AN: Sorry about the long wait for the update...I was going, and I thought I was going really well, but then all the words seemed to hide. Hopefully the next chapter won't take that long, but don't give up, I'm working, sometimes slowly, but surely.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything Charmed or Buffy. I am just happy that I have the opportunity to play around a bit.

Chapter Three: The Danger Zone

Phoebe Halliwell gasped as a premonition hit her. Her sisters, Prue and Piper stopped what they were doing and watched her.

After a few moments she looked up and turned to them with tears in her eyes.

"What is it? What's wrong?" asked a slightly panicked Piper.

"There's a boy, a witch, he's in danger. He's so confused, and there are so many things pulling him in all sorts of directions. There were vampires, and demons, and lawyers, and his parents…they are so mean to him. He is on the edge of becoming a warlock."

"Where is he? We have to help him," insisted Prue.

"I don't know where he is. It is almost like the premonition didn't want me to know. It just wanted me to know that it was happening."

"We can't just sit here and watch a good witch fall into evil," Piper said.

"Let's check the Book of Shadows. There may be something there that helps out. Maybe a spell to help guide him, or a locating spell, or something," said Prue.

Phoebe smiled her eyes still watery. "Okay."

The three sisters made their way up the stairs to the attic.

Xander woke the next morning unsure of what he was going to do. He felt slightly guilty for not telling Giles about Angelus approaching him, but that would have meant telling him about everything else as well, and he wasn't ready for that. He showered and ate before either of his parents made an appearance. That was good, though, because he still hadn't decided what to tell them.

They day wasn't the most wonderful of days. The clouds had rolled in overnight, and it looked like it might rain. Xander decided it was a sign and went upstairs to get ready to leave. He wasn't sure where he was going to go, but he didn't want to be here anymore than he had to. He started back down the stairs and as he hit the bottom he met his dad.

He must have come down while I was in my room. I can't believe I didn't hear him, thought Xander.

"What the hell are you doing?" Tony Harris grunted.

Xander, his brain so full of the events of the past few days, as well as the surprise of running into his dad blurted out the first thing that came into his head.

"Am I adopted?"

Both Xander and Tony froze for a moment. Xander couldn't believe that he had asked. Especially like that. Tony had different thoughts in his head. Fear of what the knowledge could mean to the Mayor wasn't at the bottom of the list. And fear in this particular man translated into anger.

"It took you this long to figure it out?" the large man said. "Of course you're adopted. You think that some shit stain like you could come from me? They had to pay us to take you," the elder Harris sneered. "And how the hell did you find out anyway. You were snooping around in my office weren't you? You little prick!" he shouted. He backhanded Xander in the head. Xander was still frozen in shock and didn't see it in time to duck. He fell to the ground, his ear ringing. "Now get out of here, ya little bastard!"

Xander got up and stumbled out the door, trying not to cry. Not from the blow, but from the words. No matter how many times he heard them, he couldn't shake them off. Loser, worthless. The truth of his adoption being out now would probably see the recurrence of the words from today. They had to pay us to take you, echoed in his head as he ran down the street.

He collapsed in the middle of a circle of thick evergreen trees that he and Jesse used to hide out in. First when they were kids as a kind of fort, and then later when they first started exploring the possibilities of more than friendship.

He lay there, not noticing the few drops of rain that trickled through the branches and dripped on him. It had been about five minutes when a gentle hand rested itself on his shoulder. He started and pulled himself up to a sitting position. He quickly backed away running an arm across his face.

"How? What are you doing here?"

"It isn't sunny out today," Angelus said. "I saw you running and thought you might need someone to talk to."

Xander sighed, and leaned against a trunk. "My dad found out that I know I'm adopted. He didn't react in the most pleasant manner." He started to reach a hand up to his face, but Angelus got there first. The vampire gently brushed back the boy's hair to look at the developing bruise. He growled and Xander looked up at him wide-eyed.

"You don't deserve to be treated like this," the vampire hissed.

Xander didn't know what to say, but the seemingly kind words tipped the balance.

