Xander awoke to the sound of arguing. Half of him was tempted to just go back to sleep, but the larger, more annoying half, forced him out of bed at arrow point.
Silently cursing all shoulder angels with slayer dispositions Xander made his way toward the argument. Glancing at the hall clock, and became more annoyed when he found out that he had gotten out of bed at four in the in the morning. Xanders who had been poked and prodded by a Willow should be asleep. If the argument didn't involve two beautiful women arguing over who got to seduce him first he was going to kill something.
"For the last time the answer is no," came Blink's voice.
"Why!" responded Buffy's nearly enraged voice. "You people are supposed to be heroes, so why won't you help!"
"There is a difference between being a hero and being stupid. Guess which one you are acting like," said Blink as her patience finally broke.
"I've kept the world going for seven years doing this. You have no right to just walk in here and start questioning how I do things," growled Buffy.
Deciding that now was the time to step in Xander cleared his throat and said, "As much as I would love to see the clothes ripping catfight that was about to take place, maybe you two should let me in on this."
"She is being stupid and planning to get all of you killed," said Blink.
Buffy just gave an animalistic growl and started to stalk towards Blink, only to stop when Xander put his hand on her shoulder.
"Buffy, no slaying houseguests. If you do Giles would go all British and lecture us on poor American manners again," Xander said in a light tone to help calm her down.
"You really shouldn't mention Giles right now Xander," said Buffy as she regained control.
"Fare enough," said Xander before he turned around to face Blink. "As for you, remember that I don't have any power yet so I can't hold her back if she really wants to kill you. That means don't insult the person who is mystically empowered to kill super powered demons."
"What I said still stands, I'm not going to send my team on a suicide mission," said Blink.
"Okay, what mission?" Xander asked Buffy.
"The one where we go back to the Vineyard," said Buffy.
Xander counted to ten while he successfully denying the urge to bang his head against a wall then said, "You were talking about that when we first met Blink and her gang, but you never said why."
Suddenly Buffy became energized. Here was Xander, loveable, dependable Xander. As soon as he knew why she was doing this then he could help her convince Blink. "It's where Caleb is keeping his power. If we go there now and surprise him we can take his power and use it against him."
"Okay, and what makes you think it won't be like last time," said Xander in an even voice.
"Because this time we can have Blinks team help us," said Buffy in an excited voice. "Her strong guys can help us take on Caleb and the Bringers. If anything goes wrong like last time Blink can teleport us out of danger."
"Okay, I'll go wake up Dawn, she'll be excited to come along," said Xander as he moved towards the area Dawn was sleeping.
"What are you doing! There is no way Dawn is coming," hissed Buffy as she painfully grabbed Xanders arm.
"Why not? You just said that if there is trouble Blink can get her to safety. After all it's not like the First would have the Bringers raid the empty army base for weapons," said Xander in an innocent tone.
"Because," said Buffy in a tone that indicated that was all she had to say.
"Are you worried that Caleb has powers he hasn't shown yet? Maybe you're worried that the First has others that are just as dangerous as Caleb guarding his power and that's why you're worried for Dawn."
"Why are you doing this to me!" said Buffy with tears forming in her eyes. "This is how I've won for the last seven years, why aren't you supporting me!"
"Buffy you haven't fought this way in years. Remember the Mayor? How much time did we spend in the library figuring out just how big to make the bomb? How many times did Giles make you run through the halls so you knew the quickest way out by heart? We did the same thing for ADAM and Glory. We have survived this long because you're smart enough that you don't rush in when facing a big bad."
"But there is something in the Vineyard, I know it," said Buffy.
"Okay, I believe you," said Xander in a loving voice. "If you give us something, anything, I'll lead the charge with you."
"You never needed anything more before," said Buffy as she struggled to hold back tears.
Sighing Xander removed his eye patch and said, "Nothing like this happened before either. If it was just you and me, I would probably follow you not questions asked. Truth is I probably couldn't live with myself if something like this, or worse, happened to Dawn, Willow, or one of the Slayers in Training because I convinced them to go along with a plan I didn't believe in."
"You promise you'll go along if I get something more?" asked Buffy in a whispered voice.
"On my life and on my Twinkies Buffy, I do hereby promise," said Xander in a mock serious voice.
"Thanks," said Buffy as she attempted to stifle her giggles.
"Don't worry, cheering up Buffy's are what Xanders do best. Now why don't you get some sleep so there isn't a grumpy Buffy tomorrow," said Xander with a grin.
"Okay," said Buffy as she began to walk to her room.
"You handled that well," said Blink from Xanders blind side.
To his credit Xander didn't jump and scream like he did the day before, he simple said, "She usually is better than this. I think that the pressure of coming back to life, raising Dawn, and now trying to train and protect all these potential slayers overwhelmed her. As soon as she lets herself relax and have a good nights sleep she'll get better."
"If you say so," said Blink as she turned to leave.
"She did have a point about you guys though," said Xander.
"What point would that be," said Blink as she turned back around.
"About you guys helping out more. You're supposed to be super heroes, that means doing more than waiting around for me to become a mutant," said Xander.
"What do you have in mind?" asked Clarice. She was reasonably sure that he wouldn't try to send her team on a suicide mission after convincing his friend to abandon hers.
"Patrolling. If your team helps out on patrols it could help erase any lingering bad feelings, and teach our teams to work together," said Xander.
"Sounds reasonable," said Clarice. "Now if you will excuse me I need some sleep as well."
"I think I'll join you," said Xander. A moment later he realized what he had said and quickly began to backpedal. "I mean that I'll join you in sleep. In different rooms, with no sexual thoughts at all. Not that you aren't sexy. I think I should shut up now."
Clarice just gave a small chuckle and said, "Don't worry about it. Just remember that my boyfriend can shoot lasers from his eyes, so you should keep those thoughts to yourself."
Not trusting himself to say anything more Xander simply nodded and went to his temporary room in the Summers home. Sleep was definitely good. Apparently sleep deprived Xanders made fools of themselves and got shot by boyfriends with laser eyes.
After this was over Xander decided to take a vacation. Maybe he should go to Cleveland and try to get on the Drew Carry show. After all some time away from the Hellmouth would be nice.