The black Lexus powered its way down the motorway away from the small town he had helped liberate from the machinations of a man simply known as Hess, his new car and several pieces of equipment all held snugly in a secret compartment beneath the back seat of the convertible were all fruits of his mission.
With almost one hundred and twenty thousand dollars hidden around the car, in his luggage and his clothing he was well off for a while, enough money to continue his trip across the states as well as enough to set him up when he got back home.
But for now he was happy enough to cruise the highways of America music blaring from the radio of his new car, one he really needed to get put under his own name. The music and the open road what more could he want?
Then the shit really hit the fan.
The music was interrupted by the hourly news on the radio from one of LA's major networks, sitting back he listened to anything new worth noticing, a relaxation that changed to shock and anger as he slammed on the breaks and swerved to the side of the road.
Reaching over he turned up the radio and listened carefully to the headline from LA.
"…destruction of a skyscraper office building belonging to law firm Wolfram and Hart devastated much of the surrounding area when a high explosive weapon believed to be a stolen bomb from a so far- undisclosed army base somewhere in the United States. Eyewitnesses observed a vehicle leaving the scene of the explosion after leaving what seems to be some form of calling card, the fingerprints listed from the card have been confirmed as being those of eighteen year old Alexander Harris, a former student from the town of Sunnydale California."
"What the fuck?"
"Anyone that approaches this man should be aware that he is considered armed and extremely dangerous, an arrest warrant for the teenager ha been issued by the police offices of the greater LA county and the FBI, more news as it develops…"
Switching off his radio Xander looked at the digital display in shock, a massive explosion in LA and he's the number one suspect even though he'd left LA days ago. That was all he needed, pulling out one of the untraceable mobiles he'd stolen from Boston when he took the car he dialled a familiar number.
Rupert Giles' home Sunnydale, California Same time.
Giles stared at the television as the pictures of the destroyed Los Angeles building was brought up by one of the local new channels, already it was confirmed that out of the thousands of people in the building or in the structures below it that not one person would have made it out alive, the casualties figure was at one hundred percent.
The shock that Xander's name had been brought up in connection with the tragedy had buckled his knees from under him causing him to drop back onto his sofa, that one of his 'children' could be blamed for this was ridiculous.
Xander was many things and could to a great many more but the cold blooded murder of thousands of people using a fuel/air bomb was beyond even him, the problem was that Giles knew that Xander could and would destroy anything that may have been a threat to them or anyone else, the fact he also could have taken that bomb from one of the local army bases right from under the noses of the soldiers put another nail in the coffin for the young man.
"Oh God Xander…"
"GILES!" A scream came from outside and then inside as two young women ran into the building through the front door, a smaller young man following them serenely closing the door after them. His facial features were schooled into the usual mask of indifference but he could see a slight tic in the werewolf's face then only show of emotion he would get out of the young man.
"Giles, did you see the news?" Buffy asked
"Yes I did…"
"How could they think he did that, Xand couldn't kill all those people could he? Nohecouldn'twhatamIsayingokgodihopehe'salrighticouldn'tbaretoseeitifhewasreallyhurtwheredoyouthinkheisdoesheknowaboutthis." Willow babbled finally stopping to breath.
"Slowly Willow, I didn't understand any of that."
With timing that could only be explained by television scripts or bad writing the phone rang at that exact same time, picking up the phone Giles spoke into it.
"Rupert Giles speaking, Xander my lord son are you alright." Both girls ran up trying to get to the phone, trying to fend them off he finally got the girls to sit down and put the phone to his ear."
"Sorry Xander, do go on."
"Let me guess, the girls wanted to get the phone from you.
"Indeed, are you alright?"
"For now, I suppose you guys have seen the news."
"Yes, what happened Xander."
"Not a clue Giles, I'm about a hundred fifty miles from LA at the moment, stopped in a small town for a few days and helped some people out but then I turn on the radio and BOOM I'm now one of America's most wanted."
"Can you get back here?"
"Not without running into serious trouble on the way back, there's likely roadblocks and a hell of a lot of cops running around LA county, besides Sunnydale will be the first place they look when they get their heads together don't be surprised if you get a visit from the LA police."
