FIC: Cleveland Calling (13?)
Xander stood nervously watching the lone figure annihilate the punch bag in a blindingly and unrelenting attack. He had the uneasy feeling that some time soon, say in the next five minutes, he'd be taking the bag's place.
The practising combatant spun to face him. "Xander."
"Hey." After taking a breath, he walked over to the impassive figure. "I was thinking." He swallowed; his audience of one raised an enquiring eyebrow. "If we're to have a fresh start I've gotta come clean." He paused again. This was a very bad idea. "When Buff sent you to hell, I knew that Will was going to try to ensoul you, but didn't tell her. I mean Buff, because obviously Will alre-," his voice trailed off.
"I know."
"You know?" Xander blinked at the vampire's calmness. "How did you know? Why didn't you say anything? Rip my arms off-," he gulped, "not that I'm suggesting you should of course."
Angel chuckled. Which was surprising but a hopeful sign that his life-span wasn't measured in the seconds. "When I took over at W&H, out of interest I read everyone's files in Files & Records, it was all down there. As to why I didn't say anything?" the demon shrugged. "I owed you for saving Buffy in the hospital. It wouldn't have helped anyone me coming after you for the past." The Irish vampire stared at him, eyes boring through him. "I would be real interested in why you decided to lie. Was it to get with Buffy?"
"What? NO! I was with Cordy!" Xander flushed when the demon raised an eyebrow. "Okay, so I cheated on her with Will," he admitted. "But I'm not going to send someone to hell because I'm jealous!"
Angel stared at him for a long second before nodding. "I guess not. Why then?"
"I figured if I told Buff the truth, she wouldn't go all-out against Angelus and she'd get killed. But," Xander licked his lips. Even after all these years the memory still curdled his stomach. "Most of all whenever Buffy and Willow talked about re-soulling you, all I could see was Miss Cal-."
"Calendar." Angel finished for him, the undead Irishman's face taut.
"Yeah."
There was a long, uneasy silence. Xander blinked when Angel stuck out a hand. "It took a man to come here and confess, Xander."
Xander stared at the proffering hand for a moment before tentatively taking and shaking it. "Thanks."
"Ya did good, kid!" Faith praised as she threw a beaming Dana her bottle of spring water. While her student took a hungry gulp of the drink, Faith looked around the darkened park they'd just run ten laps around.
"Faith, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, hon," Faith grinned at her protégé. Once a week, she'd make sure her and Dan got some alone time to give the kid a chance to talk shit through in private. Plus she just loved looking after the younger Slayer and was wicked proud of the progress her fellow brunette had made.
Dana shot her a brief smile before starting a highly familiar agitated walk that she always used when summonsing the courage to speak about something painful or embarrassing. Finally her fellow Slayer stopped and turned to her, dark eyes filling with pain. "Do you ever forget about the bad stuff you've done?"
Oh shit, Faith winced, a big one. Faith nodded towards a near-by bench. "Grab a seat, kiddo." Once they'd sat down, Faith began to talk, her voice taut with emotion. "If ya wanna be a good person ya can't ever forget the bad shit you've done 'cause that's the first step to doing it again." Faith glanced at her intently listening companion. "But ya gotta cling to the fact ya ain't that person any more. Angel says," Faith ignored Dana's tensing at the mention of her mentor and best friend, "the great thing about atonement is you never run out of chances."
"You know about guys don't you?"
"I've 'known' the odd one or hundred," Faith dryly replied. "What's the sitch?" Faith grinned at her fellow Slayer before grabbing and tickling her. "Got your eye on a stud, uh? Does Andy know how ya feel?"
Dana giggled. "NOOO! Connor!" her fellow Slayer blushed. "I like him a lot, but I get scared sometimes -."
"On account of the past?" Dana nodded. Faith gently tousled the younger girl's raven-dark hair. "Yeah, it can be wicked scary facing up to the past, but if ya don't at least try then the bastard who killed your family and hurt you still wins. If ya find someone ya care about then ya should give them a chance. 'Sides, Conn's a good guy and he'd take wicked care of ya. And if he doesn't," Faith bumped her friend with her hip, "we'll take turns laying the smacketh down Slayer-style, am I right?"
