Summary: This is an ongoing AU from Xander being Wolf-possessed, not Hyena possessed, and I've kept as much of the original dialogue as possible, where circumstances are the same as 'canon.
Spike's Warehouse, Half-Hour Before the End of the Last Episode
"I don't think we got him," Angel remarked tiredly, looking at the smoldering warehouse.
"What make you think that Angel?" Xander replied, feeling the same thing, however.
"He's a lucky bastard," the souled vampire sighed, "One of us'll have to actually dust the bastard before I'll believe he's gone."
"Hmmmm," Xander replied with a non-response, "Let's head back to the
house so I can change, then I'm supposed to meet Willow and Ampa at the Library before heading over to Dominick's on the Coast for a late dinner on the patio."
"Romantic evening?" Angel asked as they got into the car and drove away.
"Not this time," Xander replied, "You want to call Buffy and join us? We're just going to relax. I usually drop a couple hundred just to grab the patio so we can talk freely or just hang out."
"Tempting, but I'll pass," Angel smiled gratefully, "But I'll keep it in mind. Buffy's actually going to be studying at the Library for her French exam this coming week, and I told her I'd help."
"Cool, or shall I say, 'Bon'," Xander replied with a chuckle, "Hey, if you wait for a few minutes while I get ready, I'll drive you over and you'll have a good excuse to walk Buffy home."
Dark jacket draped over his shoulder, white dress shirt, black dress slacks, but no tie, Xander Harris walked into the Library just a little to the front and left of Angel, a sixth sense warning him to push the vampire back. A stake bounced off the door through the space Angel's heart would have been in. Noticing a blur in their direction as Angel recovered, Xander powered up and tossed his jacket to vampire and met the attack in his stead.
Dodging the double-foot-forward lunge by stepping to the right, he reached out and grabbed the ankles of the assailant, redirecting her momentum like a baseball bat. The girl found herself being sent through the air, Angel forced to jump back to avoid being hit. She ended up hitting the door head-first on her way into the hall.
A motion from her point of origin, and Xander's derringer was pointing ten feet away to where a large tweed-suited black gentleman was advancing on him, affixing a bolt into a crossbow.
"Stop, or die," Xander directed, pointing his gun at the man's face, and drawing out of a shoulder holster his real sidearm, leveling it at the door. Giles quickly moved forward to restrain the man, as Angel went into a defensive stance with the thrown stake and a 45 of his won.
The dark-complected teenager charged back into the room to find her face targeted by two separate firearms, and her Watcher facing another while Mr. Giles was restraining him. A moment of silence, broken by Xander's full 'Lord of the Jungle' presence demanding explanation.
"Rupert, who are your guests, and won't you restrain them before I'm forced to shorten the census by two names?" Alexander Harris questioned coldly, "Liam and I don't take kindly to amateurs challenging us without their having a great many more years of training and experience behind them."
"Er, uh, Mr. Zabuto...Kendra..." Giles interceded, "If you'll please stand down, these are two of our most valued allies."
"But dis one is a vam-pyre, suh," Kendra stated, gesturing at Angel slightly.
"B-Be that as it may, he is ensouled, and helped us defeat the Master this last Spring," Giles stressed, taking the crossbow from Zabuto, who sighed and nodded. "Kendra, if you'll slowly and carefully take a seat next to Mr. Zabuto, I'll conduct introductions in just a moment." She complied, and as her Watcher sat, so did she. Xander holstered his weapons, and, recovering his jacket from Angel with a nod of thanks exchanged, he turned to Giles.
"Rupert," he asked in the British accent into which he lapsed when tired, "I would actually like some tea this time, if I could trouble you?" The Watcher reached over to the tale and poured a cup. Xander took a sip while still standing, and nodded his thanks. Xander set the cup down and indicated that he would begin.
"My associate is Liam Angel, an ensouled vampire here to assist the slayer, Buffy Summers, in the fight against the darkness," he began, Angel nodding at his introduction. "I am more than I appear, and what is, none of your damn business. However, I am a police officer and you both attempted to assault, if not murder me. How embarrassing for the both of you, and your Council. Rupert, this is a much better blend than usual, could you order some for me the next time?" He left four other occupants of the room silent, as much from his abrupt change of conversation topic, as the threats implied with his statement of employment.
"Rupert," Xander asked Giles, seriously, "Do you trust me?"
"Absolutely, with anything I'm not sworn to keep confidential," the Watcher replied seriously and without stammer or stutter, "With my life."
"Well, Mr. Zabuto," Xander loudly used his 'law enforcement' voice, "I'm waiting for...something." The man looked uncomfortable.
"I...begrudgingly...apologize for our precipitous attack on your person," Zabuto responded, "But it is our mission to eliminate the vampires. We will not move against this vampire while we're here as long as Mr. Giles is present and vouches for it."
