Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters

Warning: Characters acting OOC, I think.

Chapter 5

Justin was worried, he hadn't seen Xander all day and he was worried that he had changed his mind but as Justin replayed the scene in his mind he knew that Xander was happy with him as he sat down by himself at lunch.

Cordelia was worried as Justin was but for different reasons; going missing in this town was bad news and she was worried that he could have been cornered by vampires, killed or god knows what. She began to sob, she couldn't imagine Xander as a vampire not after the way he lost Jesse and she knew Willow or Buffy wouldn't be able to handle it.

As Justin walked outside after school he was stopped by Cordelia who had a worried look on her face.

"Hi," she said, "I'm Cordelia Chase; I'm also Xander's friend. I know he was out with you last night and I need help; he hasn't been in all day and I'm almost sure most of his friends haven't noticed quite yet."

Justin took her hand and said, "It's nice to meet you, I was about to go to Xander's house to see if he got home last night."

"Oh yeah," Cordelia muttered, "That'll go well," as the scene played out in her mind.

"I'll go with you," she said, "And besides, I have a car," and grabbed his hand.

They quickly drove to Xander's place and Justin fears were growing as Cordelia looked way too afraid and her mood was worrying him. Cordelia gasped as they saw police tape at the house, she saw an officer standing there."

She drove up and looked at the officer and said in her best voice, "Hello sir, could you tell me what happened here?"

The cop looked at the two kids and said, "Kid was nearly killed by his father as far as we can tell."

Cordelia chocked back a sob and said, "Is he alright?"

"Not sure ma'am and if your that worried I suggest you go to the hospital," and turned back to do his work, "I got too much work right now."

As they drove off Cordelia screamed, "I'll have your goddamned badge!" and she drove fast to the hospital. She looked at Justin who was near tears.

Justin said, "He was with me last night, I should've made him stay with me."

"Yeah," Cordelia said, "That'd work and his father would've bashed his brains today rather then last night."

As she sped through Sunnydale's streets Justin was sobbing slightly, he was trying his best to be strong but it wasn't working. Cordelia said, "No, don't hold back, I can be the strong one here," and patted him on the back, she'd cry later but not before she'd hunt down his loser friends and give them HELL!

Justin sobbed and Cordelia looked angry, she muttered, "If Xander's father gets off somehow I'll borrow an axe and we'll have ourselves a good old fashioned hangin but first it'll be chopping pieces off him, important things."

He looked over at Cordelia and muttered, "I'm glad you're on my side Miss Chase."

"Call me Cordy, my friends call me that."

"Alright," Justin said softly and they drove into the parking lot.

Justin was further impressed when Cordelia imposed her will on the hospital staff and got them into the intensive ward; the lady was like a bar of steel.

They walked into the room where Xander was being kept and he was lying on the bed with tubes in him and a machine breathing for him.

"Oh god!" Cordelia collapsed under the stress and began to sob uncontrollably at seeing her friend and ex lying in bed like that, he looked so weak and she didn't want to see him like that.

Justin went over and brushed some of Xander's dark hair away and saw the bruised skin covering his face, "Oh god," he whispered, as he saw Cordelia sobbing he went over and put his arms around her and they grieved together.

After a half a hour Cordelia's eyes were red and puffy, Justin saw her pull out her cell phone and say, "Daddy, I need to take someone into our care. Who? It's Xander Harris. Yes my ex. His dad apparently beat him up.

No daddy, Xander's dating and that's why Mr Harris beat him up. He's pretty bad off daddy," Cordelia said, "So, I can start paying for his medical care? Thank you daddy, also I'll need access to your lawyers. I'm getting a restraining order on his family. Thanks daddy, I love you."

"There," she said to Justin, "Xander's family won't be allowed to come within ten feet."

"Umm, not that I have a problem with that but can we make these decisions for him?" Justin asked worried that she would be wrong.

"Oh, he won't mind," Cordelia said, "And besides, I don't trust his parents as far as I can throw them. Daddy's going to have Xander legally placed in our care so his parents can't make any choices on his care."

"Should we tell his friends that he's here?" Justin asked, "I mean they'll want to know, right?"

"I'm tempted not to tell them and wait for how long it takes them to realize that he hasn't been in," Cordelia said, "Personally, I'm betting it's going to be a couple weeks but I could be wrong."

'Hmm,' Justin thought as he looked at Xander lying on the bed, his face bruised. He held Xander's hand and said, "I'll visit you every day," and he kissed Xander's cheek.

"You really care for him?" Cordelia said quietly.

"I-I-I-I," Justin stammered, "I love him," and he brushed Xander's hair, he wanted his boyfriend to be awake and healthy.

"It'll be alright," Cordelia said as she patted his back and calmed him and added, "We'll both be here for him but we have to leave for today."

Justin nodded and went over to kiss Xander on the cheek again whispering, "I'll visit you everyday."

Cordelia said, "I'll hold you to that promise," and they left the hospital and she gave Justin a little hug, "We'll be visiting everyday."

Justin sobbed a bit as they left ,he didn't want to leave Xander alone and Cordelia held him close, she said, "I'll drive you home."

