Title: Tales of the Lost Warrior: Book Five - Path to Rebirth
Author: Michael Wilson
Email: wyrdradio@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13 to R
Disclaimer: Joss, Mutant Enemy, and a lot of other people own the characters from Buffy and Angel. Stargate SG1 and its characters are the property of Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. X-Men is owned by Marvel Comics. I get nothing by writing this except maybe some kind words of encouragement and a few cheers... at least I hope.
Spoilers: AU - Some time in the middle of Stargate SG1.
Summary: Xander's life has drastically changed and after a wondrous journey, he has returned a new man with his own destiny... these are his tales...
Author's Notes: This fic is a Buffy/Angel/Stargate SG1 crossover with the setting being somewhere in the middle. " " as always means talking while * * means thoughts. / / means speech from another entity. # # is telepathy or a being speaking to Xander from inside.
Feedback: Yes please!!!!!
Distribution: If you like it... please feel free to place it on your site... but please tell me first.

Things had been quiet... too quiet... and it was driving Angel insane.

"There has got to be something wrong. You haven’t had a vision, Delia, in months."

Cordelia looked up at her boyfriend and smiled.

"Hey.. I’m not complaining. I’m glad to be rid of the mind-numbing pain they give... especially now with our new addition."

She rubbed his slightly growing belly and sighed happily. Angel smiled at his girlfriend and moved closer to her.

"Yes.. me too... but it still bothers me..."

Just then, Wesley ran into the room.

"I think I have found it. There is mention, in the annals of Targunthra, that the Seer of the Vampire will lose the Sight to the lost love... and with it will come his destruction."

They stared at him in shock.

"Are you saying that Xander has my visions?"

Wesley nodded.

"Yes.. they can only be passed through sexual contact and you DID have sex with him... so I can fairly surely assume that they were passed along to him. If so... we must find him and get them back... before..."

Cordy frowned.

"Before what?"

Wesley looked at his feet.

"Before they kill him... or drive him insane.. or worse.."

Cordy looked at Angel. There were tears forming in her eyes. Angel sighed and nodded.

"I know... I know... let’s go get him."

They grabbed a few things and were headed for the door when the phone rang. Fred popped out of the office and stopped them.

"Angel.. Cordelia.. you have a phone call."

They looked at each other and then walked into the office. Angel pressed the speakerphone button and then sat down.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end cleared its voice and then spoke.

"Angel... Giles here. There has been... an accident. Xander has... vanished."

Cordelia frowned and shook her head.

"Vanished how?"

They could almost hear Giles remove his glasses and clean them.

"He was distraught and we believe he... snapped. He vanished in an explosion of light as he called upon something."

Angel raised and eyebrow, confused and worried by what he heard.

"Distraught... how? What happened?"

The next few words would shake them to the core.

"Buffy and Dawn were killed..."

Cordelia gasped in shock and horror... then began to cry.

"... they then came back to life sometime later... after Xander vanished."

The people listening turned to look at each other and nodded, understanding what had happened. Angel closed his eyes as he thought about what to do.

"Giles.. was Xander screaming in shock or agony?"

There was a long pause before Giles spoke again.

"I would assume... agony. Why do you ask?"

Angel nodded.

"It is as I thought. It sounds to me like Xander teleported himself away to someplace else... to get away from the pain of losing two of the most important people in his life. Can you tell me anything about Xander that might have been different... at that moment?"

There was the sound of the phone being handed off and then they heard Willow.

"His eyes... they were black, no white at all... and he was glowing, with the glow emerging from his bracer."

At hearing this, Wesley gasped.

"Black eyes... a sign of high level magic. I fear that Xander may be in a very dangerous mindstate right now..."

Angel nodded.

"Right.. we’re coming... be there in a few hours."

He then hung up the phone.

"Get packed.. we’re going to go help them and I don’t know how long we will be there."

He turned to Cordelia.

"Don’t worry, Delia, we will find him."

Cordelia nodded and smiled.... then they all moved to their rooms to pack...

*****

Giles hung up the phone and turned to the others. Buffy was sitting on the couch in a near state of panic... her eyes darting back and forth... with Dawn not much better.

"We have to find him, Giles... we just have to.."

Giles nodded at Buffy.

"We will, Buffy, we will. If Angel is correct... and Xander is no longer on this planet... then I might know of someone who could aid us in finding him."

Willow spun around and glared at Giles.

"Where was this information when he was gone last time?!"

Giles winced.

"I only met the man recently, Willow. I didn’t know him then."

Willow calmed and nodded.

"Well, who is he and how do we contact him?"

Giles smiled.

"His name is Doctor Daniel Jackson and I have his email address...."

*****

Daniel Jackson stared at the long needle in Janet Fraiser’s hand and frowned.

"I don’t really need a shot.... you know.. you could just fake it... I promise not to.. TELL!"

Daniel winced in pain as the needle entered his arm. He glared at the smiling Janet who just laughed and kissed him.

"Aww... is my poor baby all angry? I know how to make it better..."

