Title: Blood of Scoobies (Story Three)

Author: tohonomike

Email: All characters belong to their rightful owners...the Joss/ME characters, and any other characters are clearly not mine. NO money is involved.

Summary: Somebody had a story idea: What if blood other than that of a Slayer was necessary to save Angel?

"Okay," Oz nodded as he went through an older book, "Killer of the Dead. That's our boy, and here's a vamp that walked away from it."

"Does it talk about the cure?" Willow asked as Buffy and Xander looked up from their research. Oz handed her the book.

"Oh, the only known cure seems to be in this book we found from Miss Calendar's," Willow continued as she skimmed, "It talks about the Killer of the Dead, a Romany poison designed against the undead and used over the centuries, and their speculation about it. The only cure … oh. That's not good."

"Buffy looked as concerned as she was hopeful, "What is it Willow?"

"It requires the blood of a virgin witch."

Xander frowned and exchanged a look with Oz, who very slightly shook his head. The brunet asked an important question, "Does it mention how much blood, Willow?"

"No, it says drain…"

"Oh well," Xander shrugged, "look and see if there's anything else."

He saw Oz nodding with his statement and that the shorter male was guiding Willow's attention back to the books, when he noticed Buffy's stunned look.

"What's with the look, Buff? You really don't expect us to let Angel anywhere near Willow, do you?"

"But…"

"Hey, if they find something for Dead Boy we can use, we will. But you need to get your head in the game; we have to figure out what can be used to off a giant snake."

"It's not that easy, Xander. You don't know what it's like to have someone you love going to die, and the world end, and you're powerless to do anything about it."

"Sure I do, Buff. I forced Angel to show me the way to the Master's Lair, where you went off to die and the world end. You've seen me as nothing but powerless, but you're still here. So yeah, I know what it's like."

He turned and walked down the hall to the library, where he found Giles and Wesley ignoring each other as they researched the ascension.

"Yes, Xander?"

"What happens if we just grab the Mayor and get him out of his Ascension spot? Chain him up and the day passes…"

"I-I don't know…he wouldn't have the energy of the Hellmouth to draw on…perhaps he would be very much the weaker…I say, Xander what brought this idea on?"

"The only way to cure Dead Boy, is to drain a virgin witch…"

"Good Lord…"

"…and that kinda kick-started the Soldier persona into thinking fast and hard about protecting Willow, but if we're gonna do this, is there any way to get those memories back? We don't have a tactician in the group."

"Y-yes, I believe so, and that I have everything we need here…"

Wesley looked pensive, then headed for the weapon's cage, "I'll get the tranquilizer gun…"

"Good Heavens, what for?" Giles asked the younger Englishman.

"If you're using any of the standard spells, you must be forgetting that you're dealing with a 'reclamation of self' type of spell…and with Mr. Harris' previous Primal possession, I believe precautions are in order."

Giles looked slightly embarrassed, "I, uh, thank you, would you?"

"I'll ready with the weapon, Mr. Giles," Wesley replied as Xander looked at him for a moment and Giles began preparing the spell.

"Thank you, Wesley."

"You're welcome, and I have a possible solution for the vampire, but I doubt it will be usable."

"Not the blood of a virgin witch?"

"Not at all. There seem to be these demons, called Mohra demons, which have large jewels in their foreheads, I believe. Their blood regenerates dead flesh…"

"Oh, so if Angel were human again, there wouldn't be anything for the poison to affect. Where do you find these demons?"

"They tend to be coastal city dwellers, and are usually in pairs, hiring out as bodyguards and assassins."

"Okay, after the spell, we'll visit Willy and see if he's seen any lately…this is Sunnydale, after all."

The spell went well enough, with Xander ending up as a very in-shape soldier version of himself, and Wesley not needing to shoot him. On the way to the chemistry lab where the group as hanging out and researching the poison, they discussed ways of grabbing the Mayor and getting him out of town. Faith and the vampires close to the Mayor were the key factors in preventing a sure success in their planning, but Xander felt close to an epiphany. He was about to make another suggestion as they reached the lab door.

"Great, you get ready and –" a crash outside caused them to open the door and hurry out. Xander expecting the worst, was surprised that it was only Buffy picking herself up from where her chair had collapsed from leaning back.

"Oh, uh, you okay Buff?"

"Just my pride wounded, the butt will recover," the girl sadly replied as she continued to think of the vampire.

"Good, because if it needed intensive physical therapy over months and years…"

"Xander!"

"Yep, she's fine," he smiled at the others, Giles shaking his head and going to gather the spell materials. Xander turned to the Slayer, "Buffy, go to Willy's and ask him if there's any Mohra demons around. Wesley here thinks that the Mohra blood can do the job, but that the demons are rare."

Buffy ran off, leaving the group behind. Xander turned to the Watchers, "Guys, head back to the library and grab your books and some weapons. I'll fill in Willow and Oz."

