straight into the vampire's eyes. Something was deeply troubling the vampire, something that was taking up a great amount of his concern. He wondered what it was. Xander sighed and pulled out his keys.

"Now," he said with a smile, "Which Slayer should I give them too?"

Immediately, both Slayers began to bat their eyes at him. Faith enjoyed driving his car around more than he did, and Buffy enjoyed driving period. Thinking along this line, he tossed the keys to Buffy. Buffy squealed and jumped into the front seat, followed by a fear-stricken Faith. She had heard of Buffy's driving abilities from Willow. Buffy yelled out for them to have a good night, then took off down the road.

"Are you sure that was such a good idea," asked Angel.

"If something happens, they're near a hospital," was Xander's reply.

Xander and Angel walked through the park. They hadn't spoken since they had left the hospital. Xander would have tried to get him talking, but, somehow, he knew that the vampire was having trouble enough as it was coming to him. It must be important, whatever it was.

Xander's senses suddenly went into heightened alert. He looked over at Angel and noticed that he too felt something was off. Then, they heard the unmistakable sounds of battle. The two ran to the scene, Xander tossing Angel a dagger as he got his short sword out. When they arrived, they saw an interesting sight.

Jack O'Toole, fighting off two demons without mouths.

"Jack," shouted Xander, "What are you doing?"

Jack just ignored him as he blocked a punch off the demon. Xander sighed, then surged forward, Angel right behind him. Xander threw a punch into the demon, and it staggered backward, but maintained its balance. Angel, on the other hand, was making short work of the demon, already knocking it down to the ground.

"Be careful," warned the vampire, "Don't let them bleed on you."

Xander morphed into his game-face, startling Jack as he did so.

"Relax," said Xander, "I'll explain later."

Xander and Jack slammed into the demon, bringing it down to the ground. Xander drew his sword up and made to plunge it into its head, but the demon lashed out with its leg and kicked him off. Jack drew his own knife and stuck it into the head, using his jacket to cover his hand and ensure that no blood hit him. The demon convulsed for a moment, then stopped moving. Xander could tell by its look and its aura that it was dead. He turned to look at Angel, who was just brushing himself off after killing the demon.

"Who's he," asked Angel.

"Angel, meet Jack," said Xander, "Jack O'Toole, Angel."

Jack nodded his head at the vampire, who was also in game-face.

"Someone mind explaining why you two have vamp faces," asked Jack, "Because, I know you can walk in the daylight, Xander. Him, I don't know at all."

"He's a vampire with a soul," said Xander, "And I was once possessed by a vampire. It's a long story."

"I didn't know vampires could have souls," said Jack.

"Most can't," said Angel, "I'm the only one."

"Savvy," said Jack, "So, what's up with these assholes?"

"Don't know," said Xander.

"They're telepathic demons," said Angel, "That's why I didn't want you touching their blood. They're supposed to be able to transfer an attribute over and I don't know what it is."

"I'd better take this off, then," said Jack as he carefully took his jacket off, "Don't want to get infected and grow horns, now do I?"

"What are you doing out here, Jack," asked Xander.

"Hunting demons," he said, "I thought about what you said and I figured 'why not?' People are out here, dying, and I can help them."

"Not alone, you can't," said Angel, "If you're going to start hunting demons, then you need to know a little bit more about them. Even if you are a zombie, you need to actually know how to kill them and fight them. You got lucky this time, but you won't always get lucky."

"Did you tell him I was a zombie," asked Jack to Xander.

"I can smell it," Angel explained.

"I'm with Angel on this one, Jack," said Xander, "I'm glad you want to take an active part in this, but I have two questions. Why?"

"Like I said, people get hurt," said Jack, "I used to be one of those people that hurt other people. I want to help people so that they won't suffer as much."

"Good," said Xander, "Now, do you want for us to train you?"

"Sure," said Jack, "Any bit of help is great."

"You have a car," asked Xander.

"Yeah," said Jack, "It's just outside the park. You want a ride?"

"Go home for tonight, Jack," said Angel, "We're actually turning in right now."

"Come by the library tomorrow afternoon like I told you," said Xander, "We'll work something out then."

Jack nodded, then walked away, leaving the two alone. Xander sighed and grabbed the first demon's legs, then dragged him over into a thick patch of leaves. Angel followed suit and the two effectively hid the demons.

"We'll bury them in a few vampires graves," said Xander, "Make them have some use. Hopefully they won't dig them up."

He and Angel sat down on the picnic table nearby. Angel got out some cigarettes and started huffing on one, then offered some to Xander.

"Don't smoke," he said.

"Huh," said Angel, "I thought that, what with you being part soldier, vampire, and hyena, you would smoke."

"Meditation does it better," said Xander, "Why are you smoking now, anyway?"

"It feels like the right time," said Angel, "Xander, I've been thinking a lot about what happened…with Acathla."

Xander nodded, wondering if it was going where he hoped.

"I remember Willow talking about her spell," he said, "She told me about it. Then, I remembered how Buffy had fought during that time. She had gone all out. If she had known about the curse, she wouldn't have fought even half as hard and we both know it. Buffy told me that you had gotten Giles out during that time. Now, just from what I know about you and Willow…you knew about the spell?"

"…Yeah."

"And you didn't tell Buffy?"

"No." He had no trouble saying this.

"Why?"

"A number of reasons. A part of it was jealousy, jealousy over how easily you had won her when all you did was play cryptic guy."

"Yeah. I did act bad during that first year, didn't I?"

"You didn't help in the slaying, you tried to kill Buffy when Darla convinced you, you only helped out when Buffy was in danger. You had power, but you didn't use it."

"In my defense, during that first year, I was still trying to settle into this."

"Which is a factor I took in. However, then I recall what Buffy told us of The Three."

"A good point. Any other reasons?"

"It was mostly about what I call the 'big picture.' Some would call it the Chaos Theory. Like, how a butterfly landing on the ground in Alaska can determine events in Nova Scotia. If Acathla succeeded, then the world goes to Hell…literally."

"You told Buffy so that she would fight harder for the world, even though you knew that if she ever found out, she would probably kill you."

"Yeah. I never told her because of what happened after she tried to exorcise me. She had finally noticed everything that we've been trying to tell her. She was on the right track, at last. Such a huge betrayal would only serve for her to be pushed backwards, not forwards. I planned to tell her after my birthday, but…Dom came back and…"

"It got shelved."

"Exactly. Is that what's been on your mind?"

"Yeah. That and how we are as a couple."

"I can't help you there, buddy. To me, it's you two's own decision. If you decide to be together, then we'll accept it. If you don't, then I can guarantee that nearly all the group will side with Buffy. Faith, Cordelia, and I won't. We'll be there for both of you."

"…Why are you so good to everyone, Xander? I mean, it's obvious right on the off that you had a bad childhood. You got belittled and down-right mistreated by everyone, including me, and yet you still fight alongside us. Why is that?"

"Honor. It's something that, even when the teacher doesn't have any, you never lose. Unless you give up. And I am unwilling to give up on my friends."