She teased Daniel with a glimpse of her cleavage and then giggled. They had been dating for a few months and things had only just recently gone sexual... so it was still new and exciting to them.

"Well... you could wear that leather...."

Just then Jack O’Neill entered and smirked at them..

"Her leather what?"

Janet blushed and shook her head.

"Never you mind... now, what do you need?"

Jack smiled and hopped on the table next to Daniel.

"Got told I was supposed to get poked too."

Janet grinned evilly as she went to get a new needle. As she walked away, Daniel leaned in and whispered something into the other man’s ear.

"... she does what?!"

Janet spun around, her face bright red, and stared at them.

"Daniel... what are you telling him?"

Daniel smiled.

"Nothing much... just letting him know how amazing you are and how hot you are.. and how good you are to me... so that he could relax and not worry about the long needle you were about to jab into him."

Janet blushed even redder at what her love and said and nodded.

"Well.. for that you get a VERY special night tonight..."

Daniel smiled as Jack smirked.

"You can thank me later, Daniel... that is.. if she’s good."

His comment was the wrong thing to say at that moment for Janet frowned and then jabbed the needle in hard and fast.

"Ouch! Damn it, that hurt!"

Daniel grinned.

"You shouldn’t talk about Janet... cause my honey has a mean streak in her."

Janet nodded as a semi-sadistic grin crossed her face. Jack noticed the grin and shuddered.

"We got a meeting in 10... Hammond told me to come get you, Daniel."

Daniel nodded.

"Thanks.. be right there."

Jack nodded and left... leaving Daniel to stare at his love.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

Janet nodded.

"Yes.. but I love hearing it.."

Daniel smiled and walked toward her.

"I can go you one better....."

*****

As Daniel entered the room, he noticed some unusual activity down below in the gate room... but ignored it. He took his seat across from Samantha Carter, smiling at her, and nodded hello to Teal’c.

"So.. what’s up?"

General Hammond stared at Daniel and just sighed.

"We had a... visitor... an hour ago. We’re working on getting a translator but we’ve had no luck as of yet."

At hearing mention of a translator needed, Daniel perked up.

"Really.. maybe I should give it a shot?"

Hammond nodded.

"I was hoping you would say that."

He pressed a button and a young woman was brought into the room. As she entered, the group gasped at the sight before them. The young woman was covered in what looked like recently treated burns that covered a good portion of her body and her clothing was charred black in long streaks.

"That looks like lightning blasts... my uncle got hit once."

Everyone looked at Jack... who just smiled.

"He lived in the woods... got hit 17 times... always smelled like burnt hair."

Daniel smirked and then looked back at the young woman. He greeted her in a few languages... trying to get her to speak... and when she did... he was able to almost identify it.

"It sounds to me, General, like an offshoot of Sumerian.... with a hint of something else I can’t identify. I think I can fake my way through. What do you want me to ask her?"

General Hammond nodded.

"Get her name, where she is from, why she is injured, and how it happened."

Daniel nodded and turned back to the girl.

(From here on out.. everything Daniel says will be translated for you and will be in brackets)

[Greetings... what name be you?]

The young girl jumped in surprise and began jabbering at a high speed.

[Oh thank the Gods... someone who can actually understand me. You have to save us.. please.. before the Dark God kills everyone!]

Daniel’s eyes widened in shock.

"Dark God?"

Samantha stared at Daniel and then at the girl.

"What are you talking about? What did she say?"

Daniel took a breath and scratched his head.

"She said that someone she is calling the Dark God killed the people of her planet and she wants us to rescue whoever is left alive."

Hammond nodded.

"What is her location?"

Daniel turned back to the girl.

[Where is home?]

The girl looked down at the Stargate and then looked back at the group. She walked over to the marking board and picked up one of the markers and then began drawing the 7 symbols needed to open her world’s gate.

[There]

Daniel nodded.

"There, General."

General Hammond nodded.

"Right."

He picked up a phone and spoke to someone... then turned back to the group.

"I’m sending SG3 through... we’ll let them check it out."

Jack frowned.

"SG3.. why not us?"

Teal'c turned to Jack and tilted his head.

"Because we have a meeting with the Asgard today."

Jack nodded.

"Yeah... forgot that... I guess my visit with Daniel’s girlfriend just made that fact somehow slip my mind. She’s mean, I tell you... mean."

The group snickered at Jack as SG3 entered the gate room below. They moved up the ramp and then walked into the gate... not knowing they were about to face their worst nightmare...

*****

There was no sound...

There was no movement at all... other than the wind in the trees....

All because of him...

Xander sat on the spire of the castle... motionless... his eyes closed as she slept, finally exhausted from everything that had happened. His world had come crashing down in one swoop... and now life meant nothing to him, as evident by the rotting corpses of millions of people... the citizens of this planet.

He had wanted to be alone... to wallow in his pain... and so he had removed every living thing on the planet... every person, every animal, everything. He was now the only living thing on the planet... besides the plants... until...

*****

The gate opened and SG3 stepped through.

"Set up a base camp and then begin to fan out in all directions. We need to figure out....."

Just then lightning crashed down at them out of a clear sky.

