Title: Between Life and Death
Rating: R or M depends on what system you want to go by.
Chapter: 9
Author: Jonathan Category: Xander/Georgia Spoilers: Post Chosen in BTVS, post Haunted in DLM Summery: During a mission from Giles, Xander has an unfortunate accident. But just how unfortunate is the question.
Disclaimer: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer is owned by Fox, UPN, Whedon, and ME. Dead Like Me used to be own by Showtime, now Sci-Fi airs it, so I really don t know who owns it anymore. Not me though. If I did, I d put it back on the air in a heartbeat.
Author Notes: Well, this is my attempt to come back to my personal fics. With William helping me co-write Path to Power, it also started to re-ignite my old muse. I'm going to be writing Path to Power mainly, but whenever I have some time in waiting in chapter development, I'm going to work on a fic of mine. So, this is what I first wanted to come back to.
This fic started before the Dead Like Me DVD movie. So, that movie isn't canon. For one thing, Rube is still around in story. And anyway, we all like Rube. So the movie isn't part of canon here.

I don't think I saw anything this big in my unlife before. Sure, my mind's screaming back to those stupid assemblies.

Fuck.

I so hated them back then and what can I say?

I still fucking hate them.

Our leader is explaining this demon thing. Edo Everto. I still can't believe this demon eats reapers. That is so sick. I mean, I can actually become some creature's dinner?

Ouch.

That totally blows.

I guess this demon has been trapped for well over 200 years. Wow. That's a long time. And now he finally broke free.

So what does he do when got loose? He started eating again. Talk about originality. I couldn't help but sit in my seat, slumped. I look over at Xander and he pretty much sat in the same manner.

"I feel like I'm in High School again." He said silently. Xander turned to me, "If the Earth opened up right now, I wouldn't mind falling in."

"You'd actually get the chance to fall to China." I said with a grin.

He smirked. "Oh so I can finally take down Godzilla?"

I couldn't help but ask, "I dunno. Did you ever take down King Kong?"

Xander shrugged, "Biggest think I helped take down was Mayor McSnake."

I leaned forward, "So tell me. Just exactly what happened?"

He grinned, "I blew up the High School."

"Oh, ok." I sat down. My eyes widened, "You blew up your High School?"

At that moment, Roxy turned around and gave us a look.
"Don't make me tell you again. Quiet."

I replied innocently, "He blew up his high school."

She gave a stronger glare.

"Alright." I said slowly. "We'll be good."

He nodded.

She turned back to face the speaker.

Xander looked at me, "Tattletale."

"Trust me." I said to him. "You don't want to call me a Tattletale."

Xander looked at me. He then relaxed slightly as he turned back to the speaker.

Minutes passed as the speaker continued talking about Evo Everto.

I looked at Xander again. "So tell me. What was it like to blow it up?"

He grinned.

"Total cleansing experience. My pours never felt better."

I couldn't help but chuckle.

He shrugged, "And seeing my principal eaten by the snake was enough to treasure that memory too."

I was about to say something when our leader uttered, "It has come to our attention that the prophecy for dealing with Evo Everto might be coming into light. Our External Incident Division has come across a young man that might be the key we need."

Xander sighed.

"I was hoping I wouldn't be brought up for this thing." He told me.

"So what would you think would happen?"

"I would get a parade. Hopefully I'd be able to do my Ferris Bueller impression." He grinned, "Then throw in my Snoopy Dance."

"You do the Snoopy Dance?"

He grinned, "And a mean Bueller. Don't forget that."

"You could end up getting a parade when this is all done." I added.

"I don't think the world is ready for reapers on parade."

"Rube would be proud." I told him.

Moments later, the lights started to come back on.

Shit!

I missed the assembly. Great.

This definitely was like being in High School again.

I never paid attention then, and I still don't pay attention now.

"Now would the External Influence Division please come with me to my office."

I took a breath as I got to my feet. Movements later a tall man came over to our group. "This way please."