"Right," Dana nodded and smiled slightly. "Are you gonna ask Mr. Harris out?"
Faith gaped. From the painful to the tricky to the downright unexpected, Dana's attention sure jumped around. "Why would ya think that?"
Dana flushed. "'Cause of the way you look at him sometimes, like you just want to hold him."
"You're crazy, kid, me and X aren't like that." Faith shook her head. "Too much in the past, ya know?"
"No," Dana shook her head. "You just said how you should give people a chance."
Faith forced a smile before ruffling the other Slayer's hair. "Love stuff ain't me, kid. I got my buds-."
"You're lying." Faith glared at the other Slayer. Dana flinched but continued. "You do care about him," she accused, "but you're scared of him because of the past, you can't move on like you said I should!" Faith opened her mouth to defend herself, but Dana continued on over her. "But you can't hurt Mr. Harris," the other girl earnestly warned, "he's my friend too, he gave me chances."
"Hey," Faith crouched down in front of her fellow Slayer, cupping her face in her hands. "I just told ya, X, everybody is my crew. And what's rule no. 1?"
"You don't hurt crew."
"Damn straight." Faith stood. "Now how about we head home before they send out a search party?" Dana nodded, rose, and raced off. After a shake of her head, Faith followed her. Damn, now she'd have to do something about X if only to stop Dana bitching about him. "Oh no, my life's not complicated."
Amy shivered as she left her twice monthly meeting. Sunnydale had only been a small town, even allowing for it being the nexus of demonic activity, there was a limit to the amount and variety of demons that could live there. But with Cleveland being a much larger city and the new hellmouth, the demonic and mystical population was considerably larger and far more diverse.
Including magic recovery groups. Amy gritted her teeth. She hated attending the meetings, but loathed the thought of becoming her mother far, far more.
"Hey!" she cried out in outrage when a short but bulky figure barged into her. "Watch where you're going!" The figure grunted but continued on his way. "I miss California!" she muttered as she glared over her shoulder at the departing figure before continuing home.
Her foul mood persisted all the way home. Upon entering the house via the back door, she found an exasperated looking Faith explaining to an animated Andrew why the Star Wars light-sabre fights couldn't be adapted to sword-fighting lessons. Faith glanced across at her entry, shooting her one of the brunette's trademark searching looks. "Ya five by five, Ams?" Amy nodded. Faith stared at her for a long second before shrugging and turning back to her argument. "Slayers don't have Jedi powers, Andy. Shit Skywalker does won't fly in the real world."
"Although," Xander walked in through the kitchen door, smiling at her en-route to opening the fridge and taking out a soda can, "I'm giving definite consideration to tabling a proposal for Slayers to be issued with Princess Leia bikinis."
"Yeah? Nice idea," Faith arched an eyebrow and licked her lips. "Ya want maybe I give ya a private showing?" Xander reddened. Faith smirked and chuckled throatily before giving Andy a friendly punch on the arm. "Just you and me then, Andy?" The shy cook reddened.
"I would be interested," Xander suddenly interrupted, "but I'm already booked to take Dana for her fitting, right Dana?" The younger Slayer blushed, giggled, and looked down at Xander's teasing.
"Night everyone," Amy yawned, suddenly tired. As she walked out of the kitchen, she passed Connor heading in, doubtless on some pretence to see Dana. The two of them were so obvious.
"Night Ams," Faith joined the others in sitting down at the kitchen table, basking in the comfortable warmth of being with her buds. As the conversation shifted from Star Wars to the possibility of using Matrix fighting styles, Faith found herself studying Xander's looks.
He didn't have the bad-boy edge of Wes, the ruggedness of Angel, or even G's Cary Grant smoothness. Instead, it had a good-natured charm. It was a face that practically screamed trust me, I'll look after you. And when you'd never had a guy who really cared about you, it was a hell of a pull.