"Willow, can you get into the Mayor's accounts and transfer the money to mine?"

"Yeah, but why yours?"

"Do you have an account into which it will go unnoticed?"

"No, my parents' names are on them…"

"Oz?"

"Don't believe in handing my money to The Man."

"O-o-okay. Okay, how much do you think is in there, Wills?"

"Um, ten million?"

"Good, and can you set up an off-shore account with my info?"

"Yeah…but I need to use your account as the starter…"

"Okay, do it. And put nine grand in the account, I'll need it."

"What are you thinking, Xander?"

"I'm going to bribe Faith, and offer to take her away from all this."

"Why would she?"

"Buffy will hate her for it, it will annoy the rest of you, and when she turns eighteen I'll give her half of what's left."

Wesley interrupted, entering the room, "You do realize that the Council will send teams after you?"

"Not if her Watcher comes with us…obviously staying in another room."

"Ten percent for me when she turns eighteen, then, Alexander, and nine thousand into the account numbers I'll provide Miss Rosenberg."

"Wha—" Willow replied as Wesley handed her a bank slip.

"A Watcher, however unprepared, does not give up on his Slayer entirely, so I'll be going along."

Xander smiled, then nodded, holding out his hand, "Welcome aboard, Wes, if we survive, we might actually start to like each other."

The Watcher hesitated then reciprocated the handshake, "I've chartered a small jet plane at the airport; I'll hand you the bill later."

"Plane?" Oz asked as Giles reentered the lab.

"Indeed," the older Watcher asserted, "Xander had the idea of removing the Mayor from his power source; Wesley and I believe that flying him over one of those Hawaiian volcanoes should put an end to his plans."

Buffy used a payphone to let Giles know she was in pursuit of a pair of Mohra demons alleged to be in town, and he told her to be careful. The librarian had forwarded the calls to his cell phone.

"I still don't see why we don't tell her…"

"Giles, all she can think about is her pet vampire," Xander grimaced, then sighed, "Sorry, with the adrenaline rush from being in-shape soldier guy, I'm even less forgiving of Angel than before."

"Quite, but now that we're at Faith's apartment, now what?"

"You guys stand guard, while Wes and I go up and see if she's here. If she is, we'll negotiate with her; if not we know she's probably with His Snakiness."

"What if she refuses or tries to kill you?" Willow asked.

"Then I'll make sure another Slayer is Called."

"Why can't Wesley do it?"

"A Watcher should never have to kill his Slayer, Willow."

Faith opened the apartment door, and in the moment of surprise that it was not B, but Wuss and Wimp, she hesitated long enough for Xander's boot to come up and kick her in the crotch, knocking all air out of her. He then pushed her back into the apartment and into a chair, then took out a gun and pointed it at her head. Wesley, I shock, closed the door and awaited developments.

"That, girl-thang, is for strangling me when all I wanted was to help you and nothing more," the soldier told her, then surprised her again by smiling sadly, "But Wes and I figure the three outcasts should stick together, form our own team, and put the past behind us. Say, millions of dollars behind us."

Faith looked up in confusion, "What do you mean, millions?"

"Let's say the Mayor is a lot poorer tonight than he was yesterday," Xander smirked, Wesley smiling smugly, "and we need your help to make sure he doesn't make it past his ascension tomorrow."

She looked up, a little pissed off, "Why the f--- do you think I'd help you lame asses? The boss is the only one to give damn about me since I got to town."

"Not true, I did," Xander told her sincerely, "but you thought it funny to kill me. Right now, we're even."

"Even if we're cool, what about the killing of humans thing?"

Wesley interjected himself, "As far as the Council will find out from your Watcher, it appears that while unfortunate, it turns out you killed a half-Brachen… a demon, and the, uh, palpable aura of evil working for the Mayor contributed to the confusion. And then the Mayor being the black mage he appears to be, was able to take control because of events and your own fears resultant from the Council team attacking you."

"But he doesn't treat me like the rest of you…and why would I give up being his right hand after his Ascension."

"Wes, show her the book," Xander replied, not letting the gun waver as the Watcher, toed the volume slowly over, with the book mark in it.

"Faith, the last time there was an Ascension, was in a place called Sharpesville. It was gone the next day. No demon or town. And since we have his money already, you'd be left worse off than before if you survived."

"He's going to turn into this giant snake?"

"And eat everyone nearby to give him enough power. All we ask is that you don't get involved. Wes and I are heading to his office to finish this."

"You two?"

"Everyone but the annoying couple. This at least gives the town a chance."

"And if you survive and win?"

"We'll swing by on the way to the airport."

"Okay…I'll stay here. Hedge my bet. Still don't think you'll succeed."

"That's fine…Wes, tranquilize her. Sorry Faith, until this is over…trust is a real issue."

