As they ate in relative silence, Xander thought about how things were different after Sunnydale.

On the road away from Sunnydale, Buffy spent the whole ride staring blankly out the window. Willow was asleep on Xander's shoulder while Kennedy glared at him. Most of the potentials were in various stages of injury. Giles was just staring straight ahead as he drove.

Xander shook his head. "Giles."

"Yes?"

"Uncle Rory's place isn't too far from here. He rarely asks questions. And when he does, it's ok not to answer. He also has a few friends who are private doctors. My uncle mentioned something once about them being known to accidentally lose records to fires or something."

"Where?"

"Just follow my directions."

As they continued, Xander looked over at Faith. He tensed, then relaxed. She'd taken command from Buffy, and they'd all supported her. But as it turned out, if they had not…. Then Buffy might not have been dropkicked out of her funk. They had all needed Buffy the Slayer, not the commander.

Faith had come into her own as well. It had turned out that being given overwhelming responsibility was something she needed to boost her up a little. He sighed. She looked over.

"What?"

"Just thinking things over right now."

She smirked. "While looking at me?"

Xander smiled sadly. "Well, it'd be hard to concentrate on anything with you around, and I need a little distraction."

She raised an eyebrow.

Xander's eyes got wide. "Not that kind of… though we… ah screw it."

Faith laughed.

- - - - - - -

Xander blinked then shook his head. Then he looked at the group he was with. They were staring with slightly amused glances.

"What?"

"We've been waiting for you. You finished eating a minute ago."

Xander rubbed his forehead. "Right, sorry. Now then. Where would you like me to start? Then we can go from there."

"How about those people we fought, and how you knew how to stop them?"

Xander took a second to compose himself. "Ok, remember the little magic thing I showed earlier?"

"Yes?" Cindy said while Max and Sketchy just looked.

"Well, can your mind accept the existence of vampires too?" Xander leaned back and waited.

"WHAT!"

Xander tapped his fingers in order. "One, mythology has always stated that if you stick a piece of wood into a vampire's heart, it will turn to dust. However, the book called Dracula made it out to be slower than it is…. Then again, Dracula was never one for staying dead when he's dusted…. But that's another story. Two, they have strength and agility, and need to drink blood to survive. Three, the soul of the person that was in the body goes to the place souls go. Over recent years, I've come to believe that's Heaven, but that's just me. I'll leave it to you to figure out where for yourselves. Four, a demon takes complete control of the body."

Xander looked at the dazed looks on their faces. "You saw the bodies turn to dust."

Max stared. "Then why haven't there been more attacks?"

Xander smiled grimly. "Because the ones who would've reported them generally die in the confrontation. In this day and age, after the pulse, there aren't as many records showing who lives where or goes by what name. Combine that with the fact that everyone's a lot more paranoid and mistrusting… and it's actually easier for a vampire to kill without the victim being missed.

Sketchy spoke up. "So you kill these things?"

Xander grinned. "When I can, but there are others that are more powerful. Don't get me wrong, I do my share." He pointed to his eyepatch. "I've got the scars to prove it…. And the grief…"

Xander shook his head clear it.

"More powerful?"

Xander nodded. "Witches, werewolves, and slayers. We even have a ghost… though he handles the cleaning at the house…. We simply found a way to remove the apartment he was in…. another long story."

Cindy shook her head. "Wait…. Witches, werewolves…. Ghosts?"

Xander smiled. "Even the occasional chaos mage… though I haven't seen one in many years. The Pulse might have actually satisfied their need…." Xander looked at the dazed faces and decided to change the topic.

Max spoke up. "What's a slayer?"

"A female, gifted with strength speed and agility… but these are not activated until she reaches a certain age. And then only if the previous slayer died."

"Are you sure she's not transgenic?"

Xander shook his head. "A small part of them probably wishes that actually… then it would mean that they could bow out of the fight and retire whenever they want to. But, the fact is, that slayers have existed since before the 16th century."

Max glared for a second. "Could transgenics have been created from a slayer?"

Xander shook his head. "I don't think so. The gifts come from magic, and the healing is magical in nature too… there isn't any genetic difference between a slayer and an average human. Except for whatever standard genetic differences are passed on from father and mother." Xander blinked. "However, if you want I can have two of the members of the organization I'm with come over and test you…. The testing I might add is magical, so no needles or paperwork."

"How big an organization is it?"

"We're worldwide… and with magic, our communications are intact. Some members of our group can even transport people over long distance by magic…"

They rubbed their heads. "It's overwhelming."

Xander nodded. "Yeah, and there are other things that you don't need to know simply because they're ancient history. No need to get worked up over them."

Max stared. "So, what, you want to recruit transgenics?"

Xander blinked. "No. Establish contact with, and send reinforcements as needed to your people…. But no recruitment. Anyone in our organization except slayers are voluntary. And the reason that is, is because slayers don't have a choice. We just decided a long time ago that they'd live longer with backup. Which includes full field trauma capability in the event of serious injuries."

Max shook her head. "You said you could call your friends."

"Yes."

"When can they get here?"

"Probably tomorrow… and if I know Willow she'll probably bring a christmas tree and decorations…. And with her occasional contacts in the black market… we'll even have turkey and dressing, and knowing Faith, a clown to attack me with water balloons."

"What is the name of your organization anyway?" Cindy asked.

Xander grimaced. "Technically it's the Watcher's council. More in honor of Rupert Giles who with some assistance set the ground work after the first one was destroyed. Personally… I don't think the old council deserved the honor. They just watched as slayer after slayer died within 6 months to two years after she was called. They just wanted a soldier."

Max shuddered. "I know that feeling."

Xander blinked. "Didn't mean to…"

"I always remember, it's ok."

Xander nodded. "Right… now…" and he sighed. "For some technical aspects of vampires. Holy objects like crosses will hurt them, holy water will burn them, decapitate them and like anything else they'll die. Fire kills them. When you open the door to the outside in your home, don't verbally give them welcome. Gesturing for them to come in is ok. If they're vampire, they can't cross the threshold."

Xander grinned sheepishly. "With that out of the way, any idea where I can sleep?"

All three stared at him.

"What? I only got in town tonight."

Cindy looked at Max, who looked back. "This should amuse our mutual friend if nothing else."

Xander stared back and forth between the two. "What friend?"

"Ever heard of Eyes Only?"