"What are you going to do?"
"Go underground I suppose, stay off the radar until I can figure out what to do, look I've got some money from a job I did some stuff to help me stay undercover if I need to and no way for anyone to track me. I'm about as safe as I can be right now, if you are asked about me…"
"We won't say anything…"
"Giles I want you to say you had heard from me and that I had nothing to do with this, I can't tell you where I'm going or when I'll be back, but you are not to lie to the cops nor the girls, none of you should get in trouble for lying to the police."
"Are you sure about this?"
"As sure as I can be." Xander said, "Look I've not got long before I have to dump this phone odds on are the government will find this call and track me, please can I talk to the others."
"Of course." Giles said as he handed the phone to Willow.
"Xander?"
"Yes Wills."
"Are you okay."
"Yeah I'm fine Willow, look this may be the last time I can call for a while, with everyone after me I need to hide for a while, I'll be back when I can but you have to believe I didn't do this, I wasn't anywhere near it."
"It's okay Xander, we know you couldn't have done this, please be careful out there we don't want you to get hurt."
"I'll try Willow, you know I love you right?"
"I love you too Xander." She started to tear up, "just please come back in one piece."
"I know what piece you're thinking of."
"Xander!" She screamed, crying laughing and blushing at the same time. "I miss you."
"I miss you too Willow, be good and look after Giles and Buffy for me."
"I will bye Xander." She passed the phone off to Oz who was standing next to her.
"Hey." He said
"Oz?"
"Yeah."
"You good."
"Been better, you?"
"Same."
"Good."
"Look after them for me ok."
"Will do."
"Watch your back too."
"Ok."
"Bye Oz."
"Bye Xander." The werewolf said and handed the phone to the blonde slayer who eagerly took the phone from the musician's hand, taking a deep breath she spoke into the phone.
"Xander?"
"Hey Buff."
"Are you going to be ok?"
"Yeah, I just won't be away for a while."
"We'll find a way through this Xander just hold on for a while."
"I will do Buffy, look I have to go I can't risk being found by some FBI wireless tap, just please be careful out there alright."
"I will."
"Look after everyone for me Buffy, I won't be there to help for a while but you know stuff comes up."
She smiled at her friend's attempt to make her feel better, "I will do, just promise you will phone us or contact us somehow every so often just to let us know your ok."
"I'll try, I love you Buff, look after yourself."
"I love you too Xander, watch yourself alright." The two knew she meant that in more than one way.
"I will do Buffy, put Giles back on ok."
"Ok Bye Xander."
Giles retook the phone from the silently crying blonde, Willow came up to the forlorn slayer and sat down crying herself both girls trying to console the other.
"Hey Giles, do me a favour will you."
"Of course."
"Look after them for me, don't let them push themselves further than they should, I wish I could be there for them but I trust you to look after them more than anyone I know Rupert." Xander sighed down the phone, "I don't pretend that I'm indispensable to the fight but I do delude myself that I'm needed by the two of them anyway, so look after everyone Giles especially the girls."
"Believe me you are and always will be by all of us, Xander."
"Thanks Giles."
"Watch you back out the son."
"Thank you G-Man… Giles, I appreciate it."
"Watch yourself as well Xander especially your proclivity to attract the problems we deal with."
"That Watcher-speak for what your arse?"
"Indeed."
"Noted and double noted watcherman, Look after yourself as well Giles I'll be in contact when I can and somehow try to find some contacts to get hold of me if you need me."
"I will Xander and thank you."
"Your welcome..." He paused and took a deep breath, "Love you too G-man."
"The sentiment is very much reciprocated Xander."
"Typical English." Xander laughed. "Bye Giles."
"Goodbye Xander."
"He's going to be alright, right Giles?" Buffy asked her watcher.
Giles looked at his charge and her friends and merely shook his head, he didn't know and God knows if he ever would.
Customised GMC Van That same day.