"Him, the others are its," Xander corrected, and Zabuto nodded. "And your honest begrudging apology and declaration marks you an honest man, Mr. Zabuto." He held out his hand to the Watcher with a genuine smile. They clasped hands in a shake. "I am Alexander Harris. It's now a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Zabuto, and I offer whatever cooperation you need in Sunnydale as long as it meets with Rupert's approval." The man looked confused at this turn of events. Rupert took pity as Ampa, Buffy and Willow came through the door.
"Alexander, why don't you take Kendra along with you while I discuss matters with Mr. Zabuto?" Giles asked, "You can show her our Sunnydale methods and such, and maybe a short sweep of the cemeteries later."
"Any in particular? If she's here Tuesday night, I think we're planning a small nest clearing." Xander looked at Zabuto, who nodded slowly. "First things first, however..." and he made the introductions, including Kendra's and Buffy's similar nighttime employment, "and now, dinner at Dominick's." The young girl looked panicked. Willow came to her aid.
"Xander pays for everything," Willow assured her, guiding the girl out the door, behind the rest of the group, "It's a rule."
Dinner went fine and after a couple of hours spent de-shocking a Buffy reminded of her death and at the same time loosening up Kendra a little bit, they surprised the new slayer by pulling into a parking garage, quickly changing into black hunting clothes, body armor and balaclavas, handing her an extra set.
"Secret identity to those outside the group," Buffy explained, helping the junior slayer suit up and arm up. They then unobtrusively made heir way down a sewer entrance, Angel first, and headed about two blocks over before surfacing. En route, they surprised two individual vampires and after removing id and valuables dusted the two efficiently.
Once on the surface, they were met by Ceta team (Marcie, Jonathan, Jenny and Amy), similarly outfitted except a Greek letter and a number. Talking to them for a few moments, Xander returned.
"They're tired, but think that as these two wallets are where the small nest scheduled for Tuesday is," Xander indicated, "and with a second slayer, they want to try raiding it tonight and just have Alpha Team patrol this week. Buff, Angel?"
"Sure, just general sweeps for the week?" the blonde slayer enthused, "Cool." Angel nodded agreement. The group plugged in earpieces and listened as they slowly made their way
"It looks like the vamps are in a duplex a block away over near the Alibi Room," Xander whispered into his throat microphone, "Maybe four vampires in each, plans show they used to be connected, but who knows if the vamps reopened it. Rear single patio with two-foot fence separating the yards. I want Ceta team to simply cover the back doors. Fire, water, wood any that try to get out, and watch your backs. Willow, I want you to back up Buffy and Angel, I'll take Ampa and Kendra with me. We go through the doors together. Kendra, you kick in the door, I go straight through the house, killing any bads until I get to the back door. You, then go in after me and follow the right-hand rule until you catch up to me, got it?" She nodded, "Good, then Ampa, cover our six and only engage as necessary. If the door-between is sealed, pound on it a few times to let the other team know we're there, then turn back to secure the entry again."
Twenty minutes later, a two-minute operation was over and Kendra was being instructed by Willow and Ampa on how to properly handle asset 'reclamation.' Gathering of valuables, evidence for the SDPD, intel on other vampires or activity. The count of vampires dusted was seven, and the practiced manner of it amazed Kendra. The use of silenced large-caliber firearms to slow or even kill vampires before a melee, concentrated numbers and strength to overwhelm the usually too-strong, and the efficient disposal of assets to fund further improvements and operations stunned her. And when she was handed fifty dollars for her participation, she didn't know how to react.
"I know how you feel," Buffy confided, "But if we dusted the vampire, where would the money go? This way, we make the fight easier for our side, take the occasional night off to ensure our fighting is at top levels, and the wear and tear on clothing should be paid for by the things that damage it. Use it to buy a back up set of clothes or something, take your Watcher out to dinner."
"But I never handle de money," the vampire slayer replied, "Mr. Zabuto handles it."
And how many extra sets of clothes do you have?" Buffy asked.
"Just de one I am wearing," Kendra admitted, "Plus an extra set of boots."
"And how many does your Watcher have," Buffy asked, getting a bit tweaked at how things were looking.
"He has two complete sets, plus two each shirts and pants," she responded, "But he has been a Watcher for a while."
"Xan, we need to take Kendra shopping this weekend for the basics," Buffy keyed into her microphone as Dave, Fritz and Andrew drove up in the retrieved vehicles. Hondo arrived right behind them. "Her Watcher's cheap."
"Okay, Buff, will five bills cover it?" Xander asked, as they all sprang into action to load the vehicles and get out fast.
"Yeah, that should do it," Buffy confidently predicted.
"Cool," Xander remarked as they started getting into the vehicles and leaving, "But she has to stay and join us for Halloween patrol and party."
"Done, favorite brother," Buffy smiled into her microphone, "And let's get going, I still have a French test this week, and I promised Dawn we'd go get our nails done tomorrow. She's spending way too much time with Cordelia and I need to compensate."