"Incoming!"

Lightning was blasting all around them and soon members of the 5 man team were getting hit.

"Back through the Gate!"

They headed back toward the gate... but they were losing people fast. First one... then two.. then four of the team was down... dead. The remaining member got the Gate open and then jumped through... just as a bolt hit him dead center in the back...

*****

The Gate opened again only minutes after SG3 had left. The people in the meeting room stared down in shock as one person came through... then collapsed on the ground, the same charring marks on his back as were on the girl.

"Oh shit... Medic!"

A guard had screamed down below and then ran to the wounded man. Within seconds a medical team flooded into the room. Jack looked down at them and then shook his head.

"I don’t like this, General... they were there only seconds.. and yet something got them. What the hell are we going to do?"

General Hammond stared in shock.

"We find out what is doing this and figure out a way to stop it."

*****

The robotic probe rolled up the gangway, heading toward the gate. As it inched its way closer and closer... those watching the recording coming from its camera waited in anticipation.

"Do you think the lightning will hurt it?"

The technician shook her head.

"You said it was lightning... well, we coated the robot in rubber... so any lightning should just bounce off. We should be able to get a clear reading."

Just then, the robot reached the gate and crawled through...

*****

Xander stared into nothingness. His heart was a frozen ball of ice in his chest and he liked it like that.

*Feel nothing and you will survive... there is no pain... there is only the void and the nothing beyond.*

Once again, the Gate flared into life.

*Another intruder... what fools...*

The robot rolled through the Gate and then stopped as its camera began recording....

*****

The camera displayed a forest similar to certain areas of Germany and what looked like a castle in the distance.

"Is that a castle?"

Everyone looked at Daniel who just stared at them.

"What... I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all."

Jack smirked and nodded.

"Looks like one to me... funny thing is, it looks black to me. Can you guys get the camera to zoom in on it?"

One of the technicians nodded and began manipulating the camera...

*****

The robot turned in the direction of the castle and began zooming in just as lightning rained down from above. As if oblivious to it all, the robot continued its mission. It focused on the castle and then zoomed in... bringing it into clear view...

*****

"And there is the lightning... that coating is working... so far."

They stared at the castle and wondered why it was black.

"That looks like charring to me... but on such a scale... amazing."

Just then, there was movement at the top of the castle.

"There! Can you zoom in on whatever the hell that was?"

The technician nodded again and did so... within seconds the image changed... revealing a young man near 20 sitting on the edge of the spire of a tower. He was wearing 20th century clothing and appeared out of place there.

"So this is the Dark God. Daniel.. ask the girl if that is him."

Daniel nodded and walked over to get the girl.

[Can you come look... see if boy is Dark God?]

The girl nodded and followed Daniel over. As she looked at the screen, she screamed in terror and hid behind him.

[That’s him... that’s the Dark God... oh please.. please make him leave!!]

Daniel winced.

"That’s him alright.. and she is scared of him still."

General Hammond nodded.

"Right... we need to get over there and get him under control... but how. I need ideas people.. and I need them now."

*****

Giles stared at the computer and grimaced with distaste.

"Willow.. please do this for me."

Willow giggled and sat down.

"What is the address?"

Giles handed over a slip of paper and Willow opened Giles’s email account.

"Ok.. talk."

Giles nodded and cleared his throat.

"Dr. Jackson... this is Rupert Giles writing you with an urgent request. A member of my family has disappeared under... unusual circumstances... and I believe you may be the only person I know of who might be able to get to him. This goes back to what I discussed with you and what you told me about where you worked. I hope you can be of some assistance. If you can.. please contact me as soon as possible. Thank you, Rupert Giles."

Giles looked at the email and nodded.

"Add my phone number at the bottom please, Willow, and then you can send it."

Willow nodded and did so.

"Done... so... how long do you think it will be before we hear anything?"

Giles shrugged.

"I have no idea how often he checks his email... so I can’t say.. I can just hope..."

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Giles walked over and opened it revealing... a pregnant Cordelia and the L.A crew.

"Cordelia... my word.. come in."

They stepped inside and then stepped aside as Angel ran in... his clothing smoking.

"Thanks... be with you in a minute."

He then ran into the bathroom. Cordelia smiled and sat down.

"So.. tell me again, in full detail what happened..."

Giles nodded and began.

"It was just the other day when it all started......"

*****

Daniel entered his office and turned on his computer. As the machine loaded itself, he noticed his email account was flashing.

*Thank god for DSL.. never miss another email ever again.*

Daniel opened his new mail and read through. He had an offer on a house, a few links to some supposedly FREE porn sites, and an email from the librarian he had met at that conference in California a while back.

"Rupert Giles... I wonder..."

Daniel opened the email and read it through... twice... then stared in shock at the screen.

*No way... its too coincidental... but then again...*

Daniel printed the email and then ran back to the others...

*****

"... and so we have no idea where he is. He is in pain and he doesn’t know that they are alive."

Cordelia nodded, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Well.. we have to find him... but not just for Buffy and Dawn... for me as well... you see, he has my visions."

