Arrangements Are Made
A/N: Disclaimer's in the first chapter.
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June 16, Colorado Springs
It had been a long, painfully quiet and deadly boring week for Jon O'Neill. He'd ignored his summer homework. God, homework. At his age ... dammit! ... he was really starting to hate being in a sixteen year old body. Oh, who was he kidding? Starting? He'd started the moment he'd realized he was a Goa'uld-be-damned clone. Anyway, he'd ignored that in favor of vegging out in front of the TV with a (technically) illegal beer in hand. At least he was finally catching up on all the Simpsons episodes he'd missed while on missions. Not to mention hockey and football games. So there was a somewhat bright side to the mess. If you could call this a bright side. About the only truly good news that came with being in a younger body was the lack of truly sucky knees. It was nice to not feel like someone was jamming an icepick under his kneecaps. He'd already made due mental note to at least attempt to avoid all the messes that had resulted in his crappy knees the first go-round.
He'd been applying his funk in something close to true teenage fashion, eschewing light by keeping the curtains closed and light (other than the TV) to the minimum absolutely necessary. He'd surprised himself with how easily he was wandering around in the dark in the apartment. He wasn't as familiar with it as he was the house, after all. He sighed as he flopped down on the couch and flipped the television on. He cringed at the sudden blast of noise, hurriedly lowering the volume while snarking about commercials that seemed to think the only way to hawk their wares was to blow your eardrums out. He just hoped there was something halfway decent on. There was only so much soap operas a guy could take.
He never quite realized that it was past ten in the evening and the apartment was pitch-black except for the microwave's display before he turned the TV on ... and when he turned the TV down to a level he could tolerate, it was down to 5.
June 16, Cascade
Xander turned back to Jim and Blair. "So the whole Sentinel thing, somehow Blair can help you with it?" He asked. "'cause I have to say that for a while there, I was thinking you two were, you know ... " He suddenly blushed crimson and started babbling. "Ohshit pretend I didn't say that because I totally don't want to piss you guys off and I really was just thinking you were good buddies, honest!"
Blair actually laughed, though Jim looked somewhat less amused by the insinuation. "Relax, Xander." Blair told him. "Sentinels do have problems ... the freezing up, which is called zoning, and sensory spikes, where one or more senses suddenly jump in sensitivity. So they have a partner that works with them, called a guide."
"And you're it for Jim." Willow said, nodding. Then, she eyed Jim, and Xander, and then looked at Blair. "Blair? I mean, Xander is ... do you think maybe ... ?"
Blair grinned. "It's possible." He admitted. "Unfortunately, there are no records ... at least that I know of ... that indicate whether the senses are hereditary or just random chance. Xander does show a few signs of it being a possibility, though from what I've seen , he doesn't have the senses, yet?" That last came out as more of a question.
Xander shook his head firmly. "Nope, no enhanced senses for me." Well, except while he was possessed, and he so wasn't going into that.
Jim, unfortunately, caught the lie. "Xander? Did we forget to mention the senses make it pretty much impossible for anyone to lie around me?"
Xander got a mulish expression on his face. "It was a one time, one-day thing that totally had no bearing on ... well, pretty much anything normal, and I am so not going to go into it."
Jim and Blair exchanged significant looks, both looking more than a touch amused because Jim had firmly denied his senses for a very, very long time. Even after they'd cropped up this last time, he'd tried to pretend nothing was 'weird' for as long as he could.
"Definitely your kid, Jim." Blair said with a laugh. "Seriously, Xander ... did this jump in your senses happen after you were isolated or exposed to a period of sensory deprivation?"
"Nope." Xander said firmly.
"Nope." Willow echoed half a second behind. She looked like she wanted to say something else, but changed her mind and shut her mouth firmly.
"So if that's your only evidence of me maybe being a Sentinel ... " Xander said, looking half-hopeful.
"Nope. You seem to have a good, solid dose of the protectiveness that comes along with being a Sentinel." Blair said. "And then there's the fact you saw your spirit animal."
Xander went dead pale, and Willow followed right behind, though she didn't get quite as pale. "What are you talking about?" Xander demanded, voice tight and edging into antagonistic.
Jim frowned. "Xander, why are you freaking out so badly? You did the same thing in the hospital. I readily admit seeing a spirit animal is more than a little strange, but you're half a step away from complete panic."
Blair piped up right behind him. "Spirit animals are a part of the Sentinel and Guide thing. We each have one. Jim's is a black jaguar, mine's a gray wolf. They appear in your dreams and sometimes in real life, to warn or guide you."
"This would be on the list of things that will never, ever, ever get discussed as long as I live, period. Ever." Xander said firmly. "And I don't care what the hell a spirit animal is, if mine's a freaking hyena, I so want a refund. They're evil and vicious and stinking rotten scavengers."
Jim and Blair shared a look at Xander's disgusted vehemence. Definitely a story there that they'd have to worm out of Xander. Later.
"Man, you really have it wrong. Hyenas are truly awesome animals." Blair said. "The smaller species might actually be mostly scavengers, but the spotted ... which is the one you have, is a totally different issue. Man, they stand up to lions. And in the spiritual sense, they're pretty impressive. They represent adaptability, patience, perseverance on the hunt, strength, defense of boundaries, and understanding the value of cooperation and community."
Jim blinked at Blair. "How in the hell do you know ... wait, nevermind, this is you we're talking about. How do you remember that?"
Blair just grinned over at Jim, not saying a word. Xander, for his part, did not look all that mollified. So hyenas were cool in the sense of spirit animals. It so did not change his opinion of them after essentially being one (all right, a demonic version of one, but still) and doing what he'd done under the influence. He could get behind most of what a hyena 'meant', if Blair had the right of it, but did it have to be a hyena? He so wanted no part of that!