"…the fingerprints listed from the card have been confirmed as being those of eighteen year old Alexander Harris, a former student from the town of Sunnydale California., Anyone that approaches this man should be aware that he is considered armed and extremely dangerous, an arrest warrant for the teenager…"
"No Way man, no way that kid did that." BA said as he switched off the Van's radio
"I agree, he helped to save that entire town and others just because he wanted to, he wouldn't have killed thousands of people he just isn't that type." Face replied.
"Normally I'd say you were right but there was something in that kid's eyes when we spoke that last time, something I've only seen in our business a few times and only a few more times back in 'Nam."
"How so."
"Well you know the saying sometime you stare into the abyss and if you look long enough it stares back?"
"Yeah."
"That kid stared it down and kicked its ass"
Higher Dimension.
"The rules have changed."
"The balance is tilting, the Lawyers were not supposed to be destroyed this soon."
"The senior partners are unable to rebuild and recoup its losses from that incident."
"Do we know who did it?"
"No but the humans have proof that one of their own did it, one untouchable by either side."
"Who?"
"A human, a sacrificial piece that has defied all strategies against it and bested our own prophecies."
"The breaker of prophecy and the first of the new warriors."
"Indeed, his untouchability leaves him off of our view and that of the demons."
"Then he may have done this."
"It is possible if he knew of them."
"Then he is a problem for us and our plans."
"Yes"
"Kill him."
"Agreed, all champions shall be brought against him."
"The balance shall be restored."
"As it should be"
Lower Dimension.
"Well?"
"My lords, it seems that the LA branch was destroyed by a human."
"Impossible no human could have known the truth"
"We believe it was one of the untouchables chosen by the great lord himself to hold the balance in the war between our two sides."
"Which one?"
"The one from the barrier, the human who created the second slayer and defeated the plans to unlock the barrier from without and within."
"How could such an insignificant destroy one of our greatest works."
"It is unknown my lord however we were unable to sense the bomb was ready to go before it did and only the untouchables are capable of this."
"Find this child and kill him, send the Tarakans."
"Yes my lord"
Black Lexus
One week later.
Florida Keys
The sun was shining as it did most days in the Florida keys, the sporty black convertible heading down the motorways at quite a clip belied the thoughts and actions of it's driver, for a week Xander Harris had been a hunted man as news of the destruction of a Los Angeles law firm became widespread across the country.
The last week had been relatively easy to get around, the police and government responses to the bombing had been centred around LA and the surrounding area, few people would think he was as far east as he was allowing him slight anonymity, combined with the fake IDs he carried he was quite safe from cursory inspection.
Travelling down the highway he approached what seemed to be a roadblock stopping people going past that point, beyond he could see the rest of the road was gone- pulling up he noticed one other person around. Climbing out he approached the barrier noting the radiation signs and blast damage.
"Damn I can't believe I forgot about this."
The towering man to his left turned to look at him.
"Sorry it's just I thought I'd go through the Keys on my way out of Florida, I can't believe I forgot about this."
"Yeah, a hell of thing." The man rumbled a foreign accent noticeable in the tremor.
"You ever here before it happened?"
"A few times, was here that day."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry, name's Harrison Peters." Using the name he had acquired from the IDs.
"Harry Tasker." The mountain responded.
"Nice to meet ya."
"Yeah." The man was absorbed looking at a picture himself and two dark haired women. One of which Xander identified straight away, straightening he left the man to his thoughts and took off back to his car. Taking a look back at the grieving man he made his decision.
Pulling out a notepad he made a note and proceeded to leave it under the wipers of the man's SUV next to his own car, satisfied Xander left the scene and headed back into Florida proper.
Half an hour later Harry Tasker turned from his lone vigil and left the keys pausing only to pull some note from his windscreen, pulling away he slammed the brakes on full causing the vehicle to stop still.
Room 232 Sunnydale Hospital California -Be there 12:00 in two days someone will be there you want to see Good Luck Mr Tasker.
Alexander Harris.
Harry looked at the note, he had the most wanted man in the eastern United States right next to him and he hadn't even noticed until he read the note, damn he was slipping and the old man was gonna kill him. But first he would get to Sunnydale and check this out, he hoped he was right but he couldn't stand it if he was wrong and had gotten his hopes up for nothing.