"Alright," Justin said quietly, as they drove to Justin's home he saw that Cordelia was still mad and after spending a couple of hours with her, he knew he didn't want her mad at him.

She dropped him off and said, "Justin, I'll be driving you to school tomorrow and, if you want to, the hospital after school."

"Thanks Cordy," Justin said softly.

Jennifer saw Justin walk in with a look of sorrow on his face; she ran over to see him and said, "Oh honey, what's wrong?"

Justin tearfully told her what was wrong and Jennifer nearly broke down, Justin was so sensitive and to have to go through this and she liked Xander, admittedly more than she like that Brian man, because he was Justin's age and he was good to Justin.

Jennifer sighed and held Justin close to him, she was sorry that he had to go through this, "It'll be alright and I'll go with you tomorrow to visit him."

"Thanks Mom," Justin said as he went upstairs to go to sleep.

Justin's night was full of nightmares about him not being able to help Xander and Xander blaming him for his injuries, he supposed if he hadn't come to Sunnydale. He woke up crying and he decided to go sleep downstairs so he didn't be in the room where he and Xander had made love.

Justin was awoken by his mom shaking him awake and telling him to get ready for school, he looked at the clock and sighed, 'Another day without Xander's kisses or hugs.' As he walked through the hallways he felt alone, as he sat down by himself he was brought out of his bad mood by Cordelia.

"What are you doing sitting here by yourself feeling bad?" she said, "You should be sitting with me; I won't let you be alone."

"Thanks Cordy," Justin said as she led him to the cafeteria and they began to eat lunch.

As they ate they heard a yell and Justin saw Xander's friend Buffy storm and, with a snarl on her face, she looked right at Justin and screamed, "Where is he?"

Justin looked confused and he said, "Who?"

"Xander," Buffy screamed, "He hasn't been at school for a couple of days and what did you do to him?"

"I didn't do a DAMN thing to HIM!" Justin yelled back, the frustration and anger of the last couple of days hitting him hard.

Cordelia glared at Buffy with a look that said 'Don't fuck with me' and grabbed Justin's hand and left the cafeteria and a furious Buffy.

"Why did she think I had something to do with Xander?" Justin asked, almost nervous.

"It's finally happened," Cordelia said, "The bleach from her dye job ate through to her brain and short circuited it."

Justin looked at Cordelia pleadingly, who knew if she told Justin everything about Xander if, no she corrected herself, when he came out of the coma he'd have her killed.

After Justin left Cordelia saw Giles and Buffy come her way, she sighed, 'This was going to be fun,' she thought to herself angrily.

"Look Cordy," Buffy said, "Justin's not a good guy, ever since he came Xander's been avoiding us and Giles thinks he's evil."

Giles shook his head and said, "I thought he needed some looking into."

Cordelia growled, 'Might as well come out with it now.' She smiled sweetly as she could and said, "Justin's not evil Buffy, he and Xander have been dating for the past three weeks."

Buffy and Giles looked at her in shock as she continued, "And his dad apparently put him in a coma for dating a boy, though they aren't sure what happened, and he's in the hospital right now barely alive and if you excuse me, I have to take Justin to visit his boyfriend while you guys do whatever you're doing."

"Wait!" Giles nearly yelled, "What is Xander's condition?"

"I'm not sure," Cordelia said with tears in her eyes, "The doctors told me which so everyone knows Daddy and I am paying for his care and if you want to see him, you run it by me."

Buffy looked at Cordelia with a hurt look and she sighed, "You three can come but one bad word and I'll have you kicked out so fast that the speed of light will look in amazement as you fly by."

"Thank you Ms Chase," Giles said respectfully and went to go get Willow.

Justin was waiting by the car when he saw Cordelia followed by Buffy, Willow and the librarian and thought, "Wow, the faculty really cares in this town."

Cordelia saw Justin waiting for them, she turned around and said, "Just one word, just one bad word out your mouth and we'll see if Slayers can fly."

Buffy nodded as she looked at Justin, she still didn't quite trust him yet but she'd give him the benefit of a doubt, for now, as they drove off to the hospital and noted Cordelia was giving her a glare so she quickly cast her head down.

They walked into the hospital and Buffy looked angry, she hated hospitals so much and now her friend was here and it wasn't a demon's fault, it was his father's fault. As they walked up to where Xander's room was Buffy's heart nearly shattered; he was lying on the bed with tubes sticking out of him, his eyes closed and his face had several angry black bruises.

Justin walked up to him, held his hand and rubbed it slightly and sighed, he whispered, "Please Xan wake up, I miss you so much."

Willow's eyes began to water and Buffy and her walked out and Cordelia heard Willow's crying while Buffy attempted to calm her down, her eyes dark with her own tears.

Giles sat next to Xander, his eyes watering a bit but he kept his resolve and held his hand as well.

TBC

Poll Questions: Do you think daddy attacked him or did someone else bashed Xander in? Also should there be any serious damage from the attack? Should Buffy and the Scoobies enact a little judgement of their own or let the police handle it?

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