Greetings and Salutations. Another chapter (like you didn't know). Thanks for all your reviews. Please keep it up.
This one gets a bit dark for a while. Just a warning.
The second Xander walked in with Buffy hanging off his arm, Joyce knew something was wrong. "What's going on? Where's Faith?"
"On her way." Buffy said. "We split up tonight. She went with Angel. I…"
"Some vamp said something to her." Xander said. "Don't know what, but whatever it was, Buffy lost it. Staked the vamp, and I thought I was next." Joyce looked sharply at the two. "She just lost her temper. Whatever that thing said, pushed her a bit far." Buffy looked up at her mother, her eyes filled with fear.
"I heard it, mom." She could barely be heard. "Calling to me. The Dark Side, it…" Joyce rushed over to her daughter's side, taking her from under Xander's arm. This was the second time something like this had happened. Why Buffy? What had the girl done to deserve such trials?
"Could someone explain what this 'dark side' is?" Xander asked. "Because I'm kinda lost. I thought it was just whatever the vamp had said combined what Giles had told us about that crucial mental thing."
"Cruciamentum?" Doyle walked out of the kitchen. "What about it?"
"They're putting Buffy and Faith through it early." Xander said ignoring Buffy's begging's of no. "To test Faith's worth, and get rid of Buffy." Buffy felt her mother stiffen.
"And the vampire?" Joyce asked.
"One of Spike's." Buffy said hesitantly. "He left a message, that nothing could save you, Faith or me." Joyce took a deep breath.
"I see." She said. She turned to Doyle. "And what is this Cruciamentum?" Doyle explained the test. Joyce nodded. "I think I've had enough of these Watcher's meddling in my daughter's lives."
"Mom…" Buffy began.
"It's alright sweetie." Joyce said soothingly. "I'm not going to do anything stupid. I'm just going to lay down the law."
"No!" Buffy said forcibly. "These guys don't give a damn about human life. They only care about themselves and their war. You go in there, they'll kill you to keep there secret. You have to keep this to yourself. You can't go after them. I don't..."
"Shh, it's okay." Joyce said. "I won't go after them. But I'm not going to let them do this."
"Don't worry, mom." Buffy said. "I don't think Giles is willing to go through with it. Umm…changing subject, I asked Xander to stay the night. I just…"
"I understand." Joyce said. "We'll make the lounge up. Go get some blankets while explain what's going on."
"First things first." Xander said. "Shouldn't we tell Giles what happened?" Buffy looked over at him.
"Oops." She said. "We did kinda forget to report in, huh?"
"Yeah, and he's really worrying about you, what with the Council gunning for ya." Buffy nodded, and then looked out into space a moment.
"Alright, Faith's going to give Giles a censored version of what happened." She said. "I'll get the blankets. Xander, you might want to sit down." She disappeared up the stairs. Xander watched her get to the top, and then looked at her mother.
"So, what's going on?"
By the end of the tale, Xander was utterly confused.
"So, let me get this straight." He began slowly. "You're an alien from another galaxy who can manipulate this all powerful energy field. Buffy's been training since she was a kid to control these powers. Faith has the same abilities, and can access Buffy's training through their link, which has nothing to do with being Slayers and everything to do with this Force. The Dark Side is basically the evil Force that is accessed through the darker side of human emotions. Is that everything?"
"Extremely simplified, but yes." Joyce confirmed.
"Oh." Xander sat quietly. Buffy, who was sitting beside him, tapped him on the shoulder.
"You okay?" She asked. "I wanted to tell you guys, but…"
"Hey, I understand." Xander finally managed to say. "I mean, vampires and demons sure, I get that. But if you walked up to us and said 'hey guys, my moms an alien', that may not go down to well. Besides, this Emperor guy might hear, then the secrets out. Not sure how he'd hear…"
"Vampires are pure Dark Side." Joyce said. "He may be able to get information from them."
"Oh." Xander thought for a moment. "Maybe that's why every time Buff's lost her temper, there's been a vampire of some kind around. You know, influencing her emotions."
"Whoa, Xander." Faith said. She was standing right behind her sister, almost protectively. Angel, of course, had been sent home, meaning he was standing outside the window to make sure his Slayers (and he did think of them as 'his Slayers') were safe. "That actually made sense."
"A scary sort of sense." Buffy said. "If vampires can have that sort of affect on us, then what about demons? Should we really continue fighting them, if that's the risk we take? Two Slayers, Jedi trained, turned to the Dark Side? What kind of damage would we do? What could possibly stop us?" She shuddered. "It scares me just to think of it."
"Then don't." Xander said, looking at her. He never realised the dangers she faced, at least not the internal ones. "Think about the things you can do now. The lives you've saved, and the ones you still can. Stay with it, don't let something like this scare you off. Sunnydale, the world, still needs you. And we're all here to help you, when you need it." Faith smiled. Good old Xander.
"You're right, Xand." Buffy said. "I can still do some good. I just got to watch myself." Outside, Angel couldn't help but smile. Faith was right. Buffy needed the boy. He could help her far more than Angel himself could, and the souled vampire knew it. He turned away. They were fine, and as long as Xander was around, Buffy would remain fine. Now all he needed was a mate for Faith. Maybe then he could sleep without worrying.