Hearing this snapped Buffy out of the funk she was in.

"He does! But.. they hurt you so much... are you sure?"

Cordelia nodded.

"Yes.. I’m sure... and we’ve been told that if I don’t get them back... Xander might die."

Buffy got up and began pacing.

"Then we have to find him... fast. Damn it.. why won’t that guy call already."

Just then... the phone began ringing.....

*****

Daniel ran into the room and startled everyone there.

"I know who he is!"

This got everyone’s attention.

"You do, Dr. Jackson... well then, please.. enlighten us."

Daniel nodded.

"He’s the son of a librarian from Sunnydale, California. He... well... I don’t know everything... but I know of a man who can tell us more. I need your permission, General, to contact him. He knows some of what goes on here... we got drunk and it slipped out."

General Hammond groaned and nodded.

"Call him... now."

Daniel nodded and jumped to the phone. He hit speakerphone and began dialing.

"Hello?"

Daniel smiled.

"Rupert... Rupert Giles?"

"Yes.. who is this?"

Daniel sat down.

"This is Daniel Jackson.. you just emailed me."

"Ah.. yes, thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I need your help."

Daniel looked at the General... who nodded.

"With what?"

They could hear Giles pause then continue.

"I need to know if you can find a member of my family... who might possibly be on another world..."

General motioned for a piece of paper... then wrote on it.

"GIVE HIM DIRECTIONS TO HERE.. WE WILL BRING HIM IN BLINDFOLDED AND GO FROM THERE"

Daniel nodded.

"Can you come to me?"

There was a discussion on the other end of the line and then Giles was back.

"Yes.. we can. Where are you?"

Daniel smiled and then gave them directions.

"... and you will need to stop at the gate. The guards will escort you and your party in. You can bring a few people with you... but not too many."

Giles paused.

"I understand. We are on our way."

Daniel hung up the phone and then sat back.

"All we have to do now is wait..."

The other members of SG1 just smiled.. Daniel had finally gotten the General to agree to something... and it was evident on the General’s face that he wasn’t happy about it.

*****

"Ok.. everyone who is going in the car now."

Giles grabbed a few things and then walked outside. As he walked, he yelled back inside.

"Angel.. can you patrol while we are gone?"

Angel nodded from the doorway as Buffy, Willow and Dawn walked past him.

"No problem, Giles."

Giles nodded and closed the trunk.

"Good. Well.. come on girls.. we have a plane to catch. See the rest of you later."

He climbed in his car and waited for the girls to follow... then headed off to the airport.

*We’re coming, Xander... we’re coming... just hold on a little longer.......*

*****

They pulled up to the main gates sometime later that night. They had taken the first flight from Sunnydale to Colorado Springs, Colorado and were tired and worried about Xander.

As they neared the gates, two armed soldiers stepped forward and walked up to the driver’s window.

"Name."

Giles leaned toward the window and swallowed nervously.

"Rupert Giles... a Dr. Daniel Jackson is expecting us."

The man nodded and motioned them through. The gate opened and they drove into the compound. After parking, a man ran up to them.

"Mr. Giles... nice to see you again."

Giles smiled at Daniel and nodded.

"Good to see you too, Daniel, and its just Giles."

Daniel nodded.

"Follow me inside... you can introduce the people with you once we are inside."

They nodded and followed Daniel into the complex... then into an elevator. He pressed a button for deep in the complex and then smiled.

"Thanks for being able to come so quickly. If this guy is your son... then he must have been hell to raise."

They looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

"What do you mean?"

Daniel looked at the young red haired woman and frowned.

"He is on a planet we call Px5743C3... and he is the only living person there... now."

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean.. now?"

Daniel frowned even further.

"The population of that planet, as far as we can tell, was 15.8 million... until HE showed up... now it is one."

The gasp of shock and terror echoed in the elevator as it came to a halt and the doors opened.

"Follow me, please."

Daniel stepped out of the elevator and then lead them to the main conference room. He motioned for them to take a seat and then joined the rest of his team. General Hammond stood and greeted the visitors.

"Thank you for coming. It appears that we need you to help us with a problem we have. It looks like your..."

Giles leaned forward.

"Xander."

General Hammond nodded.

"... your Xander has gone rogue. He has killed off the population of an entire planet... and has made it his personal stronghold. No one can enter without being killed on site. We’re hoping that you can be of some assistance in this matter."

Buffy frowned.

"How do we know this guy is Xander?"

General Hammond turned to his aide and nodded.

"Run the tape..."

The aide rolled a tv over and pressed play. Within seconds the footage taken from the robot appeared on the screen. As the group watched... they began to understand.. and when it showed Xander... all dark and cold looking... they gasped in shock.

"Oh god.. Xander.. no..."

Buffy began to cry at the site on the screen before her. All of those bodies lying on the ground.. and Xander, his eyes black and cold... looked almost dead.

"Oh god..."

She shook in terror and confusion over what was going on.

*No.. it’s not Xander... it can’t be my Xander.. not in a million years....*

Giles stared at the screen and sighed.

"What do you want us to do?"