"Something on my face, Faith?"
Faith blinked when she realised she'd been caught staring at an amused-looking Xander. Conscious of the others' looks, she thought quickly. "Nah, I was just thinking Dana's bound to suggest adding the Rock-Bottom to Slayer-training."
"The Rock rules!" Dana defended.
"Oh yeah, and it wouldn't be his pecs you're into?" Faith smirked at Dana's confirming. "You're so busted, missy!" Faith glanced at Connor. "If I was you Conn, I'd hit the gym and hard." Her smirk widened at Dana and Connor's stuttering denials and Andy and Xan's laughter. Oh yeah, family ruled.
"Yo, X!" Faith hollered as she walked into the kitchen to find Xander and Andrew busy putting the week's groceries away. "Either of ya two seen Ams this morning?"
"No," Xander shot her an irritated look even as he continued to place the assorted tins, bottles, and packets into the cupboards. "She was meant to drive Andrew to the mall this morning but never showed. I had to take him instead." Xander's disgusted expression said all Faith needed to know about X's thoughts on the matter.
"And no one thought to check on her?" Faith pressed.
Xander stopped his unpacking to look directly at her, his expression somewhere between frustration and thinly veiled amusement. "Fair Faith, lest you forget, I grew up around girls. And one thing I learnt fast is I'd rather face Angelus than wake a sleeping woman."
"Funny guy," Faith shook her head. "Considering you're our fearless leader, you really are a chickenshit. I'll go check on her."
Faith sauntered upstairs and towards the living quarters. Normally she wouldn't have worried about the formerly wayward Wicca, but last night Amy had seemed somehow off. If she was ill or something, it would be best to get her to the doc's soon as. "Yo Ams!" she called out as she came to a stop outside the witch's door. Worry growing, she opened the door and crept inside.
"Damn!" Faith rushed over to the writhing figure on the bed, sweat beading down the witch's face, eyes wild and unfocused. "Ams, what's wrong?"
"I won't be her!" Amy screamed, spittle flying out of her mouth. "Won't be her!"
"Who Amy?" Faith put a comforting hand on the witch's shoulder.
"DON'T TOUCH ME BITCH!"
"Shit!" Faith screamed as a concussive blow slammed into her, lifting her off her feet, and flinging her into the wall behind. Head ringing, she slid down the wall, disbelieving eyes fixed on the witch. Legs shaky, she pulled herself up on the wall, grateful that the Sunnydaler appeared to have forgotten about her, 'cause round 2, really not looking forward to it.
Once she'd edged out of the room, she hurried downstairs to the kitchen. "X! We got a big problem!"
Xander shot her a wry glance. "I'm pretty sure we've got enough Pop Tarts for both you and Andrew. No crisis."
"I'm serious X, Ams is wicked ill."
Xander shot Andrew a worried look. "Explain on the way."
"Do you think I should ask Dana out?"
Angel glanced at Connor. "She hates me. And you're 18, you don't have to ask my permission to do anything. Not that you ever did. Why exactly are you asking me?"
Connor shrugged. "You've dated a Slayer."
Angel gaped at his son's logic. As Xander would say, it did not resemble earth-logic. "Dana and Buffy aren't exactly similar."
"I don't know, she dated you, not exactly a great sign of good mental health. And I should know."
Angel shook his head and smiled. The old Connor was always so stiff and humourless, he'd made Angel look like a circus clown. But his new son was more than eager to take cheap shots at him. It took time to get used to, but his boy was happier than he'd ever been and that was the important thing. "My advice is simple, treat Dana right. If you don't-."
"Faith will cut me up into little bits and bury each one in a different state."
"I was going to say be really pissed, but that's also an option," Angel smiled at his son. "Not that I'm worried, I know you'll do the right thing.
"Thanks-," his son scowled. "They look worried."
"Yeah," Angel agreed as he noted the trio of Faith, Xander, and Andrew heading towards them. "What's up?"