"Ms Summers?" Both Buffy and Faith turned.
"Yes Mr Snyder." They said sweetly.
"Is there any particular reason why you two are late?" The new principle asked. "Again?"
"What can I say?" Faith said with a shrug. "We just can't go through the day without you meeting us at school." Snyder glared at her.
"Then perhaps you'd like to meet me after school to catch up on the work you missed?" He threatened. "Get to class. And don't let this happen again."
"Yes sir." They chorused as he walked away. "Troll." Buffy sent to Faith.
"Major." Faith agreed as they walked off. "We sure he isn't some kind of demon or something?" Buffy shook her head with a grin.
"Sorry, F." She said out loud as they made it to class. "No Slaying the principal."
"Nuts." Faith muttered. The took there usual seats across from Willow. Xander was nowhere to be seen.
"Hi guys." Willow said cheerfully. "Have you seen Xander? He didn't show up this morning."
"He was over our house last night." Faith explained. "Buffy had a fright and asked him to stay." Willow's eyebrow shot up as she looked at Buffy. The Slayer's face turned bright red. "He said he was going home to change and get his school gear and meet us here. I thought he'd be here by now."
"He's probably fine." Buffy said as Ms Calender walked in. Stupid troll, she thought. They weren't that late. "It's not like there's anything that could hurt him during the day." Willow fidgeted uncomfortably. Faith looked over at Buffy. Not another word could be said as Ms Calender started the class. They'd have to take this up with her after.
"Still no Xander." Buffy muttered worriedly. It was recess already.
"I'm sure he's fine." Giles said. "Nothing to worry about."
"Unless the Council grabbed him." Faith muttered darkly.
"I don't think so." Willow said. "I keep forgetting you guys haven't met Xander's parents yet." Buffy and Faith looked over at her.
"Willow." Giles asked calmly. He'd heard rumours from the teachers about the Harris', but had never had any confirmation about it. "Is there something you need to tell us?"
"Mrs Harris isn't too bad." She started hesitantly. "She's really sweet. It's the man she lives with that's the problem."
"The man she lives with?" Buffy asked.
"None of us, Xander, Jesse or myself, would ever call that man Xander's father." Willow said. "He's a drunk. He comes home drunk, gets even more drunk, and then takes his bad days, which is most of them, out on Xander and his mother." Buffy blinked a few times, then looked at Willow in horror.
"No." She breathed. "You mean…"
"Oh dear God." Giles said, running to the phone in his office. Buffy collapsed to her knees.
"Buffy?" Faith moved to her quickly.
"This is all my fault." She muttered as Faith held her close. "This is…"
"There's no answer at the Harris'." Giles said, running back out.
"I'm going to Mr. Snyder." Willow said.
"That won't help." Buffy said. "All he'll do is call the cops, and Mr Harris'll get away with it."
"Buffy, you don't know that." Faith said soothingly. "Giles, call our place. Mom won't be home, but Doyle might be." Giles nodded, heading back to his office. Faith looked back down at Buffy, who was still sobbing into Faith's shoulder, blaming herself.
"There's no answer." Giles yelled. Faith couldn't help but grin.
"'Cause he's already there."
Doyle pulled up in front of the house. This was the place. He just didn't understand what had taken the Powers so long to let him know. He walked up to the door and knocked. Nothing. He looked around, then, when he was sure no one was watching, he revealed his demon side.
He sniffed the air and was almost knocked over by the smell. Fear, anger and pain, a barrel load of pain and it was still happening. No time for subtlety, he thought, kicking down the door. "Hello?" He said, pulling his human face back in place. He heard a small whimper from the basement, followed by what sounded like skin hitting skin. He rushed toward the sound, heading down the stairs. He stopped, horrified by the scene before him.
There was a woman, unconscious, off to one side. At least, Doyle hoped she was unconscious. In the centre of the room lay Xander, bloodied and broken, barely alive. Standing over him was a rather large, rather angry man.
"Maybe from now on you'll do as your told!" The man yelled.
"Back off." Doyle shouted. The large man turned around.
"What do you think your doin'?" He demanded. He was drunk, obviously. Doyle could tell that from the smell of alcohol in the air, and the empty beer cans littering the basement.
"I was just checking on my young friend down there." Doyle said, as calmly as possible.
"Hmph, you? A friend of this piece a' shit?" The man slurred. "Yeah right. Get out 'a here."
"Just back off, and there won't be any trouble." Doyle warned. Normally, he wouldn't use his demon strength against humans, but in this guy's case, he'd make an exception. The man charged, only to cop a face full of Doyle foot, followed by a vicious left jab. The man sprawled on the floor, unconscious. That should keep him occupied for a while, he thought, going over to Xander.
"Doyle?" The youth muttered.
"How the hell do you get yourself in these situations?" Doyle asked. Xander tried to shrug and was rewarded for his efforts with a sharp pain. "Hang in there. I'll get help."
"Mom?" Xander rasped. Doyle moved over to the woman and checked her pulse.
"Alive." He told the teen.
"Good." Xander said, before slipping into unconscious. Doyle checked him quickly before heading back upstairs to call 911. Why the hell'd that boy have to go through this?
Stay tuned
Doc.