Death Watch
1
Xander sat in the dimly lit waiting room twisting his hands together. He had already refused offers of coffee, tea and "spiced warm blood." He looked down at his hands as they washed over each other. It was a new habit, and he hated it.
He stood up and jammed his hands in the pockets of his suit coat.
"Xander?"
He turned slowly. Behind him, standing in the door of the office, was Angel.
"Come on in," the vampire said. He moved out of the doorway to allow Xander entrance, then closed the door firmly behind them.
"I'm surprised to see you here." Angel settled himself behind the desk. Xander sat down in a chair. "You don't look very good."
Xander knew that was true. He looked out the windows at nighttime Los Angeles and saw his reflection. Dark circles under his eyes, hair a mess. His suit was wrinkled. He was almost gaunt. Better than fat as he had gotten under stress before almost marrying Anya, he supposed.
"I need your help, Angel," he said finally, looking away from the glass.
Angel's face crinkled in amusement. "That's something I never thought I'd hear you say."
"Yeah."
"Well, tell me what it is. We'll see if I will help you."
Xander studied Angel for a few moments. This was what he had been dreading. What had kept him pacing on the sidewalk outside the building for almost 20 minutes before he worked up the nerve to come in.
"Want a drink?" Angel asked suddenly.
"Harmony tried to give me coffee…"
"No, a real drink." Angel pulled a bottle of whiskey from somewhere in his desk and poured a couple of glasses full. He handed one to Xander. "This looks like a whiskey conversation."
Xander knocked back the drink, ignoring Angel's raised eyebrows as the vampire sipped at his.
"Buffy's pregnant."
Angel's knuckles went white around the crystal, and Xander hoped the glass wouldn't shatter.
"Congratulations," the vampire managed. He sat the glass down very carefully on his desk and spun his chair away from Xander. "So what do you want from me?"
"I need you to help me," Xander told the chair back. "Buffy can't keep slaying. She's been in the hospital twice this year, the first time was when we found out about the baby. The second time, she almost lost the baby. Buffy's still strong, but the baby….the baby can't take Buffy fighting all the time."
Angel rotated back around, looking at Xander curiously.
"So, what, you want me to come back to Sunnydale? Or to send some help to relieve her?"
"Something like that." Xander took a deep breath. "I want you to kill Faith."