*****

Chaos ruled the landscape of Xander’s mind as far as the eye could see. Darkness even enfolding was everywhere. Jim crawled out of a pile of rubble and looked around. There was no one near him.

"Hello... anyone here?!"

Silence... there was only silence.

"Shit... what the hell happened?"

*****

Angel stared out into the night and nodded.

"We hit Parkhurst.. then Lexington.. then swing by the rest. Stay in your groups."

He moved outside and kissed Cordelia.

"Call me if you hear anything... or if you need me."

Cordelia nodded. She had agreed to stay behind to watch the phone. As she watched them leave, Angel with Wesley while Gunn was with Fred... she prayed they would be ok.

*****

The gang stared up at the Stargate in awe... all except for Dawn.

"I don’t get it... its just a big circle."

Daniel grinned.

"I know what you mean. I didn’t think much of it either when I first saw it... but once it is activated... well, then you will see something spectacular."

He waved up at the technician in the booth and nodded. Within seconds the Stargate began to rotate and then stop as each station was locked in place. First one... then two.. and so on.. until the seventh station locked in place. Then... the magic happened.

*Here it comes...*

The Stargate exploded out toward them and then back in the opposite direction... only to stabilize into the locked Gate.

"That... is the Stargate."

The gang stared at it in awe.

"I get it now..."

Daniel smiled at Dawn and nodded.

"Yup.. that’s impressive.. isn’t it."

Dawn nodded as Jack moved past her... walking up the ramp to the gate.

"We go in this order... Teal’c, then me... Red here... Daniel... Blondie and sis.. then Sam and Giles."

They nodded and took their places. As they stepped through the Gate... there was a feeling of unease tat spread through all of the SGC. General Hammond stared down at them with fear in his eyes.

*Come back to me... I can’t lose my best team...*

*****

Xander felt the Gate open again and growled. He had spent a long time firing bolt after bolt of lightning at the last intruder.. but it had had no effect on it whatsoever.

*This is becoming very annoying. I want to be ALONE!*

The Gate stabilized and Teal’c stepped through.. followed closely by Jack. It was when Willow was stepping through that the lightning started. A bolt struck Teal’c in the chest... knocking him back 10 feet, his body landing to the side of the Gate.

"Everyone down!"

As he screamed his command and hit the dirt, the others stepped through. As Buffy and Dawn stepped through... the lightning increased...

*****

Xander felt something explode in his mind and he screamed.

*No.. not now... not now!!*

He turned to look at the Gate and saw a group of people there... still alive.

*What... this is impossible... how!*

He screamed in rage and dissappeared...

*****

As soon as Willow saw the lightning, she cast a protection spell around the entire Gate and the surrounding area. When it was in place, the lightning just bounced off.

*There.. that should hold it for a little while.. long enough for us to get to safety.*

She had barely finished her thought when she felt a large powerful surge of magic forming near them. She looked to her left and saw someone teleporting in...

*****

Xander appeared before the group and released a wash of lightning from his hands.

*At point blank range.. there is no way I can miss...*

He watched, however, in shock as the lightning hit something and crawled across the top of it. Seeing this, Xander growled in rage... his black eyes radiating hate.

"Leave my world..."

Buffy climbed to her feet and at the sound of Xander’s voice turned toward him.

"Xander?"

Xander jerked at the sound of her voice and turned to look at Buffy... with no recognitions in his eyes.

"I said leave..."

Buffy frowned, tears forming in her eyes.

"Xander....?"

Xander stared at the young woman and growled. There was something about her.. and the brown haired young woman next to her that bothered him.

Buffy began to cry.. tears streaming down her face.

"Xander... don’t you know me... its me... its Buffy."

Xander stared at her as her words slowly sank through the thick layers of protection he had created.

"No... you lie... you lie.. YOU LIE!"

Xander flung out his hand and a blast of flame slammed against the shield. Willow cringed in pain from the strength of the blast and almost fell to her knees. Buffy, seeing this, continued...

"Xander... it’s really me... don’t you love me anymore?"

Xander shook his head.

"Shut up.. shut up.. SHUT UP! You’re not her... she’s dead... SHE’S DEAD!!"

With his scream, the ground underneath him began to vibrate and crack open. Buffy shook her head and raised her hand.

"I’m not dead, Xander.. I’m alive. Dawn and I are both alive..."

Hearing those words made something in Xander calm some.

"Dawnie..."

Dawn stepped forward next to Buffy.

"I’m here, Xander... we both are... and we both love and miss you so much... please.. please come home with us."

Xander blinked a few times as shock invaded his mind.

"Dawnie.... and Buffy..... how..."

Buffy smiled.

"We’re like you now... that’s why.. you just missed it by a few minutes..."

As the looked at him, Xander’s eyes glowed and then turned back to the chocolate brown they once were.

"Alive... you’re alive..."

Xander blinked and looked around and then screamed.

"Oh god.. oh god.. what have I done!"

The sight before him brought his memory back in full force... and it was too much.

"Oh god......"

With that said, Xander fainted....