Oh my god, you should've seen this guy. He had a very Jeff Goldblume look to him. If he started to talk about chaos theories and velociraptors started to invade Seattle, I seriously was going to go Werewolf Hunter Cain on this guy.

The six of us followed this guy. We were obviously going to talk with this leader guy.

And I'm glad that we're talking privately before other reapers knew the specifics of what was happening. We don't need rioting right now.
Although I could use a new television set. Maybe if we get a riot going by Best Buy. I could easily clean up and make some fast cash.

Moments later we arrived to the office. The Jeff Goldbume body snatcher ushered us in. "Steven will be right with you." He turned the lights on and closed the door.

"I didn't know his name was Steven." Mason said to us as he plopped on his deck. He started to rifle through Steven's belongings.

"I thought you were over this, Mason." George said as she approached him.

He smirked. "How long have you known me, Georgy?" He smiled. "Honestly."

"He does make a point." Daisey reminded her.

"Fair enough."

She looked at him. "That doesn't mean you have to do it."

I grinned, "She makes a point."

"Mason, just stop what you're doing." Rube said. "It's a bad habit."

He shrugged as he dropped the pens he was fingering with and got to his feet. He shortly joined Roxy by the far wall.

The door opened moments later. In walked Steven. He appeared just as calm as before when he led the assembly. He had red hair and brown eyes. "I'm glad to finally meet you, Xander." He held his hand out.

I couldn't help but accept the handshake. "Good to meet you, Sir."

"Please, call me Steven." He nodded. "I was going to announce the prophecy to the whole group but someone came up to me moments before and stopped me." He went for the door. "I believe you may know her, Xander."

Soon, the door opened further.

My eye widened. I couldn't help but smile.

"H-hi Xander."

Tears started to dwell in my eye.

"Tara."

She smiled. She looked just like she did before she died. "I missed you so much." I wrapped my hands around her in a fierce hug. "We missed you."

"I missed you too, Sweetie." She returned the hug.

Our reunion lasted only a few moments. But it was one I could tell we both appreciated.

"Willow misses you too." I said to her as I pulled away from her.

She looked at me a few moments. "How is Willow?"

"She's good, Tara. She's happy."

She smiled. "T-that's good."

"I'm glad two are getting the chance to talk, Xander. But you can do that later. We need to talk about Evo Everto."

"Right." I said to Steven as he gestured for us to take seats.

"Tara wanted us to have this conversation to ourselves." He began. "Seeing how you both worked in Sunnydale only made me agree to this."
I grinned, "When you slay vampires together, there's not much more you need to know."

"I would certainly hope so." Steven added. He nodded. "It has come to my attention that you died recently."

"Thanks to that Houdini demon."

George smirked at that line.

"We were wondering about that." George said to him.

"Death has left a note for us to contact Tara. So we did. Apparently because of an incident with your other friend Willow, you became a protector, Xander."

"A protector..."

He nodded.

"W-when you saved Willow, Sweetie." She smiled. "She j-jolted you with magic energy. She needed help. She used you as something to bind to, to anchor her."

"Enough for you to become a protector. A man who is destined to protect the Earth."

My eye widened, "Protect the Earth?" I couldn't help but shake my head. "I can't even protect my wallet from ripped open. You know how many shoes I end up buying? What makes you think I can protect the Earth?"

"The prophecy, my dear boy." Steven added.

"So what does Xander have to do?" Daisey asked.

"In short, he has to kill the demon."

"Nothing new there." Xander pointed out. "But what does dying have to do with?"

"When you died, Xander, it started the change. You became Earth's protector." Rube said to me.

"Great." I couldn't help but sigh. "Does that mean I get any powers?"

"Sadly no." The redhead said. "Just makes you more aware of everything. And you're not going to age either."

"The Butt Monkey strikes again." I said shortly. I soon felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Tara giving me a smile. Oh man did I miss her smile.

"So what do I have to do?"

TBC