Unknown Payphone Florida Keys One hour later.
"Hey Giles It's me."
"Good lord."
"Not quite, look Giles this is an emergency but you are not to tell the others."
"They are at the University, what's wrong?"
"I need you to be at Sunnydale General Midday two days from now."
"What?"
"Please Giles, visit Faith because I think she may wake up soon, someone there will need your help."
"If you wish it I will."
"Someone will be there the same time, explain everything to him you can."
"What? Why?"
"Because I think He's Faith's father."
"Are you sure about this?"
"Not totally but he had a picture of his family and one I'm pretty sure is Faith. I've sent him that way, he should appear by that time."
"I'll be there."
"Thanks Giles."
"Your more than welcome Xander, I'm glad you still care about Faith god knows she has few friends as it is."
"It was our fault as much as anyone's G-man, it's time to make reparations."
"Indeed."
"Got to go G-man, odds on they are tapping your phone."
"Good Luck Xander, be careful."
"I will Giles, Bye."
Waiting until the phone was hung up he then spoke into the phone again.
"Leave them alone, none of them know where I am or what I'm doing and until I am cleared I won't return to the town in any way."
Click
"Mr Harris."
"Yes, I assume you people are behind the wiretaps on my friends."
"Yes, turn yourself in Mr Harris you can't hide forever."
"Until I prove my innocence, I'm going nowhere."
"We have your fingerprints at the crime scene, the card you left was covered in them."
"I wasn't anywhere near the building when it went up, If what the radio said was true I was already past the city limits as it went up."
"Unfortunately the proof is very much against you."
"Goodbye Agent, I'm not stupid enough to let you trace me." He hung up the phone.
Grey Van Sunnydale
"Well?"
"No go sir, he dropped off before we got him."
"How far did you get?"
"Somewhere in Florida sir that's all."
"You know how big Florida is?"
"Yes sir."
"Dammit."
Muscle Beach Miami Florida One Day later.
It was getting stranger and stranger for Xander, twice in the last two days he had been stopped by the cops and using the Peters ID he had got through, the point that he had heard something from the cop's radio saying that Xander Harris was in Florida had made him slightly nervous.
The cop had barely blinked and Xander had been allowed on his way, his papers always seemed in order and he wasn't being followed at all. However he hadn't pushed his luck and stayed in the shadows as it were, insomuch as you can hide in shadows on the most famous beach in the world.
He had wondered more than anything if he had done the right thing in sending that man mountain into the clutches of Sunnydale, he looked nice enough but he also knew that appearances can be deceptive. Seeing that picture of a younger Faith had made that decision for him, there was no way anyone would know he would be there so it can't have been a trap to find and grab Faith and so he had sent Tasker on his way.
"Bad Breaks huh kid." He looked up to see a badly dressed man with a fedora and a shirt that not even he would wear and the one he was wearing was bad, simple bit of camouflage in Xander's opinion- concentrate on the shirt and not the face.
"Maybe, who are you."
"Name's Whistler."
"Tell me why I shouldn't shoot you now?"
"Well One, cos it wouldn't do anything to me, two it'll alert everyone around you and three cos I've got a message for you."
"Well considering what your 'messages' do to people around me I'll pass thanks."
"The Message is from someone very important Mr Harris." The Demon sat next to the teen, "Someone much higher than the people who I usually talk for."
"Who?"
"His names Michael.."
"And?"
"You might know him better as the Archangel Michael."
"Again with the And?"
"You have a message from one of the highest ups in the business and that's all you can say?"
"If he was here I'd like shoot him in the head as well, now piss off."
"Jesus kid."
"Yeah, fuck off before I shoot you anyway, Cos One. It will kill you, and Two I have a silencer and no one will hear it."
"Wait…"
"Three…Two…One…"
Before he reached zero the balance demon had disappeared into the nether, satisfied Xander dropped his empty bottle in the rubbish bin and headed out into Miami proper, his money safely tucked inside his jacket and one of the pistols in a back holster away from any prying eyes.
He had work to do.