*****

Clarity came slowly... creeping its way along the back of his mind... worming its way deeper and deeper until once again sound invaded his world...

"Why won’t he wake up?"

*That sounded like Buffy...*

"We do not know, Ms Summers. It appears that his body has been running on some form of energy that we cannot explain... and it has depleted his resources."

*No wonder I’m so tired.. what with... everything... I’ve.. done... oh god...*

Tears began to form behind Xander’s closed eyes as he remembered the screams... the smell of charred flesh.. the intensity overwhelming.

"He.. he’s crying... Xander... Xander.. can you hear me?"

Xander opened his eyes slowly and the light was like a hot knife in his eyes. He winced and them moaned in pain, turning his head away from the light. Within seconds, the room was darker.

"There.. the light level is lower now. Try opening your eyes again."

Xander slowly opened an eye and peeked out... it didn’t hurt. He opened his eyes and looked up into the faces of Buffy and some woman he didn’t know.

"Where am I?"

Buffy grabbed his hand and squeezed it.

"You’re in... the hospital... sort of."

Xander stared at her.

"Sort of? What happened to me?"

Buffy’s eyes widened in shock.

"You.. you don’t remember?"

Xander shook his head.

*Of course I remember, Buffy, but if you knew that you would be terrified for me... and I can’t have you watching me like a worried mother 24/7.*

Buffy turned to the woman next to her and raised her eyebrows.

"What’s going on? Why doesn’t he remember?"

The woman scratched her head and then nodded to herself.

"Trauma induced amnesia... it has happened before. With time... his memory might return. Let’s see how bad it is. Xander.. what year is it?"

Xander frowned.

"2002?"

The woman nodded.

"Close enough.... ok, who is the president?"

Buffy giggled.

"He didn’t know that in the first place.. he’s been... gone.. for a long time."

Xander nodded. He really had no clue who it was... he hadn’t really cared when he came back.

"I see... well, Xander, what is the last thing you remember?"

Xander closed his eyes, pretending to try to remember. He decided to make this all go away for them...

"Last thing... hmm..."

He smiled and opened his eyes.

"Well.. me and Buff here were pretty close to finally having sex... but something stopped us.. that’s the last thing I remember."

Buffy blushed and smiled.

"That was about a week ago... so you have only lost a week."

*And what a week it was...*

Realization hit her then.

*He doesn’t know Dawn and me and like him now...*

Just then, Dawn walked in and both Xander and Buffy winced... with Xander noticing this.

*What the... I thought I just imagined that part... they really both.. are....*

Xander stared at Buffy, his eyes wide with fear.

"Can you leave the three of us alone for a few minutes, ma’am?"

The woman nodded and exitted the room. Xander watched her go and then sat up, staring at the girls.

"Ok.. what the hell happened?"

Dawn looked at Buffy, a confused look on her face.

"What’s he talking about?"

Buffy frowned.

"Xander has amnesia.. he doesn’t know..."

Xander glared at her.

"What.. I don’t know that you two are Immortal, like me now.. come on, I felt Dawn when she entered and was feeling you the whole time but didnt realize it because of the questions."

He paused.

"Now tell me... what the hell happened?"

Buffy sighed and nodded.

"We were killed a few days after you left.. then we woke up later in the morgue. You came home and saw us dead and snapped.. then you did some things we don’t want you knowing about right now."

Xander nodded. He knew what the look on her face meant and chose to go with it.

"Fine.. later then."

He stared at Buffy.. then Dawn.. and frowned.

"I’m sorry, kiddo... you bought it so young... you’re going to have problems later..."

Dawn nodded.

"I know..."

Xander smiled.

"Cheer up, Dawnie... I might be able to track down some magic to age you... to age all of us if we want it.. later on."

Dawn’s face lit up and she smiled.

"You mean it?"

Xander nodded.

"Yup.. I think I can find something..."

Dawn giggled and threw herself into Xander’s arms, placing kisses all over his face.

"Thank you.. thank you... thankyouthankyouthankyou..."

Xander laughed and then choked as he caught a glimpse of a jealous Buffy.

"Get your jailbait mits off my boyfriend, little sister."

Dawn smirked over her shoulder at Buffy.

"Aww... can’t we share him?"

The mental image crossing his mind made Xander shudder in terror.

"No thanks.. I don’t want to go to jail, Dawn, so kindly please let go and stop thinking things like that."

Dawn laughed and let go, a pleased look on her face.

"It’s no big deal.. Buffy was dating a guy older than her when she was my age."

At the mention of Angel, Xander winced. It still hurt a little and something inside him made him cringe.

*He got there first....*

Actually.. quite a few got there first.. Angel, some guy named Parker that he heard about from Willow, and Riley. Xander looked over at Buffy and sighed.

"Well... she made a mistake, Dawn.. one you will not make yourself. You will not even think what you were thinking earlier until you are at least 18.. and even then, I might have to hurt the guy just for even thinking about dating you. I am going to play Dad in this... and any guy who wants to date you has to pass my test..."

Hearing this from Xander made Buffy smile.

*He’s planning for the long term... he still wants to be with me...*

Dawn frowned.