The Scooby gang arrived at City Hall, Xander immediately shooting vampires in the heads and knees, Wesley behind with a shotgun to cover his back and contribute to the kneecapping. Vampires went down in surprise, the sudden loss of legs leaving them open to Willow, Oz, Cordelia and Giles' use of sharpened canes and stakes to quickly finish them off. Ten vampires in two minutes, none remaining as the need to reload overcame the group. Wesley and Xander exchanged a rueful smile as they knew they'd be dead if more vampires had been around.

Xander and Wesley fired into anything that moved, and took the rash but quick step of taking the elevator instead of the stairs.

Oz leapt out into the midst of six waiting vampires, causing confusion before he was batted hard into a wall, losing consciousness. The three seconds he bought were enough to allow Wesley and Xander to begin firing, Wesley 'aiming' at head height as Xander used the M-16 from the armory to shred legs. In fifteen seconds, Willow and Cordelia were seeing to the wounded Scooby as the three men pushed forward, Giles staking the fallen undusted foes.

Kicking in the door of the Mayor's office, they found him finishing the last of the spiders he needed, casually closing the box and putting it into a cabinet as he grimaced at their intrusion.

"Haven't you given up yet? I would have thought you'd learn what 'invincible' meant."

"We know, but this is fun," Xander deadpanned as he emptied a full magazine into the man' head before running over and handcuffing him.

"Where did you get the handcuffs, Xander?"

"Faith's place, actually, Giles, though I have a set of manacles for when we get him on the plane. Those I got at the armory. They had the brig supplies in the same area."

They watched as the Mayor recovered, Xander securing the man's legs and arms behind his back.

"We're going on a little trip, Mr. Mayor," Xander told the confused man, "Wes, dope him up on the tranquilizer stuff; just because he's invulnerable doesn't necessarily mean we can't keep him out of sorts as his spider juice fights it off."

The island below was quite beautiful; the seven hour trip nearly at an end as they flew low over Mauna Loa, claiming to have had trouble with instrumentation when chastised by Hilo Airport.

They flew low and approached the active but stewing volcano, the Mayor starting to come around. As Giles opened the door, Xander shot the man in the head as they pushed him out.

Faith still seemed to be tranquilized as Giles asked, "What was that for?"

"Didn't want any spells cast that might save him on the way down."

They circled slightly and watched as Wilkins hit and sank dead-center, Wesley reporting from the cockpit, "Hilo control is asking us to land now. I told them we would, and would refuel."

"That's for the best," Giles asked, "What then?"

"Then we get you on a plane back to the States, where you see if Buffy saved her vampire."

"And you?"

"I made a mistake with Willow; I think the fact that I kept eating all that band candy for weeks afterward, may have let me not try too hard to resist her. And it cost me. Then Faith came along…and we…but I never got close. She doesn't think a guy can love and not hurt, Giles. We left her in that crap hole motel room and after the firs week didn't really try with her."

"That doesn't answer the question…"

"Yeah, well, let's say in my family, touchy-feely meant something dark. And I don't know what her life was like, but I can see a lot of the same hurt in her eyes."

"And?"

"I'm going to try to be there for her. There will be rules; no sleeping around, because we know she's better than that. We'll give her family and field support in her Slayer duties."

"And what if in her current state she wants you?"

"She doesn't want someone who'll love her completely, Giles, and it'll be hard to turn her down. Maybe we'll relocate to Vegas; make sure she gets a lot of buffets after Slaying."

A laugh broke from the girl in question, "Buffets, huh?"

"Hey, Faith, yeah, buffets, 'cause you're much too important to throw away on one night stands with jerks."

"Why not you or Wes?"

"He's too old for you, and your Watcher. And you don't respect me enough yet. If in six months or so you'd like to start actually dating we can give it a try. I'd like it. But you're not a trophy to pass around, and we just rid the world of the bad guy that treated you well. So, how old are you?"

"Huh?"

"How old are you? When's your birthday?"

"Um, born October 31, 1981. Why?"

"When you turn … twenty-one, I'll sign over forty percent of whatever money is left to you if we keep at this partnership of us and Wes. I control the money, Wes is research, you're the muscle, and we'll rain each other in what the other can do. We won't return to Sunnydale unless there's an apocalypse or maybe for Christmas or something."

"Who's in charge?"

"I'm in charge of deciding what to do, Wes is in charge of arranging it and getting things done, and once we have a plan which you will go along with, you're in charge during a fight. Mostly, though, we can take a vote on most stuff. Fair enough?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Wes?"

"As we agreed before, yes."

And Trident Investigations was born because of the possible threat to a witch by a vampire, in the presence of a werewolf ally, to the eventual heartbreak of a slayer who on Graduation Day mourned the passing of the vampire.

And eventually, a half-demon seer, a balance demon (as Xander's requirement for participating) and a bit-part actress joined them when they set up shop in an old hotel they cleared out in late September after indeed making sizable dents in several Vegas buffets.