The four Immortals had made their way back to their table and were now slowly consuming their drinks. Duncan had opted to fetch everyone a refill while Adam made sure that Xander didn't leave his seat. They were all waiting for Joe to get back, but Xander kept sending nervous glances towards the door to the alley.
With a sigh Adam asked, "What is it Alexander?"
In a quiet voice Xander nervously stated, "We just left Vasquez out there." He just let the statement hang out there. He wasn't expecting to see the small smiles that graced their faces.
"Don't worry about it. Joe is taking care of everything even as we speak."
Xander noticed Joe walking into the club from the side door just after Adam had told him that it was being taken care of. He let off a small smile which made the rest of the table glance over to where he was looking.
"Well…speak of the devil." Adam muttered with his own grin. They all waited for Joe as he slowly made his way up the stairs and over to the table they were all sitting. Taking the seat at the end of their table Joe looked pointedly at Xander before turning to Adam.
"I'm assuming that you are going to tell him…if you haven't already." By hearing Joe say this, Adam knew he had just been given permission to tell Xander about the watchers…which was good since he was planning on doing it anyways.
"I was planning on telling him when we got back home. Adam admitted.
Hearing Adam say this, Xander started draining the rest of his beer. Putting his empty bottle back onto the table he slammed his hand onto the table before pointing at Adam.
"You…hurry up…drink quickly." Adam smirked at this and gave him an enthusiastic 'Yes Sir!' Xander then looked pointedly at Amanda and Duncan. Duncan rolled his eyes but began to hastily drink his beer. Amanda just smirked at him and sipped her martini. Once she had set it back down again, Xander took it and gulped the rest of it down, not really enjoying the taste but wanting to find out what the hell was going on. As he finished the drink he put it back onto the table and looked over at Amanda.
Amanda was trying to glare at him, but the humor held in her eyes, and the grin she was trying to suppress effectively nullified her glare. Xander stood up proclaiming that 'The night is shot to hell.' Joe looked up at him with a mock hurt expression, asking if he could get a drink too. To which Xander immediately told him 'No!' That got a chuckle out of everyone as they got out of their chairs and proceeded to put back on their jackets. The four eldest of the group were trying to think up what exactly to say, while the youngest was trying to think up what to ask. Hence the limo ride was uncharacteristically quiet.
Adam was the last to enter the mansion. The door hadn't even had the chance to close before Xander started to assault everyone with a barrage of questions. Adam just gave him a sheepish grin while directing everyone into his 'smoking room,' making a quick detour at the fridge to get some drinks for everyone.
Adam had persuaded Xander to allow them to tell their own stories. If he had any questions when everyone was done, then he could feel free to ask. Not seeing a problem with that, he conceded.
Everyone knew it was the quickening that would be standing out in his mind. If they didn't at least try to talk about it first, it would most likely be a distraction until it was discussed.
With a sigh, Adam started, "It was really quite a night. Wasn't it?" This got a snort from everyone but Xander. He just had a sorrowful expression.
With sad and worried eyes Xander looked at Adam. "You almost died tonight." His voice was soft yet carried to the others in the room sitting around the table.
"I suppose it did come close at a few points." Adam face was solemn for a moment. He then looked at Xander with a minute smirk on his face. "Remind me that there are some exercises I want you to learn." This brought a small smile to Xander's face and a nod of acceptance. "As far as the fight went…well…no two are the same." He looked straight into Xander's eyes before continuing. "No matter how much we talk about the fight, until you face another Immortal on your own, there isn't much we can tell you." Seeing the slightly worried look Xander was projecting, he amended, "Of course, I promise that you will have someone to watch your back until you are ready." He could see the quiet protest in Xander's eyes, but nothing was ever said. Instead, Xander decided to change the topic.
Xander glanced around the room a little uncertainly. "What happened after the fight…the Quickening…was that normal?"
It was Adam who spoke up once again. "I have witnessed countless, and have received many times more. I can tell you that no two are alike." Adam's eyes became distant, as though he was reliving a thousand old memories.
Duncan spoke up to cease the silence. "He's right. They all contain amazing power that manifests itself in different ways." Duncan had a thoughtful look in his eyes before turning back to Xander. "Though, tonight was a bit more bizarre that I am used to. The power put forth by the bolts of energy…that seemed normal…but the rain? That was a new one."
Amanda couldn't help but to agree. "And what the Quickening did when it came in contact with the rain," there was a certain gleam in her eyes, "it was simply breathtaking. I've never seen that happen before."
Joe decided to put in his two cents. "While I may have not seen as many…I can't recall any being recorded like that." He then shrugged, "Not that I've seen all of the records."
Xander looked at him for a moment with a curious expression before inquiring, "Records?"
There was a smirk on Joe's face that reminded him of Adam's. He wasn't sure what was about to be said, but from the serious, and somewhat amused expressions he was receiving from everyone else, he knew that what was about to be said was going to be important.
Everyone gave Joe there undivided attention as he turned to Xander and asked him a question.
With a friendly smile on his face he asked, "Have you ever heard of a Watcher?"
Xander gulped 'Ah crap!'