"Something's up with Ams," Faith explained, her tone short.
"Like what?" he pressed before falling in alongside the Slayer and her companions.
"We're not sure," Xander admitted.
Angel nodded. In seconds, they were in the witch's room, watching her contort and thrash about even as she screamed unintelligibly. Eyes widening, Angel leapt towards Faith, catching the suddenly convulsing Slayer as she fell to the ground. "Angel!" Xander was by him in an instance. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," he replied, eyes fixed on the shaking Slayer and her foaming mouth. "I heard her heartbeat suddenly rise, and smelt something off about her. When I looked towards her, I saw her legs go."
The young Watcher looked between Amy and Faith, his eye anguished. Finally Xander spoke. " You and Connor take her to her room. We'll stay here with Amy."
Angel nodded before carrying the lithe brunette, out of the room, Connor following close behind. "I'm sorry boss!" Faith screamed, eyes briefly focussing. "I tried but she beat me!"
"Dad," Connor spoke up from behind. "What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know." From what Buffy and Faith had separately told him, he understood what she was shouting about, but had no clue why she'd be shouting it now. Stopping outside the Slayer's room, Angel looked towards his son. "Get the door."
"Sure," Connor shoved the door open.
"Thanks," Angel nodded gratefully before carrying the shaking Slayer into the room and easing her down on the bed.
The moment Faith's head touched the pillow she sprang into action. Her hand blurred to the bedside table, snatching up at a pair of nail scissors, and stabbing at her face.
"No Faith!" Angel grabbed at the scissors, yanking them from the Bostonian's hand. "Owwwww!" he briefly morphed out when the Slayer raked her nails down his face, drawing blood. Grabbing the Slayer's wrists he pinned her to the bed, grateful for her lack of focus, otherwise in this mood he'd be kicked across the room. "Connor! Get me the cuffs from the basement!" he grunted as the Slayer almost wriggled free. "Hurry!"
By the time his son returned, Angel's muscles had begun to cramp with the effort of restraining the raging beauty. "Thanks!" he flipped Faith onto her back. "Fasten her right wrist to her left ankle, cut down on her leverage."
Once Faith was secured, Angel let out a relieved sigh, stood, and stepped back from the bed. "Thanks Conno-."
"What the hell!" A hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him around. A furious looking Xander threw a right hook at his jaw.
Angel caught the fist in his left hand before snatching a hold of his attacker's throat, lifting him off the floor, and slamming him into the wall. "Look at my face!" he growled. "Faith went nuts, tried to hurt herself! I had to restrain her!"
After a second, Xander nodded. "Okay, I can see that. Sorry."
Taking a breath, Angel placed the Watcher back on the floor, and nodded shortly. "It's okay. You did it because you care. Just think a little in the future."
"What do they all have in common?" Angel queried as he paced the lounge, stomach churning. In the last few hours since Faith's collapse, Dana, Xander, Connor, and Andrew had all followed suit, all having to be restrained to prevent self-harm.
"They're all super-powered?" Dae suggested. "No," the Oriental Slayer shook her head. "Xander and Andrew aren't."
"They've all been in contact with Amy since she came home last night," Penda suggested.
"So have I," Breena put in. "I passed her in the hall last night, but I've not come down with anything."
"They're all from Sunnydale?" Astrid suggested.
"Connor's never even been there," Angel replied.
"Perhaps we should be looking at a cause?" A wide-eyed Penda put in. "Maybe we should contact Mr. Giles?"
"No." Angel shook his head. He couldn't face the Englishman, not after what he'd done. "I'll be in the kitchen, getting some blood."
There was a long, scared silence following the vampire's exit, everyone staring helplessly at one another. Then Breena grinned as an idea occurred. Leaping to her feet, she rushed into the kitchen. "Angel, what if we record everything they're saying that might-," her voice trailed off and eyes widened when she realised the Irish demon was levelling a pencil at his own heart. "Angel! No!"