"I need help. And you are the only one that I know that can give it to me." The boy sighed. "What do we do first?"

"Come on. There's a potion. It will unbind your powers. Then we can start helping you get control.

"Oh my god!" cried Phoebe from where she was reading through the Book of Shadows.

"What is it?" asked Piper, as she and Prue hurried over to their younger sister.

"It says here that a witch coming into their powers has forty-eight hours of weakness where evil can turn him or her."

"So, this kid has two days to stay good? What consists of turning evil?" asked Prue.

"Well, um, here. It says that if he uses his powers for a purpose to harm someone…he'll turn into a Warlock."

"So, what did you see in your premonition again?" asked Prue.

"Well, he seems younger. Maybe sixteen or seventeen. Um…he knows about demons, but he didn't know that he was a witch. I think he might have been adopted. His parents aren't very nice…I think they might be abusive. Then there were all these people. Evil lawyers, evil politicians, vampires, some sort of Champion, a different kind of witch, a werewolf, a cheerleader."

"Well, evil lawyers and politicians. Like that's a big surprise," Piper said.

"Piper, this isn't a joke. This boy is in a lot of trouble. The politician is a Warlock; he knew about the boy his entire life. He put him with abusive parents on purpose so that he could swoop in and pretend to be the hero. These lawyers…I'm not sure what they are about, they were supposed to do something, something that would help the boy, but they want him to fall. So they are waiting. They will still do what they are supposed to, but they are going to wait until after it doesn't matter anymore."

"So, is there anybody that is on this kid's side?" asked Prue.

"Us. And he has a few friends, but I think that he is afraid of telling them for some reason."

Piper went to the Book and looked over the page it had been left on.

"There's a spell. 'To Guide a New Witch.'"

"That sounds perfect," Phoebe said. "Until I get another premonition it is all we can do."

The three sisters gathered around the book, with Phoebe standing between the other two. As one they recited the spell:

"Danger is present at a witch's beginning,

temptation is there ready for sinning,

but strength lies within the heart,

and goodness can triumph at the start,

when the time for this boy is at hand,

help him to know his strength and withstand."

As they finished white lights spun around them for a moment before shooting into the air.

"Well, it seems to have worked," Piper said.

Prue nodded and the two older sisters headed down the stairs. Phoebe looked in the direction the lights had disappeared in the rain for a moment before sighing and following her sisters.

Xander and Angelus walked silently, the day overcast and damp. Xander was still unsure as to why he was clinging to this small bit of kindness that was being offered. This vamp killed Willow's fish…what am I doing with him? he asked himself.

Angelus gave a tiny half smirk, reading the confused emotion playing across the boy's face, as well as in his scent. This is going to be easier than I thought. It's almost as if he was groomed to be pulled in. I wonder…it wouldn't surprise me if someone had…adopted into that family and then ignored by social services. It's someone in the bureaucracy. I should look into it, though I could run into some problems if it is an upper-level demon.

It didn't take them very long to reach the warehouse that Angelus and his childer had claimed as their home. Xander hesitated and looked back. The vampire placed a hand on his shoulder and guided him forward.

"Don't be afraid," Angelus said as they entered. "Everyone here knows not to hurt you. You are under my protection."

"I'm not sure that makes me feel better," the boy muttered under his breath, not thinking of the vampires' hearing. Angelus smirked slightly, and Spike laughed out loud, startling Xander.

Before he could say anything to the wheelchair bound vampire Drusilla waltzed into the main room holding a goblet. It was steaming slightly as she handed it to Xander. The boy took it hesitantly and grimaced. "What's in it?" he asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

"Snips and snails, and puppy dog tails," Drusilla sang, "for that's what little boys are made of." Angelus raised an eyebrow at her. He hadn't seen any of that going into the potion, though he had seen demon tongue and the eye of fyarl. And, of course, Angelus's blood.

Xander looked between the two vampires and over to where Spike sat.

Then he closed his eyes and downed the potion. He gagged and Drusilla giggled.

"No sugar, no spice, and nothing nice…"

No, thought Xander, as the darkness closed in around him, nothing nice at all.