"Right." Jim said after a moment, looking amused and exasperated at the same time. "It's you. Of course you remember. You scare me sometimes, chief."
Blair's grin widened. "Well, I will admit." He told Xander. "That it's not a given you're a Sentinel, even with Jim being your father. The spirit guide thing does mean you're one of the two, though, at least as far as I know, unless there's Native American blood in you somewhere, since they have a close relationship with spirit animals."
"Nope, not that I know of, but considering I didn't know Jim was my dad until last week, that's not saying a heck of a lot." Xander said. "Man, we so need to get Giles out here. He'll clean his glasses into oblivion."
"Clean his glasses?" Blair asked, confused.
"Yeah, it's this thing he does. Takes his glasses off and cleans them. A lot. Way a lot. I kinda think it's so he doesn't see the shenanigans we get up to, you know? He is kind of a stuffy Brit, but we're trying to cure him of that. Not too much success so far." Xander explained. "I think this one's going to have him scrubbing his lenses until they disappear."
"I could call him?" Willow offered.
"Might be a good idea." Xander admitted. "If for no other reason than to give him time to get stuff together to do the grand show-and-tell."
He smirked again at the mental visual of Angel being forced to play 'see, this is a demon. See the teeth? Avoid them.' He shot Willow a look, and she understood it. Buffy would need to be consulted as well, but given the whole super-hearing thing, that would have to wait until Willow went back to the 'dale, or she could manage to ask Giles in such a way that he understood to ask Buffy without Willow actually mentioning Slayers or special abilities.
"Besides, I think Blair would kill us if we tried to deny him Giles, from the expression he's had on his face." He finished with a grin that was mostly directed at Blair. Blair made no attempt to deny Xander's speculation, since he was fairly close to being completely correct.
"Mind if I use your phone?" Willow asked, grinning at Blair and Jim both.
"Go right ahead." Jim told her.
She bounced over to the phone and dialed. "Giles? Yeah, I made it fine, and Xander looks great. But we kind of need a favor. Mr. Ellison found out about, well, what attacked Xander." A long pause. "Yup. And could you maybe convince Angel to come? As proof? And talk to, well, you know who, and see if they're ok with us telling Mr. Ellison about you know what?"
Over on the couch, Xander snickered quietly and shook his head. Subtle, Willow. Real subtle.
There was a bit of silence, and then Willow nodded. "Ok, Giles. See you in two days then!" And she hung up.
"He bringing Angel?" Xander wanted to know.
"It's going to depend on whether or not Giles can manage to arrange transportation for him." Willow said. "Since he kinda has sunlight issues."
Xander nodded. "Yeah. And we're going to have to figure out somewhere to meet other than here, 'cause I don't think Jim's going to want to ... oh hell, that reminds me!" He turned to Jim and Blair. "Never, ever, ever invite someone in, especially if they show up at night. Just stand aside. Vamps can't come into homes unless they've got an invite."
Blair's eyebrows went up. "They can't come in? How does that work?" He wanted to know.
Xander shrugged. "I dunno. Giles might, though." He told Blair.
"We could just meet up at a hotel." Willow offered. "I mean, Giles will have to stay at one anyway, so we can just go there for the whole talk thing."
Xander nodded agreement. "Yeah, that would probably work best." He agreed. "So, have we hit on everything? Vamps and demons are real, and we can prove it. Sentinels with really enhanced senses are real, and have buddies called guides ... and then the spirit animals thing." He made a face. "Think that hits all the main points, right?"
"Sounds about right, Xander." Blair agreed.
June 16, Sunnydale
Giles regarded the phone for a long moment after hanging up. "Whatever has that boy gotten himself into now?" He wondered ruefully. "He certainly seems to be a magnet for trouble." He sighed and took his glasses off to clean them. "I suppose I must see if Angel will be willing to serve as an exemplar, and then see about transportation." He put his glasses back on. "I do hope Xander manages to stay out of trouble." He doubted it, but he could hope.
He'd become rather fond of the boy over the last year. All of them, actually. The Council would be properly horrified, of course, since Watchers were supposed to remain emotionally detached from their Slayers ... not to mention that it was supposed to be a Watcher and their Slayer, not a Watcher, their Slayer, and a backup team.
He picked up the phone to call Buffy. "Buffy? It's Giles. I've just heard from Willow. She arrived safely and Xander seems to be doing well, but somehow or other the subject of demons came up, and they've asked me to come talk to Mr. Ellison and Mr. Sandburg. I also believe Willow wanted me to ask you about whether you'd be ok with ... " He cut off with a grimace. "I see. Then I shall not bring up the identity of the current Slayer, when that part of the discussion occurs." Honestly, he didn't really mind. Secrecy was a Slayer's greatest weapon, allowing her to operate without officious interference from fools who didn't know what they were dealing with. "I'll be heading up there in the next couple of days, to give them an overview, as I have little doubt that Xander and Willow have only given them the barest of explanations. I don't blame them particularly, as people tend not to believe without some sort of proof. I shall call you from Cascade with an update on Xander. Farewell, Buffy." And he hung up.
Now for the unpleasant part of the problem. Giles grabbed a cross and some holy water (no, he didn't entirely trust Angel, Buffy's attachment to him aside), and, after a check on the sky, and noting he had about a half hour to get to Angel's hideaway, headed out to his car. He was not looking forward to this.
Really, it was ridiculous how complicated things had become since his assignment as Buffy's Watcher. But at the same time, he wouldn't trade any of it for all the money in the world.