"How many questions are on this test?"

Xander smirked.

"Right now... 1,695,207 question... and he has to pass by 85 percent to get to date you... and by 95 percent to get to date you twice."

Buffy burst out laughing while Dawn pouted. Xander smiled then leaned in to whisper in Dawn’s ear.

"These rules only apply until you turn 18 and I can get you looking your age, Dawnie.. so don’t feel bad."

Dawn smiled and nodded. Buffy saw this and frowned.

"Now what are the two of you planning."

Xander smirked at Dawn.. then looked at Buffy.

"Nothing... absolutely nothing."

Buffy nodded.

"Right.. like I believe that."

Xander smiled.

"Well.. be like that if you must... but now... can we go home?"

Buffy nodded, smiling, and took his hand... with Dawn taking the other.

"Yes... lets go home."

*****

They stepped out to join the others and were met by armed men in uniforms pointing guns at Xander’s head. Giles came to attention and growled.

"Get those things away from him right now!"

One of the officers shook his head.

"No can do.. we are under orders to hold Harris until further notice."

Xander frowned.

"What if I try to leave?"

The officer grinned.

"We have been ordered to shoot to incapasitate... or kill."

Xander smirked.

*Big deal... can’t really hurt me...*

"Go ahead... it won’t stop me. I’m leaving."

Xander stepped past them and heard the rifles being readied.

"Stop where you are. This is your last warning."

Xander stopped, his eyes cold. He turned to the people around him and grinned evilly.

"Head on outside... I will follow you once I deal with these idiots."

Buffy stared at Xander and frowned.

"Be careful..."

Xander looked at her and his eyes softened.

"I will."

She nodded and then joined the others as they moved toward the elevator. Once they were inside and on their way out, Xander spun around and growled at the men...

*****

Inside Xander’s mind, Soldier stood from the rubble and shook himself clean.

"That’s my signal..."

He sat down on a bench and closed his eyes... concentrating on communicating with Xander...

*****

#Ok, son... do as I say and you should be ok...#

He explained, quickly, to Xander everything needed and Xander nodded.

"Right... you idiots really think you can hold me?"

The guards nodded, their rifles locked onto Xander’s head. Xander smiled.

"Try me."

With that said, he leapt toward them and nerve punched their arms... making them drop their weapons. He then, in quick succession, broke their arms or legs and had them all moaning on the ground.

"I told you would couldn’t stop me from leaving if I wanted to."

Xander picked up their weapons and melted them into a pile of goo... then turned and walked away...

*****

Outside, the gang waited for Xander... under the stares of some concerned guards.

"What do you think is happening?"

Buffy shook her head.

"I don’t know, Dawn... I just hope Xander is ok..."

"... I’m fine... and we can go now."

They turned to see Xander emerge from the building.. a light trickle of sweat on his forehead.

"Let’s split..."

He moved to walk to the gate when he saw the guards staring at him.

*No time to worry.... cause we’re on the road again...*

Xander raised a hand and encased the guards in a shield. Willow saw this and gasped.

"Temp shield... should hold them until we get away... about an hour or so."

Willow smiled... she was impressed. Xander grinned.

"So.. G-Man.. where is the car? I don’t see your pile of junk here."

Giles huffed and began to complain.

"It is not a pile of junk.. it is a fine British.."

Xander grabbed Giles and spun him around.

"We don’t have time to argue... we have to get out of here... NOW!"

Buffy frowned.

"Why? What’s going on? What did you do?"

Xander smirked.

"I left them a little... gift... which should be exploding in less than a minute.. which means we need to go... right now."

Giles looked at Xander... then looked back at the building.. then looked at the guards and swallowed.

"Right then...follow me."

He ran over to the rental car and jumped inside. As he started the engine, the rest of the gang climbed in. Xander looked back at the building and counted down.

"10... 9.... 8... you guys might want to cover your ears now... 4.. 3... 2... 1.."

Xander clamped his hands over his ears just moments before a loud explosion was heard.... the shock wave rocking the car. Giles turned to look at Xander, his eyes wide with shock, and Xander shook his head.

"Just drive.. I’ll answer questions later.."

Giles glared at Xander but nodded anyway. He turned back to the parking lot and sped toward the gate as fast as he could. The gates were closed so he drove through them... smashing them to pieces.

"Head down the highway then make a left.. find someplace isolated."

Giles fumed and nodded...

*****

They pulled off the side of the road and into the parking lot of a small shopping center. Giles turned off the engine but before he could say anything, Xander opened the door and hopped outside... the others following him.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Xander stopped and winced. He turned around to look Buffy in the eyes and smiled.

"I’m... hiding. They only want me... they should leave you guys alone... as long as I’m not with you. I know of a place to go where there are some people who can hide me... and if they hide me, no one can find me."

Buffy frowned.

"I’m coming with you."

Xander and Giles shook their heads.

"No.. you can’t. You have your Slayer duty... you have to stay."

Buffy pouted.

"But I don’t want you to go... and besides, Angel can cover for me."

Xander shook his head.

"He had work to do in L.A... speaking of which... I think I took something from Cordy by accident... I’ll need to pop in to see her before I go..."

Dawn smiled.

"They’re in Sunnydale... they came to help when you went nuts."

Buffy spun on Dawn and glared at her.

"He did not go nuts! He just was upset over seeing us dead..."

The realization of what she said passed through them and she blushed.

"Oh shit.."

She turned to look at Xander... who looked stunned. He was shocked, again, by the memory that flashed before his eyes.

"I did what?"

Buffy winced.

"You saw our dead bodies in the morgue..."

Xander raised a hand to stop her.

"Please... not right now."

He sighed and looked around.

"I need to get going... before its too late... but I can’t leave you guys here..."

He looked at the group... then at the rental car... and smiled.

"Everyone.. come here and hold hands. Buffy, I want you holding my right.. and Willow, my left."

They looked at him strangely but did as he said. Xander nodded and then grinned manically.

"Take a deep breath and try to hold your vomit until the ride has stopped..."

The look of panic that crossed their faces was hilarious and Xander laughed as he teleported them to Giles’s living room...

*****

Cordelia sat on the couch and flipped through a baby magazine.

*Bottle or Breast... so many choices... I mean, my breasts have gotten so much bigger than they were.. and if I did bottle, then they wouldn’t shrink much... but if I breastfed her.. well, she might be healthier and there is that study saying it lessens your risks for breast cancer...*

She ran a hand across her stomach and was about to get up for a snack when a flash of light filled the room and everyone, including Xander, was standing before her.

"Xander!"

Cordelia screamed and somehow hopped up to embrace Xander in a hug. Xander smiled and hugged her back. He looked down at her belly and for a moment... forgot about everything...

"Hey Cordy... how are you doing... and how is my little one as well.."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth... there was a collective gasp from the group, Cordelia, and Angel... who had been in the hallway.

"Your baby?"

Xander turned to Angel and slowly nodded.

"I think so... at least... there is the chance..."

He saw the disappointed look on Cordelia’s face and the brokenhearted look on Angel’s and frowned.

"... but you never know."

Xander looked at the group and a very unhappy Buffy.

"This was months ago, Buffy, way before anything with us happened so you have no excuse in getting upset."

It was then that all hell broke loose. Everyone spoke at once and it was too much for Xander to take.

"QUIET!"

The look on their faces hurt him... the surprise and hurt... but Xander was short on time and couldn’t stand around and argue all day.

"Cordy, Buffy, and Angel... Giles’s bedroom, right now."

He stormed off... only to be followed soon after.

Once everyone was in the room, Xander shut the door and faced them.

"Angel... didn’t mean to upset you. Don’t know for sure if she is mine or yours.. but I would like you to be her father... and maybe, when she gets older.. you can tell her the truth about me. I know you will love her and protect her better than I ever could. Just one request... can you name her Rachel?"

Angel heard Xander’s words and felt something similar to a kinship pass through him.

"Aye.. Xander... that I will. You have my word on it."

Xander nodded and turned to Cordelia.

"Cordy.. I have your visions... not sure how I got them but I want to give them back to you. Will you be ok with them back?"

Cordy nodded.

"We called the oracle once we got here. They said that with a slight alteration to my DNA.. it would stop all the pain."

Xander nodded.

"Good... will it hurt the baby?"

Cordelia shook her head.

"No.. she’ll be fine. Now.. get give them back to me.. we will need to do something... embarrassing...."

Xander got a hint of what they would have to do and shook his head.

"No time..."

He mumbled a spell under his breath and then kissed her. As they kissed, a blue light passed up his body and through their joined mouths.. into Cordelia. They broke the kiss and Cordelia gasped in shock.

"It’s back..."

Xander nodded.. then turned to Buffy.

"Buffy.. I love you with all my heart and when this is all over and we are safe.. I plan on marrying you and doing this..."

He reached out and placed a thought bundle into her mind. It was a fantasy of the two of them making love. As he placed it, he played out at triple speed in Buffy’s mind.

"Oh.. oh... oh god... oh god Xander..."

Xander winced in embarrasment.

"Oops.."

Buffy trembled as she orgasmed and then opened her eyes slowly. Xander smiled and shrugged.

"Sorry about that... but when I get back, I’m going to do that.. only three times slower."

Buffy giggled and nodded... assured now that he was hers.. forever.

"You be careful... and come back.. so you can do... that.. to me."

Xander nodded and smiled. He then opened the door and lead them back into the living room. He smiled at the group and sighed.

"Got to go now. You can get in touch with me through this number."

He wrote down the number of the professor’s private office and then moved away from them.

"I love you guys... see you later."

With that said... he began to glow and then vanished.

*****

Somewhere in on the northern Atlantic coast...

Xander appeared under a tree and looked all around. To the right, about 3 blocks away, stood a large mansion.

*Better check in before they send out the guards.*

He opened his mind to the Prof and focused outward.

#Hey.. you there Professor?#

There was a pause before he got a reply.

#Alexander?#

Xander grinned.

#Yup.. its me... I’m home.#

The End